Ever since the Domain had conquered Floor Six, the void beneath Floor One had been a real pain in Xenia's ass. The hole the Domain had created to grant them access would seal itself over at every midnight reset of course, but at this point the mages were quite adept at quickly reopening the thing. Xenia had also done what she could to continually harass the logistics link they had created, sending flying monsters or clever traps to disrupt the demons and rope systems they used to transport goods and soldiers. Her options were limited, though - she didn't want to expose the mortals to a major battle, and her monsters rarely lasted long against prepared soldiers. She did claim a few casualties here and there, but not nearly enough to truly shut the Domain down.
When the Dragonlord themselves cos by with a small army however Xenia's attention spikes into full-blown alarm. As soon as the forr dungeon ca into view the reincarnator had sent out ssages and commands to assemble her war council as soon as possible.
Most of those present are used to sudden updates and alerts, but there are a few new faces to the gathering. As Gilda Highbranch steps into the council chamber alongside her husband, she's surprised to see Xenia sitting at the head of the table. "The dungeon spirit? In the flesh? This must be urgent."
"It likely is, but that's not her, no." Raylin points out the large mirror off to the side of the room. "Notice how she has color to her skin? That would be Emma, the dungeon's preferred mouthpiece. You can be certain the spirit is present, though."
"She sure is!" Emma gives the pair a grin as they co forward, but her expression quickly turns serious. "This is urgent, though. It's the big one! We're playing for all the marbles this ti."
There's quite a few uncertain looks shared as the mirror opens the eting with that blunt statent, and Paladin Sable is the first to voice her thoughts. "Big one? Like...bigger than all of the other ones? Just how big are we talking, exactly?"
"Oh...about the size of a dragon, we'd say."
There's another round of silence, finally broken by Tinsel. "So. On the scale of 'lonely night with a hairbrush' to 'bent over the fence at a minotaur ranch during breeding season', just how fucked are we right now?"
Aside from a few grumbles from the couple of minotaurs in the room, it's clear that everyone else had more or less the sa question and Emma gets right to answering it. "Our initial hope was that they'd be taking the sa route a lot of their soldiers have been for the past while - which is to say, skipping to the end of Floor Six. That'd still give us a fair few floors to try and fight them on. As our latest informant warned us about though, that's not what they're doing."
Nalina speaks up, having been propped up on Beatrice's chair to give her a better view. "Oh, they're going through the dungeon the long way, then? Less need of flying folks that way, buys us a lot more ti, though."
Emma shakes her head. "Not that way, either. They've started using magic to bring people all the way down. Cause there is actually a bottom down there, as a coupla folks here can attest." She gestures towards Grizza, Tassa, and Roxxy, all looking a bit overwheld by the company they're keeping. "This is good news and bad news."
Gilda furrows her brow. "That would be where the tunnels are, the ones you used to rescue us, yes? Have they decided to bypass the collapsed portions? That sounds like bad news, if it can be done."
"Yes and no. There are tunnels and shit running all through the place down there, but the straight shots you all took have already been closed. So the good news is that this route should take them longer than it'd take them to go through the normal way. I an, we're assuming the Dragonlord could probably brute force their way through three or four floors without too much trouble if they really wanted to."
"The bad news is that if they went through the dungeon, we could fight them the whole way through." That comnt cos from a pair of young kobold-like individuals standing among the dungeon's guardians, attracting a few confused looks their way. Nix and Nox had not been fully introduced to the dungeon's mortal residents as of yet, and most of those who had t the dungeon's children assud them to be simply more floor guardians of so hybrid type. Regardless of their authority level though, Emma nods in agreent.
"We're fairly confident the Dragonlord doesn't know the exact layout of our dungeon, and even if they do know sothing about the tunnels, the elentals have been fucking around down there for years at this point. As we've seen, drilling through solid stone with magic is a long-ass process, and even if they're taking the scenic route it might take them a few days unless they get real lucky. But we, aning us dungeon folk, can't do much out there. We can send out the guardians past the bounds, and we can equip you with gear, but that's it. If we're going to be fighting them guerrilla-style, that's mostly going to co down to...you."
She gestures towards the mortal occupants of the room, most of whom seem less than excited by this information. As they consider this information, Sincere begins to na off the more prominent mbers of the crowd.
"Lady Highbranch, Commander Paulados, leaders of the local Rainlander garrison forces. Administrator Alizz, Mountain Crusher Grim of the Scarlet Eagles, representatives of the dungeon's Challengers. Battle Alchemist Hansliss, commander of the Valleylands army detachnt. Bountiful Mother Hamrdown, spiritual leader of our clerical supporters. Arcanist Grizza and Roxxy, ambassadors to the elentals. Prince Thaddeus, Beatrice, unofficial commanders of our unaffiliated combatants. Together, all of you represent the combined might of those dwelling within the mountain. Yet all of you are individuals, representing very different people with very different goals and motivations. As we've always made plain, Worthy Dungeon does not command any of you, at least so long as you make good neighbors during your stay here."
He continues, a somber look in his golden eyes. "But this fight can not be won without your support. Navigating the tunnels may take the Domain ti, yes, but if nothing faces them but empty tunnels and a few isolated dungeon guardians, they will eventually make their way to Floor Ten, Eleven, or even directly into the Core Chamber itself, and the dungeon will be lost. Yet if we ask you to fight for us, we will be asking you to do so with only limited support from our end. So we must ask - are you willing to fight not only the Domain, but the Dragonlord themselves, and save Worthy Dungeon?"
To his own surprise, Grizza is the one who speaks up first. "The elentals live down there, and they made a pretty clear statent of their allegiance when they attacked the Fort, I'd wager. It's possible that they could avoid the Dragonlord's forces...but even so, what then? Should the Dragonlord win, they would be living right next door to a dungeon who has a grudge and an army."
The drider looks towards Roxxy, who nods in agreent. "We're not cowards, either. I'll check in with the rest of the boys and girls down there, but I think it's safe to say they'll put up a fight. Uh, as long as they're not doing it on their own, anyhow."
"Damn, stole my thunder." Beatrice smirks at the younger adventurers. "I was all prepared to be the first to step up and offer my sword. Though I suppose these days I should make sure I have my sword's consent before doing a thing like that."
The sword in question speaks up. "Well I would go out there but I'm bound to the damn place! You can go, but leave so enemies left for when they get to the dungeon, aye?"
"You'll probably get that wish, Nalina." Beatrice chuckles before turning serious. "That said, I can't speak for more than myself in general. I'll absolutely be out there, but it's not my place to speak for the Challengers."
Taking that as her cue, Alizz clears her throat. "While I would love to be dramatic and pledge the full support of the Challenger's Association towards this fight, I cannot. There are, and will remain, so Challengers in this dungeon who do not have an interest in fighting in this war. I will not force them to do so. However, with all of the work done over these previous weeks to defend the dungeon, not to ntion the recent prison raid, I'd say we have a fairly good idea of how many are willing to fight, and the number isn't small. I'm also willing to count our official Association inspection team among that number."
Grim exhales heavily, but speaks up in support. "The Scarlet Eagles will also be joining Alizz's team. Neutrality is thoroughly pulverized at this point I would say, so it would be foolish of us not to lend our strength. Particularly given we still represent most of the Supre-tier combatants in this dungeon."
Gilda Highbranch seizes the opportunity to segue into her own pledge. "While my house's retainers represent most of the rest. I am willing to pledge not only their support, but my own in the coming fight." Raylin, sitting at her side, stirs in a way that indicates he was not expecting that particular point but he quickly backs up his wife in more ways than one.
"My own as well, of course. I've been sitting this out far too long as it is."
Gilda glares at him in a way that indicates they'll be talking about this more later, but she soon shifts back into a professional tone as she addresses Commander Paulados. "I'll leave command of the Rainlander army forces to you however, Commander. I have so military training, but I daresay you're far better suited than I to say whether or not the soldiers available to us would be useful in this fight."
The man's heavy blonde mustache twitches as he sits up straighter. "Useful!? Why, absolutely, my lady! If we have your permission to take part in this operation than we shall absolutely do so. Dungeon or no dungeon, this sounds like ideal terrain for a defensive battle and we would be fools to give it up without a struggle. I, for one, do not intend to simply bow my head and walk straight back into another prisoner of war camp."
Alchemist Hansliss sighs, the mousekin sounding far less enthusiastic than her Rainlander counterpart. "Most of my troops are green and there aren't that many of them - especially not after losing Kalasha on Floor Six, she was practically my second in command." There's a bit of murmuring, but before it can get too loud the woman continues. "That's not to say we won't fight! But my troops ain't Challengers, they're not trained for small-unit combat in tight quarters. I..."
She takes another deep breath and closes her eyes before turning to face the older human sitting next to her. "The rankers back ho might discharge for this, but we're in no position to operate as our own unit right now. If you're willing, Commander, I think we should put ourselves under Rainlander command for the duration of the engagent, or whatever."
Paulados is clearly surprised by the offer, but quick to accept. "A brave decision, and a wise one, Battle Alchemist. I'll begin working your squads into our battle plans imdiately."
Pleased to see the act of unity, Sincere smiles before turning towards one last party. "Which brings us to the Church of Bounty. Of course, we're not expecting you to fight on the front lines - "
He's interrupted by the demonic paladin sitting next to Mother Hamrdown. "We're fighting. If this is the main throwdown then there's no point in sitting in reserve and Elance here's as safe as anyone can get, sitting in Floor Five." Sable glances at the dwarf next to her and shrugs. "The Dungeon Fuckers and I could be useful out there, a lot more so than sitting around twiddling our thumbs."
Her old friend scoffs in response. "Well don't expect to say that I'm coming with you, Greenie! I know my talents, and I know yours. Just keep our goddess's favored in one piece, aye?"
Without waiting for a response, Hamrdown turns back towards Sincere. "Aside from our might martial might, you do of course have the Church's support for healing, blessings, and whatever else we can offer. And I'll see if I can't put in a good word with Kahlia about helping out, if she's able."
Sincere can't help laughing a little at that. "We're certainly not ones to turn down a little divine assistance when we can get it. Well, I believe that's all of our major stakeholders spoken for, then?"
Emma nods before leaning forward. "Just so you know, Xenia's official response is - 'I'm damn proud to have ended up with friends and allies like you, and I'll be making damn sure that as few of you as possible die for it'. Inspiring words from our glorious boss lady, indeed. But since we ain't got ti to clap each other on the backs any more than we already have, it's ti to talk strategy. Fortunately we've already got a pretty decent map of things down there, thanks to our prep work for the prison break."
As she gestures at the table in front of her the stone begins working itself into a three-dinsional map - one that looks more like the internals of an ant colony than that of a planned structure. "So - let's talk about so highly-efficient murder."
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