In the world of The Misplaced Dungeon.

{Timeline: September 2018 – MD starts shortly after Ch. 9 and ends with Ch. 40}

A small group of people straggled into Copper Town. The man stared round bemused, unbelievingly at the women walking freely in the town. Two of the adolescents just walked quietly at the back of the group talking quietly. The remaining two adolescents joined the three young children in staring with wonder at all the people and houses.

Gortag asked some of the passers by about somewhere to stay, and was offered a choice of inns, contemplating his finances, and realizing that he’d need money to set up in a new town, he opted for the cheapest option. However on seeing it he rejected it and move back to one of the better parts of the town. He finally settled on the next option on his mental list. The Grey Goose was not the cleanest establishment, but it was relatively cheap, and he was able to hire one of the dormitory rooms for his group.

Abriman noted Gortag’s caution and immediately assumed the man was harder up than he had previously thought, so once they were in their room, he produced the torturer’s purse, took two quarters and four bits for himself and the same for Carminia, before passing the still bulging purse to Gortag.

“Here Gortag you can make better use of this than me, and no it isn’t mine, not really I stole it from the Torturer after I killed him, I think I would be happier if it was used for the good of all as I think that would hurt that selfish sadist more than anything.”

Gortag blinked back tears, the purse was heavy and in Abriman’s place he didn’t think he would have given it up.

Next morning he left his daughter looking after the children whilst he went looking for work. Shortly after he left Abriman told the others he was going to have a look around, Raaksana motioned to Carminia to follow him, Carminia did. Abriman smiled at her and once they were out of the room he passed her share of the money he had kept back.

“B-but why, this is – should be yours,” she exclaimed looking at the pile of small copper coins in her hand.

“Keep them, you can share them with Raaksana if you wish. Anyway I have some too and Gortag seems like he won’t let us go hungry.”

“I have a promise to keep, I think the best way to do so lies with the Adventurer’s Guild and we passed it yesterday.”

“A promise, to whom?”

Abriman drew a deep breath, “Um, to Sandrinna, I told her she would be avenged, that she would have her revenge. Ah, there it is.” And he led the way into the local Adventurer’s Guild. The place was quite busy; undoubtedly due to a dungeon having arisen in the local worked out copper mine.

Abriman looked round and headed towards a table near the bar on the right that was occupied by a sextet of tough looking women with a bemused Carminia trailing behind.

The women watched the children approach with a certain resigned amusement. They were used to being accosted by young would be adventurers.

Abriman apologised for disturbing them, and told them he needed help to fulfil a vow. He then launched into the story of Abriman’s former village sparing no details.

The smiles on the women’s faces faded and after Carminia nodded to confirm the story, grew very grim. The room slowly grew quiet as more and more of those present started listening to the boy’s horrifying tale. When Abriman stopped Carminia, almost hiding behind Abriman, spoke and added the story of her rescue and subsequent events.

Palca the Widowmaker stared of the two children, “you promise that this tale is true? Is there anyone who can confirm it? And you boy, you have magic?”

Abriman nodded, “Yes it is the truth, possibly not the whole truth but it is the truth as I saw and experienced it. I only know three spells that I worked out after reading a truly stupid story about an ice mage.”

Reeva’s lips twitched, “Goovar against the Sky Dragon by any chance, if I recall correctly his main spell was an Ice Bolt.”

Abriman blushed and nodded.

Carmnia still hiding behind her friend piped up, “Abriman persuaded my friends Raaksana and Flitter and Raaksana’s father Gortag to leave, oh and three children, we arrived late yesterday and we’re staying at the Gray Goose, um, Gortag went looking for work, he’s a smith.

“Right then, seat these two young heroes and get them something to eat, you two go and find Gortag and fetch him here, you and you go and make sure the other children are safe,” ordered Isbetta the guildmaster from the back of the crowd where she had been listening to the story.

The Roving Valkyries made room at their table and in no time Carminia and Abriman found themselves seated with a bowl of stew and a mug of weak beer.

“So tell me, I know you have an ice bolt and a healing spell what is your third,” asked Reeva.

“Erm, a water shield, Goovar’s ice shield was always breaking so I figured water would work better, especially if I made it spin.”

Reeva opened her mouth to ask another question and stopped seeing the blank look on the boy’s face and the vague unfocused eyes. She grinned, “Abriman has been hit by the System, conditions met I bet,” she announced and once again Abriman was the focus of all eyes.

« conditions met – you have been offered the class Paladin – accept yes / no »

Abriman stared at the incompressible message for a long minute before accepting.

« Class Paladin of Hel-Arlizzy lvl 1 weak aura of protection gained »

Abriman came back to himself to find himself the centre of attention, “um, I – I’m a Paladin of Hel-Arlizzy, and, and my god wants Rovoc delivered alive to the Last Stand Dungeon near Arsouk if can be done without undue risk.”

Isabetta nodded slowly, “that’s one way to confirm your story youngster, so rumours were correct and he of the scaly tail is back. So Abriman why were you selected for the honour of paladinhood?”

“I promised Sandrina that she would have revenge, and I was trying to arrange that, and Sandrinna has been reborn as the dungeon core of the Last Stand Dungeon and is titled Giantkiller.”

Isabetta looked round seeing the almost universal grim looks. “The boy went to you Palca, will you lead our response and see to the punishment of the guilty and free those at risk.”

Palca’s grin became sharklike, “Oh yes!”

It was at this point that Gortag arrived escorted by the two adventurers that had been sent to find him, when he saw Abriman and Carminia his heart jumped into his mouth and he started forward until he realised that they were reasonably relaxed. When asked about his former village he was at first hesitant then the dam burst.

The punitive expedition left two days later at dawn, a very uneasy Abriman, this being his first time on a horse accompanied them. What had taken Abriman six days on foot was covered in two. Abriman found his healing spell invaluable as he had to heal the damage from several falls and more importantly the bruises and blisters on his ass and thighs from the unyielding saddle.

As if that wasn’t enough Reeva drilled him ceaselessly and taught him one her spells that she said was going to be invaluable in the assault. Unlike the boy he looked Abriman was able to appreciate the value of a zone of silence so he applied himself diligently.

The actual assault on the city was something of an anticlimax, the adventurers were professionals and when they went in at night they looked like so many silent ghosts. The occupied houses were taken one by one. First Reeva or Abriman cast silence on the house to be assaulted then a party or two of adventurers went in while the other two parties kept watch on the rest of the village and more especially, on Rovoc’s house.

In the end the only casualties were Rovoc’s two bodyguards who fought a hopeless struggle and Abriman’s father who went berserk when he saw Abriman and was killed by the Valkyries who relished the excuse having learned too much about him.

The next day brought a patrol led by a knight who had been sent by the local lord after he had been informed of what had been going on in this remote corner of his lands. Sir Hardman had been dubious but the abundant proof and unguarded utterances by the children, and the lack of women convinced and revolted him.

He had the prisoners secured and after hearing of Hel-Arlizzy’s request regarding Rovoc he agreed but insisted that one of his men would have to go to serve as witness.

* * *

Nine people on tired dusty horses rode into Arsouk two hours after noon. One was obviously a prisoner as he was bound and wearing a mage mask and gag. The six ladies looked like typical adventurers, some of the onlookers recognised them as the Roving Valkyries. The other man looked like some kind of very minor noble, probably a knight by his equipment, the boy looked totally nondescript.

They pulled up outside the Adventurer’s Guild and the woman who appeared to be their leader and the knight entered the building while the rest of the party waited with their horses.

Guildmaster Burritis attended them in person, “welcome to Arsouk, I had word you were coming from guildmaster Isbetta, I can offer you a guide that knows the Last Stand dungeon very well indeed.”

“That would be wonderful, when can we meet him and how far is the dungeon?” asked Palca the Widowmaker.

“It’s a two day ride, slightly less with good horses, but you will need water as there is none on the trail,” replied Burritis.

Palca glanced at Sir Cram’ton and he nodded, “agreed, no point wasting time.”

They returned to their horses and headed out of town slowly until Guzz caught up with them at which point they resumed their fast pace.

It was close to nightfall when they arrived at the dungeon’s entrance, a sizeable cavern containing a well, and about two hundred meters away a rather desiccated hostel. Guzz entered the hostel to greet his friend who ran it and to arrange accommodations for the party.

Abriman looked at his companions, squared his shoulders and entered the dungeon. He stopped in the second chamber and called out. “Sandrinna, I have come in fulfilment of a vow, I've fetched Rovoc the so called witch hunter for your justice.”

« Abriman? »

“Yes Sandrinna this body is that of Abriman, I was Zarnjdfjgmn but I have truly become Abriman and a Paladin of Hel-Arlizzy.”

There was a startled silence. « You can hear me? »

“I am a Paladin of Hel-Arlizzy, naturally I can hear dungeons.”

« I don’t want that creature in my dungeon, can you share what you saw and know with Erekosë my Boss monster and Ermizhad. If so I will leave my vengeance in their hands. »

Erekosë and Ermizhad were not amused, Rovoc lasted three days before dying. Sir Cram’ton collected his head and declared that the Count’s executioner couldn’t have done a better job. The visitors set out for Copper Town and home while Guzz got raring drunk, spent a day recovering then headed for Arsouk wishing he had that kid who could magic water out of thin air along.