Chapter 7

Carl's team departs the saferoom to recruit allies and meet with Juice Box and Ferdinand. Along the way, they encounter comedic tension over Louis's enchanted merchandise featuring Donut, then descend through the beautiful Larracos College of Magic and observe the city's NPCs preparing for war. War Leader Arief, a Semeru dwarf officer, greets them and reveals that the NPCs wish to formalize their alliance—through Louis's marriage to Juice Box.

Carl, Donut, Louis, and Britney prepare to leave the saferoom with Mongo and Rend to recruit people along the way to meet Katia. Louis is wearing an enchanted t-shirt from the Dungeon Sidekicks show featuring a cartoon of Donut's backside labeled "Donut Holes," which Donut discovers and is outraged about, viewing it as unauthorized exploitation. Britney reveals she similarly has enchanted underwear featuring Elle. Despite Donut's protests that Louis remove the shirt, he cannot because it provides enchantment benefits. They exit to the Larracos College of Magic, which Carl observes is a beautiful area featuring multicolored magical towers covering approximately a quarter of a ring. As they descend the stairs, they notice NPCs throughout the college and surrounding rings are actively preparing for war—teaching sword skills, repairing armor, and placing protective enchantments. Louis mentions the arts district below is mostly closed due to the conflict. At the base of the stairs, War Leader Arief, a young Semeru dwarf officer with distinctive Asian-influenced appearance and elaborate feathered armor, greets them warmly and offers Mongo and Rend beef jerky. Donut praises his elaborate hat. Arief reveals he commands the Larracos Defense Force Infantry and that the NPCs wish to discuss tactics with Carl's team. He also delivers an unexpected message from Juice Box: the NPCs want to formalize the alliance through marriage—specifically between Louis and Juice Box, and they wish to proceed immediately.