“There it is, the dungeon.” Yenstar said with a grin. Being one of the first people to ever look at this dungeon brought a wave of pride. An eager giddiness made him want to rush in and explore.

“Let’s go!” Olive said excitedly, marching toward the archway.

Yenstar grabbed her arm and stopped her. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“We came all this way and you think we can’t handle this.” She replied both angry and hurt by the insult.

“No.” He replied flatly, glaring at her. “We would be lost or dead without you kids.”

“We aren’t children.” Tuck replied siding with his twin. “We’re 15.”

“Well I’m 97 so you’re still kids to me.” He replied. The avians were watching quietly not wanting to take sides just yet.

“Why shouldn’t we enter?” Myra asked. Her tone was much less hostile but there was defiance in her eyes.

He gave a heavy sigh. “Because my magic isn’t working.”

“Shouldn’t it work in there?” Olive asked, still defensive, motioning to the cave. “And what does that have to do with anything?”

“Yes my magic will work just fine in there. I haven’t said anything but I’m sure they have felt it too,” Motioning to the avians, “The air, the mana in this forest has been giving me a headache, strange dreams and making it hard to breathe at times.”

The teens looked to Mika, Feta and Yenturis. They nodded in agreement.

“I think the same or worse would happen to you if you go in there.”

“Why?” Hamish asked, curious. “I’ve been in a marine dungeon before and only had a slight queasy feeling everyone gets.

“Because they are acclimated to corrupted mana.” Feta stated, looking at the old man. She hadn’t thought of that.

“Yes, I fear they might get mana sick or even mild mana shock if they walk from this corrupted air into the dungeon. Those marine dungeons weren’t in heavily corrupted waters I presume.”

Olive and Tuck both lost their hostile looks, now looking at the arch in a new light. Hamish nodded in understanding. The first time someone went deeper into the woods they felt off until they adjusted.

“Can’t we test it?” Myra asked. She was worried about the twins, both spent more time in the trees than most and probably had more corruption in them.

“Yes but I think we should find a camp for the night so that if something happens we have a place to rest and recover.” Yenstar replied.

“Why can’t we use this clearing?” Tuck asked.

All 4 of the adventurers chuckled.

“Because of all the beasts attracted to the dungeon.” Mika replied. “I don’t want to sleep between them and their goal.”

Tuck blushed, “That makes sense. Let’s try the top of the hill. It would give us a good view of the dungeon without being too close.”

With a nod they headed up the rather steep hill. Unbeknown to them setting up camp at the base of the tree the Una had climbed.

_____________________

One of the spearmen informed me there were strange creatures standing outside my dungeon and asked if I wanted him to attack.

Looking through his eyes I saw….

“Arizo what are these creatures? I can’t think of the names.”

“Those 4 look human.” She somehow highlighted them in my vision. “These 2 are called Kenku, this one is an Aarakocra and the last one looks like some kind of naga, though he’s a strange color.”

“Sounds like the younger ones are from nearby and the older ones are from an adventurers guild. Oh look there’s a little kid with them.” I told her as one of them moved and I could see the child. She looked adorable.

“That’s a tigerling. Likely the old one’s child or grandchild.”

“Pull back into the first room.” I ordered the kobold. “They are just going to see if they can safely enter, but if they come into the room you are free to attack them.”

He gave their salute and did as I said.

As I didn’t have a very good sense of time. I wasn’t sure how long it took them to return.

__________________________

Once camp was set they discussed who was going in.

“I should go first.” Hamish said. “I am the weakest in the woods and I can cast a spell once I enter to see if that has an effect.”

Olive pouted. “How dare you use logic against me.” She said with an over exaggerated frown.

Tuck chuckled. “When Hamish gets back, if nothing goes wrong we’ll go in with Feta and Mika.”

“But only the entrance.” Yenturis warned. “We don’t want to accidentally run into issues and get into a fight at the same time.

“If all goes well we can all check out the dungeon together and leave for home in the morning.” Myra added. “That way we can give any other explorers a better idea of what they will face.”

“Now that we have a plan,” Mika began, “We’ll start lunch and the twins can forage while you’re gone.”

“I’ll go with them and wait outside in case there’s trouble.” Yenturis said.

The 3 headed down. Hamish was the first person to slither under the archway with Yenstar a few steps behind him.

Hamish had to stop not far into the dungeon. His breathing was a bit heavy and he felt light headed.

“You ok?”

“Just…. odd.” He replied. “It feels like I’m a bit drunk.”

“Ok take it slow.”

With a nod he slithered farther. “I think I’m adjusting. Let’s pause here a minute and I’ll try casting a spell.”

“Make it something simple, that doesn’t use much mana.

:Find Water:

Hamish immediately vomited after casting the spell.

“Come on we’re leaving.” Yenstar put an arm around him and guided the teen out.

___________________

“Gross!” I said as the mess absorbed into the floor.

Arizo laughed. She had been watching with me. “Your first dungeon tribute.” She fell out of her hammock laughing at me.

I pouted, “I hope he falls in my gross trap.”

Once she calmed down I asked her a question. “Is there a way for me to see what’s happening out there without using my creatures?”

Arizo blinked at me. “Yes, it’s not as clear as when they are in your dungeon but you can extend your territory out there. I thought you already had. With how far your kobolds have gone. They must just push themselves really hard to make such long trips.”

“Oh.” I didn’t know what else to say. Their devotion to me was still embarrassing and humbling.

I had been extending my territory down and around my floor and where I wanted my second floor to be. It’s much easier to dig through ground I had already claimed. So I did the same with the ground on the surface in front of my dungeon.

Amazement filled me. I could feel the plants near my entrance. Their deep complex roots and all the things that were living on or in them. I tried to extend into the air but it didn’t really work. I guess because there was no roof to trap my influence or maybe my mana. I wasn’t really sure how I did… pretty much anything. Almost all of my dungeon building and skills were trial and error. Doing things by feel as that is the only real sense I have.

My experimenting stopped when I felt 4 of the adventurers come back. I couldn’t really see them. But I could feel their feet on the ground I’d claimed. As I tried to get a better visual of them an error box came up

Contracts cannot be formed with creatures of a higher level

“What did you do?” Arizo asked when I showed her the box.

“I was trying to see them better.”

“By pushing mana toward them.”

“Yes.” I replied, even though it wasn’t a question.

Arizo chuckled. “That’s how you would make a contract with a sentient creature, or try to claim any beast in your territory.”

“So I can claim beasts without killing them?”

She made a face. “You can, but it’s very difficult unless they are half of your level or lower. And as you just saw they can’t be a higher level than you are.”

“Is there a way to know something's level by looking at them?”

“Yes, it’s called analyze. You can unlock it by willing your mana to tell you their level. Higher level creatures may have a resistance to it and you will get less information.”

I nodded and tried it out on the 4 now in my entry hall.

__________________________

Mika and Feta shared a look. The dungeon had expanded its territory. They could feel it’s pure mana under their feet. A stark contrast to the heavy corrupted mana in the air.

“Something’s different.” Olive said, stopping.

“The dungeon must be wondering where Yenstar and Hamish went.” Mika said. “It extended it’s mana and claimed this ground now.”

“So are we now in the dungeon?” Tuck asked. He felt odd tingles from the dungeon claimed ground. It was like a low electric current running along his feet.

“No, this would be like the dungeons lawn or walkway.” Feta replied. “It can sense us now that we are in its territory but it’s not going to populate the area with creatures.”

“Unless it goes mad.” Mika warned. “Then anything could happen and the dungeon will need to be killed.”

“Why would it go mad?” Olive asked “You talk about the dungeon like it’s alive.”

The twins started panting and leaned on either side of the arch. So they stopped just inside the dungeon.

“It is alive. This is the dungeons home and body.” Mika told them gesturing to the stonework all around. “That’s why a dungeon fights people that came in. We are in their home uninvited and most dungeons see everyone as a threat and try to kill them.”

“To be fair most people are trying to rob them and kill their creations. As for why dungeons go mad. There are several reasons. Though some have gone mad and no one knows why.” Feta explained. “The saddest yet most common reason is when people try to enslave a dungeon. They call it ‘farming.’ ” she used air quotes for the final word, anger evident in her stance and tone.

“Farming?” Tuck asked. “People grow crops here?” He looked around at the dim hall they were standing in. Listening to them explain more about the dungeon was allowing them to get adjusted.

Mika and Feta both chuckled breaking their sour mood. “Actually some people will bring plants as gifts to the dungeon, but no that’s not what I meant.”

“They just use that term because it sounds nicer than slavery. Let’s head a few feet deeper.” They walked to the first lantern and stopped in it’s glow. “Some greedy people will try to block access to the dungeon. Only letting it have rare, expensive items and creatures. A dungeon can only make what it has seen before so that keeps it from growing and leveling. Its natural desire to grow is stunted and that drives it mad. Though some dungeons have been known to find ways to move and open again.” Mika explained.

Olive put her hand on the wall. “Dungeon, I don’t know if you can hear me or understand. But I promise no one will do that to you.”

“It can hear, see and understand everything.” Feta told her with a proud smile on her face. “Dungeons understand all languages, they have to, to speak to their creations. Now how are you 2 feeling?”

“A bit woozy.” Tuck replied, “Like that time you stole Peok’s whiskey and the 4 of us drank half the bottle.”

Olive giggled. “Yep. It is like that. But there’s a taste in the air that makes me want to explore every inch.” She said with a manic grin. Tuck nodded he could feel it too.

“Alright. Let’s go back and see if Hamish and the others want to challenge the dungeon.” Mika said with a chuckle.

_____________________

“I like them.” I told Arizo as the group left.

“I hope they do come challenge us. Any luck telling their level?”

“Not yet but I think I’m almost there.”

___________________

“You know it will never forget your promise.” Yenstar said, after the group had told them about their trip. “Dungeons never forget a face. Whether you were kind or cruel, if you make it back out of the dungeon it will remember.”

“Good.” She replied. “No one should ever be held against their will. Slavery should be stopped every where.” Passion burned in her eyes.

“Our grandparents died slaves, our mother was born a slave on a pirate ship. It attacked Adortin and she was one of the few survivors.” Tuck explained.

“She must be tough as nails.” Feta replied.

The twins nodded, sad that their beloved mother had to go through that but so proud of her.

“So Hamish, feel like testing the dungeon?” Yenturis asked to lighten the mood.

“Yes, though I don’t think I’ll be using any magic.” The find water spell’s spinning needle had made him dizzy last time which caused his illness.

“I’ll put your packs into my storage bag until we get back.” Feta offered. Depending on what they found the teens being unburdened might save their lives.

Once they were in the entrance Yenstar took charge. “Tuck, you and Yenturis led. Myra behind and between them so you have a clear shot. Feta and Olive next, be ready to move around and flank attackers then Le’Ly, you try to stay in the middle with Hamish. Mika and I will take the back.”

With a nod they formed up.

_________________

“Here they come!” I told Arizo excitedly. Turning to the kobolds I told them they were going to be attacked but that this was a fair challenge so I wasn't going to help them. They seemed to take it as a sign I trusted them to defend me. I felt kinda bad that by looking at the group I doubted my kobolds would win.

____________________

“The room is much darker than the hall.” Yenturis said aloud to the group. Calling what he saw let the others in his group know what to look out for. A must when taking on Gabolax.

Just as they cleared the door Olive shoved her brother forward. He stumbled and missed being gored by the spearman waiting just inside the door. Yenturis was able to deflect most of the blow from the spearman on his side, but ended up with his cheek cut.

Feta backstabbed the overbalanced spearman that had missed Tuck.

“Kobolds.” Tuck croaked as he had to turn the stumble into a roll to avoid being chopped by an axe.

Myra missed her first shot at the dual dagger weilding lizard. A streak of lightning hit the hastily raised shield of Una.

“Aim for the one with the shield.” Yenstar told them. “She’s named and will be the leader.”

Una glared at him. The core could understand both groups but they couldn’t understand each other.

She called out orders to her side. The shovel wielding male joined the only living spearman.

The one with the daggers engaged Feta. Olive bounced from helping her brother to Feta.

Myra took more shots at Una and Yenstar sent a fireball at her. The cherry wood held under the heat but it was starting to get scared from taking hits.

Tuck finally took down the axewoman and Feta ended the dagger wielder.

A screech made them all pause. The lead kobold threw down her sword in surrender. She knew there was no way they could win. It hurt her pride and she would remember these creatures should they come back out of the creator’s halls. But with only her and the shovel carrying male there was nothing else to do.

“Stand down.” Yenstar called. “She’s surrendering.”

The teens eyed her as she came close and drug her injured brethren into the room's shadows.

“Should we have let her go?” Myra asked, putting her bow back on her back. “What’s to stop them from attacking us from behind?”

“Nothing.” Feta replied by cleaning her weapons as Mika was picking up the drops. “But I would rather the dungeon know I was merciful than destructive.”

“Because it will remember.” Hamish added.

The adults nodded.

“I think Mika should take the front with Yenturis. Her shield would have done better with that ambush.” Tuck admitted.

“Alright.” Mika said. “I wanted to give you guys a crack at the dungeon without too much help.” She told them with a smile. As a cleric she had several support spells that she used when she couldn’t front line.

“Let’s rest and heal before we continue.” Myra spoke up. “I’m a bit light headed after fighting here. It threw off some of my shots.”

“Agreed.” Olive said with a determined smile. “Don’t think any of us will be tackling this dungeon without an outsiders support until we get used to the mana.”