Dungeons Are Bad Business

As they’d been instructed, the members of Vee’s light section arrived as the day’s runs finished and formed a mostly straight line right outside the dungeon. Of all Vee’s fiends, they were the strangest, with their forms having changed to be better suited to their frequent cleaning tasks. One’s hands had flattened into the shape of dustpans, and it had sprouted a third arm ending in something like a broom too.

Another had gained the ability to stretch its limbs, and had inexorably taken to wearing an old bit of dirty red cloth that hung from its scrawny frame like a vest.

A third was hunched over and carried a tub of water on its back. Vee couldn’t see if the tub was scavenged from Westown or if it’d grown naturally. Nor was he sure how the fiend managed to keep its water clean.

The rest of the changes amongst his minions weren’t so drastic. Longer fingers, mostly, and even thinner frames. Staring at their strange, elongated bodies, the [Ghost Maestro] hoped that the uniforms he’d ordered for them would fit.

If not, he’d have to do some “creative” adjustments which, truthfully, wouldn’t be the end of the world.

“I have a new assignment for you all,” he said. “You’ve done such a fantastic job cleaning up the street from the gate to the dungeon that we’ve obtained permission for you to go into the city proper and help clean up the streets there too.”

The fiends stiffened at that announcement. Of all the rules for their existence, few were probably as deeply set as the taboo against trying to go into the city.

“Afraid,” one said.

Vee nodded. “I know it’s scary, but you’re all going to be fine. The council has given you their permission, and the [City Guards] will be instructed to make sure that nobody bothers you. Beyond that, we’re going to get you all some name tags and badges so that regular citizens won’t be concerned by your appearance and do anything rash. To do that, though, I’m going to need your names.”

He pointed at the nearest fiend – the one with dustpan hands – and said, “Let’s start with you. What do you call yourself?”

The fiend paused for a moment, looked at its companions, and then turned back to Vee and said, “Sweep.”

“That’s…oddly fitting,” Vee said, writing the name down. “Do the rest of you have similarly functional names?”

Sure enough, they did. The remaining fiends in the section were named Scrape, Scrub, Shuffle, Scour, Swab, and Sluice. All of their names matched their bodies, which Vee appreciated.

With the name tag matter handled for the moment – he’d get Torres to make the final versions that they’d actually wear before they entered the city for the first time – Vee pulled out a map of the city and gestured for his minions to get into a circle around him so that they could see.

“Everything will need to get taken care of eventually, but for now I’d like you to really focus on these areas,” Vee said, pointing at the blocks between the carriage station, the main market square, and the gate to Westown. “A lot of out-of-town adventurers are going to be visiting the city soon, and I want you all to make it look as nice as possible.”

Scrub, who seemed to be the leader of this section, if the way it stood a little taller than all the others was any indication, nodded and bowed. “Understood. Will do, Master. Concern. Is big job. Much bigger than current duties.”

Vee got up and handed it the map. He clapped the fiend’s shoulder and said, “I know. Don’t worry, I’m going to be reaching out to some other acquaintances and trying to get them to help you too. Regardless, you have my full confidence and I’m sure you’ll do a great job. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to assist you.”

“Tools,” said Sluice, raising a spindly arm. “Require new ones.”

Looking over at the fiend, Vee nodded. “Perfect. What exactly do you need?”

With a list in his hand and a promise to deliver the fiends their new tools as quickly as possible, Vee went back into the dungeon to fetch Alforde and Reginald. It’d been a decent day, earnings wise, with the adventurers collecting eighteen shards of chaos and adding another eight hundred and twenty silver fleurs to the dungeon’s coffers.

After activating the new vault protections and making sure that they all worked, the [Dungeon Master] and his friends headed back to the city proper. Vee was hungry and eager for dinner, but there were other matters he had to attend to first.

While he’d reached an agreement with Brice regarding the dunpla figures, the [Toymaker] had insisted that packaging wasn’t his specialty or concern, leaving it for Vee to handle. As such, the [Dungeon Master] was going to go give Torres a visit, since he had to see about the name tags anyway.

Feeling a little overwhelmed, Vee reached up and gave Reginald’s brim a flick.

“You know, for a guy with a [Majordomo], I sure seem to be responsible for a lot of footwork these days. When are you going to figure out a way to actually help me with those details you’re supposed to be taking care of.”

HIs hat chuckled. “I’d love to help, boss, but I’m afraid I’m not particularly mobile like this. Hats aren’t exactly known for their speed. If you can figure out a way to help me get around, I’m all ears. Well, not literally on account of all this fabric, but you know what I mean.”

Vee rubbed his chin as the gate swung open and they headed off toward Torres’ place. He wasn’t sure why he hadn’t thought of it before – inspiration was funny like that sometimes – but technically, it wouldn’t be that far of a stretch for him to put together a ghost that Reginald could ride on and control.

A notification appeared before Vee’s eyes.

[You have been given a quest: Make a mount for Reginald! Do you wish to accept it?]

The [Ghost Maestro] clicked yes, and the rest of the quest popped up as well.

[Quest: Make a mount for Reginald!]

[Dangers: Mischief around the city, anxiety about said mischief]

[Rewards: More free time, Ghost Maestro +1]

[Description: Using your skills, design a ghost that Reginald can use to get around on his own!]

After dismissing the notification, Vee grinned and hurried to increase his pace. There were still lots of things to do – and increasingly, a sensation of not enough hours in the day for all of them – but there was a kind of brutal joy in being so busy too. The [Dungeon Master] couldn’t say that it was “fun” to have such a long to-do list, but there was a brutal satisfaction in writing down tasks and then later checking them off.

A memory of his father talking about “the thrill of getting things done” floated through Vee’s thoughts, and he wondered if that was the same thing as what he was only starting to experience. If so, he thought he might understand his old man a little bit better, which was unfamiliar and vaguely uncomfortable..

For the first time in…well, a long time, Vee let his mind wander back to life in Bardis. There were things he missed about the city, but on the whole he believed himself better here in Oar’s Crest.

“I really should write them a letter,” Vee said quietly as they turned down the street. “It’s more than overdue, I think.”

And it wasn’t like he hadn’t wanted to write one before, but each time he’d taken pen and paper with the intent of doing so – like now – he hadn’t known what to say.

I’ll figure it out once the circuit starts and I get a bit more breathing room, Vee decided as they knocked on Torres’ door. He just needed a bit of time to really sit down and figure out what he wanted to say.

The [Stationer] emerged scowling, his eyes dark and his mustache frightfully unkempt.

“Whatever brings you to my door this time of night, Vales?” he hissed. “Don’t you know that I’m working?! My guides are little more than worthless stacks of paper due to your negligence, and I’m forced to use precious ink and paper trying to create new ones that are suitable for your current offering.”

“Nice to see you too,” Reginald said. “We’ve been good, thanks for asking.”

Torres glared at the hat. “I won’t dignify that with a response.”

“Technically I think you just did,” Alforde said earnestly. “It wasn’t especially relevant, but I’m pretty sure it still counts.”

Nobody said anything for a moment after that, then Vee shook his head and got down to business. “There are a few things I’d like your help with,” he said. “Could we possibly come in to discuss them? I think you’ll find them well-suited to your skills, and I would, of course, be willing to pay up front..”

Torres continued to glare, but his face softened at the mention of money, and he begrudgingly admitted them into his home.

[Persuasiveness +1]

It took some persistence on Vee’s part – and a handful of silver fleurs with the promise of more to come in the near future – but Torres eventually agreed to make the name tags and design the packaging for the dunpla figures. There was only one problem: Torres said he needed to see a figure for himself though, so he could “assess the spirit which moves throughout their diminutive forms.”

Whatever that meant.

So, Vee promised to bring some by the next day, and bid the [Stationer] a good night. As he reached the street, his stomach made its displeasure known, and Vee decided that it was time to go grab something to eat. Craving something warm, comforting, and overly greasy, the [Dungeon Master] and his friends started walking toward the Grinning Pig.

When they got closer to the diner, Vee saw something small and shadowy moving along the wall in the nearby alley. He paused and squinted at it before he recognized what it was. He’d seen squat, stubby limbs like those before.

“Mud golem!” he cried, pointing. “Alforde, get it!”

He needn’t have bothered with that last bit, because the armorsoul was already moving, Charging forward at a speed that was definitely unsettling, given the armorsoul’s size, the freshly minted [Hammer Specialist] zipped into the alley and tried to grab the golem. However, as quick as Alforde was, the golem was faster. It climbed up higher than Alforde could reach, and a tall figure emerged from the shadows on the roof. Vee couldn’t make out his features, on account of the fact that it was dark – and the stranger was wearing a mask – but he still got the impression that the man was grinning.

“Piper’s weapon rack,” he said, using a surprisingly polite version of the counterpart to the common curse that invoked Gawain. “What is it with all the vigilante types in this city? There are those wanna be [City Guards] and now a genuine armorsoul? What next?”

A ball of orange and golden light answered him, and the man slapped his hands to his face.

“Of course, how could I have forgotten the ever irritating [Witches]? My goodness, I’m starting to think they they really don’t like me. I’m afraid that I can’t entertain you all myself, but I believe my friends will be excellent hosts.”

He clapped his hands together and said, “[Golem Gang]!”

A half-dozen burly mud golems crawled out of the ground. They were bigger and meaner looking than the others of their kind that Vee had seen, and they advanced toward Alforde.

The armorsoul raised his hammer and watched them warily, settling into his fighting stance. The air grew cold, and after a moment Vee could see his breath.

Up on the roof, the [Golemancer] dodged another orb of magic intended for his head, took a bow and vanished into thin air.

Main Character Sheets:

Main Character Sheets

Vee Vales:

Primary Class: Ghost Maestro (Locksmagister University), Level 29

Secondary Class: Dungeon Master (Oar’s Crest), Level 23

Tertiary Class: Guy-Who-Takes-Things-WAY-Too-Far (Self), Level 6

Might: 15

Wit: 35

Faith: 24

Adventurousness: 7

Ambition: 15

Plotting: 19

Charisma: 15

Devious Mind: 24

Leadership: 19

Guts: 14

Intimidating Presence: 10

Citizenship: 21

Public Relations: 8

Determination: 4

Persuasiveness: 5 (+1)

Bargaining: 2

Patience: 1

Competitive Spirit: 1

<3<3 Infatuation <3<3

Alforde Armorsoul:

Primary Class: Hammer Specialist (Self), Level 5

Secondary Class: Right-hand man (Vee Vales), Level 16 (+1)

Tertiary Class: Dungeon Champion (Oar’s Crest), Level 18

Additional Class: Glaciernaut (Sacha Silverblade), Level 10

Might: 54

Wit: 14

Faith: 28

Adventurousness (Bound – Vee Vales): 9

Endurance: 29

Intimidating Presence: 12

Heart of a Champion: 13 (+1)

Citizenship (Bound – Vee Vales): 8

Vigilance: 8

Vanity: 2

Reginald:

Primary Class: Core Spirit (Unknown), Level ??

--~%@(%$@ &% (*$ #&#e !i$$ (#$%#$%#$@!)~--, #$v@& ????

Secondary Class: Loudmouth (Self), Level 41

Tertiary Class: Majordomo (Vee Vales), Level 19 (+1)

Additional Class: Announcer (Vee Vales), Level 10

Might: 1

Wit: 36

Faith: 16

Ambition: 28 (+1)

Greed: 24

Deceptiveness: 27

Manipulativeness: 40 (+1)

$#&*!@!!: !!!

Loyalty: 46

Patience: 9

Irritability: 22

Remorsefulness: 17

[#&%%%@%!#@__--#%]

Hop@#!! @#$@!@#

@#$@%%^

#4^5#*&_!+++#(@$#

Citizenship (Bound – Vee Vales): 8