Erifis
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Lord Ricard couldn't last more than an hour without attempting to order people around, and as the sign had said when they arrived to the Island of the Dead, the Reaper appeared in front of him, wagging a finger and making odd groans.
Erifis swore it was like a parent scolding their child. Lord Ricard attempted to dismiss the Reaper and commanded it to leave him be which made it cross. Definitely the highlight of her day was when the Lord attempted to command another immediately after and was picked up bodily by the reaper, flown out to sea and dropped like a rotten piece of fruit you just found a maggot inside of after taking a bite.
Lord Ricard was furious! Erifis didn't know humans could turn such a deep shade of red but he was sopping wet yelling at the grim skull and black cloth Reaper who just put off an air of boredom. What tickled her tail though was when the Lord felt slighted enough he swung his saber through the Reaper. IT DID NOTHING, it didn't even phase the creature. Who swooped him up and unceremoniously dumped him in the ocean again.
Erifis pondered on the unnatural experience of the day. Dungeons don't typically interact with the living, and this one had such wonderful control of it's monsters that they act as guides. Being the only beastkin here, the only one that can see the faint outline of the Reapers when they're invisible to others.
The number of them, by all the Gods, there's at least one of the horrific in appearance creatures of nightmare for every three hands of people on the island. Only one is ever visible at a time it seems but there's so many. They watch and help the residents now and then, lightening a load by carrying some or helping to push a cart up the road, Erifis smiled to herself, they help us.
Earlier after the Ships reformed on the docks Lord Ricard had ordered his servants to follow. But the reaper wasn't having that. Pointing at the sign and summoning another sign with the same painful cracks of sound to land in front of the lord. It had two lines from the previous sign enlarged bigger and a warning.
No Servants
Everyone Here is Equal
They choose for themselves, Freedom from the chains you wield.
Violence begets Violence Mortal
Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.
The Reaper made that weapon they carry visible again, the purple eye of fire flaring brighter as a challenge to the Lord. Ricard didn't take it well.... He drew the sword of his family and swung on the Reaper, Erifis wished so much that the Reaper had carried out it's threat. Being abused by the Lord nightly had made her grow to hate him, but a servant of her former position had no say in the matter. Jewel would have laughed at the Lords misfortune as he found himself without a leg to stand on. An arm to swing a blade with or the blade itself anymore. No one could find the limbs to reattach them the sword however.. It was in so many pieces like it wasn't made of metal at all.
After we staunched the bleeding, the Reaper pointed at all of us then the Ships, then the island and then shrugged it's shoulders and became invisible to the humans, but it stayed and watched. Giving everyone the decision to stay or go it probably declared war on the nobility, Erifis could see that's what would likely happen. The Nobles would hear about the Dungeon that strips them of their titles and treats them like peasants, and they'll call for it's core to be destroyed. All said and done only the Lord Ricard, the Captains and crews of the Ships and a few higher-class people left. The captain assured us he'd be moving here with his family. It was, "the greatest practical joke ever" according to the captain of the Silver Sails.
The Dungeon being as odd as it is, playing jokes and acting like a parent, providing houses, food, water, livestock- this dungeon was different, and not just because it took it almost three whole years to reach acceptable levels of Masaara flow... It has personality, it was like a really nice, really strict parent. It reminded Erifis of the book she had, the Dungeoneers' Primer. It even communicates, yeah it's with signs and not words, but Erifis knew what she had to do. She would get a message out to Tomas if it was the last thing she did, and before the nobles came back to break it too. It was the only way to repay her savior.
If the Dungeon could be listed as a Wonder of the Gods, it would be protected from destruction, any who did would be hung, along with all of their family. Though Erifis wondered just how much it would take to down one of those Reaper alone. Centering herself as the thought hits her. Fear and sorrow for the sheer quantity of life that will be lost, as the future will be an ocean of blood.
Erifis wandered through the town, taking in the sights. Her keener ears picking up music, from somewhere up by the black stone church. She followed it, enchanted by the melody. She didn't realize she had run to the doors, but she had, and wasn't the only one there either.
A small crowd stood inside the church. An immaterial reaper in front of the piano playing a song. Apparently oblivious to the crowd.¹ as it finished and was about to float off the other townsfolk started clapping for the music, unaware of where it had come from.
Some argued it was an enchanted piano, but the arguing died down as the next song played,² the Reaper materializing as the song played, a haunting melody and a beautiful piece. As it ended the crowd cheered and clapped, the Reaper Guardian looking a bit embarrassed then held up a finger and began the final song of the performance.³
It was beautiful, this cemented it in the mind of Erifis, this Dungeon was definitely a Wonder of the Gods and she would prove it. Even if it cost her everything she had. The song came to an end and the Guardian bowed to the room, then sunk through the floor leaving a stunned crowd of the townsfolk cheering.