Parthia – World of The Misplaced Dungeon.

{Timeline: November 2018 – MD just before Ch. 51}

When the Roving Valkyries plus one arrived back in Copper Town they were met by the town constable and informed that Baron Erzgard wished to see them in order to bring the affair of the mad witch hunter’s village to a conclusion.

So after a brief stop to refresh themselves after their desert crossing the cavalcade was once again of its way, this time to the barony’s capital, Erzgardpolis. Once the last witnesses arrived justice was swift and brutal. The local Baron felt ashamed of his failure to protect those under his protection and was correspondingly harsh in his judgements to discourage others from doing anything similar.

Most but not all of the children escaped censure. All the adults received some form of punishment ranging from a harsh fine, as was the case of Gortag and a very very few like him for their passivity, indentured servitude or death, in a few cases with torture. The Barony’s mines gained many new involuntary workers.

Abriman gained a knighthood despite his protests while Carminia and Flitter eagerly accepted the offer to become ladies maids to the baroness.

Abriman was glad to return to Copper Town, he was eager to accept the Valkyries offer of a visit to the nearby Copper Mine Dungeon. However circumstances dictated that that visit had to be put on hold.

When the Roving Valkyries plus one once again arrived back in Copper Town they were summoned by guildmaster Isbetta. Leaving Abriman in the Guild’s common room seated at one of the scattered small tables with a weak beer and half a grilled chicken the Valkyries joined the guildmaster in her office.

“So what’s this about Isbetta?” asked Palca.

“I’ve received a request for help regarding a new dungeon that seems to have taken the place of the one you have only recently visited. The guild has undertaken a new scry, the third this year and the Last Stand dungeon is still in existence as is this new one.”

“Why us? We are not really at the level that merits this kind of job.”

“The scry detected another five dungeons, two far closer to major population centres. Four of the six have appeared almost on top of previously established dungeons. And more worrying Creevar’s Killers have informed the guild that Creevar has ordered them to avoid those four on pains of his displeasure.”

“Creevar? But why is he getting involved with dungeons?” asked Palca.

Isbetta shrugged, “Your guess is as good as mine, will you go and look into this, you are not tasked to complete the dungeon or to grade it but to learn what you can. Oh and if possible to discover where Last Stand has gotten to.”

The Valkyries looked at each other and seemed to come to an agreement.

“We’ll do it.”

“Let’s try and get Abriman to join us on this, his water spell is invaluable in the desert and his got could be a big help,” suggested Itzy the party’s ranger and tracker.

Isbetta chuckled, “don’t you think the boy is getting a bit overwhelmed with six mothers or is it doting aunts?”

Three of the Valkyries blushed hotly, “um, but he seems to like our company...” explained Sirenna the cleric and healer.

The ladies joined Abriman at his table and had no difficulty recruiting him.

The following morning, resupplied and rested they left Copper Town and headed south. As they headed into the desert once again Abriman rode beside Palca and Reeva.

“I had a dream last night that I think was sent. We, you have to be very careful in regards to this new dungeon. I, I’m almost certain Hel-Arlizzy implied that he had no influence over... Her but also that she wasn’t malicious only... unknowing of her strength. Um, does that make any sense?”

They rode on in silence while the two women thought and worried. Finally Palca called a rest break and gathered all her friends together to see what they could make of this revelation, and they encouraged Abriman to divulge any other scrap of his dream.

“Well, I don’t think this dungeon is what it appears, somehow I got the impression that the dungeon part is a... a... bluff? I think Hel-Arlizzy is scared... no very cautious when it comes to her. Something about it not being wise to irritate the consort...”

“Abriman, I wish you had told us this before we left Copper Town,” said a worried Palca.

“Sorry, I couldn’t, not allowed to.”

“So we continue, but we will be ultra cautious when we get there,” decided Palca.

* * *

A few days later they were once again installed in the desiccated looking hostel that stood guard at the entrance of the dungeon. The sizeable cavern containing a well was still two hundred meters away from the hostel and looked unchanged, but the domain felt very different. The only other difference was the statue standing in front of the entrance. A small diorama consisting of a girl, a griffin and a human sized turtle thing with a calves head, feet and tail.

It was also far more humid and hot than previously.

They decided to cast around for Sandrinna’s Last Stand dungeon first and remembering a few things Guzz had mentioned previously, found it in a valley about a day’s walk away. The surprise was the quite sizable village of beastfolk that had been built by the stream flowing from the new entrance to the dungeon.

Meerkatton was a clean orderly place, and apart from the family of Lions that ran the local inn, the Badger couple who were operating a small alchemist shop, and the Cheetah who was operating as village constable and hunter, all the other inhabitants were dual natured Meerkat humanoid shifters.

Albert’s Pride, the inn was a solid stone built two storey edifice built around a surprisingly pleasant central courtyard with blank outside walls. Albert it would seem was the bouncer and defender and did all the heavy hauling while his five wives handled all the rest of the work. Elspeth, the senior wife looked after the inn’s surprise, a shrine to Ocidon earthshaker.

The ale was good and the wine spectacular. The brandy, sold as firewater however was vile if strong. The food was good even if short on vegetables.

The Valkyries collaborated of a report regarding the Last Stand’s dungeon new situation and on the return of Abriman from his visit to Sandrinna they were able to add the fact that the new dungeon had bound itself to maintain the well under the same conditions Sandrinna had previously agreed to.

Sirenna attended the morning service and was surprised to find that the shrine encompassed the central courtyard when the doors were rolled back into the wall to either side. Elspeth proved to be a priestess and all the inhabitants of Meerkatton attended the week’s end service. The Priestess’ final blessing did leave Sirenna bemused, but as the god’s presence did not falter she put it down to her ignorance of Ocidon’s faith.

* * *

Once back in front of the dungeon they had come to investigate, they once again hesitated and decided to venture in in the morning when they were fresh.

As they moved beyond the statue standing guard on the true entrance of the dungeon they entered a passage that had beads of water oozing down the walls and occasionally dripping from the ceiling. It was stifling hot. Then they came to a large cavern that was mostly filled by trees that seemed to standing on their roots in water. A few prods with the haft of a spear suggested that the water was about waist deep and inhabited by fish. Lots of big toothed fish.

“I don’t see any treasure,” said Roccanne.

Abriman looked at her with incredulity, “what about that goldenleaf spicewort?” he said pointing at one of numerous small clumps of colourful yellowish leaved orchids decorating the trunks of the mangroves.

A short venture into the salt water of the brightly lit cavern proved that they weren’t equipped to challenge this dungeon. A second attempt proved that the trees were infested with big snakes. Constrictors for the most part. They withdrew.

Over lunch in the tired hostel they discussed what to do next. They had completed their commission – but only just and none of them wanted to leave it at that.

“I have this strange urge to ask Elspeth for help,” finally said Abriman.

“That seems to make sense to me too,” said Sirenna sounding surprised.

Palca looked at her two gods touched and came to an instant decision and they were on their way to Meerkatton immediately after lunch.

Albert’s Pride was as welcoming as ever, when approached Elspeth retired to the shrine before agreeing to help. She introduced them to Sam the Cheetah ‘folk and persuaded him to lead them safely through the Mock Turtle dungeon.

“Mock Turtle Dungeon?” queried Palca.

“Yes, well, if Mother will draw the thing everywhere, and put up statues, what do you expect,” asked one of the badger ‘folk alchemists who was sitting at a nearby table.

“Well that’s what we call it. It seems appropriate,” stated Elspeth while Sam nodded and directed a quelling glance at the alchemist.

“You’ll need some water breathing potions, Freddy can supply them at a reasonable price,” added Sam.

“Water breathing in the desert?” exclaimed Itzy, “but I can’t even swim!”

Sam shrugged, “you’ll need at least two each, if you can’t swim we can pull you through as the dungeon won’t be actively trying to kill you.”

The following day the bedraggled adventurers were looking at a dungeon portal flanked by two elegant drawings of the mock turtle. They had traversed to mangrove caverns, one underwater one, a dry jungle and a savannah one covered with shoulder high grasses. The dungeon was a nightmare, restricted visibility, unfamiliar terrain requiring unusual skills and infested with unfamiliar creatures.

Through the portal was worse, slippery floors, things Sam described offhandedly as giant crabs, more fish and water traps.

And then another portal, this gave on a square room with an elaborate entrance that gave onto a well-watered lush green valley opposite another dungeon. Back into the dungeon, more strangeness and another portal. This time the room was underground and a spiral stair led into a strange zigzagging corridor illustrated with the story of a greedy king. The entrance was fortified and defended by guards working for the city state of Folding Deep.

Then Sam said, “Mother tells me you have seen enough, go and report your findings and make of them what you will.”

“There are more portals aren’t there?” Asked Palca.

“Possibly, but I’ve shown you all Mother wanted you to see. Maybe next time we can do more.”

“Mother? Is she the consort?” asked the cleric of Varina the Defender.

“Well Ocidon did seat her at his right hand.”

* * *

“... and so we returned to report. From what we saw, the challenge offered by the Mock Turtle Dungeon is formidable. It is designed to maximise the dungeon’s advantage with endless possibilities of ambushes and surprise attacks. The treasures are generous but many will not recognise them.”

“Thank you Palca, I suspect you will all be asked to report to one of the guild headquarters.” Concluded Isbetta.