Peek: The New Foxhole (Patreon)

Golond tries to let keep his mind empty as he runs through his kata, but how can he not think about the last couple days? His punches and kicks feel sloppy, but he remembers the words of his mentor at the Academy: if you can't keep your mind empty, just let the thoughts flow. He stops himself and takes a deep breath, then starts his kata from the beginning.

Silvervein is so much different from the Principalities. The influence of the Maw is still easily seen, even as the people try to move on and find their own feet. The Principalities can be treacherous, certainly, but sticking with one's faction was generally enough to live peacefully. Here... it feels like the people are still in a daze.

He can't help but feel a bit sorry for them, but at least they seem to have a plan to move forward. If they didn't, someone would try to claim the town, no matter how out of the way it is. His form solidifies as he recognizes his and his sister's parts in helping Silvervein find its path.

The Dungeoneers observe and maintain dungeons, to ensure the people have one less thing to worry about. His sister is even out right now, mingling and getting to know people, ensuring them that something like the Maw won't happen under their watch. Of course, with the two dungeons they have to watch over, that doesn't seem like a problem, but these people could use the reassurance anyway.

His stance shifts to one of mobility, his attacks becoming wide and sweeping as he bounds around the small training room. If he's going to properly delve Vanta, he needs to be able to handle swarms, both offense and defense. Don't get bogged down, don't waste effort on a single foe. He also can't help but feel inspired by having watched Inspector Tarl at work.

He and his sister were admittedly intimidated by the elf when they first met him. The Unseen Blade has a reputation for being no-nonsense, and the rumors say he's on the consideration list for Crown Inspector, though Olander Wideblade hasn't made any considerations of retirement. Still, in this line of work, it's always good to have a replacement in mind. You can never tell when something might happen in the line of duty.

Getting to know him was interesting, and getting to see him fight was enlightening, even if Golond shares neither affinity nor class with the elf. His smooth confidence speaks of his ability, and it was uniquely humbling to receive a lesson while the elf calmly dealt with waves of denizens. Golond is pretty sure he can handle that intensity... but Vanta won't stay at this level forever.

He slips back into a more basic kata as his mind wanders to Inspector Tarl's assigned town: Fourdock. He needs the simpler movements to let him try to process what's supposed to be going on over there. He and his sister had heard wild rumors about a new dungeon there, but if anything, they undersell what's happening. No ordinary Cloistered dungeon should be able to achieve apotheosis. He would have said even an extraordinary one would find that impossible, but Thedeim apparently did it.

Of all the insane rumors that Inspector Tarl confirmed or clarified, the most intriguing one to Golond was the one about the lich that fights with its fists. The Inspector insists it's a zombie, but surely it's some kind of joke? He's heard the tales of the fight between Rocky and Olander Wideblade himsef, how can a mere zombie put up a fight like that? The foxkin tries to imagine a kata of just punches, but it seems such a style would be wide open to all sorts of attacks, wouldn't it?

He finishes with a long combination, kicks, punches and throws smoothly flowing from one to the next, before he finally takes a breather. Still, lich or no, punches or no, Inspector Tarl looks absolutely serious when he talks about Rocky's strength and skill. Perhaps Golond can arrange a trip to Fourdock, once he and his sister are better settled? He needs to do his first official inspection of Vanta and the Southwood, too. Duty before pleasure, and he can't try to pretend learning from a scion to enhance his technique is needed for his duty, at least not yet. Vanta is young and Southwood is a toybox. Neither required him to get stronger to properly delve.

But he'll have plenty of time to himself once those inspections are done. There's even supposed to be a long shortcut leading to Fourdock, so he won't need to leave his sister alone for too long. He smiles as he gets a drink, his mind wandering to one of the other rumors about Thedeim.

A dungeon with no delver deaths? It sounds ludicrous, but if somehow true, it could be the perfect way for him to get stronger.