Dauntless Dungeon

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Dauntless Dungeon Page 5

by Devan Johnson


  4 The City of Gears

  The next four days went by like a sweet dream, pleasant and much too fast. Neither of them could explain how Kheeta was able to cast magic back in the cave, nor where her second tail came from. Calisto told her that some people have dormant magic, but it was usually not too strong; maybe enough to dimly light a room or heal minor injuries, not strong enough to nearly blind a cave full of people or manifest a second tail, which still hadn’t gone away. Unable to find a suitable answer, she decided to spend most of the time traveling talking with Calisto about various herbs and plants that he needed for his business, what it really means to be a Quester, general history, and the various races of Rhespira.

  After their long discussions; when Merigohl hollered that they were nearing the city, Kheeta was sure she was ready for anything. Peering out the cart windows however, proved just how wrong that preconceived notion was.

  Dravenmoore was the capital of Rhespira, so one would expect it to be grand and magnificent, but nothing could have prepared Kheeta for the sprawling metropolis before her. The City of Gears… She wondered silently to herself, too awestruck to say actual words. I think the entire Den could fit in one section of this city! Kheeta’s thoughts to herself continued as they reached a large imposing gate made out of solid brass, with a large gear in the center.

  “State your name and business,” a gruff Geonor, standing roughly four-in-a-half feet tall and wearing silver and green guard’s armor, barked at them as they approached.

  “Merigohl Bresslee, and my husband Calisto, we’re here to set up shop for the week like usual Vargus.” The centaur woman replied giving the short, rocky, man a kind smile.

  “Very well,” he replied. “Open the gate!” As he finished yelling his command a loud clanging rang out through the air. Kheeta watched in amazement as various gears and pulleys, bigger than most houses, turned and pulled causing the massive brass doors to slowly swing open with a loud creak. A cluster of Paloofs, much larger than those in Tohmar and of every color she had ever seen went floating into the air, spooked by the sudden sound.

  “Amazing…” she muttered under her breath still watching from her cart window, totally transfixed by the ingenuity before her.

  “Oh, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Calisto teased playfully, a smile cracking his face. “In Dravenmoore almost every race in the alliance calls a sector home, so it’s a real melting pot.” His final comments fell on deaf ears as Kheeta’s mouth dropped agape. “Oh yeah, they also have a few floating buildings.” He added as an afterthought, as if it wasn’t the most impressive thing that she had ever seen.

  Kheeta stared on in wonder as a building featuring a sign with two rolling dice floated in the air above them, several pink Paloofs resting on its rooftop. The structure rested on what appeared to be several large balloons, and in the back sat two propellers, powered by large crystals that were glowing a soft blue. The buildings in Dravenmoore were of a drastically different architecture to that of the Satyr’s and Centaur’s; whereas, the latter preferred simplistic wood designs, the former was iron and stone, brass and copper, with almost an unnecessary amount of gears.

  “How are customers even supposed to get up there,” Kheeta pondered aloud.

  “You see that thing anchoring it to the ground,” Calisto answered, “it has a switch, that when pressed, causes a platform to drop down and then when pressed again, carries them back up.

  “That’s genius,” Kheeta replied, watching as several people called a ride up and then continued to admire her surroundings.

  The other buildings stretched as high as the trees in The Den and the noise was simply deafening. Everywhere she looked there were various races peddling their wares and yelling to be heard over one another. Kheeta tried desperately to take it all in and absorb it but suddenly the cart stopped, throwing her forward momentarily, before she regained her balance.

  “What happened?” Kheeta urged her hand instinctively going to her sword, ready to fight. I will not freeze up like last time!

  “We’re here, killer.” Calisto chuckled, placing a hand on her hilt to calm her; before opening the door allowing the boys to go running out, falling over each other as usual.

  The first thing she noticed as she stepped out into the bright sunlight was the smell. Taunting her nose every which way were delicious scents, she could isolate a few: roast pig, apple pie, cider, potatoes, and finally her favorite… funnel cake. Her mouth salivated, and her stomach growled at the thought of getting a nice hot funnel cake, like the ones that she would get at festival back home. Not right now stomach, we need to focus. She scolded herself internally as she helped Calisto with the bags.

  “So, we just set up shop right here in the market square,” the goat man said turning back to Kheeta. “It’s been an honor to meet you, and I truly believe that you’re special... If you stay true to your convictions, you can accomplish anything, I’m sure of it.”

  “Oh, stop,” Kheeta replied her cheeks growing warm as her two tails flicked back and forth.

  “I mean it, when you’re at Dauntless Dungeon you better not forget us.” He looked sad to see her go and Kheeta couldn’t quite understand it, I doubt my own parents were this upset when I ran away.

  “Of course, she won’t forget us, she’s going to write to us every month. Huh Kheeta?” Tianara said galloping up to stand next to her father.

  “Of course I’ll write to you all and I’ll keep your letters, so you better make me some good pictures.” Kheeta answered leaning forward and booping the girl on the nose softly with her finger. Merigohl gave her a warm hug goodbye as Tianara laughed and ran off to go play with her rambunctious brothers.

  “Take this with you,” the Centaur woman said handing her a long green cloak with a deep hood. “Keep the hood up when you’re in town and try to keep your tails twisted together… it’ll keep away unwanted attention.”

  “Thank you so much!” Kheeta replied with tears in her eyes as she threw her arms around Merigohl again.

  “You know Kheeta, if you’re not ready to leave yet, I could use some help lugging all of these supplies to the apothecary shop.” Calisto suggested as he gestured to the three overflowing back packs at his feet.

  “I’d love to,” She responded, putting on her new cloak and snagging two of the packs up swinging them over her furry shoulders. “Which way is it?”

  Calisto laughed and motioned to their right and they set off down the cobblestone road, the bustle of the city drowning out Calisto’s family as they left them in the distance. “So Kheeta, now that we’re here, is there anything you’d like to do?”

  Her stomach growled loudly, answering for her, and causing Kheeta to shoot Calisto an apologetic smile from under her hood.

  “Well I’ve got some spending coin…” The Satyr began as he looked around at all of the food vendors lining the street. “What’s your favorite food Kheeta?”

  “Funnel cake!” She exclaimed with a little more excitement than she had meant to.

  “Okay,” he chuckled as he turned to stand in the line to their left. “We’ll grab some funnel cake for the walk.

  “You really don’t have to…” She began, feeling guilty that he was spending his hard-earned coin on her.

  “Nonsense, you’re the best Quester I’ve ever hired, and this is my way of saying thank you.” Calisto insisted as the line slowly moved forward. The customer in front of them was a large seven foot man, with shiny scales covering his whole body and a large tail that extended behind him; while his face resembled a large lizard. Calisto noticed her staring at the man and leaned in to her, “he’s a Garnorian,” he whispered. The man turned at hearing his race mentioned and shot them both a stern look. “Notoriously grumpy,” Calisto added as the man took his funnel cake and left.

  He ordered them each a treat and they resumed their jaunt to the apothecary’s shop, The Poisoned Rat. The roads were long and seemed to never end in this city, with buildings that stretched as if tryi
ng to reach the twin suns. “I’ve never seen anything like this.” Kheeta mused, as they kept walking she noticed a large circular clock that floated above the city’s market square, still visible, even at their distance.

  “Almost everything is Dravenmoore is powered by steam and arcane crystals.” Calisto explained as he pulled her attention away from the clock in the sky and back to the road on the ground. “Dravenmoore is a hotbed for magic, and Questers. There are over three-hundred different shops in this town, from merchants, to inns, and even Guild Halls.”

  “Guild Hall?” Kheeta asked puzzled.

  “It’s a building where Questers can go to accept jobs, and turn in completed Quests.” Calisto explained looking at the signs above them. “The Trouncing Pony, Gardemore’s Giant Emporium, I know its on this street.” He was muttering and more talking to himself than Kheeta now.

  “We’re looking for The Poisoned Rat right?” Kheeta asked as she pointed to a red sign hanging in a storefront down the street. The image depicted on the sign was of a rat with skull and crossbones behind it.

  “That’s the one! Good eye,” her Satyr friend complimented as they neared the main door. “Merleus has been a good friend of mine for years, and I’ve been supplying him since almost the day he opened up shop.” Calisto informed her as he opened the door, a small bell enchantment ringing through the room as they entered.

  “Ah, welcome to the Poisoned Rat, how may I… Calisto old friend! How’s the family?” A voice called out followed by an intriguing creature that Kheeta had never seen before.

  Merleus stood roughly six feet tall, his head was a unique shape, as the top resembled a large red mushroom with purple spots. His skin was almost parchment white, with thin roots and veins visible throughout, and thick moss grew on his mushroom top, handing down like hair. “Well they’re disappointed they weren’t able to come on delivery today; but I will make sure to bring them by sometime tonight.” Calisto assured the Fungee with a smile as he set the bag down on the counter.

  “Is that my order?” Merleus asked picking it up and looking inside at the contents.

  “It sure is, almost became Glittercap dinner trying to get it, I’ll tell you about it over our own dinner.” He added seeing a concerned look of curiosity cross the mushroom-man’s face.

  “Bogdu! Come and file these herbs away please.” Merleus ordered to someone that Kheeta couldn’t see. After a few seconds a Froeggart hopped into view and grabbed the bags up in his webbed hands. He was significantly smaller than the Fungee, only four and a half feet tall, his hunched back causing him to hop as he moved forward, making him resemble a frog even more than he already did. Kheeta felt guilty but still had a hard time restraining herself from laughing.

  “Is there anything else I can do for you Master… Merleus?” Bogdu asked his voice croaking as he said the last word, causing Kheeta to lose her self-control and laugh, earning herself glares from the man.

  “No Bogdu that’s enough,” Merleus answered, going back to his conversation with Calisto. Kheeta looked around the store as the two men conversed, shelves were littered with different herbs, mushrooms, tonics, and bones.

  She must have been looking longer than she thought because she was pulled away from a cabinet by Calisto clearing his throat by the door. “You ready to leave Kheeta?”

  “Yeah, I’m coming,” the Kitsune answered turning to leave and barely catching a vase her new tail knocked off a nearby table. She quickly put it on a shelf and scurried to the front, hoping no one noticed, while wrapping her tails tightly around herself. They opened the door and bid their farewells, venturing back into Dravenmoore’s busy streets.

  “So, I guess you’re off to enroll in Dauntless Dungeon right?” The Satyr said turning to hug the fox-girl tightly. He began to walk and motioned Kheeta to follow, “you see that large floating building?” He asked, pointing toward a cluster of three floating islands; the closest one hosting small homes like the ones that surrounded her now; and the middle one a large castle surrounded by lush trees. “The green arcane crystal at the peak of that tower powers the school, and signup end tomorrow morning at the base of the islands. Just keep your eyes on it and you should be there in no time.” He wrapped her up in his arms again, teary-eyed “Know that I’m rooting for you kid.”

  “Thank you,” She responded as he let her go. “Goodbye Calisto and thank you for… well, everything.” Kheeta replied as she headed off in the direction he had pointed her, excitement and anxiety rising in her again.

  Kheeta sighed, three alleyways, two dead ends and I’m no closer than when I left an hour ago, she looked around not sure where to go next. The floating islands and the school, with its green crystal spire, that were easily visible from the market circle, had vanished from the sky completely. Tall lanky buildings stretched into the air like ginormous iron and brass fingers. Various gears turned as smog shot into the sky, and a cluster of huge purple Paloofs swirled around through thick black jets of smoke, chirping happily as they ate.

  Kheeta’s ears flattened at the loud noise of the cranking gears and whistling pipes, the excessive stimuli making the back of her head and neck prickle. She quickly ducked into an alleyway and covered her ears. The sounds of machinery, various languages, animals, and merchants calling their wares all flooded her senses at once. How do people handle all this noise? She thought to herself as she peered back out at the busy street. Dravenmoore is so much different than The Den… Kheeta marveled for the millionth time since leaving. While taking a moment to collect herself she tried to take note of all the different races she could see from her vantage point.

  The Den consisted of Kitsune, various forest wild life, and the occasional Red Cap infestation, so seeing so many races was a culture shock. Satyrs, Centaurs, Norians, Phytes, other Animal-folk like me, Mimics, Glittercaps… there’s still so much l have to learn and so much I haven’t seen. Kheeta thought to herself as a strange creature wandered into her view. Oh, I remember seeing a few of these in Calisto’s village. Merigohl called them Keezor, and said their eggs make the best omelets. The knee-high animal had a reptilian shaped body and tail, with a thin layer of red and white feathers covering everywhere but it’s head; that instead, had a smooth circular dome surrounded by a ring of small knobby horns. The Keezor’s tiny arms had slightly longer feathers than the rest of its body and it walked on two strong legs that ended in sharp talons. “Hey there little guy,” she called softly, getting his attention. As the Keezor neared her it charged, ramming its hard dome into her shin. “Ow, you little butt, that hurt,” she rubbed her leg as he back up, only to head-butt the other shin. “What do you want,” she asked reaching down to rub his head, prompting the small animal to nuzzle into her, trilling happily. “ I think I’ll call you Bastion, since you seem to like bashing your head into things.”

  Several loud thuds interrupted their conversation and peaked her foxlike curiosity. Standing she turned to walk back out into the street and stopped when she realized Bastion was following her. “No, you can’t come with me… you’ll get squished out there.” The Keezor trilled in protest as he rammed his hard head into the back of her legs. “You know what…” Kheeta felt around in her bag for a moment before she found the trail mix that Merigohl had made her. “Here buddy,” she placed a handful of the mixed nuts and berries on the ground and Bastion began pecking at it happily.

  With her new friend distracted, Kheeta was able to investigate the thudding sounds. Turning back to alley entrance revealed soldiers in full plate armor, colored gold with a red trim, marching two by two down the street. King Draven’s banner flew proudly every tenth row; and Kheeta, counting seven flags, was impressed. The royal army seemed to have soldiers of almost every race in the treaty; from Selchii, Craydon, Berejorn, and Lycarions, to Phytes, Garnorians, Gargoyles, Humans, and Nors. Kheeta thought back on Calisto’s history lessons as the troops marched past, not giving her a second thought…

  “Rhespira isn’t like The Den,” Calisto had expl
ained over a cup of hot tea one morning. “We’re ruled by a King and Queen… King Draven and Queen Vyliska.”

  “How long have they been in charge?” She had asked, eager to learn as much as she could about the outside world.

  “Well originally we had a greedy King, who cared for nothing but money and power, and Rhespira suffered for it.” Calisto answered thinking back to the days of his youth. “When I was only a teen the Sehrmic decided that they had enough of the current Aristocracy and it was time for a change.”

  “So, what did they do?” Kheeta asked sitting forward in her seat, completely engrossed in the tale.

  “Well they used the economic struggles and current discontent to start gathering followers; and when that wasn’t enough, they turned to dark magic. They began raising skeletons, zombies, and ghouls; using them to assault the castle and slay the greedy King.” Calisto finished as he gently brushed the hair out of Grett’s sleeping eyes.

  “The King and Queen practice dark magic?” Kheeta asked shocked and a little concerned.

  “No,” Calisto chuckled, “naturally, people were nervous and skeptical about being ruled by dark practitioners. In fact, one man was so upset he decided to lead a second coup for the throne, that man was King Draven, the Garnorian. He led the resistance against the Sehrmic, ultimately killing their queen and marrying her daughter Vyliska to secure a peaceful treaty between the two races.”

  A loud clang pulled Kheeta out of her memories and back into reality. Pulling up the rear of the guard were four massive constructs, they resembled humans, but were made of solid brass and stood almost twelve feet tall. Various gears turned in their joints allowing them to move, large seven foot swords hung at their hips, and their chests glowed a dull blue. I’ve read about Golems before, but never thought that I would get the chance to see one… let alone four!

 

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