The cavern was dark and damp, heavy in the scent of both iron and musk. A few hanging stalagmites dripped dewdrops into large murky pools, untouched by any living being in decades. In that environment, only a single light source shattered the serene picture.
Three figures walked confidently through this bit of the untamed wild, making no efforts to disguise their approach nor to disrupt the tranquil cave systems. One figure, significantly shorter than the average man scuttled about like a bipedal cockroach. Their dark green skin matching the nearby moss covered walls, short cropped blonde hair standing in stark contrast to the black cloak they wore. On their back, a massive weapon even in comparison to the standard person looked almost comical. A large wooden club inscribed with intricate runes that lightly pulsed under that dim torch flame.
The other figure was tall and lithe, looking almost willowy enough to be knocked over by an errant breeze. Long crimson hair pooled down their shoulders, ending just above their hips. Wearing a black dress that would've probably been more appropriate to wear to a ball or some other high society get together, positively sparkled with an arcane language that'll make the mind twist itself into a knot. Along with a large pointed hat commonly associated with European witches. In one hand, they used a simple staff just taller than they were.
While the last figure was smaller than even the first and almost had a blocky appearance to them. A squarish head with a series protrusions propped out of the side and top of their 'skull'. Heavy, bulky looking wheels whirled with effort as they maneuvered over the uneven terrain. Instead of carrying an aid or a weapon, they instead had a bag, larger than them by a good bit, balancing precariously on their back. Sometimes even rocking backwards and frontwards just to avoid being crushed under the oppressive weight.
"Should we really continue forward?" The third figure spoke up, their voice coming out a bit hollow like it was being spoken through a metal funnel of sorts. But despite the rather monotone tamber, their unease was clear for all too see. "The locals said this creature was very territori-"
"Shuddup HealingBot Number Three!" The first figure stopped in their tracks and turned, looming menacingly over the cowardly construct. Who in turn only further cowered in on itself. A large, sinister smile split the goblin's face as she cackled at the sorry sight. "Listen up you bucket of nuts, adventuring ain't free and everyone knows monsters got loot. They can't help it, they got good taste I say."
"The instructors at the academy told us that it was because they can gain a sort of power from it." The tall elven woman helpfully added, her voice aristocratic in a way that showed her well learned background. Maybe it would sound a bit a snobbish, if not for the rather dry and monotone way it was said. "Like how a hoard can be tied to a dragon's strength...just to a much lesser degree. Remember, they did tell us a lot of adventurers hadn't returned when they too went after this creature, so it's likely that it would've hoarded every bit of equipment they might've had on them."
"You think it's a d-d-dragon?!" HealingBot Number Three stuttered, it's gears whirling as it began to turn around in the opposite direction. "My components are nowhere near ready to face off against one of them! My core would just melt! We should come back with after a few upgrades!"
"Hold up you rust bucket!" The goblin snarled, her large mouth settling into a scowl that could peel paint, as she effortlessly lifted the small bot. It's wheels uselessly spinning in the air. "You think those upgrades are free? No-no-no! And even if we did have the money, you gotta earn your keep! Besides! Miss wizard here was just joking, ain't that right Rosette?"
"No." Rosette said coolly, either completely obvious to how much faster those wheels turned or utterly uncaring of their companion's plight. Blame it on her years of isolation in that tower overlooking the entirety of the world. "It's just a chance. Usually, this place would be too small for any sort of dragon to call it's own. Even a hatching slipping away from their parents wouldn't be able to fit down here. Adding to the fact that there is a severe lack of burning fields, it atleast rules out the more draconic creatures."
"Ain't there dragons that don't breathe fire? What kind of stuff are they teaching you in that floating tower? Can't be all too much different if some smelly goblin from knew even that!"
"…" The wizard glared imperiously at the short stature warrior, like she was staring down at a speck of dirt clinging to her well polished shoe. "I said fire for a variety of reasons that even a musclehead like you should take into account. First, the climate is too warm for any ice based creature. Next, golden dragons wouldn't go around robbing villages. Trade sure, but stealing? No. And given that there are actual villagers to speak to, we can also cut out the possibility of a black dragon. Else, there wouldn't be anything but a smoldering pool of acid. That only leaves two options. Either a green dragon which once again doesn't make sense because of their aversion to small spaces. Or a red dragon, the most likely out of all them to be here."
"Geez!" The goblin held up her hands placatingly. The large grin plastered in place. "What kobold gotta hold of your panties? Fine, fine you're right! You happy now...princess?"
"Insulting a wizard's college is like insulting their skills personally, Kaz. You know that and still decided to do so. I think you're confusing royalty with a proper upbringing. But that's not a surprise, goblins were only recently considered a proper intelligent race a hundred years ago."
"Oh? You wanna go knife-ears?"
"That doesn't work when you also have 'knife' ears as well. It's you all learned your manners from those stubby legged frea-"
"Uh guys?" HealingBot Number Three beeped with concern, not on the fight about to break out between party members but at something else. Their hollow, glass covered eyes locked onto a spot just beyond the range of the torch. Wheels whirling to a complete standstill and actually begun retracting deeper into it's frame. "I think I se-Warning, Warning. Enemy Detected."
Their own voice was cut out, this in stark contrast with it's previously 'living' tone. Instead, the words came out stilted, and automated. A mask slipping to let the cold, cold artificial intelligence running this automaton come fully to the surface. Even the slight shaking in it's frame ceased, causing the boisterous goblin to drop the thing down before it could zero those dead eyes on her.
"Finally!" Kaz cheered, slinging the comedic club over her shoulder and into her grasp. Even going as far as to swing it a few times to loose up a bit. A harsh breeze following in it's wake. "All this searchin and sneakin really just ain't for me! C'mon at me you bastard!"
"For once, we can agree."
The elf flickered her slender fingers once and a small magical circle appeared above her hand. Deep maroon arcane symbols swirled in their tightly constrained formations, each coming in at a different axis. Small bits of strangely colored lightning began striking the ground in an unknowable pattern.
"Stop your yappin and do your thang! It's coming out now!"
From the shadows, a large and lumbering figure came prowling out. It's size completely at odds at the fluid motions. Glimmering, slitted crimson eyes stared down upon them like a cannibalistic predator to a defenseless hatchling. The repetitive sound of claws sinking into stone echoed through the cavern, sending sharp shivers of dread down their spines. A heavy tail thumped against the ground, unsettling dust and debris untouched by mortal hands for time immemorial. Dark brown scales, covered in cracks, dirt and scars shimmered dully in the torchlight. A long snout filled to the brim with rows upon rows of razor sharp teeth. From which a long forked tongue flickered out into the suddenly silent air.
The small band of adventurer's huddled just a tad closer to one another, each falling into place. Both of the smaller figures edging to the front, forcing the spell-caster further into the back in a triangle like shape. In that moment, all was still. Like the two sides had truly become one with the surrounding but all that was broken. Not by a roar, nor the sound of clawed fingers tearing through stone but the sudden cracking of thunder as a thick band of eldritch lightning hammered home on the creature.
Even on it's reptilian face, a look of confusion could be gleamed as it look down at the maroon rope of energy that failed to do anything but alight the creatures full appearance.
"Oh c'mon!" Kaz snarled, muscles bulging unnaturally all across her body as she leapt at the creature with a massive club leading the way. It's surface twinkling like a starry night. "That's sooo not fa-"
***
A sudden, jarring ring shattered the anticipatory atmosphere.
"Sorry." Albert had the nerve to look a bit sheepish as he looked down at his ringing phone. The small plastic device buzzing loudly against the rather cheap fold-able table. "I gotta take this."
"Oh my fucking god, Al!" Harley shrieked, kicking off the ground to send her office chair spinning away from said table. "You can't keep teasing us like that! I'm gonna smash that thing!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" He really did feel bad about all this, the guilt only rising as he looked at their makeshift costumes they wore for tonight's game. They weren't anything special or high quality, but it only further showed their enjoyment of the game. The blonde wore a simple pair of bright green, long and pointed ears while the red head wore a large black witch's hat that did nothing to hide the silent annoyance simmering just beneath a rather blank face. "But I have to take this, I'll be as quick as possible."
"...It'll atleast give me some to rethink my strategy," Ivy drawled, her green eyes flickering over her character sheet for anything of note. "Especially since, a certain someone made the monster immune to lightning damage.."
"That too!" The blonde added, her tone indignant and a tiny bit whiny. "How are you gonna make some random, overgrown lizard immune to lightning damage?"
"She has other spells," He murmured, eyeing the line of digits running across his screen. It wasn't a familiar phone number but that was to be expected. There were probably less than six named contacts in his phone to begin with, and one-third of those people were sitting across from him at a cheap table now. "You guys will be fine."
A little white lie. He'd planned this fight to be pretty rough from the beginning, things had been going too well for his group of adventurers ever since he caved and introduced a healer to help them on their journey. Before, they had been more miserly and cautious of combat, given the time and money they'd have to waste from healing up after tough encounters. But now that they'd found a safety net? The pair had grown increasingly arrogant and careless as sessions went on.
Take this situation they found themselves in now, there were plenty of clues left around that would've told them this drake was immune to lightning damage. Hell, if they'd stuck in town longer than a few minutes to ask for directions then they would've gotten that information for free! And don't even get him started on their continuous abuse of their 'safety net'.
'Poor HealingBot Numeber Three.'
Despite how annoying the pair could be or how much work their shenanigans caused him, there was a pretty good reason why he hadn't just ceased all games with them. And it wasn't just because he genuinely had a lot of fun with the two.
[SAN: 42/47]
Who knew staying away from anything frightening and playing table top games would be good for the soul?
'And they used to call this type of stuff demonic.'
"Hello?" Albert greeted after fumbling for a bit moments with the small plastic square. Using his left hand for things would take some getting use too, his voice professional and a bit welcoming into the device. "You are calling The Seeking Agency, how can I help you today?"
"Yes, I need your help." The male on the other end sounded grave, solemness filling their tone. "And I've been told you're the best."
"I am flattered but let me hear what you need help with."
Turning his back on distracting blonde, he tried to concentrate on the conversation.
"I lost something years ago, just lost it somewhere and nowhere I look I can't seem to find it."
"Give me a few details. What did you lose and when?"
"It's something I hold dear! Ever since I found it when I was a teenager, I've always kept it close at hand."
The teen held back from responding for a few moments, not because the reflection of Harley preforming some pretty gnarly mimicry of him but from the man's way of speech. He spoke in a round about way and didn't even answer any of the questions that could actually help him find this 'special' item.
"…" He'd bite, just to see the end of things. "When did you lose it?"
"When I married my bitch of an ex-wife!" The man snapped back, real venom pouring into his speech. "I don't know what kind of devilry she pulled but six months later, no matter how hard I looked, I could find it anymore! Sure the signs were there, it slowly got harder to finder but to go from having it ready to go one day and gone the next? And to make things worse, she wouldn't even help me find it! What do you say? Do you want to help me find what even my witch of an ex-wife couldn't?"
[Case opened: Treasure Hunting!
Description: Your new potential client has lost something vital to him since meeting his ex-wife! And now after escaping the clutches of that woman, he now can't seem to find it! Help this poor man find his treasured item!
Requirements: Find out what has been lost!
Difficulty: N/A
Rewards: 0 IP]
[Would you like to take on this case?]
[Yes/No]
'Really?' Albert's nostrils flared as a bit heat entered his face. 'Again?!'
"…." Instead of responding, he simply waited. Allowed the seconds to tick on pass but it wasn't long before it was broken. Not by the two agents of chaos behind him but by his potential 'client' breaking out into a mixture of laughter and coughing fits. "Well? Are you gonna find my fucking dick?"
"Lose twenty to thirty pounds and you'll find it easily."
"Fuck you fa-"
He didn't wait to hear the end of that particular sentence and instead ended the call before going through the motions to block yet another phone number. The list was certainly growing quite long now. A rising monument to his foolishness.
'Maybe it wasn't a good idea to put my personal number on those cards.'
"You should get a new phone." Ivy, as though reading his mind, suggested. Maybe for other people handing out that sort of advice, it would come across as soothing or concerned. But from how dry everything sounded coming out of her mouth, it was like she was pointing out something that should be obvious even to an absolute idiot. A blind, death, anosmic, limbless idiot.
He had to bite back a rather cutting array of words in response. She meant well but her delivery left much to be desired.
"I told you so!" Harley pipped up, looking all too pleased with herself. "What was it this time? A run away refrigerator? A boot they lost by shoving it up someone's ass? A cheating boyfriend?"
"That wasn't a prank."
He felt a bit indignant at that last one, that client was at least serious with her problems.
"...It was in a dream of hers."
Even the nymph couldn't resist the free alley-oop her friend so expertly set up. It frankly left him at a lost for words. Usually she would just watch from sidelines and maybe throw in a few suggestions after mustering up the interest to even engage. But for her to do so this quickly, truly showed exactly how annoyed she was with all this.
Over the past week of 'rest' he had started leaving his business cards at a variety of stores and started receiving calls from all hours in the day. From sunrise to the next sunrise. It didn't matter. Sometimes they were just curious people wanting to know what he actually offered, those weren't the calls that caused problems. Answering those questions now would save him a lot of time in the future. But the real issues occurred with the overwhelming number of clowns calling his phone.
Kids, adults, men or women, none of that mattered. One and all, most of these people got a real kick out of wasting his time. Whether or not some of these were genuinely malicious actors, he didn't know. Apparently, trying to read someone with only their voice was a fruitless endeavor.
Despite everything, it hadn't been entirely without some benefits trickling his way. First, he'd found out that yes, the system did indeed have limits on how much it was willing to screw him over. Pranks or false cases all seem to lack a difficulty recognized by the system, it didn't matter the intent on the other party if there was no case to begin with then the thing just wouldn't assign it a level. That and due to stinginess or it's utter refusal to just hand him any sort of advantage without clawing for it,
not even a single IP was offered up as recompense.
It seemed whatever intelligence ran the system, really didn't want to waste his time with wild goose chases with no real goose to begin with.
Of which, he was grateful.
"I get it." Albert sighed with a slump of his shoulders. Their point was made and after yet another prank call, he too was fed up with dealing it at all hours of the day. "I'll get a new phone here soon."
He could afford that much at least, especially given the heavy downfall of cash from his most recent case. Apparently, Florence had 'mistakenly' slid an addition two hundred dollars on top of the already agreed amount. But the teen knew what it was. It wasn't a tip for all his good work, but both hush money and a way to ease his own guilt. For which, there were no complaints on the financial side.
"Oh! Get a look at mister money bags over here!" Harley jabbed her thumb in his direction, speaking behind another hand as though it would do anything dampen that loud voice she was so famous for. "He can afford TWO phones, man's moving up in the world!"
"Okay, sorry let's get back to the game." He sighed, trying to re-ingrain himself in his world. After all, the pair had a drake to slay. And with a glance outside to the nearly pitch black street, he could tell they've been playing for much longer than normal. Probably due to all the interruptions. "Let's try to wrap this fight up soon, it's getting pretty late."
"Aw man!" The blonde jutted her bottom lip out in protest. "But why? None of us got anything to do tomorrow! We can just play into the wee hours of night and be just fine. Plus besides, it's not like anyone's gonna to mess with us on our way home!"
'It's not you two I'm worried about.' He mused grimly after seeing the red head nod along with her. In Gotham, there were very few people who actually wanted to tangle with the pair. And with them both lying low due to their parole, that took out more than half of said people. Leaving only the truly stupid or desperate. Or the drunk.
"Still, I'd like to wake up tomorrow at a reasonable time. Let's say we continue with this fight and we'll end things there. It'll also give me some time to prepare. I think we left off at Kaz? Roll to hit and we can kick things off."
"You don't need to tell me twice!" Harley scooped up her brightly colored dice with a gleam in those blue eyes that honestly made him feel bad for the drake. "I'll make this attack reckless, gaining another advantage...Does a nineteen hit?"
"Add a d4," Ivy pipped in. "You're blessed."
"Oh thanks Red!" The blonde picked up and rolled yet another die, the clacking loud against the metal table. "That's a four! Make that a twenty-three to hit! And because I hit, you gotta make a vitality save!"
"As you hit the Earthen Drake with a reverberating blow, it's loud hiss echoes through the cavern." Rolling his own dice, he continued as the results were shown to the pair. "And you can feel those scales crack and give way under your weapon. It's armor has been reduced. Roll me damage."
"I'm feeling lucky!" She began picking up a rather worrying number of dice, explaining as she went. "I use three charges from my club to add three additional d6 and we'll see if my weapon die explodes."
With an excited grin on her face, she rolled the dice across the table. Everyone's eyes locking onto every result with some hints of anticipation. Spotting the single eight, he knew things were about to get crazy.
"That's an eight! I get to roll again!" Flickering out, another d8 was cast. It skittered across the table for a few seconds before stopping. The results easy for all to see. And his heart sunk further into his stomach. "That's another eight! Red please, please let me use one of your dice! And not your cursed ones!"
Without even blinking, the nymph-like woman moved her hands away from a set of dice locked away in a small cage and towards a different pile before handing one particular bright green die that shimmered under the overhead light.
"I want this one back."
"Don't worry, I'll give it back...in a hundred years!"
Cackling like a witch, she snatched up the prized die before eyeing it like some overly obsessed captain to a mythical whale. Rolling it as well, the sound of clattering plastic was loud in the sudden silence. Tumbling end over end, all eyes remained locked on the moving object. His breathe hitched in his chest as he saw the die slowly began to settle. Yet another eight.
Would it be wrong for him to add some more health to the creature? It didn't even have a turn yet!
But just as the die was ceasing it's wiggling, the results suddenly shifted. From an eight, to a five to finally settling on a big fat number one.
"Noooo!" A sorrowful cry left the blonde as victory was snapped from the jaws of defeat, her eyes flashing to the culprit with murderous intent. Off to the side, his phone rung once more. It's vibrating rattling the cheap table. The object unaware of the amount of danger it was in."YOU!"
"Wait!" Albert snatched up with phone both before it could cause more damage and so the jilted women wouldn't smash the thing into tiny little bits. That bulky, black brace held up to at least forestall the mad woman for a few heartbeats. "We can all agree to let that eight count! Right, Pamela?"
"…." Ivy thought for a few moments, at least pretended to do so anyway but from that crook of a fine eyebrow spoke clearly of her own personal amusement. "Sure."
"I don't need your pity! I want vengeance for what was stolen from me!"
As the two devolve into a bickering mess, he took the time to push himself back from the table and answered the call.
"Hello, this is the Seeking Eye Agency." He repeatedly, hoping for hope that the blonde couldn't be heard too well on the other end. "How can I help you today?"
"My name is Olivia and I need your help." The voice sounded young, way younger than even the squeaky pre-teens who thought themselves hilarious beyond reproach.
"That's what we do here, what exactly do you need help with?"
"I need to follow someone for me. Make sure he isn't going out to meet any skanks!"
"Skanks?" That momentarily took him aback, hearing such a voice say that word with so much conviction was a bit jarring. Maybe they weren't as young as they sounded? "Could you go into more detail? What makes you think he's going out to meet with...skanks?"
"He goes out about three times a week and refuses to tell me anything about where he was! Always comes back all sweaty and tired with a few scratches and bruises he tries to hide." Okay, so already things weren't looking good for this guy. Maybe it would be a nice and simple case. Something that wouldn't put too much stress on his recovering mind. "As for your other question, he's real handsome! There ain't no way those floozies could resist just throwin themselves at him! I want you to follow him and make sure ain't going behind my back! And scare them off too!"
[Cased Opened: No Good Men!
Description: You're rather strange client, Olivia, has noticed 'her' man going out multiple times per week and coming back with some rather strange signs left behind from whatever he was doing. She suspects the no good floozies from being unable to keep their filthy claws to themselves! Now, she wants you to follow him and make sure those skanks don't get their way!
Requirements: Follow and make sure 'Olivia's' man isn't going behind her back to meet up with floozies!
Difficulty: F
Reward: 1 IP, Unknown]
[Would you like to take on this case?]
[Yes/No]
'Floozy?'
"Floozy?" Harley, now calmed down enough, mouthed the words to an equally confused Pamela. Whispering just loud enough for him to hear, she said, "Did I travel back in time or somethin? That's from the late eighteenth century, right? I'm not going crazy...right, Red?"
If before he thought this was yet another prank, finding someone that unironically used slang that even the elderly would think was dated, almost made him hang up out of pure reflex. But that system notification told him that it was indeed a real case at hand and not someone just pulling his leg.
"I can certainly do that." Accepting the prompt, Albert ignored the growing indignant glances being sent his way. It seemed if he didn't want to face the wrath of a few angry gamers then he should really wrap all this up. "Where do you want to meet to iron out the details?"
"First, how much is all this going to cost me?"
"A dollar as a deposit and the price is usually up to what you believe I deserve."
"Okay, I can scrounge up a few quarters here...I gotta go though, the payphone meter's almost out. Meet me tomorrow around two in the afternoon at Mr. Robinson's Pizzeria. I'll be in a gray hat."
"I'll see you then."
Hanging up the phone, he looked up to see two very anxious people ready to smash some stupid drake into a fine pulp. And with a sigh, he turned off the device. He couldn't afford any more distractions, especially if he has to get up in the morning to get himself presentable.
"Okay," Albert began, "Let's get this done, how much damage did you deal? I think we left off on one more exploding dice?"
(A/N: Hello everyone! Thank you for all reading! I'll be honest, I kinda really liked writing this chapter. Especially the adventuring bit. I wanted to give you guys a look into what their game nights actually looks like, think of it as an experiment. I might have bonus chapters reserved strictly for stuff like this, they'll probably be shorter than normal chapters and won't have a real effect on the actual story but more like scenes to show the three bonding overtime. So that most of it isn't just happening in the background. But yeah, we're getting right back into cases after a few chapter! I have this pretty well planned out, look out for a few twists, more DC character being introduced and I hope you're all excited for things to ramp up by a few degrees! See you all next week!)