QuestWright BK2 C64: The Second Dungeon (I) (Patreon)

Big Author Note:

Howdy, howdy everybody.

So, I spoke to my agent, and he believes that even with the DMCA issues, the benefits of RoyalRoad are too high to ignore. Basically, he's saying that takedown requests are just a part of the business, and I need to suck it up and deal.

So, fun stuff.

I do have a friend of mine who's helping me figure out all the copyright stuff out there, but I'm old, feeble, and dumb, so it'll take me a minute. Ironically for the kind of stories I write, I have trouble with bureaucracy.

Now, the reason this is a big author note.

I've come to the realization, yet again, that the QuestWright book I am writing is simply too dang large. This does not feel like a single book, and at 64 chapters now, I know I still have a long road to travel. As such, and for the second time, I'll be splitting this book.

Now, my agent is going to hate that, because he wants me to write soft endings for every 3 books in case they don't sell. But, and as I'm likely to do with Symphony book 4, I'm probably going to self-pub the fourth book if the first three don't do well. I don't like too many loose ends, and stopping on book 3 (which ends with Bella getting her Calling and just prior to Guildmaster Hollis's side-arc), leaves too much open. Hopefully it sells and this is all a moot point, but whatever.

Which brings me to another, nother point. There are a few offers out right now for QuestWright from different publishers, and I'm trying to decide what I want to do.

On the one hand, advances are nice, as is marketing from publishing houses and their newsletters. On the other hand, I'd have direct control of the story, and hell, I could get QuestWright book 1 on 'Zon in a month.

So, it's a little tricky. I'd have to spend a chunk of my own money on advertising, but, I'd also get the full benefits of sales, thus allowing an advertising/sales feedback loop.

Anyways, you're not here for all that, but I like to keep you in the loop on everything that's going on, and this is the current sticky wicket. Also, since book 3 is not a real ending, we're continuing on with book 4 for a while before we dive into Tycoon. It is what it is, and I don't see a way around that. Probably working on QuestWright for at least another 2-3 months. Though I may have to take a pause (on RR) for a month to get some of those promised bridge chapters done from his time in Liora.

Now, single chapter today, single chapter tomorrow. This is a little complicated for a lot of reasons and I want to make sure I do it right. The next chapter is a bit of a doozy and has a lot of moving parts, so I'm hoping to have it out to you soon. If it's late, I'll give an extra chapter next weekend to say sorry.

Also, ReaderQuest!

Quest ID: JDM-0003-SUP-EA

[Tier 3 Support Quest]

Assignment: Speak Without Words

Can you communicate without sound?

Your Task

Hold one conversation without speaking.

Communicate using writing, gestures, drawings, expressions, or another nonverbal method until your message is understood.

Rules

The conversation must involve another person.

Neither participant may use spoken words during the exchange.

The goal is successful understanding, not speed.

Have a goal for what you’re trying to get across before beginning.

Completion Condition

One meaningful conversation completed without speaking.

Timeframe: One Week

Reward: 14 XP

Communication is often far more than the words that are said.

—

J D Mullenary Sr
The Original QuestWright

Chapter 64: The Second Dungeon

Deep in the bowels of the Underdark, ten men and women rode upon horses, two by two.

The expansion of the entrance had been complete for all of two days before Alan called in Cass, Gary, Adya, and Team Razorwire. The old Scout was anxious for the next closure, and after the last few weeks of healing, everyone was ready for the next step.

As this was only a testing expedition, when they reached the dividing line between the remnants of the old dungeon and the new, everyone paused as Cass stared at Command Center.

“What’re you seeing, Vale?”

“It’s fuzzy further out. Probably another thing like that antenna. But from what I can see here, I think it’s filled with dead trees.”

Cass moved his map to the floor as everyone crowded in with their horses to look at it, torches held aloft. Alan spat to the side after taking a gander.

“Yeah, it’s a biome Dungeon, probably where that Rake came from. See there-” He pointed to several red dots in an open copse. “That’s a Greybeard drop. Damn things are found in every Dungeon across the world. I’ll bet that the moment we start up a fight with them, the Rake comes pouncing in. It came when Vale put that Lure on Joran, so we know it’s close to the entrance.”

Shirley glanced over with a fearless look. “How are we going to kill it?” 

“Well, that’s the funny thing. Rakes are higher-tier monsters than we’re used to dealing with in the Speed Dungeon. In my experience, the best way to kill ‘em is to find a way to flip them over, then go for the soft underbelly.”

Adya limbered up her spear-arm in the saddle as Gary uneasily did the same. The Baker’s voice was steady as he asked, “Is that easy to do?”

“No, it’s damn hard,” Alan replied. “But the nice part about finding a Rake in a Dungeon is that there tends to be very few other monsters. We kill this thing, and it’s pretty much smooth sailing all the way up to the Guardian. Aside from more Greybeards, that is.”

“So, Greybeards, a Rake, and the Guardian,” Pellin said, ticking their opponents off on his fingers.

“That and whatever conditions the Dungeon gives us, sure,” Jason added in as Shirley rolled her eyes at him. He gave her a look. “What? Some of them are damn dangerous, like the last one.”

“Well, I juiced up my Pellblasts for this.” Pellin replied, spinning each weapon out of his belt in an almost smooth gesture before rolling them back in. “Should get the job done regardless of what comes our way.”

“Let’s get going,” Alan said firmly, looking around the group. “Keep Vale in the middle. Baker-boy. You too, girl,” He said to Gary and Adya, “Your only role is to protect him.”

“Done.”

“Of course.”

Map projected on a leather scroll, Cass plodded slowly forward with the others as they crossed the boundary and the expected notification came in.

Warning: You’ve just entered a Dungeon

Dungeon Variation: B22B7

Modifying conditions applied in the territory:

Darkness

Silence

Ashfall

Scaling Rot

Incentives for completion:

All hostile entities within grant points toward minor, major, and portal closure rewards

Listed Minor rewards: Ashwood, Luminosity, and Preserved Seeds

Listed Major rewards: Bonus experience and additional Path unlocks

Listed portal closure rewards: ???

…

For Cass, there was one more.

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

A corrupted object is located within, activating a special condition.

Special Condition:

Corrupted object within grants 750 points for cleansing, as well as an additional reward tailored for Journeyman QuestWright Cassio Vale

Having seen the modifications, the group immediately backed out of the area to discuss their plans going forward. Cass and his friends looked at each other without speaking. 

This was their second Dungeon, and the first hadn’t gone great. They were even missing one of Team Deadweight, voluntarily quitting or not. But one by one, as they met each other’s eyes, resolve hardened within them.

Alan quickly gave out several hand signals for everyone to memorize, explaining that the silence modification of the Dungeon was both a positive and a negative. While they couldn’t speak to one another the moment they entered, neither could their movements be heard by the monsters within. 

That meant most of their fights would be planned around ambushes and careful movement, exactly what Team Razorwire did best. 

Damien the Trapsmith was adjusting several items in his pack as he asked, “What about Scaling Rot? I don’t know that one.”

Shirley scowled, “I’ve heard of it. Every wound you take starts to fester while you’re inside. Even when you get out, things won’t be great. Everybody checks in with Johan after this one.”

Pellin shifted his belt, the dual pistols settling against his hips as he looked at the group’s leader. “Alan, did I read that right? Luminosity is one of the minor rewards?”

“Yeah, only the third Dungeon I’ve seen that provides it,” Alan replied, looking at Cass’s blank map in front of them. “After killin’ a monster, these little orbs pop right out of ‘em. They’re nice to have, and sell for a pretty penny. Especially in the first and second rings.”

“Orla is going to be upset that she missed this,” Gary said with a wide grin, already bouncing a little in his saddle. Champion did not seem to enjoy it.

Meanwhile, Cass thought back to the Guildtower as his eyes roamed the map. 

All those little lights built into the ceiling, the walls…what if those were from this dungeon?

Everywhere across the Guildtower was light, but Cass had never seen anything powering them. If he was right, and he was sure he was, then the Guildtower really was running things down here.

As soon as everyone was done figuring out their roles, they started up again without another pause. The clip clop of the horse’s hooves gradually faded as they began to step upon hardened loam. The sound dissolved until it suddenly disappeared as sprinkles of white and gray ash began to fall from above.

The ash was an annoyance as Cass had to constantly brush it away from the leather he was holding, but the absence of sound was a different matter. 

It was unnerving. 

He couldn’t hear his own breath or steps or even the beat of his own heart. It was a total audible blackout, and he had to fight to control his nerves as they continued forward.

Some of his feelings must’ve rattled his horse because she sent him a message right away.

I like this not at all. I can smell something in here that makes my body quiver.

Noting that her speech changed whenever she was nervous, Cass patted her side while sending out feelings of warmth and trust. Whatever came their way, they could handle it as long as they were together.

Traveling among the blanket of gray and white covering dark, dead trees placed Cass in a somber mood. He spent their traveling time staring at the map, but his thoughts ricocheted within as he considered every step his life had taken to bring him here.

Remember your role, Cass. You’re the map, not a warrior. Stay out of the fight and do your job. That’s all they really need from you.

As they grew closer to the ambush, Alan called a stop with a held-up hand. In the lead, he pointed once at Adya, once at himself, then made a swooping motion. She nodded, and everyone dismounted before the two departed, both heading away in opposite directions.

The others watched every shadow and speck of falling ash while Cass kept his eyes on the map. He resisted the urge to point at the map. 

He could tell them that Command Center would let everyone know if anything happened to them, but without his voice it was a moot point. Waving frantically to get their attention would make them more nervous, not less. So he kept quiet and did his job.

Cass watched Adya and Alan move around the ambush area from opposing sides. Adya moved slowly, slipping from cover to cover, while Alan looked to almost disappear from the map before reappearing further in. A few more minutes passed where Alan passed beyond the range of Command Center and reappeared moments later. He returned to the group only a few seconds before a frowning Adya.

Pulling out a piece of paper, Alan and Adya traded notes back and forth before he nodded. He then wrote something down and pushed it Cass’s way.

Can you do your stupid Quill magic right now? There are a lot of Greybeards.

Cass rolled his eyes at the older man, then gave him a definitive nod. Pulling the pen out of his pocket, he shifted it into its original form. It blazed forth in glory, but the light failed to push past the ash falling through the air. It was a cloud to the senses almost as strong as the silence enfolding them.

That is quite pretty, Bella said in his mind as Alan gave silent instructions to everybody. Her big eyes were locked on the Quill in his hand. It’s like a candle in the darkness.

Cass smiled and patted her neck as Alan walked up to Bella. He pointed at his eyes, hers, then at the horses around them. She gave a horsey nod, then took two definitive steps backward till she was closer to her herd. The old Scout rubbed her cheek once, then they approached the ambush site slowly.

Following the sign for halt and cover, Cass waited with the others as Damien set up several traps. The Trapsmith moved with practiced precision as his team members acted as assistants, coming in only when necessary and without a word being passed. 

Cass hadn’t noticed just how experienced Team Razorwire was until this moment. Most of their excursions had involved him staring at the map, calling things out only when necessary but with eyes keenly pointed downward. Now, he had a moment to note just how well they worked together while he, his friends, and Alan kept a lookout.

Together, they drove narrow steel stakes into the loam, making marks on nearby trees with arrows to warn anyone approaching. Damien then removed several large cables, working with the rest of Team Razorwire to feed the thick tubes around the trees and through the stakes.

As soon as it was set, Damien buried the wires in fresh blankets of ash to cover them, then moved on to the next spot. Tiny caltrops of sharpened metal followed, each placed with care as the two archers marked the nearby trees by arrowtip.

Retreat, Safe, Stay Away.

Lastly, and true to his team’s name, Damien unwrapped a heavy coil of razorwire. Jason produced two oversized ground anchors from his pack, driving them deep into the earth while the Trapsmith stretched the gleaming strands between them. Two words were carved into the nearest tree.

Rake Only

Once Damien was satisfied, there was only one thing left to do.

Taking a deep breath, Alan stood tall as he walked directly towards the clearing. Cass projected the map for everyone to see as Alan’s figure slowly entered the ambush site. A second went by, then another, before every red dot in the area shifted in unison. One disappeared from the map as it got close to the veteran Scout, then the old man was hurrying toward them, dodging through different areas that Team Razorwire had marked as dangerous.

He got to them, feet a blur, and ash pushed back in his wake while holding a piece of paper out. Everyone had just enough time to read it before the red dots began to close in.

Separate your kills and cover the rewards in anything you can. The Luminosity rewards are the bait.

To prove his point, he briefly reached into his pocket and pulled something out. The light broke through the ash as if it didn’t exist, blazing forth through the Dungeon before he closed his hand and pocketed it again. Cass immediately understood.

The more kills they made, the more Luminosities would drop, and the easier the monsters would find them.

This wouldn’t be like the first dungeon. 

It was an all-or-nothing fight from the start.