The entrance to Bleakthorn Holler was a bit underwhelming. I’m not sure what I expected, but I expected more than just a narrow path leading into an even narrower space into a crack in the mountain. A pass within a pass, I suppose. Igvild had rejoined us at the entrance to Fanghoof Pass and told us that while he had found signs of more Slynt they were all days old and moving away from the Pass.

  “The beasties seem to be moving East. Found some old fires, a few animal carcasses. Lots o’ stink.” Valka had grunted and not commented. I was glad to see him and told him so. The dwarf chuckled and patted me on the arm.

  “Glad to see you too, lad.” The dwarf tapped me on the wrist where my Manastop bracelet used to be and winked up at me. He had noticed I was no longer bound. Valka hadn’t ordered the dwarf to put his back on either. It seemed both Igvild and I were now tentatively accepted as trustworthy members of the team by necessity if nothing else.

  “From here on out it’s one rule. My rule.” Valka stood beside the entrance to the crevice and addressed us. He wore a serious expression, so I mirrored him with a serious expression as well. Inside, I could scarcely keep it together. I was looking forward to this!

  “Bleakthorn Holler is a relatively easy dungeon as far as dungeons go. It is mostly Goblinoids ranging from the smaller, yellow skinned variety to a large, green skinned boss at the end. Besides killing them all, we also need to gather any resources that may or may not appear. Alchemy reagents are worth good coin. Goblin huts must always be checked for chests and anything else of value.” Valka looked pointedly at Igvild when he said that last part and the dwarf nodded and grinned.

  “I will be out front, drawing the little buggers’ attention. Anya will back me up with healing and magic that can temporarily keep the mobs who try to turn tail from escaping. Igvild, help where you can, but you will mostly be searching for any hidden areas and what few traps a dungeon this simple may or may not have. They are random. Finally, Davros.” Valka frowned.

  “You need to be careful where you throw fire. Don’t burn the goblin huts. Don’t waste your mana trying to shoot random mobs from outside your normal range. The Gobs are too fast and you’ll miss. Don’t attack until after I fully gain their attention and by the Eye, don’t set me on fire when you attack whatever runt I’m fighting!”

  “I won’t let you down, Lieutenant.” I saluted by making a fist over my heart and to my surprise Valka returned the gesture. Perhaps I was finally making some headway towards a sort of friendly acceptance from the man.

  Most likely he just wants the loot from the Dungeon and he knows he needs your help to get it.

  We slid down into the Holler single file, the walls of the mountain reaching higher than my eyes could see. The wind whipped my hair about my face. It was growing longer than it had ever been before. I didn’t mind. I had the notion I might grow it long enough to cover my face enough that it might hide my deformity. I think I’d prefer Hairface to Bentface.

  The others kept their heads bent against the wind, but the crevice was narrow enough that I could place both my hands one on either side of the crevice. I marveled at how blue the rock was, but when I looked at my hands they came away with a whitish powder on them. They tasted salty and I spat. Life outside the Orphanage was a constant learning experience.

  The real experience came when I felt myself enter the Dungeon. I say feel, because that is what it is. No door, no signpost, just a feeling of passing through something into somewhere else. It was instantaneous and I knew the others felt it too as everyone lifted their heads and looked around after the wind suddenly disappeared.

  “Almost there,” Valka called from over his shoulder. As a group, we approached a massive tangle of thorny trees and bushes growing everywhere on the ground, sides and even spread so thickly above us they obscured any sign of the mountain. Only intermittent patches of sky could be seen once we crossed under the thorny canopy.

  It’s going to be really dark in there. I hope someone has a light. I wonder how flammable these thorn branches are?

  It would likely have been a very serious mistake on my part if I tried to burn away some of the thorny tangles. I didn’t want to kill us all in some great inferno, after all.

  “Igvild, you scout ahead and look for traps. If you see any of the Goblins, don’t engage with them yet.” Valka ordered. Igvild flashed a salute and disappeared down the only visible path leading further into the undergrowth. Valka removed a torch from his pack to my great relief.

  “Light this,” Valka said, thrusting the torch in my direction. I hesitated for a moment, then summoned a Fire Bolt to my fingertip, but didn’t release it. Instead, I held my finger close to the torch until it started to smoke then caught flame.

  “What a strange place to exist inside of a mountain pass,” I uttered aloud. “Nothing but thorns and the barest hint of a path to follow.” Valka barked a laugh.

  “The Dungeon decides where and when it is. The Holler isn’t even in our world, really.” Valka started following the path, the torch gripped in his shield hand and thrust forward. I looked to Anya for guidance, but she only shrugged.

  “The most important thing to remember is things aren’t always what they seem in a Dungeon. Stay alert and watch your step,” The half-elf said. By her expression, she was now all business as well.

  “Alright.” We traversed the path silently. We found no sign of Igvild, but I felt better knowing he would let us know if he found anything in his search. I trusted Igvild even if we hadn’t known each other for very long. Something about the dwarf put me at ease the same way Anya did. Even Valka helped set my mind at ease as he confidently led the way into the thorn filled dark without hesitation.

  As we walked, I reflected on why I didn’t feel scared or at least more wary. This was a Dungeon! Something in my world, but not? I would have to ask the Lieutenants later about what that meant exactly. I had also been waiting for the right time to ask what a Goblin was, but the others didn’t seem particularly disturbed about having to kill a few. I’d be lying if I said I also wasn’t eager to throw more fire bolts.

  “Are we really going to search through all these thorns?”

  “I’m not, but you might be.” Valka snorted.

  “Gobleen tracks ahead. Three of the smaller variety, I ken. Nary a trap to find, unless you count poorly hidden pitfalls a trap. Kinda cute, really.” Igvild had appeared as if from nowhere in front of Valka who stifled a cry of surprise as he stumbled a step backwards.

  “Don’t do that!” Valka snarled. Igvild grinned and winked at me. “Did you mark these pitfalls?”

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  “Aye, sir.”

  “Alright, I will move forward and engage them up close. That way they won’t pull out their blowdart weapons and try shooting us with thorns. They’re poisoned and are really annoying. When they swarm me give it to the count of five then move in to engage the one I’m attacking first, then kill where you can.” Each of us nodded. Igvild drew his daggers and his form seemed to blur. I blinked as it was suddenly difficult to focus upon the dwarf and I could no longer follow his movements.

  I prepared my Fire Bolt, but held off on firing it. Lieutenant Valka equipped a large tower shield that seemed to have appeared from nowhere. Anya must have seen my confusion.

  “All Lieutenants carry a spatial bag. How did you think we were carrying all that food?”

  “What’s a spatial bag?”

  “Make ready!” Valka growled.

  I wasn’t sure I could make myself any readier. With Valka out front, I felt no need to ready my bolts until necessary and would do as I had done with the Slynt. Hang back, throw fire and not get in anyone’s way. In the next moment, they were upon us. It was almost as if the little gnats were waiting for us. I imagine they had probably heard Lieutenant Valka’s bellowing. First impressions? Their skin was the same color as snot and their teeth were like tiny daggers. I did not fancy being bitten by one of them. I was also introduced to a mob notifications for the first time.

  Goblin Thornspitter

  Level 5

  There was also a curious red bar underneath each Goblin notification, but as Lieutenant Valka brought his shield up and stabbed forward with his sword into the Goblin in the lead a piece of that red bar disappeared.

  I see, that must be its health points. Simple enough!

  I watched and waited for my opportunity to enter the fray. Everything happened exactly how Lieutenant Valka said it would. The uninjured Goblins swarming forward, howling in rage. The injured one clutching at its chest and staggering back to create some distance between itself and the much taller human warrior. There was no method to the way the goblins attacked they just swung their primitive looking axes and blades hoping to get in a hit on Lieutenant Valka anyway they could.

  Anya stepped forward and chanted the words to a spell, her left hand thrust forward. A swirl of dancing lights engulfed the Goblins and they screeched in anger as the effect of Anya’s spell made them either unwilling or unable to evade combat, which made Anya’s and Valka’s strikes all the more accurate and damaging. Or that was how Anya had explained it to me, at least.

  The Goblins grew more aggressive and Valka had to focus more on his shield work. An ax smashed into his shield even as a short sword tried to stab into his gut. Valka took a slash on his left leg, but Anya was there with a quick heal. The opportunity I had been waiting for came when one of the goblin’s drew back with its ax and prepared to slash at the back of Valka’s neck.

  The Fire Bolt launched and found its mark. There was a flash of light and a notification that I had landed a critical attack. It was reminiscent of when I had fire bolted the Crow that day in Crossroads causing it to explode. The goblin didn’t explode, but the bolt did knock it on its back and set it on fire. Actually, it was rather dramatic how quickly it went up in howling flames. Did these things take baths in oil? The other goblins attempted to scatter, screeching in fear, but Anya’s spell denied them the ability.

  “Davros! Wake up!” Valka shouted. I blinked. I had been mesmerized by the writhing fireball on the ground. I could sense the flame’s hunger. More… burn more!

  After that, the four of us finished off the goblins in short order. If sword, morning star or Igvild’s daggers couldn’t finish off an enemy, my fire bolts certainly did. Each one lit a goblin on fire, leaving it a smoking heap of charred meat. Valka needed only minimal healing after the last enemy fell, but something in the Lieutenant’s face stopped me short.

  “Lieutenant Valka?” I asked. Valka’s face was white as he stared into space seemingly at nothing. Was he looking at a notification screen, I wondered?

  “Anya, come here.” Confused, Lieutenant Anya stepped forward to talk in hushed tones with Valka. Igvild poked at the goblin remains with his daggers. I shrugged and decided to look over my own notifications out of the way of the others.

  I had several notifications I had been ignoring, starting with the Slynt from the previous night.

  You have slain a Level 4 Gore Tribe Slynt Skinner!

  You have slain a Level 3 Gore Tribe Slynt Tracker!

  ..

  You have been awarded 220 Experience.

  Loot claimed by Party Leader {Valka}.

  Looks like he wasn’t kidding when he said he was taking all the drops. I wonder if there was anything good?

  You have slain a Level 4 Gore Tribe Slynt Wrath Caller! {Ability Dropped!}

  Do you wish to claim the Active Spell: Wrath Shield

  Yes/No?

  You have slain a Level 5 Goblin Thornspitter!

  You have slain a Level 5 Goblin Thornspitter!

  ..

  You have slain a Level 6 Goblin Thorn Tender!

  You have been awarded 635 Experience.

  You have enough XP to advance to Level 2! Please exit current *Dungeon [Bleakthorn Holler] to apply available experience points.

  * Advancing levels within Dungeon zones is not permitted.

  I couldn’t keep the smile from my face. That pale Slynt had dropped a spell! It must have been a rare mob. I would have to ask the others if they had already claimed Wrath Shield and planned to add it to their Active abilities. I did so right then after I read the description.

  Wrath Shield [Active] (2 of 3)

  Summon a shield that coats the body in a thin layer of Wrath energy. Absorbs Magical Damage {Force X Level +10} and negates Physical Attacks for 3 seconds. Weapons used upon the Target have a 50% chance of disintegration.

  Likewise, I had no idea what moving from Level 1 to Level 2 would do to me, but I could only view it as a positive. At the very least, according to Anya, I would get a bit more Mana and Health.

  Anya and Valka walked over to me, both wearing the same strange expression. I turned to meet them.

  “Get any good loot?” I asked Lieutenant Valka.

  “What do you mean by that?” Valka barked, his eyes widening. Anya sighed and rubbed her temple.

  “Davros, what is your Fortune attribute score?” I quickly willed open my Status to double check.

  “Eleven,” I answered.

  “ELEV…,” Valka started shouting.

  “Valka!” Anya snapped. She turned back to me calmly. “You, at Level 1, have a double digit Fortune attribute?”

  “Um, yes? Is that bad?” Valka groaned and rubbed his eyes.

  “Is it bad, he says. By the Eye!”

  “Davros, Fortune is a nearly impossible Attribute to advance. It usually takes Mythic grade potions or exceedingly rare items to boost a Fortune score.” A smile tugged the edge of Anya’s mouth before it quickly disappeared. “Most Fortune scores never break past 5. Mine is a 3.”

  “Oh.” I scratched my chin. Was I starting to grow whiskers? “Igvild, what’s your Fortune score?” I asked the silent dwarf who was trying to pull some thorns from his boots.

  “One.” I turned back to Valka and Anya.

  “So what does all this mean?” The Lieutenants both looked at each other and smiles slowly spread across their faces. Well, Valka’s was more of a sneer really, but it was a happy sneer.

  “What’s it mean? It means we’re gonna be rich!” He threw an arm around my shoulder and laughed.

  “Those Goblins usually only drop a few copper between them. We got 10 Silver from that fight alone! And…,” Valka cleared his throat. “Something that will make General Torlack very happy!”

  An item appeared in Valka’s hand. It looked like a headband of some sort with precious stones sewn into the leather. I examined it more closely and a notification window popped open.

  Sergeant’s Headband

  +1 Presence, +1 Force

  “Is this good?” I regretted my question as Valka looked like he was about to shout at me again, but fortunately Anya stayed him with a glare.

  “Yes, Davros. It is very good. To be honest, this item alone more than pays back the 10 Gold Crowns the Graf payed for your service.”

  “Very interestin’,” whispered Igvild.

  “Well, I’m not so sure about…”

  “It does, Valka and you know it!”

  “That’s for General Torlack to decide.” Valka answered with finality. He put the loot back into his spatial sack and patted the sword at this side. “We need to continue. I have a feeling this is going to be a very lucrative dungeon run. Like taking sweets from noble brats in Bludgard!”

  “I wouldn’t light children on fire,” I answered, frowning. There was a pause, then Anya started to giggle and Igvild joined her. Valka scowled, but also managed to crack a smile.

  “They did catch fire pretty easily, didn’t they?” Valka said, eyeing the blackened remains.

  “Do they usually do that?” I asked. Valka shrugged.

  “Never been in a party with a Pyromancer before. Let’s go, onward to treasure!” Valka said. We set out with Igvild bringing up the rear this time. The dwarf cast one last look at the dead goblins. He rubbed his smooth chin.

  “Very interestin’.”