The magick tome, still laying open in the bend of his folded legs, clamps shut on Wraith’s nose when he tries to nudge it away. It isn’t malicious in its intent, only childishly stubborn, for it doesn’t have an interest in returning to the shelves where it belongs but instead making itself a home in the cotton cradle of Francisco’s supply satchel. Understandably, Francisco is hesitant to add the book to his collection but does so at Wraith’s behest. The library is left in dis...

Deep down where the devils cannot reach them, there is a study guarded by a sequence of wary watchers. This is a place he wouldn't dare venture to on his own. It worries not about the guardians, for they worry not about him, but the descent down into the skeletal remains of the library is treacherous for someone without sight to bring them here. The grand spiral staircase leading down into the overgrown lobby threatened to give out underneath him with every step, the wood rotted away b...

KalmaTommy had never seen Frankie so quiet as he was when they passed the massive pale creature. It took them a while to be at a safe distance, and the dark grey equine felt them all let out a collective sigh. They had made it to safety. He was fairly sure Frankie was ready to vibrate out of his skin, having to spend so long actually being quiet. He knew the little stallion was scared out of his mind, but he put up a brave face. Tommy was slowly putting it togeth...

Modest earthquakes this far down into the kingdom weren’t novel, Logue tells him, for the earthen furnaces are constantly being ripped apart and sewn back together again by wizardry beyond their comprehension. For the most part, the core foundation remains largely unchanged, but these tectonic shifts open new networks of lava rivers every day; the kingdom is no stranger to pilfering scoundrels but if they wished to steal her riches, then she was going to make them work for it. It keeps ever...

KalmaGetting the team back together was surprisingly easy. Both Tommy and Frankie were lucky in their slide downwards had ended with both of them unharmed. Frankie was very slimy, but unharmed. Surprisingly, even Joaquin had survived the stumble without any injuries. Tommy himself had a bit more balanced ride downward, managing to stay on his feet the whole way down and keep his torch from going out. Frankie had been super whiny once he reached him, but Tommy ign...

The entrance of this particular chamber is shaped like a barbute, its t-shaped entryway glowing hot with the lava forges smoldering eternally on the other side. It looks to be a formidable sight but Logue isn't deterred by it, so when Frankie balks under the great helm's stare, the mercenary chuckles at him and gives him an encouraging shoulder nudge. The distinct shape of this helm is similar to what he's seen on both courser and stucco but the significance of them belies him. An armo...

Miguel, his papa, would tell him stories of the buried kingdom when he were a babe. These stories were often in such vivid detail that Frankie had no difficulty imagining himself there, be it in his dreams while he slept or early in the morning fighting off treents - his mama's legs - with the driftwood greatsword he'd found by the creek. It came as no surprise when he told his parents, on the eve of his tenth birthday, that he felt the unmistakeable pull of the dungeons. Their family ...

His papa didn't like dungeon diving with anyone other than himself. He wouldn't lie to you and say he wasn't greedy; Miguel was always selfish with his spoils, outright jealous if he felt shafted when it came time for the party to disperse their findings to the point he would steal them when their backs were turned. He was never severe in his jealousy - couldn't dream of hurting his fellow courser over a shiny piece of gold - but it was notorious enough to cause other dungeoneers to turn the ...

mvseratiiThe viscous drippings on the cave walls remind him of winters stuck inside, huddled around the meager warmth of a dying campfire while nursing a stubborn sickness. He can see himself plain as day: head hung low, fatigue darkening the space under his eyes, with never-ending snot pouring from a raw and red nose. This was a lot like a nose. They were in a nose. A mist almost as thick as the gunk permeates the dark cavern, suffocating the guidance of their t...

Time ceases to exist in the catacombs, they say. Realistically, Francisco had only been underground for a few hours but in the still darkness, those hours felt as if they'd been stretched out into eternity. There'd been nothing of significant interest on his way inside except for some crumbling stone effigies depicting strange creatures on courser-back, their mouths yawning in agony as their mounted masters fight off a vengeful drake hissing at their feet, illuminated by odd braziers f...

Kalma"I don't dive with newbies." "Good thing I'm not a newbie!" Tommy lets out a long sigh. He felt like he was starting to get much too old for this, and the sheer energy vibrating off the short, young man in front of him was giving him pain behind his eyeballs. He looks at the young man from head to toe, a little jealous of the youthful spark in his eyes. That excitement and foolish thought that d...