Dirk moved closer to the platform and climbs the few steps, standing above the runic symbols. "Hm?" he reaches to grab something from the ground, "what is this? It looks to be some sort of key, but where does it go?"
"Let's take it for now then decide what to do with it later. If it has any sort of importance, it should help us," Wulfric replied.
"Alright."
🔑 Key of Dimensions obtained
Wulfric looked at Zeke , places a hand on his shoulder then made sure that everything that he need is with him, he checked his rucksack then he nodded once he's done. "Are you guys set?" he turned to ask the boys, "I know I sound like a broken recorder today but make sure to remain cautious at all times, and protect the farmer with everything you've got, with your lives if necessary." He addresses the three boys, eyebrows creasing, expression grim once more.
The other three just nodded in response, knowing the importance and risks of this expedition they cannot afford to even waver a bit. If Zeke gets harmed, or worse ends up dead, everything else in this realm will die along with him, until the next cycle.
Zeke breathed then steeled himself for what's to come, determined for this cause that they're doing right now, and somewhere at the back of his mind, he thought that this is it, something worthwhile, he's needed here, better make history.
"We'll split into two formations: Dirk, and I will be in upfront, I will protect our boss while Dirk, will scout ahead if we needed it. You two, Magnus and Hawke watch our rear, make sure no enemies can get to our boss, this will be our default formation until our boss gets more experience in this line of work, I believe that is everything, let's move out."
Zeke followed Wulfric and Dirk's lead, staying in the middle with Magnus and Hawke behind him as they all climb the otherworldly staircase.
Going up the stairs is taking a bit longer that what Zeke initially thought, the seriousness of the matter is palpable, the silence deafening. Zeke thought.... no he needs to break the silence. He turned his head upwards from looking down at the endless stairs, he looked at Wulfric and started asking more questions, maybe he knows more information about what's ahead.
"Hey Wulf, can I ask more questions about the dungeon? To further prepare myself."
Wulfric glanced back at Zeke his mouth forming a half-smile. "Shoot."
"Okay, just how can we find seeds here if the dungeon itself is basically a castle?"
It seems a bit uncanny to be looking for seeds anywhere inside a 'castle' so he asked the most glaring oddity.
"Yes, that might be so, but as we previously said, Tenebrae is a transforming dungeon. What you see in one section isn't going to be the same in the next one. In our case I'm assuming that the next floor will be a whole lot different in terms of its structure, and possibly geography." Wulfric explained.
"Yep, according to the Mayor, the dungeon conforms with the level the farmer and his farmhand has," Dirk added joining in the conversation, "for instance, right now we are all the same level which is zero, you might think that from the lives we had here we should have a lot of experience by now, but we were also stripped of all those experience the moment we signed up to become your farmhands."
"Which is a complete and utter drivel if you ask me, but if that is what it takes at being a farmhand," Hawke chimed in smoothly, scanning the stairs.
"Anyways, that's the answer to your question before we get completely derailed from the topic at hand," Wulfric interjected, ending the conversation.
"Okay next one. Will we see monsters after we reach the top of this stairs?" Of course Zeke had to ask this, he never encountered a monster his whole life, so it's really getting on his nerves that no one is explaining or even instructing him how to fight. It's not like they can protect Zeke all the time.
Zeke really didn't want to stay on the sidelines and get protected all the time as well. Who does?
"Wulfric, I know that I have to stay safe and watch you guys for now, but when are we going to see some monsters? Some action, and maybe some time for me to learn?"
"Monsters won't attack unless they're agitated by something or their lives are in imminent danger. For the most part, they are peaceful creatures unless angered, that is from what I heard about them," Wulfric explained, "it is safe to say that like us, there is a level system in their hierarchy, at the top are some of the most dangerous ones, while at the very bottom are what I assume monsters that we're about to see at the top of this stairs."
"For your other question," Wulfric stopped, then turned around, halting everyone from climbing. "I promise we will have time, later. It'll be dangerous for you or us if we become reckless right now, you can choose which of us you want to train and have a one on one with, for each one of us have a different style of approaching battle." He then continued climbing.
Zeke felt a little giddy about the notion of learning how to fight so he made sure to keep what Wulfric told him in mind.
"Okay for my final question, how do we gain levels, and increase our experience?"
"We gain levels not just by eradicating monsters, but also through clearing floors of the dungeon. By excavating lost treasures and trinkets, finding legendary armors or simply unearthing exotic seeds. We can increase our experience in order to 'level up' by doing those stuff. Although there are still a lot more I could think of."
Zeke nodded, so the system of leveling up essentially works like every role-playing games back in his world. He has a bit of gaming experience, so might as well put them to good use.
After the arduous task of climbing the stairs, Zeke along with the boys finally reached the top of the lengthy staircase, and as Zeke is trying to catch his breath, the view of the floor got his attention. It is a breathtaking sight and unlike anything he had seen in his life.
The floor looks like a forest encased inside the dungeon, overgrown grass and plants intertwines with the cold-hard features of the castle making the area look frozen in time.
It seems that his farmhands are also going through the same astonishment from the look of bewilderment on their handsome faces.
"Guys, this place.... it's awesome!" Dirk said mouth slightly agape, "is this what our predecessors felt when they came into this dungeon? Here I thought it would only be so gloomy, based on what we've seen of the dungeon so far."
"Indeed, truly an unexpected sight, though not unwelcome," Magnus states, eyes scanning the place, while looking back at the stairway they came from, "in any case, this means what we've been told is true, the dungeon changes its structure every floor, and it's also quite vast in size, that means that we might be in this floor for a long while."
Zeke looked around the entirety of the floor, the constant sunlight that sustains the forest ecosystem seems to be just like the real thing back in Loneharv. It looks like the dungeon has a realm all on itself, does that mean that every floor is a different realm? How could that be?
"It'd be best if we assume that every floor means we will see a whole different world," Hawke said musing at the subject, clearly stating what Zeke had thought. "I just don't know how expansive every floor of this dungeon is."
Stepping out of the dilapidated castle ruins, Wulfric along with Dirk surveyed the vicinity. "No monsters so far, after we get out of this clearing though, I'm not sure if we'll still be lucky" Dirk assessed, "what next, Wulf?"
"Let's get going, standing around here will make us easy targets. Onward." With that note everyone started walking again.
Zeke's party still hasn't gone too far from the castle ruins when he heard a rustling among the overgrown bushes behind the tall, intimidating trees. His boys instinctively went into their positions.
"What was that?" Dirk pointed at the bushes.
Zeke focused to see what's making the rustling behind the undergrowth. He almost got scared to death when a tiny, goat-like monster with a pointy horn on its forehead, suddenly popped out of the bush, shaking off the tangled leaves from its soft, luscious fluffy wool.
It bleats at them softly, then goes on its merry way, before they even gets the chance to get near it.
"Whoa.. what an adorable little monster," Dirk said, "makes me want to take one to keep at home."
"Yeah cute, that's usually the first impression that everyone has when meeting a Baphomet," Hawke intervenesd, "illusion is it's specialty, according to the bestiary I got from the archives at the townhall."
"Err, what?" Zeke asked, urging him to continue.
"If you must know boss, let's just say the endearing façade falls the moment it senses danger. I have only read it from the book but it says there that Baphomet takes the guise of a creature that is both charming and harmless, then once they gain enough trust from their victims they will show their true forms and do their work, it isn't clear what 'work' means."
"So, in short don't be fooled by its exterior appearance, or it will kill you."
"Yup understood," Zeke replied hastily to Hawke.
"Heh, don't worry I'll protect you before you even get yourself killed," he smirked devilishly as he whispered the words into Zeke's ear, not letting the rest of the boys hear.
—————————————————————————————————
📙 Bestiary:
Baphomet — small and cute goat-like monsters which are capable of illusion magic to keep away from dangerous foes.