The group stealthily makes their way through the castle being lead by Leo. Leo having drank the blood of the king, stole away some of his knowledge, making the castle as easy to navigate as if he had lived in it his whole life. Echos of guards fill the hallways spurring our group on.
"This way, it is through here." Whispers Leo
Leo opens a large secured door and beyond it lies a room with many ominous blue glowing torches with a large hole in the center. The hole contains a sloped smooth cavern that looks extremely difficult to climb without losing grip and falling again.
One by one the members of SSI jump into the hole and slide down into the Storm State dungeon. Eventually the group slides to a stop. The humans of the group take their time standing, but Maldrek and Zilo stare into the darkness.
As the other stand, Maldrek puts out a hand and worriedly whispers, "Stop! Be at the ready, we are not alone."
Zilo and Maldrek's eyes remain trained on the darkness as the humans in the group ready their weapons. Zilo takes out his readies Harmony as Maldrek keeps one hand to his spellbook and the other to his blade.
"Zilo, are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
"A room full of deranged looking Dogs that look like their have too many body parts to just be dogs?"
"I believe that these are Chimeras, and a whole pride of them no less. The castle Wizard must like throwing his experiments down here to take care of the kingdom's trash. Steady yourselves these are no beasts, they can think and plan as well as they can rend flesh from bone."
Leo flicks out his rhoka and casts Light upon it.
"Filling me with such confidence guys, really, like the best pep-talk ever right there."
Cruxis and May also imbue their weapons with Light as Alaroc's blade lights it's runs to give him a slight view of the charging animals, 6 in total. Just as the Creatures are about to prey down on the group a scratchy little voice shouts out from down a nearby passage.
"Pyrotechnics!"
At that an explosion of light shoots out from behind the party, shining bright as the sun, and scaring off the Chimera dogs approaching the group, now not favoring their odds without the use of their eyes. Not only that, but they seem afraid of the fire.
"Hurry! Over here!" Shouts the little scratchy voice. In a panic the group dashes down the passage way, before a large iron door is forced shut behind them.
The group takes a minute to catch their breath and look at their new surroundings. the entire area looks like it has been through the mother of all fires, with some torches showing off the many, many scorch marks and ash stains. The floor is also covered in little foot prints which reminds the group of their rescuer.
They turn not knowing what to expect, but it wasn't what they saw. There stood a barely clothed grey skin Goblin. while his skin is grey, most of it looks to be covered in ash and soot, while his eyes glow a orange red flickering color that seems to warp as you look into them.
"Hi!" Waves the little goblin as the group stares down at him.
Zilo is the first to respond as he kneels down with a smile and says, "Hello there little guy, nice to meet you, it's good to see a friendly face down here."
"Not many Friendlies here." Remarks the Goblin nodding in broken common. The two shake hands and the goblin smiles as he looks up at them,
"Sparky is what I'm called, can't remember me ma's thing for callin. So Sparky it'd be." The group goes around introducing themselves.
After introductions, Cruxis asks the small goblin, "So Sparky, are you an Alchemist?"
May kneels down at that question and wipes away some of the soot.
"That would explain all these marks, but where would he get his components down here?"
Sparky wildly shakes his head and arms as he says, "NO NO NO! Me no even know what is Allychemicist all me need is me."
The group looks puzzled for a moment before the goblin speaks, "Spark!" With that a plume of fire erupts from Sparky's hand, the group gasps, all but Maldrek, Leo, and Zilo who cross their arms and nod simultaneously.
Zilo remarks, "A Sorcerer living in the dungeon, what luck."
Maldrek continues, "Of an Elemental Bloodline I'd guess, judging from the fire spells."
Leo finishes with, "Tell me Sparky, do you know a way out?"
Sparky immediately jumps and hides under some half burnt rags that look to be his bed.
"NO! We stay here! Here safe. And no mother of the dungeon!"
May questions that, "Mother of the dungeon? That's worrisome."
Zilo waves her off saying, "Ha, women just like them to worry if they are the prettiest girl around, don't worry May, I'm sure she's ugly." Zilo gets smacked and lands in a pile of ash as Alaroc kneels down to the goblin and asks, " What can you tell us of this dungeon mother?"
Sparky crawls out of the rags, flaring his nose and crawling around the room he looks up at Alaroc, showing his teeth in a threatening fashion and emphasizing his hands spiking down into the ground over and over as he moves. The group stares on, perplexed.
"That what she like." Says the little goblin smiling. Maldrek coughs and responds.
"Well with a name like that we'd best try and avoid her."
Behind Maldrek, Leo and Cruxis seem to discuss something, and shake hands before Maldrek turns back to Sparky.
"Well Sparky, is there any other way out?"
"Nope."
Cruxis snaps his fingers and throws Leo 5 gold as Maldrek sighs.
"Looks as though we will need to face this Mother of the Dungeon, Sparky will you take us there?"
"No." remarks Sparky crossing his arms and sticking out his tongue.
Maldrek forms a bit of magical energy into his hand and through gritted teeth he says, "Smarmy little freak, I'll-"
Zilo stays Maldrek's hand and says, "Mind if I give it a shot, buddy?"
Maldrek dispels the magic and waves the little goblin off. Zilo takes a seat on the ground next to Sparky.
"Hey Sparky I gotta ask, why are you down here."
"King thought me funny, but then me burn his doggy and get mad." Sparky says while he juggles a small ball of fire around in his hand.
"How dare he, so you were the king's fool and he couldn't take a joke? Disgraceful." Says Zilo shaking his head.
Sparky balances the ball of fire on his head as he stares at Zilo. Zilo smiles back at the goblin and says, "I tell you, our king, Deneval, treats his subjects with respect... or at the very least doesn't condemn them to life in a dungeon full of monsters."
Sparky looks at Zilo wide eyed and says, " Really? That sound heaven-like."
"Would you like to meet him?" Says Zilo. Sparky nods like a child who was offered sweets with a giant grin to go with his beady eyes.
Zilo crosses his arms and looks to be considering it. He says, "Well I think I could try and get that to happen, but you gotta do something for me."
"Anything!" Yells Sparky, clearly being hyped up by Zilo's body language. Zilo turns back to Sparky with an eyebrow raised and says,
"I don't know. Do you really think you're up to it? It's a super secret awesome task that I need from you."
Sparky straightens his back and salutes to Zilo and sternly states, "Me up to gup!"
"Well alright, but only if you promise to do it first." Zilo says, extending his pinky finger. In an instant Sparky whips his finger up and intertwines with Zilo's and the two shake their pinkys up and down.
"Okay Sparky, If you want to meet the King, I need you to take us to the exit of the dungeon."
"Got it!" Sparky smiles big and begins enthusiastically marching out of his den. Zilo smirks at Maldrek and Zilo wipes his hand on his shoulder after breathing haughtily on it.
"Shall we get out of here?"
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