381 days until the Arkon Shield falls

0 days, 21 hours until Dungeon Purge

Thovil,

My son will be found, even if we must shake the very foundations of the clan to do it. Round up every one of those Hammerfist idiots. It is about time someone dealt with that wretched family. If it has to be us, so be it. Buy out their contracts, threaten their clients, do whatever you must, but find my son! — Duggen Redmayne.

It didn’t take the broodworm long to emerge. With an angry hiss, the creature slid out the Keep’s main doors. Stopping on the threshold, the guardian took in the rainswept courtyard, its head swinging left and right.

I ducked my head, my pulse quickening as the monster’s gaze passed over the pile of trash covering me.

Your skill in sneaking has advanced to level 8.

To my relief, the creature didn’t pause in its inspection and quickly returned its attention to the gate and the dwarf standing there. Not moving from its position at the Keep doors, the broodworm extended its four tentacles outwards, tips boiling with purple energy.

It was casting its charm spell again.

My eyes darted to Regna. Go, I urged silently. The dwarf didn’t need my prompting, though. The fighter scrambled upwards as soon as he caught sight of the reaching tentacles and the tendrils of violet expanding from them.

The dwarf’s maneuver caught the broodworm by surprise. Hissing in displeasure at its prey’s disappearance, the guardian-prime retracted its tendrils. It needed a clear line of sight to its target to cast the spell, I realized. Intently, I waited to see what our foe would do next.

For a drawn-out moment, the broodworm did nothing. Then seeming to come to some sort of decision, the creature glided into the bailey and towards the gate.

The plan was working! I bit back a triumphant yell. The battle was still far from over.

Counting out five tortuously slow seconds, I ducked out of the pile of trash and, as stealthily as I could manage, followed after the worm. I was counting on the heavy rain to conceal my approach, but I needn’t have worried; with its attention fixed on its prey, my foe paid little further heed to its surroundings.

Your skill in sneaking has advanced to level 9.

The broodworm slunk through the bailey, its movements slower and more hesitant than they’d been within the Keep. Perhaps the creature sensed something was amiss, or perhaps it simply didn’t like the ceaseless rain. Whatever the case, the broodworm was moving in the right direction.

The guardian-prime reached the portcullis. It stopped, studying the moat beyond. I was in the middle of the bailey and halfway to my destination. Regna wasn’t in sight, and I could only hope his ascent to the ramparts was progressing well.

After an interminable pause, the broodworm stuck its head through the open gate. I increased my pace. The creature was perfectly positioned, and the time for me to act had come.

More of the broodworm’s undulating length slipped through the portcullis. I hadn’t heard any shouts of alarm yet, which meant Regna was still unharmed. Probably.

Imagining purple tendrils slithering upwards to seek out my companion, I abandoned further attempts at stealth and hurried forward at the fastest pace I could manage. Even then, the broodworm didn’t react to my presence.

Reaching the gate’s control wheel, I yanked down on the lever holding the portcullis up. The brake released, and the heavy metal gate slammed downwards, sharpened tips glistening with droplets of rain.

Three-quarters of the way down, the portcullis wrenched to a halt.

Despite the assistance of both momentum and gravity, the gate’s teeth failed to shear through the broodworm’s armored skin. The impact was not entirely without effect though, as even our foe’s toughened carapace was unable to completely resist the pressure bearing down on it.

Metal screeched. The broodworm shrieked. And in the breathless heartbeats that followed, fine hairline cracks spread out across the creature’s armored hide. I watched, heart pounding and unable to look away.

The gate inched down a little further.

The worm’s armor buckled, finally caving under the weight. In the sudden absence of resistance, the portcullis jerked down again. Our foe was pinned. I closed my eyes in thanks. The plan had worked.

The broodworm was not dead, though, far from it. But I judged we’d won half the battle already.

Opening my eyes, I studied our foe. Blood was bubbling out its wounds. As yet, the injuries were only superficial. Though you would not think it to look at the creature. The broodworm was thrashing wildly, in a frenzy to free itself. But the creature’s attempts only served to further its predicament, driving the portcullis’ teeth deeper into its body.

I smiled. So far, so good. Spinning around, I hurried up the steps towards the closest tower. It was time for the next stage of the plan.

✽✽✽

Reaching the top of the ramparts, I saw Regna racing towards me. The dwarf was grinning from ear to ear. “It’s working!” he exclaimed.

“I know,” I replied, relieved he was to see he was unharmed. “What about the serpents?”

Regna gestured me towards the outer side of the ramparts. “See for yourself.”

I leaned over the wall. About a quarter of the broodworm’s length was trapped outside the gate and dangling over the moat, providing irresistible bait for the serpents. Darting out of the water, the two sea creatures were snapping at the broodworm. So far, the guardian-prime had evaded their attacks, but it was only a matter of time before one of the serpent’s jaws latched onto it.

“Excellent,” I murmured. I turned back to Regna, but before I could speak, a glow of purple pulled my attention back to the ensnared dungeon boss.

The guardian-prime had realized its predicament and changed tactics. Reaching out with tendrils of violet energy, the broodworm latched onto one of the serpents with its mind. The sea creature in question stilled. Then in an about-turn that caught its fellow by surprise, the bewitched snake’s jaws clamped down on it.

The two creatures disappeared from sight as they took their fight underwater. The waters of the moat churned and roiled, a testament to the violence of their clash. Free of assault, the broodworm turned its gaze upwards and hissed, extending new purple tendrils upwards.

It hadn’t forgotten us.

My lips thinned. “Let’s go back down,” I said, stepping back from the ramparts’ edge. “And see if you can’t hack the bloody thing in two.” I’d hoped the serpents would do most of the work of killing the broodworm for us, but it didn’t look like we could depend on them much for that anymore.

“It’s about time I did some good honest warrior work,” the dwarf said with a laugh. “With you around, it seems all I’ve been doing is playing bait!”

I smiled. “And running. Don’t forget the running.”

✽✽✽

The broodworm was still futilely trying to wriggle out from under the portcullis when we got entered the bailey again. Splashing through the rain, Regna fetched his dropped hammer before rejoining me at the bottom of the stairs. “How do you want to do this?” he asked.

I pursed my lips while I studied our foe. While the Keep wall was between us and the broodworm, Regna and I were both shielded from the creature’s line of sight. Once the dwarf closed to melee range though, he would be exposed by the grille gate. It would be up to me to protect him.

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“I’ll slow the creature and keep watch for its tentacles.” I gestured to the cracks in its carapace still leaking blood. “Begin your attacks there and see if you can’t open those wounds further.”

The dwarf grinned. “Will do.” Hefting his hammer, he sent white coils of charge rippling across the hammerhead. “After you.”

I edged up to the rim of the portcullis with my back braced against the bailey’s inner wall. Taking care to remain out of the broodworm’s sight, I lowered the tip of my staff to the ground and cast wilting ward.

The guardian prime was already occupying the trapped area, and the spell triggered near-instantly. I turned to Regna. “Have at it. It’s slowed.”

The dwarf stepped around me while I peeked around the gate’s edge. The broodworm’s head was still turned upwards, searching the ramparts for us. Good.

Regna set his stance and, raising his lightning-wreathed weapon high above his head, brought it crashing down on one of the worm’s pulsating wounds.

His hammer bounced off.

“Damn, that thing’s armor is tough,” the dwarf exclaimed in admiration as he staggered back from the impact. “I thought I’d smash through on the first hit.”

I nodded absently. I’d expected the same, but despite Regna’s prodigious strength, his hammer had barely marred the creature’s carapace further.

There was no doubt the dwarf’s attack had hurt our foe, though. Lightning still licked at the edges of the wound, and for a second, the broodworm’s blood had gushed out faster.

Our attack had not gone unnoticed by our foe. Hissing in anger, the creature was slowly swinging its head around while its purple-tipped tentacles slipped through the grille gate and crept towards us.

I raised my staff and flared in warning.

The threat sufficed. The tentacles paused, hovering just outside the flames’ reach.

“Hit it again,” I said grimly.

The dwarf did just that. Once. Twice. Thrice.

With each hit, the broodworm shivered, the violence of its response no doubt quelled by the wilting ward and the portcullis pinning it down. Both left the creature helpless to retaliate physically.

Which left the broodworm with only one means to reach its tormentors.

Goaded beyond reason, the creature lashed out, extending strands of violet energy towards us from its hovering tentacles.

I was ready for the attack. Flaring, I burnt the incoming magic into nothingness. The guardian shrieked and, arching its body in agony, withdrew its tentacles.

Regna raised his hammer, ready to strike again. “Wait,” I called, not looking away from our foe. “The wilting ward’s effect is about to expire. Let me recast it.”

The dwarf stepped back obligingly, and with both of us safe behind the wall again, I took a moment to inspect our foe. The cracks in its carapace had barely spread. Regna was hurting the creature, if ever so slowly. Killing the darn thing will take time.

I sighed. So be it. Lowering my staff, I recast wilting ward, then gestured Regna forward to begin the next cycle of attacks.

We would keep at it, however long it took.

✽✽✽

It took nearly as long as I feared.

Over and over, I slowed the worm, and time and again, Regna’s hammer rose and fell. The guardian lashed at us with its magic in impotent fury, but without fail, flare beat it back every time.

Eventually, the dungeon boss reached the point where it was so far gone that it ignored the burning flames and thrust its tentacles directly at us.

To no avail.

Dragonfire ate eagerly through the writhing appendages, permanently handicapping the creature. After that, the tempo of our attacks increased. Safe from the worm’s magic, I didn’t bother recasting wilting ward, and Regna didn’t pause in his attacks.

Blow after blow crashed down on the broodworm’s armored hide. Finally, turned brittle by the fighter’s relentless assault, the carapace shattered and exposed the vulnerable flesh beneath.

The end came quickly after that.

Thrusting my staff inside the creature, I flared, burning the dungeon boss from inside out and turning its innards to ash. Eventually, the broodworm’s body sagged lifelessly, its armored hide transformed into an empty husk.

I sank to the ground. Despite the never-ending rain, I was bathed in sweat. Regna flung himself down beside me. “Well, wasn’t that something,” the dwarf exclaimed. “I can’t believe it. We actually did it!”

I nodded tiredly. “Yes, we did. And in no small part to—” I broke off as an avalanche of Trials messages fell into my mind.

You have gained in experience and are now a level 50 Trainee.

You have killed your third creature champion. Your Lone Slayer Feat has advanced to rank 3, evolving its Techniques.

Slayer’s boon: When fighting a creature champion on your own, you are blessed with an aura that increases your damage by 6%.

Tenacious: When fighting a creature champion on your own, you are blessed with an aura that reduces the damage you take by 6%.

Your party has completed the Primal Keep and is the first to have vanquished this dungeon. Calculating additional player achievements...

Dungeon completed in… 1 attempt.

Dungeon rank… 1.

Party size… 2.

Pre-run status… fully seeded.

Player levels… Trainees.

Rewards determined. For vanquishing this dungeon, you have been awarded the Trait: Primed Will.

Trait: Primed Will. Rank: 3, rare. This Trait increases your willpower by 10 levels.

Dungeon vanquished. Condition 1 of 2 of the special contract between Regna Redmayne and Jamie Sinclair has been fulfilled. Activate the dungeon portal to complete the agreement in its entirety.

Your party is only the ninth to clear a dungeon in the Human Dominion. For this achievement, your Feat: Lair Hunter has evolved to Explorer.

At rank 1, Explorer provides you with the seekers sense Technique. Seekers sense: You become aware of any lair or dungeon within 10 yards of your location.

Beware, the dungeon run time limit is still active. Time remaining before the dungeon is purged: 19 hours. Exit the dungeon before then.

Regna grinned at my expression. “You’ve gained your rewards from the Trials, haven’t you?”

I nodded absently while I scanned through the alerts again. I’d gained a rare Trait. It proved my theory correct: clearing a dungeon the first time did yield further benefits.

I should’ve been ecstatic. I’d cleared the dungeon, nearly doubled my player level, gained a trait, and advanced my feats. All this in just over two days!

It was a remarkable achievement by any means, but I still found myself feeling despondent. I’d been hoping for better, a Trait to improve my Attribute gains, or at the very least something to aid me in the coming clash with the orcs.

I shook off my disappointment. I’d grown stronger, my Feats had evolved, and I’d gained a rare Trait which, while it fell short of my expectations, was still useful. All of this was rightfully a cause for celebration. And besides, this is only my first dungeon.

Regna nudged my arm. He had asked me something, I realized. “Sorry, what did you say?”

The fighter was still beaming. “Are they good? Your rewards, I mean.”

“They certainly are,” I murmured, not about to let my dissatisfaction affect his own mood. “What about you? I take it from that wide grin of yours the Trials has given you good news too?”

The dwarf was precluded from benefiting from the dungeon in any way, but he must have gotten the same message I had about the contract between us.

“It certainly has!” Regna said, bobbing his head in vigorous agreement. “I’m almost free to leave this benighted place!”

I smiled, pleased for him. “That’s great news, my friend.”

The dwarf looked at me strangely. “Are we?”

I looked at him blankly. “Are we what?”

“Friends,” the dwarf asked solemnly.

I chuckled. “I know we’ve been acquainted for a little over a day, but given what we’ve gone through, it feels longer than that.” I held his gaze. “I would be pleased to call you a friend if that’s all right with you, Regna.”

The dwarf stared at me expressionlessly. “Friendship is no small thing amongst the clans,” Regna said softly. “We dwarves do not trust lightly, nor do we call many friends. But you have done more than enough to earn that honor already.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure if the reverse is true though. I’ve done little that is worthy of—”

“You have,” I said, interrupting him. I thrust out my hand in offer. “Friends?”

Regna looked down at my hand for a moment before taking it. “Friends,” he agreed gravely.

You have forged a pact of friendship with Regna Redmayne. The Sweetsong Merchants Guild has granted you Friend status. You will now be able to identify any Sweetsong merchant through analyze. They will likewise see your status when analyzing you.

My eyebrows flew up at the unexpected Trials message, and I shot Regna a startled glance.

He grinned at me. “I told you my family are prominent members of our clan. As an appointed representative of my father, I’m authorized to speak on behalf of the merchant guilds.”

I didn’t know what to say. “Thank you, Regna,” I said finally.

He waved away my thanks. “It’s far less than you deserve, my friend.” He rose to his feet and helped me upwards. “Now, how about we see about getting out of here?”