Dungeon of Doors

~ Vivian, Daywark ~

The energy in the room has been sucked out since Mary revealed just how bad the situation is. The church either already knows or will know very soon that the dungeon is still intact. Everyone is in varying states of grief.

"It isn't that bad! They shouldn't hurt anyone, except maybe the dungeon?"

Will slams a fist onto the table. The big guy glares down at Mary without saying anything. His other fist raps on the wooden surface of the table anxiously as he sits there. He clearly disagrees with her. Teddy verbally expresses his disagreement with her, rather than simply glaring.

"You're wrong, Mary. Those paladins will imprison or kill everyone involved with the dungeon."

"How can you say that? The paladins would never-"

"Because they massacred innocent people last time they were here, Mary."

Andy cuts her off and she pales at his words. It is clear the situation is out of her control at this point, and so the girl trembles pitifully. If she hadn't already bawled her eyes out she would probably start crying. Unfortunately her eyes are dry.

While things are looking awfully grim there are a few options to mitigate the damage. While I can't prevent the paladins from marching upon Daywark once more, I can change how they approach the situation. I clear my throat to grab everyone's attention.

"There may be a way to get the church to leave the people alone."

The three Daywark natives around the table give me bitter looks. The doubt in their eyes comes from a place of witnessing the death of their neighbors firsthand, and a lack of faith in outsiders like myself. I don't let their lack of trust stop me from speaking further.

"I discovered something from a dungeon monster that could speak-"

Mary gasps, leaning forward.

"Dungeon monsters can speak?! You're not lying?"

The boys look a tad uncomfortable as Mary turns to look at them for confirmation. They give her a hesitant nod, as it is a flip of the coin giving her any more information on the dungeon. She is a spy, after all. I explain the concept a bit more for her.

"There are. They're rare, but they exist."

The girl leans back with a look of awe and wonder on her face. It is clear she's far from the zealous warriors that invaded my dungeon, but I can only imagine what may become of her in the future.

"Anyway, as I was saying, a dungeon monster let some information slip. Apparently the dungeons can be killed for good."

Teddy swallows audibly at my words. The four of them are looking at me with obvious interest. While the boys were at first doubtful of me, they're now on the edge of their seats. The church failed to destroy Woodrin the first time around. I imagine the boys assumed the dungeon was too strong for them to kill after they found it buried under the rubble left in the wake of the explosion.

"The dungeon has a heart. The core. If the core is destroyed then the whole thing will collapse for good."

"How does knowing this help with the church?" Andy questions.

"If the paladins know the dungeon must be killed the way adventurers operate, they will see them as free combat forces weakening the monsters of the dungeon."

Thoughtful looks of understanding slip onto the boys' faces. They hadn't thought of it like that. Now the only hurdle to cross is ensuring the church knows this information and reacts to it accordingly. That's where Mary comes in.

"Make sure you report this to the church. It is in both our best interests."

"I-I can try, but I'm not sure my report will reach them before they muster an inquisition."

"We'll just have to hope your words reach them first."

~ Pontiff Tallow, The Enclave ~

The quiet of the evening is a dangerous thing. Walking the halls as the sun dips below the horizon leads me to places I shouldn't go—my eyes linger on the hips and rumps of the women I pass. I've vowed to serve only God, and yet I am a man. I cannot help my urges to seek out the embrace of the opposite sex. I lick my lips as I follow a beautiful young acolyte.

There are very few people of importance wandering the halls at this hour. Not as many eyes watch, and I can go almost unnoticed. Of course I cannot prevent a passing faithful from greeting me with a respectful bow as I pass. I thank God they don't notice the lecherous glint in my eyes.

Eventually the acolyte I've been trailing slows to a stop outside a door. The quarters she no doubt is assigned to by her direct superior. She reaches out to open the door only for me to step forward.

"Oh, Your Holiness! Pardon me for not greeting you sooner."

I watch the pretty young thing bow toward me in reverence. I smile at her as innocently I can. Her breasts shift with her bow, drawing my eyes to her chest. I can't help but lick my lips as I reach a hand out to grip her shoulder. She looks at me with a naive respect.

"It is fine, my dear. How old are you?"

"My age? I'm eighteen, Your Holiness. Why do you ask?"

She has the gall to question me? I suppose not every acolyte is fully indoctrinated, as this one is clearly in the process of accepting God's teachings into her heart. I squeeze her shoulder as her question lingers in the air. I pay no mind to her frightened expression.

I deserve this. I've served our Holy Father faithfully, and destroyed the heretic's infernal door.

For that I would say I can sin on occasion-

"Your Holiness, I have an urgent report to make!"

My whole body goes rigid as I let go of the acolyte I was planning on escorting to my chambers. Turning, I snarl at the fool who interrupted me. Luckily the paladin doesn't seem to realize what I had in mind. He clears his throat, tilting his head toward the acolyte standing awkwardly beside me.

"Daft fool! Do not sneak up on those above your station, you hear me?"

"Apologies, Your Holiness. Am I interrupting something?"

I give the pale faced acolyte a glare from the corner of my eye. Shaking my head, I step away from the acolyte and her quarters to guide the paladin someplace more secure. He follows me wordlessly. The sound of the door opening and closing behind the two of us is the only sound other than our footsteps.

We reach my office and I let the man inside. Once I'm seated behind my desk I motion to him to speak, hoping whatever he has to report is good.

"New information has been reported by our priestess stationed in Daywark, Your Holiness."

Daywark? This had better not be what I think it is. We dealt with the heretic just as God instructed, so there is no way this could be another case of-

"The dungeon has returned."

My fist slams into the hard marble surface of my desk as I rise from my seat. The luxurious chair I was seated in falls to the floor with a clatter. I can feel my complexion paling as the implications smack me upside the head. This could mean a failure.

Failure is repaid with rapture.

"You! Explain everything, now. If your information isn't good then I'm afraid it'll be your head."

"Y-Yes Your Holiness!"

He proceeds to summarize the report he received for me. Apparently our priestess has been lulled into heresy by the dungeon and the adventurers surrounding it. All sorts of fantastical nonsense involving the dungeon has pulled her into a daze I'm afraid she may never return from. She is corrupted.

What really seals her fate is her description of heretical magic. While I've never seen anything but bloody sacrifices to nameless false deities, heretical magic is no joking matter.

"This is very bad… Very bad," I murmur.

I've slumped back in my seat after righting it. My hands are shaking as I consider what I should do. God is waiting for me, that much is certain. I cannot avoid his wrath over a failure as monumental as this. The only thing I can do is accept his-

"Your Holiness? Are you alright? You look very pale."

Or, I could have someone else take my place.

"You. You're not to tell anyone what I'm about to show you, is that understood?"

"Y-Yes, Your Holiness!"

The paladin straightens up and salutes me with his fist over his heart. I wave my hand to put him at ease before rising from my chair. I've never had to do this before, so I'm not even sure if it will work. All I have to go on is texts left by my predecessors and what little the last pontiff told me directly.

I pull the switch disguises as a book, and the whole shelf slides aside to reveal the hidden passage. I grab a candle and light it with trembling fingers. The paladin watches with wide eyes. It is clear he wasn't expecting me to show him such a striking secret. I guide him in wordlessly.

"What is this-"

"Shh. Do not speak, for God is listening."

Confusion knits the paladins brow as he shuts his mouth. He follows me closely, the single flickering candle our only light source. I pause about halfway down the winding steps. We're about to enter the cavernous space beneath the citadel. I turn to him and carefully place the candle in his hands.

He opens his mouth to speak but I quiet him with a deathly stare. He allows me to step behind him and then follows my gestured orders to descend. His metal boots clank softly as he walks down into the vast black space. The sound of his armor shifting doesn't echo, fading into the inky blackness.

I could cut the tension with a knife. God is angry, that much I can feel in my bones.

The flickering orange flame of the candle begins to shake as the paladin feels it too. He continues walking only because of his undying faith in what I represent and God himself. It is upon the last step that the deafening silence is finally broken.

"Y-Your Holiness, I don't-"

I close my eyes as the shadows start to move. There were things shifting at the edge of the darkness, and I silently recall a prayer spoken by the last pontiff. The sound of screaming rings in my ears as a scratching scraping noise erupts from all around us. There is no snap of bone, nor tearing of flesh. God is not a beast.

"N-No, please-"

The paladin whispers this final plea. I know it is already done, and thus I open my eyes to witness God's act of wrath. The candle's flickering flame casts long eerie shadows across the floor. The paladin is held several meters up in the air by an array of twisted hairy black limbs with far too many joints. Human hands and claws of beasts wriggle around the man's armored body as he squirms pitifully. His squirming hardly moves his body, as God's strength is absolute.

Rapture. Glorious blinding rapture.

Tears drip from my eyes as I watch the unfortunate paladin's armor turn to glowing golden motes of light. His eyes turn a bright orange similar to that of the candle flame. No sound comes out of his mouth as his clothing and body turn to glowing sparks.

God's onyx black limbs retreat into the shadows where he is most comfortable. I wordless bend down and pick up the discarded candle. God's punishment has been dolled out, and I thank the paladin for his noble sacrifice.

I swallow my fear as God's words passes over my like a dry wind.

"Much… To… Discuss."

This is going to be a long conversation, probably the lengthiest I've had with God's Voice.