“Each of you will be tested as a warrior, as a protector, as a fighter!” Gorn was yelling, trying to drum up excitement in the recruits no doubt; but achieving a different result due to his imposing presence. “Now, before you go through that door and take your test, do you have any questions?”
“Where are we?”
“How did we get here?
“Where is my equipment?”
All their questions boiled over at once causing the Selchii instructor to chuckle and raise a hand to quiet them. “We are safe, you got here with magic, and your equipment is safe. That’s all you need to know right now so put those thoughts out of your mind and focus.” Gorn answered with finality.
The group looked at each other, Aurora and Bartlebee each grabbing one of Kheeta’s hands in a vine and tentacle. She gave them a gentle squeeze of encouragement and tried to smile.
“All right.. good luck Party.” Bartlebee said as he approached the first door and opened it, walking through and closing it behind him immediately. Following the Meripint’s example the rest of the Party approached their doors and gave the handles a twist.
Kheeta took a deep breath and closed her eyes, stepping through the door, just as Bartlebee had done. As she opened them and let out surprised yip; she was outside again, only this time the twin suns were clouded by thick smoke and several Paloofs floating through and instead of a warm beach, she found herself in a farming village. Fires raged all around her and the sounds of people screaming filled the air. What is this? What’s going on? Kheeta thought to herself as she spun around to see the door she came through had disappeared, empty air in its place.
“Please! Help us!” A woman’s voice rang out over the pandemonium Kheeta found herself in. As she turned to her right to investigate the source of the distress, she saw a woman pinned under the beam of a house that was currently on fire. A small girl, no older than six or seven, unconscious on the grass next to her.
“Don’t worry I’ll help you.” Kheeta assured them as she began running over in their direction… Movement in her peripheral caught her attention and Kheeta turned to see three Goblins sprinting towards her, screaming.
They were five feet tall, green skinned, with hook noses, long ears, and yellowing teeth. Two wielded swords and one was cranking a repeating crossbow. Panicking Kheeta looked around for any means to defend herself and saw a short sword and buckler laying on the ground. Quickly bending down, she scooped up the sword and attached the shield to her arm, raising it just in time to intercept a crossbow bolt meant for her eye. That was too close! Kheeta thought as a second bolt embedded itself in the shield with a dull thud. Raising the sword and peering over, Kheeta tried to remember her fencing lessons with Kohda. With an expertly timed counterattack she dodged a swipe from a Goblins sword and separated its head from its shoulders. Thud, another bolt slammed into the buckler, sending vibrations through her arm, causing it to tingle and go numb, almost dropping it to the ground. She turned her attention to the other Goblin just in time, as he was swinging his sword in a downward arc, the woman’s little girl directly in its path. With a quick movement, and little thought, Kheeta used one of her tails to grab the child by the waist and pull her to Kheeta’s other side; causing the sword to embed itself in the dirt.
The Goblin pulled at it frantically, trying to rend its sword free from the ground as Kheeta drove hers through its chest; ducking behind it as another bolt missed her and entered the dead Goblin’s back. Letting out a yell she ran forward, using her previous opponent as a shield colliding with the final Goblin as he attempted to reload. Before he could react, Kheeta reached over and picked up a large piece of flaming wood, unconcerned with the heat and pain it was causing her, and brought it down firmly on its skull until she heard a loud crack, and the life drained from its eyes. Kheeta frantically rushed to the woman and began to dig her out. After a few moments she stood up, planning on addressing the family she had just saved, but as she reached her feet, she looked around perplexed.
“Miss Kheeta you finished!” Golluk hollered as the confused Kitsune continued to look around. She was standing outside of her cabin… back on the island, with dozens of other students, most looking as confused as she was. “I guess the Warrior test is over… I heard there were Goblins did you have to fight them too?” Golluk asked as he closed the distance between them. Kheeta nodded, still too surprised to speak, she hesitantly looked at her hand; prepared to find them red and blistered due to the pain she had felt, but was surprised they looked the same as they had this morning before the test.
This is place completely insane! What have you gotten yourself into Kheeta, she wondered silently, before focusing on Golluk. “Wait, you didn’t see the Goblins? What was your test like then,” she asked curious what other variants of the test there were.
“Oh, well not much happened,” he began, the blue mist inside his helmet flickering near its top in thought. “I walked through the door to find a quaint little village in ruins, a trapped woman and her sweet child were in danger, I simply lifted the beam and as I turned to move the obstacle from their path I suddenly appeared back here.” His eyes furrowed as he thought about his test, “I worry that mine concluded too quickly, I had no chance to show my worth.”
Kheeta reassuringly put her hand on his, she opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a shrill scream as Bartlebee appeared, screaming at the top of his lungs, knees curled into his chest and eyes squeezed shut. He hurled punches into the air, not seeming to notice he was now in the field near their cabins.
“Hey B…” Kheeta said softly, kneeling in the grass beside him, “Bartlebee.” She flinched as her tail blocked his fist inches from her face, “um…you okay?”
Realization crossed over his face, and he quickly hid behind his ‘hair’, “Oh my Gods, Kheeta I am so sorry, I can’t believe I almost hit you.” Two of his tentacles reached out and pet her head as if to apologize themselves, causing her to laugh.
“You’re fine, I know it was an accident, you okay? Did the test not go well,” she asked, concerned by his display of panic.
“Yea…Yea, I’m fine, it’s all okay,” he said after looking down to confirm he was in fact okay. “I just definitely did not pass. I was able to keep them from hurting the family, but I ended up getting hacked up in the process.” A look of distress crossed his face for a moment, “I know I don’t want to be a Warrior but failing the first test is still pretty discouraging,” he looked at his two friends and his sullen expression melted into determination “You know what though, it’s just made me more committed than ever to ace the Bard test!” Suddenly Aurora appeared next to Bartlebee causing him to scream again, “ha, you scared me, how’d you do?”
“Oh, I passed rather easily. Wish there had been more though, who knew illusions could be so tasty.” She chuckled softly “can you imagine how horrified my parents would be if I were to become a Warrior.”
The group laughed nervously with her, while shooting sideways glances. “did you say they… tasted good?” Bartlebee asked stunned.
“Yes,“ Aurora replied, “Florae envelop their pray in their roots before absorbing them.” She smiled mischievously as she noticed him turning purple once again, “what, would you like me to tie you up?” she asked with a giggle, two of her vines slithering towards him, which his tentacles playfully smacked away.
“Mmm, that’s okay,” he stated nonchalantly “I don’t think I trust you to leave me in one piece, but I’m sure I’m delicious.” Bartlebee retorted, bringing a round of laughter from his Party.
They sat on the grass as groups trickled away, heading to either their cabins or the mess hall, the groups who remained ate their breakfast in the field as they awaited teammates. Finally after what seemed to be eternity Tarek popped into existence, his eyes squeezed shut and tears streaming down his face, as he angrily screamed into the space before him “How dare they take my magic, and then to expect me to risk my life fighting Goblins,” distain dripped f
rom his words as he spit them, “all just to save some mongrel woman and her leech.” He paused, slowly cracking his eye open, as he saw his party and growled furiously. Standing he began throwing spells at the ground in a temper. “I get chased through pretty much every alley in that pathetic squalor,” he said throwing a slightly larger spell to his feet, the magic pressure brushing air into all their faces. “surrounded me, started poking me, they totally forgot about the trapped lady,” he said casting on the ground once again, his temper fueling it, the air that rose this time knocked him off his feet.
Kheeta watched the pathetic display, even our toddlers don’t behave this badly, she thought to herself. “Maybe you should quit while you’re ahead,” she suggested as he prepared to hurl another spell, “you know, so you don’t break your nose or knock yourself out this time.” He jumped to his feet, rage rolling off him in waves that made her wrinkle her nose. Tarek glared down into her eyes and for a moment she thought he was going to hit her, until he turned on his heel and walked away without a word. The group looked at one another, then to Golluk.
“Should we be worried about sleeping with our eyes closed,” Bartlebee joked, “I’m so glad I’m not a nobleman’s son, if that’s how conceited you get, count me out. So…did I understand him right? He ran down the alleys, and left the two civilians, in hope the Goblins would be distracted?” He asked as they walked toward their cabin.
Golluk hung his head shamefully, “I do believe that is what Master Tarek meant, he couldn’t use his magic and panicked. His instructors and I have tried telling him for years he needed to learn swordplay, just in case, but he would never have it. ‘Unsightly blisters’, he would always say.” They walked in silence for a moment, unsure of how to make the Golem feel better about his terrible excuse for a charge. “But,” Golluk said imitating clearing his throat, “tomorrow should be the Cleric test, and that, I am sure, will put him in the best of moods. While he is not much of a Warrior, he is one of the more impressive healers I have seen in my time.”
Kheeta’s eyes grew big, “No-” she groaned, thinking of the next day’s test. “Kitsunes don’t worship gods, or at least not anymore, I don’t know about before, but I don’t even know a single God’s name!” Panic began to swirl around inside her, “how am I going to take a test about them if I can’t even say ‘hi’ to any of them?” Her tails began violently flitting side to side, one them landing on Bartlebee’s head making him laugh as he blew the fur away from his face and his tentacles wrapped around it.
“You’ll be fine, you have us, and a full day to start figuring it out. It’s pretty easy really, the universally worshipped deities represent each of the Classes, each Class has two Gods, one for the good, and one for the evil aspect of each.” The friends proceeded, into their cabin, agreeing to continue their conversation after changing into lounging clothes so they could study.
As Kheeta opened the door Celia’s sword welcomed her from its place on her bed, “you’re back,” she exclaimed pouncing across the room and hugging her sword.
Aurora smiled as she walked in to find her friend holding her prized possession “oh its back, I’m so glad, all of our items must stay behind during our tests” she walked over to her bed and wardrobe to search as she changed, “yup, its all here, that’s a relief.” They hurried to get ready and headed back to the main room where the boys were setting up their study night, when Kheeta groaned.
“Okay, so don’t hate me,” she said looking down at her hands, “but you know how I’m the Party’s Mage? Well, I kind of don’t know how to use my magic... I mean I’ve done it once, but I don’t really know how I made it happen, and I don’t know what to do.” They stared at her in disbelief and she felt her cheeks grow warm. “No one used magic in The Den, but when I used mine, and I saved my friend’s life…” Her voice trailed off before she began again, determination emphasizing every word, “I didn’t know what role I wanted to take when I started my journey to get here, but in that moment I knew I wanted to be a Mage.” She paused again, the anxious gears in her minds toiling away, “I just also…don’t know what to do, so…do you think you guys can help?”
“Of course!” Bartlebee exclaimed, “That’s what teammates are for.” She smiled back, opening a book on the table, prepared to learn everything she could for the upcoming tests.
7 Temples and Gods
Kheeta woke curled in a tight ball hiding beneath her blankets. She slid off the mattress and to the floor, letting out a yip as she touched the freezing stone, “Why in all the Gods is everything freezing!” She yelled across the cabin as she curled into a ball, her body momentarily stuck from the shock of sudden temperature drop. Vines slithered to her from the neighboring bed, lifting her through the air and under Aurora’s blanket.
“Wh..wh..why is it so cold,” she chattered her small decorative blossoms had curled shut, as well as the leaves that surrounded her roots. She looked smaller than usual, Kheeta looked at her friend worriedly and curled around her, using her tails to provide a mock coat. “I hate the cold, there’s a reason most florae live in swampy tropical areas,” she said as she nuzzled deeper into the Kitsunes fur. A knock on their door caused them to jump, Kheeta peeked out from beneath the covers and sighed a breath of relief.
“Hello ladies,” Golluk greeted, standing just outside their doorway. “Do I have permission to enter your bedchamber, I have news I think you would find interesting.” The girls popped their heads out from beneath the blankets and nodded, giving the golem a questioning look. “It would seem we are, once again, no longer on the island, and that the next test has begun,” he answered after realizing they weren’t leaving the warmth of the bed.
“Oh,” Kheeta said looking back to Aurora, “well all her blossoms are curled in on themselves cause its so cold, are you going to be able to walk?” She looked at her friends trying to think of an alternative when Golluk walked in and scooped the pile of blankets that was Aurora into his arms and out to what he had wanted to show them. As they rounded the corner into the main room they saw the windows half covered in snow, looking out they could see only several feet before a blizzard obscured the world from view.
Bartlebee drug a dining chair across the floor, jumping onto it trying to peer over the snow pile that had built up on the windows edge. “Oh yea, yup, that definitely looks cold,” he said eyeing the deep snow drifts “what a day to be four feet tall, I’m gonna poke around for some snow shoes.” Kheeta nodded in agreement, telling Aurora to just worry about staying warm as she went to help look for snow supplies.
About an hour later they were all geared up, after finding supplies and weapons hidden in one of the back storage closets. They set out from the cabin, not exactly sure which direction to go, the soft green grass and scattered wild flowers were replaced with thick snow and scattered rock formations; looking in the distance they could see giant snow-covered mountains just beyond their clearing.
“They expect us to navigate a blizzard?” Tarek exclaimed in frustration, any warmth from cabin lost to the windy, snow covered, landscape before them.
“Where are we supposed to go, everything looks the same!” Aurora yelled over the wind that had increased to the point of whipping at her face painfully.
“I don’t know! I can’t see anything, I can hardly see you!” Bartlebee responded his small voice fighting to be heard. They stumbled through the snow, Golluk taking the lead and working as a plow of sorts but the snow fell so hard it didn’t offer much help to Bartlebee. “I’m pretty sure a few of my toes have froze off,” he said trying hard to peer through the unrelenting blizzard. “What are we even looking for, I’m gonna ‘pop’ back an icicle before we find anything.” Golluk turned, plucking his friend from the ground and placing him on his shoulder. “Thank you! My Gods that snow is deep!” Kheeta tried really hard not to laugh, realizing that Golluk was going to have to carry her short friend like a child. “And don’t you laugh at me!”
You are welcome to join him as wel…�
� Golluk began, Aurora wrapping herself around him before he could finish, vines securing themselves around the iron chest and strapping her to his back.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice trembling with cold, “I promise, I’m not typically this useless.”
Before anyone could say anything Tarek surprisingly chimed in, “I mean I wouldn’t say you’re being useless, you’re a Florae… you can’t help much with snow. Now our Mage on the other hand,” he said shooting Kheeta a searing look. “A good Mage would be able to surround us with a shield of sorts, they could protect us from this blistering cold, we could have left much earlier, and my Golem wouldn’t have to carry anyone. A good Mage is really all we need right now.”
Tears stung Kheeta’s eyes as she spun around to face the Cleric, but Golluk grabbed her and covered her mouth before she could even think of what to say.
“Pardon me Miss Kheeta, but… we need to remain quiet,” the large Gollum whispered, pointing to movement in the sky.
A shadow began forming and taking shape in the distance. “There’s something coming this way,” she said, frustration steeling her voice as she gripped her short sword tightly. A loud screeching sound split the air and Kheeta dropped her sword, both hands instinctively covering her sensitive ears. “What is it?” She yelled over a second, louder screech.
“It sounds like a Baetrim,” Golluk offered as he scanned the sky for the source of the sound, the blizzard beginning to let up now.
“What’s a Baetrim?” Kheeta asked, before being thrown violently to the ground by a gust of wind, covering her in snow. Looking up she saw a creature that was the size of a Dragon, with the head and leathery wings of a bat, long white fur, and a tail that ended in a massive club. Shaking, from both fear and cold, Kheeta watched the Baetrim fly off into the distance, seemingly unaware of their presence.
Dauntless Dungeon Page 9