The Tower in the Shadows

Sliva'Elania Fellonia, child of the Lands of Starlight, wondered what she had done to anger the Gods to demand such a cruel punishment.

The message scroll she had used to contact her home nation was in her hands. They had been communicating for the last few days. The request for information and her thoughts had been relentless, but for the previous day, there was silence. Then, the final message arrived, informing her of her people's decision.

Her team had been politely avoiding her as she dealt with their people, but they had all picked up on her body language change. They were waiting for her words in the room they continued to rent in the Shadow's Rest tavern. They had to extend their stay and were hoping to be gone soon. They had sold the Dungeons loot and paid their dues to the Lord and Guild.

"Not pleasant tidings for us then?" Elron asked.

"No. We are to stay here to continue to report on the town and Dungeon until a group representing the Starlight Lands arrives." She knew them well enough to give them the news without flowery language.

The news stirred a palpable unease among the group, their collective anxiety manifesting in a restless rustle. Asta, the most outspoken of them all, was the only one to voice her concerns.

"What madness! Must we spend more time amongst these savage beasts! I will talk to my family at once!"

"Asta, it was pushed by your clan." Sliva was tired but did not lose her temper. She resigned to remaining here longer, knowing she could not move against her family's wishes.

This brought an end to the storm that the young elf was building to. The rest of the group became as resigned as their leader.

"We have things to do if we are staying. This is what we need…."

## ## ## ## ##

In the mountains, the local monster population was still recovering from Thrugg's passage. Those who challenged him died, leaving vacuums in the local monster peaking order the others were trying to fill. His passage had left more than death and fear.

Void corruption had affected a few.

The seeds had been planted and the process of corruption had started slowly but was gathering pace. At first, it was small things, but the corruption began showing itself over time, changing body, mind, and soul.

Animals and monsters quickly identified the corrupted and cast them out or avoided them. Many died to the claws and fangs of others, sometimes in turn corrupting their killers and starting the cycle again. Those who survived tried to get stronger, but the pull from the Dungeon was too great, so close to it and they were drawn to it.

They were slower than Thruggs' advance, but they were moving now. Winter was well past and summer was in full force.

The ruler of Shadow Vale became aware of the danger through stories. He kept the practice of listening to the stories told by the small folk. It was the reason that he now held the position he now did.

Whispers around hearths with roaring fires with ale was the start.

He did not hear these first, but the tales continued growing and he came to hear them.

Most heard them and laughed. The Lord heard them and worried.

Unlike most, he had options to explore and see if they were real.

He feared they were.

## ## ## ## ##

"Are there no other issues with my request?" Ranus asked.

Elian was in her office, with Albrot sitting in. Ranus had supplied all the payment requests and completed forms. This was a simple formality to confirm his request before it was posted to the adventurer community within the town.

Elian and her superior had read over the request. Albrot was not interfering in his underling's guild branch, as that was considered incredibly rude unless warranted. Elian had told Ranus that formality was required when he attended this meeting. A Guild Master was in town and she wanted to have him see the branch's professionalism. They could have done it in his meeting room, but he agreed to do it here as a sign of respect.

Albrot had said nothing, but Elian sensed he approved of the young Lord.

"No, Lord Goldwind. Everything is in order and the request will be posted on the notice board at midday today for all to see."

"Thank you. I hope that the issue will be resolved or even proven false. I would like to stay, but I must beg your forgiveness, as matters of governance are never-ending."

With this, he left the two Guild members to their conversations.

"Are you sharing a head receptionist?" Albrot asked.

"Naru insisted. She is seeking to improve her place along the Paths and this was her idea of how to do it. So far, she is handling both positions very well. I do think she will need to choose on which one soon."

Albrot chuckled. He enjoyed the rough way things were being done and was happy to be away from the politics his job demanded he deal with.

"To be fair, it is a standard request," Elian added, looking at the form she would place downstairs later.

"Maybe." This caused her to look at her mentor and superior.

Albrot had his copy and read it while stroking his beard. She knew this signalled he was thinking something.

"What are you thinking?"

"Has he made any requests like this before?"

"Not really. There are a few targeted ones, but not a broad sweep like this. He has been busy and I have been expecting this for a few months."

"A request to search the local valleys to the north to identify hostile monster populations for further action to a range of thirty miles." Albrot broke down the basics of the request.

"Something we both know he needs to do. The valleys to the south are more traversed and several active requests are going on each day."

"I noticed." Albrot fell silent, still looking at the vellum he held and stroking his beard. "Do you know how the young Goldwind became a Lord?"

"I was there, remember." His question threw her slightly.

"True, the Right granted it, but how did he find the Dungeon." Albrot chuckled but pressed on.

Elian paused and thought about what he was asking. Albrot had seen something or at least suspected it.

"He heard a few rumours that he decided to investigate."

"I remember we all thought he was insane. Claiming that there was a Dungeon in the mountains."

"True. But he was right. That's what has got me worried."

“What am I missing then, Albrot.” Elian said after a few moments of contemplation.

"He has done something you should be doing as well. He is listening to local stories being told. What has he heard that has made him take action?"

Elian understood what her superior was saying. He had been building up a whisper network, but this was a new branch and time was a luxury she had little to spare.

"I have started to establish my own whisper network." She said, feeling defensive.

"I know, Elian. I know. You are doing very well here. No one in the Guild has been critical of your actions outside the usual malcontents."

Elian's accession to Guild Leader of a new branch had ruffled more than a few feathers. The Guild was an old organisation. Politics was a present force within the organisation. Factions were found across the continent. As long as they did not breach the public appearance of the Guild, they were tolerated. Those who reached the position of Master mainly were beyond the worst of the internal politics. Mostly.

"Who's complaining now?"

"Leave the complaints to me. Stop avoiding the question I posed."

"He has heard enough of something to have him investigate it. This means even if it is false, he is concerned enough to investigate it."

Elian was sure this was Ranus's reasoning for his request.

"Good. Lord Goldwind is willing to fund an investigation of a possible source of danger."

"Do you think there is something to it?"

Albrot thought in silence for a few moments.

"Yes. The twisted ogre was from the north. Investigating any whisper of another is a good sign for the town's future. It is always best to be safe than sorry, Elian."

She looked at her mentor. He was looking into some distance at a view only he could see.

"What should I do?"

Albrot focused and looked at his pupil.

"Keep doing what you are doing and ensure the Lord's request is quickly fulfilled." He stood and stretched with a grunt. "Stay alert. We need to be aware of any threats that emerge from the north."

## ## ## ## ##

Lord Goldwind had heard whispers of strange goings on to the north. He heard and took action.

The problem was he was too late. The first of the "twisted" had arrived in the valley.

In the wild north of the valley, a large snake moved south. It was being drawn ever on towards something that it could not understand.

The passing of a greater monster had changed it. A strange power had entered the snake and it slept as it changed. When it awoke, it was stronger and killed many who challenged it. It was strong, but the pull was more substantial.

It had come to a new valley, knowing it was close now. In the distance, it could see a building that was where it needed to go.

## ## ## ## ##

The day was over. The adventurers were gone. The miners were not in today and from what I had overheard, they were still arguing about what to do about the resource node changes.

"Well, there was not much they could do in the end."

Larry was still ignoring me as I spoke. The door and shutters were open and I sensed a warm breeze passing through the room. Summer was here and I was in no rush to close up the Dungeon.

Over the spring, I acquired a few more plants through their floating seeds and a few adventurers dragging the rest in on their boots. Nothing unique or screamed, "Plant me now!" I noted them and continued. I did gain a level in herb lore from them, so that was something, at least.

The Dungeon had fallen into the usual rhythm of adventurers by day and me tinkering at night. There were a few deaths and injuries, but no party wipes. I was thinking about the sixth floor but had found no inspiration about what to do with it when it became available.

"I feel so uninspired."

It was about an hour after everyone had gone.

"Best close up I might…"

Something entered the Dungeon and the alert filled my vision.

Raid Alert!

Your Dungeon is being raided!

A Void Corrupted creature is attacking your Dungeon. Kill it before it destroys you!

Rally your minions!

Defend your Core and Dungeon!

…………..

Minion room/floor restrictions have been lifted until the raid has been completed or defeated!

"FUCK!"

I frantically scanned around, looking for the monster that was attacking my Dungeon and found….

"…Is that a snake?"

Larry sensed my fear and was alert, and Puck was heading up from the third to see what was happening. They also felt my confusion.

A snake had entered the room from the doorway and was moving towards the door on the other side. Its tongue was tasting the air as it moved.

"Is that even a corrupted snake?"

It was about a foot long and had a half-inch thick body. Its head was an inch wide. Its scales changed colour, reflecting the stonework it was moving over.

"Mana Sight. Activate."

My vision changed and I looked at the snake. It was small, but I could make out the seed of void corruption. Black tendrils spread out from it, wrapping around the inside of the snake.

"Larry, kill it."

He attacked, which changed my vision back. The snake reacted fast and the two danced around, trying to strike each other. The snake revealed two large fangs in its mouth and tried to bite Larry when he got close.

"Shit! Is that thing poisonous?"

Larry was no ordinary sharoon and gained the advantage by clawing and biting the snake as soon as it brought his height advantage into play. The snake died.

Raid Alert!

Your Dungeon is being raided!

The raid has ended!

Result – VICTORY!

Your defences killed a total of 1 Void Corrupted Mountain Forest Snake.

Design gained Mountain Forest Snake!

Your Dungeon has not been damaged in the raid. As you are VICTORIOUS, no damage will be repaired.

Void corruption gained!

………….

Minion room/floor restrictions have been restored and your Dungeon is being reset!

"Damn it!"

My Core absorbed the corrupt essence and I quickly felt shitty again.

"I bloody hate this feeling!"

I take a few moments to collect myself and focus. I close up the room before pulling up my character sheet. I ignored the other alerts flashing for the moment.

Name

Bhaldor

Essence

21%

Race

Dungeon Core

CP

66(575) 5 phr

Level

5

Corruption

3%

Floors

5

Health

100%

"Only three percent corruption. That means it will be gone in a few days."

Sure, the next few days would be shit, but it would not be like the first time.

That was at least a small piece of good news. I then turned my attention to the other alerts.

Alert!

Natural Camouflage – Void Corruption alters the nature of the being it has corrupted. Some of these changes will help, while others hinder. You have killed a void-corrupted beast, allowing you to access one of these mutations. Minions with this ability will naturally blend into their environment, enhancing their ability to hide and ambush.

"Holy Shit! That's amazing!"

This gives me so many more options. I do not know what I will do with it right now, but it is something I will need to consider.

The snake is nothing special but is a new option for my Dungeon.

"Right, let's think about this."