The weary group’s stifled swearing when they stumbled back to where their companion died was a balm to Ivy’s anxiety. The group had killed a lot of the creatures on this floor, even with one or two getting back up due to [untiring legions]. She still regretted not advocating more strongly for [leadership]. A levelled-up commander, or even one of the zombie wolves with some understanding of pack tactics, could have made the horde so much more effective than these piecemeal ambushes. Still, no use dwelling on that now.
Evelyn had told her that forces from Timberhollow had made their way in when the dungeon reset. Ivy could only hope they made it in time. The floor still had a couple of nasty tricks left, and while the invaders hadn’t noticed yet, they were coughing more, taking longer to catch their breath and unconsciously scratching at exposed skin. The rat seemed to be the only one not affected but he had a poison affinity and some kind of [toxin resistance] skill, the smoke wouldn’t bother him too much.
The bickering group had realised they needed to be more methodical and search throughout the buildings as well as the streets, but it seemed they’d been relying heavily on the [explorer] for navigational challenges. Being rid of his [trapsense], Ivy could feel the tightness in her chest ease a fraction. Whatever Evelyn said, those kinds of skills felt like a cheat. When it was a matter of life and death she wasn’t exactly against cheating, but she wanted it in her favour. So she was pleased when one of the dwarves barged through the ajar door of a building, only for the bucket resting atop it to fall dousing him in oil. For all the dwarf tried to wipe the worst of it off once he realised no further attacks were coming, he was looking a lot more wary of stray embers - and his giant teamate for that matter - with it squelching from the padding beneath his armour.
“I honestly thought that was too childish to work.” Ivy admitted.
“Simplicity is often a mark of effectiveness, not its lack.”
Evelyn’s self-assurance proved true, while tempered by the occasional trap, the group gradually grew bolder in their explorations as they realised they were encountering fewer and fewer creatures. The threat of the air rifle still cast a lingering shadow, and Ivy desperately hoped it’s next shot would be better, but minor injuries and delays piled up with each simple trap they encountered. A waxed patch of floor was enough for the already unsteady dwarf with a head wound to take a tumble. A hole in a ceiling let a rat skeleton drop onto the giant. A weakened piece of flooring almost had the captain falling through to the floor below and consumed some time as he navigated back to safety. Even simple obstacles like locked doors forced them to break them down or circumvent them, at least until they worked out a thin enough blade could lift the latch on some. Only to find that some of the dungeon monsters didn’t stick to open doors either, an ogre skeleton bursting through the walls of one of the houses as it heard them pass by. It was swiftly dealt with, but the initial strike with rubble flying as most of the wall came down on top of them added to their bruises. Perhaps more relevantly, the skeleton was only so swiftly put down because so many powerful skills and spells were activated to kill it. The jolt of adrenaline from a large form and crumbling masonry crashing into them overriding other concerns in the moment. This wasn’t a lethal threat for them – though it certainly could be for other delvers – but she made most of them react like it was, and she’d take that small victory.
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Unfortunately, the ogre skeleton was trapping that particular alley for a reason. In one of the building just past it they found the trap door leading to the [core room]. Thankfully one of the last things they managed to add was that this floor once again needed a token to find the exit, this time marked with a stylised building. As predicted, they intuited it was located at the opposite side of the floor. Evelyn and Ivy had debated hiding it somewhere less obvious, but it was most important to slow the group as long as possible here. Then something happened neither had accounted for.
The giant stormed towards the trapdoor with the indentation, “Blasted Seeker’s games! We children of The Warrior will be denied no longer!”
Conjuring a ball of black flame she plunged it against the door, wood charring and even unnaturally melting where it pressed. And yet, it seemed to resist much more than metal or stone had before, warping like wax instead of disintegrating. Sweat began pouring down the giant’s forehead, clearly not expecting such resistance. Nor was Ivy for that matter though her [Guide] instincts whispered that the dungeon’s {conditional triggers} ability was the cause. They’d set it so the trapdoor would only be passable if the token was inserted, the giant’s ability was attempting to overcome it. As a pinhole in the centre became as wide as her fist it was quickly becoming apparent that it was strong enough to do so. Veins were bulging across her visible skin as the hole widened to the size of a steering wheel.
“Be ready!” her command a hoarse gasp.
Ivy tore her gaze away from the sight to look at Evelyn, knowing the words applied equally to her.
“Timberhollow has reached the third floor, would you let me know when they draw near?” Evelyn’s request was filled with forced casualness. Ivy could see her resolve as she somehow straightened even more than normal, drawing herself to an imposing height. Yet the slight waver in her voice told Ivy, for all her capability, she didn’t expect to survive.
“You can count on me Evelyn,” Ivy struggled to keep her voice steady, “Just hang in there.”
With a gasp the giant jumped through, the others close on her heels, but as soon as the ball of black fire faded the trapdoor snapped back into existence, charred and pitted. Dwarves rebounded violently off the door as magic and physics returned to stable equilibrium, none of them making it in. The rat beastkin didn’t even try, slinking away as the dwarves were regaining their bearings. But the giant and captain were through.
“Thank you, Ivy.” Evelyn’s words lingered, but as Ivy’s head snapped back towards her, she was gone.