Dug let the roiling thrum of the Dum-Dum carry him away for a time. If he closed his eyes, he could pretend that the sounds of dancing around him were that of fellow goblins enjoying the revel. But his mind couldn’t be tricked for long, even by himself. He pushed away the grief, knowing that as long as his daughter continued to grow, there would be greater and greater examples of goblin kind living within her Dungeon.

  Her mind was even now at work; he could feel it through the bond, analyzing the scene and internalizing it for her children. He let her do so without comment. The Dum-Dum was as much a part of her birthright as the Waag was. As the verdant flames rose ever higher, he directed the energies of the ritual to those participating, stirring their spirits into closer communion.

  With a final thrum, he concluded the ceremony and drew the flames into himself, the fervor of the dancers having created a feedback loop to swell the fire’s power. Dug felt his eyes ignite, and he knew his body’s veins would be shining forth as if the fire had taken its place within his bones and blood. It wasn’t far from the truth.

  He made his way to his staff, with Obu set at the top, and took it into his hand. He let the earth lift him so that he faced the crowd of Talpi and Muskeera, some of whom looked faint from their exertions. He smiled but sobered quickly as he directed his thoughts toward them.

  Dug showed them the coming devastation, communicated the System Administrator's desire, and explained that there would be rewards for those who participated the most. He saw the moment when the fire took hold in their eyes. Muskeeran hunters took up their wooden spears, and Talpi Tunnellers took up their rootlike clubs.

  They all glowed green in the waning sunlight as the day leaned toward evening. Dug smiled at the sight, once more imagining them as a host of his goblin kin. Then the human stood up, and the spell was broken. Dug sighed, even as he acknowledged that the human had been blessed by the Waag as well as the others. If the Waag had accepted him, then Dug would as well.

  “Let’s git to it den!” The roar that followed his words actually managed to shake the trees, which was a surprise. He hadn’t thought the little furballs had it in them. Still, they made a proper warband as they tore off through the trees. His son, Razum, had already paved the way while he had set up the ritual of the Dum Dum.

  His son could only move so fast, and he needed to spread his mycelium network out into the forest to participate to the maximum effect possible. Dug had understood. There would be plenty more Dum-Dums in the future, but there was only one Emergency Quest, and he would not deny his children a unique opportunity to grow stronger.

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  Thrumming with power, his body tore through the undergrowth, age forgotten in the tide of Aether flooding his veins. It didn’t take long to find his son. He had halted, along with his monstrous children, on a small bluff overlooking a section of the forest below. Fungal growths had already broken free from the earth to sprout their many frilled fruits, the stalks with their caps beginning to glow with Aetheric light.

  These were an especially virulent strain of Mooncap. Like the moon realm of his home mirrored the sun realm, the caps would absorb sunlight and then release it at night as a pleasing glow. These particular Mooncaps would respond a bit more violently than their mundane cousins. Dug took it a step further.

  Weaving his power into the air, he forced growth upon the fungi's mycelium network, growth that extended to their fruiting bodies. Surging upwards like miniature trees, the mushrooms eventually reached his height or slightly larger. Directing the thrumming energy lying within his bones and blood, Dug let loose, and green flames burst from his pores to saturate the surrounding land.

  Common plant life flickered and burned up, leaving behind ash, but the Mooncaps began glowing as they absorbed the rich Aether of sun-powered flames. Dug fed them further with his powers, enhancing and changing them to better hold the power they were receiving. Then, he awakened them.

  His eyes flared with verdant brilliance as Dug, Sporemeister of the Gitbog, summoned his own army. The mushrooms groaned as they popped free from the earth, little mycelium tendrils acting as legs that sent them scurrying down the slope of the bluff. Ropy arms kept them upright even as they lashed out to grab tree trunks like obscene fungal monkeys swinging close to the ground.

  Close to a hundred glowing mushrooms took to the field, and Dug watched over them. The fire in his eyes dimmed but not extinguished. In their fervor, the Talpi and Muskeera didn’t seem to notice their new allies, but the human certainly did. He looked around like one crazed with drink or drugs, his eyes shining gold with the echo of his strange optical ability.

  Dug smirked despite the strain placed upon him by directing such a potent force. Fungal Embodiment was a unique creation that was even beyond what was normally possible for a Sporemeister since it also utilized his status as a Shamaan of the Waag. Still, he would reveal this ability and more if it meant that his family would remain safe and uncorrupted. However, it wasn’t as though they would remain on the sidelines either.

  He was moving before his daughter stated what she wanted. Their bond was strong, and her feelings were clear. Out of his periphery, he could see Razum joining the charge in his own way, mycelium coils exploding from the earth to race ahead even as his monstrous children began to run. Dug didn’t get to see the first clash, though he could feel it through his connection to his creations.

  Instead, he made all haste to his daughter’s Hidden Floor, knowing that she wished to be there in order to greet her newest children and defend it from the corruption since it was the domain closest to the battle. Dug had done what he could for the people of the valley. It was up to them to make the most of the opportunity.

  The old goblin looked within himself, judging the power still remaining to be sufficient. If the worst came to pass, then Dug would do what he had to do to protect his family.