Ranus stood on one of the town's docks. It was empty, as he had reserved it for today's guests. Albrot from the Adventurer's Guild was standing with him. The other docks were a hive of activity, but he had seen the looks they were getting from the population. They sensed something was going to happen today. There was a growing group of onlookers seeking to know what was happening.

Despite the creaking wood beneath him, Ranus was reassured by the dock's solid structure. Yet, a sense of unease lingered in the air, amplified by the cold wind blowing from the south, a harbinger of the impending fall and winter.

"Ever meet elves?" Albrot asked.

"Before becoming a Lord? A few, as a merchant family, we encountered the occasional non-Kyber peoples."

"Sometimes, I forget the Riverlands were and still are a major trading hub. What do you think of them?"

"The ones I encountered were polite and good traders. They typically were distant."

"That sounds right. The travellers are known to pass through the lands of others with little trouble. Outside of them?"

"Just the travellers, non-others."

"We will be dealing with diplomats from the Lands of Starlight and Trees, one of the three eleven nations. The stories you have heard of elven arrogance are true with most outside of the diplomats and travellers. Gods, sometimes even with the diplomats. Best keep your wits about you. They are excellent at getting more out of a conversation than you think."

He laughed at this and shook his head, remembering some past event.

"With your permission, I will lead the talks unless they involve the town."

Ranus knew Albrot was being polite and he could just ignore Ranus. The Guild was far more powerful than he and as a minor lord, he could impose his will on him. Ranus nodded his agreement.

"Since becoming a lord, have you encountered any more?"

"Briefly. There is a group in town at the moment."

"Ah yes, Elian mentioned them." He looked around as they spoke. "It appears that they are here."

Ranus turned and saw the elven adventure group walking up to the watch, blocking access to the pier. The watchmen were tense and ready to block their access, but the elves were relaxed and made no threatening action or word.

"Allow them to pass." Ranus called out. The watchmen stiffened, then relaxed.

The team leader nodded to the guards as she passed. The rest ignored his men. Sliva, he remembered her name, walked up to them.

"Lord Goldwind. Guild Master Albrot. Greetings this day. May we stand with you to greet our kin to this place far from the trees of our home?"

"We greet you, Adventurer Sliva'Elania Fellonia and your team. We welcome you standing with us to greet your kin from the lands of your trees." He used her full name while addressing her. Ranus did not know if she was impressed or surprised by this as he could not read her expression. The rest of her group had their travel cloak hoods up and she was the only one pulled down.

The group joined them on the pier but remained apart. There was an uncomfortable silence from the others even as Sliva and Albrot made small talk.

"I believe you have tested yourself against the Dungeon?"

"Twice now, Guild Master, we are seeking a third attempt. With the new floor, we are finding it more of a challenge."

"Oh, what are your thoughts on it?" It's an innocent question on the surface. Ranus knew it was loaded with much more. Albrot was intelligence gathering just as he suspected they were.

"It is an interesting place with many peculiar traits." The answer was quickly and delivered smoothly. It was very non-committal and diplomatic.

Ranus knew she was evading. Her home nation would not be sending a diplomatic mission to the town, even with a Dungeon, unless they found something interesting or dangerous. He knew this Dungeon was both.

"True, true. The reports I have read are quite different from other Dungeons." Albrot continued. "So many strange features. Enough to interest your people?"

Albrot was fishing still, trying to get what he could from her. They all knew it, but that was the dance of diplomacy. She would be doing the same thing if she were in his position.

"Sails inbound!" The call from the watchtower on the rise ended that conversation.

Everyone turned their attention to the bend in the river. They would see the boats coming up soon. He knew it would not be long.

Human hands did not make the ship that emerged from the bend. It was similar in shape and form, but that was where the similarities ended. As it got closer, Ranus picked out more details. The sail had the image of a tree with branches, leaves and roots haloed about a half circle of seven stars. The railings along the hull were carved works of art depicting forest scenes. The hull was the most significant difference. There were no signs of planks, making the ship look like it was made from one piece of wood.

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Ranus watched the crew work quickly and precisely, bringing the ship up next to the dock. Ranus could not but be impressed with just how well they did it. The equivalent of a gangplank reached out and touched down gently on the pier. The whole event screamed of grace and ability.

Ranus gathered himself ready to greet their visitors. Albrot did the same. Both men stood a little straighter. The murmur from the crowd of onlookers increased.

A group of three elves descends onto the pier from the ship. Each is finely dressed in well-made, expensive clothes that look practical for the town's weather. Ranus felt like a pauper next to them.

The lead was an elven woman with pale skin, violet eyes and jet-black hair. She was strikingly beautiful and Ranus forced himself not to be mesmerised by her. She wore long robes of pale blue with the same symbol of the tree and stars as the ship. Albrot stood forward.

"Welcome, Star Speaker Ellania." He reached out his arms with his palms facing upwards.

"Greetings, Guild Master Albrot." She reached out and grasped his forearms as he grasped hers. They held for only a few seconds. Separating, he turned to Ranus.

"May I introduce Lord Ranus Goldwind to you?" Ranus bowed slightly to her.

"Greetings and welcome to Shadow Vale." He could have waited for her to make the first move as protocol dictated, but he desired not to make a fool of himself and be gone from her presence as soon as he could.

"I greet you, Lord Goldwind of Shadow Vale. I bring kind words and bright hopes for the future from the Lands of Starlight and trees."

"We have a reception planned, but some of your people are here to greet you." Albrot pointed out the group just behind them.

Star Speaker Ellania gripped Sliva's forearms like with Albrot, but they touched foreheads together.

"Greetings, Elven sister." Eliania spoke in their language and used a sub-dialect to confuse listeners.

"Greetings, Elven sister." Sliva returned the words and gesture.

"We will speak later." Eliania promised. She then moved and greeted the rest of Sliva's party.

They joined the humans in attending a reception for the diplomatic mission. Sliva and her team were present only as a formality. They were respectful of their hosts and mingled as much as they could tolerate. What passed for the local upper echelon was present and trying to make a good impression.

Eliania, on the other hand, swept around the room, bringing light and laughter with her presence. She seemed to be engaged in several conversations at the same time. Her aids were more solemn but performed their functions without error.

Eventually, she begged forgiveness as the journey was long and she retired to her assigned rooms. Sliva joined them and waited for her aids to perform their duties. She knew both males were not aids but were playing a part. She personally knew one of them.

Once the room was declared secure, Eliania sat down. Behind her was Tutanus, an elven warrior and occasional operative for the clans of her home. His presence was the loudest signal of how the clan leadership and the whole court were treating her reports.

"Sliva'Elania Fellonia, your words and recent events have caused quite a stir in the court." Eliania was all business now and her attitude changed to reflect it.

"I crafted my words to reflect what is known and inform the court to the best of my ability." She was still standing and had not been offered to sit. Tutanus was watching her like a hawk eyeing its next meal.

"I suspected no less. Your words have brought great unease to many. This Dungeon has many unsettled. We have been sent here to discover if this place is a threat to the Lands of Starlight and Trees."

"Have more events involving these "twisted" creatures taken place?"

"Not any from the destruction of the Guild building. Most of the population are avoiding anything related to the subject."

"Yes, even Humans are occasionally capable of intelligent action. Is there anything you wish to reveal to us?"

"One, we have secured a slot in two days to enter the Dungeon."

Eliania went silent for a few heartbeats as she thought about that.

"This is good tidings. Tutanus will join you in accessing the Dungeon and locating the Core. That will be all."

"I understand, Lady Eliania." Sliva knew she was dismissed and bowed slightly as she withdrew.

The two in the room waited until they knew she was gone before speaking.

"Your thoughts, Tutanus? You have been silent the whole trip here."

"I am concerned." This simple statement caused Eliania to look at him surprised.

"Concerned! I once heard you describe a Greater Wyvern as an annoyance. What has you so unsettled?"

"There is much here we do not know. The presence of every God, the lack of direction or the usual infighting from the pantheon. The presence of these twisted beasts. I know we are getting reports from elsewhere. Finally, I know the Dungeon and they are all linked."

Eliania had been thinking along the same lines since she was dispatched.

"Do you think that Sliva'Elania Fellonia was the best to be sent over the fact she was the closet?"

"Sliva was the best choice in both regards. She has earned her rank through dedication and hard work. She and her team have visited a dozen Dungeons. If they say the Core is hiding, I trust her words."

"Speaking of the Dungeon, five floors and Copper grade already?"

"Unprecedented, I know. You must add that to all the other things and the court knew that a full investigation was warranted."

"Hence our presence."

"Indeed."

They lapsed into silence as they thought over their objectives.

"I learned that Doltum has been here." Eliania knew she had to speak up. Tutanus tensed up at the mention of the name. He subconsciously rubbed his side where he had been wounded two centuries ago.

"Is he still here?" The tension was audible in his voice.

"No. He left some time ago."

"Then he found the Core but remained silent on it. Strange?"

"The local Adventurer Guild Leader went in with him and they emerged later but made no mention of the Core." Eliania was going over the conversation and what she drew from the locals.

Tutanus was silent, thinking over his old rival and what she had said.

"What is your concern?" She asked.

"Doltum is a loudmouth. If he had found the Core, as I know he did, he would have told every single soul along the route out of this poor excuse of a town. The fact that he remained silent indicates that he found something he did not understand. This speaks of either fear or concern. Maybe both."

"Why both?"

"He would if it could cause another Folly."

This brought Eliania to silence. Now, that was something to fear.

They both lived through the last and cared not to see another. The worldwide backlash of magical energies touched their lands. In the aftermath, a number of races called for an invasion and subjugation of the Human empire in its weakened state.

She had made the call in the court, but the Starlord and Treespeaker had blocked the calls. Time showed that they were right. Her nation had the quality, but the human numbers would have grounded them down. She was leaving them vulnerable. Other nations still had a strong movement to invade Kyber, but it had not amounted to anything… yet.

"This makes my investigation of the Dungeon all the more important, along with your investigation of the town." She knew he was right.

"I will spend the next few days in the town while you get ready for the Dungeon." He nodded at her words, knowing this was the most efficient use of their time. "If we discover something important, what will the court's actions be?"

"That will depend on what we will find."