- 104 -

The mushroom forest loomed over Drew and his friends as they rushed through the cavern. They moved silently, not through any particular proficiency they had, but because of the spongy mycelium that covered the floor of the entire area. The wide caps of the mushrooms blocked out nearly all of the light from the glowing stones on the ceiling.

It’s just in my head, but these mushrooms feel dangerous. Are they watching us?

“Why did we come this way?” William asked and started to wheeze.

“Keep moving!” Vaylari said.

Drew flew ahead and ranged to the sides, he saw no signs of any goblins.

That’s a good sign right? Maybe they don’t patrol the whole dungeon.

“We need to stop and catch our breath.” Pegg said. “William is getting tired.”

Vaylari slowed to a walk and assessed the group.

“Let’s rest.” She said. “Or we will be too tired when the goblins ambush us again.”

The group collapsed on the ground. Except for William, he sat on his crate. Drew flew down and landed beside him.

Hemut stood up and walked over to the nearest mushroom. He eyed it, leaning back to stare up at the top.

“They are bigger than you.” Pegg chuckled.

Hemut tried to wrap his arms around the mushroom but his hands would not touch on the other side. He grunted.

“The trunks are so big you can’t grab around the back huh?”

“Mushrooms have stems.” Vaylari corrected, then took a swig from a water skin she carried.

Pegg glared at her and she smiled back smugly. She offered him the skin and he accepted, catching it when she tossed it over.

“I did not see any signs of goblins around here.” Drew said.

“That’s not good news.” Vaylari said. “Those bastards would forage anywhere unless something stopped them. And what ever is around here scaring away the goblins is something that we should watch out for.”

“Agreed.” William said. “I’m ready to move if you all are.”

“Why are you carting around that crate anyways?” Pegg demanded. “I saw you risk your life to protect it.”

“It’s-“ Drew started.

“It’s nothing.” William said at the same time.

“It’s not nothing. And you are putting us all at risk bringing it along.” Pegg growled and pointed his finger at the blacksmith.

“Don’t worry about it. I can carry it on my own.” William said.

“But we’ve got to stick together. Is that crate worth more than my life if I die protecting you?” Pegg yelled.

“Keep it down idiot!” Vaylari said. “Let’s get going.”

-

"There! The edge of the mushroom forest." Vaylari said.

Drew flew on ahead into the light of the glowing crystals to scope the area out. He made sure to fly out over the edge and checked the lower layer for an ambush.

No sign of Goblins still.

“Watch out!” William yelled.

Pegg slipped into a hole up to his hip. Hemut caught him by the wrists and held him fast. The mycelium covering the hole had broken like wet paper, but it was now constricting and gripping Pegg’s legs like a toy finger trap.

The forest of mushrooms around them began to lean and sway.

“Pull me out!” Pegg cried.

“Pull him out!” William cried.

Drew circled around the group.

“Be careful! There’s pitfalls everywhere!” Drew said.

William held his crate closely, eying the ground around himself suspiciously.

“I hate this dungeon!” Pegg cried. “Something is touching me!”

Hemut gripped Pegg by his biceps and tugged but the trap only held him tighter.

“Hold on Pegg!” Vaylari said and sliced through the mycelium with her daggers.

Pegg was released so suddenly that Hemut lost his grip and hurled him towards the edge of the mushroom forest.

Pegg slid to a stop just shy of another hidden pit trap.

Those pit traps are everywhere.

The whole area near the edge of the mushroom forest was pock marked with trap holes. Now that Drew was looking from above, he could spot them easily.

“I see a clear path, this way!” Drew said and flew forwards to lead them out.

-

They regrouped after they cleared the edge of the mushroom forest. Their mad dash through the forest had taken a roundabout course due to all the hidden pitfalls. William dropped his crate once and Hemut nearly fell into another pit due to his cumbersome size. But with Drew to guide them from above, the group made it out without anyone else falling in.

As the pedestrian members of the group caught their breath Drew flew in a lazy circle. He kept his eyes on the ceiling of the cavern, looking for giant bats.

There are all sorts of nooks and crannies up there between those glowing crystal clusters. There could be a whole flock of those monsters up there and they would be invisible until they dropped down on us. Maybe this is their hunting ground and the goblins stay away?

“Stop scratching it!” Vaylari said.

“But it itches!” Pegg cried.

The man had shed his greaves and hiked up his pants to expose his calves. They were blotchy and red with raised bumps.

“It looks bad and scratching is making it worse!” Vaylari said.

“Drew can heal that.” William said, earning him a scowl from Pegg.

“I don’t need any healing! I’ve got an enchanted water skin, it always pours crisp cold water. I’ll just wash this all off.” Pegg said confidently. “Easy as that.”

William gave the man a polite nod and went back to checking his crate for damage. It had cracked a little when they landed in the dungeon. The crack had gotten worse now that he had dropped it a second time.

“Drew? Would you like to mend the crate again?” William asked.

“Happy to.” Drew flew down and landed on the crate.

Maybe my Mend skill will finally level?

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Drew looked the crate over and checked his inventory.

I haven’t got my mending kit with me. I’ll need tools if I want to do a better job of this.

He activated his Mend skill and drained nearly half of his mana.

MP: 68%

Darn no level up.

“There you go, nearly good as new.” Drew said. “I don’t know how many more beatings this crate can take. I bet we can build a new crate once we make it to that fort.”

“Good idea.” William said.

Vaylari smacked Pegg across the back of his head.

“Just ask him already!” She hissed. “You have made things much worse.”

Pegg’s rash had spread dramatically. Little pustules were starting to form across the red raised area.

That really looks like it hurts. You’d be in the hospital for a week back on Earth. If it is a debuff then I can remove it.

"Is there a debuff? What is it called? And does it have a timer?" Drew asked.

Pegg mumbled something under his breath and Hemut smacked him.

"Says Devouring Fungus... and its not got any timer on it." He grumbled. "I'm sure it will go away on its own."

“It would be best if I take a look.” Drew said.

"Agreed," Vaylari said and grasped Pegg's arm to hold him in place. “Say thank you, you idiot."

Drew flew over and landed on Pegg's shoulder. His claws dug in a little deeper than necessary causing the whiney man to flinch.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus. (0/28)

"He's not dying," William asked. "is he?"

A makeshift spear shrieked through the air and missed Hemut by a few inches. A dozen goblins charged their group from behind some boulders. The feral monsters stayed well away from the edge of the mushroom forest.

"Quickly! Over the side of the cliff to the next layer down." Vaylari shouted. "We do not want to be caught out in the open up here!”

"We need to find a place to hide. Pegg needs this debuff removed as soon as possible or it will get much worse." Drew said.

Another spear hit nearby and William scrambled to pick up his crate.

Pegg stumbled to the edge and looked down on the layer below.

"No way we are making that jump. How aboug-" He lost the rest of the sentence in a fit of coughing.

Drew flew up to get a better view of their attackers. He used his fire wand and visualized a wall of fire on the ground.

Bbqs, campfires, forest fire, backdraft.

The charge drained out of his wand and the wall of fire burst up from the ground.

The lead goblin did not stop in time and barreled through. Its screams stoped the rest in their tracks.

“It stinks.” William said.

The feral goblin was scorched all over. Its normally greenish skin was blistered and charred a dull red.

Those are second degree burns. I could heal it. Or my water wand could cool it off.

Vaylari stepped forward and put the creature out of its misery quickly.

Combat results: Feral Goblin (lvl 15). 445 exp.

A goblin swiped its spear through the flames, it smoldered quickly and started to burn. The rest of the group cringed back and growled at the flames.

“We need to move.” She said.

“I can hold this a little while still. Is there a better way down?” Drew asked.

Hemut grunted and picked up Pegg like a princess. In one movement he had scooped up his friend and jumped over the edge.

“Wait idiot!” Pegg cried as they dropped out of sight.

Another spear flew through the wall of fire, catching fire as it passed through. Vaylari deflected it with her long curved knife and embers burst over her.

“Jump or don’t, but I’m out of here.” She said to William and ran to the edge and slid off feet first.

MP: 68%

“You are next William. I’ll cover you and fly down.” Drew said. He kept his eyes on the goblins.

“I need a minute to get out some rope. I should lower down the crate first.” William was rummaging in a small leather satchel on his hip.

A couple goblins tried to run to the right and get around the wall of fire.

Drew used another charge of his fire wand to widen the wall of fire. He brought it to a full arc, starting at the cliff edge on his left, out around between them and the goblins, and then back to the edge about 20 meters from where it started.

MP: 34%

“I’m almost out of mana. There’s not enough time.” Drew said. “Push it over the edge, I’ll repair the damage and we can run.”

Will grimaced. He looked at the goblins testing the wall of fire. Reluctantly he shouldered the crate and pushed it over the edge.

It tumbled end over end, sliding down the nearly sheer drop. It landed with a crunch and practically cracked in half. Pieces of William's glistening armor peaked out, twinkling in the firelight.

Pegg hollered something Drew could not hear as Hemut and Vaylari urged him forwards. There was a ramp leading back up to the top level, it was easily a mile away.

"How far is this drop?" William asked. "I am not certain if I can survive the fall."

"I'll fly you down." Drew said. "I should be able to slow your fall enough."

Drew popped a bottle of red liquid out of his gathering ring into William's arms.

"Take this healing potion." Drew said.

MP: 25%

Drew dropped his channeled spell before his mana got too low. The wall of fire immediately started to shrink.

"I have enough mana to heal you the rest if the way if you get that beat up." Drew said.

"That will have to work." William said.

Drew grabbed William’s hand in both of his claws and they jumped over the edge. Drew flapped as hard as he could struggling against gravity with each flap of his wings.

Stamina: 75%

“Are we falling too fast?” William asked.

“I think so.” Drew groaned.

Stamina: 55%

Just a few more seconds and we will land. Maybe I could use a wind spell to slow our fall? Or a gust of wind to make a cushion of air to land on? Or the stone and water wands to make a pit of mud!

Stamina: 28%

The ground rushed up to them and Drew had time for one more pump of his wings before they hit the dirt. He gave it his all. William let go at the last second and tried to make a running landing.

Stamina: 8%

Drew pulled up before he hit the ground. He had a good view of both of William’s legs breaking as he hit the ground.

“Pick him up!” Vaylari shouted and Hemut ran to scoop up William in his other arm. “Damn crafters think they can be heroes of legend.”

Drew starting meditating to restore his Mana. He looked up as the first goblins reached the edge above them.

They must have followed us before the fire died out, some of them are smoldering.

The feral creatures had enough sense to not try the jump. They snarled and yelled at the smell of blood and William’s cries of pain.

“Set him down I can heal him.” Drew said.

“Are you going to heal him and mend the crate?” Pegg groaned. “What about me? I need healing too.”

Two critical patients, which one is in more dire need?

“There’s a mine shaft here.” Vaylari called. “We can hole up in here and you can heal them both.”

Pegg hobbled over to the mineshaft and laid down just inside. Each step pained him and he was flushed and sweating.

Hemut carried William over to the mineshaft and placed him beside Pegg.

“No touchie.” He said to the two men before turning around to grab the crate.

Drew flew over and grasped Pegg’s arm.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus. (0/37)

Not good. It’s increased alot in such a short amount of time.

He released Pegg and hopped over to William. To his credit the blacksmith was conscious and gritting his teeth against the pain.

“Drink the health potion.” Drew said. “You are going to need it.”

Drew downed a mana potion himself. Grimacing when he maxed out his mana.

MP: 100%

Debuff: Broken Bone (Leg) (0/1)

Debuff: Broken Bone (Leg) (0/2)

Debuff: Bleeding (0:35)

“The potion should take care of your bleeding debuff.” Drew said.

William nodded but could not speak through the pain.

“I will need to heal Pegg first, he’s worse off.” Drew told him. “Do you think you can hold on for a little while?”

“Yes. Help him.”

Drew hopped over to Pegg and activated both of his healing abilities.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus (1/38)

MP: 98%

“Hemut!” Vaylari yelled.

Hemut was returning with William’s crate when a spear hit him in the shoulder. He stumbled but kept his feet. Vaylari stepped out of the mineshaft to lend him a hand when the first goblin splattered to the ground to Hemut’s left.

Combat results: Feral Goblin (lvl 11). 45 exp.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus (15/38)

MP: 60%

I can’t tell if his health is going up. I’m going to need another mana potion for this. If I don’t remove it all it could continue to spread.

“Keep moving!” She cried and drew a small crossbow from her pack. She stepped out to fire up at the goblins above and watched in amazement as a larger goblin threw another of it’s fellows over the edge.

She shot the large goblin in the chest but he pulled the small bolt out and grinned at her.

The second goblin landed on Hemut’s back it clawed and bit him with abandon. Hemut dropped the crate to wrestle with the feral creature.

“I’m halfway done healing Pegg. Can you hold them off without me?” Drew called to Vaylari.

“I’ve got this covered, just get Pegg back on his feet.”

“Pegg, can you hear me?” Drew asked. He shook the man to wake him but he did not stir.

“Give him a health potion.” William suggested.

“There’s a chance it won’t work. He’s still flushed and sweating. The fungus could be capping his HP. A health potion would just be a waste right now.”

Combat results: Feral Goblin (lvl 12). 48 exp.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus (23/38)

MP: 52%

Hemut broke the feral goblin’s neck and tossed it aside. He made a run for the mine shaft.

Vaylari covered him and fired off two more bolts into smaller goblins.

Combat results: Feral Goblin (lvl 11). 40 exp.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus: (28/38)

MP: 44%

“He left the crate!” William cried. He tried to get up but regretted it immediately as pain shot though both of his legs.

“Don’t move! I’ve almost got Pegg cured. Then you are next.” Drew said.

“Incoming!” Vaylari cried.

Hemut charged into the mineshaft as gravel and stones rained down on the entrance.

“Took you long enough.” Vaylari chuckled.

She smacked Hemut on the back. He pulled the spear out of his shoulder and slapped a bandage on it before turning to face the entrance of the mineshaft.

Debuff: Devouring Fungus (34/38)

MP: 10%

Drew popped a mana potion and downed it. His mana pool filled to 78%.

No wasted potion this time.

“What’s happening out there?” William asked.

“The goblins are scaling down after us.” Vaylari said.

She peeked out of the mineshaft but had to duck back in quickly to avoid a spear and some rocks that were thrown at her.

“Seven of them.” She said. “And there are more arriving above us.”

“I had the strangest dream… There were goblins, a mushroom forest, and there was this talking Gallows Bird. I thought I was going to die. And you were there,” Pegg said pointing at William groggily. “And you were there too Hemut.”

Debuff Removed: Devouring Fungus 1365 exp

“Alright he’s healed.” Drew said. “Vaylari if you have any bandages or a healing potion he will need them.”

“It’s real! A talking Skurr!” Pegg mumbled in a panic.

“He might need a slap to the face too, he seems to be out of it.” Drew said then he turned to William. “Your legs are next.”

Goblins crashed into something outside and started snarling.

“The bastards found your crate William.” Vaylari said. “They are fighting over it.”

“We have to get it back!” William cried.

Drew grabbed William and activated his Healer’s Blessing ability.

Debuff: Broken Bone (Leg) (0/1)

Debuff: Broken Bone (Leg) (0/3)

MP: 68%

“I need you to watch your health and sip on this health potion if it gets below 50%.” Drew said. He passed William a red health potion with Mage Hand.

“I’m going to set your bones. It’s going to hurt.” He said.

“It can wait.” William said anxiously. “Go get my armor! The goblins can’t have it.”

Vaylari fired bolt after bolt into the three goblins fighting over the crate. Hemut applied a bandage to Pegg’s calf and strapped his friend’s Greaves back on.

“Like shooting log fish in a bucket.” She said as a goblin died. “They can’t open that crate anyways.”

Another two goblins dropped down from above and joined the fray around the crate. One was larger than the others. It ended the fight quickly, applying its greater size and a rusty pry-bar to great advantage.

“Oh shit.” Vaylari said.