The Adventurers Bond

by Tao Wong

“I see something gleaming in the distance,” Tula said, pointing slightly farther to her left.

  “Alright then. We’ll use the standard close formation. Tula, keep in sight,” Daniel commanded. “We’ll travel in the direction of what Tula saw. Tula, we’ll want to ascend the hills until we know what we’re facing. I don’t want to be in the mists for too long. Everyone, take a bearing now.”

  After receiving confirmations from everyone, Omrak took out his compass and gauged the distance and bearing. Of course, the Dungeon compass they were using pointed not to ‘North’ but to the portal entrance. Still, by fixing a specific direction and taking the direction of where they were to go, in the event of one of the party being split from the others, they would still be able to meet up.

  “Everybody good?” Daniel asked one last time. Having received confirming nods, the group walked down the hill, Tula in the lead and Asin at the back.

  Omrak turned his head from side to side, scanning the surroundings as they walked forwards. Once they entered the mists fully, his line of sight dropped to barely ten feet, the distance that Tula’s shrouded figure held before their group. The Ranger moved through the thick fern-like shrubbery of the moors, her bow held strung down before her, arrows held loosely between her free fingers while she stalked forwards. Omrak could see her head constantly turning, taking in new environmental features, wary of potential problems.

  Together the group traipsed through the Dungeon floor, going from one hill to another. Tension slowly rose as the lack of attacks made the group grow more and more nervous. After all, one truism of all Dungeons was that they always contained monsters – corrupted creatures created through the expulsion of Ba’al’s taint from Erlis.

  It was as they traversed a deep gully towards the third hill that Tula paused, holding a hand up. She swiftly dropped her hand towards her bow, nocking an arrow with her free hand. Too slowly however as the presence she had noticed lunged from behind the giant fern leaves it had hidden behind, bowling the Ranger over.

  Omrak roared, instinctively charging forwards. Even as he did so, he noticed additional movement now as other monsters dashed from hiding. Four-foot-tall bipedal monsters with scaly skin, a quartet of hooked claws, and a thin, balancing tail dashed forwards from hiding to launch themselves at the group. Omrak instinctively drew and cut at the monster attacking him, his sword cutting and throwing the monster aside. Behind him, he could hear more monsters arriving.

  Quadra Raptor (Level 9)

  HP: 138/140

  Slowing his footsteps for a second, Omrak raised the sword above his head as he roared out loud, triggering his Skill Challenge of the North. Immediately, he could hear the creatures change direction, breaking away from his friends to assault him. Crouching down low, the blade held near his hip and angled backwards, the Northerner waited.

  Already, the monster that he had directed most of his attention towards – the one assaulting Tula – had jumped off the woman, clawed feet leaving deep wounds on her body as it left her prone form. A breath before it arrived, Omrak swung, twisting his hips and throwing his front leg backwards, spinning in a circle to cut the monsters both in front of him and those approaching behind. Whether by luck or skill, he managed to injure both Tula’s attacker and one of his attackers from behind. Having ended his spin facing opposite from where he had started, Omrak had just about enough time to note that there were three remaining raptors, leaving the attacking party a total of five.

  The one that first attacked him was still recovering, a second was still engaged with Daniel and a third had avoided his blow by virtue of being slow. That last one threw itself at Omrak, its clawed feet failing to find purchase on his leather tunic but clawed hands tearing at his upper arms and leaving a minor nick on his neck. With a snarl, Omrak straightened and cut upwards at an angle, ripping open the raptor’s chest cavity. Before he could attack it again, the other three raptors were on him and he was forced to wave his sword around to guard against the monsters.

  “Line!” Daniel called out, his voice slightly breathless as he charged towards Omrak.

  As he fought, Omrak noted the raptor crawling feebly on the ground, a hand crushed and its legs hamstrung while Rob directed a spike to finish it. Near Daniel, Asin rushed to join him, placing herself just slightly behind the armored healer to use her throwing knives to best effect.

  Omrak quickly took a step sideways, angling his body as he waited for his friend to arrive. The motion opened up a gap in his weaving defense, allowing a raptor to jump and clamp its serrated, double-rowed set of teeth onto his sword arm. Grunting with the added weight and pain, Omrak staggered, allowing the other raptors a new opening.

  Even as the raptors crouched low to jump, an arrow and pair of throwing knives impaled two of the creatures, distracting them. The second raptor was shield-rushed by Daniel, his heavy shield and form bowling over the smaller creature. Stumbling, Daniel righted himself and swung his hammer around, crushing a rib cage.

  “You filthy monster!” Omrak snarled, raising his free hand to plunge his thumb into the slitted eye of the monster still hanging from his arm. In pain, the raptor opened its mouth and fell, allowing Omrak to boot the monster into a nearby fern where it struggled to stand. Just as it got back to its feet, the angry giant swung his sword, beheading the creature.

  “They’re running!” Rob called, his hand twisting and gesturing as he controlled a magical spike to dart forwards to strike at one of the raptors. True to the Enchanter’s words, the surviving raptors were attempting to run. A last arrow by Tula caught a previously feathered monster in the side, hobbling it and allowing Asin to jump on its back and, while gripping its neck with one arm and reaching around to plunge her knife deep into its side before back-flipping off.

  “No, you don’t,” Daniel snarled as he reached the other raptor, swinging his weapon to keep it distracted and focused on him. Unable to finish the monster quickly, Daniel fell back towards his team. With a glance at his friend, Daniel threw up Healer’s Mark on both Tula and Omrak before the group fell into a tense, watchful silence. In time, the bodies of the raptors around them dispersed into blue motes of light, leaving behind their Mana Stones. Several tense minutes later, the team ascertained that they were not about to be attacked again.

  “That could have gone better,” Rob said into the silence, eying the damage done to Omrak. Strips of flesh, peeking out from under the hastily wrapped bandages, were torn from the large Northerner’s arm. The damage was visibly healing with each pulse of magic, but even then, slow dribbles of blood fell to the ground.

  “Omrak, you need to keep in line with us,” Daniel scolded. “If you’d used your taunt where you were, we could have held the group off together.”

  “I apologise, Friend Daniel. I saw Hero Tula fall, and I fear I acted without thinking,” Omrak apologised, flushing with shame. He had worked so hard to train that impulse of out his system, but under the heat of combat in a new environment, he had reverted to his usual tactics.

  “It’s fine. Just don’t do it again,” Daniel said and then glanced at Tula.

  “I’ll stay closer,” Tula said with a grimace, still keeping her voice hushed. “Their camouflage was good. But I think I can pick it out in future, knowing what they look like now.”

  “Good stones!” Asin called back, holding up the stone.

  “What… those are B twelves!” Rob exclaimed. His proclamation had the other Adventurers perk up, even Tula taking a moment to glance at the stones. “Those are worth nearly half a silver each.”

  Asin let out a little chuff of happiness while the rest of the team smiled. Their basking in their newfound wealth was interrupted by Tula a moment later.

  “We should move,” Tula whispered.

  “Lead the way,” Daniel said, gesturing for the Ranger to go. Still, he couldn’t keep the grin off his face. This Dungeon would likely turn out to be quite profitable.

  Hours later, the group ascended their
fifth hill of the day, grateful for the open ground that meant they were safe from the ambush attacks of the raptors. At the top, Asin and Rob took over watch as Tula squatted and slowly stretched the tension from her body. Being the scout for the group, especially in an area filled with ambush predators, was particularly stressful. Once she had rid herself of the initial stress, Tula immediately unstrung her bow.

  “What’s that?” Daniel muttered as he pointed to a hill in the distance. He squinted, barely able to ascertain the irregularity on the hill.

  Tula looked up from where she had begun inspecting her bow, eyes narrowing for a second as she triggered Eagle Eye. A moment later she gasped.

  “What?” Rob said.

  “It’s a fort. Wooden walls, not very large.” Tula shrugged and let her Skill fall away. It was impossible to tell more through the mist, even with her Skill.

  “And? …” Rob pushed.

  “We’ll find out later,” Daniel cut in, glancing at Tula who had returned to inspecting her bow. “Let’s angle towards the keep. I’m guessing that’s our objective.”

  Tula nodded, thankful that Daniel had cut-off Rob but annoyed that the healer had continued to talk afterwards. Could any of them learn to be quiet? Well, other than Asin. Asin was good. In fact, the Catkin would have made an outstanding Ranger with her expanded senses and agility. But as Tula turned to eye the fastidious Catkin who was absently grooming herself while watching for trouble, she discarded the idea once again. No way would the Catkin survive months in the wilderness with no proper showers.

  Fingers gently running over the bow, Tula sighed. It was bad for her bow to keep it strung for so long, but with ambush predators constantly harrying them in the Dungeon, she had no choice. Thankfully, the enchantments on her bow helped to reduce the damage that keeping it strung for so long did, but she knew that eventually, she’d have to get a new bow. It was one reason she hated working Dungeons. At least in the wild, a smart, talented and attentive Ranger could avoid most fights.

  “How are your arrows doing?” Daniel asked softly as he squatted next to her.

  Tula looked up, seeing the too-serious eyes of the healer and could not help but touch her side where a raptor had sneaked a claw in. She pushed aside the memory of pain that insisted on making itself known, instead touching the smooth skin. Healing – such a wonderful gift. Perhaps she should spend more time studying her herbal lore.

  “Tula?”

  “Good,” Tula said, answering Daniel’s first question.

  “You have enough?” Daniel questioned again and just received a nod. He pursed his lips but just stood instead of saying anything further. As he stood, he called out softly to inform the team. “We’re resting for lunch.”

  In a few minutes, Daniel had a small fire going and a pan over it, with flatbread being softened on the slowly heating pan. On his shield, hastily wiped down, Daniel started slicing up pieces of meat and vegetables to add to the simple meal. Tula’s nose wrinkled slightly at his actions but decided to hold off on commenting. This was the Dungeon and the Adventurers had a clearer idea of the dangers at times. Among other things – it wasn’t as though they were trying to avoid monsters. And she did like warm food – rarity as it was when she was travelling.

  “Gather?” Asin said, pointing to the trail of smoke and then their surroundings. Omrak had taken over Rob’s post while the Enchanter, having been informed they’d be staying here for a while, was busy laying down numerous enchanted traps.

  “Unlikely,” Daniel said, shaking his head. “They’re ambush predators. We haven’t seen a group larger than five right now, so they’re likely to be limited to that amount. And if they did gather, we’ll see them long before they can arrive.”

  “Outside, of course, of the Floor Champion,” Omrak rumbled. “It might break your assumptions - as they are wont to do.”

  “True,” Daniel said, rubbing his nose. “But, stronger first floor or not, it’s still an Advanced Dungeon’s first floor. It’s unlikely to be that dangerous.”

  “Tragic final words,” Rob said with a sniff as he ascended the hill. “Try not to leave the hill. If you have to, do recall the markings.”

  Tula paused in rubbing beeswax on her bow for a moment as her mind flashed over the details that Rob had provided before she left the hill. Purple flowers for ice traps, yellow for spiked traps and green was for poison. Though Rob should not have laid any of the poison traps down since those had a nasty habit of spreading.

  “We will,” Daniel said without looking up. Soon enough, the healer was serving their lunch which Tula gratefully took. She sat down back at her corner, listening to Rob and Daniel quietly speculate about the new loot drops the raptors had dropped – raptor claws. Thus far, they had collected the claws but as none of them had seen the drops before, they could not gauge their value. That the razor claws dropped once every five or six raptors indicated they were likely to be precious. But likely was not certainly.

  “Low Mana flow,” Rob said, tapping the claw he had placed in front of him. “Definitely not a channeling enchantment or an empowerment one.”

  “Channeling? Empowerment?” Daniel parroted dumbly.

  “Channeling enchantments allow you to push your Mana through the object, creating a specific effect. Wands, my spikes are good examples,” Rob said. “Empowerment enchantments draw Mana from external sources, flow it through the enchantment to create their effects. Asin’s bracers are a good example.”

  “Oh… Then?” Daniel glanced at the razor fang wordlessly.

  Rob grunted. “I’m testing. It’d go faster if you let me work…”

  Daniel obediently shut his mouth, having learnt his lesson to not bother the easily irritable Mage as he continued to test the object.

  After he sat there in silence for a few minutes, Tula looked away, scanning the surroundings for potential problems. As she raised her hand to bite down again a short while later, she felt her teeth clop in empty air, making her flush with embarrassment at having unknowingly finished her food. A quick look around showed that no one had noticed, making Tula sigh in happiness.

  “I’d say it’s low-level enchantable material. Good for keeping fixed enchantments that benefit the item itself or provide minor boosts to the material around it,” Rob said.

  “That’s it?” Daniel said with a frown.

  “A low-level enchantable material is quite rare. Steel is only considered the lowest level material,” Rob explained. “While not desirable by Master enchanters, low-level material is the everyday workpiece material for most enchanters.”

  “Good coin?” Asin asked.

  “Decent. Maybe a silver each,” Rob said.

  The Adventurers grinned wide while Rob scooped the claw back into his pouch. Together, the group stood, dinner finished. Daniel bent low, scooping the waiting dirt into the fire to put it out. Tula stood up, restringing her bow and took the lead without being asked, having already taken bearings for the next hill on the way to the forest. It was time to get back to work, clearing this Floor.

  Chapter 6

  A clenched fist rose up in the mist and immediately Daniel grew even warier. He stepped sideways, flanking Omrak on the narrow deer trail they travelled on and crouched lower, putting his eyes just above his raised shield as he scanned his side of the trail for trouble. Tula, having warned the group, beckoned them to come again but slowly. Heeding her words, Daniel and team moved forwards slowly while Asin hung back a couple of paces behind Rob to watch over their rear.

  As they closed the distance with Tula, Daniel watched for additional hand signals. Soon enough, he realised that Tula was providing none and irritation ate at him. Damn Ranger never felt the need to communicate with the team. After a moment, the more rational part of Daniel pointed out that it could be that Tula actually did not know what had set off her instincts. Intuition was a powerful, if obscure, aid in Dungeons.

  As the group reached Tula, she held up her hand side
ways once again to ensure none of the party passed her. Daniel, once again, felt a flash of irritation but stayed silent as he tried to spot what it was that had brought their party to a stop. While he was still not as capable as Asin or Tula at spotting the raptors, he had gained some ability over the last few hours.

  “What is it?” Rob grumbled as the silence stretched for a time with Tula not moving. Tula shifted at his words before finally, her hand came up, making the signal for trap.

  This made Daniel jerk in surprise, and he swung his head back. It took him a moment before he realised what he saw, a simple but well-concealed pitfall trap covered in dirt and fallen leaves laid across the trail. But that moment of inattention cost him, as the waiting raptors exploded from the nearby underbrush, launching their attack.

  Instinctively, Daniel swung his shield forward, triggering his Shield Bash Skill a moment too soon to catch the raptor full-on. It still struck and sent the monster spiralling backwards, crushing the creature’s snout and bloodying its mouth. The raptor let out a low hiss, but Daniel had no time to focus on it further as the rest of its ambush group arrived.

  Tula, safe directly behind the pit trap, nocked, drew and loosed an arrow at one of the charging raptors that attempted to jump over the pit trap. Immediately after being loosened, Tula triggered her Arrow Storm spell, forming magical copies of the arrow which grouped tightly around the arrow. Together, the momentum from the cluster of arrows caught and halted the monster’s jump in mid-air, sending it falling into the middle of the pit trap. The carefully placed thin branches, loose dirt and leaves gave way beneath the monster’s weight, sending it falling to be finished off by the spikes in the trap.

  On the other side of Daniel, Omrak’s great sword kept the pair of raptors that attempted to close in on him back. His initial swing had barely managed to catch one of the monsters, leaving a dripping, bloody wound. At the back, Asin and Rob dealt with the last raptor, it’s body already riddled with wounds as the Enchanter’s spikes and the Catkin’s throwing knives left it injured.