Chapter 14

Faldor road in the back of the wagon for the last three week as part of the expedition team to build the foundation base at the Dungeon. The caravan had four hundred people in total. Smiths, trades people, fortune seekers, country folk and nobles who won’t inherit and of course adventurers. All the things needed to build up a small community as well as a small base that would eventually become a town. Elves, orcs, dwarves, gnomes, and even a handful of lizardmen had all come to start building. It was honestly amazing that so many were coming. Though it was in many ways unsurprising since this up-and-coming town was going to be held by the guild. Meaning it was neutral territory and didn’t answer to a king, queen, lord, or empire.

Meaning no additional taxes to be paid.

Well, that wasn’t strictly true but it was true enough.

With some many people wanting to join and become a part of this new town to set down roots. It took roughly a wee for the caravan to get organized before they could start traveling. Now that they were nearly there, Faldor felt his excitement reaching new heights at the idea of exploring a new dungeon. Yet it also felt like a kick in the groin as well. When he received the details about the dungeon and where it was, he realized after looking at a map that he had already walked partially through it. Odds were also good that the gremlin woman, Frizzy as she introduced herself, and her teacher knew it too. He didn’t blame them too much though since keeping a dungeon secret only made sense. what confused him though was the sheer size of the dungeon’s territory.

A thirty-mile radius… that was not the size of a new dungeon. Then there was the fact that despite being in the territory, he and his party were not attacked.

Aside from the surprise of Frizzy and the golem there was no immediate threats. At least nothing from any mobs anyway.

While pondering this, there as a call for a halt further up in the caravan. Shaking him from his thoughts when he felt the stop. Looking to his two orc companions and the dwarven mage they picked up, they all understood they needed to investigate. They were all still a few hours from there the boarder of the dungeon’s territory was supposed to be. Meaning they likely had trouble ahead.

With the party disembarking from the wagon along with about five other groups, they all walked forwards to investigate. It was a good five minutes before they all found what had caused them all to stop.

Standing there, blocking the caravan was Frizzy along with that same golem from before. Only now, there were three other golems made of bronze behind them. Each one armed with a sword, and shield that formed a wall across the impromptu path.

“What is the meaning of this?” The caravan driver demanded.

Faldor for his part stepped forwards in front of the caravan to stand between the golems and the caravan. Last time Frizzy had been amicable and willing to talk instead of just having everyone killed despite the idiot that threatened her. He just hoped that she was still willing to talk.

“Hello. If I may, why is the path blocked?” Faldor called out, keeping a respectful fifteen feet of space between them.

He just hoped that would be enough space to buy him time to react.

“If you are all here for the dungeon, you are all already inside of it.” She said, tapping the gray golem’s shoulder. Making him take a few steps forwards. “Any further and you’ll start to ender the danger zone. You should either turnback about fifteen hundred feet or start building right here.”

Faldor stood his ground as she approached. Making sure to keep his hands away from his weapons while everyone else watched on.

“Thank you for your council.” Faldor said in response, maintaining eye contact with her. “If you are able, can you tell us what we might expect here? You seem to have some knowledge of the dungeon and how it works.”

“No, I can’t say much. That would defeat the purpose of exploring a dungeon.” She said before taking a moment to think. “There is one layer of the dungeon so far. It is about five miles thick and recommended for newbies or low levels. You’ll have to find the boss of the area and don’t worry. There are about three but the other two are very far from here.” She said as she made eye contact with Faldor but kept looking to the caravan and other adventurers.

“Thank you for that information. We will have to discuss it among ourselves to see what we will do next.”

“Fair enough. When do you think you will all start to explore the dungeon?” She asked, her head tilted curiously.

Now that was interesting. Why would she want to know that?

“Not until we build a camp and decide which team would be going in to gage the dungeon for ourselves.” He said honestly.

“Alright. That is good.” She then looked fully to the caravan. “For everyone who is interested in the world quest. Once you have camp set up, you’ll find two boxes. One to turn in the items, the other will provide the reward. The second area is not yet open. The golems behind us will lead you to a clear area outside the dungeon if that is what you want. Otherwise if you go any further you’ll be leaving the safe zone.”

Nobody challenged or protested Frizzy’s words. They didn’t have nearly enough information to do so. Not to mention she had the equivalent four high ranking adventuring parties backing her.

There was some further talks among the caravan but everyone ultimately agreed to build outside of the dungeon’s territory. They had later learned from frizzy that if they wanted to, they could have multiple teams ender the dungeon at once. But they were warned that only one party at a time can fight the boss. Faldor kept an eye on her and her bodyguards as they escorted the caravan to outside the dungeon territory. They were flashy and clearly powerful. He could tell the newer ones weren’t as powerful as the white gray one, but they were still a credible threat.

By the time the caravan made it to the area that would play the foundation of the town they will be building, Frizzy and the golems remained close by. When everyone was done making camp, Faldor noticed Frizzy and her golems stayed between caravan and the dungeon. When the camp was made though they started to leave heading back into the dungeon’s territory.

Faldor made a note of that. Anyone who can actually walk into a dungeon, bodyguards or no, anyone that could walk into a dungeon without fear was not to be underestimated.

After a night of people spreading rumors that have no real merit and others trying to debate what kind of monster’s they might face, morning came before they knew it.

In the norming, the only A5 ranked adventurer, Zinvil a lizardman knight, called all adventurers to come to the center of the camp. When all the adventurers were present, he had the most senior adventurer’s step forward and form their parties. He explained that the most senior groups would be going in first to see if the first section was fit for newbies. He went on to further warn everyone that all who enter the dungeon going in knowing that their lives were at risk. Everyone exclaimed their understanding before the senior and higher ranked adventurers stated gathered to form their parties before going in their own directions to made the area and find the boss area.

Faldor, Terga, and Yagra all formed and made their way inside the dungeon’s territory. All three had their guard up and keep their eyes open. None of them saying anything since they knew each other’s roles well. a few hours of searching, they found what appeared to be an abandoned farm.

There was an unkept field with both crop and wild plants mixed together. The house and barn were left in a wreck, falling apart from both neglect and time. Yet the buildings remained intact enough that a person could go inside if they so choose. Albeit they’d have to be careful or risk breaking something or worse.

Walking through the field, Faldor plucked an ear of corn from a stalk. Tucking it away and unconcerned as Terga raised his shield to intercept a skeletal rat. Causing the monster to make sudden stop before falling to the ground with an axe quickly bisecting it. With the mod fading away, three copper coins materialized in place of the skeleton rat who faded away to reveal the dropped loot.

Faldor drew his blade and looked to Yagra to see if he felt any tremors. The burly orc leaned down to place a hand on the ground. Concentrating as to pick up vibration as Terga picked up their reward. After a few seconds, Yagra stood and used hand signs to communicate.

“Boss, three enemies two smallies, one medium. East in the building.” He signed before pointing to the barn.

“Everyone, eyes open. Weapons ready, we move in. Got to get info for guild.” Faldor signed and his team nodded in confirmation.

As one, they moved to the barn to see what other mobs were on the first section of the dungeon. Terga and Yagra were both being taking lead with shields up to block any attack. Faldor followed close behind, ready to intercept or move to where ever he was needed to deal with the threat. he seriously doubed that the first section of the dungeon would he a real danger to a team of ‘C’ rankers. Yet it didn’t matter how high a level you were. Level one or a level one hundred, didn’t matter what level you were when you had a slit throat. Bleeding out was bleeding out and it only took one mistake for that to happen.

Coming to the barn as quietly as possible, Faldor had Terga stand by the door. Ready to open it while Yarga took position right behind Faldor. Ready to follow close behind him. With a nod from everyone to signal they were ready, Terga jerked the barn door open. Allowing Faldor and Yarga to storm inside with weapons ready to strike down anything that moved. The first sign of movement was a large zombie rat that stormed from the right as another charged from the left. Both of which were easy to dispatch. Then they saw the third mob

The third mob was a mechanical creature in the shape of the crab. It stood nearly two feet tall and three and three feet wide. The surface was worn and damaged with two large claws in front of it. One of which held a piece of wood that it looked be breaking apart before it’s attention settled on them. with the rats dispatched, the metal crab started to steadily scurry closer to the party. Its claws raised and open to attack. It wasn’t fast nor all the intimidating at first. But when a partially fallen beam that was in its way was knocked aside, their guards were on high.

Stolen story; please report.

Yarga with his mace intercepted the crab. Using his shield to block its hammering strikes until it grabbed the edge of his shield. With one of the claws now busy, he swung down on it with his mace. The bludgeoning weapon smashing the claw arm with relative ease, showing the metal wasn’t as strong as steel or iron. Yet the pincer claw still clutched the shield tightly as the rest to of the crab tried to keep fighting. That is until the mace came crashing in down on its main body. Leaving a massive dent as its legs collapsed under it only to have its other whole claw arm swing to attack. Yarga stepped back, dodging the attack as Faldor stepped in. Driving his blade into its body between the plates of its body. Causing the blade to snag on something inside before the body froze up then collapse.

With the crab now destroyed it dematerialized leaving behind ten coper coins.

With the deed done and the threats removed Faldor and Targa regrouped with Yarga. Working together to remove the pincer claw Yarga’s shield and collect their newly dropped loot. In the end it wasn’t much for them. But to some newbies it was a fairly good reward considering the risk. The rat skeletons and zombies were also quick but not all that strong, the crab though slow was strong and able to take a good bit of damage.

Good, they’ll be a good challenge the newbies. Should make them stronger if they go about it with some for thought.

Once the party went over the remains of the barn, finding little in the way of clues or loot, they went to the main farm house to investigate it. It was their they found something of interest. It was there they found a tattered and damaged trunk in what might have been the living room. Inside they found a journal. The last entry talked about a hunter that have moved through farm, buying some goods and asked for directions for the town of Ironford. It talked about how the hunter had a large but adorable wolf companion with them as they made their way east by south east. They also found in the trunk about thirty-seven copper coins and five silver coins. it was their first clue to which direction they needed to go and it was a rather sizeable reward for any newbie who found such a reward. Before they took the coins and headed in the direction said by the journal, they explored the property further for any more hidden treasures.

The property was fairly damaged from age but upon a closer look, they found something that really bothered Faldor. Along the door to the house there were gouges that came from either a heavy sword or more likely an axe. There were burn marks from what looked like a spell from how intense the burn was in one specific spot. It was out about fifty yards from behind the house that they saw what remained of the house’s owners.

There were four partially broken-down skeletons. Two were larger and the other two… were much smaller. The two larger ones had multiple arrows sticking from their backs, arrows that punched through and partially pierced the skeletons of the kids. From that Faldor could gather, they were a family and the adults were trying to carry the kids to safety only for the arrows to get them.

“Bossman.” Targa called as they examined the long since dead bodies. “Da arrows, they be ancient elven.” He said as he help up one of the carefully extracted arrow.

The wood shaft was half rotted but it was the arrow head that showed it was elven. The tip was a tri-bladed broad head that was diamond shaped for easy removal and reuse.

“Yeah… it is.” Faldor confirmed. “We are in the lands of the betrayed. This place is a lost grave. Let’s there is no telling what might be around here now that it is a dungeon.”

Yarga said nothing as he dropped to a knee over the murdered family. His hands clasped over the holy symbol he wore around his neck to make a prayer. Targa and Faldor stood to the side, their heads bowed as Yarga gave the family last rights.

When the prayer was done, they moved as one once more. Making their way deeper in the dungeon’s territory and encountered more of the mobs. Since they were ‘C’ rankers the mods were pretty easily. Moving deeper and keeping their eyes open for any sudden movements from mobs that hid in the foliage. They spotted trees that had a mark on the bark that was faded from time and regrowth. An old trick from ancient rangers and hunters who wandered the deep woods to keep from getting lost. Likely left long ago from the hunter that had been mentioned in the journal. Following the long-faded trail, they walked and killed mobs as they appeared. Netting a fair amount of loot until they found something that they believed that was the boss area. It was lucky too since it was midday by the time they found it.

The clearing as actually beautiful. It was about hundred and fifty feet across in all directions. The ground was covered in thick grass with wild flowers of all kinds of colors from vibrant blues, bright yellows, full body reds, deep violets and even some pinks that dotted the ground. Creating a tapestry that drew the eye in all the more. At the center was a tall maple tree with orange red leaves. With their guard up, they all entered the clearing and once they were a good distance in the foliage around the clearing steadily grew taller and thicker. They all approached the tree seeing that it was likely the spot they needed to be to get the boss to reveal itself.

The air around the clearing was cool and crisp, the sounds of the surrounding forest grew quieter as they approached the tree. Faldor, Targa, and Yagra all kept their eyes and ears open and alert. There was not telling what and where the boss would come from nor what it was capable of.

When they reached the tree they found slumped against the base was a skeleton. The skeleton was dressed in aged and battered leather armor with a large hole in the stomach. There were broken and rusted equipment from a quiver of arrows, a broken bow, a rusted knife and a small bag.

When they reached the skeleton and were about to inspect the bag, they all felt a chill in the air that was accompanied with a low threatening growl behind them.

Turning around, they all saw the source was coming from the ground as a beast clawed its way out. Steadily revealing itself as a zombie wolf only it was much more horrific. What came out of the ground was a large brown wolf with matted fur and parts of its flesh rotted off revealing parts of its spine, skull and muscle. In the hollow was once its eye, there burned an unnatural silver light while both whole and broken arrow shafts stuck out of its sides and back. it looked patches of charred flesh could be seen from spell attacks. What made it more unsettling was that some of the exposed bone could be seen with what looked like a rusted metal coating them. The fangs were of lightly rusted iron as were its claws while arrow heads could be seen from along its bushy tail. Hate filled its one remaining eye as it stared at them with it heckles raised at them. Its body was low and ready to strike as it bared those fangs at them all.

Then it moved.

Without giving them a chance to strike or organize, it moved much faster than a partially rotted monster had any right to. it moved in a zig zag pattern, anticipating any ranged attack as it made its way closer as it pounced at Targa with claws and fangs out. Landing on the raised shield making the orc have to brace as the wolf swiped its tale at Faldor making three broken arrows fly at him. Making the warrior turn to the side to dodge the arrows while Yagra batted the wolf off Targa’s shield. Making the dungeon boss yipe in pain before it came to land and roll back to its feet. Snarling at them once more with ribs clearly broken from the heavy blow. Yet it seemed undeterred as it stood between them and the skeleton. Daring the party to try and get passed it.

“Targa, Yagra. I’ll take care of this.” Faldor said as he stepped forwards making the two orcs step back.

Taking a fighting stance, he lunged at the wolf. Using a faint to make it jump back, creating an opening for him to flick the tip of his blade at the muscles in its shoulder. Cutting deep before the wolf landed. Making it stumble thanks to the sudden weakness in its leg to give him another opening.

Pressing his advantage, he used the momentum of his first swing to follow up another for its head. Only for the wolf to open its maw to catch the blade between its fangs. Though it did catch the attack, it was not expecting the power Faldor had behind the swing making the blade push and cut far back into its jaw. Though still stopping the attack, the wolf was all the more damaged yet the hate in its eye never faded. Even as Faldor used reverse grip stab with the dagger in his free hand to plunge the dagger into its neck. Instead it swiped the claws of its damaged leg at him. Faldor jumped back to avoid the attack making him pull his sword free of its maw making sparks in its wake while the dagger tore through its neck.

The beast head was partially tilted thanks to the damaged muscles in its neck and its face more damaged from it catching the blade. Yet the boss remained between the party and the skeleton. Still glaring hatefully at him before it swing its tail at him once more, making two arrows fly at him. Faldor rolled to the side as he flung the dagger at the wolf. His attack catching it in the other shoulder to bury itself in the joint, slowing it down further before he swung the sword up where he severed the head from the neck. The head falling to the floor and the body wabbling for a few seconds more before following right after.

Attention!

You have defeated the First Layer Dungeon Boss!

Notice!

You have defeated “Mose, Guardian of Lost Loyalty”

In life, this faithful wolf had roamed and hunted alongside their companion Silas. Together they braved the wilderness and took down dangerous prey. In death, she remained behind to stay with her companion. Ever guarding him as a revenant well after his murder.

“In death and in life, the canine will always be man’s best friend. Your hunt is over Mose… Please, come and rest now…”

You have earned:

200 Exp

8 gold coins

And one minor magic item made by the ancients.

(Randomly Generated)

Everyone in the party saw the notification letting them know that the boss’s name was Mose and left them with more than they had expected.

The party looked at the wolf for a moment longer paying it silent respect. It was only a few seconds after it died that the wolf steadily dissolved into a black mist that they found the loot drop of six gold coins and a small box. Targa picked up the box and Yagra gathered up the coins. Faldor though wanted to inspect the skeleton that was likely the dungeon boss’s former master.

Approaching, he inspected the bag and looked inside where he found long rotted food stuffs that had turned to dust, a beaten-up leather book, and a small bronze coin with intricate patterns carved in its surface. Taking the book he opened it and found it was a journal and he looked through it. Many of the pages were tattered and the ink faded or distorted from exposer to the elements. The last entries though were semi legible and spoke of dreams of being in the town. How they planned to strike it rich hunting and going on adventure with their companion at their side. It was all the dreams of a young man trying to mark their place in the world. The very last entry though was a as clear as it can be.

> The day has barely ended, and I write with hands trembling. Out of nowhere, the elves and dwarves attacked us, and I can’t fathom why. There was no warning, no cause I know of — just steel and fire and blood. We barely escaped. Ironford is less than half a day’s walk from here, but it might as well be a lifetime away now.

>

> It pains me more because I worked so hard to earn that pass into town. I’d hoped to make my name there as a hunter, maybe even something more. I dreamed of building a reputation that would carry me through these lands, but I don’t think I’ll live to see it. Not with the wounds I carry, and not with those soldiers closing in.

>

> Mose… my heart aches to see her hurt. I’d give anything for her to be back at full strength, to watch her run free again. She’s fared better than I have, strong as she is, and she still stands guard, even now. Part of me wishes she’d just go if I fall, to find some safer life. But no — she's too loyal. I can only hope she’ll run if it comes to it. She’s my truest friend, and the thought of her out here, alone, leaves me with more sorrow than anything else ever could.

>

> I can hear them, the elves and dwarves — close now, closer with every breath.

Faldor closed the journal and carefully placed it back inside the bag as he took the coin. Once he had the coin, he placed the bag on the skeleton’s lap and stepped back with his head bowed to long dead hunter.

“I’m sorry.” Was all Faldor said, knowing that the words would change nothing.

With the dungeon boss area found, the party made their way back to the encampment. They needed to make their report and let everyone else know this was no normal dungeon. It was haunted by the ghost of the past and carried long lost history. That along demanded this pace be treated with a certain level of respect. And to the adventures who forgot or didn’t care… Faldor wouldn’t lose any sleep if they fell in this dungeon.