So for this chapter I think I should explain a change I made to the way certain classes work, namely the mountain dwarf and the tunneler. As you may have no doubt surmised, I seem to have mixed those two roles. First tunnelers are usually short and stocky and therefore dwarves make good ones (plus their affinity for working underground in general). Their job is to range ahead and act as scouts, carving tunnels that wont comfortably fit others in it without say crawling and from there picking out good routes to wherever the heroes need to go. This saves a lot of time because much less tunnelling will need to be done and you don't want to spend your time digging out the whole realm looking for the way to the Keeper do you (think every time you ever walled out a bunch of hero parties, the realm would be entrirely mined out by the time you break out and attack). The mountain dwarves are the bigger and brawny cousins of the regular dwarves that often fill the tunneler role. They can hold themselves in a fight as normal but they also have the secondary job of helping the tunneler widen the path for the rest of the heroes to pass through, again natural dwarven proficiency at work.

I think this is a good change which adds a bit more flavour to the two classes since both always felt kind of lackluster in comparison to the other heroes to me. Also as a side note: can someone say foreboding?

I'm always interested to hear any reviews or critique anyone might have.


It was four days later when Farish had gathered his group up to discuss the mission they'd been given. He had spent three sleepless nights going over what he'd been given and now he knew he'd have to unload that burden onto the others too. Everyone else looked well rested save for Anrakis who was his normal old and worn self. The group stood in a spare room which they usually commandeered when there was a mission to plan. The fortress had war rooms for this but they were usually reserved for bigger offensive and defensive planning sessions while holding dozens of people. There was a map which outlined the north-western side of the fortress as well as a few of the tunnels nearby which were the result of continuous reshaping by both Keepers and heroes alike.

Farish took a deep breath before beginning his briefing, "Our superiors believe that with the entrance of the yellow Keeper this is a warning that other Keepers may soon be entering the battle here. We can't rely on taking them out as they appear or luck that they'll be distracted by each other anymore. If a third Keeper establishes a strong foothold this fortress will likely not be able to continue defending for long. Therefore the plan is to go on the offensive. Both red and green Keepers periodically attack as you well know towards the northern outpost. The body of water to the west helps keep them from coming from that direction and the attempted establishment and subsequent destruction of the yellow Keeper will likely keep them away from the east side for a while for fear of traps and ambushes."

"So we gonna attack one of them Keepers now then?" Haldrun asked as he looked at the map.

"No, what they want us to do is sneak in from the west while the fortress launches an attack from the front to divert their attention," Farish said.

"Bait and switch," Anrakis muttered.

Farish nodded, "Exactly, the frontal attack will draw the enemy out and while they're fighting we can sneak in. Once we're in the main force can feign defeat and pull back, luring them out even more and giving us more time. If we can get to the dungeon heart and destroy it before our forces have to retreat all the way back to the fortress we wont have to deal with anything more than the few creatures the Keeper can throw at us. If it pulls back completely then it risks our frontal attack breaking in."

"Sounds simple enough, what aren't you telling us?" Eira raised an eyebrow and looked at Farish.

"Spells," Anrakis said simply.

Thesia nodded, "This isn't like the Keeper we fought last week. This one has had a long time to research spells and mine from gems. We'll be dealing with all sorts of dangerous spells once we get in there."

"Blimey, I can take a few bolts o' lightning. Won't be tha first time," Haldrun thumped his chest.

"There's more," Farish said, causing everyone to turn to him in surprise, "There's something going on there, something that the even the Knightly Order doesn't know for sure. Whatever it is the red Keeper is doing, it's dangerous and it's unknown."

"We're guinea pigs then, this just keeps sounding better," Haldrun said sarcastically.

"So there's something, we don't know what it is, but it's dangerous and we're being sent to deal with it or at least the Keeper that is doing it before it's too late," Alistair shook his head.

"That sums it up guys. I think … yes Gerick?" Farish paused as the diminutive dwarf looked like he wanted to say something.

"If you think we can do this sir, I believe you. I don't think we have to worry. We'll be fine right?"

Farish watched Gerick for a moment. Gerick was older than himself or Thesia but still young by dwarven standards and he'd only been down here for a few months. The Keeper assault last week was only his second time seeing real combat. In many ways he was still a naïve kid, a competent one but still, his innocent question gave Farish pause. Eventually he decided what he thought was the best way to answer; a smile and a nod.

"So then, now for the plan. The red Keeper's dungeon is in this area although we don't know anything beyond the border tunnels. We believe it approaches the river so I think that might be our best way in. We head down river until we get closer then tunnel in from there. Gerick, I want you to dig up ahead and scout the area out. Find where the red Keeper has fortified its walls and where it hasn't. There should be, or probably have been, gold seams in that area so that'll be a good place to look for as an entry point. Haldrun and Phineas, you'll be our main tunnellers for this since Gerick needs to do his own thing. Open up a path so we don't wait in the river and then we'll wait on Gerick's word. Once he's found us an access point you two can follow his lead."

The meeting continued on into the afternoon as formations and plans were suggested and decided upon. Once they were finished the night shift had already begun. Some retired to their rooms while others headed for the mess hall.

As they left Alistair turned to Fredrick and said, "So how'd your time in paradise with that girl go?"

Fredrick looked down and grumbled, "I don't wanna talk about it."

Anrakis remained in the room with Farish and once the others were out of earshot said, "What do you think it is, whatever has the higher ups spooked?"

Farish shook his head, "Whatever it is even the Council of Seven and the High Priestess can't get anything on it."

"Neither magical or divine sight helping, whatever it is it must be very dark to be able to obscure both," Anrakis said.

Farish looked up at the ceiling as if the answer would come from above, "Why do you think I've barely gotten any sleep the last four nights?"

"And now neither will most of the rest of them now," Anrakis added.

"Ignorance sometimes really is bliss my friend," Farish sighed and patted the old wizard on the back as they both walked out.