Seedling 48
Human resources is not my thing.
Literally.
I mean, not only because I’m no longer human.
It’s also because, I have literally no patience for the boredom of an interview.
Looking at the several hundred magic engineers, mercenaries, noble mages, and other riffraff my patience takes a serious hit.
The square Empress Emily threw everyone into is part of an old abandoned dueling colosseum which brings back good memories.
Ah, well, enough with the trip down memory lane.
I need a simple way to sort the wheat from the chaff. Something that will give me the people with sparks of genius that I can nurture into flames of unreasoning insanity.
Dryad throws her two cents in with the new power she’s unlocked tapping into Chaos. I’ve grown so used to translating Arboreal, or Rustle in my mind, the new mind speech is almost tame in comparison.
*We could always do a battle royal, the losers could be eaten, and the winners would contribute to the Plan.*
Dark! Dryad you’ve gotten too dark talking to Emily!
*A battle royal depends too much on luck, we could get a bunch of meatheads that couldn’t plan their way out of a pickle jar opening.*
I have a better method in mind.
Chaos has more uses than just being a source of unimaginable power.
Chaos is power based on disorder, and what is more easily disordered than the human mind?
Nothing that’s what.
*Do you remember the old memories, Dryad?*
*Are we talking about the ones with all those mice and cheese, Tree?*
*Yes, yes. Those are key points, but the part we are going to use is much easier.*
Chaos lends itself to power from disorder, and from disorder, madness is merely a step away.
Reaching out with my will I pull on the Mana Wells surrounding my titanic floating island. A massive square cube of giant proportions forms out of the air. It’s the product of my favorite types of puzzles, and my most fond memories.
*I think I’ll call it…*
*Mousetrap?*
*Hmph, no Dryad, I’m going to call it the Madness Maze.*
The entire Maze will likely cause a high casualty rate of around 95%. Honestly it’s a brutal method that will likely garner a great deal of dissent.
On the other side of the coin, those who can finish the Madness Maze intact will be gifted with inspiration granted through Chaos.
Even though Chaos is the power of disorder, it also has the singular unique talent to bring out the potential of anything.
One day a Tree, the next a noble king, a desperate mage, a starving street rat, or even a blood soaked mercenary.
Before the power that is Chaos, all are equal. There are no gifts that cannot be given. There are no talents that cannot be granted.
To create a Dungeon that has both riches beyond belief, and horrors beyond imagination, there is no better power than Chaos to create it.
*Now, let’s feed the mice through the Maze, with the offer of cheese Dryad.*
Dryad’s soft hypnotic voice tones ring out over the masses. While they listen entranced like drooling madmen, I create a small opening at the base of the Maze’s cube. A stairwell crafted of stone rises up to the doorway.
Dryad only talks for a little under five minutes before the male portion of the group is rushing forward. She’s even got a small part of the females to move as well, truly impressive.
*While we are waiting, let us discuss something I’ve been meaning to ask, Dryad.*
*???*
*How much power do you need to take physical form?*
*Hmmm….maybe one-third?*
*Of what?*
*This World, silly Tree.*
