The Bee Dungeon

A young couple found themselves in a cavernous stone hall, its walls and pillars stretching to the height of a mountain. The room was filled from floor to ceiling with stone shelves holding countless leather scrolls and golden measuring scales. Wraiths in black robes drifted between the shelves and arranged the scrolls with bony hands, never showing their faces to the guests in the room.
The couple moved closer together as they made their way through the room. The Hall of Judgement was never comfortable and now the couple also found themselves surrounded by beastkin. While the afterlife had shown them that
of their assumptions had been wrong, they couldn’t help but notice they were the only humans here, and wonder why that might be.
“You two over there, you’re Belissar’s parents, aren’t you?”
The couple blinked as they found they weren't the only humans after all. Another human couple appeared from between the beastkin and waved at them. Belissar’s mom nodded.
“Yes, we are but…do we know you?”
The wife of the other couple shook her head.
“No, but I can see his features in yours. The name’s Imkomos, Belissar helped me out with my apiary after you passed.”
Belissar’s mom blinked once more before making a big smile and bowing her head.
“Then…we owe you our thanks. I’m so glad Belissar had someone to take care of him!”
Imkomos shook her head.
“Don’t mention it, he was a big help to me since Syzmahl here had to go and die young.”
Imkomos glared at her husband, who slouched and rubbed the back of his head.
“Sorry again.”
Imkomos sighed…and then made a sad smile.
“Besides, I wasn’t around for much longer myself. I’m worried how the boy took it…”
All four fell silent at that. Belissar’s dad tried to put on a smile.
“We appreciate it regardless. I’m Grusinos and this is Amlissa, by the way. Do either of you have any idea why we’ve been brought here?”
Imkomos frowned and clenched her fists.
“If we’re both here…I can only think of one reason.”
Grusinos and Amlissa’s eyes widened. Amlissa gasped and began running towards the front of the hall, weaving between the bigger beastkin all around them. The rest of the humans followed after her and managed to find their way through the crowd. They burst out into the front of the hall, where the God of Death’s desk stood in front of a huge stone gate, and whipped their heads around.
They paused, for they found no one there. Belissar was nowhere to be seen. Amlissa’s heart sank, though she held on to the slightest glimmer of hope each moment she couldn’t find him in the realm of the dead…
As the group continued to search for him, a skeleton in a black robe rose from the ground, passing right through the floor to take its place at the desk. Imkomos knelt immediately, followed by her husband, then the beastkin, and then Grusinos and Amlissa.
The God of Death nodded, speaking in a raspy voice.
“Good, everyone is here. Now then, it will be easier to show you.”
The God of Death waved their hand and the gate behind them shuddered and slid open, revealing a wall of black fog. The fog swirled and opened up a hole in its midst and a light appeared within its center. The light filled the hole and began to shift colors, until it revealed an image of the world below.
Amlissa gasped again. There stood Belissar, standing before a whole tribe of beastkin.
“The veil grows weak and the dead have been honored. The will of the fallen has exhorted me to grant you the last rites denied you in life. I find the Bee Dungeon’s respect for death…sufficient, and have decided to acknowledge their ceremony.”
The God of Death waved their hand. Bits of light drifted from their palm and grew into little bees made of light. One bee flew to each person assembled there, hovering before their faces.
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“If you have any lingering feelings for those that remain, concentrate on them now. These messengers will carry them for you.”
Amlissa blinked, but then she looked up. She saw Belissar, her Belissar, only now grown into a fine young man. He stood tall and proud even before a tribe of bearkin that towered over him. She smiled, looked at the bee hovering in front of her, and clasped her hands.
“Belissar…I’m so glad you survived and are doing well. I’m so sorry I could be there for you, but I’m so proud of you for carrying on. Please, keep living. Please, be happy!”
The little bee danced happily before her and then turned and flew into the image. One flew from Grusinos, another from Imkomos…and then one from each of the beastkin around them as well. Amlissa and Grusinos held each other as they watched their bees join Imkomos’ and fly to Belissar, while the beastkins’ flew to their counterparts at Belissar’s side. They burst into tears as they watched Belissar do the same.
Then the bees made of light flew back into the hall and hovered before them again. The bees danced about…and Amlissa could somehow hear a cheerful voice.
“Belissar ok! Has hive of hives to help now!”
Belissar’s parents all burst into sobbing once again, joined by the beastkin around them.
The God of Death gave them as long as they needed to calm down before proceeding to the next order of business.
“Now then…”
The bees made of light now flew to the God of Death’s side and gathered together into a giant ball. They then burst out all at once to reveal a gigantic bee now standing in their midst.
“On account of her assistance in your last rites and your current familial connections to her champions and dungeon defenders, the God of Bees here has a claim to your souls that she has indicated she’d like to assert. You each now have the opportunity to move to her realm, the Hive of All Bees, as your souls’ home afterlife. You may speak with her now before making the decision.”
Syzmahl and Imkomos’ jaws dropped.
“There’s a God of Bees?!”
The God of Bees turned to face them, the gigantic bee towering over even the big bearkin, much less the humans. Her antennae twitched as she pointed her big eyes at the humans. Amlissa felt like she could see her own soul reflected in those black orbs that were bigger than her own body.
And then, the God of Bees…began to rapidly dance about.
“Belissar’s queen mother, drone father, and new queen mother! Amazing, incredible! Come to Hive of All Bees, will take care of best dungeon master’s hive!”
Amlissa, amidst the total confusion that resulted, had to wonder…just what her son been up to down there?!
One by one, the assembled humans and karnuq made their choices. Syzmahl and Imkomos took up the offer almost immediately, they’d have been enthusiastic disciples of the God of Bees in life had they known she existed. Amlissa and Grusinos were easily convinced once they were informed the God of Bees had an undeniable claim to Belissar’s soul if and when he should pass…and would be able to tell them all about his current life in the meantime.
The karnuq had more mixed responses as some of them already had been claimed by other gods, the God of Fire especially. Still, some of them, especially those who had family now fully blessed by the God of Bees or who were otherwise unclaimed by any specific god, chose to move. But all of them, whether they accepted or not, were informed the God of Bees would permit them to visit with their loved ones. The God of Bees would not separate hivemembers from one another.
And so, the Hive of All Bees would now be strengthened by the presence of departed souls, whose lingering feelings towards their previous world would become a new source of authority to act upon it. Plus, the God of Bees was very pleased to take care of best dungeon master’s family.
Once it was done, the God of Death let out a sigh.
“Thanks Bee, I’ve really been shorthanded on guides in World One.”
The God of Bees, however, danced the negative.
“Thank Belissar. Wanted to honor bees, taught how.”
The God of Death smiled…as best a skeleton could.
“Indeed. He does have a natural respect for the dead, that one. And he has befriended Hesfalle, who has been introducing him to death in all its aspects…hmmm…”
The God of Death began rubbing their chin. The God of Bees bumped her head against them and vibrated.
“Death help Belissar?”
The God of Death sighed.
“It is not so simple with me, Bee. My other aspects aside, I am the ultimate arbiter of the afterlife, the judge of the mortal souls and the caretaker of the unclaimed. Death must be fair to all, and your dungeon may soon become the epicenter of a great conflict. I cannot be seen as taking sides.”
The God of Bees vibrated once.
“Can help with guides?”
The God of Death paused.
“Well…”
The God of Bees vibrated twice.
“Belissar raising death bees and undead?”
The God of Death froze.
“That’s…nice, but…”
The God of Bees vibrated thrice.
“Death bees make death honey? Belissar make death mead and offer?”
The God of Death’s bones began to rattle.
“Ugh…f-fine! Ok, ok! Um…first, you need to help me with guides everywhere in World One, not just your dungeon! Only then can I justify assisting your master! And he still has to earn it! A Death room, Death bees, and Death mead! Offered in a ceremony like this one, carrying the will of the fallen and purified by respect for the dead! And if bees are going to be my guides now, Hesfalle needs some too!”
The God of Bees danced happily about.
“Ok!”
To be associated with Death would be a dream come true, a path to great recognition among the mortals. At the cost of lots and lots of work…which was no downside to the God of Bees at all! And all the requirements the God of Death established for Belissar personally…were all things Belissar would likely do anyways! That’s why he was best dungeon master!
The God of Death sighed and shook their head.
“I can’t believe I’m letting you convince me like this. Well, as long as we’re at it, go talk to Blood too. He’s been dying for Lomedys to spill blood in battle and he won’t forgive me if I don’t ask you for blood mead on his behalf.”
“Ok!”
The God of Bees happily departed. The God of Death sighed and shook their head once more…and then, once they were sure the coast was clear, began to cackle and dance about.
“Death mead, death mead! Offered by the mortal who designed a memorial for bee monsters, purified by the honor he shows the dead! I can’t wait!”