“As for corporeal shades.” Jax now addressed the other pale creature with large black eyes. “They are failed creations. Formed in an attempt to create a compatible body in which the dungeon core may reside. Most dungeon cores will never find the right combination of materials and elemental affinities, due to incompatibility issues. However, those extremely rare few that do, can become powerhouses unto themselves. Depending on their retained level of sanity and corporeal stability, they can become mighty city leaders, terrifying murder monsters, and anything else in between.”
“Wow!” I had to exclaim at this discovery. “So then are most dungeons like this one?” My mind was now burning with curiosity!
Shaking his head, he explained. “No, in fact most dungeons are formed of failed mergings between beasts or monsters and the core of another beast or monster. Although such a thing resulting in the creation of a dungeon core is still infinitesimally small, it is still a much higher success rate than that of a sentient humanoid and a core. Dungeons are usually considered a precious resource to adventures and cities that are nearby. The frequent experimentation of the dungeon core, leads to unique blends of various animals, plants, and other substances. Some of the older dungeons have formed into complete and fully self-reliant ecosystems, content in their continued subterranean or other existence. The truly ancient ones, have usually given up on their inner drive to reform a corporeal body and are satisfied with the creation of their massive kingdom underground or wherever they have formed.”
Something about games in my past bothered me in the back of my mind. I just had to ask if there was such a thing. “What about dungeon breaks?” I inquired.
Jax tilted his head in confusion. “Dungeon breaks?”
I paused, trying to think of another way to describe it. “You know like when a bunch of monsters or beasts voluntarily leave the confines of the dungeon to wreak havoc upon the surroundings.”
Recognition lit his eyes. “Oooh, you are talking about purgings. Yes, such a thing occurs. Dungeon cores have a limited range of mental control or compulsion over their creations. Quite frequently what they will do, is establish a kind of hierarchy within their dungeon. Those closest to itself, being the self-preserving fragile core that it is, are always deep within its mental grasp. It strives to make those within its sphere of influence the strongest of its creations. This allows it to maintain a semblance of control over those that live further away in its dungeon. In the case of purgings, that is usually when the dungeon core has completed the formation of a lower or deeper level to its ecosystem. It is forced to relinquish some of its control on further out monster or beast communities. This is done in order to more firmly establish control on its most recently upgraded core denizens which continue to protect it.”
“When this happens, there is frequently a temporary upset to the hierarchal control. This often leads to a mass evacuation from the further reaches and confines of the cave. Creatures previously held under control by mental compulsion, or control by a stronger group of creatures, flee from their creator and prior captors, thus resulting in the purge, or dungeon break as you call it. It takes time for the newly established order to take effect, and thus restore a semblance of balance to the system again.”
That, was a lot to take in! But it was incredible how it explained so much about how dungeons worked. My mind was a-whirl with thoughts and imaginings as it pieced together all this information.
As I was distracted by these new discoveries, it appeared that the group of requested adventurers had arrived.
.
.
.
There were five of them. Four of the adventurers were astride horses, and the last, appearing to be the leader of the group, was astride a reptilian like creature, somewhat smaller than the horses, but appearing far more lethal.
The leader strode forward on his mount, till he was within our midst before calling out. “I am team leader Gabriel of the Winded Stalkers adventure group. I am here for a briefing of the situation before delving into the dungeon with my team. Will whomever has the most information step forward that we may commence?”
Jax stood up from his lounging position and fearlessly approached the reptile riding man. “Hail Leader Gabriel, I am Lead Jax of the city patrol. I will be happy to discuss our venture and discoveries with you.”
And so, they both talked. Jax was doing most of the talking while Gabriel asked occasional questions, for which his group listened intently to the answers of.
The discussion took no more than a couple minutes to address the pointed questions. All-in-all quite efficient in my opinion.
With the sun hanging somewhat low on the horizon, but with a couple hours of sunlight remaining, I watched as the adventurers dismounted their rides, handed the reins off to ready patrollers, and then disappeared into the dark recesses of the cave.
This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Shortly after the last adventure disappeared from view. Lead Batholomew spoke up. “Attention Patrol. We will maintain a vigil until the reemergence of the adventure group. As we wait, I will call for our carriages to come for us. Do not leave more than 30 paces from the group, and travel in groups of no less than threes.”
I saw several of the patrolmen stand up from their positions of lounging on the ground, as they sought out like minded individuals in which to team up with. Once relatively organized, most of them went off to secluded areas of the denser foliage bordering the creek. Oooooh, I believe I knew what they were doing. The calls of nature can be held off for only so long, before one needs to relieve themselves.
Soon enough, the wandering patrollers were coming back to the main gathering point, looking far more relaxed and relieved than when they left.
Surprisingly, the adventure group exited the cave not long after that. Each of them bearing a grimace on their face as they stepped further into the sunlight. Some even looked far paler and wearier than when they first entered. The Leader himself appeared to be struggling with feelings of rage and sorrow as he contemplatively held a sphere betwixt 2 fingers and a thumb. As he approached our group, I got a better look at the sphere in his hand. It looked like a polished spherical crystal, much like you would expect smoky quartz to look like if ground down to fit that form. Looking closer I saw what looked like some kind of dark tendril swimming about in it. I’m assuming that this was the dungeon core that he was bringing out.
Holding up the sphere to the light, the leader Gabriel of the adventure group spoke up with a grim look on his face and sour twist to his lips. “Seeing the victims of the dungeon lying about in there, leaves me wanting to shatter this deities’ forsaken core, in order to eliminate any chance of this happening again.” *Sigh* His anger appeared to redirect itself as he heaved a sad sigh. “I can only hope that the mage guild will cause a great amount of pain and suffering to the will dwelling within.”
Then after pocketing the core, he called out to Jax, with whom he had spoken to before. “Lead Jax, there are a decent amount of shade stones and other materials that the city could make some positive use of, if we call in a team of strong stomached miners. Along with obtaining the dungeon core, we were able to scour the full depth of the dungeon and eradicate the remaining incorporeal and corporeal shades. Your report was spot on with the details, and for that we are grateful.”
With a confirming nod, he added. “If there is nothing more that you will need, we will take our leave and give our report to the adventurers guild.”
Jax gave a returning nod and responded. “We thank you for your venture and we will follow your advice in getting a mining team down here to obtain some benefits and clean up the remains. We want to get that done before the land reclaims the dungeon or some poor wandering civilian chances upon it.”
With that said, the adventure team departed and the patrollers and I were left alone in the sun lit clearing.
Bartholomew came over and had a hushed discussion with Jax. I saw a lot of hand waving, grimacing, and pointed looks at the cave entrance. Then they appeared to have come to a conclusion to their animated talk as the bear-man stepped away before raising his voice and addressing the group. “Team one will return with me to the patrol Barracks! Team two will remain with Jax as they now await the mining team! We will make the call for them as we depart.”
Then turning towards me Bartholomew asked. “Apprentice Andrew, do you wish to return with us as we can drop you off at the apothecary on the way?”
I seriously thought about it as I was feeling all adventured out by this point. However, something tickled the back of my mind, about the mention of the mining group. I was feeling immensely curious about what they would be mining in that cave and cleared dungeon. As such, I decided to stick around a bit longer to see if I could learn anything more, or despite my fears, possibly go back in to check things out.
“No.” I then replied. “I would like to stick around and ask Jax some more questions if he is open to such.”
The vulpine gave a surprised look at my request, but then gave a shrug before responding. “I see no problem with that. We will be fine with his company while we wait.”
“Very well. We will now depart.” The Bear-man said, then he called out “Team one, we are off!”
Soon enough, one of the two assembled carriages left with the full contingent of patrollers and the bear-man among them.
After they departed, I approached the vulpine again. His eyebrow raised in question at my approach.
“What else can help you with, apprentice Andrew.” He inquired.
Feeling more than a little hesitant, I forced myself to vocalize what I wanted. “You mentioned before that there is a mining team coming to excavate the inside of the cave.” He nodded in agreement with what I said, so I continued. “Would it be possible for me to accompany them, to check it out under the less dire circumstances from before?”
This appeared to firmly surprise him as his eyebrows shot high up on his forehead. He appeared to consider this for a moment before speaking. “Unfortunately, unless you’ve been registered with their crew, mining groups will not allow you to join them on their excavations, unless it is through a coordinated joint venture with their group and one that you are in. In this case, that is not going to be possible.”
The vulpine’s eyes and face then went through several interesting expressions as he seemed to be battling with ideas within. Then he finally appeared to have come to a conclusion and spoke up. Looking me dead in the eye, he said. “If you can manage, we can go in right now and see what could be obtained in the time it takes the mining group to arrive.” Then as if saying it belatedly, he added. “You can consider this to be a return favor for the use of the slime acid in our escape.”
I didn’t care what his justifications were, except that now I got to check out what the cave had in it, free of dangers. Fear and excitement reignited my drive to explore as I felt expectant of the impending venture.
Jax broke me from my thoughts as he called out to the rest of the patrol team. “Attention patrollers! Apprentice Andrew and I are going back into the cave to see what minerals and other useful items might be able to be obtained. Are there any present that desire to go with us?”