In a deep dark tunnel dug by the long dead dwarven inhabitants was a small caravan consisting of about twenty to at most thirty people heading downwards to the entrance of an old dwarven settlement that was discovered a few months prior. Leading this expedition was a young elven woman, she wore light grey robes with a small symbol black symbol on the back.

Next to the elf was a young human in full plate armor, although for the time being he elected to keep his helmet off to see better in the dark tunnel. At his left hip was a short sword and on his left arm was a small shield.

“This is quite exciting isn’t it.” The human asked his elven friend.

“I suppose it is.” The elf replied with little interest apparent in her voice.

“You don’t sound all that excited.” The human looked at his friend with a slim smile.

“That is because I am focused on my job at the moment.” The elf replied with little emotion on her face or in her voice.

“Ah, you're no fun Lyra.”

“And you are far too energetic Citro.”

The pair continued their little argument/disagreement while the rest of the expedition force watched from behind. They didn’t say anything out loud, but they were all a little annoyed by all the noise they were making.

“Those two are at it again.” A young human woman in her early twenties muttered under her breath at the sight of the two leaders of the expedition butting heads already.

This is to be expected.” A confident and tough voice came from the woman's side. She turned to see a man no taller than four feet wearing full plate armor and carrying a flanged mace and shield. “They are actually quite close friends, but they tend to make a habit of annoying each other whenever they can.”

The woman looked at the dwarf with a touch of surprise, normally people didn’t really like to talk to her let alone when she muttered to herself.

“The name is Hambel by the way.” The dwarf Hambel reached out his hand for a handshake. The woman took Hambel’s hand and turned to look back at the end of the caravan.

“Do you really think we will need all that food and water for only 25 people?” She said as she pointed to the three large wagons full to the brim with food, water, and other essential supplies.

“Well you should take into account that we are exploring an ancient abandoned dwarven settlement. We could be here for quite some time depending on how large it turns out to be, and even with all that we will have scheduled resupplies every two weeks.” The woman nodded at Hambel’s explanation.

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“In that case I just hope that we can get through the place without triggering any of the traps that have been left behind all this time.”

*********

Some time later the caravan reached a mostly flat area outside the entrance of the settlement itself. The area was more than large enough to fit everyone in a small village, clearly it was dug out for a specific reason. But that reason was of little importance to the expedition who quickly set themselves up and started looking for a way to gain entry. But the doors made from the yellow magic steel the dwarves of the time were so famous for and without any other ways to open it they were left with little choice.

Within a large tent that functioned as the command center of the expedition the elf Lyra and her second in command Citro stood around a small table with a grey orb, that orb was projecting an image of a human man with greying hair.

“I am sorry sir, but we have not had any success with finding a way into the settlement of Dom Badaher without digging a hole into its walls.” Lyra apologized to the older man.

“Well this makes things difficult.” The man in the projection sighed. “If you are unable to find any other way into the settlement within 24 hours then call me again, when that happens I will give you permission to begin digging your way into the settlement.”

At the very moment the man in the projection finished speaking a human mage busted into the tent panting. “Ma’am, someone has just exited through the front doors.”

“What!? Did someone start digging without being ordered to!?” Lyra shouted at the mage completely baffled as to why someone would disobey her authority like that.

“No ma’am, they are not a member of the expedition force as no one recognizes him.”

“Then how in the name of Solarius did this individual gain entry without us noticing?” Citro asked as he approached the mage.

“We don’t know sir. But he was wearing a set of dwarven armor and he hasn’t responded to anything anyone has said to him.” The mage directed the two to look out over to the settlement's door. They were wide open and standing there surrounded by just about everyone in the expedition force was a single human man wearing a set of yellow magic steel dwarven armor.

*********

“Well shit.” Arthur thought to himself as he looked around. He had just barely opened the door and a swarm of fifteen to twenty people were already standing and ready for a fight. While most were using weapons like swords, maces, and bows a small portion of them held staves or wielded no weapons at all. Instead they had large amounts of earth, fire, or water in various shapes that looked quite dangerous.

Suddenly a short woman whose skin looked to be made up of light brown tree bark ran up to him breathing a little heavy with two others behind her, one being a man in full plate armor, and the other wearing robes like she was.

The short woman walked up to him until she was only a few meters from him and spoke. *“Who are you and how did you gain entry to the settlement?”* As she spoke she pointed her finger in his face. But unfortunately he did not understand a word of what she said.

“I'm sorry, but I don't understand you.” Arthur said to the woman a moment after she finished speaking.

*“Of course he doesn’t speak Eevin.”* Lyra groaned as she heard Arthur speak for the first time.

To remedy this Lyra raised her hands while making a few strange gestures in the as, as she did this she muttered some unintelligible words and she created a small glow on herself. Arthur watched in anticipation and was rather surprised by the little glow at the end, but he wasn’t given much time to think as Lyra spoke once again, but this time he could understand her. “Can you understand me now?”