Yrryth, the gargoyle, observed as the green wizard placed the constructs that would help stabilize the mana flow in the dungeon. Yrryth didn’t have the concepts to describe the constructs accurately, but she thought they looked a bit like the fish in the oasis pond when they sparkled and spun in the water. Yrryth faintly felt the mana in the worldlet adjust when the green wizard activated the construct. She could feel… something interesting. She tried to decide what the difference was but could only be certain that the mana felt better.


    The green wizard stepped back from the last construct and dusted his hands off, though Yrryth was certain the wizard had touched no dirt. The wizard spoke to the gargoyle. She glared at him. He quailed a bit under her red eyed glare. Yrryth grunted and spoke a “word” that the dungeon fairy had made her memorize.


    “Boouookksss” The gargoyle was not used to having such a deep voice instead of the lovely squeaking voice of bats.


    The green wizard shivered in fear but waved his hand to summon a stack of rectangles. They smelled like nothing Yrryth had ever experienced. Perhaps a little like bat wing skin and dry leaves. She took the rectangles from the wizard and stomped away.


    <hr>


    “And that does it.” Ivira stepped back and dusted off her hands. The “mana mixer” constructs looked like upright paddles strapped to a wagon wheel mounted on a pole, but more sparkly and fancy looking. They were clearly not made of wood or metal.


    “Thank you, wizard Ivira.” Violet gave a little bow. “They have a very interesting effect on the mana in this worldlet.” Violet sensed the mana mixing in stages as it crossed the worldlet. This would apparently prevent the formation of mana aspect “bubbles” that could be disastrous to anything nearby when they collapsed.


    “It’s what I’m paid for.” Ivira said proudly. “Now, Master fairy, here are the books I owe you.” She waved her hand and summoned a stack of leather-bound books. Violet noticed that the books were written in at least two languages, but he recognized them, so it wasn’t a problem. “Also,” Ivira continued, “I have been instructed to ask about the passage fee that traders may expect to pay in order to cross through your dungeon.” Ivira gave the fairy a meaning full look, which he didn’t understand at all.


    “Huh?” Violet said.


    Ivira laughed. “Crataz told me what you did to stop the formation of a vortex and that you nearly killed yourself shoving those mana poles into the ground. In gratitude, I mentioned to some of the people in charge of these things that the dungeon expected a bit of tribute for allowing trade passage.” Ivira smiled like a smug cat. “So, if there was something reasonable that each trading group could bring to…” Ivira hesitated, then shrugged and gestured around them. “to leave in this worldlet in order to purchase passage, I would be happy to convey the message.”


    Violet wasn’t sure he had quite caught everything Ivira was trying to say, but he looked around the worldlet, considering. His mind wandered a bit. The place was pretty bare. The hard sandy floor wasn’t very welcoming to the vines, moss, and tree which the dungeon would spawn. “Oh!” He said. “The dungeon would love plants. Plants that it doesn’t already have, I mean. Ooooh, it would be great to put some planters in here and traders could plant the plants in the planters.” He looked up to see an incredulous look on Ivira’s face.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.


    “Just plants?” She asked.


    Well, yeah. Violet thought. The dungeon has only cared about creatures and plants up to this point. It didn’t even place the treasure it had unlocked. And then Violet had an incredible idea.


    <hr>


    The first trading caravan to enter the Terse Elements dungeon brought a handcart which unfolded into a small table and a sign. The sign read, “Presented by The Egmath Trading Company” and had a fancy symbol on it. The table and sign were set up off to the side of the dungeon entrance where future traders could see that the Egmath company had been here first. A trader brought over a few items and artistically placed them on the table. Several small pots of grasses good for grain, an exotic fruit tree, a handful of blank canvases, a bottle of rich green paint, and a few pages of contemporary music.


    “This dungeon is odd.” One of the traders said.


    “Yes.” The one who filled the table responded. “But the route is remarkably simple. One long walk through terrible blizzards, one climb, then a stroll out the exit. There shouldn’t even be monsters to fight in the blizzards.”


    “Does the passage price not guarantee safety from the monsters?” Yet another trader joined the discussion. “Why even pay?”


    “No safety from monsters, no.” The table filler answered. “But we are permitted to harvest any creatures or fruit we wish, whether they attack us or not. Like this!” The trader jogged over to the dungeon vine, spooking a few butterflies, and picked a white fuzzy bundle off the ground. “Giant silk cocoon! A few of these could just about pay for the whole caravan trip. That’s worth fighting a few monsters, to me.” The other traders admired the cocoon, commenting on potential buyers and contracts. They examined a few pieces of amber and glass, but only took a few handfuls. The caravan soon bundled on thick clothing and ventured into the blizzards.


    <hr>


    Utti panted as he rubbed salve over his burned skin. There had been an incredible number of jellyfish on this dungeon floor and many of them could spray acid. He was grateful that only a handful had been of the new, dark red variety. The locals had told him that the red jellyfish were new, and the regular, mostly clear, jellyfish didn’t spawn anymore. The sting from a clear jellyfish hurt but did almost no damage. The sting from a red jellyfish hurt so much worse and could inflict madness for a time. Utti had killed the last of the jellyfish while under the effect of the madness.


    Utti rested while he waited for the salve to do its work. He was going to enjoy waving his dungeon rewards in the face of that stuck up hill lord who thought Utti needed “to be aware of the hazards” and “to plan a harvesting route” and other nonsense. Utti wasn’t weak, like the locals, he was strong! He didn’t need anyone around to soak up his hard-won riches.


    Impatient for his prize, Utti stood and limped over to the stone alter which stood at the far end of the crack in the ground. This is where he would find his prize. An oilcloth bundle sat on top of the alter. His heart pounded as he grabbed the bundle and began to unwrap it. Under the oilcloth, there was a layer of leaves. Under the leaves was a layer of paper. Utti huffed in annoyance and tore off the paper. He held up the treasure.


    <hr>


    Violet watched the adventurer smash the landscape oil painting across the stone alter, then smash the stone alter. Yrryth could remake the alter in a few seconds, that was no issue, but Violet had taken a full week to paint that landscape! He sighed and pulled out the treasure list. He drew a thick line through, “landscape painting (oil)” and wondered what he would try next. I feel pretty good about my progress in the magic item fabrication book. Violet thought. Maybe I should try making a silk… handkerchief? A handkerchief that doesn’t stain. I think I can do that. Violet pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and began to sketch out his latest dungeon treasure idea.