Inquisition POV

“Will you rise to the challenge, or will you turn tail and run? I ask you intruders; do you think you have what it takes to face Cicatrix Firstborn? The goblin questioned us.

Ferros stood in stunned silence at the goblins' proclamation. He had heard tales of dungeon monsters presenting quests or other such trials to any who intruded into their dungeon homes, but he was not prepared to witness it himself. While he stood stunned, the Confessor, Martyr and this Cicatrix continued on talking.

“So then, Cicatrix, we simply need to face and defeat the majority of this floor's mini-bosses before we can fight you, correct?” Roslyn asked with a hint of amusement creeping into her voice.

“Yes, that is the case. You can find them in the forest, the swamp, and to the far side of the floor. I look forward to seeing the results. Whether you live or die, go forth and prove yourselves." With those words this goblin, this Cicatrix turned and disappeared out of view, the majority of the others that had been standing around him left too.

“Well, this is exciting is it not?” Martyr Roslyn asked, although I don’t think she wanted or expected an answer. “Now then Confessor you and our young Paladin ward are to head for the forest, I will head for the far side of the floor, and we can meet in the swamp later.”

This doesn't add up Martyr Roslyn had always stressed the importance of sticking together in unknown territory. Why would she have us do this? It isn’t like her.

“Uh, Martyr, should we not stick together? There is safety in numbers, and we don’t know what else lurks in this place yet.” Ferros spoke up.

A meaty hand clapped him on the shoulder as Confessor Owen gave his opinion. “Oh, relax lad the Martyr wouldn’t even consider splitting the party if she didn’t think we could handle ourselves. Now you may still be new at this, but I have been partnered with our dear Martyr for the last few decades and I can tell you she cares in her own way. Even when the two of us argue I know she has my back, plus” Confessor Owen looked in Martyr Roslyn's direction before he whispered “between you and me she has that I really want to murder someone look in her eyes right now, so its best we aren’t around to get in her way.”

Ferros looked at and gazed at the Martyr’s back. To him she seemed like she always did, the kind old lady who took him in off the streets and gave him a purpose. But after hearing the Confessors' words even Ferros could see the change. She stood straighter and her smile didn’t reach her eyes the way it has before. She seemed tense and angry, but not the false anger that appeared when the Confessor said or did something to annoy her, this anger seemed real.

“Martyr are you alright? I mean you seem…” Ferros started but was interrupted when Martyr Roslyn turned on him and yelled.

“I gave you an order Paladin, now follow it! We will meet in the swamp later now go!”

Ferros recoiled from her words, never before had she actually yelled at him. He froze for a few seconds with a shocked hurt expression on his face, one that temporarily brought Roslyn back to herself. She reached out to him but stopped herself shortly before turning and walking off.

“I’m sorry for my tone Ferros, but I sense a power I haven’t felt in years. It brings out the worst in me at times and I refuse to see another one of my students get hurt because of it, so please go with Owen, I will meet up with the two of you later. Besides, there is nothing in this dungeon that can actually hurt me.”

Ferros started to go after her only to be stopped by Owen. He turned to look at the massive Confessor only to see him shake his head no, then point towards the forest they had passed before.

“Come on lad, the sooner we get this done the sooner we can all meet back up.”

“But Confessor, surely there is something we can do?”

“Nope.”

“Couldn’t we...”

“Not gonna work. When she gets like this the best thing to do is follow her orders and wait. Trust me, this isn’t the first time it’s happened and I’m sure it won’t be the last. Now come, we have a job to do.”

Martyr Roslyn POV

Roslyn smiled to herself as she finally felt Owen and Ferros head to the forest. She appreciated Ferros’ concern but right now it was not needed. Ever since they had entered, she felt this thing's presence, crawling at the back of her mind, trying to muddle her thoughts. It was almost adorable that this dungeon had somehow managed to acquire a blood mage. Roslyn was excited at first. It had been so long since she had the chance to torture and kill another blood mage. Although when she found out it wasn’t the boss, she found herself smiling.

Weak blood mages were easy to kill, and she would take her time doing it, although she was a product of blood magic herself, she despised the practice. The countless beast blood infusions her parents subjected her to, ritual combat against the other children. The closer she got to the mage the more these old memories rose to the surface, and the hotter her rage burned.

“One day I’ll be just like you big sister…”

Roslyn quickly shook her head not wanting that specific memory to return. It may be impossible to truly kill this blood mage, but she would enjoy it all the same, the past was dead, and the future was yet to be born, now was the time for merciless action.

“Who you? Why feel so strong?” A voice called out to her.

As Roslyn came back to the present and looked out in front a goblin with a disgusting black arm stood holding a boar's head staff. He had the basic characteristics of most blood magic users: his veins pushed against his skin and had turned a deep scarlet pulsing along with his heart beat.

So, this little cretin is the one. I don’t know why I expected more. The staff is a nice touch, however.

“You know” Martyr Roslyn started “I was extremely mad when I first got here and sensed blood magic, but now I feel cheated.”

The goblin interrupted her to yell. “No cheat me Atrocity. Biggest most strongest gobbo.”

Roslyn started to speak but couldn’t stop herself from laughing. “Oh, you poor fool. I don’t know if your dungeon has a sense of humor or actually expects you to live up to that name, but you won’t be doing it today.”

Roslyn was pretty sure the goblin couldn’t grasp what she had said other than she had insulted him, and by the dozen or so blood bolts flying her way he didn’t take it well. Unfortunately for the goblin Roslyn was the result of decades of her former tribe's blood magic experiments and the veteran of seven hundred fifty millennia of war. He was no match for her.

Roslyn smiled and thought how best to stop this attack and crush his spirit at the same time. She settled on simply absorbing the blood fired at her into her body. With the pitiful attack stopped Roslyn felt there was no need to pretend anymore. So, for the first time in centuries, she shed her disguise.

“Allow me to properly introduce myself. I am Martyr Roslyn Tess of the inquisition, former Grandmaster of the Adventures Guild, sole survivor and instigator of the Scarlet Expanse massacre, and the only living Claret Scourge on this world. IT. WILL. BE. MY PLEASUE.TO KILL. YOU!”