The Encounter – A Suspicious Group with a Hans
As Mellali, Hadjer, Korrak, and Fenna moved cautiously through the dungeon, their senses heightened after the deadly trap at the Grove of the Forgotten, they found themselves navigating deeper corridors. The cold, stone walls seemed to close in around them, and the air had an ominous weight to it. The sense of being watched, of something always lurking just beyond their perception, never left them. Every footstep echoed through the dungeon's narrow halls, amplifying the tension.
Suddenly, the group heard voices ahead. Mellali raised a hand, signaling for silence as they approached cautiously, hugging the walls of the corridor.
As they neared the source of the voices, they saw a group of adventurers—five of them—standing near the remains of an old statue, which had clearly been recently broken apart. The adventurers were laughing and talking among themselves, seemingly relaxed, but Mellali's group knew better than to trust appearances in this dungeon.
The adventurers spotted them and waved. The apparent leader, a tall man with a sword strapped to his back, called out, "Hey! You folks look like you've been through the ringer. You headed for the Safe Zone?"
Mellali narrowed his eyes. They were always on guard, but after what they had just been through, their suspicion was even greater. He glanced at Korrak, who stood stiffly, his grip tightening on his greataxe.
Then, from behind the group of adventurers, another man stepped forward—average build, plain features, wearing simple armor. "We've been there already," the man said with a friendly grin. "It's just up ahead if you're looking for it. My name's Hans, by the way."
The moment the name Hans left the man's lips, a palpable shift rippled through Mellali's group.
Korrak visibly tensed, his eyes narrowing into a suspicious glare. "Hans?" he muttered under his breath, his knuckles turning white as he gripped his greataxe even tighter. He took a half-step back, his face darkening as if he'd just been slapped with a curse. The barbarian's mood turned stormy, and for good reason—Hans, though a common name, had always brought him nothing but bad luck.
---
The "Hans" Curse
Mellali arched an eyebrow and leaned in toward Hadjer. "Hans?" he whispered, sounding more confused than concerned.
Hadjer, noticing Korrak's reaction, sighed softly and gave Mellali a knowing look. "It's always a Hans," she said quietly. "Korrak's got this thing about the name. He's convinced it's cursed."
Hadjer blinked, trying to hide her amusement. "Cursed?"
"Every time there's been a Hans, something bad happens," Mellali explained, keeping his voice low but watching Korrak carefully. "It's more superstition than anything else, but after a few incidents… well, he's got a point."
Meanwhile, Korrak, already on high alert, was staring daggers at Hans, his mind clearly racing with every horror story he'd ever heard that involved someone named Hans. "I don't trust it," he muttered darkly. "Not one bit. Every Hans I've ever known brought me trouble."
Mellali, suppressing a chuckle, tried to refocus. "Korrak, it's just a name—"
"It's not just a name, sorcerer!" Korrak hissed, his voice a low growl. "It's bad luck in human form. Every Hans is bad news. You'll see."
Hadjer, ever the voice of reason, tilted her head thoughtfully. "We can't judge him by his name alone, Korrak."
Korrak scowled. "Oh, we can. Trust me."
Hans, oblivious to the brewing tension, smiled warmly at them, waving his hand in a friendly gesture. "You should come with us. The Safe Zone isn't far from here. We've been holding it down for a couple of days, and it's a good place to rest up. You all look like you could use it."
Despite the invitation, Mellali felt a pang of unease. The group seemed legitimate, but after the Grove of the Forgotten incident, he was more cautious than ever. And then there was Korrak—standing behind him like a taut wire, ready to snap at the first sign of trouble.
"We've seen plenty of 'safe zones' turn out to be traps," Mellali replied, keeping his tone polite but guarded. "How can we trust this one?"
Hans shrugged good-naturedly. "We've been staying there for days. It's solid. No monsters, no traps."
"Sounds too good to be true," Korrak muttered. "And then there's the fact that you're named Hans."
Hadjer stifled a laugh as Hans blinked in confusion, clearly unaware of the tension he was causing.
---
An Uneasy Journey
After a tense discussion, Mellali's group reluctantly agreed to follow the adventurers to the supposed Safe Zone. Korrak, however, refused to let Hans out of his sight. The barbarian's paranoia was palpable, his eyes darting toward Hans at every possible moment, convinced the man was somehow connected to impending disaster.
As they walked, the atmosphere grew colder, the dungeon walls seemingly pressing in on them. There was something strange about the air—thick with tension, like something just on the edge of perception. Mellali could feel the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as they passed through dimly lit corridors.
The group of adventurers ahead seemed unaffected, chatting casually among themselves, but Korrak's mood only worsened. His tension was contagious, making the rest of the group more jumpy than they would normally be.
As they turned a corner, Mellali suddenly stopped, narrowing his eyes. Something felt off. The stone walls around them had become smoother, unnaturally so, as if they weren't part of the dungeon's original structure.
Hadjer noticed it too. "This isn't… right," she said softly.
The adventurers didn't seem to notice. "Just a little further," Hans said cheerfully.
"That's what worries me," Mellali whispered under his breath.
---
Bad Luck Strikes – Hans' Curse Revealed
Just as they rounded another bend, Hans stopped and turned to the group with a smile. "Here we are. Just past this door is—"
Before he could finish, there was a loud snap from the ceiling above them, and in an instant, traps sprung to life. A series of spiked chains shot out from hidden compartments in the walls, lashing out violently toward the group.
Korrak's instincts kicked in immediately. "I knew it!" he roared, diving to the side as one of the chains narrowly missed his head. "It's always a Hans!"
He tumbled out of the way, his greataxe flashing in the dim light as he cut through one of the chains. "I told you this would happen!"
Mellali, equally quick, raised his hand and cast Shield just in time to block a chain aimed directly at him.
(Mellali casts Shield, AC raised to 21 – chain attack misses)
The chain bounced harmlessly off his magical barrier, but the realization dawned on him immediately: It was a trap. And of course, Hans had led them straight into it.
"Everyone, move!" Mellali shouted as more chains shot out, targeting each member of the group.
Hadjer, nimble and quick, activated her Bladesong, dancing out of the way of the oncoming chains. Her movements were fluid as she spun through the corridor, her rapier flashing as she sliced through one of the chains aimed at Fenna.
( Damage: 18 piercing)
The chain fell to the ground in a twisted heap, but the danger wasn't over. The room was coming to life with more and more traps—spiked walls, retractable floors, and deadly vines bursting from the ground.
Korrak, now fuming with rage, turned to Hans, who was trying to dodge the traps himself. "This is why I don't trust Hanses!" Korrak shouted, swinging his axe at one of the chains. "I knew you'd bring bad luck!"
( Damage: 28 slashing)
Hans, looking pale and panicked, stammered, "I-I didn't know! I swear!"
---
The Escape – Narrowly Surviving the Trap
With Mellali and Hadjer having just teleported themselves out of the trap-filled corridor using Dimension Door, they reappeared in a safer section of the dungeon. The chaotic sounds of chains snapping and walls collapsing echoed faintly behind them, but they had made it. Mellali steadied Hadjer as they landed, his heart still racing from the intensity of the moment.
However, Korrak and Fenna were still stuck in the corridor of traps with Hans and the other adventurers. Korrak, now fuming with rage, was not about to let Hans' bad luck get him killed.
---
Korrak's Defiance – Fighting the Traps
Korrak roared as the spiked chains swung toward him again, his massive greataxe flashing through the air as he hacked and slashed at the traps with brute strength. He dodged and rolled, moving with surprising agility for a man of his size, slicing through each chain as it came.
(Damage: 30 slashing)
"More traps? More chains? Come on! I'll tear them all apart!" Korrak growled, his rage fueling his determination to survive.
Fenna, just behind him, was using her Grove Seed to shield herself from the relentless barrage of vines and spikes bursting from the ground. The magical energy from the seed created a protective aura around her, holding back the worst of the traps for a brief moment.
Hans, however, wasn't faring as well. He scrambled and ducked under the deadly chains, his face pale with fear. "I swear, I didn't know!" he shouted, barely avoiding another swipe from a spiked vine.
Korrak sneered. "You always bring bad luck, Hans! I knew something would go wrong!"
---
Mellali's Quick Thinking – Saving Korrak and Fenna
Mellali, now safely on the other side with Hadjer, knew they couldn't just leave Korrak and Fenna behind. He quickly scanned the traps and the layout of the corridor. They had to act fast before the traps overwhelmed their companions. The chains were becoming more aggressive, the floor beneath them threatening to collapse at any moment.
Hadjer, still catching her breath from the teleportation, noticed Mellali's intense focus. "We need to get them out of there."
Mellali nodded. He raised his hands, channeling his arcane power, and cast Psionic Sorcery, using Telekinesis to pull both Korrak and Fenna toward him, dragging them out of the trap zone before the deadly chains could claim them.
(Mellali casts Telekinesis, successfully pulling Korrak and Fenna out of the trap-filled corridor)
Korrak roared in defiance as he was lifted from the ground, his body dragged toward safety as the chains snapped wildly behind him. Fenna, though more graceful, clung to her staff as Mellali's spell pulled her to safety.
---
Barely Escaping – Hans' Inevitable Bad Luck
Just as Korrak and Fenna reached the relative safety of Mellali and Hadjer's position, the corridor behind them collapsed entirely, stone and chains crashing down in a chaotic symphony of destruction. The adventurers they had been following—including Hans—were not as lucky.
A loud, piercing shriek echoed through the dungeon as the traps closed in on the adventurers, cutting off their escape route. Hans was caught in the collapse, pinned beneath a mass of chains and rubble. His last words echoed with disbelief: "But it was supposed to be safe…!"
Korrak shook his head in grim satisfaction. "See? I told you. Every Hans brings bad luck. Without fail."
Hadjer, though sympathetic, couldn't help but stifle a small laugh. "We should've listened to you."
Mellali glanced at Korrak, giving him a nod of acknowledgment. "Next time we meet a Hans, we'll be sure to follow your lead."
Korrak grunted. "As you should. Hanses are cursed."
---
Safe, But Wary – What Happens Next?
The group, finally out of immediate danger, took a moment to catch their breath. The traps had been relentless, and their escape had been too close for comfort. Mellali wiped the sweat from his brow, still feeling the lingering tension in the air. The dungeon had once again proven that it was a merciless, unpredictable place, and any sense of security could be a trap waiting to spring.
"That was too close," Hadjer murmured, adjusting her rapier. "What now?"
"We move on," Mellali said, his voice steady. "The dungeon knows we're here, and it's not going to give us any breaks. But we're stronger now."
Fenna, still holding the Grove Seed, nodded. "The dungeon's reacting to us, that's for sure. We have to be more careful."
Korrak cracked his knuckles, looking back toward the collapsed corridor with a mixture of pride and weariness. "We'll rest when we find a real Safe Zone. One without a Hans."
The group exchanged wary glances, knowing that this dungeon was far from finished with them. But for now, they had escaped its latest trap—barely—and they were alive.