Dauntless Dungeon

by Devan Johnson

  “Impressive huh? That’s the biggest arcane crystal on this continent,” a voice remarked pulling her from her thoughts and down to her partner. “Hey there, the names Bartlebee Bardensky, nice to meet you.” He said, one of the tentacles from his head wrapping around her hand to shake it. “Now, now, now, what are you? You look like any old animal folk type,” he said, pulling papers from his bag and eyeing her curiously, “but you are definitely something more.” Mumbling to himself, he looked over his sketchpad at her as his tentacles glided ink across the surface bringing the image in his head to life all the while still climbing the stairs. “Ah of course, it makes sense, the angles, the sly gimmer in your eyes…” turning the picture revealed Kheeta in traditional Kitsune robes, two tails proudly following behind her.

  “What! But…but how did you know?” she asked, tightening her tails around one another. Her stomach winding itself in a knot, as Calisto’s words about why the Kitsunes had gone into hiding echoed through her head.

  “Oh, you know, Meripints…well then again maybe you don’t know… Kitsune’s have been out of the game for quite some time now…” The curious little man trailed off almost more talking to himself by the end, his tentacle hair wiggling like a pile of worms on his head. “Well us Meripints like to study other cultures, and their arts… we love the arts.” They were nearing the top of the staircase now. “Kitsunes are a mystery, which makes them a favorite to muse about. Vanished in the dead of the night; the people, the city… everything vanished. It was as if the city had never been there. In fact, there are a lot of theories, books and scrolls of them, but here you stand,” he said with a laugh, “disproving at least half of them.”

  As they reached the top of the staircase Kheeta had to shield her eyes as the twin suns’ light peeked out from behind the clouds. She looked behind her at the ground almost fifty feet below and her stomach twisted, I hate heights… She thought to herself as she forced her eyes away from the perilous fall. Before the group of hopeful students stood a large building, five stories high, constructed out of a dark Ivana Maple instead of the white stone of the main castle. The crowd was abuzz with murmurs of excitement as they were ushered through the large wooden doors and into an enormous common room. Torches lit the walls every four feet giving the room a nice warm glow, while the five Class bannisters proudly hung above a long table at the end of the room. Seated at that table was an odd menagerie of Questers and Kheeta found her nerves growing thinner by the second.

  “Welcome Student-hopefuls! And thank you Ms. Sylvestris for your assistance in the enrollment process as usual.” The largest of the Questers, a Selchii, said standing up from his spot at the center of the table. “I am Gorn’ Ahl’ Kor, and I’m the head of the Warrior Class, what that means is that I’m one of the five who gives out the admittance test every year. Now as you know, starting this year the administration is changing things around so as to accept more applicants than in past years, in other words our standards have, apparently, dropped while your odds have improved.” This brought about a small cheer from the gathered students before the shark’s steely gaze quieted them. “I however, disagree with this decision… my standards will not be lowered, as I do not believe in having the blood of children on my hands. Therefore, as usual, I will only be accepting those with perfect marks into the Warrior’s program. So, if you want a shot at being the best fighter you can be then give your all in the trial tomorrow and maybe I’ll let you in.” Kheeta shuddered at the thought of being under the command of such an intimidating man. Gorn stood roughly eight feet tall, with rows of sharp teeth, a long dorsal fin starting at the base of his neck, a large curved scar split the left side of his face, and whitened his eye. He wore steel plate mail, gilded in sapphire trim, and his breastplate featured a symbol of waves crashing in the center, while an imposing sword and shield sat on the table before him. He gave the room one last look over, as if sizing up the prospects, before taking his seat, allowing the person to his left, a tall, bird-like man, to stand.

  “Ah, well okay. Following that uh… intimidating display, I feel it best I go. My name is Az’rocc,” he said, squawking the ‘R’ of his name and clearing his throat. “And I am a Cleric Class Quester, meaning I specialize in the healing arts, but I also know how to smite a zombie with a wave of my wing.” Looking at the man Kheeta believed it; he stood shorter than Gorn but still taller than an average man, with a beak and piercing eyes. Head to toe he was draped in brown feathers and his wings ended at scaly hands. Az’rocc continued, “I will be conducting the testing tomorrow and then convening with the Gods to decide who will be joining the ranks of Rhespira’s Clerics. Give it your all tomorrow and pray diligently.” Kheeta stifled a chuckle as the man squawked every ‘R’, but her line partner Bartlebee was not as composed, drawing stares from the crowd as he laughed loudly.

  “Sorry,” he mustered meekly trying to hide behind the tentacles on his head, his skin turning a deep purple.

  Az’rocc took his seat and a peculiar woman in a hooded robe stood, her face hidden within the shadows of the garment. “Attention student hopefuls…” there was something almost melodic in the way she spoke, the way she drew out her ‘S’ sounds, that enticed Kheeta, and her ears perked up, hanging on every word. “My name is Se’ Shira and I will be overseeing any of you who think that the magical arts is where you should be.” Kheeta’s back stiffened as she stood up straighter, this is the woman that I’ve got to impress to get into Dauntless Dungeon. “My tests will be rigorous and straining, they are not for the weak of heart… but then again, neither is magic.” As she finished speaking, she took her seat again breaking the trance that her voice had locked Kheeta in. I hope that I’m ready… Kheeta worried silently to herself as she looked on.

  “Oh, oh, oh, is it our turn now? Yes!” The woman at the far end of the table hollered excitedly. She had short pink hair, skin that was so dark grey it was bordering black, violet eyes, and most peculiar of all was the fact that she was only humanoid from the waist up. Kheeta had experienced a lot of firsts since leaving The Den but she couldn’t have prepared herself for her first Arachling sighting. Where the woman’s legs should be was the torso of an enormous black spider, complete with all six legs and front mandibles. I think if I saw one of those in a cave I’d just die of fear, Kheeta found herself thinking as the spider woman worked her way around the table to address the students from the center. “Hi, we’re Morla and we would like to welcome you to the Dauntless Dungeon Testing Program,” as Kheeta leaned into Bartlebee to ask if he heard her say ‘we’ as well Morla turned to her right and began addressing the air. “Of course, I’m going to tell them that I’m a rogue,” Kheeta raised her eyebrows as her tails twitched behind her. “I’m not stupid you know. What do you mean? Of course, I’m sure!” A loud cough from the final pro-Quester pulled her out of her conversation with the air and back to the present.

  “Thanks Morla, you two have your talk, I’ll go ahead and introduce myself and let them know how we get this process kicked off.” A voice said from underneath the brim of a familiar purple hat. With a quick movement and a flashy smile, Pip jumped up onto the table, just like he had at the inn. “Ladies and Gentlemen, my name is Pip and I will be teaching you sad lot how to play some music, dance a jig, and if the Gods are with me, romance a sweetheart.” Kheeta’s eyes grew wide, she couldn’t believe it. The man who helped me at the Inn is one of the instructors? Oh my Gods I seemed so desperate back there… Distressed thoughts raced through her mind as Pip finished introducing himself. “Now, in Rhespira, Questers can go off on their own and complete low-level missions but when it comes to higher level Quest a strong group comp is vital.” All the playfulness in his voice was gone now, replaced with a professor-like tone. “Now these groups are commonly referred to as Parties, and a balanced Party consists of five members; so what we do at Dauntless Dungeon is take your preferences and then put you in a party with four people of other Classes randomly…” Pip seemed to survey the room for re
actions before continuing. “We will begin by calling out five names, once you hear your name please come forward and grab your ring.” The Musmeer held up a small green band, similar to the one Ms. Sylvie had used at the waterfall. “These are not mere jewelry, they will activate and deactivate the water stairs to the island, but for now they only open your cabins. They are engraved numbers one through twenty for each of this year’s applicant Parties. You won’t be given another and losing yours is grounds for expulsion so treat these items like your life… protect them.” As he finished his explanation and warning, he unrolled a large scroll and began to read off names.

  Kheeta watched as the first party was assembled; a tall Garnorian in the role of Warrior, a slender Kelphyte as their Mage, a Musmeer Rogue, a Fungee bard, and a Lycarion cleric. I wonder who I’m going to get paired up with? She thought to herself as the second party began their walk across the common room to the Pro-Quester’s table.

  Her nerves were nearly fried, anticipation rising in her body, threatening to boil over and consume her. Four parties had been assembled already and they still hadn’t called her name, glancing around at the remaining sixty students she wondered which four she was going to find companionship in.

  “Party eight’s Bard will be Bartlebee Bardensky,” Pip called out over the murmur of the crowd, bringing a squeal of excitement from the small Meripint beside her.

  “See you later Kheeta, good luck!” The tentacle haired boy hollered as he bound off towards the Musmeer bard. And there goes the only person I know here, Kheeta thought bitterly as her spirits began to sink, wondering if she was ever going to get called. Pip read off a Sylphyte’s name next and a tall slender boy in his teenage years, with long pointed ears, pale skin, and long blonde hair walked forward to join Bartlebee, who was grinning ear to ear. The next name was ‘Golluk’, and the person that answered was just as foreign as the name. A six-foot creature made of solid iron and copper shambled forward, gears turned, and a blue glow leaked out of every joint and kink in the metal. The individual was shaped like a barrel chested man in full plate armor, except where a face would normally peer back through the visor was a swirling blue mist. I can’t believe it! A small Golem is applying? Kheeta thought to herself with amazement.

  “I said Kheeta, is there a Kheeta here?” Pip called out perplexingly as he surveyed the crowd. I was so distracted by this ‘Golluk’ that I missed them calling my name!

  “I’m here! I’m right here!” She managed to yell finally getting her legs to work as she scurried down the walkway.

  “You will be this Party’s mage,” Pip instructed as she took her place next to a grinning Bartlebee; whose tentacle reached out and squeezed her hand in excitement. “And your Rogue will be Aurora Fatalis.” A female Florae began sauntering down the walk way towards them.

  Kheeta had read about Florae in the few books that Calisto had lent her, and Celia had told her of a group of them that tried to convince her to stay in their meadow. According to the mermaid they were extremely… convincing. The girl that reached them had green skin that accentuated her sky-blue eyes, long pink petals flowed down her back forming what the Florae consider to be hair. What looked to be a floor length skirt, was red and green leaves, used to hide the intricate root system the race use to get around. Flowers grew out of the leaves, and some flowered vines even grew up her torso, around her neck and down her arms wrapping around her wrists, to form a revealing corset.

  So, this is my party huh? A Fox-girl, a Squid-boy, an Iron Golem, A Wood Phyte, and a Flower-girl… not the traditional set of heroes that’s for sure. Their Party completed, they were quickly ushered off stage so the next group could be formed.

  “I can’t believe this is the party we got stuck in Golluk!” The Phyte boy pouted loudly to the golem who turned to face him. “I’m going to have a word with Az’rocc, doesn’t he know who my father is?” The Phyte boy was fuming angrily, visibly red, and barely containing himself from exploding outside of a whispered voice.

  “What’s the matter with our party?” Bartlebee asked, his tentacles placing themselves on his shoulders, reminiscent of someone with their hands on their hips, visibly offended.

  “Not that I expect you to understand,” the snobby boy sneered back, “but I came to this school to get the best start possible… not to get shackled down to a bunch of animals!”

  “Whoa there, slow it down buddy.” Kheeta interjected before she could think better of it and stop herself. What are you doing? “First we’re not animals we’re animal-folk,” She gestured to herself and Bartlebee, “and second there’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “Oh, well thank you for point out that glaring difference,” he fired back before being cut off by Golluk.

  “Tarek, you really should try to treat our new ally’s better sir.”

  “Oh, is that what you think? My dad made you to be my tank not my advisor, so remember your place.” Tarek commanded with a dismissive gesture, the golem flinching at the motion.

  “Well if it makes you feel better, I doubt we’re excited to work with a bigot,” Aurora pointed out snidely.

  “That concludes the party assignments!” Seh’ Shira’s voice rang out over their own conversation taking precedence as they all quit bickering to listen. “Take the rest of the day to get to know your party and if you go outside, you’ll see there’s a surprise that I’m sure you’ll all quite enjoy, tomorrow we meet back here for day one of testing.” Dismissing them the various parties began making their way to the door, eager to see what the surprise was, all except for party number eight...

  “Well you know what? Whatever, if you guys want the bucket of bolts then you can have him. I’m going to laugh when I’m the only one in this pathetic party that passes the test. You’ll see… I don’t need any of you.” He turned, cloak flowing behind him, and stormed out of the common room, leaving the rest of his party awkwardly staring after him.

  “I thank you for your help,” Golluk began as soon as Tarek was out of sight. “But it really wasn’t necessary, master Tarek has been this way ever since he was little.”

  “That still doesn’t make it okay,” Aurora responded placing a flowered hand on his shoulder. “You’ll be accepted with us, don’t you worry.”

  “Now, who wants to go see what our surprise is?” Bartlebee asked jumping up and down with excitement. The party agreed and headed for the large wooden doors and the sunny green courtyard outside.

  6 The Tests Begin

  As Kheeta looked across the courtyard their surprise was immediately evident, as twenty small wooden houses scattered the far corner of the island. “Where did this come from?” Kheeta wondered aloud echoing the other ninety-nine students with amazement and confusion.

  “These weren’t here before, were they?” Aurora asked as they began walking towards the large group of applicants gathered outside the buildings.

  “No, they definitely were not.” Bartlebee answered pulling out his sketch pad and inking a quick sketch of the structures as they drew closer.

  “Maybe they were but we couldn’t see them.” Golluk proposed noticing that each building had the number 1-20 engraved in it just like their rings.

  “Probably, my dad says when he went here illusion magic was used in almost all the training,” Bartlebee exclaimed bounding towards cabin eight. “What are we waiting for let’s go inside!” he hollered running up to the door excitedly before stopping and turning with a confused expression. “Uhm, guys? There’s no doorknob…”

  “What do you mean there’s no door knob? Just give it a push.” Golluk suggested as the rest of the party, minus Tarek who was not anywhere in sight, reached the impatient Hafpint.

  Bartlebee pushed and strained against the door, comically ineffective at opening it. “It won’t budge.”

  “Maybe it’s locked,” offered Aurora sliding between the two of them.

  “It can’t be locked because there’s no handle to lock.” Bartlebee responded exasperatedly as he conti
nued to try and force the door open.

  Well silly,” she crooned, several of her vines slowly sliding along his body as she approached him from behind. Bartlebee flushed a deep purple and tried to stutter a response to no avail. “There are more than just physical locks in Rhespira,” she finished as she lifted him with her vines, moving him out of her way as she gently placed her ringed hand against the door. A soft green glow appeared and before their eyes a handle materialized in its center. “See?” She said cheerfully turning to her bewildered party, and noticing that no one else seemed to be going inside yet. “It looks like we’re the first party to figure it out too, so let’s go inside.” She turned the doorknob and pushed the large oak door open, revealing the interior of Party eight’s cabin. Worn stone floors clacked under Kheeta’s clawed toes, as the door opened into a modest lounging area complete with a fireplace that caused the wood paneled walls to glow a golden brown. They found several cushioned chairs as they walked through their temporary home, along with a bookcase full of adventuring guides that was near that bathroom door. The kitchen took up a small portion of the building, with a counter and barstools to eat at. On the right side of the kitchen was a hallway leading to the girl’s room, and opposite was another leading to the boy’s.

  “This is such a cute little cabin,” Aurora said, putting down a pamphlet she had found on a table, “It could use a little color though.” She reached into a fold of leaves on her ‘skirt’ and pulled out a small handful of seeds. Whispering to them in a language none of the others could understand she threw them into the air; as they touched the walls and ceiling they stuck, exploding into colorful blooms of all shapes and sizes. Kheeta excitedly pounced onto a countertop and buried her nose inside of a large purple flower.