Interlude: Atohi the Fearless

Atohi had heard rumors from other delvers that Owl Station was run by a giant owl. However, he had always assumed it was merely a figure of speech—an allegory perhaps, suggesting that the governor of the station had a penchant for books or stayed up late.

Therefore, it was to his great surprise when he entered the governor's office and came face to face with a massive owl.

"Ah, my secretary tells me that you are the delver leading the team into the iron mine?" To Atohi's amazement, the owl's beak moved up and down, producing a smooth, rich, and distinctly human voice.

For a moment, all Atohi could do was stare, the incongruity of the situation eating away at him.

“Oh, yeah man, owl, governor, sir.” Atohi finally stammered.

“Right. Well, I wanted to make sure your team was up to the task. The others in your group are in the mid 40’s?” The owl answered.

“Our highest is nearly 50.”

"Good, the golems in the mine shouldn't give your team much trouble then," the owl continued. "But that's not why you're here. In this office, I mean. I like to meet any delvers that Owl Station signs a contract with. It's good business to keep up relations."

"Yeah, man, for sure. I'm, like, all about that," Atohi replied, wondering if the strange mushrooms Inola had given him the night before had worn off yet.

"Anyway, I will not take up more of your time. The mines were closed down this morning. As per the contract, I expect we'll be able to open them again within three days?"

“Oh, of course, man, er, sir.”

The owl dismissed him with a click and a ruffle of its feathers. Atohi turned from the office, stepping out into the reception hall.

He was about to leave when he spotted the clerk returning to their desk.

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“Did you, like, know your boss was an owl… or?” He asked.

The clerk looked at him with a confused expression.

“I thought it was well known.” They said.

-

Once back at the Owl Station Delver’s Guild, Atohi scanned the room for his companions. Spotting them at a table, he made his way over, joining them as they enjoyed the guild's best ale.

Wordlessly accepting a mug from his good friend, Genoa, Atohi took a sip, the ale soothing his nerves before he addressed his incredulous discovery.

Taking a sip, he asked, “Did you guys know the governor here is like, literally an owl?”

"I thought it was a manner of speech," Inola replied, adjusting her crooked witch's cap.

“No, like, the governor is literally a massive owl, man.” Atohi said.

“No shit, huh?” Inola's eyes widened in surprise, while Genoa merely grunted in response, his silence speaking volumes. He never talked much.

"Genoa wants us to head to the mines now that you've spoken with the governor," Inola continued, readjusting her cap once more.

“I don’t know why you always wear that thing.” stated Atohi.

“It’s an aesthetic,” she replied.

-

Thankfully, the mines were well lit. Atohi was beginning to harbor a grudge against earth manipulators who didn't bother to illuminate the area behind them. He knew they weren't always personally responsible, but he needed someone to blame. Pitch-black tunnels, caves, and dungeons were the worst.

He was accustomed to this kind of work, however. And the System never made things easy for anyone, especially earth manipulators. Mines like this one were notorious for being plagued with monsters. But hey, golems usually didn’t dissipate after they died. You could still use whatever was left over.

The first iron golem they came across had been a cakewalk. Atohi simply opened a [Lesser Portal] below the monster, with the exit above the entrance. The group watched the monster fall for a couple of minutes. Inola hummed a catchy tune.

Atohi recognized it from the bar they had visited the night before. As they waited, he turned to Genoa. The man was clad in thick plate armor.

“You know Genoa, I can barely tell the difference between these golems and you, man,” Atohi commented.

A grunt was all he got in reply.

Atohi released the [Lesser Portal] and watched the iron golem slam into the ground.

“Shit, I hope they don’t mind if we scuff the place up a little.”

“It’s a mine, Atohi, not someone’s house,” commented Inola.

He hadn’t gotten a notification about defeating the enemy, so the golem must have still been alive after its abrupt meeting with the ground. Genoa had already lumbered forward and was slamming the golem repeatedly with a wicked looking mace.

Inola glowed with a deep purple light, and a shadowy energy sprouted from armored man’s weapon.

Atohi found a nice waist high chunk of rock and took a seat.

“Ah, it’s the little things in life.”