— Keira —

By the time Keir and Marsili finished their meal the restaurant was packed. The noise of so many conversations, mostly between people who were just hammering away at stone or metal minutes before, was too loud for easy conversation. They also didn’t want to occupy a table others were waiting for so they set off as soon as they were done.

Out in the relatively quiet street Marsaili asked “Do ya need ta go to a proper guild branch or a guild board?”

Keir nodded and said “I’m sure I've been declared dead at this point. That can only be fixed at a full guild branch, maybe even the main local branch.”

“It’s a bit of a walk ta the main branch but we can get a ride fer most a the way.” Marsaili said before leading Keir along through the warren of side streets to a large opening large enough for a dozen dwarves to walk through side by side.

The entrance was a relatively ornate square arch carved into the base of one of the pillars that reached up for the ceiling. Ancient Dwarven runes and geometric patterns were inlaid in around two dozen different metals. Steel reinforced stairs lead deeper underground on either side of a heavily textured rune steel ramp that took up fully half the space. Separating the stairs from the ramp were a pair of somewhat ornate handrails.

Keir hadn’t really thought much about it while walking through the winding narrow roads of the city, but she hadn’t seen any wagons or mounts. Well no mounts other than the occasional messenger riding trained dire bats that were mostly glimpsed when passing in front of the glowing crystals. It made sense that quicker modes of transportation would occur below the city proper.

Of slightly more concern was what sort of mount Marsaili planned on them riding. Even the battle hardened mounts of soldiers had wanted to shy away from the undead, especially Keir and Antheia. As they walked down the staircase Keir decided to just ask “Are you sure the mounts down there will allow an undead rider?”

Marsaili paused mid step for a moment, clearly a bit confused before stepping onto the next step and saying “Wait, Mount? What da ya mea…? Oh, I see why yer confused. You’ll see soon as we get down there but we’re nay riding a mount.” She chuckled as she resumed walking down the long flight of stairs and continued “ya probably dinnae know it but, shalehorn rams make fer jealous mounts. Crag Sunder’d be an ornery pest fer weeks if’n he smelled another mount on me.”

Keir wanted to ask more but she could tell Marsaili was looking forward to seeing her reaction and they were over halfway down the stairs. Almost at the bottom of the stairs the outer walls fell away, replaced with relatively simple stone handrails, revealing the chamber beyond.

Before seeing the massive cavern holding the majority of the city, Keir would have been stunned by the size of the large rectangular chamber. The space carved from the solid rock of the mountain was easily five hundred feet wide and eight hundred feet long with a twenty foot tall ceiling. It was a testament to both the size of the city cavern and the contents of the room that Keir barely even registered the dimensions of the chamber.

The metal strands that led along the handrail split into a wide fan at the base of the stairs, each forming a dwarven rune before leading out into the room. At the end of each line of metal was a pair of tunnels whose floors were set a few feet lower than the rest of the room's floor. Large complex mechanisms sat between the tunnels that stowed or retrieved strange minecart like vehicles of various sizes. On one side, the vehicles would arrive carrying people and sometimes cargo. Once a cart was clear, one of the passengers would activate the mechanism stowing their vehicle away. On the other side, people would use the machines to retrieve a vehicle and load it up before being launched down the tunnel.

Marsaili looked pleased with Keir’s reaction and after giving her a few moments to stare said “It’s quite the thing alright. Come on, the main guild branch should be closest ta the platinum line.” Before Keir could properly formulate her next question Marsaili seemed to guess what it would be as she continued “Each a the pillars has one a these junctions. The metal lines lead ta the track ta each pillar. We could’a taken one ta get ‘ere but the nearest pillar ta the castle would’a been almost as long as just walkin’ ta Aleka’s shop.”

As she’d spoken, Marsaili led the way along the line of platinum and retrieved a cart with two relatively large leather bound seats with a small panel holding a single lever positioned between them.

When they were both settled in Marsaili looked over and said “Ya ready?”

Keir wasn’t at all sure she was but she nodded and Marsaili pulled the lever.

With a deep thrumming vibration and the heavy clack of some mechanism, either magical or mundane, the cart launched forward into the dark tunnel. As they speed though the many twists and turns along the tunnel Keir was glad for her undead vision. Even the short range night vision of the dwarves would give little warning of the often jarringly tight turns of the pitch black tunnel.

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Fortunately while it was disorientating the ride was also fairly short. Soon enough she saw light up ahead and felt the cart begin to slow. Clearly whatever the method used to propel the cart it was very finely tuned as the cart slowed to a stop with barely the faintest jolt.

Marsaili pushed the lever back into place and the cart shifted slightly with the same sort of mechanical clack. After the pair had exited the cart and Marsaili was using the machine to stow the cart, she said “The guild is nay to far from ‘ere.”

Keir nodded even though Marsaili was facing away from her and said “I appreciate you taking the time to help me out like this.”

Marsaili just waved her hand like she was brushing away a cobweb and said “Dinnae mention it lass. Yer good company and it’s nay coal from my forge ta take ya about town fer a day er two. Jus’ buy me a drink later and we’ll call it even.”

As the conversation moved swiftly from emotions to a friendly debate over the relative merits of dwarven whiskey and steel coast rum, they exited the transit hub and walked the short distance to the adventurers’ guild.

Like most major guild branches, the adventures’ guild hall was actually several buildings that took up an entire block. The entire area was contained in a deceptive strong wall but the gates were all standing open. There were a pair of large warehouses, one of them obviously enchanted to stay cold, a large tavern and inn, and in the middle was the main hall. The three story main building would have guild officials offices on the top floor and the archives and library on the second. Unless she needed to speak to a guild official what Keir needed would be on the ground floor.

Feeling like she was on familiar ground for the first time since dying, Keir led the way inside. All guild halls were laid out essentially the same way so she led Marsaili past the board where simple jobs were posted.

Midday was in her experience a fairly quiet time in the guild. Most adventurers who planned on taking a job would do so either in the morning before setting off or the late evening just after getting into town. Those not planning on taking a job in the area were more likely to be in the inn or out in the city.

Most of the few people in the large open room were people bringing requests to the guild. Some were still dusty from the road and were likely representatives of nearby villages with monster problems. Others looked to be local merchants or craftsmen who were likely putting in resource requests. None of them held Keir's interest for long as she made her way to a counter in the back.

The counter wasn’t flashy; almost blending into the stone wall in the back of the room. It was wide enough that up to four typically sized people could work there at a time. It clearly wasn’t busy enough to warrant that, however, so only a single person stood behind the counter.

As Keir drew close she saw the figure was a myceliad. The guild worker was tall and slender with proportions similar to an elf. What Keir had taken for a hat or helm from across the room was a dark brown slightly conical mushroom cap with an almost crumpled looking exterior. Their face was all but hidden behind a white lattice like skirt of mycelium like that of a veiled lady mushroom. Most of the rest of their skin was concealed by well worn and well maintained dark leather armor. At a glance Keir could see eight daggers and she suspected they had at least twice that many concealed weapons.

It was rarely needed but most guild branches staffed the quest turn in desk with combat veterans who could not be bribed or threatened to alter the result of a quest or increase the payment.

Marsaili stood back far enough not to pry but close enough to be present if needed as Keir walked over to the official.

Doing her best to keep her frustration out of her voice Keir said “My name is Keira of The Steel Coast Archipelago. To begin with, I need to report a failed quest.”

As she spoke she reached into her a concealed pouch on her armor and withdrew her guild token and placed it on the rune etched crystal plate.

As soon as the steel coin sized steel disk touched the crystal a black system screen opened above it. Typically the screen would show her name, rank, standing, and active guild quests. Instead it simply read

Name: Keira

Status: Deceased

Even through the fungal veil covering the official’s face Keir could see the anger in their expression and posture as they fingered a dagger hilt and clearly activated a skill before saying “You will explain how you came into possession of a deceased guild members token and why you thought it prudent to claim her identity.” the breathy hiss of their voice promising violence like a blade slipping from a sheath.

Keir allowed herself a sigh before saying “I had hoped it would update my status when I returned to life.” With that she once again explained the events surrounding her death and resurrection. Unlike the other times she went into much more detail on the quest.

The official had apparently used a lie detection skill but due to the unique nature of her claims she had to go over her story twice more; first with a guild interrogator and finally in front of the branch master.

The branch master, who was a powerfully built dwarven man with gray tinged hair and beard, was able to quickly confirm her identity. As she stood in his surprisingly plain office with Marsaili sitting nearby, Keir said “Now that that’s out of the way, should I go back to the quest completion desk to report the failure of the quest?”

After a few seconds the dwarf looked up from the apparently somewhat complex task of reinstating a deceased guild member as an undead one, and said “Failed? Nay lass a member a the counsel fer tha' village already came by earlier ta say they consider it successfully completed. Hearing the facts a the matter the guild concurs. I already dealt with that, a clerk should be here soon ta give ya the reward.”

Keir was about to argue when he continued “More ta tha point do ya want the guild ta inform yer next a kin ya aren’t dead anymore?”

Keir froze, She’d been so busy dealing with the snakes, than the village to even consider that the guild wouldn’t just declare her dead when her status changed. They would report her death to her family.