Beliefs

[Zerrif]

It's been a while, hasn't it? How are you doing?

We're doing okay, I guess. We're slowly working out way back up into travelling strength. Gerik has been seemingly getting more and more energetic everyday, telling us that if he doesn't push himself, he won't get any stronger. It's kind of admirable-- how he has that drive to just push himself, but it's also dangerous and stupid at the same time.

Bascht has been spending a lot of time with his Master, refining his magic. Apparently, he asked if he was ready for the wizard test yet-- to which his mentor simply dismissed the thought. He's been kind of down since then-- but he's still training every day.

He's also gotten a lot of information about the tower itself, and what's underneath it. It sounds like we should be really prepared against whatever is going to pop up down there.

Muarim? He disappears now and then, saying that he has business to do in town with the merchants. He never seems to buy anything new-- and we never seem to lose any of our own possession, so it makes me wonder what he's really doing. Though, if he had any sort of hidden agenda, he's not really being the best at keeping it secret. He doesn't seem like the kind of guy to hold a secret all too well.

Me? I'm just... here. My shot hasn't gotten any better to be honest, but Gerik keeps pushing me to try.

I miss you. We'll be together soon. I think we're going to attempt going into the dungeon tomorrow, from how things look.

Ren stared up at the sky a little, before a squawk on his shoulder startled him, causing him to stare back. A falcon sat perched on his shoulder pad, and he just wrapped up the letter he had been writing, tying it to the bird's leg. He shrugged up and it spread it's wings, a few powerful beats sending it high into the sky.

"Who's bird was that?" Gerik asked. Ren jumped, startled again, staring over at the Acolyte.

"Just a friend's. Writing to him to let him know how things go, y'know?" Ren replied, just nodding. Gerik smiled. "What?"

"Nothing. Makes me feel like I should be writing back to the others at the Church, or something." He stretched out wide and took a step to stand beside Ren. "I think our plan is to leave tomorrow. Is everything okay on your end?"

"Hm? Yeah, yeah, all good. Muarim picked up a couple things for me cheap so I should be all good." Ren pat his hips, and smiled. "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's get some last minute practice in!"

---

"Remember, if you see Dracula or god forbid Doppelganger, you've gone too far in for your abilities at the moment."

"Yes sir..." Bascht groaned, and the wizard just glared, hands on his hips. "Don't worry, we won't be aiming for the bottom floor."

"And bring me back a souvenir! Maybe a Tyrfing would do." The wizard stepped back inside his small house and just left everyone else on his doorstep-- as if they never existed in the first place.

"Well... I guess that's that, huh? Where's Muarim?" Bascht asked, turning to face the Acolyte and the Archer. They all exchanged glances, shrugging. As if on cue, there was a familiar clack-clack of wheels on stone. They all turned to see the Merchant walking up, toting his cart behind him. "Late, as usual."

"Bleh." Was all Muarim said back, as the group moved towards the tower. "So, have you guys heard? There's apparently been some commotion down there-- a few monsters out of the ordinary."

Gerik raised an eyebrow, and just nodded. "You think--"

"It's pretty much validated at this point. But the latest report was just yesterday, so it seems that we'll likely end up butting heads with the DBF again." Muarim added. Gerik let out a hum of thought, and the Merchant rolled his shoulders. "Personally, I'm hoping that idiot from a couple weeks ago is still there-- he's still got something I got." His hands clutched his cart tighter, and Ren just looked over.

"What did he steal, exactly?" He asked. "I mean, you never told us."

"You'll find out when I get it back." Muarim grumbled, his mood having soured just at the thought of having lost it. The Archer and the Acolyte stared at each other, and just shrugged their shoulders.

---

It didn't take long for them to reach the tower, and no one had been there to bar their access to the dungeon proper. Everything seemed like a regular, casual stroll into a dungeon, when they began to approach the stairs to descend a floor further. Scattered around the area were bodies, and pools of drying blood. Gerik immediately ran forward, Ren keeping close to him.

"What the happened here...?" Muarim asked, as he slowly began to walk in as well.

"... There was... so many..." A voice mumbled. The Merchant stared to the side to see a wounded, yet living adventurer leaning against the wall. He quickly moved over, the adventurer batting away helpful hands to sit himself up straighter. "You guys... goin down? You should.. be ready right as you go down..."

"What's down there?" Muarim asked, but the adventurer shook his head. Gerik approached and knelt by him, holding his hands out over the figure. Muarim reached out and clasped the Acolyte's hands shut, stopping his spell. "Don't. From what it looks like... we might need it too. These guys will be fine."

"How do you know?" Gerik bit back, although he relaxed his arms and just stared over at the stairs. The rest of the group stared, before they heard some sort of deathly howl coming from the stairs.

"They're safer up here than they are down there-- and if whatever is down there wanted to end it, they wouldn't be here licking their wounds." Bascht said, as he started to walk down the stairs. "Come on. It's our turn."