Worthy Core Chapter 429: Reunions

"I co bearing gifts!"

Xenia raises an amused eyebrow in the direction of her returned Banshee Queen, and the squirming sack dangling from her shoulder. Beatrice and Trush join in her amusent, although the contents of the sack seem much less pleased about the situation.

"Wow, my very own kidnapping victim! And after you brought Lyota last ti, too. You're like a feral kitty, Taly, dropping off little prizes in my office. Put her in the corner for now, we'll get to her later."

"As you insist!" Taly does so, triggering a yelp from the sack's occupant, but it soon cuts off as the banshee casts a silencing spell around that corner of the room. "That'll keep her quiet for a bit - and keep her from hearing us, if we wanna catch up. Not that she can hear you right now anyhow, Xen."

The dungeon master nods. "Good thinking, and yeah, let's debrief and all that. But for starters, welco back! Mission accomplished and such, but mostly I hope playing prisoner for a couple of weeks wasn't too hard on you. Apparently digging a major tunnel network through a couple of miles of solid stone while avoiding detection is slower work than I was thinking. Who would've guessed?"

Trush scoffs at the idea. "If anything, it's amazing the elentals were able to do as much as they did in such short ti. I didn't go all the way through, but what I saw was quite impressive. At least I'm confident that the Domain won't be able to pull the sa trick on us. With all the casualties they've taken they must be running low on earth mages, and even the ones I've seen aren't as natural at it as the elentals. As one would expect, I suppose."

"Here's hoping, anyhow." Xenia's smile fades away. "But speaking of casualties, let's get to that. I've seen everyone who's returned to the dungeon, but most of the elentals are staying in the basent, so I don't know exactly how things went out there. I do know that Sincere, Sevastion, Yulia, and Pizola didn't make it back in one piece. Unfortunately we passed midnight soti after Sincere, so I'd have to burn a fair bit of mana if I want to quick-revive the rest of them. What's the big picture?"

Although Taly had actually taken part in the fighting it had been Trush who'd taken charge of managing the overall combined group of Challengers, elentals, and rescued prisoners. Having already gotten reports on events from those returned from the front, he summarizes it for his commander. "Well, for the bottom-line summary: the mission was indeed a success. We rescued almost all of the prisoners, and all of the VIPs. I'm sure you've noticed Lady Highbranch and Commander Paulados yourself."

"And a few others, yeah. Lady Highbranch and her husband are..." Xenia trails off. "Excited to see each other again. I'll have to pencil in a chat with her tomorrow, probably. ...Late tomorrow. You said 'almost', though?"

Beatrice answers this question, having been one to have escorted the healers waiting for the returnees, and with her enchanted helt allowing for her to hear the question in the first place. "A couple of Supres led a Domain pursuit party and captured at least half a dozen or so in the tunnels, and it sounds like a few people never made it that far. Either injured or killed in the fighting in the fort, we can't say for sure. It sounds though like there were about seventy-eight prisoners kept in the fort, and of those we rescued sixty-nine. Maybe a dozen of those are walking wounded but we'll get them patched up within a few hours."

"Nice." Xenia pauses and clears her throat. "I an, too bad we couldn't get them all, but that's not a bad result. Not to ntion the best reinforcents we're ever likely to get around here. How about the rescue squad itself?"

Trush sighs. "Unfortunately the elentals did take a number of losses as well. We confird three killed in the fighting, with another four missing - its possible their cores survived and were captured, we can't say. No Challenger casualties, though."

"...I definitely oughtta do sothing nice for them for all this. We've been friendly enough but they weren't under any obligations to help us with all this - the tunnel alone would've been impossible without em." Xenia shakes her head and gestures towards the silent but still-wriggling sack in the corner. "Any other surprises besides our new guest?"

Taly thinks about it for a mont but cos up blank. "Maybe Sincere can tell you how things went down with that incubus, but that's about it. What about her - do you want to start on questioning her? Or do you wanna burn so avatar ti and do it yourself?"

Xenia stares at the sack for a bit but eventually shakes her head. "Let's play it nice for now - besides, I've got a lot of shit to handle tonight. I'll set up a nicer cell for her on Floor Five...and then I've also gotta make sure we're also prepped to shelter and feed sixty-nine more motherfuckers. Fortunately I already got so stuff ready for them but we'll need to make sure it's all organized. Tad and Alizz have been helping to wrangle them all, you two wanna help with that, Trush, Beat?"

The two indicate their agreent. "We'll make sure everyone's taken care of."

"Alright, then. Here's hoping so of these newbies are useful..."

"I thought you said these Rainlander soldiers were injured, sir?" As Deylia questions a tired Challenger, the man gives her a sheepish look.

"Well, they were when I dumped em off ten minutes ago! Guess it wasn't as bad as I thought?"

"Hrmph." A raven-haired elf frowns at the man as she steps up to him and the priestess. "I've been keeping these prisoners in good shape for over a month now, I'm not going to give up on my charges just because we've taken a short hike." She turns to focus on Deylia. "Grayana Goldleaf, Combat dic. You're in charge here?"

The rabbit-eared priestess raises an eyebrow, but responds in a cool manner. "I'm in charge of this clinic and shrine, yes. You're an army healer?"

"That's right." The elf glances around. "I suppose at so point I should find the Commander and report in, but for now this is probably the best place for . Is there anything I can help with?"

Before Deylia can respond, she's interrupted by an eager gnoll hopping his way over. "Yes, yes, happy to help! Scout Tafyaf, that is . The dungeon has been fighting the Domain, we know, have been hearing stories from the fort guards. Quite a tale! Am looking forward to joining in, yes!"

Grayana gives him a mild kick in his good leg. "I just pulled those stone shards out of your foot two minutes ago! The healing spell will wear out if you don't get yourself back in bed, Taffy!"

Deylia has to agree. "Indeed! In fact, I should probably take a look at you myself. Besides, I don't think you need to worry about missing out. I'm sure there's plenty of excitent left for all of us..."

The gnoll grins, unbothered by his injury. "Am looking forward to it!"

He thinks for a mont, and then adds on one more comnt. "...May need a new bow, yes..."

"You know...sothing tells you didn't exactly do your job as ordered, Ruckus."

The imp awkwardly clears his throat as Alizz leans over him, while others in the inn attempt to find a safer distance. "Don't know what you an, Administrator. I an...okay, yes, the office might be slightly exploded. Just a little bit! The Domain's probably fixed it up already!"

"And why exactly was it exploded? And why were you in that prison camp?" Alizz shakes her head, answering her own questions. "Never mind - Lyota already told us about what you did when she signed on with the dungeon."

Ruckus's shoulders slump. "Alright, alright, I kinda broke the Association's neutrality policies! But that was going to go away eventually anyhow - it's not like there's any normal Challenging going on out of Grassbrook anymore. The Domain was pressuring us to share our resources, or they were just gonna take them anyhow!"

"So you decided to go all the way, and actively sabotage the Domain instead. You know, dozens of Domain soldiers died when Xenia learned about the trick you put into those armor enchantnts?"

The forr assistant temporary administrator perks up. "Really? I an, I know the dungeon managed sothing, but they didn't tell exactly what."

"Indeed. And to that, all I can say is..." Alizz sighs again. "Well done."

Ruckus blinks. "Really? You don't mind?"

The drider scoffs. "Don't take this as my official condoning of your actions. When the war is over, I can't promise much about your future employnt. But as far as my personal thoughts are concerned?" Alizz's face takes on a grim look. "The more I think about the Dragonlord's plans, the more worried I beco. Not just about the Rainlands and Valleylands, but for the Association. Would a dungeon in control of the entire continent have any use for Association branches within its territory? Hells, what does it even an to be a Challenger in a land where the dungeon is all around you, all the ti? I have no idea what Association headquarters thinks about this, if they even realize the stakes which they likely do not. But...I've co to the conclusion that opposing the Domain is in the best interests of the Association."

The imp scoffs, unable to simply take a good turn in fortune and remain silent. "Heh, convenient that the best interests of the Association are in line with what you wanted to do anyways."

Alizz narrows her eyes. "Firing you is still on the nu, if you would rather."

"What!? I haven't even gotten my back pay for the past month yet! Plus I think I deserve a bonus for getting locked up for most of it!"

"And how much of a bonus do you get for 'slightly exploding' our office, would you say?"

"...Maybe just the normal back pay wouldn't be too bad, either."

"...Co, let show you to your quarters for tonight. But tomorrow, I believe I'll introduce you to the dungeon's trap-making team..."

"It's good to see you again, my lady." Taylim bows at the sight of Gilda Highbranch as she returns to the inn, where the Royal Sentinel had been waiting for her arrival. "I would have welcod you sooner, but it seems my liege was eager to...catch you up on recent events in a private setting." There's absolutely no sha in the bodyguard's expression as he ets her eyes, and the noblewoman does her best not to check the state of her hair and dress.

"Well, there's been much to...catch up on. Perhaps you could start with yourself? How have you been, Taylim? Living in a dungeon hasn't been too dangerous of late?"

The man shakes his head, and Gilda notices that his hair's grown sowhat longer since she last saw him. "Lord Raylin has been kept out of the combat so far, and I have of course remained by his side. However, if you have not already heard...I'm afraid I must report that Lady Evervein t her end in battle with a draconic so ti ago."

Thinking about it, Gilda recalls that Raylin had ntioned sothing about her dwarvish retainer, but they had soon gotten...distracted and she hadn't followed up. "Oh! Damnation. Nalina was a fine woman and a brave warrior. I...suppose she might have been happy with such an ending."

Taylim nods solemnly. "Indeed. Her only complaint about the event is that she didn't slay more foes, although she's been quite pleased since she sliced off the head of a Supre pyromancer more recently."

Gilda pauses for a mont, then spends a mont more frowning at the man. "You...sound as if you're saying that Nalina said those things after she died, Taylim."

"Indeed. The lady has been quite talkative ever since she beca a sword - at least when she cos by the lounge or inn, at any rate."

"...You're doing this on purpose, Taylim."

The man's expression remains unchanged, but the half-elf can still see the smug expression lurking below. "I don't know what you an, my lady."

"..Let's get a table and speak more thoroughly. Oh, Sweet! There you are - rested from our flight from the fort, I hope? Feeling alright?"

The oversized plains gnoll has a sowhat foul expression as she returns to the side of her mistress. "Mostly I feel once again that the dungeon intends to have its way with , my lady. You...have not gotten such a feeling? Whenever we enter the dungeon's borders?"

Gilda isn't entirely sure how to respond to that. "...Not in any such way that I can recall, Sweet. There is the 'fear factor' we're all familiar with, but of course any introductory Challenger training will teach soone to largely ignore such things. You're referring to sothing of a more...carnal nature?"

"Indeed. If...I might have my lady's leave, I would like to perhaps inquire into this. If we are to live within the dungeon for so ti..."

"Of course. I would like you to be at your best, Sweet. I'm sure I'll be fine until tomorrow, at the least."

The gnoll nods and makes her way to the nearest bar, and Gilda shoots a look at Taylim. "Do you know anything about that?"

"No, my lady. Although I get the impression soone is about to have a very interesting night..."