AFTERWORD

Chapter 45

Volteeg

Overview

Volteeg, a gargoyle former-crawler turned mercenary, deliberately sabotages his Weeper tank by removing fire-control safety systems and filling it with unstable energy balls. After King Rust is killed by Rosetta, Volteeg detonates the tank in the center of the Bloc force, killing over 10,000 soldiers including Warlord Hortense and eliminating the Operatic Collective from Faction Wars.

Summary

The chapter opens with Volteeg's memories of his past as a pet parrot belonging to Mistress Henspar, before he consumed a pet biscuit that transformed him into a gargoyle and granted him intelligence and speech. He recalls her love and protection, and his failure to save her when she died on the seventh floor. After her death, he discovered hidden messages in the Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook and wrote a single entry filled with rage and shame at his inaction. He accepted an NPC guard role on the tenth floor and survived 26 seasons, eventually exiting to work for the Operatic Collective's compliance barge. When Princess Formidable revealed that the Operatics had hidden kill-switches on all military hardware and would use them, the Bloc forces launched an attack despite their grim odds. After King Rust is beheaded by Rosetta, Warlord Hortense assumes leadership of the fractured Bloc. Volteeg, having been recognized as a cookbook author by Rosetta and encouraged by Porthus to take action, deliberately removes the fire-control safety system from his Weeper tank and fills it with dozens of unstable energy balls. While listening to Mozart and remembering the warmth of his former life, he deliberately maneuvers his tank toward Hortense's caravan, ignites a blitz stick, and detonates the explosives, killing over 10,000 soldiers and eliminating the Operatic Collective from Faction Wars.

Characters

  • VolteegA gargoyle former-crawler and tank commander who sabotages his Weeper tank and detonates it in the center of the Bloc force, killing thousands including Warlord Hortense
  • Mistress HensparVolteeg's former owner who loved and protected him before the dungeon; deceased, recalled only in memory
  • RosettaAppears briefly, beheading King Rust and triggering the chain of events leading to the Bloc's collapse
  • King RustOrc warlord killed by Rosetta at the battle's opening, prompting succession crisis
  • Warlord StalwartSkull Clan leader who disputes Hortense's claim to Bloc leadership after King Rust's death
  • Warlord Hortense Leadership UnitOperatic Collective leader who assumes command of the Bloc and is killed along with his caravan by Volteeg's tank explosion
  • AJ PavrimaxTank commander who orders Weepers to advance and attempts to correct Volteeg's course before the detonation
  • HugglesWeeper operator who questions the continued attack
  • CarlBriefly mentioned as disappearing in smoke after King Rust's death; appears to be involved in the battle
  • Princess DonutBriefly mentioned as disappearing in smoke with Carl after King Rust's death
  • Princess FormidableMentioned in retrospect; revealed to have spy networks and kill-switch controls on Operatic military hardware
  • PorthusPacifist Network operative who recognized Volteeg as a cookbook author and encouraged him to take action
  • Miriam DomMentioned as the owner of Prepotente the goat, referenced in connection with music
  • PrepotenteA goat briefly mentioned whose owner's musical tastes Volteeg contemplates
  • A wheelchair-bound djinnOne of Volteeg's two partners and friends from the Auditor General's compliance barge
  • A cave fairyVolteeg's second partner and friend from the Auditor General's compliance barge, sensitive to UV light