Dungeon Life

Chapter One-Hundred Twenty-Five

Tarl

The elven inspector lays in bed, awake far earlier than hed prefer to be. Thedeim told him today is the day he moves on Hullbreak. Even now, hes trying to sort out how he truly feels about the water dungeon. He definitely doesnt like it, that much is simple. It killed his mentor. And yet he feels sorry for it.

He could have just left the whole mess at that, until that letter. And then he told Thediem about it, and that crazy dungeon actually said hed do something about it! Hes been doing a lot about it, too, and has been keeping Tarl at least vaguely informed of whats going on: infiltration, espionage, battle plans, and more.

He should feel relieved that the whole situation will be resolved soon, but hes just nervous. Dungeon battles are always messy, and even with Thedeim doing what he can to keep it contained, the elfs teeth are still on edge about it.

He sighs and gets out of bed, finally accepting that hes not going to get any further sleep this morning. He decides to put on his full inspecting gear today. If things go well, he might want to go delve Thedeims new area. If it doesnt go well

He shakes his head to banish the thought, and focuses on putting his armor and gear on. Its a comforting ritual, requiring his attention to keep everything placed just right, but not so active as to work him up into more worrying. Once properly dressed, he grabs a fruit and a crusty roll before heading out the door. Hed like to stop by Cobble Bread for breakfast instead, but it probably wont actually open for close to an hour still.

Maybe he can surprise Telar by having a hot pot of tea waiting for her when she arrives. His mood lightens as he imagines surprising her in her domain, though his mood drops slightly as hes reminded of her question about Thedeim.

What would you classify him as?

He stayed quiet at the time, not wanting to try to worm his way around the geas. Even without it, hes not sure he would have replied, just for the implications of what he would classify Thedeim as.

Honestly, Cloistered isnt too far off, if you think about it. Its just a period of isolation at the start of a dungeons life, before being exposed to the outside. He thinks Thedeim did have a period of isolation, just that it was more in the middle of the dungeons existence.

The Guild calls them Lost dungeons, ones that have somehow been sealed from the world, often as a result of either a disaster or a fight between dungeons. Tarl cant think of anything else to explain that strange vision he got when he first saw Thedeims core. Some kind of society with incredible magic, some kind of people living mundane lives full of wonder. The people or the holes where people should have been, seemed to have access to incredible arcane devices and incredible architecture. Probably wonderful music, though he couldnt hear anything in his vision.

His mentor used to talk about kobolds sometimes, about how theyve probably forgotten more about dungeons than the guild will ever know. Hes tried to get Aranya to talk with him about kobold legends, but she generally changes the subject, or talks in the kind of vague riddles that historians sometimes do. Its the kind of talk that Tarl always takes to mean the historian doesnt know the answer, but doesnt want to admit it.

Stuff like that is why Tarl never fancied himself an academic. Maybe if he was, though, hed have more evidence to support his suspicion that Thedeim is somehow one of the kobolds ancient dungeons. He has no idea how he could have ended up in Fourdock, if thats the case, but he cant think of anything else that could explain his development.

His musings carry him to the Dungeoneers Guild, and as he unlocks it, he hears a bell ringing. He, at first, ignores it, taking it as maybe a call to prayer from the Crystal Shield church or maybe someone signaling dawn. Hes not usually up this early to hear such things. Its not until hes in the kitchen, filling the teapot, when he realizes something is strange. The bell is still ringing?

He sets the pot over the fireplace, but doesnt light it yet. Instead, he returns outside, trying to figure out whats going on. He hears Poes cawing, which sets his instincts on edge. Its not the kind of menacing cawing like when he faced down that one group of delvers, but its still strange to hear him. Its even more strange to see the large raven scion winging over the rooftops. Tracing his path back, Tarl finally notices the source of the bell: Thedeims belfry.

He curses and quickly ducks back inside and scribbles a quick note to Telar, and places it on her desk.

At Thedeim

Tarl

Hed like to give more information than that, but he simply doesnt have it. He quickly locks the door on his way out, and rushes to the dungeon. It feels wrong to not be greeted by a chorus of caws, but he does his best to ignore it. Hes also not greeted by Teemo, which also just feels weird. Thankfully, he spots Tiny exiting the maze, and so hurries over.

Tiny! Is something wrong?

The large spider considers him for a moment, then extends a leg for the elf to climb aboard. He hesitates but a moment before doing just that. Its not like Tiny is the Voice. Hopefully he can just take Tarl to someone who can explain whats going on? Teemo would be the best, but if Thedeim is hoping to negotiate with Hullbreak, the rat scion will be indisposed there.

Entering a shortcut is always a strange experience, and its even stranger when riding Tiny. It really drives home how he shouldnt be able to fit through one. He just closes his eyes and tries not to focus on the surreality of it, and soon finds himself in the public war room. He also finds hes not alone. It looks like Thing is here with Larx, and as he hops off Tiny, he spots the spiderkin triumvirate exit a shortcut with Fluffles.

Hes not even sure the Conduit noticed him, as he quickly goes through a different shortcut. He stands for a few moments, awkwardly looking at the spiderkin, before the smallest one speaks up.

So whats going on?

I wish I knew, replies Tarl, his confusion growing.

Theyre rescued by the voice of Larx, the elder ratkin speaking up so they can all hear him. If youd all come take a look at this, I think youll understand. He steps a bit back from the map, letting the others move forward and see what he is seeing.

It takes Tarl a few moments to understand what hes seeing, and he quietly curses when he realizes what it is. Hullbreak is pulling something, he grumbles, his eyes fixed to the encroaching mass of invaders depicted.

Vernew and Folarn look grim, but Norloke still looks like shes in the dark. What am I looking at?

An army, replies the large tarantula woman, and the Huntsmistress nods.

But what is it doing? asks the orbweaver. It looks more like its trying to attack the town, rather than the Weaver.

Thats because he is, speaks up Tarl, gaining the attention of the dweller leaders. Ive read about some dungeons trying similar when they get into a war with a dungeon closer to a town, or situated in the middle of one like Thedeim is. If they can kill the delvers, they can cripple the rivals mana at the source.

Norloke looks horrified at that idea, and hesitates before speaking up again. Do do you think Hullbreak could manage to do that?

Tarl frowns as he considers the question, before slowly shaking his head. I dont think so but I dont know if Thedeim can stop him from making a mess of the town and killing at least some people. They all look grim at that, but Tarl continues. Whats more: if Hullbreak actually manages to severely injure or kill any of the townsfolk, itll be reclassified as Murderous. The only thing thats been keeping it from that classification has been that it wasnt sending hostile expeditions.

The dwellers all exchange looks, and Larx is the first to speak up. What can we do to help? Evacuate the people closest to the sea?

...Maybe? replies the inspector, looking frazzled. Ive never dealt with something like this before. The standard procedure is to evacuate if dungeons are fighting, but there isnt really anywhere to evacuate to! Fourdock never really saw a point in planning for something that seemed like an impossibility!

Norloke speaks up. We bring them to the Weaver, at least the ones willing to come.

What about the army of birds? asks Tarl, and Larx replies this time.

Leave that to Aranya and Yvonne. Theyve already gone ahead to rally the delvers to provide a defense, should anything slip past Poe.

Tarl still looks out of his depth, but at least he feels like he has a raft in this storm now. Ok ok. You get your people prepared to help and meet at the Dungeoneers Guild. Telar should be there by now. Between the two of us, we should be able to give groups quick paperwork to show that youre all sanctioned to help them evacuate.

Tarl sighs and sags slightly in relief at having a plan now, then steels himself, standing straight. And after this is all over, Im going to have a long talk with the mayor and the other guild heads. This is exactly the kind of plan that should have been in place, not something we have to throw together at the last moment.

All gathered nod, and quickly go where they need to go. Its a lot to try to do on the fly like this, but the consequences for failure could be dire.