Once back in the little dungeon outpost. Trillia sought out Amelia, who was standing with a few other scouts around a map. Amelia looked up at her with a smile.

"How did it go?"

Trillia opened up her book and went over everything of importance. Leaving out the wolf-taming offer for Trillia.

"I was going ask one of the scouts here. To head back to the city and get someone capable of clearing that nest. I admit, I don't know anything about farming either. How does the city manage it?"

Mon'tag is the one who spoke up at that.

"Water mana, mostly. The dirt in the plains is shite. Always has been. But enough water and nature mana fixes that issue. I can send a few scouts who can make the trip there in three days. Write up your messages and wants in triplicate. So that I can send three scouts, just in case anything delays them. One will make it through."

Trillia nodded.

"It seems like the dungeon is very aware and very intelligent. I didn't ask a lot of questions about the core itself. Ba'Shoon warned us not to broach that until we knew the dungeon better. The goblins were relieved when I healed their raiders. After Amelia and I do a minor delve tomorrow, I can scout the surrounding area to find some healing herbs."

Another scout raised and hand and spoke up.

"I have [Herbalism] at level three. I can go with you. I've found a few light patches of things that the dungeon might be able to replicate."

"I've also found a few small caves and holes that grow vines with some hard berries on them in the stone. It grows a bit like the moss. It won't be anything excellent, but it might help the dungeon for now?" another scout added.

Trillia smiled and nodded once more. Amelia spoke up.

"Maybe we can offer to trade class information? If they had a [Minstrel] amongst them, it would help them out immensely. I've never heard of a [Red River Warrior]. Have any of you?"

Everyone went silent for a few minutes, trying to remember. Mon'tag pulled out a leather-bound book that looked worn and well-used. Flipping through a bunch of notes before he finally spoke.

"Maybe. I have a reference here to a Red River Tribe. It was a goblin tribe that I found on the central continent, a few months outside of the capital city of Kadessa. That was...damn, that was probably a hundred years ago?"

Both girls' faces twisted up in confusion. Mon'tag did not look over a hundred. The orc chuckled and shook his head.

"I got lucky with some traits. I no longer age, but my experience rate is cut down to ten percent. I've been employed with Lady Amara for...let's just say a really long time and leave it at that."

The subject was dropped. Trillia spoke up.

"What do you remember about that tribe, if anything?"

The orc scratched the stubble on his chin. "Miserable to fight. They mostly kept to themselves. Though they were constantly attacked and raided by a dwarven citadel. The Red River Tribe specialized in techniques that gave the bleeding debuff. Last I heard the dwarves were sending an army to completely crush the poor bastards. Dwarves don't have a high opinion of goblins."

"Do your notes have anything about names? Or things they would trade for, if they traded?" Trillia asked as she wrote down more notes in her book.

Mon'tag shook his head. "Afraid not. Add that to your list. If I remember, there's more than a few folks in the tribe who age slowly or don't age like me. Hell, maybe even your 'ma" his mouth snapped shut. "Sorry. Maybe Chieftain Amara remembers them. She spent a lot of time in the badlands around Kadessa. Working as a sort of unifier for the Queen."

Trillia did her best to hide her smirk. Sometimes forgetting just how much people feared and respected her mother.

"I'll do that. Thank you."

Amelia spoke up. "If no one else has anything to add, I'd like Trillia and I to get some sleep so that we can be fresh and ready for the delve tomorrow."

Everyone nodded, happy to go to sleep themselves. The girls were led to a tent that had been constructed for them while Trillia was in the dungeon. Trillia only now noticed that there were a few minotaurs mixed in with the orcs. Apparently, inner-city politics had mostly merged their people at this point. She felt that wouldn't last long. The orcs didn't care for the high walls and type of safety the minotaurs did.

The girls stayed up another hour, going over everything they needed to add to the letter home. Writing up three copies of it before each took out the seal that had been given to them. Stamping it over the rolled-up scrolls and infusing the seals with mana. Amelia stepped out for a few minutes to hand them off to a scout that had been told to wait for the letters. Trillia settled in to get some much-needed sleep. Rather proud of all the day's work.

-=- The Next Day -=-

The girls rose early. Eating breakfast with some of the scouts. Mon'tag joined them near the end of their meal.

"The scouts will be there in two days. I told them to use every skill at their disposal to get the messages there. They'll be tired as anything, but they will get there. I have no doubt that Chieftain Amara would ensure the response is also very rapid. Do you two need anything for your delve today?"

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"I'd like to bring food as a tribute. If you have some to spare." Trillia said, around a mouthful of soup.

A scout she recognized popped up from his seat and raised a finger. Returning after a few minutes with a bag full of plants, vines, and berries.

"I don't sleep much. Went out last night and grabbed some of those berries. Ask the dungeon if it would let some scouts talk to the raiders. Maybe we can exchange maps."

Trillia smiled and nodded at that. Setting down her soup before extending her hand to grab the bag of berries and tie it around her waist. Knots were a tricky affair with one hand. She'd have to learn a spell or skill to help with that at some point. Mon'tag pulled out some hard tack and a bunch of smoked meat. Trillia added that to the pouch that held her own rations.

Once breakfast was over. Both girls moved to get their armor on, check their weapons, and take care of nature. That sort of thing. Moving up to the door of the dungeon. Trillia leaned forward and, once more, banged on the door. This time it was opened almost immediately. One of the goblins that she had healed stood there. It immediately bowed deeply to her.

"Thank you. Great Trillia, for saving me."

Trillia smiled, shaking her head.

"That's what allies do. Save each other and help each other grow. Is your father ok with Amelia and I delving today? Are there any rules?"

The goblin motioned them inside. Closing the door behind them. Standing in front of them again, he cleared his throat standing as straight as a goblin could. His skin was identical to the other raider goblin. They looked as though they could be twins.

"Father welcomes you to the Halls of the Red River Tribe. Non-combatants have been marked at your suggestion."

Motioning now to a piece of orange string tied around his upper arm.

"Otherwise. We ask that you both go all out. Father can see your health totals. We will ensure we do not kill you. You do not have to give us the same mercy. All of the goblins fighting you can respawn. Many of them want to see how far they can push themselves. The great-brother showed us how weak we truly were. That is something our tribe cannot accept."

Trillia was a bit surprised at how well-spoken this goblin was. Probably why he was sent to speak with them. It also all but confirmed that they were part of that tribe back on the central continent. Amelia spoke up.

"Before we begin. I'd like to offer to teach some of you how to use the same healing magic that Trillia used. So that you can heal each other. Perhaps one of the raiders is willing to learn the class?"

The goblin's eyes went wide at that. His head snapped back, listening to the dungeon.

"Father would be most grateful. After your delve, perhaps we can sit down and discuss that."

Trillia immediately spoke up.

"We have tribute. We'd like to leave it in the bowls, step out so that your father can absorb it, then delve. Would that be ok? Would you still consider it tribute for that delve?"

The goblin clasped his hands together, tears rimming his eyes.

"Father says you have no need to tribute. You have already done so much for our people. We cannot repay such kindness."

Trillia stepped forward, untying the bag of berries and other plants and dumping them into the bowl before pulling out the smoked meat and hard tack. Amelia stepped up and pulled out the claws that Ba'Shoon had given them. As well as a bow made of horns that minotaurs often used and some arrows. Amelia was the one to speak up.

"My name is Amelia Shatterhoof. Princess of God's Watch and the Last Bastion. We offer this tribute so that our people can have a good alliance going forward. All we ask is that we not be killed. Though, I understand that accidents can happen. We also ask for one more thing." the goblin was struck dumb by everything on the tribute table. It turned tear-rimmed eyes to the minotaur that towered above it.

"Well. Two things. One, we want your defenders to go all out. Spare nothing. Don't kill us, but show us the truth of battle. We cannot learn if we are never taught. Secondly. A personal request. Perhaps your great Father would be so kind as to make the ceilings higher?" the last request came out almost bashfully.

The goblin looked up to see her horns scrapped on the ceiling in a couple of places. Once more, its head snapped further up. As it nodded more and more, a wide smile on its face. It looked to them both. Bowing at his waist.

"Most honored guests. Father asks if you can return in an hour instead of immediately. So that he can make some changes."

Both girls looked at each other, shrugged, and nodded. As they left and the door closed behind them. Trillia smiled wide.

"I think the goblins are happy. I doubt the dungeon wanted to worry them, but I think they could all tell that it wasn't doing well."

"I agree. I think the dungeon itself was worried that its people were going to die." Amelia was quiet as she spoke, as if deep in thought. "I think... I think this dungeon core is a member of the Red River Tribe. I think it was wiped out. Maybe it was worried history was going to repeat itself. I don't know. I just... I feel like it needs to be protected. I can appreciate that there will always be war and conflict. But completely eliminating something? That feels wrong."

Trillia nodded solemnly at that. "I agree. Plus, they are super kind. I didn't say anything in front of the scouts because I didn't want to scare anyone. But one of the goblin riders has [Null Mana Manipulation]. They also said they'd teach me how to tame a wolf mount of my own! I don't want them to die."

The two sat in silence outside the dungeon entrance. They could feel the heavy shifts in mana happening around them. They could tell the dungeon was hard at work.

"Amelia. Would you be angry if I left the city?"

Amelia stared at her in shock. The look slowly faded to one of thought, finally resignation.

"You hate the walls, don't you?"

Trillia smiled, scooting over next to her friend and giving her hand a squeeze.

"Ever since I came out of that pod. I've been left with a feeling deep within that tells me to leave the city and seek things out. Dealing with this dungeon is the best I've felt. Maybe in my entire life. I... I've never felt like I belonged anywhere. Even more so now that the city is so..." Trillia didn't want to hurt her friend's feelings. She wasn't sure how to phrase it.

Amelia offered a weak smile, patting Trillia on the head.

"Now that the city is so tall and intimidating? I get it, Trillia. I really do. Minotaurs feel safe with high walls all around them. Because we can feel everything within those walls. Orcs are meant to see the open sky and roam. Right now, we're all forced to work together because of how bad the monsters have gotten. I wouldn't be angry if you left. I'd be sad to see my friend go. I'd be worried sick about you every second that you're away."

Trillia leaned against her large friend.

"Let's make a promise. I won't take [Minstrel] until I'm next to you. So that we can enter another mentor agreement. This way, we can always know that the other is alive and well. I want to explore the world. I want to get strong. One day, I want to be able to march to God's Watch with you, Mom, Dad, and Uncle Cordaos and smash all the enemies out of the city. So that you can have your real home back. I promise I won't let you down."

Amelia had tears in her eyes, she hugged Trillia tight against her chest. Sniffling. After a few moments, the minotaur let her go.

"I'll hold you to that, Trillia Demonsbane. While you explore the world. I'll do everything I can to make the Shattered Plains safe again so that when you do decide to return, you can roam the plains to your heart's content without worry for your people."

Trillia smiled at that. Holding up her good hand. "Thank you. Don't let our parents know yet. I know Mom will freak out, and I need a plan to leave before that."

Amelia shook her hand. Not long after, the door opened. The goblin's voice called out to them.

"Our Father is ready!"

Both girls gave each other a grin before standing to move down into their first dungeon delve. Excitement flooding them.