Bridges and Battle
Walking towards the drawbridge in the distance the party can feel the shift as they leave the first floor and appear on a desolate road, just greenery and wind to be their company as they continue towards the second challenge.
"Apparently the second floor is equal parts puzzle and battle. Bridge is a straight line but heavily trapped as well as defended by multiple undead guards as well as several small undead serpents from the moat. We reach the end and have to fight the guard captain who is a tank class, loads of health and low damage but he's made for abuse. Me and Shanks will be taking him out while Tobias throws down with him, no using that instakill here either or you won't be coming back." Tyr warns as the party approaches the entrance to the bridge and watch several spike traps continuously stab upwards from the floorboards.
Walking onto the bridge the group are soon flung into the air as a rune light from beneath them. Upon landing several sprays of fetid water begin pelting the party as the shuffling of dragging feet can be heard from ahead. Struggling to their feet the group see various shambling corpses equipped with rusted armor and broken weapons moving towards them as the head of a large serpent with rotted eyes and greying scales breaches the surface and shoots a green acid from its mouth toward the group. Attempting to dart forward Dawn begins to thrust her rapier towards the incoming projectile before the bridge rocks dangerously and send the duelist staggering off course and into the way of an incoming arrow shot by a skeletal archer on the other side of the bridge.
"Shit they have ranged! Dodge or shield the goo, ranged take out the incoming or the serpent while we crawl!" Shouts Dusk as she trudges towards her sister, noticing the arrow piercing through her shoulder as she takes up a defensive stance and watches as a blur moves quickly through the enemies.
Watching in astonishment Dusk tracks the shadowed creature as it lands next to one of the dead men, its arm outstretched to the side as a gleaming blade slices through the corpses kneecap and sends it sprawling on the bridge before another round of rocking throws it into the waters below. A sadistic chuckle can be heard as the shadow stops to pick up a dropped blade before looking towards the serpent thats raising up again and slinging it towards the monstrous creature, the rusted blade squelching as it pierces the rotted eye and embeds itself within the beasts skull.
"Another worthy sacrifice! Ah the thrill of a true challenge away from the masters ideals! To let my blades drink from prey and to take lives like the sun steals shadows! The joys! The wonder! The thrill! Come my brothers and sisters, let us celebrate this joyous occasion with an untold slaughter!" Cackles Shank as he pulls a small blade from his vest and flicks it towards one of the skeletal archers, the blade rattling inside its ribcage before a blast of fire and smoke rip the being apart.
"I don't remember him ever being that dangerous....." mutters Dusk as Tyr slowly approaches and smiles down at the woman.
"That's because in the dungeon we have certain conditions to meet. Shank is the boss of the second floor meaning he must be strong enough to present a challenge but not undefeatable. In the dungeon his strength and abilities are locked to a certain stage allowing those of you who are lower leveled to still challenge yourselves against him while not needing to be massacred. This Shank right here is his true ability, an expert assassin that preaches gospel of both Kyle his lord and Emi the demoness who gave him the spark of sentience that grew into a soul. A zealot of bloodshed and loyal only to those of our dungeon family." Tyr says calmly as she notices a shiver of fear go down Dusks body and smiles before glaring at the goblin that's halfway across the bridge and leaving a trail of butchered corpses behind him.
"That being said he knew we weren't supposed to attack mobs because it gave the dungeon room to retaliate. Damn gob has the patience of a gerbil but at least we can follow until he either falls back or kills the boss. He's capable but....I'd rather not rely on him honestly." Mutters Tyr as she watches the goblin stop and pick up a broken spear head before smiling wickedly and flinging it towards a serpents throat as it lunges for the boss. Laughing as the serpents dead eyes go blank and it slams againt the bridge, Shank stops and looks down suddenly before jumping backwards as a gargantuan serpent rips through the bridge with a roar as a new voice joins the battle.
"You heathens will not pass this bastion of righteousness! For to leave this bridge and invade our city you will have to defeat myself and my loyal partner! Have at you curs!" Shouts a scratchy voice laced with the ideals of justice and knighthood as a massive serpent glares down at the lonely form of Shanks, its body free from rot as a skeletal man rides atop its back in shining white armor and holding a massive lance and shield.
"Shit! Shank get your scrawny ass back here! Tobias tank, Slax your on heals! Despot use your damn abilities to get us some meat shields! Lafey buff and boost now! Spooky I want you to help get Shank back to us then pick that beast apart! Move now!" Tyr screams as she pulls out her lance and thrusts it towards the serpent, the tip barely leaving a scratch as a metallic tink sounds from the strike.
{Boss Name-Yorn Ridscar Boss Rank-B Description- Yorn was once a lowly guard among hundreds employed. He helped the weak, fed the needy, and eventually unlocked a knight class for himself. When offered a mount though Yorn always refused with a laugh and a dismissal as he would say 'that wee thing to hold me? Nay friend.' It wasn't until an invasion of death orcs that people truly understood the dismissal for Yorn had secretly been feeding and training one of the serpents of the moat. The massive creature came to acknowledge the strange man who fed it as his partner and together the duo decimated both the orcs and several acres of riverside property before Yorn was awarded the title of Captain of the Guard in exchange for only using his mount in emergencies. Sadly Yorn soon grew bored of his post and the paperwork that came with it until a whisper on the breeze made him smile. 'Join my ranks Sir Ridscar, for such a ferocious warrior and beast are wasted here.' After months of coaxing and watching the royals slowly turn cruel the captain nodded in acceptance as his skin melted away and his soldiers were punished by the new king of his city.}