The Spider Girl’s Letters

Author’s Notes:   *Ripster,  Spider-Mamono equivalent of a Spinster. 
                                    Masss = Mother, Fasss/Dasss = Father, Sisst = Sister (Younger)

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

23^rd day/3^rd month/ 356 E.C.

Hello Masss, Dasss, Sisst!

I know I said I’d write just as soon as I arrived, but they’ve been keeping us busy since we all got in at Fort Eequor. Us, being all of the new recruits. There is just so much to learn about serving in the Demon Lord’s Army! The first thing I have had to learn here was to obey orders from my Barracks Sergeant, Sgt. Katsumi. She’s a Kunoichi from Zipangu!
I grew up with the notion that the Zipangu Mamono weren’t much for serving in the Demon Lord’s Army, but you can’t tell that from here! I’ve seen at least three kinds of Oni here, just on the first day. Red ones, Blue ones, and Spider ones! The Spider ones are called: Ushi-Oni. There is one of them in the newcomer’s Barrack and her name is Kaori, we’ve already become friends. I find myself fascinated by how big and fast she is. She’s fascinated by how small and dexterous I am. Also, she’s never heard of Hide and Jump, and is eager to learn how to do it. I promised her I’ll teach her once we get the chance.

The biggest discovery I’ve made about Fort Eequor? It’s NOISY! I can feel/hear hundreds, if not thousands, of feet stomping around, wheels scraping and squealing through the ground all of the time, day and night. After several nights of not being able to get a decent night’s sleep, I explained my situation to my Barrack Sergeant and she allowed me to rebuild my bed-nest off of the ground.  This allowed me to finally get some rest!

Other than that, Fort Eequor is a lot of fun when our Sergeants aren’t shouting at us for doing something we’d consider to be natural. For example- here in Cynosure ,the city that Fort Eequor protects and is a part of, there are hundreds of animals that are called: Cats. They’re a lot like Jinkos only smaller, and they don’t talk. Apparently they are the ‘non-were’ cats. Even though many of the city folks consider them to be a pest, no one tries to get rid of any. I got into trouble because of them.

So, why did I get into trouble? Apparently, you’re not supposed to eat them. Nor are you supposed to wrap one up, and leave it in your barrack locker either. Supposedly, the townsfolks take a dim view of Mamono doing things like ‘that’, and ‘since we’re all guests of the city of Cynosure’- we don’t want to offend our hosts. I remember when we had guests at the Cooperative, we accommodated their needs! But I truly want to be in the Army and this just one, of many, silly things I have to get used to.

As part of our “Orientation”, we were taught about the History of Cynosure. The most notable is the fact that it’s the Oldest “Monster Friendly State’, ever. One and a half centuries since the ruler of Cynosure: Doge Eequor, married a Danuki. You’d think it would be a Demon Realm by now!

One of the reasons why Cynosure is a ‘Center’ of commerce. It’s a port of call that has the only sweet water within several hundred miles in several directions. It’s a center in that it is half way between traveling to the Mist Continent and Zipangu to the north, the Order lands to the west, the Island Nations to the east, and of course it is the terminus for the caravans into the interior of our continent- Kumari Kandam.

The Army life is also a lot like living in the Cooperative. We all work, live, sleep, and, eat together! But instead of the colony larder that everyone contributes to, they have something called: A Mess Hall. This is a building in which everyone’s food needs are met (mostly). I have a notion that it’s called ‘Mess’ because of the mess some Mamono make when eating.
Everyone who attends ‘The Mess’ is allowed to take all of the food they want to eat, but they have to eat it all there. Since there are a variety of Mamono here, there is a variety of food also. Though I’ve noticed that many Mamono Carnivores don’t like being around us Spider-Mamono when we eat. But that doesn’t come as a surprise, since few folks like their meals as fresh as we do. Some of the other Mamono do eat what we like, but they prefer to burn or boil their food first. They call it ‘cooking’. Isn’t that something Dasss used to do?

The one new food I like the best, is something they call: lobster. It looks like an oversized crawfish, but it tastes better. But I keep having problems getting across the fact that I don’t need them to cook it first.  
My second favorite is the Pyura. It looks like a rock, but when you bite into it- it bleeds! It’s a rather strange food, but it’s still delicious despite having a slightly metallic taste to it.
Thank you Dasss, for making me promise to try new foods!

The biggest idea I have had to learn- is that there is actually Two Demon Lord Armies. There is the First Army that goes out to help Demon Realms or Monster Friendly states if and when they need help, or they retaliate against an Order Realm. 
Then there is Second (Fort Eequor-type) Army.  Not only do we provide support to the First Army, we also provide Search and Rescue for those Mamono who have survived being attacked by The Order. (Something we in the Spider Colonies know all too well).
Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE who wants to serve in the Overlord’s First Army has to start off serving in the Overlord’s Second Army prior.  This is to see how well they can take commands, and most importantly: Obey Orders.

It is only after we’ve proven ourselves, are any of us allowed to serve in the First Army. So, for the next six or so months, I’m going to be doing what is called: Scut Jobs. Also, I’m starting off in rank where everyone does: Yokai Basic.

The main reason for the Scut Job is because the Success or Failure of any mission comes down to one Mamono not doing her job.
 Usually a Failure, is because that one Mamono who couldn’t restrain herself long enough to not claim a husband until the command that allows it, is issued. The unfortunate result of not waiting for that command has been that The Order was alerted to our presence and attacked us before we were ready, several times.

The Scut Jobs have, over time, let the Army khow which one can be trusted to show enough restraint to not ruin things for everyone else. So, if I want to stay in long enough to catch a husband, and I do, I have to learn to take my scrapes and push through these Scut Jobs.

Speaking of husbands, the recruiter didn’t mention this- But both Fort Eequor and the City of Cynosure have Men. LOTS of Them! Hundreds of them! Somehow most, if not all of them, aren’t claimed by human women or by Mamono.  I think that that is the hardest part about being here- is that we’re not allowed to just go and Pounce one. But I’ll obey the rules, no matter how silly they are.

I Love you all.

Salticidae, Helvetia
New Barracks #3
Fort Eequor
Cynosure, 
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

17^th day /6^th month/ 356 E.C.

Hello Masss, Dasss, Sisst!

A lot has happened since I wrote to you last. One of the biggest surprises out here is the weather. Apparently, Cynosure is close to something called: the Equator. This Equator means that the weather is almost always hot here. When I wrote you last, the weather was Hot and Dry.  Now, it’s Hot and Wet. When I say wet- I mean rain, lots of rain. Right now, it is ‘Typhoon Season’- which translates into a lot of horribly loud rain storms that can last for days.
 Yet for everyone who has lived here for years, it’s not a big deal. But for me, there is something about the Thunder and Lightning that comes with these Typhoons, that just makes me want to hide in my bed-nest.  I just want to stay there until the storm passes. I can’t do that because those storms last for days, and I have to work. 

The ocean. I had no idea of how big the ocean is! I remember that Danuki who came through three years ago, and told me about the ocean. I thought that she  joking.  I also remember that time Dasss took me along to Long Lake, and I was scared of that.
The ocean is so big that I can’t see the other shore! One of these days I’m going to have to make friends with an Ocean Mamono! Apparently, a lot of those single/unclaimed men I mentioned in a previous letter? They’re known as: Sailors. Their job is to operate their boats to cross the big ocean, safely. This can be difficult for them, as many of the Ocean Mamono also want husbands. Then there are some other sailors called: Pirates, who make the regular Sailor’s jobs harder by trying to steal from them.

I’m still doing the Scut Jobs. It is part of the Ragging every one of has to go through. But I’ve been around long enough that I’m not have to do the really terrible ones like scraping barnacles off of the bottoms of ships anymore. Apparently in addition to the Overlord’s Army, there is an Overlord’s Navy as well. So, Port Eequor is part of Fort Eequor. Though there are only a few ships in our Navy, there are lots of ships not only in the Merchant fleets, but also the Fisherman’s fleets. The Overlord’s Navy is at hand to help the Human’s fleets when they have problems- such as the Pirates or when one of their ships gets damaged. A few decades ago, the Demon Navy used to fight Order ships.

Guess what? All of those ships I mentioned? They all need to have their hulls scraped free of barnacles on a regular basis. 
Now, guess who gets volunteered to help their ships get scraped clean of those barnacles?
Guess what again? Even though the barnacle is an animal, you’re not allowed to eat it either. Never mind that it’s a tasty little treat. BUT: “If it doesn’t come from a kitchen, then don’t eat it!”- Silliness.

The other part of our Ragging is our having to listen to Taunts. Everyone here is encouraged to taunt us newcomers with some kind of verse, whether it be poetry, a limerick, or a song. This is apparently to help us learn to keep calm during any Order engagements we may be in, in the future.
This is because The Order’s fighters will use taunts to try and upset us before and during battle. A couple of the ones I’ve heard include “Lazy Lob, and Crazy Cob’.

Earlier this month, I got caught up in a street flood caused by a cloudburst and ever since I’ve been called: Itsy-Bitsy; whatever that is. I’ve also noticed that no one taunts my friend Kaori, though.

Good news, since I’ve lasted as long as I have doing Scut Jobs, I’ve been promoted in rank to Yokai Third Class, which doesn’t mean much except a bit more pay-wise. But, I did get a tiny rank insignia to wear on my Bevor-uniform.

Talent wise, they’ve given me some tests to find out what I’m good at and the results are in- I’d be best as a Teleportation Platform Majin. It’s a good position to learn- not only is it good for the Army, but it is something useful that I can carry with to other places like the Main Cooperative Colony after I’ve Pounced a husband; which is a possibility.

 It’s a tough job, because not very many Mamono have the aptitude for it. 
I would do more than operate the Platforms though I would also fix and maintain them. Teleportation Spells are nice, but those can be interfered with by The Order. The Teleportation Platforms are much safer and more secure than spell-work.

These tests indicate that while I do have aptitude for magic use. I don’t have a high enough aptitude  that is worthy of investing in training beyond  the Porter Minimums.
Shards! I had  hoped that I had had some kind of talent, at the very least- Magic Missile. It seems that I didn’t inherit Dasss’ talent.

I’ve also started getting something I’ve wanted since The Order attacked the old colony: Combat Training. I’m not sure if you know, but ever since the Order’s attack on the old Cooperative; the one in which so many of our people died? 
The same one in which I watched uncle Viktor die defending Irura and me from that Order fighter? I’ve felt useless.  
I felt useless, because that fighter was able to knock me down so easily. I’ve felt useless, because I wasn’t able to get back up to do something to prevent Irura’s husband and egg-baby from being killed. If I had, I might have been able to prevent her Saudade. Now? Now, it’s a good feeling to be able to defend myself, and maybe defend someone else too.

My personal trainer in Swords, is Sergeant Andra. She’s a widowed Salamander here at the Fort. Her main assignment is to assist in many of the Rescue missions that Fort Eequor engages in. She’s told me that when I become a Yokai Second Class, that I’ll be fitted for some battle armor and be issued a Demon-Silver Sword. I look forward to that, because I want to be in the First.  

There is something else the Army is good for. There are many Mamono who don’t want to join the Army- and that’s OK. Unfortunately, many Mamono have become widowed because of the Order. No few of them feel that they have nowhere to go because their men are dead, and they have children to take care of as well. They don’t want to be a burden on their extended families, so what can they do? The Overlord’s Army can and will take them in.

 Like I said in a previous letter, there is a need for a Second Army.  Many of our Sergeants and above, are Widowed.  It is the opinion of the Officers, that the best Sergeants are those who know how to run a household, thus many Sergeants are either married or have been married.
Some of these Sergeants say that their recruits are like their own children, which is the main reason why they’re always yelling at us! In fact, a couple of my fellow newcomers are widows. But they have to go through the Ragging like everyone else.

I’ve discovered that there are many unusual things about living in Fort Eequor, and one is that sometimes one of the widowed Mamono here- will take a second husband! Apparently, there is something in the air of Cynosure and Eequor, that allows many a widowed Mamono to attach themselves to another man -eventually. Wow!

I just find myself in awe about how wonderful it can be serving the Great Maou in her Army. I’m just happy right now to be able to do my part small as it is.

Tell Iona I miss her.

Love you all.

Salticidae, Helvetia
New Barracks #3
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

11^th day /9^th month/ 356 E.C.

Hello Masss, Dasss!

Okay! Okay!

I promise I’ll go out and meet more of the men here! I also promise that I’ll go and start getting more sexual experience with them as well! Shards! 
Honestly, it’s not like I’m planning on being a *Ripster! I don’t see what the big deal is about Human Spirit Essence anyways. I’ve had a taste, Ok much more than a taste, of it and I’m doing just fine with what I get.

That being said, there are plenty of men with the City Guard who work with us Mamono on an almost daily basis; whether it’s patrolling the streets of Cynosure or the Fort.
 So, in my regular duties I get to meet many of them quite often. Yes, most of them are married already, you’d think they’d be pretty much out of reach. BUT, enough of them are 3^rd or 4^th ranking in husband, and thus don’t have much access to their wife, sometimes none.

Did I forget to mention that? The people of Cynosure have so many men here that their marriage customs include something called: Polyandry. It’s where a woman can have more than one husband, sometimes as many as 5 husbands! Would that the Mamono had that problem! The first I heard of it, you could’ve stomped up to me, yanked my silk and I wouldn’t have noticed, I was so surprised!

They have this Polyandry practice as a way of ‘keeping their men in line’, what they call it, as they have such a high birth rate of men. For every female born, there are between four or five males. This is unusual even for human realms. No one knows why this is so here, but I guess Cynosure is just special this way.

You’d think that because they’ve got so many more men folk available, they’d be inclined to share some of them with us Mamono. But you’d be thinking wrong. 
They’re quite greedy about it, even after one and a half centuries of accepting Monster Girls.

 But they do allow some ‘squeaking room’, as they call it, for their lesser ranked husbands. As I mentioned before, 3^rd, 4^th, or 5^th husband rankings don’t have much access to their wife. But if they’re careful, they’re allowed to meet a Mamono for sex. So yes, I have in fact been getting a healthy amount of essence. Just not as much as I’d prefer. But then what unmarried Mamono cannot say the same?

It’s just that I’m starting with my duties learning how to be a Teleportation Technician. Or “Porter” as they like to call it, I don’t have as much free time after work, or on the weekends as I’d like, to devote to pursuing single men. You know as well as I do, that we Jumpers will not do any kind of job poorly. So, right now I’m working on being the best Porter Tech I can be! It’s wonderful to be done with the Scut jobs!

Now being a Porter is an important job! Fort Eequor is what is called “A Staging Area” for the troops when the Demon Army needs to ‘swoop in’ and lend aid. To aid another Monster Friendly Realm, or when a Demon Realm is invaded by the Order (again).

As we in the Spider colonies know all too well, one of Fort Eequor’s main missions is the: Search and Rescue after the Order has attacked, and survivors need help. The Fort gives aid and comfort to Order attack survivors until they can be reunited with their families (if any), or relocated to another Monster realm (if they want), or they can stay here (which some do).

Oh, I just wanted to mention something funny- I was out exploring Cynosure with Kaori, and we met a Mamono I’d only heard about but never saw- A Pundamilia! We practically bumped into each other because she saw my coloration from a distance and assumed that since I was striped, that I must have been one of her clan. She was quite surprised to discover that I wasn’t a Centaur like her, but a Spider. I don’t know who was more fascinated, she or I. We decided to be friends then and there. Her name is Sakina. Kaori and I were invited to come over to the Ambassadorial grounds she’s staying at, sometime.

Kaori and I finally got a chance to try some Hide and Jump, as Kaori never had any other Ushi-Oni to play with while growing up. There’s an old quarry on the Fort grounds that we’re allowed into provided we promise to not ‘cause problems’. Kaori enjoyed herself immensely as she’s an excellent jumper! She’s not so good at hiding- but I just pretended I couldn’t see her anyways. Yes, it was rather childish doing it, but what is the point of being an adult if you can’t have some childish fun once in a while? I have to admit- I did enjoy myself too.

I just wanted to let you know, that since I’ve been accepted into the “Porter” ranks, I’m going to be changing my living quarters. So, from now on please send my mail to:

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

2^nd day /13^th month/ 356 E.C.

I have to agree with Dasss’ idea of having the Cooperative do some sharecropping with the local Sabbat. Malollia berries aren’t well known up here, but I’ve been told that they are useful to mages worldwide. So, it’s bound to sell well enough to make enough of a profit, to be well worth the effort.

Well, I finally made it up in rank to: Yokai Second Class. And so, I was measured for my battle armor. I’ve been told that it should be ready for me in a month. Along with having my measurements taken I was issued my Demon-Silver sword. I’m supposed to keep it on me when I’m on duty, and within reach when I’m not. It’s an honor and a responsibility.

Sgt. Andra has increased my training to include unarmed combat and field medicine. According to her, they’re both requirements that everyone who wishes to join in combat is expected to learn, and learn well.
This is because some of the Order Majin can neutralize the effects of Demon-Silver on their own troops, or make it difficult for one of us to use a weapon made of it.
Thus, the unarmed combat training will help us to survive in those instances.
The field medicine is less for us Mamono than it is for those humans who have been injured during combat. Increasingly of late- many humans have chosen to take their own lives over being captured by Monsters and ‘suffering a fate worse than death.’ Many of those who we save get upset at when they find out what their fate actually turns out to be, as opposed to what they were told would happen.

Well, the anniversary of The Order’s attack on our Old Colony passed a few days ago. Strangely enough, the only person out of all those who died that day I can think about, is Tara! 
Not Irura, not Viktor, nor their egg-baby, or any of the other victims. I feel so silly about this, Just my best friend Tara.

I miss her. I think she’d have liked it in the Army.

I’ve also been working more and more often, on and around the Fort’s Porter platforms. It’s a weird sensation to get one’s hands onto the components that are necessary to keep them running. Weird in, that I always get a sense of something being ‘off’ whenever I’m working on them. Every other Porter tells me they feel the same thing.

 I’ve also been learning about the History of the Platforms. Apparently, thousands of years ago when the Humans first started exploring the world with sailing ships? The platforms were already here, when they found the hills of what would become Cynosure.  
But nobody knew then, what they were or how (if any) they were to be used. All they knew, was that nothing would grow on them, not even lichen. It was only after some Mamono Mages came along, that they learned what they were capable of. 

On my days off, I like to try and take the time to explore the city as much as possible. But I have to do it with Kaori. The reason for this is that there is a group of Chief God hooligans, who harass lone Mamono wherever they can find them.  These hooligans have been few in number, in and around Cynosure ever since the Eequor dynasty began, one and half centuries ago. But, in the last few years they’ve been increasing their harassment of us Mamono something fierce. But not just us military ones, but also the staff of the Ambassadors from places like Zipangu or the Island Nations have been harassed or attacked as well.

Speaking of religious people, we all know that just about every Spider-Mamono honors the Lady Lolth in one of her many forms. But, most of us are quiet about it. We don’t expect any non-spiders to appreciate her like we do. There are some Chief God worshippers still living here in Cynosure. But, most of them are easy going. Well, easy going in that they’re not quite actively trying to kill us that is.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few of them called: Street-Preachers. They’re like the orators at the Colony voting meetings.  But, instead of talking about community needs, all these Street-Preachers want to do is to try and persuade Cynosure Humans to get rid of Mamono. The Cynosure Authorities tolerate the Preachers to a point. When these preachers start talking violence; is when the City Guard are called in to ‘move them along’.

I can state, that it can be quite nerve wracking when you’re out walking along a city street to a favored spot, and you almost walk into one of them. They seem to deliberately try to make a confrontation. For some reason, they’ve chosen to save the worst of their vitriol for us Spider-Mamono. It’s like they feel as if we’re coming to eat them all up. Which I guess in a way we are, just not the way they like to claim!

Luckily, most of the city doesn’t like them. In fact, there are quite a number of establishments and businesses that have gone out of their way to accommodate us.
For example, if you walked down one of the city streets, you’d see that a lot of the doors to their businesses have been widened to allow the widest of us entrance. 
There is one place I like that is near the Eastern Gate of the Fort, it’s called: The Prancing Cadaver. (Such a strange name!) It, is an Inn that has been operating in Cynosure for so long, even its owner doesn’t know how old it is. His family has been operating it since before the Eequors came into power.

Even though It’s human owned and operated (mostly), the owner has gone out of his way to make Mamono feel welcome. One time the Innkeeper, Ousom, found out that I missed the taste of Honey Pot ants. He then took the time to order some in, and wouldn’t even charge for it at first! He’s such a dear, and so as his family, even if his youngest daughter Exendra keeps spilling drinks onto customers.

 It was there at the Prancing Cadaver, that I was introduced to something called Chocolate.  Oh My Maou! It’s so good to taste and it just melts in my mouth like a Honey Ant. It is quite expensive though, but I try to budget for some of it now and again. 
I’ve decided that my favorite flavor is Toad Crunch.  Unfortunately, I have to be careful to not eat too much of it.  Just a few weeks and already I feel ready to molt!

The rooms in The Prancing Cadaver are made extra sturdy- the owner says he had them fixed up, in case an Ushi-Oni wanted to have some fun in one. He wouldn’t say whether or not one ever has though. The reason I mention this, I very nearly Pounced myself a husband in one of their rooms.

That is a story in and of itself, but since I don’t have the budget for the parchment or the ink. I’ll keep it short. Ekoni is one of those rare City Guardsman: unmarried.  I met him at of all places- the Infirmary. He was getting sewn up after having to retrieve one of his fellow Guardsmen from a Green Oni who didn’t want to let him go. 
I was delivering an important package to the Infirmary at the time. We literally bumped into each other, I managed to stay upright, but I dropped the package I was carrying. He was almost bowled over by me, but he did something I’ve never seen a human do, he just rolled backwards and came to his feet straightaways, and he was holding the package I’d been carrying!

He was nice about it all, and handed me my package back with a smile. We introduced ourselves and talked for a while. We decided to meet at the Prancing Cadaver after both our shifts ended, one thing lead to another, and I took him to one of the Inn’s Rooms.

So, what made him special? He reciprocated when it came to oral sex.

Just about every human male I’ve met here, seems to take it for granted that every Spider-Mamono wants to perform oral sex on him. But until I met Ekoni, not one of them would consider returning the favor.
Oh Great Maou! The skill he demonstrated upon my Pedivulva with his lips, teeth, and tongue! I had to restrain myself then and there, so as to keep from Pouncing him! I did jump around the room a bit though. I wanted to get my head clear of any fluff before making such a final decision.  But, by the time I’d made my decision (Yes), he’d already been snatched away by another, bigger Arachne. (Shards!)

Well I’m signing off for now. I understand that Iona is just about ready to start learning her letters?  When she’s ready, have her write me back. If you need spare parchment, just have her write her letters on the back side of my old letters.

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

13^th day /2^nd month/ 357 E.C.

I’m so happy to hear Masss is pregnant again! Does anyone have any ideas on who you’ll be naming the baby after? Tell Dasss to get his neck ready! Soon you’ll be hearing the pitter-patter of little tarsi running around your cave grotto! Another sister, Yay!

Well, in the last two weeks I assisted in a rescue operation over in the Leadenworth district. There are near some lands controlled by the Order. It broke my hearts to see so many orphaned Mamono children.
 It wasn’t expected of me, but I chose to spend my off-duty hours volunteering at the Refugee camp, helping.

Apparently, all of my devotion to duty and the mission, hadn’t gone unnoticed. Just out of the gloom, I was informed that I’m being promoted at the end of the month to Yokai First Class because of my extra efforts! Thank you Masss and Dasss, for incorporating your work ethic into me!

Three more months and I’ll have been here a year! What a difference a year can make! You know what I miss most about life here? The Snow. Few believe me when I tell them about it.
 It’s also nice to have a room to myself- I can wrap food for later and no one complains. I’ve found it’s the best way to keep the chocolate I purchase, fresh.        

I know you’ve been worried about my not having a husband yet, and yes there are a lot of my fellow recruits who have found themselves a husband rather quickly. But I’ve bumped into a few of them later, and just about every one of them has regretted not being more selective about grabbing one. What a lot of them didn’t think at the time, is that when you grab a husband, you also get his family. 

The more Cynosure men I meet, the more I understand why they have to resort to Polyandry. If it weren’t for that, they’d probably never get a chance to reproduce. You know what the truly annoying part is? Cynosure has sailors coming in from all over, but we’re not allowed to do anything more with them than just one night at the most. The reason for that- The Guild of Red-Lights says that our doing so cuts into their business. So once again, still more of these silly rules! Yes, there are some fishermen that we turn to, but they’re monopolized by the Sea Mamono.

At my own expense, I had a Dark Mage check to see if I have any magical ability. I had to be sure the Army’s testing hadn’t missed something.

It turns out that I’ve got the ‘magic nearby’ sense that everybody has, and that’s it. That, and a flare for making magical components work together and/or fixing them. It’s what I expected, but it’s still disappointing, I had hoped for something more.

But some good news- many of the clothiers in Cynosure have approached us Spider Mamono for a business arrangement. If we provide them some of our silk (they provide the spools) they’ll trade back, with either money or clothes.

While larger Spider silk, like the Roc Spider or the Rachnera, are the best for clothing. Jumper silk is considered to be too coarse for same. However, it is good for rope. When the rope makers incorporate it in with hemp rope, it increases its quality something fierce. They’ve discovered that Ushi-Oni silk is best used in ship’s sails of all things! 
I learned about this arrangement, when I accompanied Kaori to a Shinto shrine the Zipangu Ambassadors sponsor.  Kaori went to the Shrine for several things; including making a wish, getting a fortune, and purchasing herself some newer seals. This shrine sits near the clothier district, and I was approached one of them. I’m glad I went with her that day!

Speaking of clothes, it seems that Fort Eequor’s Kikkimora, aren’t the only ones who have been having trouble with someone stealing their panties. The Kunoichi have gotten upset of late, as some daring fool has been stealing their panties as well. This is extraordinary, since no one knows where their Barrack is! It’s NEVER a good time to get one of them mad at you.

Remember my telling you about the Order Street Preachers before, and how they’re almost ineffective? Forget I said that! They’ve been getting brazen of late, and it turns out that they’ve started attacking Mamono even if they’re paired up. More and more often, we’ve had instances of Orderites resorting to weaponry like sling-staffs to express their displeasure at us Mamono.  It’s gotten so bad that even some of the City Guard have been getting injured helping us.

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

27^th day /12^th month/ 357 E.C.

Hello Masss, Dasss, Sisst!

The last couple of months, a lot of those animals that are called Cats? They’ve been disappearing from the streets of Cynosure, and the city folks have been blaming us for it! Apparently, they’re not so much as a Pest, as a pet that everyone gets to enjoy feeding. I’ve tried being nice to them (the cats) but none will ever come near me now. It’s like they all remember my eating the few that I did when I first got here.

As to the subject of marriage, I know I know maybe I am being too picky about Men. But let me tell you about the last few I dated: I had one who I thought might be fun- but all he wanted to do was rub himself into my fur! Excuse me? If he’s having that much fun with furry things, I asked, why didn’t he simply get himself a fur rug? He didn’t appreciate that comment I can tell you! He went on about something called ‘fursecution’. Shards.

Another one of these fellows was surprised to learn that us Spider Mamono have teeth. I found out about his foolishness, when we were having dinner and he ordered my dinner for me: all liquids. I asked him why he did that, and he went on about how ‘spiders prefer to suck’ because they don’t chew. (?!) I surprised the hell out of him when I asked if I could have a bit of his food. I then went on to snatch one of his snails (including the shell) off of his plate, and popped it into my mouth.

I made sure to crunch down on it loudly enough for him to hear, as I chewed on it several times. I then swallowed it all and took a sip of water. THEN, I made sure to smile wide enough so that he could see all of my teeth, (including my venom teeth). Wouldn’t you know it,he ‘suddenly’ remembered he had someplace else to be right then.

Then ,there was the one idiot who just couldn’t get over the fact that I had eight feet! I swear to you, this fool only wanted to have sex with my feet! Hand-jobs are one thing, but tarsi-jobs? I tried my best to show some enthusiasm, but after a while I just couldn’t…I mean No!  Just…NO!

Then there was the one who kept calling me Mistress, and kept saying that he was: A Bad Boy, who needed to be punished. What the heck is a Domme anyways?

I’ve just about given up looking for an intelligent man. Why do I even bother anymore?

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Beavie, Fedor, and Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

15^th day, 9^th Month, 358 E.C.

Hello Masss, Dasss, Sisst!

Well,I finally got a chance to take part in a campaign, and put my armor and sword to good use. We got word that the Mamono town of Aurin was about to be attacked by The Order and a General Call to Arms was issued. I volunteered and was accepted.

It turns out that we somehow managed to get to the town several hours ahead of the Order. This meant that we had plenty of time to get ready for them. Our resident Dragon, Dark Colonel Herhes, was able to do some night flying reconnaissance and verified that they were still on their way.

What ended up happening? The Order was taken almost completely unawares by us! We captured so many of them alive, that we ended up with quite a few leftovers to take back to the Stockade!

What’s the Stockade? The Stockade is a sort of incarceration complex that is ‘hidden’ on the west side of the Teleportation Platforms away from the view of most of the city. Not even the City Guard is allowed inside.  If the First Army ends up with more men than they have Mamono, the Stockade is the place where we take the extra prisoners to be Chosen.

What that means, is that the rest of us back at the Fort have a chance to choose one of them to be a husband. But, the chooser is only selected if she is of proper Chooser Rank. This, is determined by:  Time in service, Time in Rank, Seniority, etc. It gets quite complex, and even the Danuki who has to do the calculations, gets nasty headaches figuring everything out.

What that means- is that one of those who have the “Highest Line Number’ can go in and judge which man looks the most desirable to her. Once she’s made a decision which man she wants. Some of us guards escort her choice of beau, to one of the Nuptial chambers. This is where the lucky Mamono can bond with her new husband.  The guards have to remain nearby until he accepts the bond. This is because, a few times the soon-to-be husband has successfully managed to hurt, and on one occasion- kill his bride.

Masss, Dasss, I have to confess. I had a chance to take one of those Order capturees, and I turned it down. I don’t know why.
 No, that’s not true! I do know why! It’s because I just couldn’t see myself living with one of these ‘men’ for the rest of my life. Every single one of the men screamed, or wet themselves, when I got close to him.

When I first got here, all I could think about was getting a husband. Now? I still do. I do want a husband, but it’s not so important anymore.  Now, I sure as hell don’t want to marry someone who is afraid of me. I want someone to want me for me!. Not for what I might do for them sex-wise. It’s been said that Army life will change a person. I had no idea how true those words would be.

Some good news, I made Corporal! That means I am now a full Teleportation Technician. I’ve been welcomed into the Porter Club and we’re all friends. You know what? It’s not quite what I expected. Now I want something more.

I also noticed something else about the Porter Club- everyone else there is just like me. By that, I mean that they’re all single, and they aren’t in any hurry to find a husband. What a weird coincidence.

Now that I’m a Corporal, and Full Porter, I find that I really do want to go up in rank to Sergeant. About the only way for me to qualify for that, is that I have to either become a widow (no thank you!) or be a Mentor.

What being a Mentor would mean: if an outstanding Maou’s Army recruit shows promise to be something more than just ‘usual’, or perhaps show a talent of something that would allow her to become an Officer; she is assigned a Mentor to make sure that she doesn’t get into trouble during the early part of her career.

Colonel Tekatees had a Mentor, Dark Colonel Herhes had a Mentor, and just about every one of our Officers here at Fort Eequor, has had a Mentor guiding her after she first arrived. 
 So, I applied to become one. I want to be a Mentor to someone too! Not just because it would improve my chances of making Sergeant, but also because I might be able to get a friend in a high place!  (No, not really).

I just want to be able to contribute to the Army in my own way. If the new recruit does well- then I’ll do well knowing I helped the Great Maou in her Grand Plan!  My becoming a Sergeant would just be Honey.

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Salticidae, Iona
New Cooperative Colony #17
Ironbark District
Kumari Kandam

23^rd day, 9^th Month, 359^th  E.C.

Hello Sisst!

Great Maou, you certainly are full of questions! Well I can’t blame you I suppose. As I remember the day I left the New Colony to join the Overlord’s Army I had many unanswered questions myself!

As to Irura, no you weren’t that bad. If I recall correctly, you were even worse! (Just kidding! Ha ha!) Honestly though, you did tend to leave a bit of silk here and there, you were never so bad as to leave it everywhere you went. You just left it all on Dasss’ back- which is where you could be found more often than not.

Now, as I recall, you were still drinking Dasss’ blood for at least a month longer than Irura is now. So, just be patient with her. She’ll wean off of his blood when she’s ready.

I also have to say that no, Dasss must be remembering wrong. I distinctly remember my first year, and I stopped drinking his blood long before my first-year hatch-day anniversary.

And yes, I have to admit I’ve noticed that your writing has improved every time I read one of your letters- Well Done! Keep practicing.

I’m so happy for Bagheera! It truly is a wonderful day in every Spider’s life when she manages to Pounce a husband! You should have her train you in her diet and exercise regimen.
 Just the way you describe her, lets me know that she’s probably a superior hunter, (and not just for men). There are many animals that could give us Jumpers a serious problem if we didn’t judge before we jumped.

I’m quite glad to hear that Dasss’ idea of sharecropping turned out so well. Maybe now, the Cooperative can repay that loan from the local Danuki guild, for the costs of establishing the newer colony.

As to “Thanking”, the Caravans, I think I will do just that- since many of the Caravans that pass through where we live, have Cynosure as a Terminus. Of course, I’ll have to be careful about inquiring, for two reasons:
 1) Most of the Caravans are owned by Danuki, and if they find out they’ve been inadvertently ‘supplying’ Spider Colonies with men, they’ll probably ask for a finder’s fee.
2) Even just asking around, might let many of the men know what they might face if they get lost along the way. Thatt might scare them off working that kind of job.  The last thing any of the Spider Mamono need is a new bunch of Caravan guards who aren’t quite so good at getting separated and lost. (Dasss did!).

On my days off I’ve been trying to take the time to explore the city as much as I can. Command still requires us to walk in pairs in the city. The problem is, not many of the other Mamono want to do that; and since Kaori has found herself a man she likes, she’s been busy with him every evening.

 All too often, it seems that all of my fellow Mamono want to do is talk about Men. How are they going to catch one! How annoying that the Men that are here, aren’t available! And why can’t they get the City Guardsmen that they’ve got coming by to visit, to visit more often!
There’s more to life than Men! Shards!

Good News! Just yesterday, I was informed that I was accepted to become a Mentor!  Happily, they told me they already have a recruit for me to help guide. According to them she’s an unusual one, and stranger than most in many ways. They didn’t say what or how though. But I consider that to be just one more challenge that I can work with. 
Her name is: Annwyfn Arawn. For some reason, all of the paperwork keeps referring to her as he. That’s the military for you, always getting some detail wrong. She’s supposed to be arriving from Royal Makai sometime in the next few weeks.

I can’t wait to meet her.

Salticidae, Helvetia
Porter Barracks, Room #24
Fort Eequor
Cynosure,
Kumari Kandam

Edited, October 28, 2017, 1651 (Local) 1151 (Zulu).

36230 Views