Tiny Dungeon

POV Cormac Torgir

Cormac looked around him at his gathered group. They had breached the cavern of the mice with decent ease and were now resting after the giant wave of Aether had struck them some time back. Many of the Stage Ones had passed out from the strain and despite his hurry to get to the Core, Cormac wasn’t going to sacrifice the majority of his group to see it done.

The wave though had bothered him. He had seen how the Dungeon Creatures had reacted to it and their subsequent rush had almost broken through their lines to get at the weakened Stage Ones. It could only mean one thing and it was simultaneously good and aggravating. Good, because it meant that he and his group had arrived while the Dungeon was going through a metamorphosis, an evolution the priests would call it. That meant that his group had faced less organized defense breaking through the first few layers of the Dungeon. That would no longer be the case now.

It was aggravating because if he had arrived even a day or two earlier he could have pushed through to the Core without significant organized resistance. Now he would be facing an awake Core with new abilities, perhaps even tailor made for his group's presence. It was no secret that Dungeons grew in power periodically and after every metamorphosis, new creatures would show up and new environments would be given. Cormac shuddered to think what would happen if the Core gained some creature evolved to hunt Fair Folk exclusively. He knew they were out there and had even fought a few when he had been younger and stupider.

His thoughts were interrupted as Fiona approached and laid her hand on his arm. For all that their Delve had been suddenly complicated, Cormac couldn’t deny that he had gotten closer to his betrothed in ways that wouldn’t have been possible back at the Mother Tree. There was something about fighting side by side that drew people together and he wouldn’t trade his newfound closeness with Fiona for anything in the world.

“The last few are beginning to wake up.” She said softly, unwilling to wake some of the Stage Twos that had decided to take a nap while others stood guard. He nodded and took up her hand in his. He was a gruff, proud man and knew it but that didn’t mean he was unknowledgeable or unromantic. She smiled at his attempt at forwardness and traded his hand holding for enfolding their arms together before resting her head on his shoulder. They stood that way for a time before she spoke again.

“I’m close, I think.” Cormac looked down at her and grinned widely. He made no secret that her approaching Stage Three made him happy for it meant that they could finally marry. He couldn’t explain his happiness, even to himself, because he could’ve lowered the stipulation and married her earlier. He had no one to blame but himself for the long betrothal. Part of it was his council duties and his desire to save the Mother Tree. But if he was honest with himself it was because he had been scared of the commitment.

The betrothal had been made a long time ago and although he had done his duty and met with Fiona many times there was no spark to light his forge. There was certainly a spark now and he couldn’t rightly claim when it had been lit only that now that the bellows were pumping he found very little reasoning within himself as to why he should stop them. He was committed now.

“Wonderful.” He said gruffly, pressing his lips to her hair. “Let me know when it clicks.” She nodded and they lapsed back into silence, a silence only broken by the waking of the group around them.

Climbing Stages was always an interesting process. There was very little choosing in the matter. There were certain things you could do to affect the outcomes but for the most part, whatever process occurred was largely up to chance. Certain routes had been mapped out of course. It was largely confirmed that the main paths were set in stone and by accomplishing certain things or learning certain skills you were more or less guaranteed to get the Stage of your choice. There were exceptions but for the most part, it had to do with skill, accomplishment, and temperament. Fiona, with her long list of accomplishments and skills, was almost guaranteed to become a Leprechaun like him.

Reluctantly he released her arm and separated. She frowned at him but let go as well when he motioned with his head toward the mobilizing group. “We’ve got to keep moving.” He said with a slightly regretful smile. Fiona gave him one back and moved to collect her gear. He watched her go admiringly for a moment before moving on to check on things.

He made his way over to Killian who stood looking out over the next Floor. From what they could see, it was a massive flooded expanse taking up what would have been the basement of the house they were in. Aetherluminescent grasses swayed in some kind of current below while massive glowing forms moved underneath the water. The light did a pretty good job of masking the forms of whatever moved under the water but Cormac shuddered anyway. He hated deep water. He spoke once he had stopped next to the towering [Boggart].

“Well, what do you think?” The boggart looked down at him and out once more before answering.

“The water affinity is high for one but that could just be the nature of the Floor.” He pointed below to where the grass swayed. “There is some kind of current which doesn’t bode well for swimming unless you’re an [Undine] or one of its higher Stages.” He shrugged. “I could do alright I think but something else worries me.” When Cormac motioned for him to continue Killian spoke again hesitantly. “It feels dangerous. Moreso than the Floors we’ve come through. I don’t want to enter that water and I don’t think we should. It would take longer, but I think we should build earth bridges along the walls until we reach the stairs.”

Cormac thought it over for some time, waiting for the rest of the group to finish gathering. The cavern was a pretty safe spot with only one entrance leading in and one leading deeper. They could ostensibly forge ahead and leave guards at the entrance so that Dungeon creatures couldn’t come up behind them.

While he was thinking over the situation he heard a childlike sigh of “Finally!” from behind him and watched as an [Undine] leaped past him towards the water. He tried reaching to grab the Stage One back but missed and could do nothing but stare as the little fair folk slipped into the water with barely a ripple. He sighed in frustration and turned to order the others to keep back when he noticed movement below.

Turning to look at the water he could see the silhouette of the [Undine] below cavorting around, pleased at being in water once more. What the [Undine] couldn’t see, and what Cormac could, was the massive shadow homing in on its position. He motioned quickly to Killian to remain silent but also motioned for the others to stay back. He watched with growing apprehension as the still unaware [Undine] swam gleefully around. What worried Cormac the most was that he hadn’t seen the creature until it was already so close. The [Undine] was already dead, it just didn’t know it yet.

However, this wasn’t Cormac's first time Delving, and his reflexes kicked in as he summoned an earthen spear via his Authority. He manipulated its rotation, causing it to spin rapidly before launching it as powerfully as possible at the creature. The missile did pierce the thing’s skin and for a moment he thought he saw it flinch in pain.

His apprehension turned into true fear though as the creature disregarded his attack entirely to focus on its prey. The massive form opened an equally large maw rimmed with baleen and slowly trapped the [Undine] between it. The poor fair folk had time for one terrified scream before the top jaw slammed shut, locking its unfortunate victim away forever. “It’s a bloody whale,” Killian whispered next to the Leprechaun with something akin to terrified awe. “By the Mother Tree, how does the Dungeon have bloody whale?!”

“A tiny whale,” Cormac spoke equally softly but with no less fear. As a creature of the earth, his worst fear was deep, dark water, followed closely by heights. “I think we need a ritual. We need to know what this thing is.” Even as he said it he watched as the long head turned and he saw the creature's eye looking at him. The rage contained in the one lidless orb shook him but not enough to divert him from his course. “Regardless Killian I think your plan is our best bet if we can manage it. Have the shapers begin forming the bridge. I’ll join them once the ritual is complete.”