'I never would have thought someone would realize the trick to passing into Crafters Corner. He has a remarkable intellect. Well, the other two don't seem as intelligent, or skilled. Odds are good, one dies, and the other retreats and can't pay the toll,' Orion thought to himself.
-
"Think Burke. How can we show our skills as lifers in this tunnel? You're predominantly a combat, and I don't see a loom or cloth nearby for me."
"Come on Trish. We just gotta remember which steps he took were safe, and which made clicks. That can't be too hard, right?"
The two of them looked at each other.
"We are so screwed," said Trish.
-
"Ok, fourteen traps in the first ten feet, another 7 to the door, one on a timed release, probably toxic gas or fire. That's not too bad, I can do this." Moss had developed the habit of speaking to himself at a young age, verbalizing his thoughts, feelings and targets to help focus his mind to the task at hand.
"Let's see, leap two tiles forwards, left and three up, flip the dart, safe zone two inches wide...."
<*HSSSSSSS*>
"Fucking, gods damned asps! Why are you everywhere?!?!?!"
-
"Fuck this. I'm going in," Burke snarled. True to form, the tank decided to do what tanks do best, take damage.
Charging forward like a bull, Burke had his shield up and ready, prepared to deflect projectiles or weapons alike.
Halfway in, sprayed in the face by a green mist, he immediately screamed, vomiting blood and falling to the ground.
"Idiot," Trish sighed, as she retraced his previous steps, safe until the last one. rolling him over, she saw venom striations beginning to form around his eyes, nose and mouth. Uncorking a bottle, she poured it into his mouth, stroking his throat to force a high grade antivenom into his system.
"You owe me for the bottle, dumbass," she muttered worriedly, as the venom markings slowed, then reversed, being pulled from his system by the potion.
"Now what do I do?" she asked aloud, her worries growing greater as the Moss ceiling continued to dim.
-
"I have never seen a Dungeon so hell bent on poisoning people!" shuddered Moss. Standing on tip toe, in the single safe, untrapped tile barely two inches wide, Moss focused all his energy on maintaining perfect balance.
"Just seven more traps, six if I can pick the door quickly enough. Shouldn't be any more snakes in the hall. Just tell yourself that to keep going, Moss, you got this." With a twist of his body, Moss began further acrobatics towards the large, brass door at the end of the tunnel.
"Why? Why spiders? What is wrong with this Dungeon that it has poisonous snakes and tiny venomous spiders? Whyyyyy?!?!?!"
-
"I think that was Moss," said Trish. "Well, if he's screaming, he's still alive. You good to stand up again?" Burke nodded and slowly stood, careful of the plate which triggered the poison. No telling how many charges it had in it.
"Ready. I can go another round of charging, clear the last of the traps for you."
"Stop being an idiot and let me think. The lights almost gone. Light a torch. Without it, we'll be blind down here and then we will never get out."
<*Spsszzt-hiss*>
In the torches light, the once individualized tiles now appeared uniform in appearance. All trace of markings and patterns faded in the harsh light.
"Well, I figured out how we were supposed to get across before. Too late now though. Torch hides the glow, glow shows the markings," remarked Trish.
"Should we just wait here for Albert to come get us?" asked Burke.
"Do you want to gift one of your items to the Dungeon for free? We entered the tunnel, we have to pay the fee," replied Trish. "You already owe me a high grade antivenom."
"Hmmmm. Let me think."
"Don't hurt yourself, big guy. I'll figure this out," Trish replied, playfully punching Burke's arm.
-
"Ok, I can hear the mechanism winding up, just need to pick this lock, pick the lock, slow and steady, be patient with it, and there! Hahahahaha! take that snakes and spiders! I am in, and you are - Jesus. That is one big pig."
Porky, woken by Moss' voice, turned and looked at him. Standing 1.5 meters tall, porky less resembles a pig or boar than a very large, very grumpy bear. One who was standing directly between Moss and the Wheel.
-
"I got this, big guy. Follow my steps, ok?"
"You got it Trish."
Trish spent several minutes slowly increasing the weight on each foot as she lowered them, cautiously and carefully. Twice she had felt the stone begin to shift, and twice she had nearly triggered whichever sick trap was next in this hallway of horrors.
After an hour in the hall waiting, and another hour navigating the trapped section of flooring, trish Had finally made it to the door.
"Gods above and below, please don't tell me I need to do that to get out again." she sighed quietly.
-
"Nice pig. Good pig. I just want to slip behind you there- No! I won't hurt you, I promise!"
Porky snorted at the thought. He doubted this tiny little man had the ability to hurt him, let alone the inclination. Snorting and grunting, Porky lowered his head, scratching his hoof on the ground like a bull about to charge.
"Now, there there Mister pig! How's about a nice snack instead, huh? I-I've got an apple here-"
Porky interrupted with an angry sounding snort. Then, his nap disturbed, and no red berries in hand, Porky did the only thing that made sense to him. He charged.
"Son of a BIIIIIII"
-
"Huh, that's Moss again," muttered Albert. "So distracting. Makes it impossible to work in here. Should really soundproof this room. Would do wonders for the focused crafts like enchanting and alchemy."
"Duly noted. Please, show me those nature runes again if you would? As a wisp, I am inclined towards that element, and would love to expand my repertoire in that area for my master," replied Sylph. "You do owe me for walking you down the hall, after all."
"I made it down the hallway, fair and square. But if you'll allow me to slay you once and harvest your core, I could be amenable- Oh hello, Trish. Burke. You finally made it. How was your trip?"
"Not. Another. Word." Trish panted, drenched in sweat.
-
Moss lay panting on the ground, the entire treasure room at the end of the hallway trashed.
"That is one angry pig," he panted to himself. "Just kept coming... heeeeeuuuh."
Slowly rising to his feet, and triple checking to make sure the brass door behind him was securely closed and locked, Moss approached the wheel.
"Alright, seems pretty straightforward. One spin, get the treasure where it lands. Try to trick the wheel, pay a penalty. Wonder what the penalty is?" he pondered to himslef as he grabbed the wheel and gave it a careless spin.
-
"Anybody heard Moss scream lately?" Trish asked.
"Nope" "nah" "Who's Moss?" they replied.
"Oh dear. That means he either died in that passage, or actually made it through." Trish said. Crunching her brows, she continued. "And I don't know which is worse..."