Into the city

You follow Mistress into the Arachne 'city', staying one step behind on her right. It is very different to a human city, with a web filled forest extending right up to the walls of a large castle. The castle looks nothing like the simple building style of the Arachne, so you suspect it was conquered from someone else.

As you approach the castle's drawbridge, Mistress points. "Look, Broodslave. That is a perfect example of **** armour."

Next to the drawbridge, an armoured Arachne stands, flanked by a pair of slaves. Both of them wear partial suits of armour. Their helmets leave their faces open, the arms are only connected to each other by the backplate, and the legs are entirely separate. They stare blankly in front of them, somehow managing to look less intelligent than some of the venom addicts you can see around. Both hold a spear as tall as they are, while their (you presume) mistress has a large sword sheathed on her back.

None of them react as the pair of you walk in, and you are quickly past them and into the courtyard of the castle. Within the walls are far more examples of Arachne architecture, simple wooden buildings which can be put up and taken down quickly, with shops selling food, potions, and silk clothes being most common, all arrayed around a large **** market, with the imposing stone keep behind.

After asking for directions, Mistress is directed to a stone building which extends from one of the walls.

There is no queue as the pair of you walk into the workshop. A long, stone counter separates the front of the shop from the working areas in the back, in which you can see a pair of Arachne and several slaves working hard.

Upon noticing you, one of the Arachne, a muscular brunette, puts down a large hammer and comes over. "Morning," she says. "What do you need?"

"Good morning," replies Mistress. "I was told that you might be open to a deal for labour as payment."

"With this ****? She looks a bit scrawny."

"Both of us, actually. I have some experience with both smithing and enchanting, as I used a similar arrangement to pay for my personal armour. What about you, Broodslave?"

"None at all, I'm afraid, Mistress."

"Hmmm... In that case, I believe we can arrange something. What do you want us to make?"

"I would like a suit of **** armour for my broodslave." She gestures towards you. "I intend to take her into potentially dangerous regions, and do not want her damaged."

"Enchanted?"

"Yes, please. As much protection as you can provide."

"That is not a small undertaking. It will require at least a couple of months to pay off depending on exactly how you want it enchanted. Speaking of which... Exa!" she calls over her shoulder.

"One moment!" the other Arachne calls back.