---Aphrodite POV

Unfurling and stretching my wings, the ropes of connecting muscle propel my glorious raven black-covered appendages and body into flight. The first steel-tipped arrow shaft lodges in my acquired leather chest armour, not penetrating and I witness the arrow fall free in a tumbled arc into the fast-flowing river near the camp. I continue to gain altitude, not concerned with the archer until I am clear. The second fire-hardened tipped arrow shaft deflects off my taloned foot. I glance groundward to observe the third bronze-tipped arrow fly short and fall back.

A Bear Beast kin, brandishing a polished black Crossbow, a Lizard Beast kin on his knees his Longbow on the stream’s pebbles beside him and possibly the final surviving Lion Beast kin, Composite Bow grasped in one furry clawed hand, while the other tightly clenched shakes at me.

The wind abducting their cursing words before reaching my ears, although unnecessary, their aggravation and grieving plain.

My morning snooping of the town detected, not expecting any beasts fit enough to give chase and therefore careless and carefree. My contemplation of devouring the livers of the dead pre-occupying me. Their deaths were a result of Well water being polluted by my droppings, spreading disease to those who drank directly or who shared a water container. My disease. Would my disease affect me? The fruitless time-consuming search for the answer is the reason I am now flying to my escape.

Messages of Essence persist, which I sweep away as I soar and dip following the shining sliver of water, the river, which will guide me back to my daughters. There I will rest and contemplate my next step, while my daughters seize command over and of the males and the Kobold Tribe.

---Dilia POV

I awake to a bright sunlit morning, the cleared path allowing rays of sunshine to paint the packed dirt of the trail in light for the first time in many years. My trauma and sorrow are not acknowledged by the world as this day rises like the previous day, fresh and new. These same rays hasten the rotting and putrefying of my Beast kin brothers and sisters and one Lizard Beast kin Hero, uncaring, the natural processes of the world continuing.

Staring at the Hero’s body from my campsite, remembering my grief-stricken crawl past him, unable to comfort him or bury him, not knowing his name or able to recall his deeds to honour him, I accept I am small, insignificant in comparison. If this suffering is common to those answering the summons who will undertake the Quest?

The morning breeze stirs as I finish chewing on dried meat and stale cheese. It carries death now and chases me. I quickly grab my few possessions, packing them into my backpack as I leave my campsite and the death on the ancient trail behind.

---

The forest fades, trees no longer, striplings and bushes, which themselves fade as the trail I trudge upon reaches the outskirts of the ruined town. I am in awe of the huge amphitheatre although my attention is stolen by the gathering of suffering around the Quest Beacon, their bodies, too few to prevent the emanating soft light from greeting me. The light embraces me and understands my torment, soothing it, although not healing and not wiping my memory.

As I join the congregation of woe, from tall Bear Beast kin to short Badger Beast kin, their gazes slowly lock onto my presence. Their eyes were wide, blood-filled, the Bear Beast kin’s eyes red, the Lizard Beast kin’s eyes dripping tears of blood, the Lion Beast kin’s eyes surrounded by dry bloodied fur and the Badger Beast kin’s eyes full of bloodshot sorrow.

Stunned I don’t retreat in time as they grab me and drag me in different directions. Their directions and pleading words indicate I need to accompany them. I assume to their Quarter, where else holds meaning to them?

“Stop!” I yell.

“Release me!” I snarl, emptying my lungs of air.

Chastised they step back, heads bowed, and spirits are broken.

Behind the chastised line of Beast Kin, the Badger Beast kin deftly manoeuvrers around them, avoiding any contact until she regally presents before me. Before she utters a word, she glances over her shoulder attempting to gain approval to orate on their behalf.

“A plague or disease has ravaged us, regardless of Beast kin Race, you are the first clear eyes to enter this accused town and they wish to escort you to their Quarter to offer the few survivors, who remain, hope.”

With approving grunts and a reserved hiss from the kin behind her, the Badger Beast kin continues.

“We believe we are forsaken, none will send rescuers where death stalks so easily. Those who fled when the bleeding first appeared, succumbed themselves one or two days into their journey, their bloody eyes and blood-strewn pants a warning to any who approached them.”

Taking her pause as an invitation, I recalled my journey, the death within the Dungeon and the death I witnessed upon the Dungeon Trail.

“How many survive? How is the disease spread?” I ask solemnly.

The Badger Beast kin checks before answering, it seems theirs is a loose alliance and command structure. While we are Beast kin, we are also proud of our nature. Purely due to their lack of height and preference to talk first instead of drawing a weapon the Badger Beast kin are accepted by other Beast kin as harmless, although honoured speakers. The fact they peddle healing ointments and elixirs based upon herbs and plants, which cure, more often than not, certainly adds to their acceptance.

“We bury nine beast kin for every survivor, although our standards of survivor are low as we count bleeding, although not dead as a survivor. We expect the death count to rise further.”

The Badger Beast kin smooths the fur about her nose and behind her ears, a preparation or perhaps a delay in case another wished to answer?

“All were afflicted except Bear Beast kin, and we drew the wrong conclusion the disease attacked by size. This seemed to hold true, as my kin, while afflicted weren’t decimated. Therefore, we reasoned, those large and those small were safe.”

A growl issued from the Bear Beast kin, perhaps a sorrowful cry? Difficult for me to interpret.

“Then the Bear Beast kin were afflicted and we Badger Beast kin studied our own and much to our surprise those of us of a more private, reserved nature remained least afflicted. We advised those who would listen to separate as it meant each would need to gather their own food and water while still able to,” finished the Badger Beast kin.

“Itss helpss whens you insistss only river watersss isss required for your fursss cleaningsss,” hissed the Lizard Beast kin.

The Badger Beast kin snaps an indignant death stare at the Lizard Beast kin.

I placed my paw on her shoulder.

“My name is Dilia, what is your name?”

She immediately flicks my paw from her shoulder and takes a rag from her belt to wipe down the fur I brushed and then throws the rag onto a nearby pile.

“Precaution dear. My name is Dawnanda Gentlewind of Meadowvale Sett, and we don’t need to shake paws in these troubling times.”

“Who is in command?” I ask.

---Aphrodite POV

The sun reflects off a sheet of sheer polished black stone running across a substantial length of the mountainside drawing me to investigate. Why haven't I noticed this phenomenon before? My previous flights along the river at different times of the day, in different directions, should have revealed this incredible sight before now.

I glide and then pump my wings to gain height as I soar on thermal updrafts radiating from the black stone, given the vast area it claims. The Black stone is of course of me, Basalt. I comprehend at once this is the Dungeon of my Master; he now spreads beyond his original confines.

“Return to me my minion, fly high I’ve created you a roost.”

His words fill my mind without affection, although civil and not disrespectful or belittling. My feathers twitch with suspicion. I wing towards my roost, a dull portal of dark shade surrounded by polished black basalt, the opening excessively tall and wide. A simple task to enter and alight upon the smooth basalt floor.

{You have entered the Dungeon of Azizos.}

“Master?” I receive no answer, his presence surrounds me, there is no mistake. Why ignore me! He called me to him.

---Azizos POV

She glows with essence, irrefutable and detectable as she follows the course of the river towards the Mountain Range. Still, she is out of range, I call and receive no response. How to gain her attention?

I face my basalt skin to her and the mid-morning sun, the polish gleaming along my entire length will announce my presence and majesty.

Her interest is captured as I detect her glowing essence gliding towards me, like a bee to a honeyed flower. I quickly create a suitable landing cave for her, the open-shaded cave a contrast to the polished basalt surrounding it.

“Return to me my minion, fly high I’ve created you a roost.”

While she heeds my call, I construct passageways to the landing cave joining it to the rest of my Dungeon proper. Not finished I convert the dirt unfaced floor, walls and roof to squared basalt to honour her return.

She lands.

A change, I sense a change …

---

My consciousness returns, although I am unable to measure and therefore determine the time, which has passed. Those within my Dungeon wake with me, including her. None within exhibits stress or distress at this moment except for her.

“What happened Master?”

I ask the System for Living Construct Essence:

{Hominine Essence L10,

Avine Essence L10,

Feline Essence L6+,

Colubrine Essence L4+,

Lacertine Essence L3+,

Draconine Essence L3+,

Canine Essence L0,

Caprine Essence L0}

“How many beasts did you slay, no, answer instead what type of beasts?”

My suspicion is the System needed to assimilate the many introduced essences, begrudgingly I must admit to myself I need to reassess my female minion.

“Master? Beast kin. Cat, Snake, Lizard and Draco? Did I err?”

I ask the System for Living Construct Evolutions.

{Hominine Essence L5+, Avine Essence L5+, Feline Essence L5+

Evolutions Available: Griffon, Manticore, Nemean Lion

Mana: 500}

I welcome the choice and possible future choices! Evolution will increase her Dungeon Dominate, her evolutionary eggshell will spawn another race adding further Dungeon Dominate, each evolution delivering her a step nearer to my absolute domination of her. I dismiss Manticore and Nemean Lion as I still need her to fly to claim the Lake and the System confirms they can’t.

I ask the System to explain Griffon.

{Half-lion, half-eagle, Griffons are ferocious avian carnivores. They stand two metres at the shoulder and weigh over half a tonne. Their head with a razor-sharp beak, feathered upper torso, and forelegs which end in long, hooked talons are like those of a giant eagle. Both wings rise out of their back resulting in a nine-metre wingspan. The lower half of the griffon is that of a lion, with muscular rear legs, clawed feet and a lion’s tail.}

Interestingly the Griffon contains no hominine features and I wonder how she will accept her new form. The beast is destructive and huge and will destroy whatever currently claims the Lake.

“You’ve not erred. I will reward you with evolution!”

I will the System and evolve her.

“Master, I don …”

{Due to Evolution Request Please set Parameters:}

At each question prompt, I set the preferred parameter, I am familiar with the questions and answer them quickly and efficiently.

{Lock Dungeon Dominate Automatically when 100%? Enabled.}

{Automatically Evolve Living Construct when conditions are met? Disabled.}

{Set Dungeon Roaming Range (Unrestricted/Proximity/Dungeon/Zone/Room): Unrestricted.}

{Harvest Living Construct Kills automatically then convert to Mana? Enabled.}

{Gift Living Construct Skills? Disabled.}

{Evolution commencing ...}

Character Sheet: Aphrodite Name: Aphrodite Culture: Greek Mythos Race: Harpy Superior Spirit: Human Body: Living Basalt Soul: Dungeon Dominate Sentient Dominate: 52% Monster Dominate: 27% Dungeon Dominate: 65% Hominine Essence: Level 10 Avine Essence: Level 10 Dragon Essence: Level 3.7 Feline Essence: Level 6.49 Colubrine Essence: Level 4.3 Lacertine Essence: Level 3.6 Strength: 65 Grasp: 75 Toughness: 65 Constitution: 65 Vigour: 77 Endurance: 65 Dexterity: 85 Agility: 75 Quickness: 75 Wisdom: 75 Perception: 59 Mettle: 59 Intelligence: 50 Willpower: 75 Power: 75 Charisma: 50 Glamour: 50 Beauty: 100 Languages: Greek Kobold Orc Ogre Feline Gifts: Regeneration Prolific Fertility Shadow Hide Silent Step Spear: Level 10 Halberd: Level 1 Bow: Level 7 Sword: Level 15 Track: Level 5 Trapping: Level 7 Shield: Level 3 Armour Affinity: Level 3