“Swordslayer and Rainbow didn’t mention giant man-eating weeds,” Jeze muttered to herself.
She was covered in slime from when she was pulled out of a tube-shaped monstrous plant that was hidden under the mud. Mud! There was mud everywhere! Jeze inwardly groaned. Upon reflection, she realized she needed to pay more attention.
“You need to pay more attention,” Mikal said. The Healer slapped a bug that landed on his neck.
Jeze glared at him and wanted to punch him in his smug face. But he was right. She will give him that. Her misstep nearly cost her her life. The Third Level was filled with all manner of things that wanted to kill them. Even the vegetation! Jeze was scouting and stepped on what she assumed was mud. Turned out to be a sinkhole where a Demonic plant waited. Fortunately, Ziplocke was on Jeze’s shoulder and leaped off just before she was pulled under. The Goblin alerted the others in the nick of time.
Rolfe pulled Jeze out while Helga and Dunar made short work of the monster. Otherwise, Jeze shuddered at the thought of being dragged further into the muck. Unable to breathe and digested alive from within a Demon plant. The slime from the evil weed sizzled and burned whenever it touched her flesh. Hannah’s armor handled it well with hardly any signs of damage, Jeze thought with a shrug.
“You are our Scout, Jeze. We depend upon you to guide us. That means not getting eaten,” Mikal continued to admonish her.
“That is enough, Mikal. Heal her up so that we can move out,” Dunar ordered.
In addition to dissolving flesh, the Demon weed’s slime also acted as a neural toxin. It was very difficult for Jeze to move, and all she could do was glare. And she glared hard enough to start a fire. Or Jeze tried, at least.
“Very well. But this should be a lesson for her,” Mikal replied, and he turned to Jeze, “You need to be more careful.”
Jeze glared. Ziplocke cackled with joy. The Demon found this most enjoyable. Jeze inwardly fumed, and on the outside, she drooled and shook. Mikal sighed and tapped his Channeling tool, which was a leather vambrace etched with lines of Runes. The Healer completed a series of precise movements with his hands and arms. Despite being a complete wise ass, he was very skilled. Jeze admitted to herself. Of course, she would not tell him that.
Mikal Summoned the Life aspect that appeared as a red energy that Jeze knew was associated with blood. Jeze read from her brother’s journal that some cultures named it the Blood aspect, and people feared the mysterious practitioners. Mikal Shaped the blood to match Jeze’s type and Controlled it to enter her body through the opened gashes on her arms. Internally, Jeze felt Mikal’s summoned Life aspect absorb the poison, and in moments, she was released from its hold. She exhaled loudly. Mikal released the spell and tapped another Channeling tool, this one a wooden necklace etched with runes around his neck. The Healer gritted his teeth and as he Controlled Jeze’s flesh to mend and heal. It was harder to Control an Aspect in the material plane, and Jeze recognized the strain on Mikal’s Will as he healed her burns.
With effort, Jeze said, “Thank you.”
Mikal grinned back. Jeze knew another remark was coming and braced herself so that she wouldn’t sock him in his face. He healed her, after all. Instead, Mikal gripped her shoulder.
“Don’t mention it. It’s my job.” The Healer rose to his feet to join the others.
Ziplocke watched the whole interaction with wide eyes. Even Jeze appeared shocked. Finally, the Goblin let loose a howl of laughter that caused him to double over.
“That was genius!!!” Ziplocke shrieked. “The look of surprise on your face! Oh, he is a genius!”
Mikal paused and looked over his shoulder to wink at them. Jeze fumed and balled her hands into fists as she rose up. She much preferred the Healer to make witty comments than kindness.
“Jeze, are you able to continue?” Dunar asked.
She nodded, though she still suffered from the residual effects of the poison. Nearly getting eaten alive can be a challenge to recover from. Dunar’s sharp eyes recognized the strain on her face, and he nodded.
“We will rest for fifteen more minutes. Be alert, everyone!” He barked.
The Proven gathered around on the somewhat less muddied patch of mud and dirt in an otherwise area filled with squelching mud. Rolfe, Helga, and Dunar sweated in their heavy armor. Mikal broke a brick of magically contained water and encouraged everyone to drink.
After exactly fifteen minutes, Dunar ordered, “Let’s move out.”
The Third Floor was bog, marsh, and mud. The team marched for several more hours and the further they traveled from the Portal, the less they saw other adventuring teams. They occasionally walked in mud and sometimes waded through water that was ankle-deep. The deepest they encountered was up to Jeze’s thighs, which came up to Rolfe’s knees. The sky, or ceiling since they were in the Wandering Spire, was heavily overcast with thick impenetrable looking gray clouds. Jeze had wondered where the light source came from.
“Where is the Mist?” Rolfe asked as he removed his helm to wipe his long blond hair back, which was slick with sweat.
Dunar studied the new Communication Scroll he received from Irvin and responded, “Adventurers report that it moves.”
“Why is each level so different?” Helga wondered as she passed her waterskin over to Dunar. The Leader and Rolfe shrugged their broad shoulders. Mikal scratched his head.
Jeze answered, “The Wandering Spire’s real name is the Stronghold. It is an invasion tool used by the Fiendish Lord to conquer other realms. Each level represents a version of the Abyssal plane.”
She fed Ziplocke some paste as he rested on her shoulders, and the Goblin smacked his lips. “This is known as the Marsh of Despair. Us Demons live off of every type of mortal suffering.”
The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.
“What manner of Demons exist here?” Dunar asked.
Jeze fed Ziplocke another spoonful of paste.
“Imps, Rovers, and Swamp Demons,” the Goblin answered.
Jeze recalled that Rainbow and Swordslayer had said the same thing. She wondered what additional information she could get from her Goblin Familiar.
“What can you tell us of the Swamp Demons?” Jeze asked.
Ziplocke carefully scanned his surroundings before he answered, “It is said that the Swamp Demons were native to this realm before it was conquered by the Fiendish Lords of Anguish many thousands of years ago. When they conquer your realm, you will all be folded into the Abyssal plane, like us Goblins. We will be cousins!” The little Demon snickered.
“That’s not gonna happen,” Rolfe growled. He thumped his new spear against his round shield.
“Oh ho! I agree, we will help Jeze to the top and seal away this evil forever,” Helga cheered and raised her two handed axe into the air.
They continued on with Jeze in the lead. She carefully observed the surroundings in front of her and paused. She recognized a subtle difference from within the twisted vegetation. Jeze threw her hand axe at the base of a gnarled tree with thick roots. The roots unfolded in anger, and the tentacles of the Rover lashed out. Before the needled-filled appendage could land, Jeze timed a perfect sword slice that severed the monstrous limb.
“Nice one!” Helga complimented.
The Rover howled and quickly untangled itself to roll in a ball of twisting tentacles. Jeze took a step back as Rolfe and Helga moved forward. Tentacles slammed against the Protector’s shield. Helga stepped out from behind Rolfe, twirled her axe over her head, and chopped down with tremendous force that splattered the central mass of the Rover. It squealed and twitched violently before going dead still.
Jeze patted Helga’s broad shoulder and returned the compliment, “Good hit.”
“Ya, it was! Thank you!” The Striker proclaimed.
Mud and water erupted from their left as another Rover lashed out to attack. Jeze and Helga were surprised and had no time to raise a proper defense. Tentacles painfully slapped into them, but their armor absorbed the brunt of the blows. In the next instant, the air became frigid cold as the creature was encased in ice. Jeze and Helga broke free as Dunar and Rolfe made short work of the monster. It was amazing how the team improved in the weeks since the monster Waves. Rovers were a Tier 4 monster, and they were barely able to kill one during the Waves. Now, the team dispatched the Demons with ease.
Mikal approached the two ladies and shook his head. “Tsk, tsk. I have told you over and over that you need to be more careful. Ole Mikal here can’t keep coming to your rescue.”
Jeze glowered at the Healer while Helga laughed in good cheer.
“Thank you, Micky! You are my hero!” The warrior maiden exclaimed as she crushed Mikal in a fierce hug against her ample bosom.
The Healer whimpered under the intense pressure until Helga released him. She ruffled his dark, curly hair as Mikal stumbled to regain his composure. Rolfe pulled out a sharp knife and skinned the Rover. Hegla worked on the other.
“You are getting at that,” Jeze observed. She recalled that Helga and Rolfe learned how to skin the beasts from Hannah and her crew.
Dunar remained alert of their surroundings while Mikal rested on his spear. Jeze scouted the trail ahead while the two worked. She returned when they finished. They wrapped up the skins and placed them into their packs.
“That will fetch some good coin!” Mikal observed.
Rover skins had properties that were good for magical scrolls, such as their Communication scrolls. They continued on through the twisted marshland, with Dunar mapping their progress. It was much harder on this level due to the expansiveness of it. They could travel in any direction with very few landmarks to help guide them. The fog was ahead of them, and Jeze found it odd that no matter how far they walked, the fog was always just in the distance, obscuring their view. Eventually, they came across the Mist.
“This is it?” Rolfe asked.
A swirling Mist twirled like tendrils from a spider’s web. It weaved slowly and rolled through trees, over reeds, and expanded tentatively outwards like a shy creature.
“Remember to focus on your breath and center your thoughts,” Mikal reminded them.
“We know Micky,” Helga responded.
Rolfe breathed in deeply and exhaled loudly. His broad chest rose and fell.
“We stick together as we planned. Jeze, you can get started now,” Dunar said.
“Wait, I see something!” Rolfe exclaimed.
The Proven readied their weapons as three shadowy figures materialized from deeper within the Mist. The figures were shaped like a person and they appeared to be frantically running toward them. In moments the people exited the Mist. They were two women and a man. They wore heavy padded armor jackets and two carried spears, and one weilded a sword.
“Hail friends!” Dunar called out.
The three adventurers looked pale and bloodied. Their armor was caked in blood, and they were missing their packs. They appeared like they had been through hell. Only three? Was this a team of five? What happened to the other two? Jeze wondered.
“Thank the Blessed Mother! We made it out!” The man exclaimed.
The two women sobbed as they stumbled to their knees into the muck.
“We thought we would be lost in there!” One of them cried.
“Behind you!” Jeze shouted.
A sinewy figure emerged from the fog as silent as death. It reminded Jeze of a Howler, except it was covered in scales instead of oily fur, and it was taller. It had a snout where a forked tongue flicked out and in like a snake. The thing was armed with a wicked-looking knife, and It moved so fast that the poor adventurer didn’t stand a chance. The lizard creature slit the man’s throat from behind. He gurgled and fell to his knees, clasping his neck as blood streamed down.
Jeze quickly Summoned, Shaped, and Controlled a Stone fist but was too late. The Swamp Demon faded back into the mists with a sinister grin that showed off its sharp teeth. Mikal reacted next and ran to aid the man. The two other adventurers wailed in anguish.
“Get away from the Mists!” Dunar barked, and he directed Helga and Rolfe to drag the fallen.
The three large Frostsworn formed a shield wall as Mikal attempted to aid the man. Jeze readied ranged attack spells, and the two women held their spears in shaking hands.
Mikal was able to close the neck wound, but the man began to spasm with a white froth billowing from his mouth. Mikal rapidly shaped Glyphs but was too late. The adventurer gave a final wheeze before his eyes rolled up into the back of his head, and he went still. Mikal shook his head.
“I was able to close the wound, but he was also poisoned,” the Healer said quietly.
The two women sobbed but continued to hold their shaking spears. Their armor was ripped in many places, and they each suffered from dozens of cuts and injuries.
“Let me see to your wounds,” Mikal offered.
Dunar, Rolfe, and Helga moved their shield wall to protect them. Jeze remained vigilant.
“We will escort you to the Safe Zone,” Dunar said.
“Do we have time for that?” Jeze asked.
She regretted the question from the looks her team gave her.
Ziplocke snickered at Jeze, “You have grown callous. Good!”
The two women visibly shook and simply nodded their gratitude. Then suddenly, one grabbed Jeze by the shoulders and looked at her with intense eyes.
“Do not go in there! Only death and madness await you!” She wailed, and her spittle flew into Jeze’s face.