Deep Rise : An Illustrated Xenofiction Adventure

[ProfessorLizzard]

>Arrive at the Delver's camp

This things takes forever to get off!

[chimericWilder]

Elder: Wonder how you are going to acquire supplies when you just gave all of your sick cash clout to that nobody.

[Shadow Phoenix]

The clouts themselves don't bear much value at this point (most of them coming from dead or disabled ones). The Elder may work on some servitor in exchange?

[ChetBetera]

I think its been long enough since we last spoke with out most favourite Royal. Let's check on his progress through the rocky walls or wherever he is now.
Royal> Whatcha doing mate?

[Nighzmarquls]

Oooh Someone's Poking Royals Again?

Anyway apologies for the wait on this update I had hectic work and then got sick...

Also this update has the 300th unique still image in it

>"so you see Elder, I've read in that book they use some metal chunk to represents cluts, but without reguards for whoever should honor them. The idea seems pretty flexible in the case of you know, you have to leave the people whose clouts you stored"
>be talking tof some stuff they don't know about the surface
>Wonder how you are going to acquire supplies when you just gave all of your sick cash clout to that nobody.

>Arrive at the Delver's camp

>realize you kinda want to experience this with your roomate in the future. You both became more intimate after this experience.
>wow, this kind of hedonistic life has its appeal. Better both of you go to the surface to calm down.

So... ELDER um I've read of a fascinating practice among Surface Apes...

They have started using metal tokens to represent a primitive kind of clout...

But it allows them to carry it with them from city to city... It seems very convenient to say the least especially since we will be traveling...

Oh really?
Clever Things those surface apes.

It is after all why they make such good raw material...

However some elders in this very city have already tried it... And suffered for their trouble...

Never mind the difficulties of any individual who's clout is worth anything much beyond their home...

There is also the problem that any craft of token that one mind can devise another can manufacture...

The false tokens can be made with a little time and expertise, and to any eye will be indistinguishable from any real icon of value...

Thus any tokening ultimately collapses given the machinations of a few opponents to your interests...

In the end it brings inquisitions for truth down on everyone involved, to the loss of any who partake in the system...

Either way pay no more heed to the concept if you can, it is a crutch employed by short lived beings who are denied the insight needed to perform accurate inquisitions on the mind.

Later...



You feel terrible...

Its like your entire body has been teased and tweaked and nudged and then just cramped up terribly!

You feel simultaneously bloated and empty... a deep flesh pang of denied release that clots in your blood up and down your limbs.

And just where by the ROYALS are you?

Oooh...

*squirq*

Cheertwit?

What happened?

*Sqrurk*
Meh!
I promised myself I'd never do IT that long ever again!
Once was more then enough!

Cheertwit I feel terrible, did we... ?

*Ssfft*
No...

We Didin't do THAT...

That is why it feels so terrible...

Your blood got all riled up and ready... but never got to follow through on anything...

Wait... was this the first time you EVER tried anything...

With anything...

Not even a squeezer?

No!

I Never... Well

It just didn't seem right...

...
Later when I don't feel like my limbs are full of glue we are going to talk about this...
Its really not healthy that you never...

Well anyway...

Later...

YEch!

How long does this last?!

From what I have read not terribly long... but eating helps...
Diverts blood to a different task so its no longer quite so primed...

NYA!
How long were you listening?!?

Well I've been here since before you woke up...

Haipieijit the Ever Becoming asked that I stay and keep a lookout after they disconnected that SERVITOR...

Nasty piece of work there Cheertwit...

Oh!

Where did they go?

Actually where are WE?

In a Servitor Stable...

Haipieijit the Ever Becoming had to carry both of you all the way here to the Delver's Camp...

They are discussing terms of exchange with the proprietor to get us one or two of these pack servitors with full kit.

They were willing to offer us the hospitality of some of the servitor slop for food and the use of the stables for free...

So you two could rest off that little ...

adventure...

Anyway Its a good thing They are helping us I don't think we would have managed to plan this out so well... Did you know there is hardly any lights in the caverns to the surface?

Well Of course, I thought everyone knew that...

I didn't know that...

Indeed most of us were not raised in a family with such expertise in surface delving...

But either way this slop is quite good!

Want some?

OPEN COMMAND TIME!

show spoiler

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Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness has already expressed that IT did not feel like a walk...
Unless of course you were intending to contact that hot little thing Merciful Majesty.

Tender Hater of the Surface that Lashes us with Kindness has had many delicious interactions with a extrapolation of that particular ROYAL.

It would share the details but there are limitations on the bandwidth available in the authors' cerebral cortex...

So lets just say it was comparable to hate snogging in a bed of pulverized sorrow while the two of them wrapped themselves in the broken dreams of every butterfly that wishes it was a dew drop.

Yes, just like that!

[Wessolf27]

>Haipie: Arrive with all the needed servitors
>Meta: After having to experience that maybe it is best to just get something to eat, put your mind somewhere else.
>Cheer: Wonder where Scribble Cute and your cuddle servitor went
>Rama: Read up on more machinery while eating. Might give you an idea on how to at least get acquainted to your new dwelling place soon.

[Shadow Phoenix]

>Cheer, I apologize for earlier. You and your elder are really helping me, and I'm so useless, bwaaa

>Ram, did Haipieijit the Ever Becoming said they were coming with us, or are we going to partake here?

>Both eat begrudgingly the food.

[chimericWilder]

Did someone say food?

[Whimbrel]

>SKREEEEEEEEE

>BIRD TIME

>(also eat foods)

[Whimbrel]

>SKREEEEEEEEE

>BIRD TIME

>(also eat foods)

[Nighzmarquls]

I love all of you guys but there is a time of choices coming up very soon.

And there will be dangers and to be proper dangers that means that if there are failures the protagonists will suffer a bit.

Don't let it trouble you too much however, they are sturdy beauties and will probably pull through.

Good luck...

>Meta: After having to experience that maybe it is best to just get something to eat, put your mind somewhere else.
>Cheer, I apologize for earlier. You and your elder are really helping me, and I'm so useless, bwaaa
>Ram, did Haipieijit the Ever Becoming said they were coming with us, or are we going to partake here?

>Cheer: Wonder where Scribble Cute and your cuddle servitor went

>Rama: Read up on more machinery while eating. Might give you an idea on how to at least get acquainted to your new dwelling place soon.

>Eat begrudgingly of the food.

>Did someone say food?
>also eat foods

>SKREEEEEEEEE

>BIRD TIME

>Arrive with all the needed servitors

You offer Metaserevaori the bowl of slop... Its rich enough in nutrient to feed Servitors, so it should do their blood fine.

Thank you really...
I only really just met you but in all of this...

You have really been a great friend...

and I guess I've been ignoring you...

Um...

It is appreciated, Very much so...

But please don't concern yourself unduly with insulting me...

Um... I'm... Well...

I have grown quite accustomed to dealing with my interests not being appreciated...

You should eat that though...

It will help

WOW this is pretty good!

Yeah yeah...

Food will help make me feel like my blood is not clogged up all over...

I'll eat in a moment...

But first...

WHERE IS SCRIBBLE CUTE?!

Right Here!

Oh my little DARLING!

I'm so happy to see your alright!

Haipieijit the Ever Becoming said that they already fed it so you won't need to worry about that for a...

GIVE ME THE ADORABLE!

Here you are!

The servitor required some modifications in order to survive the ordeal with the Royal's Blood... Its not machinery but the skill with which the coddling servitor's more robust anatomy was spliced into 'Scribble Cute' is still a masterwork...

It hardly looks like any change was made at all...

Awww your such an adorable Servitor...

And those adorable little symbols again!

I always know your happy with me when you make those little red symbols!

Those are your special happy symbols!

Yes they are!

You still find the whole infatuation with servitors kinda disturbing personally...

Cheertwit...
I'm sorry
I've been terrible to you all this time...

But you have always been so friendly, and inclusive and helpful at the academy...

And now all of this and your ELDER!

And... you still help me?!

Why?

I'm so useless...

I...

*Scrick*

Oh Hey!

You are not useless!

I mean...

Um...

Its alright you've always been my friend when everyone else was scared of me...

No one else at the academy really liked me...

I mean even Ramaniculs avoided me...

But you were always there...

I
was
?
*squirp*

You have to admit that Cheertwit used to terrify you... but its become obvious to you recently that they are neither malicious nor incompetent...

You are not really sure what to call them.

I would say that you are more or less directly responsible for my improved ability to relate to Cheertwit.

Besides friend of course...

Re-eally?
the both of you are so nice!

Hey could I get some of that slop now?
I might have had this happen to me before...

But its really kinda making me feel all gunky...

Hmmm...
Uh
Sure I eat most of it but you can have the rest...

Woah!

Be cautious of that servitor!

!Yuech!

!!Git it off!!

!!!Cheertwit!!!

YOU know servitors how do I git it off?!

Daww!
I think it likes you!

Are you sure?

*squirmp*

How do you keep getting yourself into these situations?

Well I suppose we will just take that one for the pack servitor for the trip...

Since you seem to have bonded with it.

WHAT OTHER SUPPLIES WERE GATHERED FOR THE TRIP?

[Shadow Phoenix]

Food for catching stuff could be embarassing at first
Some covering clothes for the atmosphere is changing, and you may want no to appear in all your majesty
Some usuless shiny metal for a bargain is always good

Some lightsource for they aren't any in the uninhabites tunnels
Some ape objects for looking like just exchanging could be a good thing.... even if you don't mean to meet them

and a big motivation hug

[Woodledude]

A knife. For knifing, of course.

[chimericWilder]

You'll probably want the supplies to set up a proper shelter somewhere, that might be a good idea.

[Wessolf27]

^Those above for the moment since everything else that I could think of for the moment has already been said.

[ProfessorLizzard]

>Cloaks against the harsh conditions on the surface

[cryptidWrangler]

>Something shiny.
>Somethings spiky.
>Something slicy.
>and something long and strong.

[Soadreqm]

> Mining equipment. I don't trust those tunnels.

[Shadow Phoenix]

To adventure!!

[Nighzmarquls]

Apologies Everyone, ran out of time to write up the update, but all images are now done...

to placate you till tomorrow and for an added bit of interaction here is an image of the tools that your suggestions brought forth...

While we wait for me to have the time after work tomorrow to finish this update how about we give these implements some names?



Edit: Also Fan art is AWESOME thank you!

[Woodledude]

Ooh! Can we call the knife a Kre'nekk? Or something along those lines? I dunno, the name just appeals to me...

[chimericWilder]

The scythe-like thingymajyck should be called a murderblade fleshcarver, or something.

[Wessolf27]

The hooks could be "incision tools" or "incisors" I dunno, seems like the kind of thing Haipei might use for making servitors.

[Shadow Phoenix]

The lantern may be portable royal emulsion.

The large and crude axe is a Flesh splitter.

The ape paraphernalia is ape paraphernalia

[Nighzmarquls]

Alright looks like our heroes will be loaded out with the following.

Thank you everyone for the name suggestions

• Mining equipment. I don't trust those tunnels.
• Something shiny.
• Somethings spiky.
• Something slicy.
• and something long and strong.
• Cloaks against the harsh conditions on the surface
• You'll probably want the supplies to set up a proper shelter somewhere, that might be a good idea.
• A knife. For knifing, of course.
• Food for catching stuff could be embarassing at first
• Some covering clothes for the atmosphere is changing, and you may want no to appear in all your majesty
• Some usuless shiny metal for a bargain is always good
• Some lightsource for they aren't any in the uninhabites tunnels
• Some ape objects for looking like just exchanging could be a good thing.... even if you don't mean to meet them
• and a big motivation hug

You have gathered up the necessary supplies for the journey to the surface, it is an indulgence well beyond what would be expected of any parent...

But you would be the last to describe your family life as normal, a clan of merely two has always been a subject of quiet bafflement.

Alright each of you take a package and help load up this Servitor with our supplies, we will tie down Metaserevaori's bundle last after these vitals are properly secured...

Incredible...
Is...
Is it really necessary to have all of THAT?

That looks like you got Everything?!
That is practically an expeditions worth!
With No Clout?!

I had some of my own servitor components to trade...
And a few maintenance and repairs...
Also what was left of that overtuned Pleasing Servitor you made Cheertwit...

Little Scroobilicious?
...
Actually I don't really mind...
As long as they went to a good home...

Yes...
a GOOD home...

You have a Royal's Emulsion Lantern With the Replacement Cakes of Dried and Refined Royal's Blood?

The Replacement Cakes are even properly canned to protect servitors.

What about Rations and Fire Solution?

The Rations are Servitor Ingestable and of course I made sure we had Fire Solution.
Also a few spare Lighters, Treated Surface Cloaks and for good measure some Polymerized Fleshfield leather Tarps

even a bundle of Styluses too...

Wow...

We really need all of that to get to the surface?

I'm glad we were going to check in with you first...

Yes...

Also I took the liberty to include a few extras if it meets with YOUR EXPERT approval?

*meep*

...
Splendid
The Flesh Carver from the field worker...

a Kre'nekk in case we ever have need of a smaller blade...

One of the Stone Flensers

And there is also my set of Crafting Incisors and just in case we have need I even grabbed a few trinkets of value to Surface apes.

W-which kind of Trinkets?

Does it really matter?
Surface apes have been seen to treasure these things when they were acquired...

Uh... Certainly not ELDER
...
*meep*

*Sree*

It looks kind of uncomfortable with all of that loaded up...

These Servitors are bred and shaped to grow stronger under duress, It will serve for our journey...

Um...

But really it looks kind of strained...

My Dear...

Little Cao...

I do not wish to insult your interests and what brings you joy...

But Please...

The Servitor will be fine if you give it time...

It is a Tool, It is MEANT to be used...

You feel a tremor of unease down to your very stems...

This is the passage that leads to the Upper Caverns a place you have never set foot...

You are a creature of cities and civilization, even after the loss of your entire clan you have lived on the world of clout.

The serenity and stability of the concern and care of your neighbors.

This is going to be wilderness...

And it will be chaotic...

It will be unsafe...

House Quoriaka is a profuse Family...

Very Nearly obscene in the rate of bloomlings borne by its great Ancestor and Their ELDER Descendants...

Naturally not enough to even conceive that a fresh apprentice could breed of course...

But there is a very good reason for that disgusting birth rate...

Not all of the Surface Delvers who brave this journey return...

Some Caravans return with only a third of their original number...

This is not a Trail to be taken lightly...

But for Cao...

Alright...
All of you are certain of this course?

YES!

y-yes

Yes

INTERMISSION
WHO SHALL WE CHECK ON FOR A BIT NOW?
SOME ONE WE KNOW?
SOME ONE SPECIFIC?
SOME ONE WE DON'T KNOW?