Inside the Kobold Dungeon
Hamish's Perspective
The portal's light vanished, sealing off the world we knew. The air felt heavy, like a Highland storm brewing. Shadows stretched, as if the room breathed. Snow gripped her staff like a lifeline, her sapphire core pulsing softly.
"First time, eh?" I muttered, tightening my blade and shield. Her nervous glance spoke volumes. "Stick with me, lass. If it moves, it's fair game."
Snow nodded, hands trembling, her eyes darting to jagged walls where runes glowed dimly, bathing the chamber in eerie light. The dungeon's magic throbbed, subtle and constant. A low voice echoed from nowhere.
"Welcome, allies of DAVE's sanctum. This realm scales to your power. Proceed with care." A prompt flashed: The dungeon core has offered you the quest: Clear the kobold trials. Reward: +10 attribute points and 3 strong healing potions. Additional treasures may be looted.
I swiped the air, accepting, and grinned at Snow. "Strength and constitution for me." Snow gestured, smiling wide. "Intelligence and Wisdom, please."
"Cheery place, isn't it?" I grunted, scanning the room. "Just what I needed! A talking cave!" Snow whispered, voice tight, "It feels… alive." She wasn't wrong. Every step rippled the ground, like the dungeon watched.
"Alive or not, it's a dungeon," I said. "Fights and treasure await. Stick close." I raised my shield and strode forward, boots echoing in the silence.
A low growl rumbled from the shadows, the air growing colder. Snow froze, her sapphire glowing brighter. "Here we go," I muttered, stepping in front of her. Three wolf-like creatures flickered between mist and substance, their burning eyes locked on us.
"Stay close, lass," I ordered, raising my blade. "Shields first, spells after. Hit their flanks, wolves hate that." Snow raised her staff, a shimmer of ice forming a delicate shield. Her fingers trembled through the incantation.
The first wolf lunged. I braced my shield as its claws sliced against metal, sparks erupting, the impact jarring my arm. I shoved it aside and slashed its flank, the beast yelping before darting back.
Snow faltered, her shield wavering, then shattering as a second wolf attacked. She stumbled, barely blocking its teeth with her staff. "Don't think, act!" I barked, diverting the first wolf. "Your magic's stronger than you think!"
She took a shaky breath, thrusting her staff forward. A jagged icicle wobbled, then hurtled into the wolf's leg, freezing it solid. The beast staggered, clumsy and slow.
"That's it!" I shouted, finishing it with a clean slash. The third wolf charged, growl deep. I deflected its claws, slashing its shoulder, making it stagger.
"Hamish!" Snow cried. Her shield held firm against the first wolf's lunge, claws scraping uselessly. "Good lass! Hit it hard!" I called, blocking my opponent's strike.
Snow's next icicle pierced the wolf's chest. It dissolved into mist with a strangled growl, leaving her wide-eyed. I baited the final wolf, driving my blade into its side. It crumpled, vanishing.
Silence fell, our breathing ragged. Snow's sapphire pulsed, rewarding her effort. She clutched her staff, pale but determined.
"You alright?" I asked, sheathing my blade. She nodded shakily. "I... I didn't think I could…"
I clapped her shoulder, grinning. "You did good, lass. Better than most. Get ready, next room's coming." She smiled, straightening. "I'll do better."
"That's the spirit," I said, turning to the shifting walls. The dungeon hummed, a darker path opening. The core's voice echoed: "Success. Strength recognized. Prepare for the next trial."
shhhhh TiCHK…
A man's voice: "…Snow, tell the rest. I'm no good at this memory crystal stuff…"
Snow: "No, no, you do it. I'll just make a fool of my--"
Hamish: "Nope. I'm done. Probably doing it wrong, so it's yours. I'm going to eat. Tell this rock the rest…"
Snow: "Ugh. Okay… well… how do you turn this on…?"
shhhhh TiCHK!
The memory crystal flickered, Snow's voice taking over for Doras Dagda's records.
Snow's Perspective
The corridor narrowed, the dungeon's hum pulsing around me. My thoughts lingered on the wolves' growls, my staff's weight, Hamish's voice cutting through chaos. "Don't think, act," he'd said. Magic wasn't simple.
My shield nearly shattered, barely holding one wolf. If Hamish hadn't been there, I'd have faltered. I gripped my staff, its wood an anchor. He was always there, steady, never unkind.
"You're tougher than that, lass! Show 'em what you can do!" His words echoed. My arms ached, a wolf's scrape stinging, yet I recast, my ice holding firm. My icicle took down a wolf.
I touched my sapphire core, feeling its pulse. Moira's voice lingered, soft like a stream. Magic should flow, not be forced. My shield formed smoother when I let it move through me.
Hamish led ahead, boots crunching. His shield was an extension, effortless. I envied his instincts. My spells felt unpolished, taking a hit unthinkable.
"You're quiet back there," Hamish called. "No thoughts on your first fight?" Startled, I stammered, "Oh, um… It wasn't… as bad as I thought."
He glanced back, brow furrowed. "Aye, it's a lot. You're breathing, that counts. You did good." My cheeks burned. "I could've done better."
"Held," he cut in. "You figured it out on the fly. That's enough." Magic wasn't for fumbling. I had to be stronger, faster, for the settlement.
My sapphire core shivered, collecting M-power from fights, quests, feeding a reservoir. Should I strengthen shields? Sharpen spells? The wolves were fast, I needed speed.
"Put those thoughts aside," Hamish said. "Next chamber's up." The corridor widened, jagged walls glittering, cold air biting. I gripped my staff, exhaled.
"Right," I murmured. "Focus." Hamish nodded, stepping in. My core warmed, reacting to the dungeon's shift. Something felt dangerous.
The chamber spread wide, runes pulsing offbeat. "Keep sharp," Hamish muttered, raising his shield and sword. "Feels like a trap." The silence was heavy, like a storm brewing.
A clink echoed, stone striking metal. Shadows shifted, red-eyed kobolds emerging, cunning and quick. The first lunged with a crude spear. Hamish's shield slammed it, the thud echoing.
"Focus on your shield, Snow!" he barked. I raised my staff, my Ice Shield steady, magic flowing in rhythm. A kobold's spear bounced off, another met Hamish's blade.
A taller kobold mage appeared, robe patchwork, staff crackling purple. "Hamish," I whispered, heart pounding. "I see it," he growled. "Stay back."
The mage's bolt rattled my shield, sending me reeling. "Snow!" Hamish charged, deflecting a bolt. I gritted my teeth, recasting as kobolds tested my shield.
One slashed through a gap. I froze its arm with a Frost Snap. "Got you!" I muttered. Hamish cut through foes, his shield blocking the mage's staff.
"Clever bastard," Hamish growled, shattering the mage's staff in a burst of light. His next strike ended it. The kobolds scattered, my shield dissolving with a hum.
"Not bad," Hamish said, approving. "Your shield held better." I smiled, cheeks warm. "I'm getting the hang of it."
A chest pulsed with magic, runes shimmering. I knelt, finding a silver ring with a blue gemstone. Slipping it on, I saw auras outlining rocks, foes' remnants shimmering.
"It shows magical auras," I told Hamish, awed. "Everything looks… different." He nodded. "Useful against invisible nasties." The ring's hum gave me an edge.
"Come on," Hamish said. "More awaits." The next chamber's air was colder, sulfurous, green-glowed walls jagged. A tall kobold stood, staff crackling, eyes darting.
Hamish advanced, shield up. "Well, aren't you ugly. What's your game?" The kobold's grin showed sharp teeth. "I am Mizzryk, master of tricks," it rasped, voice oily.
"You are not like the others," Mizzryk said. "Beasts obey the dungeon, but not I. I seek freedom." Its gaze flicked to me. "What awaits is no mere trial. The master hungers."
"Get to the point," Hamish demanded. Mizzryk bowed, staff clicking. "A bargain. My power, your strength, especially her magic."
"How do we know you won't betray us?" I asked, steadier. "No profit in treachery," it said, green light dancing. "I could break your enemies."
Hamish tensed. "Why care about us?" Mizzryk leaned in. "The dungeon's master wields power I detest! I seek glory."
"I don't trust it," I whispered. "Feels… wrong." Hamish murmured, "Aye, but maybe useful." Mizzryk's staff flared. "If you won't accept, I take what I need!"
A bolt shattered my shield, rattling my arms. "Snow, cover!" Hamish roared, his blade clashing with a green barrier. Mizzryk cackled. "Fools! Kneel before Mizzryk!"
My shields broke fast, mana draining. I darted behind a pillar, heart pounding. "You'll regret this!" Mizzryk snarled, staff raised.
I fired a Frost Snap, ice trapping its feet. Hamish's shield rammed its chest, pinning it. "Finish it!" I shouted, voice weak.
Mizzryk's staff flared. "This isn't over!" Cracks spiderwebbed the ceiling, debris crashing down. When the dust settled, Mizzryk was gone.
Hamish scowled. "Coward. It'll be back." A treasure pile glinted, the dungeon's reward. I found a 300-gold gemstone, a magical necklace, a healing potion, a mana potion.
"Worth the trouble?" I asked, exhausted. "Aye," Hamish grinned. "Hope the next room's kinder." Mizzryk's words lingered, tempting trust despite his betrayal. I wanted to believe him, but part of me itched to end his tricks for good.