Trash Mountain Dungeon

It was the night before six months had passed, and standing tall and firm was the newly christened mountain fortress, Fort Ravenpeek, the actual name of the particular mountain they were settled on. Much as it was designed to be, the fortress was tall, focusing on using the steep cliffs and unsure footing to expose attackers to arrow and spell barrages. The only visible way of getting in was through a main pathway from the forest base that was susceptible to traps and punishment. It was far from a work of art, and far from the greatest fortress there was, but it was more than deadly enough to give pause to most and could one day be rich enough not to have to be.

But what of the people?

In his new chambers laid the new Lord-Commander of the fort, Arthur Nightingale, alongside his close companion, Helvina. He knew not what tomorrow would bring, for his scouts and far-ahead messengers had brought word that many more hosts would arrive by tomorrow. These groups bore many symbols, many animals and tools, men or women being flayed on a pyre, or were mountains getting struck by divine wrath, the individual groups may have been smaller than he predicted, but the number of them made him stagger when he learned of them. He worried that he would be unable to manage them like he had the reickens, they were easy, poor, and without power, they became simple vermin to the young lord, they were reliant on them and them alone, but who knows, one right or wrong choice could tip the balance. Arthur knew not how things would go, but he knew that he would face it with his brother and his lover, or else die trying. But as he finally gave into sleep, Helvina thought she saw a flicker of something in his eyes, a sliver of deep red instead of his normal blue, but she waved it off, surely it was just her sleep-addled mind playing tricks on her, and so she slept, hoping that none would find out about what she and Lily had done just a few days before.

What of the brother though, what of the hell conjurer Edward?

Unlike his brother, he was not afforded such a grand room, there was no time and no reason to make him one, for as much as the brothers cared for one another, both knew that once their situation was dealt with their father would have another task waiting for him. As he lay in the barracks though, he couldn't help but wonder, how much of this would have happened if he had been different, if the dungeon had chosen differently. If the dungeon chose violence that first encounter, would he even still be here, if he had chosen subjugation despite seeing the intelligence, would the dungeon have even considered an offer of alliance and trade?

He did not know, but he did worry.

Undoubtedly his brother would give them some modicum of access to the dungeon once it woke, and when that time came, would things turn out well or worse? He didn't know how the dungeon would react, hopefully not with rusty daggers at their throats one night but who knew, the mind of a dungeon is an alien thing, and the mind of men and women blinded by faith can be just as unknowable. He knew not what would happen, but he had magic and allies beside him, and that would have to be enough, for he could call upon nothing else now. But what Edward didn't know as he dozed away in his cot, was the slight shift of his talent, it was a small thing, but it was there, and within his very soul, the brand of infernal magic had gained a competitor, a sliver of power that took the shape of stars. What this meant would be up to him and his friends to decide, when the time was right of course.

For the others of the camp though, they dreamt of all the things that people often dream of home, family, riches, and more, one could say that they were innocent of the struggles that would soon befall their lord. Some dreamt of loyalty and how their lord would provide for them, others thought of power and how they might rip it from the dungeon, while others, dreamt of faith.

As for those faithful to Reick though, it was far from a good night. They had been denied all that they had desired, the dungeon was unavailable to them, the resources of the land were already claimed and monopolized, and despite not having a single idea of the religious war that may be fast approaching, the servants of the Nightingales were already hardening their hearts to the near debased preaching of the priests. Perhaps the desperate cries of that waning faith would prove useful in keeping the men and women loyal to their lord, perhaps it would drive them further into the arms of others, who is to say. All that was certain for the people was that interesting times would be coming.

What of the dungeon, for despite being asleep the dungeon did not dream, it did not rest, it closed its eyes and opened them back up, its lands stable, and its core ready to grow once more.

But as people often do, they overlook the small and weak things in favor of the big and strong ones, not seeing a little lone rat making its way out of the foreigner's camp, a little trinket in its little mouth with big implications. But who could blame the poor dear, while rust rats were normally attracted to iron and copper deposits, those of the dungeon had more refined tastes, and as such sought the best metals. It had wandered into the strange giant's den and saw them crowded around tall square things, shouting and scheming, but that was ok to the unnamed rat, it had found its prize and let's be honest, magic or not, it was a rat, and knew little of words or language. Sniffing around, it went through stores of strange foods and pointed things to find the irresistible smell it caught the trail of, and it found it, under guard by metal-covered giants and strange paper it found a stone box bound by rope. To one of the giants, it must have been a sight to behold, but the rat walked right by, finding a crack in the back, nothing a giant would notice nor be concerned over, but the rat was better than a giant and could fit through.

And so, it went off back to its nest, tucking the glowing thing under the rest of the shiny things it had found and promptly falling asleep, a hard night at work for a rat.