The Newt and Demon - Chapter 2.30: Horrible Demon Dog Cave

Chapter 2.30: Horrible Demon Dog Cave

Theo left the distilled essences for the day. He intended to make good on that promise to himself, but he couldn’t sit idle. Instead of dashing around the lab, trying to get as much done in the time he had left, he moved at a leisurely pace. The scent of the fermenting [Swamp Onions] filled the lab, stinging his eyes. Even the open window did little to wash the smell out of the air, leaving it hanging there like a miasma. The distillation of that mash was even worse. The moment the condenser dripped the first drops of essence, tears formed in the corners of the alchemist’s eyes.

We’re almost done clearing the dungeon, Tresk said. We’re finding some weird monsters. Dogs that walk upright. They’ve got tentacles, too.

That’s disgusting, Theo said.

While he waited, Theo inspected his mayor’s screen to assess the cost of owning the southern hills. Currently, Broken Tusk expanded 200 paces south of Perg’s tannery. A single expansion to the south wasn’t enough, bringing the incorporated part of town just shy of the mine’s location. The mine sat on his map now, an unlabeled red pin nestled among the hills. Expanding it by one section cost him 5 gold, then the next cost 8 gold. He swallowed hard as he agreed to the menu’s request, watching as his funds dwindled. 8 gold, 67 silver, and 52 copper left.

The ground rocked under his feet as the expansion took place. Theo regretted not sending out a message before he did that. Townspeople were likely freaking out, assuming another monster wave was on the way. The alchemist navigated the new, confusing screen to find a section for town announcements. It took a while of digging, but he knew it was there. Aarok’s announcement earlier was proof of that. The Half-Ogre had access to a simplified version of the mayor’s screen, including a fancy tactical map.

[Theo]: I just expanded the town. We’re not under attack.

Theo frowned as soon as he sent it, shaking his head. At least he didn’t say don’t panic.

Should I panic? Tresk asked.

No, I just expanded the town. Did you read the message?

Yeah, I read it. Some of it. As long as we’re not under attack.

Theo pressed his hand against the hot flask collecting the modifier essence.

[Aerosolize]

[Essence Modifier]

Rare

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Great Quality

15 units (liquid)

When the glass this potion is contained within shatters, a cloud of gas will emerge. The potion’s effect will be greatly diminished, based on the size of the cloud, applying that effect to all targets within the cloud.

He wasn’t sure if this would work, but it was better than nothing. The description said it diminished the effects of a potion, which might be the key. If the plant he experimented on received too much [Lesser Potion of Growth], it could have monsterized. This was all theorization, though. There was only one sure way to know for sure.

Theo transferred the growth potion into a more fragile vial before adding the [Aerosolize] modifier to a [Lesser Potion of Growth], watching a thick cloud of yellow gas emerge from the vial, then get sucked back in. The potion took on that putrid hue, but the smell diminished. That did little for the stench that had seeped into the pores of the wood, and the fabric of the alchemist’s clothes. He spent some time sprinkling [Cleansing Scrub] around the lab and himself, scouring the smell away to leave a pleasant berry scent. He inspected the modified potion before heading outside.

[Lesser Potion of Growth]

[Aerosolize]

[Potion] [Modified Potion]

Uncommon

Created by: Belgar

Grade: Great Quality

Drink to grow 1.25 your current size. May age the imbiber of the potion by an unknown quantity of time.

Effect (modified):

Break this vial to apply a diminished [Growth] effect over an area. Area and strength depend on potion quality and rank.

The sun fell in the west, casting long shadows across the town. Theo had two experiments to run before the day was done. The first was to apply only part of an unmodified [Lesser Potion of Growth] to his plant, something his instincts said wouldn’t work. For a potion to take effect, most of the contents needed to be imbibed. That needed more experimentation, but it was a task for another time. The second experiment he’d run today was simple. Throw the modified growth potion at his healthy [Spiny Swamp Thistle] and observe the reaction.

The expected result of using part of a [Lesser Potion of Growth] was failure. The expected result from his aerosolized potion was unknown.

Theo approached his lone plant, crouching nearby but preparing to run. With his increased [Dexterity], he wasn’t sure if he wouldn’t fall on his face. While he felt more nimble, it wouldn’t be enough if the monster could free itself from the ground. The alchemist leveled the vial of [Lesser Potion of Growth] and let a single drop fall on the spiny leaves of the [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. Nothing happened, as expected. He poured half the contents of the vial, exactly 1 unit, onto the plant to no effect. Before proceeding with the next phase, he inspected the vial. The contents swirled for a moment, turning a sludge-brown color and thickening.

[Inert Potion]

[Junk]

Common

Created by: Belgar

This potion has been measured incorrectly. It is now useless.

“That’s one mystery solved,” Theo said.

With a tangential theory confirmed, he moved on to the main experiment. The alchemist took the modified [Lesser Potion of Growth] in hand and stepped back, judging the distance he could throw accurately. He furrowed his brow, picking up a stone from the gravel yard and throwing it as hard as he could. It tumbled through the air, falling ten paces away. Theo adjusted his distance from the plant, getting uncomfortably close and hoisting the potion. In one, jerky motion, the potion missed by a large margin.

“Well, dang,” Theo said, watching the potion hit a full pace from its target.

The distance didn’t matter, though. Theo watched as the vial shattered, green smoke billowing from the point of impact. It rolled over the ground like a creeping fog, enveloping the [Spiny Swamp Thistle] and the gravel yard itself. A thought crossed through the alchemist’s mind at that point. The gravel yard had been a place where he disposed of countless failed experiments. Until fire licked at the soles of his shoes, he hadn’t considered the possibility of a reaction. Without his new [Dexterity], his scramble across the yard would have ended in disaster.

Is that fire? Tresk asked.

Theo fell on the soft ground, watching as a pillar of flame rose from the gravel yard. Shards of the hard stone cut at his face, peppering everything around him as a tornado of fire emerged. It raged for a moment, licking at the boughs of the nearby trees, before flickering out. As quickly as the reaction happened, it ended.

No need to worry, Theo said. Just experimentation.

You lost health! Tresk said. I’ve never seen your health bar go that low!

Theo took a moment to look at his interface. The Marshling was right, he was missing a quarter of his health bar. Looking down, he spotted the source of the issue. A large chunk of gravel had wedged itself into toros, near his left shoulder. Only now did he notice the pain, radiating in dull waves through his body. It was the first time he’d been injured since coming to Broken Tusk, and the entire ordeal was strange.

Oh, I got smacked by a rock, Theo lied, playing down the severity of the injury. So, why doesn’t it hurt?

I dunno, you’re a weird guy. Maybe you like getting hurt, Tresk said. Maybe [Wisdom] mitigates pain.

Theo shrugged it off, pulling a [Lesser Healing Potion] from his inventory. He held the vial in his hand, peering through the red liquid. The alchemist had made thousands of potions by now. Countless people benefited from the healing properties contained within that 2-unit vial. He downed it in one gulp, eyes going wide as the elixir went to work. The large gash in his shoulder stitched itself together in a single heartbeat, the pain vanishing just as quick. The blood soaking into his robes vaporized, forming a dense red mist that drifted with the wind. His health bar returned to full, and he grinned.

A small crater sat in the middle of the gravel yard, but the plant was unharmed. The green fog hadn’t even been washed away by the force of the fire tornado, but it was dissipating. Theo kept clear of the fog until it vanished completely, moving to get a better view on his plant. As he approached it, a voice boomed from behind him.

“Could you at least use the announcement system if you’re going to blow stuff up?” Aarok bellowed.

“Oops,” Theo said, navigating to his menu.

[Theo]: Nothing to worry about. Just blowing stuff up at the Newt and Demon.

“Yeah, bit late,” Aarok said, laughing.

Theo simply smiled in response, turning to look at his [Spiny Swamp Thistle]. It took little observation to know when a plant grew to twice its previous size. He looked at a few notification windows that had accumulated during the excitement.

[Drogramath Alchemy Core] receivedexperience (1%).

[Drogramath Herbalism Core] receivedexperience (1%).

[Theo Spencer] receivedexperience (2%).

Interestingly, his herbalism core got some experience from that. It was an interaction with a plant, so that made sense. Theo’s eyes rolled over the area behind his lab. Suddenly, he had the urge to upgrade his lab and take the [Experimentation Room] upgrade. His intuition said it would be a safe way to dispose of old potions, and he wanted to replace the gravel yard with a small garden.

“So, that’s interesting,” Theo said, kneeling to dig up his [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]. “I found a way to grow plants without turning them into monsters.”

“I saw you also poached some of my adventurers,” Aarok said, folding his arms.

“It’s a short job,” Theo said, waving him away. “They should already be done with their task.”

“What was the job?”

“They cleared out a mine to the south,” Theo said.

“In the hills? I didn’t know there was a mine there.”

“It’s a cave, currently,” Theo said.

“No caves, either,” Aarok said.

Theo rose, hoisting his prize in the air. The [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] had grown four-times its normal size.

“Nice root,” Aarok said.

“It is, thank you. The cave wasn’t there before I arrived,” Theo said. “That’s my theory. Perfect quality stone in the north, an endless supply of reagents here in the swamp, and perfect quality metal in the south. Does lumber have quality? I never inspected the raw lumber Sledge makes—those are perfect quality, too. I’d put a gold coin on it.”

“And you’d be right,” Aarok said, shifting uncomfortably. “What does it all mean?”

“That’s a question no one can answer,” Theo said, shrugging. “What would you do, if you were me? Would you run away from this place, scared of the implications?”

“I’d dig in harder. I’d do exactly what you’re doing. Exploiting all these resources to reinforce the town,” Aarok said, smiling.

Theo simply smiled, feeling that warmth of friendship spread through his chest. He inspected his new [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root], gawking as the interface had changed.

[Spiny Swamp Thistle Root]

[Alchemy Ingredient] [Cultivated]

Common

This [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] has been cultivated. Selective breeding and applications of growth potions will increase the [Cultivation] modifier. [Cultivation] percentage increases yield and quality of this reagent.

Cultivation:

30%

Unit by volume:

4 units

Properties:

[Healing] [Regeneration] ????

“Oh, wow,” Theo said. “I didn’t see that coming.”

“What?”

Theo explained the screen he saw, continuing to talk about the implications, “so, instead of 1 unit, it produces 4 units. If I cultivate these to be better, they’ll produce even more at a higher quality.”

“So, you need a garden,” Aarok said. “Mind if I make a suggestion?”

“Sure.”

“Get your miners to clear this area before you send them off to mine,” Aarok said. “You got the farmers so busy, I doubt they’ll have labor to spare.”

“A task for another day,” Theo said, placing the [Spiny Swamp Thistle Root] in his inventory. “Tresk should be done soon. Should we get some food?”

“She is done,” Tresk’s voice came from behind. Theo spun on the spot, his heart skipping a beat as she appeared from his shadow.

“You’re going to give me a heart attack, one day,” Theo said, clutching his chest.

Tresk extended her arms, opening and closing her hands repeatedly. “Forehead.”

Theo leaned down, pressing his forehead against hers. They got 10% of their Tara’hek level from that one forehead press. Normally it ranged from 1% to 5% daily, but they were working together a lot. That action of cooperation sent it skyrocketing more than anything else, and the alchemist needed to find more ways to instigate the bonus.

“You should have dinner at the guildhall,” Aarok said. “Xam cooks for us almost every night.”

“Doesn’t she have a tavern to run?” Theo asked.

Aarok simply shrugged. “I got my hands on some salt, and actual vegetables.”

“Yes, we’re going,” Tresk said, nodding.

“I still haven’t made salt,” Theo said, following Aarok’s path around the Newt and Demon.

He hadn’t honestly tried to create salt yet. So many things kept coming up that he couldn’t split his concentration on, leaving him focused on very few things. The separation of base elements in raw ingredients was a way off for him. He knew that. The alchemist would need a way to alchemically break matter down. It was a far-off dream.

“What do you expect? It’s been so busy,” Tresk said, walking close to her Tara’hek. “Oh! We named the cave.”

“You and the other adventurers?” Theo asked.

“Yeah. Horrible Demon Dog Cave,” Tresk said, smiling.

“I don’t think so,” Theo said.

“You killed them, right?” Aarok asked. “Why not Dead Dog Cave.”

“That’s much better,” Theo said.

“Fine, but it’s under protest,” Tresk said.

Theo opened his menu as they walked, stumbling a few times as the screen obscured his vision. He named the pin ‘Dead Dog Cave’. By the time they arrived at the Adventurer’s Guild, he was starting to get hungry. The scent of something cooking within didn’t help matters. It wafted on the air, something different than he was used to. The scent of savory meat was there, but other enticing smells lingered with them. When the door swung open, he saw Xam working something that looked like a massive wok.

“What is she making?” Theo asked, trying to get a look at the mix of meat and vegetables.

“Meaty veggie things,” Tresk said.

As Theo approached the Half-Ogre woman, he saw it was something like stir-fry. She’d jumbled vegetables and meat together with some sauce and was flicking the wok furiously, rolling the contents over themselves. The alchemist bit back a comment to Xam, a thought about her horrid cooking until now. The food she was making her looked delicious, unlike her unappetizing perpetual stew.

Theo thought of something more constructive to say. “Have you thought about getting a cooking core?”

It was just an assumption that such a core existed, but it was logical.

“Well, if you want to fund it I’ll be more than happy,” Xam said.

As if summoned, either by the words of commerce or the pleasant smell of the food, Fenian entered the building. Every time the man appeared with a new hat, Theo couldn’t help but think of the lead Karatan in his driving team. Galflower had a taste for hats, apparently.

“I see everyone has smelled this wonderful dish. How do you do it, Xam?” Fenian asked.

“With care,” Xam said, a slight blush spreading across her cheeks. She turned the fire down, scooping out a bowl for Fenian to have first.

“You have any cooking cores she could have?” Tresk asked, pushing her way to the front of the vague line that was forming.

“Oh, my,” Fenian said, placing his hand on his chest. “You don’t have any cooking cores? And you’ve managed to create such a wonderful dish. No, we can’t have that.”

The Elf trader withdrew a core from his inventory, handing it over freely. Theo didn’t get a good look at it, but he knew it wasn’t worth much. While the gesture was appreciated, Fenian wouldn’t lose much money on that one. There were a slew of common cores that went for almost nothing, only costing a few silver. All the same, Xam’s face lit up.

Why hasn’t she bought the core before? Theo asked.

She’s too proud, Tresk said. Even with her tavern doing alright, funds are still tight for her.

Well, that sucks, Theo said, feeling a pang of guilt for having another blind spot.

The alchemist managed to shake the feeling off and grab a bowl of the food. It was much like all the food made in Broken Tusk. The Half-Ogres and Marshlings alike enjoyed simplicity in their cooking. Theo couldn’t place the vegetables, but there were three distinct flavors, even when all the textures blended together. It was savory, if not a little too salty. The highlight of the meal was the meat, as it always was. It was cooked to perfection, almost melting in his mouth as he ate.

As Tresk and Theo made their way back to the Newt and Demon, they reflected on how relaxing of an evening it had been. They were both exhausted, but it was worth it. Progress came easily lately, but there were many roadblocks in their way. Sleep was stolen from the alchemist as he lay in bed, though. While Tresk’s snores filled the room, he peeked under his covers at the early warning crystal. It glowed brightly in the dark. A slow, yellow pulse.