Attempted Adventuring (The Attempted Vampirism Series Book 2)

by L. G. Estrella

  “Easy, my friend.” Blue Scales climbed out of the water and lowered the raccoon onto dry stone. He winced as the war wizard hacked and wheezed, coughing up water. Through some act of magic, his robes and hat were still intact and dry. “You’ve swallowed a lot of water. This will feel strange, but it will be over soon. [Control Water].” He used the Word to tug any further errant water out of the raccoon’s lungs. It was not a pleasant experience, but Roger looked much better once it was over. “Do you know where the others are?”

  Roger shook his head and then pointed to something behind Blue Scales. It was Eric. The werewolf caught sight of them and waved weakly before swimming close enough for Blue Scales to haul him out of the water. He flopped onto his back, and the merman repeated the process he’d just used on Roger.

  “Thanks,” Eric mumbled. From the rips and tears in his clothing, he must have suffered considerable injuries that his werewolf regeneration had managed to heal. “Let me tell you, my friend, us werewolves are not made for aquatic adventuring.”

  Blue Scales closed his eyes and reached out with his magic. “I do not think any of the others will be arriving here. It would seem the currents took them in another direction.” His gaze darkened. “I’m not sure where we are either. The current was… disorienting.”

  “We’re lucky to be alive.” Eric groaned and sat up. “I don’t think anyone will blame you for getting lost.” He looked around. His spear was nowhere in sight. A small smile crossed his lips, and he stood up and gestured sharply. His magic flared, and a whistling sound filled the air. A moment later, his spear sliced through the water and then leapt into his waiting hands. He smirked. “Totally worth the extra cost.”

  Roger, who had begun to study their surroundings more intently, made a sound to get their attention. Over a half-fallen wall, which had blocked much of the view, were signs of battle. The shells of long-dead crabs and the armoured forms of adventurers were easy enough to identify. However, their gazes were drawn to the tattered remnants of a map clutched in the hands of one of the adventurers.

  “I’d say this is our lucky day, but considering how it’s gone so far, I think this makes it just about even.” Eric patted Roger on the head, drawing a scowl from the raccoon. “Good work, little guy. I don’t suppose you know any magic to keep it from falling to bits while we’re trying to pry it out of that guy’s hands, do you?”

  It turned out that Roger did know some generic magic to keep the map in one piece, and their luck wasn’t half bad either. They weren’t too far from their eventual destination since the current had carried them deeper into the mines. They also made sure to grab some extra weaponry from the downed adventurers. It couldn’t hurt to have some spares although Roger couldn’t wield a normal weapon.

  “We should head toward the main hall that leads to the corridors where the sword was sighted.” Blue Scales paused as Roger scrambled up onto his shoulder. It was something the raccoon had often done with Susannah, and the raccoon gave him a long, steady look. The merman nodded. Roger would never be able to keep up with them on foot without using his magic. It would be better for him to conserve his strength and have Blue Scales carry him. He weighed very little, and his position afforded him a good view of their surroundings. “I am certain the others will do the same if the current has taken them deeper into the mines as well.”

  Eric’s usual smile was gone. Like Blue Scales, he was worried about their comrades. Together, the group was strong. Apart, they would be far easier to pick off one by one. “We got lucky. The three of us are together. I hope the others find each other too. In a place like this…”

  Roger made sounds of agreement followed by other sounds and some gestures.

  Eric made a face. “You do realise that neither of us can understand you, right?” He glanced hopefully at Blue Scales. “Unless…?”

  The merman shook his head. “I can understand and communicate with animals to some extent – but only aquatic ones. If Roger here were a sea serpent…”

  Roger sighed and made several hand signs with his paws.

  Eric winced. “That still doesn’t help. Only Susannah and Jonathan can understand your sign language.”

  Roger covered his face with his paws and made an aggravated sound that needed no translation before pointing at the door. That much, they could all understand.

  “Yes, we should get moving.” Blue Scales eyed the water flowing past warily. “The crabs don’t seem to have followed us down here, but I doubt they will leave us alone for long.”

  “You know,” Eric said as they began to walk. “This is like the beginning of a bad joke.” Blue Scales and Roger both turned to stare at him. “Just hear me out, okay? So… a raccoon, a merman, and a werewolf walk into a bunch of ancient ruins…”

  Roger chortled, and Blue Scales reached out to clap Eric over the back. “Your sense of humour never ceases to amuse me.”

  * * *

  Eileen grabbed hold of Aria and changed into a giant frog-octopus. Once she’d hauled them clear of the water, she reverted to her bear form. The former paladin coughed up water and tried to stand only to fall back onto her haunches. Wheezing, Aria tore off her helmet and used several Words to heal her injuries and banish the effects of her near drowning. She’d been pummelled by debris before Eileen had been able to reach her, and the necklace she’d worn to breathe underwater had been torn loose at some point. Instead of being around her neck, it was tangled around one of her boots.

  “That was not pleasant.” Aria slumped against Eileen. There were numerous dents in her armour, and she used another Word to fix the worst of them. “If Blue Scales hadn’t used [Merman’s Breath]…”

  Eileen gave a low rumble of agreement and wrapped one immense paw around her friend. Aria would likely have drowned. The blonde was a good swimmer, but the surging currents combined with the wreckage of the bridge – to say nothing of her armour – would have bested even an exceptional swimmer. She’d have to thank Blue Scales later. She wouldn’t have been able to stand it if something had happened to Aria.

  The shape-shifter eyed their surroundings intently. A thought summoned several shadow imps, and the stealthy creatures began to check the area for threats. They wouldn’t be much help against crabs in a fight, but avoiding a fight seemed like a better idea, at least for now. A cheerful shout caught her attention, and she turned in time to see a fishing line loop around a pillar before Susannah used her fishing rod to pull herself out of the water. The ranger tucked the fishing rod back into her quiver – it was obviously magical in nature – and walked toward them.

  “So… we’re not dead.”

  “You’re looking very sprightly,” Aria observed. Like Eileen, she was wondering how Susannah had pulled that off.

  The ranger shrugged. “I like water but not being pelted by rocks.” She looked around. “Actually… the current might have done us a favour.”

  Eileen followed her gaze. I think you’re right. The sign appeared courtesy of a shadow imp. We’re not that far from where the sword was last seen.

  “Exactly.” Susannah tapped her temple. “I’ve always been good at memorising maps. It might have something to do with why I’m good with a bow. Roger calls it ‘stupidly heightened spatial awareness’.” She pointed. “But do you see those?”

  Eileen growled. Claw marks – from crabs.

  Aria straightened, and Eileen was relieved to see she looked steady on her feet. “Then we need to be careful. I suspect the others were carried elsewhere by the current. But if I know Blue Scales and Eric, they’ll head toward the sword while assuming we’ll do the same. Miles and Jonathan probably will too.”

  “I hope Roger is with them,” Susannah admitted as worry showed on her face for the first time that Eileen could remember. “He’s great at blasting things, but he’s very squishy.”

  “If he’s with the others, I’m sure they’ll take care of him,” Aria promised. “But we have to move. I don’t know when the crabs will show up, but I’d ra
ther not be here when they do. There’s too much water, and Blue Scales isn’t around to deal with it.”

  Eileen grimaced. Her modifications had allowed her to survive the crushing claws of the crabs, but it hadn’t been a pleasant experience. I’ll have some of my shadow imps cover our tracks. It won’t keep us hidden forever, but it should buy us time. She reached into her magic again as another sign appeared. I’ll summon some creepy-crawlies too. The large insects weren’t good at direct fighting, but they were good scouts and they could spew a variety of corrosive substances.

  “Sounds good.” Aria put her helmet back on. “Let’s move.”

  * * *

  Jonathan sent another prayer to the gods in thanks that he’d somehow managed to luck into a servant as capable and loyal as Miles. The thought of wandering Mordrath alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine. Even with Miles around, it was a foreboding and menacing place. It was, after all, basically a giant tomb full of murderous crabs. Without him, well, Jonathan wouldn’t even have thought of coming here alone.

  Be glad you have such a loyal servant. The Blood Emperor’s approval was clear. Few are so fortunate. He paused. And be mindful of the terrain. Even with the strength I gave you, you can ill afford to fall into water again so soon.

  Jonathan ran one hand over his face. Ever since he’d drunk some blood out of the gourd Miles had brought, fresh strength had filled his veins. The water here might not be as potent as river water, but it still hadn’t been a pleasant experience. A quick glance at Miles showed he was ready to proceed and face whatever trouble they might encounter.

  “Sir, do you know where we are?” Miles asked. “I must confess the manner of our arrival left me somewhat disoriented.”

  “I can’t blame you. We were lucky to survive.” Jonathan studied their surroundings. A virtually perfect memory wasn’t always useful in the heat of battle, but it was coming in handy now. “We’re deep in the mines,” he said, excitement growing as he became more certain of their location. “In fact, we’re not far from the sword at all.”

  “Perhaps, sir, but we may well encounter more crabs. I regret to say that with only the two of us here, we may easily be overwhelmed.”

  These lower levels are likely where the bulk of their numbers reside. It would explain why we saw so few of them higher up and why no one seems to realise the crabs are responsible for all of this. Those who manage to get this far do not make it back out.

  “We’re within striking distance of the sword,” Jonathan insisted. “And there’s a hall not far from it. Based on what I remember of the map, most of the passageways on this level should lead to that hall. Also, if my memory is right…”

  “In my experience, sir, your memory is usually accurate.” Miles smiled. “What did you have in mind?”

  “There should be an armoury nearby.”

  “An armoury? Yes, that would be most useful.” Miles clenched his fists. “Punching and kicking has done well enough so far, but I wouldn’t say no to a good war hammer or axe.”

  Jonathan held up the spirit lantern. Its cold, white glow was brighter than before, and he used a scrap of cloth to improvise a covering for it. They could not afford to be spotted. “I managed to hold onto this somehow, but I lost my sword and shield. Unlike you, I’m not skilled at fighting barehanded, not that I’m all that much better with a sword either.”

  “Lead the way, sir. We can both get weapons. But stay alert. If you notice anything, let me know. We must be cautious here. We are badly outnumbered, and we have been separated from the others.”

  They made their way along the edge of the chamber, mindful of the damaged sections of flooring and the places where water dripped from the ceiling, before they climbed up into a crumbling passageway and made their way through a series of battle-scarred grottoes and makeshift barricades. The dwarves must have fought hard to hold the crabs to the lower levels, but the fighting could not have gone well for them here. This place was too easy to flood, and the crabs would have arrived in ever-greater numbers bolstered by their necromancy. Along the way, they paid close attention to every sound. The marks on the walls and floors made it clear that crabs had once frequented this area, and many of the marks looked fairly recent. Hopefully, the crabs weren’t running regular patrols.

  I could lend you some of my power if you are attacked. The Blood Emperor was calm, which helped sooth Jonathan’s nerves. Since their survival was linked, the Blood Emperor must still be confident they could get out of this alive. But I would prefer not to. We do not know what foes are still ahead of us, and using too much power now will leave you unable to channel more if it is needed later.

  “Good point.” Jonathan looked about furtively. A bit of fiddling had allowed him to turn off the spirit lantern, but the urge to activate it to illuminate their surroundings was growing stronger. The darkness here was even deeper than it should be, and there were areas even his vampiric sight could not penetrate. Thankfully, the Words Miles had used to enhance his vision were still working. “Let’s try to avoid trouble for now.”

  They eventually reached the armoury without running into any more crabs although they heard skittering close enough on several occasions for them to take refuge in one of the many abandoned rooms and alcoves that dotted the area. Water filled the armoury up to their waists, so many of the weapons were ruined. Thankfully, the higher racks – which were truly high given the average height of a dwarf – were still well clear of the water. A quick use of [Scry] suggested the crabs were congregating elsewhere. Jonathan couldn’t get a better look without risking exposure, but it was comforting to know they weren’t nearby. They might actually get through this.

  “I can barely believe there are places this far down that are free of water, “ Miles murmured as he plucked a war hammer off the rack and tested its weight. “This is a fine weapon.”

  Jonathan agreed. He was no master weapon smith, but the quality of the weapons here was obvious despite how many years must have passed since their forging. “We are further down, but we still have quite a way to go before we reach the lowest levels. It wouldn’t surprise me if many of the dwarves’ systems for dealing with water are still working, at least in part. Besides, the crabs used their magic to help flood this place. Perhaps their magic is directing the waters elsewhere.”

  Peering at the war hammer in Miles’s hands, Jonathan tried to imagine the damage it would do against a crab. It ought to fare better against their sturdy shells than a sword or a spear. Browsing through the shelves, he took another sword and shield before grabbing a war hammer of his own. He might not be especially skilled, but his vampiric strength would let him carry and wield the weapons without difficulty. The shield was for later – against the crabs, he doubted it would be useful.

  Use the war hammer wisely. The Blood Emperor filled his mind with visions of how to properly wield the weapon. The spike concentrates the force of your blows most of all, but the blunt end is useful too. A stout hit could crack the shell of a crab, and their armour is thinner in some places too. The joints, in particular, should be vulnerable to a strong blow.

  “We should press on,” Miles advised. “We have what we came for, and the longer we linger here, the greater the odds of being discovered.”

  It went unspoken how bad that would be. The passageways here were either knee-deep or waist-deep in water, which not only greatly reduced their mobility but would also aid the crabs. If Blue Scales was right, the crabs would be even more formidable in water, and they were dangerous enough to begin with. They continued onward until they heard movement in the flooded corridor ahead of them. They peeked around the corner. There was a small group of crabs there. The largest was the same height as Miles, but the others were noticeably smaller.

  “Do you have a plan?” Jonathan asked. On his back, the spirit lantern felt strange. It felt… angry, somehow. Thankfully, it hadn’t reactivated.

  “We cannot sneak past, so we must strike hard and fast.” Miles pursed his lips.
“I can use one of my techniques to push the water away from them briefly, so we should aim to take down the large one right away. After that, we must simply do our best. If we are lucky, then the smaller ones are merely workers or servants. They may not be as good at fighting as the ones we’ve already encountered. Above all, we cannot let any escape. If they raise the alarm, we are done for.”

  Jonathan nodded grimly. “Good point.” He cast [Discern Weakness] with as little power as he could while still getting results. A few areas of note came to his attention, and he whispered his findings to Miles. Despite his care, though, the crabs noticed something was amiss. He and Miles charged around the corner. His Word had identified an old injury on the largest crab, a minute crack in its shell that had never healed quite right.

  “[Heavy Impact]!” Miles growled while swinging his war hammer at the water. The attack struck with enough force to hurl most of the water in the area away from them. “Quickly! Before the water returns!”

  The large crab rounded on them, a fraction slower than it needed to be without the water there to bolster its strength and speed. Jonathan brought his war hammer down on the crack in its shell as hard as he could. The crack widened, and Miles’s subsequent blow split it wide open. As the crab reeled back, they struck again. The four other crabs turned to flee, and Miles sprang after them. His war hammer rose and fell with deadly intent, and Jonathan hurried to follow, his own blows powerful but clumsy. Water surged back into the passageway, and Jonathan bit back a curse as the liquid sapped some of his strength. One of the crabs managed to evade their blows and scuttled away.