In the tent Shewa saw once again something hard to understand. It was normal for a girl to want to change dress in a private location. Well it was a little hard to do on a journey, but the men serving under commander were well behaved. Dungeon masters don’t need to change clothes like regular people. They want a new shirt, dress, shoes, whatever, and their old clothes change immediately. But this dungeon mistress was doing it like any mortal. She took off her light yellow dress, and she started dressing in a new one.
-can i have a question? - Shewa asked while helping Naomi to fit it.
-sure.
-why don't you wave your hands and make one dress appear and another disappear, like all dungeon masters do?
Naomi's eyes widened with horror.
-but that’s bad. It's horrible. You can’t just destroy someone's hard work.
-but you can recreate it perfectly. Doesn't it?
-only on the surface, and no one can recreate someone's passion, hopes. See that yellow dress. Goddess gave me it on our first meeting, it means so much that i can’t properly express my feelings. How can i destroy that kind of gift - Sheva hearing that almost had a heart attack. Real holy artifact.
-I understood. Thank you for your wise words - priestess stammered.
-everything's all right? - Naomi asked, a little worried by her change of attitude.
-yes. And i think we are ready. It really fits you well.
-yes. It's not too tight either.
-that’s good too. That's one reason why I prefer robes. That and straps on your back. Can you reach them?
-barely - Naomi try - oh well. I will try some magic, or ask one of the spiders from my core floor.
-I guess that they are quite big spiders? Are you not afraid of them?
-well if I am in your position I will not only be scared but probably will be running screaming. But as you probably know, my creatchurs can’t harm me - priestess nod - so i was curious how touching them feels and it turns out that they love scratches and being petted.
Sheva looks at her for the moment and starts laughing.
-sorry mistress, i just can’t stop. It's too funny.
-I know how absurd it looks - naomi also laughs with her.
-uff. I haven't laughed like that for a long time. Are you ready? Can we come back?
-yes - Naomi nod.
-you look wonderful - Venancijs greeted them when they entered the tent.
-thank, you sir. For your kind words, and for your gift - Naomi thanked him sincerely.
-we heard some commotion, can you say what's happened? - asked commander.
-well it’s because I asked the mistress if she has someone to help untie the straps of the dress.
-and I said yes. Giant spiders from my final floor. And how my curiosity led me to discover that they love pets and scratches.
-can you imagine something like that? - asked the priestess with a wide grin on her face.
-I prefer not - answered commander.
-I have a small question - grand Merchant asked.
-yes?
-You see mistress, as you probably know, there are merchants who like gold a little too much, and don't like to spend. Because of that in the future you can meet some of them trying to take advantage of you.
-unlikely - Naomi disagrees - I have no idea what you need to successfully cross the desert, however an experienced guide is obvious. Ask the commander how many of them agree on something like that.
-Mistress is right. Not one will agree to venturing into the desert without enough supplies.
-and second important thing is that desert is dangerous and there is always a chance of losing all supplies in a storm for example. Anyone in need can seek shelter and help here.
-and about danger. In your absence we came to the conclusion that we should do a quick look on the first floor. Of course if we allowed Mistress.
-of course you can delve there. But please don’t venture to the second floor. I do it as deadly as I can, and giant spiders are not the deadliest thing down there.
-we won't. We are not allowed to do that. Only the official adventurer guild exploration team can do that. We plan only to see two or three first rooms, nothing more. And we are doing it because of your remote location. The Guild will want something more just simple ‘’we found a new dungeon ‘’- explained the commander.
-ok. Good to know. But please be careful down there. I won't kill somebody.
-excuse me my mistress, but dungeons are places where a lot of people die - said Venancijs.
-I don't know about other dungeons, but my job is to teach people not to kill them. Yes there will be accidents, I can’t prevent that. However every time someone will die it means that I failed.
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-I understood Mistress. I'm sorry for disturbing you - answered grand merchant.
-it’s ok. I choose my role as dungeon mistress fully aware that people will be dying because of my creations. Anyway, I think I will go now. I need rest before your delving. Good night.
-good night - said commander and grand merchant.
-I will take you to the camp border. I will be right back - priestess said and goes with Naomi.
Venancijs spoke as Sheva returned to the tent a moment later.
-Priestess? Have I offended Mistress in some way?
-I don't think so. She is just very purehearted, and very similar to The Lady. Just like her, she doesn't like unnecessary bloodshed. Oh, I remember two more things that you should know.
-What is’t Priestess? - asked commander.
-first, don’t ask her to immortalize anything you own unless you made that personally - it was something that some successful crafters do. When they create something especially good, they seek the nearest dungeon, and offer it to the dungeon master. And he turns it to loot or the chosen weapon of one of the champions.
-why?
-because immortalizing something means destroying the original, and all efforts, and fillings that someone put into it will be erased too. and she hates that.
-I will inform the guild as soon as we get back - the great merchant nodded. This information can buy some good will from the Dungeon Mistress.
-and second one? - asked Lucius.
Priestess gave them signs to get closer to her. WWhen they were very close to each other, Shewa whispered.
-that yellow dress is a holy artifact, given to her by The Lady personally.
Commander who was sipping water almost choked, and the Grand mechant turned really pale.
-I need some fresh and cold air - commander said after he stopped coughing.
-and i need a bucket of cold water, maybe then i will calm down enough to sleep.
At dawn people slowly woke up from their sleep. Even if today they mostly will be resting it was normal to be ready early. There was always a lot of work, like feeding the camels. At least there was no manure to clean up, the dungeon took care of that.
-Thuldir, did you eat breakfast? - commander asked dwarf warrior.
-ay commander.
-I have two tasks for you for today. The first one is to help me move some lifting mechanism in the tower. I think I see similar things in one city used to load things to barges.
-Well commander, I’ll try to help. I am walking the warrior path, but as a kid I learn and see few things.
-I'm counting on that. The second thing is fast delving on the first floor. Yes i remember what i said yesterday, but as Grand Merchant pointed out Adventurers Guild likely will want to hear something more than just there is new dungeon.
-ay commander. That could happen. But why me?
-You are a shield warrior, and on the first floor is the shrine of The Smith.
-ah true. I should pay respect to my ancestors.
-I will pick three more for us. We will be delving after dinner. For now let's grab a few people and take a look at this thing in the tower.
-ach. you are right commander, it looks just like those in ports - Thuldir agrees when they reach lift near stairs - lets see what we get here - he said and started looking at everything.
-two of you step inside this wheel and start walking slowly in direction to the oasis - they start walking, and the platform slowly rises up. as she moved, he saw some rope being pulled by the lift. This line goes through two wheels. One of them had a lot of short wings with a place where a rope would go through and turn it around. A little higher and a little to the side was another one with numbers from zero to four and only five wings. The line was only on one side of this wheel, groove also was bigger and the line don't touch it and didn't move it. When the platform almost reached the ceiling Thuldir saw a metal ball on the line. When ball reach wheel with numbers ball struck one of its wing and move it by ⅕ and top number change from zero to one.
-commander, how high are higher floors?
-something about 3 yards. Hard to say.
-ay. Dungeon masters like to use some rare or forgotten measurements units - he agrees. A moment later the second ball passes through the wheels and the number changes to two - ha, ha it really works. Boys, start walking in the opposite direction.
When the platform landed the dwarven warrior turned to the commander and said.
-I can see why my god ancestor choos her. With few simple things she made this lifting platform so much better. So from the beginning. I won't talk about the wheel because it's obvious how to use it. What is important is three things. Before moving the platform you need to check if there is anything loose on it and if the gate is locked. Well, we are in a dungeon and those wooden beams should keep the platform in place, but better safe than sorry.
-truth - commander agrees.
-and now the best parts. In mines, especially dwarven, there are bells, sometimes glowing magical stones to send signals between floors, or through long corridors. Simple and reliable system but each mine usually has their own set of signals. This is much better. The dwarves will be storming this place to see this. And it’s so simple. Anyway. This thing with numbers from zero to four shows on which floor right now is the platform. You can even see where the next metal ball is to know how high the platform is in between floors. But this thing - he pointed on a wheel with words and crank - is so much better than bells. Similar things should be on every floor. When you move a crank on one floor it moves exactly the same on every other. And those words are simple commands: stop, up, down. I guess there should be some kind agreement that crank shall be moved only by someone on the floor where platform actually is. Something like that exists in mines.
-good - commander nod relieved that using the platform is very easy - now i need a few more people to show them how it works, and we can start preparing for the rest of our journey. moving necessary supplies will be easy.
-ay commander.
After lunch and some brief preparations, fourteen people, chosen mainly by the commander, went to the southern tower, where the entrance to the dungeons was located. There was Thuldir, Priestess Shewa, Grand Merchant Venancijs and some random adventurers, who right now don’t have anything better to do and can be useful after delving.
A very nervous Dungeon Mistress was waiting for them there. Lucius thanked the gods that she wasn’t wearing a yellow dress. Instead she had simple boots, trousers and a simple shirt with short sleeves to the middle of the arm.
-hello Mistress - Shewa smiled at her - I hope you didn't wait too long for us?
-I don't mind waiting. It means that you are making more preparation - answered Naomi.
-don’t worry. They know what they are doing - Priestess tries to calm her down.
-but they don't know what's down there. And i can't tell them that.
-and because of that we will go check at best three rooms. We will do that very slowly and at first sign something really dangerous we go back - explained the commander. Naomi nod still nervous - listen everyone. I'll lead a small group down to see what's down there. There won't be a second try no matter what. It's the job of the exploration team. Our job is to protect caravan. I'm doing it only because the guild loves reports and you all know how they hate it when someone comes and says there is a monster - all adventurers start grinning and laughing - good. With me goes Thuldir as the main shield bearer. Rafin you are good with shields too. Hemben ready? you as mage will be needed -both nodded - and Methild as scout.
-what about me? You need a heeler down there - asked Shewa.
-Priestess you are the main heeler for the caravan, and this is an unnecessary risk. If something will happen paladins will have lots of questions.
-oh, you know them. They are very overprotective sometimes - the Priestess joked.
-and they are very busy, and I don't want to give them extra work when it can be easily avoided. However, please wait for us. Hopefully nothing serious happens but be ready.
-yes commander - Shewa nodded with a serious face.