The Survivors

We walked into a classroom- this one was entirely scorched and charred, the only part that seemed to have avoided all damage was the magic blackboard. The writing on it had changed. The heading was the same, then it proceeded with:

Challenge #1: Survive 23:53:40

Proceed to the Exit.

57/200 survivors remain in your sector

Finally, underneath the text, in fine chalk letters there were 57 names with levels next to them. As expected, Artemis was at the top at level 16, and the rest of the party was right behind her. A few more of the Guild were-

I froze.

"Two hundred? Shit," Zack said. "Smaller than I thought," Hannah said, "Chances that anyone we know would be here are pretty low. Surprised I got here with my team," Hannah said. "Wait, wait," I said. "Isn't there something off with the numbers?" Zack said. "57. There's 52 in the guild," Hannah said. "There are five sorry sons of bitches out there somewhere, still alive, without the Guild," Zack said.

I was still staring at the blackboard in disbelief, and my companions were beginning to notice.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Hannah said.

On the blackboard, among the main pack of people at level 9, I found the name Anna Rajski, level 9. I had found one of my friends.

Which was a fucking nightmare. It had been Hell for everyone here. I thought I had gotten a particularly rotten set of circumstances, as my quests kept me isolated and far away from the Guild for long periods of time, but I had somewhere to go to. Indeed, the first few hours without a guild had nearly gotten me killed the most.

"Anna, I know her, a friend," I said. "Shit. She's alive, at least," Hannah said. "We'll get her, Alex. Artemis will get everyone that's left out," Zack said. "Just- fuck, can you imagine, without the Guild?" I said. "Yeah. If Artemis was just a bit more confident," Zack said. "She wouldn't be our glorious leader if she wasn't humble," Hannah said. "Don't let her hear you calling her that. She wouldn't think it's funny," Zack said. "How do you keep pissing her off, when you seem to understand perfectly well what she likes and believes?" I said. "An argument," Hannah said. "You got into an argument with her?" I said. "Nah. Fucking guy in guild kept running his mouth about how Space Wolves are better than the 'nids," Zack said. "Okay, so someone was wrong about toy soldiers," I said. "Dude, don't get me started. I might have yelled a bit," Zack said. "Screamed," Hannah said. "Okay, okay, look, I get that it's important and everything, relationships, management, whatever. My friend's in danger. Others might be dead," I said. "People die here, Alex. Hannah's friends are all dead by now, I mean, the ones who came with her," Zack said. "Weren't really friends, but yeah" Hannah said. "Fuck, I guess you're right. It doesn't really change anything, but we really need to find those other five survivors. I bet they're together, it's not easy surviving on your own out there," I said. "Unless you're Alex Fucking Vorhal, huh? Exit," Hannah said. When I looked confused she pointed at the word on the blackboard.

"I know it sucks surviving out there alone because I've done it so much. And yeah. Ominous. I sort of doubt that surviving the remaining day will count for much if we don't get to this exit," I said. "Everyone will be trying to get there. Maybe we find your friend. East?" Hannah said. "Probably. That's what the map looked like, but no one's been anywhere close to figuring out how that changes further along. It's just a subtle narrowing of the halls and reduction of crossroads with more halls coming together," I said. "Let's get Artemis," Hannah said. "Yeah, her and the rest of the Guild. I have a feeling we might all be leaving the Lounge behind," I said.

I took a long look back at the blackboard. Zack was right. A lot of good people had died here. I had seen many of those deaths. Hell, even with Artemis' incredible management and support, nearly half of the original Guild was dead. I thought about what was even the right thing to feel here? Was it more heartless to put one of my own, a friend from my life before, above the rest of the guild, or more heartless to not worry about her and focus on the survival of the people I could help right now. I felt like a robot trying to figure out the correct emotional response, while my guts were roiling with a sickness.

We left the classroom, heading straight back to the Lounge, and looking behind me I saw two figures chatting and proceeding casually towards us. I warned my party members and they drew their weapons, but as the two came closer I recognized them. The devil and the Monarch of Goblins were chatting and meandering East down the halls.

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The Monarch was laughing at one of the Devil's jokes, smoking a cigarette on a long holder that appeared to be made out of a thin copper pipe, while the Devil had now changed into a bespoke black suit with a burgundy (or blood) red undershirt with a golden tie. He was smiling ear to ear as he told the Monarch a joke that I couldn't hear, but somehow knew in my heart of hearts involved several dead babies.

Hannah moved into her aggressive overhead greatsword stance, while Zack jumped up and down a few times, cracking his neck. The pair saw us and I saw a flash of murder in their eyes.

"Wait, don't," I said to my allies before turning to see what they were doing. Without context, pretty much any immediate action would have been dumb. "I didn't even do anything," Zack said. "I know them. Sort of. I mean, we've met," I said. "Dangerous," Hannah said. "Extremely so," I said. "Alex, my boy," the Monarch of Goblins said. "Wizard," the devil said. "What are you both doing here?" I said. "We figured it'd be brightest to go a-meandering down towards exit-way," the devil said. "Are you Satan?" Zack said.

"Ah Zachary Chumley," the Devil said. "Holy fuck, he is Satan! I'm a huge fan," Zack said. "Chumley?" Hannah said. The Monarch of Goblins laughed and it sounded like a choir in cacophony. "This is a random devil I met in a library who won't give me his name. This is the Monarch of Goblins. Terrifying people from my nightmares, meet Zack and Hannah," I introduced the two groups. "Charmed," the two monsters said in unison, though they at least had the decency to act surprised about it. "We should go," Hannah said. "No, wait, there's a devil," Zack said. "And what do you know about devils, boy?" the devil said. "Not much, what are y'all like?" Zack said. "Your majesty, devil, it was a pleasure to encounter the both of you, but it seems that we are now all in a hurry," I said. "Zachary, you want a blessing from me?" the devil said. "Hell yeah," Zack said, before either me or Hannah could begin speaking. I said "for fuck's sake", but, of course, it was too late.

Much like when I had got my own curse from the devil there was a smell of sulfur, a hiss and a grunt of pain, followed swiftly by scratching from Zack's Journal. I sighed. Not that I could really hold it against him, my own curse mark itching on my back, but still. At least I had been in dire straits.

"If you do not mind me asking, would you be willing to share any information about the challenge today and our principal?" I said. "We would assume that he is a wizard. Likely an advanced specialized class thereof," the Monarch said. "Spoke like a man of my own heart," said the devil. "I expect that you are correct in those assessments, but anything useful you may have gleaned? Anything that we wouldn't have figured out ourselves?" I said. "We answer question with a question. When you reach the exit, where do you expect you shall exit to? We would recommend you consider how likely it is that you shall return to your dens and hatchlings," the Monarch said. "I've thoughts on the matter myself, though I ain't about to give nothing for free," the devil said. "Zack got branded by you?" I said. "Yeah, that's like, can we make a deal with that?" Zack said. "That deal has already been set and done, boys. I'll hear a better offer. How's about you, frostmaiden?" the Devil said. "Not a maiden," Hannah said. "Now don't be like that. I reckon it'd be real fun for us both if you took on a little curse from me," the Devil said. "Already have enough bad shit going on in my head," Hannah said. "But I could fix that. Them emotions of yours what have gone and come all numb, why I could bring a good few of them back with a flair," the devil said.

Hannah had been standing perfectly still like she often did, so when I noticed her freeze for a moment, that was a significant event indeed. But, in the end, she did say,

"No. It's enough for me to know it's possible," she said. "Well, I'll be saved, I suppose I did just give away a free bit of juicy info for all of nothing. Well played, Hannah," the devil said. "Any chance you'd want anything else?" I said. "Naw, kid, I don't deal in trinkets or promises, just black magic," the devil said. "I know what's inside the walls," I said. "Really? Well, well, well. 'Fraid I know it too, but color me impressed," the devil said.

"You might want to get going," the Monarch of Goblins said, "the goblin market is coming, and without Me to keep them in check, who knows what ingenious contraptions they are likely to have cobbled together."

"Alex?" Hannah said. "Yeah, and yes, Your Majesty, we will follow the horde after it has passed," I said. "It was good to meet you, Alex, Zachary. Hannah, It is a damned shame that you got away, it would'a been hell of a something. Be careful that We don't got to kill you next time we meet," the devil said. "Is that a risk?" I said. "We choose as We choose. For now, We can only say that that is a risk," the Monarch said, and just as they said it, the screams and hollering of the goblin market came wailing from a distance just beyond the fog.

The party rushed into the Lounge, Zack still nursing the brand, which had apparently appeared on the wrist of his left arm. Hannah was as hard to read as ever since she'd become undead, but I couldn't help but feel that she'd been discombobulated by her own encounter. I saw the first lines of the rampaging Goblin Market which was, of course, nowhere near entirely made out of only goblins. Orcs, minotaurs and all sorts of even stranger creatures rushing forwards through the halls. They appeared to be moving much faster than the meandering gait of the Monarch and the devil had been, but I was entirely certain that they wouldn't catch up. Call it a hunch.

We returned to the Lounge with Artemis and the rest of the party along with a good chunk of the higher level Guild members looking over the map of the Tower. It was not like they could really plan anything without further information, but it felt better to be standing and going over the information that you did have than just pacing or trying to distract yourself. I should know, I had done it plenty before facing the Bone Abomination. As we tread deeper into the Lounge, they noticed us and Artemis asked us what we had found.

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