Dungeon of Niflheim

"Do you know anything else about this group?" Asked Frost, keen to better understand his possible enemy.

"They didn't get names or affiliations, but their leader is a frost giant with a brand seared into his flesh, the mark of an exile."

Frost giants tended to be a rather close knit bunch, residing either in the core regions of the glacial mountains or within the depths of the crevasse of Ymir.

However when an individual commits a serious crime, dishonours their house or loses their standing within the community their flesh is marred, branding them either as outcasts or sometimes even slaves.

Individuals with the branding of an outcast were forbidden to enter frost giant territory under the penalty of death. Whereas those with the slave mark were forbidden to leave, chained to the orders of higher rankings caste and superior clans.

There is hope to this fate however, if an outcast achieves great renown on the outside, commits deeds that raise the standing of frost giants as a whole or if they evolve to a certain rank (the minimum requirements deemed by the type of branding they receive) they can return to the clan in triumph. Their original house being revived or created a new.

The same held for those of the slave caste, as long as they fulfilled their timed quota or reached a certain level of strength their brands would be removed, and they could return to society as equals.

"An exile huh." With the enemy being an exiled frost giant it meant he didn't have to worry about attracting the wrath of the tribes, but it also meant that the individual was dangerous and likely desperate. Outcasts were usually willing to do anything to return to their society thus compromising was likely off the table.

Frost rubbed his chin in thought as he weighed his options and analysed the potential dangers.

'The enemy is likely a rag tag group pulled together by the frost giant, strong as long as he lives but without a solid foundation.' The frost giant leader was probably aiming to incorporate the Lunar maidens into his group primarily as outlets for his own and his subordinates frustrations, secondly for their fighting potential and perhaps thirdly to sell them off to another power for favour, backing or even resources to supply his future goals.

'Strength wise I should be able to take out the leader while the Lunar maidens and Kiba hold back his subordinates. Once their boss is down everything else should fall into place.' As long as the frost giant died then the battle would be won, and Frost would be the ultimate victor.

He would have protected the Lunar Maidens, earned their trust and gained several highly capable citizens for his Dungeon territory. An ideal outcome as long as he could beat the leader, and if their foundations were as flimsy as he assumed.

'Where there's great risk lies great reward' a phrase taken from one of the adventuring books he owned and a perfect analogy for the current situation.

'Ah hell let's go for it, the benefits should outweigh the negatives.' Eventually after going back and forth several times Frost slapped his left thigh and resolutely nodded his head.

"I'll do it uncle, but I'll need something more than just their recruitment in return."

"….What did you have in mind Frost." Shivali hesitated for a moment, taken aback by the calculating look in his nephew's eyes.

"Nothing much just two minor requests, the first being conditional on my part while the second involves something close to your own heart but unfortunately it's not something I'm willing to back down from."

While talking with Shivali and thinking about his requests Frost had some time to work out what sort of things he and his territory would benefit from at this point in time. Thankfully the one paying for his services was one of the most powerful entities in existence and thus should have no issues meeting his demands.

Frost's current expression was a mixture of stubborn determination and a merchant's cutthroat greed. Shivali felt a shiver down his spine as though his eyes pierced beyond his physical form and gauged his material assets. He was no stranger to such looks but normally he'd simply release a bit of his strength to remind those fools on who they're dealing with, but Frost was different, he was family.

"Haaaaaa talk as long as they're reasonable I'll do my best to accommodate you." Shivali sunk deep into the cushions of the sofa, sighed and agreed to listen to his nephew's demands, hoping in his heart that he wouldn't be too vicious.

Unfortunately his hope was crushed when Frost made his second request. The Primordial Ice King even turned red in the face because of his extreme wrath. It was miracle Frost didn't explode from the outburst of his divine energy but despite the state of the angry God before him he held his ground, refusing to recant on his request.

A few minutes before this outburst, however.

"My first request is for you to sanction a trade agreement between the realm of Niflheim and my territory, the Niflheim city-state as well as the Niflheim Dungeon." Frost's first request was one that focused on improving both the relations between him and Shivali as well the economical capability of his growing territory.

The realm of Niflheim was filled with high quality goods and skilled artisans, a veritable gold mine in terms of outside trade. If his territory could get its hands on even just a fraction of the resources that were rare even in the core regions of Glacial Mountains it'd be set for life, drawing prospective buyers from across the entire continent perhaps even the entire world.

The problem however was that trade relations were supposed to improve both sides and currently Frost's territory held nothing of value for the realm of Niflheim.

"Impossible, there's too much disparity between your territory and mine. You hold no goods or services that we can't provide ourselves thus it wouldn't be a trade but the realm of Niflheim simply providing you with resources. I may be your uncle and future father in law but I'm also one of the Primordials and the ruler of this territory. I can't condone such a one sided deal." Shivali was blunt in his response, immediately refusing Frost's first request with a stern shake of his head and crossed arms.

Frost expected such a rejection as he also agreed wholeheartedly with Shivali's position but that didn't dissuade him. "I understand that uncle but as I said earlier my first request will be conditional on my part."

"Explain." Shivali was willing to give Frost the opportunity to state his case and change his mind.

"From what I can see Niflheim is pretty much entirely self-sufficient, it has little need for outside trade" Even the resources such as those required by the culinary branch were usually retrieved by the realm's in house soldiers rather than from outside vendors.

"True we provide and or retrieve almost 90% of our resource needs while the last 10% is gotten from vassals in the core regions." The main access point to the realm of Niflheim was in the heart of the core regions and unlike with the entrance Frost used traffic between the two spaces wasn't all that uncommon.

Vassalized groups would provide tribute to Niflheim out of respect for Shivali as well as promise of protections from the realm's soldiers therefore they really were want for not.

"What I propose is that when my territory enters a more established and flourishing state, capable of standing on the same level as a powerful kingdom or empire residing within perhaps the inner regions I hope that you'll allow a trade to commence. By that point we should be able to offer your territory unique products and services but also serve as a trustworthy and safe destination for your citizens to visit whenever they feel like branching out."

Though it'd likely take some time for them to accommodate the realm of Niflheim in terms of equal goods and services the main selling point was to serve as something like a holiday destination. A place where families who wanted to visit somewhere other than the dangerous Glacial mountains, somewhere that pooled together all manner of monsters and sapients. A place where they could enjoy the feeling of warmth in the summer months as well as the sights, smells and tastes that only those in the south could cater to.

A change in environment that was safe and welcoming and if you include the Dungeon's development in those plans it could also serve as a fine test of strength for young soldiers, adventurers and as a treasure trove for those seeking riches. The Niflheim Dungeon and city-state would welcome all without bias.

"Hoh a place that could serve as a holiday destination." Shivali hadn't thought of this angle since he rarely had the desire to leave his own realm but that wasn't the same for his people. Take Khione for instance for her to grow in strength and reach her true potential she needed to experience more of the world.

Families especially those with young children always felt the desire to see ad try new things. For them Niflheim was glorious, perfect even but still the same type of sight they've seen their entire lives. Even the core regions of the Glacial Mountains weren't much different and unfortunately posed quite a substantial risk to those who hadn't at least reached A-rank.

If a trade route was established between the two territories it's very likely that many of his citizens would jump at the chance to visit somewhere different that was both safe and full of things they'd never seen before.