Tiny Dungeon

POV He-Who-Chitters-In-The-Dark

He-Who-Chitters could not fully contain his joy as the presence of The-One-Who-Was-Not-There came at their call and hovered over them. Since being accepted by the formless being He-Who-Chitters had begun experiencing more profound visions than ever before. They came in fitful spurts and were large in perspective. In those moments he knew was seeing flashes of his new Master’s sight.

In one of them he had seen the creation of a burning world and in another, the consumption of a green land, absorbed into the greater formlessness. Each time it impressed upon the rat that he had made the right choice in joining his tribe to The One. This most recent time, however, he had not just gleaned from the edges of his Master’s consciousness but had been given a vision directly. A lush land full of bountiful food but dangerous in the extreme.

It had taken time to prepare for the journey and now only needed the Master’s permission to leave. He humbly moved forward and squeaked his desire and bowed to the presence hovering nearby. He could sense his master’s curiosity but also his great excitement. There was something he needed Clan Spark to do for him and He-Who-Chitters would be the one to lead the way.

As the being’s presence moved, the rat turned to his assembled warriors and squeaked a command. As one they began to move, surrounding the four wagons filled to the brim with Spark Crystals on all sides. Burly rats led the way, musculature swollen by the same magics that had made Bone-Crusher so intimidating. He-Who-Chitters made note of them, as his little mind took in their strength. Perhaps they could be enhanced further with Spark Crystal might. The rat shook his head and refocused even as The One opened a gateway to the outside world.

He-Who-Chitters made sure all his people got through before stopping and staring in amazement, even as he brought his long tail up to partially shield his eyes. The Outside was bright! Too bright! After living so long in the darkness the sudden light burned. All the other rats around him shuddered at the light. Not He-Who-Chitters-In-The-Dark. He would make sure that his people would live to be useful to the Master.

That dedication was put to the test sooner than he would have liked as the grasses around them began to rustle and other creatures began to attack. With a loud squeak, He-Who-Chitters rallied his people as they began the march through the Master’s domain. The One had many defenders and this was evidently a wild and unforgiving part of his domain. The rat realized the truth even as he sent a Spark outward to ravage a striking snake. Only the strongest would have a place in the inner workings of his Master’s domain. He-Who-Chitters-In-The-Dark would make sure that his people were well represented.

POV Wenigo, Mouse Captain

Wenigo awoke changed. He kept his eyes closed for a moment and let his senses expand. He could hear the drip drip drip of condensed Aether as it was filtered. He could feel the rich Aether in the air and the substance of something else drifting among the currents. There was a quality to that second substance that felt familiar and it was only when he laid his paw upon his battle blade that he knew what it was. For the same substance that lived in the air also dwelled within his blade. The blade gifted to him by his Lord and Master.

Opening his eyes the mouse stood slowly and smoothly, feeling his body ripple with new strength that he hadn’t had before. His identity had also undergone a change. In the depths of his being was a new concept, one that bubbled forth like a fresh spring. The First Among Many.

“Wenigo.”

The mouse spoke his new Name reverently and found that the once foreign sounds now came smoothly. His tail snapped in excitement and he panned his gaze over the Core room of his Master. Smooth stone greeted his gaze, perfectly cut and molded as only his creator could accomplish. The drip of liquid drew his gaze to the cave mouth leading up. Slowly, a tad thicker than water, Aether plopped into a growing puddle that led to a raised pedestal.

Wenigo’s gaze locked onto the form of his Master. Brilliant, green-blue in hue, the Core hummed with power and majesty. His light illuminated the whole cave and the mouse knew that the light would be visible even from several caves away. His sword clenched in one paw Wenigo moved forward and knelt with the battle blade in front of himself and his paws resting on its hilt. He offered obeisance to his Lord and Master in the only way he knew.

He stayed that way until he felt the presence of his Master approach. Wenigo rose, astonished at the level of closeness he now felt. Whatever connection there was between the creator and the created had been strengthened. For the first time, Wenigo the Mouse Captain heard his Master’s true voice.

“Good Morning, Wenigo.”

The mouse almost shuddered as the words rolled through the connection. His Master’s voice rolled like thunder carrying with it meaning and purpose. One of joy and gladness. His Master was glad he was awake? Wenigo bowed again, overcome with gratitude but his Master’s voice quickly had him rising.

“Enough of that, there is much to do and I require your assistance.”

Wenigo snapped to his feet in an instant, eager to do his Master’s will. He heard a chuckle and then felt his Master prod him. The Mouse followed his Master’s prompting as he led him out of the Core Room and up into the Aether Funnel. Without being told more, the Mouse Captain knew that he was to climb to the top and did so. His kinbeasts he collected on his climb. His squire rushed to him as soon as he was seen and fretted over him for a moment. It seemed that his longer sleep had caused some concern.

Waving aside his squire’s ministrations, Wenigo spoke to his compatriots. “Come. The Master has need of us.” He moved on quickly leaving his stunned group to catch up after they had recovered from his pronouncement. They climbed swiftly, their evolved bodies handling the strain of the climb with ease although his lesser kin were breathing a little heavy at the end. Wenigo felt no difference. His body practically thrummed with the Aether present in the funnel and it washed away any fatigue he might have felt.

He looked out over the large room that made up the center of his Master’s domain. Before now he hadn’t really looked at it with any understanding and he doubted his Master cared. Now though, he saw the room with new eyes. The last time he was here he had been entirely too occupied and exhausted to think about looking around. He himself was different too. He had a Name and that changed how he saw the room before him.

It was massive in size and covered in different furs and coverings. A larger edifice stood pressed against one side and there were images of woodlands and streams adorning the walls. The outline of an opening was set into the wall in front of him although he could tell it had been covered by stone. Light shone in from two openings set into the wall and covered by some hazily transparent material. His Name whispered insights to him as he looked around, setting his mind on fire with thoughts and ideas.

“Come Wenigo. Keep Moving.”

At the sound of his Master’s voice, the mouse jerked as though stung and made a sound of apology as he tore his gaze away from the sights before him and back to where the Master was leading him. He watched as his Master created a stone stairway out of nothing that led upward. Marching diligently, he and his crew followed. They were led ever upwards into the dark of the Upper Place where Wenigo remembered hiding once upon a time back when he had been a normal mouse.

The Aether here was thinner and Wenigo was starting to struggle. He could feel the Aether begin trickling out of him even as his body sought to recapture it. He was able to keep the worst of it at bay by keeping to the middle of the stream of Aether entering his Master’s domain. He hoped whatever they were doing wouldn’t require them to go much farther. As if to prove him correct, the light they were climbing towards suddenly opened up and they found themselves standing in the center of a great, though tiny, courtyard.

The grass was tall but did not hinder their ability to see the massive edifice of stone that surrounded them. Wenigo had seen the small fortress that lay inside the Fifth Floor but the size of this one left him stunned. Walls ringed the far edge and grey stone rose all around them forming small buildings that he couldn’t guess the functions of. He could, however, see the mice.

They scurried to and fro carrying cuttings of grass for nests or surveying for threats. Mouse Guards manned parts of the walls though there were other mice represented as well. Even as his group moved as the Master directed them, he could see larger mice with hungry eyes watching them. There was intelligence there but they were obviously feral, not having the same evolutionary path as his own kin.

The Dungeon was doing something different and Wenigo wanted to know what. Eventually, the Master led them to a Keep dominating the center of the fortress. Within the Keep lay an immense Aether Pool similar to those in the Aether Funnel. Immediately, Wenigo felt better, the density of the surrounding Aether rising to levels he was comfortable with. At the back end of the pool was a throne upon a raised dais.

“That is for you.”

The mouse looked toward his Master’s presence in shock. Before he could squeak a reply the Dungeon continued and Wenigo could feel his gaze lock onto him.

“I have need of an army. As my first guardian and the only one I have Named so far, this task falls to you. I have no idea when further invasions will come but we must be prepared. I give you authority over this Floor. Wield it well. I know you will make me proud.”

Wenigo felt himself tremble as the weight of his Master’s request washed over him. He bowed deeply, overcome with emotions that seemed much stronger than they used to. His Name flared with his Lord’s pronouncement and determination quickly eclipsed every other feeling. He would indeed make his Master proud. He hadn’t failed yet and wouldn’t start now.