Yvlon Byres woke up and realized two things. Firstly, that Falene had hit her with a sleep spell. And secondly, that she\u2019d been tied to her bed. With a spell. The magical bindings looked like they were barely more than strips of glowing cloth, but no matter how hard Yvlon struggled and cursed, she couldn\u2019t make the crisscrossing bands of light shift at all. They were webbing her to her bed.<\/p>\n
In armor. With the blankets covering her up to her neck. Someone had even put a pillow under her head. Ylawes, probably. Damn him. It was sweltering with both armor and blankets on\u2014it was that heat and the unpleasant sweat that had woken Yvlon up. She struggled, cursed, and then noticed something right in front of her.<\/p>\n
Someone else<\/em> had put a sandwich right on her chest, so that Yvlon could tilt her head forwards and bite it if she was hungry. That was probably Dawil. Yvlon stared at it, and then swore.<\/p>\n \u201cYLAWES!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Her scream of frustration went unanswered. Yvlon craned her head, trying to look around. The Silver Swords had put her in her room and judging by the three chairs, they\u2019d been present for a good while. But they weren\u2019t here now and Yvlon could see the sky was brighter. Rain was pattering against the window as always, but she would have bet anything it was morning.<\/p>\n \u201cThat damn half-Elf put me to sleep until morning? Falene! <\/em>Take this spell off me! Ylawes! <\/em>Where are you?\u201d<\/p>\n Normally Yvlon would have expected her brother to be about. He always had thought of himself as her guardian, whether she liked it or not. But he didn\u2019t arrive. And neither did anyone else.<\/p>\n Yvlon strained against the magical ropes holding her down. What was<\/em> this spell? She hadn\u2019t journeyed with many [Mages]\u2014the Silver Spears hadn\u2019t had any\u2014and neither Ceria nor Pisces were on Falene\u2019s level. Then again, maybe this was just a Tier 3 spell. The only problem was that the ropes bound Yvlon\u2019s arms and legs so she couldn\u2019t exert any real kind of force.<\/p>\n \u201cIs anyone there? Let me out! Hello?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon bellowed, but she couldn\u2019t hear anyone. Where was Erin? Lyonette? \u2026Bird? Had the Silver Swords convinced them not to let Yvlon go?<\/p>\n \u201cI have to find Ceria! Let me go! She\u2019s my teammate! If you can hear me\u2014I really need to visit the outhouse!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n That last admission made Yvlon flush, but it was a real and growing concern. Yvlon screamed as loud as she could and, at last, the door opened.<\/p>\n \u201cHello Comrade Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr walked into the room. He looked down at his feet and he was hunched over, appearing smaller than normal. Yvlon stared at him in surprise, then relief.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr! Help me break this enchantment!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Falene told me not to. So did Mister Ylawes. They told me you would get yourself injured or killed if I did.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? That arrogant pointy-eared\u2014ignore them. Ceria\u2019s down below, Ksmvr! We need to save her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Gold-rank teams are already in the dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon swore. It was later than she\u2019d thought. She twisted as hard as she could and succeeded in knocking the sandwich off her chest.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, we need to enter the dungeon too.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will not make a difference. We will only get hurt.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a risk I\u2019m willing to take. Ksmvr, come on.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon frowned at Ksmvr. Agitated as she was, she could still tell that something was wrong with him. Normally the Antinium would be jumping to follow her slightest suggestions. She\u2019d expected him to be trying to enter the dungeon on his own. But Ksmvr looked deflated.<\/p>\n \u201cI cannot be a good part of the team, Yvlon. I will not be able to protect you or function as an adequate member of the Horns of Hammerad. I have failed our group twice now. I have no place here. I have been writing my letter of resignation.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked down at his feet. Yvlon stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr, what are you talking about? You\u2019re not a failure.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI am. I am worthless. I went to Revalantor Klbkch for help, but I was unable to scratch him or persuade him to help me find Ceria. And it was my failure to stop the Raskghar that led to Captain Ceria\u2019s abduction.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be ridiculous!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon shouted. Ksmvr started. Yvlon\u2019s face turned red as she heaved<\/em>. She heard the bed crack, but the magical bindings did not.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014did\u2014nothing\u2014wrong! We were all there and we\u2014failed\u2014too! Damn! <\/em>You went to see Klbkch? I got knocked out from a single spell by Falene! If you\u2019re a failure, what does that make me? We both made mistakes, Ksmvr. But are you going to let Ceria die if no one else can find her? Are you her friend? Are you my teammate or not?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr stared at Yvlon. He looked down at his three hands, and then his shoulders straightened.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course!\u201d<\/p>\n He shook his entire body as Yvlon smiled in relief. Ksmvr strode over to the bed and paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat should I do, Yvlon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026pull this magic rope stuff off me!\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr obediently reached for one of the shining streamers of magic. He pulled at it, but it was so tightly wrapped around Yvlon that he could barely get a grip on it. And when he did pull, he only dragged the bed and Yvlon a few feet across the room with a dull screeching sound. Yvlon grimaced.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t working. Break the bed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the bed is Miss Erin\u2019s property.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll pay for it! Just break the bed, Ksmvr! Hit me! Jump on top of the bed! Give it a good kick, I don\u2019t care! I\u2019ve got armor on!\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr hesitated, but he eventually clambered on top of the bed and began leaping on it. Yvlon heard the wooden frame creak<\/em> and groan<\/em> and then snap.<\/em> She yelped and Ksmvr waved his arms and fell backwards as the bed collapsed in a heap. Yvlon heard the wood snap and tried to sit up\u2014only to find that the magical bands had constricted even tighter around her.<\/p>\n \u201cSilver and steel! You have got<\/em> to be kidding me!\u201d<\/p>\n She wriggled and tried to move, only to find that now she was stuck to part of the broken bed and the mattress. And the infernal covers! Ksmvr crawled into Yvlon\u2019s line of sight, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI have hit my head. It appears that the spell still remains in effect, Comrade Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n She glared at him. Ksmvr reached out and grabbed her with three arms.<\/p>\n \u201cI will attempt to pull you up.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium heaved and Yvlon felt her body rise. She was impressed\u2014Ksmvr was lifting her, her armor, and<\/em> the bed. He grunted and she stumbled. She was on her feet! Wrapped up like a caterpillar, true, but she was upright! She tried to walk and found her feet were tied together. She could only hop.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods, I am going to murder Falene and my brother.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon gritted her teeth. Ksmvr tilted his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI believe you are in no shape to take offensive action whatsoever, Yvlon. How will we dispel this magic?\u201d<\/p>\n The Human woman took a deep breath.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s only one way we can do it. Where\u2019s Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIn his room. He has not left. Nor has he responded to anyone\u2019s attempts to open the door. It is locked.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHelp me get there.\u201d<\/p>\n It was hard for Yvlon to say whether she was angry at Pisces or not. Last night she\u2019d been in a panic, and he\u2019d been\u2014what? After he\u2019d threatened the Goblin, he\u2019d gone up to his room. And his face! Yvlon remembered the blank expression. What was that about? She didn\u2019t know.<\/p>\n Yvlon was still angry. She was still filled with panic and dread and confusion with everything she\u2019d learned. Calruz<\/em> was leading the Raskghar? And he had Ceria? If she stopped to think about it all she\u2019d go mad. So she clung to her fury as the only thing keeping her going. But even she felt quite, quite stupid as she hopped out of her room and down the hall with Ksmvr guiding her. The broken bed and mattress kept falling apart with each hop, and Yvlon left a trail of broken wood and feathers in her wake.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces! Open up!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Wounded Warrior] shouted as she reached Pisces\u2019 door. Ksmvr knocked politely. There was no response. Yvlon growled and raised her voice even louder.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces!<\/em> I know you\u2019re in there! What are you doing? Ceria is down there! Calruz is down there! Open the damn door!\u201d<\/p>\n No response. Ksmvr knocked politely again.<\/p>\n \u201cI am here too, Comrade Pisces. Please open the door.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s not answering. \u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon tried to kick the door, but she couldn\u2019t. Instead, she tilted forwards and head-butted the door with all of her weight behind it. The thump left her seeing stars. Yvlon fell onto the floor and stared up at the ceiling, still bound, as Ksmvr tried to get her up.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it, Pisces! I trusted you! Why the hell are you hiding away? We\u2019re teammates! If we can\u2019t rely on you, then what\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The door opened. Pisces stepped forwards, his white robes swirling around him. He stared at Yvlon and Ksmvr. His eyes were bloodshot and he was unsteady on his feet. Dust swirled around him, white, as if he\u2019d been baking with flour. He paused.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon glared at Pisces. She heaved again, but she was still trussed up. The mattress spat out some feathers as Ksmvr tried to pull her up and failed.<\/p>\n \u201cFalene bound me with a magic spell. I can\u2019t get it off.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. That would explain things.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces rubbed at one eye. He blinked down at Yvlon. He looked like he hadn\u2019t slept one bit since last night. She stared up at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? Where the hell have you been?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPreparing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces looked at Yvlon as if she were an idiot.<\/p>\n \u201cTo rescue Ceria, of course. What have you<\/em> been doing? Sleeping? Ksmvr, stop attempting to lift Yvlon. Let\u2019s dispel her enchantment and enter the dungeon. Ceria is alive. She\u2019s contacted me twice. Calruz has her. He\u2019s leading the Raskghar, just as the Cave Goblin said.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon and Ksmvr gaped at Pisces. He didn\u2019t pay them any attention as he squatted to inspect the bindings on Yvlon. She spluttered and tried to form a coherent question.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, how do you know that, Pisces? You spoke to Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in words. She sent me a coded message via a spell we know. She only described her location as a large, domed room and told me that she was a captive. And that Calruz killed a Gnoll. Mrsha is alive. Beyond that, we must find her.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached out and touched the magic bindings with one hand, frowning. Yvlon tried to digest all of that and then gave up.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. Get this off me and let\u2019s go! Dispel the enchantment!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know [Dispel Magic].\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you serious?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon began to thrash about, screaming furiously. Pisces raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cStop shouting, Yvlon! The bindings should be easy to break. Just have Ksmvr use your sword.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr and Yvlon stared at Pisces. Yvlon protested indignantly.<\/p>\n \u201cThat won\u2019t work!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n The woman faltered.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause\u2026they\u2019re magic bindings?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces raised one eyebrow at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cYour sword is<\/em> enchanted. The bonds shouldn\u2019t be able to hold up to that much force. It\u2019s only a Tier 4 spell, I believe.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut my sword has a weight enchantment on it. Not one that cuts magic!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd this magic is very physical. You\u2019re wearing armor beneath all this, aren\u2019t you? Then let Ksmvr cut at the bindings. Every enchantment has a limit to how much force it can take before breaking. I cannot imagine that Falene put that much energy into this spell.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces rose, dusting a feather off his robes. He stared disapprovingly at Ksmvr and Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you try that to begin with?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon turned red. Ksmvr opened his mandibles and then decided not to speak. Silently, he went into Yvlon\u2019s room and grabbed her sword. Pisces yawned as he listened to the dialogue between the two.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, cut right there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t see. Cut right by my side. Can you hit me there? Do it gently, gently\u2014<\/em>gah!\u201d<\/p>\n He heard a thump<\/em>, and then the sound of a compressed mattress unspringing all at once. Clattering wood as it hit the ground\u2014and then two solid footsteps. Pisces turned. Yvlon lifted her sword. She looked angry.<\/p>\n \u201cI really need to visit the outhouse. Give me five minutes and then we go. I hope you spent last night well?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI was not tied to a bed and magically asleep if that\u2019s what you are asking.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon stared at Pisces and then walked past him. Ksmvr followed. Pisces brought up the rear. The three said only a few words as they trooped down the stairs, but they were the right words.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Gold-ranks won\u2019t be happy to see us in the dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI couldn\u2019t care less about their opinion. Actually, let me rephrase that statement. I do not care about their opinion whatsoever.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain Ceria is alive?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFor now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s lots of monsters in the dungeon. Traps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have a plan. And you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI am ready to die to rescue Captain Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think she\u2019d rather you live instead. I\u2019ll risk anything. We\u2019re a team. And we\u2019re not losing anyone else to the dungeon. Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI concur. Ksmvr?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis team is the reason for my life. Let\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n They walked down the stairs. Pisces in front, Yvlon behind and Ksmvr bringing up the rear. Pisces stepped into the common room and looked around.<\/p>\n Several dozen heads turned. Adventurers were sitting around at their tables, many nursing drinks. Few looked like they were willing to talk\u2014many were progressively getting drunk. They looked defeated.<\/p>\n Lyonette was serving tables. She looked lost. A Drake [Barmaid] was helping her\u2014not Drassi\u2014but she was more keeping an eye on Lyonette. The [Barmaid] looked like a ghost, as if she were dreaming.<\/p>\n A Drake stood as Pisces strode across the room. He had black scales and was short. Insill of Vuliel Drae gulped when Pisces stared at him. Other adventurers got to their feet. Anith, Dasha, Insill, Larr, Pekona\u2014the five members of Vuliel Drae blocked Pisces\u2019 way. Earlia of Gemhammer and Nailren of the Pride of Kelia and a few other Silver-rank Captains stood to one side, not with Vuliel Drae, but watching.<\/p>\n \u201cMove aside.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces didn\u2019t stop walking. He raised a hand to push Insill out of the way, but he stopped when Larr\u2019s arm shot out. The Gnoll stared down at Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going to stop us?\u201d<\/p>\n Anith nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing personal, Horns. But the Silver Swords charged us with keeping you here.\u201d<\/p>\n His eyes flicked to Pisces and Ksmvr, making it obvious that they\u2019d assumed it would only be Yvlon they\u2019d have to stop. Yvlon grimaced and put a hand on her sword hilt.<\/p>\n \u201cOur Captain is kidnapped. We\u2019re going in after her. Move or we\u2019ll make you move.\u201d<\/p>\n Dasha crossed her arms.<\/p>\n \u201cOh yeah? We\u2019re Silver-ranks just like you, tall legs. And every Silver-rank team here got the same order.\u201d<\/p>\n The Horns looked around. Earlia looked away and Nailren shook his head. The other Silver-rank adventurers looked at the Horns and then away. Yvlon counted heads.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many people are going to follow orders, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Vuliel Drae glanced around for support. None came. Earlia leaned on a table.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember being told<\/em> what to do by a bunch of Gold-ranks. Funny, I didn\u2019t become an adventurer to take orders. What about you Pallass teams?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe follow orders. That\u2019s how things work in the south, Human.\u201d<\/p>\n A Drake growled at Earlia. He was drinking from a mug. He had a fresh scar on his arm, a deep gouge of recently-healed flesh and scales. He made no move to rise. The Drake took another drink.<\/p>\n \u201cProblem is, sometimes we have hearing problems. A team wants to die in the dungeon? Go ahead. That\u2019s their Captain.\u201d<\/p>\n Earlia nodded. Vuliel Drae wavered. None of the other adventurers were standing up. Yvlon\u2019s hand tightened on her sword.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Pekona had a hand on her katana. She and Yvlon stared at each other, tensed. Ksmvr\u2019s dagger and shortsword were both in his hands and Insill looked like he wanted to run. Anith raised his staff.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is for your own good. Please don\u2019t make this difficult.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces had been blinking repeatedly. He rubbed at his eyes and muttered.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t bother with the sword, Yvlon. We don\u2019t have time for this.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached for his side. Vuliel Drae tensed. Pisces grabbed his bag of holding and they relaxed slightly. Too soon. He upended the bag and bones fell out.<\/p>\n Every adventurer turned and stared as a shower of yellow bones fell from Pisces\u2019 bag of holding. The bones landed with a clatter on the floor. Lyonette, mechanically wiping a table over and over in the same spot, looked up. Insill stared at a bear\u2019s skull.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop him!\u201d<\/p>\n Pekona unsheathed her sword in a flash. She was quick! But she hesitated. There wasn\u2019t anything she could do short of cutting Pisces down. Yvlon drew her sword and cut. She didn\u2019t hesitate. Pekona leapt back and Pisces pointed down at the bones.<\/p>\n \u201cRise.\u201d<\/p>\n Vuliel Drae scrambled back as the bones floated upwards. They stared as the bones rearranged themselves, flying into position, rotating, joining together. They looked down at the thing emerging and their heads tilted back. Anith gulped.<\/p>\n A beast of bone rose from the ground, eight feet tall, arms and body a mass of bone. It looked like some ancient predecessor of a bear, one that had been made of bone and given a spiky body armor. It had an oversized bite and almost nonexistent head. It had one solid, gaping hole for an \u2018eye\u2019 and a bright yellow flame burned in the socket. Its claws, when it raised them, were a solid weapon of bone.<\/p>\n Insill backed up fast. The [Rogue] was deathly pale. Vuliel Drae retreated as the other Silver-rank adventurers got to their feet or leaned back. Pisces walked forwards and the monstrosity lumbered after him.<\/p>\n \u201cMove out of the way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t leave the inn. The Gold-ranks\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces turned his head. Dasha choked on her words.<\/p>\n \u201cStop me. I\u2019d like you to try.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] strode out of the inn. Lyonette starred at the Bone Horror following him. Yvlon stared at the huge armored monstrosity and the cold fear that had gripped her for a moment faded. That was Pisces\u2019<\/em> creation. He had made it! She forced her legs to move.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces, hold up!\u201d<\/p>\n The [Necromancer] paused at the door. The Bone Horror was too large to exit, but it was reconfiguring itself to squeeze<\/em> out bone by bone. It was\u2026impressive to watch. Yvlon nodded to it.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s your secret weapon?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne of\u2014holy steel, what is that?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon shouted the instant as she stepped outside. The adventurers swarmed to the windows and then recoiled. Another Bone Horror had come out of Pisces\u2019 window. It was a giant spider made of bone, at least in basic shape. Each part of its legs and the thin abdomen was covered in barbed bone, sharpened to an edge. It crawled down as Pisces walked towards the boats.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo Bone Horrors?\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr looked from undead to undead. Pisces shook his head. He was sweating and his eyes looked feverish.<\/p>\n \u201cMany.\u201d<\/p>\n Something crawled out of the water. Several somethings. They had come out of Liscor\u2019s sewers. Drenched in slime, muck and worse, they had climbed the walls and leapt from them, surprising Liscor\u2019s [Guardsmen]. The rat-hunting Bone Horrors resembled rats themselves, but they had been redesigned to be stronger, bigger. And infinitely more deadly. The dead rat flesh and other scraps that hung from their scything jaw-tusks were a testament to their design.<\/p>\n The undead lined up in the rain. Pisces pointed and they turned. They walked or crawled or bounded into the water, sinking beneath the surface. They were headed towards the dungeon rift.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long can you control them?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLong enough. I have mana potions.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces walked towards the boats, stumbling a bit in the rain. Yvlon went to follow him and turned.<\/p>\n \u201cGoing to try and stop us?\u201d<\/p>\n Vuliel Drae and the other Silver-rank adventurers were staring at her from the inn\u2019s entrance, wide-eyed. At her question they looked at each other and backed up. Someone else pushed past them. Lyonette was still white, but she focused on the Horns.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going into the dungeon.\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a question. Yvlon nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going in after Ceria. We\u2019ll look for Mrsha, Lyonette. If we find her, we\u2019ll bring her out.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] nodded. Her hands were red from scrubbing and she didn\u2019t seem to notice that she\u2019d cut her finger. She clasped her fingers together.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease find her. Please\u2014I\u2019d go with you if I could.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Lyonette\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake [Barmaid] gripped Lyonette\u2019s shoulder tightly. Some of the other adventurers drew closer. Lyonette stared pleadingly at Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cFind her? Bring her back?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded. Lyonette relaxed ever so slightly. The woman checked her sword hilt and eyed the outhouse.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll pee in the water. Let\u2019s go, Ksmvr!\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium strode towards the boats. He actually stepped into the water and shuddered, but then he grabbed the edge of the boat and pulled himself in. Yvlon leapt into the boat and felt it rock.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr pushed them off and Yvlon grabbed the oars. Pisces was sitting at the front of the boat. Well, lying, really. He was propped up on the stern and his eyes were blinking rapidly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou look exhausted.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 head jerked up a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI had to design the new combat forms. It took\u2026a while. These ones are better. Should fight better. The armor form is virtually indestructible and the spider\u2026thing is quick. The rat-hunting horrors are deadly despite their size.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood work.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon didn\u2019t know what else to say. She looked at Ksmvr. The Antinium was also drooping, nodding off and then sitting up. He rowed erratically with his oar.<\/p>\n \u201cYou were in the Antinium Hive, Ksmvr?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrying to persuade Revalantor Klbkch, yes. Then I was dumped outside. I recovered from blood loss and returned to the inn two hours ago.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Pisces and Yvlon looked at Ksmvr. The Antinium yawned, opening his mandibles wide. Pisces turned to Yvlon. His expression was bleak, but he managed to raise an eyebrow.<\/p>\n \u201cWere you sleeping all night?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked from Ksmvr to Pisces. She opened her mouth and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll row. You two get some sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n The boat cut across the water as the rain fell. Yvlon rowed hard, letting her reinforced arms take the strain. It felt\u2014good. Nothing broke and nothing bent. Her arms were heavier, but she could compensate for the weight. She turned her head to the right.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you going to stop us?\u201d<\/p>\n Earlia grinned as her team pulled alongside the boat Yvlon was rowing. Gemhammer was rowing hard and part of Nailren\u2019s team was sharing their boat. Yvlon turned her head left and saw Nailren and other teams from Pallass following them. Earlia nodded towards Pisces.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t much like hanging back, but I was pretty sure that half-Elf would hex our entire team if we argued. The other Gold-ranks were ready to knock anyone else out. Plus, they had a point. Our teams don\u2019t have their firepower. But if you\u2019re bringing that\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Bone Horrors\u2014the spider\u2014crawled onto a distant hill. There was a shout from Liscor\u2019s walls. The Bone Horror leapt<\/em> a good twelve feet into the water and Earlia shuddered.<\/p>\n \u201cThat looks like it could kill something. And if you\u2019re going in, well, I think you could use some backup. We might not be Gold-ranks, but we can work together. Mind if we tag along?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked around. Six teams had taken to the boats and were following her. She nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know that we\u2019re going to keep going until we find Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI had a feeling. Don\u2019t slow for our sakes. We\u2019ll see how far we get.\u201d<\/p>\n The woman nodded and Yvlon grunted. She put her back into the oars. The Horns rowed to the dungeon entrance and dropped into the dungeon. They entered the Raskghar\u2019s home, where monsters and traps promised an early death. However, they were not the first adventurers to enter the dungeon that day. The Gold-rank teams had been there since dawn. And they\u2019d been fighting the entire time.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cAt them!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa, Captain of the Wings of Pallass, dropped from the air. There was little room to maneuver in the dungeon corridor, but her team was fighting in a spot with ten feet of clearance on the ceiling. There had been a trap up there\u2014a device that dropped whirling blades to cut anyone below apart. It was neutralized, the mechanism gummed up by a thick orange paste. That hadn\u2019t stopped the monsters from attacking, though.<\/p>\n A pair of large, stone \u2018eyes\u2019 were battering one of Bevussa\u2019s teammates. These creatures were covered by a thick shell of stone and only their fronts\u2014which resembled black eyes with white pupils\u2014were exposed. They had long, wiry arms made out of the same stone shell that could easily break bone.<\/p>\n The monsters were Stone Starers, and they looked deceptively simple. They could shoot beams from the white holes in their fronts. Those beams could pierce through weak enchanted metal and steel with ease. Going at them from the front was dangerous.<\/p>\n So Bevussa dropped. She flew downwards, angling her wings and calling for her teammate, Issa, to get back. The Drake flew backwards with a flap of her wings and Bevussa stopped her descent. The Stone Starer looked up, eye glowing, and Bevussa kicked<\/em>.<\/p>\n The feet of the Garuda were talons. Bevussa\u2019s were sharp and she\u2019d trained her legs. Her claws went into<\/em> the Stone Starer\u2019s fleshy eye and drew blood. It screamed a muffled wailing sound, and fired a white beam at Bevussa. She twisted<\/em> and dodged right, out of the way. Bevussa\u2019s right hand came up and her shortsword stabbed, plunging hilt-deep into the Stone Starer\u2019s eye.<\/p>\n \u201cCaptain!\u201d<\/p>\n The second Stone Starer was aiming at Bevussa. She immediately let go of her blade and backflipped. As she did she flapped, flying all the way up to the ceiling. The second beam missed her and Bevussa extended her hand.<\/p>\n \u201cReturn!\u201d<\/p>\n Her sword ripped loose of the Stone Starer. It collapsed as brown blood spurted from its front. Bevussa saw Issa and Zassil land on the second Stone Starer. Before it could target them, they stabbed at it with spear and sword. It collapsed, pooling blood.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone alright?\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa landed, panting, flicking blood from the tip of her sword. Her other three teammates landed around her. They were sweaty, and their wings were sore. Bevussa checked all of them.<\/p>\n \u201cIssa, you got tagged by one of the beams.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake grimaced. She flexed a wing and showed Bevussa a hole in her side.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s nothing. The thing shot through my armor is all.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s enchanted leather. It should\u2019ve blocked that!\u201d<\/p>\n Zassil muttered unhappily. Bevussa inspected the injury as Issa pulled out a healing potion.<\/p>\n \u201cLooks like it blocked some of it, otherwise Issa would have a hole going right through her. Watch the armor, Issa. I don\u2019t know if the enchantment\u2019s broken. Let\u2019s pull back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can still fight!\u201d<\/p>\n Issa protested, but Bevussa shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re tired. How many monster groups is this?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSix in the last two hours.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re tired and I\u2019ve had to use one of my Skills. We need a break. Come on.\u201d<\/p>\n She led the way back down the corridor. The Wings of Pallass followed, stepping around the corpse of a third Stone Starer and more monsters. Bevussa\u2019s arm wings ached. She\u2019d been fighting since dawn, and even with the high-quality stamina potion she\u2019d downed, she felt worn.<\/p>\n \u201cWho goes there?\u201d<\/p>\n A sharp voice shouted as the Wings of Pallass walked back the way they\u2019d come. Bevussa instantly halted and raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cWings of Pallass! That you, Essa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCome forwards slowly!\u201d<\/p>\n The Wings walked forwards and saw a barricade had been erected in the tunnel. A team of Drakes and two Gnolls were standing behind a pair of wooden barriers fronted with metal. They checked over the Wings of Pallass, one of the Drakes, Essa, staring at them through a pair of enchanted spectacles.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re clean. Come on back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2019s the fighting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve seen action. You nearly had a pair of Flesh Worms hit you from behind. We scared them off, but we\u2019re running low on enchanted arrows.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa nodded. The Garuda leaned against one wall.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t think we\u2019ll be here too much longer. My team\u2019s tired. Yours?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve just been sitting here shooting at anything that moves. We can keep going. Head on back. There\u2019s a rally point right where the rift begins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa motioned and her team followed them. Essa\u2019s team, the Scaleguards, stayed put. They were watching one of the choke points to the dungeon. The Gold-rank adventurers had taken no chances this time. They\u2019d committed over half their numbers to holding tunnels, making sure that they were secure while their attack groups went forwards.<\/p>\n Bevussa\u2019s group had been clearing tunnels for hours and they\u2019d done\u2026six\u2026since they started. The problem wasn\u2019t the monsters\u2014well, it had been nonstop fighting\u2014but it was also fighting and making sure they weren\u2019t walking into traps.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the worst dungeon I\u2019ve seen. Ever.\u201d<\/p>\n Issa murmured as she walked backwards. Bevussa shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is the only dungeon you\u2019ve seen, Issa. The one south of Pallass doesn\u2019t count. It\u2019s been cleared for decades. This<\/em> is a real dungeon. Unexplored. But you\u2019re right. It\u2019s a bad one. A vengeance dungeon. If it weren\u2019t for it being right under Liscor and the missing Gnolls, I\u2019d refuse to enter this place.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink we\u2019re making progress? We cleared six hallways.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s impossible to say. This dungeon could be vast for all we know. And these monster attacks are relentless.<\/em> Each time we turn a corner we run into another group, always a different species of monster. It almost feels like\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHold!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n All of the adventurers froze. Bevussa\u2019s team turned as one as they heard a dull roar. They immediately spread out, ready to fly backwards.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFighting? Up ahead\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s go. Watch for trap signs!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa took wing. She and the Wings flew through the cramped corridor, flying around a marked trap. They landed and stopped as they saw what had caused the commotion.<\/p>\n \u201cEnchanted armor! A platoon of them!\u201d<\/p>\n A wave of animated suits of armor had smashed through a barricade set up by Gold-rank teams. Over forty of the metal giants strode forwards, carrying steel battleaxes, greatswords, maces\u2014the Gold-rank team assigned to the spot was falling back, throwing Tripvine bags and shooting spells. But there were so many suits of armor that they had no choice but to run.<\/p>\n \u201cAncestors! Just what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa cursed. She drew her enchanted shortsword, wondering if they should retreat to the Scaleguards or fight. Her team was bad at fighting armored foes. The Wings of Pallass were lightly armored, meant for quick offensives and rapid retreats. She was on the verge of ordering her team into the fighting when she heard a call.<\/p>\n \u201cClear the tunnel! Flamewardens, breathe on my mark!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBack, back!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa shouted. She saw another team running forwards, and the heavy plate mail and Keldrass\u2019 rasping voice identified them along with their name. She and the Wings of Pallass flew back. She saw the Flamewardens, all four of them, line up. The platoon of enchanted armor charged them, a wave of dull steel. The Flamewardens inhaled as one and Keldrass shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cMa\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa didn\u2019t hear the rest. A roar<\/em> and then a dull ringing filled her earholes as she recoiled. She saw a flash of bright flame burst from Keldrass\u2019 mouth, and fiery red and orange flames leap from the other three. The flames shot down the tunnel, combining. The sound and wave of heat blasted the Wings where they stood. Bevussa turned away as the Flamewardens exhaled for fifteen straight seconds. When she looked back, the corridor was scorched beyond recognition. And the enchanted suits of armor?<\/p>\n They\u2019d kept charging straight into the flame. The front row had just melted away. Black slag was all that remained of them. Bevussa could see rapidly cooling pools of metal, the scorched remains of a breastplate in the back\u2014nothing else.<\/p>\n \u201cAncestors.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Zassil stared at the Flamewardens. His wings trembled before he folded them on his back.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a Gold-rank team? They have to be Named Adventurers! At least!\u201d<\/p>\n He stared at the four Oldblood Drakes, as if forgetting he was Oldblood himself. Bevussa glanced at Zassil in amusement. He was the youngest of her team and sometimes showed his inexperience. Well, that wasn\u2019t saying much, really. Bevussa was more experienced than the other three by a good bit.<\/p>\n \u201cNo, they\u2019re Gold-rank. The Flamewardens have firepower, but they don\u2019t have stamina. The curse of the Oldblood. See?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed as the Wings hesitantly approached. The Flamewardens were all doubled over. Keldrass was leaning against a wall, gasping for air. His breathing was shallow and it seemed as if he couldn\u2019t take in enough air. He straightened as Bevussa approached, but she waved him back.<\/p>\n \u201cBreathe. That was a hell of a display.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n For once, Keldrass\u2019 words didn\u2019t elicit a tongue of blue flame or smoke from his mouth. He\u2019d used up his fires. He took a few deep breaths and reached out to touch the shoulder of one of his team members.<\/p>\n \u201cBreathe, Nautia. In. Out. Slowly.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake nodded. She gulped in air and the color in her scales slowly returned. Bevussa eyed Keldrass\u2019 team worriedly. It didn\u2019t look like the first time they\u2019d pulled off this trick today.<\/p>\n \u201cGood job on the fire breath. We might have been overrun if the suits of armor had broken through. Your team should pull back, though.\u201d<\/p>\n She nodded at the Gold-rank team who was returning, a bit shamefaced, to guard the tunnel. Keldrass shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2026can keep going. We\u2019ll rest for half an hour, burn another tunnel. Scorched ground. We can destroy traps and wipe out monsters this way.\u201d<\/p>\n That was true. The Flamewardens were one of the best teams in the narrow dungeon corridors. But Bevussa was worried.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t push too far, Keldrass. Your team is tired. If you get ambushed after using your fire breath\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The reason the Flamewardens weren\u2019t a Named Team was because of their weakness. After they used their trump card, they were literally unable to breathe for a while. But Keldrass shook his head stubbornly.<\/p>\n \u201cCan\u2019t let those\u2026northern teams show us up. They\u2019re still fighting.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStill?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa turned. She stared down another tunnel, where she could hear more fighting.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cCharge!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The roar came from Jelaqua\u2019s lips as her team encountered the Raskghar. The Selphid shot towards the Raskghar team, who were visibly surprised to see them. Understandably\u2014the Halfseekers had cut through fourteen corridors to get here. The Raskghar snarled and the Selphid recognized one of them. The Raskghar in armor. The one who had taken Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cYou!\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua ran towards the Raskghar, her flail spinning. She crashed into him as the group of eight other Raskghar turned and raised their hide shields, attempting to block the whirling Selphid. The Raskghar howled as the flail struck like lightning from every angle. Jelaqua\u2019s body was a flaming cyclone of motion\u2014the Heartflame Breastplate burned as she struck.<\/p>\n But her movements were slower. Dulled. Jelaqua\u2019s spiked flail heads were deformed and a spike had broken off on one. She\u2019d been fighting for hours and now, at the crucial moment, she was faltering. The Raskghar in armor raised his enchanted battleaxe and ignored the flail heads striking sparks off his armor. He swung and caught Jelaqua in the chest. The head of the axe skated off the armor, but the impact sent Jelaqua stumbling backwards. She swore and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cMoore! Seborn!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The other Raskghar turned. A shadow jumped off the walls and Seborn lunged into a Raskghar. He stabbed with both of his long daggers, plunging them hilt-deep into the Raskghar\u2019s chest. The wounded beast-woman roared and threw Seborn backwards. Another jabbed at the [Rogue] and he rolled to safety. Jelaqua struck the Raskghar, but saw her flail bounce off its shield. The other Raskghar spread around her, jabbing at her armor, growling as their stone weapons failed to penetrate the magical flames on her armor. Jelaqua lashed out with her flail, and again a Raskghar blocked.<\/p>\n They were so strong!<\/em> And smart! These weren\u2019t anything like the unthinking brutes that Jelaqua had fought before. And then the Raskghar in armor struck Jelaqua again. The impact sent her stumbling back. She saw the Raskghar raise its battleaxe, aiming at her head. A huge hand covered in vines and thorns grabbed his chest and lifted him. The Raskghar howled in surprise. He twisted and Moore roared in his face.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere. Is. Mrsha!?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Giant was covered in light wounds. His face was dirty and streaked with sweat. His body was covered in thorns and vines, his [Thorn Armor] spell. The Raskghar snarled at him and the half-Giant roared, his mouth opening wider than the Raskghar\u2019s entire head. The Raskghar froze. Moore lifted him and slammed<\/em> the armored Raskghar into the wall.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Mrsha? Answer me!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The Raskghar around him jabbed spears into Moore\u2019s side, howling. The half-Giant ignored them, bashing the armored Raskghar into the wall as it struggled. He only let go when one of the Raskghar struck deep into his side. The spear broke and Moore let go.<\/p>\n \u201cMoore!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua smashed a Raskghar with her flail\u2019s head and then turned. She abandoned her flail, grabbed a Raskghar charging at her, and threw<\/em> it into a wall. She heard a snap. The Selphid felt her body\u2019s muscles scream in agony, but she didn\u2019t care. She pushed them past the limits and charged to Moore\u2019s side, tackling a Raskghar to the ground. The half-Giant turned. His fist caught a Raskghar and the monster tumbled, bones broken. Moore grasped at the spear in his side, grimacing.<\/p>\n The other Raskghar howled as Seborn cut among them. The one in armor got up shakily. His magical gear had protected him from the impacts, but he looked dazed. He turned and ran on all fours, abandoning his battleaxe.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t let it escape!\u201d<\/p>\n Moore and Jelaqua charged after it, ignoring their wounds and Jelaqua\u2019s missing flail. The Raskghar ran as one, four instead of nine. They were quick! It was all Jelaqua could do to keep them in sight with the armor weighing her down. She pushed her muscles, ignoring the screaming that warned they might snap. Moore charged after her, roaring.<\/p>\n \u201cMoore, Jelaqua! <\/em>Stop!\u201d<\/p>\n Seborn flickered into view and tackled Moore\u2019s leg. The half-Giant slowed, but Jelaqua didn\u2019t. She ran after the Raskghar and saw one of them leap over a suspiciously clean patch of the dungeon\u2019s floor too late.<\/p>\n The explosion that engulfed Jelaqua threw Moore and Seborn back. It might have been some kind of fiery detonation\u2014or maybe the air itself had exploded. Seborn rolled with the impact as Moore groaned and fell backwards. The Drowned Man got up, ears ringing and shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cJelaqua!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He ran forwards, stopping where the trap had been. Something moved in the smoke. Jelaqua stumbled forwards, her body looking\u2014torn. Flesh had been ripped up and she was missing scales along her tail, arms, face\u2014every exposed part of her body. But she was intact. The magical flames engulfing her body had gone out, though.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m okay. I\u2019m\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Selphid wobbled. Seborn grabbed her with his Human hand and let go with an oath. Her armor was still searing hot. Jelaqua caught herself.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine, Seborn. The armor\u2026took the hit. Powerful stuff. Glad I wore it. Come on\u2026they\u2019re getting away.\u201d<\/p>\n She tried to turn. Seborn held her with his claw arm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are not fine. Moore\u2019s injured. We have to fall back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo\u2014that was the one! You saw it, Seborn! We have to follow\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf we chase it, we\u2019ll die.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drowned Man pulled at Jelaqua. She stumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She looked back at Moore. The half-Giant was sitting down. A red stain was spreading from his side. The stone spear had gone through his vine armor. Either the strike had been lucky or the Raskghar had found a gap. Jelaqua swore.<\/p>\n \u201cMoore! Healing potion!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m trying. I\u2019ll do it. You get the Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n Moore mumbled as he gripped the spear. His hands were white. Jelaqua and Seborn rushed over to him.<\/p>\n \u201cGet it out. We have to heal that wound.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrying. I think the head\u2019s spiked. Barbed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSeborn, use one of your daggers. Cut it out. I\u2019ll use the potion\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Moore groaned as Seborn cut into his side, slicing the head of the barbed spear out. The half-Giant nearly screamed, but then he bit his arm rather than make a sound. Jelaqua poured an entire healing potion into the chunk of missing flesh and saw it begin to close. Seborn sat back, throwing aside the bloody spear. He looked at her. Jelaqua felt her body screaming, and knew he was right.<\/p>\n \u201cWe fall back. But we find another team and tell them what we saw, alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAgreed. Come on, Moore. We have to get to a safe spot.\u201d<\/p>\n Neither Seborn nor Jelaqua could pull the half-Giant up, but they supported him as best they could. The Halfseekers stumbled back the way they\u2019d come, until they heard a shout.<\/p>\n \u201cWho goes?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n As passphrases went, it was simple, but Jelaqua\u2019s voice was enough to assure the other team that they weren\u2019t monsters masquerading as adventurers. She saw a group approaching them and a bobbing [Light] spell, then recognized the group of three.<\/p>\n \u201cMoore!\u201d<\/p>\n Falene exclaimed as the Silver Swords hurried down the tunnel. The three Gold-rank adventurers looked battered. Ylawes\u2019 perfect armor was dirtied by blood and Falene\u2019s face looked drawn. Dawil had a scratch on his cheek and the armor around his shoulder looked crumpled from an impact. They still looked a lot better than the Halfseekers.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes pointed at Moore\u2019s armor. Jelaqua rasped.<\/p>\n \u201cBarbed spear. We pulled it out. Ran into a Raskghar group. Same ones that got Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDown the tunnel. Past a trap.\u201d<\/p>\n The Silver Swords stared the way Jelaqua was pointing. Ylawes raised his shield and then checked himself. He turned towards Falene.<\/p>\n \u201cFalene, how many spells can you cast?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2026I\u2019m nearly out of mana, Ylawes. I\u2019ve used as many potions as I dare.\u201d<\/p>\n Falene wobbled on her feet. She was using her staff for support. Dawil grabbed his beard.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I\u2019ve only one Skill left to use. We could be walking into an ambush.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the team. I\u2019m sure of it. We can go back as soon as we get Moore to a safe spot. He can\u2019t fight.\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua insisted stubbornly. Moore mumbled.<\/p>\n \u201cJust leave me and follow.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n All the adventurers said it at once. Moore was in no condition to do anything. If he passed out in the dungeon he\u2019d be dead. Ylawes ran a finger through his hair. It was dirty with blood.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know if we can follow right now. We\u2019ve run into two Raskghar teams. Both groups were big. Thirty or more. We\u2026barely fought off the first. The second we routed more easily, but they\u2019re strong.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen we go back for another group. There has to be one around here!\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes nodded. He strode past Jelaqua.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll support him.\u201d<\/p>\n Seborn nodded. Ylawes grunted as he helped grab Moore. His head only came up to the half-Giant\u2019s armpit. With Jelaqua, he helped Moore walk down the corridor. They passed by monster corpses, blasted to pieces, squashed, or battered to death. The Gold-rank teams had pushed into the dungeon with a vengeance. But they were losing steam. Jelaqua didn\u2019t know how far they\u2019d walked\u2014it felt like hours to her exhausted mind\u2014before they heard a shout.<\/p>\n \u201cHalt! Who goes there?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUs!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The counter phrase didn\u2019t work as well on the Drake teams. There was a pause and then something appeared down the corridor. The Silver Swords and Halfseekers instinctively reached for their weapons, but it was Bevussa. The Garuda landed and shouted back the way they\u2019d come.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s the Halfseekers and Silver Swords! Get over here, I think the half-Giant\u2019s wounded!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2019M fine. Go after the Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n Moore muttered. His face was pale. Despite the healing potion he was barely conscious from the blood loss and shock. Jelaqua saw more adventurers run forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cWe found Raskghar. We saw the ones that got Ceria! That way!\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed back towards them. Bevussa\u2019s eyes widened, but she shook her head after a second.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll see if we can pursue. But almost all of our teams are running low on supplies. And we\u2019re trying to pull back another team.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGriffon Hunt! They\u2019ve pushed in even further than you have! Come on, let\u2019s get the half-Giant to our rest spot. What\u2019s his name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharmed. Come on big fellow. Hey, we need more claws over here!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n It took nearly a dozen adventurers to half-drag, half-carry Moore past the barricades. The Gold-rank teams had set up in the area below the dungeon\u2019s rift. They hadn\u2019t put much there\u2014just a few crates of healing potions, a spot for adventurers to rest before attempting the journey to the surface\u2014and a table where a Gold-rank Gnoll with levels in [Cartographer] was trying to make sense of the adventurer\u2019s reports.<\/p>\n Jelaqua saw Moore to the rest site and made sure he was being looked over. Then she forced her stiff body over to where Bevussa was conferring with Keldrass. The Drake was sitting\u2014he looked like he\u2019d run out of energy to stand.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re down the tunnel. My team caught up\u2014but we can\u2019t get them to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn. We need to get them to return! Jelaqua, is it?\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa turned to Jelaqua. The Selphid nodded. The Garuda stretched out her arm wings.<\/p>\n \u201cYour friends, Griffon Hunt, are going in way too far. There\u2019s no one guarding their backs and we\u2019re too tired to fight. You need to recall them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can try. But the Raskghar\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Keldrass coughed a bit of smoke out.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother team\u2019s on that. A group of teams. The Horns, Gemhammer, Kelia\u2019s Pride\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Horns?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes strode over. He looked shocked.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let the Horns enter the dungeon? Are you insane? We have to go after them!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey were already down here when I returned! We didn\u2019t stop them because they were ready to fight to get past us! There\u2019s six Silver-rank teams plus the Horns heading towards the spot the Halfseekers mentioned. Plus, that [Necromancer] had\u2026things with him. Bone Horrors. They\u2019re not who I\u2019m worried about.\u201d<\/p>\n Keldrass snapped at Ylawes. The [Knight] opened his mouth and Bevussa cut him off.<\/p>\n \u201cBoth Griffon Hunt and the Horns are in the same spot. I\u2019m taking one of my team and a few other Gold-ranks who can still move. We need to grab both teams.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the Raskghar\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua feebly protested. Bevussa turned and looked at her seriously. Her eyes were bright green. Bird\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Jelaqua, they\u2019re too far<\/em>. We can barely hold the tunnels around here. We\u2019ll pursue the Raskghar\u2014tomorrow. But right now we\u2019re looking at the very real possibility those teams will be ambushed. We have to pull back.\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua knew she was right. The Selphid looked around for her flail and remembered that she\u2019d left it buried in a Raskghar\u2019s skull. She reached for her bag of holding.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me grab a spare flail. I\u2019m going with you.\u201d<\/p>\n In the end, eight Gold-rank adventurers headed out to retrieve the Griffon Hunt. Jelaqua, Issa, Seborn, Bevussa, Ylawes, Dawil, Keldrass, and Essa moved down the corridor, following the direction Griffon Hunt had taken. They didn\u2019t know their exact location, but it wasn\u2019t hard to catch up. All they had to do was follow the bodies.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cUndead ahead!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac spotted the undead a moment before the others. The ranks of glowing Stitch-Warriors raised their weapons and Typhenous breathed heavily. He raised his staff and fired a glowing red-and-black orb into the crowd of ghouls and zombies and the Crypt Lord leading them. The orb burned a hole through a Ghoul\u2019s chest and then detonated.<\/p>\n \u201c[Black Burst]!\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous turned his staff and shot another ball of magic at the undead. Halrac raised his bow and calmly shot a charging Ghoul through the head. He saw Revi\u2019s summoned warriors and her Corusdeer fighting the zombies who lurched forwards and drew another arrow.<\/p>\n \u201cLeft!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Revi called out in alarm, pointing. Halrac turned. The wall had opened up, revealing another tunnel hidden by an illusion spell or hidden mechanism. Another wave of undead poured through. Halrac\u2019s eyes narrowed. He loosed an arrow as Revi\u2019s summoned warriors shot spells and arrows in the same direction.<\/p>\n A Crypt Lord staggered as the first arrow struck it. Halrac grabbed for an arrow. This one was enchanted. The undead exploded<\/em> as the fiery arrow penetrated its chest and then blew apart in a fireball.<\/p>\n \u201cFall back!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac\u2019s team retreated as the undead flowed towards them from two directions. They let the undead bunch up and then Typhenous blew them apart and Halrac loosed another flaming arrow. Revi bent over and panted when the battle ended.<\/p>\n \u201cAnother group. Another\u2026hold on, you two. I\u2019m running out of mana. I can\u2019t keep up this many summons.\u201d<\/p>\n She shakily pulled a mana potion from her belt and gulped at it. Typhenous did the same. The old man\u2019s face was drawn. Halrac glanced at both of them, not reaching for the stamina potion at his belt. His callused fingers burned, and his arm was fatigued, but he was unharmed.<\/p>\n \u201cCan you still fight?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnother corridor.\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous leaned on his staff. Revi wiped the mana potion\u2019s bright orange liquid from her mouth and nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2026I can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMove on, then. Through the illusory tunnel.\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac led the way. He had another arrow ready and as he walked, he reached for something at his side. Very carefully, he opened a small wooden container and dipped the head of his arrow into the mixture, coating it with a dark substance. Halrac raised his hand and his group slowed.<\/p>\n \u201cRaskghar?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac had heard the distant barking sound. He raised his bow and Typhenous lifted his staff. The Raskghar team was heading their way. Griffon Hunt moved stealthily ahead, Revi keeping her summoned creatures back lest their glow give the team away. Halrac\u2019s eyes pierced the darkness ahead. The instant he saw movement he held up his hand. Typhenous raised his staff.<\/p>\n The Raskghar approached, sniffing the air warily. They were a group of archers, probably on reconnaissance. They didn\u2019t smell Griffon Hunt in time. Halrac waited until he could see one of the Raskghar perfectly and then spoke.<\/p>\n \u201cNow.\u201d<\/p>\n He loosed the arrow at the same time Typhenous cast his spell. The arrow flew and caught a Raskghar in the shoulder. Typhenous\u2019 staff spat black liquid which spattered across the corridor and hit two Raskghar. Not perfect, but it would do. The Raskghar howled in surprise and the one struck grabbed the arrow in his shoulder and tore it out.<\/p>\n \u201cRevi!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac snapped. Revi charged forwards and her summoned warriors and Corusdeer filled the hallway. The Raskghar spotted the Gold-rank team and hesitated. There were ten of them, but Revi\u2019s summons evened the odds. They yipped loudly and howled before fleeing. Halrac drew another arrow and aimed high. The Raskghar fled as his arrow flew past them. Halrac didn\u2019t bother drawing another arrow.<\/p>\n \u201cGot them.\u201d<\/p>\n He turned to the others. Revi nodded. She was looking paler than before. The Stitch-Woman\u2019s dark skin looked far too light, and Halrac recognized it as the first symptom of mana exhaustion. Typhenous looked worse. The [Mage] seemed to lurch, and then he spat out a stream of liquid. It took Halrac a moment to realize that Typhenous had thrown up.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you alright?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous wavered before saying \u2018fine\u2019. Halrac stared at him and then at Revi. He knew they should fall back. But his mind refused to say it.<\/p>\n \u201cOne more corridor. If we can ambush another group\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Revi and Typhenous didn\u2019t protest. Griffon Hunt made their way back down the corridor rather than pursue this group of Raskghar. Revi kept stumbling as she walked, though she refused help from anyone, even her summoned warriors. Halrac found his gaze unfocusing and he had to remind himself to watch ahead.<\/p>\n They were exhausted. Griffon Hunt had pushed further and farther than any team. Enough so that they\u2019d began running into the Raskghar. But now they were in a dangerous situation. Halrac wanted to keep going. He knew that finding the Raskghar again would be difficult. But his team\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWho goes there?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone shouted the words up ahead. Halrac\u2019s head snapped up. He grabbed for the arrow, realized he hadn\u2019t poisoned it, and cursed. He shouted.<\/p>\n \u201cGriffon Hunt!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt last! Don\u2019t fire!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac saw a group appear in the darkness. He should have spotted them\u2014the dim glow of their lanterns and [Light] spells gave them away. Eight adventurers appeared. He recognized Jelaqua, Ylawes in his stupid reflective armor, Dawil, Bevussa\u2026the adventurers looked relieved to see him.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods, Halrac! We thought we\u2019d never catch up! You must have cleared twenty corridors!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac snapped at them. He felt uneasy. If they\u2019d been Raskghar, they would have ambushed his team. He shifted as Jelaqua strode towards him.<\/p>\n \u201cWe spotted the bastard that got Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Griffon Hunt immediately jerked to attention. Halrac focused on Jelaqua.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA few corridors back. But no one\u2019s going after them. We need to leave the dungeon. And get that damn group of Silver-ranks!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa interrupted Jelaqua. The Garuda eyed Typhenous and Revi and turned to Halrac.<\/p>\n \u201cYou need to come with us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. We\u2019ll go after the Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll do no such thing. Your [Mages] are nearly dead and you\u2019re tired. If you go after the Raskghar they\u2019ll ambush you. There\u2019s too many of them. We had to fight through a group of twenty. And if they\u2019re sending out scouting teams that big, there must be hundreds or thousands of them, just like that Cave Goblin claimed.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa folded her feathery arms. Halrac knew she was right. He bit his lip hard enough to draw blood and looked at Revi. She swayed.<\/p>\n \u201cI can go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac said it and felt the energy leave his arms. He looked at Bevussa and the other adventurers.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll go back. What\u2019s this about Silver-rank teams?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe Horns entered the dungeon. This idiot\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes turned towards Keldrass. The Drake gave him an affronted look.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014didn\u2019t stop them. They went after the Raskghar that Jelaqua saw. We need to go after Yv\u2014after them!\u201d<\/p>\n Jelaqua nodded wearily.<\/p>\n \u201cThey can\u2019t have gone far. There\u2019s monsters everywhere. We\u2019ll run after them, pull them out.\u201d<\/p>\n Keldrass growled, eying Ylawes.<\/p>\n \u201cThey might have gone farther than you think. I told you, that [Necromancer] had Bone Horrors.<\/em> At least six of them!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac\u2019s face twisted. Bevussa nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAll the more reason to grab them. They\u2019ll be a huge target.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to get them fast.\u201d<\/p>\n Revi bent as the others looked at her. She straightened, still looking pale.<\/p>\n \u201cBone Horrors probably suck mana way more than lesser undead. I <\/em>can barely summon that many spirits and I\u2019m an expert. Pisces won\u2019t be able to maintain that many undead for long. He\u2019s probably pushed himself too far. Idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n No one paused to dwell on the hypocrisy of her statement. The Gold-rank adventurers turned. Bevussa looked at Halrac.<\/p>\n \u201cCan your old [Mage] move or do we have to split our team?\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous frowned at her slightly cross-eyed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2026am quite<\/em> able to keep up, you feathery young lady. Lead on!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac nodded. Bevussa hesitated, and then turned.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. We\u2019re searching for the Horns! Follow me!\u201d<\/p>\n They set off at a jog through the dungeon.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods.\u201d<\/p>\n Issa muttered as she passed by another group of dead monsters. This one was a cluster of worms\u2014ordinary earthworms, really\u2014except that they were twice as long as she was and had barbs along their body. It was another group of monsters that Griffon Hunt had slain. She thought of the six corridors her team had killed and felt a bit embarrassed. The Oldblood Drake chanced a glance back at Halrac, Typhenous, and Revi. They were lagging behind the brisk pace the others had set, but they were still keeping up.<\/p>\n \u201cThey killed that<\/em> many monsters? Are you sure they\u2019re only a Gold-rank team, Bevussa?\u201d<\/p>\n She leaned towards her Captain, Bevussa. The Garuda was someone Issa looked up to and admired greatly. Ironically, it was Issa who was tasked with pretending to be the captain of the Wings of Pallass in public. It just wouldn\u2019t do for a Garuda to lead a team of Oldblood Drakes, no matter how much more qualified she was. Bevussa turned her head and regarded Halrac.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re good. I\u2019ll give them that. If there\u2019s any team ideally suited for this dungeon, it\u2019s probably theirs. That [Scout] especially. I\u2019ve heard of his name. They call him Halrac the Grim.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s even got a title? He must <\/em>be a Named Adventurer, or nearabouts!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa nodded as she glanced ahead down the corridor.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd apparently they lost a team member. One of the better Gold-rank teams. But it doesn\u2019t surprise me they\u2019re not Named Adventurers yet, or that Halrac isn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLook at the monsters they killed. That group.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa pointed. Issa stared at several crumpled forms they passed.<\/p>\n \u201cFace-Eater Moths. Not too<\/em> big.\u201d<\/p>\n Not compared to the ones attacking Liscor. These ones were \u2018only\u2019 the size of ponies. Bevussa nodded and eyed them.<\/p>\n \u201cRight. But that\u2019s not the important bit. Look at how they died. No spells, only an arrow to their abdomens\u2014they were poisoned.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPoison?\u201d<\/p>\n Issa looked back at Halrac. Bevussa nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey said they were using a tactic they employed against Griffins. I asked about it at the Adventurer\u2019s Guild. One of the [Receptionists] looked up what that might be.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa shrugged her feathery shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cAround three years ago, there was a massive Griffin colony plaguing the Nameless Heights\u2014that\u2019s a group of hills and valleys in the north eastern part of the Human lands. Hundreds of Griffins. Apparently a group migrated across from Terandria and they had a massive mating season the year before. Well, they began destroying farms and villages and even attacking cities. Griffon Hunt was one of the teams called in to kill them. They managed to wipe out over two hundred Griffins by themselves, but they were fined and nearly lost their Gold-rank status.\u201d<\/p>\n Issa gaped at her Captain.<\/p>\n \u201cHow?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPlague and poison.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Drake and Garuda jumped. Typhenous had caught up with them. The [Mage] looked weary, but true to his word he\u2019d caught up with the group. He raised one grey eyebrow at the two adventurers.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you wish to know about the event in question, why not ask us?\u201d<\/p>\n Issa\u2019s scales turned bright red and her wings quivered in embarrassment. Bevussa ducked her head.<\/p>\n \u201cMy apologies, Mister\u2026Typhenous, is it? We were curious.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] bared his teeth in a very Drakeish smile. Issa had to remind herself that Humans didn\u2019t smile like that to be friendly.<\/p>\n \u201cMany are. The truth is simple. Our team was called upon to deal with this crisis. As experts in Griffin hunting, Halrac and Ulrien contracted my services and Revi\u2019s. We dealt with the Griffins as we felt we had to when it became clear that the adventurers and local armies couldn\u2019t handle the Griffins.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo you poisoned them. And spread diseases. I take it that there were consequences?\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cWe poisoned their nests and killed hundreds of Griffins. But the plague got out of control. My spells\u2026I used the wrong ones. The resulting sickness killed off almost every livestock animal and three cities and numerous settlements fell ill. We were lucky to keep our Gold-rank status.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut you killed the Griffins!\u201d<\/p>\n Issa felt that wasn\u2019t fair. But then she remembered the strict standards Gold-ranks were held to. Typhenous shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe erred and people died for it, Miss\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIssa.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Issa. Thank you. We made mistakes no Gold-ranks should have and were punished accordingly. The cost\u2026drove away some of our former members. Halrac and Ulrien stayed with Revi and I, and we have worked hard to regain our status. I never thought we would employ the same tactics in the dungeon, but the Raskghar are not Griffins. And the cause is dire, despite the consequences.\u201d<\/p>\n The entire short story made Issa want to protest on Typhenous\u2019 behalf. In Drake cities, his team would probably have been commended, even if people had fallen sick. Two hundred Griffins versus a plague? But she bit her tongue on her reply. Typhenous walked next to her, looking weary, but determined. He had probably adventured three times longer than she had. Issa had risen to Gold-rank so quickly in part due to her Oldblood heritage and joining Bevussa\u2019s group.<\/p>\n \u201cApologies. We didn\u2019t mean to pry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s important that you know. We\u2019ve attacked three Raskghar groups and let them run each time. We hope they\u2019ll bring the poison and sickness back to their camps.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat about the Gnoll prisoners?\u201d<\/p>\n Typhenous hesitated and glanced at Bevussa.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t use the same spells as\u2026previously. This spell spreads by contact. The Raskghar will rot from within and convey the sickness to anything that touches their infected parts. Unless they\u2019re close to the Gnolls, they should be fine. The disease takes days to kill. If we reach the prisoners, we can cure them. And if not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n If not, the Gnolls would be dead either way. <\/em>Issa shuddered, and then wondered what Tier that spell was. And how did Typhenous know it? She opened her mouth to ask and then paused. Ahead of them, Seborn had raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cHold up!\u201d<\/p>\n The eleven adventurers paused. Halrac walked forwards and then he and Seborn motioned. The adventurers moved ahead warily and then they saw it. Issa gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods. What is<\/em> that?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBone Horror!\u201d<\/p>\n Something was walking down the corridor towards them. Something tall\u2014six or seven feet\u2014but far wider. A\u2014a spider made of bone was the best way Issa could describe it. Only, the spider\u2019s legs were meant to stab and cut, and it had no head, no eyes. It had been designed to kill, not ever to live. It was an undead creation. A Bone Horror.<\/p>\n Bevussa stared at the undead in alarm and disgust. The headless spider turned towards them. Its razor-sharp, barbed legs were covered in gore. It scuttled towards them, fast. The adventurers tensed, and then they heard a shout.<\/p>\n \u201cPisces, stop!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The undead spider paused. The adventurers saw someone appear from behind it. Yvlon Byres walked forwards. She held her enchanted sword in both hands. Her arms and blade were bloody. Behind her, a giant monstrosity of bone opened its jaws. An armored bear-thing twice as large as it should be lumbered forwards, its spikes covered in blood. Issa imagined what would happen if it charged and rammed into her team. She gulped.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon?\u201d<\/p>\n Ylawes\u2019 voice was disbelieving. He stared at the Bone Horrors, absolutely appalled, and then called out to Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon! Are you unharmed?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re alright. We\u2019ve been fighting down this way. Is the route behind you clear? Pisces! It\u2019s the Gold-ranks! Everyone, get over here!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon shouted back the way they\u2019d come. The Gold-rank adventurers saw a wave of Silver-rank adventurers behind them. They all looked like they\u2019d seen combat, but, amazingly, the teams were all in one piece. It looked like they\u2019d been heading down this corridor, fighting everything they came across. And by the amount of gore on their weapons, they\u2019d found a lot.<\/p>\n \u201cDead gods. We told you Silver-ranks to stay put!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa exclaimed as she saw that several adventurers had recently healed wounds\u2014bad ones. Earlia grinned as she lifted her warhammer.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, you know us. We don\u2019t listen to orders all the time. Glad we found your team, though. We\u2019ve been fighting an hour and I think Pisces isn\u2019t doing so well.\u201d<\/p>\n She gestured behind her. Issa saw a pale young man walking forwards with white robes. There was nothing sinister about Pisces\u2019 appearance\u2014he looked like any other Human male, really. But she shuddered. A [Necromancer]. Even so, Pisces looked quite pale and unwell. Someone\u2014an Antinium, another shudder-provoking sight\u2014was supporting him by one shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong with him?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMana exhaustion.\u201d<\/p>\n Revi tried to push Ylawes out of the way and failed. She walked around him and strode up to Pisces. She stared at both Bone Horrors, appalled, and then at the smaller ones.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got too many creations summoned! Look at the size of that thing! Get rid of them or you\u2019ll burn yourself out!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 eyelids flickered as he glared up at Revi. She glared back.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re about to burn yourself out. You can\u2019t sustain this! If you keep going you\u2019ll injure yourself. Or die.\u201d<\/p>\n The other adventurers turned to look at him, concerned. Yvlon wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cRevi\u2019s right, Pisces. We\u2019ve been fighting over an hour and you haven\u2019t slept. We can rest, try again in a bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces shook his head violently.<\/p>\n \u201cI can keep going. I can\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He faltered. Revi looked around, then made a fist. Before anyone could stop her, she punched Pisces in the side of the face.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a good punch. In fact, as punches went, it was more like being hit by a very soft rock. But it was enough. Pisces blinked, and then lost control.<\/p>\n One of the Bone Horrors took a step. The armored monster raised a foot and it broke apart. Bone scattered across the floor and the undead collapsed. Yvlon caught Pisces as he dropped.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s out of mana. Someone give me another potion\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t. He\u2019s had too many already. He needs rest. Someone gather up those bones and let\u2019s get him out of here. I\u2019m nearly tapped myself.\u201d<\/p>\n Revi wavered. Ksmvr lifted Pisces up.<\/p>\n \u201cI can carry him, Miss Yvlon. Please take the buckler.\u201d<\/p>\n He offered her a buckler which was surrounded by a shining force field. Yvlon shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cDeactivate it. You keep it, Ksmvr. I can\u2019t fight with it as well. My arms are slower\u2014I\u2019ll use this.\u201d<\/p>\n She lifted her sword in both hands. Ylawes frowned at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou weren\u2019t taught how to fight like that, Yv. A sword and shield is how the Byres family fights!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up, Ylawes!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon rounded on him. Ylawes opened his mouth to argue. Dawil clapped his hands together sharply. Everyone turned towards him. He frowned at Ylawes and Yvlon.<\/p>\n \u201cArgue as much as you want, you two, but do it when we\u2019re safe! While we\u2019re all standing here braiding our beards, we\u2019ve got monsters climbing up our arses! Back to the dungeon entrance!\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers looked at each other, but no one argued. They turned and followed the way the Silver-ranks had come. Only when they reached an intersection did Halrac turn.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have fresher adventurers. The Silver-rank can support me. I\u2019ll head forwards with Jelaqua and pursue that armored Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo, Halrac\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Exasperated, Bevussa tried to argue with him. But the [Scout] was already heading down the corridor. Jelaqua and Seborn followed him. The other adventurers wavered for one second and then Keldrass, Yvlon, Dawil, Ylawes, Earlia, and a whole host of Silver-ranks followed. That left only a handful of adventurers behind and after they realized that, they followed too.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have injured here! And Pisces is unconscious!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThen head back. I want to find that armored Raskghar.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re going too far! We\u2019ll all die if we go any further and get ambushed!\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac ignored the truth of Bevussa\u2019s statement. He checked his bow and poisoned arrow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have to be close to the Raskghar. We must be.\u201d<\/p>\n He strode down the corridor, past the spot where Jelaqua had stepped on the trap. Halrac rounded a corridor, barely pausing to check for traps. He reached another intersection and cursed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhich way?\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac squinted at the ground, looking for fur, tracks, anything. He knelt, wobbled, and braced himself on the ground. Then he scanned the intersection. The adventurers came to a halt. Halrac bit his lip as he tried to make out clues. He was moving too fast and his mind was fuzzy. But they were close. They had<\/em> to be.<\/p>\n As the other adventurers waited, they leaned against walls or even sat, too tired to maintain their guards. Yvlon tried to keep alert\u2014they\u2019d only fought for an hour, after all\u2014but her arms were weary. She didn\u2019t know how the Gold-ranks had lasted this long, stamina potions or not. The fighting had been relentless! She\u2019d chopped through at least fifteen monsters with her blade alone.<\/p>\n As for Pisces\u2019 Bone Horrors, they\u2019d been scarily efficient. The one team of Raskghar that they\u2019d run into had been slaughtered in minutes by the spider-thing, and the armored Bone Horror had been hit by a boulder and barely needed a few repairs from Pisces which he\u2019d done on the spot. But the toll on Pisces had been immense. Yvlon leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. If they couldn\u2019t find Ceria after all this\u2014she paused as her ears picked something up, on the edge of hearing.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that sound?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone looked up. Yvlon frowned as she stared down the left corridor. Something was echoing down the corridor. Something\u2026familiar. She straightened and looked at the others.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s down there?\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac got to his feet. He frowned ahead and motioned.<\/p>\n \u201cFollow.\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers trooped down the corridor. They made it ten feet and Halrac inhaled. They froze, but he moved forwards. In a few seconds they saw what he had.<\/p>\n A dead Flesh Worm lay on the ground. It was very dead\u2014blood had pooled and dried around it. It was not nearly as big as Skinner had been, and it had no layered armor of skin, but it was still terrifying, a red, serpentine worm monster with teeth and long feelers that could snatch away flesh. But it was dead. Someone had killed it.<\/p>\n The Flesh Worm\u2019s hide was riddled with arrows. It had been shot over a hundred times, and as Yvlon walked forwards, she saw that its eyes\u2014the two protruding bulbs that hung from the top of its head\u2014had been shot off. The Flesh Worm lay on its side, curled up. And a few feet past it\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWho did this?\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa stared at a pair of dead Stone Starers, their eyes shot through with an arrow each. Beyond them lay a group of maggots, riddled with arrows. And just past them\u2014<\/p>\n At first, Yvlon nearly missed him. He was sitting against a wall, partially covered by the corpse of a Face-Eater Moth. He was so still that she mistook him for another corpse among the dead monsters surrounding him. Only when Bird began to sing did she spot him.<\/p>\n \u201cNo birds in the ground, no birds in the rain. No birds, no flying, only pain. Pain, pain, fly away. Come again another day. No birds underground, no flying here. Only Bird and pain and singing and\u2014<\/em>oh, hello Miss Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird was lying against the wall, covered by the Face-Eater Moth. His new bow sat beside him, propped up against a wall. A small hunting knife was in Bird\u2019s hand and he had armed himself with three sharp rocks in his other three hands. He looked up at Yvlon as she stared at him.<\/p>\n \u201cBird?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is me. Hello.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird waved the knife-holding hand at Yvlon. He sounded cheerful, but there was a tension to his voice that Yvlon had never heard before. Bird shifted.<\/p>\n \u201cI am trapped. I thought you were a monster coming to kill me. I cannot move. Can you help me move?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon nodded. She turned and saw the adventurers were staring. Revi pointed dumbly at the Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that Bird?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHello.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow did he get here?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI walked in.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow\u2014never mind that! Someone give me a hand!\u201d<\/p>\n The adventurers crowded around Bird. Yvlon bent down and heaved<\/em> with the others. The Face-Eater Moth was surprisingly difficult to lift. It was sodden with blood. When they got it off Bird, they found he really couldn\u2019t move. His left leg was partially crushed. Dried green blood and pieces of his carapace lay around on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cOw. Ow. I am much ouch.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird spoke cheerfully, but the way he jerked<\/em> when Yvlon reached for his leg made it clear how much pain he was in. The woman bent.<\/p>\n \u201cI have a healing potion. Hold still, Bird.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. That feels very nice. Thank you, Miss Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird relaxed as she poured the healing potion onto his leg. He tried to get up, but still couldn\u2019t. Yvlon caught him.<\/p>\n \u201cSteady. What are<\/em> you doing down here, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n He cocked his head at her.<\/p>\n \u201cI am looking for Mrsha, of course. She was taken by the Raskghar. So I went after her. I did not find her. I found many monsters, though. Hello Mister Halrac.\u201d<\/p>\n He waved at Halrac. The [Scout] was staring around at the carnage.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did this, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI had my bow. It is a very good bow because it killed everything. But I ran out of arrows. So I used my knife.\u201d<\/p>\n He waved the knife. Yvlon stared at the Face-Eater Moth corpse. It looked like Bird had hacked its head apart with the knife. She looked at Bird.<\/p>\n \u201cBut why? <\/em>Bird, this is so dangerous!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa made a sound. Yvlon turned her head and the Garuda stared pointedly at Yvlon. Bird stared at her.<\/p>\n \u201cOoh. Pretty.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBird!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Oh. I did it because Mrsha is missing and it is a bad thing. And I did a bad thing, so I had to do a good thing to make up for it. And because everyone else went.\u201d<\/p>\n His simple explanation confused Yvlon, but Halrac seemed to understand it. The [Scout] knelt and looked at Bird.<\/p>\n \u201cYou did this because you wanted to make amends?\u201d<\/p>\n Bird looked up at Halrac. He nodded slowly.<\/p>\n \u201cI am very sorry, Mister Halrac. I did not find Mrsha, but I tried. Did I do bad?\u201d<\/p>\n He quivered. Halrac paused.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Not at all. You did a\u2014a good thing, Bird.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. That is very good. I am happy.\u201d<\/p>\n Bird relaxed. Halrac straightened. He looked at Bird and then turned to Bevussa. He looked around and blinked a few times. For the first time, a bit of sanity seemed to enter his vision. Halrac shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re pulling out for the day. Let\u2019s go. Revi\u2014have your summons carry Bird.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt last.\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa sighed in relief. Yvlon looked at Halrac. She wanted to argue, but when she stared at Bird, she realized how insane this was. They were way<\/em> too far in the dungeon. The other Gold-ranks were at the entrance. And if there really were hundreds or thousands of Raskghar ahead\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll get you up. Can you walk, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Maybe?\u201d<\/p>\n Bird stood up with the help of two adventurers. He hobbled a bit.<\/p>\n \u201cI can walk. Yes, this is good. I will not die like everyone. That would make Erin very sad and I would not like to make her sad again. All the others died and she cried, you know.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked brightly around at the adventurers. Yvlon frowned, but it was Ksmvr who opened his mandibles.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean, \u2018everyone\u2019, Bird?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium Worker tilted his head.<\/p>\n \u201cEveryone, former Prognugator Ksmvr. They are over there. Everyone died. Or most of everyone. I did not see Revalantor Klbkch die, but many others did.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed down the corridor. The adventurers gazed into the darkness. They looked at each other. Yvlon walked forwards carefully, and then her breath caught. She stared at the first shape lying on the ground, another smashed against the wall like a\u2014an insect, and the dead Crypt Lord. And then she saw more shapes, lying still, motionless. She whispered as the other adventurers came forwards and gasped.<\/p>\n \u201cAntinium.\u201d<\/p>\n They lay where they had fallen. Broken, some in pieces, others melted or scorched or\u2026the Antinium had died hard. None of them had less than a dozen wounds on their bodies and the monsters that lay around them were a testament to the battle that had taken place.<\/p>\n No, not a battle. A war had gone on in the dungeon. And by the looks of it, the Antinium had lost. Or at least, they\u2019d paid the price.<\/p>\n Hallway after hallway was filled with Antinium corpses. Usually it wasn\u2019t more than a handful, but there were places in which a trap had wiped out dozens. And as the adventurers moved forwards, the numbers of the dead Soldiers and Workers kept increasing.<\/p>\n \u201cThere have to be at least a thousand dead Antinium here. At least!\u201d<\/p>\n Bevussa had no skin or scales that could turn pale, but her feathers all fluffed out as she stared at the dead Antinium in shock and horror. Bird reached out and tried to touch her feathers, but the Garuda was too agitated. She whirled and turned to Keldrass and Ylawes.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is\u2014the Antinium must have attacked the dungeon at the same time we did. Did they send their entire Hive down here?\u201d<\/p>\n Halrac shook his head grimly.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are thousands of Antinium in a Hive. This was just a wave. But it was destroyed. And look\u2014they met Raskghar as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Over a hundred Raskghar were dead in one corridor, and three times as many Soldiers and Workers. It looked like they\u2019d slaughtered each other in the narrow space. Halrac inspected one dead Raskghar and rose, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWe should report this when we return. And\u2026make plans. If the dungeon can handle a thousand Soldiers, if the Raskghar can\u2014we can\u2019t find Ceria or the Gnolls today. We\u2019re heading back.\u201d<\/p>\n No one argued with him. Nevertheless, Yvlon couldn\u2019t help but stare back at the dead Antinium. She gripped her sword\u2019s hilt helplessly. Halrac was right. And yet\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re so close. We must be.\u201d<\/p>\n No one answered her. Yvlon walked back through the dungeon. She felt as though Ceria were just around the corridor. But there was nothing she could do. She walked back, head hung low. All they\u2019d done, all they\u2019d accomplished\u2014it hadn\u2019t been enough. Adventurers, Pisces, the Antinium\u2026the dungeon had swallowed all their efforts.<\/p>\n They\u2019d failed.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cYou see? Do you see?\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz laughed as he stood over his war table. It was a slab of stone and the crude parchment and drawings he\u2019d made were a mockery of the detailed plans Ceria remembered him poring over before. But there was something familiar about it. Something close to what she remembered the Minotaur being. She stood by his side, her ears drooping, quiet. Defeated.<\/p>\n The Minotaur turned towards her, his eyes alight with triumph. He had overseen the invasion of both the Antinium and adventurers, moving most of his Raskghar out of the way, sending kill teams to take out vulnerable groups like the Halfseekers. Their failure had sent him into a rage, but now he was triumphant.<\/p>\n \u201cThousands of Antinium! Gold-rank teams\u2014even undead led by that [Necromancer]! All failed to come close to my outermost camps! And by tomorrow we\u2019ll have repositioned. Send the order to the forward camps! I want them moving by nightfall! Baskel!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He barked an order at the Raskghar who growled and loped off. Ceria watched it go. Calruz looked at her, grinning through his yellow teeth.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see? They\u2019ll never make it this far into the dungeon. It assails them at every turn. It hunts them. It\u2026thinks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI see that. But why doesn\u2019t it hunt you?\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz paused.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause I\u2014I know it. No. I\u2019m alone. Yes, that\u2019s what it is. You and I are a small group. We don\u2019t attract attention. And the Raskghar are part of the dungeon. But adventurers? They disturb it. So do the Antinium. The dungeon resists them. But my warriors will be able to conquer it. I told you, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou did.\u201d<\/p>\n Calruz didn\u2019t notice the half-Elf\u2019s tone. He grinned elatedly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou and I have work to do. Tonight, we will assail a part of the dungeon. I\u2019ve considered how to use your [Ice Walls] to the best advantage. We\u2019ll begin our work and then\u2014the adventurers will be months reaching us, if they even manage to clear out enough space to get here. And by that time we\u2019ll have penetrated the heart of the dungeon. We\u2019ll come out covered in treasure and glory!\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur paced back and forth, talking excitedly. He didn\u2019t seem to care how many Raskghar had died to the adventurers, or how many Goblins had perished as the monsters had fled the adventurer\u2019s approach and clashed with his warriors. Ceria saw the Raskghar pacing in the background behind Calruz, eying the Gnolls, their Chieftain. Her. The Raskghar who\u2019d performed the ritual was sitting among the largest Raskghar, clearly above the rest. She stared at Ceria. The half-Elf met her gaze and then looked at Calruz.<\/p>\n \u201cI think\u2026you might be making a mistake, Calruz. Everything might not go your way.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur\u2019s face twisted into a scowl. He stared at his map, his eyes too wide.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ll never reach here. Never. My plans are flawless. No foreign presence can enter the dungeon. Only I\u2026only I have the Skill. Everything else is hunted. Except for you. You will be part of my tribe. Yes, that\u2019s how it is. That is how it will be. Nothing is wrong. You are incorrect, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhatever you say, Calruz.\u201d<\/p>\n The Minotaur looked up sharply. Ceria looked away. He grunted and rolled up his maps.<\/p>\n \u201cCome. We have work to do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n In some respects, Calruz was correct. The dungeon was aware, in some sense of the word. And he was right that it hunted. Or things in it hunted. All foreign presences were accounted for. They were\u2026of notice. Not Calruz, but others. Including Ceria.<\/p>\n But what the Minotaur hadn\u2019t accounted for, what he hadn\u2019t thought of was that the dungeon was in some ways, stupid. It only looked at the base nature of things and didn\u2019t account for exceptions. To the dungeon, a Human was a Human. A half-Elf was a half-Elf and a Selphid was a Selphid, dead body or not.<\/p>\n And a Goblin was a Goblin. After all, what was the difference? The adventurers retreated from the dungeon, battered, exhausted. Not beaten, but stalemated. The Antinium survivors returned to their Hive. Pisces left the dungeon unconscious, slipping into dreams where Ceria\u2019s corpse stood in front of him, grinning and asking if this was what he had wanted all along. But one group remained.<\/p>\n On the same day, the Redfang Warriors descended into the dungeon. They had a far, far different experience than the adventurers.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yvlon Byres woke up and realized two things. Firstly, that Falene had hit her with a sleep spell. And secondly, that she\u2019d been tied to her bed. With a spell. The magical bindings looked like they were barely more than strips of glowing cloth, but no matter how hard Yvlon struggled and cursed, she couldn\u2019t […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693085,349],"tags":[],"twi_volume":[11693134],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-5159","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-5","category-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
\n