“Uh… Dungeon Destroyer. The title bearer gains a very small increase to stats while in a dungeon and an increase to treasure quality and amount of treasures while in a dungeon. Since you have defeated three dungeons, you gain three parts in a hundred to stats and to the treasures.”
She maintained her calm a bit more easily this time, but proved to grow reserved when he mentioned how many dungeons she had defeated. She opened her mouth several times to speak, but then caught herself before finally beginning, “I have … many questions.”
Joe smiled and nodded, “Ask.”
“You can read my history?”
Joe quickly shook his head, “No. I am only able to know about how many dungeons you have defeated and conquered due to how many times you have acquired the title. It would be similar to me hearing you are titled as Baron of Tinytown, Duchess of Cancan, and Viscount of Lakeshire. I know that you are thrice ennobled and that you own three lands or towns. I know nothing of the towns, lands, or peoples. I know even less as the names and locations of the dungeons are not mentioned.”
She remained tense until he explained by example using noble titles and she quickly calmed and nodded in understanding, “I understand. Then explain the benefit of this title. It seems… weak, or confusing.”
Joe shook his head, “No. It is relatively simple, if you can grasp the concept. But essentially if you have a three digit stat, you will gain the first digit as a single digit added to your stat. Uh… maybe to make it simple. If you have three hundred mana, then you will gain an additional three mana. That is one part in a hundred. But since you have defeated three dungeons, you will gain three parts in a hundred. So for each hundred, you gain three. If you have three hundred mana, you will gain nine additional mana.”
She frowned at that, shaking her head, “So a useless title.”
Joe laughed and shook his head, “It is a very powerful one. Probably one of your most powerful.”
She shook her head, “The Killer of Ten Thousand doubles my growth!”
Joe nodded at that, “Yes. That is very powerful title, but more so because it is related to your growth than in its affect. If we were to explain doubling in the same manner as a part of one hundred, then your Killer of Ten Thousand gives one hundred percent, or it gives one hundred for every one hundred. Not only this, even small gains will be ever more effective as your stats grow. The greater your stat, the greater this effect.
“For example, your greatest stat, if I was able to guess correctly, was your magical capability.”
She nodded carefully, slightly concerned, “You are well trained in the status page.”
Joe shrugged, “Don’t worry. But as an example, your magical capability is four digits. If we were to guess that it was five thousand, then this title, Dungeon Destroyer, will increase your magic ability by a hundred and fifty, or triple digits.”
Her eyes widened at that, mouth falling open slightly as she began to nod, thinking carefully. He gave her a bit of time before continuing.
“The biggest key to this title is that it can grow.”
Shock struck her, followed by confusion then realization, “The benefits grow according to the number of dungeons I defeat!”
Joe nodded and smiled, “Yes. If you find and accomplish this title in one hundred dungeons, then your bonus to all your stats will be one hundred for every one hundred, or, double.”
Her eye’s boggled widely as she began to shake excitedly once again, “Doubling… to all my digits!”
Joe nodded, smiling, “You can see its benefit now.”
Her breath grew rapidly, “So I can double all my stats?”
Joe grimaced at that and shrugged his shoulders, “I honestly don’t know. It hasn’t stopped growing for me, but I do not know its end. It may simply end at doubling, or it may go beyond. I do not know.”
Her excitement settled at that before she nodded then moved on to her next title, pressing a finger into Dungeon Conqueror. Joe read it and found it identical to his own Conqueror title and nodded.
“This title is similar to Dungeon Destroyer as it is a growing title. It also gives its bonus as one part in a hundred. For you, its three parts in a hundred as you appear to have conquered three dungeons as well. Likely the same three as the other title. This title gives the ability to increase or slow the spawn rate and level of the monsters… Ah… right.”
Joe trailed off when he realized she didn’t understand him and he took a moment to consider before trying again, “OK, let me try to explain another way. You know that dungeons create monsters as needed.”
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She nodded quickly, and Joe continued, “And dungeons also create monsters of various strengths?”
“Yes. I understand.”
“Then, this skill allows you to cause the dungeons to create more or less monsters. Making monsters appear faster or slower. It also allows you to create stronger or weaker monsters, by a very small amount: three parts in a hundred.”
Her eyes narrowed in thought, but obviously still confused so Joe continued to an example, “You know the beginner dungeon in town?”
“Yes,” she quickly nodded.
“It has a large empty room for the first three floors. Just a wide open room.”
She nodded again.
Joe went on, “Many monsters appear just in the whole room. If, just for this story, one hundred goblins appeared regularly on the first floor of the dungeon, this skill would allow you to force the dungeon to create one hundred and three goblins, or only ninety seven goblins. Or any between, as you wish.”
Her thoughts remained less than impressed for a few moments but then when she understood her eyes widened in thought, “So I could, if I raised this title, possible even increase the goblins to two hundred or down to zero?”
Joe smiled, “If they allow this title to grow to one hundred percent effect. I’m guessing the dungeon would fight back a bit, though.”
She spent some time in careful thought, her mind carefully considering the ramifications for several minutes before she looked back up again and asked, “And the other effect? The… level?”
“Ah. I use the word level, but its meaning might best be considered the monster strength. You could increase or decrease the monster’s strength as well. If this ability is high enough, you could even force monsters to weaken from… Ah… give me a moment, I need to think of the names.”
Joe trailed off as he tried to think what the basic names of the monsters were before finally remembering, “Ah, right. I remember. You could weaken a monster from Master to Great. If you were able to conquer twenty dungeons, then you could weaken monsters from… What’s the monster after Master level?”
“Guardian?!” she asked with some shock.
“Yes. You could weaken them from Guardian monsters to Great monsters.
“That… that is … incredible!” she replied with some awe.
Joe shook his head, “But remember this is only applies to dungeons, and while it doesn’t explain, it seems to apply only to future monsters formed. You cannot use it against a monster already formed by the dungeon, if I were to guess. And even if you were to do so, you reduce the benefits as well, including any cores, growth, treasure… It all weakens.”
Her excitement quickly cooled, her thoughts whirling until she finally grimaced and shrugged, “But it still is a wonderful defensive tool.”
Joe nodded with consideration, “True… possibly.”
She smiled at that then pressed her next title. Joe smiled, excitement finally showing as now he was getting into the new titles. He read it quickly, then hid a disappointed grimace.
“This is the First in Line for the Matriarch title,” Joe spoke, keeping his voice neutral to hide his disappointment, “It is a title given to you by others, not for any deeds. It does not seem to offer much. You gain the favor of those in your clan and honor from those outside your clan. People in your clan who are honorable will support you while others who are not may envy you. These are only natural effects of leadership, so I do not believe this title actually gives any benefits. It simply describes the natural consequences of leadership and hierarchy.”
She nodded at this, “I am not surprised at this. Such assigned titles are often simple or meaningless aside from their relation to clan or place.”
Joe shrugged, “Sorry. I wish I was able to offer you more.”
She smiled, shaking her head to disregard his apology before pointing out the next title. Joe looked at it, and this time found himself surprised, offering an excited exhalation.
“Ooh. OK. This one is better. It is the Shield of Coushar. It also is an assigned title, but it gives you a nice bonus. While defending Coushar, you gain a hundred percent, or doubling, to any defensive skills and half again to all your stats. However, since you also have the title Guardian of the People, your defensive skills are actually doubled again and your stats are doubled. You also gain a bonus because of your First in Line for Matriarch title as well, allowing you to pass this doubling of stats and quadrupling of defensive skills for any hired mercenaries or non-Galgandar people who aid in defending Choushar. It’s a nice title.”
Gwenvair’s excitement shot through the roof as Joe’s explanation continued onward and onward. She seemed to finally short circuit as she didn’t seem to grasp what it meant and she looked up at him with pleading eyes. Joe smiled and explained.
“So, it has three parts. Any defensive skills are four times as strong, long, powerful, as wide, tall, or big. Whatever it may be. So, if you have a shield spell that could cover this room for ten min… one bell and protect against a dragon’s attack, then, when used to defend Coushar, this spell can cover four rooms this size, last four bells, and protect against four dragon’s attacks.”
Gwenvair’s breathing began to grow faster, eyes shining brighter. Her eyes unfocused for a bit as she considered Joe’s words before she quickly nodded, asking him to continue.
“OK. So, the second part. All of your stats will now be doubled, if you defend Coushar. So if you have a spell you can only cast ten times before you run out of mana, now you can cast it twenty times. If you need to run, you can run twice as far. If you need to punch or attack, your punch will hit twice as hard.”
Her excitement remained, but did not grow and she quickly waved him on. Joe smiled and continued.
“Right. The last part. These first two bonuses will be applied to any people who are not Galgandar clansmen but who are defending Coushar. Their defensive skills will be four times stronger and their digits will be twice as strong.”
She listened carefully to this before she smiled brilliantly, “So any peoples asked to defend Coushar will gain these abilities?”
“Any people asked to defend Coushar according to the goals as expressed or desired by the Galgandar clan.”
Her smile grew even more and she stifled a giggle before turning to him, “Thank you so much. This is… incredibly useful.”
“You’re welcome. It’s no problem,” Joe smiled back.
Her smile grew a bit more before she looked away and pressed on the next title. Joe read it, considering it for a bit before explaining.
“So, the Guardian of the People is also an assigned title, as the other three, but it is quite beneficial, similar to the Shield of Coushar title. When defending people in your lands, you are able to jump in front of, parry, and block several attacks very quickly every second. You are able to do so for seven attacks every second.”