Pandora Unchained B1C40: Daedalus’ Labyrinth

The battle at the tomb entrance was the first extended battle for each of the combined adventuring teams. Each team, therefore, took time to adjust their formations.

"So what's your opinion on what our core team lacks, Sorin?" Lawrence asked when he finished recovering his mana. A brutal cut on his arm had been healed by Hellen, and only a thin scar remained.

"I'm not sure," said Sorin. "Maybe more bodies to protect our squishier members? A swordsman like Nale? Even if they aren't a tank, it would take a lot of pressure off of you and me."

"Agreed," said Lawrence. "And I think Stephan does as well. It's just that good warriors are often team captains, so it's tough to find someone reliable."

Anyone else would be more reliable than Nale, thought Sorin. Then again, this was a temporary alliance. "Why don't you want a life mage?" asked Sorin.

"Why do we need a life mage when we have you?" asked Lawrence. "Whatever you can't fix can be solved with healing potions. No point in splitting loot an extra way for that."

Two hours had already passed, so the adventurers began to pick up their belongings and group up. Demon crystals had been looted and delivered to the Adventurers Guild station outside the ruin. As a result, there was no need to carry everything they'd gained deeper into the ruin.

Many adventurers had been killed and wounded entering the tomb. Those on their teams were mostly too traumatized to keep fighting. As a result, there were now only 10 full teams of adventurers of around 10 adventurers each.

"It's about time we head out," said Stephan, slinging his pack over his shoulders. "Is everyone else good to go?"

"Ready when you are, boss," said Nale, drawing his sword.

Having learned their lesson before, the teams moved forward as a single pack, making sure to rotate periodically to keep fresh. Mages had spells at the ready, while archers kept arrows nocked. Everyone kept their weapons drawn in case of a surprise attack.

Surprisingly, the corridor out of this welcoming chamber proved to be peaceful. There were no traps, and no zombies rushed out to fight them. According to the mages, this was due to a sacred aura coming from the end of the corridor that prevented the reanimation of corpses.

The corridor eventually opened up into a room just as large as the first ceremonial chamber. It contained coffins and statues of various gods, all cast in marble and still in one piece despite the centuries that had passed. Stephan informed everyone that such things would be recovered by the Adventurers Guild, and they would only get a share of the profit after the pieces were appraised and auctioned to curious collectors.

"Now, here's what we came for," said Orpheus, stepping up to two large tables set up before a marble slab. "Loot, for those brave enough to obtain it." There was a trident, a longsword, a bow, and a helmet. "Mages? Rogues? What are you all waiting for?"

Daphne, Lawrence, and Warren joined a larger group of rogues and mages in sweeping the area for traps and enchantments. The stone slab was immediately confirmed to be enchanted with powerful barrier magic. As for the items, they were all enchanted items, and uncursed ones at that.

Since they were all in a safe place, they relaxed as representatives from the Mage's Guild and the Adventurers Guild entered the ruin. "I can't assess their exact value, but these are clearly historical relics," said an older mage with a white beard. "I'd peg them at 5,000 gold apiece just based on the power of their enchantments. Of course, their historical value might mean they're worth far more."

"They're one-star items, aren't they?" asked Stephan. The mage confirmed this, and so did the Adventurers' Guild representative. "Then anyone here can claim them, and the Adventurers Guild will record the debt to the expedition. Is anyone in my party interested?" Sorin shook his head, and so did everyone but Nale. After some thought, however, he shook his head as well. "Very good. We renounce any claim to these items."

"How generous of you," said Orpheus, picking up the longsword. "I'll take this one then. Unless you want it, Barbara?"

"I'm a weapons master, not a sword specialist," said Barbara. "I can take either the trident or the bow. I'm not too picky. How about you, Haster?"

"I already have a good sword and good wine," said Haster. "My team is also well equipped. But I think that chap over there wants the helmet. Can I use my pick on him?" He was the most easygoing of the captains.

"If that's what you want," said Barbara. "What about this bow and trident?"

"If no one else wants it, I'll take the trident," said one adventurer.

"Then I'll take the bow," said Barbara. "Very good. Now I have another option for this raid."

"Then that just leaves what to do about this door," said Orpheus. "I say we break it open and keep going."

"I think the prudent course of action would be to ask the guilds for their opinion, Orpheus," said Barbara. "What do you think, esteemed appraiser?"

"I'm afraid this old man doesn't have an opinion," said the appraiser. "I appraise items, not barriers. And frankly, Miss Daphne is my superior when it comes to things like this."

"I'm just good at breaking things," said Daphne. "And the answer is yes. If we want to break it, I can do it."

They turned their attention to the representative from the Adventurers Guild, who'd placed a pair of golden spectacles on her face. She jotted down notes on a pad of paper as she read the stone slab. Fifteen minutes later, she took off her glasses and wiped the sweat from her forehead. Using the glasses was obviously taxing.

"Adventurer Stephan was correct," said the representative. "This is a sealing tomb. An old one at that. I'd peg it at 600 years old, given the syntax on the slab."

"What does it say?" asked Barbara.

"Herin lies the corpse of an abomination," read the representative. "A cruel curse upon mankind. I leave my seal upon Daedalus' Labyrinth, knowing that Death makes a mockery of us all. It's signed by someone called Theseus, whoever that was. Probably a hero of his time." Sorin had never heard of him either, but that was normal. Only a handful of heroes from the divine era were remembered.

"I believe Barbara was asking more about the Guild's opinion on continuing the raid," said Orpheus. "A sealed dungeon that hasn't been opened in a long time; is the guild against us unsealing it?"

The representative shrugged. "I have no opinion on the matter. The dungeon was assessed as a one-star threat, and with so many one-star teams, raiding it should be achievable. If you wish to proceed with raiding the dungeon, you may do so. I will wait outside the dungeon for 3 days with the representatives of the other guilds before returning, regardless of your success or failure.

"That being said, you may choose to report your findings to the guild and stop here. I can guarantee a 20,000-gold reward for what's been found so far, to be split amongst all concerned parties according to guild rules."

The captains all exchanged looks with their teammates before voicing their opinions. "Let's do it," said Orpheus.

"I'd like to give this dungeon a try, assuming enough of us join in," said Barbara.

"My party is full of hot-blooded men that don't back down," said Haster. "Also, I'm drunk. So I'm in."

The remaining parties agreed to proceed, leaving only Sorin's party. "If everyone else is game, how could we say no," said Stephan. "Daphne, will you do the honors?"

"Piece of cake," said Daphne, cracking her knuckles. She moved up to the barrier and began drawing red sigils upon the blue forcefield that appeared. They formed a resonance with the field and caused it to vibrate until, finally, the field shattered, releasing the seal.

She stepped back as the door slid open. Fierce mana oozed out of the door and attacked everyone present. For a moment, Sorin was overwhelmed with white-hot rage. It was only thanks to a gentle flute melody from the only bard in their supergroup that he was able to bottle up his anger once again.

"The aura of violence is extremely thick," warned Stephan as Orpheus brought his party up to the open door. "Expect powerful one-star demons. Two-star demons aren't out of the question either."

"I'm not new at this, your arrogant twit," said Orpheus, swishing his cloak and entering the doorway.

"Am I really that arrogant?" Stephan asked the rest of the party.

"Sometimes," said Lawrence, holding up his thumb and index finger. "Just a little bit."

"I'll go next," said Barbara, entering the doorway. Her group vanished just like Orpheus's just after they entered. The teams slowly trickled in after them, with Sorin's team taking up the rear.

A golden light washed over them as they passed through the door, transforming their surroundings. Walls stretching a hundred feet into the air appeared on either side of them. They were ancient things made from ordinary stone. Reinforcement runes could be seen every ten meters.

"Everyone be careful," said Stephan. "We've clearly been split up into different parts of the dungeon. The golden circle here is our starting point. No matter what we do, we need to remember the way back."

Their team walked down what appeared to be a hallway, only to reach a sharp corner that split into two separate directions a few seconds later. By the second split, they confirmed that it was indeed a maze-like they'd initially suspected.

"How exactly are we going to find our way back?" asked Sorin. "I doubt whatever map we draw will be accurate."

"Oh, I know!" said Lawrence. "It reminds me of that story with the ball of yarn to find the way back. All we need now is a really big ball of yarn. Maybe we can take apart someone's cloak?"

"I'm starting to get second thoughts about working together, Stephan, if this is all your team can come up with," said Nale.

"Do you have any better suggestions?" asked Stephan.

"I don't," said Nale. "But it's better than spitting out children's tales and making light of the situation."

"Poison," Sorin said suddenly. "We'll use poison to find our way back."

"Poison?" said Hellen, the life mage. "How does poison let us return to the entry circle?"

"Like this," said Sorin, flicking a drop of his blood onto the labyrinth wall. It ate a small hole in the stone and caused them all to wrinkle their noses.

"Is that really your blood?" said Nale. "Disgusting."

"Hey!" said Lawrence. "That's our teammate's blood. You can talk trash about it."

"Actually, I think he's onto something," Warren, Team Oasis's rogue, said. "You guys can all smell that, right? How long does the smell last?"

"Days, maybe a week?" said Sorin. "I'm honestly not sure. I haven't had long to test it. All I know is that whatever I bleed on doesn't stop smelling. I need to use clearmist vials to completely wash away the smell."

"It does have the advantage of not giving off a mana signature," said Gareth, smelling the spot of corrosion. "Also, it's not a loose item that can just be picked up. It has advantages over paint in that it might not be obvious to others not part of our group."

"Then it's decided," said Stephan. "We'll use smell to track our way back, but we'll also use maps as a backup. Gareth? Lise? Are you comfortable writing all this down?" They nodded and took out a pen and paper. "Great. Then, let's have Lawrence and Warren scout the way forward. Sorin, try not to bleed yourself dry."

Their team warily entered the labyrinth, completely unaware that five minutes after their departure, the walls at the entrance shifted, cutting off their retreat.