The Runesmith

“We have sent two of the adventurers along with two knights to deliver a message to the adventurer’s guild. Lady Lucille, I’ll have to ask you to remain strong!”

Roland and Robert were to the side and looking at the crystal ball. In it was Lord Percival who was now talking with Lady Lucille. Two days have passed since they had become trapped in this series of underground caverns.

They were all now before a hidden door that could lead into another trapped room. From what his mapping device told him, it looked to be quite an open space. It was even larger than what this device could show him.

From his previous experiences, it could mean a few things. One it would be similar to the Troglodyte cavern. When they entered the doors would close and monsters would start piling on top of them.

The second option was a more tame one. It could very well just be the exit into the larger volcanic dungeon. The large space that he could not map fully could be the lower dungeon. He did not believe that this was the case, as it would be far too easy.

It could also be a room filled with more traps, maybe some puzzles, and then finally the thing that he was afraid of the most, a hidden boss chamber. He only had two party members that he was not very familiar with.

They have also sheltered nobles that didn’t have experience in fighting against monsters bigger and stronger than they were. Even though Robert had trained in a similar way as he did, there was a difference in fighting goblins than large hobgoblins that out leveled a person.

“Thank you, Lord Percival, tell Charlene that I’m doing fine.”

After a bit, the magic sphere went out and the talk was over. Lucille didn’t disclose much after Roland asked her not to tell the noble commander that they were moving deeper into the dungeon.

“Are you sure it was the right thing to do, Sir. Wayland?”

“It’s better to not make them worry, they can’t really help us here and the rescue party won’t be arriving for at least a few more days…”

Lucille was not a person that liked to lie. He had to convince her that it would be unwise to make her friends worry, after this, she changed her tune. Roland felt bad about using a person that had a more rosy outlook on life like this girl but he needed to look at his own wellbeing.

“Lord Percival would have told us to return if he knew, I think you made the right decision Lady Lucille.”

It seemed that Robert on the other hand saw it his way. He wasn’t sure what his reason for it was though. More than likely he just didn’t think that sitting around and twiddling their thumbs would help with anything. He had always been quite headstrong and someone that pushed on forward even when many things got in his way.

“What do you think is past that door, Sir. Wayland?”

“It could be another trapped room…”

Roland was a bit suspicious about this place as after entering these corridors they had not come across any type of monster.

“Can your device ascertain such a thing?”

Lucille asked while glancing at Rolandʼs orb that she did previously get the chance to use.

“Regretfully no, but I’ve been meaning to add that function.”

This item was still a work in progress, getting it to detect monsters and other living beings was the most he could do for now. He had used part of the golem code that he had bought not that long ago.

The golems came with a function of recognizing people, animals, and monsters and that’s why his device could do it as well. To come up with a trap analyzer he would need to be a bit more original but with the help of some of these new runic books that he studied recently he had been given some new ideas.

“I won’t lie to you, I have no idea what could be behind that door, it could be a swarm of volcanic monsters, or maybe just a room filled with treasure. We won’t know until we enter it and I won’t force you to come with me.”

He wanted to move forward as waiting for other people to help him was not really his style. Depending on others was something that Roland did not enjoy. Even though there was a noble lady here that everyone wanted to save, this didn’t mean that he would be helped.

The rescue party could very well climb down and only take Lucille with them. Then Robert would be next in line while he, a regular adventurer could very well be used as an expendable resource. They could even say that he died down in the cave and not bother with him. Thus he would rather try his luck in these unknown caves. His high level and gear gave him some confidence in being able to survive.