The Tower in the Shadows

This year's winter was harsh in the mountains. The ice and snow seemed endless, and the freezing wind howled through the mountain valleys, bringing day-long blizzards. Many wondered if Strumass, the God of sky and weather, was angry. People, animals, and monsters huddled down and waited. The only exceptions were those tough enough or desperate enough to keep moving.

The twisted fell into both categorisations.

As endless as winter seemed it gave way in time to spring.

The season changed, the snow slowly began to retreat, and life became awake again. The town of Shadow Vale started digging itself out of the snow drifts and merchants soon began plying the river trade routes again. The flow of people returned with them.

What would this year bring? This was the thought of many, from its Lord to the lowest; even the Dungeon had to wonder.

## ## ## ## ##

"What kind of bullshit was that!"

I was watching a group on the third fighting the three boars. Two were down and the third was wavering. It looked like one of the adventurers was going to get trampled to death but was pulled to safety at the last minute by another, triggering some type of skill.

Overall, the winter had been far harsher than the last few and the numbers visiting had been lower. It felt like my advance towards my sixth floor was progressing at a near-glacial speed.

"They will not be going any further."

The last boar fell, and the group nearly all collapsed. The three boars had battered them, and they were exhausted. The rewards were collected and the corpses were stripped for additional hides and meat.

"Let's see… up to 91% to the next level. Well, at least that's something."

I had time to kill over the winter and had created three new bubbles in my Core, but now I have a Core Refinement max of 92%. My CP had recovered to the whooping 66 points I had free.

I had picked up a few more odds and ends to add to my equipment list.

"I should really do something with that stuff, not just hoard it."

I was watching them leave. It is about midday, so I will have a few more teams come through today before the miners make their journey to the two resource nodes. After the change, they ignored the first floor at first, but now they are mining both daily when the weather allows.

Larry had moved back up to the surface and reoccupied his spot. Most ignored him, but a few were keeping track of his movements. I had overheard plans to attack him to find out what would happen, but so far, no action had been taken against him.

The third was the most popular floor, but more were going to the fourth. Most went as far as the room with the eight spiders but did not enter or go further. A few cocky went to the fifth and most were not seen again—those who did learn their lesson or quit the adventuring life.

I had noticed an increase in the number of Iron and Copper teams showing up regularly before winter. They were the ones pushing the fourth and fifth floors, but they still made up the lowest number of adventurers entering the Dungeon, but this was changing.

## ## ## ## ##

"The decree will be put into effect today." Ranus said, standing at the head of the table in his meeting room. The town council, nodding in agreement, was also gathering around. "The small valley where the Pixie colony exists will be monitored and entry is forbidden. Anyone who asks will be informed that a beat is sleeping there and that we wish not to disturb it."

"It will be a good enough cover story for now." Elian ventured. Comus seconded her statement.

Ranus was glad to see Comus retaking an interest in affairs outside his Guild, but he seemed still too thin and looked haunted. Ranus occasionally noticed a gleam in his eyes when any mention of the twisted was brought up that worried him. This was the most significant piece of business he had to deal with outside of the usual affairs of town.

"With that, we can discuss the remaining items on the agenda." Ranus looked down at the list on a sheet of vellum before him. "We have started to get more people arriving again as the river routes are open. How we for housing?"

"The new buildings have started. We are seeing a limiting rooms and rented properties." Vulus spoke up. He was still bundled up much more than the rest. No one complained louder than him over the weather this past winter. The rest of the council shifted to the limitations he was speaking of.

"Are they being overcharged?" Ranus asked.

"Not as yet, but prices are increasing." Vulus admitted. This was not his area, but he watched these things at Ranus's request.

"I will step in if needed," Ranus decided on the issue. Next, there is the growing demand for all metals."

The meeting went on along the more established lines that they all expected. Ranus was eager to have it end, as he arranged a private meeting with Albrot and Elian in the Adventurer Guild after this. He would press them as hard as he could over the Dungeon today.

The meeting came to an end, and a few more decisions were made and a few put off. Ranus waited for everyone to file out as he prepared himself for what was coming next.

A short time later, he got up and collected his heavy cloak. It was only a short walk, but the winds were still blowing cold. He spoke to a few as he left and walked into the town centre square. The stocks were empty as he passed them. Few were moving around the square; many were still bundled up.

Ranus walked into the Adventurer Guild and was greeted quickly by one of the receptionists. The building was full of bodies. All around, people were talking or planning. Most were preparing to enter the Dungeon or local quests that were posted. He overheard as he passed being led to the stairs leading to the next floor.

He arrived at a door and waited as the receptionist knocked on it and opened it, speaking to those inside.

"Lord Goldwind has arrived."

"Thank you." He said to the receptionist as he passed her into the room. She withdrew, closing the door behind her.

Albrot and Elian were standing at a table waiting for him. The air had a slight tension to it. He had been trying to get this meeting since early winter, but they had stalled him. In the end, he threatened them, which he knew was dangerous, but he had no other options. That had not gone down well.

"Lord Goldwind." Albrot was stiffer than when he first met Ranus, as he did not take his threat well. Elian had been more diplomatic and helped smooth things over.

"Why has it come to this?" Ranus knew they both had to reach out to prevent things from worsening, so he faced the problem head-on. His frank question surprised them both. They had not expected him to take this route.

"You made a foolish threat against the Adventurers Guild!" Albrot snapped. Ranus remained calm, knowing that it would give him the advantage.

"Why? Because you are too ignorant or afraid to answer my questions," Ranus prodded him. Again, it was dangerous, but he was in a corner that gave him other options. Albrot turned red and before he could say anything he could not take back, Elian placed her hand on his arm.

"Some things are beyond your position as Lord of these lands." Albrot was still angered. Ranus bristled at the words.

"Let us sit." Elian inserted herself to calm things. Both men grudgingly sat on different sides of the table, facing each other. Elian sat between them.

"You are holding out important information about the Dungeon and how it could affect this town." Ranus started again with the argument he had been making for the last few months.

"We are the Divine-mandated Adventurers Guild. We do not answer to a minor local Lord," Albrot reminded him.

"But…" Elian interjected before the heated words escalated.

"…But we recognise you are seeking to keep your people alive and protected." Albert grudgingly admitted.

"Then what are you offering." Ranus knew when they were making an opening for an offer in negotiations. When he spoke, he pulled back his frustration and sounded more consolatory.

"The Guild will get you some information in return for you not raising the issue again or taking any unwise action against us." Elian offered. Ranus now could see this meeting for what it was a negotiation, but what were they offering? He leant back, thinking before speaking.

"Not good enough." He crossed his arms as he spoke to see how they would react.

"What do you mean not good enough!" Albrot went red again. "We are being generous in what we are offering you!" Again, Elian placed her hand on his arm to calm him.

"What are you looking for, Lord Goldwind?" She asked. Ranus knew he would not get what he wanted, but he tried to get as much as possible.

"I wanted to know what the Guild knows about the Dungeon, the Twisted, and to be warned about any threats if discovered." Albrot went crimson at Ranus's words. Elian spoke before he did again.

"We cannot do that, Lord Goldwind, but we are willing to offer some information on the Dungeon, and we will warn you of any dangers we discover." Elain offered.

Ranus now understood the game they were playing. They had agreed in advance what they were willing to give up to him and both were playing a part. He chose to play his. He rubbed his chin with a hand, looking thoughtful.

"I agree." He finally said.

"Very well." Albrot said, still angry. "What I am going to say will count as the knowledge we promised and the warning." This caused Ranus to become concerned.

"High Magus Doltum found the Core. Guild Leader Woodland, who was with him, confirmed the information and was sworn to secrecy as to its location." He paused to let that sink in. "Upon inspection, the Core was discovered to be black in colouration."

"B-black?" Ranus stuttered out in shock, looking at Elian.

"As you know, Lord Goldwind, Cores take on the colour of the first mana element they absorb, which is the foundation of their Dungeon." Elian explained. "This Core, as far as we can tell, has no base mana element, which allows it to be more… creative in its approach to its Dungeon."

"But how... why?" Ranus blurted out.

"We do not know. That is also the warning we are giving you. If y became widely known about the Core, it could trigger another Folly." Albrot said with deadly seriousness.

Ranus felt silently stunned, trying to grasp what he had been told. The implications alone would have brought him to the same conclusion as the warning. A Core like this would attack every insane fool trying to ascent the Paths faster or just to own such an unusual thing. A folly might even be the least of the disasters that could unfold.

"Thank you for telling me," Ranus said after a few seconds. "Excuse me, I need to think about this."

## ## ## ## ##

Elian closed the door after seeing Ranus from the room. As soon they were sure the young Lord was gone, Albrot spoke.

"I now see why you think keeping him on the side is a good idea," he said with a chuckle, all anger and resentment vanishing. He reached into his jacket and pulled out his anti-scrying crystal and after checking that it was still functional, he placed it on the table.

"Will he accept what we told him?" She asked, sitting again at the table. She had worried that the meeting could have ended in a disaster.

"The information on the Core and the warning. Yes. How we presented it with our act. No."

She looked at him, confused. "I thought we played our parts well." She said, sounding a bit hurt.

This caused him to chuckle again.

"It seems I underestimated our young Lord Goldwind. He saw through our little charade almost as soon as we started it." Albrot smiled, thinking over the discussion. He had been reading him the whole time and was impressed with how the young Lord had handled the entire thing.

"What will he do?" She asked, now concerned, things were delicate at the moment.

"If he is as smart as he appeared, nothing. He will know it's all about politics and theatrics. If I were him, I would concentrate on the town and the coming emissaries."

"When will they arrive?" Elian was happy with the change of subject but was not looking forward to the social functions that accompany every arrival.

"Ten days at most will see the first." He said, looking into the middle distance.

"What is the count at this time?"

"Six, but I have been getting rumours that more are paying much closer attention now." He said, then rubbed his face with both hands.

"Are there any we should be worried about?"

"My dear Elian, why all of them!" He chuckled again, then got serious. "I received whispers that we might be seeing the Shi'Tan this year."

"Dear Gods!" Elian exclaimed.

"They have been making polite enquiries through their contacts in Ostrul. It will be difficult for a diplomatic mission to reach here, even as close to the coast as we are." He was looking into the middle distance again.

Elian prayed that they would not come. The problems they would cause just by setting "foot" on Kyber would be horrendous at best.

"I am afraid this year will be far more eventful than the last." Albrot prophesied and Elain was afraid he was right.