by Dakota Krout
The miners shouted in anger and confusion as the room became pitch black, running for where they thought the entrance was. Not one of them made it out. The Cat was crouched next to the exit, and as each approached, the tentacles would flash out slashing throats, piercing eyes, even wrapping around a neck and killing one man by suffocation. These men were all in the F-rankings, they had no chance to defend themselves from this killer. After its gory fun, the Cat poked its head out of the doorway through the ‘bubble’ in place which increased the Essence density, its face meeting fresh air. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear it chuckled as it scented all of the prey above.
It ran up the steps and was lost to my senses.
I traced the remaining Runes, looking for flaws, but found none. This worried me. I had not found any flaws the first time things went bad after all. I smoothed the stone in the damaged area and began again, slowly cutting into the stone and creating the pattern I needed for the Inscription. Though somewhat recovered thanks to the miners’ deaths, I still had far less Essence than I felt I needed. I was sitting around two percent capacity, so working at all was exhausting. I went slowly, double checking every bit of the pattern, looking for any flaw. I found none, so I finished with the activation Inscription, watching as the pent up Essence from the large Runes filled this new one.
I held my ‘breath’ as the slightly smaller Rune activated, and ‘sighed’ with relief as it worked as I had expected it to. Each Rune in turn activated, the spiraling activations coming closer and closer to me with each revolution. The last Rune activated, I braced myself to fill with the Essence which was howling through my tunnels to power this massive series of Runescript. …Nothing happened.
I cast about for a solution to my problem, but only frustrated myself. Dani picked up on my agitation and quizzed me, “What is the matter? Is the Cat coming back?”
“Well why not use the inverse Rune? If these normal Inscriptions collect Essence, the inverted Rune should release it, right?” Dani shyly contributed.
Dani blushed, “Oh stop you big ol’ flirt.”
I bent my will to the task, creating one last Rune in the set. It looked wrong, like a scar on the floor next to the perfectly formed non-inverse Runes surrounding it. Luckily, it was really small. We’re talking about an inch in diameter. The first Rune in the doorway had a radius of nearly six feet. The thick, condensed, pearlescent Essence that had been contained by the final Rune cascaded into the activation sequence of the inverted Rune.
Essence dripped out - literally dripped. The Essence had been collected in such a large quantity and forced into such a heavily purified and condensed state that it was in liquid form. Each drop was a shining gem and moved with a viscous swaying as it was pushed forward by the droplets forming behind it.
“Cal, can you quickly make a drain? Let it sink down into a reservoir under us and the tree, so as it evaporates it comes up through the hole where we are.” Dani directed me quickly. Her words pulled me from my stupor, my utter excitement had been holding me still. I formed the drain as she had requested, lining it with the tungsten I had found in my first attempt at making a tunnel. I wanted nothing breaking this reservoir, no sir! The condensed Essence slipped into the opening, flowing in a manner more befitting molasses, yet draining all the same. A tiny droplet was made every few seconds, but each one was purified Essence and therefore exceedingly potent.
The reservoir I made filled very slowly, in an hour it had only collected about an eighth of an inch of Essence. Once in the open space of the reservoir, it again evaporated into the air of the small area. Soon the air pressure made it try to go back up the drain. I opened a miniscule hole under me, allowing the Essence to flow up into where I made my existence.
The amount I was able to take in was not nearly the amount the reservoir was allowing into the room at large as the released Essence gently blew past me, but I wasn’t worried. I’d get it all eventually! I was basking in the healing feeling of happiness when I felt a hole appear in my glee. ...Oh no.
“Hmm? What? This is nice.” Came her languid response.
The Cat quickly wound its way through the second floor, wearily returning to my room. As it crossed the threshold it stopped, nostrils flaring as its eyes - all three of them - widened. It cautiously stepped further into the room, then rushed to where the most concentrated Essence was condensing. It stared at the liquid Essence like someone that had just been handed a baby; a bit uncomfortable and unsure of what to do - would moving it break it?
One of its three remaining tentacles gently moved down to hover over the few drops that hadn’t gone into the drain and flicked a tongue out, sucking in the concentrated Essence. The tentacle spasmed, flailing back and forth in pseudo-pain - like a human taking a bite from a lemon. The drop of Essence sped down its throat, moving into the stomach of the Cat’s main body. The Cat dropped to the floor, gasping through its nose as it struggled to absorb the potent energy. Successful after a few minutes, it got to its feet a
nd reached for another drop. This continued, lick, swallow, spasm, repeat, for nearly half an hour.
Finally seeming to have enough, it lay down, contented. As if finally noticing my attention, its eyes flicked to where we were. *Hiss* Well, I guess it still wasn’t friendly. It fell asleep facing the door, tentacles moving and keeping watch of their own volition.
I mentioned to Dani.
Exasperated, she looked at me, “Ya think? You just had to feed a wild animal.”
~Twenty-Seven~
Dale awoke to a ruckus in the camp. Having slept behind the stone walls of the chapel on a soft bed, he could hardly make himself become concerned. He yawned, walking over to where Hans was sleeping.
“You know wha- *Yawn* what’s going on out there? Festival?” Dale tried to rub the grit from his eyes.
“Nah.” Hans grunted uncaringly. “Might as well get up now though, we still need to find some more party members.”
They started getting ready for the day, putting on armor and sharpening weapons. That reminded Dale to ask about the enchantments on this armor and weapon. Hans told him it was a standard protection and feather enchantment on his armor, meaning that it weighed next to nothing when it was equipped. For the Morningstar, there was a stability enchantment on it that would push the ball and spike away from the shaft, increasing the range on the weapon by about a foot and making it very hard to block the attack.
Dale activated the enchantment on his weapon for the first time. “So it just… Floats there?” He doubted the effectiveness in a nonplussed tone.
Hans waved his hand over the area between the ball and the hilt showing that there was no resistance. “Try and stop that with a sword and see what happens. The sword hits nothing, you hit their head. You can adjust the distance too, and make it a surprise attack. Suddenly you have range! In battle, surprise kills, yeah?”
Dale nodded, it actually seemed a much more interesting weapon now. They moved out of the chapel to see a roaring mob of people. Guild Master Frank was shouting them down, trying to restore order. A few people were crying, as healers moved among them. Hans and Dale looked at each other, nervous only for a few seconds before they moved in to see what was happening.
“Listen!” Frank was bellowing, “We have no information right now! We believe it was a breakout, monsters escaping the dungeon. We don’t have any knowledge beyond the fact that a few F-ranked people were slain and several people were injured before a Mage blasted an area it was believed to be in. No, we don’t know what it was, it was too dark! Please, we have not seen anything in the dungeon that a proper group cannot handle! Go about your business, we will give you any information we can find.”
Hans tapped Dale on the arm, “We better hurry and find a group if we want to get in there. They might close it off while they look into this.” Dale was pulled over to the mess tent, where they found Rose waiting for them. She was in leather armor that was obviously heavily enchanted from the glow coming off of her. Inscribed armor and weapons rarely glowed, and only then if they were breaking down, allowing Essence to escape. Enchantments on armor were made of layered Essence and would therefore shine as it was consumed in order to power the Rune. In short, glowing enchantment? Necessary! Glowing inscribed Rune? Really bad.
“You made it through the night. Good.” Rose deadpanned. “Where are the others?”
Hans leered at her, “Well, my Rose, we have been unable to find anyone else worthy to travel in your company. Sadly, we must now scavenge the bottom of the barrel in our search.”
“I am not your Rose. What positions do we have filled? What are your specialties?” Rose looked back and forth between them.
Hans gave an elaborate bow, “Oh, how my heart aches to hear you say such words! I, ma’am, am a humble knife wielder. I specialize in ending threats before they become aware of me or my comrades’ presence.”
“An assassin. Just great.” Rose grunted in a very unladylike noise. “Swell company you keep, Dale. What do you do?” Hans looked a bit affronted.
Dale was unsure. “I’m, uh. I fight with a mace and buckler?”
Rose nodded. “A fighter. Good, hopefully you’ll specialize soon. What are your talents in the earth domain?”
Hans intercepted the question smoothly, “He has not found the path he will walk yet. He has been focused too hard on getting to this level I am afraid.”
“Fine, so we have an assassin, a fighter, and a ranger.” She drew her bow to explain her term. “That’s a good mix to start, but we need to fill our party out with some other people.”
Hans nodded, “Good thinking! Smart and beautiful!” He graced her with a wink as she rolled her eyes.
“I’m not into old men.” Rose denied him coolly. Hans pantomimed clutching his heart as a massive form walked up to the conversing group.
“Did I hear thou art looking for someone to enter into the dungeon with thou and thine?” A gravelly voice boomed, the words giving off a feeling of near archaic pronunciation.
Hans looked over, eyes flaring at the interruption. “Mmhmm, we are. I’m sorry though lad, F-ranked aren’t allowed to the second level anymore.” Hans dismissed offhandedly, returning to his determined flirtation.
The voice corrected him, “Not if they are members of the Guild. I am not. Also, I have already proven my worth in combat, finishing the second floor with my previous compatriots.” The dawn broke at that moment, allowing light to begin flooding over the horizon. The young man came into view, an odd type of armor on him. Metal plates were interspersed with furs, leaving a large amount of flesh showing. That flesh was rippling with dense muscle, drawing their eyes up to an arm casually holding an oversized Warhammer single-handedly. The man’s eyes were green, his long hair a deep red.
“Barbarian.” Rose breathed, eyes shining. Was her breath coming a little faster?
Hans smile genially, “Now the problem is that you can’t join a Guild group, can you?”
The man’s eyes darkened, his face stony as he set his jaw, nodded, and turned silently away. He paused as Dale called after him.
“Hold!” Dale commanded. “What is your name?”
The Warhammer came to rest on the ground. “My name? I bear the name of my father, and my father’s father, for generations uncountable. We are the mighty hunters of the frozen north, giants among the men of humanity. I am what you call a ‘barbarian’,” He lifted his chin disdainfully, “I am the warrior known as: Tom.”
“Tom.” Hans sputtered. “Your name is Tom. All that build up, and your name is Tom.”
Tom squinted at him meaningfully, “Is this an issue?”
“No, not at all… Tom.” Hans cheerfully denied.
Dale snapped his fingers, “You were the one who killed a teammate.” He remembered.
Tom’s face fell. He nodded. “To my great shame, it is true. Now, no others will allow me to join them in battle, as they fear I would turn on them as would a rabid dog.” He looked up, setting his features. “I swear to you, it was an accident, a moment of battle rage instilled in me over the loss of my comrades. I took out the fury of their deaths on the giant creature, Raile, with an untested weapon. His armor shattered, the shards impacting and killing my dear friend.”
Dale nodded, “That is what I had heard. Hans is correct though, you cannot join us without joining the Guild. Would you be opposed to that?”
Tom looked at him, as confused as if Dale had sprouted a breast on his forehead. “If they would have me. I know of none who would willingly turn down that chance.”
Dale glanced at Hans, “It is customary that a man is tested before joining, yes? Can we call this dungeon run a test and deal with the paperwork tonight? His Essence is very pure.”
Hans groaned. “Fiiiine. Ugh.” He looked at Rose, “Wait, you are in the Guild, right?”
“Yes.” Was her verbose response.
“Can I join you as well?” A small voice piped up. “I know you are good peop
le, to believe in Tom and his innocence as I do. I can help.” A robed figure stepped into their midst. Dale looked at him, recognizing him as if from a long forgotten dream.
“You!” Dale exclaimed excitedly. “You’re the cleric who healed Josh when Raile crushed him!”
The cleric brightened, “You remember me?” He inquired hopefully.
“How could I not? You are in the Guild and,” Dale squinted for a second, “A D-rank four?”
“Five.” He responded proudly, “My name is Adam.”
Hans was less pleased. “Oh, sure, let’s just bring anyone who wants to go! We don’t need to test people, nahhh, let’s just grab a few ‘randos’ and charge on in!” He grumbled, moving off toward the dungeon entrance. “Thought I was going to be part of choosing the team, but noooo.”
“Works for me. Just remember that right now this is on a temporary basis, ok everyone? We don’t know you yet.” Dale shrugged. “Let’s go then! Unless anyone needs some time to prepare?” The shaking of heads announced their readiness. They moved as an excited group to begin their incursion to the dark and desolate depths of the dreary dungeon. They climbed down the unguarded stairs, ignoring the crowds of people milling around, no one seemed to mind that they were moving down anyway. Just before they entered, Hans pointed out that blood had poured out of the entrance. Beyond the drying blood was a perfectly straight line on the floor, after which the ground was perfectly clean.
“This is the line where the dungeon really begins.” They stepped across and began their descent.
Just after they entered, Guild Master Frank made an announcement to the gathered people, “We are going to build a wall around this entrance today. The entrance and exits to it will be guarded at all times to prevent this sort of tragedy in the future. Until then, the dungeon is closed! We will send a team to check on it after the wall is built, but until then no one goes in! The Guild will be providing food to anyone who wants it free of charge until this event is concluded.”
