A broken spear.
The snarl of feral creatures.
I kick my legs against the ancient stonework beneath me, propelling myself desperately away from the mob that followed. The dark corridors twisting and turning, opening up new paths in this confounded maze. The path out has been lost to me long ago and now I wander the halls focused only on evading my pursuers. A weapon, I need a weapon. The corridor opened up to a large room and I know I’ve been led into an ambush.
One of the smaller creatures breaks out from the darkness beyond me and makes for my head. Without breaking my stride I duck below the maw of the monster and sidestep another. I hear a large thump behind me, but I don’t risk the glance behind me. I know what it is. I spot an exit and rush towards it, hoping my legs are faster than the beast that is upon me. By pure instinct I duck a lashing tail that nearly takes my head. The tail rips the bricks out of the wall, showering me in debris that risks my footing as I step over the pieces towards my salvation. The beast lunges towards me and I throw myself against the door, breaking it off the hinges, but I manage to escape the beast. I scramble away from the door, getting precious distance from what lurks beyond it.
The large frame of the beast stops at the opening, but it reaches its large arms through the doorway. Its powerful arm struggle to close the distance and after a brief moment, it pulls it back. It roars defiantly, cursing at me in its own way. Then it disappears back into the pitch black void beyond the door.
I take a moment to catch my breath knowing that the next thing through that door will be the little ones.
The scraping of claws mark their presence as they flood through the door and rush towards me. They aren’t remarkable by any means, but in numbers they can be a problem. These creatures were only knee height. They had a single large eye and below that was a mouth that housed a set of sharp teeth. They did not have a torso, but had a set of arms protruding from the side of their head that they used as legs to run around. I stand my ground and meet them. I work off of instinct again and trust my armor to save me from the worst wounds as they claw and bite me. Some teeth slip through the mail and leave shallow puncture wounds. I reciprocate by smashing their skulls in with my heel and have their brains leak out their ears. A brave creature goes to claw out my eyes, but my helmet takes the punishment getting scored with new scratches by the visor. I break the monster on the wall and then again on the ground. It lets out a painful yelp as I finish it off which seems to discourage some.
I feel teeth dig into my calf and I fall onto a knee. The opportunity too good for another brave monster, it goes for my head. I catch it by the maw and I pull its strong jaws apart far beyond it was ever intended to open. It wriggle in my hands in a desperate attempt to free itself, but the joints creak and then snap apart and its useless mouth dangles on its head while I turn my attention to the beast biting into my calf. I dig my thumb into its eye and it lets go and turns to escape, but I grab it by the hind legs and pull it back into my arms and using my sharp gauntlets, I dig into its side, tearing out the lifeblood beneath.
The sudden arterial spray bathing myself and the rest of the creatures, finally makes the rest of my attackers lose heart and they retreat. An angry bellow follows the last one retreating and the sounds of painful yelps as they minions get punished by their leader for cowardice. I try for the first door on my right. It opens up easily and I close it behind me. I am out of breath and I collapse against the door taking in deep breaths and try to ignore the wounds marking my body. Then I notice the light.
“Welcome adventurer!”
I snap out of my stupor and I am face to face with a man behind a stall. He is smaller than me, but that is considered average by local standards. A portly one, in a brown jacket that covers his body, save for the round almost featureless head. Two beady eyes stare at me, the only thing on the man’s head, but somehow he continues to speak without a mouth.
“I see you’ve managed to dispatch some of the creatures outside these doors. Well done!” he says, stepping out from the stall. The stall door closes behind him and I can see his short stubby feet waddling towards me. “I am Merchant. I sell wares. Are you in need of items?” he continued.
I stand up to my full height, dwarfing the smaller man by many heads, but his expression, what little I can discern from this person, does not change. Odd, most people see my size and flinch. Perhaps this man is made of harder stuff, considering he set up his shop in a dungeon.
I nod my head, letting him know I want to make a purchase. Though I don’t know what he has on him, if anything at all. The shop behind him is just a closed stall, though I assume he has the wares hidden somewhere in this room, however the room is almost as featureless as the Merchant. Where?
“Ah perfect! Luckily I have stocked up on many adventurer needs before coming here. To be honest, I only intended to make a stop at the Well for a quick enchantment, before being surrounded by those beasts outside. I never intended to be this deep. I’ve been barricaded in here since. Come, I can get you what you desire!”
He returns to the stall and asks, “What do you need dear customer?”
I do not say anything.
“Uh, perhaps I didn’t hear you?”
Quiet.
“Is there an issue?”
I say nothing. I can’t. I pick up my thumb and scrap it across my neck in a slow gesture. It’s the best I can do to explain the situation. Though in some parts of this world, such a gesture is considered rude or offensive.
The Merchant stands there speechless for a moment and then responds “Oh! Are you perhaps unable to speak? An injury?”
I nod.
“Not an issue! We can still try to communicate through other means. If you can at least understand me, then we can try going through my inventory. First, are you in need of medical supplies, perhaps something to repair your voice?”
I shake my head. The wounds on my body may have bloodied me, but they are only superficial. I will tend to them later. As for the voice, that’s permanent by now
“Hmm, a pity. Perhaps you need some armor? You do seem to have taken a beating.”
I shake my head again. My movement is unhindered by the damage and the beast outside can tear through it regardless of condition. I need…
I nod and then gesture with my hands to mimic holding a spear.
“Spear, Halberd, Pike?” the Merchant guesses. “Let me find you something.”
I look around in the room, hoping to spot the weapons, but all I see is bare walls and the entrance. Just then, I hear the Merchant open a door. A second door behind him in the stall. The small man walks through and then disappears from the room. A moment passes as my mind tries to comprehend what had just occurred. I walk up to the stall and inspect the sides. Solid walls of wood. Not a single seam to show a door he might have passed through. I look through from the front and see the door he used. A simple door embedded on the inside. This has to be some sort of parlor trick. I look on the outside again, looking for a hidden seam I must have missed, but then I heard the sound of the door knob turning. I back away from the shop, trying to avoid angering the Merchant with my investigation. I saw the weapons first before I saw the Merchant. The sharp edges gleamed on the dim light cast by the hanging lantern on his stall. Following closely behind, holding the weapons, Merchant walked out through the false wall. There must be some sort of trick being played, but the answer could wait. I saw what I needed
“Ah, I hope I did not keep you waiting too long. I do not have many weapons for
people your size, but I did find these. All reasonably priced of course. Go ahead, inspect
them and take your pick.” Merchant said leaning the weapons against the stall. Their
price tags wrapped around the neck of the blades, recently scrawled on. As for the price,
I wouldn’t call them reasonable in other circumstances, but I suppose buying weapons in a dungeon, one can’t help but expect some price gouging. Besides I do not have any
other choice. I take the pole arms and inspect them one by one . The quality is not the
best, but compared to my old weapon, I can not make too many complaints. The shaft is
of solid build, not cheap wood and the heads are free of rust and chips. The blades could use some sharpening, but it will be serviceable for now. I make my choice and hand
back the rest.
“Ah yes, good choice adventurer. I hope it serves you well. And if you may.” Merchant said holding out his hand. A nubby hand with no fingers, but it was obvious he expected payment up front.
I give him a nod and reach into one of my pouches. I feel air. I can see my fingers punching through a large hole at the bottom where all my coins have been stored. I am broke. Just then, I can feel the sharp gaze of the Merchant piercing my body
“I see…” The Merchant trails off.
The small man puts his hand to his chin (if it could be called that) and groans quietly. He looks back up and says “I suppose you can take the weapon for now, so long as you defeat the beasts that trap m- us within this room. I expect it back of course. Now if you need nothing else, I suggest you go ahead and earn your right to rent this weapon.”
I find myself being ushered out the door and slammed behind me.
“Good luck adventurer. I hope you return it to me in one piece.” The Merchant said locking the door.
I walk through the same corridors again. The smell of fresh blood infesting my sinuses as I step over the corpses I had left behind. It is not long before I am in the large hall I had ran through and in it, I can sense the large beast watching me. It is dark and my personal light can only dimly illuminate my immediate surrounding, but I can just make out a few dark figures just beyond the light’s edge. I focus and listen. For a large beast, it is quiet, but I can just make out the sound of a tail scraping against the walls and claws digging into the stone floors.
A low growl to my left followed by a snap. My head is sent back as a stone cracks against my helmet. I am dazed for a second, one that my hunter takes advantage of and closes the distance as it leaps from the shadows with its arms outstretched and gaping maw barreling towards me. I come to my senses just in time to evade the initial charge, but it is quick and snaps its head towards me for another bite that I discourage with a prod with my spear. It doesn’t do much, besides anger the beast and it swipes a claw at me. I barely evade the attack and swing my spear. Such a technique is not suitable for a spear, but the tip manages to slice a small gash on its arm. The sight of blood finally makes the beast hesitate to attack me again. It circles me, growling loudly, trying to intimidate me. Now, I can get a good look at this beast. Similar to its underlings, it has no torso, but instead of one eye, it has several along it’s face. The jaw much more powerful, enough to crush through armor and bone. As for its arms, they were like tree trunks and powerful enough to support its massive weight. Behind it was a long tail that was absent from the others. I have to keep an eye on that. It grows, reaches back and swipes at another stone on the ground. The projectile moving through the air an instant and nearly hitting me again. I manage to evade it, but once again I am set on by the beast. It takes experimental swipes at me, judging the distance of my spear. I punish it by making more gashes on its arms. It’s no fool and is testing my defenses. Soon, it’ll find a weakness.
I step back and swipe my blade against the ground causing a bright spark to shower the eyes of the beast, temporarily blinding it. It will only be for a moment, but I take my chance and rush the beast and plunge my spear towards its side, but it lurches to the side and knocks me into the air with its tail. Of course, the dungeon is pitch black and a monster in here would rely on its other senses. I should have predicted it would be able to anticipate my movements though sound alone. I feel gravity return and I fall. I twist around in time to see the monster’s large teeth waiting for me on the ground. I bring my spear around in time to jam the shaft against the teeth before they bore into my body. It locks onto the spear, splintering it, and begins to swing me around, attempting to throw me from my hold, but I hang on tightly. It slams me against the wall and for a moment I see stars in this dungeon. Then I feel myself weightless again as it flings me upward. I time it and let go. The monster’s head crashes against the ground at the sudden loss of weight and then feels it again when I mount myself on its back.
I dig my own claws into its side and it howls in pain and attempts to throw me off.
It twists and turns erratically. I feel myself and the beast crash against the wall once, twice, and then it turns down a hall and runs down it at a full sprint. I hold on desperately, my claws digging into its side even deeper, causing the the beast to howl and pick up even more speed. I look ahead. I can’t see it, but I know this corridor will end. Does it intend to smash me against the wall along with itself? Possibly. I pull myself forward and take a swipe at its eyes, my gauntlets tearing into its flesh and taking one of many of its ports of vision. It slows briefly, but I can hear the echoes of its sprint return to us. We are approaching the end. I make another gash on its face and it roars defiantly and barrels towards the wall. The sudden impact cracks the wall, sending pieces of masonry out and the beast goes limp in a pile of debris. In its pain, it didn’t notice me leap from its back moments before. I tumble on the ground, my arms and legs outstretched trying to slow me down, but it isn’t enough and I crash against the wall. My body lays on the ground and my vision is blurred. For a moment, I do not know if I survived. Then I am reminded of my mortality by the pain shooting through my body
I slowly pick myself off the ground. Testing my dwindling strength as well as the integrity of my body. Fractured bones. Bruises. Cuts. I can move, but barely. I limp back down the corridor. I can feel my shoes filled with blood with every step. I am conscious for now, but I will not last long. I must get back to that Merchant. That is, if he hasn’t left me behind as bait to deal with the beasts down here. It is my only chance. I brace myself against the walls and make my way down the corridors. I can only hope none of the other beasts have the courage to finish me off.
After what felt like an eternity, I make it back to the large hall. The sight of our
battle has caused considerable damage to the stonework, but I alone have returned. On the other side, I can see a faint glow from the Merchant’s shop through the doors. I pace myself slowly, now losing my handhold and I walk through the center of the hall. With every echoing step, I feel a sharp pain radiate up my legs and make home in my ribs. I am a sorry sight.
Then I heard the growl.
I turn around towards the hall and I hear the unmistakable sounds of large heavy footsteps coming towards me. I look around and a few steps away is the Merchant’s spear. I run towards it, but my first step disables my legs and I tumble. I kick my legs against the ground and crawl towards the weapon. My body is on fire and wrapped in a blanket of agony with every movement, but I fight through it and wrap my fingers around the shaft. With the last of my strength and roll on my back as I hear the beast enter the hall and lunge at me. I point my spear up and it pierces the side of the beast. It howls in pain and goes limp, but only for a moment before its limbs come back to life and begins to squirm and swipe at me. My spear holds the creature away from me, but with its thrashing the spear pierces deeper and brings the monster closer. Soon its large powerful limbs reach me and beats at me. My senses are knocked around, but I remain steadfast and hold the spear up. Blood is spilling freely out of the wound and down the spear. It must have cut an artery. I can only hope it will die before its jaws finally reaches my head. It snaps at me and I can see the teeth is only inches away from taking my head. I have no more strength. I can’t get away. I’m going to-
Then the beast was gone, replaced by a viscera and gore
I am drenched in what is left by the beast. Hot steaming pieces splatter against the wet floor around me. Above me only air. My hands still holding onto what remained of the spear. I am alive.
“A close one! Pardon my intrusion adventurer, but I couldn’t stand by and watch a potential customer get eaten by some creature. And oh…” The Merchant said before cutting himself off. “You broke my pike. A damn shame.”
My attention returned my hands, still gripping tightly around the shaft. With considerable thought, I urged my hands to release its deathgrip and the ruined weapon clattered on the floor. I heard the Merchant walk up to me and come into my field of vision. I no longer had the strength to move, so I could not turn towards him, save for my eyes which met his. He stood above me, holding onto a crossbow and a peculiar set of bolts. Were those the cause of the beast’s destruction? I never heard of such a weapon
“Now, we have a bit of a problem. You promised me to bring back the pike. I’m sorry, but you owe me a pike and on top of that, I had to add the charge of one arcane explosive bolt in order to save your life. Adventurer, we are going to have to talk about how you are going to make the repayment. Let me get you inside, it seems I may have to add medical treatment onto your debt as well.”
I feel myself pulled into his arms. For a small man, he was surprisingly strong. As grateful as I was for being saved, I still tried to squirm out of his hold. A useless endeavor. I had no strength left. I was but a limp doll being carried helplessly in the arms of another.
The next few hours went by in a blur. We were not bothered by any other creature in the dungeon. The stench of a large dead beast kept them at bay. None were brave
enough to avenger their leader or was it their master? Regardless, the real monster was in the shop room with me. It was tearing off my armor, ruined by damage and gore, and attempting to give me medical treatment, itemizing it all. By the end of it, I was healed and in incredible debt. It would take me a lifetime to pay all this back. None of my spelunking has even come close to delivering any profit close to what I now owe this Merchant. However, I still felt too weak to move on my own two feet. At this, Merchant picked me up and placed me in the shop and then went around the back and put on the straps, picking it all up with me inside.
We made the long trip out of the dungeon. The Merchant spoke about many things, all business related. Of dungeons and adventurers. How he made a living. Where he had traveled. Where he planned to go. What he was looking to get his hands on and hopefully sell at a profit. It was a one sided conversation, but he didn’t seem to notice. I rocked silently in the shop with every step he took and kept an eye out for any creatures, but none came. He continued talking away, almost oblivious to our surroundings. A cheerful man in this bleak dungeon and I strapped on his back, listening the entire way. Then I could recognize the first signs of fresh air. Almost as he could read my mind, Merchant remarked “We are close adventurer! Can you smell the grass and cool breeze?” I nodded, knowing he couldn’t see it, but I think knew.
Slowly, the stale musty air of the dungeon was replaced by fresh air from the surface. Dirt and water began to appear in the crevices of the cobblestone flooring. The sounds of the outside world crept in, quietly, replacing the silence the dungeon offered. I could hear the birds and the breeze on the leaves. The darkness only illuminated by our personal lantern, was then met by light creeping in from the entrance. Almost all at once, what was once just a whisper of the outside world came rushing in and we were outside. The world above me opened up to the infinite sky. Sunset, at the golden hour. The sky was washed in violets, reds, and pinks. My eyes adjusted and I took in our surroundings.
The entrance to the dungeon was in front of me. The large opening framed by ancient stonework and masonry was decorated with cryptic imagery known only to those long passed. Now it was simply known as the entrance to the “Dungeon of the Great Seers”. Considered a fairly inactive dungeon, most do not enter during the off season, but when the call goes out that it is active, many adventurers flock to the site, hoping to find great spoils in the deeper levels. I had only gone in to pick off a few local monsters to collect their corpses to be traded in. Some of the local monsters had curious properties and according to the local alchemists their bodies held the secrets to great visions. Like most adventurers, collecting resources was how I made a living.
When I had entered the dungeon, I planned to only stick to the surface levels, but the off season had driven the beasts deeper into dungeon. That’s when I was attacked by the pack. They were able to track me down with their connection with the dungeon. The pitch black darkness may have hindered me, but to them, they could see as clearly as if it were day. My attempt to evade them eventually caused me to be cornered by the large beast and I was driven even further in. It is a miracle that I had ran into the Merchant in the first place. According to him, he was also looking for resources, but in the form of dropped items. He planned to scavenge any equipment left behind by adventurers during the previous season, refurbish them and sell them back for a profit. Anything thing else could be smelted down or repurposed. Of course, he had also ran into the same problem when he was attacked, though he said he wasn’t trapped like I was. He would have gotten out unharmed. Considering the arsenal he has at his disposal, I don’t doubt he had something in mind before I barged into his hiding spot.
I felt myself drop as the Merchant put down the store. He walked around the side and greeted me. His face, the two eyes that made up his face, squinted happily as he spoke, “I’m glad to see you are still with us. I thought you might have fallen asleep, but with your condition, there was nothing really to say otherwise. Regardless, we have made it outside, so this is where you get off. Do not worry, this trip is free of charge. Can you stand?”
I complied and stretched out my legs to climb out of the store. My strength had
returned, but not completely and I struggled on uneasy legs to stand up. At full height, I
could take in the rest of the world. The forest surrounding the dungeon was ahead and
we were in the staging area, a clearing made for adventurers who are preparing to enter.
Though some people also use it to sell wares to those going in during the peak season,
something I’m sure Merchant is familiar with. I stretched my arms and legs. Tested my
muscles and joints. I felt fine. The treatment was effective. Too effective perhaps, given
that is also cost me a lifetime debt.
“Good, it looks like you are in working condition. It pains me to say I wish I could have given you better treatment, but I am no doctor and the circumstances required me to rush some of it. That aside, we should set up camp. I don’t think we’ll make it to the city before sunset. I have some supplies inside for a quick fire, so sit down over there and I’ll get a fire and maybe even start a stew.”
I walk over to a log set up around a fire pit left by a previous party. The Merchant opened up his store and pulled off his parlor trick again, disappearing into some sort of pocket of unseen space just behind the false wall. Curious. I am almost tempted to go in myself, but I don’t think I’m in any condition to do parlor tricks myself. I waited patiently outside, letting the outside world calm me from my near death experience. The sky above me slowly turning into night and the stars beginning to appear through the violets. I think back to my old life and feel how lucky I am to have been blessed with the grace of the sky tonight. I didn’t want to die in a dungeon. Yet here I was, nearly dying in the very place I cursed for so long. Just not today. Someday.
The door opened up and I snap out of my thoughts, ushering them away and facing the portly man squeezing through the impossible door. He carried a mountain of supplies in his arms, nearly towering over his own head. Amazingly he managed to bring the full stack without incident to the fire pit and deposited it neatly on the ground. Everything needed to start a fire. It wasn’t long before he had a pot over a fire slowly cooking a stew. The smell was divine and my stomach growled. I was used to my meals, hard tack, a potato or if I had extra change, perhaps real bread. This was a real meal. The Merchant picked up a metal bowl and scooped the stew into it and handed it to me. I took it in my hands, the warm bowl almost comically small in my too large hands. “You may need a second bowl. No worries, I’m making enough for seconds.” Merchant said serving himself.
We ate. Again, the Merchant provided the one sided conversation, but this time I could at least show him I was listening. Though, half my attention was on the meal. Then we had seconds. Almost better than firsts. He continued talking. He had a lot to talk about. I wondered if he always talked this much with others. It could be part of his business persona, but then maybe he could just be talking for both of us. Or he hasn’t been able to talk to someone in a long time. After some time he stopped. Between us was a calm silence as we enjoyed the last of the meal. He had more to say, but there was always time to appreciate the company of another. The clanking of spoons scooping up the last of the stew signaled the end of the meal. Then it was just the crackling of the fire as night set in fully and the stars took over the sky.
“Let me get you a bed roll.” Merchant said, stopping and looking me up and down “maybe two”. He disappeared into the shop and a few moments later he came out with the promised rolls. He laid them out for me. Two rolls to compensate for a larger body. His own he pulled out soon after and laid it on the other side of the fire. We laid on the floor and watched the sky. Merchant said nothing. He just watched the sky and slowly nodded off to sleep. I followed soon after.
I woke up at dawn. The sunlight slipping through the leaves and shone onto my eyes. I regret waking up as I felt yesterday catch up and punish my body with a horrible soreness in my muscles. A small price to pay for being alive. I lifted myself up and packed up my roll. Merchant was already awake getting another fire started for breakfast.
“Good morning. You can just leave those by the shop. I’ll get them later. In a few minutes we’ll have a light meal to begin the day. Though, I suppose that we’ll have to talk about your repayment.”
I could run. He has short legs. I don’t think he would be able to keep up.
“As you know, it cost a lot of resources to keep you alive. On top of that, I also lost two weapons I had hoped to sell at a hearty profit. My pike and my bolt.”
It wouldn’t be right, but a lifetime of debt is also out of the question. I shifted on my feet, testing if I could even run in my condition.
“You and I both know you simply do not have the funds to pay me back at the moment. I know when an adventurer has no money and you are in no uncertain terms broke.”
I am grateful. Truly am, but perhaps I could have crawled out on my own?
“That being said, I want you to be my bodyguard. Two year contract. Then we’ll consider the matter settled and you can go your own way.”
Bodyguard?
“Yes, bodyguard.” the Merchant said responding to my expression. How he saw it through my helmet I do not know. “I am in need of a guard to protect me and my shop. Perhaps if I had one before entering the dungeon, I wouldn’t have gotten into my situation.” He laughed. “I saw you fight. You are no brute. You are clever and your instincts are remarkable. You will do well as a bodyguard.”
A bodyguard for two years. For this Merchant? Can I work for this man who forced a lifetime debt on me? He did save me and fed me, but it could have been a ploy to have me indebted to him. Then again, two years is not long. Should I take it or can I still run?
“Or you could run. I have short legs and I don’t even know your name.” Merchant laughed. “I know this might be a difficult decision, but I can sweeten the deal. You’ll be fairly compensated. You’ll have a place to sleep and I can get you access to quality armor and weapons.”
Weapons? Armor? Money?
“I even know how to cook. I always appreciate sharing meals with others.”
Food! The fire began to pick up and I saw him go for the pan.
“You don’t have decide at this very second. Come, let’s get this breakfast started.”
I stopped him and stretched out my hand. He looked at it. “Are you sure? I can’t guarantee it will be an easy job. I don’t exactly stay out of trouble.” I nodded. I never expect an easy job. He took my hand and we shook on it.
“Fantastic. I look forward to working with you. Well, actually come to think of it, I never got your name. Do you have a name?”
I shook my head. I did, but not one I used anymore.
“Well that’s no good. In business, you definitely need a name. Perhaps I can give you a name.” Merchant said, taking a moment to think of one. “Pike. I think we should call you Pike. Since it was the first thing you owed me.” Merchant said smiling at his joke.
I nodded. It will do just fine.
End chapter
Straw Comics 