"How does anyone stop them?" Elise asked.
"It goes both ways. Anyone with one of those crystals can't complain if he gets ambushed and slain himself." Alice paused again. "I'm not going to tell you how often and when it happens, but the High Houses take care of that."
"It's not as if being attacked is impossible in the upper Dungeon," Sampson said.
"That's true," Alice Black said. "The Law can only watch, no matter what it says. But I don't think you realize how much you rely on the Law to protect you. For example, you know I'm not going to kill you all, because I'm in your party, right? But the moment we go down those stairs, I could murder you all and the Law wouldn't know. If I came up and said you had all been shattered and the battle was too intense to retrieve your shards, who would ever know?"
"You're not like that," I said.
"You're awfully trusting," she said. "An attitude that can get you killed, if you go deep enough."
"Anyway," Xavier said. "Deep monsters."
"You won't need to worry about shattering on the floors you'll be on," she said. If there was any concern about what happened to her father happening to us, she didn't show it. I supposed being in the Deep long enough would change someone's attitude to those kinds of dangers. "The Deep monsters aren't that bad before the 30th. If it's an out-of-depth, we'll just run away. Seriously, it'll be fine.
"Any more questions? All of you ready?" she asked.
"Let's go," I said.
* * *
The first feature of the Deep I noticed, written in no book or explained by anyone, is that the walls are black, like layered stone. Odd that something looking so man-made would be in the Dungeon—but then again, were not the humanoid monsters and the chests like that? The crystals are different shades; each one below blue. Surely we would pass by blue, eventually.
Looking around I saw Alice Black's point. I couldn't even see our Law auras any more, no matter how I tilted my head. I can't say I felt anything physically different, but emotionally...
No matter. We weren't going to break the Law, even if it wasn't watching.
But what if someone else did?
"The Deep changes frequently," Alice Black explained on the 28th Floor, and drew yet another Magic Mapping. "A lot faster than the Upper Dungeon. Hey! There's a chest in that room!"
We quickly followed her through a corridor into said room. Chest indeed—a blue one. It was also guarded by a Deep Ginormous Scorpion.
"Our first Deep monster," I said, admittedly with a note of fear.
"Don't worry about that," Alice Black said. "Are you saying you don't want a blue chest?"
OK, that was harder to turn down.
“Unless it's a Mimic,” Sampson said. We all giggled, and Alice gave us a baffled look.
"You'll want not to get stung at any cost," Elise said, "'cause you'll have a Deep poisonous wound."
"Basically," Alice Black said. "Permapoison is deadly. Really, really deadly. And then you shatter."
"I think it's weak to ice," Xavier said. "I can freeze it; then we'll just hammer it."
"Well?" Alice Black asked me.
"Can you instakill it with your dark magic?" I asked.
"Sure, but you will need to learn to deal with this kind of thing on your own. I'll intervene if you utterly fail."
"Let's not. Xavier?"
He cast Ice Age, and the Scorpion charged us, only to be pelted by thousands of sharp icicles. As it slowed, Sampson ran in and sliced off the tail with a Marvelous Cut. Andy crashed her crystal pick into the Scorpion, and it dissolved.
"That was easier than I expected," I said.
"Don't be cocky," Alice Black said. "We're going this fast because I'm with you. If you were going it alone, you'd still be on the 26th. And we haven't hit any out-of-depths."
"We did do this by ourselves," Elise said, as she went to the chest.
"Except I was here, just in case."
"Hey, it's unlocked!" Elise interrupted, and opened the chest. I was half-afraid that would trigger a trap, but it didn't.
Just blue, blue crystal. More money in one place than I had ever seen in my life.
"Don't worry," Alice Black said. "You can have it all." I saw a slight, knowing smile on her face.
* * *
The 30th Floor River is the greatest obstacle to the new Deep delver, renowned as both killer and barrier. On the 30th Floor, the Dungeon contorts its structure, such that all up staircases are on one side, and all Locks on the other bank. The River cuts through sections, and across sections.
I don't even need to tell you that it's monster-infested: Electric Eels, Deep Water Elementals, Tsunami Weeds, Rusalkas, and various forms of Pirate. And then the nastier creatures: Chaos Piranhas, Minikrakens, Lorkesths... Those last monsters, giant manta rays, are renowned for killing high-spectrum delvers in bites, and being nigh-unkillable in return.
Any heartstone that falls into the river is rarely, if ever, found. It's unknown if the heartstones are simply left on the bottom, or if the River drains so deep that the heartstones are lost.
But what I hadn't known was how big it is. It isn't a creek in a room, or a gorge cut through the Dungeon's floor. The River is massive, more a sea than a river.
I can't... How do I describe the indescribable? There was danger in the Dungeon before, but never was it so—stark? Yes, but the word is insufficient, indefinite. I watched the tides of black-green water, running in waves of endless current, and looked beyond to see no end to the River. An emotion surged through me that had no name, and never would. It was a feeling that language could never capture, or contain if it did, but only pathetically imitate.
I stared at it for a long, long time, and no one interrupted.
"So," Alice Black said at last, "let's think how to get across it."
"I was going to say levitation," Xavier said. "But I didn't realize how big it was."
"Precisely," Alice Black said.
"You could probably do it alone," I said. "Intrinsic levitation."
"Probably. As long as I don't run into an Electric Eel and get pulled under the River. You don't take risks you don't have to in the Deep."
"There's bridge building skillstones," Andy said.
"A good idea," Alice Black said. "Now think how large the bridge would have to be."
"It's written in books," Xavier said.
"That's why I said it was a good idea," Alice Black said. "Now just think about the cost of doing it. And notice that there isn't a bridge currently? The denizens of the River aren't so fond of people crossing it."
"How do you build the whole thing?" I asked.
"Very, very quickly. Or else."
"We could dig through the roof," Andy suggested. "A tunnel." I looked up and saw what she meant—above the crystal stalactites was the Floor's ceiling, going across the River."
"Don't do it," Alice Black said. "Think what happens if your tunnel opens up into open air. Or one of the Deep Doom Bats curses you, then knocks you off. Bye-bye."
"A boat," Elise said.
"The most fun," Alice Black said. "Also the most dangerous, and safest."
"That doesn't make any sense," Xavier said.
"It has the highest fatality rate, but more successful crossings are made via boat than any other technique," Alice Black said. "Experienced delvers often take a boat."
"What's the fatality rate for a bridge?" I asked.
"Percentage-wise, smaller, but most absolute, usually because bridge building requires larger groups. And, of course, more attempts fail."
"What if we just tunnel down?" Andy asked.
"Go on, try," Alice Black said.
Andy swung her pick down, and it bounced off.
"See? The Dungeon isn't that easy. Every fifth Floor in the Deep is undiggable. You have to cross the river, one way or another."
"So, what's the answer?" I asked.
"I don't know," Alice Black said. "You're our leader."
Oh. "Well, suggestions, everyo
ne?" I asked.
"Bridge," Elise said. "I don't think we should try sailing across this..." She made a respectful wave. "In our first attempt."
"Very good," Alice Black said. "I'm glad you realize that."
"Bridge building also requires crystal," Xavier said.
"So would a good boat," I said.
"But a boat is more fun!" Sampson said.
"Really, Sampson, really?" Elise asked.
"Why not?" Sampson asked. "Why hold back on life?"
"But now what?" I asked. "We don't have either a bridge or a boat."
"Then we go back," Alice Black said. The rest of us groaned. "Not far. There is a place on the 29th that will help."
Chapter Nineteen:
The Undercity
Back on the 29th, Alice Black lead us into a series of chambers, each bigger than the previous. The final one was a great cavernous half-dome, bisected by a small river of magma. Across that river was a small metal drawbridge, currently open, and at our side was a bowl on a pillar. Behind were—and this I had trouble believing my own eyes—two indigo delvers in Red Dragon scale, standing guard.
Standing guard.
In front of an open portcullis.
"By the way," Alice Black said cheerfully as she walked to the bridge. "There's a spell that drags people who try to levitate into the magma. I wouldn't recommend it."
"Basically," one of the guards agreed.
"Where are we?" Xavier asked.
"Where do you think you are?" the other guard asked. "This is the Undercity."
"I... thought that was a rumor," I admitted.
"Oh, don't worry, most of you sunlovers think so," the first guard said. "It doesn't matter."
"The Rules, please," Alice Black said.
The second guard cleared his throat, and in a stern, most official voice said, "No fighting other humans, no theft, pay your taxes, that's it."
"A lot simpler than the Law," I said.
"That's the point."
"You have to pay taxes down here?" Sampson asked in disbelief.
"How by the depths do you think they pay us to stand here all day?" the first guard asked, but he didn't seem irritated. "You'll be asked when it's time, don't worry. Like now. Entrance toll's ten blue a head."
"Good thing we hit that chest earlier," Xavier said as we all got out our purses.
And whose idea was that? I gave Alice Black a look. She winked back.
"See that little bowl? Just put it in there," instructed the second guard. When we all had done so, the crystals sliding down a hole, both guards pulled levers behind them. The bridge shuddered into place.
The bridge's metal surface was cool—clearly enchanted to resist fire. But I was very glad of my own fire resistance as I stepped across.
"So, what level are you?" Sampson asked the first guard.
"122th Red Dragon Knight."
"Sheesh. Overlevel much?"
"Lots of Experience. You'd be amazed what kind of trash people pull trying to get in here. And wandering monsters..."
"Out-of-depths," the second guard said. "People kiting out-of-depths here. Summonstorms. The only thing I haven't seen is a Boss."
"If someone figured out a way, they'd do it," the first guard insisted.
"Sampson," I said, feeling particularly like the parent of an overactive child.
"Fine, fine. See you!" He told the guards, and followed us.
In retrospect, I wonder if it was simply by accumulation of Experience that the guards were overleveled. Everything they said was true, I'm sure. But what if... well, maybe better not to write my suspicions here.
* * *
The Undercity was beautiful. As far as I could tell, it was truly within the Dungeon, not a DA bubble. No, the buildings were carved out of the black walls of the Deep, perhaps former rooms. Everywhere Mine Foremen and Cave Lords carved unruly growths back into shape. But the shapes themselves are thus rough, giving the Undercity a kind of wild, organic look. Lights were scattered, natural crystals, suffusing the Undercity with an almost unreal feel.
"By the way," Alice Black began, as if she had forgotten a trivial aside which was nonetheless required. "Monsters do spawn in here, and the guard doesn't care."
"Wait, seriously?" Xavier asked. "Isn't that their job?"
"Nope!" a passing guardsman said. The Underdwellers have little concept of private conversations.
"I take it it's assumed if you can get here, you can handle whatever the Dungeon decides to spawn here," Elise said.
"Absolutely correct!" Alice Black said.
"In a crowded space like this, wouldn't that cause chaos?" I asked.
The Undercity redefined crowded for me. Its population was, obviously, but the smallest fraction of a fraction of the City's. But the Undercity is also far, far smaller. Parties and what appeared to be insane solos jostled by each other.
"Spawns are good for Experience, so they tend to get taken down rapidly," Alice Black said. "I wouldn't worry about it—only if you get cornered by a Deep Cockatrice. In absolute disaster, you could run to the Temple and maybe get Sanctuary."
"What in the depths is a Summongus like down here?" Xavier asked.
"The kind of great fun that leads to many people dying!" An Underdweller said cheerfully, and just as quickly passed on.
"This place is weird," stated Sampson.
"You don't say," Alice Black said.
* * *
The Market, now there's a place to be seen and not described. Hearing it is critical. On the surface, you might find gear stores with courteous, congenial shopkeepers or top tier stores with high Charisma servants kissing your feet if they thought you would buy something. Or you might visit the upper floors of the Auction House, with breathless announcers—but still, order. The Market is absolute insanity. If a monster spawned inside the sales, bargaining, accusations of theft, and pleas for better deals,—all screaming to be heard over the racket—I didn't know if anyone would even notice.
"You'll be overcharged," were the solitary instructions of Alice Black before we dispersed. I supposed that the Market was crowded enough that it was relatively safe, if one was not trampled in exultant acts of mutually beneficial commerce.
The variety—the variety is amazing. There are not as many stores, of course, but each stall was as eclectic as its keeper. I saw a stall that sold nothing but Necklaces of the Eye—from the various kinds of Eye. Another stall sold blue things, only in exchange for other blue things. (I was glad the Elevatarch wasn't there.) One store sold row after row of identical black knives. I didn't even ask what that was about.
Particularly baffling is that haggling is considered standard practice, which means that haggling skillstones are used by everyone. Well, it's not haggling at that point, as the parties involved transcend into some kind of ur-commerce, where shouted numbers, exaggerated gesticulations, and incomprehensible verbal codes lead to deals struck within moments.
"So, um, bridge building segments," I told a likely shopkeeper.
"We have a deal on seventy-five off no on a trade seventy available," he replied as an unstopped string of words.
"Um..." I said.
"Hey, they," a soft voice said, and I found my arm encircled by a girl in black. "Haven't seen you before. Let's have some fun!"
"Who are you?" I asked and tried, but failed, to withdraw my arm from her.
She tugged it and smiled. Every feature of her face was perfect. My heart skipped a beat—I could not believe I was touching someone so beautiful. "My name's Charlotte, but you can call me Cat. Come on!"
"Um, listen—" The Market surged in volume, and my voice was overwhelmed.
She tugged harder, and I weakly fought to get away. But her Strength was higher, and we began moving.
"Um, please—" I said louder.
"Cat," Alice Black said as she blocked our way.
"What?" Cat asked. "Jealous?"
"Let go of him. He's not a toy."
"Spoilsport," she sai
d, but let go.
"What were you planning to do with him," Alice Black asked her.
"I don't know," she said, with an expression of pure puzzlement. "It'd depend on how much fun we had." The she left into the crowds and was gone in an instant.
The City and the Dungeon: And Those who Dwell and Delve Within Page 18