Snow slowly fell around him as the sun approached the western horizon in a sky awash in colors. The flat top of the mountainside was covered in snow and death, as stones and spells rained down around them among the snowfall. The roar of battle echoed off the mountain sides as the blood pounding in his ears competed with it with every heart beat.

  Franco took in a deep cold breath as he fought. His lungs drawing hard from the thin air around him before a cloud of his exhalation obscured his view for a second as he used a [Perfect Perry] to block a spear thrust to his right as he cut across himself, right to left. Cutting the growling Goatkin deep across its hairy chest.

  He activated [Echo Blade] as the Goatkin man fell and another warrior of its tribe stepped forward and fell to the same cut across its chest.

  “Disengage” an older voice shouted from behind him.

  Franco battered away more spear thrusts as he hit the Goatkin in front of him with Shock Bolts from his wand as he stepped back from the fighting. He checked to make sure Maph was still next to him as he ensured he stayed in line with his fellow fighters. The snow was ankle deep as he stepped back in line but his footing was solid because of his Sure Footing ring as he avoided stepping on the dead as he walked back over their bodies.

  Over a hundred and fifty Adventurers with the full company of Blue Bell mercenaries were fighting the tide of Goatkin that had descended from the mountains.

  With goat-like legs and monkey-like chests covered in long shaggy shades of grey fur and crude leather clothing. The small four foot tall monsters were native to the surrounding mountains. They walked on two legs and carried spears and slings. As well as having powerful [Shamans] that were throwing down wide damaging spells that were being blocked or battered away by [Mages] and other spell casters on his side.

  Franco watched the battle as his squad of fighters stepped back. The Goatkin were finished, they just didn’t realize it yet. Half their warhost lay dead under foot and now they were surrounded on three sides as adventurers with mercenaries closed in on either side.

  “Mages, finish it” the old male voice of the Commander shouted before powerful spells began to be unleashed.

  Falling Meteors of fire and ice crashed among them as well as large explosions of earth. Ghostly arrows and phantom blades a dozen feet long appeared and cut down the Goatkin. Their [Shamens] blocked or dispelled what they could but they were overwhelmed as the high level magics tore into their ranks killing hundreds in seconds.

  They held together for almost a minute before they broke and began to run. The Blue Bell Captain waited for just a few more seconds before he called for the [Mages] to halt and sent in the foot to clean up the routing threat.

  ***

  The main gate of the town was packed as adventurers and mercenaries moved through it. The six gate guards waved them on as the returning army passed under the walls. The streets past the gate were clear of the early fall snow as well as the main town square they walked into with hundreds of people moving around the area. He entered with most of his team as the army broke apart into parties and other groups as they entered.

  He walked with Maph and Oaken by his side as Joscelin, their captain, was further back with the other team captains.

  The battle had taken hours to reach and hours to clean up but the latest threat to the Expedition's camp had been dealt with. A host of almost seven thousand Goatkin had descended from the mountains. At least three tribes worth of warriors and [Shamens] that saw four adventurers dead as well as one mercenary. All to kill nearly six thousand of them and to send the rest running.

  “Food or bath first” Maph asked the group. His legendary Elven chestplate was dimmed only slightly by dirt and blood but still stood out as the rest of Maph’s clothes were covered in the days work. The pale and young looking elf looked at them, seeming to want to hit the bath first.

  Franco took a quick look at Oaken who was as dirt covered as Maph before they both answered at the same time.

  “Food”

  Maph just shock his head and started to walk towards their side of town. The two months since the second floor of the dungeon of Desanigh had been open had seen the town grow to almost ten thousand souls. So large that two mess halls were always open now and one had to eat at the one assigned to them.

  The streets were packed as adventurers and workers moved about under the now clear night skies. Every building in the old abandoned town was occupied and being refurbished or built upon. Second and even third floors were being added to buildings that had once had them.

  “Hey, are they really thinking of adding another wall out there?” Franco asked the group.

  “From what my father has said they will start with a palisade in a few weeks. Following the plateau on on the east and south sides. Should double the size of the town and once the walls are up the streets will go in next. It should be a busy winter.”

  “The outpost should be done soon,” Maph said looking at Oaken.

  The short dark brown haired Kimber waved all three arms at Maph.

  “I don’t know, our captain is probably talking to Innosea about that now” Oaken trilled in frustration. His short bill moved to the vibration of his trill.

  “He doesn't tell me everything”

  “Sure” Franco said with a smile as he slapped Oaken on the back.

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  Oaken’s father Helmric was leading the Expedition and was the Kimber that had first gambled on the rumors of this place he had gotten from a [Shepherd].

  As they reached the line for the Western mess hall they saw Feye Sky there waiting for them. Her long brown hair was loose under her cowboy hat and heavy duster that covered her new dungeon looted robes. Even with her boots on she was just over five feet tall and at least a full head shorter than him. Her bright smile lit up her face as she walked up to them.

  “Glad to see you all still standing,” she said as she got near the group.

  “Where’s Joscelin?” she asked after not seeing her.

  “Captain's meeting I think,” Oaken answered.

  “Oh is it our turn finally?” Faye asked with excitement entering her voice.

  Franco looked at the short woman in front of him. She and her twin had apparently known him before he had woken up with his head smashed in and his memories gone. Or so they said. He did believe them but it also didn't really matter to him for the most part. They were not part of the limited memories he had from before. All those months ago when the doors had first been opened to the Desanigh Dungeon and he had gotten his fiance killed.

  They had told him about their connection that day two months ago when they had opened the way to the second floor of the dungeon and fought a horde of undead. He had learned more of his past since then even if he did not really want to talk or think about it. They had stayed near him and his new team for the most part after that and he had gotten to know them better because of it. Feye, whose real name was actually Autumn was someone he had apparently gone to school with for years. Someone he had adventured with before or so Feye and her sister Summer had said before Summer had left to return home with their guard over a month ago.

  “You still think we are going to let you tag along with us?” Franco said with a smile as he walked towards the mess hall.

  “Oh are you going to stop me?” She said as she elbowed him as she walked over and gave Oaken a half hug.

  “This most handsome of Kimbers already said I was joining you”

  “I did did?” Oaken trilled in amusement.

  They went through the late dinner line and picked up their plates that had slices of roast beef with potatoes and buttered carrots. They all took extra rolls and a side salad besides Faye as they were hungry after the fight.

  Faye let them eat in silence as they devoured their food. The mess hall was quiet overall as both adventurers and mercenaries that had fought were eating now but before she could ask any questions about the battle Joscelin found them and joined them at the table with her own plate of food.

  She smiled at her team before she sat next to Maph who pulled out a chair for her.

  Franco felt a current of excitement run through him. It was time, he could feel it.

  “We are going in tomorrow afternoon, the 54th team and the first Bronze ranked one. We move into the Outpost in the morning. One room with four bunks for the next week and a half. We get our own door till we leave or give it up. Other teams get a chance on our off days and what we find is ours unless we call in help.”

  Their table erupted in cheers and Franco was one of them.

  “Once more into the deep” Oaken trilled his two large hands slapping the table while his third banged his mug against the wooden top.

  “Finaly” Faye yelled while Franco just whooped in excitement.

  After the table calmed down and others seated near them congratulated them Joscelin smiled once more and this time just for them said “And we might have found our [Rogue], well the deal is we have to take them but it should be interesting”

  “And me” Faye asked a smile on her face as she straightened her cowboy hat.

  “And you too for now” Joscelin said after a few seconds.

  Faye’s grin widened as she sat back in her chair clearly pleased with herself.

  ***

  “I don’t want to do this,” she said, stomping her left hoof in frustration.

  “You know how important this will be for us Taryn” the older Minotaur said before he half hugged her.

  “I know father, but why me?” Taryn asked.

  “Because you are my daughter. The youngest daughter of the Longhorn of The Rout who will be joining the son of the adventurer’s leader's own team” Longhorn Eike said.

  Her father was a middle aged Minotaur almost a foot taller than her and almost double her weight. His darker tan skin was crisscrossed with scars and corded muscles. His blue tribal poncho hung loose over his shoulders and hid his enchanted breastplate and armor.

  “They need a [Rogue] or a [Scout] for the dungeon, and they have been blessed by the Guardian of the Jade Temple and Fate's hand is surely with them. And Fate has blessed me with a capable, intelligent daughter who is close to their age and levels and will make our people proud” her father said, still giving her a half hug.

  She laughed and gave him a full hug, brushing her snout against the side of his.

  “Thank you father, I will do this, but I do worry. They see us as monsters don’t they?

  She had seen the Humans and Kimber when she had fought in the Dungeon’s first floor. Humans, who the Minotaurs were said to come from and the Kimber, the old masters they had gained their freedom from thousands of years ago.

  “They see us as mostly myth and are not sure if we are monsters. Your job in part is to ensure they see us as a people” her father said.

  He took her in both arms and pushed her gently back from himself as he locked eyes with her. His voice grew more serious. “Our way to the surface is clear and we must enter the world as a people. We need them and thus we must win them over.”

  “And how I am I suppose to do that” Taryn said in frustration as she took a few steps away from her father.

  She took after her mother she knew, shooter and lighter skinned than him. She was still nearly six feet tall with two short bone white horns that came out of her long dark brown hair which pointed up. Both tipped with golden horn caps.

  “How do I look?” she asked as she stood back from him and held her arms out.

  Her blue poncho was less ornate than her fathers and she tied the bottom of it together on her left side. She wore her full dark leather armor under it. Her legs to her knees and her chest were covered by it while a chainmail shirt also covered her chest. With a large engraved rounded belt buckler that covered half her stomach. Her armbands were a dulled metal and her hands were clear showing the tattoos of the Abilities she had earned as a level 11 [Deepways Scout].

  “Like a daughter of The Rout” Her father answered with pride.

  “You will do as all proud and you will be careful. Finding treasure and glory is less important than you and your fellow warriors coming home every day. Just be yourself Taryn and they will know your strength and honor, and through you us as a people”