Dungeon of Niflheim-Chapter 924: To the Dungeon (2)

The caravan’s first night in the external regions despite some grumblings and discomforts passed without issue. Frost with the help of Neve and a couple others cooked up a soup filled with elk meat. A warm hearted and filling dish that brought a swift end to everyone’s hunger pains. It was far better than the rations they’d been surviving off of for the past few weeks that’s for sure.

Sleeping was a bit more of an issue however, not because of any subpar amenities mind you the tents and blankets supplied by Shiva were of exceptional quality, blocking nearly 100% of the wind and snow, making their night surprisingly warm and cosy. The problem lay in the mind, the anxiety and restlessness as well as the mental trauma that the Lunar maidens had endured causing them to repeatedly wake up in quite a state, some even screamed in terror, their bodies shaking and covered in a cold sweat.

All Frost could do was guard them through the night, giving up on his own sleep so as to provide a little more comfort to them in their time of need. He was their rock, their saviour the one who had pulled them out of hell and who was leading them to paradise. Seeing him there standing against the edge of the cave watching outside for any threats calmed their hearts allowing them to fall back asleep.

"Hopefully the following nights will be a little easier." He could survive skipping one night’s rest but a second or third would hamper his ability to protect them during the day.

His worry however went unfounded, the second night was much more peaceful allowing him to get some sleep. He was woken up a few times when a maiden had a night terror but as the days continued the disturbances became less and less.

"Master is it normal for the paths to be this deserted?" On their fourth day of travel Neve asked this, finding the amount of trade caravans, adventurers and civilians moving about the external regions to be lacking despite them choosing more secluded routes.

"No but I have a good idea why." Frost noticed this abnormality as well but unlike Neve he had a pretty good idea as to why.

Before he headed for Niflheim, Icethorne the northern most bastion of the Northrend empire was under siege, surrounded by the vanguard forces of a group calling themselves the Glacial mountains liberation alliance. Their goal, to forcibly evict the southlanders from the Glacial mountains, a rejection of being economically controlled by foreigners at least that was their publicised reasoning their true intentions probably being far less patriotic.

But regardless of their reasons it has caused a rift to form within the external regions, nations, tribes and enclaves that wish to see Northrend’s claws torn from the mountains and those that wish to remain neutral, choosing to avoid conflict with either side. Of course there are a few representatives that believe they’d fair better if the war ursa battalion remained in control of the boundary between the inner and external regions but either they’re wary of inviting danger unto themselves or lack the strength to offer meaningful aid. Because of this there has been far less travel between these nations, tribes and enclaves. Merchant convoys have stalled their trade so as to avoid being targeted by bandits or those who masked themselves as bandits. Until this war revealed a clear winner many have even chosen to close their borders thus the lack of people on the road.

"A war with major ramifications for the external regions is taking place with Icethorne and the war ursa battalion taking centre stage." Since Neve was now a subordinate he was keen to groom Frost wanted to let her know his thinking, to trust her with information that could be seen as valuable.

"What!!" This news shocked Neve greatly, even with their upturned attitude towards most of the nations within the inner regions the Lunar maidens had heard of the invincible fortress of Icethorne and the mighty Duke Runak who dwelled there.

Since she was interested Frost explained the situation as well as his own possible involvement in depth.

"....If the Demonic Empire is involved then unfortunately I have to say Master the chances of Icethorne being victorious is practically nil." Fear was evident in her expression as Neve gave her opinion.

"That’s right the Lunar maidens originally inhabited the core regions, so you probably know some things about the forces there." Granted it was several thousand years ago but old information was still better than no information.

"Tell me, what do you know of this Demonic Empire?" The War Ursa Battalion knew practically nothing about them only that they resided in the ninth layer of the inner regions and quite possibly played a similar role as them for the boundary between the inner and core regions.

"The Demonic Empire at least the one that resides between the inner and core regions is but a branch or an outpost nation of the true Demonic Empire but even so the forces they have at their disposal isn’t something Icethorne can hope to compete with. I can guarantee that as long as they’ve kept a certain level of power at least one perhaps even two S-ranks will be sent as commanders and the only reason it isn’t more is because of the laws set eons ago limiting the activity of S-ranks in the inner and external regions." The highest orders of power had to remain alongside similarly ranked powers so as to not disturb the balance.

"That bad huh." He expected Runak’s situation to be dire but not this dire.

"Yes but...it’s strange the Demonic Empire shouldn’t have much reason to extend their claws into the external regions or even the bottom layers of the inner regions. To them it should be nothing but desolate countryside." From what Neve had been taught by her teachers resources skyrocketed in availability and quality the further into the mountains you went.

’Could their power have weakened to the point that they need lesser resources or has there been a change in the power dynamic?’

"So their actions are unusual from your perspective."

"Yes, very."

"Then perhaps hope remains for Icethorne?"

"No, even if their overall forces are weaker than what has been passed down through the records of my clan there will still be at least one S-rank involved in the assault as it’s a matter of pride for the True Demonic Empire." If the branch nation lacked such a figure then the main branch would send one in its stead.

"Well....fuck!" Things didn’t look good for Icethorne. Even if they managed to receive aid from the ice dwarves their chances at beating the forces sent by the Demonic empire as well as the armies sent by the other members of the liberation alliance were slim to none according to Neve.

This didn’t bode well for Frost’s plans.

’Guess I have to help them somehow.’ He didn’t know what he could offer a group who’s strength eclipsed his own, but he couldn’t just twiddle his thumbs in anticipation. Losing the support of the Duke and Princess Avira who could compete with Randolph and Sedrick would leave his city state in the lurch, forcing him to face Northrend’s military might alone.

Alas such a problem would be better discussed with his beautiful partners and his loyal officers.

That night Frost for the first time left the Lunar maidens alone in the cave they’d come across, placing Kiba in charge of guarding while he discreetly entered a nearby camp. He wore a cloak to cover his head and a mask to hide his face, it wouldn’t do him any favours to reveal himself during this trek.

Acting like a standard adventurer here to hunt his quarry he made his way to the mess hall, ordered some simple food and a drink before sitting down within earshot of as much people as possible.

"There’s no way Icethorne will fall while Duke Runak can still hold his sword."

"What do you know five, FIVE massive nations are taking part in this war, Icethorne’s gone man, just another place to be wiped off the map because of war and greed."

"He’s right the War Ursa Battalion can’t win."

"Has your company also decided that this will be your last run?

"Yeah too risky, bandits are abound and everyone’s looking for an opportunity to either isolate Northrend or bolster their own defences."

"Did you hear about Wolsky traders?"

"No, what happened?"

"Apparently they strayed too close to frost giant territory and got ransacked, only one person survived thanks to a teleportation talisman he had on his person."

"Damn that pretty much rules out 60% of the trading routes heading to Icethorne then."

"Things really are looking bleak for the mighty Northrend empire."

"You can say that again, death of their monarch, a fierce civil war between the princes and now their strongest battalion and their most hallowed soldier are under siege....dire times indeed my friend."

"Do you think the 3rd Princess will manage to rally any forces to her name?"

’Hmm Avira’s making moves already.’ Frost listened to the discussions between the travellers hearing nothing but ill news until Avira was brought up. Remembering the girl’s youthful appearance brought a smile to his lips as he continued to eavesdrop.

"I don’t care about some war between those at the top of food chain that’s the business of our betters, but it does make hunting in the external regions much easier."

"Yeah when was the last time we could travel freely without running into trade caravans or have to compete with dozens of hunters for the same quarry." A group of adventurers or hunters as they preferred to be called within this region greatly enjoyed the advantages this war brought them. While others were too afraid to leave their homes they were out hunting monsters for materials. As long as they stayed away from frost giant territory there was little for them to worry about, bandits rarely attacked hunters especially ones at their level, there wasn’t enough money in it to be worth the risk....Frost, Avira and Borris seemingly being the unlucky exception.