• Your way forward looks clear at first glance, but a look at the cave ceiling reveals hundreds of bats inverted in slumber. They might be harmless Painted Bats, but they could also be blood-sucking Draculas. What do you do?

Sybil bounded into the Dungeon's entrance, excited to see what it had in store. She was a rather naive Courser, who paid no mind to the stories spoken of the Dungeon's dangers. "There's no way it's really that scary," she would say to herself. Warned by many more experienced adventurers, Sybil paid them no mind. She was certain this Dungeon was simply a gorgeous, giving place. As she crossed the threshold, a shiver of uncertaintly washed over her. She had no guide, and not the faintest idea where to start. She was simply befuddled. It was much larger than she had anticipated, and a lot darker. She squinted her eyes and looked around, trying to see what was ahead of her. 

Sybil heard the familiar clip-clop of hooves, and let out a deep breath. Maybe one of the other Coursers would guide her, or even just give her some directions to begin her adventure. Sybil was hesitant to speak to other Coursers, especially those that had been to the Dungeon multiple times. Most did not wish to mentor a young adventurer, especially one so full of optimism. They'd tell her to go away, or go back to the Surface, where she'd be safe. Sybil wouldn't have it. She wanted to know the fascination this Dungeon inspired in so many of her peers. 

She began to walk forward, towards the sound of the moving hooves. Suddenly, she heard lots of hooves, and realized. It was echos, there was no Courser immediately close by. She decided to take the path to her left, wondering where it would lead her. She looked around the caverns, noticing lots of glowing fungi, moss, and other assortments of vegetation. Her eyes grew wide, as she took it all in. She understood the fascination now. There were things here that weren't seen on the Surface. 

Lost in viewing the landscape, Sybil bumped into another Courser. 

"HEY! Watch where you're going!", the Courser grumbled to her. "Oh! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to bump into you. I was too absorbed with looking at these plants I wasn't watching where I was going I suppose.", she said back. Sybil looked the Courser up and down. He was rugged, and had obviously seen some difficult times. He was covered in scars, his mane and tail in knots. She noticed the sour look on his face, his ears pinned back and nostrils pinched. He slightly frightened Sybil. The rugged Courser looked Sybil up and down, noticing she was not covered in Dungeon dust, scratches, or scars. He noticed her frightened look, and found it a smidge unsettling. He finally spoke up, "What is someone like you doing down here anyway? This Dungeon is not the safest place. Have you ever been down here before?". Sybil moved her eyes to meet his gaze. He seemed to have softened a bit. It caused Sybil to relax a bit. Her lip quivered before she replied, "I've never been down here. I'm afraid I may be a little in over my head. I just wanted to see why all the Coursers on the Surface are so fascinated by this place. It's all they ever talk about." 

He thought about her response for a minute. Feeling something he hadn't felt in a long time. "I suppose I understand that. I've heard tell that Coursers usually have an unexplained calling to this place. I felt it long ago and answered it. Sometimes I wish I would've ignored it. You can't imagine some of the horrors I've experienced down here. You shouldn't go alone. Especially never having set a hoof in here before.", he said, raising one eyebrow to her. Sybil knew he was right. The stories she had heard were right. She could not go alone. 

"Would you, perhaps, be willing to guide me a bit?", she asked him in a shy voice. "I don't know where I am, and I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get back to the surface alone. I don't want to get stuck here.", she pleaded. The other Courser thought for a moment. Sybil figured he was weighing his options, wondering if he'd consider her dead weight and leave her or decide to help her out. It felt like an eternity before he finally responded. "Sure. I'll take you to a couple of spots. But don't count on me to be here to rescue you every time you come here. And do NOT come back alone.", he said gruffly. Sybil nodded and started following the Courser deeper into the Dungeon. 

The pair explored the caverns of the Dungeon together. Sybil bounding behind her guide, happy she wasn't left alone to figure it out. She called out to him, as she stood facing a new path. It looked clear. Her guide Courser came and stood beside her, eyeing the lenth of the path she'd shown him. He looked upwards, causing Sybil to do the same. When she looked up, she saw hundreds of bats. 

"What are those?", Sybil asked. The other Courser looked at her and shivered a bit. "Those are bats. The real question is what kind. The Dungeon offers a variety. Most are harmless, but there are a many that are thirsty for Courser blood.", he replied. Soaking in his reply, Sybil faced him, fear stricken across her face. Her voice quivered as she asked, "Well. Are these good bats or bad bats?". The Courser let out a faint chuckle and replied, "I'm sure they're harmless. But I'd hate for you to get into trouble your first trip in and under my watch. Let's go back to the path we were on before. I know it's safe." Sybil nodded and followed the Courser on their original path. He brought her a little further into the Dungeon, letting her see other various life forms. The pair explored together for quite some time, before he told Sybil it was time to return to the Surface. She smiled and nodded, following him from the depths of the Dungeon. When they reached the Surface, Sybil thanked him before they parted ways. The rugged Courser stirred a strange feeling inside her, and she desperately hoped she would cross paths with him again. Little did she know, he felt the same.