Chapter 2

Kelpie's Rest

Stepping off the train in the early afternoon, Gen caught a whiff of the city air. It wasn't clean. She smelled a lot of grime and refuse but occasionally the breeze would force the offensive odors away making it tolerable. It was typical of cities. Especially ones that are not large or affluent enough to require or splurge on magical cleaning services.

Though the kingdom of Gravmandur was large and occupied most of the western continent most of its medium-sized cities all seemed to be the same, at least to an outsider like Gen who grew up in the country near her father’s dungeon.

Gen was wearing her comfortable leather boots good for long walks and some traveling pants and cloak. She collected her traveling pack and began walking out of the city. Keeper Avernafey's Dungeon was only about a half hour's walk outside of the city gates, with his home just off the road near the entrance of The Rime Lord's Cavern. This afforded her time to think.

The Rime lords cavern was an Advanced Dungeon. Making it good for adventuring parties in the 30-40 level range. Gen had actually heard about it from the adventurers who would move on from it to her father’s dungeon. Keeper Avernafey had inherited the dungeon from his grandfather who had planted it. He would most likely be a traditionalist who married a Keeper and expected his children to grow up and become keepers as well. That suited Gen just fine as her family was the same.

“Well till last fall at the least.” Gen thought to herself.

Once the place came into view she could see how the Avernafey's had made their home into a traveler's Inn.

This is one of the more common ways that Keepers support themselves. Nearly every Dungeon Delver needed a place to rest before or after their journey into a dungeon. It was the way her father had had his dungeon setup. Personally, Gen didn't care for this method. she felt it was a bit of a betrayal of the dungeon, to care for and feed the men and women who were going to be invading the dungeon you cared for and nurtured. It felt like letting your house guests fight the family dog.

While her plans weren't set in stone she thought maybe she might have a small shop to sell a few potions or some spelunking gear. After all, she wasn't heartless, she wouldn't throw anyone into her dungeon unprepared. But actively feeding them, and allowing large groups to gather and swap information seemed… counter to her personal feelings. Gen wanted to grow a Dungeon that only the best adventurers could conquer.

But she admitted to herself, “I need to get the dungeon going first, no one will come if it's a death trap from day one.” She resigned herself to selling some potions and Maybe a map if needed. But not a completely accurate one. If they wanted the dungeon's secrets someone would have to earn them.

Deep in her own thoughts, Gen had arrived at the Avernafey’s inn without realizing it and nearly walked by.

The inn was built on the edge of a cliff, overlooking a large lake where the Dungeon itself was said to be. The inn was large and more akin to a complex than a traditional roadside travelers' inn. It consisted of 4 buildings: the main tavern or dining hall, a small cottage, which is likely where the Keeper and his family lived, a stable, and last a 2 story building that looked more at home in the city proper. It was an apartment building. From this side, 4 doors were visible on the bottom floor. Above the tavern door, a sign hung and read “The Kelpie’s Rest”

It was getting later in the afternoon so after admiring the view Gen entered the tavern hoping for a drink and something to eat before she had to meet the youngest Avernafey.

The room was nearly identical to all the other roadside inns Gen had seen in her short life, including the one she grew up in. A long bar set with stools ran along the left wall and wrapped around the rear left corner. Several barrels and dozens of glass bottles lined the wall behind the counter. 7 sets of plain wooden tables with 7 sets of matching chairs dominated most of the room. A massive stone fireplace hearth with 3 wingback chairs rounded out the rest of the public seating in the rear right corner. The only other doors besides the entrance were a set of double doors next to the counter on the rear wall.

Despite its size and indications of the expected high volume of customers, only one table was mostly occupied by a group and one lone barman was jovially conversing with 2 others at the bar. He glanced Gen's way when the bell over the door rang announcing her entrance.

Catching the young man's eye Gen approached the bar and took a seat. "Greetings, I would love a light ale, and if it's not too early, whatever that delicious smell coming from the kitchen is."

The man smiled warmly, "Certainly, I'll have to check if it's ready but we're having fish stew and fresh bread this evening. That will be 1 Wheel for the meal and an Ox for the ale."

Gen pulled out her traveling purse and supplied the coins. 1 Copper with a Wheel stamped into it and the other Silver with an Oxhead. With 1 silver Ox equal to 10 copper Wheels Gen expected the ale to be quite good and perhaps strong, so she got to business before letting the drink dull her wits. "My name is Keeper Marc, I'm here to see Keeper Avernafey. He should be expecting me."

The other gentlemen at the bar side-eyed Gen at this revelation. It wasn't common for Keepers to visit each other seeing as they had many responsibilities maintaining their own Dungeons. But Gen feared it was her name that may have piqued their interest. The barkeep paid them no heed. "Ah, yes! I'm Assistant Keeper Jared. Keeper Avernafey let me know you would be coming. Though at the moment he's a bit busy, as you may understand, He told me to give you a room and you can wait for him here or there." Assistant Keepers were full Keepers but for one reason or another decided to work under another keeper. Typically because founding a dungeon of their own was not an option or they liked the lifestyle an older dungeon afforded them.

"Here's fine with me, but if he will be long I might need that room for a small rest, the walk out this way was rough and uphill most of the way."

Nodding Jared retrieved the ale and set it down along with a room key. "I'll check on supper, this key is to room 4."

"Thank you." Replied Gen before taking a tentative drink of her ale. It was very good, smooth, and deceptively strong. Gen nursed it slowly for a few minutes before she got a notification:

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Milestone: Gen has fought off the effects of Strong alcohol, 25/25 times. Constitution increased by 1. Next Milestone Unlocked: fight off the effects of Strong alcohol, 100 times. Reward +1 constitution, Current Progress 25/100.

With a drink strong enough to increase her constitution when she resisted the effect, gen decided to wait for her food before braving much more. Drinking on an empty stomach is begging for strong drinks to knock you flat on your butt, as Gen not so fondly remembered from the days after she lost her mother.

A voice brought Gen back from her shadowed mind. “Hey lass, did you say you were a Keeper? Keeper Marc?” The man at the bar was a Dwarf, Gen noted now that she was assessing him directly. And he was obviously much deeper in his cups than the rest of the room. “Any relation to tha fella in Kendleshine that went nutty?”

But before Gen could answer or think to be offended, a voice cracked like a whip from the other person at the bar. “Tem!” The small gnome beside him snapped, both seemed to be about 30 or 40, though with longer-lived races it was harder for Gen to tell they appeared young and perhaps inexperienced. The Gnome continued. “You can’t just ask personal questions like that!”

“Wha? I was just-” The Dwarf, Tem was interrupted by his diminutive companion.

“No, you weren't, you're drunk and not thinking!” The next few words dropped in volume to just above a whisper but increased in severity, much like a mother disciplining her unruly child in a library. “That subject is a little sensitive to all keepers! Let alone one that may be a blood relative!”

“Oh, alright alright, no need to get yer knickers in-a’ twist, Erela.” The dwarf turned to Gen, “I apologize if’n I came off as a wee bit crass. We're a bit new to this adventurin’ business and I’ve been keen to get to know as much as we can about the Dungeons and Keepers in general.”

“Thank you for the apology and honesty. Most don’t like outing themselves as ‘shinies.’ Especially not in front of Keepers or more experienced Adventurers.” Gen teased. In her experience from her father’s Inn Dwarven, adventurers liked a good bit of ribbing to smooth unintended slights and Tem appeared to be no exception.

“HA! Ay now, me armor is as dented and worn as the next dwarf’s! But soldierin’ and Dungeon diving be two differen’ things now don’ they!?.” Tem gestured to the Gnome. “But I’m forgettin’ my manners again, allow me to introduce my darlin’ companion Erela. She wields spells like a craftsman wields a hammer and chisel, with power and precision!”

Erela sighed, “Tem, you can’t just smooth talk yourself back into my good graces with compliments! At least buy Keeper Marc and I a round of drinks, as an apology.”

“OH, Aye!” Tem Agreed wholeheartedly as unbeknownst to Gen, this allowed him a secret out of the drinking limit Erela had placed upon him. He could only drink 2 drinks for every 1 she did.

“Oh!” Gen cut in “That won't be necessary.” Gesturing to her drink, “I really can't handle more than one of these. Being here on business. But you could help pass the time, it seems I'm in for a wait. What brings two newer Adventurers to an Advanced Dungeon such as The Rime Lord's Cavern?”

“Oh we’re locals and regulars, usually we’re here for just a nice time at the bar,” Erela explained “But today we are here looking to find a good starter Dungeon and thought the keepers here could point us in the right direction. What about you? Secret Keeper business or something more mundane?”

“Actually, a bit of both I suppose… a Starter Dungeon is kind of the reason I am here too. I will be founding a new dungeon and need an apprentice. The Avernafeys appear to be in need of an extra Keeper to apprentice their son to. So I came to meet the boy and see if he would be a good fit.”

"Do you mean Byron?" Asked Erela, "He should be about that age now right Tem?"

"Aye, and he seems to have a good work ethic. I would think anyone would be pleased as a pig in the mud to have him as an apprentice."

"Really?" Gen was intrigued. A hard-working future Keeper and the council just dropped him on her lap? "That sounds almost too good to be true."

"Heh! Ya, there be more to the lad than his work ethic and lineage, but I do-na' wanna spoil his first impression… he is a generally good lad."

While they were practicing their small talk Jared returned, with a large bowl filled with steaming hot stew, and half of a loaf of bread. "Here you are, Keeper. I also informed the master you had arrived and are having supper. He told me he can see you in his office once you finish up. It's the small house out back." Then he went to check on the other customers.

"Don't mind us lass, you look famished. Eat yer fill and go meet Byron, judge him fer yourself." Tem put a few small coins on the bar and stood and began to sway.

"Easy there big fella!" Erela jumped to catch the dwarf under the arm. "You really shouldn't drink so much. Gen, I need to get this big lug to a bed to sleep it off. It was nice meeting you."

"You as well, thanks for the chat. If you are ever in the west, I'll be setting up my Dungeon in Heil, it's a small trading post town in the mountains. Give me a couple of months and it will probably be ready for some beginner divers." Waving Gen turned back to her meal to think about what they had not said.

Trying not to worry she decided to go over her status, willing her Short sheet to display in her mind's eye. The short sheet was much like a level check. Details about Gens status were displayed, but with as little or as much detail as you chose.

  Dungeon Keeper Genevive Del Marc

Human - Level 4 Experience till next level 890/1500

Health 106/106

  Ability scores:

Strength 8

Dexterity 11

Constitution 12

Intelligence 15

Wisdom 10

Charisma 14

  Trained Skills:

Cooking 2

Daggers 4

Dungeon keeper 25

Spellcraft 4

Medicine 3

Potion brewing 11

  Untrained skills: (Levels and unused skills omitted)

Shields

Swords

Spears

Axes

Bows

Wilderness Survival (Training Progress 95%)

Tailoring

  Specialized Skills: None

  Equipment (Omitted)

  Inventory

Travelers pack (contents abbreviated)

Clothes 3 sets

Books x5

Files x3

Locket

Pocket Watch

  Currency:

1 Platinum Crown

3 Gold Eagles

20 Silver Ox

4 Copper Wheels

35 Iron Rolls

Total wealth: 5 irons 7 Wheels, 5 Eagles, 1 Crown.

Frowning Gen was a bit disappointed, it was respectable given her age, but she had a lot of work to do if she intended to become a Superior Keeper like her father. Most Keepers had dozens of skills, many of them trained rather than untrained.

The inventory didn't impress her much either. The books would help her gain skills and turn her untrained skills into trained versions but the process was slow without a teacher. The locket and watch were the only things she had from her Parents. And two of the few things she didn't sell before leaving her family home.

While this wasn't all her worldly possessions it was most of them. She had the majority of her funds squirreled away in the royal bank as well as a small cache in her other belongings. She wasn't hurting for money, which is why she had decided on Heil as her new home.

Once she was satisfied with her status she left a small tip on the bar and headed to Keeper Avernafey’s Office.