Forming the Party and First Blood
Dorne sat at the table in perfect condition, ready to enter the Labyrinth at a moment's notice. A sign reading 'Party Matching' stood on the table. He'd arrived early on purpose to wait for his party members. Once they showed up, he planned to discourage any beer-drinking and head straight into the Labyrinth. Why? Because he had nothing left to do in the city. He needed to explore more, kill more, and bring back more loot to give himself a reason to stick around town.
According to the notice board he'd checked yesterday, two people had been matched with him. He'd said up to five was fine, but the guild must have had their reasons for assigning just three. Probably because circling Layer 1 with five people would mean low profits. Even Dorne, who'd massacred goblins single-handedly on his second Labyrinth run, hadn't been able to afford a single potion.
Then two people entered one after the other. They didn't stand side by side, scanning the tables from a distance—they didn't seem to be together. Spotting the 'Party Matching' sign, they made eye contact and headed toward Dorne with a light nod to each other. They sat at the table, and Dorne stood to shake hands in greeting.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Dorne."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Raon. First time in Labyrinth City."
"I'm Lilia."
Raon was tall and lanky, while Lilia was nearly as burly as Dorne—a rare physique for a woman. The round ears poking up from her head explained it.
"I use a shield and club... "
As the three settled in, a guild staffer who'd been watching the table approached.
"Excuse me. You're all here for the guild's party matching, right?"
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Here are your exploration tags back. Mr. Dorne, Mr. Raon, Ms. Lilia."
The staffer handed back their tags and continued.
"Alright, that concludes the Warrior Guild's beginner explorer matching service. If you need to recruit more members in the future, you can post on the board for a fee. Safe explorations!"
The staffer bowed and stepped away.
"Anyway, I use a shield and club. What about you, Raon?"
Raon touched the one-handed sword at his waist.
"One-handed sword and wooden shield. The shield's small, so it's in my bag."
"And you, Lilia?"
"Spear for me. About as long as I am tall? Left it in my inn room."
Dorne leaned forward, elbows on the table.
"I've cleared the Labyrinth solo twice. Got Iron Muscle. You two have any experience?"
"None for me. But I fought some goblins on the way to the city."
"Same here."
"How about we head in today? Hanging around town just burns money, and I hate wasting time or coin."
"I'm in."
"Me too, but we gotta hit the shops. Need preserved rations, and grab gear from the inn."
Dorne stood, hand on the table.
"Then let's move together. We can chat, compare inn costs and meals."
"Ah, got it."
The three chatted about basics like age and origins while walking, deciding to drop formal speech. Dorne, the oldest, would go casual with both; Lilia, a year older than Raon, would do the same with him.
"How's your inn? Price and facilities?"
"Hmm... I'm at the Beginner Forge Inn. Best for newbie explorers, hands down. Dad recommended it—he runs a mid-tier caravan between here and the pioneer cities."
Lilia declared it confidently, daughter of a caravan master.
"Oh, I'm there too. Some explorer I met told me about it."
"What's the rate? Mine's decent price but filthy."
Raon perked up.
"Bed's 1 silver a night, stew's 30 coppers. Roast chicken's 1 silver—tasty stuff."
"Ah, not bad."
Dorne clapped Raon's back.
"You'll make coin after a Labyrinth run. Don't sweat it. If we gel today, us guys can share a room."
"That'd save money."
"Yeah. Gotta save for deeper layers. Every copper counts."
Dorne wasn't planning to live like a beggar, but bunking with a timid, low-assertiveness ally-bro sounded fine.
Lilia's round ears twitched as she gauged the mood.
"What if I join in a bigger room?"
"Sharing with a girl feels off. For money, we can make a party fund."
Dorne clapped once.
"Oh, right. Before we enter, let's settle how we split loot."
"Yeah. I say 3:3:4."
The caravan girl proposed; farmboy Raon from the countryside stayed quiet, reading the room. No knowledge, but no fool either. Pleased his new party was sharp, Dorne countered.
"I think mine's too low. I've got Iron Muscle, Labyrinth experience—I'm way ahead. I take 50%, you each 25%. But I'll cover half the party expenses. Call it my investment in keeping us together."
Lilia's eyes flicked as she mulled it—fair deal, she nodded quick.
"Works for me. Raon?"
"...Yeah, good. We're relying on you right now, bro Dorne."
After hashing out loot splits, formations, and buying supplies, Dorne's party repacked near the entrance.
"Like we said: potions and fragiles in Lilia's bag—she's rear. Rations and water in Raon's—he's behind me. My bag gets bloody, so cooking gear there."
They sorted bags.
"Blankets won't break, but blood's bad. Who's tougher?"
"Me, probably?" Lilia said flatly.
Raon bristled briefly, then eyed her ears and got it. Bear beastkin.
"Gear's sorted. Quick recap: I lead, Raon slight behind. Lilia between us, spearing goblin legs for support. Hold hands for portals. Party fund exists, splits 50-25-25. Got it?"
"Yes."
"Got it, bro."
The rookies' faces were tense. Dorne slapped their arms.
"Complacency kills. 'It won't happen' is the killer line. No relaxing. We're set—let's go!"
The trio clasped hands and touched the portal.
The third Labyrinth welcomed Dorne's party. They checked feet with lanterns, then widened the beams.
"I'll advance. Raon, light my left. I'll tilt right. Fight starts? Drop lantern and bag for sword hand, stand right rear."
"Got it."
"Lilia, check rear often. Goblins won't flank, but stealthy explorers might."
"Yes. No slacking."
"Traps are the real killer. Foot injury wastes a 20-goblin potion. Layer 1, no running needed—we can take all we meet. Time to get fight comfy."
Dorne strode forward carefully. More lanterns meant brighter; abilities and numbers boosted power; more magic stones needed—pace was solid.
Corner hit, Dorne signaled halt, peeked solo. Left turn: caltrops smeared with filth. Beyond: five waiting goblins.
"Combat ready!"
He dodged charging goblins, backpedaled to his team. Dropped bag carefully by lantern, gripped club with freed hand, planted before Raon. Five goblins rushed.
-Keruk! Kekkeruk!
-Kek-kek!
Dorne jabbed lead goblin down with extended club, blocked two with shield. With Iron Muscle, he could've shoved and stomped the rest—but holding back for party acclimation.
One goblin lunged at rear-right Raon with sword; last slipped the gap toward Lilia.
-Kuk!
-Kek!
While sturdy Dorne and shaky Raon held front, cool-eyed Lilia speared the intruder's gut. Spear yanked free, spilling guts and blood.
Face hard, Lilia moved to aid wobblier Raon. He held shield and sword but hadn't downed his foe—goblin clawed over shield at his arm. Raon shoved it off but couldn't swing before it reattached—sweating bullets.
-Puk!
Lilia flanked, stabbed goblin's side. Limp, it fell; Raon finished throat with sword.
Dorne, side-eyeing, cleaned up: shield-slam one, club-crush another.
-Thwack!
Goblin skull split like melon. Dealt with shoved one same; initial jabbed one too—its hip dislocated, flailing on one leg.
Hip's tough joint—Iron Muscle power, or goblin anatomy differs?
-Hoo... hoo...
Post-walk-in-the-park fight, but Iron Muscle's stamina drain hit. Dorne turned.
"Lilia, finish that first one."
She stabbed the bleeding, unconscious goblin's throat—double-tap.
Dorne checked all, fetched dagger from bag. As Lilia and Raon moved to help, he waved them off.
"Nah. Just dirty one dagger. You two wipe your weapons."