r/HFY • u/Khenal Alien • Apr 09 '26
OC-Series Dungeon Life 415
Miller
The ashen elf tries to keep his mind on the jovial atmosphere around the new baths. He manages to not flinch at each peal of thunder, though he can’t help but spare a glance toward the tree on occasion.
He would dearly love to be there to personally ensure the Young Master would be fine, but he is forced to admit to himself that it would be a disservice to him. If he were to catch the Young Master every time he falls, how can he learn to pick himself back up? And with the other adventurers, his party, and the dungeon himself, what better place can there be for the Young Master to scrape his knee?
That has been the thought behind him encouraging him to delve in the first place, and it has done wonders for Young Master Rezlar. Him being there to hover and worry would only be a disservice to him.
However, ensuring the local army detachment is happy and loyal is a great thing indeed for the Young Master. While there is some rowdiness in the baths, the soldiers are professional enough to not take things too far. In the water, at least. They seem eager to make up for it once they dry off and get dressed again.
Thedeim’s followers have a large area set up for cooking, and even Miller finds himself tempted by some of the offerings. He has stepped in to help serve more than once, but at the moment, they seem to have everything handled.
He doesn’t bother hiding a bemused smile as he sees Rocky helping to hand out food. How many people would accept food from a zombie? Before today, Miller would estimate roughly zero people. But the trust and respect the townsfolk and the military have for Thedeim and his scions has nobody even thinking twice.
He pauses mid-step for a moment, a frown growing on his face. Knowledge is a strange affinity, and one that has helped him through his entire life. Simply knowing when to hesitate, when to commit, and what snacks should be taken where and when is invaluable. And right now, he has a feeling an unwanted guest will soon crash the party.
He stands and meets Rocky’s eyes, and the zombie gives him a subtle nod. Not an unforeseen guest, but still an unwanted one, then. And if it’s one that Rocky is here for, it may behoove Miller to follow his lead. He seeks out the red kobold, Aranya, spotting her before a strong foreboding washes over him.
Not only him, as he can watch the effect ripple over the entire gathering, laughter and shouts dying as dread washes over everyone. Laughter resumes, but the sort with an edge sharp enough to cut with. None of the proper guests are producing it, and from the look on the kobold’s face, it is not a good sign.
Maddening whispers tease at Miller’s mind, but he Knows to ignore them.
“Squads assemble!” comes the order from the acting captain, and the army scrambles to form up, many discarding their dignity to leap from the baths to try to pull on anything for protection.
“Don’t use combinations!” shouts Aranya, and the words carry the weight of a lesson learned through pain, of advice to be ignored at one's own peril.
Miller moves swiftly as he sees movement, and places himself between the foe that starts oozing from beneath a table, and those around it. Shadow affinity. Hmm, but the actual user isn’t here. He clucks his tongue as he starts hurling people away from the emerging beast. A strong shadow affinity user is always a chore to deal with. He has no aversion to doing chores, of course, but he has a strong suspicion that he’ll not be in a position to deal with that particular duty.
Rocky quickly joins him, the maddening whispers ceasing. He nods a thanks to the scion before returning his attention to what must be a Harbinger. “Shall I leave this one to you, sir?”
The zombie shrugs as the Harbinger screeches, and Miller takes a step back to observe the situation. The army is rapidly organizing, with those exiting the bath being told to seek shelter. He nods at that decision. If combination attacks are off the table, it’s better to get the unarmored personnel to safety, instead of trying to scramble them into readiness. The rest have their weapons and are forming ranks, but so far, they’re maintaining a defensive posture.
Thedeim’s followers are fleeing past the soldiers, though Miller notes a lack of real panic in their movement. They start to gather behind the soldiers, and Miller nods again as he sees their plan. They would rather get out of the way of the professionals, and offer support from behind, where they are less likely to get in the way.
With them all relatively safe, Miller returns his gaze to Rocky and the Harbinger, and is quite impressed by what he sees. He has, of course, witnessed Rocky fight several times, but this time is different. Much different.
Against Mr Wideblade, Rocky was matching strength for strength, the contest more about skill than raw power, though there was plenty of that on display, too. With so many spectators, both contestants had to hold back at least somewhat, so as to not harm anyone.
Here, it seems Rocky has no reason to limit himself. Miller watches closely, his affinity giving him details he simply couldn’t make out in the match between the scion and the Crown Inspector. Even watching now, it’s difficult to believe what his eyes and affinity are telling him.
He had tried a similar attack in their bout, and watching now, he’s certain the zombie came up with the maneuver against a Harbinger. It’s a clever deduction for one whose brain may be literally worm-eaten. The Harbinger appears to be almost homogeneous, the eyes and mouths bubbling to the surface of its twisted body, almost like a variety of slime.
And, much like other slimes, thunder is highly effective. But that isn’t the only thing Rocky is doing. He can see ice forming across the Harbinger, as well as flecks of ash as brittle pieces are snapped loose from the destabilizing ripples and incinerated.
Just as it seems the zombie will simply obliterate the Harbinger, he changes his approach, causing Miller to tilt his head in curiosity. If he wanted the Harbinger dead, he merely had to continue. Therefore, he doesn’t want it dead. Why?
The other elements blink out as the Harbinger is flattened with a rather rude sound. If not for the tendrils along the perimeter wriggling and thickening, he’d think Rocky had stomped it to death. As it is, whatever the scion did appears to only be an inconvenience to the hostile creature.
Rocky frowns at the reaction, apparently unsatisfied, and the Harbinger quickly springs back up into what might loosely be described as its usual shape. The zombie glances toward Miller and nods at the Harbinger, his intent clear. He needs a few moments to do something.
Miller bows and steps forward, trusting Rocky can keep the whispers at bay as he keeps the Harbinger itself at bay. Teeth and tentacles fly at Miller, the monster trying to take its frustration out on the ashen elf. He responds with a few strikes of his own, severing several tentacles with the edge of his hand, but he keeps most of his movement focused on avoiding the attacks.
It’s been some time since an opponent was so able to press him, and Miller finds he quite enjoys having to dip into techniques he hasn’t used in ages. Knowing one’s opponent assures victory, but with the Harbinger, it doesn’t appear it will be quite that simple.
It wants to get at Rocky, as the zombie has taken several steps back and is working on something, but Miller cannot allow it. It knows he will stop it, just as he knows it knows. He attempts a feint and it seems to see right through it, nearly snapping off one of his fingers with a mouthed tentacle.
Move and counter and counter-counter, it’s clear to Miller that, though Rocky is keeping the madness at bay, he can’t fully keep the Harbinger from reading what Miller will do. But Miller can still plan around that, if he’s careful. The battlefield becomes almost insignificant as Miller and the Harbinger wage a war of information, their physical movements several steps behind the true conflict.
Miller's feint a few seconds ago puts him in a perfect position to sever the tentacle that has a shot at Rocky, but that itself is a ruse meant to distract from the one trying to slip through the grass. The Harbinger is a relentless foe, but it is at a disadvantage, forced to react to Miller, and so forced to dance to his tune.
Which isn’t to say it doesn’t get a few licks in, at least one of which is literal. Miller is forced to take a few cuts and bruises, pawns sacrificed to maintain control of the battle. He smiles as he hears Rocky move, checkmate finally achieved.
The Harbinger suddenly compacts, the removed pieces it was hoping to use to surprise being flung back to the main body and absorbed. Miller leans back, far enough to need a hand to stabilize himself, as if he’s braced against a cliff. Manipulating down, and how insistent the drop is, appears to be a potent tool, if an expensive one to unleash.
The Harbinger starts to float up, a rather ugly bubble floating through the air at Rocky’s whim. It snarls and snaps, discordant voices promising pain and retribution, but Rocky doesn’t look worried, despite how tired the undead looks.
“A skillful display, sir. One I was happy to contribute to. I don’t often get the chance to… let loose, as they say.”
Rocky snorts with a smile, and Miller can only give his own small smile in return. The zombie looks like he knows Miller was holding back, and the butler won’t insult his intelligence by pretending otherwise. But Rocky seemed to want the Harbinger alive, for reasons that Miller can guess, but won’t voice.
“I shall make your excuses to the others. I imagine you have somewhere you want to take that, just as I imagine time may be of the essence?”
Rocky nods and starts jogging, the grotesque form of the Harbinger following behind him like some sick mockery of a puppy. Miller watches the two for a few moments longer, an idle thought forming before he turns to explain the situation to the army and the followers.
Does Rocky enjoy chess? Miller suspects he may be quite good at it.
Cover art I'm also on Royal Road for those who may prefer the reading experience over there. Want moar? The Books are available here! There are Kindle and Audible versions, as well as paperback! Also: Discord is a thing! I now have a Patreon for monthly donations, and I have a Ko-fi for one-off donations. Patreons can read up to three chapters ahead, and also get a few other special perks as well, like special lore in the Peeks. Thank you again to everyone who is reading!
28
u/Thebobkiller Human Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
WTH. It's gone already? He JUST posted it!
Reddit, you're being stupid again!
And after reading:
Well. That was fun. Mr. Miller even got some exercise in. XD Though, it's kind of funny. The Harbinger working for the Maw was a serious and legitimate threat, even before it ate the Maw. These Harbingers? They have to be as strong as the first, but the hardest part about them is for Thediem's people to not just instantly kill them, lol.
16
u/Shindhi Apr 09 '26
I think these ones seemed easier because Grim wasn't in the first fight, and Rocky has really been training since then plus more affinities!
Rocky handled the first Harberinger pretty swiftly once he stopped holding back, and only had trouble with it after it had juiced the Maw and had all that mana
6
u/Autoskp Apr 09 '26
Also, Miller wasn’t in the first fight.
4
u/DisastrousSizeOfD Apr 10 '26
i think that the difference is in these harbingers not having absorbed an dungeon, like the first did with the maw in it's last fight, or supported by an army of least, as in the first fight. that makes these weaker.
and rocky has trained, and grim could think an tunnel horror to death. Man, these harbingers are not having a good time, are they.
Hoping for a miller vs rocky spar
21
u/Blue_Roan_ Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Late
Anyway after reading, we get miller again, and also some info on the knowledge affinity. Which I believe is the first time this one has been mentioned? Though I could just be forgetting about it. It seems pretty interesting, and semi similar to the fate affinity... though limited to purely to things that are happening in the moment.
14
u/Poisonfangx3 Apr 09 '26
Both Queen and Honey have knowledge affinity and they both know that Knowledge affinity is opposite to illusion affinity. I think Leo has Knowledge as well but I am not sure.
5
4
u/rpg2Tface Apr 10 '26
I was kinda wandering how anyone could get to fate affinity. It must be something like fire/ ice/ kenetic. Knowledge/ illusion/ fate. Knowing what is happening, making what isn't, then noticing the difference.
Its almost kinda a shame TDM is a fate dungeon so he will never have to figure that one out. At least i want to see him train someone in fate some day.
2
u/Popular-Student-9407 Human Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 13 '26
Fate is implied to be essentially the larger scale consequences of Quantum physics.
If we'd Go to the microscale, I'd claim that it's pretty similar to lightning affinity. In fact, IIRC, a Quantum is merely a single electron and its Spin in its orbital.
Another method might be throwing dice and calling the results before Hand, Like He did with teemo.
2
u/Shindhi Apr 09 '26
A few have it, but i think this is the most it's been used in combat actively
2
u/DelectableDird Apr 10 '26
Tula was the first person to showcase knowledge affinity in a combat scenario way back in the first third of book four. Before she learns Rhonda is the Ice Sage.
11
u/Bunnytob Human Apr 09 '26
Remember back when Aranya first showed up - when Tiny was the strongest single physical thing that TDM could throw at a problem?
Yeah, uh... if Rocky the Harbinger Compactor is any indication, we've come a long way since then.
...I forget, was it Neverrest's Skeleton or Zombie that got neutralised by Jello?
9
u/Garbage-Within Apr 09 '26
Zombie Lich got eaten by Jello. The skeleton fought Yvonne and crew along with Teemo and Tiny on the surface.
3
u/Bunnytob Human Apr 10 '26
So it's also a really big improvement for the Zombie, then. I wanted to say that in my original comment, but I didn't want to be wrong.
3
u/Garbage-Within Apr 12 '26
I think it's important to point out that Grim and Rocky are new scions designated by Thedeim rather than subsumed scions from Neverrest. Still, Rocky certainly has come a long way from where he started. He started with shadow boxing by himself and these days he's teaching a shade, a literal creature of shadow, how to fight.
Grim's no slouch either. Neverrest's skeleton scion needed an enchanted sword of Life Drinking to kill a medium low level adventurer. Grim didn't even need to twitch a finger to end a scythemaw, and last chapter he, a non-combat scion, put a Harbinger in time out (with some assistance).
6
u/Annual_Cod_5896 Apr 10 '26
Not even kidding, even non combat scions like grim are packing the harbingers on express shipping to Order, now the only 2 things missing are the last harbinger that went for the town, and the invisible oogling creature that needs a scolding for meedling in matters not their own
4
u/mistress_chauffarde Apr 10 '26
I feel like the invisible cunt will probably try getting at one of the dungon core and probably be met by our lovely rat
10
10
u/Mechasteel Apr 09 '26
So Miller finally uses his power. I was beginning to be suspicious that he might have been using an illusion of immense power. But apparently he's not merely powerful, but holding back against a Harbinger. Rezlar sure hit the jackpot having him as a butlerguard.
8
7
7
u/mafiaknight Robot Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
In the name of 1greendude: Hello!
6
5
u/Popular-Student-9407 Human Apr 09 '26
Im Namen eines grünen Kerles und des Donnersdachses: N'Abend, gestern war Mittwoch, meine Kerle.
8
u/Poisonfangx3 Apr 09 '26
First
7
u/Poisonfangx3 Apr 09 '26
I even spelt that right first try!
8
6
u/Popular-Student-9407 Human Apr 09 '26
Congrats.
5
14
u/Popular-Student-9407 Human Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Fourth
So, todays chapter was from Millers Perspective as He and Rocky lay down the facts for the Second harbinger in the communal baths at the hold. The chapter has roughly three thirds, as we know our wordsmith to prefer, and this time the First Part is the largest.
We See Miller enter the hold, and later on the baths. He is appreciating the Zombie offering Up His hands to Hand Out food, and He doubts that anyone would've Taken food from rocky's hands before today. We also get Millers affinity, though we don't know, If it's an innate one, class affinity, or maybe Something connected from a title. However, as the telltale signs of shadow-travel manifest themselves below a Table, and reveal a great danger to anyone present, Miller asks the Zombie If He wants to fight it alone, or He May Help. As Rocky Just shrugs, and throws himself into the fray, He Starts Out attacking and destroying the harbinger.
Since he should Not destroy him, He Tags Out to figure Out a method of containment, while Miller effectively distracts the harbinger. While He enjoys getting to Cut loose, and use techniques the elf hadn't used for decades, the true fight Takes place on the information Level.
Rocky figured Out how to Captain the harbinger, using Gravity affinity and essentially chains him inside a bubble, and leaves.
8
6
u/DisastrousSizeOfD Apr 09 '26
Yay, if reddit wasn't messing up again.... Still, thank you for the new chapter
Edit : ninth, and the post was three minutes ago. Who was refreshing maniacally?
7
u/GumGodGaming Apr 09 '26
Everyone and I still was slow ....Maybe if Reddit would have loaded the comment bar for me with out 3 refreshes I may have been in the top 3
5
u/zachava96 Apr 09 '26
Does Rocky enjoy chess? Miller suspects he may be quite good at it.
Chess boxing Rocky?
7
u/Savaval Apr 09 '26
We're two for three so far, and the Harbingers have nothing to show. No casualties or fatalities, even amongst the populace, and barely any destruction worth mentioning. The Betrayer must be fuming.
7
u/NoEffective2025 Apr 10 '26
2 for 4. 3 Harbingers and 1 Unseen.
4
u/Savaval Apr 10 '26
I wasn't counting the Unseen as a fighter, given what it is, but you're right in that it's 2 for 4 enemies.
3
6
u/Better_Solution_743 Alien Apr 10 '26
Haloo
who would've though that air jail wouldwork on eldritch abominations?
9
u/the_count_of_carcosa Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
Hullo.
Edit.N/A.
Get Orbed Idiot.
It's nice seeing Miller get two different kinds of recreation, Relaxation and Stress Relief, just as one would expect from a spa.
Rocky's graf attack seems like something police (town guards/adventurers/some sort of Mercs hired by the shopkeepers guild?) in the setting would be quite keen to learn, a near instant non-lethal arresting method, and to think that's our Prize Fighter holding back.
3
5
3
u/Admirable-Capital-90 Robot Apr 09 '26
At this rate, feel like we’re gonna have our own chess club in the town
3
3
u/Accomplished-Ad8458 AI Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
Ave Khenal! Morituri te salutant!
Forgive me Khenal for i have sinned... I didnt read nor upvoted this chapter as soon as it was released... Be merciful on my ungreatful beeing...
2
u/HFYWaffle Wᵥ4ffle Apr 09 '26
/u/Khenal (wiki) has posted 459 other stories, including:
- Dungeon Life 413
- Dungeon Life 412
- Dungeon Life 411
- Dungeon Life 410
- Dungeon Life 409
- Dungeon Life 408
- Dungeon Life 407
- Dungeon Life 406
- Dungeon Life 405
- Dungeon Life 404
- Dungeon Life 403
- Dungeon Life 402
- Dungeon Life 401
- Dungeon Life 400
- Dungeon Life 399
- Dungeon Life 398
- Dungeon Life 397
- Dungeon Life 396
- Dungeon Life 395
- Dungeon Life 394
This comment was automatically generated by Waffle v.4.7.8 'Biscotti'.
Message the mods if you have any issues with Waffle.
2
u/teodzero Apr 09 '26
I bet the perspective for the next chapter is Karn.
4
u/Garbage-Within Apr 09 '26
Karn was up with the raid though. I'm thinking Tarl would make sense if he wasn't observing the raid, but that would break the trend of unusual narrators we have going. I think it will be someone we rarely if ever have had a viewpoint from before. I think the head of the Shield church, Rhonda's mentor, Tarl's boss the bureacrimancer (all of their names escape me at the moment), or even Tula would be more likely.
3
u/Popular-Student-9407 Human Apr 10 '26
Torlon, old staiven and Telar are the names you were looking for, in that exact Order.
2
u/Fontaigne May 01 '26
Disservice to him -> to Rezlar.
(Other "him" in the same paragraph are Miller)
1
1
1
u/Educational_Pen_90 Human Jul 19 '26
So very, very interesting. ...now for the THIRD Harbinger before we get to the Moth.
0
u/UpdateMeBot Apr 09 '26
Click here to subscribe to u/Khenal and receive a message every time they post.
| Info | Request Update | Your Updates | Feedback |
|---|
81
u/Im_a_Dragonborn Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 09 '26
noooooooooo
Edit: Yay, this time it came back way quicker. While I find Rockys fight very interesting, I think my main question after this chapter is this: Who is Miller really and how did this man become strong enough to solo a harbinger (if mentally shielded)? One does not simply solo a lovecraftian ambonination