Princess Hannah of the Jade Harem CH 65

Hannah gazed down the tunnel, which descended a dangerous slope into an icy darkness. Years of blowing alpine wind had coated the walls in ice, creating a treacherous path. Frank enjoyed the idea of following the map that appeared to show a cave system below their feet. It was an old-fashioned treasure hunt, but Hannah had reservations about what lay below. She was about to ask how they would safely get down when a voice echoed from outside.

“Is that Breanne?” Quinny asked as she stared out of the cave.

“It is,” Frank replied as he approached the cave entrance. “I can feel her presence.” Sure enough, a tall elven woman in a scant silk dress appeared in the snow, walking barefoot to the cave entrance.

“What are you doing up here?” Breanne called. “I thought something had gone wrong with my wedding ring when I felt you in this direction.”

“Oh, right, the wedding rings,” Hannah said as she looked at her hand to see her magical ring. It bound her to her loved ones, allowing them to sense one another and know what direction they were in. Breanne had obviously followed the pull of the ring, arriving just in time to explore the strange cave. She greeted Frank with a hug and a long kiss, smiling as she whispered something in his ear.

“So, how was your morning with your girlfriend?” Hannah asked.

“Delightful,” Breanne said with a smile. “We had a surprise visitor. So, why are you here?” She asked when she took in the surroundings. “And why did you kill this woman?”

Hannah explained her desire to do something normal and denied having anything to do with the woman's demise. Frank showed her the map with the cryptic note written in goblin for some odd reason.

“This is intriguing,” Breanne said as she looked into the tunnel. “But that shaft is too narrow to fly in and a little too icy and steep to walk.”

“Maybe Webster can give us his spider climbing ability,” Hannah suggested as she tested her footing.

“We could have Frank chisel handholds for us,” Breanne considered.

“Out of the way,” Quinny yelled as she hurtled by and threw herself onto the ice. Umtha followed a second behind, the two women gliding down the icy shaft like a slide as their laughter echoed from the walls. They were gone in seconds, swallowed by the darkness of uncertainty as Hannah looked to the others.

“What is wrong with those two?” Hannah demanded. “Why does nobody have any sense of self-preservation.”

“I say we write them off as dead and go home,” Breanne suggested.

“We aren’t going home,” Frank said. “And it’s not like anyone can actually die. They are just having fun.”

“So how do we get down?” Hannah asked as Frank smiled.

A moment later, Hannah tumbled out into a round chamber, sliding across the ice as her scream echoed from the walls. Breanne followed right behind, sliding on her stomach as she came to an undignified halt.

“He pushed us!” Breanne growled as she slowly climbed to her feet. Frank came out of the tunnel just as she and Hannah stood, glaring at him with stern faces.

“What are you two so upset about?” Quinny asked as Frank set Webster down and ignored their glares.

“Our beloved husband pushed us down an icy tunnel into who knows what danger,” Hannah said.

“There’s nothing dangerous here,” Umtha said.

“But there could have been,” Hannah said. “For all we know, that tunnel could have dropped us into a shaft with lava at the bottom.”

“We’re fireproof,” Quinny laughed. “Besides, how else were we going to get down?”

“How are we going to get back up?” Breanne demanded. “That tunnel is extremely steep and slick with ice.”

“I will tunnel us out if we have to,” Frank replied as he looked around, noting a tunnel on the far side of the chamber. “Webster, scout that tunnel.” The spider chirped and hurried off, happily going about his task as Hannah looked shocked.

“Why is my spider taking orders from you?” she demanded.

“He knows I am your owner,” Frank replied with a shrug and moved across the room. It was a large chamber with a high ceiling and broken walls, but the floor was oddly level, with little in the way to impede passage. Frank commented that it was likely a random world spawn system, as it had level floors and odd lighting that was unnatural.

“So a floor is unnatural?” Hannah pressed.

“Have you ever been in a real cave?” Frank asked. “A level floor is almost unheard of. Flowing water doesn’t carve tunnels with ease of human movement in mind.”

“So this is a player's home?” Hannah asked as she turned about.

“No, it’s one of the random dungeons the world spawns,” Frank replied.

“You think this is one of those super dungeons?” Hannah asked.

“Nah,” Quinny said as she took Hannah’s hand. “This is just a small one. The giant dungeons have big fancy entrances that mark them.”

“We don’t know that for sure,” Breanne argued. “There could be massive dungeons hidden right under our nose.”

“It would be good for the popularity of our kingdom if we had a large world spawn dungeon,” Frank agreed but reminded them that the map wasn't very large. He didn’t expect to find much beyond what was already drawn on the map but wouldn’t rule out the possibility.

“Well, if you want to know, Webster says the tunnel turns to the right up ahead,” Hannah said as she listened to his voice in her mind.

“And there's no immediate danger?” Frank pressed.

Hannah sent the mental question and got a reply that it was nothing but a cave. She relayed the information as their tank took the lead, guiding his team into the tunnels.

“This is interesting,” Breanne said as she walked beside Hannah. “I think this is the first time we have done something like this as succubi.”

“We're all the same class,” Quinny added from just ahead, where she walked beside Umtha, flirting with their tails.

“We’re not all the same class,” Umtha replied with a glance back. “We all have our secondary builds to make us unique. I am a shaman, and you are a warrior.”

“I am a sexy warrior,” Quinny said as she swayed her hips. “Who can turn into a zombie.”

“Speaking of that,” Umtha said as she looked innocent. “I keep making the mistake of thinking my shaman class is limited by the collar. I forget that the collar is actually limiting my goblin class.”

“It doesn't affect the succubus class,” Breanne said. “It's like Hannah's kiss sets us free of the collar's limitations.”

“You're welcome,” Hannah teased as she slung her tail over a shoulder to play with it.

“Well, I spent time with Jaina earlier and foolishly told her my shaman class was limited,” Umtha admitted. “And now I feel stupid.”

Hannah caught up to her and wrapped her up from behind before giving her a little kiss.

“You’re not stupid,” Hannah insisted. “You are my beautiful goblin queen, and I love you.”

Umtha smiled and leaned her head back to express her happiness at being a part of Hannah's life. Hannah went to reply but froze as a squeaky voice echoed in her head.

“Frank! Webster is yelling for us to look out,” Hannah called just before something dark and indistinct burst into the tunnel ahead. It was hard to get a good look at the beast that moved among the shadows and rock, but it was big like Frank. Frank reacted before the rest of them, setting his feet as he prepared to meet the charge. His collar came off as he assumed his powerful ghoul form, with long claws glowing green to indicate he was ready to attack.

Breanne followed suit, her bow coming to readiness as she leveled the beast's way. Quinny was instantly encased in gold, and blue armor cut just right to show her curves. She drew a slender sword and brandished a round shield that glittered with gold and gems. Hannah had almost forgotten the exotic armor they found in the caves behind her tower, but clearly, Quinny had modified the look to suit her new appearance.

Umtha didn't change at all except for her hands, which glowed a soft blue. She said she would protect them as they advanced and stayed back to cover them.

The beast rushed forward, revealing a segmented body and eight short legs that ended in clawed hands. The body was flat, but the head was rounded, with a broad bony maw and small hooked pincers under three yellow eyes. The skin was a muddy gray and looked almost like the plates of a crab. It produced an odd inhale-like murmur as it rushed at them, coming straight for Frank.

A bolt of shadows hit it first, fired from Breanne with her magical bow. Frank charged as it closed the titanic body, colliding with the monster in a flailing of claws. They began a dance of slashing as the beast twisted about, snapping and raking like a wild animal. Frank began to glow with healing magic as Umtha put her healing to work, making Hannah pause.

“How is she healing the undead?” Hannah gasped as Quinny dashed by. She leaped into the air, spiraling as her sword seemed to blaze with white light. With a broad sweep of her arm, she landed beside the beast, cutting a deep gash in chitinous plates.

Hannah let the confusion of how Umtha was healing an undead and focused on the monster. Frank and Quinny were locked in battle, while Breanne supported from the side with her ranged fire. Hannah reached out a hand as a black mist formed into a blue-handled scythe capped by a silver flower. With a smile, she swung, the scythe bursting into flame as she threw it, turning it into a spiraling wheel of death. It collided with the beast as she vanished in a flash of green, appearing behind it to catch the weapon.

“This is fun!” Quinny cried as she dived away from two powerful arms. “We are like a real team.”

Hannah felt the same sense of excitement as she dashed in, swinging her scythe as she channeled more fire through it. She jumped about the beast, finding her ability to blink more useful than running in the confines of the caves. The monster wailed with every blow but shrugged them off, landing a powerful bite on Frank’s shoulder as he dug his claws into the monster.

“Frank!” Hannah cried as the beast bore him down, then jumped back as Frank began to flash with electricity. Umtha smiled as she encased Frank in a shocking shield and cast another heal, quickly setting his wounds to mend.

“How long has she been an effective healer?” Hannah asked as the monster turned on Quinny. Quinny met a charge by planting her feet and presenting her shield, creating a glowing circle of light that absorbed the massive bite. The monster bounced off the magical barrier and was quickly cut when Quinny unleashed a series of flashing slashes. It was a special combat maneuver that caused Quinny to move forward, her sword a weave of cuts. The beast jumped out of her reach, then suddenly, its short arms stretched to unnatural lengths, swiping at her with sharp claws. She cried out as it drew blood, but Hannah was there in a flash, her scythe severing the arms.

“Thanks,” Quinny said as she set her feet.

“Nobody hurts my girls,” Hannah stated with a smile. Frank tackled the monster, and Hannah blinked away, coming out above the beast. She dropped with a mighty swing, her devil strength behind the blow. Frank had rotted a hole in the monster's hide, and her blade bit home, digging in deeply as she commanded the beast to burn.

Her weapon blazed with searing heat, and the monster let out a wail. It took a twisting blast of shadows to the mouth, choking as Breanne silenced the horrible noise. It fell, crashing to the ground, its body slowly curling as it died.

Quinny glowed with healing magic as the group came to stand together. They had easily put down this strange creature that would have been a challenge for a lesser group.

“That was amazing,” Hannah said with a smile. “Why didn’t anyone tell me combat could be so much fun?”

“You never fought unless you had to,” Frank laughed. “And then you preferred to send your minions in.”

“Well, it’s a solid tactic,” Hannah countered. “But I had no idea Umtha could heal the undead.”

“Wait, that is odd,” Breanne agreed as she looked at Umtha. “How did you manage it?”

“I don't know,” Umtha said with a shrug. “I just wanted to heal him, so I did.”

“Maybe because I am part devil now?” Frank suggested.

“You dropped your devil guise the second that fight started,” Hannah said. “You don’t keep any part of the devil when you change back.”

“There has to be a reason for it,” Breanne insisted before asking Umtha to show them the spell she used.

“Healing spirits,” Hannah read as they looked at her screen. “It’s not a holy spell.”

“No, it says the school of magic is necromancy,” Breanne said. “Ha, she has access to a healing spell that restores the living and the dead because it heals the spirit.”

“Well, that's useful,” Hannah agreed as she looked over the spell. “Long range, she can channel it for increased effect, and it's an instant cast. I am jealous.”

“You should be able to learn it,” Frank suggested. “It is necromancy, after all.”

“Huh,” Hannah said as she pondered the idea. “I want to look over that spell later.”

“If that will make you happy,” Umtha said.

Hannah was more than interested in a heal that worked for both the living and the dead considering what most of her family were. She made a note to herself to do some research and try to copy it, then focused on where Webster was. The spider had hidden when the beast passed by and had found what he thought was the monster's lair. The group made their way to a small chamber where a modest pile of coins and jewelry lay, waiting to be collected.

Quinny and Umtha ran in, happily gathering up the loot like children at Christmas. They swept up anything that glittered and held it high, showing off their spoils.

“Huh, where does that enthusiasm come from?” Hannah asked.

“They are full of love,” Breanne replied. “Thus, they are free to be a child at heart feeling joy in all they do.”

“Wow, that was deeper than I expected,” Hannah remarked with a funny glance at Breanne.

“It comes with age,” Breanne replied. “When you reach the age I have, you have seen generations go by, and you have learned to see the nature of people. They love the way they do because of you.”

Hannah met her gaze as Breanne explained that she had done the impossible. She invited them all to be one family, sharing a love and a life that was beyond fantasy. Hannah blushed as she considered just how much fantasy their life had of late. She turned to Frank and leaned into his chest, hugging him tightly as he looked confused.

“What did I do?” Frank asked.

“You know perfectly well what you did,” Hannah replied. “You are you, and that’s everything I ever needed.”

“Hey, there are more tunnels,” Quinny called and pointed to the side. Webster is down there waiting for us.”

Hannah sighed and leaned back to smile at the man who had somehow made her want to stay in this crazy world. He nodded, then took the lead as Hannah and Breanne walked together, holding hands and leaning into one another.

The cave twisted and turned, but eventually, they encountered a pack of small boulder-like creatures with four legs that ended in spikes. They attacked from ambush, leaping like fleas and trying to latch on so a mouth on their underside could bite. They took a few wounds, but the pack was easily cleaned up, and Frank took the lead again. The next battle was three ice creatures resembling short blue crystal elves. They were quickly dispatched when four succubi cut loose with devilish fire powers, turning the cave into a small hell. Another batch of treasure was found and collected before Frank referenced the map to see which tunnel to take.

On they went, fighting their way through chambers long hidden in the depths of the mountain. A deep troll proved a moderate challenge when it jumped on them from above and managed to smack Hannah with a huge club. She flew back and into the wall, shattering stones from the impact. To her surprise, she was fine, the attack only reducing her health, but not being fatal.

The others mobbed it, taking it apart in seconds and adding its treasure to the haul.

“This is a lot of fun,” Quinny said as she and Umtha walked with arms full of loot. They had taken to wearing any jewelry they found, and now each woman had no less than three necklaces, an assortment of rings, bracelets, and chains to decorate them.

“I admit I am enjoying it,” Hannah agreed as she used her tail to pull Breanne closer.

“I am certainly enjoying this part,” Breanne replied in response to the embrace.

“Roric always talks about doing one of the big world dungeons,” Frank said as they rounded a bend in the tunnel. “Maybe we should do one.”

“Yeah! Let’s do one!” Quinny cried enthusiastically.

“Those are very dangerous,” Breanne remarked. “They get harder the deeper you go and can be hundreds of levels deep. Remember, Blackbast and Rajeen tried one, and their party was nearly wiped out, barely ten levels in.”

“So we respawn and try again later,” Quinny argued.

“It's not so easy,” Frank cut in. “Those dungeons have entire economies built around them and are heavily controlled. They might not let us run it.”

“Why? Because we’re monster players?” Hannah balked.

“Well, yeah,” Frank said with a dismissive shrug.

“Then I hope this is a big world dungeon,” Hannah countered. “So we can open it to monster players.”

“I can’t even imagine the anguish such a thing would cause our neighbors,” Breanne laughed.

“We could still do a world dungeon,” Quinny insisted. “People are nice to succubi players even though they are monsters.”

“For obvious reasons,” Breanne scoffed.

“Maybe, but who cares if it works to our advantage?” Quinny argued.

“We can worry about that later,” Frank said to change the topic. “The room that was circled on the map is just ahead. Has Webster found anything?”

“Let me check,” Hannah replied and concentrated on looking through their spider scouts' eyes. She saw what he was looking at, and her heart skipped a beat. “Wow,” Hannah said in surprise.

“What is it?” Quinny asked as she noted the surprise in Hannah’s voice.

Hannah had to blink to clear the image from her eyes before she could reply.

“It’s a treasure room,” Hannah replied as her tail began to swish. “And in the center is a statue.”

“Of what?” Umtha asked.

Hannah had to look again to be sure she had seen it right, then turned to the man beside her.

“It’s of Frank.”