Saga of the Soul Dungeon

Tradition enshrines things both noble and terrible. Which traditions you consider which speaks louder about your character than any other words.

-Sir Ulgat

==Sevso==

Other than the fields, I wouldn't have thought we were approaching a city at all, simply heading toward a mountain. The fields were the familiar circles, with a small building at the exact center, designed to allow a farmer to sit in the middle and catch everything within the radius of their skills.

None of the farmers were out now, of course. None of their noble station would deign to set foot in the fields until the last moment. Instead, laborers were preparing the fields for planting, clearing away detritus and hacking furrows into the ground. Lines radiated out from the center, cutting through the otherwise perfectly circular furrows, and workers tromped along the paths they made, while guards in armor waited to deal with any wandering monsters.

I used to envy them.

It was a strange thought. There was… a brittle sort of pride to being "street." A communal appreciation that we were tough, and had endured. A sneering envy at those who had more. That we could endure far more than the more blessed individuals with better professions and money.

And yet, it had also come with the understanding that it would be abandoned in a moment, should an opportunity come. Even as a street tough, becoming a laborer would have been a step up. The farmers may not pay much, but they ensured their workers always had food and housing, and that was more than much of the slums could ever offer. And becoming one of the guards…

Impossible.

It had never been a real option. The laborers had food and shelter, which meant families. In turn, those children married other laborers or became laborers themselves. And the excess, who didn't manage to have a position, came down to the slums to be with the rest of us. And the situation with the guards was even worse. They had better pay, plus positions of authority. Few from guard families ever needed to come down and live in the slums.

Not who I am, anymore…

It was true. I wasn't part of the slums anymore, nor even a laborer. Somehow, by some strange quirk of fate, I was an adventurer.

And not the kind that had lurked as a looming threat of execution over the slums. The ones who went to a dungeon unprepared and untrained. The truly desperate that either went into the dungeon expecting to die, or foolishly believed that they were invincible. If they were lucky, one in ten would survive their first delve.

After only a few delves, the survivors used their money to get themselves, and their families, out of the slums.

If those were the only odds, it might have been worth it… but even those from the slums understood the reality of the numbers, and what it meant when the families returned to the slums, now short an adventurer. Future delves were usually less lethal than the first, but almost no one survived the first few months.

If an adventurer did survive a few months, the odds improved substantially, the families usually not reappearing.

And yet, I wasn't going to be one of those. I wasn't about to delve into a dungeon by myself, but I knew enough to battle monsters.

I wasn't untrained, Gnaeus had seen to that.

The first group of monsters I dealt with was far from the last. The onset of Thaw was enough to awaken any that had slept buried beneath the snow and ice. And, of course, Gnaeus admitted that he tweaked one of his emblems, as well.

Now, it kept the more powerful monsters away, but drew in the less powerful, specifically so I could have the privilege of dealing with them.

Despite everything, I knew what he had done for me.

I just wish he wasn't so smug about it.

Gnaeus was a talented teacher, apparently even having both a skill and title for it.

I would have done anything, as a street tough, to get this kind of education. I would have given him my body, it that was what had been needed. I had seen people trade it away and receive far less.

And it wasn't just combat he had taught me.

As an adventurer I wasn't particularly expected to have good manners, and Gnaeus had only corrected what he considered the most egregious gaps there, all the while muttering about how I should "treasure the low expectations of others."

He had taught me language, however, and how to reason, to think. There were no skills for critical thought, but my language skill had risen from a seven to an eight, surprisingly quickly. He was still working on that, but let me know it still might not get to nine by the time we arrived at our final destination.

Wherever that is.

Since all I could do was point in a direction, that had limited how accurate his measurements were. Best he figured, it was somewhere near Froa or Tsary. Ungea was unlikely, but possible. With a rough idea of where we would end up, he had also started to tutor me in the trade tongue that dominated there.

Ultimately, we would be heading to the combined Adar and human port of Hulkunath, which apparently meant wave blossom. It was located at the edge of Izrikunath Azan, the Blaze Blossom Swamp, and it should be easy to get directions from there to any new dungeons.

How, exactly, Caden had managed to get to the other side of the world was a true mystery, and even Gnaeus had simply muttered something unintelligible when asked about it.

Regardless, getting across the ocean was exactly why we were here, and as we passed the last of the fields, we were briefly stopped at a guard station that formed a sturdy frame around the mouth of a large tunnel leading into the stone of the mountain.

With some amusement, I watched as Gnaeus released the restrictions on his power, the full weight of his level making itself known as an almost physical presence, causing the two guards in full armor to visibly flinch.

The first time I had felt it was in the middle of dealing with a group of monsters, which Gnaeus claimed was "excellent situational awareness training." Regardless of what the sadistic bastard claimed, the pressing weight of his presence had been almost enough to paralyze me. Only the eminent danger was sufficient to keep me functioning.

I still didn't know exactly how high his level was, but with the casual way he had discussed level fifty, I suspected he had left that level behind long ago.

Probably secretly in the nineties and simply didn't want to bother conquering a country to rule…

"Lord!" the guards exclaimed, each of them saluting with a closed fist against their chest and bowing their heads.

"How may we serve?"

Not even the hint of a question about why we are here, or any pretense about stopping us.

Of course, it wasn't like they could possibly stop Gnaeus, either. Even if they assumed he had a noncombat class, no one reached that level without the ability to deal with monsters in some fashion. Plus there were all the other intangible levers of power someone like Gnaeus could bring to bear, the least of which was obscene wealth.

"I need nothing, simply passage to the city."

"Yes, your eminence," the guard on the right said, before he hesitated visibly and continued. "Would you like us to send a runner to any of the local nobles, sire? Or arrange for an inn or guide?"

Gnaeus opened his mouth to respond, but paused mid refusal.

"No, well… I suppose arranging for an inn would be helpful, as would a guide there."

"Of course, sire. I'll arrange that for you and your…"

Victim.

"Student," Gnaeus replied with a slight smirk.

"Taitig, Hartang," the guard shouted, causing a door to burst open and unleash a gangly teenager, his limbs awkward but his complexion obviously flushed with health, wearing a uniform that was slightly too big.

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Probably grow into it in a month or less.

The teenager almost tripped in his haste, his face flushing, as his eyes flickered over the two of us. He did his best to bow to me and Gnaeus simultaneously.

"Honored sirs," he said, his voice smoother and more steady than I would have expected, given his behavior.

"Taitig, go arrange for a pair of rooms at the Misty Wave, for the Lord and his student."

Taitig gave the guard a quick salute, and a "Yes, sir," before bowing to us again and then turning to run and quickly fading into the tunnel.

Another person, presumably Hartang, came out of the same door, moving slightly more sedately. He was older, perhaps nineteen or twenty, and looked almost identical to Taitig, looking like the same person aged and matured for a few years.

Brothers? Definitely some better muscle development on this one.

My eyes flickered over his body, the uniform coating his muscles like a glove.

My pants grew slightly uncomfortable, and I adjusted subtly.

Been on the road too long.

Occasional masturbation did not make for the best fulfillment. Masturbation that had grown considerably more circumspect after it was interrupted once by Gnaeus, and he had overshared, again…

I really did not need to know his preferences in hand-jobs.

Admittedly, knowing the best brothel in Allalus might have been useful before I left. Might have even been willing to try that classed courtesan he went on about, who could control parts of her body to be flexible and move… even if ladies were not usually my first choice.

Hartang seemed to catch the motion, his eyes briefly flickering to my crotch even as he bowed toward the two of us.

I didn't blush, but that was only because I had lived on the streets so long. You didn't show weakness there and survive.

"Honored sirs," he said, before waiting.

"Hartang, escort the Lord and his student to the Misty Wave, then arrange for anything else they want."

Gnaeus was smug in some fashion, I could tell, having developed a sixth sense for it out of survival. Not knowing why, it made my skin itch.

Gnaeus stepped forward, taking out two silvers and copper out of his pouch. He flipped one silver to the guard that had been mostly silent, then gave the two remaining coins to the helpful guard.

It was too high of a tip, though that didn't surprise me. The extra copper was odd, though.

I couldn't see the guard's reaction, since his helmet covered his face, but Hartang smiled nervously, and glanced at me, when he saw the coins.

I'm definitely missing something.

No doubt he is making another object lesson.

If Gnaeus was simply eclectic without purpose it would be annoying and infuriating. Somehow, he managed to be even more exasperating because I knew it meant something, and he would be teaching it to me shortly.

Usually in the most painful fashion possible.

The talkative guard simply saluted again, gesturing to Hartang.

"Sires, if you would both follow me," Hartang said with a bow, before walking toward the tunnel.

Gnaeus didn't bother to respond, simply withdrawing his presence and starting to walk after them. I walked along his side.

A minute after we had gotten into the tunnel, amid the faint echoing of our steps, Gneaus broke the silence.

"So, Hartang, was it?"

"Yes, Lord."

"So, does your father whore you out often?"

Hartang tripped and stumbled, and my own reaction wasn't much better.

Hartang's face had flushed the same crimson as his presumed brother, while I looked at Gnaeus and gaped.

It would be one thing if this were the slums, but...

"Gnaeus," I hissed out, "that is highly inappropriate. You don't just go making that kind of accusation…"

I trailed off at his smug look and at Hartang's awkward glance.

Apparently, Hartang hadn't flushed red at the accusation, but rather because of how blatantly it was discussed…

The copper.

"So what did the extra copper mean," I asked, my voice flat, exasperated.

"Ah, good, you did notice," Gnaeus said, beaming at me.

"So, what, you're going to fuck him," gesturing toward Hartang, who got more red, if possible.

"As your teacher," Gnaeus intoned, his voice practically dripping with smugness, "it is my duty to make sure you know the little intricacies of social dynamics. And, no, I indicated that you might want to, as you so crudely put it, 'fuck him.' He is more than a little young for me, plus I usually prefer ladies."

Wait what?

You would think I would be used to this kind of shit by now.

Still, I didn't react visibly, having expected some new dimension of pain or embarrassment once it was clear he was actively teaching again.

"I think," I said curtly, "that it is a bit of stretch to call me crude, when you seem to take every opportunity you can find to talk about sex."

"Minor details," he replied dismissively as he waved my comment away.

"Anyway, it isn't uncommon for guards to attempt to arrange for companionship for important visitors. I suspect that both Hartang and Tiatig were being offered." He turned away from me to direct his attention forward again. "You two are brothers, correct? Is the guard your father?"

Whatever embarrassment he might feel, Hartang still responded clearly. Whether out of experience or fear of Gnaeus, I wasn't sure.

"Yes to both, sire. And yes, my brother is… available as well."

The whoring out didn't bother me, even if it was usually more circumspect. There were brothels in the slums and some of them… Well, there are a lot worse fates I could have ended up having as child.

Still, Gnaeus must have noticed some of my disgust at having their father peddle them out.

Gnaeus shook his head at me.

"Don't let it bother you too much. In most cases they are willing enough. Answer honestly about that, Hartang, I will ensure there is no punishment should your answer not align with your father's wishes."

"Um," Hartang said, "yeah. It's tradition, for a lot of guards. Money earned this way goes toward better gear for us as a guard, or our weddings. There… is a brothel in town, they specialize in helping some of the guard's kids. Uh, you know, they… train us. Make sure we know what we are getting into before hand. The guards, they don't let anyone do it too young. Plus, the skills we get are useful for after we are married, too. Father told us we didn't have to do it, even if he did, before he was a full guard… If you wanted a girl instead, there are brothels we have deals with."

My eyes wandered down to where Hartang's clothes hugged his ass. The thought that I might be able to use it was not helping the situation with my pants.

Stupid leather armor.

"Do they do that back home?" I asked Gnaeus incredulously.

He nodded.

Looking at the guards back home, I would never have imagined it.

"Part of the culture of what a guard is, and meant for," Gnaeus said. "Serving a noble, including in the less obvious ways, is standard. Most of the noble households won't accept guards who don't have this as part of their training. Whether true or not, they say it shows commitment. I think they just like knowing they can use their guards, even if many choose not to."

As fascinating and odd as this discussion was, we had gotten away from my original question.

"So, the copper…"

"Ah, yes. So the single silver was just a tip, and that was shown by giving the same to both guards. I could have done the same with copper. The second coin was the important part. If I wanted to show my own interest, as a higher ranking member of our group, I would have given him a second silver. The copper was an indication of your possible use. Two coppers would have meant I wanted both of them to serve lower members of my party, for example, you.

"If one, or both, of them wasn't on offer, their father would have returned the extra coin to communicate that.

"Since you only showed interest in Hartang, I only indicated the desire for one of them," he said. "Tell me, Hartang, what would it have meant if I offered your father a gold, or a dungeon gold."

Hartang gulped.

"Uh, very good news or very bad news. A gold coin might mean you want to take me on as a personal guard, and… uh, companion. Or that you want to use me very rough. Uh, essentially an apology for the damage you will cause in that case, with addition implication that you would be paying for any healing, as well. A dungeon gold… means not to expect to see me again. Essentially taking me permanently, likely with extreme use.

"Uh, someone offered one of those for me once. Father gave it back… I'm not sure he would have dared refuse, if you offered. They weren't nearly as strong as you."

"Yes," Gnaeus said, tiredly, "that is a hazard as one grows more powerful, people become wary of your displeasure… Anyway," he fixed his gaze on me intensely for a moment, "according to proper etiquette, it should always be an option to refuse, with no offense to either party. However, it doesn't always turn out that way.

"Did the one who was refused try anything?"

"Uh, not that I know of," Hartang said, "but the guards stamp on that kind of thing really hard. I don't think they would be able to do anything about you though… There are limits to what they can effect."

"Good that your city has that organized," Gnaeus said. "It makes it better for everyone."

We continued down the gradually curving tunnel, the lights embedded into the walls creating areas of bright light interspersed with modest gloom. Soon, however, we rounded a final curve, light growing ahead of us and stepped past another guard station into the city.