Dauntless Dungeon

by Devan Johnson

  The guards escorted the party through the city streets, everyone but the city watch seeming to not notice their existence. After awhile of walking Kheeta saw their destination, a tall castle with high walls and a drawbridge stood before them. “The King will be your judge and jury, so make sure your case is convincing.” The first guard spoke again, “otherwise he’ll also be your executioner” he warned, pulling open the doors to reveal a large throne room.

  Kheeta walked forward, third in line behind Tarek and Bartlebee, into the room, facing a throne that was turned away from them. What’s going on? Kheeta thought to herself as she looked down at the metal cuffs the guards had placed her in.

  “What’s going on?” Tarek yelled, voicing Kheeta’s internal monologue.

  The throne spun around to reveal a small, only four-foot, Musmeer that Kheeta recognized immediately as Pip. “You have been brought before the great and powerful King Pip for judgement.”

  “Why isn’t your test like everyone else’s?” Tarek fired off at the squirrel-man with a fixed glare. “You capture us, put us in shackles and then have the audacity to charge me with crimes!”

  “You are toeing a fine line boy… I will say that King Pip is a merciful soul, so I am willing to give you a chance to avoid the hangman.” Pip said staring down at the group intently, all playfulness in his demeanor gone.

  “Whatever it’s just a stupid Bard test, it’s not like it’s an important one.” Tarek muttered to himself, but Pip had heard him, and a look of displeasure broke through his charade.

  “Boy you just don’t understand… Gregorian!” Pip called out and one of the guards to his right removed his helmet and donned a black hood.

  “Pip, please!” Tarek begged as Gregorian grabbed his arm firmly and pulled him away from the party queue. “You can’t do this Pip, no, stop!”

  “How dare you address a King so casually!” Pip scolded, baffled by the level of disrespect this applicant was showing. He nodded to Gregorian and the latter kicked Tarek in the back of his knees causing him to collapse to the ground with a grimace. Before Tarek could react Gregorian had brought his large axe down in one swing, severing Tarek’s head as a bright blue flash filled the room. The party let out a collective gasp of shocked and horror, the fact that their test had officially begun dawning on them.

  Kheeta watched Bartlebee gulp, realizing he was next. “You Meripint, if you entertain me then you shall be spared.” Pip explained as Bartlebee was brought before the King by guards.

  “Thank you for the opportunity to perform for you, it’s truly my honor sire.” Bartlebee said as he bowed deeply and Kheeta raised her eyebrows. Wow, he really seems to know what he’s doing. “Today Sire, if it pleases you, I will be singing the ballad of the Pirate Dave.” Kheeta noticed that the floor where Bartlebee and Tarek were both brought had large runes carved into the marble floor, and further inspection led her to notice similar runes placed on the floor between him and Pip as well. Kheeta started to wonder what the runes were for but didn’t have to wonder long, as Pip began to sing the runes started to glow and pulse. The second rune in the middle of the room erupted with green light, that faded and the illusion of a young man stood in its place. As Bartlebee continued to sing his sea shanty the illusion began to move about the confines of the rune, sword fighting pirates, digging up treasure, and acting out the Ballad of Pirate Dave. Kheeta found herself laughing pleasantly as she tried to focus on the lyrics to the song:

  “When I was a wee little lad,

  on the good old main land.

  I went and found a ship, and bought myself a trip,

  out on to the ocean blue.

  Little did I know, the ship that I did row,

  had itself a pirate crew!

  They pillaged and they plundered,

  all while I wondered,

  ‘What am I going to do?’

  So I picked up a sword,

  and got on board,

  I guess I'm a pirate too.

  So quake in your boots,

  and shiver in your pants,

  when you hear of the Pirate Dave.

  For if you do, I'd be sorry to be you,

  cuz it'll be a watery grave!”

  Pip was laughing and clapping along with the song, obviously enjoying himself and Kheeta smiled too. I’m glad Bartlebee’s doing so well, he deserves it. Kheeta thought to herself as suddenly a flash of light lit up the room and the Meripint was gone. “Next,” Pip commanded as a guard grabbed her arm now.

  “Oh boy, here it goes.” Kheeta said reassuringly to herself under her breath.

  “You’ve got this girl,” Aurora mouthed trying to give her friend some borrowed confidence.

  “Now fox, you’ve been charged with conspiracy against the crown. The punishment for such a crime is death! However, I am a merciful King, as you have just witnessed.”

  “Oh, yes Sire you are most merciful,” Kheeta replied trying to mimic Bartlebee’s bow, her second tail flopping over onto her head, and ruining all pretense of professionalism.

  “Well if you can entertain me then you too shall be spared, fail and you’ll end up like the Phyte.” Pip warned as Kheeta looked down at the rune below her. She racked her brain trying to think of a song to perform and then it finally hit her; one of Celia’s old books had an ancient Kitsune lullaby that Kheeta used to be obsessed with. Yes, that’ll do, how can he not love illusion foxes? “Well?” Pip asked raising his eyebrows and staring at the girl.

  Kheeta cleared her throat, “Sire I would like to perform Hush Now Little Foxling, it’s an ancient lullaby from my people.”

  “Very well, let’s hear it.” Pip replied as Kheeta cleared her throat once again and began to sing in a nice, slow and sweet tone; a mother fox cuddling her baby under a cypress tree materializing on the center rune.

  Hush little foxling, dry your little tears.

  Come here, now darling, your momma, is right here.

  Don't be afraid now, though I, now must go.

  I want you to forever, and to always truly know,

  that you are my foxling,

  my little cherub pie.

  So hush now my darling,

  I don't want you to cry.

  Remember, me fondly, in the coming years.

  And remember, to always, stand up to your fears.

  There's so much too teach you, just so much to say.

  I love you, my angel, in every single way.

  My end, has come now,

  and it's time to say goodbye.

  Hush now, little foxling,

  I don’t want you to cry.

  Go out into, the world now, be strong and kind and brave.

  Come and, tell me tales, when you visit at my grave.

  Clapping filled the throne room and Pip wiped a tear away from his eye, as a bright light engulfed Kheeta and she was suddenly back at the cabin; Bartlebee running around to everyone he could, bragging about his Bard’s test.

  “Yeah! Kheeta’s back,” Bartlebee whooped as he ran over to where she stood. “How’d it go? Did you pass? Oh man, you should have seen Tarek when I got here...” His words fell out in a jumbled heap, “sorry,” he chuckled pausing to allow her to answer one of the many questions he had blurted out.

  She smiled at her friend, “It’s okay, I’m really excited too, cause I passed, and I made,” she paused imitating a posh aristocrat, “King Pip cry.” She laughed loudly as she finished, wiping a tear from her own eye.

  “What?! You made him cry? After I had him laughing and clapping along you just go up and make him cry?” He asked bewildered. “You must be one heck of a Bard.” Suddenly Aurora was standing between them, causing them both to jump. “Holy redcaps! You scared the ink out of me,” Bartlebee exclaimed looking at his floral friend with a smile. “How’d you do? Was Kheeta’s song really that sad?”

  “Oh yes,” Aurora replied, “her song had everyone misting up, especially Golluk,” she joked, drawing a chuckle from each of them. “I passed pretty e
asily, I mean forristian is basically humming and musical sounds. Plus singing is one way we draw in food, so…” She trailed off awkwardly at the wide eyed stares she received as her Party thought back to the thorny mouth they had seen yesterday.

  Golluk appeared next to them, cutting the awkward tension and causing Kheeta to yip. “Oh Golluk did you pass?” She asked turning to the Golem, as he hung his head.

  “No, sadly I didn’t, I was made to carry objects, not notes I suppose.” Golluk looked disappointed even as he joked.

  “I know what will cheer you up!” Bartlebee said climbing up the Golem’s arm to rest on his friend’s large shoulder. “To the springs!” The Meripint’s tentacles all pointed in the direction of the hot springs, bringing a bought of laughter from the group.

  “I think that’s a great idea,” Golluk replied, perking up a little as they turned to walk to the hot, rejuvenating water for a night of reflection.

  Reflecting is exactly what Kheeta found herself doing late into the night, the trio of moons shining down brightly through her window. Thoughts of Celia, her mom, dad, and the rest of The Den, racing through her mind; assaulting her with doubts and insecurities about the Mage test the next day. I have to pass tomorrow! Kheeta told herself with grim determination. If I don’t then this will have all been for nothing… Thoughts both good and bad taunted her endlessly as she fought with the concept of sleep, chasing it fruitlessly.

  If I’m going to be up all night I may as well be productive. She slid off her bed going to the small bookcase in their room for her copied spell book. She paced quietly as she scanned the pages, searching for a better grasp of her abilities. She had found how to light the way with the orb, how to shape it into projectiles, she had even seen a way to dry wet items with it, but she had yet to find another offensive use. There has to be something here, there is no way that our first ability leaves us defenseless at close range, there’s got to be more than being a God forsaken lantern!

  Frustration was boiling inside her, she wanted to scream and cry, to throw the book or punch a wall as pressure settled on her chest. Tossing the book on her bed she shoved her face into a pillow and released her frustration, her tails bopping her on the head as she did. Sighing she reached for the spell list again, I can’t just get upset and give up looking. What if I have to fight tomorrow? I’ve got to be missing something.

  Her eyes scanned the pages for the thousandth time, looking for any words that struck her as combative, when she came across one that had been written differently that the others. “Pantelum,” she whispered aloud, at least it’s a word I don’t know, she figured, turning the page to investigate. As her eyes scanned it a smile spread across her lips reaching ear to ear. Thank the Gods, I think I found it, she cheered internally. Going out to the common area she began practicing her newfound knowledge, determined to conquer it before the morning suns began to rise.

  10 Beyond Realms

  Kheeta awoke to Aurora gently shaking her, “hey there sleepy foxling, stay up late studying again?” She sat next to her friend as she stretched and woke up.

  “Yeah, I was too nervous to sleep so I thought I’d practice… and it’s a good thing I did, I learned something great!” Kheeta thought back to the moment she finally mastered the spell. “How did you sleep?” Her chest fluttered as she asked, worried that she may have woken her roommate during the night in her frustration.

  “Oh I slept sound as a rootling, thanks for asking. You’re lucky the rejuvenation pools help with exhaustion, or I think you’d be a ghoul by now.” They chuckled in agreement as they stood to look out the window and see where they had been dropped.

  Outside was an unnatural darkness, almost as though a black cloth had been draped over the cabin. “Well that’s creepy,” Bartlebee said, entering the room from behind and startling them. “Sorry,” he chuckled as Kheeta smoothed her fur back down, slightly embarrassed.

  “Yeah,” Kheeta agreed addressing his comment, as she finished de-poofing her tail. “It is really creepy, I cant even see through it… like at all. I’ve never seen anything this dark.” She went to the door and opened it to find the entrance was just as intimidating as the window. Kneeling, she strained, trying to see even the ground outside but finding nothing. She timidly reached out to touch the darkness, half expecting to find them in the belly of a beast. To her shock as her fingertips reached past the wooden frame the void began lighting up, reds and purples swirling out from her hand. “Whoa,” she exclaimed in utter wonder pulling her hand back slowly. What is this? Where are we? Thoughts raced through her head as she stood in the doorway, “come try this,” she said at last; eager to share this amazing discovery with her Party.

  Aurora stepped forward eager to try, dark greens and blues spread outwards from her flowered hand to meet with Kheeta’s own swirls of color. Bartlebee bounced up and down, “that is so cool! I have to try!” He thrust his hand through the dark doorway and vibrant oranges and white burst into the air making him bounce even more with excitement. “Golluk, hurry and come here, I want to see what color you are!”

  The golem joined the group with Tarek trailing behind him, his smug confident smile making Kheeta want to throw something at him. “What color I am?” The Golem asked, perplexed as Bartlebee drug him by his hand, and shoved it into the darkness. A nearly glowing blue, much like Golluk’s mist, and a soft pink emitted from him, twirling through the air to join the others.

  Tarek sneered at the party, “it’s like you’ve never seen the Astral Plane before.” They turned to stare at him with dumbfounded expressions and by the tone of his voice Kheeta could tell he was irritated. “Just walk through the door so it will light up and we can see the way already!” He gave Golluk a shove, which sent the rest of them tumbling through the doorway as well, before he followed after them himself; golden yellow and silver ribbons flowing into the void as he did…

  Color exploded around Kheeta as she rolled onto hard nothingness, before weaving its way through the darkness before her. Within moments, the center of the sky had a sun and moon that sat side by side; one a brilliant orange, the other a glowing blue. The sky itself became a mixture of purples, pinks, and gold; and the hills around them shifted between shades of green and dark blue as an unfelt breeze rippled across the ground. Surveying the valley she found a sparkling silver and white river winding its way to a massive red coiled snake, easily two-hundred feet high .

  “Hello Questers,” A voice rang out through Kheeta’s head. “I welcome you to your most perilous test yet,” looking around at her Party’s confused expressions Kheeta was sure that this was telepathy.

  “Where are you?” Bartlebee asked as he looked around for the source of the greeting.

  “Where I am matters not, what does… is whether or not you will be able to survive the Mage’s Maze.” As the voice finished the floor began to shake, and out of the ground before them large stone walls rose up, taller than any house. After a few rumbling moments, the colors settled and the maze was constructed.

  “So our test is to finish your maze?” Tarek scoffed, almost offended by how easy this seemed to be.

  “I don’t think that’s all there is to-“ Aurora was cut off as the voice corrected him.

  “I said survive the maze not just finish it.” As she finished Kheeta gulped, thank the Gods I stayed up late last night studying.

  “How do we get in?” Bartlebee wondered as he pressed on the wall in front of him trying to find an entrance.

  “We all get to go into the maze together?” Golluk asked the disembodied voice with surprise.

  “As you enter the maze you will be transported to separate tests.” Disdain at the constant questions and interruptions apparent in the frustrated tone that continued, “now then, the time for words is past, begin!” The voice yelled loudly this time, causing Kheeta to unnecessarily cover her ears.

  “Still didn’t tell us how we actually get-“ Bartlebee started as a shimmering green portal slowly appeared on the grey
stone wall. “Well I’m not a portal expert, but I think that’s our entrance.”

  “You’re not much of an entertainer either,” Tarek fired as he ducked into the green void, leaving the stunned Meripint behind.

  “It’s okay Bartlebee, you aced your test and we think you’re fantastic.” Aurora said placing a vine on her friend’s shoulder, trying to comfort him. “Not to mention cute.”

  “Uh… um… thanks,” he stuttered, turning a deep purple before hurrying through the portal himself.

  “So I guess this is it Kheeta,” the Florae said turning to face her and backing towards the warbling light. “I wish you the best of luck!” She waved goodbye as she disappeared backwards through the shimmering portal before them, followed shortly by Golluk, leaving Kheeta alone...

  Okay… you’ve got this. She tried to convince herself as she slowly approached the light, I wonder what’ll be like inside? Well, I guess there’s really only one way to find out. Finishing her pep-talk she found the confidence needed to push herself into the unknown.

  Stepping through the green light Kheeta was met by a familiar impenetrable darkness, and turning around revealed the portal to be gone. She shook her hands rapidly, hoping color would appear as it had before, but to her dismay nothing happened. Think! What do I need to do? She said survive… but I cant survive if I can’t se-, she cut off her own thought, feeling foolish that she had even had to think about it, as she summoned a familiar orb that dispelled a small area of darkness around her.

  The floor of the maze was constructed of hard grey cobble-stone with bits of moss and weeds growing through the numerous cracks. The walls were of a similar stone and stretched higher than Kheeta’s light illuminated. Well scaling the maze is out of the question. She concluded bitterly as she continued to inspect her surroundings. After a few minutes of searching for something to defend herself with proved fruitless Kheeta decided that she needed to start moving, picking a path and starting nervously down it.

  Her footsteps echoed off the walls and down the corridor she followed, sounds in the distance putting her on edge, is something was following me? Looking at the stone beneath her feet she saw claw marks scratched into its surface, following the trail as far as her eyes could see. It appeared as though the creature they belonged to had made them while running through the maze. A chill ran down her spine, well if I didn’t want out before… I certainly do now. She looked around for any indication of where she should go, but the darkness and height of the walls blocked her only known landmark, the snake tower, from view. Okay Kheeta, game plan. How am I going to try and find my way out? Her ears swiveled around, taking in as many sounds as they could. The path behind me is silent as far as I can tell… she moved to her left, where the wall opened to another hallway. Listening, she could hear soft trilling sounds far down the path. Walking to her final option she could already hear the sound of multiple claws against stone, and as her ears rotated she found even more signs of movement. Oh man, I really don’t want to go down there… but with all those creatures that has to be the way.