Nara Piper flopped forward and froze. Disoriented by the complete change of scenery around her. One moment she was in the circular tunnels, the next moment she was surrounded by glowstones in the entry hall of the dungeon.
“Haha! You’re quick on your feet Nara. Guess that’s the elf in you.” 38324
Satharis sat on his hind legs. A blue shimmer in the green darkness.
“I’ll kill you again.” Warned Nara, shifting her grip on Nestor’s dagger for a throw.
“Try using the thing between those pointy ears. We could have teleported you to the goblins or sent you deeper into the tunnels.” Sneered Satharis.
He turned, showing his back to Nara and pushed on the dungeon doors. With Tantalus’ permission they whispered open, unhindered by dust or debris in the stone hinges. Light filled the atrium, blinding Nara. She raised a hand to shield her eyes and clutched her borrowed dagger, calculating potential attack vectors.
“We kept up our end of the bargain in good faith. If you return without Hattie then you will not be granted safe passage again.” Warned Satharis.
Nara circled to her right, trying to approach the dragon’s weak side or force him to give ground. If the dragon circled away from her then the path out of the dungeon would be clear. Her heart skipped a beat as the blue wyrm took a step towards her, extending both wings to their full length.
A column of white light appeared between them. From its base rose the figure of a man. Black robes with white accents covered the dark skinned man. His hands were empty and folded in front of him, a gesture of peace that matched his warm smile. Satharis lept backwards, beating his wings to gain distance between him and the figure. Nara held her ground, uncertain of the newcomer. Should he prove dangerous she would vanish and make a break for the exit. As if reading her mind the man spoke.
“No need to feel threatened by me, this is only an illusion.” Said the priest.
“Then step aside!” Shouted Nara.
At her request the priest followed Satharis, shooing the dragon further into the darkness. Satharis hit the illusion with a burst of flames, taking to the air and flying deeper into the dungeon.
“He can be so rude.” Said the priest, brushing off the front of his robes casually.
As if fire was no worse than the stray dog hair.
Nara had seen enough of this dungeon. Monsters that acted civil, making deals and offering peace, illusions of priests who served no function. She briefly wondered if the open doors were a trap, some sort of illusion that would lead her off a cliff. Only to realize it did not matter. She needed to leave, and that was the only way forward.
“We hope you’ll forgive our misunderstandings and return within a week, Nara. My name is Tantalus, and my goal is not so different from your own.” Said the illusion of Tantalus’ previous body.
Nara gave the man a once over. Careful to check behind her. Illusions and ambushes were common occurrences in dungeons, but this felt off. Like week old milk. She scooted her way past the illusion, using one foot to test the ground in front of her before shifting all her weight on it.
“What goal could a dungeon and an adventurer possibly share? My livelihood depends on stealing from you.” Questioned Nara, not really caring for an answer.
“Losing a trinket is nothing compared to being eaten alive by a Leviathan. I want to kill it. them. In truth, I have to kill it.” Corrected Tantalus.
Nara’s froze as her banter backfired. The dungeon wanted to kill a Leviathan? How did it even know about them? Dungeons should have been blind to the outside world.
“Jealous? They are larger than your entire dungeon.” Goaded Nara, taking a few cautious steps towards the door.
“I try not to compare sizes, the smaller always ends up feeling worse, and the larger man gains nothing. But you are right.” Opined Tantalus.
Nara inched towards the dungeon exit, a few more steps and she would pass beyond the dungeon’s power. Safety beckoned for her, whispering echoes of a soft bed and warm bread.
“Your livelihood depends on my trinkets, it was rude of me to think you would visit us for free. In the future we’ll have some treasure ready for you. I have to admit, I'm a relatively young dungeon, and well… You are the first visitors.” Said Tantalus.
Nara knew he was screwing with her now. Activating her vanish skill she strafed sideways then hunched over, tapping the ground in front of her with her hands before stepping forward. Her hurried probing forced her into an ungainly waddle, like a duck with foot long frog legs. Neither dragon, nor liar impeded her flight, and soon the soft squish of dirt comforted Nara. Dusty dirt had never felt so comforting as she left the dungeon, clearing the stone double doors. Decades of adventuring tempered her eagerness, causing her to pause and wait for her eyes to adjust.
Dungeons could not use their powers outside themselves, but they could send creatures beyond their bounds. Monsters that could ambush adventurers the instant they let their guard down.
Two days in near total darkness had left her eyes fully dilated, expanding to sense light that did not exist. Her eyes began to water from the daylight, she activated her stealth talent and groped forward. Crab walking into the blindness of daylight. After several laborious steps, Nara began to see the outlines of structures and bipedal creatures.
She blinked, clearing her tears and forcing her eyes to adjust. Wooden barricades had been built around the dungeon entrance and a half dozen armored guards were peeking around them, spears aimed at the dungeon doors. They showed no sign of noticing her, their eyes all focused on an empty dungeon. In the distance, she caught sight of the farmer’s house, now the center of a tent city, temporary housing that would keep their supplies dry until more permanent accommodations could be built.
Safety was within reach.
She advanced to the barricades, maintaining a prudent distance from the twitchy militia.
“My name is Pip- ahem. My name is Nara Piper Sophrona. I am the sole survivor of the dungeon exploration team. It is crucial that I report to Guildmaster Roark.” Said Nara.
The guards jumped in surprise as she spoke, scanning the dungeon doors with worried eyes. One guardsman, a lean man wearing a worn gambeson, managed to keep his composure. Leaning his spear against one barricade he used both hands to swing the adjacent barricade open.
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“We’ve been expecting you adventurer. Please show yourself and I’ll take you to the Guildmaster.” Said the guardsman, sounding almost bored with the whole affair.
Nara padded towards him, stopping just out of arms reach. His eyes followed her footsteps, detecting her before she appeared. Nara let her talents end, expecting to surprise the man by leaning forward and giving him an eyeful of her lowcut shirt. Dorian watched her appear, giving her a once over. His expression did not shift.
“Brave man. What is your name?” Asked Nara, something about this man intrigued her.
“You may call me command- ah, Sergeant Dorian. Former commander of the Fallbrook auxiliaries and current sergeant of the Tuxford Dungeon Watch.” Answered the man.
He waved her through the barricade and closed it behind her. The sound of stone grinding against stone reached them and both half elf and human turned towards the source. Tantalus stood in the doorway, waving goodbye as the twin stone doors closed by themselves.
“You said you were the sole survivor.”
“That’s nothign more than a dungeon trap, do not go in there if you value your life or the lives of your men.” Warned Nara.
“You heard her, stay out of the dungeon. Do not allow anything through.” Ordered Dorian.
His decisiveness left Nara dumbfounded. It was the right judgment call, but a newly appointed militia was usually full of bumbling fools. Men who lacked the guile to survive in a dungeon.
A barrage of “Yessir!” echoed from the guards. Bringing a smile to Nara’s face as Dorian escorted her through the terraced fields to the encampment. His guards might not be brave, but at least they could follow his orders.
“I heard Fallbrook fell recently, how long have you been in charge of ah!-” Nara began to ask, only to be interrupted by tripping over a stone in the path.
Dorian caught her by the arm, saving her from a tumble with his seasoned hands. She thanked him, and did not complain when Dorian wrapped his arm around her. Through his gambeson she could feel his muscles flex, taut wires steering her towards the largest tent. Two guards wearing the yellow colors of Tuxford stood guard in front of the tent. They nodded to Dorian and opened the tent flap.
“Captain Dorian reporting from the barricades sir!” Cried the guard.
Six figures stood inside the tent. Four of them clustered around a table covered in maps and letters. While two figures sat off to Nara’s left, quietly chanting a spell. Hattie’s orange hair became self evident as Nara entered the tent, a brilliant contrast next to Kendra’s dirty blonde locks.
“Piper!” Shouted Hattie, rushing to her side, ready to tackle her in a hug.
Dorian’s hand warded her away, and Kendra caught her an instant before she reached Nara. One of the men she did not recognize, an older man in an expensive looking Tuxford yellow tunic, found a chair for her. One she gratefully collapsed into. Dorian Stood behind her, one hand resting on her shoulder in a not so friendly gesture.
“You know the guild bylaws as well as I do. When an adventurer returns from a dungeon alone, they must be examined. Hattie, Kendra, inform me of anything unusual as you detect it.” Ordered Konrad.
Kendra’s eyes began to glow and Hattie just stared. Her smile slipping from the friendly face of an old friend returning too an accusatory slash. Konrad offered Nara a waterskin which she drained, finding the water to be tepid. Yet, it had been over a day since she last quenched her thirst, elevating the stale liquid to heavenly ambrosia.
“Aah… Thank you sir. Nara Piper Sophrona reporting.”
She raised her hand to retrieve the luckstone Nestor had given her, only to realize the white knuckled grip she had on Nestor’s dagger. Dry blood cracked as she forced her hand open, wincing as stiff fingers let the dagger fall to the dirt floor.
“Uh, sorry.” She said lamely, finger joints popping as the tension fled from them.
“By Olympus! You look like Cerberus himself was chasing you out of the dungeon.” Exclaimed Konrad, retrieving the fallen dagger.
Nara had grasped the blade so firmly that the fine wire wrapping of the hilt left a clear imprint on her palm. Placing her knife hand in her lap she began massaging it, working the knotted muscles between her fingers.
“Hattie has already informed us of Eric’s betrayal. She also mentioned Nestor was… unwell when she was forcibly teleported away.” Said Konrad.
His words prompted Nara, reminding her where she was.
“Uh, yes sir. It doesn’t feel real, but it’s just as she said. A dragon ambushed Eric, ah, it was so stupid really, the idiot got trapped in a burning tent and went berserk, he attacked us to try and kill his way back into health. A lifestealing renegade.” Nara shot a glance at Hattie’s neck, finding an angry pink line was all that remained of Eric’s lethal cut.
“I saw his axe cut through your neck, saw your blood spray in the darkness. How is it you are standing here alive?” Continued Nara.
Hattie rubbed her neck. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat as all eyes turned to her.
“Nestor gave me a, uh, protection item, otherwise… Otherwise I would be dead.” She whispered.
Kendra wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders squeezing her in solidarity with the younger class mate. Nara choked on what she needed to say next. Unable to speak she reached into her bra, retrieving the luckstone Nestor had given her.
“Nestor was a good man… He told me to give this to you Konrad.” She said.
Recognition smashed itself across Konrad’s face, telling everyone present that the talisman carried a value far greater than its magic. Konrad turned the luckstone over, then moved it to his free hand before placing the luckstone on the table, reverently aligning it next to Nestor’s blade.
The man in Tuxford yellow interrupted their moment of silence.
“Adventurer Piper, where is the divine swordsman? Why did you return with his least important trinkets? Could it be that you took advantage of the situation and hid the heaven’s blade for yourself?”
Nara scowled and was about to yell at the man when Konrad spoke.
“Lord Tuxford, you dishonor yourself with a baseless question like that.” Growled Konrad.
“The Heaven’s blade is a national treasure, there is no greater weapon on the entire continent!” Cried Lord Tuxford, face reddening at the prospect of Nestor’s death.
“Lord Tuxford, I do not involve myself in the business of your farms. Please do not involve yourself in adventurer business.
Nara had never felt gratitude towards Konrad until that moment. His small defense reignited Nestor’s words, forever carving their intent onto her heart.
“Nestor warned me not to touch the divine blade. Told me to take his dagger instead. Uhm, my blade was in a goblin’s skull, so I borrowed his to… It was the only way.” Said Nara.
Her words caught in her throat again. Silence fell across the room as all parties imagined what had transpired.
“Piper… Why does your status screen say rank 111?” Whispered Hattie, naively confirming her grandfather’s fate.
Konrad, Kendra, and Dorian winced in unison. As seasoned commanders they had experienced the worst aspects of life, from victory to defeat they knew that sometimes the only way to prevent a tragedy was to perform one. To take the XP of their wounded comrades with them.
Nara couldn’t look away from Hattie. She watched as the gears turned in the younger woman’s mind. Tears appeared in their eyes, growing in unison like mirrored waterfalls. Hattie sprang from her chair, grasping Nara’s face so she could pour her sorrow from eye to eye.
“What happened Piper? What did you do?” Begged Hattie.
“He ordered me to, ordered me- to take the XP, and escape.” Choked out Nara, her voice barely a whisper.
Tears ran down Hattie’s cheeks. Flowing freely as she processed the words. She shook Nara violently.
“What did you do Piper?” Shouted Hattie.
“Where is my grandpa!”
Nara caught her by the waist, pulling her into a hug as she tried to answer the girl’s questions. Her mouth worked silently, obeying her body yet refusing to vocalize. Hattie’s voice cracked, breaking into ragged sobs before falling into broken howls. Konrad loomed over Hattie, ready to separate the two women at a moment’s notice. Exuding the strength and wisdom that had earned him his nickname of guild bulwark.
Nara was reminded of Nestor’s last words. Words that carried the same strength and wisdom she saw in Konrad. Gently pushing Hattie onto her lap, Nara found her voice.
“It was his last request. To take the XP, and… protect you.”
Reaching towards Hattie’s belt, Nara freed the redhead’s dagger, whipping it around as she brought the blade’s point to her chest. Deftly guiding the pommel to Hattie’s hand. Reflexes controlled her fingers, and Hattie grasped the blade, holding Nara’s life in her hands.
“Nestor saved my life. He asked that I reciprocate that life debt. If passing on his XP will help, then it is yours.” Whispered Nara.
The room was deathly quiet as all present held their breath. Nara marveled at her words, not knowing how her comrades would respond. She sat in silence, elven ears able to distinguish the beating of six human hearts.
Hattie’s grip on the blade tightened. Her elbow rose, aligning with the blade for a thrust. Nara closed her eyes, resigned to her fate. Nestor was right. Evolution was a goal she could never attain. With the secret requirement to evolution she could never obtain immortality via evolution. The best thing now would be for her life to end. For the XP she did not earn to go to someone with a future.
The sword pierced her flesh. Tip parting the skin between her peaks with no resistance. Then the pressure lifted. Vanishing suddenly.
She must be pulling the blade back so she can build momentum for a thrust. Hattie is a diviner, her strength is probably too low for a clean thrust. Ouch. This might hurt… A lot.
Clenching her jaw, Nara readied her mind for the incoming torment. She was down an eye, her archery skills would be unusable until it could be healed. Which might not happen. Recovery magic of that level was hard to obtain, nothing short of a miracle would replace an eyeball. Artificial eyes occasionally dropped from dungeons, though they were rare as hen’s teeth.
Rather than wait for a miracle, I’ll be Hattie’s.
Metal clanged against stone. Hair, fabric, and a wet face pressed into Nara’s, confusing her as Hattie wrapped her in a hug so tight she thought the girl might mean to strangle her. Nara opened her eyes. Konrad stood over them, Kendra next to him. Ready to intervene at a moment’s notice.
Hattie buried her face in Nara’s ear. Whispering so no one else could hear.
“Don’t leave me.”