Khenal
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Chapter Two-Hundred Ninety-Two
🕑 Added 2024-09-20 02:35:31 +0000 UTC_________
Berdol
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He’s been looking forward to this inspection
Inspecting Thedeim is still intimidating to the catkin, and he’s not certain he’ll be able to do it justice, but the dungeon’s protege is another story. He’s had fun sparring with Onyx, and now she’s apparently the Voice, he can’t wait to be able to hold an actual conversation with her.
And, with the paperwork finally sorted with the inspection of Hullbreak, he’s ready to check on the youngest dungeon in the area. He’s not so sure he can say the same thing about Olander, though. If Violet wasn’t a toybox, he’d be concerned about how distracted the elf is. If he’s supposed to be a bodyguard, he should probably pay a bit more attention.
He can guess as to why, at least. The elf had been very apprehensive about Thedeim, even planning to do a solo delve or two before Teemo waylaid him with the suggestion to fight Rocky. He did his first solo delve the other day, and there’s probably only a handful of people in all of Fourdock who don’t know he accepted the quest.
A lot more people probably don’t know that he actually got a reading from Tiny, though. Berdol didn’t even know that was a thing! He was vaguely aware that people with strong Fate affinity could do something like that, as he was aware Tiny was supposed to be the scion with the most fate expertise. He just never put those two threads together.
He eyes Olander as the two make for the sewer outlet to the sea, wondering what’s going on in the elf’s head. There’s probably no harm in asking, right?
“Worried about fighting Rocky?” Berdol would be, even if it were an ordinary challenge. He’s read the reports of other challengers, and has no idea how someone is even supposed to fight the crazy zombie.
At least the question seems to knock Olander out of his own head, earning a confused sound before he processes the question. “Not worried. More… intrigued. I’ve faced a lot of scions from other dungeons, but I don’t think I’ve ever heard one talked up as much as Rocky. With the average level of Thedeim’s denizens, it’d be easy to think the townsfolk lack perspective on how strong scions can get… but with how odd Thedeim behaves, underestimating Rocky would be a fast way to lose.”
Berdol nods at that as they near the shoreline. The sewer outlet isn’t exactly by the docks, but the geography makes it simplest to have the outlet near there. Thankfully, not near enough for the smell to travel far. “Yeah, if you don’t take the fight seriously, he’ll knock you out without much preamble. I get the feeling he’ll want to make a show of the fight with you, especially with the notice on the board about it.”
Olander snorts. “I’ve never seen a dungeon advertise! Sure, more people will come to watch, but how did he even come up with something like that?”
Berdol echoes his snort as the outlet comes into view. “That’s a question I hear around the guild a lot. We don’t really have an answer, and I think both Tarl and Telar have given up on finding it.”
“How about you? Do you have any ideas, or hopes of figuring him out?”
The catkin shrugs. “Not really. I don’t think it really needs an answer, and the surprise is part of the fun of delving him.”
“I understand that, at least. Teemo mentioned Thedeim wanted me to not be bored, but I didn’t think he’d be able to give me any kind of a challenge. Then he chained encounters at me throughout the entire manor, keeping me constantly moving. I’ve never had so much fun against denizens I so outclassed.”
Berdol nods absently as he levitates out the key and unlocks the grating, though he pauses as he notices something. He levitates his notes as Olander gives the air a few tentative sniffs.
“I don’t smell much sewage. Either there’s a clog, or Violet is already working hard in there.”
Berdol hums as he makes his notes, agreeing. “Yep. Her expanding is all but official in our records, so part of this inspection will be in making it actually official.” With his note made, he uses his affinity to open the grate, rather than touching it directly. Violet doesn’t seem to own the sewers all the way to here, and even if she did, it’d take more time to clean it enough for him to touch.
“I’m glad towns started designing with sewer dungeons in mind,” comments Olander as they enter, the elf lighting a torch so they can easily see.
“Oh? Haven’t they been doing that for a long time?”
Olander nods as he looks around. “Yeah, but some of the really old cities have sewers that weren’t designed like that. When the dungeon gets subsumed, they upgrade, but the really old sewer dungeons don’t like delvers trying to reshape their territory. I think most town leaders would rather have an upset murderous dungeon than an unhappy sewer, so they don’t bother pressing the issue. I was an escort in one where we had to have aqua affinity potions as well as disease and poison protection, too.”
The catkin shudders at the idea, and even the elf looks haunted by the memories for a moment before he continues. “At least this one has plenty of headroom.”
Berdol makes a note to get some disease protection potions the next time he has to do a sewer inspection. He doubts he’ll need them for this one… hopefully. The air isn’t exactly pleasant, but considering they still haven’t found Violet’s borders, it could be a lot worse. If she wasn’t actively cleaning things in her area, the stench would probably be much worse.
He pauses as he feels the change that signals entering a dungeon, and looks back at the exit with a measuring eye. “What would you say? About… a hundred feet from the outlet?”
Olander glances back before nodding. “About there, yeah. What sorts of spawns is she supposed to have? Do you know?”
“Teemo mentioned putrid oozes and caiman, but nobody was crazy enough to try to come in here to verify on their own.”
“That glamorous duty is all yours,” replies Olander with a smirk as they continue walking, both appreciating how quickly the air is clearing. He bars Berdol’s path with the blunt end of his glaive when he spots movement in the mostly-clear water. “Looks like a caiman to me. How do you want to handle it?”
Berdol makes a note of the denizen as he considers, then gently pushes the offending haft down and out of his way. “For now, we’ll leave it alone. If it follows her usual methods, it’s mostly there for invaders. If it attacks, deal with it, but otherwise let it do its job.”
Olander tenses for a moment as Berdol moves his spear, before releasing his breath and shaking his head with a smile. “Right, toybox.”
The catkin smirks as they walk past the denizen, letting it lazily swim along its patrol. “Do they even make belligerent sewer dungeons? I don’t think I’ve seen any examples in the books yet.”
“Eh, a couple, but you’re right. They’re mostly cooperative. Some are just more… cooperative than others.” He doesn’t get a chance to elaborate as they round the corner and seem to hit a wall of stench. The source is obvious as a large stagnant pool can be seen ahead of them, writhing with movement.
Berdol shudders at the sight, making a note as he comments. “They don’t call them putrid oozes for nothing.”
Olander shrugs, seeming to only be bothered by the smell. “I dunno. I think the slimes are kinda cute. I had a friend when I was a kid who had a domesticated one as a pet.”
“A domesticated putrid ooze?!” Berdol recoils at the image of what kind of parent would allow that, with the image only getting more ridiculous as Olander laughs.
“Not a putrid one! A normal one. We liked to go out and gather a bunch of flowers to feed it to change its color. We got in a lot of trouble one time when we took some flowers that weren’t wild, heh.” The elf chuckles at the memory even as Berdol tries to usher them away from the wriggling pool.
His eyes twinkle in mischief as he continues. “I’ve heard of adventurers sometimes keeping putrid oozes, though. Just put it in a box or other container and have a bottomless chamberpot!”
Berdol gags at the idea, much to the mirth of Olander. A second voice joins the echoing laughter as the sewer tunnel darkens, cutting off the elf as he raises his glaive.
“A portable ooze! I wonder if I could get Violet to send them on expeditions like that, somehow.” The shadows lengthen as the elf takes a defensive position, though Berdol’s laughter cracks his focus for a moment.
“Relax, Olander! It’s Onyx!”
Olander does anything but relax as he keeps his eyes on his surroundings. “That’s not a gremlin.”
“Not anymore I’m not, no. I’m a shade now. It’s a lot easier to get around like this.” She slowly steps away from the wall in front of Olander, respecting the distance he can easily reach with his weapon. Where she used to hardly reach Berdol’s waist, now she’s noticeably taller than him! Two holes in the darkness mark her eyes, letting the two delvers see the tunnel beyond her, and a mouth cuts through the shadows when she speaks.
“It feels like it’s been a while, Berdol! Too busy to come give me more fighting tips?”
He chuckles and nods. “A bit, actually. There’s a lot that goes into learning to be an inspector, and your mentor causing mischief doesn’t help things.”
Onyx’s grin stretches her face, making Olander tense up again, but Berdol ignores him and simply steps up to get a closer look at his friend and scion as she replies. “Mischief is part of the fun!” Her smile slips a bit for a moment, before she sighs and lets the smile shrink back to more ordinary proportions. “Violet says it’s only sometimes fun. Are you going to be ok? She was worried you might freak out if I kept teasing,” she asks Olander, who slowly lowers his glaive. He takes a few moments before replying.
“Sorry. I haven’t had good experiences with shades before.”
Onyx slumps a little. “Ah, sorry about that. I’m still getting used to being a shade. There’s just so much more I can do now!”
“On top of being a Voice,” points out Berdol, earning a happy nod.
“Yes! That’s actually why I’m here. Violet knows the Mentor usually has his Voice along for inspections, so I’m here! Is there anything I can help with?”
Berdol nods and consults his notes. “I have a whole list of things, if you don’t mind.” She smiles at that, urging him to continue. “Well, to start with, are there any new scions?”
“Yes, Slimy and Teeth! They’re both a bit busy, but Slimy is just back that way, dealing with a pool. Let me introduce you”!
Berdol starts to protest, but is cut off by a smirking Olander. “He’d love to! It’s his duty as an inspector to personally meet as many scions in a dungeon as he can, after all.” Berdol’s look of betrayal earns another peal of laughter from the elf, who follows along as Onyx leads the way.
Being an inspector is not always easy.
Comments
Durphymcbob
i mean sasuages are an ancient foodstuff, like 3000bc kind of thing, thedium just has to request the properly shaped buns for them, and somehow get some ketchup and mustard.
Aerowarrier
Okay Onyx is adorable dude, stop making all these characters so cute I just wanna hug all of them!
Carl Gherardi
That thought set off a train. I can imagine Voilet shyly asking Thediem if Onyx can watch and maybe... compete? Thediem having a face-palm moment and advertising/questing for a full undercard between the current and next inspections. The Voice gets Bruce Buffer training, a title belt is crafted, the baker drafted to invent hotdogs Aranya becomes a ring girl... Maybe not. I'll stop now
Carl Gherardi
Please arrange for Onyx/Berdol to become an undercard to Rocky!
Ben Bass
TYFTC! I like how Violet and her scions are doing a good job in following in Thediems footsteps and working with the guild and inspectors. I am liking how Olander is giving Berdol a bit of a good natured hazing.
Staples01
TYSMFTC! love to see the violet inspection ^-^
mly85lc
Then again it's near the docks for the sewer outlet to the sea.. so maybe a beaches house? A sand elementals? Some ocean challenges? Flying creatures? Or turtle? Or sand Leon's? Burrowing insects? A seal?
mly85lc
So Violets is nearing the surfers access. Wonder what kind of "front door" she will make? After he Voice has chances look out MC underground entrest? Mining? Or some blacksmiths Working arenas? A jack of all approch? Whitt people question to mundein repairs and low skill job's before getting entrest deeper?
Ethan Barrow
TFTC!! Alot of amusing joshing in this one.
Andar Drethnok
It's like a little kid naming their stuffed animals.
Magnadra
I imagen a shadowy figure with with burning eyes, with flashing teeth while speeking.
Typhoonator
Ah ok, getting a better mental picture of what onyx looks like now. She's kind of a living shadow?
Blue Trooper
Loved this 😃
LinaBoeckwurm
Freak I love this story!
Demonlord
Thanks for the nice chapter 😊 I'm really impressed at how the story keeps to be interesting even without much happening... I mean they wander to an through a sewer and I really loved the chapter
FluffyPrincess
It makes sense. You wouldn't want sewers exploding out into the streets because the sewer dungeon is upset.
Herakilla
Thanks for the chapter! Love Onyx's debut to assisting inspections!
Laetitia
Really like this chapter ! It's nice to finally see olander de-stress and being a bit more at ease. Really like the dynamic between him, berdol and Onyx!
Laetitia
🤣🤣 love your comment !
Laetitia
Non, in the context it's clear the order is correct. If you think about it an upset sewer could create a plague which murderous dungeon apparently can't
C
"Violet’s grin stretches her face" Onyx's*
Jerramy Scoggin
I'm imagining sort of a fem Hexxus from Ferngully image for onyx. Just with see through eyes and mouth rather than Toxic yellow.
fanfan8000
I think most town leaders would rather have an upset murderous dungeon than an unhappy sewer, Is the above flipped? At the very least it seems so.
Lord-Siver
maybe the face got stretched to the sides to fit the grin that outgrew the face?
Andyr98
I love violet so much with her scion names
Marianamystery
Berdol having easy fun with Olander and getting him to relax, and what does he get in return for his troubles? A sassy coworker getting him into situations he didn't want to be in. Poor Berdol XD
Jacob
"Onyx's" grin stretched her face? Not sure but I think that's what you meant
Jacob
Hehehe poor Berdol. Also onyx being mildly terrifying is awesome. Also I think you mean
Eriach
Tftc
