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Gareth’s eyes tracked down the stairs, alert for mundane traps and potential foes. He could feel the attention of the dungeon on him. Nobody knew why some dungeons came alive, but when they did, the ruins they inhabited became both tempting and deadly to everyone.

Dungeons drew in adventurers like flies were attracted to shit. The challenge, the glory, and most importantly…the loot. A dungeon was a focus of magic and sometimes divine or infernal influences. That miasma of power affected everything in the dungeon and could imbue even mundane items with powerful enchantments.

Gareth could care less about the challenge, or glory, but the loot was a different story. Loot was not the root of all evil to him. It was the answer to his every problem. Money made everything better. Gareth had done a lot of bad things in his life. His driving need to answer the obvious imbalance in his means against the unfair providence of everyone else motivated his every action.

The rogue had a good thing going here with this bunch of goodie-two shoes. They didn’t realize he was not just a stealthy rogue class. Before he met them, he was a very capable assassin. Killing for a price, no matter the target. A master of stealth, poison, traps, and much more.

Gareth had never had “friends” before. This bunch had accepted him in, no questions asked. Treated him with kindness and as an equal. Gareth sneered internally at it all. Should he ever be so naive, his old bosses would have slapped him silly.

Still…working with this crew; he now had more money than ever. He didn’t want to lose it. If they ever did realize just how infamous he was in the seedier areas of the land, he would be shunned again. He was nothing if not greedy, now he was greedy for even more. Acceptance, trust, maybe even…love. Things that had always escaped him.

Gareth subconsciously lowered the torch and pulled his left sleeve down. His Blood Circle tattoo marked him as an elite killer. He doubted his team would know its meaning, but questions about it were best avoided. He cleared his throat.

“Mage. Stop hoarding your thoughts about this dungeon. Every time you start to spill, I’ve noticed you’ve stopped yourself short. If I’m to take the lead, I want more. Even a rumor might save us from this death trap. Give!” He growled.

“Very well, Gareth. Some of my research is unsubstantiated, so don’t hold me to account if these details prove inaccurate.” Everdale said.

“Very few adventurers who have taken quests to clear this dungeon have returned, and those that do are usually single survivors. This is a grim statistic, but I doubt that they would have enjoyed the depth of our experience and teamwork.” He said.

“I’ve enough butter on my bread, Everdale. Cut to the chase already. What dangers lurk? Monsters, traps, whatever. Huh?” Gareth chided.

“Very well, sir. Some of the survivors disagree on the types of creatures, some describe snakes, and some talk of insects of several different types. But all tales expressed concern regarding the poisonous nature of the inhabitants.” The enchanter said evenly.

“So, don’t let’em stick you. Aye? Good to know. You got anything in that alchemy bag of yours to help?” Gareth said. The man always carried a satchel filled to the brim with ingredients and clinking flasks. His casual attempts to look inside always failed. Everdale was always extremely protective of his bag of tricks. He even used it as a pillow at night.

“Well, I would not wish to sound like a braggart, but I have concocted several potions to improve health, unguents for wounds, and antidotes for mild rock snake venom and swamp scourge fliers. They might prove helpful if we encounter something along those lines.” Everdale said airily.

“Right. Hey Darius. Maybe you should take the lead. Your armor's plating is a good counter for this type of attack, yeah? I need to stop for a second and get my cloak out of my pack.” Gareth said, stopping and pulling his pack off. Without a word or concern, Darius took the first position.

Gareth hid a smile; the fool was convinced of his invulnerability. He quickly pulled on his cloak and gloves and increased his layers of protection as the team filed past him. He discretely pulled a flask of his own and put it in his cloak's inner pocket.

A master poisoner, he always had at least one of the most powerful universal antidotes. Handling poison was dangerous and those that used them had insurance or they were dead. He would keep this to himself. Questions about why he had it might lead to more questions he had avoided this far.

He slung the pack back on and hoisted his torch. He took up the rear-guard position where he could enjoy the view of Kelsana’s shapely form in front of him. Gareth smiled remembering the night before the assault on the Necromancer’s lair.

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Gareth and Kelsana had shared a watch the night before the assault on the Necromancer’s stronghold. Several other teams of adventurers had joined the effort and had camped nearby. The roaming skeletons in the area were not powerful, but they couldn’t be allowed past. They would warn the evil mage or the gather opposition of heroes.

Gareth, ever paranoid, had moved from his assigned watch on the south side of the camp to circle the camp to the northern position. It wasn’t as if he didn’t trust Kelsana, but he couldn’t relax without verifying her watchfulness. He knew everyone was weak when it came to staying alert. Many of his successful kills were helped due to slumbering guards.

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He crept upon her position intending to test her. She wasn’t asleep, but Gareth heard her stifled gasps. She…was sobbing. Gareth was far from a master of soothing; he backed up to slip away when his stealth failed him. A snapped twig and Kelsana jumped up with a hiss.

“Gareth? Is that you?” She whispered. He stopped his retreat and joined her quietly.

“Sorry Kel. I was just checking up on you. Are you ok?” Gareth asked, willing her to say yes and let him go.

“No Gareth. I’m not. Darius is insisting we finish our vows after this mission. I…don’t know if I can do it.” She spoke.

“Is the big dummy treating you badly? I know he’s kinda egotistical, but I thought he worshipped you.” Gareth asked tactlessly before he could stop himself. He bit his lip. He did not want to get involved.

“No, he is overwhelmingly perfect to me, annoyingly so. Too perfect! I can’t be like him. I know I’m going got let him down. He’s such a courageous man, and I can’t always be like that. Not like he wants. It’s too much to live up to.”

“You’re talking to the lord of imperfect. I know all about it. Don’t let him push you. If he’s really such a great guy, he’ll respect your need to go slow.” Gareth said slowly, with perhaps a bit too much feeling. He almost jumped when she reached out and grabbed his hands. Before he could move, she pulled him into a hug.

“Thank you, Gareth. Thank you. I think I needed to hear that. After this mission, I’ll talk with him. It’s good to be surrounded by such friends. Now get back to your position, the south is unwatched.” She landed a quick kiss on his cheek and pulled back to her assigned position. When she turned around, Gareth was gone.

Despite her words, Gareth didn’t return to the south. His stealthy nature hid him well as he continued to watch her. Occasionally touching his cheek, he couldn’t help but think that he deserved more than had been allowed him. Maybe he could have more. The unfairness of the world was always around him, he wanted more. Gareth was a patient hunter, and this was a new type of hunt for him.

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The dungeon’s air grew warmer as they descended.

The shrine’s ruined walls were partially collapsed, filled with winding roots and stone rubble. The descending floors got progressively more decayed. They had found some bones and armor, telling tales of the previous adventurers' fates. The bones didn’t reveal the cause of their deaths.

The main passage was blocked but Kelsana had found a narrow passage, a cave tunnel. Without another way forward, the team squeezed through one after another. The natural pathway widened into a larger cavern which led further down.

“There seems to be more sign of the shrine building materials on the right side of the cavern. Let’s focus our attention there. Perhaps, we can find a detour into the lower portion of the dungeon if it loops back to the ruin.” Everdale said.

“Sound advice, Mage. I am ever thankful for your council. We wouldn’t have come to this place without your research. Once we have secured Kelsana’s cure, you may count upon my share of any loot as my thanks.” Darius declared. He looked worriedly at Kelsana. In the dim light, she looked paler than before and was moving very slowly and unsteadily.

“Never you worry, Sir. It is my pleasure to assi-.” Everdale’s response was cut off as Gareth exclaimed.

“On your guards! I hear something.” The rogue said tightly but loud enough to be sure of its urgency. The team readied their weapons and froze to listen. There was indeed a grinding, clattering sound coming down the passage.

“Gods damn it. I feel like a sitting duck. Should we douse the lights? I can’t see what’s coming past the glow and flames.” Gareth hissed. Everdale scoffed.

“Can you see in the dark then, thief? The rest of us can’t.” The mage said.

In response, Gareth hefted his spare torch and threw it down the dark passage. He almost wished he hadn’t as the flickering flame revealed a massive Scorpion. Its size was larger than a war horse and it rapidly climbed the rocky tunnel up to their position. He spied a trio of babies clinging to the monster's back. Before he could warn everyone, Darius charged bellowing a war cry.

“For Valus and the Vanguard! Rraaaagh!” Darius screamed and thundered down the passage. The light of Darius’ ensorcelled blade swung and shifted as he charged. The team's feeble torchlight left them with much less illumination.

“Blasted Paladin! Blundering forward as usual. Kel and Everdale, focus on the small ones! We can’t lose track of the buggers.” Gareth yelled.

He ran after Darius as the mage yelled a spell. One of the small scorpions had started to glow like Darius’s blade. Gareth smiled, at least someone besides him had tactical sense.

Darius crashed into the big monster shearing one of its smaller legs right off at the joint. He dodged its claws and deflected the thing's massive stinger strike with his shield. Gareth’s blood pumped as he charged forward.

At least the big lug can fight. He thought. A whistling past his ear made him duck into a lower run. Kelsana’s arrow skewered the glowing target.

“One down!” She yelled, her voice trembling with the effort. The mage cast again and another of the small insects began to glow. Gareth skidded and rolled sideways as the huge monster almost fell on him. Darius had removed another of its legs!

The giant insect rolled and thrashed. Gareth dove to the side again. He stumbled and reared back as the smaller glowing scorpion skittered towards him lashing out with its stinger.

Gareth had extremely good reflexes. He would never be so bold to claim to catch arrows, but he liked to think that he stood a good chance if he found himself faced with such a challenge. He grabbed the scorpion’s tail just behind the stinger, stopping it before it could stab him. With his other hand, pulled his favorite knife and spiked the nasty thing through the head.

Gareth flung the dead bug away as Darius delivered a powerful downward strike, lopping the larger monster's head off. Gareth noticed the massive tail was already removed and twitching behind the beast. Kelsana and Everdale rushed up, but the fight seemed to be done.

Gareth twitched; he felt a tugging at his cloak. He spun as a dark shape hurtled forward directly at Kelsana. Her pale face was shocked as the last scorpion dove at her. Before he could think, Gareth moved. He stumbled into Kelsana, looking up as pain blossomed between his shoulders.

Darius roared and pulled the scorpion from the rogue’s back and threw it against the wall. It impacted hard enough to shatter the thing into several large pieces of chitin. Gareth fell sideways, fumbling in his cloak as the burning pain in his back spread up and down his spine.

Gareth gasps were choked off as his mouth filled with foamy spit. He found the cloak pocket…but it was empty! No longer capable of speech he trashed on the ground in pain. His last view was Kelsana’s despairing look and Everdale over her shoulder viewing Gareth with a calculating stare.

“Quick! Everdale, save him with your….” Kelsana’s yells faded as his hearing followed his already flagging vision. He felt hands on him, pushing him over onto his back. Then he felt…and thought…no more.

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