The next morning Lanek was sitting across from Duristor having a bit of breakfast. The dwarf waited patiently for Lanek to finish.
“Go ahead, ask your questions.” Lanek said.
“Thanks, I will. First, what are you? I’ve never seen anyone that looks like you.”
“I’m a dranrid. Don’t ask me what that actually is, I evolved into this from a regular human, so I really don’t know anything about the dranrid.” Lanek answered.
“Okay… You said that you and your companions were from Caelis. I’ve read about that city in my great grandfather’s journals. He was an adventurer and his journal talks about going into the Ashen Depths. Is the city still standing?”
“Yes and no. The city is still in one piece, but the people were wiped out when the dungeon broke and it is infested by gaunts and monsters. This is probably a weird question, but how long do your people live? You mentioned your great grandfather, but Caelis fell over a thousand years ago.” Lanek asked in return.
“Five centuries is the average for my people, but some live longer depending on their levels and attributes. So, how can you and Liv be from Caelis if it fell?”
“It’s a long story, but to keep it short for now, my companions and I are trying to rebuild and reclaim the city. We’ve managed to secure a small area of the city that’s far safer than living in the wilderness with the gaunts. Our people are protecting it right now while leveling up and growing crops.” Lanek explained.
Duristor looked pensive for a moment. “Why? It’s incredibly dangerous near a broken dungeon. Yes, gaunts are an issue in the wilderness, but there are ways to hide away. Also, if you and your people settled elsewhere, you would only have to deal with gaunts. The dungeon monsters wouldn’t be an issue.”
“You’re not wrong about that, and I’ve thought about relocating to a different place. Hell, there are even a few smaller and fortified towns near Caelis that are probably safer. However, I don’t think hiding and avoiding the gaunts is the answer. Just talking to some of the people I’ve met, it is clear that the gaunt problem is getting worse.” Lanek clenched his fist, feeling himself getting angry at the thought of the invaders.
“There seem to be more of the bastards showing up and they are getting stronger. So, instead of hiding, I want to create a place where people can live in relative safety while also getting stronger. I mean to use the dungeon to level my people, get them better gear, and even farm the damn thing for materials.” Lanek concluded defiantly.
“And who are your people? Why bother doing this at all? And what happens if you reclaim Caelis?” Duristor asked after taking a few moments to absorb what the madman before him has said.
“My people are anyone that is willing to join us and help out. Everyone will be welcome to stay in Caelis as long as they don’t sabotage our efforts. They don’t need to be warriors, we have need of crafters and farmers as well. As for why we bother, I would rather die fighting the gaunts than cowering in a hole somewhere hoping that they don’t find me. On top of that, there are some very powerful beings that want me to do this as well. Finally, I don’t know what happens when Caelis is reclaimed. Maybe we expand to other cities or regions? Honestly, I would rather just focus on one borderline unattainable goal at a time.” Lanek said, laughing.
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Duristor chuckled as well, shaking his head at the dranrid. “You sound insane, you know that, right?”
“Oh yeah, and you don’t even know the half of it.”
“I figured. So, are we close to Caelis?” Duristor asked.
“No, it’s weeks of travel to the south.”
“Then why are you out this far?”
“I made a promise to Liv. We are going to her village to convince them to come to Caelis, maybe some of the other villages that they know about as well. They may be a warrior culture, but even they are fading away in the face of the gaunt invasion.” Lanek explained.
“Wait, invasion?” Duristor asked.
“Oh, right. I guess you wouldn’t know. The gaunts aren’t from this world, but I’m sure you’ve guessed that. However, there are even stronger versions of them on the way, and probably even nastier things. From what we know, this isn’t the first world they’ve invaded and destroyed. They are attacking numerous worlds at once, if our source can be believed.”
“Your source?” Duristor asked, eyes wide at these revelations.
“An evolved gaunt that was capable of speech. It could have been lying to me, but you have to admit that it does make some sense when you consider how many of the gaunts are around.”
“Fuck. I hope it was lying. Getting stronger does seem like a good idea, just in case it was telling the truth. You mentioned some powerful beings as well, what did you mean by that? Like high-leveled people?”
“Buddy, you’re definitely going to think I’ve lost my mind even more now. Before I start, I want you to do your best to stay calm and let me finish before asking anything. I’m also going to let you see my class and titles, okay?” Duristor nodded, then froze as he saw Lanek’s titles and class.
While Duristor stared at him, Lanek proceeded to explain how he had arrived in this world and the allies he had made. The poor dwarf was nearly hyperventilating when he heard Lanek mention the Primordials and demigods along with the tasks they had given him. He gradually began to look more hopeful when Lanek mentioned that his presence and the support of the higher powers was not a unique occurrence, that other demigods and summoned individuals were trying to save civilization in some small way in other parts of the world. However, he lost a bit of that hope and looked terrified when Lanek explained the Void’s attempts to invade this world as well.
After a long silence, Duristor finally spoke. “If I couldn’t see your status screen and if I hadn’t seen all of the dead trolls, I would think that you were completely mad. I kind of wish you are, because if you aren’t, then my world is as good as dead. I mean, the Void and the gaunts at once? We don’t stand a chance.”
“I know it feels that way, and you may be right, but remember that we have allies with a lot of potential. If Eldros, Invidros, Harad, and Wurgoth can regain some of their lost power, it would go a long way toward giving us a fighting chance. Hell, there are probably other dormant powers out there that may want to help as well.” Lanek explained.
“Also, don’t forget that the Void isn’t here yet. According to my quest, destroying the two outposts that I have has already pushed their invasion back by a few years. You just have to decide if you want to fight to whatever end comes or sit back and wait for death to come for you. I’ve made my decision.” Lanek said, realizing full well how hopeless things sounded.
Duristor sighed. “So what happens to us now?” He asked, gesturing at former prisoners.
“I’m not going to force you into anything, if that’s what you are worried about. If the lot of you want to make your way home or settle down somewhere, I will make sure that you are provided with enough food and water to survive. The camp I made for you isn’t going anywhere either. You are welcome to head to Caelis as well and I would be happy to give you directions.”
Lanek sighed before continuing. “However, I don’t think you would make it. There’s too many monsters and you aren’t geared up very well. Finally, you could join Liv and I on our way north and either settle there or join us and whoever we manage to convince on our way back to Caelis in one large group. I’ll need your decision soon, though, I need to get back on the road as soon as possible.”
“Sadly, none of us have anything waiting for us at home. The raiders wiped out our villages when they took us prisoner. I don’t know about the rest of them, but I for one would like to join you on your trip to the north and then back to Caelis. I imagine most of the dwarves will too. The orcs as well if you let them see that title of yours and tell them that there are more of their kind in Caelis.”
Lanek looked at the dwarf for a few minutes before speaking again. “Are you certain? None of these options are safe.”
Duristor nodded as he stood. “I am. I don’t know what our odds of survival are, but like you, I don’t fancy spending my final days in fear. I also want to do whatever I can to give my son a fighting chance in this world, even if I fall.”
Lanek watched the dwarf march back to the camp and call for everyone to gather around. I hope I don’t get you all killed.