In Faerun, the history of the Dark Lands precedes the surface world.

Long before the Creator Race rose to prominence and established its first civilization, the benthic mokfish were the undisputed overlords of the Dark Regions.

Among them, ancient races like the Kou Tao Fishmen can be traced back to the time when the creator race ruled the earth before the rise of the dwarves and elves.

Later, with the arrival of the Dark Elves, and the emergence and multiplication of the Grey Dwarves, Eye Demons, Mind Flayers, and Underground Gnomes, the competition for valuable survival resources has gradually become more and more fierce and bloody.

Clean drinking water, for example, may be nothing in the surface world, but in the dark regions it can often mean the survival of a city or even a race.

As a result, most of the races that enter the underworld and spawn the corresponding subspecies often exhibit cold, cruel, and evil personalities that are completely different from their cousins.

This is true of the Dark Elves, a subspecies of elves, as is the Grey Dwarves, a subspecies of dwarves.

In Zuo Si's view, it is very likely that the result of this convergence evolution is not only related to the evil gods they believe in, but also inseparable from the harsh and cruel living environment in the dark region.

After all, in the face of the pressure of survival, the so-called morality is simply worthless.

Under the premise that the surrounding resources are extremely scarce, if any race wants to thrive, it must do everything possible to compress the living space of other races.

Or even plunder what they need from the other side, including food, water, slaves, minerals, and more.

That's why most of the Dark Lands cities still retain primitive slavery and are keen to expand and conquer.

Among them, the dark elves and gray dwarves, who occupy a relatively strong ecological niche, often enslave several times more slaves than themselves, to perform all kinds of heavy manual labor, to ensure the normal operation of huge underground cities, or to use them as cannon fodder to attract attacks on magic during battles.

If there are too many slaves, they can also be sold to the Mind Flayer.

Anyway, these monsters who live by eating brains will always have an attitude towards slaves, and they are unusually generous in paying their salaries, and never care about it like other races.

In fact, the true Netherlands are far more complex than surface world scholars believe.

In many cases, what people call the dark realm is actually the shallowest level of this vast underground labyrinth, and at the same time the upper layer closest to the surface.

Due to the relative abundance of food and water, as well as a certain degree of trade with the surface world, the number of races and various creatures living in this layer is also the largest.

Most of the more famous underground cities are basically concentrated in this area.

Further down is the middle of the dark realms, where water and food become extremely scarce, and large gatherings or cities are rare.

Creatures like the Koutao Fishmen, Lizardmen, Goblins, Kobolds, and the like are almost all scattered in small tribes of no more than three hundred people.

Due to their weakness and lack of means of resistance, they are the primary source of slaves for the Dark Elves, Grey Dwarves, and Mind Flayers.

As for the deeper third layer, food and water are already scarce enough to support civilization.

Any race that lives here needs to fight for their right to live through extremely barbaric and cruel cannibalism.

At this level, intelligent life is actually not much different from beasts.

Normally, with the exception of mushroom people who look like large mushrooms, the most common way to greet you is to burst out of the darkness and tear you to pieces with their fangs or claws.

No communication!

There is no communication!

There is only the eternal killing between the hunter and the prey.

As he went deeper and further into the underground world, Zuo Si was able to clearly feel the huge impact of environmental changes.

In particular, the dark elves, led by Trist, are becoming silent, nervous, and vigilant at a speed visible to the naked eye, and from time to time there will be a cold light full of coldness in their eyes.

Obviously, this is very different from the relatively relaxed state they have on the surface.

In order to reduce the potential danger of speaking and making sounds, the entire team's communication method has completely changed to complex sign language after officially entering the dark area.

Fortunately, Zuo Si had spent a little time studying a long time ago, so he was not unfamiliar with this kind of body language.

Quite the opposite!

He was even fluent in sign language to give orders to every Dark Elf in his ranks.

At first, even the well-informed Trist was shocked by this hand.

This legendary ranger originally thought that Zuo Si's proficiency in the underground lingua franca and drow language was already quite powerful.

Even those born in Mosoblai would take at least a few months to a year to master such complex sign language.

However, what makes Trist even more incredible is that as a surface human, Zuo Si does not seem to be unfamiliar with the dark region at all.

Especially the kind of dark environment that is so quiet that you can hear your own heartbeat can easily cause inexplicable panic in people who are used to living in the sun.

But Zuo Si always acted like a nobody, and did not show the slightest discomfort.

Coupled with the effect of transformation magic, it even gave the dark elf ranger the illusion that the other party was a fellow dark elf.

Taking advantage of the time to sit down and rest, Trist finally couldn't help but lean over and ask in a low voice, "Have you ever been to the Dark Region before?" ”

Zuo Si immediately smiled and shook his head: "No, no, this is the first time." However, I've been to Waterdeep's Leyline Labyrinth before, where I've dealt with Dark Elves, Mind Flayers, Eye Demons, and other creatures that inhabit the underworld, so the Dark Lands aren't completely new to me. ”

"You've been to the Leylines Maze? No wonder! Trist suddenly showed a look of sudden realization.

He had also visited Waterdeep and knew that there was a large area beneath this legendary city that closely resembled the environment of the Dark Regions, and even a huge labyrinth connected to the Dark Regions.

Wherever you have ventured, it is basically equivalent to going to a dark region.

"By the way, how far are we from your hometown of Mosoblai?" Zuo Si asked casually.

Trist replied without thinking, "It should be close."

We entered the Northern Underworld through the Luskan Underpass.

So it's relatively close to Grixtug City and Mantodris City.

A little further north, you can even see the ruins of Burynden Stone, which was abandoned by underground gnomes.

Heading east along the tunnel, you will soon see a huge underground lake, Lake East Niagarton.

This is where Mothoblai City is used to keep Lothmon in the city, and there are often dark elf patrols around.

As for the fungal forest you're looking for, it's just south of the city of Mosoblai and Lake East Niagardon, and it occupies a large area in the center of the Northern Dark Regions.

It is said that the fungal creatures there are very old, especially the mushrooms, and the number is too numerous to count.

The city of Mosoblai had sent several teams to scout the fungal forest, but without exception, they had never returned, even the undead controlled by the priests.

Perhaps this ancient fungal forest was created by the fungal lady Zugmoyin. ”

"In other words, in another twenty hours, we will officially enter the sphere of influence of Mosoblai City?"

Zuo Si touched his chin and glanced at the simple map of the underground world in his hand.

He was obviously very interested in this ancient dark elf city.

According to the information currently available, since the old master mother of the Ban Rui family, who lived for more than eight hundred years, was killed when she personally led an army to the Mithril Hall, the entire city of Mosoblai has fallen into chaos.

Since the first family no longer has overwhelming superiority and strength, the other dark elf families that are behind take advantage of the situation.

At present, many ambitious housewives are doing their best to recruit troops, hoping to take advantage of the chaos to improve their family's strength and ranking.

At this moment, the entire city of Mosoblai is like a huge powder keg, and no one knows what will happen tomorrow.

Of course, it is precisely this chaos that has given countless mercenaries the opportunity to make a fortune.

However, only for Dark Elf mercenaries.

If it is a gray dwarf or other race, it is very likely that they will be attacked by black, or they will simply be captured and sold into slaves without any salary.

The chaotic and evil nature of the dark elves determines that they will not abide by any so-called contracts or terms, and may stab the so-called "allies" in the backhand at any time at the slightest opportunity.

Trist nodded slightly, "If nothing else, in about ten hours we should encounter the first wave of patrols from Mothorb."

You have to be careful not to see even the slightest flaw, otherwise we will be in a very dangerous situation.

In addition, remember that in front of a woman, especially a priestess, you should never try to speak back or refuse any request she makes, otherwise it will be seen as an offense. ”

"Don't worry, I know how to play a sinister, cunning, and ambitious dark elf male."

As he said this, Zuo Si stroked his long white flowing hair.

At this moment, he was no longer human, but a very young-looking dark elf mage, and even wore a badge on his chest that symbolized his noble status.

You don't have to ask to know that this badge is an impostor made by itself with its powerful magical creation ability.

But if a dark elf is allowed to identify it, whether it is its superb and intricate craftsmanship or the powerful magic blessed on it, it will make the other party think of it as a true noble badge.

You must know that in the society of the dark elves, the gap between the nobles and the commoners is not just as simple as the ruling class and the ruled class, the former even holds the power of life and death over the latter.

Therefore, it is particularly important to have a noble identity at this time.

"If all goes well, we can enter the city of Mothoblai and find a way to find out a little bit about the Fungal Forest and the Druyin you mentioned earlier. Also, due to the sensitivity of my identity, it's best not to call me by my first or last name, as that might cause unnecessary trouble. Trist admonished with a serious face.

He won't forget what an amazing battle Queen Rose made in order to hunt him down, and even now he still feels his scalp tingle when he thinks about it.

What's more, Zuo Si, a voter who wields the power of terror, is not a vegetarian either.

If a fierce conflict breaks out between the two sides, the entire city of Mosoblai may become a dead city under the terrible plague.

This is also why, Trist obviously didn't want to return to his hometown at all, but finally accepted Zuo Si's invitation and chose to join the team.

He hopes that through his own efforts, the matter will end as little as possible without causing an uproar.

Zuo Si obviously knew what the Dark Elf Ranger was worried about, and responded with a smile: "You don't need to be so nervous, I said that this time I just came to find someone, and I won't do anything to Mothob to the city and the dark elves who live in it." ”

"I hope you can maintain such a calm attitude when you see how they torture the slaves, how the priestess give orders from above." Trist smiled wryly and whispered.

Not to mention an outsider, even when he himself saw these when he returned to Mosobu to come to the city a few years ago, he couldn't help but subconsciously clench the handle of the scimitar.

Knowing the chaos and evil of the dark elves, even the demons from the bottomless abyss will be amazed.

Some powerful demon lords have even learned from the "art" of torture and torture by the dark elves.

But Zuo Si shrugged his shoulders disapprenosingly: "My adaptability is much higher than you think." What's more, some of the humans I've seen aren't necessarily much worse evil than the Dark Elves. ”

Just as Trist was about to say something, Venal, the female leader of the Dark Elves, suddenly walked over from a distance, first put her finger to her lips and made a silent motion, and then made a follow me gesture in sign language.

Zuo Si and Trist didn't say a word, they immediately stood up and followed each other to the vicinity of an empty tunnel about two hundred meters away.

Following the direction of her finger, the two soon saw a caravan of gray dwarves, besieged by a group of Kou Tao fishmen.

The former numbered about thirty men, mostly hoplites armed with spears and shields, followed by a group of long-range archers, also heavily armoured but armed with crossbows.

In addition to this, there were almost twenty orcs and four ogre slaves.

They drove more than fifty huge wooden carts loaded with goods ranging from weapons, tools, salt, and grain to fresh fish and crabs, and it seemed that they wanted to make a fortune in the city of Mothoblai.

Although the Dark Elves are known for their insidiousness, cunning, ruthlessness, and cruelty, their cities are not completely closed to the outside world, with the Grey Dwarf caravans being the most common visitors.

Some of the grey dwarves, who were able to provide valuable necessities, were even allowed to settle in the city for a long time and had their own permanent stalls in the market.

As for the Kou Tao Fishman......

These creatures flood all the watered areas of the Shadows, and try to rob all creatures that pass through their sphere of influence.

In particular, caravans with a large number of supplies almost encountered one robbery at a time, and did not understand the sustainable development routine of protection money.

From a purely numerical point of view, the Kou Tao Fishman is obviously the one who has an absolute advantage.

They appeared to be more than three hundred people, and among them were several priests with magical powers.

On the gray dwarf's side, there are no spellcasters at all, and all of them are warriors.

The battle between the two sides was straight to the point of bayonet from the very beginning.

With a sturdy line of heavy armor, shields, and carts, the Grey Dwarves easily withstood the first chaotic charge of the Koutao Fishmen, and shot a dozen of them with their crossbows.

Unfortunately, this death is nothing to the latter.

In the blink of an eye, the Kou Tao Fishmen took advantage of the chaos to rush up and attack the orc slaves who had no armor to protect them, and forcibly dragged them to a bottomless pool to drown them alive.

Seeing that the caravan's precious property, the slaves, had suffered huge losses, the gray dwarf at the head immediately became furious, and shouted at his subordinates: "Idiot! Don't patronize yourself! Get all my orc slaves back! One of them can sell it for a high price of one hundred and fifty gold coins in Mothoblai City! ”

"Boss, are you kidding? Look at the number of these damn fishmen, we'll only lose more if we rush out. One of the grey dwarf warriors rolled his eyes in annoyance.

Seeing this, another gray dwarf warrior also chimed in: "I think at this time, it's time to take out those treasured magic items and scrolls and use them. Otherwise, these fish-men would not have retreated easily. ”

"Shut up! What do you think magic items and scrolls are? Are those scrap copper and rotten iron with a handful of gold coins? Any magic scroll with more than three rings is worth more than your life. ”

The caravan master's tone was filled with contempt and contempt for his mercenary guards.

However, those gray dwarf guards had obviously become accustomed to the stinginess of their own bosses and employers, and immediately put on a posture of not being able to work, anyway, they were stubbornly guarding the convoy, and absolutely did not care about the lives and deaths of those orc and ogre slaves.

It didn't take long for these unarmored slaves to be swept away by the Kou Tao Fishmen.

It has to be said that the performance of the gray dwarf guards made the caravan owner jump to his feet in anger, but there was nothing he could do.

The reason is simple!

The Grey Dwarves are representatives of order and evil, and they have already signed very detailed employment agreements when they were in their own city.

The agreement clearly states that the guards are only responsible for the safety of the cargo on board and the employer himself.

As for those slaves who were later procured elsewhere, they were not included in the scope of duty.

So strictly speaking, the guards did not break the contract.

What's more, the gray dwarf guards are not stupid, and they understand that their side is currently an absolute disadvantage in numbers.

Only by relying on the defense of the board can you protect yourself to the greatest extent and reduce the chance of injury or even death.

After all, property and goods belong to the employer, but life is one's own.

Anyway, there was a lot of food and supplies on the caravan's caravan, and they could have slowly consumed it with Kou Tao until the other party couldn't hold it anymore and left on its own......