Elsewhere

“What the hell happened to you? I feared you were dead!” Baslin shouted at him as he came in through the door.

“Dead? No. But I have had a few incidents. I have some things to discuss but I’m hoping to head out again shortly.”

Baslin furrowed his bushy white eyebrows. “Let’s anon to the study and discuss your exploits.” He didn’t wait for a response and preceded Duke into the study, taking a rest in one of the comfortable overstuffed chairs. Duke joined him in a facing chair.

“Since you seem well, tell me what happened. Where is the Headband of Communication and the…YOU LOST THE RING OF ROOMS!” Baslin launched himself from his chair.

Duke remained seated as calmly as he could manage. Just like an after-action report to the squadron leader. Just stay calm and they will chill. “Baslin, I’ll get to that in a minute. But first, can you tell me how Dungeons work?”

Baslin was still flushed red and piercing Duke with an angry gaze, but the mention of a Dungeon seemed to derail his ire. “Dungeons? There are ancient tales of such things, but no one has been able to present credible evidence of their existence. Folklore and fanciful tales handed down for centuries upon centuries. Why would you ask about such an obscure topic?”

"Because I found one, of course.”

Baslin fell back into his chair.

“Are you OK, there, boss? You look completely pale all of a sudden.”

“Truly? You found a Dungeon? A real Dungeon?”

“That’s what the System Message said. Here, let me share it with you.” Duke pushed the message to Baslin and sat back while the Archmage read it.

Baslin read the message in wonder. “A Dungeon. A real Dungeon. The wonders that could be found there. And thousands of years of seasoning – oh what wonders indeed.” His voice changed from wonder to anger in a flash. “And I am stuck here! Still!”

Duke didn’t really know what to say. He knew Baslin was beyond chafing at his prison and that he currently was the key to Baslin’s freedom. Freedom. Baslin’s freedom. I have to fight for Baslin’s freedom. As the realization came over him, he felt the flowing strength of his PURPOSE awaken and he knew that it was right.

Baslin took a moment to compose himself and continued as if nothing had happened. Duke truly admired that ability to just shove such feelings aside.

“OK, so tell me everything that happened since the headband was lost. You were observing a tribe of Twilight Stalkers outside the cave entrance when I lost contact.”

After-action report indeed. Duke relayed the events leading up to his return. Or, at least, tried to do so. Once he related what happened to the ring, Baslin stopped him. “You mean to tell me that the ring is part of you now?”

“So it would seem.” Duke shrugged.

“And you retain its contents?”

“Also yes.”

“Oh, why in the name of the Twelve didn’t you lead with that?” Baslin exclaimed. “Let’s get to the lab immediately. So many new materials to work with! You took the Stalker’s bodies, correct?”

“Yes, Baslin. Them, the Umbral Goblins, and everything else that might have been interesting. I think I might be almost out of room in my inventory though.”

Baslin waved Duke’s concern off as he burst through the lab’s door not bothering to hold it open for Duke. Instead, he rushed over to a door across the lab and opened it. “Dump it all in here. I’ll sort through it while you are off on your next adventure. A Dungeon.” Baslin growled again at the realization that he would still be unable to break free of his imprisoning vow and go with Duke.

Duke emptied his INVENTORY into the room and stepped back, smiling at Baslin’s growing grin at the pile of items and, well, bodies. Alchemy is weird. Using body parts of sentient creatures just seems wrong. Duke paused in his musing as the realization of what they were doing passed over him. Moments later, the feeling and his concern faded from his mind. Duke forgot what was bothering him and joined Baslin in the excitement of all the things that could be crafted.

As he sorted through the various materials making excitedly muttered comments about qualities and possibilities, Baslin pointed Duke to another storage cabinet. “Take whatever interests you from there. I’m done with whatever I could craft from it. And bring me something interesting back from the Dungeon because I know you’re going to be running off there as soon as you can. Damned child of luck.”

“Thanks. I’ll stock up before going. Do you think I should wait for Grat and Elaine first though?”

“Who? Oh, yes, the druids. Um, maybe. I don’t know. I really want to explore the thing.”

“You know it’s a seasoned Adept Dungeon, right? I don’t precisely know what that means but I am fairly certain that it is beyond your current Ability level. Do you even have any offensive spell above Initiate rank?”

Duke waffled. “Well, um, technically no, but I can punch way above my weight class.”

“Weight class? What on Teldin does that mean?”

Duke sighed. Fucking idioms. “It means I can beat things at ranks higher than me.”

“Sure you can. In specialized circumstances. What will you do if you run into something that has actual spell resistance?”

“Spell resistance. That’s a thing?”

“Indeed. It is fairly common amongst the elite monsters and especially true amongst the elite sentient races. Why do you think the mages haven’t taken over the entire realms? Well, besides not wanting anything to do with politics and the administration of it all.”

“Honestly, that never occurred to me. Can’t you just make a Spell to pierce the spell resistance?”

“I do have such a spell but mages that can do so are rare, exceedingly so before Archmage. And even with such spells, there is the matter of spell delay that comes into play. It’s surprisingly difficult to get the Spells to properly work in combination as the resistance nullifying Spell tends to temporarily nullify all magic, including the spell you are trying to strike with afterwards. It requires experience, subtlety, and skill. None of which you have in any significant amount.”

“So, what do you suggest I do then?” Duke asked, somewhat crestfallen.

“Bring a sword.” Baslin responded deadpan before returning to sorting through the loot. “And get some rest. You look like you could use some sleep.” Baslin added absently.

Duke acquiesced and finished loading up his INVENTORY with supplies…and a sword before heading to bed to sleep.

*************************************************************************************

The following morning, Duke awoke to find that Baslin had not left the lab. He had, however, been quite productive. Several potions and elixirs were arrayed in a rack at the end of the lab while a number of other projects were in various states of completion.

Baslin greeted Duke with a grin of pure joy and a wild light in his eyes. “My boy, this is the most fun I have had in YEARS! So many materials. So many choices. Options! I have options! Did you know that the thighbone of a Twilight Stalker can be ground down into a powder that can be used to create a darkvision elixir? Me neither! But I know now!”

Duke took a momentary step back at the outburst. Thighbone? He ground up someone’s thighbone? Duke’s eyes blinked and he shrugged involuntarily, the question quickly passing from Duke’s mind. This allowed him to join Baslin in his excitement as the Archmage explained all of the things he had made out of the materials Duke had provided. Duke followed along, sharing the Archmage’s excitement, occasionally adding some item or another to his INVENTORY.

Hours later, the pair were back in the study as Duke explained the upcoming druids’ visit. “Don’t worry Baslin, they’re good people. They will help when it comes down to it.”

“The pair may well be good, but the Druidic Council is fully in league with King Chopie. They keep threats from growing out of the forest into the rest of the kingdom. They also stood by when I appealed the technicality of my Vow that left me here nearly powerless. No, the Council are no friends of mine. Sending them there was dangerous.”

Duke started to argue but quickly realized that he truly knew nothing about the Council other than what the pair of druids had told him. And that was not really much. He remained silent instead.

“You should get on with your dungeon dive.” Baslin interrupted Duke’s thoughts. “You have all the supplies you will likely need and the only tome I have that even mentions dungeons is so riddled with age and tales that I would fear relying on it.”

“It might have something useful anyway.”

“No, Duke, it is little more than children’s tales and speculation. You will have to investigate the dungeon for us both. Use the new Headband and don’t lose this one. I can’t make another even with all the materials you have brought me.”

Duke smiled and waved at Baslin. Moments later, he vanished as he chain-TELEPORTED his way back to the dungeon entrance.