1/1 Deem 2025/04/08(Tue)14:31 No. 1106000 ID: 037934
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Perhaps I should elaborate a little.

I haven't heard any arguments against, so I think I will use Moriko as my final guardian: she performed well against Myaousha early on with a combination of slight enlargement, protective scales and a cloth golem. I can layer on stronger reinforcements thanks to my Heart being strengthened since then, and Merud has improved his own work into this cooperative golemetry idea.

>Reisarf is perfect for double blind tests now.
I'm not sure what sort of placebo effect you're expecting here.

>You should focus on showcasing your golems instead of your Reisarfs.
The wider hall just before the Thaumatorium seems a good place for the woody brute then. I can pair it with the gardener golem, or perhaps that one will perform better in Chakarchelou's chamber by helping ensnare invaders and throwing bombs.

I can either place the handy brute in the chamber before, or perhaps for a surprise I could have it cling to the ceiling and drop behind the invaders.

With my homonculi I'll simply sprinkle them around where the monster density isn't high.

I intend to have Hin drinking the majority of the overlapple potion that the cauldron golem will be producing with Merud's new serum gland. Letting a denizen store more than their normal maximum pools of vitality and mana would likely benefit her the most. If it works on her ability to store up light and slime as well, then she has a lot of little boosts to her status that could really snowball.

However that's not very impressive in terms of what the potion's doing. Moriko still has the potion of enlarging touch and the golem manifestation and I could have Doyle brew more potions or deploy him to one of the fights. If I do concoct an exotic potion the homonculi would likely be the best demonstrators.

>And what golems go in which hallway isn’t as important right now as following after and hugging Linea!
I keep telling you I am not a hugger and you keep not listening. Besides she's probably busy hugging the slimes that stayed here, and not me, and I'm fine with that.

I'm fine.

>You should identify your new curse.
I don't have terribly many tools for that you know. Perhaps I should make that Reisarf's project?

>They went awry by making Stargazer big, so maybe they should work on a spell for small things now. And no spellcasting yet, stick to theory until Deem can supervise!
Enhancing Reisarf's spatial manipulation skills would likely be useful in the long run, true.

Reisarf is going to be doing some cleanup and some water hauling. But while I intend it to be a punishment, I don't want to just use Reisarf for drudge labour. I'm pleased he seems to to be thinking things through a little more already. I don't think I've been very fair to everyone today. Despite Reisarf and Stargazer's... exuberance, everyone's jumped at the chance to grow stronger. That is something to celebrate. I just wish everything would stop constantly happening all the time.

So something small that requires some level of critical thinking, that he can perform under the supervision of myself or one of the more responsible of my denizens that is unlikely to cause some sort of explosion or ontological collapse. Decorating one of the newer chambers, statue repair, perhaps cooking or potion brewing with new ingredients, maybe even planning some experiments to try with his clone after the tour or adding a few more spells based on my denizens with his new Trace Melding should I feel especially generous.

>>1106000
I would give the Reisarfs(Reisarves?) some time off to adjust, or at least some evenings, I'm sure they have some ideas themself they can bounce off of each other.
Other than than that,
>statue repair
It is important to keep what exists in a proper state, rather than expanding all the time.

Agreed on Moriko as the boss. If you can, give her the overlap please potion to boost the effect of her other, more impressive potions. While general boosts to Hin’s stats are good, hee stats are already good and this is a showcase, not a tournament.
Put one Reisarf on statue repair, and one on potion brewing. It doesn’t matter which so long as both get done.
Give ‘em the ceiling surprise with the handy brute (or Pancake!), and pair Chak with garden bomber.
Doyle should brew more potions for the homunculi.
Now that that’s out of the way, it doesn’t matter if you’re a hugger. Alkaline is a huggee. You owe her a big hug like the one she gave your core!

>>1106000
>You should identify your new curse.
>I don't have terribly many tools for that you know.
You have that lens, don't you? The one you use to check the status of your denizens. Can't you just let someone else use it on you and they can tell you about your new curse?

>>1106002
>Put one Reisarf on statue repair, and one on potion brewing. It doesn’t matter which so long as both get done.
Maybe could synergize that to developing potions that clean.

>>1106000
>I don't have terribly many tools for that you know.
You keep forgetting that we are one of those. Speaking of, you know how you just said you're not a hugger?

>>1106005
Fffff- Don't tell her that! That's a secret! Someone get me a newspaper or a magazine to roll up!

>>1106006
it's fiiiine, she's not gonna believe us until she has external confirmation anyways

>>1106000
You know, we could just tell you what you're cursed by. I'll give you a hint. It's something related to physical contact, and it *wasn't* her kleptomania curse.

>or deploy him to one of the fights.
Cauldron's gotta level up somehow. Or is he getting exp just from being used for potion brewing?

>Reisarfs' task
We have little decoration, why don't we work on that with them?

Look, it's Stargazer swimming through Deem's thoughts!

Planning some more experiments should be good practice for incorporating more safeguards into these tests.
As for assignments, what's the idea of the showcase? Should you be planning to let them win or to show off your forces at their very strongest? If you're giving a tour of the dungeon beforehand, will that clue the adventurers in to ambushes, allowing them to prepare?

1/3 Deem 2025/04/14(Mon)02:09 No. 1106223 ID: effc02
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>Doyle should brew more potions for the homonculi.
>Put one Reisarf on statue repair, and one on potion brewing. It doesn’t matter which so long as both get done.
Good thinking.

It's time to give Doyle the good news. I call my cauldron gulper over and announce that taking effect immediately he's my head of potion making and in charge of the cauldron golem.

He immediately climbs on top of the cauldron golem and has it carry him around, perhaps taking my 'head' comment too literally. Hmmph, well at least he's enjoying himself.

"Reisarf, I'd like one of you to get more experience in potion making. We have some more ingredients so I'd like you to work under Doyle's supervision and see what simple-to-make effects you can express out of combining them without needing to add too much mana. Aim for a variety though. And nothing you think might blow up."

One of the Reisarfs raises a hand. "So no bomb seeds then?"

"Very astute, Reisarf. Maybe the Sap Bombs, if Doyle thinks its safe."

Doyle totters over with his new chair, smirks at his new underling and then waves to have my alienist follow him to the brewing room. With that pair working away at it I expect I'll certainly get some unusual potions I hoped for.

>We have little decoration, why don't we work on that with them?
I turn to the other Reisarf. "Your days will be spent on statue repair and cleanup. If you can get things a little more presentable that'll be perfect. Just remember though, no spells without permission!"

>Agreed on Moriko as the boss. If you can, give her the overlapple potion to boost the effect of her other, more impressive potions.
I don't see it interacting with other potions much. What it does is allows the drinker to exceed their normal limits on things and qualities they can 'store' - a higher than normal maximum potential for things like health, mana and perhaps odder things like Hin's new ability to store light.

>As for assignments, what's the idea of the showcase? Should you be planning to let them win or to show off your forces at their very strongest? If you're giving a tour of the dungeon beforehand, will that clue the adventurers in to ambushes, allowing them to prepare?
I will be walking with Olan and his adventurer friend as they take on the dungeon, though I expect Olan and myself will stay apart from the fighting. We may have to pause and reset things should they prove too much for this adventurer. I expect to end up running a mana deficit from this, but at least I can expect some more gold should it not turn into a total disaster.

2/3 Deem 2025/04/14(Mon)02:10 No. 1106224 ID: effc02
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The convoy of my returning denizens has finally brought in the monsters I sent them to collect. We have a bunch of branch bugs tied together in a bundle, seemingly content to impersonate a pile of sticks if it means no-one will bother them. A woven cage of mosquito fairies, seemingly to stop them buzzing around and containing their bickering to be with each other. And finally a slime spitter who's just been obediently trotting along with the rest.

"Welcome to my dungeon." I say to them.

"Great Darkness, if you should protect us from the vile amphibians, we shall gladly not tie your shoes together!" a mosquito fairy buzzes at the cage's bars.

"Fool, she is without shoelaces!" another hits her.

"We shall not taunt your shoelessness!" the first fairy rallies.

"They're kind of jerks." Hin stage-whispers.

"Well you and your kin shall all remain welcome as my denizens should you help defend my dungeon and help my other denizens."

Very minor fairies like this aren't quite people, though they have the ability to become something more. A group of fairies as a whole has something like multiple reincarnating personalities. Which is to their benefit as they draw trouble down on themselves and die a lot. The branch bugs are much the same. The only one who seems like they might have that spark right now is this last lizard they've found.

"We were struggling to catch any of the slime spitters, then this old girl practically fell in our lap." Hin says, pointing out the lizard. "I think she's had some hard times. Look at that snout scar. She brought back one of Alkaline's lost slimes, but she was hurt too. I used up a lot of light healing her."

"Grrrrrnnnk?!" Chakarchelou slithers in behind Hin, looking excited. The slime spitter lift her head and tastes the air.

"Let the lizard get settled in first, Chakarchelou." I warn him.

I'm planning to keep these monsters - and the Morphic Lantern - in the hall adjoining the Thaumatorium for the moment. We still have a few days of hastened monster development from my Churn the Earth and given the depredations of the frogs against them I suspect they'll have some helpful desperation to quickly mutate.

They'll have to instead briefly disturb the tranquility of the Meditation Chamber for the tour.

3/3 Deem 2025/04/14(Mon)02:11 No. 1106225 ID: effc02
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>Give ‘em the ceiling surprise with the handy brute (or Pancake!), and pair Chak with garden bomber.
I'll go with that then, my dungeon's almost ready for the visit!

>You have that lens, don't you? The one you use to check the status of your denizens. Can't you just let someone else use it on you and they can tell you about your new curse?
It's not really intended to diagnose such ailments. And I have a sense for the disposition of my denizens, and their development in particular, but that too is limited in its ability to detect more ephemeral features. I should consider more infrastructure for it. But for now we'll have to simply power through.

>It doesn’t matter if you’re a hugger. Alkaline is a huggee. You owe her a big hug like the one she gave your core!
I don't 'owe' anyone hugs.

I still feel culiarly ill at ease, as if I'm lacking something, so I have Stargazer come with me to work on the final excavation of what'll be my new Heart Chamber. I shed my dress to keep it clean and switch to my Disperse Mode to make use of its better physical attributes. A chance to get moving and complete one last thing.

I point out a little about how it'll improve the flow of the earth pulse through my dungeon to Stargazer, and check in about how she's feeling. I think I am finally learning to interpret her stares and silences a little better.

Our 'talk' and my other awareness of my denizens' progress points out to me that Stargazer has developed a little from her ill-advised foray into dungeon magic. Reisarf did once mention she can 'overflow' if she has too much mana and this perhaps is a deliberate application of it?

----------------------------------------
New Ability Gained!
----------------------------------------
Star Spilling Gaze: Stargazer can gradually infuse some of her essence into inanimate objects or especially weak willed or subservient creatures. This allows her to incompletely use her abiltiies on them, including forced animation of objects or activation (and overcharge) of magical items. Affected objects sprout one or more eyes when active. This persists as long as she maintains the infusion.

----------------------------------------

Interesting, that would let her continue to assist Reisarf while split up if she can spill into some of my alienist's equipment. It has potential to act as traps and minor guardians throughout my dungeon, as well as packaging a surprise into some of my golems.

I check how Stargazer is coping with the matter of the winze as well. I end up needing to call in Reisarf for some additional interpretation. My Sealing Designation hasn't made it completely inert as I'd hoped. I should have known better. This isn't an emergency but it's still leaking some power, perhaps it did manage to snatch some of the energy from my Verdant Idol.

"You will have to be careful Stargazer." I tell her. "What that thing is leaking isn't quite raw mana. I called it liquid corruption before but it's more that it is tainted by malice. It has the potential to harm things and make them better at harming others."

Stargazer can safely absorb a small amount of it and has the Kindly Mushrooms which are able to break it down as well. If she focuses on horticultural efforts she is likely to develop plant based abilities in the future though.

She could potentially transfer mana to me as well to make her innards less energetic, but she did win that from me despite all the circumstances surrounding it so I am loath to suggest it.

If she's able to direct plants and monsters to the corruption they could potentially absorb the excess but this is likely to make particularly hostile varieties.

Some interpretative dance also informs me she was thinking of trying to use her Star Spilling Gaze on the remains of the flesh golem simulcrum of Reisarf I made to have its Crystal Plague crystallise a dumping ground. Inventive but also a wobbly stack of possibilities I shouldn't be suprised she came up with.

Finally, I can tell her more about what would help siphon energy from that thing, but that knowledge is dangerous to me as well. Also I worry if it becomes too low on energy something bad might happen.

>Finally, I can tell her more about what would help siphon energy from that thing, but that knowledge is dangerous to me as well. Also I worry if it becomes too low on energy something bad might happen.
Bad things are good for you, Deem. They build character.

>mushrooms
Eh, I don't like the idea of Stargazer gaining plant abilities.
>transfer mana
Nah
>direct stuff to the corruption, maybe making hostile varieties
I kinda like that idea, assuming we'll be able to tell when we make something bad.
>crystal dumping ground
Isn't that just putting off the problem for later? The crystals will still have the corruptive energies. I guess if we could then use those crystals up in a constructive manner it'd be ideal.
>tell her secrets that could be used against you
Hmm. Maybe. How loyal are the three of them? Is it even a valid worry for them to betray you-- have any of your denizens ever done that? Those that were aware you were a thinking being, anyway. The advantage to doing this would be that she can use it on you if you go berserk again, solving the crisis quicker.

...ah. I just realized something. Now that there are two Reisarfs, doesn't that mean Stargazer is getting twice as much energy from their pact? It's either that, or the Reisarfs are giving half as much energy. ...well, I guess it could be something in between. Depends on how the pact is structured.

How does the slime the lizard rescued feel about its savior? She can live on a diet of slime milk, right? And likewise, do the fairies need blood? Can they leech from homunculi? (Will they try anyway?)

You should favor mana transfer over horticulture. I just think plant-based abilities don't suit Stargazer very well. Let the kindly mushrooms do what they can and then let your experienced embrace help shoulder the burden. This does not negate her win, perhaps you can repay the favor later.

Spilling into the Reisarf simulacrum? Absolutely, that was a powerful form of Reisarf. You already have two Reisarfs, what's the matter with a third?

Cultivating more hostile varieties of monster from the corruption seems almost cruel to the monsters, almost, but to give it animate form and substance also makes it easier to attack.

Finally, let forbidden knowledge stay forbidden knowledge. She's in punishment too for reckless self-endangerment, don't forget. Keep the winze out of crisis mode until it's too late for it to resist.

Hostile plants sound useful and fits the dungeon theme.

What happens if you eat a Deemegg? Will your homunculus body form a deeper link with your core?

Also Deem you really should get hugs from someone. Soon.

>>1106234
>More reisarfs

I... think we should ask them before cloning them any further. With the exception of an object lesson on 'doing unpredictable things' we should be sure they'd be okay with yet another one of them running around and needing hugs.

>>1106225
i think the dumping ground is a valid idea. we can throw bad shit there to make even worse shit later!

also someone is probably interested in buying nuclear magic crystals

It'll probably be more effective to guide her to people who are likely to hug her, than to simply tell her to go hug someone. Now that you've gotten the new denizens settled, you should probably go find Linea and make sure she's not stewing too hard over transferring a curse to you.

Do lizard pile-ons count as hugs?

>"Let the lizard get settled in first, Chakarchelou." I warn him.
No, no, let him interact even more with the more experienced lizard. Not unobserved, of course, but I'm sure you're able to intervene if they get too out of hand.

Hmm... Maybe if Chakarchelou and the new lizard are good we can infuse the new lizard with some dragon, later...

>>1106225
>>If she's able to direct plants and monsters to the corruption they could potentially absorb the excess but this is likely to make particularly hostile varieties.

This seems like the best choice, as worst case scenario, we just have to fight off whatever results of it, no worse then what we usually do anyway, and probably more interesting then fighting more frogs.
Directing it more towards plants might be the best bet, unless we maybe want to soup up the Cake Mimic. The new guys we probably dont want to get too hostile and unpredictable before the tour.
I'd suggest maybe corrupting some vines I think are around? That might get us something we can use for traps, and maybe if we expose some Bomb Flowers, we can get some more volatile explosives.

Have we seen Worst-Slime since at least Stargazer's Shenanigans? How they doin?

>>1106367
>unless we maybe want to soup up the Cake Mimic
the Cake Mimic is a free morale booster, let's not ruin a good thing by trying to fix what ain't broken

>>1106367
If there are any plants and monsters left inside Stargazer, that's where I would prefer the corruption goes, rather than our new arrivals. Or we could dump it on the frogs.

Idea for what Reisarf and Belphejar could come up with, inspired by:
>>1087236
>I prefer to have a solution to such things available in the dungeon,

Dual-use flashbang potions. Looks like glitter and tar in a clear glass bottle. The 'glass' is actually just clean water, gelforged into brittle containers by Hin - seems like the kind of efficiency trick a potion merchant may find impressive.

Drink it? Grow temporary nictating membranes on your eyes, and waxy goo flows abundantly from your ears. Protects both senses from overstimulation at the cost of somewhat impairing normal use.

Smash it, or otherwise spill on bare stone? The starry gunk explodes with a bright flash and loud noise, but minimal direct damage. Adventurers with debuffed luck might discover this function accidentally, to their tactical detriment... or clever ones could use it to force shadow-slick assassin slimes out into the open.

1/5 Deem 2026/01/29(Thu)10:20 No. 1120508 ID: 84d23c
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>Bad things are good for you, Deem. They build character.
No, they build exhaustion and resentment.

>>tell her secrets that could be used against you
>Hmm. Maybe. How loyal are the three of them? Is it even a valid worry for them to betray you-- have any of your denizens ever done that? Those that were aware you were a thinking being, anyway. The advantage to doing this would be that she can use it on you if you go berserk again, solving the crisis quicker.
>Let forbidden knowledge stay forbidden knowledge. She's in punishment too for reckless self-endangerment, don't forget.
You're right, I should not risk that sort of betrayal. I should not teach those sorts of secrets.

...

I should never do that.

>...ah. I just realized something. Now that there are two Reisarfs, doesn't that mean Stargazer is getting twice as much energy from their pact?
I don't know yet. We'll have to find out out when I let Stargazer out.

>What happens if you eat a Deemegg? Will your homunculus body form a deeper link with your core?
It would make my golem body more like itself. So in other words it would do nothing.

>Also Deem you really should get hugs from someone. Soon.
Just because you keep pestering me does not mean I am going to do it!

>Do lizard pile-ons count as hugs?
Not doing it regardless.

>Let him interact even more with the more experienced lizard. Not unobserved, of course, but I'm sure you're able to intervene if they get too out of hand.
>Hmm... Maybe if Chakarchelou and the new lizard are good we can infuse the new lizard with some dragon, later...
No, they're staying separate for now!

>Now that you've gotten the new denizens settled, you should probably go find Linea and make sure she's not stewing too hard over transferring a curse to you.
She's fine.

>Have we seen Worst-Slime since at least Stargazer's Shenanigans? How they doin?
Surviving.

>The potion bottle 'glass' is actually just clean water, gelforged into brittle containers by Hin - seems like the kind of efficiency trick a potion merchant may find impressive.
I will pass that suggestion to Hin later.

>How does the slime the lizard rescued feel about its savior? She can live on a diet of slime milk, right? And likewise, do the fairies need blood? Can they leech from homunculi? (Will they try anyway?)
Later!

2/5 Deem 2026/01/29(Thu)10:22 No. 1120509 ID: 84d23c
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>I think the dumping ground is a valid idea. We can throw bad shit there to make even worse shit later!
>Isn't that just putting off the problem for later? The crystals will still have the corruptive energies. I guess if we could then use those crystals up in a constructive manner it'd be ideal.
I already have too many problems I am putting off for later, so I will rule that option out.

>Spilling into the Reisarf simulacrum? Absolutely, that was a powerful form of Reisarf. You already have two Reisarfs, what's the matter with a third?
The aforementioned wobbly stack of uncertain interactions needed to make it work, and that it's just crystallising those perils for later problems.

>Plant-based abilities don't suit Stargazer very well.
True it does feel like an odd sideways step for her.

>Hostile plants sound useful and fits the dungeon theme.
>Cultivating more hostile varieties of monster from the corruption seems almost cruel to the monsters, almost, but to give it animate form and substance also makes it easier to attack.
>I'd suggest maybe corrupting some vines I think are around? That might get us something we can use for traps, and maybe if we expose some Bomb Flowers, we can get some more volatile explosives.
>Worst case scenario, we just have to fight off whatever results of it, no worse then what we usually do anyway, and probably more interesting then fighting more frogs.
This has the advantage of being relatively simple too. All Stargazer has to do is keep moving plants and creatures inside her to anywhere that the malicious raw mana appears.

I explain a little to her about how the winze's shattered spell channels should mean it steadily will bleed corrupt energy, what sort of circulation patterns she might expect and how to ensure her handful of internal vegetation and denizens are easily relocated to those spots. I expect the see-nuts and gristleworms will mutate and perhaps some of the other plants will become ambulatory too.

I feel unclean after that talk, too much thinking about that gross, broken thing...

After warning her to be careful of any strange impulses from it, I decide I should retire to my Heart Chamber and try resting for the night. Stargazer can check on how Reisarf's dungeon cleaning and potion brewing efforts have gone. How much trouble could it be?

3/5 Deem 2026/01/29(Thu)10:23 No. 1120510 ID: 84d23c
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Deem is having a nightmare.

(Dungeoner Interlewd: Not A Boob Dungeon!)
>>1111341

4/5 Deem 2026/01/29(Thu)10:24 No. 1120511 ID: 84d23c
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I am having breakfast. I don't feel refreshed at all. I am plagued by stupid worries.

Something isn't right.

"Look Deem, it was just one batch of silly potions." Hin says to me. "No-one's going to be judging your whole dungeon off it! So what if some of your denizens got a little silly about it? No-one's to blame!"

"I think you might have some sort of ulterior motive there." I say sourly.

"I'm not silly, I'm very mature." She puffs out her chest. "And I've changed my mind, maybe you should blame yourself, Ms Fecund Earth Dungeon."

"I'm not going to do that." How dare she even joke about that. I am not running that sort of dungeon.

5/5 Deem 2026/01/29(Thu)10:25 No. 1120512 ID: 84d23c
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An ENEMY draws near!

What?!

Olan's here for the tour early? This is the worst possible time! Barely anything is ready! Half my denizens are bulbous and hung over from suspicious potions! It's going to leave the worst possible impression! What am I going to do about this?!

Delegate instructions to prepare for the tour, while you go and talk to him, see if you can gently get him to come back later.

Tell the troops to assemble! Inspect them and see who’s fit for duty. Remember, this run is rigged anyway - they don’t have to win, they just have to lose gracefully.
Have Stargazer greet them - the pantomime should add to the confusion until you actually arrive.

Do a safety briefing. Make sure your patron has a church pendant in case of catching strays. Please keep your arms and legs inside the dungeon while the game is in motion.

>>1120512
Oh god, a rich kid coming EARLY?!
>>1120513
terrible idea! will leave a souring impression!

Possibly stall for time with a chat over tea... though it IS breakfast so he might've eaten already...
Get everyone into position, use magic to get everyone into shape, place the loot, clean everything up. If worse comes to worse you can explain that that universe is conspiring against you.

>>1120512
Okay, look, we agree you don't run that sort of dungeon, and you certainly should do all you can to avoid looking that way, but this guy radiates the aura of someone who might be into that sort of thing.

I'm not saying we should lean into it! Absolutely not. But we shouldn't, like, vehemently deny it or anything. If he makes an assumption that goes in our favor, that's all the better, right?

Do the responsible Fantasy Overlord thing and go send your minions to die!

Start birthing baby bombs! Let these fools enter cuteness proximity while you remote-detonate your giggling traps.

Okay but seriously do a quick recap of what works and form a quicker strategy. You don't need optimal performance, just enough to win by attrition. This is a raid, not a war.

>>1120512
Play hardball. Lock the front door. They are not here when they are meant to be. If they invade then they are subject to the rules of the Game. It will not be a tour. If you can manage to talk to them before they get in, you can tell them there has been an incident which will paint you in an unfavorable light. I don't know what our options are for boob reduction and hangover recovery. How long would it take? ...wait, you're currently shaped modestly. What if you used the Deemeggs to reshape those who are improperly shaped? If you can do that quickly enough, then maybe we don't need to delay them or anything, but we do need to verify exactly how this tour is supposed to go- are they both fighting? Are they both carrying resurrection charms?
Inspect your troops. Whoever is fit for duty after treatment, deploy them. Whoever is an embarrassment, sideline them. We just got some new monsters, we can pad out/strengthen encounters with those. Hin is definitely going to be fighting today. Hmm, could she make a good end boss? ...wait, Hin is the one who is known for drinking too many potions, how did SHE manage to resist temptation?
Also exactly how much of that dream happened? Did Moriko turn into an alien titty monster? If not, why did you dream that she did, hmmmmmm?

Scold Stargazer for not resisting the Winze. At least now you know what the Winze is likely to do when unmonitored... and tell the others that you expect them to represent the dungeon during invasions, so they should be fighting fit at all times, or at least in a condition that they can recover from quickly enough to be presentable.

Showing up on time is an amateur move.
Showing up late is a power play.
Showing up early? What a shrewd man, he *wants* to see you at your worst!

its not that sort of dungeon, no. But you could hint at it being so. The fecund earth's hidden mysteries etc. Dance of the seven veils and all that. If he finds such things sexual, well that's on him.

To that end, whoever is plumpened, get some costumes, tasteful ones, and get to the front door to distract while everyone else gets organized.

1/3 Deem 2026/05/03(Sun)11:21 No. 1126174 ID: 60c867
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>I don't know what our options are for boob reduction and hangover recovery. How long would it take? ...wait, you're currently shaped modestly. What if you used the Deemeggs to reshape those who are improperly shaped?
I have a much simpler option than that. After getting permission from Hin, I shrink myself into my Distill Mode and tap into the ready-to-cast spell of In My Image. It will overlay any magic affecting her with the magic affecting me, and as I have partaken of none of those magical effects it should purge it from Hin's system. I discharge the spell into her, and it works as intended: Hin's chest is returned to its normal state.

She looks at me and her eyes light up. "Oh Deem, your small shape's so cute!" She grabs me in a hug. I did not agree to this! I struggle.

"Zzzzz."

...

She fell asleep. Was the purge of her system really that strenuous? She's still not letting go...

>If worse comes to worse you can explain that that universe is conspiring against you.
Excuses! That reeks of weakness. Even though it is.

I struggle free of a hug-hungry ogre and, somewhat disheveled, go to find my other denizens. This doesn't seem like a solution if it's going to put people to sleep even if I can stall until I have a second cast ready.

>Hin is the one who is known for drinking too many potions, how did SHE manage to resist temptation?
A lack of peer pressure I assume! Maybe she had a busier night than I realised if that's enough to put her under.

>We just got some new monsters, we can pad out/strengthen encounters with those.
No we can't. I was planning to mutate those, and I have yet to do any work on properly taming them or habituating them to my dungeon.

>Have Stargazer greet them - the pantomime should add to the confusion until you actually arrive.
I'm not certain where Stargazer - or Reisarf are. Merud too. They must be up in the hidden valley.

>Also exactly how much of that dream happened? Did Moriko turn into an alien titty monster? If not, why did you dream that she did, hmmmmmm?
I'm too busy for this nonsense. I maintain some awareness of my dungeon, even when asleep. It must have been extrapolated from the real potion tests!

2/3 Deem 2026/05/03(Sun)11:23 No. 1126175 ID: 60c867
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>Tell the troops to assemble! Inspect them and see who’s fit for duty.
I'm able to quickly marshall Kali, Linea and some of my golems.

When did my dungeon become infested with preposterously-shaped gigantic women?!

"You are stressed, Deem?" Moriko says, bending over to inspect me.

I eye her and my other denizens warily, lest a second of my denizens decide I am looking particularly grabbable today. "Olan is outside!"

My hammerai straightens up and thumps her chest. "Then we'll show them what this dungeon is all about!"

"Do you think you can fight like that?" I ask her.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Kali says from the side.

Linea whistles. "Is there a problem, Deem?"

I feel like something is gnawing on me. I don't have time for this.

>Remember, this run is rigged anyway - they don’t have to win, they just have to lose gracefully.
That's right, arguments with snarky slimes will have to wait. I think my hammerai might be moving in certain ways just to get my attention too as she starts getting the others organised. Every time I look at her she seems extra bouncy. Has everyone's brains gone rotten at some point? I have to flee from a frank conversation about what exactly Moriko wants from me too. There are enemies about!

>Okay, look, we agree you don't run that sort of dungeon, and you certainly should do all you can to avoid looking that way, but this guy radiates the aura of someone who might be into that sort of thing.
>I'm not saying we should lean into it! Absolutely not. But we shouldn't, like, vehemently deny it or anything. If he makes an assumption that goes in our favor, that's all the better, right?
>Its not that sort of dungeon, no. But you could hint at it being so.
Ngah!

>Get everyone into position, use magic to get everyone into shape, place the loot, clean everything up.
Argh we'll have to work with what we've got, since a mix of slimes and golems was planned as the opener. That'll give some time to locate my missing denizens, and move Hin and my newly recruited monsters out of harm's way. Being down Hin is really hurting my flexibility. I have those eggs as an option still...

But before anything, I need more time!

>Do a safety briefing.
>Possibly stall for time with a chat over tea... though it IS breakfast so he might've eaten already...
>We do need to verify exactly how this tour is supposed to go- are they both fighting? Are they both carrying resurrection charms?
I have some things I'll need to ask Olan anyway.

3/3 Deem 2026/05/03(Sun)11:24 No. 1126177 ID: 60c867
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>Showing up on time is an amateur move.
>Showing up late is a power play.
>Showing up early? What a shrewd man, he wants to see you at your worst!
He has not earned my affection with this move and he is very far from seeing my at my worst!

>To that end, whoever is plumpened, get some costumes, tasteful ones, and get to the front door to distract while everyone else gets organized.
I'm heading to the entrance now to intercept Olan, his suspicious-looking companion, and their imminent threat to my mental and spiritual well-being. I need to stall them. Should I go it alone, or take someone with me?

My thoughts cloud with dread at either thought.

>>1126174
There's an obvious explanation here. Hin was abusing potions to stay awake, and you dispelled that so now she's sleeping normally. Didn't we have coffee or something?
Well, it's either that or somehow you've got a magical effect that causes sleepiness, but I doubt it.

>>1126174
>It must have been extrapolated from the real potion tests!
Hmm, yet she isn't in alien form. So either the alien form she got wore off, or your dream heavily exaggerated its effects and they aren't immediately obvious from looking at her now.

>>1126177
First, ask why they're early. Tell them one of your denizens is incapacitated for unclear reasons so you can't give them the full experience... and you may need a moment to find a few. Last night was potion testing and things got out of hand. (that should be a decent enough explanation)
So give them a choice- they can see you at your best if they wait for a bit, or they can see how you adapt to being caught at a disadvantage.

>alone?
Fuck no, meet them with a battle group. They might attack without even bothering to discuss things, and it would be within their rights of the Labyrinth Game, wouldn't it? You don't want to get banished before you've even rallied your troops!
If a fight breaks out, apply some buffs but retreat before they can break through to attack you. Come to think of it, that's a decent strategy, for there to be a unit that can apply buffs to allies, but they don't stick around past the beginning of the fight, and retreat to support the next group in the dungeon, and so on until they're at the last group and can't run anymore.

Take the bustiest one with you

Bring Moriko, so you’re not outnumbered. Surely she would never embarrass her boss in front of a client.

If you're wondering what's going on, we developed an addictive sex-enhancing potion and one of its effects is hindering nearby witnesses' ability to understand what debauchery they're looking at.
We're gonna be rich.

Take one of the giant golems with you.

Bring Moriko, she's always been the most level headed. At least on matters other than herself.

she's the most intimidating anyway