"Boss can we take a break? Please? We've been moving since the dungeon and with the two of us its been hell." Says Gee as we duck into another abandoned house as a third wraith glides past the building, searching for new life to snuff out.
"We ain't resting til we get to base. You know as well as I stopping out in these wastes will lead us up shite creek without a fucking snorkel. We keep moving our arses and hopefully this new shiny will do us well if trouble comes." I say in a whisper as we start heading out again, Gee limping slightly behind me as I keep my eyes open for enemies.
Taking a turn down an alley I notice a still corpse standing in the center of it, its back towards us. I motion for Gee to stay quiet and sneak behind the bugger before swinging with my new axe, it's head sailing without a sound as it's body falls to the ground and returning to death.
"Rotter has a coin bag and 'is shoes look in good shape. Take it and stay low and slow, we both know where one is there's more and we're halfway there. Hopefully that damn gob with the ghost spider isn't hunting again. We stand no chance against that fucker and his ridiculous pet." I whisper as fear crosses Gee's face as he nods towards me and we make our way through the alley and pop our head around the corner seeing an incredibly obese undead with rotting, sunken skin.
"Got a Blighter round the corner. Don't think we can take its head before it pops, hafta go the long way." I whisper as we sneak across the alley way and enter an abandoned street.
Looking around I start to regret following the sound of animals to the damn dungeon. Looking back we would have been better off staying away from that damn castyr nest but they're the only easy meal we've found so far and even they are slowly starting to turn. And that damn lizard getting half our team fucking killed. But the dungeon ate it to and if there's one thing everyone knows that dungeons are even crueler than gods, at least gods can be reasoned with. Suddenly I hear the sound of hooves thundering across the ground and voices speaking as Gee turns pale behind me.
"I'm telling you Zod, I smell human stink here. And the Ratwolves died so there has to be a damn party. If we bring them back to the master we'll be rewarded!" Says a loud voice arrogantly as a groan responds. Glancing around the corner I spy two of the Bosses from the undead area that have been dwindling our numbers. One of them is a towering troll, its body ethereal as it sniffs the air and scratches its ass lazily. The other a rotting corpse dress like royalty, the corpse is missing its lower jaw as its sunken eyes glow blue. It sit's upon a horse with two black horns coming out of its skeletal head, its glowing red eyes glaring aimlessly as it flaps the rotting black feathered wings in annoyance.
Damnit thats the damn spirit troll and the cursed king of Gotyr! Fucking hell that troll can literally smell life and the king is barely even more than a normal undead but he still has nasty skills and the horse eats people. I've seen it eat people...dozens...it was horrific. Thinking quickly an idea comes through my mind as I grab a stone dagger at my waist and turn around quickly while stabbing it into Gee's stomach, his shocked eyes staring at me in understanding as I sprint the opposite direction while he starts screaming.
"Zod I told you! Human lets get him!" Laughs the troll as it lumbers after Gee's screaming and the horse slowly walks behind it.
I continue sprinting feeling the shame as I remember the orders from the boss , that if we come across a boss and we have important info it's better to sacrifice one than all. Steeling myself I can now move quicker without the injured Gee as I finally reach the gates of the castle after another hour. Knocking the code on the gate, several stealthed fighters fade into view as one of them casts a spell before nodding and letting me inside the gates.
Walking inside I take a deep breath and relax as I look around in appreciation of the dozens of makeshift houses and the families living within them. A little girl practices her sword strikes against a night gnome in rags, the slave collar around its neck actively forcing it to take the strikes as she laughs. A lobster like monster with intelligent eyes is led around on a leash as the anklet gives it a shock whenever its master has an order. Sadly in this place, slavery of monsters and such is a part of life considering we need labor, food, and training against enemies. Walking through the streets I nod towards several friends before reaching the castle itself and make my way inside before kneeling before a throne. The throne is twisted, made from the bones and trophies of several undead and monsters we've been forced to fight as the bandit lord sits upon it, calmly watching me without speaking.
"Boss I return to ye with an important find! Me squad and I was scoutin' the area of the castyr when several wandered away. Gunther told us they be fairly lazy so we figure if they be leaving in a group it may be something good and we be right. We follow em for a half hour as they reach a cave and walk inside without returnin'. We finally decide ta enter and low an behold its a damn baby dungeon boss! Only had a single castyr as a monster and it was lazy as hell! So we send in the lizard and Gunther, him sayin the beast will be good for us when all of a sudden Gunther falls in a pit. Spike went through is' skull nothin we could do. Then that damn lizard runs off and tries attackin' the castyr and it just sits there lazy like lookin' at it before getting up and runnin with it. We chase it but find ourselves in a big room, twas a boss and some kind of wolf castyr mix. Had poison and stealth and was quicker than a elf in oil. Killed that bastard slaver you had us bring along with a poison needle spray from its tail. I got lucky with a strike and killed the bugger after tanking it but Gee took a hit and Frank ;et his guard down. Afore we knew it the castyr that ran snuck up on Frank and took is throat before Gee could kill it. But this boss dropped me a new axe and it be rare boss! Plus the castyr dropped clean meat, bones and fur! No rot or stink of undeath! Me and Gee made our way back but about a mile out the undead king and troll were wandering and...well I sacrificed Gee to get this back to ya! I swear it true boss!" I babble nervously as I glance towards our leader.
The bandit king is a large man, rumored to be the son of a dwarf and an ogre. He measures 10 meters tall with a bushy black beard and skin like leather, bright purple tattoo's running down his arms and across his thick neck. He wears leather but it's dark and glows, enchanted gear he took from bosses he slew to protect us. His eyes are green but hold a calm burning rage, as is thick fingers clack against the arm of the throne.
"Jogur you've done well. We will have to protect this baby dungeon in hopes it can help us find the source of the dead and kill it. The news of the troll known as Beggar and the old king is distressing but our wards can fend them off easily. That axe looks fine as well but its a shame we lost the lizard, they're known as fantastic mages and knowledge seekers. Had he survived he could have earned a higher slave position or even freedom once strong enough to fuel the wards. We will alert the families of the fallen and increase patrols. I wish for you to take several of the blood bathers and return to this dungeon with gifts. Take basic weapons, copies of spell books, and a few of the less useful slaves to gift it and try to get an audience with its familiar. We may be able to trick it into helping us. Now move out and good work." Says the bandit king in a voice like gravel against sand.
I stand and salute before heading out, smiling as In plan on how to gain more from this fortunate encounter.