Chapter 27: Go Left or Go Right
Ardreth was surprised Alenia found out about DM so soon, but didn’t offer DM much more than what was already known. In recent generations, female elves had become particularly strong and independent. They tended to stay home in the village for a long stretch, then venture out from time to time, just as Alenia’s group was doing here. Of course, Ardreth wasn’t aware of another sapient tentacle monster like DM, so this situation was unprecedented, at least in that respect.
Ultimately, Ardreth didn’t have any advice for DM except to prepare himself. What exactly that meant, DM wasn’t sure. Ardreth offered that once Alenia’s group grew tired of their travels, which was likely to happen quickly, they’d return to the elf village and quiet down for several decades. Usually, only the younger ones like Ardreth and Daphne had any appetite for traveling longer-term.
DM dismissed the pickpocket who he’d been using to converse with Sasha and Ardreth. Turning his attention to Daphne’s equestrian party, Bandit had separated from the group at the city entrance. Daphne led the others to a stable and then to the inn they were familiar with, planning to visit the Guild the following morning.
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“My friends and I will bring these children to the dungeon in the Lower Gordu Forest for training.”
“Actually, right now, all visits to the dungeon must be coordinated by Olivia. Only beginners are…” The Guild clerk trailed off, clearly intimidated by Alenia.
“Since when?”
“The Guild Master ordered it recently. Training in that dungeon is being carefully controlled by the Guild.”
“Then where is Olivia?”
“She’ll be in soon…”
“Alenia, it’s all right.” Daphne attempted to placate the older elf. “We can just wait a little while—“
Alenia interrupted Daphne to address the Guild clerk again. “The girl is right, it’s all right, we’ll be going to the dungeon. Please let this Olivia know that she can take the day off.”
Before the clerk could respond, the Guild Master came down the stairs with what was likely coincidental timing. Alenia had not been shouting by any means.
“More elves?”
“Are you the Guild Master?”
“I am.”
“First let me say that you’re far more handsome than your predecessor.”
The Guild Master glanced at Daphne and her friends before looking back to Alenia. “My predecessor was a woman.”
“Her predecessor then.”
“I’ll take your word for it,” the Guild Master acquiesced. “What’s this about Olivia taking the day off?”
“We learned that an Olivia handles training in the nearest dungeon. Our group will be training there today. Olivia can stay here and help you with something else, I’m sure.”
The Guild Master paused, contemplating the elf’s demand. “Fine. On two conditions.”
“Conditions?” Alenia tilted her head quizzically.
“First, you leave the dungeon in the same condition it was in before you got there. Second, you travel to the dungeon on foot.”
“On foot?” Alenia turned to her junior. “Daphne, how far is it?”
“It’s not that far. We’ll get there by late morning, I think.”
Alenia turned back to the Guild Master. “Very well. We accept. This will be good training for the kids.”
Alenia led the group towards the exit. Meanwhile, the Guild Master waved over another staff member, a swordsman and former adventurer.
“Take my horse to the Lower Gordu Dungeon and report what happened here.”
“Sure, but why did you agree to begin with?”
“The old bat once told me, the further you are from an elf’s home, the more important it is to avoid getting in her way.”
“The previous Guild Master said that? I didn’t realize elves were threatening like that…”
“Just the females. The males are boring, in case you haven’t noticed.”
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With Daphne leading the way, the group arrived at the Lower Gordu Dungeon that morning without issue. Even without the support of Alenia and her two friends, Daphne’s party could easily handle transit through the Lower Gordu Forest at this point. How well they could handle the dungeon would depend on what DM had in store for them.
Content to let Daphne remain at the head of the group, Alenia followed behind as they descended the stairs into the entry chamber. At the bottom, they encountered a lounge not so different from the first floor of the Guild. This was quite different from what Daphne’s party had seen last time they were here.
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“Daphne, you didn’t tell me about a floor like this…”
“It wasn’t like this, Alenia!”
Daphne’s friends nodded along.
“I see…” The older elves looked all around, captivated by this unique dungeon design.
After exploring the floor for a few minutes, including the desk and office area that was presumably Olivia’s, they proceeded down the next set of stairs. At the bottom, their eyes were drawn to sudden motion, but instead of encountering a monster, a person was standing there. Oddly enough, the person looked just like Daphne. Also, the person spoke.
“Nobody gets in to see the dungeon master. Not nobody not no how!” Despite her words of opposition, she turned on her heel and marched deeper into the dungeon.
“D—Don’t worry!” Daphne called out. “It’s just like when we thought we encountered Ardreth in the dungeon last time!”
“Yes, I believe that was a morphling,” one of Alenia’s friends agreed.
“Daphne, what is your take on what just happened?” Alenia queried.
“I don’t know. I think we’re being messed with.”
“Why?”
“We were messed with last time also.” Daphne explained.
“That’s true,” said Alenia. Daphne had previously summarized the events for Alenia, so she knew about the tentacle monster trap. “Well, let’s continue. No reason to stop just because a morphling said something silly.”
With no dissenters, the group continued into floor 2 of the dungeon. After turning a corner and walking for another minute, they encountered a fork with the options to proceed left or right. A single sign labeled the choice, with an arrow pointing left and another arrow pointing right. The first arrow was titled ‘Sexy Elves’ and the second arrow was titled ‘Daphne and Humans’.
Just as they all finished reading the sign, the fake Daphne emerged from the second path, shouted, “It’s a trap! He’s trying to split you up!” and then retreated out of sight again.
Daphne’s party was flummoxed, but Alenia’s voice carried no uncertainty.
“Daphne, do you want us to split up like the sign says or stay together?”
The young elf hesitated, unsure of how to answer. Her friends gave her a look probing for why she was uncertain. To them, at least, it seemed pretty obvious that the group should stay together while in the dungeon.
“Maybe we should obey the sign?” Daphne suggested.
“Daphne, you would choose this trickster over your own kin?”
“N—No, I’m not choosing anyone. I just thought the dungeon might be easier to complete if we listened to…”
“Let’s stay together, Daphne. At least until we near the end of the dungeon. We’re under no obligation to obey any silly signs or words of warning.”
“Okay…”
With the decision made, the group just needed to decide which path to take. Alenia continued to take charge of the situation while leaning on Daphne for input.
“Daphne, which path do you think we should try?”
“Sexy elves?”
“Oh? Why ‘Sexy Elves’?”
Daphne provided a surprisingly thorough explanation. “If you three join us down the ‘Daphne and Humans’ path, none of you match the description at all. If us four join you down the ‘Sexy Elves’ path, at least I’m an elf so we partially match the description…”
“That argument doesn’t hold if you look at numbers though,” Alenia countered. “If we join you down the ‘Daphne and Humans’ path, all four of you already perfectly match the description. If you join us down the ‘Sexy Elves’ path, only three of us match the description well. Adding one juvenile elf won’t really change the number from three to four, will it?”
Daphne’s face puffed up but she didn’t respond.
“Oh, don’t give me that look. You’ll have your centuries to shine, too.”
“Maybe he doesn’t find you three sexy either,” Daphne whispered too softly for her friends to hear, although Alenia just giggled as she turned back towards the sign and announced the plan.
“We’ll follow the path for ‘Daphne and Humans’ for now.”
Having no good reason to object, the rest of the group complied and they resumed their exploration.
After several minutes of walking, Alenia’s warrior friend spoke up. “Unusual to encounter no monsters like this.”
“The same thing happened last time,” Daphne’s fighter friend replied. “It was really quiet until we were suddenly surrounded…”
“The tentacle monsters?” Alenia asked her, and the figher nodded.
“I hope that doesn’t happen again,” said Daphne.
“Oh, why Daphne?”
“Getting surrounded and captured by tentacle monsters is scary!” Daphne shouted back at Alenia.
For a moment, Daphne saw Alenia close her eyes as though she was imagining such a scene. Maintaining a stoic expression, she opened her eyes again and addressed Daphne.
“Is that how you feel about the dungeon master as well?”
“DM? No…”
“What if you were surrounded and captured by multiple copies of the dungeon master?”
“Multiple DMs? Impossible…”
“Well, even one DM was thought impossible to exist until recently, correct?”
Daphne didn’t deny Alenia’s assertion as the older elf continued.
“I’m not saying there are multiple DMs, I was just curious if you thought being surrounded by multiple DMs was a good thing or a bad thing.”
“I—It doesn’t matter. There’s only one DM.”
“Oh, you’re no fun.”
“Alenia, we’re in a dungeon. Don’t we need to pay attention and be cautious?”
“Daphne, I still find it strange hearing such words from you, but yes, for your party, that’s a good attitude to have. Very well, we won’t hinder you. Lead the way.”
After turning a few more corners, they stopped as Daphne noticed a treasure chest conspicuously placed in the middle of the hallway ahead.
“Watch out! That could be a mimic!” Daphne warned.
“Daphne, why are you shouting? We all stopped a dozen meters short of the chest.” Alenia’s admonishment caused Daphne’s cheeks to redden slightly. “But still, that’s quite a strange spot for a treasure chest…” Alenia gazed at the chest and then turned to Daphne. “Daphne, what’s the plan?”
Daphne took aim at the treasure chest with her bow. If it was a mimic, the arrow would reveal the mimic’s nature and also deal damage. If it was a treasure chest, the arrow would merely bounce off.
Alenia nodded in satisfaction as Daphne released her arrow. Just as the arrow struck the treasure chest and clinked, she explained, “It’s not a mimic, but since you weren’t sure, testing it was the correct decision.”
The human swordsman carefully approached the chest and opened it, revealing a few minor potions. After distributing them, Daphne took the lead again as they continued down the hallway.
After turning another corner, they saw a new treasure chest, only this one was backed to a wall in a much more common configuration. Going through the same process again, Daphne launched an arrow at the chest, confirming it was real. After distributing the minor potions for the second time, they turned another corner.
The pattern repeated several times. Since this was only floor 2 of the dungeon, the loot was quite poor. The potions were diluted and of low quality, so carrying them was becoming an issue. They were reaching the point where leaving the new potions behind made more sense. Without a desire to loot the chest, Daphne’s party was less motivated to test the chest and damage an arrow as well.
“Let’s just sneak past the next one.” Daphne’s friends didn’t object, so the group tiptoed down the hallway.
“This DM understands you quite well, doesn’t he?” said Alenia, but no response was solicited so Daphne’s party just stewed on the remark quietly as they continued trying to sneak around the treasure chest.
While Daphne was passing the treasure chest, it lunged at her, closing its mouth around her upper arms and chest, with her head and neck obscured within the gaping maw as her legs swung back and forth in panic.