« (Vlad) »

Vlad was feeling weak, very weak. He understood that he was currently dormant and recovering from mana exhaustion. So why was he thinking; and who was that huge bearded human in archaic looking armour. And why and how was he looking at him.

«« So little dungeon core, my champion says that despite everything you have shown honour. Tarwin has asked me to judge you. So. I see, on the whole I approve but one thing won’t do. I’ll fix it. Brace yourself little core for this is going to hurt. »»

Vlad was gathering himself when something tore at him, it felt like someone had taken a knife to him and cut away a bloody chunk.

«« I’ll just dump that abomination into the decoy. Sorry youngster, let me goose that lazy System to replace what I removed – Huh! Not sure I like that! Be very careful youngster, for now some will be able to tell that I have touched you. Sleep now – recover and grow strong. »»

As Vlad retreated into unconsciousness he felt the lack. Where he had had a near instinctive knowledge of all things undead, there was now the power of mutation. He knew that he would have an easier time of inducing change in his creatures. But he had little or no control on what paths the change would take.

* * *

Vlad woke slowly, he found himself floating in the middle of one of his hidden caverns. The caverns he had hidden from Jasper so he could experiment with the few creatures he had captured and absorbed.

He could feel a nagging ache where his bond to Jasper had been. He mourned the loss of his exasperating and difficult companion. They had been growing increasingly distant but despite her wrong-headed ideas he still missed her. Then he realized that he was surrounded by worried goat girls and things started to look up.

He searched within and found himself lacking. His options, when it came to guardians were extremely limited. But he would manage. His dungeon consisted of his two experimental caverns and the goat girls maternity cave. And the long tunnel that led to the entrance in the hills.

And his mice. His little spies were hiding in his old dungeon. He could feel their joy when he touched their minds. So all his dungeon was there, only something was blocking him. It was very frustrating. He decided to wait. And after all dungeons were by their nature patient.

« (Jasper) »

Jasper woke feeling dreadful. Just like the last time this had happened her eyes hurt, everything hurt. The world looked flat and harsh, the harsh light stabbed into her eyes. Several shades were shuffling around near her. She could almost swear they were mocking her. Having learned from her last visit she cast around for her bond to Vlad. Eventually she found it, like the previous time it was very weak.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.

Jasper closed her eyes and crawled slowly, all the time she followed the trace of her bond. She collapsed and wept with exhaustion. She slept. When she woke she resumed following her bond.

Twice more she slept before she found the hole. Just like last time her link seemed to be keeping it open. She felt around the hole and she reached into it. Then she was falling.

She slammed into an unyielding floor, groaning she rolled over and sat up.

“Vlad! Where the hell are you.” Jasper looked around in surprise at the empty cavern. “What’s going on?”

Jasper rubbed her aching eyes and head and looked around more carefully. She was unable to feel the dungeon. Then she spotted the broken crystal. Her bond was clinging to the biggest piece.

“Vlad? You stupid bastard. What have you done? What am I supposed to do now? Fucking Duck from hell.”

She pouted, then she examined her bond. She found Vlad’s undead ‘files’ sitting at the end of her bond. She explored them. Her access was not fluid but everything seemed to be there. Jasper grinned with delight.

“This could work. My undead without that wet drip. But they are all greyed out, even Red. And Twofer is there too. I wonder.”

Jasper dragged herself to her feet and went to examine the other pieces of what she assumed were Vlad’s corpse. Her grin grew and she danced a few steps in glee.

‘It’ll be a bit harder to gather mana and energy but the mechanics are all there. Now I just need to get away from that filthy duck and I’ll be set.’

Jasper flew to her little cave and glanced regretfully at the solidified remains of her lava pool. She collected the sheets from her bed and flew back down. Carefully she wrapped up the pieces of the broken Core and found she was able to carry it. She flew towards the entrance of the dungeon. There she waited for night before flying out.

‘Hmm, wonder if I could find Randy. Having a loyal sidekick that doesn’t argue could be useful when I set up my new dungeon.’

« (Vlad) »

Vlad watched and listened in shock and sorrow to Jasper through the eyes and ears of one of his mice. He felt betrayed and only the presence of the goat girls kept him from throwing a fit. He became aware that he was being restrained and controlled. By the god of death, Armalor.

He was able to see Jasper leave. He even heard her talking to herself making plans. He resented Armalor for crushing any delusions he might have been holding regarding Jasper. But it still hurt.

« Hey you! Yes you the floating rock, make me a nice fireplace so I can take my ease on a rug looking at the flames. And do you have a bowl of cream? »

Vlad snapped out of his fugue and checked out his home. He spotted a half grown ginger tomcat regarding him with interest.

« Did you speak? »

« Who else could it have been. Can you see any one else around? The ladies have clever fingers but the poor things have to talk! »

Vlad felt amusement, and a certain gratitude for having his thoughts diverted from Jasper. He created an elaborate fireplace and then a thick rug in front of it. Vlad contemplated the fireplace and used his fire affinity to conjure a flame in it. The cat gave him an approving look and turned round twice on the rug before settling down.

« (Vaspedian) »

Vaspedian examined the dungeon. It was dormant, almost dead. But Tarwin was correct it was not dead, at least not yet. It was distinctly unnerving to realise Tarwin was close enough to the God of the Dead that he would listen to him.

Now all he could do was wait and hope. And his feelings were distinctly mixed as he really did not want to be here in the ass end of nowhere. Even less did he want to be at was shaping to be the location that could see two powerful alliances clash.

And the Elves had a hero as did the centaurs. That was the most terrifying part of this whole mess.