Chapter Eighty-eight. How the hell?

Chapter Eighty-eight. How the hell?

Bob spotted Nora as she rushed into the tavern.

She was wearing light blue leather armor along with her fancy cloak, although she lacked a helmet.

Zoey and Jakob had vacated the table a few minutes earlier, allowing Nora to sit down on his right.

"Good morning," Nora said as she eyed the table, which Monroe had taken over.

"Morning," Bob replied as he reached out and pulled Monroe over a bit, exposing a section of the table in front of Nora.

Bob waved at the server, flagging them down.

"Steak or eggs?" the server asked Nora.

"Eggs," Nora answered and look non-plussed as the server held out a hand expectantly.

"Your token," Bob said.

"Oh," Nora blushed and pulled out the token she'd been given the night before and handed it to the server, who pressed it to his slate and then handed it back before hurrying to the kitchen.

"I'm glad to see that you found some armor," Bob said as he dug his hands into Monroe's ruff, revving up the big cat's purr motor.

"I rushed down to one of the armorers you'd mentioned," Nora replied, "the proprietor was most helpful."

Bob nodded, "Nikki's in Holmstead is the shop that does mine; Gary came up with the Magnetic Kitty Retention System that keeps Monroe from sliding around."

Nora nodded and looked at Monroe apprehensively.

"Do you not like cats?" Bob asked, wondering if she was one of those unfortunate souls, cursed by all the gods to suffer an allergy to her feline overlords.

"I like cats," Nora said carefully, "but he's not exactly a house cat is he?"

"I've been bitten and scratched by a cat when it decided it was done being petted," Nora went on, "and Monroe is large enough that he could likely kill me by accident."

Bob considered that statement.

Monroe was quite the heckin' chonker.

He pulled up Monroe's status.

Name: Monroe Tier: 4 Size: 3 Skills: Conjuration (Affinity Crystal) Dimension (Affinity Crystal) Summoning (Affinity Crystal) Abjuration (Affinity Crystal) Animancy Level: 16 Weapon Hardness: 30 Hide hardness: 20 Ritual Magic Eldritch Blast Teleport Summon Object Reinforce Armor Anima Blast Strength: 72 Mana: 136 Armor: 252 Effect Over Time Flight Eldritch Blast Eldritch Shield Coordination: 104 Stamina: 176 Claw Damage: 310 Persistent Effect Portal Ward Endurance: 72 Health: 2328 Bite Damage: 268 Intelligence: 68 Movement: 218 Casting Value: 316 Elemental Earth Elemental Air Elemental Water Elemental Fire Shadowmancy Wisdom: 68 Dodge 240 Control Earth Control Air Control Water Control Fire Beauty: 104 Summoning Mastery 2 Plant Plant Growth

It appeared Nora wasn't entirely wrong.

While Monroe wasn't going to kill Bob with an accidental nibble, a level zero human on the other hand...

Bob looked down at Monroe.

It had never really occurred to him that Monroe would actually be dangerous to anyone.

"He's never scratched or bitten anyone," Bob said reassuringly, "and even if he did, I could heal the damage."

Nora nodded and hesitantly reached out to pet Monroe's back.

Her eyes widened as she stroked the big cat.

"He's so soft," she whispered.

"Yep," Bob said, "he's the most handsome kitty in the world, aren't you, buddy?"

Monroe purred louder to indicate that he did indeed know he was the most handsome kitty in the world.

"I've never seen a cat like him before," Nora said as she grew bolder and started to carefully rub Monroe's ruff.

"Monroe is my familiar," Bob replied, "and while he has always been a big boy, he grew to this size as he increased in level."

"What level is he?" Nora asked.

"Sixteen," Bob said, switching his attention to scratching under Monroe's chin.

Nora paused for a moment and then resumed her devotions.

"He could really hurt someone," she said softly.

Bob shrugged, "I suppose he could, but I can't imagine he would unless you hurt him first," he said, "Monroe is pretty easy going."

The server arrived with Nora's breakfast before further discussion of Monroe's potential for mayhem and murder could be had.

"And the Schedule doesn't have any names attached beyond mine, indicating I'm acting as a Shepherd?" Bob asked.

"Also true," Voren said, "nothing but common sense and good taste will prevent you from aiding these commoners."

Bob nodded and replied meekly, "Well, crystals are crystals, and I can watch over four as easily as one, so needs must," he stepped forward and displayed his Guild Badge.

"I'll be Shepherding these four until noon on the first floor," Bob said, "is there anything else that needs to be done? I'm new to Harbordeep, as you may have guessed."

Voren shook his head and gestured down the stairs, "There is a gateway down below, but you'll not have the means or need for it," his face twisted into a sneer again, "continue past it down another flight of stairs, and you'll find yourself on the first floor."

Bob gave him a short bow and gestured for the kids to follow him as he scurried down the stairs.

~ ~ ~ ~

The staircase, a full twenty feet wide, emptied into a chamber easily double that in width, containing a familiar gateway.

Bob strode past it, squaring his shoulders and straightening his back now that he was out of Voren's sight.

He had no doubts that the man was tier six, and given the way he'd acted towards the kids, he clearly held to the idea that tier was directly related to social worth. Or perhaps wealth. It hadn't escaped his notice that Voren had given a quick look at Nora's cloak and addressed none of his comments towards her.

Descending another flight of stairs, these only ten feet wide, and far more humble, Bob arrived at a landing which was perhaps twenty feet to a side, with open hallways leading left, right, and forward.

He turned to face the kids who had trailed behind him.

He cast an Area of Effect control air spell and pushed it to fill the room, solidifying the bubble's edges to prevent sound from escaping.

"Alright," Bob said loudly, "it looks like Nora somehow managed to spread the word that I'm a Shepherd in a remarkably short period of time."

Nora blushed and opened her mouth only to be silenced by a raised finger from Bob.

"What's done is done, and the only way forward is through," Bob said.

"I wasn't expecting to Shepherd anyone else, so let's go over a few things before we get started," he continued, "first, I can't help but notice that none of you have weapons, so unless you plan to be pugilists you haven't started the day very well."

All four of the kids shared an embarrassed look.

"None of you have gained your first level, correct?" Bob asked.

A mass of head-shaking answered the question.

"Then it's safe to assume that none of you are going to be casting spells today," Bob said, "which would leave you stuck hitting monsters with your fists."

Bob shook his head and dropped his control air spell, as well as the spells maintaining his terrarium, before casting a Summon Mana-Infused Object spell, mentally projecting the pattern of a copper-clad wooden club, wrapping it in an effect over time persistent effect.

The weapon appeared in his hand.

"Fortunately for you, I happen to have a few spares," Bob muttered dryly and handed the club to Nora.

Orson, Wayna, and Charn all received clubs a few seconds later, and Bob lamented locking down nearly half his mana.

Casting his control air spell again, Bob raised his voice, "Alright, so let me preface this little carnival by telling you that I know nothing about the Dungeon here in Harbordeep."

Nora nodded while the other three looked surprised.

"I do know about delving Dungeons in general though," Bob said, "which is what I'm here to teach you."

"The first lesson I want to impart is that delving a Dungeon requires an abundance of caution," he warned them, "delving for too long, delving when you're tired, delving when you're distracted, these are all things that will get you killed," he said harshly.

"Dungeons are not forgiving, and monsters don't fight fair," Bob said.

"You're going to sit at this landing and wait while I take a brief look around," he continued, "I don't believe a monster will enter this room, but again, I don't know that for sure, so if you see a monster, run back up the stairs."

Bob shook his head and added, "The second lesson is that it's better to retreat to safety than to engage in an uncertain fight."

"Now wait here," he instructed, "I'll be back in a few minutes."

Bob headed down the left hallway, wondering just how he'd allowed events to proceed in a fashion that resulted in his watching over a group of kids.

He paused a few feet in and looked around.

The hallway was constructed of the same yellow stone as the rest of the city, although it was dull and unpolished.

Soft orbs of golden light clung to the ceiling every twenty feet, each providing a good five feet of illumination, leaving pools of shadow between them.

He sent a bit of encouragement to Monroe and the big cat leaped from his Inventory and looked around the stone hallway curiously.

"Hey buddy," Bob murmured, "how about we explore a bit?"