"I found an old one," Styak reported from the memory landscape. "At least, it seems old: you're treating the dungeon like a new experience."
Parry perched on a low wall not far from the Adventurer's Guild-cum-tavern where he could keep an eye on the entrance in case the guild master returned.
"Was I human?" he thought at the demon.
"One among four mortals, a party with an elf, a dwarf and another human, proudly calling yourselves, 'Team Mayhem.'"
"I don't remember that." The boy winced.
"Enjoy it fresh, then..."
> "Who are we?!"
>
> "Team Mayhem!"
>
> "What are we gonna do?"
>
> "Clear this dungeon!"
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> "How much loot are we gonna get?"
>
> "All of it!"
>
> "Alright, awesome. Ferretima, take the lead. Hold up your fist like this if you detect a trap."
>
> "Or a sloping passage!"
>
> "Yeah, or a sloping passage. Or a secret door."
>
> "Wait, what if there's a monster?"
>
> "Brickhead will be right behind you with his glaive."
>
> "It's a pole-arm."
>
> Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.
>
> "See, it's got great reach, it'll give you time to run behind him if something attacks."
>
> "Okay but be careful. If there's a monster, help me get to the back so I can fire my bow."
>
> "I'll keep a spell ready."
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> "I think I should go first, I'm shorter, and I can detect sloping passages."
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> "You'll blunder right into a trap."
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> "Plate armor laughs at traps."
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> "'Hrothgar of the Laughing Armor,' I like that."
>
> "That's not what I meant."
>
> "Alright, you and Ferretima go side by side as long as the passage stays wide enough, sound good?"
>
> "What about me?"
>
> "Keep your glaive between them. Oh, and take smaller steps so you don't break formation."
>
> "Should the mage really be at the back?"
>
> "I'll be fine."
>
> "If the monsters are smart, they'll probably target the mage first."
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> "It's a totally new dungeon, just showed up this week, it won't have any smart monsters."
>
> "Until we hit the lower levels."
>
> "We'll change up marching order when we get there."
>
> "Who's holding the torch?"
>
> "I can't, the glaive is a two-handed weapon."
>
> "I will, so Ferretima can better see any traps or secret doors."
>
> "Parry's taller, why not give the torch to him, that'll light everything for all of us?"
>
> "You really want the mage stuck holding the torch?"
>
> "He can tie it to his staff?"
>
> "I'm not tying a torch to my staff."
>
> "They say dungeons are pretty well lit near the top anyway. I bet we won't need the torch."
>
> "If we don't use the torch at all, I want extra loot, these cost me a lot of coppers."
>
> "'These'? How many did you buy?"
>
> "Ten."
>
> "Guys?"
>
> "Ten is a lot, do you want to burn the place down?"
>
> "Don't worry, you won't have to carry them."
>
> "Someone remember to grab my glaive if I have to drop it and draw my sword."
>
> "Guys?"
>
> "No one's going to pick up your pole, Brickhead. We're too short and Parry's already got a staff."
>
> "I don't want to lose it!"
>
> "Guys!?"
>
> "What?"
>
> "I hear clicking."
>
> "More like a rattling than clicking."
>
> "You hear it too?"
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> "Up ahead."
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> "Team Mayhem is ready for the slaughter!"
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> "Shh!"
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> "Team Mayhem is very quietly ready for the slaughter."
>
> "It's not that funny, Hrothgar."
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> "Skeletons!"
>
> "Cool!"
>
> "Does that mean this is an undead dungeon?"
>
> "They're super basic monsters, no reason to assume it's a theme."
>
> "How many?"
>
> "Three. Four? Three."
>
> "I thought you were going back to fire arrows?"
>
> "Not against skeletons. But I'll get behind you."
>
> "They're almost here. Get ready!"
Parry dismissed the memory.
"It was just getting to the good part!"
"Styak."
"Don't you want to see what happens next?"
"I don't remember this at all. I think I forgot it on purpose. You're welcome to eat it."
"Never."
"Please?"