Home again

[Ebiris]

"We only recently expanded Sylica and its population is yet to grow to match," Alicia says to explain all the empty space he's had available to work with here. "Even if you don't venerate us, I'm content in what I've seen of your character to allow you mastery of this island and the sea around it should you desire to make it your own. This is my wife Syala," she gestures at the other woman with her. "She and I rule here along with Antenora, and my sister Jessica whom you've yet to meet."

[Anastasia]

A gentle sniff of the air. "You smell of each other," The dragon says, "As you should. I accept your invitation."

[Ebiris]

"Be welcome then," Alicia smiles, unperturbed by that sniffing. "You may receive visitors as your fame grows. Don't be afraid to test them, challenges and obstacles are expected in the wilder places here. We do see attacks from demons and Shar now and then - possibly efreet as well soon depending on how things go with Seira. Defend your home should trouble come to it, but we'll mobilise our full strength in the case of anything serious."

[Anastasia]

"All the better," Your new guest says, "It will keep my claws and fangs sharp."

[Ebiris]

"You picked the right place to stay with that mindset," Alicia says approvingly. "I look forward to seeing what you do with this island. For now we'll leave you to your work."

[Anastasia]

"Do play nice, at least," Syala chides, before the two of you return. Once back, "I like him, I could use a grand quest to throw people to. He'll more than suffice."

[Ebiris]

"I was thinking that," Alicia agrees, the two of them now in their private garden. "It's very classic, isn't it? The remote mountain honeycombed with passages, traps, and foes, with a great dragon waiting at its peak. Just what Sylica needs."

[Anastasia]

"Easy treasure, too. Bits of worked mithral can be found as they climb," Syala says, "Which will fit the caves that were formerly mithral deposits and the traps I'm planning to install."

[Ebiris]

"Perhaps some of that Blue Ice in particularly frigid areas?" Alicia suggests as Syala gets into theorycrafting a dungeon.

[Anastasia]

"I was thinking the same," Syala says, "I'm thinking packs of wild mountain lions would be a good start to the danger. The ecology of it will be tricky, they'll need something to feed on. Something that lives in the caves."

[Ebiris]

"Or you can push them further down towards the beach, make them semi-aquatic and live more on fish... and explorers," Alicia chuckles. "Bears seem a better fit for the caves if you're sticking to animals. But yes they can't all be predators, you need a food chain. Kecasandarenala needs to eat too."

[Anastasia]

"Bears. The ever popular dire bear trapped in a tiny pit that the hapless explorer falls into," Syala remarks with a bit of a smile. "It always gets a reaction, one way or another. Especially if you count bleeding profusely as a reaction."

[Ebiris]

"You have to feel sorry for the bear though," Alicia says flatly. "Hmm, bears and honey and bees... I remember something with bees in the judgement ruins near Balmuria. But the climate is likely going to be too cold for insects to be a major part of the dungeon ecosystem. Fighting through a titanic beehive was an experience, though."

[Anastasia]

"Ice bees?" Syala says slowly, then begins to smile. "Giant ice bees."

[Ebiris]

"Replace honey with ice cream then?" she suggests while such abominations are being considered.