Valknar
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Chapter 87
🕑 Added 2024-11-27 20:59:03 +0000 UTCAmya was walking through the town now, seriously thinking about how to end the contract she was under.
She could perform the job she was hired for and ruin Lord Ranus Goldwind. It would not be quick or easy, but it could be done. She was near finishing a plan to do this, but things had changed.
Paladins.
She was aware of the presence of all the churches in the town, but the sudden influx or, in some cases, the reveal of paladins had thrown a veil of uncertainty over her plans. The gods, she knew, held grudges. The fact that the valley was not a desolate ruin hinted at something significant happening that involved the Dungeon.
She was heading to see Goldwind. She had been summoned to see him and expected him to ask her something. She carried vellum scrolls covering the community's finances. She did not know what he needed but had to be ready. She prided herself on her abilities and competence.
She entered the building that Goldwind used as his meeting room and home. Greeting the receptionist, Naru, she ran the calendar of Goldwind's daily activities. Amya knew keeping this woman on good terms was important. Amya chatted with the other as she continued to plan. She found this chatter bland but kept up her act, as it was essential to keep her appearance of the friendly town treasurer.
Amya was allowed into Goldwind’s meeting room. He sat at the large desk with vellum scrolls and sheets scattered before him. He was working on something that vexed him. It seemed he had been working on it for a few hours. As she approached, she noticed the vellum covering a region map.
“Ah, Amya, welcome.” Ranus rose as he noticed her.
“Ranus, you asked for me?”
“Yes! I need your thoughts on a plan I need to implement. Events this morning have made it a priority.” He indicated a chair next to him for her to sit on. She followed his lead and they both sat at the table.
“I heard. The town is alive with talk of the paladins and other militant orders.” This was true, as this was how she had found out about them.
“Indeed. That is something I will need to address. But that is not why I asked for you.” He moved aside the vellum to show the map. It was as detailed as possible map of the area highlighting the trade routes and paths through the mountains going south.
“Are you seeking to create a new trade route?” She was slightly confused but thought he might have gained some new information she was unaware of.
“No. I am seeking to improve the main southern route to the Nescan city-states. The river route shows signs of congestion, so having a better land route would be wise.” He pointed at the route he was talking about. It ran through two other valleys before exiting the mountains into Nescan territory.
She leaned over the table to appear to be getting a better look. Amya knew the route and was buying time to think over why he was asking this. The river traffic was not that bad to have a focus on a land route to be so important. What was he doing?
“It can be done. What are you thinking, Ranus?” She looked up at him.
“Nothing too fancy like building a road just yet. What I am looking at is increased monster and bandit hunts through the Adventurers Guild.” He was looking at the map, his eyes distant.
“That will be expensive. Let me look my figures over.” She needed time to think.
She made a show of unrolling the scrolls and making it look like she was reading them over. Mentally, she was furiously trying to reason why he wanted to do this. The river traffic was not that bad, but it was not why he was looking to do this. The traffic along the road that was forming was not worth the investment. There was something else. But what?
Then it hit her.
It was another escape route!
Ranus gave her time to look at the numbers before her. He was reading over his own and she knew he had little to work with. Financially, he could only afford what he needed to pay for.
Why was he doing this now?
Only two things out of the ordinary had happened in the last few days: the twisted monster attacking the Dungeon and the revelation of the paladins within the town. Both were causes for alarm, but how did they relate to the other?
She was no fool and the presence of every God of the Pantheon was the clearest sign that something was going on. The twisted monsters and the paladins were more added complications.
“I am afraid, Lord Goldwind, that your finances are not strong enough to take on this additional burden.” She told him. He frowned and nodded at her words. He had come up with the same conclusion. “Why might I ask that you seek to do this now?”
“I am just seeking to improve the community's opportunities.” He was deflecting. But this might be the opening she had been looking for.
“I might be able to find some loans from reputable sources to cover these shortfalls.” She presented her offer. Her tone and body language presented an image of an advisor giving a possible answer to her Lord's problem.
He leaned back and rubbed his forehead.
“I had thought of that, but I am still unwilling to commit to such an action.” Ranus said after a few moments.
“I understand, Ranus. I will talk to my contacts to get an idea of what options are available to you if you choose to change your mind. The other option is to create a new tax or raise present ones.” Whatever he chose, this would benefit her if she played it right.
“No. It seems that I will have to use a different means to find funding.” He was now looking at his numbers. “We will have the Adventurer Guild assist us with more escort contracts to the silver vein on the sixth floor.”
“This will supply some of the capital you need to fund future projects. The problem is the lack of experienced adventurers that can reach the sixth floor and protect the miners.” She was still trying to manoeuvre him along the track she wished.
“There is some good news on that issue. It seems that the recent influx of adventurers are all higher tier and more should be reaching deeper into the Dungeon.”
Amya disguised her thoughts by presenting a front of a thoughtful look and nod. Inside, she was thinking fast. The lower floors were more dangerous but were producing more money. The third was the most visited and profitable, but the sixth could match it when the Alchemists Guild got its hands on the floor boss. The first snake bodies were causing great excitement in the Alchemists Guild.
Before she could say anything, there was a knock on the door.
“Enter!” Ranus called out. Naru entered the room.
“My Lord, you have an appointment at the Alchemists Guild in ten minutes.” She told him.
“Excellent. I am afraid we need to end this discussion for now, Amya.” He stood up and she followed suit.
“The Alchemists Guild? Anything interesting?” She asked.
“Yes. The first breakdown of the snake from the sixth is finished, and we are getting the results before they are released to the alchemist community.” He was walking to collect his coat. It was a summer one not the thick winter all in the town owned.
“So, they retrieved examples of them?” She had not heard of any being recovered undamaged enough to be appropriately examined.
“Only the first type so far. The more evolved version and the boss are still proving to be problematic in recovering them.” He put on his coat as he spoke to her. “Well, here is to the discovery of something that makes the floor as profitable as the third.”
“Yes. Let's hope so.” She said with a smile. Inside, she was groaning.
“Well, let us be away.” They left the room and then the building.
## ## ## ## ##
Comus was moving around his lab. He looked healthier and Elian was hopeful he was nearly fully recovered from the disaster that occurred in his old Guild building. Ranus had just arrived, and Comus placed several jars on the table. Elain was not eager to know, but she was confident that the contents would be explained.
“Come now, Comus, what have you found?” Ranus said to get him started.
“Oh! Sorry, this floor is just so fascinating!” He was excited to show what he had discovered. Elain was happy to see the old Comus. He had lost weight and it had stayed off, but the old, excited child energy he gave off was back.
“Comus, we have important roles to get back to.” Elian playfully prodded him.
“Okay, okay.” He shuffled over to the table. “Are you both ready?”
“Yes.” They both said in unison.
“Right then, I will start.” He indicated to the jars and containers on the tab.
“Here are the broken-down remains of one of the basic snakes on the sixth floor.” His voice changed, becoming more focused and assured as he started speaking. “The snake is a fascinating creature. The Dungeon has heavily modified it. I have identified it as originally a mountain grass snake.”
He reached down and lifted a jar, peering into it. Two eyes were floating in whatever liquid stored them. He never stopped talking.
“Thankfully, it is not venomous. This type of snake has no glands to facilitate this. What this snake dose have are altered fangs.” He placed the jar down and lifted one from the table. “The fangs are not teeth but are a crystal/tooth composite. They are more refined and streamlined versions of the worms on the fifth floor. They are remarkably sharp and can pierce through most standard armour types.”
“Valuable?” Ranus interjected.
“Oh yes. They can be broken down into several different compounds next to the skin. The camouflage ability of the snake has been dramatically enhanced. It can hide in the tall grass on the floor, using its camouflage ability to get close before attacking. It is a natural ambusher.”
“What can you tell us about this ability?” Elain asked, as she was very interested in this. The snakes were causing more casualties than expected.
“The snake's scales reflected the colours around it, causing its ability to camouflage with its surroundings. This snake also reflects light somehow around it, enhances that ability.” He lifted another jar containing the shin they were talking about. “We are still experimenting with it to find out what it can do. The original snake only had the natural colouration pattern on its scales to hide itself.”
“Anything else?” Elain asked.
“The snake's flesh and organs are also being investigated. Snake jerky is getting popular with some, I have heard. Some other enterprising businesses are looking at other dishes involving snakes.”
Elain had heard the same from several others. The limitation of the experimentation was caused by the lack of bodies coming from the floor.
“I will request the boss and other type of snake.” Comus continued. “Both hint at far more improved monsters with the possibility of discoveries.”
“I will arrange that as soon as I get the paperwork from your Guild.” Elain grimaced. Few teams in the town would be able to see it through. She might have to offer it to the elves. That would not go down well.
“What would you say the value of a body is, Comus?” Ranus asked. Elai looked at him, wondering why he was concerned about money.
“I am planning for the future.” That was all he said. Elian asked no more on this. “So, how much?”
“Hard to say. Three silvers, at minimum. It depends on what is discovered from further investigation.” Comus answered.
“That will see more people trying the sixth floor.” Elain was figuring out the death toll from this knowledge being released. “Most will stay focused on the third floor and its boss.”
“Are they still getting gold for the hide?” Comus enquired.
“Yes. Even damaged hides are getting a good price. The demand has not tapered off. Requests are coming in from further and more merchants are looking to get some of them. Thankfully, we have developed a core of experienced adventurers who can safely navigate the floor and kill the boss.”
“The reckless don’t last long in any Dungeon.” Ranus added. The other two nodded in agreement.
“Getting the sixth-floor boss will be hard. My usual team is not strong enough to handle that floor. I will need to get another and I would trust few with that sort of job.” Elain admitted to them.
“I believe the sooner I get a sixth-floor boss body, the better it would be for us.” Comus looked thoughtful as he spoke.
“Why is that, Comus?” Ranus asked.
“Just internal Guild politics. Some of it is getting quite heated.”
“On a different track. Ranus, have you spoken to the churches about the presence of the paladins?” Elain asked the question that had been burning her to be spoken.
“Tomorrow. The twisted lion that entered the Dungeon had everyone a bit on edge.” Ranus and Elian faced each other as he spoke. Neither noticed the subtle reaction from Comus. He bore a look of hunger. By the time they looked back at him, it was gone.
“Good to know. I confess I almost cursed loudly when I saw them.” Elain admitted.
“I did as well.” Ranus agreed.
“I can stay on longer. Comus, send me that request and I will get it moving.” Elian rose from the chair and went to leave. Ranus rose to with her.
“I will let you both know the results of my discussion with the churches tomorrow.”
Both left with Comus showing them to the door. He closed it behind them and turned back to his lab.
“The second twisted monster attacking the Dungeon. Are they after the Core, or is it something else?” He asked himself. He walked around the lab as he spoke, looking at different jars and containers. “I need to know more.”
Comments
Thundermike00
So comus himself doesnt realize he is changing? How sad.
