Into the Nest
We ran into a few hunters and a guardian close to the entrance. The smoke had done its job and we were able to easily dispatch them. The hunters were smaller and sleeker than the others, as well as the quickest. The guardians were the largest with thick fur and tough skin making them harder to kill. We didn't stop to harvest or collect the bodies, since we needed to get to the nursery. The tunnels were wide enough for two of us to walk next to each other and just tall enough that we didn't have to crouch. Our mages summoned Orbs of Lights around us to light the way.
"Wilmaer are you a follower of the Light?" Ivarr asked shortly after we entered the tunnel.
"I'm not." This didn't seem like a time for a religious discussion.
"Some of the Invocations I know need the recipient to be a fellow believer. But I have some that will help." He said.
I wasn't as familiar with Invocations. What I remembered was that a holy knight could bless others with an enhancement spell that affected both of them and increased their ability to work together.
"We can either Share Senses or Divide Fatal Hits between us." He said.
"I think Shared Senses would be best." I already had high defenses and he was wearing decent armor. If we were taking fatal hits, we'd already be in deep trouble.
After a short prayer, my physical senses were enhanced. In the back of my mind I received the awareness of Ivarr's physical senses.
"If it is too confusing just imagine a blanket being thrown over what I'm sending you." He said.
I tried it and found the extra senses became muted to the point that I didn't notice them. They weren't too distracting, so I mentally removed the blanket to get used to them and we continued on.
When we came to an intersection Vesta, who had the Communication Stone, directed us left. Myvarg used sound and smell to communicate, so after leaving Njall dropped a Stink Bomb from the rear to confuse them. Going forward we ran into two tunnelers. Their claws were longer and hardened to work as picks for digging out new tunnels.
Runa and I took the brunt of their attacks. When an opening presented itself Kalfr and Ivarr would lunge forward to attack. Those in the middle sent a few spells and arrows but held on to their energy for when we reached the nursery or larger packs. Leaving them behind we continued forward.
"Behind us!" Dagrun yelled.
A guardian and two tunnelers had come up behind us. Runa and I stayed put in case others came from the way we were headed, while Kalfr and Ivarr moved to the rear to back them up. Spectral shields cast by Verdandi danced around Dagrun and Njall. They weren't as good at defensive fighting as we were and took a few injuries taking the myvarg down.
After they were done, Verdandi cast a few healing spells and we made our way forward. A number of high pitched clipped howls could be heard from the tunnel ahead. We soon came to a large chamber with a ceiling three stories high. On the walls were holes that contained straw beds for sleeping. Various monster, animal, and even human carcasses littered the floor. The middle had a pit that contained their refuse.
Upon seeing us near a dozen myvarg howled and charged towards. Two fireballs launched into the room scorching them as Runa and I braced ourselves. A spell from Verandi caused thorny vines to sprout in front of us that wrapped around the myvarg as they drew near. The air around Fulvia's arrows rippled and tore into them. Between us, Ivarr stabbed with his long spear and Kalfr cut at them with his sword.
"We have company." Behind us five more myvarg had attacked Njall and Dagrun.
"Wilmaer and Vesta give them a hand." Runa's eyes began to glow purple and the myvarg eyes around us also glowed. I recognized the energy of a powerful psychic spell as she brought down her mace on one of their heads.
I moved through the others with my Osgar aura circulating and rammed into the lead myvarg. After sending a Moonlight Lightning Slash to each side, I pulled their attention to me. The other two moved to each side of me and took advantage of the openings as I was attacked, Njall with a burning longsword and Dagrun with her warhammer. Vesta sent out Ice Lances that froze and slowed them as they hit.
In the back of my mind I had a sense of how the other fight was going through Ivarr's perspective. Most of them still had purple eyes but if they took a large amount of damage at once, the purple faded and Runa had to renew her spell. At her sides were Ivarr and Kalfr keeping any that she lost control of from flanking them. Firebolts landed among the myvarg and continued to burn after they landed. Fulvia was taking her time and either hitting their eyes, open mouths, or the wounds that the others inflicted.
Once we took care of those that were attacking our rear, I left them to stand guard and rejoined the front. Runa let the spell drop on those that were near me. Not too long after that Ivarr's spear pierced the thorax of the last living one.
"Make sure there aren't any hiding in those holes and then take five minutes to rest." Runa said.
Verandi spread her arms and dozens of green spectral butterflies floated in and out of the holes. After a minute she let us know we were safe. We gathered in the center and Runa kept watch over the three entrances to the chamber as we took a moment to rest. She had taken the Communication Stone back and was letting command know our progress.
"The Light has been with us thus far." Ivarr said. When he saw the look Verandi gave him he added, "As well as the Spirits. Their aid has also been helpful." She just looked away as he grinned in embarrassment. I was a little surprised as he was the first follower of the Holy Light that didn't show any hostility towards witches.
I took a moment to inspect the dead myvarg looking to see if any had formed a monster core, only one had done so. It wouldn't matter for most of their parts if they sat until we were on our way out but monster cores were best harvested as soon as possible. After stowing it I took a brief look into the pit in the middle of the chamber. It was filled with bones and other scraps from those that had lived here. There could be a few choice finds but I didn't want to see anything on top and didn't want to rummage through it.
"Do you think we should switch up our marching order? I could move to the front and Wilmaer could take up the rear." Njall said.
"Our formation's good. We're more likely to encounter stronger threats from the front and the two of us specialize in defensive combat." Runa said.
"Just because I don't use a shield doesn't mean I can't fight defensively. Master Ragna has been training me to use my longsword defensively and I've already shown that I can." He said.
"Exactly, you've shown that you're dependable in the rear guard. Besides, you and Dagrun are used to fighting together, her and Wilmaer aren't. It's working out as it is." She said.
"I just think…." Njall was interrupted by Alfvin.
"Oh come off it Njall, you just don't see any glory in defending the rear. It has nothing to do with what is strategically best. Just follow orders." Alfvin said.
"That's not it at all." Njall replied.
Dagrun placed her hand on his arm and shook her head. He fell silent after that. Being students of an S ranked adventurer they had to be exceptional and it looked like they knew it. Runa soon called for us to head out.
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The man in the cracked and broken mask stood on the ceiling. Gravity didn't affect his shabby clothes of thin hair as they fell towards the ceiling. He had been keeping an eye on the Little Star and had even thought of helping the entity in yellow. But that creature would have tried to eat him before accepting help.
The man in the cracked and broken mask had a few things prepared for the Little Star but this was an unexpected opportunity. But what to do, what to do? He could come up with something new and thrilling. There was a pit of bones and a number of dead around. Of course there was the old stand by that he used a few times decades ago. Numerous villages and even a city fell back then.
In the end he decided to do both. Landing in front of the tunnel that they had gone down, he lifted his shabby clothes and a dark grey mist billowed out and headed towards the Little Star. That should keep them busy long enough for him to complete an interesting surprise. He only hoped that the Little Star survived long enough to see it, after all he didn't actually want them to die. If they did then all his other plans would be for nought and where would be the fun in that.