Chapter 15
Blood On The Wall
Felandira's group was first to enter the dungeon on the second day. Unlike Throm’s misfits, this team had a conventional leader. The warrior Harold was large, standing nearly 7’ tall, and preferred the somewhat unconventional combination of bearded axe and a teardrop shield with a blade embedded along with the bottom point. He watched their rear as the group navigated through the dungeon.
Kyle, the group’s ranger and trap finder, was on point checking the path ahead as they made their way toward the Puzzle room. Pella the healer was following him from several yards back but close enough to aid him if anything went wrong.
That left the two non-human mages in the middle of the formation. A sound tactic to prevent ambushes and to cushion the mages from any traps that inadvertently get triggered.
They had made decent progress through the dungeon. George the gnome mage had easily found and procured the boss handle in the rest area. As they approached the puzzle room they took note of the new branching path.
Kyle nervously approached the new passage. "It's a hall, turns left after about 20-30 feet." He reported to the group. "Should we investigate or proceed to the boss room, as planned?"
"I'm not sure, it may be harder than the boss without any information," Harold said as he adjusted his large teardrop shield.
"We can at least take a peek right?" George suggested, "New areas and rooms are always worth checking out."
Gyarl the Salamanderin Spoke slowly with a pinched voice "Yes, I say we at least look." Gyarl stood 5’ tall with smooth moist black skin, mottled with yellow patches. He had a flat head a wide mouth typical of his salamander heritage, and a short stubby tail that barely reached the ground. He rarely spoke to make suggestions but when he did it was usually to the benefit of the team. At this, a few more nods sealed the decision.
Creeping slowly down the next hall Kyle studiously checked for traps. Halfway down the hall, his foot triggered a small area trap. A spring launched a smoking ball into the air bouncing off the low ceiling and rolling around under the group's feet.
Immediately they all began to gag and retch backpedaling to quickly escape the fumes taking gulping breaths of fresh air as they exited the miasma.
"The smoke, It lingers." Gyarl pointed out after they had all lost their breakfast. "We might need to proceed through the puzzle room and come back once the smoke is gone."
"Yeah, I don't want to waste time waiting around. Let's keep moving." Harold agreed.
The puzzle room was set up the same as it had been the previous day and they quickly opened the passage to the final hallway after dispatching the gold alcove pheasants to obtain the chest.
Confident from the victory yesterday the team made it to the boss room with ease after locating the boulder trap in the same location as the previous delve.
The team paused before the boss’s door. "I don't know if I want to go through the dungeon every day for the next week if it's going to be the same every time. This seems too easy." Pella stated.
Felandira’s gaze passed over the group, "We are here to assess the dungeon’s initial growth as well as train you all." She sighed as she continued, "The first few weeks can tell us much about the dungeon's direction of growth and potential capabilities. It's also a prime opportunity to get very fresh adventurers training. You paid or were selected for this by the guild. The dungeon will change and adapt; it won’t be boring for too long. It already has a new room and a new trap. It will update its old rooms as well."
She paused to take a bit of a lecturing tone as she leaned against the wall. "What is the best and worst part of the previous room?"
"The chest?" Suggested Harold
"No." Felandira sighed "consider its purpose for the dungeon as a defensive room. The strengths and weaknesses."
"The best part would be that the puzzle was difficult." Gyarl said, “The dungeon wants to slow us down and that room stalled us for over twenty minutes.”
"The worst is twofold," Kyle piped up. "Once solved you can bypass the room easily on repeated delves. But before that, when trying to figure it out there was no consequence for failure."
Felandira nodded. "Exactly, that room took each team the longest to get through yesterday but today was the shortest. The first room has an additional goblin. It’s likely because we got through it the fastest. The puzzle room will probably be reworked entirely sometime this week. The boss room is also likely unchanged, Clint's team had to retreat before clearing it."
"So the same plan as yesterday?" Kyle asked.
"It worked well for us." Harold nodded. “George pins down the Basher and the rest of us take down the Hurler. If the spell breaks early Gyarl will apply some slowing effects.”
“I think I should enter first then,” George suggested. “Last time the spell broke but the Basher was already close to you. If I can lead him at least a few steps away it will give you more time when he breaks out.”
Harold nodded, smiling, “Ok we will be right behind you.”
Kyle opened the boss room door wide for George to dash in. He quickly ran to the right, attracting the pair of goblin’s immediate attention. The Basher lifted its club and began to charge, intent on driving the small gnome into the ground with its massive club.
Abruptly George stopped moving and began to utter a spell. Several large chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around the Goblin Basher immobilizing its legs and binding its arms to its side.
George Imobolises Goblin Basher With Spell: Chains of Detention.
“Yes! Got the foul beast!” George cried in triumph, just as a large rock half his size hammered into his lower body snapping his legs like twigs and slamming his small frame into the wall leaving a smear of blood on the cracked stone wall.
Goblin Hurler Strikes George for 40 Damage.
George has broken legs. Movement speed reduced by 90% till healed.
George is unconscious.
“Pella check on George!” Harold cried as he charged across the room, having just witnessed the worst happen to his friend. “The spell is holding, we stick to the plan!”
As Harold called out orders several oddly shaped arrows and a blue spherical spell flew over his head at the Goblin hurler.
Gyarl casts Biting Cold on Goblin Hurler.
Goblin Hurler's Attack and movement speed reduced by 20%.
The unusual arrows had a bulbous round tip with striations running up the head and continued along the arrow shaft. They landed in a quick staccato across the goblin’s chest emitting a sharp crack with each impact. The shots then fell to the ground shattering into pieces leaving fractures in the goblin’s rocky skin as if small lighting bolts had hit the earth.
Kyle Shoots Goblin Hurler for 4x3=12 Damage.
Harold saw his chance as the first arrows landed and followed them into range planting his axehead in a cross chop into the weakened hide.
Harold strikes Goblin Hurler for 30 Damage.
Leaving the axe embedded in the goblin's chest, Harold spun towards the goblin's side. With a smooth motion, he pulled backward on the axe, leveraging the goblin off-balance, yanking it off the small pile of rocks, and toppling the creature to the ground.
Harold knocks Goblin Hurler Prone for 3 Damage.
Gyarl followed Harold forward casting another spell. As the words completed Gyarl’s hands and fingers became coated with water elongating into long tendrils. Pausing only long enough for the spell to complete the Salamanderin brought the water whips down onto the creature.
Gyarl strikes Goblin Hurler for 24 (8x3) Damage.
Harold, sans axe, was far from disarmed. He lifted his teardrop shield and slammed the bladed point down on the back of the goblin's neck with a meaty thunk.
Harold strikes Goblin Hurler for 30 Damage.
Goblin Hurler is dead.
"HELP!" Pella screamed across the battlefield.
Caught up in their own task the three looked up to see the Goblin Basher had broken free of the chains. But instead of charging them, it had advanced on Pella and the unconscious George.
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A shimmering blue light glowed around the pair as the basher began to beat on the shield of light with its club. The heavy blows sent spiderweb cracks spreading through the surface.
“I can’t hold this much longer!”
Kyle drew and fired on the Goblin in rapid sequence, sending 4 arrows across the room as Harold and Gyarl dashed toward their comrades. 2 of the arrows missed and the others bounced off the stoney skin. But it was enough to distract the beast from Pella and George.
As the Basher turned Harold slammed into him with a shield bash dazing the goblin.
Harold Strikes Goblin Basher for 12 Damage.
Goblin Basher is stunned for 3 seconds.
With a few seconds to spare Harold reached down and drew a wickedly curved dagger from his leg sheath. Rearmed with a backup weapon he began slashing at the Goblin. But the dagger didn’t seem quite up to the task and glanced off the goblins’ thick rocky skin.
The Goblin snarled in rage at the attempted attack retaliating with a cross swing of its club aimed at Harold's head. With a twist and adjusting the angle of his arm Harold sent the club skidding up along his shield and over his head. But even the glancing blow had considerable force behind it.
Goblins Basher strikes Harold for 12 Damage.
The redirected blow spun the goblin Basher out of position and left him open to Gyarl’s water whips, lashing them about the goblin's head and neck.
Gyarl strikes Goblin Basher for 8 (8x1) damage. Goblin Basher is Entangled.
Gyarl hauled backward with all his strength attempting to pull the ludicrously large goblin off his feet. But what Harold made look easy was too much for the short Salamanderin mage. The most he could do was force the goblin to look up exposing his throat and take a step backward to maintain his footing.
Kyle had been patiently waiting for such an opening. He drew and fired another special tipped arrow with an extremely broadhead. The arrow sliced across the goblin's soft throat causing massive damage to the vulnerable area.
Kyle strikes Goblin Basher for 55 Damage.
Goblin Basher is bleeding and takes 1 damage per second till healed.
Blood began to fountain from the goblin's neck mixing with the water whips and tinting them almost black in the low light. The fight was nearly gone from the Basher and Harold saw no reason to let the goblin suffer. He slammed his dagger into the wound made by Kyle finishing the combat and letting the body drop to the ground.
Quickly Harold rushed to his companions "Pella are you two alright?!"
Nodding Pella stood. "We are fine. Once you were able to distract that big bastard I was able to do some proper healing. George will probably be unconscious for a few hours but he should be fine after that. I think our delve ends here though, I am completely drained, I have a few potions but George isn't even conscious so I would hate to waste them."
"Good. I can carry him to the surface. I know he wanted to explore down that alternate path, I don't want to do it without him." Harold knelt and scooped up the small gnome.
"Don't be ridiculous," Felandira spoke up. "I have a stretcher for him. And you are forgetting your equipment." She raised a hand. Shimmering white light solidified into a floating bed
"Thank you." Harold laid George upon the stretcher and went to retrieve his ax and dagger from under the goblins' bodies.
* * *
Gen sat behind the small stand in the corner of the inn's tavern room while Byron was studying. To pass the time she was watching the current group’s progress.
Her cartography skill was reasonable for someone who didn't make maps for a living. But it could be better, The group appeared as six red dots. They had backed off from the new hallway for some reason she couldn't detect and made their way to the boss instead.
Gen assumed it was the new trap. But without any skill related to traps, she couldn't tell for sure. She made a mental note to ask Jorn for a crash course in traps.
The common room was empty but Gen still spoke softly to prevent being overheard. "It looks like the dungeon has placed the traps we unlocked. This morning's group was approaching the new room but backed off. They are heading back now, just finished with the boss."
"Do I need to run and grab anything?" Byron asked.
"Yeah, get the larger coin box. Hopefully, they have some herbs for us."
A short while later Felandira’s Team walked into the Inn. George looked grey and ashen but was walking on his own two feet.
"Hello, how was the Dungeon this morning?" Gen asked. "Looks like you all came out in one piece, if not a bit bedraggled."
"Yes madam keeper," Harold answered, always respectful. "We did have a small spot of trouble with the bosses today but nothing our healer couldn't patch up." Harold smiled at Pella. Clearly pleased with her capabilities.
"Yes I must thank you, Pella, if it weren't for you, surely I would be goblin scat by this evening, instead I just feel like it," George said as he sat at a table nearby.
Pella rolled her eyes as if his crudeness was par for the course. And said, "You're very welcome George."
"We did come across quite a few herbs." Harold stepped up to Gen’s stand and laid them across the counter. "What will you give us for this?"
7 x Caredanil herb
3 x Koric Bark
7 x Rock Moss herb
2 x Red Stem Mushroom
4 x Ironbark Shavings
2 x Mage Root
"Let's see…" Gen assessed the herbs before her calculating. 5 irons each for the Caredanil, Mage root and Rock moss. 1 copper a piece for the Koric bark, Ironbark and Mage Root. And 2 silvers each for the red stem. For a total of 5 silver and 6 coppers.
Harold had a terrible poker face. "2 silvers for the mushrooms? Why so much?"
"Harold!" Kyle hissed at him. "Where did you learn to haggle!?"
"Oh…" Realizing his faux pas much too late he blushed. "Ahem. Yes well, that seems quite fair. What could we get in trade for some potions? I believe you are alchemists yes?"
"Hmm… I could trade you 1 potion per 2 herbs of the type of potion it makes."
"That doesn't seem too fair of a trade, it’s hardly better than the coins offered." Harold countered.
“True…” Gen thought to herself, then proposed a suggestion, “How's this, For every 2 herbs, you get 1 potion and every second potion will have an additional dose per vial?"
"Hmm, so essentially 3 potions for 4 herbs? That sounds reasonable. And will you also pay the difference for any odd-numbered herbs?"
"I can agree to that, but the deal won't extend to the Red Stem Mushrooms. I am paying high for them because I have a special order."
"So… how much is it for the lot?"
Gen began pulling out potions from behind the counter and placed a few coins next to them. “This would be everything.”
Slow healing potion x2 Rank 1: heals 5 HP per minute for 10 minutes.
Slow healing potion Rank 1, 2 doses: heals 5 HP per minute for 10 minutes.
Healing potion. Rank 1: heals 25 HP over 5 seconds
Skin Toughening Potion X2 Rank 1: +1 Natural armor for 1 hour.
Skin Toughening Potion Rank 1, 2 doses: +1 Natural armor for 1 hour.
Slow mana potion Rank 1: Replenishes 5 mana per minute for 10 minutes.
Stamina potion Rank 1: Replenishes 20 stamina over 5 seconds
Stamina potion Rank 1, 2 doses: Replenishes 20 stamina over 5 seconds
2 Silver 2 Copper.
Harold smiled as he collected his purchases. And the group slowly wandered off in various directions.
Gen gathered the herbs and handed the Caredanil and Rock Moss to Byron. “Why don’t you take a break from the books and practice your alchemy?” Byron nodded and got up to head to his room. Gen picked up shop. She wouldn’t have any customers for a bit. Clint's group was just heading out for their run of the dungeon and Throm’s had stocked up already.
After retreating to her room Gen pulled out her Alchemy supplies and began to work on the Potion of the Crimson Taurus. First, she cleaned 2 large glass flasks and set them out to dry. Next, she proceeded to pour oil into a shallow metal saucer setting it over the low heat of a bunsen burner. As the oils warmed she ground sea salt into a fine powder sprinkling it over the oil and pushing a small bit of her mana into the salt as it fell from her fingers.
Taking the saucer off the heat she set it aside to cool. Mixing 2 parts water and 1 part of medicinal alcohol she filled the flasks 2/3rds full, corking them to prevent any accidental spills. Next, Gen took the red stem mushrooms and added them to the mortar and pestle. Pouring the salted oil over them she began to muddle the mushrooms. Once the aroma of the mushrooms was in the air Gen added water to the mortar and turned the mushrooms into a smooth slurry.
Separating half of the slurry, Gen poured mana into the mushrooms as she funneled it into the flask. Feeling the pressure build-up Gen pushed her mana in at an angle causing the mana of the mushroom to swirl and condense. After a quarter of her mana was gone she let the mixture slide down a funnel and into the flask. Stoppering the flask as it finished, Gen held the potion up to the sunlight coming through the window. A dull lumpy brown liquid swirled with the spin of her mana and then brightened to a vibrant and smooth red as she watched it in the sunlight.
Gen yawned as she set the flask on the windowsill in the sunbeam. Turning to the second half of the mushroom slurry she began again, recreating the steps meticulously. Once both potions were finished gen set them aside, letting the potions mature in the sun. Gen yawned a second time and laid down for a much-needed break. She knew one of the side effects of the Potion of the Red Taurus was the crash. Once a day for the next 8 days she will fall asleep regardless of her current activity and stay asleep for 1 hour. She had warned Byron that it most commonly happens around midday and you will yawn 3 times as a warning.
While she waited for the third yawn, Gen pulled up the dungeon map checking on Clive's team's progress.
They had made it through the first room and the puzzle room. It appeared they avoided the new hall opting instead for the bosses. It made sense to not tire themselves out on the unknown and try to clear the boss room they had to retreat from previously. As she viewed the map red dots moved about the boss room; she yawned a final time putting a notification to the side for later as she slipped into a black slumber.
***
Kaers had tracked Genevive Del Marc from her old city to the Keeper’s guild and then the railroad north to the Kelpie’s Rest, an inn outside of a spectacular dungeon run by the Avernafeys. He hadn’t been there before and took advantage of the splendor.
He found a small team that was in need of a trap finder. He chuckled at the term and signed on for a few days. It was relaxing being part of a team again. The slow methodical search for traps. The quick and deadly fights. And the loot was nice as well.
The real prize came on the last day after his group had cleared a small section of the east wing. They had come back to the Kelpie’s Rest and were having a few rounds to celebrate a job well done. They had been after a rare drop for the adventurers guild and finally found it. Drinking they had met a Dwarf and a Gnome that seemed way too wet behind the ears for this dungeon.
They were cheerful and full of admiration for the experienced group. Tem and Erela were keen to start the adventuring life.
“Pardon my bluntness Tem, Erelia, but you both seem very new to adventuring. Surely you won't be going into the Rime Lord’s Cavern?” Kaers said warningly.
“Oh! No. We won't be startin’ here.” Tem shook his head “We need a nice beginner place to learn the ropes.”
“Yes.” Erelia agreed, “We are rank 2 and not without skill, of course, but we don't know much about actual dungeon dives other than stories. We gained most of our levels in the military you see. Even though it wouldn't get us much in the way of advancement, the practical experience would be invaluable.”
“Well, not many beginner Dungeons around here,” Kaers said
“Eh, you got tha right of it. We have been savin’ up for a trip to a new dungeon we heard about not too long ago.” Tem said. “A few more weeks and we will have our travel plans set. But it's a long journey to Heil from here.
“Heil? I don't think I’ve ever heard of the place. Where is it?” Kaers asked as he ordered another round of drinks for all his new future dead friends.