Worthy Core Chapter 314: After Defeat

From Doorman's open portal Xenia watches as the last of her 'special guests' finally make their departure from her mountain, and enjoys the sunset as another day fades away. Aside from Doorman himself the dungeon master's first companion hovers by her side, and eventually the guide can't help but ask a question.

"You know, I happened to notice the particular phrasing you used when you gave Prince Thaddeus his little pep talk, earlier."

Xenia raises an eyebrow in the hovering screen's direction. "Might need to be a lil more specific, Guy. What, did I say sothing weird?"

"No, no, it's simply...I noticed that you addressed your concerns from the perspective not of an ancestor, however far removed, but as a dungeon. Fulfilling the original purpose of dungeons as defined by the gods, and whatnot. Challenging, improving...sotis killing, although I noticed you left that particular part out."

The reincarnator shrugs at the observation. "To be honest, I don't know how I feel about the kid, really. The Fallen Tower run...that was more recent, and with clocks probably running different in different places, my descendants there are just grandkids. Entirely possible so of them were around before I checked out, even. The Seven Cities? That was...fuck, I don't wanna guess a number. Ancient history, really. Centuries. Thaddeus might be related to but it's removed by so many generations he may as well be a stranger. But..."

The screen tilts in her direction. "But you feel a familial responsibility nonetheless?"

"If not to him, then to Harold at least, I suppose. I know Harold wouldn't have approved of a dumbass sche like this, but if he decided to give his family's noble line the Worthy na the legacy must have ant sothing to him. I'm not gonna go back and fix all Tad's problems for him, but if I can do sothing to sort them out I may as well try."

"I see. And what of the others?"

Xenia has to think a little longer on that. "Violetta, Hylii, and Tizzy are all possibly kids or grandkids of mine. So are Yulia and Sevastion. Reed's the grandkid of an ally, if not a friend. It's...god, I don't even know if I can call it a family, you know? Like, what fuckin' right do I have to that word? I was a sperm donor to their parents at best. Hylii might be my actual son and I never t him. And on our big reunion I not only shut them down and kicked their asses, but killed a bunch of them! Linda was probably one of mine too, and I never said shit about holding back against her. If they decided they never wanted to see again, I'd totally get it. Hell, it's a big world out there...maybe it'd be better if they did go exploring or sothing, and didn't look back."

Doorman offers his two cents. "They might, they might...but personally, I expect we'll be seeing most of them again. So of them probably in the rather near future, at that."

The dungeon avatar shifts to face the door. "Oh? What makes you say that?"

"Just a feeling born of experience, I'd say. Many an adventurer has passed through my..., you know. So of them return often, so only once and then never again - and I don't just an the ones who died, either! I feel like I've gotten a good sense of who will turn out to be a return custor. Ah...if they do, should I inform them that they're welco here?"

"Heh. Assuming they're not doing a dive for my core, maybe it'd be good to have so of them around in a more, uh, casual encounter. But don't tell em I'm gonna go any easier on them! Family or no, I got a rep to uphold, y'know?"

The door grins at the comnt. "No worries! I'll prepare my fiercest riddles just for them..."

Linda blinks, surprised to find herself standing on her own two feet. She very definitely recalls being grievously injured by a giant arachnoid woman, and even if soone had sohow healed her with a potion or sothing it's highly unlikely that she'd be standing up when she received it. And yet the second thing she notices is that she is indeed healed, with even her robes left without a mark or stain on them. She panics slightly when she realizes her primary wand is missing, along with all of the rest of her equipnt, but that's nothing compared to when she notices the company she's currently keeping.

"Tannis!?"

The green-skinned elf blinks in return as he looks over at her. "Linda? Did we get caught in so sort of dungeon trap?"

A snort from behind causes the two to turn, spotting Gerliari and Lyman standing behind them. "A trap wouldn't explain how you're back in one piece, Tannis. I got a glimpse of what was left of you and..." Gerliari pauses for a mont before a hand flies up to her face. "Fuck, forget what was left of you! I was...I...I thought I lost my face at the end there! And - and I couldn't breathe..."

Lyman keeps a stoic expression on his face as he watches his companions. "...Yup. I reckon we're pretty dead, huh? So it got you too, Linda? ...I don't see Reed here, so I'll take that as a blessing. Or the others for that matter. Do you think we're in so sort of...dungeon storage or sothing like that? Maybe Prince Thaddeus might be able to restore us?"

Linda shifts her attention to the room they find themselves in, and what she finds doesn't grant her much hope. It's a massive chamber, far larger than anything in the dungeon save perhaps for Floor Four. It's designed in the style of a castle's throne room, with stone walls and pillars to the left and right, but it's what decorates those walls that shakes her. Shields of every type, large and small, functional and decorative. While no single shield matches a symbol she knows, her theological knowledge gives her a pretty strong hint as to their current location.

"I'm afraid, Lyman...that Prince Thaddeus and ourselves may not exactly be in the sa realm any longer."

"You would be correct on that assumption, Linda Cogswell!" As if waiting for her deduction a shadowy wing of the hall suddenly cos into view, revealing a giant throne with a man of equal size sitting upon it. He wears a mix of kingly clothes and battleworn armor, and Linda can't help but notice a quartet of winged won guarding the throne as well, two on either side. Knowing it's unlikely to help, Linda quickly kneels anyhow.

"Lord Theolif! What - by what ans do we find ourselves in your hall!?"

The others quickly catch on, with Gerliari and Lyman following along with Linda's display, although Tannis needs a mont of grumbling before he does so. Whether the deity appreciates the gesture or not, it's not apparent in his tone of voice as he continues. "My loyal servant, Valkyrie Brightsky, has sent your souls to for judgnt, courtesy of the reaping of the dungeon Xenia Worthy. Each of you is guilty of cris against the Free Peoples of this realm, cris which you sought to escape by fleeing into the multitude of spheres. As you can see, that attempt has failed you."

Gerliari's voice is bitter and broken as she responds. "So...we all end up in one of the hells then, eh? After everything? ...Well, I suppose I can't say I'm actually surprised."

"Your fate is not yet sealed. A choice yet lies before you."

Linda raises her head, doing her best to look the god in the eyes. "What choice...my lord?"

The Lord of Shields looks down on her, but without malice or anger. "Tell ...do you believe in redemption?"

Laeniel sips at her tea with a contented sigh as she continues her work on the Association's ledgers. The tea isn't that great, but she is pleased by the fact that she's earning two paychecks at once. Not only is she earning a paynt for double-checking the Association's accounting, but she's also bringing in an hourly wage by taking on shifts at the front desk. While working two jobs at once might seem stressful, she finds it actually works out quite well for her. The occasional chat manages to break up the monotony of the mathematics, and none of the tasks of a receptionist are particularly hard or ti-consuming. There aren't even all that many visitors who need her help - although she does cast a glance upwards just to confirm that there's no one waiting in her line.

"Hey, scuse !"

Then again, the elf may be sowhat mistaken on that point. Leaning forward, she realizes that there's actually a rather small goblin man standing in front of her desk. Except...do goblins co in purple? She doesn't recall hearing of such a thing, but it seems like it might be rude to ask. "Ah, my apologies! Can I help you with sothing, Mister...?"

"Ruckus! And yeah - I'm looking for a job!"

"Oh!" Laeniel quickly gets to pulling out the folder of pre-written application forms, even as she narrows down exactly what sort she ought to be looking for. "A trainer position, I assu? What line is your class in?"

"Ehh, I got a paper saying I'm a Trapmaster Rogue, but that's not actually what I'm applying for. I hear you guys got inspection teams, right? Like, you go into dungeons, check em out, and get a salary on top of the whole dungeon loot thing?"

While there is in fact a form for that, Laeniel slows down before placing it before the man. "You want to be an inspector? At our branch specifically? I an, you can apply, but the current inspection team hasn't had any changes for months now. Also, if I'm not mistaken, the Challengers Association typically seeks out pre-selected recruits for those roles, rather than taking applications. You're welco to fill one out, of course, but you may not wish to get your hopes up..."

The long-eared, purple-skinned man grins at her expression. "Sure, I get that - but I got sothing the average applicant ain't got!"

"Oh? And what would that be?"

Ruckus leans against the desk - then pulls back when he realizes that takes him out of Laeniel's line of sight. "Miss - you are looking at a genuine Dungeon Trap Intern."

"...I'll see if we have a spot on the form for that."

Although the expedition had largely emptied out their rooms at the Lucky Bastard when it ca to supplies and equipnt, they'd kept them rented in their nas on the assumption that they would be returning at least briefly. That assumption cos as quite a relief to the surviving mbers of the group who now have a place to get so genuine rest, particularly those who are now getting an upgrade from their previous beds at the Association bunkhouse. Nalain, Norlash, Hylii, and Reed each retire upstairs, none of them saying much to the others as they go. The entire trip back had been rather silent in fact, whether it was due to each of them being lost in their own thoughts, or perhaps fear at what might be said if they started to verbalize their emotions concerning the outco of events.

Not in the mood to rest despite his serious injury, Thaddeus makes his way to the tavern portion of the inn to order himself a drink. He only barely has ti to begin to sink into himself though when he's interrupted by a noise to his left, and he notices Tizzy scrambling onto a stool. The woman had stopped bothering with her goblin disguise and had already gotten a few odd looks on the way to the inn, but that doesn't seem to be what's on her mind as she speaks up. "Ah, Prince Thaddeus. Mind if I take this seat, my lord?"

"Tizzy." Thaddeus shakes his head. "Of course, but...you may drop the titles. It feels uncertain now if I'll ever truly be going ho, and it feels...undeserved for to wear such rank in a land where it has no value."

The scout nods as she orders a drink of her own. "Sure thing! Thaddeus...I'll try and get used to it. I, uh...just wanted to ask how things went with you and Xenia? Did she say what happened to Violetta? I hear she's alive but I kinda noticed she wasn't with our group."

"Violetta is just the first to split off and find her own path...probably not the last, once the others have had so ti to rest and recover. Even if they still wished to follow ..." The man stares off into the distance. "I can't say that I have anywhere to lead them to."

Tizzy furrows her brow. "But Xenia didn't just, you know...kill you, or us. There's...sothing going on next, right?"

"For , I suppose. Once I've healed the best I can, she wants see so more of this continent, and then to return for more...personalized training. After we've had so ti to cool down, I suppose. Not just in combat, but as...as a man, it seems. To be 'just' an adventurer for a while. Working with others as soone who does sothing other than simply issue commands, and holds grand, dood dreams in his head."

The half-imp leans forward. "Wait, really? I an, the healing part - you think you'll be able to get back to adventuring and all that?"

Thaddeus nods. "Xenia said she wouldn't help with my arm, that I should...spend so ti learning humility before repairing it. There are healers in this realm capable of it however, I'm told. Not cheaply, but if there's one thing we have from all of our explorations and encounters, it's gold. I'll see to it that Reed gets what he needs for his lost fingers as well, and anything the others require." He glances at Tizzy before looking away. "As a matter of fact, I owe you all a rather hefty payout. If I can't grant you the lands and titles I promised you, I can at least see to it that you get so reward before you make your own way into the world."

"That's...that would be nice." Tizzy's drink arrives, and she takes a sip before continuing. "But uh...what if I don't want to?"

The perhaps-prince raises an eyebrow. "You don't want gold? If you want your share of so of the other treasures we've acquired, you're welco - "

The woman interrupts him. "I an - what if I don't want to make my own way? You'll need a party for this new adventuring gig, right?"

"I...well, yes, but I assud I would find myself a team of strangers. Tizzy, I have failed you completely as a leader. I cannot ask you to continue to follow my commands."

"Then don't be a leader. Hells, maybe I could be leader for a turn." The scout sounds confident as she states that, but then quickly blushes. "Or not. We could work sothing out. In fact..." She pauses before taking a much longer sip from her mug - one long enough that Thaddeus begins to grow concerned.

"...In fact what, Tizzy?"

She swallows deeply before responding. "Well, speaking of working things out...there was sothing I was hoping to improve on with my illusions. So of the...accuracy, and all that."

Thaddeus has to admit that he's not the most observant man in the world, or perhaps even this room, but sothing tells him he ought to start paying closer attention to this proposal. "Sothing I can help you with? I'm not exactly skilled in magic myself, after all."

"Oh, don't worry - I'll provide the magic. Uh...if you're up for it later? In my room, maybe? Or yours...?"

"...Certainly. Perhaps that might be a fine place to make a fresh start..."