Tarwantrad sat at a large table, carved directly from the trunk of a formerly massive tree. The table was left where the tree once grew, surrounded by a small grove of trees barely taller than her that itself grew in a clearing between the giant fellows of the trunk table. The top of the table was covered in swirling, curved letters, the original terms of the Calwaskon Compact carved directly into its surface and occasionally glowing with a soft, green light.
The rest of her surroundings could be described as anything but soft.
All around her, men and women of many different shapes and sizes argued and shouted over one another. Tarwantrad had been brought before the signatories of the Compact and relayed what had occurred. The representatives had already been in an uproar over the opening of a nexus door by the time she reported on Belissar himself. Once it was revealed that a human reigned on the other side of the door, all hell broke loose.
Forgemaster Ughlarer, the short and broad representative of the black elves, scowled as he crossed his arms.
“Close the door immediately. There’s no dealing with those reckless fools. They must not be allowed to find us.”
Henilett, the pixie representative standing on the table itself due to her small size, narrowed her eyes with a predatory grin.
“There’s no need to be so frightened, Ughlarer. That very recklessness makes them all too easy to…persuade. I’m sure we could come to an arrangement that is beneficial for the Compact.”
Deludelig, the pale representative of the dusk elves, barely revealed her eyes between the black hair hanging over her face as she spoke in a raspy voice.
“Or we could just kill him.”
Tarwantrad clenched her fists. Belissar had been nothing but friendly to her, and the Compact’s first reaction was to deceive him? Or kill him, after Tarwantrad convinced him to assist them? She had apparently underestimated just how poorly the elders of the Compact thought of humans.
She had held her tongue till now, seeing as she was surrounded by those who had centuries of experience and wisdom on her. But if this was how they were going to react…she would not stand for it. She prepared to rise to her feet and join the shouting.
Only for a quiet, yet firm voice to somehow cut through all the noise.
“Are you done?”
All voices went silent and all eyes turned to Wardmaster Varilold.
“Yes, the humans survived the Hunger, somehow, because of course they did. And yes, humans apparently have access to dungeons as well as us, which they are no doubt using for stupid and dangerous ends. Yes, it is all very shocking and concerning. But we at this table are not children, so now that you have all had the chance to vent your fear, let’s get to business. You all know as well as I that humans are not known for their patience. Dungeon Master Tarwantrad has bought us some time, but we had best decide on a more formal arrangement before the other dungeon master grows suspicious of our intent.”
Forgemaster Ughlarer’s scowl grew.
“Wardmaster, surely you are not suggesting we deal with a human, much less leave the door to the Compact wide open to them?”
The wardmaster turned and met the glare of the forgemaster without hesitation.
“No, forgemaster, I am not suggesting. I am informing. And if the signatories cannot gather themselves from blind panic, then I shall command.”
The forgemaster narrowed his eyes.
“And what authority do you have to command us in a matter such as this?”
Wardmaster Varilold just waved her hand towards the table, causing the terms of the Compact to light up once more.
“This authority. This matter concerns the wards and the very survival of the Compact, which you would have known if you had paid attention rather than squawking like a flock of seagulls fighting over scraps.”
Forgemaster Ughlarer growled.
“Don’t snap at me, Wardmaster! I know what you said! Opening a nexus door between two dungeons can apparently bypass the Hunger and reinvigorate the land of the fair. But that does not mean we need to use a door that leads directly to a human dungeon master!”
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Wardmaster Varilold gave him a stern look.
“On the contrary, it absolutely does. Loremaster Anyadre, explain how nexus doors work, since apparently the signatories have forgotten.”
The loremaster sighed. Forgemaster Ughlarer glared at him but he shook his head.
“The nexus doors lead where they will. Sometimes they take the desire of the opener into account, often they do not. You can open the door and step onto the road, but where it goes no one knows. So long as this door remains open, we know where it leads. If it is closed from either end, there’s no telling where or even if it will open again.”
The forgemaster scoffed.
“We know that! That’s exactly what I’m saying! Why don’t we just close it and reopen it to somewhere else?”
Loremaster Anyadre shook his head again.
“Because there’s no telling where it will open to next. Dungeon Master Tarwantrad was fortunate enough to open a door to a dungeon located in the realm of mortals whose master is not innately hostile. The next door might open to dungeon in the land of the fair that would not help our situation, or a dungeon master in the realm of mortals who is not willing to work with us. Or it may open directly to the Hunger and doom us all, for which reason the doors were closed and forbidden to be opened again. This time it managed not to connect to one of the corrupted nexus gates, but if it does next time…”
The loremaster gave Tarwantrad a sideways glance while Wardmaster Varilold took over.
“And that, signatories of the Compact, is exactly why I, in my authority as the master of the wards, am informing you that we must keep this door open. We know that this one works and has not resulted in our immediate doom. Attempting to open a new door risks the destruction of the entire Compact and I am not willing to bet our very survival upon luck favoring us twice.”
The forgemaster continued glaring but fell silent. Wardmaster Varilold turned a stern gaze to each of the signatories in turn, but none voiced any further opposition. She nodded.
“Then, now that we all understand our situation, we must decide how we will keep the door open. And before anyone says anything, consider that the other party, whatever else he may be, is a dungeon master, and the nexus in question appears to be a feature in one of his rooms. I am, therefore, vetoing all violent or forceful methods. The risk that he would be able to close the door on his end if we end up at odds is too great to bet our survival on, not when other methods appear to be viable.”
She turned and nodded towards Tarwantrad, and the rest of the table’s occupants did as well. Henilett grinned at her.
“Well then, don’t be coy, Dungeon Master. You’ve made a deal with this human already. Tell us about him.”
Tarwantrad took a deep breath and did her best not to glare at the signatories. She instead considered what she should say. She was under no illusions that she could convince the Compact to act in anything but its own best interest. Even with the wardmaster forcing them to negotiate with Belissar, the signatories would certainly try to get the best deal that they could for the Compact, with no consideration given to the dungeon master’s own well-being. She hadn’t interacted much with Belissar, but from what little she had he seemed like an earnest and kind-hearted individual. One who the signatories of the Compact would probably dance circles about and exploit for all he was worth.
She would not let that happen to the master of the bee dungeon.
“As a Dungeon Master in good standing, I nominate the master of the bee dungeon as an associate of the Circle of Dungeons.”
The table erupted into furor once more until Wardmaster Varilold forced them to calm down once more. Tarwantrad did her best to ignore them and focused on one person in particular. Dungeon Master Nenavann, one of the original signatories of the Compact and the founder of the Circle of Dungeons, a tan elf dressed in blue robes adorned with seashells and pearls. He rubbed his chin as he gazed at her.
“The Circle of Dungeons is indeed open to all dungeon masters that would treat well with one another and their fellow persons, I cannot say that a human should not be permitted to at least be considered. Yet, I cannot in good faith allow a human to associate with us without first addressing the concerns of my fellow signatories, which I must admit that I share. Humanity has a troubled history that has brought ruin to the world, Dungeon Master Tarwantrad. You have only interacted with this one briefly, so can you say, with full certainty, that he will not bring ruin upon us like the rest of his kind? That he will not betray the Compact to his kin, even if his own intentions are benign?”
Tarwantrad nodded immediately and met his gaze.
“I can. And for the second point, he is at odds with his former peoples, to the point of blows. I believe that if we treat well with him, he would instead place his trust with us. As he already has, by opening his doors to me and leaving them open even as we decide our own intentions.”
He stared at her a moment longer and she continued to meet his eyes. After an intense staring match, the other dungeon master nodded.
“Very well. It appears that, first and foremost, this is now a matter between dungeon masters and the duty of the Circle, so long as the wardmaster agrees to let us take the lead on this?”
Wardmaster Varilold nodded.
“I have no issue with that, so long as the door remains open whatever the results.”
Dungeon Master Nenavann looked across the rest of the table. Loremaster Anyadre looked to Forgemaster Ughlarer.
“This could work. It has not been done before since there has never been the opportunity, but there is no necessity for a member of the Circle to also be a member of the Compact. If we leave the association as one between dungeon masters, it would not be necessary for the Compact to treat with him directly until such time as we have taken his measure.”
The forgemaster scowled and then huffed.
“The wardmaster is leaving us little choice. If it must be done, then at least keep a dungeon between the humans and the Compact, on the Circle’s heads be the consequences.”
Henilett let out a disappointed “aw,” while the rest of the signatories slowly began to nod. Dungeon Master Nenavann nodded grimly.
“Very well. Then let us hope that this human cares about beings other than himself, for the sake of us all.”
Tarwantrad smiled at that.
“I think you will find that is not an issue at all.”