The Dungeon Without a System

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The Guildmistress's Office, The Guild, Medea Island

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Layla entered her office briskly, her lips pursed and brow furrowed. She was quickly followed by Felin, her aunt, and her uncle. She sat at her desk, and Felin shut the door behind them. A mana pulse into the enchanted metal plate at her desk activated the room's privacy enchantments, and Layla leaned forward on her elbows.

"We have a problem," she started before her aunt and uncle had had a chance to sit down. "The four remaining members of the Hero's Descendant party were last seen four days ago. No ship has docked or left the island in that time. I've personally scanned the entire island for any sign of them, and they aren't on the surface." She let the silence hang for a moment before her aunt filled it.

"Meaning, the only place they could be... is the dungeon," Isid stated. When Layla nodded, Isid continued. "Since you didn't know where they were, I assume they snuck in after hours. How did they sneak past the guards?"

"The guards on duty the night they entered the dungeon were bribed. They've since been fired from their positions," Layla stated. "While we're lax with associated guilders, we expect integrity from those we hire for such important positions. I intend to have them leave on the next ship that graces our shores. Their bribe was confiscated," she shook her head with a sigh. "They sold themselves rather cheaply, to be honest."

"So they bribed the guards and snuck into the dungeon... just after we learned it is unable to defend itself to the level it has previously." Jerrad summarized. "Did Haythem or Paetor slip them any information?" Layla shook her head again.

"First thing I checked. The bribed guards let them in a few hours before that meeting. They couldn't have said anything." Jerrad nodded, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Then it's a coincidence. But why enter the dungeon at night?" He continued, looking a little lost.

"Isn't it obvious?" Layla asked with a raised brow. "They didn't want anyone to know they were in the dungeon. Of course, they didn't expect us to be watching them so closely. I knew they'd disappeared within a day of it happening. The guilders I pay to keep an eye on their comings and goings called in that they hadn't seen them."

"They must have planned to leave under cover of night; otherwise, the entrance guards would have noticed they were leaving but hadn't entered." Isid theorized. Layla nodded.

"The bribed guards admitted they'd shared the guard rotation with the group, so they could plan for which nights were safe to leave. When they leave, we'll be ready for them."

"If they leave," Felin snorted, getting the other's attention. "I had the thought when Layla told me they'd snuck in. Asked around the market. They've been buying a lot of food. Preserved, mostly, and that'll last even longer in expanded bags. They could also hunt and eat some monsters, like fish. They've also stocked up on potions, and the blacksmith sold them two spare weapons each. The archer Chana bought every single arrow for sale on the island. There's been some grumbling about that."

Layla stared at him with a fond expression. He looked back, staring between the three Losats with that confused look she found adorable. "What?"

"Nothing, Felin. Good thinking," Layla complimented. She turned to Isid and Jerrad and caught the knowing glances they gave each other. Layla cleared her throat, staring right at them. Isid tilted her head with a half-smile but didn't say whatever she'd been about to.

"Knowing that... Who knows how long they'd be able to stretch this little excursion. They might not leave until..." Isid trailed off.

"Until they shatter the Core, fulfilling the bounty." Layla finished gravely. "We can't let that happen." Isid nodded, obviously understanding, but the men in the room looked confused.

"You remember the balls of light? In the ceiling of most places in the dungeon?" She asked, and they nodded. "They are in a precarious balance. The mana inside wants to explode outward, but another force holds the whole thing together. I fear if the dungeon is shattered... they'll destabilize. Explosively." The men paled.

"We don't know how many there are, but later floors have even larger versions. The one on the Sixth is enormous!" Isid reminded her husband, who nodded.

"While something to be wary of... we can't know how big the explosions would be. They could scour their caverns but no further." He theorized.

"While a good theory, we can't test it," Layla stated, "The shockwave from all those mana lights exploding at once could burst out of the dungeon's entrance and destroy the town. Remember, there's one in the first room on the first floor. For all we know, that one alone could blow the whole island to bits."

"So we can't let them do it," Felin interjected, getting their attention again. "Send our best to meet them and inform them of the danger. Anything that could destroy the island would undoubtedly kill them too. Given how many of them left after three of their party died... I think they'd prefer life over gold." Layla nodded.

"You're right, of course," she agreed. "They're ignorant of the danger, so we must inform them. We should have revealed what we knew about the lights before now. It would probably have done much more to dissuade those trying to kill it and might have saved a few lives."

"Or encourage others to destroy it, to kill all of us."

"Or that, yes. I'll get the map. You'll probably need it." Layla opened her desk.

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The Sixth Floor, The Dungeon, Medea Island

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Auora shivered, despite the heat of their surroundings.

"Okay. It looks like they've marked... here, here, and here as somewhere safe to spend the night." Chana stated, wincing as she pointing out places on the map. Auora glanced over, eying said map as she did. She still wasn't happy Chana stole it... but as long as they returned it, everything would be fine.

The archer winced again, then chugged another health potion. She'd been hit in the chest by the Earth Elemental and broken a lot of her ribs. That she even needed multiple potions to heal the damage said something about how lesser guilders would have fared.

"Then we'll check the closest place," Hallmark ordered. "What was that warning you mentioned earlier about spending the night here?" Chana looked down at the map, eyes darting around until they settled on the top right corner.

"Uuuuh, here! 'Large winged monsters active only at night. Nests assumed the top of the pillars. Avoid traveling at night at all costs.'" She read.

"Feh!" Hallmark spat. "Weaklings. They saw a big scary monster and hid. A real Guilder would have fought them off and taken a trophy," He insisted. "In fact, that's what I'm going to do. You all can hide if you want. I'll face them alone."

"Bad idea," Xerat claimed, waving his hand and stump about. His other hand had been crushed, and they'd used a potion to heal it over until they could get to a more specialized healer on the surface. Luckily he didn't need to use his hands to use magic. "Bad, bad idea. We have no idea what they are, and flying monsters are always a pain. Chana would be the only one that could damage them until they're forced down by injury, and even then, most monsters are still dangerous."

"What a coincidence! I'm at my most dangerous on the ground, while they'd be at their least," Hallmark boasted. "When we bring one down, we can study it and find out how to kill them more efficiently."

Xerat threw his hands in the air. "Fine! I can see I'm not going to convince you. Let's set up camp first; then, we can find one of these monsters."

Chana's eyes darted between the two men, then back down to the map as she rolled it up. "Alright then. The nearest spot is this way," she said as she walked off, the rest of them close behind.

As they walked, Auora let her mind drift to a few hours ago, on the Eighth.

Stepping through the entrance and seeing the immensity of the floor was... a little humbling. There were mountains. Underground! Three peaks had poked through the wisps of cloud that gathered between and around them, only highlighting the blue sky around them that stretched for what seemed like forever. The only thing that proved they were still in the dungeon was that there was seemingly nothing else in this place but the three mountains and the endless sky.

No foothills or plains stretched out from their base, nor did she see a horizon in the distance.

After taking in the view, they'd started along the snowy ledge that hugged the cliff they'd emerged from. They'd barely gotten halfway to the more open section they could see ahead when an ear-piecing shriek rang out, echoing off the mountains a dozen times before fading away. After they caught a glimpse of the bird monster flying in the distance, they ducked under a rocky outcrop to hide from it.

Either they were too slow, or it'd been watching them because the lightning bolt it threw their way only barely missed, striking the cliff above them. The level of accuracy was enough to send a thrill down her spine. It looked to be flying more than a mile away, and it still almost hit them! With something as inaccurate over large distances as a bolt of lightning!

Her thoughts that it had missed were quickly proven wrong. It'd hit exactly where it'd meant to. The rumbling as the snow washed over their outcrop and buried them under there... she remembered it vividly.

"We're here," Chana stated, bringing Auora out of her memories. She looked around, quickly scanning her surroundings. Indeed, a small cave was in the wall, hidden behind a large rock that hid it from the rest of the ashy plains.

"Cozy," Auora remarked, stepping in. It was pretty small. There were the remnants of a campfire in the center and signs of small tents erected around it. The cave itself only went a little deeper than the camping area. Auora and Chana pulled their tent supplies from the relevant pouch and started setting up. Xerat pulled out logs, kindling, and a firestarter. Though he was a water mage, just a pinch of mana would cause it to burst into flames.

Hallmark stood guard at the entrance.

Their timing was good. Perfect, in fact. Soon after they'd fully set up, darkness descended on the floor. It wasn't pitch black, given the glowing lava was a decent light source, but fighting in such an environment would be challenging.

"Xerat, call up a sprite. We're going to need more light," Hallmark demanded. The mage obliged, summoning the tiny ball of blue light. A second later, the sprite brightened enough to eliminate the flickering shadows from the fire.

Enough for things outside to spot the light spilling from the cave's mouth. Distant roars filled the air, and Auora heard dozens of wingbeats grow closer.

"I'm going to enjoy this..." Hallmark stated, his bloodthirst evident for all to see. When the first swarming shadow descended upon the cave, the sprite's light illuminated the monster enough to highlight its features. It hovered for a few moments, then let out a cry as Chana's arrows pierced the furred hide of its wing-arm. The monster descended further, landing on the ground with enough force to shake it slightly.

The enormous bat reared to its full height and roared again. Auora staggered under the force it released, unprepared for the air-mana-backed roar. Hallmark, meanwhile, rushed in as the roar trailed off. "COME GET SOME!" He cried as a half-dozen more monsters followed the first. The air was filled with his echoing laughter and the cries of the giant, black-furred, red-eyed bats.

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Capriccio Village, The Sixth Floor, The Dungeon.

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Bahumet stared out from the window of his dwelling. He watched as, on the other side of the cavern, the Bats descended en masse upon the invading guilders. They'd received word from a drake-kin messenger of their final battle against the guilders, and a pall had settled over the villagers. Chief Baalotette had declared the Outer Village to be abandoned but for a few guards. As a result, the Inner Village was full to bursting.

If the humans had defeated the drake-kin's entire shaman and warrior population, the Capriccios stood no chance. Less than none, since they barely had a warrior caste. A few goats had a talent for fire magic, maybe. Still, in that regard, Bahumet could only conclude that The Creator had never intended them to take a combat role.

He'd said as much before in His orders to trade with the blindfolded human woman and her party. Those humans were sympathetic and could very well consider his people as they do their own.

These humans were unrepentant Monsters. Bahumet had no doubt that if they approached the village intending to pillage and slaughter all they could, they'd find little opposition.

Thankfully, they weren't as exposed as their cliffside village implied.

It was already difficult for any human to reach the village from the ground. Meanwhile, a sure-hooved capriccio would find little trouble. While the humans slowly scaled the cliff, non-combatants could be evacuated to the hidden cavern beyond the village. The entrances were disguised perfectly, seeming unremarkable walls to all who gazed upon them, even the blindfolded women. When a monster approached them, the stone silently slid backward and to the side. Once through, the door replaced itself.

Bahumet had asked what the trick was once and had gotten an answer he only half understood. Because the enchantment for movement wasn't on the door itself, but something connected to the door, it seemed like any other bit of wall. Especially to those with manasight, who were blinded by the even layer of mana on every surface. The Drake-kin had similar doors throughout their mines that connected to their village.

A death-knell cry caught Bahumet's attention, drawing him from his thoughts. "That's another one," he said, hearing the quiet hoof-steps of his mate as she approached the window.

"What does that make now, eleven?" Lambda asked, joining him on the bench. "How many of them are there?" She continued after a moment of silence broken only by the distant roars.

"We never counted," Bahumet answered. "It's almost impossible. They're only out at night, and they all look practically identical. You could count the same one five times and never know."

Another roar was abruptly cut out, and Bahumet raised his mental tally. Lambda sighed and leaned against him. He put an arm around her shoulders and rested his head on hers. He made sure to avoid her cute little horns.

"This can't be good for you, my love," she insisted. "You'll drive yourself mad. Come, You know the Chief will raise a fuss if her right-hand-buck is tired come morning.." She stood and started pulling his arm, eyes pleading.

Bahumet smiled softly and stood with a nod. He pulled the curtains over the window and doused the candle, then let his mate guide him to the hidden door at the back of their house. With nary a sound, an otherwise unremarkable slab of stone moved backward, then sideways. The tunnel it opened to was short, and they soon emerged into the Inner Village.

It resembled the Outer Village superficially, with allowances for the much smaller space. Every part of the circular cavern walls had been carved out for living space, leaving the central area clear, except for a small market.

Before his trip to the Drake-kin village, they had a fairly isolationist stance regarding the other Children. After experiencing the Drake-kin's bustling market, Bahumet had been inspired. He'd formalized the loose trade they already shared, for food mostly, into a bi-weekly caravan. Their merchants would trade their wool and wool products for things they couldn't make themselves. The collection of stalls was a new sight to the Capriccios. Still, the word was they appreciated the new variety of food.

Sure, they didn't need to eat to live, but The Creator had insisted upon it for a reason. Most were wary of the idea that they were partly composed of mana and ate regularly. They enjoyed the taste and the sense of satisfaction after eating a well-cooked meal was more than enough for the rest to follow.

Lambda led him past the closed market to their home in the Inner Village. The importance of his new position had given him a home on the lowest ring, next door to the Chiefs. He was still amazed that he'd been given such an important position.

In the aftermath of their rushed election, the Chief had rushed off to the Seventh for the Leader's Summit. On her return, she'd immediately started pulling together the goats she viewed as competent. Personally, Bahumet thought his appointment to second-in-command was a little much. He had a head for numbers, yes, and knew he was well-regarded for his efforts in regard to trade...

Still, he couldn't help feeling like there had to be a Capriccio better suited for the role.

"You need to relax, darling. You've been so tense over the last few days. Let me help with that." Lambda insisted with a coy look.

Bahumet had to admit, disregarding all the recent troubles and changes, meeting this wonderful doe had him feeling like the luckiest buck in the dungeon.

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© Max Porteous, 2022