Headed by a Snake

Lone descended down the iron ladder after Maximus, Dragan, and Wind General Naedrielle.

Guild Invictus stood atop the highest platform, inside of a hollowed tower, stone stairs spiraling down along the walls. The far-off sounds of hammers and clanking from down below echoed dully off the smoothly hewn stone.

"What is this place?" Lone looked around in wonder, wiping his brow. The hot air reminded him of the saunas back at the Ivory Judge sect.

Dragan crossing his arms, "I think it's a pocket dimension... One on the outskirts of the Plane of Fire."

Naedrielle scowled, "The Duke has opened a portal to the Plane of Fire? Does he want to bring the Gatekeepers down upon our city?!"

Dragan held a hand out, "First off, if you don't have anything useful to say, shut the hells up."

Naedrielle's eyes widened, "You DARE--"

Dragan grabbed the woman's sword arm with his left and raised his greataxe in the air with his right. The movement was so fast, Lone didn't even register it for a moment, "I'm stronger than you, Wind General. And I lead this group. You have a problem with it, you leave, right the hells now."

The elf narrowed her eyes.

"I will not ask again," Dragan gripped the woman's arm harder.

Naedrielle winced in pain for a half-second, but regained her bearing and nodded.

Dragan released her and resheathed his axe on his back.

"Who in the seven hells are you guys?" Naedrielle spat, rubbing her arm.

"Right now, Naedrielle, we're just a bunch of Iron-Rank adventurers that want to live to see tomorrow," Dragan shrugged.

He began walking down the steps. Naedrielle glared at Maximus, waiting to see a reaction. Maximus gave none, catching up to Dragan to walk alongside him.

Lone and Tamaki shrugged to each other and followed along.

"You haven't answered my question, Leader Dragan," Naedrielle badgered the giant man.

Dragan didn't spare the woman a glance, "I'm not as patient as Boss Tycon, Naedrielle."

"Is the Duke capable of opening a portal?"

"He is not. With the way the rift is located, the Duke probably had a cellar with a manifest zone. A minor ritual later, he stabilized it, replaced the door and ladder with iron to withstand the heat, installed a lever so he didn't have to burn himself on the door-- Frankly, I'm a little surprised I had to explain all that to you."

Naedrielle opened her mouth to gripe, but thought better of it... "Magical education in the Kingdom doesn't cover planar travel."

Maximus furrowed his brows, "You're an elf, Naedrielle."

She crossed her arms, "I have approximate knowledge of many topics, Mister Vanzano. Pocket dimensions and rifts to elemental planes are only vaguely familiar to me-- not to mention, illegal to even study."

"Don't feel bad, Miss Wind General. I didn't know 'bout any of that, neither," Tamaki offered a genial smile.

Dragan turned back holding up his arms, "Shite on a stick!?! WHY ARE YOU HERE?!?"

Maximus raised an eyebrow, "What's wrong? Tamaki is a noble archer."

"I thought I said only Iron-Ranks go into the fire dimension death trap?!" Dragan yelled, holding his head.

Lone raised his hand, "Mister Dragan, why am I here?"

"Shut up, Mister Crabs, you don't count."

Lone put his hand down and scratched his crotch.

Tamaki rubbed the back of his head, "You said fer all of Guild Invictus ta come down. Plus, I gotta back y'all up, if y'all are headin' inta danger!"

Maximus nodded, "Right. How could young master Tamaki bear to watch us brave danger without him?"

Dragan sighed, "Eh, it's probably fine."

Naedrielle pursed her lips, "Why do I get the feeling that it's not?

"Leader, do you know what exactly we're dealing with?" the elf asked. Her tone was probably as polite as she could muster.

"An associate of ours named Seldin Korr has a confidante in Fernia. After following a bunch of rumors, yadda yadda, she's concluded that a power called the Flamebriar Monarch has allied with Duke Tavor," Dragan shook his head.

Maximus tilted his head up in thought, "Flamebriar?"

"Right. Not an inherently fiery thing." Dragan glanced over to Naedrielle, "You look like you figured it out, Windy?"

Naedrielle glowered but did not comment on her new nickname, "Yes... The Flamebriars are an ancient elven clan, lost generations ago."

"Welp, yeah. Boss and I came to the same conclusion. Hence why I thought that the iron ladder and door up top might be for making sure Faewyld creatures don't break through to the surface."

"How's the iron gonna stop the bad elves?" Tamaki inquired.

"Windy," Dragan snapped his fingers.

Naedrielle's mouth twitched, "It's an old, old rule, lost to the ages. The most pureblooded fae are born of nature, one with the world. Taking metal and working it-- taking what is natural and bending it to the will of men is anathema to them."

Tamaki was staring at the walls.

"Maximus," Dragan waved.

Maximus placed a strong hand on the youth's shoulder as they walked, "Iron blades cause the most pain to the deep elves. Something in the metal is like a poison to them."

"Oh, I got'cha," Tamaki nodded, finally understanding.

Dragan continued before Naedrielle could stab the blonde boy, "Fernia has no interest in invading the material plane. They have their own wars to worry about."

Naedrielle frowned, "So you're saying this rogue fae, a Flamebriar ancestor, is responsible for the Duke's growth in power? Why? For what reason?"

Dragan shrugged, "Doesn't matter. We know the Duke's motives: money and power. We know the Duke's offenses: stabilizing a rift to a pocket dimension on the outskirts of the elemental Plane of Fire. Next task is sealing this stupid place, to prevent a possible invasion."

"And preventing the Gatekeepers from wiping the city off of the Kingdom's maps," Maximus added.

"Right," nodded Dragan.

Naedrielle crossed her arms, "Then WHY, Leader Dragan, are we venturing deep into this foul place and not just sealing it off?"

Dragan rolled his eyes and his entire head along with it, "Did you see a spell circle? An artifact? No, you didn't. There was just a metal door. There is no 'magic' portal, Windy. This is a stabilized rift that needs to be destabilized. Even if we block the entrance, this place will still exist."

Maximus put his hand on Naedrielle's back, "Shall we attack while the enemy is unaware?"

Dragan nodded, "We'll head to the bottom and look for a way."