As Alizz sits behind her office desk at the Challenger's Association HQ, with Kelsey sitting on a chair off to the side, she can't help but have to suppress a shiver at the sight of her current guest. There are a few reasons for the drider to be on her guard; for one thing, the woman is on the list of suspected realmwalkers that the dungeon had sent their way a week or two previously. That the woman is now sitting across from her, alone, is clearly a sign that something in that whole affair is about to get more complicated.

For another, something about Liani Darkspire just seems wrong in a way she can't quite pin down. Her appearance is certainly unusual - her rather pale skin and red eyes would make Alizz think that perhaps she's meeting an albino, although her dark hair seems to belie that. Of course, hair dye was easy enough to obtain to explain the flaw in that supposition. But beyond that, well - Alizz's Challenger class is that of a Mana Wrecker, a Mage class which specializes in the breaking of spells and enchantments crafted by other Mages. That means she has quite a well-developed mana sense, and Liana's mana is...twisted, raveled around itself in a way that would make Alizz fear for health complications in most people. She's not working today as a medical specialist, however, and so instead she keeps her tone of voice in her 'official Association Administrator' mode of speech.

"Good morning, Ms. Darkspire. Kelsey here tells me you had an urgent matter to bring to our attention today? Normally I require more of an appointment, but, ah...I'm willing to believe that this is an important matter. Or am I wrong?"

The woman nods with a confident look, but it seems to shatter away the moment she opens her mouth to speak. Her jaw hangs open briefly as her expression turns to one of apparent embarrassment, or perhaps contrition, before she continues. "I...I have been bid by my grandmother and master, Xenia Worthy, to report two murders to you. One of them being committed by myself, the other by...ah, it's a complicated matter."

Alizz shifts uneasily in her sofa-sized seat as she shoots Kelsey a worried glance. "Explain, please. First things first, on what grounds do you claim the dungeon as being your master? Or your family, for that matter?"

The woman bows her head, as if greeting Alizz for the first time. "I'm afraid that I requested this meeting under false pretenses. This body is that of Liani Darkspire, but my name is Yulia Bogdanov, currently serving as Floor Guardian of Floor Nine of Worthy Dungeon, at my grandmother's forbearance."

That makes Kelsey sit up a little straighter. "Wait a minute, wait a minute! We saw you the other day, yeah, but that was when you took over that orc fella's body! Don't tell me you're pulling that trick on the entire town, now!"

Yulia shakes her head. "I had been planning to further infiltrate my...former associates further, yes, but following the final death of Pulg yesterday I have been instructed to stop such things. Grandmother was...not well pleased by my 'scheme', as she put it. This is currently the only body I possess beyond the dungeon."

The confession makes Alizz's ebon skin turn a little paler. "Wait, I only stayed out of this possession mess because I thought Xenia had a plan! It's just been you - a dungeon monster - running about off the leash the whole time!?" The administrator sucks in a breath as she rubs her forehead. "Godsdamn it. If anyone finds out I was this sloppy, it could mean my job. But, no, that's not the important thing right now." She looks back up at Yulia, refocused. "These murders you mentioned - this wouldn't have something to do with an event, what, two or three days ago, would it?"

The pale woman nods. "Just before I took her form, Liani fed on a young man. As vampires do, yes? I admit, I helped conceal the act - but I have severed Liani's soul from this body, so the criminal has been punished. That, ah, would be the second murder, you see."

Alizz glances again at Kelsey before staring at Yulia for a while. "...Okay, this is far outside of my jurisdiction. Well, no, actually. I'm pretty sure that the Association rulebook says that right now, Kelsey and I should immediately slay you, and then I should submit a report to headquarters to suggest a council on whether or not Worthy Dungeon needs to be core-cracked. But I cannot express in words how much I very much do not want to do that. Of course, that doesn't even get into the part where there are a couple squads worth of infiltrators from another realm here, which I have not reported to the kingdom as a personal favor to Xenia. ...Gods, I am so very, very fired if this blows up."

Seeing that his boss needs a moment, Kelsey steps in. "This situation started fucked up and it ain't been gettin' any better, for sure, but we can at least keep this from gettin' worse. Okay, for starters - just what exactly do you plan to do with this - gods, a vampire, really - with this vampire lass's body you're walkin' around in?"

"At the moment, I have no plans. However, I am to also report to you that the matter of Prince Thaddeus is perhaps grown somewhat more urgent. There was an, ahem, confrontation in the dungeon yesterday, and the prince was not dissuaded from his plans to remove grandmother from the dungeon, and indeed, the realm entire. He called a meeting last night to tell the rest of his followers to accelerate their clearing of the dungeon, so that eventually they may all group up for a final strike together. I understand the Challenger term for this is a 'raid', yes?"

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"A raid? That - those are strictly forbidden in Worthy Dungeon right now!" Alizz clenches her teeth. "The dungeon doesn't have any guardians currently classified as raid-level threats, and there's too much risk that a raid could be a cover for a core-cracking attempt. Which I suppose this is, in a sense. This...this has gone too far. I don't know if the Association has the manpower to force a confrontation, but Kelsey, if we can get help from Commander Paulados at the Fort - "

Alizz finds herself interrupted by her guest before she can finish her statement. "No! Apologies, but I attended the prince's meeting, as you see me now, and reported the results to my grandmother. She wishes for the raid to proceed."

"What? Why in the world would she want that? It's not like she gains some sort of benefit for killing a large group of Challengers all at once...or at least, not as far as I know."

"This is, well...it is a family matter. Grandmother does not wish to see her descendants spend the rest of their days in a Rainlander dungeon, or slain unnecessarily. Not everyone joined Thaddeus for the same reasons, nor had the same history in our home realm. Therefore, grandmother wishes to judge them herself and decide their fates."

Kelsey scratches his head. "By...what? Watching them kill Lollyp and Taly a few times? What the hells is that going to show her?"

Yulia turns to face the kobold. "Not through violence, no - or at least, not entirely through violence. You see, there is one key mistake Thaddeus is making, in his haste."

Alizz snorts. "What, beyond messing with Xenia in the first place? Threatening a dungeon who knows you're coming is practically suicidal, at least for one of Xenia's strength. Maybe if it were some other year-old dungeon, that would play out better."

"True, but I refer to something more factual." Yulia grins, exposing her vampiric fangs. "You see, Thaddeus's understanding of dungeons is not complete. Something overlooked in his study of such things, it seems. Grandmother has shortcut portals, allowing people to skip floors they have previously cleared, as you know?"

The administrator motions for her to continue. "As does nearly every dungeon, of course."

"Yes, they are very common - so common that the prince believes that these shortcuts are mandatory. That is, that grandmother must allow Challengers to skip previously cleared floors. He has ordered his followers to clear their way up through Floor Six - which should be within their talents - at which point all shall gather together for a final push through the last three floors. He does not understand that grandmother can force their raid to restart at Floor One, once it arrives."

Alizz blinks at that. "Did no one tell...well, I guess it's rare enough that a dungeon doesn't use shortcuts that no one ever brought it up in a conversation. But how does this help Xenia 'test' people, beyond the usual combat and puzzle challenges?"

"There are eleven remaining followers of this second group, not counting Liani, too many for a single party, at least without provoking the responses a 'raid' might trigger. Grandmother intends to take advantage of these smaller groups, perhaps split them up further, and...well, I admit, I do not know her plans at a fine level of detail. But I know she is working on, ah...'special modifications' to some of the floors, specifically for these followers."

"Well, that don't sound at all intimidating." Kelsey scoffs. "I hope there ain't gonna be any risk of these modifications catching any bystanders up in this mess, at least?"

"I am told it should not be too difficult for her to revert her modifications, it is mostly a matter of spending the mana. But even then, we are not talking about a matter of filling the halls with a hundred more deathtraps. Hmm, no, I believe grandmother has something more...subtly devious in mind."

There's a bit of a soft smile on her face as she says that which only disturbs Alizz further. "You seem to have a very high opinion of your, ah...grandmother. Are you sure she doesn't need our assistance with this?"

Yulia shakes her head. "I am largely here as a courtesy, and to ensure there is no interference - although she does thank you for your assistance so far. But, ah, you see, you have not grown up with the legends I have. Once, grandmother was renowned for her ability to outwit so-called 'champions'. To humiliate them on the battlefield, break their principles in the dungeons, to turn their strengths into weaknesses and their weaknesses into strengths. I think that, perhaps, she wishes to dust off these old skills...if, perhaps, in reverse."

Alizz sighs. "...I'm not sure I even want to know exactly what you're referring to there. I know I'm out of the loop on most of Xenia's history, and I don't mind staying that way. But, fine - you keep the standard Challengers out of this, and then at least I won't have to worry about this getting caught up in the paperwork. But again, if Xenia needs help, please let us know. The security of the dungeon is one of our primary concerns, after all. Second to that of the Challengers themselves."

Yulia nods. "No worries - the dungeon shall be as safe - or, perhaps, unsafe - as it ever was."

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"So, you got the gig?"

Grizza looks down at the much shorter Alchemist and nods. "We have - not for the full party, or all at once, but three of us will be joining an existing party of three. We'll be working on floors Three and Four, which are easy enough for us these days, so there should be plenty of opportunity to try and work in some gossip and whatnot. Perhaps I'll even suggest a celebration on Floor Five afterwards."

Tinsel grins at the suggestion. "Anytime you can party on the Army's dime, I say go for it. Just keep your senses sharp, alright? We still don't know much about what this group is after, but command - y'know, as always - is suspecting more Dragonlord trickery. So anything could happen."

The drider nods. "No worries, Alchemist. I'm sure everything will go just fine."