Narrates POV:
Dungeons a great danger but a necessity for life on Terra. "What is a dungeon?" Someone asked long ago. "Is it a thing or alive?"
An explorer by the name of Bobfray took up this question in his journal:
Bobfrays Adventure Journal 13: Dungeons!
Dungeons are mysterious. They have a heart or a so-called [Core] does this mean that they are alive? It's inside structure made of in-animated stone. Cave systems snaking around like a maze several floors deep. Ever changing and ever expanding until it's [core] is destroyed.
There have even been rumors of Dungeons disappearing. To later be found in another region. Not completely identical, but charing enough similarities to warrant speculation. A peculiar thing indeed.
In the great library's records, it states that Dungeons have been here for as long as life itself. My research has shown that no matter the dungeon or the time, they always show the same patterns.
They lure intelligent creatures into its mazes and kills them.
The way it kills is indirect and it does this in several ways. But the three most common are:
1. Monsters. Which is under its sway.
-In a dungeon, all its inhabitants no matter the race seems to live in harmony or at least in their separate territories without dispute.
While the dungeon is "alive" the monsters living in a dungeon shows a superior tactical mind compared to its kin in the outside world. But when the dungeon is "killed" by destroying its heart or [Core], the monsters will emidiatly go into a frenzy losing all rational thinking reverting back to mere beasts in mind.
Showing us evidence of a possible hive mind mentality.
2. Traps. Showing the intelligence to learn and adapt.
-If the traps are made by the inhabitants or the dungeon itself is still unknown. New traps which have not been there before are regularly found in dungeons. Yet no one has been inside when a construction of said trap has been made.
The traps also vary from natural, mechanical, tactical and magical.
3. Bosses. Lone monsters with above natural strengths.
-These Bosses are usually found before descending to a new floor, the confounding part is that the bosses strength mirrors the next floors monsters strength. Almost like it's a right of passage. Is this a ploy to lure its pray deeper into the depts? Who can tell?
But the "Floor Bosses" are not the only kinds. There are also hidden- and wandering-bosses but these are usually encountered further down on the lower levels.
As the difficulty increases for every floor, this could be an indication of some sort of organized hierarchy inside the dungeon.
Eyewitnesses have even spoken of dead companions getting sucked into the ground as if the dungeon is eating them.
So is a dungeon truly alive?
A heart, a diet, an intelligence, and possible even movement. Now it's up to you to decide:
A thing or alive?
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Underworld - Keepers Pov:
-In limbo, drifting endlessly. Inbetween two plains. Neither dead, but not truly alive.-
Floating bodyless inside the cave tunnels.
Not here, yet still here.
In the consciousness of a soul.
I AM SO BORED! Oh! Your back friend. Where have you been?...
1095 days until body's full restoration.
Ah! Another one of them...
Ever since the loss of my body, I have experienced several of these blue screens as my connection with Lair deepens. After a few days like this, I noticed feelings which were not my own.
Happiness.
Wariness.
Hunger.
Our spirit, two yet one.
As Lair grows he is happy, but he is worried about something. But of what I don't know at this time...
During my time of solitude, I have entertained myself with anything and everything to keep my sleepless mind occupied. We came to several conclusions during this time... A deeper understanding one might say.
First of all; these blue screens that pop up in front of me from time to time is condensed by masses of Lairs energy. Made into something visible for me personally. Making me capable of getting the information I normally would not have any means to access.
The dungeon's mana floats in the air contorts and warp together to make these flat, dense, rectangular screens of mana. With words I have never learned, yet could read without a problem.
Here, magic energy was like breathing air! All used it even if they were unconscious about it.
Energy Sense Energy ebbs, energy flows. To sense is to feel.
⬆️Energy eye
As this mighty and unknown essence is hard to see with the naked eye, you can feel it flow like the wind in a stormy sky. Its impossible to see for the untrained mind, a lord of wisdom you must be to see that which is unseen.
*[Energy eye] is a branch evolution of [Energy sense] + [Dungeon eye].
With [Energy eye] I gained the ability to inspect all said energy inside the dungeon. At the moment I could inspect two different variants of energy; Mana and Ki.
The dungeon tunnels were cloaked in a thin brown layer of what looked like vapor in most areas. To my guess, the brown color could be representing earth mana?
In the west outside our border of the dungeon, was a red haze leaking in, fire maybe? I should inspect it at the first opportunity.
There was also a slim grayish color snaking through the tunnelways. Wich must be the air mana.
If it strings on like this then a blue haze must represent water, right? Though this was just a theory as there was no bigger water source close to the dungeon so far to my knowledge.
Lairs mana was purple and could be seen like thin strings in the wall going around like a nervous system.
How do I know what a nervous system is? Well, I have personally seen Lair recreate my body stitching every piece together one after another but even that got boring in the long run.
Now as for the magick energy, all creatures can use it even the bugs radiated with a minuscule amount of green Mana... Then? Since mana is the nature of what it inhabits... bug-mana?
Maybe!? I should look into to it at a later time... Though the small bugs only unconsciously use this energy, surrounding them in a layer of green enhancing their exoskeleton or chitin armor.
I believe this energy form is in fact not referred to as "Mana" but called "Ki". How is it different from mana?
Ki resides only inside of lifeforms!
While mana is all around and bends to the users will, Ki is the cycle within the body flowing from the [core] out to any limbs and back again. Strengthening the body or lessening the physical strain.
I'm still not all well versed in the understanding of Ki, but this meant that even I myself will be able to use it and grow stronger than I was yesterday.
Name: Keeper Rank: 2 Creature: Dungeon Lord Attribute: Non Species: Abberation. DC: 6
Also, I was not the only one, capable of growing stronger.
Name: Lair Rank: 12 Creature: Dungeon Heart Attribute: ?? Species: Parasite DC: ??
Rank represents growth since birth. The only reason Lair was the higher rank than me is only that he has continuously devoured the soules of small creatures getting to close to the heart. All forms of bugs and insects, even some mice had been on his menu I'm so envious of him. My nonexistent mouth just drools thinking about it.
He's such a slob... Now, why does a dungeon feed on the inhabitants within itself, you ask me? Because they are fair game!
Anything not controlled by us is a possible threat and thus noting is allowed to live in a close proximity to the dungeon heart, unless it's under our rule. My rule!
Oh! About that... Monsters had joined the dungeon coming from far and wide. Though the only creatures currently living in the dungeon are; these winged insects with a fire stinger. And no! Surprisingly it was not bumblebees.
Name: - Rank: 1 Creature: Dier-Fly Attribute: Fire Species: Insect DC: 1
They where flies the size of a human, with a glowing lower body extending into a stinger, six legs, a pair of wings and two big round protruding compound eyeballs. Each eye covering a onehundredeleven degree angel of sight... There are Aproxematly~
47 Dier-flies currently inside the dungeon.
Hrm... Exactly 47 fl~
<1 Dier flie has died. >
46 Dier...
<2 Dier flie has died. >
44 Fli.......
<1 Dier flies have died. >
43...........
My Lair communicates crucial information about the dungeon through these windows. There is just one thing I'm wondering right now!
What the heck is going on!? I can feel how my Lair is annoyed about this. I follow his frustration leading me through the winding tunnels.
As I reached the area of my Lairs frustration, far away from my Lair. The domain now extending ten kilometers in a radius around my Lair. I see the start of a familiar cavern filled with nets wich the flies get trapped in...
'And there went another...' [Keeper]
I see a spiderling creeps down to the traped Dier-Fly.
<1 Dier-fly has died. >
Lord! They're dumb! They just mindlessly fly around. Do they even have any practical use or a brain for that matter?
Though right now I could care less for the loss of some insignificant flies. Instead what I worried about were the spider webs. The extensive cavern as large as it was. Where now filled with webs as if no one has used this path for decades. And every web was filled with spiderlings.
It was quite disgusting seeing them clumped together like that and moving around in all directions making my non-existing head spin in confusion. There were definitely more than the last time I visited this cavern!
Name: - Rank: ?? Creature: Spiderling Attribute: ?? Species: Arachnid DC: 1
As I contemplate Lairs annoyance and the numerical webs and spiderlings, another window popped up wich put the puzzle pieces together.
...
Troops
'NOOO! Are you stupid!?' [Keeper]
Troops
...
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
Dungeon domain has been lost!
Eh!? Did we lose domain? That's a new one! I feel... what is this? Disappointment? And familiar anger from Lair.
I see Lair's nerves retracts backward. Then I clearly see the web-filled cavern fall into darkness just as if a fog is setting over the area. Now my bodyless form could no longer see or go further with [Dungeon eye] as the path is blocked.
Enemy faction observed.
...
Enemy faction: Dier-Arachnid Family.
Dungeons stance: Passive.
...
Awaiting Dungeon Lord's final call!
Wait, what! You're leaving all of this to me!?
Arrgh! Whatever... It seems right now that nothing else is happening... Let's wait a bit longer before I do anything stupid... I have done a lot of that lately. Besides flies versus spiders... The outcome is as if written in stone.
But what!? Traveling back towards my room I went into thought.
Even if I want to do anything my body is incapacitated. I have no armor nor weapon and I already lost against the previous swarm of spiders which in turn have put me in this bodyless mess... A frontal assault will not be in my favor... Maybe I need to do something sneaky?
Though what? I'm quite limited in actions and even if I had my body wasn't there a big bug stuck in the entrance to my room both keeping me in and intruders... Wait! You're perfect!
As I reached the Pillbug stuck in the cave tunnel connected to my room I looped in the air in joy for my great plan. A movable rolling boulder, wreaking havoc inside the cavern. It's- It's... Wait for a second... Your dead aren't you?...
Yep, the organic pill bug trap which had gotten stuck in the tunnel had died since a while back... Starvation... Sad really! Now I'm just left with a useless big ball with the smell of rot.
But then again, I wonder... Hmm, I might finally have a use for these freeloaders though. I went over to view my room where twelve brown creatures lazily laying around
'Slaves! Go get that bug out of there!' [Keeper]
"iiik! iiik!" [Cave-Imps]
Minions have been dispatched to the pill bug carcass.
IT WORKED! Even though I don't have a body I still have a presence within this dungeon through Lair it seems. As long as it's in our domain, Lair acts as an extension of myself.
Three of the twelve imps scuttle towards the Pillbug cacas.
Name: - Rank: 1 Creature: Cave-Imp Attribute: Earth Species: Lesser Demon DC: 0
As my three Cave-Imps go towards the carcass and started their work. The three of them suddenly materialize each a pickax and goes to work.
Cool, but now that I think about it...
*Thung! NnnnNnnNnnnNnnNnnnN~!*
Yea that didn't work... The Pillbugs exoskeleton armor is to hard to get through.
'Hm! Hey is that?' [Keeper]
The sound vibrating through the tunnel had startled an inhabitant trying to rest in a secluded burrow just a stone throw away from my room. Peeking out of the hole was a small green head.
Trash!
I mean... Oh, it's just him?...
I'm surprised to see the little goblin. I thought he had fleed or at least died after my Lair took over the study...
How come I have not seen him before now though? That's when I saw something awesome. Trash turned invisible!
His green skin just melted in with the surroundings and then he was gone!
What? how? when? I can't even see the flow of mana used for the invisibility. I might have underestimated this little goblin!
Observed goblin race skill: Stealth
The primary source for skill: Ki.
Wait? Not invisibility? But stealth?
When I looked closer I picked up Trashes Ki. It was hard to discern from the rest of the energy in the air... So this is a skill which needs no amount of mana to use?... A skill huh? I wonder if I have "skills"?
Skills - Energy Eye (Right) Inspect the flow of Energi. Dungeon Eye (Left) Spiritual travel, see places far away. Rulers Comand Creatures under you head's your orders!
Oh! em... A few. So all of these where my skills... I thought they had been spells. Hm, you learn something new every day it seems!
Now as I knew what I was looking for I pinpointed Trash, clearly visible with my [Energy eye]. He was moving slowly, carefully placing his feet on the ground. Careful to not stepping on any loss stone. I see a drop of sweat running down his bald head.
Seems like concentration is a big part of the skill...
So it seems like the skill has another payment method compared to spells... Wait for a second... *imaginary facepalm* Do I have "spells"!?
Dungeon spells Dungeon Mana cost //////// /////////
Impus
50xNr.= 600 Cranium internum
50
Locked (Rank ??)
??
Locked (Rank ??)
??
Locked (Rank ??)
??
Yes, I did but only two... And what is this about dungeon mana? It's our "mana pool" right?
Dungeon mana pool 2578/10.000
Emmm... A decent amount I guess. Oh! It went up to 2580!
Whenever Lair consumes a soul, the mana pool gets filled. How much that gets filled depends on the creature and soul.
Okay so then how do I use these? I can guess what the first one dose, imps right? And it will cost me more for every imp I summon it seems. But what is this "Cranium Internum"?
As I asked us this question something took ahold of my mind as I felt myself get dragged into something like a vortex and zooming through the air until I collide with something.
In the next moment...
----------------------------------------
...I pulled out my arm out of a crack in the wall, my hand filled with maggots. Too hungry to react to the peculiarness, I shoved the maggots inside my mouth.
"Mmm squishy!" [Keeper]
As I swallowed the maggots and reached with my green arm into the crack to take another fist full. Things started to dawn on me.
Wait! Green...?
And did I just speak? Looking around in the tunnel everything seems bigger than I remember. Looking down at my green scrawny body I see a brown cloth covering my nether region. I take my hands to feel my face. Round, bald, pointy- ears & nose and a collar around my neck.
Wait?... No, this can not be...
'Keeper?' [Trash]
"Eh! Trash!? Where are you?" [Keeper]
I could but guess as I hear the goblins voice inside my head.
'Um, Why Keeper in Trash body?' [Trash]
"How should I know! All I did was try this new spell called; Cranium internum-" [Keeper]
A vortex takes ahold of my mind yet again as I get sucked out of the body.
----------------------------------------
What just happened?!
I'm back in the limbo again, viewing our dungeon in my soul form. I took a minute for myself to collect my thoughts. Not long after a box popped up.
Cranium internum
*Dungeon specific: "Inside the skull" posses targeted friendly creature.
I guess I have a gist of it now... So as I was watching Trash I had by mistake used the spell and possessed him.
Hmm, interesting!
Locating the maggots nest I see Trash in [Stealth] looking around with a nervous face. Guess I got under his skin. He, he!
It's been way too long since I have been able to move and with a non-existing grin, I used the spell again.
'Craiunm internum!" [Keeper]
----------------------------------------
Trash Pov:
Keeper went, why keeper in Trash skull!?
Trash head hurt. Trash not like. Trash going insane?
'Hey Trash, COMING IN HOT!' [Keeper]
Oh no!
----------------------------------------
Keeper (inside Trash) Pov:
Name: Trash Rank: 23 Creature: Green-Goblin Attribute: none Species: Humanoid DC: 2
After getting used to the stubby limbs of the goblin body and the whining of my co-pilot. I started to see big differences from my own original body.
First of Trash body was lean with a little muscles mass present. But instead, the movement of the joints was much more smooth and agile.
With the agility and immense stamina of the goblin race -used for more than just running- it was no problem to move at a speed of an average size being.
The hands had sharp claw-like nails which could be used as an effective defense and the teeth were as sharp as needles making it easy to bite off the throat of any adversary.
But the most peculiar thing was the nose. I could smell things I have never smelled before. One specific sent got my attention, it was a sweet delicious smell.
"What's that smell?" [Keeper]
'Un, food' [Trash]
"Food!" [Kepeer]
Following my nose, I find myself at the current end of the tunnel where the dead giant pillbug was being excavated. The three cave imps paused for but a second to look at us stumbling in.
"Where?" [Keeper]
'There!' [Trash]
Yielding control of one of the arms trash pointed towards the carcass.
"The pill bug?" [Keeper]
'Nh! Delicious, tasty, rotted meat!' [Trash]
Goblins are in fact not picky eaters, but I could not fathom it. It seems like the goblins favorite meal is anything stinky. After a few questions to Trash, it seems like this could be anything from human socks to fermented cheese.
The smell was really alluring, but I had other things to do! First of all.
"Dig around it! You fools! " [Keeper]
"""Iiik, iiik! Small master command iiik!"""[Cave-imps]
Yep, my commands still work! But such annoying sound they make. I wonder if cutting out their tongues would help?
Finally, the Imps started doing some progress compared to before with greater speed.
They are completely useless if it does not come to digging, all they did was basically bang their head against the carcass as soon as the pickaxe showed to be useless.
Anything not associated with tunneling does not quite go through to these Imps. But as soon as it's about tunnels they actually seem quite reliable.
As I see no use for myself here, for now, I go back towards my room. as I pass the burrow Trash has been staying in. It was a natural hole just the size that a child can crawl through. I remember passing it several times as I went hunting, but too big to enter. This might be one of my only time I can actually look inside.
'No! Keeper stay out! Trash home!' [Trash]
"Now you just make me more curious!" [Keeper]
Crawling inside, with a sulking co-pilot. I'm now in a small hole just big enough for one. Inside the hole, several shelves had been dug out from the walls where rows of miscellaneous items -Most with a chine to them- laid.
Shiny rocks, a yellow feather, ooo! A coin, a crystal, a blue bead, more shiny rocks,...
(a few minutes later)
... male skull, a spike~ Hey wait for a minute!
I picked up the spike, and in that instant, the spike started to move and then engulfed Trash hand.
'Aah! Eating me!' [Trash]
"He! No, it's just happy to see me!" [Keeper]
Mage steel Mage steel has bounded itself with entity "Trash."
The [Mage steel] was just enough to engulf Trash hand and forearm up to his elbow. Looking like a long fingerless glove. Why it chose this shape I have no clue. My guess is that [Mage steel] shapes into the most optimal defense for the user, since Trash fingers already was a deadly weapon... Well, now for some fun!
I went to the back of trash mind releasing control. As I did the goblin noticed the regain of control and the first thing he tried was to fanatically pull off the gauntlet. But obviously, it didn't budge.
"Keeper~! No, come off~!" [Trash]
Obviously, it's [mage steal] what did you expect? Ones bounded it will stay bounded. No normal force can remove it! Aaah! this reminds me of the first time I tried to remove the armor. Now, on the other hand, it feels like I'm naked without it. To think you could miss an object so much.
"No~!" [Trash]
He! Well funs over, already bored!... I take the rains once more.
"Let's go check the study!" [Keeper]
If I have learned anything, then it is that you need to be prepared and the study should have some fun things to play around with. I also have a feeling like I'm supposed to go there right now. Why? Impulses maybe?
'Study!? No Study, big monster! Trash no go!" [Trash]
Not caring about Trash whining I crawled out of the hole and continued to the study, but even my mighty will could not stand the everlasting whining of the goblin. Bearly under a minute I snapped back at the goblin making him stay quiet for now.
Soon enough I reached my oval room, darker than the abyss. Luckily trash [dark vision] helped.
Observed unike⚠️ goblin race skill: Dark Vision
The primary source for skill: Ki.
With this skill and eyes made for hunting in the dark, I was capable of seeing not the room but it details all in gray. Every nook, hole, crack, anything misshaping the environment helped me see it.
With this, I could with ease traverse through my room without tripping into the summoning pit in the center... I wonder how I will manage ones I get my body back though.
As I reached the open door I looked up at the doorknob... Quite high for my new stature, lucky it was open!
My mind elsewhere I suddenly hear Trash voice in my head.
'Danger!' [Trash]
Without watching my step I trip over the doorframe. As I fall face forward, nose first into the ground.
*oufh!* [Keeper]
Picking Trash body up to a sitting position, I can feel Trash face burning from the pain. As I care for the red nose.
Tears started to form in Trash's eyes.
"Don't you dare Trash! Don't you dare start crying while I'm in here!" [Keeper] I say with disdain.
'Unn, Trash not sad. Keeper is!' [Trash] He answered deadpanned.
I tens up as I with Trash's gloveless arm dry the tears, spitting saliva as I rebuke!
"Me! Cry!? How dare you I should have you beheaded, you sticky-fingered goblin!" [Keeper]
'Mercy! Trash sad! Sad, sad, sad!' [Trash]
I thought so!
Me!
Cry?
Ha!
Never!
It's this weak body's fault. Yes, that's the reason!...
"Now stay quiet!" [Keeper]
Taking a deep breath I rise to my feet. Looking around, the study was not quite what it used to be.
It was still a mess but this was on a whole other scale. From the previously organized chaos of this study was now just a memory of what had been.
Chairs, tables, and bookshelves were either flipped or broken. There lay shattered vials and shredded books all over the floor.
Potions of different colors were spilled all over the room. Some even had a corrosive property which had melted the cave stone in several places.
In the center of this surrounded by a forest of long log-thick tendrils connecting from roof to floor was the beating heart also known as my Lair.
'Monster sleeping?' [Trash]
"No, I don't think he ever sleeps. And its a heart, not a monster!" [Keeper]
'Heart?' [Trash]
"Yes, my dungeon heart!" [Keeper]
'No danger?' [Trash]
"*sigh* Ye, no danger, unless you attack it!" [Keeper]
I walked around the room looking through any item of practical use. I found a few still intact vials. One mortar and pestle just lightly damage and several herbs which were easy to find with Trash's nose.
I did discard a few things though mostly because they were too broken or useless, like this book about "30 ways to cure back pain".
Then I found a white box with the label "Tea".
'No, don't!' [Trash]
Of course, I did not listen and as I opened the box several stingy smells attack me head on as I almost lost consciousness from the intense smells.
I immediately close the box and discards it as well.
Dear lord what an awful smell!
After rummaging through some more I find a few still intact books about spells and magick which could be useful.
Arcana. A witch guide to summon your first familiar. Key of Solomon. ??? (unnamed leather book) Edward's Elementals. Alchemy for dummies.
The book that caught my eye was the last one. "Alchemy for dummies"
Intrigued by the book and its possible uses, I delved right into it.
-Alchemy for dummies-
-Chapter 1: Basic alchemy.
-Chapter 2: Tools of the trade.
-Chapter 3: Lesser Potion of Healing.
-Chapter 4: Lesser Potion of Mana.
-Chapter 5: Lesser Potion of Stamina.
-Chapter 6: Lesser potion of Antidote.
-Chapter 7: Lesser potion of Poison.
-Chapter 8: Lesser potion of Featherfall.
-Chapter 9: Dragon Cocktail.
-Chapter 10: Afterwords.
After eying through the first two chapters I immediately understood one thing.
"What the actual f*ck! I can just barely understand anything of what is written in it!" [Keeper]
No matter I still tried. Using the pictures in it as guidelines. After laying out all the collected items in front of me I found most tools needed. Unfortunately, not all was the exact tool needed in the book and the vials were all in mitch matched sizes.
-Lesser potion of healing-
-How you know if it is a success:
The vile should have a see-through red color and when shaken fizzle should form.
-How you know if it fails:
It will blow up. But don't worry it is not lethal.
Taking a heater and using a tea-pot I start my trial.
----------------------------------------
Several attempts later, Trash's face is no longer his usual jade green, as the soot from the several exploding vials covered his face.
I take out my latest creation and carefully look at it. Seethrough red, I shake it, turning Trash's head away with a hand in front of it. Nothing happened... Looking I see the fizzle. Had I done it!? I HAD DON-
*BOOM!* The vial blew up in my face.
Lord damn it! Is this a joke? It's impossible! It's like they are meant to explode...
'Unn, Trash try?' [Trash]
Sure why not... I'm so through with this anyways. And it could be fun watching Trash fail.
I yielded command of the body, and Trash went on his way. First of he changed some of the tools to use and under twenty minutes he was done with his first vial.
As he picked up the vile my anticipation was beaming. He shook it. And as he did it fizzled but then the see-through red color went deep red.
Wait! What!? That was not in the instructions!?
"Finished!" [Trash]
I took control over the body again and inspected the vial.
Pure health potion. The second of three stages of potion brewing, only adept alchemist are competent enough to create them.
Well, I will be damnd! I'm without words... I tried and failed several times and this goblin succeeded in his first try, not only that he succeeded with a greater version. I guess his time with Maleck had not been wasted. I glance over at a cocoon of flesh hanging in one of Lairs strings...
"Well, then Trash let's try it out!" [Keeper]
I use one of the nails to make a cut on Trash -gauntlet free- arm as blood flow down. I take a sip of the potion and see as the wound heals right in front of me.
'mmm, feel good!' [Trash]
Quite impress-
Digested energy fluid incompatible. With entity "Keeper"
Suddenly I feel really unwell Trash stomach starts to turn. Pain spreads throughout the body, as I hurled up the potion on the ground.
*BLERGH!* [Keeper]
After throwing it up, the pain resides and I felt somewhat better again.
'Jyk! Keeper, why do that!?' [Trash]
Trash had not felt any of this sensation, nor seen the message. Seems like potions does not agree with me. Well, that is just great! I have a potion creating goblin, but can't use the potion myself. Just f*cking great!
"Seems like I'm allergic to potions." [Keeper]
'Hu?' [Trash]
I stand up after my ordeal, as I do I am somewhat unsteady on Trash's feet feeling vertigo as I lean with one hand on one of Lair's numeral tendrils.
----------------------------------------
Then to my surprise, I'm suddenly in a black space. But I'm not alone. Next to me is a naked Trash, my eyes wander... Hm! quite big for his size...
Looking myself over I'm also naked and in my own body looking down... disappointing.
I have a hunch though that this is not, in fact, our bodies...
"Where?" [Trash]
"I don't know... but I feel like this is... Hey! LAIR!" [Keeper]
The Space at this moment starts to shake the tiniest of a bit. Then suddenly everything lights up. We are now in an octagon room without any entrances or windows. I notice that we now are donned in each of our own clothes.
Me in a magnificent armor of my dreams. With a glorious broadsword at my side. Besides me, Trash was covered in a gray garb with a tall staff in his armored hand and ontop of his head a blue pointed hat.
The walls are made of untainted white bricks and in the center is a table of an octagon shape made of marble. There were currently two chairs of eight possible surrounding the table.
First, a big early mahogany throne painted black. Just the size for me with red cushions on the seat, backrest, and armrests, just looking at it gives me a tear of joy.
Then next to it on the left, a small wooden chair of dark brown without any armrest, but with an unnecessarily tall backrest ending in three pointy spades, Trash would surely fit well in that one, excluded for the hight that is.
Entity "Trash" has entered the [War Room].
Entity "Keeper" has entered the [War Room].