There was an unusual tension and nervousness in the air today.

Calchet is a small village and few things change around here. Wake up. Tend to the field or fish. Offer prayers more out of habit than thankfulness. Go home.

Or in my case, Wake up. Go follow the chief around doing whatever he asks. Apologize to the people he’s offended. Go home.

Most people’s schedule only change with the seasons. I could probably tell you what each villager will be doing on any given day and time. Predictable. Dull. But it’s a living.

But if what those adventurers said was true, then this dungeon core is both sentient and going to visit any time now. A dungeon core being sentient this early is unusual enough, but taking the initiative to leave their territory too….

Either way we have no idea what it wants. But if things go well, I hope we can put some much needed life and resources into the people of this village. We aren’t exactly starving but Hasaat knows the tax is suffocating. The harvest will come, but so too will winter.

While I was mulling in my thoughts, a bull beastman came running up to me. I backed up a little as he lumbered to a halt in front of me. Even if I’ve known him for years, It’s difficult not to when a 6 foot wall of muscle twice as wide as me comes running.

[] Fargy! What’s the rush? Is she at the gates already?

[Fargy] No not yet Syl. I do see a carriage on the way though. It’s coming from the right direction. The scaled beasts that are pulling it seem unusual though..

[Sylcor] I told you it’s Sylcor while we’re on the job. And it sounds like she’ll be here soon. I’d better wake the chief. Pass the word on and then make sure the other guards are ready. We don’t really know anything about those beasts she has after all. If things go bad she might even attack.

[Fargy] Mm. Got it. We’ll be ready to jump in if that happens.

I hurried over to Thorrik’s house. Of all the things he’s had to deal with this one was probably the most important.

[Sylcor] Chief! Chief Thorrik! We need you ready! The dungeon core is coming! Chief?

It was such an important time that I couldn’t even sleep well, but all I could hear through the door was grumbling and -

[Thorrik] QUIT POUNDIN THAT DOOR. I swear if ye don quit that racket I’ll give you somethin to make a racket about.

[Sylcor] But chief! This is important. This could determine the whole future of the village.

[Thorrik] HA. The village be fine before the bloody dungeon and it be fine without it. I ain’t gon let a dungeon tell me what to do. I’ll come when I’m ready. Tell the bleedin dungeon to wait just like e’eryone else.

Soon nothing more than the occasional grumbles could be heard behind the door.

Likewise, panic was setting in. All I could do is pace and mutter while trying to clear my head.

[Sylcor] Trouble. Trouble. Bloody dwarf just wandered into town and took over as mayor. Sure no one really wanted the job. But if he was going to take it over he could at least do his damn job.

And interrupting my thoughts was the bell. The bell was wrung whenever an important person came. It was also wrung whenever someone died. I had never thought the tolling of the bell was ominous before but I’m rethinking that today.

[Sylcor] She’s about here. Gah. I can’t rely on him after all. I have to keep it busy until Thorrik comes out.

I rushed over to the gate. I seem to be rushing everywhere today. The gate was opened but I know Fargy is prepared to slam it shut if the signal is given.

I could see a little ways off a carriage being pulled by two animals. I’m no animal specialist but they certainly don’t look like any beasts I know. As they approached I could see the elegant fur manes, light reflecting off their scales, and those muscles moving underneath. I could also see the unusual and somewhat dangerous looking horns and spikes coming out of it. I don’t think there’s much doubt that that’s a dungeon creature. At the very least it’s not something natural to these parts.

As the carriage passed through our gates, a lady stepped out. She’s wearing an elegant one piece dress. It’s skewed longer on one side, with some cute frills and a bow at the back. The vivid purple hue really catches the eye. It’s a difficult color to make and certainly not one you’d expect to see so far from the capital. As I was analyzing her, her steely grey eyes locked onto mine and she gave a bright smile that blew away all these thoughts.

[Eita] Hello there. My name is Eita, the dungeon master. I believe I am expected?

[Sylcor] Yes! Of course. Right. Right. Uh. My name is Sylcor. I am the chief’s assistant. Right this way. We prepared a public venue like you asked. Follow me. Would you like something to eat or drink ?

[Eita] Not right now. I believe business comes first right? Still this is quite a gathering.

[Sylcor] Yes…. Well this is quite unusual and it has been quite a while since something as exciting has happened in this little place. We’re quite far out in the countryside after all.

[Eita] Ah that makes sense. So, where is this 'chief'?

[Sylcor] Right. Uh. He’s a little preoccupied. Um. It should only be a shor- It shouldn’t take him too long. Probably. Maybe I can keep you entertained for now?

[Eita] Hm. Maybe this’ll be easier than I thought. That’s alright dear. There’s quite a group gathered here and I want to address them anyways.

She lightly hopped up onto a chair and curtsied. It was a bit dangerous to do so with me being so close to her and her standing on something tall. I made sure to look towards the crowd instead, although I could still feel myself getting a bit warmer.

[Eita] Ahem. Greetings, people of Calchet. I believe you know, but I am the dungeon master of the nearby dungeon. Since the chief has not shown up yet, shall we first discuss what it is I want from you and what you need from my dungeon?

Rather than a speech it seemed like a proper conversation. Things seemed to be going well for her. I’m glad that things are going smoothly even though the chief isn’t here. She’s mostly calmly giving out some rules she wants us to follow and why she set those rules. She also properly notes which of the villager’s requests are reasonable and which aren’t. With the way the conversation is going, the villagers will be sending over a cart full of material by the end of the day. I could feel the excitement and hope seeping into the people.

Well. In hindsight I probably relaxed a little too much.

[Eita] Now I do have one request before I can accept this deal with you all. You see, when this whole thing was getting started, someone sent a cute little girl over to my dungeon.

Ah. Shit. I knew it was going too well. I could feel my face cramping up already. This was a spark I did not want to deal with.

[Eita] Did you know that someone sent an adorable hard working girl like that to die. They couldn’t offer themselves of course. No. They adopted a little girl who had just lost her parents, all the while thinking off sending her off to die.

I could hear murmurs running through the crowd. Of course they knew. How could they not know. Small town. Aging population. Little entertainment. Word gets around.

[Eita] How has he treated you lot? Is he worthy of being your leader? Of the trust to make or break your village?

The behavior from just earlier popped into my mind. And yesterday was hardly different. Rather it was harder to find days that were.

[Eita] Has he been a trustworthy person, holding the village together? Or have you held together despite him? I, for one, cannot entrust my dungeon to someone who would treat the lives of others so lightly.

As if right on queue, Thorrik’s door slammed open.

[Thorrik] Bloody ‘ell what’s all this then? Can’t a dwarf rest in peace around here. Scram. The lot of ya. Don’t ye have jobs to do instead of makin this ruckus?

I saw Eita smirk and felt my stomach drop. I knew what was coming and I was helpless to stop it.

[Eita] In order to work with the people of Calchet, I demand that the current Chief Thorrik step down from his position, for the benefit of the dungeon and the people.

[Thorrik] WHAT? AND WHO ARE YE GIRLIE TO TELL ME TO STEP DOWN? YER JUS AN OUTSIDER COMIN IN TO MY VILLAGE AND TELLIN ME TO GET OU’ THE WAY LIKE SOME BRAT.

I thought I had heard Thorrik mad. I was wrong. His usual outbursts and yelling was just a pin drop to this.

[Eita] Well. Look who’s finally joined us. A short wait indeed. Unfortunately we have the small matter of who holds power here to deal with.

[Thorrik] Are you makin fun o’ me? I’ll have you know ye can’t find anyone else. I been doin this for the past 15 years. And why are you lot so quiet. After all I done for this village ye lot are gon stay quiet and let me be talked to like tha?

It was deadly silent. But I could tell. My eyes are sharper than most people here. There wasn’t a pair of sympathetic eyes in the crowd.

[Eita] I guess you really are the type of man who won’t admit to any shortcomings. Get off your high horse. You aren’t suited to lead. You’ve done as much harm to this place as good. Besides, I need to stand up to you. If I don’t stand up to you now after you’ve sacrificed a good hard working girl whose only crime is losing her parents, then when will I?

[Eita] You’ve all stood by while he yells and berates his way to power. You’ve all stood by while he sacrifices your hard work for his lifestyle. Will you stand by when he sacrifices the pure little Saeri for his own benefit? What’s next? Will you stand by when he decides my dungeon is more useful to him dead than alive? When he does something because of his short temper that harms the whole village for his pride? When he decides your children are better as mere labourers than learning a proper craft? When he decides it’s better to get some gold than to keep everyone in the village safe? When there’s a plague and he deserves to be the first one at the healers? I don’t know about you but I can’t trust my life in the hands of someone who couldn’t bother to come on time to a meeting that could decide the future prosperity of the entire village. We need someone more worthy of the title. And more worthy of your trust.

As her speech went on the silence in the crowd broke. Thorrik was right. They could not hold their silence anymore. However it was not in the way that he thought. Old grievances came to light. Dark thoughts found themselves uttered. As if her words had released a flood barely held back by our rational minds. But today they hold it in no more. He found that culmination of his every day deeds was not washed away and forgotten with time. No. In a small village as this, grudges and slights were buried. Not forgotten but nurtured. Each secret slight they can’t express whispered to it’s branches. Watered with each hidden tear they cannot show. Trimmed and shaped and cared for so that none else may find out. It’s the only way life in such a small village could go on without things coming to a breaking dysfunctional halt. Unfortunately, with Eita’s speech, these grudges have bloomed.

[ ] you always - yell at my son - why - first pick of the food - bad harvest - what have you even done - way too much taxes - your assistant does everything - why do we need you - outsider - - remember that time - we were just fine - walked in from nowhere - thinks it’s his village - doesn’t own me - lazy - bum - short tempered - sacrifice - poor girl - why don’t we - hey lets -

CLAP

All the attention immediately focused in on that noise that pierced through the crowd. I’m surprised with one clap she could garner their attention so well. Even I was brought back from my introspection and grumblings.

[Eita] Now now. First things first. I guess I forgot to mention that Saeri is still alive. Luckily I was the dungeon core and can think. She’s taken to living with me now.

A small murmur of relief runs through the crowd. A few approving nods. I myself feel relieved. I had been friends, although not close friends, with her father.

[Eita] Besides we wouldn’t want to get too out of hand. It’s not like what he’s done warrants us killing him. So we should simmer down that anger. We just need to replace him with someone who we would trust more with the responsibility right?

[Thorrik] Y Ye think I can be replaced so easy? Who would do the job?

She gave her biggest smile yet. Very toothy. Makes me uncomfortable.

[Eita] Why haven’t you been training a perfect replacement? Mr Sylcor here has been seeing you do things and even replacing you in some duties has he not?

I suddenly found it quite difficult to breath. Of course I wanted things to change. I’m just not sure I wanted things to change. And this. This was a change.

[Sylcor] I- I mean I don’t think - There must be someone -

[Thorrik] HIM? He hasn’t even a spine. Ye think he can -

[Eita] I’m sure he’ll be fine. But we can always let the village decide.

[ ] He’s always there to apologize for Thorrik. He’s pretty good with the kids. He does make time to entertain my son with some magic. I mean I never got yelled at by him. He practically does all of Thorrik’s job for him anyways. I mean -

[Eita] Well there you have it. I hope you’re satisfied and will work on not being so short - tempered.

I was completely overwhelmed. And so too it seems was Thorrik. For the first time since I’ve known him has he not had something to yell at people telling him what to do. Then again. Amidst this sort of atmosphere all he could do is skulk off and slam his front door.

[Eita] Well then. Pleasure working with you Chief Sylcor. A representative from the capital should be coming soon enough. I hope you’ll judge and guide him to becoming a good mayor or whatever position rules this city. But for now, you’re the chief. I’ll be heading back to my dungeon now. Do make sure the things the villagers wanted to deliver finds it’s way to my dungeon soon. Tata.

Before I knew it she was through the crowd and in a slowly retreating carriage pulled by two unknown scaled beasts. And I was here surrounded by all sorts of people patting me and giving me advice.

Oh.

Oh dear.