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BD - Chapter 218 - Victorious Bee-Briefing
🕑 Added 2025-01-03 20:05:00 +0000 UTCAll hostiles defeated. Emergency purification successful.
Reward: Two random reward choices.
Belissar exhaled his breath.
“Great work everyone, the purification is over. Can someone let Tarwantrad’s monster know?”
Once he had ensured everyone had been informed of the victory, Belissar took stock of the damage. His eyes widened…and his face curled into a grin. Despite the rush to respond to a purification they weren’t expecting, no bees died today. The shade’s straightforward attacks had been easy enough to dodge in the open air of the Lava Field while the Fairy Grove itself assisted the defenders fighting there. The boar’s only special power was the cloak of fire around it, but said fire was less powerful than the salamander’s. Fire Resistant Bees did its job and they got away with only some light burns.
The worst of it was a digging soldier who mistimed her ambush from below and got stepped on. She managed to dodge well enough to avoid death but one of her pairs of wings was crushed. But, well, Belissar couldn’t bring himself to be too upset about it. The soldier herself was spinning about in joy as Beero arrived to welcome her into the hive of the fallen. If she was happy about it, he’d try to be too.
In the end, Belissar walked away with a smile. His Tower’s defenses had worked. The Dirt Tunnels, Lava Fields, and Fairy Grove hadn’t stopped the shade outright, but they bought all the time needed to figure out its powers and wear down its strength. Once the bees raised some assassins and built more wax golems, the defenses would work even better. He was confident now that they could hold the Hunger, even in an emergency, and had even gotten some rewards for the trouble!
***
Belissar’s smile dropped. Chief Rohsuak and Metsaitti had finished up the day’s talks with the sigmaka and returned, while Tarwantrad had arrived to check on him. They were now gathered after the victory celebration. All three had congratulated him but now looked concerned…which made Belissar concerned.
“Is something the matter?”
Chief Rohsuak shook her head.
“No…but also perhaps.”
She forced herself to smile.
“Today was a great victory, Tower Keeper, of that there is no doubt. You, your bee army, and our young hunters handled themselves admirably and should be proud of felling this foe as cleanly as you did.”
She then sighed.
“What am I concerned with is the rate at which the Hunger is adapting to us. When I think about your description of this shade, I am glad you handled it while I was absent. I would not have been able to help you against it.”
Belissar furrowed his brow.
“What? You couldn’t? It was strong, but didn’t seem that strong…”
Chief Rohsuak shook her head.
“It was coated in fire, but lighter than previous shades, right? That indicates to me the Hunger just wanted something that could resist fire, rather than use it aggressively. It would probably shrug off Metsaitti’s fire stings. I might have still been able to burn it, but it would have taken my most powerful attacks to have a chance. And those take time.”
Metsaitti crossed his arms and nodded.
“And with its speed and bulk, she wouldn’t have had it. You made the right call holding Paloiku back, Tower Keeper. I fear if she had tried to hold the Dirt Tunnels like we did the last shade, this one would have trampled right through them, new shields or not.”
Belissar’s eyes widened.
“So, if we did what we did last time…people would have died?”
Chief Rohsuak slowly nodded.
“I fear it may have been so. And if the Hunger did so intentionally…”
They all fell silent at that. Belissar turned to Tarwantrad.
“You mentioned the Hunger adapts, I guess this is it?”
Tarwantrad rested her chin on her fist.
“It is. You already have the right tools to deal with it though, a solid set of differing options you can rotate through. That means, however, that you are soon coming up on a major milestone for a dungeon master.”
She waved to the bees and the karnuq.
“Karnuq holding a shield wall in cramped tunnels that cannot be bypassed. Lava Fields that require both speed and fire resistance. The Fairy Grove that will not suffer an intruder to pass easily. The open Flower Meadow where the bee army can swarm. You are reaching the point where no single shade can possess all the qualities required to defeat all the options available to you.”
Her face turned dark.
“And that is when the Hunger will stop trying and start using waves. You know how the shades leave a trail of the Hunger wherever they go, the one that disables features and spawners?”
Belissar grimaced. Features yes, but there was only one time when the Hunger managed to disable a monster spawner, and he very much disliked thinking about that day. He tried to put that very first purification out of his mind and nodded to indicate he was paying attention again. Tarwantrad gave him a moment before continuing.
“Eventually, the Hunger stops creating all of a purification’s shades at once, making more only when the preceding waves are defeated. The thing is…the next wave doesn’t have to spawn at the entrance. They can form anywhere the Hunger is present…”
Belissar’s eyes widened as he considered her words.
“So, if the first shade passes a room…the next shade will form in the next room?”
Tarwantrad nodded with a frown.
“I think you’ll be reaching that point soon. For those purifications, it’s vital to stop as many of the shades as you can as early as you can.”
Silence hung over the group for a while. Belissar sighed and then steeled himself as best he could, looking to Chief Rohsuak and the bees.
“It looks like we still have a lot of work to do.”
Tarwantrad’s expression softened even as the bees danced their salute.
“I should say, though, that you are doing well, and accumulating more tools and rooms at an excellent pace. I believe your tower will overcome this challenge as well, Belissar. I only wish to warn you of it before it occurs.”
Belissar gave her a smile which she returned, then took a deep breath.
“Then, shall we check the rewards?”
Everyone present danced or nodded at that, so Belissar opened them up.
Please select a reward:
- Uncommon Monster Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)
- +150 max mana
- Uncommon Room Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)
Please select a reward:
- Uncommon Perk Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)
- Rare Room Feature Choice (At least one rare or better option)
- Uncommon Room Feature Choice (At least one uncommon or better option)
Belissar turned the choices over to the queens and karnuq.
“Any suggestions? Anything the tower needs?”
The queens had none and the karnuq shook their heads. Belissar tilted his head.
“Really? Nothing you want?”
After some dancing between the bees, the First of the Fifth flew forward.
“Sorry…have lots to work on right now. More flowers, more bees help but don’t know what helps most. Whatever King chooses best. Not sure how to help King…sorry…”
Belissar’s face softened and he reached out so she could land on his hand, then began brushing her back.
“Don’t be, I’m not upset. I just want to make sure you have everything you need right now.”
The First of the Fifth immediately stopped drooping and launched into a happy dance at that. Belissar chuckled and held in the urge to sigh at himself, lest she misinterpret it. He turned a glance to Chief Rohsuak.
“What the First of the Fifth said goes for us as well, Tower Keeper. With our hunters beginning to receive full blessings, the resources you provided, and the exchanges with the sigmaka, we have our course of action laid out for the time being. We do not require anything else for the moment, so please proceed with your own plans.”
Belissar nodded at that.
“In that case, let’s go with the mana and the perk.”
As the First of the Fifth said, his Tower had many new options at the moment they hadn’t implemented yet. Two new kinds of monster bees in assassins and captains, the entirely new monster type in wax golems, and a new hive species in butcher bees. They had the flower nursery project, the Death room project, and the new bog. From what Nenavann described, the bog was also only the first of many different types of water rooms they might be able to acquire. And there were still more Circle masters who would offer boons in the future, plus the possibility of exchanging his own Tower’s offerings for more.
Suffice to say, even with the revelations about the Hunger’s future challenges, the Tower had quite a lot of new options still coming up. Belissar felt a perk that made existing options better without requiring significant efforts on the part of his bees would be the best of the current choices. As for the mana, normally, he preferred to just grab mana from the daily purifications. But right now, having more mana to implement more rooms and features was more beneficial than acquiring even more. Additionally, this latest purification was a reminder that the Hunger would not wait for them to prepare new options. Having enough mana to implement new additions as soon as possible felt better than an extra monster or room feature at this point.
Belissar explained his reasoning, to the bees’ great praise. Tarwantrad confirmed she found his reasoning sound, so he went ahead and confirmed the choices.
Max mana increased by 150!
Available mana: 222/1340
Over two hundred sounded like a lot but Belissar knew from experience how quickly mana vanished when it came time to implement new rooms…
Please select a perk:
- Lingering Toxins (Rarity: Common)
- Bee-Type Mana Boost (Below Average) (Rarity: Rare)
- Piercing Stingers (Rarity: Uncommon)
This one wasn’t even a choice.
Bee-Type Mana Boost (Below Average) selected.
Mana was everything to the bees. The queens used it to lay eggs. The workers and honeypots used it to make honey and wax. The communers used it to connect the hive. The gardeners used it to monitor the plants. The soldiers, sprayers, lancers, and archers used it to fight. The battlecasters went without saying.
The strongest boost Belissar had seen so far strengthening this fundamental resource for all his bees? It was the quickest decision Belissar had ever made.
Author’s Note:
…welp, I was gonna keep the Hunger’s tricks secret for all that future dramatic tension…but turns out Belissar’s got friends who are past the early game already. Whoops, spoilers much? Of course, now we get the tutorial fairy!
…you’re about two hundred and seventeen chapters late, flower one, but you’re bringing bees and apology flowers so we’ll forgive you. Maybe. If the bees of the First Dynasty of the First Spawner tell us to...
Anyways!
Can Belissar’s Tower prepare for the Hunger’s future challenges? Will the flower one spoil all the dramatic tension? Has Belissar selected the right options? Tune in next time to find out!
Comments
Jackson Hughes
I'm kind of hoping that they make the bee golem filled with harmful honey that they spew out of facial holes, because both as an attack, and because seeing facial features ooze honey would bee scary. Mabey giving the golem clubs could help, have the ash, carpenter, and thermal mining to make treated wood clubs covered in metallic waxs?
Dire
In terms of trying to invade with a large force, which makes it hard to miss, and then supply that force over an extended period, I reckon the volcano is potentially golden even as is - depending on whether bags of holding are a thing or not. But not against the Hunger, since it can disable features, or simply spawn past it. And does't require any supplies, probably. Ultimately the more fire aligned hives he secures the longer he'll be able keep aggressors bottled up there. Ash bees will be especially useful in minimising casualties and creating opportunities to strike. I'm really looking forward to their debut.
Durphymcbob
I mean it did hit one of turtle shades once, so not a complete failure, but yeah he either need more volcanos or to find a way to make shades spend longer in their
TheLostGolem
To be fair, the hidden wax cells are living up to their name. We haven't seen a hint of them since they were mentioned. Clearly they are hiding very well.
Dire
Regarding picking the mana, I kinda wouldn't mind seeing how many volcanoes Belissar could squeeze into a room. The volcano has failed so far, but this clearly just means more Dakka is required.
Lisa
To Tsorov: I am making the assumption that there are three base species (honeybee, bumblebee, and carpenter bee), and that all the various evolutions apply to all the species if possible (based on the existence of the bumblebee soldiers). For example, carpenter bees don't collect nectar or make honey, so they probably can't evolve gardeners or honeypots, but they probably can evolve the various types of soldiers (except maybe battlecasters, since they're designed to work together). Maybe even communers. It would be clearer if Icalos had called the initial monsters Monster Honeybees instead of just Monster Bees (while the description did call them out as honeybees), but that's water under the bridge now. Though that does leave the question of just what spawners are available. We know there's a monster honeybee soldier spawner, because Belissar put a couple in the Apiary. And he could have spawned other of the soldier evolutions too, but chose not to. But could he now make bumblebee soldier spawners? Carpenter bee soldier spawners? I don't know. Would it be clearer if I separated it like this: Available Monster Types: Beeswax Golem, Butcher Bee Queen, Monster Bumblebee Queen, Monster Carpenter Bee, Monster Honeybee Queen, Slime, Venomous Slime Rose, Wolf-Mole, Wyvern (Lesser) Available Monster Evolutions: Monster Bee Archer, Monster Bee Assassin, Monster Bee Battlecaster, Monster Bee Captain, Monster Bee Communer, Monster Bee Gardener, Monster Bee Honeypot, Monster Bee Lancer, Monster Bee Nomad, Monster Bee Soldier Yeah, I like that better. I separated out the plants because the list became too long and unwieldy, and other lists are getting to that point too. As for the workers, they naturally come with the queens as the only thing that can be laid. AFAIK, there is no spawner to create workers.
Lisa
Hidden wax cells are an offhand mention in chapter 78. I haven't seen him use them, though. And sure, copy and use it. I'm sure you can understand why I felt the need to assemble it. ;)
phantom
The hunger spawns the grasshopper enemy and then spawns a bird outside the tunnel. The bees would overpower the bird but still. It shows the danger of this.
phantom
Wait a second. if the hunger can spawn enemies later. IT CAN SPAWN THE BIRD AGAIN. The tragedy. The return of our former nemesis.
Durphymcbob
I mean if he ever got a smaller or he could build a room the just be a giant beehive!
Durphymcbob
PRAISE THE SUN!
Durphymcbob
Yeah have a floor decicated to defensive rooms that has the final floor beeing an extra battle meadow. And then have the next floor full of more defensive rooms that can easily be randomized and swapped out with the first floor, to prepare for what kind of shades the hunger seems to be focusing on at the time, basically surplus, and rooms being converted to battle rooms storage behind the extra battle meadow then have the original battle meadow become the last on behind all of the extra storage defense rooms so that if anything does make it past the first battle meadow thru speed still has to make it thru the remaining defensive rooms before hitting the final battle meadow. That is at least what I am envisioning.
Durphymcbob
I thinknyou got everything I can't currently think of anything that needs to be added. But i can't remember if he ever actually selected hidden wax cell, if you now the chapter feel free to correct me :), you seem very knowledgeable, ill have to keep this in mind the next time I do a reread. Amazing incredible. May i copy this over so I can update it and add more info about each individual thing the next time I do a reread, my austium is compelling to build a Google doc stat sheet with all of the info.
Tsorov
New room idea: A honey room. Fill the room with honey. Hopefully that generates a room that is sticky everywhere with hiding spots for all bees, especially the slime ones!
Tsorov
The more defense floors is something i just answered to the comment above, then I read yours. I agree Bellissar should definetly stack his defensive line more!
Tsorov
I'm still of the opinion that he should make a room that is completly under water, probably a dirt tunnel type. And he should raise all floors by one, copy the first floor on the until know unused floor (which is the fifth floor at the moment) and use shortcuts to connect them all. That way, even if the hunger is able to go through one iteration of the rooms by sacrificing shades and spawning new, specialiced shades in the first floor, it will have to do it again on the second.
Tsorov
I think you are missing the monster bumblebee soldiers, even though they are not a seperate evolution but one of the two standart forms. Monster bee workers and monster bumblebee workers are missinr as well, though those are standart, so I don't know if you count them.
Fernando Oliveira
True. That could be the way. Praise the light. Praise the bees! Lol
Lisa
Dungeon Master: Belissar Dungeon Conduit: Niobee (Monster Honeybee Soldier) Patrons: God of Bees, God of Fire, God of Flowers Blessings: Blessing of Bees, Blessing of Fire (Minor), Blessing of Flowers (Small) Floors: 6: 1 (Rooms: 3/4), 2 (Rooms: 4/4), 3 (Rooms: 3/4), 4 (Rooms: 4/4), 5 (Rooms: 0/4), 6 (Rooms: 3/4) Rooms: 17/24 Available Monster Types: Beeswax Golem, Butcher Bee Queen, Monster Bee Archer, Monster Bee Assassin, Monster Bee Battlecaster, Monster Bee Captain, Monster Bee Communer, Monster Bee Gardener, Monster Bee Honeypot, Monster Bee Lancer, Monster Bee Nomad, Monster Bee Soldier, Monster Bee Sprayer, Monster Bumblebee Queen, Monster Carpenter Bee, Monster Honeybee Queen, Slime, Venomous Slime Rose, Wolf-Mole, Wyvern (Lesser) Available Room Types: Apiary, Apothecary’s Hut, Bog, Dirt Tunnels, Fairy Grove, Flower Meadow, Lava Field, Orchard Available Room Features: Basic Pit Trap, Basic Resource Plants/Mushrooms, Basic Resource Minerals, Beehive (Bee Apartment, Bee Barracks, Belissar’s Beehouse), Bee Memorial (Limit Reached), Bee Nest (Belissar’s Nest Block), Beeswax Candle, Hot Spring, Hidden Wax Cell, Mini-Volcano, Shortcuts, Small Pond, Sticky Honey Trap, Wooden Platform Dungeon Perks: Bee Breeder, Bee Hybridization, Bee Specialist, Bee-Type Mana Boost (Below Average), Bee-Type Strength Boost (Minor), Bee-Type Vitality Boost (Minor), Concentrated Nectar, Cross-Pollination, Enhanced Toxins, Fire Resistant Bees, Gardener Planting, Monster Bee Queen Mana Boost (Minimal+), Monster Bee Soldier Speed Boost (Minimal), Monster Bee Soldier Strength Boost (Minimal+), Monster Bee Sprayer Resistance Boost (Minimal+), Monster Bee Worker Speed Boost (Minimal+), Nourishing Nectar, Swarming Soldiers, Symbiotic Foraging Core Corruption: 0% Current Missions: Make and offer mead from Fire-attribute honey (Fire), Help one bee queen receive a full blessing from the God of Fire, Share a monster bee queen with a dungeon patronized by the God of Flowers, Complete the God of Fire’s mead mission as soon as possible (Flower) Choices Available: None Resource Plants, Mundane: Alfalfa, Basic Textile Flowers, Bee Balm, Burrowing Stonecrop, Cave Carrots, Cave Mushrooms, Cave Potatoes, Garlic, Mint, Oats, Oregano, Rosemary, Rotcap Mushroom, Rye, Thorned Roses. Resource Plants, Bee Variations: Basic Medicinal Herbs/Mushrooms, Basic Poisonous Flowers/Mushrooms, Cloudberry, Gelatinous Heather, Lotus Flowers, Sleepy Chamomile, Snakebane, Subterranean Death Cap Mushroom, Sweetvetch. Resource Plants with Mana: Fire Mana Flower (Fire), Flame Radish (Fire), Glowcap Mushroom (Light), Gravilion Flower (Gravity), Greenwood Mushroom (Nature), Ground Mana Flower (Ground), Lava Lotus (Fire), Mana Flower (Neutral/Nature), Moon Lily (?), Shadow Vine (Dark), Slime Flower (Slime?), Soaring Beeblossom (Air), Vapor Hemlock (Water, Poison), Underworld Phlox (Death). Resource Minerals, Mundane: Alum, Basic Stone, Clay, Copper Ore, Iron Ore, Salt, Silver Ore, Tin Ore. Resource Minerals with Mana: Water Stone (Water). Traps: Basic Pit Trap, Gravilion Flower, Lava Lotus, Slime Flower, Sticky Honey Trap, Thorned Roses, Vapor Hemlock. Bee Variations: Antidote, Ash (Fire/Earth), Blinding (Dark), Breeze (Air), Burning (Fire), Chromatic (Chaotic), Digging (Earth), Gravity (Gravity), Maddening, Medicinal, Sedating, Shining (Light), Shocking (Lightning), Slime, Swimming (Water), Thermal Mining (Earth/Fire), Toxic. Rooms: F1 3/4 Dirt Tunnels, Fairy Grove, Lava Field; F2 4/4 Bog, Fairy Grove, Flower Meadow (Battle), Lava Field; F3 3/4 Apothecary’s Hut, Fairy Grove, Orchard; F4 4/4 Dirt Tunnels, Flower Meadow x2, Orchard; F5 0/4; F6 3/4 Apiary, Dirt Tunnels, Flower Meadow Treasures: Flask of Ambrosia, Heart of the Forest Tree.
Lisa
I've been trying to keep track of just what Belissar has, and so far as I can tell this is the dungeon status. It obviously doesn't have anything that wasn't explicitly stated. Anyone spot anything I'm missing?
Durphymcbob
I mean for "purifing and pushing back the hunger spawn points" he does have those light bees, and to the human lore at least if it is at least partially true, that the god of light was one of the main reasons the towe re s can purify.
mly85lc
Come to think of it there is flowing diluted honey... too..
mly85lc
A underground shade? Departed it of air.. be it by boiling hot lavas or water.
Durphymcbob
I don't really thing a flooded tunnel would be useful, he doesn't have anything that could fight in their. The digging and swimming bees would have a hard time with water and dirt speficly. But planting some trees in a bog or turning an orchard into a swamp which would be better to defend in than just a bog. Plus i don't think know the fairy Grove would like being turned into a swamp, they have a mind of their own and he has bee warned that trying to control them or force them could end badly.
mly85lc
Shade adapted to swamp? Have molted lava river Cook it alive on said swamp.
mly85lc
Shades added to heat? Broke and dam up hill and lets lake water to cool it off. Before going kill.
Fernando Oliveira
Thanks for the chapter. Loved it. Makes sense that the hunger would use wave tactics eventually. We'll probably still see the occasional juggernauts but we should see waves coming soon. The idea of the next wave spawning where the last shade fell is terrifying. Perhaps there's a way to raise bees that can purify the hunger trails of the shades. While it wouldn't be perfect it would definitely help if possible. Tho I imagine tarwantrad would have mentioned it if they had anything that could do so. So clearly the bees will have to make something new. Lol. Having a rotating series of defenses will definitely help till then.
mly85lc
Well if hunger is going play dirty the MC should do.. After-all if honey and pole can move between floor so can water and molted lavan too. Have multiple floor linned on rising on lowering hight form entrest and have gravity to it thing.
mly85lc
Been wondering when hunger up it's game... and when it's call outside monster to walk in form borders, to tower.?
Kenneth Welever
He does need to get flooded caves or tunnels. That would make for a great way to just let the environment kill his fire enemies. Also he should probably try and make his fairy field into a bog equivalent. Some of the nastiest fae things emerge from the water.
Durphymcbob
Yeah it seems the hunger can't develop shades to counter each individual room so having alot of diffent ones with different defenses is important. But hopefully since it's will be sending more numbers build more built to counter they will be individually weaker.
Durphymcbob
Thanks for the chapter! Oh we are switching a wave defnese and the hunger gets to push up their spawn point! That's just rude. Well it the very least if the hunger is switching to using more numbers than throwing all of their resources into one shade we will be fighting weaker shades probably, just more of them at once, and over a longer period. But I am curious how this will work now exicted to see it and how the bees will destroy them! What is the room/ situation looking like we might want to heavily expand the "defensive" rooms and maybe decicate 2 entire floors and have a second battle meadow in the middle of the various defensive ambushing/elemental counter floors in which belissar should periodically shuffle their order around so the hunger can't adapt/plan as easily. And more mana for the tower and the bees! And if I read that right the bee type mana boost should boost the mana for literally everything with the "bee" take right, monster, features, rooms. It could buff the bee-attribted traps making the honey sprayers stronger. Plus buffing the beehouses/nests as those are bee attributed as well. All in all good choices. Us it's nice to see how much mana we have to work with again.
Kenneth Welever
quick fix to stop waves developed for tunnels and fire is to put the bog as the first room and then the tunnels, get a second water room type and place it after the volcano. It'll hurt the hunger badly
