DAY 783

Typically, Alizz is used to greeting new arrivals in her rather fancy office. Not only is it the most comfortable place to host guests, but as the highest-ranking Association officer for dozens of miles around, it's simply good manners that others would come to her. Generally speaking only the arrival of another Administrator might call for a more elaborate welcome, and even then it would usually be optional depending on just how important said official actually was.

For her guests today, however, Alizz has decided to bend the usual rules a bit. So it is that the drider and her entire inspection team are standing around in the building's main hall, fidgeting with anticipation as they wait for the expected VIPs to actually arrive. Some members of the team are more patient about it than others though, and in a somewhat noisy manner.

"You're sure they're actually on their way here? I mean, what if they decide to stop at the Bastard before they swing by the office? Probably been a long trip, right?" Ruckus scratches behind one of his large, purple ears as he shifts on his feet, and Kelsey replies with a sigh.

"Renter saw them as they were coming into the town, and they'd definitely come by here first. There's a sort of formal ritual to this sort of thing, y'know? Challengers like this aren't gonna just wander around and stir up trouble without letting the local Administrator know first, even if that 'trouble' is just knockin' back a few drinks at the local tavern. They'll be here in a minute."

"But what if - " Ruckus's remaining complaints are hushed by Renter himself, as the team's scout speaks quietly.

"Handful of folks comin' up to the door - and their equipment sounds expensive. Gotta be them."

"How can equipment sound - "

This time the imp's question is interrupted by the front doors as they swing open, just as Kelsey and Renter had predicted. Sure enough, the Challengers that step through it are a diverse bunch, but they're all wearing gear that Ruckus would briefly categorize as 'godsdamned fucking fancy'. The first one through is a minotaur wearing a full set of heavy armor, but even on top of that the man's gauntlets seem to be double the size of his actual fists, with what must be a dozen extra pounds of metal at least. Next up is a gnoll hunter wearing chainmail armor with what surely must be a magical gleam to it, along with a yellow-scaled kobold whose body is adorned with all sorts of likely-enchanted accessories. Behind those are a human and what Ruckus is pretty sure is a lizardkin, both of them wearing mage-type gear but with embroidered symbols that likely identify them as servants of one god or another.

That first impression only lasts a fraction of a second before Alizz actually greets the newcomers, and introductions are begun properly. "Welcome to Grassbrook, Scarlet Eagles. Grim, it's good to see you again. It's been...eight years, I believe?"

Despite his apparent moniker, the minotaur's grin is a friendly one. The man's fur is largely black but with a few hints of grey, signs of age that are matched by most of his party. "Alizz! Was surprised you settled down into a desk job so soon, I thought you enjoyed the experience of trying out new dungeons, and being almost killed by new monsters! Ha!"

Alizz's chuckle is a polite one. "Ha, yes, well, this dungeon had some...particular features that led me to 'settling down', although things certainly haven't been boring around here. Allow me to introduce my inspection team - Kelsey you know, we also have Sely of Highfalls, Renter Forst, and Ruckus Dullspoon."

The massive fellow's grin to Kelsey is a cheerful one, although it turns more somber as he turns to Sely. "Sely, it's good to meet you. It's unfortunate that I never got to meet you and your sister while you were a team, you had quite the reputation around the Association."

Sely nods, but seems a little uncertain as to how to respond to that. "Ah, thank you, 'Grim', but I think my sister and I have managed to...adapt to our new circumstances, strange as they may be."

"Strange indeed! And Ruckus - I've heard you're some manner of goblin, was it? Or was it a demon? To be honest, the rumors haven't been entirely clear on that."

The maybe-goblin, maybe-demon shrugs in reply. "Honestly, think of me as one of a kind. It's practically true, anyhow. And you're...Grim?"

The minotaur nods, but Alizz answers for him. "It's common for Supreme-tier Challengers to go by a nickname, particularly those who work for the Association directly. An old tradition, I believe. That said, I don't believe I'm familiar with the rest of your current roster, Grim?"

"Of course, let me introduce my esteemed colleagues!" The dark-furred man puffs his chest up as he steps aside and begins to identify his teammates, beginning with the gnoll woman standing next to him. "This is Grinner, our Horizon Hunter. She can hit a target from over a mile away - not that most dungeons give her the chance to show off that particular talent, ha!" True to her nickname, the gnoll displays a toothy grin.

"Don't mind closer targets, no. Can hit them even quicker that way, hehe!"

Grim next gestures towards the kobold, whose yellow scales are accented by the red and orange that decorates most of her robes. "This here is Yellowbelly, our Firestormer. Quite the elementalist, although lightning and, of course, fire are her favorites." The kobold's nod to Alizz's team is much more formal.

This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

"I do have other tricks up my sleeves - but most things do burn, one way or another."

Moving on, the minotaur next points out the team's human, a man who personally looks plain enough to be a clerk at a general store, with his dusty brown hair and slightly-wrinkled eyes. "Bandages, our healer - a Rector of Restoration, to be specific." The man gives Alizz a slight bow.

"In service to Ulinda, our Goddess of Crafts." The statement causes Renter to furrow his brow.

"A healer of the craft goddess? Didn't know she was much into, y'know...bodies, and all that."

"Aha, well, most gods possess healing blessings of some level or another. But indeed, I do also possess the talent to 'heal' equipment to varying degrees - a useful application of divine power when on deep dungeon delves."

"The man's patched up my armor more times than I can count, that's for sure!" Grim chuckles as he finally introduces the last member of the group, the lizardkin with a mix of green and brown scales. "And we've got Referee, our Streakbreaker."

This time Alizz's eyes grow wide at the title. "A Streakbreaker!? If I'm not mistaken, isn't that a class of clerics? Specifically - "

The man bows to Alizz, his flexible spine moving like water as he does so. "I am a cleric of Dice, Goddess of Games and Rules, yes. My Challenger class is an...odd one, and rare, but I suppose I shouldn't be surprised a woman of your reputation has heard of it."

Alizz ignores the compliment and turns back towards Grim. "A Streakbreaker? For this dungeon? Grim, are you sure about this?"

The minotaur straightens up and takes on a more serious look. "While Referee is a more recent recruit to the Scarlet Eagles, I did not bring him on for this mission specifically. He is a full member of the team, and I'm not about to leave him behind just because of...potential oddities with your dungeon." Grim frowns before continuing. "Especially not when said oddities are the reason we're here in the first place."

"I did wish to speak to you about your mission, actually - but perhaps we should do that in private, in my office? Your team is welcome to rest and refreshments here - although we're not the Lucky Bastard, I'm sure a group of weary travelers would appreciate what we have on offer."

The party leader nods before turning to his group. "Alright, I'm going to talk with the adults now - none of you kids break anything while I'm gone, eh?"

The response is a set of tired groans and rolled eyes, indicating that the party of middle-aged adventurers has heard this sort of joke many times before. Nevertheless they follow Sely as she leads them to another part of the first floor, while Alizz directs Grim upstairs to her office. The two are quiet until the door is closed behind them, and both are seated on either side of the drider's desk. Eventually, it's Grim who speaks first.

"You know, HQ warned me about how close you are to this dungeon, Alizz."

The Administrator scoffs. "I've been extremely upfront about all of my dealings, Grim. Yes, my sister-in-law and Sely's sister are now members of the dungeon staff. Yes, Worthy Dungeon is far more...interactive than perhaps any dungeon outside of the Domain, and probably more so than even most of those. None of those impact my ability to do my job. Just look at how successful Grassbrook has been this past year, if you need proof!"

Grim's jovial public nature now seems nearly absent as he shifts in his seat - fortunately, one crafted for a minotaur's weight. "A year. You know as well as I that the Dragonlord's capable of running schemes that take decades to bear fruit. HQ is worried that they've given you - and Worthy Dungeon - too long of a leash."

"And you're here to yank it, are you?" Alizz shakes her head. "Mind telling me just what your orders are exactly, Grim? Surely you're not here to actually consider cracking Xenia's core."

"I'm here to consider every possibility - and I've brought the expertise to help carry out whatever solutions are required."

His choice of words causes Alizz immediate concern. "Are - did you bring actual core-crackers to my town, Grim?"

The man nods. "Grinner and Referee both have core-cracking experience. Grinner was part of a raid a few years back, bumped her from low Advanced to high Master, by time the Association finished classifying her improvements. Referee's cracked two cores, though he was already a Supreme-tier at the time."

That explanation only causes Alizz further confusion. "I'm sorry? Were they brand-new dungeons at the time? Otherwise he ought to be one of the most powerful Challengers in the kingdom! In fact, doesn't the Association have a rule against Supremes cracking more than a single core, specifically to avoid that sort of concentration of power?"

Grim chuckles. "Don't ask me why, but as usual, Referee is an exception to every rule - ironic as that may be. Apparently he 'devoted his share of his rewards to his goddess' or something, and other than maybe some gains to his personal mana reservoir, wasn't changed by the experience at all."

"I...didn't even realize that was a thing. It seems rather counter to how the gods intend for dungeons to be...handled, by most understandings." Alizz sighs before returning to her original point. "But please, Grim, I must emphasize this - Xenia does not need core-cracking. The dungeon is not a danger to this town, regardless of what other dungeons may have done elsewhere!"

"And I certainly hope that's true! Of course, there's more concerns than just that, as well. These rumors about the Dragonlord launching an invasion in the near future...Grassbrook is sure to be in grave danger. The little hamlet it used to be was never intended to be defended. The first real garrison is forty miles from here!"

Alizz has to agree. "To be honest, I'm surprised the Association sent you down here under that sort of threat. The Association is politically neutral, after all, they wouldn't want a team like yours being caught up in a battle for the town. Hells, Yellowbelly is a Domain citizen, is she not?"

"She is, although I trust her still. But that's just another reason for us to be here. Even if Worthy Dungeon currently isn't working for the dragon, there's worries about what might happen if it does get conquered by the tyrant by force."

The drider raises an eyebrow. "And you intend to prevent that? You're actually considering fighting the Domain army for it? A team of Supremes is powerful, but - " Her thoughts are interrupted by a shake of Grim's head.

"You misunderstand. I am to take that into account when deciding whether or not Worthy Dungeon needs to be destroyed before the dragon claims it."

"Grim."

"I know!" He raises his massive, gauntleted hands in a placating gesture. "It's not a decision I intend to leap to! But it is one I have to at least consider."

It's clear that there's many things Alizz wishes to say, but the official bottles most of them up for now. "And...what other things are on your list of items to 'consider'?"

The man's good mood returns slightly. "Well, for starters - I'd say we actually ought to meet the place, don't you think?"

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