Raith looked at himself in the mirror and did a little flourish. He had to admit, he looked damn good in this new armor. The last four days had been the perfect combination of relaxing and productive. Four days with Benji had dramatically improved his trap disarming ability. Being able to actually put his hands on the traps and have someone knowledgeable walk him through it was priceless.
Benji had thought he was some sort of savant, and Raith again blushed through the compliments while feeling like he was cheating with his library and [Staccato]. Still, it was some of the best gold he’d ever spent, and would pay dividends for the team on their climb.
With a renewed sense of confidence, today was finally the day they hit the tower. Raith double checked his rations, potions, and gear one last time before heading downstairs to meet the rest of the team. Nyhm and Thea were already there, looking just as anxious as him to get going.
“What did you have done to your shield? It looks the same to me.”
Thea plucked the round ironwood shield off her back and smiled.
“A summoning enchantment. It can only be used it three times a day, but so long as I can see the shield I can teleport it to myself.”
“Why only three times a day?”
A familiar, pretentious voice came from behind him as Tolliver joined them.
“Because teleports require an enormous amount of aether that grows exponentially with size and distance. It would take the power of a dragon to be of any use for most purposes.”
“Glad you could join us. Excited about the climb?”
The noble couldn’t hide the upturn at the corners of his mouth.
“Quite. We have all been training so hard, and I looked forward to seeing everyone put it together as a team.”
Nyhm joined them a few minutes later with Zinny fluttering close behind. He’d been failing miserably at whatever it was she was trying to teach him to make, and they were both exasperated.
“I am just an [Herbalist], and not even a very good one yet. None of my books talk about how to properly mix ‘dreamdew’ whatever that is.”
“Well, I am trying to tell you.”
“No, you’re not. You just keep repeating the same thing over and over with increasing volume. I understand the words you're saying, I just don’t know how to…”
Raith raised his hands wide and put on a big smile.
“It’s a happy day, guys. We’re headed to the tower. There will be time for this stuff when we get back. Everyone double and triple check their gear?”
Nods all around. Raith saw his brother fiddle with a new ring on his finger and was glad Thea had followed through.
“Alright, let’s go check in at the Guildhall and then we’re off.”
The Janekstown Adventurer’s Guildhall was bustling with activity, even this early in the morning. As the Myth Seekers made their way to the back room, a voice rang out from one of the tables as they passed.
“Well looky who whoody who. If it isn’t our savior himshelf, the Grins curerer.”
Raith winced at the slurred voice and turned to see who was speaking.
“Deven?”
It took him a minute to recognize the obnoxious noble who’d sabotaged his relationship over a skirmisher match. The guy looked like he’d been on a pretty serious bender. Unshaven, and huge bags under his eyes. The spear wielding Paragon was sitting next to him looking bored and disgusted.
Raith’s former skirmishers opponent tossed his head indignantly.
“Of coursh 'Deven'. I am Deven. Have you finally found the courage to fashe me?”
He put his hands on the table like he was going to stand up, then reconsidered and sagged back into his chair.
“Uh, no. To be honest, I forgot you even existed until now. So whatever unresolved thing you think we have, you win, ok.”
Deven slapped the table and let out a triumphant guffaw. He drunkenly swung his head towards his companion, who rolled his eyes and leaned away from the stench of Deven's breath.
“You hear that! He’s schkared of me. I kneew…I kneeeew…hic I just knew it.”
“Ok, Deven. Good luck then.”
As they steered away from the drunken noble, Thea chuckled and gave Raith a pat on the shoulder while they continued to the back room.
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“You handled that pretty well.”
Raith shrugged.
“There wasn’t really anything to handle.”
“You would have tried to teach him a lesson a couple of months ago.”
“Are you saying I’ve grown as a person?”
Her eyes narrowed.
“Grudgingly.”
Raith smiled broadly.
“Perhaps that I am vastly more mature? Wise even?”
She punched him in the shoulder and laughed.
“Let’s not go bonkers. You’re still an idiot.”
Registering for a tower climb was a quick and painless process. In less than half an hour, the Myth Seekers were in line and waiting for their turn to go in. There were only two teams in front of them, and when one team left the tower, a new one could go in. It was only about ten minutes before the first group came out, so Raith figured it wouldn’t be that long of a wait.
“How many teams are in there at a time?”
“Twenty-four,” came a voice from behind them. “Two for each floor, although most are only on the first five.”
Raith turned around to a chainmail clad swordsman with long blond hair.
"That seems a bit crowded. Will the ones on the same floor run into each other?"
"Nah, the floors are massive, and unlike most towers Janek prevents the teams from fighting."
The [Warrior] stuck out a hand.
“Captain Maklin Davenport, and this here’s my team the Fabled Few.”
They all made introductions and passed the next thirty minutes in animated conversation about previous encounters and what to expect when they got inside. Malkin had been around for a while, but they had a new [Mage] and added a second [Rogue] so wanted to get some practice together.
A commotion came from the tower entrance, and a team came stumbling out carrying a blood soaked blanket with a body in it. The stump of an arm, severed at the elbow, hung loosely from the side leaving a trickle of blood in their wake as they rushed towards the Healer House next to the tower. The bloodied knight at the front of the makeshift litter bellowed and waved a hand at the crowd.
“Out of the way!”
The door attendant ignored the spectacle. He motioned for the next team to go through, but one of their members stared with huge eyes after the injured man and shook his head.
“I’m not doing it. I’m not going in there.”
Their Captain scowled furiously.
“We can’t go with three. Come on, Denny. We’ve plenty of potions.”
Another member of the team grabbed the frightened man’s arm to try to usher him inside, which turned out to be a mistake. The man became more panicked and jerked away with a shout.
“Get off me! I don’t know what I was thinking, but my dad was right. I’m no adventurer.” He backed away from his shocked and angry teammates. “Sorry guys, but I just can’t. Good luck finding another scout.”
Their captain cursed loudly, and the remaining team stormed off to find a replacement. The guard watched them go with a bored expression and then turned to the Myth Seekers.
“Looks like you’re up then.”
Raith was thrilled and nervous at the same time. He looked to his companions with a questioning grin, and they nodded encouragingly. Beyond the door he could see a rolling field with a dark forest in the distance, promising levels, loot and adventure. He took a deep breath and let it out to calm his nerves.
“Alright, Myth Seekers. Here we go.”
With a confident stride, Raith walked into the open door of the tower.
And smashed face first into an invisible wall.
He flew backwards onto his ass, blood streaming from his nose and cut lip.
“What the threaded fuck?!”
Thea and Nyhm knelt down on each side with worried expressions.
“Are you ok? What happened?”
“I have no idea.” He looked at the guard. “Hey, what was that all about?”
The guard shrugged helplessly, looking just as shocked as they were. He cautiously reached out to the open doorway and his hand met no resistance. Emboldened, he stepped freely through and then back out again.
Tolliver stepped up and repeated the same tests, also passing through unimpeded. Raith clambered to his feet and stepped towards the doorway, hand outstretched. Sure enough, he got to the threshold and it felt like a wall was there.
Everyone stared at him.
“Why just me?”
Someone loudly cleared their voice from inside the tower, and they all turned to see a tall elderly man wearing robes embroidered with the symbols of Janek had appeared suddenly in the doorway.
“Where the hell did you come from?”
The guard glowered at Raith now, raising his voice.
“That’s Reverend Sammael, a High Priest Janek. Show some respect.”
The reverend waved at the guard dismissively.
“Now, now Norbert. This young man is understandably upset. Perhaps I can shed some light on this affair.”
He cocked his head to the side and seemed to be listening to a voice no one else could hear. The man’s frown deepened the longer he listened.
“Must I really say all that, my Lord?” He winced and bowed his head. “Of course, I am but your humble servant.”
Reverend Sammael looked to Raith and waggled his fingers nervously, then looked down flustered and took a deep breath. Seemingly determined to just be out with it, he raised his head back up and blurted the words.
“My Lord Janek says that no son of that whore who broke his heart will ever step foot in his tower. And that next time you talk to her, tell her he hopes her…ehem…lady parts have filled with dust because she will never have another god like him for all of eternity.”
Raith stood there blinking slowly, mouth agape and blood flowing freely from his nose onto his tunic. He turned to his companions, and they were all staring at him with similar expressions. A glance behind him confirmed that the Fabled Few had heard the priest’s words, because they were also looking at him as though he’d grown another head.
For his part, the priest seemed thoroughly embarrassed at the whole affair.
“Well, there it is, then. Now if you’ll all please excuse me, I bid you a good day. Janek favors the bold.” He looked back at Raith sympathetically. “Except for you, of course.”
With a curt nod and a swish of robes, the good reverend disappeared back into the tower.
Raith felt like he’d been punched in the gut by an ogre. This couldn’t be happening. After all, they had been through to get here, it couldn’t just be over.
“There’s four of you. You guys go in without me.”
Everyone protested immediately. Tolliver put a hand on his shoulder.
“What kind of team would we be if we left our Captain behind?”
Thea nodded in agreement.
“Come on. Let’s go back to the inn and we’ll figure this out together.”
“I couldn’t have gone in anyway.”
They all turned to Zinny and Raith’s brows furrowed in confusion.
“You couldn’t have entered the tower?”
She looked at him like that was the stupidest question she’d ever heard.
“Duh. Faeries can’t enter the godtowers.”
“Then why the threaded fuck did you come with us?”
“Cause we’re a team, silly.”
Raith scowled and opened his mouth to take all of his frustration out on the obnoxious pixie, but Nyhm intervened.
“Thea’s right. Let’s get somewhere private and talk this over.”
The elfling looked around conspicuously at all of the people staring at them.
Dammit. This is an absolute fucking disaster.
He took a deep breath, puffed up his cheeks and blew it out slowly.
“Ok. Let’s get out of here.”
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