Jabraxicalicomixelwalkydoopilous and Mud Golem walked and slid respectively towards the fortified entrance to the Geltheas Dungeon. Over the course of the morning, Mud had become increasingly proficient with Skate. Mana costs for the spell were less than the golem's regeneration rate, so it could be used indefinitely. As they passed the Delver's Association, Mud suddenly remembered a task it needed to perform.

"Jabrax, take this money." Mud fished around in its cloak, then held out a bulging coin sack.

Taking the small bag, the demon looked inside and found it to be filled with copper coins. "What is this, an allowance? Uh, thanks I guess? I can maybe buy a hat or something..."

"Give me the money." Mud held out its arm.

"Wha...?" Jabrax was momentarily frozen, a bewildered look on her face. Slowly, she returned the bag to Mud. After receiving the bag, Mud simply continued walking towards the dungeon. A moment later, the demon rushed to catch up.

The entrance to the dungeon was well guarded, much more so than the city walls. On either side of the single large entrance to the fortification stood five heavily armed and armored soldiers, standing rigidly at attention. The grass around them was torn apart and sprayed with blood, proving that they were not there merely for show.

Near the center of the gate stood a droopy-eyed scribe holding a clipboard and pen. A heavy leather bag was slung over one shoulder, and his clothes were vibrant and elaborate. Mud's knowledge of Etiquette told that this garment was suitable for an audience with nobility, a strange choice of attire given the location.

As Jabrax and Mud approached the gate, the scribe waved them over with a wide, sweeping gesture. Mud, taking that as an order to approach, advanced towards the gaily dressed man.

"Ho there, you two entering the dungeon?" He lifted his clipboard and prepared to write, gaze shifting between the pair. Jabrax answered first.

"Yes, we're doing some hunting."

"Excellent, excellent." The scribe jotted something down on his board. "And the two of you are a party?"

Jabrax looked down at Mud and grimaced. "Yes, I'm stuck with him."

Showing no interest in the comment, he pressed on. "I'll need to see proof of your competence before letting you enter."

The demon swiftly flashed her Delver's Association card. A moment later, Mud copied her action, going so far as to replicate the exact flourish of her wrist as she did so.

After glancing at the cards, the scribe hummed and jotted more information down onto the board. "One last question, are the two of you participating in the wave contest, and if so do you have a recorder yet?"

"We are participating but... what recorder are you talking about?"

The scribe rolled his eyes and thrust one hand into the bag on his side. After a bit of digging, he pulled out a small metal cube. Handing it to Jabrax, he began repeating a heavily rehearsed explanation. "This artifact will record the deaths of any beasts born of this dungeon, and will be used to determine achievements after the wave. The artifact itself has little value, so don't bother trying to sell it. If you lose your recorder, a replacement can be issued but you will not regain any lost achievements."

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With a sigh, the scribe slipped out of his robotic monotone into a more natural and lifelike way of speaking. "Now, do you have any questions or-hurngh!" The scribes eyes shot open wide and he bit his tongue, eyes focusing behind the pair.

Waving his arm franticly towards the dungeon entrance, he kept his gaze locked firmly behind them. "Just go, go! Get on into the dungeon already."

Mud complied immediately, and headed towards the interior of the massive fortification with Jabrax. As the pair advanced, the scribe fell to one knee in a deep bow. "Your Majesty! It is an honor!"

"You may rise. Let's handle the paperwork quickly so we can get to hunting." Replacing them in line was First Prince Cain and his entourage. Curiously, the only person missing from their group was the black armored knight.

The inside of the fort was a single, straight hall roughly three units wide. Near the entrance to the building were several doors that allowed access to the rest of the fort, but beyond the initial four doors the remaining hall was straight and empty. Empty, that is, aside from the sparse traffic of delvers and soldiers making the early morning trek towards the dungeon. After walking for what felt like half a city block, the hall finally opened into a wider chamber.

There, in the center of the large room, stood a jagged circle of rock, opening into a deep pit in the ground. In stark contrast to the natural and disordered shape of the cave's entrance and walls, smooth and well-constructed stone stairs descended in a slow spiral into the depths. Here too a unit of ten soldiers stood at attention, ready to slay anything that appeared from that black tunnel.

Blackish green slime covered the floor and walls here, and even some parts of the soldier's armor and weapons.

Examining the nearby soldiers, Jabrax mused. "They've already been coming outside in decent numbers. Looks like you've been busy."

One of the soldiers, a confident-looking man with a spear replied. "If you wait around for a few minutes you can see for yourself. It's been like this for days."

Jabrax smiled and shook her head. "Don't worry, the Delver's are here to save you from having to work. Once we kill all the monster you can go back to getting drunk at taverns like you soldiers usually do."

The soldier clapped, letting out a loud metallic sound as his gauntlets struck. "Lovely! I can't wait. Although you look more like you'll just become food for them and give us more to fight."

Before she could return a jab, Jabrax was interrupted by a screeching, skittering noise from the stairs. Reacting immediately to the noise, the soldiers readied their weapons. "Oh, bollocks. I just cleaned the slime from the last one off my spear, too. Ready up, men. You delvers, just stand to the side and don't get in our way."

Mud understood that it shouldn't interfere needlessly with a coordinated team. A lesson it had been taught by the bearded human in the woods a few days ago. Moving to the side with Jabrax, the two waited to watch the action.

The skittering and screeching grew louder rapidly, and moments later a large chitinous form lept over the jagged edge of the tunnel.

The main body was wet and flexible, resembling a slug or caterpillar. From its underside sprouted two rows of stubby, pointed legs. In front of its legs its body bent sharply upward, rising as tall as an adult human. On its front swung six short arms, each with wicked claws. Sharp mandibles on its face chittered in rage.

As soon as the creature crested the tunnels lip the soldiers were upon it. In a coordinated strike, the beast was skewered from eight directions at once while its arms were pinned by two other soldiers. With one final violent spasm, the monster perished.

Pulling out his spear, now soaked with greenish blood, the soldier scowled. Turning towards the delvers he had pushed to the side, he motioned towards the stairs. "Hurry along before more of the blasted things show up. Damned insects, I can't even enjoy some banter these days."

As the soldiers hauled the corpse away, Mud and Jabrax descended into the depths below.