War Journal Day 49: The 4th Floor Dungeon

Having now formed a party with Sam I'm moving back to the front lines to help move up the process of taking the next dungeon. Sam's a good girl but she talks too much for my liking. If we successful upgrade my weapons I'll have to find an armour merchant soon so I upgrade the rest of my equipment. Well we're here time to see what the plan is.

End of Entry

Sam and Simon stood at the back of large group of about thirty players. The players seemed to have formed groups of about five or six each. In the each group the players all wore relatively the same armour. The beginning of the guilds Simon had told Sam about. "We have learned from our scouts that the boss is called the Queen. It resembles a giant insect as such this entire dungeon is its hive so expect traps and surprise attacks from various insects. When we entire the boss room remain in your groups and form a semi-circle around the entrance in case we need to retreat. You solo players had better watch out for yourselves apparently the targeting dynamics is totally different and attacks the single players first. Alright if we're ready let's go," said a tall man at the front of the group before he opened a set of sand stone carved doors. "Hail Cesar for those who are about to die we salute you," whispered Simon and he and Sam entered the dungeon at the very back of the group.

The dungeon was literally a dungeon with stone walls and lanterns running up and down countless corridors. Ancient paintings and carvings covered the walls making it feel like the tomb to a ruler of an ancient civilisation. Spider webs large ones appeared the more frequent the further the group went into the dungeon but then they came to a set of web covered doors. "Alright this is the turning point if anyone wants to back out now we won't hold it against you," said the man leading the group before he opened the door.

Simon unslung his bow and readied an arrow. Sam unsheathed her short sword and readied her square shield. "Keep your shield up and stick close to the floor I'll be using you as cover so try and stay still," said Simon and the two moved through the door. On the other side of the door was a large room covered completely in spider webs and forms of slime. At the centre of the room up a set of crumbling stairs was a large long Queen Ant. It screeched and snapped its pincers when it saw the intruders. When the room became quiet the soft sound of moving limbs could be heard all around. "Up on the webs look!" Shouted a player and everyone looked up to see giant spiders crawling down the webs to the players.

"Stand your ground!" Shouted the group leader and Simon stood up behind Sam and started to take the spiders down with his bow. The spiders fell with a high pitched squeal as Simon landed arrow after arrow into their giant black eyes. But there were too many and they eventually reached the group and started to attack the other players. "Dam it," said Simon as he slung the bow back onto his back and drew his sword. "What's wrong?" Sam asked.

"Out of arrows this is where the fun starts," said Simon and he jumped over Sam straight into a pair of spiders. The after effect was instant the other players did the same and charged into the eight legged monsters. Simon chopped off the legs and Sam came into finish off the monster with a sword through the head. "Everyone head for the Queen. Take down the Queen," shouted the leader and all the players made their way to the Queen taking down the guards in turn.

The Queen backed up onto its back set of legs then it sent its body crashing down on unsuspecting players. Some tried slashing at the underbelly as it came down upon them but it didn't even make a dent. Simon ran to the rear of the giant beast and slashed down on the soft egg sack. "Aim for the soft white ass it's the weak spot," shouted Simon and the other players acknowledged. Ignoring the hard grey exterior shell and they all attacked the white flesh.

The monsters health points dropped into the red zone and then it exploded showering everything in white ooze. The spiders quickly retreated at the defeat of their Queen and the players cheered. "Well I'm glad that's over," said Sam and she sat down on a large chunk of rock. "I guess we ought to find an inn somewhere on the next level. I think I've had enough with sleeping in trees," said Simon and he offered Sam a gloved hand. "There's no time to rest with you is their?" Sam asked taking the hand. "Time's too precious to be wasted resting. Come on let's check out floor five," said Simon leading the pair out through a door at the back of the boss room and he didn't let go of her hand the whole way.

War Journal Day: 212 'Amongst the Coral'

The great forests and lakes of floor 22 a great place for those interested in upgrading their fishing skill as there are few monsters on this floor, this floor is more like reality than any of the others so far. This is also the floor according to Sam where I'll be able to get a better bow. She's been partying with me now since the 4th floor and we make a good team. She's sold her shop down on floor 4 and is looking to buy a new one on a higher floor. So together we have been increasing her budget. I hope nothing bad happens to her I'm starting to really like her.

End of Entry

"So where are we going today?" Sam asked as she stood up and looked up at the sunrise. Simon looked up at her. The pair where on the outskirts of Coral city having spent the night at the top of a grass covered hill under a single tree. "I'd like to get some sleep you seem to forget I was up all night," said Simon as he leaned his head back and closed his eyes. Sam sat down next to him and looked up at the sunset. "How do you feel about our relationship?" Sam eventually asked. She looked to her left and Simon's green hood covered his face but she could tell he was still awake. "Well at the moment we seem to have a reasonable agreement where you keep me equipped with the best weapons currently available and I do my best to help you increase the budget you have to spend on a new shop. Our relationship is nothing more than a business agreement after I forced you out of your old shop," said Simon.

"Oh and here I was thinkin' we were becoming good friends," said Sam and she crossed her arms and leaned her head back. "Just because we have a business agreement doesn't mean that we aren't good friends. Well err at some points I would say we are more than friends," said Simon.
"Really?"
"Well at this point we've saved each other's lives at least twice. So I would say we have erm. It's like you know in a movie where the two main characters are such good friends but their more than that because during their history together they've saved each other's lives. That's happened to us and…"
"And what?"
"Well I… Do you promise not to laugh?"
"Yeah why would I laugh?"
"I like you Sam a lot. I like you more than any other person I know. You are a strong independent woman who's both beautiful and can fight. I wouldn't be able to find someone like that in a million years back home."

Simon put his knees down and let himself slide down the tree so he was lying on his back facing up at the tree branches and the clear sky. Sam's face appeared in his vision and watched silently as her face moved closer to his and she kissed him on the lips. "Simon Incubus the infamous Woodland Ranger is in love with me. You know I like the sound of that," said Sam and she lay down beside him. Resting her head on his chest and she watched as Simon fell asleep.