TQG 37. Evolution

A strange effect occurred in the other natives in the room once Thomas the administrator disappeared.  They all stood up from having prostrated themselves, then blinked for a moment, then simply acted like nothing had happened.

“So, your mission was a success, then?  You reclaimed the dungeon?” Lord Tom asked.

“Y-you’re not going to say anything about Thedum himself visiting us?” I demanded.  “Or the administrator who summoned him?”

“There was an administrator here?” Lady Gwen asked.  “And you remember him, Hail?  I certainly do not.”

“If the administrator does not wish for us to remember him, then there is little point in questioning his visit,” Malkios grunted.  “Their power is immense, and they do not make mistakes in matters like this.  Whatever it was that he told you in his visit, Hail, it was meant for your ears and not ours.”

“I-what?”  I shook my head to clear it.  The idea that the administrators could wipe the minds even of my grandfather and the Dungeon Busters was troubling.  And I was still overwhelmed by the divine visitation.  “I think I need to return to the guild hall, Grandfather.  I am not feeling well.  I-I have a lot to think about, I think.”

“Very well.  I will not keep you, but before you go, would you turn over the reclaimed dungeon core to me?  It is not that I do not trust you not to make the same mistake twice, but we must put it somewhere for safe keeping,” Grandfather said.

“Oh, right.  I’d be glad to get rid of it,” I admitted, and I removed it from my inventory.  Lord Tom came to retrieve it from me, and I happily handed it over to him.

“Remarkable,” he said.  “It truly--”

The core began to glow, and it suddenly burst out of Tom’s hand and through the tent wall, tearing a hole the size of a bucket through the fabric.

“Tom, what have you done?” Lady Gwen demanded.

“I-nothing!  I simply [Analyzed] it.  Whatever has happened, I had nothing to do with--”

“The dungeon,” Grandfather interrupted.  “It was headed towards the dungeon.  Oh I have a terrible feeling about this.  Quickly, outside!”

We exited the command tent in a rush, and together we turned to face the castle.  The swirling white motes slowly began to shift color, turning first green, and then red.

“By Thedum,” Grandfather cursed.  “It has become a Raid!”

“I did nothing!  I swear by Thedum and the administrators that I did not activate the core!  It must have been the boy!” Lord Tom protested.

“Grandfather, I’m sorry.  I just took it out of my inventory, I swear I didn’t--”

“I believe you, Hail,” Grandfather said.  He turned to Lord Tom, his face a countenance of fury.

“Do not blame my grandson for this!” Grandfather bellowed.  “It was in your hands when this happened.  But I do not believe that this was your fault either, old friend.  It was mine.  It must be a sort of resonance between the dungeon core of the castle and its mother core which has caused this transformation.”

“What do we do?  We were uncertain we could Bust this dungeon before, but empowered to a Raid?  There is no chance!” Lady Gwen exclaimed.  “I will not be a part of a suicide venture, Rain.  I am returning home.  I am sorry.”

“This does change things, My Lord,” Malkios grumbled.  “Busting a dungeon takes but a team of elites.  Busting a raid takes an elite army.  We cannot--”

“We cannot give up hope, Malkios, that is what we cannot do.”  Grandfather interrupted, and he turned to me.  “Hail … I am sorry.  Tasking you with clearing [Gemos Cavern] was a mistake, but it has proven one thing.  You are able to bring Travelers into the Core Instance, a feat which has never succeeded before.  I was not planning to involve you in the clearing of [Zhesa Castle Dungeon], but if we are to reclaim our home, then I see no other way.”

“Grandfather, I am only level twenty-four,” I objected.  “I cannot--”

“You will not be fighting.  You will be protected,” Grandfather assured me.  “That is not to say it will not be dangerous, but I and Malkios will not leave your side.  Malkios, summon <The Endolphins>.  It pains me to entrust this to Giddeon after all he has said, but his track record with clearing unknown raids exceeds that of <Peasant’s Revenge>, and there are few other Traveler guilds which I trust as much as his.”

“I shall contact him immediately,” Malkios said.  He turned to leave, but Tarisha of Miami stepped in his way.

“Forgive me for eavesdropping, Your Majesty, but I do not believe there is any need to contact anyone just yet.  The change has already hit the forums, and many of the major guilds are already on their way to push for a first clear of the new raid,” Tarisha said.  “Although it pains me that you do not trust my guild enough to Bust it, I understand your concern.  Our record in the raids lags far behind <The Endolphins>, and both your life and your grandson’s may be at risk.  With your permission, I will contact Giddeon Lachlann myself through the player network and inform him that he must speak with you before his guild commits to the raid.”

“Yes, that will be faster than the other method,” Grandfather acknowledged.  “I am sorry that I am passing you over in this task, I can imagine your disappointment.”

“<Peasant’s Revenge> and her sister guilds will still be entering the Raid immediately in order to try to clear it before it is busted,” Tarisha stated.  “We are normally a green-raid guild, but I will be leading our allies to--”

“No,” I said.  “Tarisha, I trust you.  You will protect me and Grandfather in the raid with Captain Malkios.  If Father has a problem with that, he can stick it up his bum.”

Tarisha frowned, her eyes unfocused as she examined a quest.  “My guild will be annoyed that I am not there to lead the charge, but I accept.  It is, after all, my sworn duty to keep you safe, Lord Hail.”

“So now we wait for <The Endolphins> to arrive?” Lord Tom inquired.

“Yes.  There is nothing else to do except--”

A large “Crack!” echoed throughout the city.  I spun back to face the Raid, just in time to see the Western Guard Tower open its eyes.  Arms formed from the masonry, and then legs, as the tower turned from building into giant golem and stepped out of the swirling threshold.

“Dungeon spawn!” Grandfather yelled.  “Breakers, guards, assemble!  We must hold it off until the travelers can organize a response!  Protect the citizens!  Tarisha of Miami, I order you to take my grandson to safety!  Malkios, old friend, to the forefront!  We have need of your might!”

Grandfather continued to bark out commands as Tarisha scooped me up over her shoulder and ran away from the refugee camp.

“Wait, we can’t leave them,” I protested.

“That’s a worldboss, Hail.  A real one, not one restricted by a dungeon,” Tarisha said.  “Your grandfather and the others are Dungeon Breakers.  I do not believe that they would take on such a challenge without certainty that they can hold out until help arrives.”

I could not think of an argument, so I allowed myself to be carried.  As I watched, Malkios pulled a warhammer larger than he was out of his inventory and charged the giant golem.  Lady Gwen was surrounded by magical rainclouds which began firing lightning at the foe.  Lord Tom pulled out a pair of daggers and vanished into [Stealth].  The other Dungeon Busters began engaging the giant golem with various weapons and magics and tactics.  But the tower golem did not seem to notice them as it lumbered forward, heading toward the city.

Once we were far from the action, Tarisha pulled from her hip a whistle.  It made no sound that I could hear when she blew it, but moments later her wyvern appeared and landed before us.

“We will be safer in the air, and it will provide a better view of what is going on,” she told me.

“If we are going to make a habit of this, then you need to change your saddle to have room for me, and something for me to hold on to,” I told her.

“Quest accepted,” she grumbled, launching herself onto her mount.  “But we don’t have time to visit a saddler now.  Come on, hop up!”

Even with the wyvern lowering itself for me, I struggled to make my way into my uncomfortable place behind Tarisha.  Once seated, I hugged her tightly as the wyvern kicked off and we took to the sky.

The golem had taken on a roughly humanoid shape, and Malkios stood upon its shoulders, striking it repeatedly in the head with his warhammer.  Lady Gwen was striking it from afar with her lightning to little effect.  Soldiers were firing arrows at it, and some had pulled forward ballistae.  The last of those finally seemed to get the giant golem’s attention, as it turned and stepped forward to crush the weapons.  The soldiers scrambled to get out of the way in time, but at least they had turned the worldboss’s path away from the city.

The sky began to grow cluttered with the mounts of other Travelers, but none rode forward to help the Dungeon Busters combat the golem.  They seemed content to watch from the sky, as Tarisha was forced to.

“Why are the Travelers not helping?” I demanded.

“They are likely waiting for their guilds to arrive,” Tarisha suggested.  “Or they are simply recording the event to put it on the forums.  At my best estimate, it will take fifty skilled raiders to slay this golem.  My brothers and sisters from <Peasant’s Revenge> are already on their way.  Do not fear, My Lord, the worldboss will be dealt with shortly.”

However, it would not be <Peasant’s Revenge> which would claim this kill.  A familiar drake made its way through the skies, followed by a legion of exotic flying mounts.  The drake was Shalasmir, and upon its back was Giddeon Lachlann, my father.  And following him were the mighty warriors of his guild.

“<The Endolphins> stake their claim to this worldboss!” he shouted, his voice magically echoing through the area, amplified by a token which he held to his throat.  “We will Pee Kay anyone who attempts to interfere!”

“That’s my father!” I exclaimed.  “Tarisha, fly us closer!  I want to talk to him.”

“That is unwise, Lord Hail.  He just threatened to kill anyone who interferes with their fight with the worldboss.”

“Then why is he not engaging?” I demanded.

“He has only thirty men, he is likely waiting for reinforcements.  He has enough to stake a claim, but not enough for the kill,” Tarisha answered.

“That’s not good enough!  If he doesn’t hurry, someone will die!” I said.  “Tarisha, I must speak with him.  He must act before anyone dies or I’ll never forgive myself for causing all of this!”

“Lord Hail, is it better to wait until the kill is assured, or to rush in now and risk defeat?  Your father knows what he is doing,” she argued.

“Tarisha, I am your lord, I command you to bring me to speak to my father.”

She sighed, but instead of rushing forward, she pulled from her inventory a charm like my father had used.  It was carved of stone and shaped like an open mouth shouting.  “Press this to your throat, My Lord, and he will hear your words.  So will everyone else for a mile, so guard what you say.  Do not reveal any secrets.”

Listening to her instructions, I relinquished my death grip on her abdomen with one hand.  With the charm against my throat, I began to speak.

“I am Earl Hail Jeoran.  Father, Giddeon Lachlann, and the warriors of <The Endolphins>, I give you this task.  Defeat this golem before it kills a single Native!”

There was a slight pause, and then an echoing answer came from my father.

“Quest accepted.”