« (Faldara Swifthands) »
Faldara Swifthands looked back at the elven settlement of Whitewater Falls. Faldara found it impossible to see the sprawling elven settlements as cities or towns. She whispered a soft prayer wishing her comrades well and the satyrs ill. Then she looked forwards and kicked her horse into a canter and concentrated on not getting swept of its back by an errant branch.
Riding easily, she made good time and was soon leaving the forest. Once out of the woods she increased her vigilance and headed for the nearby dungeon town where she hoped to pick up a couple of extra horses.
She slowed to a trot as she passed the lines that showed where the village walls would go in the future and dropped her steed at the best livery stable of the dungeon ‘town’. She passed over a gold ensuring the best treatment and a bit of magic to ensure her mount was in the best condition. Then she went to talk with the stable master.
“Morning lady, what can I do for ye?”
Faldara examined the young man dubiously, eliciting an amused grin. “Yes lady, I’m kinda young, but you won’t find a better stable master in this burg.”
“There’s only one other stable master in this settlement, and he’s a drunk,” Faldara pointed out.
The young man’s grin widened, “See, I’m the best.”
“I need two good horses for my string. I intend to ride relay.”
The young man winced, “I’ve got a few prospects. But none have been trained in relay riding. Much as I hate to send custom his way, you best bet is Crowbait. Old Stew hasn’t had him long enough to spoil him yet. Might need some care though.”
« (Marty) »
Marty had been examining his nests of evolved army ants. The ants themselves had been a great disappointment to him. He had remembered some old movies with all but unstoppable army ants and it had annoyed him that the real things were a mere shadow of their Hollywood selves.
So he had crossed them with the vicious bastard ants that had bitten him when they had visited their mother’s college friend in Arizona. Then he had grown them to double their size. They still trailed their Hollywood alter egos but they should do.
Then the four male members of the Raptors entered his dungeon with two satyrs in tow. Marty came alert and alerted his dungeon. All his defenders understood that this was a war for their very existence.
On the first level his pixies alerted the elves and fled into the depths where their efforts would be truly useful in helping to control the vegetation and animals. The bee-hives buzzed as the workers prepared themselves to repel invaders. The army ants came awake and swarmed to entrance of their spawning points.
Confirmation came when the Raptors were halfway across the lake. One of the satyrs looked apprehensively at Hainrich and said, “You will protect us, right. You need us alive, right?” while Hainrich replied; “Yes. Now shut up. The least said the better.”
Further confirmation came when Hainrich climbed to the entrance tunnel and Daviinos poked one of the clearly apprehensive satyrs in the ass with his sword and told him: “Go on. Climb. You’re not in any danger. Not like the tree huggers.” At which Leo ordered him to shut up.
A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Marty sent an alert to Lady Rivanna via the Runner she had supplied her. Marty was glad he had accepted necessity and created the alternate entrance. He suspected it would also work as an escape tunnel.
“Two of the elves didn’t believe us. They remain on the first level along with five runners,” observed Rosita. “The rest are descending to our second level now.”
« (The Raptors) »
Hainrich led the way into the first big cavern. He sneered at the neat cultivated plots, and as they had planned, he headed towards the exit to the left. With him went Luminos the Brawler escorting Froticus the satyr. Leo and Daviinos the Mighty took the other exit with Dyrissus.
In the second chamber they found a solitary tree runner and Hainrich approached the creature with a smile. “Good morning. Can you tell me...” then once he was close enough he slashed out with his sword and severed his head from his shoulders. “... if you will die for the good of the world? You will good. Your god will welcome you with open arms for your glorious sacrifice.”
After a quick look around Hainrich led the way into the next passage and they marched on in silence. They arrived at the point the passages rejoined each other to find Leo and his party waiting for them. With a quiet nod they slipped into the passage heading north and soon came to another empty chamber with two exits. Hainrich and Leo shared a look.
They again split up and proceeded in their separate ways. This time it was Leo’s group that found somebody. Leo bowed his head to the elven gardener and approached her. “Is the entrance to the actual dungeon far?” he asked.
Lianna looked up at the human sun priest in surprise, everyone knew the answer to that question. Then she screamed as Leo’s sword stabbed through her stomach into her heart. “Your sacrifice won’t be in vain. May the blessings of the Sunlord go with you,” he murmured.
“Lianna!” screamed a voice. Leo and Daviinos looked in the direction of the scream and they saw a horrified looking muddy elf standing in other opening of the chamber they were in. Leo watched the elf with interest. “Daviinos, restrain the satyr, then lets go,” ordered Leo.
The elf seeing Leo heading his way, bloody sword in hand; turned and fled deeper into the dungeon. Daviinos jerked and looked at Dyrissus who was heading for the dead elf while unfastening his trousers.
Daviinos snarled and grabbed the satyr, pushing towards the exit of the chamber. “Idiot. How can we blame this on the dungeon if you rape the corpse? Damn you, you sex obsessed satyr. Move you I’ll skewer you myself.”
« (Marty) »
Marty and Rosita watched, horrified as the Raptors rampaged through their first level. Then Marty breathed a – figurative – breath of relief as the last elf and two runners left the first level. He released his two nests of evolved army ants. One horde spilled into the chamber that Leo and his merry band were just entering, while the second hurried up behind them, eager to catch up.
They watched as the adventurers at first ignored the ants. Then Leo got swarmed and they changed their attitudes.
“The damn things have potent venom,” half screamed Leo even as he summoned up fire to cover himself. Daviinos removed his cloak and started flailing around with it even as he did his best to stamp on the ants, that were trying to climb on him.
Dyrissus watched wide-eyed while backing away. Then an ant bit him and he turned and fled. Unfortunately for him he fled straight into the second army while still in the confines of the passage. The ants hardly delayed before continuing on their way leaving a stripped skeleton behind themselves.
* * *
Hainrich and Luminos hearing the sounds of combat arrived behind the first horde of ants and they soon found themselves in a desperate fight to extract their comrades from amongst the greatly diminished horde of ants. It was only when the second horde fresh from eating Dyrissus started to spill into the chamber that they fell back.
Marty watched his ants grimly. They had done well, even if not as well as he hoped. He watched as the other satyr took the opportunity to flee. Marty vowed he’d get round to him in time. Or maybe not. The other satyr’s fate had turned his non-existent stomach. But he still had one more trick to play on the first floor.
« Cue the parrot. Polly you’re on. »