The creaking of wood wheels, the stomping of horse hoofs into dirt and grass. Hearing the sounds of nature and normality put the party at ease. Logan rotated his arms as he moved the reins between his hands, his shift in the driver’s seat allowing him a nice perch after resting his back on cold floors.
A calming forest was just what the party needed after their excursion through the frost monarch’s cavern. It was obvious that adventurers had been through recently, arrow holes in the trees and singe marks across the grass led to the south. Logan could only guess that the crowbolds in the area had been exterminated.
With no active quest in his log, Logan’s mind wandered to what would be the best action to take next. He wasn’t going home anytime soon, and seeing the dangers of portal quests he didn’t want to start one unprepared. Though he would most likely have to work through a few normal quests before another portal one appeared.
“Logan, what will your next action be?” Fol asked.
“I’m thinking. Seeing Cassius and his team’s power, I feel that it may be better to stay lower level and lean on the powers of others to boost me through quests.”
“Do you believe they will continually help you?”
“No. Unless I join their guild.”
“What of their taxes?”
“That is a deterrent, but the experience tax might not be as much of a hassle as I initially thought.”
“It would keep the difficult of the quests lower.”
“But then there’s the fact that if I rely too much on them, I may become sluggish and blunted”, Logan worried in his head.
“You’ve certainly faced some harsher environments and events than the average adventurer.”
“If I am to work towards what I said earlier, I may need a guild’s backing to do so.”
“If you were to join Lightbeam you may not be able to help casters join it. With you and Marcus, they would have six out of almost seventy with spellcasting.”
“Yeah. But, if I made my own guild…”
“You could invite whomever you wanted to.”
“I’d also not have to worry about my interests being in opposition to Cassius, Prevesna, or the hero if he returns.”
“You would likely be allowed a certain degree of input, but you’d be at the bottom rung as you start.”
“There’s another bonus to forming my own guild. Finding other PCs.”
“You believe there may be others?”
“The history books might not have accounted for all of them. I have hidden my powers for some time, and several levels. Who’s to say there aren’t others out there who have done the same?”
“What of the PCs that follow the below’s orders?”
“We are alerted when we see one another anyway. If I passed by, they would attack on sight as they did to Ahren. However, seeing how these quests operate, and the words chosen by the monsters, I have a feeling the below PCs might not work in the cities.”
“Would you not attract their attention more with a guild that harbours PCs?”
“I have been gaining a bit of a reputation in Gauntlet. If someone investigated me, they could probably find me easily enough. At least with a guild, I would have more backing for protection, and protecting those involved with me.”
“So your guild would be a safe haven for spellcasters and PCs alike?”
“Strength in numbers. Araxie and Fleur jumped at the chance of working with a leader who was a spellcaster. If a spellcaster ran a guild, there would be numerous other magi wanting to join.”
“This would protect them from duels, as mentioned before?”
“I can’t change the attitude towards casters that quick. But I may be able to remove the threat of duels from them.”
“We could petition the royals to instate a new law that bans the use of duels.”
“We did help out that noble’s son. We could ask him?”
“That would be a faster path to take for the said outcome.”
“So, duels and a guild. It’s a start.”
“A guild would also take off the pressure from the MT. If you allowed any spellcaster, they would have a place to go as it seems the MT may be a more exclusive club.”
“Sharing our tomes would also aid both me and Marcus.”
“Whereas the MT would charge for said effect.”
“There’s still the case of the missing pocket watches with that recording of me. I don’t want to be near whoever it went to.”
“There is also that goblin mage who you think may be partnered to a below PC. We did not meet their master either.”
“Two adversaries in the background. If I am to be matched with PCs of equal power, that’s another reason why I should improve my skills and gear, so that I am at the top tier of a level 16, rather than a level 24 with skills befitting someone much weaker.”
“If power at the same level is a goal, might I suggest researching deeper into demon stages, regeneration, and Summon Horde?”
“You read my mind… though you’re in my mind so I guess that is easy. Yeah. The first demon stage gave me a good boost, and there are twelve more to go with that. We heard of regeneration with that troll quest back in Tinte, so that should be easy to find. As for Summon Horde, that will lower my experience gain as well. With that, I can make Marcus closer to my level.”
“At some stage, your status as a PC might be found out. How shall we deal with that situation?”
“We’ll deal with that when it comes to it. I’m not sure any preparation would make a difference after being found out. What could I do?”
“It is a tough situation to be in. We could always argue you aren’t a PC or Oracle.”
“If there was a way to test it, I couldn’t argue it. But then Darius found me out from my sharp increase. There’s a blood test to find heroes, with fewer Oracles is there a similar test?”
“I agree that it would be hard to prepare for. But I must ask, is your main goal still to leave? Are we awaiting the next portal quest?”
“Yeah, but it’ll be some time. I will just put it out of my mind, it’ll just annoy me otherwise.”
“Leaving a haven for spellcasters would be a much better present to this world than how we were going to leave it just now.”
“And it gives Marcus a better foothold without me.”
Logan was then interrupted by a tap on his shoulder as Koma pulled herself into the driver’s seat with the Spellthief.
“Your shift to get some rest”, she said as she opened her hands for the reins.
“Thanks”, Logan replied as he handed them over, “how’d the loot tallying go?”
“Almost done, another day and corroborating with the others will see it complete”, Koma replied as she pointed at the other two carriages.
“Good”, Logan said as he climbed through the white tarp that covered the carriage into the back area.
Surrounded by crates and bags, Logan found a softer bag to lean his head down on, flipping through his system windows to look at interesting skills and spells he could obtain later.
This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
----------------------------------------
Three days of riding went by as the party made their way back to Gauntlet. The fourth saw them reaching the large portcullis gates into the capital city.
Sleeping in the carriages was more comfortable than the grassy floors of the forests, protecting the party from wind and rain. The temperature continued to rise into the mid 10ºC, a far cry from the chilly 0ºC they had been experiencing.
Logan was still comfortable, his whole body sitting at around 20ºC. The Ice King's traits made it so the cold no longer bothered him, and talking with Fol, it would seem it wouldn’t alter the hotter climates so he didn’t have to worry about overheating. Being at a constant tepid temperature, Logan was glad his newly donned coat didn’t make him sweat.
It always felt like he was in a nice room-temperature locale. If he were to enter a place at 21ºC or higher, he’d start to feel the heat. He was resistant to the cold, not the heat.
Like his previous rewards, Logan could assume this was the fourth of five tiers of quality for the reward. If he had completed the mission without any party members dying, the resistance could have been higher.
Hearing the sounds of civilised chatter, Logan climbed his way out of the back of the carriage to the driver’s seat, next to Koma.
The populace talked amongst themselves, rumours abound about the weather taking a drastic change. Some were fearful of what it meant, as a calm before a mightier storm. Others were joyful that their crops would not be harshly affected.
Logan tried to not pay too much attention to it, idle chatter would wreak havoc on his imagination about what would come after.
Making the long trip to the G-Hall, the party left the carriages in the hands of the elementals and went inside.
As a stark contrast to his other visits, Logan and his party were treated to a grand welcome.
Thunderous applause and cheers from the local adventurers were sent the party’s way, with many similar cries.
“Great job, Raid Master Cass!”
“Is it true? You killed the Ice King prematurely?”
“Hail the Ice Slayer!”
Making their way down a corridor of adventurers, the team entered the back rooms with cheers following them from behind.
Cassius sighed, “Sounds like people have put it together, or a seer let it slip. But they got the wrong idea.”
Walking to the counter, the receptionist held a wide smile, “Glorious returns! Cassius and crew.”
By his side stood a man in a flowing grey robe, the ends of which moved as if like a heat mirage. Yellow eyes glowed as they stared at the Fighter, slicked-back black hair showing off a few wrinkles on the man’s 40-something face.
“Cassius, we require a debrief with your team after you’ve handled your quest details. Meet us at your guild house.”
Cassius gulped, something that made even Logan scared. “Yes, Archmage Zinzith”, he replied with a trembling voice.
“Zinzith?!” Logan shouted in his head.
This was the archmage of the MT, someone Logan had only heard about until now. The man had a crazy aura about him as if surrounded by a constant wind. His hair flowed just as his robe did, even so far as pushing past pieces of paper. How was someone so powerful only 40? He must have had some magic to halt his ageing process.
As he turned his gaze to Logan, the Spellthief felt what he could only assume to be a harsher effect than Cassius was. A wave of energy rained from head to toe, forcing Logan into a hunched position. Logan’s eyes could make out a shimmering field around the man, almost two feet above his head to the ceiling.
Zinzith moved his gaze to the side, the harsh power leaving Logan’s shoulders and allowing him to stand. But he stood hunched a while, bracing for a follow-up. This must have been the magical aura effect he had been told of so long ago, Zinzith must have had an immense power dwelling in him, though he was said to be over rank 50.
Without any mutterance, Zinzith had his body cut into ribbons with bright purple lines, disappearing.
“He can Teleport silently?” Logan thought to himself.
“Shit, we’re in for it if the archmage is here”, Cassius cursed.
Koma sat down in a nearby chair and called over, “I’m not taking any blame.”
Cassius looked back, before turning to face the receptionist, “I would like to submit an adjustment…”
----------------------------------------
The conversation went on for a half-hour, Cassius explaining the shifts and increased number of foes within the cavern. As well, he explained the devour rooms as a new development. Combining the poor intel granted, Cassius built a case for the quest to be given a higher danger rating.
With Zinzith at the G-Hall just prior, the receptionist couldn’t argue against Cassius’s demands. He quickly wrote up a report and told the party their pay would be discussed in the evening. They would get recompense in the evening after.
The team got their signets updated and left the dungeon backroom.
----------------------------------------
A few adventurers tried to start a conversation with the team, but were declined by Cassius as he told them they had to get a debrief.
Taking the carriages with them, the whole party went back to Lightbeam.
Entering the entrance hall, the party saw Prevesna easily standing her ground against Zinzith. She was probably higher level than Cassius, and could withstand that presence.
“You’re back. Let’s go to the meeting room”, Prevesna started.
“It is best we’re not confined, let us talk here”, Zinzith replied.
Prevesna was silent for a moment as she thought on it, “That pressure could be bad in that small room, fine, here.”
There was no one else in the entrance foyer, not even the attendant.
Keeping his gaze on Prevesna, Zinzith started to speak as the party sat at the counter with their backs to it.
“I had a team investigate the Frost Monarch’s Cavern where the Ice King is supposed to revive within. I was told to expect a normal arrival timeframe, if a bit hastened by local effects”, he began, pulling out a piece of paper from his robe, “However, the winds have changed, and a quick reassessment from a local tower has informed me that the Ice King is no longer returning this year. Can you explain why that might be? Did you face him in combat?”
Cassius waited a while to see if Zinzith was finished before replying, “We did not face the Ice King. Though we fought close to six times the approximated forces in the dungeon. It housed several devour rooms, so I think that a shift occurred before we entered to make such.”
“Devour rooms. The Ice King has not used those before, our magi thoroughly investigate it each decade. A shift indeed. Six times is a large boost too.”
Marcus then spoke up, “So soon after the goblin war, it could have been due to their forces and corpses. Most of what I faced in the dungeon were blue goblins. Their spellforce isn’t so dissimilar that forming like that would take too long.”
Zinzith looked to the corner of his gaze, stopping just short of looking at Marcus. “An admirable assessment. The goblin invaders used teleportation and portal magic, not unlike the Ice King. We theorised the same, but, if you faced an abnormal number of blue goblins that would solidify that theory.”
“There was also a new development. Lieutenant Frosts were seen at the entrance”, Cassius informed.
“Really? Those are only meant to be at the side of the Ice King a week after his revival, or after his death, never before.”
“Logan’s team killed one previously, we killed the other after his team failed.”
“I shall talk with the G-Hall about making an adjustment if you haven’t already”, Zinzith offered.
“We did.”
“Were there any artefacts within the dungeon?”
Cassius looked to Logan as if to say, “Show him.”
Logan drew the dagger slowly and presented it, Zinzith holding out a hand to the side. A wave of energy shot out from his hand, grabbed the dagger, and flung it into the Sorcerer’s hand telekinetically.
Glancing at the blade, Logan could just barely make out Zinzith’s eyes glowing as he Silentcast another spell.
“It seems the revival energies were confined into this blade. Though not all. The dungeon radiates a large amount of spellforce to be used in the revival. Apparently, it was used for something, but not all for this. Where was it found?”
“Was the power used to make my portal?” Logan thought. He didn’t feel like lying here would do any good, Cassius could just say it for him anyway. “After I destroyed the throne of ice.”
Zinzith’s grasp on the dagger tightened at the mention. “Did you not think of what that could have caused?”
Cassius spoke for Logan, “He is new to dungeons, sir. This was his second from the G-Hall to clear.”
“Very well”, Zinzith replied as he flung the blade back into Logan’s sheath from afar, “you may keep that. It is not needed for our investigation any further.”
Logan didn’t know if he should thank the man or not, so he kept quiet as politely as he could.
Zinzith continued, “If the ice throne was what held his revival powers, and its destruction stopped his revival, we may call his continued existence ended. However, we shall monitor the dungeon, lest it leaks out to the surface and makes an even stronger enemy”, pointing at Logan, but not looking at him, he spoke further, “I forbid you from entering any further dungeons, until such a time that you have read the Dungeon’s Chronicle volumes one through three.”
Logan thought it was a kind punishment for possibly dooming a part of this world. “I accept these terms”, he replied.
“Cassius, I want a written report of all actions taken as soon as you’re able to. Along with word of any intel you sell to the G-Hall.”
Cassius replied, “I shall do so. How should I contact you?”
“Talk to Eighther at the castle district”, Zinzith answered.
“I shall do so.”
“Till then”, Zinzith said before disappearing again, leaving the room much lighter.
The whole team breathed heavily, as if keeping it all inside to not have everything fall out. Sweat adorned their brows as even the falling heat felt like an inferno.
“Do you understand the weight of the situation?” Prevesna asked towards the party.
“Certainly”, Cassius, Koma, and Patavava replied together.
“Yes”, Logan and Marcus replied.
“Good. The potential of a dungeon leaking to the surface is a major issue. So close to the capital, we’d be beset with daily attacks until the MT found a way to contain it once again”, Prevesna continued as she looked directly at Logan, “You are not to join our guild until a time when the MT are certain your actions in that dungeon will not have any lasting ill effects.”
“Understood”, Logan replied, knowing he’d be a major reputation stain for the guild. The magical protection at the capital took time to activate, and was expensive to keep running due to the lack of magi in the capital. The goblin invasion came too quickly for it to see any use.
“For now, we’ll all keep our mouths closed about the dungeon. Just say we cleared it and the MT is investigating. Nothing about what we faced or what we found. I don’t want any loose ends beings used to choke us by the populace”, Cassius commanded.
“That works for me”, Logan accepted.
--- *** ---
Character Sheet - Logan Hall - Level 16 - Chap 98-99 - End [https://i.postimg.cc/Zbj7CM13/Character-Sheet-Logan-Hall-Level-16-Chap-98-99-End.png]