“We should have gone to an inn,” Patrick said, throwing the potion bottle to the ground, where it shattered before the glass slowly faded out of existence.
“We’re in perfectly fine shape,” Grey replied, looking at the massive Tower of Night they were about to enter. “We’re all fully healed, and we can regain mana and healing power in combat.”
“We’ve nearly run out of potions getting us all back up to strength,” Patrick reminded them.
“The inn wastes time, I want to get as much done in a play session as I can.”
“Yes, but at least we’d be living!”
“We have revives.”
“Still involves dying!”
Meanwhile, Amelia and James were examining the building. Now that they were closer, they could see how detailed the exterior of the tower was, depicting mages, knights and monsters of various kinds fighting. It was like a tapestry, telling a story that they had no idea about.
“I really hope there’s an elevator of some kind,” Amelia said. “I do not want to climb every floor of this thing. Tower levels suck, it’s a law of the universe.”
“Tower of Nimrah had a pretty good tower level,” James said.
“I didn’t play that.”
“You should, you’d like it.”
The party walked over to the massive stone door at the end of the bridge. Looking down, they could see the rest of the tower extending away into the earth, the bottom hidden by neon green light. They reached the massive stone door, and together the five of them managed to push it open.
Entering Dungeon
Tower of Night
Recommended Level: 5
The interior of the Tower of Night was almost entirely hollow, with just a large spiral staircase circling around the exterior, large enough for the whole party to stand abreast. There was no interior lighting, but large stained glass windows let the glowing green light from outside shine in, becoming an array of colours.
“This is not what the Tower is supposed to look like,” Delarius said. “There used to be floors and classrooms for study. That foul witch must have done something to it.”
As he said this, long spider threads descended from up above. A horde of spiders descended, weaving a copy of Kiula out of spider threads.
“You survived my ambush,” she said, the spider thread construct moving like a puppet. “I must say, I’m impressed. No one else has survived combat with my mannequins.”
“Really?” Amelia replied. “They went down easy.”
“I’d expect nothing less from the heroes of Sable. The Tower of Night belongs to me and Valzekt now. With the magical artefacts stored here, the Dark Lord will be unstoppable.”
“Ok, we’ve got to climb the tower and beat you up then?”
The construct laughed. “That’s if you can survive long enough, my dear. I have the full strength of a wizarding school…or what was one until just now.”
An orb of purple liquid descended from the ceiling above, a crystalline eye floating in the centre. It watched the party intently.
“This is the Eye of Kandor,” Kiula explained, the spider webs spinning into a smirk. “I hope you find this experience as enjoyable as I do.”
Laser beams were shot out of the eye, arcing upwards before homing in on the party. The group ran up the stairs, as the eye prepared another volley. Patrick threw an energy bolt at the orb, but it fizzled out on impact with the water.
“If it’s ok with you,” Delarius added, “I think I will leave you guys to it.”
He ran back to the door and prepared to leave, only for a massive spider to climb up from the abyss below, grab him, and drag him off the staircase as he screamed.
“Delarius!” Grey shouted.
“You sound more concerned about him than us,” Patrick replied. Another laser volley flew at them. Grey and Amelia outran the bolts, but Patrick stumbled, forcing James to take the impact.
Cieth
Shield
250/300 HP
James pulled Patrick up and they kept running. Amelia and Grey were still ahead, but as they looked back to check on the others, they were both hit by a shot of webbing, smashing them both into the wall.
GlassAngel
180/200 HP
Stunned
---
Skibabylon
130/150 HP
Stunned
The spider that blindsided them began crawling up onto the stairs, salivating, but was hit in the side of the head by an energy bolt that sent it tumbling into the darkness.
Trident743
215/250 Mana
This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
---
Brutal Arachnid
0/200 HP
The Eye started preparing another attack as James cut the two down, while Patrick ran ahead.
Skibabylon
GlassAngel
Stunned Status Removed
The lasers flew into the air and curved, ready to strike. The group tried to run, but the barrage hit its mark.
Cieth
150/300 HP
---
Skibabylon
30/150 HP
---
GlassAngel
80/200 HP
Grey coughed up blood before spraying their hands, a spiral of gold energy healing the others.
Skibabylon
Area Heal
---
Skibabylon
60/150 HP
---
GlassAngel
110/200 HP
---
Cieth
180/300 HP
---
Skibabylon
Healing Pool
520/600 HP
“We need to deal with that thing,” Amelia snarled as the group started moving again, Grey’s healing beam hitting her in the back.
“Yeah, but we can’t hit it,” Patrick shouted back. Another barrage of lasers flew at them which they swiftly dodged: it seemed to be getting faster. “I guess we just have to outrun this thing.”
That was when they passed the door they had entered from. The spider web that looked like the Baroness was still watching them, smirking. Patrick sighed. “Guess not.”
A spider climbed up onto the stairs in the exact place Delarius had been taken. Amelia stabbed it in the mandible, not pulling the blade out.
“I have an idea,” Grey said. “Chuck the spider at the eye,”
“What the hell?” Patrick replied. “Why do you think that wo-”
GlassAngel
Whirlwind Cutter
Amelia spun around and pulled the blade out of the monster, sending it flying towards the Eye of Kandor. It hit the liquid with a splash, and although its momentum was slowed, it still crashed into the crystal eye in the centre of the orb. The two were soon ejected from the water, and with the crystal gone the purple liquid destabilised. All of them fell into the darkness below.
Brutal Arachnid
0/200 HP
---
Eye of Kandor
Destroyed
---
Encounter Complete
All Party Members gain 1000 XP
All Party Members gain 1500 Gold
Skibabylon: Level 5
Skibabylon: New Skill: Armour
Grey smiled, opening up the menu to check their new skill.
You cannot equip new skills in a dungeon. Please exit to equip.
“Should have seen that coming, honestly,” They muttered as they closed it.
“What the hell?” Patrick shouted. “How did you know that would work? I couldn’t shoot the damn thing!”
“The liquid absorbed magic, but not physical projectiles,” Grey explained, “and seeing that not every class has projectiles, I figured there must be some kind of ammo to use against the Eye.”
“So you chucked a giant spider?”
“Did you see any other method of hitting it?”
“Well, it did something,” James said. He pointed upwards, towards a ceiling that was now coming into existence. “Whatever magic was making the staircase go on forever is gone.”
The spider threads copying Kiula pulled themselves up like they were attached to a winch, watching the rest of the party trudge up the staircase.
“Unbelievable,” she said. “You really did destroy the Eye of Kandor. You really are quite the warriors.”
“We’re the Heroes of Sable,” Grey replied, pointing their staff at her. “It’s what we do. What did you do to Delarius?”
“I see no reason to tell you that, but rest assured, he’s being well looked after.”
“Spiders are feasting on his flesh!” Amelia called back, marching up the stairs far quicker than the others.
“Whatever you’ve done to him,” Grey replied sternly, “we’re gonna get him back.”
The group finally finished climbing the staircase. They entered a massive circular room, completely empty and stretching across the tower’s entire circumference.
“This is the kind of room that you make when you want to start a boss fight,” James said, walking forward slowly. “Alright, show yourself!”
At that moment, a massive cube smashed down into the middle of the room. The group walked up to it, only to discover it was covered in cracked mirrors.
“The hell,” Patrick muttered “This is one of those things you don’t touch, right?”
The group looked at each other for a moment, holding their hands up and stepping away. Then, a hand dripping silver reached out and grabbed Patrick by the throat, yanking him into the mirror, which rippled like water.
“Patrick!” James shouted, as he rushed in after him. Grey tried to sidestep another arm, but soon both him and Amelia got grabbed, and pulled into the mirrored box.
James Stats: Level: 5 VIT: 180/300 STR: 15 DEF: 25 DEX: 10 SPL: 15 INT: 1
Amelia Stats: Level: 5 VIT: 110/200 STR: 25 DEF: 15 DEX: 10 SPL: 5 INT: 0
Grey stats: Level: 5 VIT: 60/150 STR: 10 DEF: 15 DEX: 10 SPL: 30 INT: 0 Healing Pool: 520/600
Patrick stats: Level: 5 VIT: 100/100 STR: 30 DEF: 10 DEX: 15 SPL: 25 INT: 0 Mana: 215/250
Favorite protagonist thus far?
