“Claim the crystal!” Hisako screamed. Richter was shocked at the panic in her tone, but he didn’t hesitate. The chaos seed ran forward and grabbed the jewel.
Congratulations! You have found a Dungeon. As possessor of the Dungeon Heart, you may lay claim to this entrance to the Labyrinth. Would you like to claim the portal? Yes or No?
Still confused, he was nonetheless spurred into action by the severity of Hisako’s command. He chose “Yes.”
Congratulations and Consolations! You are now the Master of a Dungeon. The call to adventure has ceased. Great are the treasures you may find. Great are the dangers which may find you. Hail, Dungeon Master! Take everything, leave nothing behind!
Congratulations! You have gained the Mark: Adventurer! You now have the ability to enter the Labyrinth. You may now bestow this Mark upon others.
Know This! All Dungeons require two factors to determine their properties. The Item of Power has been supplied. Choose the Harbinger.
Richter blinked. He had no idea what these prompts meant? The last was especially confusing. What “Item of Power?” What could that possibly be? A sneaking and horrible suspicion began to fill Richter’s breast.
“How is this possible?” Hisako asked, a sound of wonder in her voice. “How do you have a Dungeon?” Sion and Yoshi’s eyes were equally wide as they looked at the cave.
“What’s the big deal?” Richter asked bemusedly. “There are plenty of dungeons in The Land. I’ve conquered a few already. Yoshi and Sion were there for one of the last ones.”
“No,” she said dismissively while swatting a hand at him. “Those are just caves or ruins that monsters or beasts may have taken residence in. This is a Dungeon.” The emphasis she placed on the word was palpable. “A Dungeon is one of the purest expressions of magic in The Land. If it advances far enough, you will even be able to enter the Labyrinth.”
Richter gritted his teeth. He absolutely refused to ask. They always did this when they explained things to him, used words he didn’t know, to explain concepts he didn’t understand. Well, they could choke on it this time! The chaos seed was resolved to wait them out.
His stubborn look must have shown on his face because Hisako sighed fatalistically, “The Labyrinth is a dimension that runs the breadth of The Land. Some even say the breadth of the Universe. Only Adventurers can enter it, but the riches and possibilities are endless. Having a Dungeon on your land will have many perks, such as increasing the ambient magic in the area, but the ability to enter the Labyrinth is the greatest incentive. Dungeons are the only way I know of to enter that dimension, and you found a virgin one! The Great Wasteland of Karden-Sur exists because of a war fought over such a treasure. Long have I wished to find such a wonder!” She looked at him consideringly again, “Once again, you seem to draw great events to you.” She looked at the Dungeon again, “I will offer you much if you would but allow my people access!”
Well, that sounded like good news. Something still kept the grin from his face. Sounding nonchalant, he asked, “Is there anything else I need to know about Dungeons? Like things that determine their properties?”
Hisako nodded, her attention still mainly on the pedestal. The black sphere at the top of the spike was slowly turning gold, “I have the definitive book on the subject. I will be happy to lend it to you for your Scholars to copy.”
“Uhhh, yeah, but do you remember anything off the top of your head?” Richter asked. “Maybe something about an Item of Power or a Harbinger?”
The Hearth Mother cocked her head, then responded in a tone of recitation, “The Dungeon shall be Power, and this Power shall be channeled by two forces. One, a Harbinger, the greatest monster of the Dungeon. All other monsters of the Dungeon shall draw strength from this fiend. Two, an Item of Power, the magic of which shall be instilled in the very stones of the Dungeon and the essence of its monsters. A day and night shall be given to the Dungeon Master to make a choice, and the decision shall be as eternal as the Labyrinth.”
The scholar in Hisako shown forth in her ability to recite such a passage on command, and also in the fact that she got to the end before she looked at Richter suspiciously, “Why do you ask such… informed questions, Lord Richter?” Comprehension dawned on her face, “Where is the Bloodstone?”
A blast of scarlet light shot from the cave mouth, as thick as a bus. The Dungeon proclaimed its birth to The Land, a beacon of blood and power. The light could be seen for hundreds of miles in every direction. The ray lasted only a moment, but the afterglow remained etched in the eyes of all who had seen it for long minutes. It remained in their memories for far longer.
Hisako slowly, ever so slowly, turned her neck until she was staring Richter in the face. She had lost all of her peaceful reserve. Her eyes were wide, and the Master’s nostrils were flaring. Both Sion and Yoshi took a step away from Richter, then, looking at each other, took two more.
Richter held up both hands, palms out and said, “I know what you’re thinking. This is not my fault!”
Hisako sucked in a preparatory breath of air, a gesture that all wise men learn to recognize and fear. Even the tremors in the ground stilled so that The Land could better witness the verbal flaying of the Lord of the Mist Village.
CHAPTER 53 – Day 141 – Kuborn 31, 0 AoC
Hisako continued her tirade for long minutes. It was mostly focused upon Richter’s irresponsibility and the danger he had placed them all in. The chaos seed tried to interject several times, but he was unable to break through her verbal onslaught. Finally, she looked to Yoshi and commanded, “Gather any sprites nearby! We will enter the Dungeon and destroy the Bloodstone now!”
“Wait!” Richter cried at last. “I cannot allow that.”
Hisako looked at him, her face growing cold, “You cannot?” Yoshi’s hand started to reach up for one of his blades, ready to carry out his liege’s commands no matter what they were. Alma, still perched on Richter’s shoulder, stood up on her hind legs and her wings began to unfurl. The shale adder lost its camouflage and rose up five feet in the air. Sion stood in between the two Masters, his arms partially raised to stop the pending conflict.