The road to Camp Lexi was already complicated, but the path Himia led us through became much, much worse after the denizen resurrection timer was up. We went north, south, and even backtracked west in some areas, all to avoid what she thought would be the most problematic areas.
Despite the trip taking almost a day longer than our initial estimates said it should have, it was surprisingly lax. We only got into a few skirmishes with dungeon scouting parties that were out looking for us, and most of them were low enough level that Moose and Cojisto were able to handle things without us.
For all her social faults, Himia was a fantastic navigator. She even went so far as to take us through a path of more mild DTERs, though that could have been because the level of dungeons were lower. Not all owners were capable of being as threatening as the Shadow Dragon.
Signs of civilization started to become more prevalent as we got closer to our destination. Dilapidated homes and barns sitting alongside overgrown fields became commonplace every couple of miles until they started appearing closer together. Small neighborhoods started to form, just as run down as Tuskrep, until we made the transition that had as stark a difference as night and day.
“Kids on the road!” Cojisto announced as Moose slowed down, and Ferrisdae did the same with the Skymirror Carriage.
All of the occupants, including Tabitha and Dalsarel who had to turn around, peeked out of the window to see up ahead. I frowned at the scene that was laid out in front of us.
A group of Gnomish children, the tallest of which would have reached my elbow, were playing in the road. They were kicking around a black and white ball between them in some kind of game. Houses made of brick lined either side of the path. They were in good condition with well-tended gardens of both flower and vegetable varieties. The only adult I could see was an old woman knitting on one of the porches.
She met eyes with me and cocked an eyebrow as if we were the curious ones before releasing a sharp whistle. All but a few of the kids stopped playing to look at her. When she gestured our way, they turned to see what they had been interrupted for. The children quickly moved out of the way to make room, though they did so with obvious awe at Ferrisdae’s magical wagon.
“It looks like we have another Tuskrep situation on our hands,” Tabitha said as the carriage started up again. Moose didn’t move until he was side by side with us.
“It’s not like Tuskrep,” I observed, watching as the kids laughed and waved at us as we passed by. “That place was miserable despite the DTER making it seem happy. This just seems like a regular neighborhood. It doesn’t feel like anything at all, though I can tell we’re in a dungeon.”
“You can?” Ferrisdae asked, frowning. “I don’t feel anything. I thought we might have been in an area one of the other teams had cleared.”
“No, we’re definitely in a dungeon,” I said firmly. “I can feel it.”
She was right that there was no DTER pressuring our emotional response, but there was a feeling in the back of my mind that remained constant. It wasn’t clear that this was a dungeon, but instincts told me that’s what it meant and I was going to trust that. Not just because my gut was often right, but because disregarding it could potentially be more harmful.
“Okay, so we’re in a dungeon,” Cojisto repeated, looking down to wave at a Gnomish kid before returning his attention to us. “What does that mean for us?”
“That there’s a boss around somewhere,” Dalsarel answered, not turning away from the window. “There’s good odds that it’s going to be another Elder Thrash type. They might not like CC, either.”
“It’s possible, but I don’t think so,” Tabitha disagreed, motioning towards the kids. “Elder Thrash was upset because of how he and his village were treated, but look at the picture in front of us. These buildings are close to immaculate and the people actually look happy even without a DTER making them that way. This could have easily been any Gnomish hamlet on our own continent. The kind you’d find hovering around any kind of town or city.”
I nodded, agreeing with her assessment. We had known we were going towards a town, someplace bigger than Tuskrep but smaller than the settlements near the other two Dungeon Nexuses, but Himia hadn’t been able to tell us much more than the history. Any information on who would still be living here would have been conjecture, and she didn’t like speaking about anything without knowing for sure.
Winleshire was over twice the size Tuskrep should have been and had been built around another of Keith Carr’s portals. Since it wasn’t surrounded by swampland but instead a series of pristine lakes, it became much more popular than the village as a place to live. The direction we were approaching from was mostly farmland and clay pits, which was where they got the materials for their bricks from.
On the other side and to the north of Winleshire were a plethora of lakes and the houses nobles built to enjoy them. From what she had said, it was a great vacation destination known throughout the Southern Continent due to its beauty and the quiet atmosphere. It made sense that Carr would make a camp here even if it did end up being in an extradimensional space.
“Any insight on the community you have for us now that we’re closer, Himia?” I asked, putting my hand on the pommel of the crystalline sword.
There was no response.
“Himia?” I asked, frowning as I flicked the black device attached to the weapon.
Silence.
“Well, that doesn’t bode well,” Ferrisdae said ominously.
“It doesn’t matter,” I replied, even though it surely did. “We didn’t expect to have her along on this journey, so her absence means we’re back to square one. Keep your eyes open and be careful.”
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I received a series of affirmatives, though no one relaxed. Even if it were good news that there was civilization here, it was bad in that there could be plenty of collateral damage. We were only here to stop CC, not commit war crimes.
We passed through the hamlet and traveled through another one half a mile down the road. The sight was familiar, though there were less children and more women tending the gardens than the last. There were very few men, but I figured they were working in the clay pits. It made the most sense.
Three more small settlements came and went before we came across the gates of the town of Winleshire. The ten-foot tall barrier was made of brick and black iron bars around the road, though it didn’t go all the way around the settlement. It was actually quite a tasteful look, if I were being honest, but I couldn’t spend too much time admiring it.
Moose and Cojisto had fallen back as we stopped in front of the metal gate. Three Gnomish guards stood with crossbows on top of the wall. Each wore black armor with red highlights, including a fluffy feather coming from their helms, but didn’t point their weapons at us.
A fourth was on the ground, and he raised his hand to stop us. Ferrisdae, of course, did as commanded. While the Skymirror Carriage was slowing down, I cast Allspeech on myself again. This was probably going to be another situation where it was going to be needed.
The guard approached the door, and I stepped out to greet him. His hand rested easily on the pommel of his sword, a warning but not a threat, and I kept my own loose beside me. I didn’t want to give him the wrong impression when he was just doing his job.
His helmet was open so I could see his face, and surprise registered on his green eyes. “Ah, another party of strangers, huh?” he asked, more to himself than to me.
“We are a collection of a motley sort, yes,” I answered. “No Gnomes, though.”
A startled look passed over his features before a big grin appeared on his face. “Oh! You speak our language! That’s going to make this so much easier. I’m Battelata, captain of Winleshire’s Silver Gate. Who do I have the honor of speaking to?”
“I am Dungeon Inspector Badger,” I announced, ignoring the three heads peeking out of the doorway beside me. “I’m here with my team to see Keith Carr’s portal.”
“Heard about the park we put around it, did you?” Battelata asked with clear pride in his voice. “Best one in Delphara, if you don’t mind me bragging. People come from all around to see the Maker Memorial Park, even in these dangerous times.”
That wasn’t what I was expecting to hear, but I could go along with it. “I am certainly interested.”
The Gnome looked me over, his eyes focusing on the crystalline sword on my belt for a moment before turning to the Skymirror Carriage. “Beauty of a ride you’ve got here,” he said, getting close to one of the starry horses. The guard reached up, but put it down when the animal shook its head. “Spell, I take it?”
“Yes. My subordinate cast it, and it lasts for quite a while.”
He nodded at that. “Rules and regulations do state that we’re not allowed to let magical transportation through, so it will need to be dismissed before we let you in. Hope that’s not too much trouble for you.”
“No, that should be fine,” I replied before nodding back towards Moose and Cojisto. “And these two are also fine?”
Battelata looked the pair over before shrugging. “Strange creature, but doesn’t look magical to me. They’re allowed in just like you.”
I nodded before turning towards the carriage. “We can go in, but we have to dismiss all magical transportation.”
“That’s weird,” Ferrisdae said, frowning. “Did they say why?”
“No, and I didn’t ask. I didn’t want to make waves and it’s an easy enough rule to follow,” I answered. “The faster we get in, the faster we can get out.”
“Yeah, I guess,” she replied, not sounding confident. “I’d rather have a quick escape option available, you know?”
Pursing my lips, I stepped up onto the carriage’s step and lowered my voice so the guard couldn’t hear me. “If need be, we’ll protect you long enough to summon it again. Does that sound good?”
“I suppose,” the Forest Elf relented before standing up. She looked at the organized chaos of the maps, documents, and food both uneaten and leftover that were all over the interior. “Let's get this all packed up, I guess.”
Letting them handle that, I backed off of the carriage’s step and turned to the pair of adventurers. “We’re going on foot from here on out. Cojisto, you’re still good to ride Moose if that’s what you choose to do.”
“I could use the opportunity to stretch my legs, sure,” the man said as he deftly dismounted.
Moose was looking around and he stretched his back once the Human was off of it. His head dropped until our eyes met. “I see that you have cast your Allspeech spell again, Inspector Badger. As I have already told Cojisto, who I’m sure was simply waiting for the right time to pass along my message, I do not feel as though this place is completely safe for us.”
“I was gonna tell him,” Cojisto protested. “Just, you know, not right here in front of the guard.”
“The guard probably can’t speak Imperial Standard like you, my friend,” the healer explained patiently. “You can shout my warning from the rooftops, but so long as Inspector Badger doesn’t repeat it then the Gnome will likely never know what it means.”
“Oh, yeah,” the pugilist said, scratching his neck sheepishly. “Sorry.”
Moose’s warning made me pause, but I wasn’t about to tell him that he shouldn’t be paranoid. It was the same attitude I took towards Tuskrep, and it would be the same one I took here.
“Wise words. I’ll keep them in mind,” I said, and Moose nodded.
The Skymirror Carriage disappeared as I turned around, and I saw Battelata speaking with one of the other guards. They were already opening it up by turning the crank on top of the wall, which pushed the giant metal doors open towards us. Ferrisdae handed me the big map, which I put away in my Dimensional Pocket, before we started heading towards the gate.
“—sure they’ll be thrilled,” Battelata said to the other guard. He saw us coming and offered me another big grin. “Ah! Inspector, I’ve just received a missive from the mayor’s office.”
I resisted the urge to frown. “Oh? What did the mayor have to say?” I asked cautiously.
“He was so impressed by the last group of strangers to come through here, that he’s set up an open invitation to any other odd ducks to come along, such as yourselves,” the guard said, seemingly far more excited about this news than I was.
“I think we’d rather just visit the park, thank you very much,” I replied diplomatically. “Your mayor is probably a very busy Gnome, and we’re here for a short time.”
“Nonsense, his office is on the way,” Battelata said jovially. “Trust me, it’s a treat of a lifetime. Our mayor is the best of us, and the view of the park from his balcony is to die for. In fact, I’ll take you there myself. Come on.”
He started walking, gesturing for us to follow. I stared at his back for a moment, simply scowling at the sudden change in destination, before allowing him to lead us. At the very least, we could always split off once we knew where the park was. If everyone was as good-natured as Battelata, it shouldn’t be that hard.
