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    Zdeska held a stick out towards Emonar, interrupting him. "Identify this."


    Emonar frowned. "I have no analysis ability without my magic." His arm still stung where she had jabbed him with that poisoned needle.


    The bandit queen tossed the stick onto his lap. "Use your eyes." She commanded.


    The wizard sighed and picked up the stick. It felt cold to his fingers. "Where did it come from?" The wizard asked. He rolled the stick in his hands, feeling the weight.


    "The dungeon makes them. Tell me when you know something." The bandit queen left the tent, presumably to return to her own tent under this awful light and rain.


    Emonar turned to his guard. "Now, Squints, the mundane analysis of magical artifacts is an extremely neglected field. As far as I know, it mostly consists of compiling book after book of known artifacts with locations, descriptions, images and so on. The books are sold to would-be adventurers so they can have some idea what they might be carrying in their comically large packs." Emonar tapped the stick against the floor of the tent and continued. "There is a very good reason no one is interested in puzzling out these things on their own; the most basic analyze ability is infinitely faster than looking something up in a book." Emonar reached over and snatched away the folded cloak that Squints was using to block his eyes and ears. "Come, Squints, we have been tasked by bandit royalty to discover everything we can about this artifact."


    Squints protested. "She told you to do it!"


    Emonar shook his head, smiling a pitying smile at the bandit guard. "Now, Squints, if that woman returns and demands to know our progress, who do you think will receive more of her displeasure? Me, who has tried every trick I have at my disposal, or you, who shirked responsibility and contributed nothing while sitting in a tent?"


    "Shirked?" Squints asked.


    "Shirked." The wizard confirmed.


    Squints looked uneasy. "I guess I had better do something at least. Enough so the blame all falls on you."


    Emonar beamed. "That''s the spirit, Squints!"


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    Punch led his scouts back into the blinding light and rain. They had scouted out all the dungeon floors they could access, except two. One of the floors was so hot and humid that it was dangerous just to enter, possibly as dangerous as the lava floor near the entrance to the dungeon. Shtorrr had been able to survive the heat long enough for a short walk around, but Punch wouldn''t let it do the whole survey by itself.


    They moved in formation a few paces to the side of the giant vine. They had learned that it was better not to be directly beneath the leaves of the vine so snakes and spiders and a long creature with eight legs couldn''t ambush them. They walked for several minutes before spotting the bandit tents. Borth intercepted them soon after.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.


    "Done already?" Borth asked.


    "Not quite, Borth." Punch said. "Have you sent anyone to the far end of this floor yet?"


    "Nope, it''s all yours, scouts. Oh, in case you didn''t know yet, the big stinking vine in here is coated in acid. Take care." Borth waved them on.


    The second floor the scouts had yet to survey was mostly a guess from Punch, but the scouts had seen the clear pattern of portals between floors being right up against branches of the giant vine, and the vine in the blinding rain continued on out of sight of the tents. Target led the scouts along the vine, keeping the rain at his back.


    A roar shattered the calm sound of the rain and caused the scouts to spin around, squinting into the rain to try and spot the danger. Shtorrr held a dark red jellyfish in both hands. "Shtorrr, what-" Punch was cut off as Shtorrr roared again and ripped the jellyfish in half. The troll tossed the pieces aside and grabbed its head with both hands. "Bean, behind me!" Punch stepped forward to hive the ranged fighter cover.


    Shtorrr''s head snapped up at Punch''s words. It roared again and charged toward the other scouts. Target ran forward to intercept the troll, passing Bean and Punch. The troll and the shield bearer collided with the sound of thunder, but the troll was easily three times the mass of Target and had a relatively low center of mass. Target went flying, while Shtorrr only missed a step. Punch shouted a challenge at the troll while circling off to the side. He could see the trolls red eyes and guessed what had happened.


    "Its madness! Shtorrr is afflicted with madness!" He yelled to Bean and the hopefully still conscious Target. "Try not to get hit, it should wear off eventually!" Punch stabbed his spear aggressively at the troll to keep its attention. It worked, Shtorrr charged the spearman. The trolls arms were spread low and wide, so Punch used his spear to vault himself over the troll. He was partially successful, but the spear was knocked out of his hands and he fell on his back behind the troll. Shtorrr slowed and turned around as Punch got back on his feet. Punch didn''t think he could avoid a charging troll again from this close, but he didn''t want to run blindly through the dungeon floor. As a compromise, he ran over to the giant vine and began to climb. The troll charged after him.


    Punch got on top of the vine in time to dodge a swipe from the troll. It roared and tried to reach him, but it didn''t have the presence of mind to try climbing or fetch the spear for longer reach. Punch danced back and forth on top of the vine until the red faded from the trolls eyes. The troll looked very confused as it squinted up at Punch. "What?" It asked.


    Punch heaved a sigh of relief. "It''s alright, Shtorrr, you got a touch of madness from a red jellyfish. I''ve been keeping your attention away from the others while we waited for it to wear off."


    The troll frowned. "Sorry."


    Punch slid down the side of the vine. "It''s alright, like I said. We need to check on Target though, you hit him pretty hard." Punch took half a minute to spot his spear lying on the peat. Shtorrr squinted into the rain, watching for more red jellyfish. The two of them caught up with Bean and Target and checked them over. Bean was unharmed, and Target had a bruised arm and a cut on his cheek where the edge of his shield had caught him. Target might also have a mild concussion, but Punch couldn''t tell.


    "Sorry." Shtorrr said again.


    Target gave a small laugh. "It''s alright, Shtorrr. I know you didn''t mean it. I''ll be fine in no time."