October 27th, 2023

Alastar

Alastar made his way into the once familiar tunnel. It was weird, the lightning flickering made it eerie even though nothing had actually changed as far as he could tell. It wasn’t a huge change over all, just small changes like the flickering lights. As he walked he tried to ignore the other changes that had happened since he was last here, the stains that seemed to seep into the concrete of the walls. He wasn’t certain what could possibly be happening, but he was sure it wouldn’t be good if he got caught up in it.

Finally, when he reached the gate that he had hoped would protect him from monsters and beasts, he took the key out and opened it. He had in fact protected the museum, only for it to start to seemingly self-destruct as its own exhibits began to fight itself, eachother, or him. He hoped that he could preserve something by making this decision, even if it was a hard decision ot make. He was, after all, strengthening something that had tried to kill him. Something that would likely try to kill others as time went on. He’d read books where subway tunnels became dungeons, they were scary to say the least.

When he made it to the station he half expected some kind of demonic subway car. They were there after all, something was being formed in the dangers of the undercity. Instead, however, he was met by a vast empty nothing. The station was empty, he supposed maybe he could throw the gemstone down but he was scared that it wouldn’t find it’s use.

“Listen, if I’m going to be giving away parts of the collection, it had better become useful!” He said into the darkness and air. “So, subway guardian, I have come to bargain!” He tried to project an aura of bravado. Admittedly, his small frame had trouble doing so as he stood there and stared into the darkness. It didn’t help that his emotions were amplified and projected by his new features.

Vajra’s fox ears drooped onto Alastar’s head, projecting his fear and caution for all to see. The fox’s tail did the same, curling up under him and projecting an aura of submission. He couldn’t help but wonder if Vajra was fucking with him. After all, the fox creature was some kind of spirit, and if it was doing this there had to be a reason.

I’m not controlling them anymore you silly creature. Vajra projected into his mind. I am merged with you, and those features are yours for now. Don’t try to put all the blame on me for your emotions.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I forgot you could hear my thoughts. This is a very stressful situation.”

I know… but be cautious. It comes.

The sound was alien, something Alastar had never heard. It wasn’t the big monstrous steps he’d half expected, something out of a kaiju film, and instead he was left hearing a skittering. A skittering that grew and grew, creating an almost mind destroying effect as he heard thousands of little feet scratch against the ground. He wasn’t sure what to expect, but his mind raced trying to come up with something. “Is it coming with an army?” He asked Vajra.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

“No.” A voice came from the subway tunnel. “We come alone.” The voice came from the figure as the shadow of the tunnel seemed to extend as a pitch black massive rat thing moved from the tunnel. As it approached, Alastar realized it wasn’t actually a rat, it was thousands of regular sized rats, all moving in a swarm. Or perhaps, as the time might permit, some form of eldritch creature. The creature was massive, seemingly had eyes made out of some form of black shiny orb, and wore a golden crown.

“I see. You are…” Alastar racked his brain, knowing he’d seen this before. It was the crown that finally pushed it over the edge. “The rat king?” Alastar asked.

“Yes, we are the rat king. We are one of the leaders of the subway, we have come to parlay.” The king said, his voice was like a thousand smaller voices at once but had an odd resonance, a booming timbre that couldn’t be made by the tiny rat bodies. “Do you hold the key to our salvation?”

Alastar held out the subway garnet, showing how it was roughly cut and opaque, but had a large and impressive heft. “I have come to deal with the issues that are faced by our city.” He said, trying his best to hold himself with confidence in the face of what was clearly some kind of boss monster. “This gemstone, I believe, will be key to protecting your home from collapsing. It will function to save you.”

“Correct. I can taste it from here.” The creature said, nodding it’s massive facsimile of a head. “I will gain in power for doing this, over the other lords of the subway. I must have this to save my home, my people, and for political strength.”

“Right, well, I believe in that case we can discuss a bargain. I want only three things.” Alastar said, trying not to show how easily he knew the monster could take his bargaining chip from him along with his life. “First, your people are not to encroach upon the surface. You shall stay in the subway lines themselves, and whatever area your dungeon takes.”

“Easily done. We are monsters, not beasts, we instinctively do such. Unless someone such as I, my fellow lords, or a dungeon master forces us we would never leave our entrances.” The creature said in agreement.

“Second, you will not make the challenge unfair. You will designate areas of low danger where your weaker minions will be, and allow stronger opponents to face stronger minions. Not moving yourself to kill any random kid that falls in.”

“This is harder, but I believe I can convince my comrades to do the same. We will formalize our danger, though it will be on you surfacers to discover when things are safe.”

“Finally, you will allow me safe passage through the subway dungeon. Not attack me as I move through, as long as I don’t bother your minions.”

“That is a problem. I can promise my own compliance, and my minions as well, but the other subway lords… I can not. Even if I gain power, their minions will not be mine. I will simply be the highest in strength.” It said before it thought for a minute. “My territory reaches from here to Times Square, as well as all the way north along the blue line. I can guarantee protection along there. The red line is also mostly mine, stopping at the port authority.”

“Fine, I will have to make deals with your contemporaries as well.” He tossed the gemstone to the rat king. “Deal made.”