Episode 1
“Watch your footing and stay quiet. You know what’s out there.”
Rista followed her mentors, Oscar and Sherman, down the steps into the dungeon. Step after step, she felt her anxiety build. Step after step, the light of the overworld dimmed. When the last of the light no longer guided their way, a dim orb appeared ahead of her, a personal illuminator. No words were exchanged. Not here. Taking the signal, she produced her own and twisted the cap, activating the orb and adjusting it to match the others. Only bright enough to light the stairs faintly. Step after step, they continued down. In the darkness, she placed her hand on the wall and let it run beside her as they continued. Their footsteps becoming quieter. Then, Oscar stopped. It was hard to make out his features in the darkness, but she could see he turned around and lowered his head slightly. They were at the edge. Her last chance to back out. Go home. Be safe.
She was here. At the Great Stair Labyrinth. It had taken her months of begging, pleading, and training to earn the right to be here. Oscar and Sherman were respected adventurers from her home town, but she had worn them down. They didn’t want to take on a novice. She was too young, then too weak, then too timid. They had given her every excuse until they no longer had one and she was ready. They brought her here. To the edge. She had to take the next step or there will never be a next time.
She nodded and Oscar’s grim face turned back around and he continued leading them past the edge. Rista felt the wall move away and then it was just the stairs. She didn’t want to think what was below her. It might as well be a bottomless pit, and if she fell, that would be the end of her story, cut short by a clumsy step. No one would even find her body. This was the first danger the dungeon offered and she met it head on. She’ll make it across. She had to. Just don’t look down.
Crack.
Rista felt the stone step give way and she felt herself slip. She gasped and began to scream, only for her mouth to be covered and her fall to be stopped. Her heart was racing in her chest. “Quiet.” Sherman said, holding his hand over her mouth. After a moment, she composed herself. She got her footing and looked ahead. Oscar was ahead of them, sword drawn. He did not look at them, but at the darkness above. They couldn’t see them, but in that pitch black, there was the second danger the dungeon held. Blind raptors hung on the ceiling of the abyss, ready to swoop down and push any reckless adventurer off the edge. Of all the creatures of The Great Stair Labyrinth, these beasts knew what was at the bottom of the abyss. A mountain of rotting corpses of their victims, picked clean by the vultures above. She wasn’t going to let them have the chance to make her a meal.
Oscar gave them a silent signal and they progressed deeper. She listened for the sound of wings just in case. It was a silent walk. The silence itself was unnerving. Just minutes ago she was in the middle of the cacophony of nature above. Birds and animals singing their tunes, joined by the breeze playing on the leaves. Here, it was nothing. The only sound she was sure she heard was her own heartbeat and the footsteps she made. In the silence, they might as well been drums beating away. She hoped it was only in her mind.
With a final step, they reached the center and into the dungeon proper. The almost impossibly large cylindrical structure stood in the middle of the cavern. It reached far down into the pitch black drop, but as far as she knew, no one has ever reached the bottom and returned. The secrets at the deep are known only known to the dungeon born. As much as she was curious of those mysteries, she had to focus on the training she would partake on the top floors of The Great Stair Labyrinth. She was just a novice after all and she intended to climb the ranks. Today was her first chance and she had to impress. In the very least, not be too much of a hindrance for her mentors.
“Alright, move in a little more, there’s still a chance those blind vultures will try to pull us back out from this close to the entrance.” Oscar said waving the two in. Rista followed the instructions immediately, moving quickly. Sherman didn’t change his pace. Oscar let him pass by and take the lead. Sherman began sniffing the air. “No monsters. We are safe. For now.” Sherman said, waving them to follow. “Okay, let’s go. How are you feeling Rista?” Oscar said, walking beside his trainee. “I’m not afraid. I can do this.” Rista responded, hoping to mask her fear. “That’s good, but remember to stay cautious.” Oscar remarked. “Trust your instinct. Bravery with a clear mind. Fear betrays.” Sherman added from the front of the pack. The trio continued down the corridors.
“Rista, get your weapon ready.”
“Why, is there something here?” Rista said clutching her crossbow.
“No, but it’s better to be prepared. Sherman, what do you sense?” Oscar asked.
“Nothing. Off season. Few monsters.”
“Think we can draw them in?”
“We can try”
Oscar took his shield off from his back and began to bang on it. The racket echoed down the halls. Rista readied a bolt and held her crossbow at her side, ready to raise it at the first sign of trouble. It never came. Silence.
“I think I scared them off.” Oscar admitted.
“May be deeper. I track. Follow.” Sherman ordered.
“Are we going past the first floors?” Rista whispered.
“No, not too deep. There should be something up here for us. It just might take a bit longer. Coming in during the off season tends to be like this. A few stragglers come back up when the rest of us leave. We’ll catch them then. It’ll be easy.”
“Yes sir.” Rista said, comforted by his explanation.
Then Sherman sniffed the air quickly and inhaled deeply. His mind was processing something. “You have something?” Oscar asked. “Yes. Follow.” Sherman said, moving quickly down the halls. His tail swished back and forth as he darted left and right down the turns. Oscar and Rista paced themselves trying to keep up with the hunter. He stayed on the scent until he came to a flight of stairs going down.
“Is this it? What is it?” Oscar asked, unsheathing his sword.
“One. Large beast. Not dungeon beast.” Sherman responded.
“Can we take it on?” Oscar said, peering down the stairs.
“Wild animal. Not smart. Numbers advantage. Yes.” Sherman stated.
On occasion when the top floors of the dungeons have been cleared by traveling adventurers, the overworld beasts wander in. Like most creatures, they are in need of shelter and the fortress caves of the dungeons throughout the land offer an irresistible deal. Solace from the elements. Small pockets of shelter they can squeeze into. Very little danger of hostile animals. For a few months, these beasts make a nest for themselves on the top floors. Most novices will encounter these animals before a dungeon born.
“Alright, I’ll take the lead. Rista, get ready for your first fight.”
Straw Comics 