Ryu’s frown was a complete scowl at this point. Not only did he not have a choice in participating in this Quest, but he also had to win. The bonus rewards were too big of an advantage to give up. If Lucius obtained them, he would use them to kill Ryu or lead him astray. He would no longer need a partner if he knew what to expect and could handle it. Lucius would realize the potential advantage. He might have already. It was clear that he’d realized the opportunity for a System Event from the beginning.

“Master Ryu, I trust that I have your assistance in this matter, correct?” a voice asked, breaking him from his thoughts. It was Shin, the leader of the Urodela. The salamander must have wandered over while Ryu was reading the screen.

“Correct,” Ryu said. This was an issue. Leading forces wasn’t a talent of his. Neither was large-scale battle. Or teamwork. “May I suggest a retreat while we make our plans?”

Shin nodded. “I was thinking the same. I will inform you of our forces as we walk.” With a call, the Speaker organized his forces. They started marching out of the room and into a tunnel. “There are three combat Classes available to the Urodela people: Obsidian Dancers, Lava Shaman, and Magma Shapers. The Dancers are-”

“Tell me of the Shapers,” Ryu said, cutting him off. He could tell what the other two were. The Dancers were melee fighters, and the Shamans were casters. Standard fare. If he was right about the Shapers, they would be the truly valuable combatants.

“The Shapers are the most rare of the three. They are able to form structures, both temporary and permanent, with their Skills. They aren’t pure combat classes, but we consider them so due to their ability to control the battlefield.”

Ryu only had one question. “Do you think they could build traps?”

“They can, indeed.” An expression had formed on the salamander’s face. It was a look of glee.

“Now tell me of the Drakonai Classes.”

Shin explained in a fast tone, words spilling out like an overflowing glass. Like the Urodela, the Drakonai had access to three combat Classes. The first two performed the basic roles of melee fighter and magic caster, although there were subtle differences between their versions of those roles and the Urodela. He dismissed them, however. If the Urodela had not found out how to exploit those differences in their months of fighting, it wasn’t likely he would either. His assistance would be better suited to non-traditional combat methods.

The third Class of the Drakonai used music and drums to layer buffs over the entire group. Even with his limited experience in strategy, he could see why the Urodela were steadily losing the conflict. The Drakonai were much more suited to large battles with their heavy infantry, artillery mages, and widespread buffs. The Urodela, on the other hand, were suited to guerilla tactics. The Dancers would make excellent skirmishers, the Shamans had more versatility than their Drakonai counterparts, and the Shapers would be perfect for forming impromptu battlements and traps. Shin was not unaware of this, either. For all his humility, it was clear that the salamander was guiding Ryu towards these conclusions with his words.

As they neared the base of the Urodela, Ryu grabbed the Speaker by the arm and pulled him to the side. “You know these tactics. You know how to win. Are you killing your men on purpose?” Ryu said. For all his grace in battle, Ryu was a blunt instrument when it came to conversation.

An angry look passed over the salamander’s face. “That doesn’t even make sense. Why would I lose on purpose? No, don’t answer. Your kind may think us dumb beasts, but we are not. We’re aware of the effect the dungeon has on our minds. The truth is, I can’t convince my people to abandon their standard tactics. It is seen as unhonorable in our… culture, if you will. I will never be able to implement these tactics. You can. The dungeon will make it so.”

Ryu thought for a moment. His words had been hasty, he knew. If he was honest, he was thinking of the Urodela as pieces, not as living beings with their own life and culture. He picked his next words more carefully.

“Forgive me Shin. I will be the first to admit that this isn’t something I’m experienced at. I’d like to make a deal. I will convey your orders to the clan to ensure they’re followed, and in turn, you will teach me of your culture.”

The salamander gave him a strange look. “Agreed.”

The Urodela base was unique. Salamander people bustled about like bees in a hive, and odd hexagonal structures of reinforced obsidian took up almost the whole cavern. To make up for this lack of space, Shin explained, the Urodela built their roofs in unique ways. Since they did not have to worry about precipitation, the roofs of their buildings were similar to tubs. Instead of holding water, the roofs held the red soil from the tunnels, allowing them to grow mushrooms and strange plants. Hot springs dotted the red clay ground found spaces between the buildings and streets, and the Urodela used these natural springs to bring in fresh water for drinking and bathing.

As they walked towards the city’s barracks, Ryu asked many questions of the salamander. “Why is your title Speaker instead of chieftain?” he said, glancing at the glass-like obsidian home to his left.

“Chieftain implies a certain sort of leader. The kind that rules due to war strength and with an iron first. While it’s true I’m one of the better combatants in the tribe, I am an elected leader of a larger council, so we use the term Speaker. It’s meant to remind our leaders that they are merely a voice for the wider population,” he said in his raspy voice.

“Then what does it say about the Drakonai that their leader is named a chieftain?”

“Just that they do not care as much about the connotation of words as our tribe. Do not be fooled, Ryu. The Drakonai are by no means barbaric. It is true they employ more ruthless practices than our own, but they’ve also achieved better results in some areas due to it. In fact, their society is near immune to bribery and corruption. Too much honor, you see. My own people... We have wandered far from the Logos. Many do not see Drakonai rule as a bad thing. We have lived under their rule before, though it was many years ago.”

Ryu knew he would have to lay eyes on the Drakonai city on his own. It was much easier for him to understand by seeing something rather than hearing about it. He took time to observe the Urodela city with his own eyes. Of particular interest were the robed citizens preaching from the steps of the city’s many churches. He stopped in front of one, a woman salamander with smooth red skin. Shin stopped as well, a curious look on his face.

“Every act should follow the Logos. Ask yourself, does this action benefit others? Will I regret this action after? Walk in the merchant’s shoes as he haggles to provide for his family. Empathize with the actions of your fellows. Death will find us all. Praise, wealth, fame… These are all temporary. Act for the honor of the People, for the next generation will live far past our reputations,” she said to the crowd gathered in front of her.

“The Logos?” Ryu asked Shin, remembering he had mentioned it a few moments before.

“It is difficult to explain. Logos is inner logic, but also more. It is the instinct in all to provide for their own, and it is also the idea to see all of the People as your own. It isn’t quite law or religion, but something in between.”

“Do the Drakonai also follow this?”

Shin shook his head. “No. They believe in the powers of their draconic ancestors.”

Ryu wanted to sigh. It was too much to expect the Speaker to be versed in every aspect of his enemy’s culture, but he expected a bit more. It seemed that he- and maybe many Urodela- had a superior attitude in regards to their beliefs. He wasn’t surprised, though. Humans were the same, and it was often such attitudes that started wars. Shin’s response just furthered his need to see the Drakonai’s base himself. If he could do so without Lucius’s noticing, that is.

Shin and Ryu continued their walk, arriving at a compound of buildings soon after. The barracks of the Urodela consisted of close to a dozen rectangular bunkhouses, a large central office building, and many practice yards. Shin directed him to a large room in the central building, the troop having returned ahead of them. The room was dominated by a large granite table with a map across it, and crystals embedded in the smooth walls shone with a soft white light.

Shin gestured at the map, pieces placed across it. “This is the map of the surrounding tunnels. Smaller ones are always popping up, but any large construction near the settlements would be noticed immediately. We have outposts here, here and here,” he said, pointing at specific points. “The large room in the center is the chamber of the Old King, and that’s where both your key and the throne is located. It cannot be claimed while the Drakonai forces are at large, however.”

“Are the red pieces the Drakonai forces?” Ryu asked, looking at the board with a skeptical eye. To him, the whole thing was a bit too much, but he also didn’t know much about running both a war and a settlement.

“Yes, although many of these locations are just our best guesses with the intel we have.”

“I can fix that. We aren’t allowed to fight for another few hours, but I can scout these locations with ease.”

“I need you to make your orders first. Scouting all these locations will take days, even with your speed. By the time you get back, our conflict will have already started once more. We need plans in place to both defend and attack before then. When you return, we will be able to take the initiative,” Shin said, eyes focused on the map.

“Don’t underestimate Lucius. He’s devious and intelligent.” Ryu’s eyes looked to the distance as he spoke, gears turning in his head. He wasn’t one for games, but he was forced to play all the same.