They had been tracking for several hours now. Tiddles had found the trail easily once they had left the immediate vicinity of the township, and they had been making good time. They had not come upon any Geblex on the route. It was knowing that they may be hidden in abandoned buildings that had worried them. The companions had stopped at several to check on the way when Tiddles picked up a more pungent scent, but none had been discovered. The sun had journeyed across the sky, bringing a false warmth for spring, and it was now heading into the west and would disappear again in a few hours. They had decided they did not want to be outside when the sun did go down and knew they might soon have to return to town. The only foresight was that the return trip would be much quicker now they knew the direction of travel. Kyto had been updating a map Lars had provided of the surrounding area. They could not chance being caught alone with the four of them against a whole Geblex army.
Thankfully, Sniffer and Lars had not had any side effects from joining the party since the previous evening, and Kyto assumed the sickness was only caused once you left. Tabs had not been in the party long enough for him to confirm his suspicions, though.
"The stench is getting stronger," Tiddles said as the truck pulled up alongside him, where he now waited. The Geblex had been travelling by roads for most of the journey, it seemed, due to easier travel than cutting through the course fields, woodland, and forest areas that now covered the land.
"I still cannot smell anything," Kyto replied.
"Risen could not smell one unless it stood before them," Tiddles replied.
"I am pretty sure we all smelled them in the town."
"Only once they were chopped up and spread all over," Tiddles said, smiling.
The flashback to the battlefield scenes made Kyto shudder. Their remains had been spread everywhere, and their dark blood covered the ground, giving off a foul, mouldy stench.
"How close do you think we are from them?" Kyto asked.
"Not sure exactly, but pretty close, maybe a mile or so."
"Tiddles thinks they may only be a mile or so away." Kyto relayed.
"We better park up then and go on foot," Sniffer said.
"What if we need to get away?" Kyto asked a little nervously.
"It is still daylight. We know they are nocturnal." Sniffer replied, smiling at him.
"True. I do not fancy walking into a group of a few hundred of them with just the four of us."
"Nor do I," Sniffer replied. Sniffer had not yet fought them, having been helping with triage during the previous battle, but had seen them close enough to see their ferocity and aggression when pulling wounded bodies from the battlefield areas. Sniffer pulled the truck off the road in front of a collapsed building, and they climbed out, recovering their backpacks from the cage at the rear.
Tiddles slowed their pace as he continued to track the Geblex. Sniffer could also clearly see their signs of movement and tracks in the softer earth along the roadsides. "They have been moving both ways, but I would not like to guess how many have been through here."
"If the town was anything to go by, a couple of thousand at least," Kyto replied.
"Did we ever get a count of how many were killed?" Sniffer asked.
Lars put his fingers up and signed the number. 'One thousand one hundred and forty-six'
"And Tiddles killed over 400 himself. That is a huge number." Sniffer replied.
"Still too many losses of our own, though, in comparison," Kyto replied.
Lars nodded, agreeing, signing, 'Too many people who were not brawlers.'
"At least they tried to defend the town, unlike some," Kyto said.
"Wait here." Tiddles suddenly said.
"Wait." Kyto relayed.
Tiddles moved ahead, suddenly disappearing as he triggered his skills and vanished into the shadows of the trees lining the roadside. The three stood nervously, waiting until his form reappeared.
"Five hundred metres ahead looks like a cave entrance," he said as he neared.
"Five hundred metres ahead, there is a cave."
"Well, that makes sense that they are underground," Sniffer said.
"Should we go and investigate?" Kyto asked.
"It is still light, so I think it should be safe, too," Tiddles said.
They slowly approached, following Tiddles’s path as he led them towards the cave. On arriving at the location, they could all see the entrance. It was not a cave but an opening that had once had large doors sealing it. "I think that used to be a mine," Sniffer said.
Kyto had never been in a mine but knew that some townships across the east still mined ores. It was pretty rare, though, as most materials came from recycling and repurposing existing metal items. "There does not appear to be anything around."
"The tracks lead straight up to the entranceway," Sniffer said as they slowly walked across the area leading to the entrance.
"Could we not block them in there?" Kyto asked.
"I doubt it, from my experience and knowledge of mines. They have multiple exits, just in case of cave-ins," Sniffer replied.
"That sucks, then," Kyto replied.
"Would have been easy if that is all we have to do."
"I will go inside and see what is in there," Tiddles said.
"Be careful," Kyto said.
Tiddles turned and activated his skill again and moved towards the old doorway. The large metal door was wide open and stood at a slight angle, showing that it had buckled over time. He cautiously approached before stepping into the gloom. The mine was pitch-black, and he stood at the entrance, allowing his eyes to adjust before continuing inside. The stench of mould and dampness from the Geblex clung to his nostrils. The mine entrance was wide, and where it had been abandoned for so long, Tiddles could see the old equipment and plants that had grown in the cracks of the brickwork built inside the initial entranceway. They were covered in moss and lichens, and the dampness and moisture in the air clung to his fur. The tunnel went down for a hundred feet before it opened into a larger cavern area, with the rough cut-out walls of rockface replacing the cracked and broken brickwork of the entrance tunnel. He had still seen no signs of Geblex apart from their tracks and slowly moved inside. The open cavern was eighty feet long and probably forty high, and there were old storage cages and long, rusted items of mining equipment lying broken and useless on the floor.
Several areas looked like they had been recently disturbed, and Tiddles was sure that some of the clubs the Geblex had been using were fashioned from the discarded equipment remains. A smaller tunnel mouth and cage were at the far end of the cavern. As he approached, he could hear and feel the faint breath of air coming from deeper inside the mine. The cage itself hung over a drop, and it looked like a lift of sorts, which in days of old would have carried miners up and down into the depths of its tunnels. It now stood twisted and broken, and looking at it. It would never be operational again. The framework buckled and rusted. To the side of the shaft, a second tunnel led further inside, and he approached it cautiously, the smell now getting much stronger. As he stepped into this secondary tunnel, his display was triggered.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
Only party leaders may confirm access to the Infestation Dungeon—time remaining to complete 8 days, 7 hours, 34 minutes.
'What the hell does that mean?' he thought to himself. He tried to step forward into the tunnel, but it was as though an invisible barrier stopped him. It did not matter how much he forced himself against the unseen wall. He could not step beyond it as he strained his muscle-bound form, pushing his shoulder into the barrier. He took a few steps back and ran at the tunnel, bouncing back off the unseen barrier. 'Damn,' he thought. No signs of Geblex were in the entrance area, and the scent was overpowering from this smaller tunnel. He could vaguely see further into it, and it was much rougher cut than the other tunnels and did not look like it had existed as long as the main cavern, with no visible signs of moss or lichens clinging to its sharp-edged walls.
Tiddles headed back towards the entrance tunnel and went back outside. "What did you find?" Kyto asked on his return.
"They are definitely in there, but I cannot get through one of the tunnels. It has a barrier. The main entrance chamber is clear." Tiddles replied.
"Can we not just move the barrier?" Kyto asked.
"No, I got a message when I tried to enter saying only party leaders may confirm access to the infestation dungeon and a countdown timer," he replied
"Dungeon! What does it mean by dungeon." Kyto asked.
"I have no idea. You are the party leader, so I suppose you need to go in and see what it says for you."
"I need to go inside. There seems to be some barrier stopping Tiddles from entering further due to him not being party leader," Kyto commented to the others.
"Any signs of the Geblex?" Sniffer asked. As they approached the mine entrance, Lars and Sniffer drew their pistols and held them ready at their sides.
"Although they have been here, nothing is in the entrance area. Tiddles thinks they are deeper inside."
Lars signed to Kyto, 'We should go and check so we know what to inform the guard when they arrive.'
"Let's go and take a look at this barrier. If anything happens, we'll run, though," Kyto said.
The four companions agreed, and with Tiddles leading the way, they entered the mine with trepidation. Tiddles quite quickly, strolling ahead back towards the entrance cavern. As soon as they were more than a few feet inside the entranceway, the darkness was too much for the eyes of the Risen, and Kyto called his familiar, the bright yellow ball of light casting its ethereal glow into the depths of the darkness. The light cast from its radiant glow formed dancing patterns on the tunnel's cracked walls. Tiddles boldly lead them into the cavern. Kyto's familiar, not casting its light far enough to see the entire size of the cavern.
"It is over here," Tiddles said as he walked across the cavern towards the lift shaft and secondary tunnel.
Kyto could smell the damp, mouldy stench of the creatures now, but there were no visible signs of them nor sounds. The silence was only broken by their cautious footfalls as they moved across the cavern. On reaching the far side of the cavern, the side tunnel became visible, its roughly hewn sides contrasting with the much smoother and older cavern they were standing in.
"Here." Tiddles indicated the tunnel, and he began walking towards it before stopping. He pushed his massive shoulder against the entranceway, where there was no visible sign of a barrier, and Kyto could see the strain on his face as he did so.
Kyto walked forward and, putting his hand out cautiously, reached towards the tunnel entrance. His hand stopped against the barrier, and his display was triggered.
As party leader, would you like to take your party into the Infestation Dungeon? Yes/No. Time remaining to complete 8 days, 7 hours, 23 minutes.
"I have a message asking if I want to enter the dungeon or not, and the countdown timer says it has eight days to complete. Should I accept the message?" he asked, evident nervous tension in his voice.
"Do we have a choice?" Sniffer asked.
Lars shrugged in response.
"We could wait for the guard and then enter," Kyto replied.
"We could, but we know nothing more than they are here somewhere. We have no ideas of numbers or anything else of use," Tiddles replied.
"I suppose we can see what it says if I accept yes," Kyto said.
He returned his hand to the invisible wall, and the message reappeared.
As party leader, would you like to take your party into the Infestation Dungeon? Yes/No. Time remaining to complete 8 days, 7 hours, 21 minutes.
He accepted Yes.
Congratulations, you have found your first dungeon in the age of the Enlightened.
The Infestation Dungeon must be cleared within the time limit to prevent the final invasion wave from attacking New Talisia. Successful completion of the dungeon will give hidden rewards.
WARNING - dungeons are scaled to the party size entering. Your codex will provide you with further details.
"I have messages. It says if we defeat the dungeon within the time limit, we will prevent the third wave, and hidden rewards exist. It also mentions that the party size alters the dungeon. Whatever that means. I have to check the codex as it has been updated."
Kyto noticed Tiddles’s eyes glaze slightly, and he knew he was also now reading the Codex as he focussed on his own.
Dungeons
Dungeons are System-integrated areas of space where challenges can be created to allow for a party and Enlightened growth.
A dungeon's strength is decided by the party members who enter; adding party members may not bring the benefits you believe.
Some dungeons may even be for members to face alone.
Dungeons are not for the faint-hearted, as death takes an unnatural form in them; only experience of death will show you its true nature.
All dungeons are time-limited, and failure to complete some dungeons may result in further consequences for those unable to.
Dungeons may hold vast rewards or boosts of growth for those brave enough to challenge them.
Brawling is not the only answer within a dungeon, as there will be many pitfalls for those unprepared.
Dungeons currently discovered 1 of 1
Infestation Dungeon - 8 days, 7 hours, 16 mins remaining - failure to complete the dungeon within the time limit will release the third wave incursion.
"That sounds fucking ominous," Tiddles said, turning to Kyto.
"Yes, it does," Kyto replied as he read the description for Sniffer and Lars.
"What the hell does it mean death takes an unnatural form, and only experience of death shows its true nature," Sniffer asked wide-eyed.
"No idea, but it scares the shit out of me. Now I have accepted the party entering. We may as well see what is in there." Kyto said nervously.
He took a step toward the barrier. His hand felt no resistance as he moved forward and crossed the invisible wall.
"Shit, where did you go!" Sniffer said, suddenly being left in pitch darkness on the other side.
"What do you mean? I am standing right here." Kyto replied, turning towards Sniffer and then realising that his familiar was not casting light back past the barrier.
"It is like he just disappeared." Sniffer continued.
Lars shrugged in response and took a step towards the barrier. Kyto watched, and as Lars walked through, he saw a slight shimmer in the barrier surface. Then, he stood next to Kyto.
"Fuck it." They heard Sniffer say as he stepped forward. He appeared next to them, followed by Tiddles.
"Well, that was interesting," Tiddles said.
The tunnel led further into the depths of the mine, and Kyto's familiar casting light only twenty feet or so into the pitch dark, not easing any of their apprehension.
"Wait here. I will go scout again." Tiddles said, disappearing from their vision as he walked from the familiar’s light.
Kyto's nerves were on edge, his palms sweaty, and he knew he was close to panic. It was as though a dread was gripping him from deep inside, simultaneously drawing him forward. All three of them looked like they were fighting internal demons, stood waiting for Tiddles to return, and no one spoke.
Tiddles walked down the tunnel. It continued for one hundred feet, leading him down a slight gradient. On reaching the end of the tunnel, he saw a small chamber ahead. The chamber was only twenty feet round, and there were no signs of Geblex. The stench of them was still heavy in the air, though. He entered the chamber, and off to one side, he noticed a faint glowing pattern on the chamber floor. He walked over to it and looked at it, wondering what it was. It gave off an ashen blue colour and reminded him of Kyto's shield when it flashed. He stepped onto the markings cautiously, but nothing happened. 'Strange' he thought.
Leading from this chamber, he had two choices of tunnel. The first seemed to head down a steeper gradient before he could see it sweeping to the left, and the other remained on a shallow slope and curved to the right. 'Which way?' he thought to himself. He decided on the right and slowly began to pad down the tunnel. The floor underneath his feet was made from packed earth, and he could not see signs or tracks of Geblex in it. He continued following the tunnel for a few minutes as it twisted and turned, leading further into the depths. He turned a final sweeping curve and was met by a solid wooden door in front of him. 'Where the hell has that come from?' he thought. He walked up to it, and there were symbols on the door that he could read even though he had never seen them before.
Dungeon level 1
'Level 1, I wonder how many there are.' he stood contemplating what to do and then decided to head back to inform the others. He turned and trotted back up the tunnel, knowing he had just come down an empty tunnel. On reaching the small chamber, he checked the steeper left tunnel before returning. Turning into it, the gradient gradually increased as he moved forward until it reached a point where even he struggled to stop sliding.
He pushed his claws into the soft earth to regain traction and moved forward. His vision in the darkness was many times better than Risen, but it was still not perfect, and he did not notice the slight depression ahead of him. As he placed his foot into it, there was a swooshing sound, and he realised at the last moment that a large blade now swung towards his back. He sprung forward to get out of its way, which was a fatal error. He landed on what he believed was packed earth on the steep gradient for it to crumble away under his weight. He scrabbled furiously at the sides of the tunnel as he began to fall downwards into a pit.
Their displays were triggered all at once as they saw Tiddles’s health suddenly disappear, and a small cross appeared by his name.
"No," screamed Sniffer as he began to run down the tunnel.