A Living Dungeon

by Allan Joyal

  “Which one? That rock pile we came from or this mountain?” the leader asked.

  “The last one,” the young man said.

  “I’m not sure this one has a name, but according to the locals, some of the adventurers here have talked to the dungeon once. It’s real,” the leader said. “As for where we came from. People call it Delver’s Rock, but I’m not sure it is a true dungeon.”

  Viana shook her head. “At least this one is real then. But what do you mean people have talked to the dungeon?”

  “We can ask more tonight,” the leader said. “The noble who runs the town announced that the new tavern is ready. He invited all adventurers in town to be there for a meeting tonight regarding his plans.”

  Faestari realized that she had not heard the announcement, but she had not allowed her focus to leave her domain since the probes had started after her meeting with the adventurers. She thought that being aware of the meeting might be important, but did not want to get caught outside her domain.

  She thought quickly. As she did, she noticed a rat that was investigating the base of the stairway. She used her mana to seize the rat and bring it up the stairway to the surface. Then she took over the mind of the rat and guided it to follow the adventurers down the mountain.

  It was more than a bit disconcerting to have part of her mind hiding inside the mind of the rat. At first she could barely get it to focus, and she had to give it some mana to increase its intelligence. She immediately knew she had to make sure this rat died after she finished with it.

  The group of adventurers had entered the dungeon late and then moved slowly through the first two floors. It was already late afternoon as they followed the path down to the guardhouse. Faestari’s rat scampered down the slope, reaching the guards before they were halfway down. The rat was a bit tired so Faestari allowed it to snack on some grain scattered by the guardhouse while listening to the guards talk.

  “I can’t believe how many adventurers are here,” one guard said. “This group makes eight since high summer.”

  “It’s been like that since I arrived with Dared in the late spring,” the other guard said. It was not Sergeant Koltiss’ voice, but Faestari remembered that Dared had said he had several additional guards at that first meeting with the adventurers.

  “And a group goes up the mountain every day?” the first guard asked.

  “Yes, and all we do is make sure that they are adventurers and have the approval of the three old companies,” the old guard said.

  “Which ones Sergeant?” the first guard asked.

  “I’m not a Sergeant. The Sergeant is Koltiss, and he’s already at the new tavern making sure that it’s ready for the lord’s meeting. I’m a corporal,” the old guard growled.

  “Sorry Corporal,” the first guard said. “I’m just trying to figure out how things work. I just arrived today and the Sergeant ordered me to come here.”

  “I know Private,” the old guard’s voice said in a placating tone. “But you have to maintain order. It was over a moon cycle ago that a group of adventurers entered the dungeon with the goal of destroying it. They argued with the leaders of the other companies here at the time.”

  “That would be the Impaled Cats and the Flame Vultures, right?” the Private replied. “At least those are the two flags I noticed flying from camps on the north side of the stream.”

  “Yes, those two. The Impaled Cats moved their camp recently. The north side of the stream has better shelter, and the area they held is going to be converted into housing for the town next year,” the Corporal said. “There is a third, but they don’t have a flag.”

  “How do I know if it’s the right person then?” the Private asked.

  “For now, don’t worry about it. He’ll introduce himself later. But the trio usually uses Kalacho of the Impaled Cats as their spokesman,” the Corporal said.

  “What is this meeting tonight?” the Private asked.

  “Winter is coming,” the Corporal said. “And the few men who lived near here all say it should be cold. We might be able to keep a route to Fairview open, but it will be difficult. They expect a lot of snow.”

  Faestari remembered the winter the previous year. The summit of the mountain was under snow that was deeper than a man is tall. Sections of the slope had accumulated drifts that were up to four times deeper. Her cisterns had filled quickly once the spring thaw came. It sounded like that was a typical winter, which made her more confident that she would be able to expand the underground stream she had established. She had already added several more cisterns in order to catch more water.

  The guards continued talking, but it quickly turned into discussions about the quality of the drinks in the old wooden tavern. Faestari could see that the adventurers were still far up the mountain and decided to see if she could find Koristal. The young wife of Lewfeld had not stepped on the slopes of the mountain since Faestari appeared to Salene, and she wondered about the quiet but kind woman.

  She figured she would start by visiting Gee’if’s campsite. Salene was almost always there when she was not adventuring. Faestari’s rat managed to scamper through the tall grasses at the base of the mountain and make its way over to the grove sheltering the adventurer’s camp. She noticed the distinct smell of something cooking and slowed down as she approached the camp.

  “I still can’t believe you betrayed father that way,” Luniri said. She sounded peeved about something.

  “And I can’t believe you’d defend a man who openly wants to possess a living being,” Salene said.

  “How can a dungeon live?” Luniri said. “I don’t know what you met up there, but it wasn’t this mystical long lost relative.”

  Faestari crept up, using a sapling’s leaves as cover as she tried to get a view of the camp. It looked like Hal’vik. Jyxton and Gee’if were away from the camp. Betrixy was standing near a large fire stirring something cooking in a cauldron suspended over the fire. Salene sat on a stump in front of a tent. Her sister was standing and staring down at Salene.

  Salene just looked up with a calm expression on her face. “I never made that claim. Actually the dungeon didn’t really make that claim either. However, I did watch as Roquel summoned a powerful spirit. That spirit was very clear when it said that the dungeon is not evil.”

  “Who cares? Father has said he’ll give us money so we can finally go our own way once he and Mardrew cast whatever spell they want. But they can’t even get into the dungeon without you to lead us,” Luniri said. “But you left us to join this group of losers.”

  “They are a very capable group,” Salene said carefully.

  “But you admit you’ve never penetrated far into the floor past the orcs. We were able to get through the orcs back when you led us. Why can’t you go deeper?” Luniri said.

  “You ever considered how much more dangerous it is? There is a beetle that roams the next floor with mandibles that can cut a man’s hand off. One bite and you are missing a hand. Every good adventuring group now carries a regrowth potion despite the cost for one,” Salene said.

  “And we aren’t quite sure where to go on the floor,” Betrixy said. “Unlike the first two floors, it’s a maze. The floors with the kobolds and the orcs are basic. I can think of only one room with more than two exits. That exit leads to the kobold altar. We know there are others on both floors, but we haven’t found them. And we were warned not to try.”

  “Why not?” Luniri complained. “We’re supposed to be looking for adventure.”

  Salene snorted in an unladylike fashion. “Because entering a monster lair is a very good way to get a dungeon angry. Angry dungeons will kill adventurers. From what Jyxton has told me, he witnessed that once.”

  “I’m not sure if it was anger,” Betrixy said. “But when you enter a passage and watch a dozen of those large spiders march through the tunnel heading for the room you just left, it definitely leaves an impression.”

  “That would never happen,” Luniri said.
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br />   “Why not?” Salene said.

  “Dungeons can’t do that. Father said,” Luniri started.

  “Your father is very wrong about that,” a new voice said. Roquel walked into the clearing. She headed over to Betrixy and held up a small pouch that appeared to be made out of fur.

  Betrixy smiled. “You were quick with this,” she said happily as she accepted the pouch.

  Roquel shrugged. “A new light spirit offered me a new agreement. It helped me finish the blessings you requested.”

  “I owe you an enchantment now right?” Betrixy said.

  “What do you mean?” Luniri said as she stomped over to stand behind Roquel.

  Roquel shrugged to Betrixy. “If you can, I’d love if you can magic my cloak so that I’m warm this winter. I find that I don’t have many fire spirits willing to help me. They prefer to be destructive.”

  Betrixy nodded. “I believe I remember an enchantment that would work. I’ll need to see if I can find a good mana stone.”

  Faestari immediately decided to make sure that Betrixy would find a mana stone the next time the group headed to the dungeon. She had a couple of days to take a stone and infuse it. Meanwhile, Roquel had turned around to look at the fuming Luniri.

  “Girl,” Roquel said in a voice filled with scorn. “Your father knows so little about dungeons it amazes me how many adventurers still listen to him. If you pay attention, you’d note that only young and inexperienced adventurers talk to him. The types that are usually turned back by the guards. They are turned back for a good reason.”

  “But this whole tale that you summoned a spirit,” Luniri said in a whine.

  “That’s what I do. I’m a spirit caller. I ask spirits to come and assist me. My main ones are a wind spirit that helps me move faster and an earth spirit that turns my hands into magical stone. I fight by punching the monsters,” Roquel said.

  “But,” Luniri said.

  “Oh, I don’t need to adventure anymore. I’ll admit that I don’t display a ton of magic or wealth, but I have little reason to. There are always those that would try to take advantage of a wealthy adventurer,” Roquel said.

  “But you just stick around the town,” Luniri complained.

  “I have a reason,” Roquel said. “Come to the big meeting at the tavern. All will be explained.”

  “But,” Luniri complained.

  Roquel turned and walked out of the clearing. “Just leave her alone,” Betrixy suggested. “She’s probably the strongest adventurer in town. If we were to put together any formal group, she’d be offered the chance to be in charge.”

  “Do adventurers do that?” Salene asked.

  “You’d know more than me. This is my first dungeon, and we all seem to be making it up as we go,” Betrixy said. “So anyone want some stew before we head to the tavern? They probably won’t be serving food tonight.”

  Luniri sullenly agreed as Salene got up and headed for the nearest tent. Faestari quietly just backed away from the group and headed towards the town, hoping to find out more before the meeting.

  She was making her way by the stream when a finger of water flowed out and picked her up. It suspended her in the air as a pair of lips appeared near her ears. “Bad Faestari. I could have done this for you and been safer,” Aylia’s voice said quietly. “But I’ll admit, I only found you accidentally. The rat is a clever trick. Just be careful. Mordlew was talking to a man dressed in black robes earlier today. They were way out of town, in that copse of trees where the stream turns to the north. It was clear they expected no one to hear them.”

  Faestari tried to tilt the rat’s head. Aylia giggled. “That was way too human, you should be more careful. As for the obvious, I think Mordlew is going to try to reach the dungeon heart somehow. It sounds like he’s getting a bit desperate.”

  Faestari nodded the rat’s head. It ended up becoming more of a pushup, which caused Aylia to giggle again. It sounded much like the water dancing over rocks. “I better go,” Aylia said. “Outside your domain a wizard could try to force me into service. Please stay safe, I love you.”

  The water released her and vanished back into the stream. Faestari dashed for the nearest bush and hid under it, listening for any sounds. Other than the stream’s babbling as it flowed eastward there was silence in the grove. She remained there, wary of footsteps until the sun finally touched the horizon.

  She was more than a little afraid that the meeting would have already started. Still trying to be careful, she dashed from the cover of the bush to the wall being built to protect the town. There was a rat sized opening between two of the logs of the palisade. She squeezed between then and headed for the stone building that had become the new tavern for adventurers.

  Faestari noticed that there was a constant sound in the town. She paused at a corner checking to see if she could dart across the street and the murmuring became clearer. It seemed that the people were excited about something. She took a moment to look up. The building she was next to was one of the newer wooden buildings. She remembered that this one had become a shop. Some merchant was bringing goods in from Fairview and even farther away and set up this building to store and showcase his goods. The man was proud of the store despite the fact that the town was still being built.

  She darted past the building, running under a small shack that stood on a raised platform. She had seen this building go up and was still not completely sure what purpose it served. A pair of priests visited it every five days around noon, but they never stayed long.

  The next building was the new tavern built from stone. It was designed to remain warm in the winter, but still have an open feel. The walls were thick, but there were several windows and even doorways built into the ground floor. All of the openings could be closed up to keep warmth inside, and as she approached, she noticed smoke rising above the tavern. “The hearths must all be lit to produce that much smoke,” she thought as she sneaked inside.

  Faestari was almost stunned by the volume of sound created by the people inside the tavern. Every table was full, and the adventurers gathered were engaged in a number of raucous conversations. She found one of the angled support beams for the front of the building and climbed up it, heading for the rafters so she would be able to see everything going on.

  When she found a good vantage point she was surprised. She could finally see the entirety of the tavern. She had seen the stone being brought in, so she knew it was solidly built, but from above she could see the size of the main floor. There were five circular fire pits set out in a crescent shape. The wall opposite the entrance had two more hearths built into the wall itself. They provided light and warmth for a long bar made out of stone and wood. There also was a rack between the two hearths containing several unopened wooden kegs.

  Two smiling bearded men were walking up and down the bar. They would talk to the men leaning against the bar. Occasionally they would take a mug from a patron and fill it from one of the kegs. Coin would be exchanged and the filled mug would be returned.

  Faestari was wondering how just two men could handle all the tables she could see, but then a young woman wearing a loin cloth and a simple band of fabric over her breasts walked behind the bar. The woman was carrying five empty mugs. She filled the mugs and then walked back around the bar headed to a table. The adventurers were already piling coin on the table when she returned.

  Faestari was going to try to count the number of women working when Dared walked over to a raised platform that was just to the right of the bar. He was accompanied by Sergeant Koltiss, Master Builder Joward, and a pretty young woman she did not know. The woman had her arms wrapped around Dared’s right arm as they stepped up onto the platform.

  Sergeant Koltiss turned around to face the room. “All quiet!” he boomed out in a voice that clearly had practice being heard.

  The adventurers and others in the room quieted down. Anyone who could was sitting in a chair as everyone looked over at the platform. Sergeant Koltiss stepped t
o the side to allow Dared to step forward.

  The young king’s son stepped forward confidently. The woman had released his arm, but stood behind him with a brilliantly large smile on her face. “Everyone,” Dared said. “I have to thank you all for coming. Just a few moon cycles ago this valley had no town. There were no farmers. In fact this was wilderness that Fairview decided not to bother with as it’s too far from any trade routes.”

  “We know,” someone shouted.

  Dared shook his head. “Please, there is a lot that needs to be said. I’ll start with talking about the building. As you know the tavern here is complete. The plan is that this building will be at the southwestern corner of the wall that encircles the town. However, I thought it best if Master Builder Joward explain it all.

  Joward stepped forward. “I’ll try to keep this brief. I’m sure you all would rather be drinking than listening to speeches. The good news is that the tavern is complete and we’re already working on an inn that will sit at the southeastern corner of the walled section of town. We’re also mostly done with the temple to Veshtrya. I’m sure all you adventurers will be quite happy to hear that.”

  Several of the adventurers pounded empty mugs on tables, creating quite a racket. Faestari just nodded. She cared little of gods, but she understood their ability to perform miracles of healing. The adventurers probably felt that everything was finally coming together for them.

  “Dared has approved the idea of building a formal adventurer’s guild house. I had never heard of one, but he talked to the representatives for both the Impaled Cats and the Flame Vultures companies as well as the many independent groups that are staying nearby. For now it looks like it will be built into the eastern wall once we get that far, so I can’t promise that it will be ready by the time the snow flies. However, we will build it within the next year,” Joward said. “That’s all I have to say.”