Worthy Core

DAY 780

This time when Silva Highbranch arrives at the Highbranch's Grassbrook estate, her sister Gilda is waiting to meet her. When the blonde-haired half-elf opens the door to her carriage and steps outside, there's a look of joy and slight surprise on her face. "Gilda! Waiting outside for me? I thought you'd know that a 'proper lady' should wait to meet her guests on her own terms, hrmm?"

"Ah, to hells with what's proper, we've been separated far too much this past year!" Gilda steps forward to embrace her sister in a hug, while the ever-present gnoll Sweet watches on from a distance. "I was both worried and hopeful that you would come with the others. You traveled well?"

"We did. And how is little Arlina doing?" The carriage footmen begin to unload luggage and supplies, but the sisters leave them to it as they head back inside.

"Well enough - sometimes quiet enough that I'd think perhaps they were your child, and then at other times noisy enough that I can see Raylin in them."

Silva doesn't hide her smirk. "Or perhaps yourself?"

"I don't know what you mean. I am a proper lady, after all."

"Of course, of course." The twins are silent for a moment, before Silva turns the conversation in a more serious direction. "Concerning Arlina, have you considered...relocating them? Mother and father would be happy to host them for as long as required. Perhaps you could even travel north with them - "

Gilda quickly interrupts her there. "Father entrusted this estate to me while you aid with the capital politics, and I'm not about to abandon our lands now when we face our first serious challenge. I've...suggested that Raylin perhaps take them north, but you know how stubborn Raylin can be. He's intent on staying here as long as I do."

Her sister rolls her eyes at the statement. "And you would know a thing or two about being stubborn. Half of me is still surprised you finally agreed to marry the poor man, as happy as I was to see it. But...Gilda, this is not a safe place for a child. If the Dragonlord's army strikes Grassbrook - "

"I know!" Gilda shouts before pausing, as she realizes the pair have reached the main sitting room. Maids have already brought out refreshments for the two, and the silver-haired heiress leads her sister to a seat before continuing. "I know. I just...can't imagine sending them so far away without anyone I trust to go with them. I can't spare Sweet at a moment like this. If Raylin won't go...perhaps Taylim will still agree to it, though I'm sure we could use him here as well."

"Gilda, you have the support of not only our family but our allies as well! I brought our...specialist team with us, so you can surely spare a few of your usual guards to take Arlina north. The roads are quite safe, and there's nowhere more secure than the Highbranch main estate. As you well know."

"I know, I know, it's just...responsibility tears me in two different directions, it seems." She shakes her head before looking around the room. "Where are those specialists of yours, anyhow? Were they delayed on the road?"

"Not exactly." Silva sips from her tea before setting it back down. "They took a detour towards the Fort, to pick up Commander Paulados. Not just to check in with the garrison, but they also wished to have a full formal briefing on the situation, and to plan for how to handle the likely invasion." Her lips turn thin. "Although that is not their sole concern, it seems."

Gilda's brow furrows. "What other concern could there be?"

"Well, keep in mind that we didn't hear about this possible invasion until we were already on our way here! Their primary assignment was to investigate and secure Worthy Dungeon, you know. Some of them are...still somewhat suspicious that the warning of this invasion came from the very dungeon they were here to investigate, I believe."

This time it's Gilda's turn to roll her eyes. "Come now, you know that place as well as I. The dungeon spirit may have her tricks, but she isn't the sort to lie about such things. Nevermind that Deylia would never have lied about such an important matter to Raylin."

"I agree, but you and I Challenge out of noble obligation and as a hobby. The people I brought with me are Supremes, and you don't reach that sort of level without suffering...losses, to dungeons. Friends, lovers...family. I believe all of them have lost someone at some point in their careers. It fosters a somewhat more...antagonistic relationship with dungeons. That's surely colored their perspective of recent events. To think that so many may have become tools of the Dragonlord..."

"I hope at least that they can remain professional about it. We're about to have enough enemies on our doorstep as it is without looking for more." Gilda sighs before standing to her feet. "So, we're to do a proper military briefing soon, are we? I suppose then I ought to find my husband, and move this discussion to a more suitable location..."

It's an hour later when the next set of carriages arrives at the estate. One of them is the no-frills military carriage of the Fort's commanding officer, but it's led onto the grounds by several others. The Highbranch emblem stands proudly at the lead of the caravan, but noble insignias of other households mark several as well. The nobility of dwarves and humans is also represented in the gathering of combatants - perhaps not at the level of a duke's family, but those who have achieved a rank of Supreme in the Challenger's Association carry quite a bit of prestige of their own.

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A number of servants and guards do dismount and make their way towards the main building, but it's five figures in particular who are escorted to Gilda's office. Unlike the sitting room, which is used for more casual conversation and lighter topics, the office exists for matters of grave import. In fact, this is the first time which Gilda has actually invited guests to the room since the place was built. It's ready for their arrival though, with a conference table large enough for all, and maids are already bringing in refreshments as the newcomers enter the room.

Standing up as they arrive, Silva takes charge of managing the introductions. "I see everyone is here. You know Commander Paulados, of course."

The middle-aged human nods as he steps inside. As a Master, he's likely the lowest-ranked of the guests in terms of combat prowess, but his mustache at least remains unchallenged by all. "Of course, my ladies Highbranch. I'm honored to be included in this discussion today - although I get the impression I won't enjoy its contents."

"Likely true, I expect - not that I've divined such a thing, mind you." Silva nods and winks with her prosthetic eye before turning to face the next. The woman who enters after the military officer is the shortest of the attendees, a dwarf woman who shows more than a few signs of her age, but with clear muscles in her stout form. "May I introduce Lady Nalina Evervein, the field commander of this party. She is a level forty-four Undeniable Spear."

Nalina clasps a fist to her chest and performs a slight bow. "Field commander at your discretion, ladies Highbranch. We are, of course, at your disposal. Twas your father who brought us together for this, after all."

Gilda nods and motions for the dwarf to take a seat. "I'm certain you have far more combat experience than I, Lady Evervein. Your expertise will be invaluable."

As she steps forward the next person into the room turns out to be the tallest of the group, an elvish man with silver hair. Unlike Gilda's, however, there's something...glittery about it that speaks to magical dyes. Silva smirks slightly as she introduces him. "A level forty-eight Arcane Sorcerer, Lord Glory Silverbloom. The highest-leveled of our party, and perhaps one of the highest-ranked I've ever met, period."

The elf returns a slight smile. "I pursue power for the sake of knowledge, not glory - despite the name my parents granted me. I hope it will be of service."

"I'm sure it will be, Lord Silverbloom." Silva steps aside for the next noble Challenger, a human woman with a few noticeable scars on her face, and auburn hair. Considering her wealth the woman could clearly easily have had such scars removed, so their presence is likely to be a statement of her character. "May I introduce Lady Redward Daylinta, a level forty-three Deliverer of Balance. It's a Paladin class, in the name of Taliar, God of Honesty and Balanced Scales."

Daylinta scoffs. "Call me Red, everyone else does. Too much formality in the middle of a fight will get a woman killed."

Gilda nods in agreement. "They can be rather hectic environments, indeed. And our last guest?" Gilda had of course been previously informed of everyone who would be coming, given that all of them are nobility of one rank or another and will be expecting according accommodations, but she's certainly not one to deny someone their brief moment in the spotlight.

Silva wraps up the introductions with a rather short, wide-shouldered man, although he's a good foot taller than the usual dwarf. Likely because the man is elvish on his mother's side, although she seemed to have given him few other features, given his dark look and even darker hair. "And here we have Lord Tinter Gloomroot, level forty-six Shadow Supreme. Quite the dangerous class."

Tinter rolls his eyes at the description. "At level forty-six? Lass, a pacifist priestess at my level would be capable of killing most people in the average tavern with her pinky if you pissed her off badly enough to do it. But aye, I'm good at slipping a dagger where it ought not to go. Thanks for hosting us, Lady Highbranch, Lady Highbranch."

As the final round of greetings are exchanged everyone finds their seat at the conference table, and Gilda kicks things off properly. "So, I know you were all summoned by our respective families in response to the original crisis in the Valleylands, but I understand that you are aware of the more recent developments?"

Nalina nods, but waves a hand. "Aye - that is, we're aware that the local dungeon here has begun ringing alarm bells about a potential Domain invasion. Which would sure be a fine way to distract attention should something else be going on around here."

Paulados frowns at the dwarf's response. "While I too was alarmed at the reports coming from Highlight Mountain, personally I must say, my lady, that I overcame my own suspicion of Worthy Dungeon as a threat quite some time ago. Seeing a Banshee or a Rabbit Champion wandering the town is not an uncommon experience, and has not been a cause for true alarm since the first time a floor guardian first made their public appearance. As far as I'm aware, the only trouble this town has had has come from people bringing it to the dungeon, rather than the other way around."

The elf, Silverbloom, chuckles at his field leader's attitude. "I believe that it is mostly a matter of my colleague hoping to focus matters on issues that we might be able to address. Defending the town, and Highbranch interests, against a few wayward dungeon monsters? Entirely within our capabilities, especially with the aid of the local garrison and Association. Worthy Dungeon has grown quickly but it is still a young dungeon, and does not have nearly the monsterous arsenal that Highlight Mountain contains within its bounds."

Red picks up on his line of thought and continues it. "Meanwhile, if the Dragonlord invades? We can certainly handle a few scouting parties and the like. But a serious invasion? We'd be good for little more than safeguarding an evacuation of the VIPs. We could perhaps take on raw conscripts by the score, but the southern tyrant has many powerful minions at their own disposal to send in their vanguards. Which raises the question of..."

"What you are expected to do in the event of an actual invasion?" Gilda nods. "It's not an easy question to answer. The good news is, should one come, it will not be tomorrow. So I believe my first instruction would be something more general - to become familiar with Grassbrook and our infamous 'local dungeon'. However things go, I believe that knowing the lay of the land will be vital to handling whatever should occur next. Commander Paulados, perhaps you could have some of your scouts assist in this matter?"

The army officer nods. "Certainly, my lady. We often patrol the border in the forest to our south, and I'd be happy to have our people show you the terrain. On top of that, we even have a local scout who's quite well-regarded for his knowledge of the dungeon - at least the upper half of it or so."

Nalina considers the offer, and nods in return. "A wise decision, Lady Highbranch. I would certainly like to see this Worthy Dungeon for myself. I'm sure there is much to learn from such a...unique location..."