The Tower in the Shadows

I was progressing towards level 4, slowly but progressing.

“Thankfully, it’s not like the first level that took forever!”

Larry was doing his best to ignore me as I spoke. He is hanging out in the rafters as a group was below on the first floor. I was aware of them, but they were not that interesting.

“Since Ron’s group was here, I have had nothing but new Tin groups. No interesting gear or magic. True, I have reached 85% on the way to my next floor, but things are moving slowly.”

It was raining outside at the moment, and I think winter will soon be here again. The groups coming through were complaining about the weather changing. I had noticed the shortening days.

“From the conversations, it seems the town is developing well out there. I cannot see any bloody thing, but the building is going well. A lot of services and merchants are now set up.”

Larry was flopped over on the rafter with his eyes closed.

“I wonder if I will get any more Iron or Copper grade teams showing up?”

The nights were slow for me, but I continued experimenting with the spiders. The fourth floor would be spider-focused, with light crystals in the wall and an environment that helps create shadows. The spiders will be enhanced with shadow mana that will allow them to take advantage of the environment.

That was the plan.

The number of exploded spider bodies I had to clean up told a different story. I was having trouble getting the balance of shadow mana right in them. I was getting frustrated.

“Well, tonight, I will try again with my next experiments. I think I am close to a solution, as it took longer for the last one to explode.”

Creating the spider I wanted was going slowly, but I was learning a lot about creating new minions. This knowledge will help me when creating new challenges for the new floors.

“I was thinking about using the other two types to create other spiders and mixing them into the floor. I was…”

I was suddenly distracted by a rush of essence into my Core. Turning my attention to the group below, I found that they had reached the floor guardian and one of them was now dead. He was impaled on some of the floor spikes. It looks like the wasp knocked him in during the fight. They were winning but were being pushed by the guardian. I dismissed the alert.

“Status screen. Bhaldor.”

The screen appeared and I looked at the only important thing.

“Well, that has taken me to 89%. If I am lucky, we will have the new floor in just a few more days.”

## ## ## ## ##

Ranus Goldwind was walking towards the new Alchemy Guild building. He was wrapped up in a heavy fur and hide coat that was able to stop the cold wind blowing through the valley from making him shiver. Winter would soon be here and he was thankful most of the required buildings were up. Granted, most were temporary, but they only had a limited building time during the year. Entering the Guild building, a receptionist quickly took his coat. There was a large fireplace with a roaring fire heating the room.

“Lord Goldwind, please follow me. They are awaiting you.” The receptionist indicated to follow her.

There was a meeting of the Guild leaders, and he was invited as the Lord of the Dungeon. He entered a side room and noted the five Guild Leaders were present, sitting around a rough wooden table. He looked them over as they, in turn, looked at him entering. The door was closed behind him as he entered.

Axem Rossm was the head of the Merchant Guild—a thin, bald, hunched man with sharp grey eyes. He was dressed for the climate, and Ranus had quickly come to see the danger of crossing this man. Vill was next to him and the head of the Magical Guild. Dressed in a robe of flamboyant colours, she had an air of disdain he had encountered with much of the nobility when dealing with the “lesser” people. She was from the far north with pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes.

Hydran Hammerson was a native of Tyboon who was moved up to establish the Crafters Guild here. A broad, powerfully built olive-skinned man. He was the most imposing physically out of all of them. Comus Drum led the Alchemy Guild and was the oddest of them all. Barely twenty-four winters old, he was sent to establish and run the guild. Pale skin with brown hair and eyes, he was a heavy-set man with a pot belly. Ranus was initially unsure of him until he realised the Gods gifted the man with an incredible mind.

Finally, Elian was representing the Adventures Guild. She sat beside an empty chair, which he knew was for him. Sitting down, the meeting started they had much to discuss.

“Thank you for attending Lord Goldwind.” Vill said. She was trying to establish herself as the “head” of the Guild Council in the new town. “Let’s get straight to the first point of this meeting. We need your permission to launch a full asset review of the Dungeon.”

“It’s too early. The Dungeon must be more established according to the ancient records.” Axem spoke up. He was one of the primary challengers to Vill in the group. Ranus was grateful he did not have to deal with this group too much. Yet.

“We need to understand the new types of monsters that have been produced so far.” Vill was ready for the argument and was on the offensive.

“We risk upsetting this Dungeon. It’s too easy to upset the early balance of it.” Axem was too ready for the argument. Tensions were rising amongst several others.

“I believe that I am the best judge of this issue.” Comus suddenly spoke up. Everyone looked at him. “As head of the Alchemy Guild, I will be the one studying the new monsters.”

“So, what do you propose?” Hydran asks, trying to avoid the coming argument. Ranus sensed it was one they had been through already.

“We should take each floor separately. In a week or two, we acquire the body of the first-floor boss and the others a few weeks apart. This will allow me to study the bosses and any other monsters that need studying. This will also not stress the Dungeon.”

“I concur.” Hydran supported him straight away.

“As do I.” Elian joined in supporting Comus to prevent the coming argument. Ramus remained silent, awaiting the group to come to some form of consensus. The other two were unhappy but relented, knowing now was not the time for the ongoing battle for influence.

“Very well. I will arrange the kill and collections with Guild Leader Woodland and supply you with reports as soon as they are ready.” Comus nodded to Elian. She nodded back.

Ranus would get a copy, as these reports will detail any new means to use monster parts in alchemy or crafting, increasing the options for the town's development options. Who knew what new creations would be born from this Dungeon?

“With that resolved, we can move on to the main issue we asked Lord Goldwind to this meeting for.” Elian guided the conversation to their primary concern. “The Dungeon's unique aspects and the interest of the major churches.”

The Guilds and Churches had an odd relationship. The Guilds had a divine mandate honoured by all the Gods, while the Churches were dedicated to one. Their areas of responsibility often crossed, but there was always communication to resolve issues. This Dungeon was the source of tension that they were only starting to address. It started with the Dungeon's own set-up, a mix of mana types never seen according to records in one so new and then the Church's reporting of divine rules on dealing with it.

“Lord Goldwind, we asked you here to see if you have any insights into this matter.” Comus spoke. “We know you were the first to confirm its existence.”

“Like you all, I was surprised at the restrictions and speed at which the major Gods were represented in this new community.” Ranus leaned forward on the table as he spoke. “Astraus was expected as this is a Dungeon and falls within her Mantels, but the others arrived so fast and together. That was not expected.”

He voiced what they had all been thinking and even said privately. Churches came due to community size or dedication to a God. Astraus was expected, but not the other three primary ones arriving so fast. He expected lesser members of the Pantheon to make approaches first.

“I will tell you this. I have received messages that the other Churches are coming here.” Ranus knew now was the time to tell them.

“How many more?” Elian asked. She was expressing the concern they would all be feeling.

“Nearly all of them.” That brought a tense silence to the room.

“It seems, Lord Goldwind, that we are at the centre of some part of the God’s Great Game.” Hydran spoke.

The God’s Great Game was the term used by most to explain the battle for dominance between the courts in the Pantheon. Usually, it was one of influence and political manoeuvring, but it turned bloody at times.

“I feared such. What is happening here seems to have surprised many of them due to the actions I am hearing about.” Ranus could only agree and add his thoughts.

“Well then. I think we can all agree that something is happening here that will impact the continent, maybe the rest of the world.” Comus thought out loud. The others did not add anything more, all agreeing in their silence.

“Guild Leader Drum, please let me know when you are ready to proceed. We have new Iron-grade adventures arriving now and are eager to test themselves in the Dungeon.” Elian said, breaking the silence. Comus nodded at her request.

“Guild Leader’s I have two requests one of the group and the other of Guild Leader Woodland.” Ranus had been thinking about things and decided to test one of his ideas here. They looked at him to ask his requests. “First, and I know it is a breach of protocol, is that we use our names over titles in these meets to speed things up. The second is that the Tin grades going in without a mentor are warned about the wine bottle and the danger of the stairs.”

“I think we can agree to the first, but the second is harder.” Elian spoke, smiling slightly at the first request, with Comus and Hydran nodding in agreement. Axem was unreadable and Vill was unhappy. “The Adventures Guild has ancient and unbreakable rules. Anyone can enter a Dungeon of their own free will as long as the Guild and Lord gets their dues. Mentoring is a good way for other adventures to help train and guide aspiring ones. It is a time-honoured role that I cannot challenge.”

“I understand, Elian and I do not want you to. All I ask is that you tell them of the poisoned wine bottle and remind them not to go too deep too quickly. That is all.” Ranus made to clarify his request.

“I can make your requests happen. The wine bottle is the Dungeon's first trap for the unwary. Why would I warn them of it?” Elian asked.

“A group that left did not class it as loot and tried to sell it in the town. Thankfully, another adventurer realised what it was had stopped the sale.” Ranus told her.

To his reason, the temperature in the room dropped and Elian asked in a very controlled voice.

“Oh, and which group was this?”

## ## ## ## ##

Thrugg was moving towards the pull he was feeling. He missed his cave but pressed on.

Things were going slowly. He thought he would be there by now.

He was walking—he had been walking for many days. His body was changing as the new power he had discovered was growing within him—the power his tribe had rejected him for.

He had been hunting and fighting. He was hunting to fill his belly and fighting the other predators that challenged him. He killed them all and ate them, so he was happy.

He was still walking. The air was getting cold. Winter was coming. He did not like winter not much to kill.

He wanted to get where he needed to go and end this pull. It was making him angry.

He was close and would be there soon, he felt. He had a new club to crush it.

He hefted his club and continued walking, eating his last challenger's leg. Around him, things were quiet as they all were hiding. He grunted in happiness. They knew he was strong.

When he ended this pull, he would go back and kill his former chieftain and claim the tribe.

Yes, that was what he would do.

Looking at his arm, he saw the black veins running through it and the spikes of bone now cutting through his skin.

Yes, he was getting strong and was still hungry. Always hungry.