Dungeon Life

Chapter Two-Hundred Two

Aranya sits atop the wall, waving and watching as her friends vanish into the shortcut, and she sticks around to send off all the denizens that are going, too. Its not difficult to see she has complex feelings about everyone going, and she probably has complicated feelings about the dwellers wanting to go, too. I know I do.

She stays for a few minutes longer, after everyone is gone. The sun is fully up by now, but I dont think shes simply appreciating the view. Instead of just letting her stew in her thoughts, Grim taps his scythe against the wall and offers her a hand down. She smiles at the quiet scion and accepts his help, and gives him a long look before speaking.

How do you do it, Grim?

He tilts his skull at her, and she soon explains.

I mean the death. There hasnt been any in Thedeims care, but people still die all the time.. She trails off as Grim nods, then motions for her to follow, which she quietly does.

He leads her back towards the main gate, and gestures at the flower garden, then back at the rows of graves. The kobold looks confused, and he lets her look confused for a few seconds before he scythes a simple daisy from the patch, and moves among the tombstones. He leads her to an aged and weathered tombstone, the grass on the cusp of being unruly. A swipe of his scythe tames the grass, and a touch of his hand repairs the stone. It still shows its age, and the lettering is no more legible than before, but it doesnt look like its about to crumble. He finishes by placing the flower atop the grave marker, before taking a step back to quietly study his work.

Aranya watches, trying to figure out what Grim is trying to say, before she deflates with a sigh. I dont think Im quite ready for your wisdom yet, she voices, disappointment clear.

Grim doesnt look disappointed at all, and pats her head as he turns to tend to more of his duties. For her part, Aranya looks briefly annoyed at being treated like a child, before she gives a small smile at Grims back. I suppose I have more pressing issues to deal with, especially if I want to minimize the work youll have to do once this is all over.

Despite not getting what she wanted, I think she might have gotten what she needed, and she heads for the ratkin enclave with a renewed sense of purpose. The guards nod at her as she enters, and she takes a few peaceful moments to just enjoy seeing everyone going about their day. Some move around with purpose, some chat, kids play its the kind of thing I want to defend, and I know Aranya does, too. She greets people as she walks, congratulating accomplishments and commiserating briefly over failures, and encourages everyone as she makes her way to Larx home.

The elder ratkin is relaxing on a chair just outside his door, almost looking like hes meditating as he sits with a peaceful smile. He opens his eyes and smiles wider as Aranya closes in, and she waves him down as he starts to stand. He looks very tempted to stand anyway, but a flat look from my High Priestess keeps his butt planted in his chair.

Ah, Aranya! How does the new day find you? he asks jovially.

She does her best to match his mood. With much to do. You?

With little to do immediately, which I often find to be the more trying option, he answers with a smirk. Would you like something to drink?

Nothing for me, thank you, she replies, deftly cutting off his sneaky attempt to do something besides rest his bones. The preparations to head north are going smoothly, then?

Larx sighs in defeat and leans back. On our end, at least. The spiderkin are having difficulties with warm-weather gear. Norloke is still working on warmer silk, but I think their best option is going to be to trade for furs or maybe some kind of warming enchantment.

Werent you working on warming enchantments for your smelters?

Larx chuckles. Thatd be a bit too warm for them, I think. Our runesmith is still feeling out the class. From what I can gather, the forge enchants are like using a sledgehammer on the problem. For warm clothing, itd be like trying to thread a needle with the same sledge.

Aranya winces at that. Ah. Is there anything else I can help with?

Larx gives her a considering look. I thought you said you had a lot to do already?

The kobold freezes for a moment at that, then sputters as she tries to come up with an excuse. Whatever she might try is derailed by Larx laughter.

Worrying doesnt count as something to do, my dear, he admonishes with a chuckle.

Aranya just folds her arms and tries (and fails) to not pout. Yeah, well Im still doing it

Larx smile softens. I understand your fears. I dont even need to ask Teemo to know Lord Thedeim has the same ones. He smirks at himself before continuing. Id be lying if I said I didnt share them. But everyone is resolute in this. We want to help Lord Thedeim, even if he doesnt want us to be put in harms way.

He smiles at my High Priestess. Which is one of the reasons we want to do this, by the way. Another reason is well, you, he admits, which draws Aranyas reply up short.

Me? she asks, confused. He nods.

And your people. The thought of a sanctuary being so abusive to its dwellers its wrong in ways I cant put into words. At least with Hullbreak, he was just trying to protect his dwellers. A mistake is one thing, but what you describe He shudders.

And its not just we of Lord Thedeim, either. If the merfolk had the ability to march with us, they would, even if Hullbreak would have a fit.

But the danger! she tries. It was a place of nightmare when I left, but now it must be even worse with those terrifying denizens and the harbinger!

Larx nods. I know. We all know that we wont all come marching back. They wont all come marching back, he corrects with a note of bitterness. Im not suited to a battle like whats coming, but that doesnt make me any happier to allow the others to go marching off. He sighs as his expressions softens.

But I cant force them to stay. Lord Thedeim himself wont take the decision from their hands, so I can hardly try to do it myself. All I can do is try to prepare them. And try to accept the truth of the situation.

When he doesnt elaborate, Aranya prompts him to continue. What is the truth of it? That they have to live their lives even if it means dying their deaths, too?

Larx smiles at that. Thats the philosophical core of it, yes, but I more meant the practical situation. This will be the strongest foe Lord Thedeim has faced yet. Even his scions will be tested, and he wont be able to quickly react to send more forces. That fallen sanctuary is old, too. Even with Lord Thedeims strength, the other dungeon has had much more time to gather its own. I hope we wont be needed but I fear we will.

Aranya looks uncomfortable as her unstated concerns spill from Larx mouth. Silence reigns as Aranya struggles how to respond, until she squeaks out her fears. What if its not enough? What if I doomed everyone by coming here? What if- she starts, before Larx bonks her with his staff.

None of that. You may be the High Priestess, but I can still try to knock some sense into you. You didnt doom anyone with your fate affinity. Lord Thedeim has the same one, as does Lady Yvonne. I may not focus on the Weaver aspect of Lord Thedeim, but the spiderkin arent wrong in their devotions. I refuse to accept the idea that hed draw two other people tied with fate to him, only to lead to everyones doom. More likely, well be fighting some doom or another, maybe even multiple dooms. If its our Fate to face that, Ill not meet it without a fight.

His conviction shocks Aranya out of her worry, and I think makes her think about what Grim was trying to tell her earlier. The cemetery isnt to commemorate peoples death. Everyone dies eventually. If theres anything that doesnt deserve a participation trophy, its dying. No, the cemetery is to remember peoples lives. Even that old, weathered grave marks someones life. I think Grim even gives it special attention because it doesnt even need to commemorate a single person.

Not everyone gets a marker. Sometimes people are just lost, their stories untold and unremembered. He keeps it blank, because he cant tell their story. He keeps it there because he can at least remember.