The Tower in the Shadows

The last few weeks had flown past. The season was changing as summer was ending and autumn was well on the way. Ranus stepped out of the newly constructed tavern room he was staying in and went downstairs. The building was rough in its look and the smell of sawdust was still heavy in the air, but it still was better than the tent he was in. Construction had only finished two days ago.

Word of the Dungeon had spread like wildfire across a dry grass plain. And the people came. By the Gods, they came. The Tyboon Council reported that more were coming every day.

Shadow Vale’s population had exploded. He had established a basic Governmental structure, but they still had no idea of the numbers. Their best estimate was four hundred already.

Ranus was desperate for money. Rickle favoured him with a spot of luck as an architect was visiting Tyboon and had signed on immediately to help plan the new city growing in the valley. The architect, a man named Vulus, had proposed the idea of land parcels sold under a twenty-year lease. They quickly mapped the area and began selling building rights.

One of the first was to Jontar, a Tavernkeeper who bought four plots and built the first Tavern, which he named Shadows Rest. The Adventures Guild building was almost finished. The pier was completed and several warehouses were nearly done. A rough market area had been established as numerous workshops and merchants were already hawking their wares. Homes were sprouting like mushrooms.

The Dungeon had been classed as an Iron grade with three floors. Gran's team had visited several times already. Several Tin and Iron grade groups had arrived, with a few going in with mixed results. With the Dungeon supplying old Empire-grade coins and a good selection of resources, the future was looking bright.

“Good new day, Lord Goldwind.”

“And to you, Tavernkeeper Jontar.”

Jontar walked over to Ranus as he descended the stairs into the common room. Jontar was a tall, heavy-set man leaning into the fat category. He had been an adventurer in his early years but had found the life not for him. He went into Tavern running instead. This was his third. He sold the others after they had become established, as he found they were no longer challenging.

“Come, I have a table ready for you.”

He led Ranus through the filling common room to a large table near the hearth. He chatted as they walked about the problems he was having to deal with. The smile on his face told Ranus he was loving every minute of it. They had found a quarry site two weeks ago and stoneworkers were busy fashioning the stone that was being produced for the foundations of the new buildings. Jontar’s tavern foundation and hearth were the first to receive the stone. Vulus was sitting already eating while going over rough maps of the area.

“Good new day, Vulus.”

Vulus looked up, surprised. He was too engrossed in his work to see them approach.

“G-good new day to you, Lord Goldwind.”

He made to rise, but Ranus waved him back down as he sat beside him.

“Tavernkeeper Jontar, whatever is ready for the morning meal I will take.”

“Of course, Lord Goldwind.”

The Tavernkeeper quickly went off to see to the order. The lack of staff meant he did a lot himself until more people arrived to fill positions.

Ranus looked over the other man at the table. Vulus was from the far south. He had ebony-coloured skin and was one of the tallest men at seven feet Ranus had ever met. He was gaunt and cleanly shaven, even his head and was hesitant around most. That made the deep resonance of his voice all the more odd coming from the man. If you were to guess, it was the voice of a public speaker or priest.

“What do we have today, Vulus.”

Ranus looked over the maps that were spread over the table.

“The next phase of building is planned and approved.”

“So, the market square, merchant quarter and the temples.”

“Yes. The temples have been the most…demanding.”

The biggest surprise that Ranus had encountered in the last few weeks was the arrival of a small army of clergy. Oda, Xandus, Nictor and Astraus sent their priests to the new town. Getting the heads of the courts and the Pantheon head all arriving at once was a shock. Usually, the lesser Gods arrive first, followed by the heads later. Astraus was obviously one of the first, as the Dungeon is here. The others, not so. Adding the fact that the priests were not low-level clergy members but relatively high-level members. Things got more complicated.

“Are they still arguing over resource allocation?”

“Not any more, Lord Goldwind. They have finally settled on their building and resource allocations.”

“Very well. What else?”

“I have confirmation on the building restrictions around the Dungeon and the northeastern third of the valley.”

The Divine restrictions on where the town can build were another strange thing to add to the list about this Dungeon.

“Were we right to assume we can build on the opposite bank?”

“Yes. We can build anywhere in the valley if we do not block access to the rest of the mountain range.”

“Then we continue with our original plan and finish the palisade along the valley, stopping further expansion.”

“I have instructed the work gang leaders to continue the wall. We should have it finished in three days. This will protect the town from the Shadow Wolf packs that come down from deeper in the mountain range.”

“Excellent, this gives us an extra sense of safety. What else?”

“The copper smith is smelting and the tanners are treating the boar hides being supplied from the Dungeon.”

“More sources of income are welcome.”

Ranus smiled, thinking of how things were developing. The copper was being processed and shipped to Tyboon. The boar hides were being turned into leather armour. The boar meat was being sold to the population. Jontar was one of the leading buyers. He had been dining on it regularly himself.

“The alchemists have agreed to their location and are setting up basic workshops until the new buildings are finished.”

“More resources will be leaving the Dungeon soon.”

Vulus nodded, not interested in what was coming out of the Dungeon but how they needed to use it most effectively in the forming town.

“Have you seen Guild Leader Woodland?”

“Yes, she was up early and left to organise the adventurer teams going into the Dungeon.”

“Thank you. I will head over to see her as soon as I have eaten. Then I will need to talk more with the new Watch commander.”

## ## ## ## ##

Guild Leader Woodland was sitting at a rough wooden desk on an equally rough chair. Gran and his team were in the Dungeon at this moment and she was allowing two Tin grade teams in after them today.

She was reading reports and the first requests from the new townspeople—the usual requests for different herbs, resources and monster scouting. This was the standard fare for a guild and she was happy to have them.

The Dungeon had quirks and outside factors that gave her a nearly daily headache. The new Adventures Guild building was near the Dungeon and the palisade was being built. There was a gate manned by two of the new Watch that was recruiting. They had orders to only allow approved groups through. This was ironic, as the palisade only reached several meters from the gate as it was still being built.

The magic communication scroll on her desk began chiming, telling her a message had arrived. Sighing loudly, she reached over and picked it up. Once, it had been a wonderful and exciting artefact to use. Now, it’s chimes only herald more problems.’

The other Guilds and the promised support will arrive in the next three days. Be ready.

“Gods! Is there no end!”

The Guilds and her support. She would welcome the support, but the other Guilds meant more politics. That was the issue she was dreading. Just dealing with the churches had been bad enough. The fact that they had arrived before the Guilds was a surprise in and of itself, but when your God says get this done, you get it done.

There was a knock at her office door.

“Yes.”

The door opened slightly and a young boy’s head popped through.

“Gran's team have just emerged from the Dungeon.”

“Thank you. I will be right down.”

The head retreated and she got up, walking out into the bustling chaos from the back of the new Guild building. All around, people were moving and working with the corresponding noise level. Her eyes were focused past the still-being-built palisade to Gran’s team walking across the floodplain.

“Good new day, Guild Leader Woodland.”

“And to you, Lord Goldwind.”

He had emerged from the moving workers. Evidently, he had been making his way here from the tavern he was staying at.

“I see Gran and his team are returning.”

“Indeed. They planned a short trip into the Dungeon’s third floor. More boar meat and hides to sell.”

Gran had gotten permission last night for an early delve to obtain more for the town’s ever-expanding population and industry.

“Are more of the new teams going in today?”

“Yes. One of the new Tin grade teams… There they are.”

She looked around and found them now walking towards the gate. The guard looked over at her and she nodded that they could go through. Gran and his team entered the town as the other group left. The others went off to do what they needed to as he approached the Lord and Guild Leader.

“Good new day to you both.”

“And to you.”

They both responded to him.

“Anything to report, Gran?”

Elian asked him, looking him over. There was no sign of injuries, but he was covered in mud and blood.

“No. We did not go beyond the second room on the third floor. Four boars were killed and we stripped the carcasses as well as taking the reward.”

The easy access to the other floors was becoming an unexpected benefit to the town. The Dungeon reward and the ability to strip the carcasses were helping the developing community greatly.

“That is good to know. Hopefully, the Tin group will listen and not go deeper than they can handle.”

Most heeded Elian's instructions, but one group had not emerged from the Dungeon. This had the desired effect on most of the young bloods for the moment. With more arriving every day, it seemed it was only a matter of time before more were lost to the Dungeon. Yes, it fuelled its expansion but also made it more dangerous and this one was dangerous enough.

“If you excuse me, I have things to attend to before I pay the Dungeon due.”

He moved off and into the crowd. Elian knew he would give a complete account of the group's haul later and pay the required percentage to the Guild and Lord.

“I have some news for you, Lord Goldwind.”

“Oh. What is it?”

“The remaining Guilds will be arriving in the next three days.”

Ranus could not suppress a shudder. Elian understood what he was experiencing, as she would go through the same. More problems for both of them would soon begin.

Before he could say anything more, the sounds of an argument reached their ears. Turning, they saw several priests in an argument that was getting heated fast. Letting out an audible sigh, Ranus spoke.

“Excuse me, Guild Leader….It seems I have an earlier start than expected.”

“Of course, Lord Goldwind, we will talk later.”

He nodded to her and began to walk towards the growing altercation. The community lacked proper paved roads and he was walking on a dirt track. She knew that they would all turn to mud when the rains came in earnest—another problem for another day.

Looking around, she noted several figures eyeing her but not approaching from the look. More Tin grade teams and maybe a few Iron are needed to be registered. Sighing like Ranus, she returned to her Guild and office to continue the endless paperwork.

## ## ## ## ##

Like a stone dropped into a pond, the effects of the ripples of a new Dungeon were being felt further and further.

This Dungeon was having other effects that only a few Gods knew about. Around the Shadow Falls mountains, the slowly creeping void corruption was slowed but still moving. It was not evident, but several local “monsters” were becoming more affected as the corrupting essence influenced their bodies and minds.

A figure stirred in a cave at the base of a mountain near one of the rivers that flowed through the valleys. The misshapen figure was humanoid but out of proportion and appeared male. He emerged into the dying day, feeling something drawing it to the southeast.

He sniffed the air. What had stirred it? Not prey. No. Danger? Maybe?

The pull was getting stronger. He had felt it since the last winter snows and the one before that. He did not know what it was, but he knew it was something he did not like. He could ignore it at first, but the constant pull was making him mad.

He was changed he knew this. Different from before, stronger. The others were jealous and had cast him out. They never liked him.

Facing the pull's direction, he decided to go and kill it. It was making him mad.

Picking up his favourite club, he set off.

Around him, the forest was quiet and he smiled with rotten, broken teeth.

It was good to be feared.