by Wolfe Locke
Without opening his eyes, and while trying to control his breathing to appear as if he were still unconscious, he opened his senses to himself and his surroundings. Not wanting to alert his captors that he was regaining consciousness if they were around.
Besides the headache, John was relieved to find he had no new wounds that he could feel and seemed to still have all his extremities and organs in their correct locations. Just the older injuries that marred his body. His attackers hadn’t roughed him up then. Curious.
Around him, John heard nothing. When he reasonably sure that he was alone he opened his eyes, stood up, and looked around to see that he was in a large open space. I wasn’t even tied up or restrained? Curious, that can’t mean anything good. There was a wide assortment of weapons scattered about him. Swords, daggers, bows. Everything from battle hammers to spears, and even a couple of rusty war scythes.
The rest of the room was a flat expanse of stone. There were no doors to speak of, just a single staircase leading downward. The room’s illumination came from what seemed to be a witch light, hovering toward the ceiling.
The longer he looked around the room, the more he saw that there were not just weapons scattered about the floor. There were also bundles of chains and manacles, some rusted over by time, while others still looked new enough for the iron to gleam. It looks like they’ve taken far more than just me. Most bore traces of blood and, in some cases, what looked like flesh. The floor itself was similarly decorated, the shades of red varying from the deep russet of old blood to the new vibrant hues.
John had heard rumors of what some cultists did with those that they abducted. It appeared as if he were about to learn firsthand if those rumors were true or not.
Suddenly, out of the empty air, there came a voice.
I am one who calls this dungeon their own.
Though it is not my home. They have called me Lachesis.
I will guide you as I can.
Choose a weapon and continue downward.
John tried to ignore the voice, but he couldn’t. He looked around frantically and saw there were no exits. He couldn’t even see where the entrance had been. From what John could tell, the only place to go seemed down. For now, I’ll do as the voice commands until I can figure out what’s going on.
John was at least happy to see that his personal hand axes had made the journey with him. They were lying next to a sword and shield and a wooden staff. He reached down to grab them, fully intending to pick up a least one other weapon as well. One could never be too careful.
But, as soon as his hands had wrapped around the comfortable handles of his axes, the rest of the assortment began to fade away like mist in the sunlight, until nothing remained beside the downwards staircase and the manacles of those that had come before.
With no other course of action remaining to him, John Younger gathered his resolve and made his way toward the staircase and downward, into the unknown.
Let me see how strong you are.
Ah. The strength of three men, and the wit of just one.
You’ve the endurance of a bull and the grace of one as well.
STR = 3
WIT = 1
END = 4
AGI = 2
*No current abilities.
*Afflictions - Bruised Ribs.
What is this? Ah I recognize it.
*Equipment *
-Twin Axes, -Simple Leather Armor, Sovereign Medallion
Chapter 3: Those Who Also Roam
* * *
Welcome to the 2nd floor of this dreadful place where dark things reside. This floor was called the Castle Labyrinth and was once filled with people.
The Castle Labyrinth? That’s odd. John thought as he reached the bottom of the staircase and looked down and gazed around the new area in which he had found himself. The base of the stairway sealed shut behind him, trapping him in.
No, it’s not trapping you in. The dungeon itself is forcing you forward. There is one deep below who has taken an interest in you. You may yet survive.
Troubling, but I need to keep myself focused. John struggled to make out his surroundings, but it was entirety too dark to see, with not a single light source to be found. He had just about been ready to resign himself to exploring an unknown location in the pitch-black darkness when there was a rush of energy.
The hairs on John’s body stood up and gooseflesh pimpled his skin. In front of him, a row of torches flared to life, illuminating the space allowing him to see clearly. The voice from before spoke to him again.
This floor will test your mettle. How quick can you be? And how quick can you learn? You’ll find not everything is as it seems here. You must be better than your fellows were.
That sounds ominous. I mean, I hope I can be quick enough? Is the voice talking about other adventurers? From his vantage point, he could see down a long stone hallway that branched off into four rooms and two more hallways branching of at the far end to the right and left.
Directly ahead of him at the end of the hallway that he now faced; John saw a closed wooden door. Five silvers says I’ll find nothing good behind that door. John knew danger was coming. The mysterious voice of this so called Lachesis had instructed him to choose a weapon had obviously wanted him to be prepared.
As cautious as he could be, John proceeded down the hallway, his hands hovering over his axes, waiting to draw them at the first sign of trouble.
Along the way, he was able to see into the nooks and dark hallways that branched off of the main area.
He looked through the first door on his left. It revealed a massive library with shelves holding hundreds of books that lined hardwood shelving against grey stone walls. John could also see a few pieces of furniture were scattered around. Chairs were set next to reading tables and low burning torches helped to illuminate the room with soft yellow light. They must have activated at the same time as the others. On a sparely furnished side of the room, John saw an open archway that he assumed led into the next room.
Directly across the hall from the library was the kitchen. At the moment, the counters of the kitchen stood completely bare. The shelves and jars seemed empty and sparse without even a knife to be seen. Plenty of spoons though, for all the good they would do. The room had another open archway that led into the next. John continued down the hallway, to see what else the floor that he had found himself on had to offer.
The second room on the left, which was connected by an archway to the library, held a chapel. There were several pews arranged facing an alter that bore no clue as to what god was worshipped here. John supposed that it could be an open chapel, used to pray to whatever god a weary adventurer might pray to for guidance. I wonder, what about that voice?
No. This place is not mine. I do not dwell within. You will find it is a safe place. It belongs to the gods who still dwell above.
John shook his head to clear the voice away. I’ll need to see one of the clerics whenever I get out of here. Nobody wants to hire mercenary who hears voices.
He kept going. Straight through the second door on the right, which was connected to the kitchen, held a larder. At first glance, John could see that the food options were scarce. A single loaf of bread occupied the otherwise empty shelves, and he could see several unmarked jars scattered throughout. That bread looks edible.
At the back of the larder, John could see a door that led into an the ice cellar. Waves of cold mist rolled out of the open door coming up from the cellar door.
What lies below is best left forgotten. Do not make the same mistake as those who came before. Sometimes, it is best to leave curiosity unsatisfied.
Alright. Leaving the cellar alone. There must be something here though. He looked around, his eyes panning in the only food he saw. The sight of that single loa
f of bread sent a pang of hunger through his body. But why? I just ate, didn’t I? Even if the meal had been tainted.
“Unless I’d been out much longer than I thought.” He muttered, scaring himself a bit when he heard his voice carry. I'll need to be quiet.
He reached out to grab the bread, but rather than hold it in his hand, the bread disappeared.
I will store items you find until such a time as you demand them.
What have you found? A dry loaf of moldy bread. It will provide some nourishment and restore some health.
“Thanks, but can I have it back? I was going to eat that.” John responded feeling irritated.
If you insist, but it is still too early to consume that which is rare. The hunger you feel now doesn’t compare with the hunger you’ll feel tomorrow or the day after.
I don’t like the sound of that. John pushed that thought aside and continued his way. Maybe the voice is right and it's not the best time? I can always ask later.
Once he reached the end of the hallway, John saw that on his left was a separate, smaller hallway that led to a dark room. In contrast, the room that he could see on his right was brimming with light, and he thought he could hear the sound of babbling water coming from inside. I'll come back here. The thought of exploring the dark wasn't appealing but something drew him.
Given that he had gave all of the other rooms at least a cursory glance, John circled back towards the beginning and tried the only closed door that he had come across. The one at the end of the path in the last hall. It proved to be firmly locked.
There must have been some kind of puzzle to this place that I haven’t solved. John imagined that the key to this locked door resided somewhere within the rooms he had just passed. That should be no challenge. It might take a little time, but aside from him, the floor was empty. Maybe I’ll go visit the larder and see if I can scrounge up enough food for a meal
Something was wrong. Every instinct in John’s body told him that it should not be this easy. He had been adventuring for a while and he had learned through trial and error that the obvious solution, wasn’t always as simple as it appeared to be.
As if reading his mind, John felt another jolt of that strange energy as it shot through the area around him, and through him. It filled the place with ambient magic and made his skin crawl.
I grant you a quest. Find the key to the locked door and descend again to darker realms. But beware those who also roam for this is their Kingdom.
Chapter 4: The Spawning of the Three
* * *
The air around him grew tense and heavy. All of the sudden, every instinct that John had was screaming at him to be prepared, to fight, to run. Though the energy had passed and disbursed, something else remained in the dark beyond his reach. John could sense the difference, but he couldn’t quite pinpoint where the sensation was coming from. It wasn’t an unfamiliar feeling. He was sure that he had felt it more times than he could count, the feeling of eyes upon him. Eyes in the dark. An enemy. But what is it?
John’s question was answered as from down the hall, in one of the branched off rooms that he had passed, he heard a shuffling. No, not a shuffling. It was clopping. Like hooves on stone.
He recognized the sound at once. I had it wrong. That wasn’t the feeling of being watched. That was the feeling of something being summoned into the same space as me. A monster just spawned in this place.
John Younger knew he was no longer alone.
You will find that is not the only thing that has changed. The very way you perceive things will have as well. You’ll see soon enough.
Cautiously, he crouched down and drew his axes from his belt. He kept them at the ready, prepared to attack at a moment’s notice.
How considerate that my captors decided to drop me in here with my axes as one of the choices. Although John had remembered taking his simple leather armor off to go to sleep earlier in the inn. Somehow, I managed to retain my gear. The only thing that prevented a shiver from going down his spine was his present situation. John couldn’t afford to be distracted. He was in an unknown area and now an unknown presence had joined him.
As John listened intently, another set of heavy footsteps joined the first, and then another. Three different monsters. I need to be careful.
If his senses were correct, which they normally were, the monsters had spawned near the library area.
John already had an idea of what he might be up against. The clopping of hooves, and the fact that he had only heard a pair of them at first all but confirmed it. Not many monsters that fit that description.
Any doubts that John had about his assumptions were dashed away when one of the creatures let out a bellowing yell. It was like the grunting of a bull, except deeper and much more bestial.
John had heard that same sound before on his travels. Although he had never been unfortunate enough to encounter one of the beasts face to face. At least I’m not alone. Now, he was trapped in an area with no escape. In a place that contained not one, but three of the furious creatures.
I need to figure out what my next move is. I can’t just stay here, they’ll find me. One of the creatures darkened the doorway to the library and then clopped out into the torch-lit hallway.
The monster was nearly eight feet tall. The wicked and sharp horns on its head adding even more to its already substantial height. Its arms were layered in thick corded muscle that was covered by the coarse black hair that spanned across its body. It wore nothing but a loincloth. Thick legs trailed down to a set of cloven hooves. But the monster’s face was the worst of all. It was that of a bull, with flaring nostrils and wild eyes. To complete the effect, a metal ring hung from its nostrils.
The three who roam hold the secret to the key to unlock the door that has been sealed. Find it and be on your way.
That’s a minotaur. The three who roam are minotaurs. John cursed. That would be just my luck. The huge beast was staring right at him and the monster was angry.
The massive behemoth gave out a battle cry. A cry that was echoed by its still unseen compatriots. With a deep roar, it leaned forward and charged down the hall, horns gleaming in the torch light, aimed directly at John, fully intending to eviscerate him.
John would have loved to say that in the face of the oncoming goliath, he stood strong. He was unafraid and he met the beast head on, confident in his ability to take it down. Discretion and valor as they say.
But more than telling a good story, John preferred to live and did the much more sensible thing. He turned and ran for his life. I can always lie about this later and say the monster was bigger..
Confidence only went so far before turning on the unwary. A cocky adventurer, outside of brothels and taverns was a dead adventurer, and John had every intention of living to see the surface again. And all the surface has to offer.
The beast was almost upon him. Time for an evasive maneuver then. John sprinted at the beast just long enough to dive to his left. Straight into the larder.
The weight of the minotaur sent small tremors through the floor as it stormed past the doorway that John had dove through and kept going. Small rocks on the stone floor became dislodged as it passed through.
It took a lot of power to move that much weight in mass and muscle, but when they got going it was terribly difficult to stop.
John listened as the minotaur crashed into the locked wooden door. He expected to hear the sound of wood splintering.
For a second, he allowed himself to hope that the minotaur was out of commission. Carefully, John peeked out and down the hall, but the door stood strong. The minotaur sat dazed on the ground before it, slowly regaining its senses and clambered to its feet. It was too much to hope it had killed itself. There was no way that a simple wooden door should have been able to stop a charging minotaur. That door must be enchanted.
&n
bsp; That fleeting moment of hope was a distraction. A brief lapse of situational awareness. He almost didn’t sense the second minotaur until it was too late. At the last second, John ducked down, and he felt the air whoosh by as the fist of the second minotaur sailed through the air where his head had been just moments before and crashed into the stone archway of the door. The strength of the beast sent cracks up the stone. John said a silent prayer that his reflexes had kicked in.
With a spryness that only came from years of training, John ran and slid on the floor, passing underneath the monster's legs and came out on the other side. He slashed with one of his twin axes, and though the blade cut, it cut barely. That’s going to be a problem.
Though minotaurs had notoriously thick hides, John had hoped his attack would do a little more damage and at least leave it partially crippled. Regardless, he’d take any opening he could make for himself.
The minotaur roared. A scream born of both shock and rage, but before it could bring one of its cloven hooves down on John’s comparatively fragile body, the adventurer managed to slip away.
John ran through the archway that connected the larder to the kitchen. Carefully checking for the last minotaur.
He had not spotted anything useful here before, but that had been only a cursory observation. Quickly he pulled and riffled through each of the drawers in an almost panicked state, hoping he could find something to help him, hoping to find the key.
