The Bee Dungeon

Please select one Flower-type room feature:

- Universal Floriculture Pot (Rarity: Rare, Type: Flower, Resource)

- Random Rare Resource Flower (Rarity: Rare, Type: Flower, Resource, Variable)

- Thundering Balsam (Rarity: Rare, Type: Flower, Trap, Explosive)

Belissar grinned. A reward full of rare Flower options was a great treat for his Tower. The bees were already buzzing in anticipation. Belissar didn't keep them waiting.

Universal Floriculture Pot

Type: Flower, Resource

Mana Upkeep: 10 (May increase if excessive adaptation required)

Description: A magical pot designed for growing rare and exotic flowers. The pot will automatically adjust itself to fit any and all conditions necessary for the flower planted within, allowing any flowering plant to be grown in any environment. The pot will also extend the flowering period of the plant. Note that this pot is restricted to plants that produce flowers.

Now that was a good one. More than once he had run into flowers with unusual requirements for their environments. Underworld phlox needed corpses in its vicinity, quickblossom had to be struck by lightning, Fire mana flowers needed excessive heat. The pot would be immediately useful for the flower exchange with Tarwantrad, since he had seen several flowers there he didn't have the environments for. Not only that, having this pot would enable him to grow any and all flower options he received in the future. He couldn't help but think of the epic rarity bloodsucking bees he had passed up previously because he didn't have rabbits at the time. It would be terrible if he ended up in a similar situation with an amazing flower the bees would love.

Plus, he could use it to place flowers in unusual places, which could be useful for trap flowers. Placing a bunch of vaporous hemlock with their toxic mist in a Dirt Tunnels sounded really dangerous, for example.

On the other hand, the pot was quite…small for its price. It could fit maybe half a resource plant node of flowers, if that. The cost would add up real fast if he tried to grow significant numbers of flowers in the pots, not to mention if he still had to pay for the flowers themselves. The Apothecary's Hut and Fairy Grove both also already had some of the same features.

But Belissar put his musings aside. He suspected the bees would have far stronger opinions on this reward than the last, so he turned his attention to them.

"What do you all think?"

Frelis was fidgeting about. The First of the Fifth's First Daughter noticed and danced to call her forward. Frelis hesitated but ultimately was convinced to dance.

"Grows any flowers?"

Belissar nodded.

"About half a resource node's worth."

Frelis burst out dancing.

"Amazing, incredible!"

Belissar smiled and let her dance for a bit. He was about to ask about the downsides when Frelis suddenly stopped. She buzzed her wings before starting a new dance.

"But, already can in dangerous one's room and confusing room?"

Belissar nodded again, this time with a proud smile. He was glad she thought of that too.

"As far as I know, yes. Maybe there's some flowers that wouldn't be able to that these pots might help with? I don't know of any though, maybe Tarwantrad would know?"

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Belissar glanced around but it seemed that Frelis had danced everything the bees wanted to dance on that option. The next option, a random resource flower, didn't take long to evaluate…mostly because it was a random option. They just couldn't know what they would get from it, only that it would be a rare flower that counted as a resource of some sort. That alone was enough to be appealing, but it was still a risk. Between Tarwantrad's flower dungeon and then the rest of the Circle with specialized flowers of their own, it was entirely possible he would receive something he could already access in the flower exchange.

Which was exactly the case with the last option. There was no doubt that thundering basalm was a powerful trap flower…but Tarwantrad already had it, and had already planted it in her exchange room. The bees would replant it in his Tower if it was possible to do so soon enough. It wasn't worth spending a reward choice on, much less a reward choice for a god's mission.

So, with all the information gained that they could, Belissar turned it to the bees.

"What do you all think? Pots that help grow flowers, or try the random flower? It might be one Tarwantrad already has."

The bees danced among themselves regarding the options. New flowers were always appealing, so the dance was largely the queens consulting Frelis and any other gardener present on the value of the pots. Then, the First of the Fifth entered the conversation with a dance Belissar did not expect.

"King made new room with water stones. Could do with flowers if had pots? Have cold honey and cold mana flower, but no cold room?"

Belissar's eyes widened. He hadn't thought of that! Sure, it would probably be incredible expensive to afford enough pots to change an entire room…but once the room changed the pots wouldn't be necessary anymore, would they? The First of the Fifth had just told him one that might work already, even!

He began humming to himself. Theoretically, it might be possible to do that with a Fairy Grove without relying on the pots…but not if he wanted to change a different room. He wasn't sure the Fairy Grove would change in the first place, given how unpredictable and magical it already was. So, the pots would still be very useful for this purpose.

He smiled at the First of the Fifth.

"That is an excellent point."

The First of the Fifth launched into a "King is best king!" dance while the other bees considered her point. The dances soon began to die down as the bees finished their discussion. The First of the Fifth's First Daughter danced with Frelis one last time before flying to Belissar.

"Bees say both good. Like new flowers, but planting any flower good too. Still getting new flowers from flower one, so think can wait for new flowers."

Belissar grinned and nodded.

"I agree. Plus, if we do manage to make new rooms, we could plant even more types of flowers."

The First Daughter…and the rest of the bees with her, responded by dancing his praises. Belissar chuckled and then glanced at the rest of his council. A flower choice was mostly for the bees, but that didn't mean it didn't affect the karnuq either. Chief Rohsuak just smiled at him though.

"Juosiutik will be quite pleased with that decision."

Belissar tilted his head.

"Even though she has the Apothecary's Hut?"

Chief Rohsuak just shook her head and chuckled.

"Juosiutik will always appreciate the ability to plant even more herbs. The hut's planters might grow crowded faster than you think."

Belissar found himself nodding. He could imagine that happening all too easily. Chief Rohsuak then frowned, however, and walked over to whisper to him.

"It may also be wise to speak with Juosiutik. She lost her parents to the spiderkin, so she's one of the most uncomfortable with you taking them in. I will handle it if you prefer not to, but since she's involved in some of your projects you may want to talk with her directly. Doing so while sharing a new feature like this would probably help."

Belissar frowned. So, Juosiutik was upset about the spiderkin children, huh? He let out a sigh.

"Ok. I'll…try. I'm not entirely sure what to say, though, besides that I won't kill children."

Chief Rohsuak patted his shoulder.

"I trust you, Tower Keeper. If you wish my advice…remind her of your resolve to keep your people safe, her included. But stand your ground. You are the Tower Keeper, not any of us. It is your decision to make."

She then winked at him.

"As is the one I'm interrupting."

She leaned back with a chuckle. Belissar nodded and turned back to the bees with a smile.

"It's decided then, let's get the pots."

Belissar confirmed the choice to thunderous buzzing.

Universal Floriculture Pot is now available.

The next morning, once he had completed his usual morning routine, Belissar made his way to the Apothecary's Hut. Both to place some pots for use in the flower exchange…and to act on Chief Rohsuak's recommendation.

He had spent long hours of the night trying to think of what to say with Juosiutik…but ultimately couldn't decide since he didn't know exactly how she would act. He decided to check on her first…and hope that Chief Rohsuak's advice would be enough to carry him through.

He arrived to find Juosiutik silently huddled over one of the flowers.

"Hello, Juosiutik."

She flinched. She took her time standing up and turning around. She had a frown on her face. Needless to say, Belissar could tell she was upset. He took a deep breath.

Here went nothing…