Xane hated Calrin. He hated life. And most of all he hated sewers. Why were there even sewers if they cleaned everything magically. He was explained why. The magical cleaning was only a few years old and before that they had sewers they never got rid of. The worst part was the dungeon they were about to go in was also a large sewer.

Calrin refused to explain much about the dungeon to Xane saying, “You won’t gain much experience and knowledge if you don’t do it yourself.” What Xane had learned was that Calrin never intended to go with Xane into the dungeon. He wasn’t even going into the sewers having half pushed Xane into the hole. The guard that let people inside chuckled as Xane almost fell into the water. Consolation was that the water was indeed clean and apparently drinkable.

That was not the case for the dungeon itself. That is how Xane found himself alone in front of a skewed sewer grate. Ok he wasn’t alone, another guard was there to make sure Xane was the one that was next in line. He felt alone at the moment though. I haven’t not had people with me since the turtle island days. “Seriously! Really Xane I’m here too.” Also there was Lyenn. “I was going to help you but I don’t think I want to now.” A bit sheepish Xane just stepped forward having to crouch under the bars to enter.

He felt a wash of nausea as he entered. It was an odd sensation like a roller coaster drop. But if that roller coaster slammed into a sheet of water. Notifications appeared.

You have entered the Dungeon: Sludgeland.

Rules: 1-2 people

It didn’t say the tier but Xane knew it wouldn’t only people with the Dungeon Delver feat or someone with advanced knowledge would get that information. He knew that it was only young though.

With the name sludgeland I wish I had gotten that cleaning rune.

“I told you it was an important rune. You were too cheap for it though.”

Shut up, it is next… At least now it is.

“My guess is poison or acid based attacks. And probably rats. Lots of rats.” Lyenn said a sense of distrust reverberated through his mind.

Thought you weren’t going to help?

“I’m a helpful person.”

You don’t want to run out of material do you?

“What noo. I’m just in the mood to help. But on a side note you really didn’t read much. A travesty I say.”

Xane zoned her out as he looked around more closely. It looked exactly like the sewer he had just come from. Except for one thing. It. Was. Gross. Really. Really. Gross. The bricked walls oozed with brackish green viscus. The water he was stepping in was ankle deep and the same color and. His long boots keeping the water out. Xane was also cheating a bit. The protections he had on all his armor keeping out the dangerous water.

It didn’t lie about the sludge. He also felt that if he didn’t have such a high constitution that he would be poisoned by the fumes. He could probably drink the water and be fine. Not like he was going to test that though.

Xane activated sneak and slowly stepped forward. He didn’t see anything until it was right on top of him. Xane purposefully didn’t use his x-ray vision. He wanted at least a bit of challenge. That is why he didn’t see the large dog sized rat jump towards him. Even though he didn’t see it he heard it make a splash of water and reflexes kicked it. Xane managed to grab it by its neck. He inspected the rat.

Giant Sludge Rat:

Level: 7

Information: You really shouldn’t be fighting this thing. I don’t even think it was trying to fight you to be honest. I’m pretty sure it slipped as it tried to sprint past you. Anyway I don’t truly care. Sludge rats are a common variety of rat in sewer based dungeons. Dungeons aren’t really that creative. These rodents come packed with so many diseases it puts a village full of sick people during flu season to shame. They also have a venomous bite. One thing is when there is one there is at least a hundred more where that came from.

The only thing of interest was that last part. Xane quickly snapped the neck of the creature and looked around. He didn’t see anything else but swore the water was filled with them all waiting for their turn to attack.

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He didn’t think he could use his guns in such a tight space so he decided to use something he hadn’t used in a while. The skill had useful bonuses. Hand to hand combat. He felt using his hands to snap the neck of that one counted towards the skill.

Right as Xane walked forward 2 more jumped at him. Xane just punched out his immense strength nearly pulverizing the rat green goo splattering around. It was apparently dangerous since his enchantment blocked it. The other one was caught and thrown against a wall.

It wasn’t long before he was attacked again by more and they too swiftly were killed. Xane stopped with stealth practically jogging as he rushed through the passages. Most of the rats dropped nothing but copper coins. Xane having to fish for them in the water or catch them before they fell in.

Xane spent 20 minutes and killed well over 100 rats in that time. He did get a few petty healing and poison cure potions from the rats but mainly just got coppers. Calrin had warned that due to his higher level he wasn’t going to get much of anything. Xane’s luck stat was pretty high, balancing it out a bit. Xane also found bags of goodies and a few small crates. He just shoved it all in his ring to sort through later.

During one of his ‘fights’ he missed terribly and smashed through a wall. It was thinner than the other walls and had a passageway leading somewhere. Following the path he came to a much larger rat that was eating something rotten. Again Xane wasn’t sneaking and was heard.

The rat turned around and screeched. Xane had an odd thought to yell back. “Don’t you dare.” Lyenn scolded him.

Instead he did something he hadn’t done for a while and threw a rock the size of his head at the creature preparing to charge. The rock was dodged. Not too well as its left back leg was clipped sending it to the side. Xane attacked the downed creature. The poor thing lasted seconds.

He felt a higher surge of energy and scolded himself for not remembering to inspect the thing. It also dropped a vial of poison that the rats had as well as a small ring.

Ratlings Ring(Enchanted)(Lesser)

Gives +3.5% resistance to poison damage.

He put it on not seeing a down side.

Near the 25 minute mark and many wrong turns he came to a more open area. Here he slowed guessing that this was the boss room he was warned about. Not by Calrin but by Lyenn. Score for having two informants.

He looked around, seeing a large pool of green liquid in the middle. It started to churn as Xane entered. Quickly it started spinning the liquid flying up into the air. Xane thought about pulling out his guns and blasting but decided to finish it out with just his fists. A personal challenge. If this dungeon could be called a challenge. Nothing had even gotten through his enchantment.

The liquid formed a blob that quickly turned into a large liquid version of the rats he had been fighting.

Sludge Lord:

Level: 16

Information: It is like the rats…but more gross. I’d throw some hand sanitizer at it. Might kill it out right. Also it's more resistant to bludgeoning and stuff…because liquid.

Even so he still brought his fisticuffs up ready. The rat lunged for Xane who dodged out of the way. He felt the water he was in try to slow him down. It barely did anything. He was much faster in water due to his boon and dance skill that whatever this creature could do to him was laughable.

As it missed Xane slamminging into one of the walls and splashing a bit Xane took his chance to lange multiple blows. It felt like punching oobleck. The more force he exerted the harder the creature was. Which in essence was a good thing as chunks were torn off. He saw the creature gather more from the green water but not as much as Xane was tearing off. Xane tanked hits he knew he could, the attacks doing little more than scratching his barrier.

Xane was getting a bit of a god complex playing with the rat. Coaxing it to attack. Xane luck ran out as it did something Xane didn’t expect. It rushed forward faster than Xane thought possible for it. It wasn’t like anything Xane could have done even with the buffs he had. But it was fast enough to catch Xane off guard.

The rat bit down on Xane doing enough damage to break the weakened barrier and bite down on his armor. The armor itself stood stronger. It was enough to take level 30 and higher hits. Nothing this rat could do could go deep. The rat was lucky enough to hit a vulnerable spot and nick Xane’s flesh.

Xane stopped playing around and quickly dispatched the debilitated sludge lord. Easily wrenching his way out of the mouth of the rat. The smell doing more emotional damage than physical. Rapid hits to the head and the rest of the body. A flurry of blows launching bits of the Sludge Lord everywhere. The small amount of regeneration it had nullified by the savage blows. The Sludge Lord tried to retaliate but was destroyed in only 10 seconds after its one and only good hit.

Notifications flooded his sight.

You have resisted 17x diseases.

You have resisted toxins.

You have completed Sludgelands

Rewards:

Experience

10 gold

You have completed your first dungeon

Congratulations! You have gained a new feat.

Babies First Dungeon: Complete your first dungeon

+1 to a stat of your choice.

Dungeon Delver I: Completed dungeons

+1 to all stats

Xane did what he always did with free points and put it into luck. Calrin had told him about that feat too but Xane was a bit disappointed in it, only giving 1 point. Beggars can’t be choosers and all that.