20 Gearing up (1/2)

This time I don't wake up to an emergency. Everyone else is still asleep so I quietly move around them to not disturb them. Set is still binded to me so I can't tell if she is conscious or not. Some of the metal spiderlings salute me as I make my way out.

Some of the eldritch ones see that and sloppily copy them..... Anyways I head towards the exit and sit in front of the nest. The air quality is not the best in there. I look up at the fake sky and decide to scout a little. I should probably wake Set up.

I rub the tattoo on my shoulder and start talking to her through telepathy.

'Set, time to get up' Gin

'Ohhhh~ master not there~' Set

Note to self, don't touch Set randomly. She sent an influx of.... Something through telepathy along with her message.

'SET' Gin

'whosa whasa, ohh it's just master' Set

She unbinds herself and looks at me with a weird gaze.

”Good morning” Gin

I pat her head and, she doesn't convulse this time but, her eyes gloss over and she starts drooling.... Didn't know a liquid creature could drool normal drool. Shouldn't it be ink or something. Anyways, I wait until she recovers and tell her my plan.

I want to quickly scout out the treant base. I didn't get much out of Xelu other than the direction and distance. I also want to see if there is anything worthwhile there. I can't imagine the treants collecting valuables like the harpies.

We both enter stealth and make our way to the base. It's not a very far distance so we get there within 20 minutes. It's a basin about 30 meters in diameter and, is filled with several small ponds. There are stones arranged so that they make a half circle around the basin. I don't see where they would keep their valuables....

An hour of searching bears nothing. They have to have something right? I walk up to the largest pond. There is a lot of displaced dirt, probably from where the treants uprooted so the footing here is not the best. Hmmmm? There is a network of roots branching out from the pond. I don't know how deep it is since it's murky but it may be worth checking out. Should leave Set here as liquids areas are probably not good for her.

I slowly wade into the water to not break stealth and dive down. Closed system allows me to breathe longer as well so I should be fine in that regard. The only issue is it's hard to see. I reach the bottom and start following the outbranch of roots with my hands. Stealth is still active so it shouldn't be a monster.

The origin of the roots is weird. It looks like an upside down tree trunk but in the center of it is a small wooden chest. I grab it with both hands, clutch it to my chest, and start swimming up. Set saw me break the surface and she raises her front legs up and down celebrating.

I swim out and lay the chest down. Should I open it now? Might be better to wait until we get back to the nest....

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We made it back before the others woke up. When Kess learned that I went out to the treant base she freaked out a little. She was checking out if I had any wounds and was relieved to see I was fine. Honestly, I'm a little suprised and happy. She usually is only centered on food.