A Day Revisited

Nestled in a thick wooded area a fine stone tower pierced the sea of green leaves. The fortified structure had been built to keep watch over a door that lead into a forbidden cave. Three years had passed since the combined military might of the Empire had descended upon that cursed gate, with the heroine at its fore front it had charged into the heart of that pit of nightmares and destroyed the evil within at the cost of many lives. So this tragedy could never be repeated this watch tower had been constructed to keep watch over that ghostly bone gate.

Life in the surrounding area had returned to normal, lives went on as things returned to the regular ebb and flow of existence. Few cared to recall that three years prior a prominent family had been uprooted, that a hero had been born and both died together so near at hand. It had been such a brief moment of excitement, so sudden that it truly had not sunk into anyone what had transpired. On this day three years from that fateful one another throng was gathered in the town, the Day of Ascension was an annual event where boys and girls of age found their life path.

The ancient sage from the Empire stared at this years candidates with some boredom, it was the standard group of those who thought they were destined for more than they were, those that had tried to hide their true natures and those that just wanted to find their way. Youth after youth stepped up, touched the orb of Ascension and stepped down to be congratulated or berated by whomever cared. The old man had been suppressing a mighty yawn when a commotion broke out.

Opening an eye warily, the old man beheld a young man in a fine robe, likely a noble with a shady background if someone of such finery was wanting to be tested out here. As the young man stepped up to the orb, he glanced to the Sage, "May I?"

The sage looked at the young man carefully then shrugged, "I'm not going to stop you young Master, but shouldn't you name yourself for my records?"

The young man smiled pulling off his glove and touching the orb, there was a startled gasp from the crowd that made the Sage pause, his thick eye brows jumping a bit as from around the young man he saw the watching crowd draw back in alarm. The old man snorted, just what had this arrogant young noble gotten to disgust the crowd? The Path of Shadows maybe, for nobles their hands stained in the blood of rivals such was not uncommon.

The young man shifted aside revealing the orb, within it a fortified tower could be seen, a symbol this old sage had seen only three years prior. Frowning he was about to curse this noble when his aged eyes widened. The hand resting on the orb was a ghastly monstrosity. No flesh or muscle marred the pristine white bones that clicked against the orbs surface, glancing to the cursed young man he was about to lash out when the young man smiled.

"My name is Dungeon Lord Alexander Caven, rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." Smiling he gave a sharp whistle and the crowd in response began to scream. From around the plaza monsters began marching in. Undead, goblins, kobolds and orcs, the small legion of monsters ringed in the attending populace with weapons bared. Reaching into his robe he pulled a dagger out and plunged it into the old mans thigh with a smile that spoke of hatred and enjoyment.

"Three years ago the Empire pissed on my front door. Today I send you back with a message. Alexander Caven is coming. Be sure you tell the Knight Legion commander that specifically." Turning from the wailing and cursing old man who clutched his bloodied leg Alexander looked at the ringed in towns folk and cleared his throat, "As for you my former friends and towns folk, for the death of my family, I'll pay blood for blood. Boys, escort the chattel back home."

Pulling on his glove he picked up the orb and smashed it down upon the cobbled street before walking off the stage. As people screamed and fought back he casually walked back down the street admiring the fearful looks that peeked through barred doors and shuttered windows. As if he owned the place he walked down the main street towards the city gates, the blood stains from the guards still painted the gatehouse a sickly red as he walked out of town, trusting his troops to get the townsfolk back to the dungeon. Killing these wretches here gained him nothing, but back in the dungeon...

Alexander walked down the road completely care free, unlike the dungeon, out here he had all the time in the world. His foot steps carried him a familiar route, paying the various people he saw little mind as he turned down an over grown path. Glancing around he could see where gardens and fields use to exist, the once well maintained road way for the carriage leading to what now looked like a haunted ruin. The blackened and overgrown wood stood out like a tombstone in a field of wild plants.

While visiting his home town to replenish some merits had been important, more so was visiting the ruins of his family home. As expected the birthplace of a dungeon Lord had not been rebuilt, not even the old custodians continued to squat on the fertile lands, rather it had been abandoned to the wilds, which to Alexander, couldn't be better. Had the old ruins been torn down and rebuilt chances were high his fathers old hidey holes would be uncovered.

There was no doubts that the rebellious servants had likely raided the obvious ones, but his father had kept a few known only to the bloodline. While it was plausible that his elder brother might have claimed them already, he highly doubted it. Being a Path of the General he would have long cut ties with his disgraced kin, coming back here would put him in question of holding lasting sympathies that would need to be purged. Likewise, had older brother sent someone, chances were good such a person would only know one spot as the older brother would keep the second as a fail safe.

The third spot had been made when elder brother was at war so only Alexander and their parents knew of that spot and was the most likely to still be untouched. As for what each contained? Beside a modest amount of coin to see its seeker through a difficult situation each spot also contained a copy of their patents of nobility, records of genealogy, and a copy of the house seal. Father had always wanted it to be safe that should either brother need to prove they were truly nobles that records existed.

Thus it was time for a treasure hunt of sorts, thankfully the old gardener tool shed still had a shovel for him to use, while two were in secure locations outside the house, the third was likely buried in the rubble. For the rest of the afternoon Alexander racked his brain over Father's clues, there were no maps in case the servants or enemies got wind, but their Father had used little sayings to help guide one to the hiding spots. The first found Alexander shimmying down their well, the smell told the tale it had long been fouled and going down half way had revealed a missing stone from the wall with the interior compartment empty.

This one came as no surprise, his brothers personal spot stood as the most likely to have been claimed at some point. As for the second it was in the heart of the hedge maze, this also came with disappointment, the ground had obviously been disturbed, yet something had been reburied so Alexander still had to check. Once the box was unearthed it came as no surprise that this was a last act of kindness from his brother. A sack of golden coins still occupied the thing but the records had been burned, the ashes sitting beside the sack, a clear message that he could have the money if he came back, but he was intended to be exiled from House Caven.

Thus it was to the third spot he hiked, thankfully it was off the beaten path slightly and had been spared from being destroyed to give face to his elder sibling. Standing before the large stone tomb he looked at the sturdy iron door and wondered if in his absence had brother laid father and mother to rest within? He hoped their parents had at least been afforded that last honor after their grisly deaths. Still Alexander pushed upon the rusted portal and stepped inside, batting away the dust and cobwebs that choked the silent and still interior.

Towards the back, in the darkness of their grandparents section was a loose tile, only someone doing an insanely thorough cleaning of the oldest section of the tomb would find it. Resting his hand on the mystically enchanted coffin of his grandfather he said a prayer, while he didn't believe in the whole dishonored ancestors thing, he at least owed the patriarch of their merchant house this degree of respect. Finding the tile and prying it up he was pleased to see everything was as his father had shown him, which still maintaining his nobility as a Dungeon Lord was hardly the most important thing, it would open avenues of which commoners could not partake.

On his way out, Alexander turned to check the coffins for his parents, yet frowned when he noted both stood empty, unused, save for dust and spider webs. Sighing he stepped outside and whistled, his unseen escorts rushing from the concealing tall grasses to kneel before him. The last four goblins had evolved into goblin scouts under their own merits and now were before him, "Search the grounds and ruins, there should be two skeletons scattered around, collect the bones and deposit them in the empty coffins within, when done, seal the door and return."

Striding past as the four scouts scattered to look, Alexander frowned and added another debt the Empire owed him, more specifically his elder brother. There was no reason to not collect their parents bodies and have not set them to rest. Since brother had not done so, Alexander took it upon himself to see it set right and when he met his brother, he'd be sure to leave his bones for the animals in turn. Walking away from the ruins, Alexander crossed the over grown field he had rushed through what seemed but a few days ago.

As he walked he marveled how much had changed despite his fresh memories of what this area should have looked like, as he passed through the woods all signs of the mob pursuit had regrown. Pushing through the foliage he roamed though the darkened wood marvelling how much had changed in mere days. Shaking his head he quickened his steps to reach the mountainside, passing easily through the front gate. His eyes quickly adjusted to the gloom and stepped deeper into his new home, eyes roving over the minions that hurried around the labrynth.

Turning the final bend there was a loud stomp as his troop of undead stood to attention, ever his honor guard. Nodding to the hoplite Alexander swiftly entered the core and let the heat wash over him. His eyes brushed across Jansea then the frozen form of Thersea before walking briskly towards his chamber, glancing to the pouting succubus he nodded, "Use the incoming chattel as best we can. Slaves or merits, which ever suits the situation best."

Jansea purred and bowed, "Yes Master. Did you get all you needed done?"

Alexander smiled to himself slowly flexing his skeletal hand in his glove, "I do believe I did."