Kandra was putting the finishing touches on her last task as the guild zeppelin hovered overhead. Her entrance. She had worked belowground so far to make a proper staircase leading to her antechamber - which right now, was rather plain and uninteresting. That was fine according to Fulsi - antechambers were the least important part of the dungeon, and while there were things she could and should do to it, no one would give her low ranking for it.

The only things Kandra had put in the antechamber were some patterns that the Circle gave out for free. The first was the rating board. It was a stone plinth that had five empty stars, and beneath it was a pen that, if taken too far from the plinth, would vanish and reform back where it belonged. Adventurers would use the pen to mark how many stars they wanted to rate Kandra, and then write below it if they wanted to give a more detailed review. Those would automatically be transmitted to the Mesh to attach to Kandra’s record. The second was a bowl that adventurers could use to pay her in dungeon tokens for basic gear.

So early on, she didn’t have any magic items to sell, just mundane gear, although Fulsi had sold her the pattern for a healing potion. That was another few days of debt to her mentor, but it would give her an edge over Calith - unless that dungeon had managed to get her mentor to sell her a similar pattern. Still, that would at least keep them even. Prices over the bowl listed how much individual items would cost.

“Once you absorb a few mundane items, you’ll start learning how to make basic enchanted versions of the same,” Fulsi had said. “Don’t sell them at your rank for dungeon tokens - make those cost shells. But also you’ll want to give them a chance to drop from your boss.”

The actual entrance Fulsi and Kandra had gone over extensively. It was important to make a good first impression, after all. They’d settled on a marble archway, inlaid with carvings of clouds, with skyrrows depicted leaping up the clouds on one side, and rophibins doing the same on the other. In the center was a fox head, staring down at anyone who entered.

Across the valley, Kandra could see the entrance to Calith’s dungeon. Kandra’s rival had gone for a more organic entrance than Kandra had - her dungeon was framed by dechwood trees that had grown in a clearly unnatural pattern, with gentle curves forming an arch of bark that was capped by branches embracing each other to form an arch. Small lights danced among the branches in a hypnotic pattern.

Fulsi said with a sniff. Kandra wondered how she managed to sniff telepathically, but wasn’t exactly surprised Fulsi had that skill. She was still in the Mesh, watching what Kandra was watching.

Kandra, who had just been looking jealously at Calith’s entrance, bit her tongue instead of responding. Except she didn’t have a tongue or teeth right now. She… blocked her brain? Didn’t have the same ring to it. Either way, not worth responding right now - the zeppelin was descending. The logo of AOSN was proudly emblazoned on the side of the undercarriage - a heraldic design featuring a platypus on one side, an ear of corn resting suggestively on two oranges on the other, and the ancient rune for “Foreboding” emblazoned in bright pink between the two.

Beneath the rune was an ancient tongue. Untern Dyl Dow.

Fulsi said, seeing where Kandra was looking.

Kandra put that all into one sentence as her brain caught up with the rest of her.

Fulsi paused before responding. It was enough times for ropes to be thrown out of the zeppelin. People grabbed on the ropes and slid down, pulling the other ends and tying them around trees for anchors. The zeppelin couldn’t fully land among the trees, but once it wouldn’t move anywhere, they could lower a ramp. Finally, Kandra’s mentor dungeon answered. For once, she wasn’t holding back information. Fulsi said, her voice a bit… somber, almost.

Kandra asked.

That certainly put the guild in perspective.

Fulsi said firmly.

That… actually sounded like it would be a fun group to have. At least, Kandra thought. No one had ever been inside her dungeon, so she only knew academically what to expect.

Right now, the guild had lowered the ramp from their zeppelin and more people were pouring out. About forty people in total. Five of them Kandra noticed right away - they were wearing blue and red outfits that were styled to look like they belonged in a king’s court, telling jokes and getting smashed in the face with a pie. Although the outfits were sleeker than those used by actual jesters, and jesters typically didn’t wear armor or have runes on their clothing. In spite of how silly they looked, they were barking commands like they expected to be obeyed.

One of them looked at a cluster of trees, then at a map of the area. He talked to a woman at his side, who nodded. She pointed at Calith’s entrance, and he nodded back. They were speaking during this, but Fulsi couldn’t make out the words. It wasn’t hard to figure out what they meant though - as the rest of the people who had come with them worked to unload the jester, the man started walking towards Kandra, and the woman headed towards Calith.

“Greetings,” he said, the moment he entered Kandra’s antechamber. “I’m Marquis Poffo, at your service, fair Kandra.” He bowed to her, but didn’t wait for her to give him leave to rise. The appropriate greeting from a guild captain to a dungeon.

Fulsi reminded her, although Kandra knew what to do. Poffo would have an item that let him hear a dungeon.

While technically dungeons were royalty within their own area, Kandra felt like the mayor of a small town addressing a prince. An absurd prince, to be sure, but she was keenly aware of the power gap between them. If he wasn’t at least Sapphire, Kandra would eat her own entrance. Thankfully, Fulsi had talked to Kandra about what would happen here. She knew what to say. Kandra said.

Poffo grinned, the red lips painted around his actual mouth exaggerating the expression to overblown proportions. “Oh yes, several. I don’t suppose you’d offer AOSN an exclusive charter to the town area?”

Kandra said.

“Damn the luck,” Poffo said, snapping his fingers. “Well, we’re willing to share with the Band, although they may not be as willing as we are.”

She saw the sparkle in Poffo’s eyes, and firmed up her mental voice before saying the next part.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“Of course, of course,” Poffo said, although that malicious gleam hadn’t vanished. “Now. I just wanted to make sure - as the first arrivals, you’ll still allow us land right?”

Kandra said. Land right meant anything the guild built before another power arrived belonged to AOSN, and they could charge rent to anyone who wanted to stay there. Also, they had rights to land under, and street outside, any permanent, fully enclosed structure they built. That provision about fully enclosed was important, because it covered a roof - an amendment to the Pact after an enterprising guild had put a wall entirely around the space for a dungeon town, then claimed it granted them rights to anything inside. It was a long term investment for a guild—the initial startup costs were high, rent to Kandra and Calith would go up as the two dungeons ranked up, but the more powerful the dungeons got, the more money they’d make.

Of course, the better rated dungeon would earn the most. Kandra remembered she was something she had wanted to add. She’d checked with Fulsi to make sure she could do that. Calith could object to that all she wanted—it was one of the powers either of them had to unilaterally decide. Although might as well take advantage that Calith didn’t know. Maybe she’d get lucky and Calith would anger the guild on day one by arguing that, and then Kandra could be the reasonable one saying it was only fair and just. Would be good long term.

“Unfortunately, their ship was set upon by demons sent by an unknown summoner. They are alive, but were forced to land, so will be delayed.” Poffo grinned and raised his fist in a hero’s pose. “I have personally vowed to find the villain behind this heinous act and hand deliver him exactly what he’s owed.”

Kandra may only be a couple weeks old, but it wasn’t hard to read between the lines of Poffo’s little bit there.

Poffo laughed. “A full standard-size chest of gold coins. Summoners are expensive. The Band won’t do anything in this valley, though—they’ll get retribution elsewhere. It’s worth whatever they do.” Then he went back to the more business-like attitude of a moment ago. “And to what extent may we reshape the terrain?”

This had been covered with Fulsi as well.

“Excellent,” Poffo said. “Now, I believe that concludes our business. Mind if I take a seat?”

That hadn’t been in the script. Kandra didn’t see anything wrong with it, and Fulsi didn’t object.

Poffo sat down in her antechamber, like he was sitting in a chair, crossing one ankle in front of another so only one foot touched the ground. Yet there was no chair. He was just sitting on open air. Kandra thought it must be some power, but no mana radiated from him. Looking more closely, Kandra could see he was somehow doing this purely by controlling his balance on that one foot. “New dungeons are rare,” he said, with no more effort to speak than he’d shown moments before. “Two in one area is unheard of. I’m sure you know that, but… no living mortal has helped found a Dungeon Town before. I’ve studied the process extensively to be ready for the possibility, but never did I account for two of you. No one did.”

Kandra said, carefully judging her words. What was he getting at here?

“We know the Circle and Cabal have their rivalry,” Poffo said. “But for us, the two of you generating mana of different types means this valley will be unfathomably valuable as you grow in power. Both of you. So, we did want to make it clear we will not aid either of you against the other.”

Kandra said.

“Quite right,” Poffo said. He started to pantomime drinking from a cup of tea. Was he trying to tell her something? Or was this just a joke? Probably the latter. His tone of voice was growing more formal with every word. Perhaps the joke was that he sounded proper and refined while acting like a clown. “Which is why we want to offer our services.”

That made Kandra hesitate.

“Mediation,” Poffo said. “I know it is traditional for dungeons to get Dark Lords to arbitrate in legal matters, but… not every issue you two have needs involve the law. We can serve as your intermediaries if needed.”

Kandra asked.

“Cynical. You’ll do well.” Poffo took another drink of invisible tea. “Simply this - a promise that if one of you grows more than two tiers above the other, you’ll allow us to help close that gap to only be a one tier difference. Not put your rival ahead of you, or you ahead of her - but rather, make sure that the valley does not become flooded with either Circle or Cabal mana.”

That… made sense. The mana dungeons put off was cultivated by mortals to grow their power. Circle dungeons and Cabal dungeons gave off different types of mana as their waste products, and not all mortals could cultivate from both, which could place strains of relationships as they had to separate for extended periods to meditate. Others required mana types that came from both to cultivate, and would lag behind because of that, since finding a place with both was rare. The presence of both in a single valley would be valuable to both those groups. Kandra said.

Poffo bowed in his imaginary seat without standing. How did he keep his balance? Kandra watched as he took a sip of tea. It wasn’t just for the show, she saw. He was using the arm motion when his balance got destabilized - it was a corrective motion. “Understood. You seem like you’ll be a pleasure to work with. Do you plan on taking on an Avatar of flesh?”

That caught Kandra off guard.

“I’ve enjoyed our conversation so far. I’d love to have more. But your dungeon will be rather busy, and opportunities for us to talk will be limited so long as you are bound here.”

Fulsi said. The words came out in a snap and carried Fulsi’s fury with them.

Kandra relayed the message as if it was her own thought. Poffo nodded and bowed again, then stood up in a fluid motion. “Well. It has been a pleasure, Kandra. I do hope we speak more later.”

Kandra said.

Poffo stopped in his tracks. “So long as it does not advantage you over your rival, I’ll be happy to fill it if it is within my power.”

“Oh, that is simple enough,” Poffo said. “What are you looking to do with them? I’ll give them no matter what - just curious what use a dungeon has for seeds?”

Kandra said.

Poffo nodded. “Honestly, I’m glad to provide them for free. I’d hate to think you weren’t able to indulge your interests. The other request?”

Kandra said. She was also considering giving art a try overall, but no need to go into that much detail with Poffo. Not with Fulsi simmering with anger in the back of Kandra’s mind.

Poffo considered for a moment, then shook away some thought. “Again, easily done, although I must ask that you recreate the ones you absorb for us.”

Kandra said.

“I look forward to it,” Poffo said, before turning to leave.

Kandra immediately sent her consciousness back into the Mesh to look at Fulsi. “What was that last bit about?”

Fulsi looked annoyed. “Some mortals seek out Dungeon Avatars for partners. Besides the fact that he’s obviously hoping to gain leverage over you, it’s perverted.”

Kandra cocked her head. “Perverted?”

“If he’d actually had time to get to know you, I wouldn’t be this worried,” Fulsi said. “But he went straight there. He knowns nothing of you, and yet… straight to implications. Mortals that seek Dungeon Avatars so early… typically do it because a Dungeon Avatar can take any form.” She curled her lip. “I dated an avatar chaser once. He wanted me to take the form of his deceased wife.”

That gave Kandra a shiver. That did seem more than a little grotesque to her. “What’d you?”

“Exactly what he asked,” Fulsi said, with an ugly grin on her face. “He didn’t specify he wanted her pre decomposition. He ran screaming, and I never saw him again. As far as I know, he’s still running to this day.”

“Well. That is… certainly a thing I now know. Can I erase memories? Is that possible?” Kandra was mostly joking, but she would prefer to forget about that if she could.

“No such luck,” Fulsi said. “But I wanted you to avoid his advances.”

“You didn’t need to,” Kandra said. “I’m not interested in mortals.”

“But you are interested in something?” Fulsi asked, an eyebrow raised.

“Eternity seems like a long time to be alone,” Kandra said.

Fulsi nodded slowly. “You’re not wrong. But… do keep in mind that if a relationship goes poorly, eternity is a very long time to put up with a former lover.”

Kandra frowned, but didn’t know what to say to that. Instead, she just turned her attention back to the ship.

With a single gesture, Poffo sent out a wave of air that sliced through dozens of trees, clearing a large area with a sound like a thunderclap. Sap from the pine and the thick red bloodsap of the Dechwood flew through the air. Moments later, the rest of the guild rushed in, hauling off trees and bringing in ropes to start pulling the stumps from the ground.

An Ominous Sounding Name was wasting no time on construction. There was a second wave of people getting off the airship that didn’t join the commotion. They were younger than the rest, and looked… less, somehow. Like something was missing from them.

Of course. Their auras were too weak to see from her dungeon. Quartz adventurers and Nubs.

These were the people who would be fighting for their lives tomorrow.