Worthy Core

When the arrival Xenia had been expecting finally occurs, it's far sooner than she had hoped. War is a complicated business, a fact which she has personal experience with, and the opening days can be the most demanding of all. With that in mind she wouldn't have been all that surprised if it took days or even a week for the Dragonlord to actually show their scaly face. But when that meeting does occur, she has to give the tyrant one thing at least.

The Dragonlord knows how to make an entrance.

She'd half been expecting the dragon to simply fly up to the dungeon and perhaps bathe Doorman in flames as their way of saying 'hello', but instead she spots them walking up the mountain path, leading a rather grand procession. They've once again returned to the draconic form she'd seen in their magical talks before, a golden-scaled figure in an elaborate toga, but there's several dozen actual draconics coming up behind them. Just as many demons as well, on top of a handful of kobolds who seem to be acting as scouts for the expedition.

Had Xenia not cleared out her entryway a bit after getting her last set of achievements, she suspects most of them would've had to wait halfway down the mountain. Instead there's room for them to group up, five lines deep, a dozen or so soldiers across. At their head stands the Dragonlord themselves, along with a red-scaled draconic she doesn't recognize...and also along with one crimson succubus she does.

To his credit, Doorman manages to not sound nervous at all when he greets the new arrivals. "Welcome to Worthy Dungeon. I regret to report that the dungeon is currently undergoing renovations and is not open for business. Perhaps if you returned next month, however?"

"Is that so?" The dragon chuckles. "Fear not, guardian. I do not intend to force my way in today. I brought my personal guard with me purely to make a statement. I do, however, wish to speak to your master, and I think she would agree that it is very much in her interest to meet with me."

Doorman gulps as he spots a few mages idly playing with tiny fireballs in the ranks behind the dragon. "If you wish to pass on a message, I would be happy to do so. But she is a very busy woman..."

"I do not need to enter. Simply open and have her bring her focus here, and we may converse. Although if I do have to enter to speak to her, I will."

From within the dungeon, Xenia runs her hand along Doorman's rear side. "Might as well see what they have to say, Doorman. If nothing else, I can probably slow them down for a bit while everyone gets into position."

"As you wish, ma'am." With that said Doorman swings open, and Xenia's invisible avatar steps forward. Although perhaps not all that invisible, going by how the Dragonlord's eyes easily track her movement. Before they greet her, the dragon reaches into a pouch and pulls out an orb, and Xenia almost worries that it's some sort of weapon before she recognizes the design.

"It is good to see you in the flesh, Dungeon Master Xenia Worthy, as it were. And yes, I am quite capable of perceiving you in this form. But I would like to introduce to you my advisors today, and I understand your avatar time is not limitless. If you wish, I am willing to grant you a runespell avatar orb for the occasion." Xenia doesn't immediately answer with words, but her expression must make her thoughts clear. "I swear upon my honor that it is not a trick. I have every hope of this being a fruitful discussion."

"...Fine. Toss it here, then." The Dragonlord does so, and as it crosses the threshold to the dungeon Xenia finds herself capable of snagging it out of the air with one hand. She gives it a close examination, but her perfect dungeon recall tells her that it's identical to the ones she's used before, and with a sigh she activates it. A slight shifting in the stances of some of her other guests tells her that it worked - that, and the usual leeching of all of the color from her skin and clothes.

"I've seen avatars in many a shade before, but this monochrome is a new one to me, I believe." The dragon grins before shifting tracks. "Ah, but my manners." They gesture first to the draconic standing to their right. "Might I introduce Commander Gerlosius, one of my finest leaders of my special forces." They turn next to their left. "And I believe you'll recall Emissary Cerise Darktouched."

"I do." Xenia does her best to give Cerise a smile as she nods, but it doesn't work out very well. "Shame we couldn't meet under better circumstances."

"Ah, but the circumstances are ideal, I would say!" The Dragonlord stretches out their arms and looks upwards. "Here I stand once again on Mount Faralis, the Center of the World. After so many centuries...and for the first time, I suppose, as I never actually stood on it before."

Xenia frowns at the last addendum. "Oh? Do your lackeys here know about...?"

Cerise nods. "Of our lord's true origins? We were informed before the invasion began - at the upper echelons, at least. The time for falsehoods is over, as soon as there will be nothing for us to fear."

The reincarnator winces a bit at the formal tone in Cerise's voice. "It doesn't bother you at all that this punk here - the Great Dungeon - hollowed out and puppeteered the dragon you thought you'd been following all this time?"

The draconic commander responds to this question. "It was a shock, and no denying it! But as much as my kin and I revered our honored ancestor...we also cannot deny that the Dragonlord's leadership this past century has been far superior to what it had been before." The officer shakes his head. "Perhaps if the Great Dungeon had been calling the shots from the start, the Valleylands would have never seen fit to rebel, and we would have reclaimed this continent decades ago."

"Very...pragmatic of you." Xenia snorts. "Though I'm guessing anyone who would've been upset about it didn't get invited to this meeting, eh?"

"True, this is not the proper forum for discussing internal politics." The Dragonlord not-so-subtlety redirects the conversation. "We are here today to conduct diplomacy. Now, I'm sure you recall well my original offer of cooperation. Might I ask what you thought of my little gift?"

Xenia sighs. "I'll admit, I'll thank you for sending Dave back my way. Still don't entirely forgive you for carving him off of me to begin with, but...it was a decent move and you didn't have to do that. So partial credit for that, at least. As for the snack, well...haven't gotten to it yet. A lady's gotta watch her diet, you know?"

"Is that so?" The tyrant strokes their chin. "I wonder, was it more sentimentality, or more distrust of myself that led you to deny its usefulness? Well, no matter - the example was made, I believe. As you have seen, I can be very generous to those who support me."

"And the people who don't support you might get fed to those who do. Yeah, I got the message." The reincarnator shakes her head. "Sorry, but in this lifetime at least I've got principles. I'm not signing up with someone who rules by force. You know, I have been catching up a bit on the politics here. I've learned that the Rainlands throne isn't hereditary - when the king or queen dies, the houses get together and elect a new one. Even the gnolls have a shot at the big chair, and they don't even have nobility. It ain't democracy like the Founding Fathers might've imagined, but it's better than most monarchies."

She continues before she can be interrupted. "And the Valleylands? Almost a republic! They've got a senate-type deal with representatives from every major city, and some of those actually get publicly voted for! Again, lowering my standards a bit considering this medieval-ass world, but they could do a lot worse."

The Dragonlord raises a brow-ridge. "Are you saying you oppose me...because I do not run for election?"

"Because you're inherently incapable of it, D-L. Dragon or dungeon, you're immortal, so you're gonna be around forever. The dragon side won't allow you to let go of power, and your dungeon side is gonna make it so that once you've taken root, you can't get pulled out without the whole dang country collapsing around you. This continent is gonna be Dungeonland forever, for better or worse."

"You talk of negatives, but I see only positives! Imagine a land ruled with the foresight of millennia, yet unlike those isolationist elf enclaves out there, capable of adapting to change in a matter of days - if not hours! A land where people can live secure from all outside threats! Where none will starve, and crime nigh-impossible! I will turn this land into a utopia - and you could be there to help it along." The dragon spreads their arms wide. "If you fear my decisions - then become one of my advisors. I would greatly enjoy having the advice of one who's lived so many lives across so many realms. Unlike a true dragon, I am not utterly blinded by pride."

"Then listen to my advice now, you big, scaly dolt!" Xenia crosses her arms before waving one finger at her guest. "What you just said there - just now! You're going to use your dungeon senses to stop all crime on the continent? You're saying you're going to watch everyone, all day long, and punish them when they do something you don't like? Like a god who punishes people for their sins, except 'punishment' means 'gets burned by dragonfire as soon as we can get a flamethrower trap set up in your vicinity'? Crime is bad, sure, but people gotta have free will too!"

"I would be willing to consider such advice, when it comes to the administration of my territory." The dragon flares their nostrils. "But you were right on one point. I cannot give this up. For over a hundred years it has been...itching at the back of my mind, and never have my preparations been more ready for action than now. I cannot stop, I will not stop. Either I shall reclaim this continent, or the Rainlanders and Valleylanders shall suprise me and show their mettle by slaying me. I am committed. The only question left for today is - are you?"

The dungeon master chuckles before responding. "Yup. Sure am. Guess we're both ride-or-die now then, huh? I'm not letting you have this mountain, or the people who've taken shelter under it. I might not be able to do shit about the war going on out there, but if you come into my home - send your flunkies into my house - you'll see what happens when I stop playing games. There's been times before when I've held back, when I thought a better way might be available." Xenia nods towards Cerise, as the demon remembers her own previous visit to the dungeon. "But anyone you send in here now? I'd suggest sending along body bags, but then I suppose at least a dungeon can handle its own cleanup."

There's a moment of silence before the Dragonlord nods. "Funnily enough, my respect for you has only grown. When the time comes, I will do my best to have you captured intact - if only so that I can prove you wrong as this continent prospers in the years to come. But you have drawn your line, and it has been witnessed. When next you see my forces, prepare yourself for a true battle."

Xenia gestures towards the dozens of soldiers standing behind the dragon. "What - not gonna rush me right now? Or are you worried you didn't bring enough?"

"I'm not foolish enough to expend my best troops into your defenses without the best planning and preparation I can offer them. When the time comes, you will wish you had only needed to face those present. But for now, enjoy your last days of...freedom. They will pale in the face of the glorious days to come."

With that said the dragon signals to their forces with one hand, and with practiced ease the group turns around and begins to head back down the mountain. Xenia gives a signal of her own and Doorman shuts, just before Guy appears next to her.

"So...the peaceful negotiation phase is over, I take it?"

"For now, at least." Xenia takes a deep breath. "If there's gonna be a round two, it's only gonna be after a long phase of 'let's beat each other bloody'..."