In the great hall of Arkahn’s castle, an intimate meeting was held. Two knights stood guard near the entrance. On the stone throne sat the aged King Henric Allond XIII and next to him stood his trusted aide Theodore. A man older still with a bleak expression. In front of them stood a man wearing high quality light armor, his beastly ears and fluffy tail gave away his race. From his right hip hung two swords and on his left a third sword more. A glistening platinum tag hung around his neck. This man was known as The Sword Saint. He was regarded as the strongest in Allond’s Kingdom, Allond’s only platinum adventurer. At only 30 years of age, he - Rodan - was still at the peak of his life.
A while back he had been charged to raid the nearby dungeon for its resources by decree of the king. An odd request, but he had done so until the dungeon was locked down due to the drake sighting. He was here today to inform them of his knowledge of the dungeon, while his team went out with the expedition.
“My king, I inform you that the dungeon does indeed show signs of breaking.”
He was a man of few words, he cared little for politics and was alien to the concept of coating things with sugar. The king however merely frowned. Even his aid did not seem perturbed.
“So it would seem. This certainly complicates things. But no matter.”
Rodan inwardly sighed at the king, who tore a piece of jerky.
“Also, the food is getting terrible. Is the drake expedition done already? They better hurry up.”
Theodore nodded at the king. “Yes, my liege, the expedition should return any moment with good news, I am certain.”
“Good, good. I can’t stand the local drab. Rodan, be sure to spend on food on your next venture. That fruit, what’s it called again? Oh yes, mango fruits, get some of those. And plenty of good meats as well.”
Rodan frowned, the situation was dire and still the king told him to spend his experience points on luxuries.
“My king, I am not sure you heard me correctly, creatures within the dungeon are starting to disregard their boundaries, populations on the floors are increasing. The situation is severe.”
“Then redouble your efforts, no dungeon has broken in a thousand years, I have faith you can prevent it.”
The truth however was that Rodan and his team were already giving it their all. As soon as they had noticed the signs, they had been going at it hard. Redoubling their efforts? Such a thing was simply not feasible. And their efforts seemed to have had no impact on reducing the signs. If anything, they had increased. And now that the dungeon had been left alone for two weeks due to the drake showing up. There was no telling how much damage was already done.
Rodan glared at the king and raised his voice.
“Then at least hire the adventurers that had come for the drake slaying request to also venture the dungeon.”
“Absolutely not. If word got out about the dungeon showing the signs… No, no, the dungeon will remain closed to all until you have dealt with the situation.”
“My king!-” Rodan started. He unconsciously gripped on one of his hilts.
“-Enough!” Henric bellowed. “Do you want to stain the honor of your father and your forefathers before him!”
Rodan gritted his teeth. The atmosphere had instantly become dire. A knight at the door had grasped his own weapon tight. Rowan didn’t know what to do. This king before him cared more for his own image than any consequences. Theodore was supposedly a wise man, but he stood there grim-faced and unmoving. Like a man defeated. The knight’s reaction, was it in anger towards his useless king or was it out of loyalty directed towards Rodan instead? He could not tell.
What the king was saying was ludicrous. Not much was known about a dungeon breaking other than that it was truly terrible. Part of him wanted to slay the king where he stood. Something had to be done. But that was not what he was taught. What was he taught? He directed his anger inside and remembered his past as calm returned once more to him.
He flashed back to many years ago.
--
He found himself sparring with his father. During the spar his father kept asking complicated questions that he had to answer swiftly, all the while concentrating on defending his father's attacks as well as trying to attack him. It was gruesome training and once more he landed on the ground with another bruise to his name.
“Fighting must come as natural to you as breathing, son. You’re still not ready.”
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His father frowned,
“But father, I’m already fifteen!”
His father had chosen his class when he was fourteen. The fact his father still had not allowed him to take his angered him.
“You want to take a class so badly? Why then? What is it that you want to do with your life?”
“I want to become a great adventurer! Like you!”
“For what reason!”
“To become strong!”
“Wrong, for what reason!”
“To slay monsters!?”
“Wrong, for what reason!”
“I… I don’t understand!”
“You dreams are still like a young boy’s, son.”
His father pointed his wooden sword to the map that hung from the wall.
“Do you know what that is.”
“A map of our world?”
His father chuckled. “Yes, but that it only half correct. See here to the north, south and east the land is surrounded by water. But to the west here lies a great mountain range.”
His father moved the point of his sword far beyond the mountain ranges and pointed at the empty wall, outside of the map.
“What about here?” His father had asked. The boy simply flicked his ears at his father, looking confused. Obviously there was nothing there.
“A long time ago… There was a great kingdom. The strongest of them all. Right here, in the ancient forests of Kor’Tarra…”
Their homeland, he had heard about that before. A land were both beastkin and elves lived together. Fighting the darkness in the west on the largest battlefront known to man while protecting their allies at their backs for millenia. The strongest of warriors resided here. It was a story of glory and honour that inspired the young boy.
But also a tragic story of how their nearest ally grew envious. A story of a greedy and jealous king that wanted more.
It was a small kingdom, one that was enclosed in between the glorious kingdom of the elves and beastkin, and the mountain ranges on their east. They had little resources to spare and almost all of their talent went to Kor’Tarra. Little is known about what exactly happened, but it was known that they started an ill conceived war with no hope of even winning, not against the forces of Kor’Tarra. In the process of the war they had allowed their one dungeon to break.
The poor kingdom was swallowed in darkness. The dwarven tunnels that bore through the mountains were demolished and all lands beyond completely cut off. The fate of Kor’Tarra has been unknown since.
Eventually even maps were redrawn like they never even existed in the first place. But his family knew, his father knew. This young boy now also knew, and he would never forget his father’s words.
“We fight not for the glory. We fight to protect. Our families and our lands. Do not ever forget.”
The young boy grabbed a second sword. Now wielding a wooden training sword in each hand with renewed vigor he faced his grinning father once again.
--
He dismissed himself from the king’s presence and left the castle. What was the right course of action, he wondered. Could he stop the breaking of the dungeon by himself? He was a confident man, but he felt he was dealing with power beyond his ability. He was told to remain silent, every possible action he felt he should take would mean treason, he considered himself honourable and loyal, but he was of two minds. Where did his true loyalties lie. He wanted to protect the lands, the people. This world.
He could hear his deceased father yell at him to stop being a fool and chuckled. He had no idea what course of action would be less foolish. While wandering around he came upon of large stake with a drake’s head propped up on top. A large specimen indeed, it seemed the hunt was successful. He was glad for that at least. Laughter and cheers were coming from within the guild’s house.
He scratched his ear as he walked towards the door. He wanted to ask them, but should he? Could he? To place such a burden on his fellow adventurers, he wasn’t sure. Regardless, his feet still took him inside, as he glanced around he found his companions alive and well and sighed in relief.
“Hey Fluffer!” Elle’s yells were almost drowned out by the rambunctious crowd “You missed out on one hell of a hunt!.”
Iron Wheel had been reunited. Perhaps his worries could wait until after he enjoyed some drink with his friends.
After learning that most of the adventurers would hang around for a while with plenty of coin to their name, Rodan decided that he would take his team once more into the dungeon, to dive deep. If things would still escalate, then screw the king, he would release the information regardless of the consequences in the hopes. Although it was just a halfway measure. A compromise of sorts. In his mind this was the right course of action.
So now it was dawn, he and his team had once more gathered in order to set out for the dungeon.
A beastkin swordsman with a glistening platinum tag and four silver adventurers. A stout warrior dwarf, a lizardkin fencer, a scrawny priest and a beautiful female mage…
...And some random guy with a copper plate and a broken tooth hanging on his bare chest while wearing a pair of trousers with one leg torn off. His body covered in scars and a dumb smile covering his face.
“So… What’s he doing here?”
“We’ve invited Kane into Iron Wheel, it’s fine, he can come along. Right?” Elle suggested.
“Kane? That’s a strange nickname, is it because of his spear?” Rodan glanced at Elle who seemed to blush a little.
“Hi! I’m Kane, it’s my actual name. So you are the team leader, huh! Is that real platinum? Cool. So you are really strong, huh?”
“His… Real name?” Rodan pretty much ignored him while frowning at Elle.
“Ehehe.. Yeah. When any of you kill a drake by yourself, I might consider using your real names too.” She teased.
Rodan had of course learned that the drake had basically been brought down by one guy, stories were often inflated of course and really he was just glad the hunt was a success. To think that it was this guy… Unbelievable. Really unbelievable.