Name(s): Elmore Rem; Oakford Rem; Marden Garsh

Class: N/A

Tier: F

Dungeon Name: Hidden Dungeon Swamp-4

Location: [Classified]

Dungeon Tier: Adolescent

Time of Death: Fifth sun of The Warming.

Four green as grass adventurers stepped forward through the entrance portal of the dungeon. The portal stood in the middle of a swamp. Spread out in all directions was nothing but boggy terrain, sickly-looking plants, and the sound of bloodthirsty insects. The smell of the moist air assaulted their senses. Putrid decomposition was abundant in this land. The swamp had a distinct lack of trees, which was strange, but dungeons weren’t known for normalcy.

“We shouldn’t be here. We’re supposed to have a guide!” Elmore hissed in a quiet tone. Multiple shoes, boots, and even a pair of unlucky sandals slapped into the wet mud of the swampy land. The young man’s brown eyes nervously scanned the surroundings. His blonde hair kept falling into his eyes, which made him reflexively lift his left arm, the one with the shield, up to swipe it away. One bonk from his small round shield caused him to howl in pain and ignore his traitorous bangs. Elmore furiously slapped his iron mace into the muck with his white-knuckled right hand..

“Oh come on Elm, it’s a typical swamp setup, we’ve read loads of info on all sorts of newborn dungeons.” a slightly larger and stouter man attempted to console the nervous young man. “I am your favorite big brother, would I steer you wrong?” Oakford asked with a wide grin set upon his handsome face. The older brother swaggered through the mucky terrain, not letting it slow him down. His hand-axes hung from his belt, ready to be grabbed if anything showed itself to be a problem.

“You’re his only brother, Oak, but I agree, we’re ready to test our skills in an actual dungeon. We will be able to handle a newborn dungeon.” Keena stated as if it were a matter of fact. Her green skin contrasted heavily with the light skin of the two human brothers. Being a Grenian meant she would prefer this humid climate, and would see an increase in her physical abilities minimally. She would also be able to perform without oxygen longer than humans could. Her sharp pointed teeth were obvious when she spoke, so she typically kept her mouth closed ,showing off her well-known resting frown.

“At least you guys didn’t wear sandals.” The fourth companion voiced grumpily. His frustration showed as he kept trying to hop from dry patch to dry patch, without much success. His bunny hopping compared to everyone else trudging along was a pitiful sight. Marden was usually a jovial sort, but swampy feet is enough to upset most souls. His crossbow bounced against his back every time he jumped, the sling was not the most secure way to hold the weapon, but it made it easier to grab in case an aggressive target presented itself.

“That’s gonna bruise.” He said, wincing as his crossbow impacted after a particularly long hop, which still ended with a foot in murky liquid.

“Everyone stand still for a moment.” Keena said once they all stood on a dry patch of land. “You humans don’t do so well with small insects and the diseases they carry.” She lifted her hands in the air and began to sing. The song was mixed with noises that shouldn’t be possible with voice alone, but mixing magic into the art of song could produce strange results. Keena’s voice rose to an especially high pitch as a soft pinging sound complimented her. Once she finished the final note, the three humans had an oily sheen to their skin. Grenian skin secreted a toxin lethal to small nuisances like insects, so she had no need for the enchantment.

“Thank you and all, but I will always hate this spell.” Oak said with distaste apparent on his face.

“Thanks Kee.” Elm said with a shaky voice.

"I look like a fuckin’ swamp monster.” Marden muttered while looking at his oily skin and dirty feet. “Your lead better be right. If there’s no loot for all this, then I’m going to be very cross.”

“Even newborn dungeons harbor treasure,” she said, rolling her eyes. “There will be enough for all of us, and minimal danger.”

“If there is any danger, I’ll be sure to take care of it,” said Oakford, his wide face cracking into a grin. “My axes are thirsty for blood.”

“They must be near death,” interrupted Elmore, “considering the only thing they’ve ever tasted is that wooden dummy back home.”

Everyone but Oakford chuckled.

“Right,” he said blushing. “Anyway. We’re here for treasure. Keena, do you have the map?”

The Grenian reached into her satchel and produced a cloth map. It was crudely adorned with directions to what was hopeful to be treasure. “Got it right here,” she said. “Cost me 10 marks, but it was from a reliable source,” she said.

“10 marks is a drop in the bucket compared to what we may find here,” said Elmore excitedly, forgetting his former anxiety.

“We’ll split it evenly between all of us,” said Marden whilst rubbing his hands together.

“Drinks on me when we get back to the Drunken Woodsman,” said Oakford.

“Let’s not count our chickens before they’re hatched,” said Keena. “First we must find this treasure. She pointed at a large jagged rock in the distance. “That’s our goal. Let’s get moving before nightfall. We don’t want to be out here after dark.”

After some time, and much swearing from the bedraggled Marden, they reached the rock. It was easily a hundred men high and fifty wide. It stabbed into the gradually-darkening sky. Elmore’s head was on a swivel, looking to and fro expecting danger at any time.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

“Odd, he said,” lowering his guard. “You said this was a newborn dungeon, Keena. Shouldn’t there be monsters at every twist and turn?”

“There should be,” she said, with bountiful ignorance. “Perhaps we’ve been lucky so far. Better to expect danger and not find it than find it and not expect it though.”

“I suppose you’re right,” the brother said, scratching the back of his head, trying to parse out the expression the Grenian just made.

“All right,” said Keena. “There should be an alcove with the stash around here. Let’s get a move on, we took a lot longer than we should have. Look for loose dirt, crevices, anything that looks conspicuous.”

“This rock was much farther than I expected it to be,” said Oakford, slightly out of breath.. “No rest for the wicked, eh Elm? Let’s get to looking.” With no further prompting, the brothers started making their way around the massive rock. Marden watched them intently until they were out of sight and out of earshot before speaking.

“All right, we’re alone,” hissed Marden. “This isn’t an infant dungeon is it?”

“No,” she chortled. “It’s much more advanced than that. The monsters are fewer in number, but much more dangerous. Namely, the layer of these swamp drake eggs we are after.”

“When are we going to make our move on stupid and dumber,” he asked. “I’ve never cared for either of them.

The Grenian had begun digging furiously at a patch of dirt at the base of the rock. “Soon,” she said. “Once we get these eggs, mama is going to be furious. We’ll need those two in order to give us the opportunity to get some distance.”

“Well, how much longer until we have the eggs,” said Marden.

“About twice as fast if you get down here and help,” she growled, baring her sharp teeth. The young man obeyed and got on his hands and knees and began tearing at the dirt and loam.

On the other side of the rock, Elmore crouched at the base looking for any sign of a treasure cache.

“What do you think we’ll find, Oak,” he asked. “Rubies? An enchanted weapon?

“Not sure, but whatever it is will get us set up to be true adventurers,” said Oakford, his eyes lighting up. “You and me, daring brothers adventuring and taking on the deepest and darkest of dungeons. It’s everything we’ve ever wanted.”

Elmore stood and held out a hand, “We’ll be the terror of every dungeon alive.”

Oakford took his brother’s hand in their secret handshake ending in the touching of elbows. The brotherly gesture was interrupted by an ear-splitting shriek. The blood drained from both their faces.

“Keena,” they said in unison.

The two tore off back in the direction of the scream. Within moments they were greeted by a horrific display. Keena and Marden cowered beneath the shadow of a large creature. It stood tall on two muscular legs, and its scales glinted a dull green in the dim light.

“Swamp drake,” shouted Keena. “Help!”

Oakford acted in an instant, snatching one of his axes and lobbing it at the serpentine neck of the creature. The handaxe looped expertly and lodged slightly between the scales. The drake hissed and snaked its head to stare down its narrow snout at the two brothers. Its yellow-hewn eyes zeroed in on Elmore. Oakford shook with fear, but shouted a battle cry as he charged toward the creature with his dingy axe lifted over his head.

The drake opened its fanged maw and out shot a narrow jet of green acid. It splashed hotly across the would-be adventurer from his right shoulder to his left hip. Oakford stopped dead in his tracks and stared down at the fizzling line. He turned his head to look at Elmore with lifeless eyes and his upper half slid sickly downward along the line of the caustic substance.

Elmore yelped in horror and ran to his brother’s two halves, holding one of his lifeless hands. “Keena! We need a healing song, Please! We can still save him,” he shouted half-crazed as the creature predatorily padded toward him. Elmore looked to find assistance from Keena and Marden, only to see the two shrinking in the distance at a breakneck speed. “You fucking cowards”, he shouted, as he held his brother’s corpse close to his chest. With tears in his eyes, the younger brother drew his mace and turned to face the drake. He would not allow Oakford to die unavenged. He dashed toward the beast, weapon in both hands, shield forgotten, and prepared to bring it down on whatever part of the drake in any manner possible. The brutish snout grew closer and the fangs were more visible. Elmore stopped, frozen in fear, as the jaws snapped down on him, perforating his abdomen. It shook him violently, separating the torso from the legs, viscera flying everywhere. When the great reptile was satisfied its prey was dead, it began to feed.

Keena and Marden kept a mad pace. Each adventure clutched a dark brown egg roughly the size of their own heads.

“Did you see what it did to Oakford,” panted Marden. “If that idiot hadn’t stepped in, that could have been me or you.”

“Well, it was him and not us, and we’re going to be filthy rich,” she spat. “Not much longer till we reach the portal.”

The two partners kept their pace in moderate silence apart from the breathless gasps for air and the slapping of Marden’s only remaining sandal in the muck. He didn’t care too much for the loss. He reckoned he would buy a proper pair of boots once he and Keena sold their drake eggs. A wealthy lord would pay handsomely for such an exotic and illegal pet. He smiled to himself. He had hated Elmore and Oakford, and knew they’d be easy marks for betrayal. Marden had a knack for manipulating the less intelligent. It was almost too easy.

“Wait,” shouted Keena.

Marden stopped so suddenly that he fell into the muck, ensuring that there was not a single inch of his clothing that wasn’t soiled.

“Look,” she said breathlessly, pointing a green finger at a large, beautiful flower in a brambled copse. “It’s a queen’s ruby,” she explained. “It’s one of the rarest flowers in all of creation. If we can get a single petal, we will double our profits.”

Marden grinned to himself. Today was shaping up to be the best day of his life. He handed his egg to Keena and sauntered over to the flower. He began climbing through the thick, thorny boughs, scraping his arms severely as he pushed through, heavy greed pushing him forward.

“Anything I should worry about” he called, as he carefully waded through the brambles.

“Mind the tentacles,” she called in a singsong manner.

“The what,” Marden shouted, turning to see the Grenian running toward the portal.

The young rogue made to run after her, but something grabbed his ankle, lifting him high into the air. Marden shrieked as he looked downward to see several tentacles protruding from the Queen’s Ruby. The great pink flower split apart and a thick, sharp beak protruded from the bulb. The tentacle lowered the sobbing Marden closer and closer to the eagerly clacking mouth. He barely got ahold of his senses to take his crossbow from his shoulder. He took steady aim at the creature, but the bolt bounced harmlessly off its thick bulb.

“You bitch,” were the last words Marden managed before he was decapitated.