I felt like letting out a massive sigh the moment everyone left my dungeon.
“There is one thing I want to do before we relax and get into everything that has happened.” I told my partners. Una bowed and Arizo nodded.
Starting with a metal rod, I enlarged the blueprint till it was the height of the entrance hall. My two observers watched as the massive piece of metal formed.
Blueprint Unlocked: Giant Metal Rod
Giant Metal rod: A giant metal cylindrical that can be worked into many other items.
Absorbing that I took several of the blueprints and wove them together before focusing to make them one thing.
Blueprint Unlocked: Giant Metal Grate
Giant Metal Grate: A framework of giant metal bars
Finally I absorbed that and placed one just before the first archways in my entrance hall.
Blueprint Unlocked: Portcullis
Portcullis: A heavy vertically-closing gate typically found in fortifications, consisting of a latticed grille made of wood, metal, or a combination of the two, which slides down grooves inset within each jamb of a gateway
“That should keep most things out until we are settled and ready to deal with the world again.” I reported.
“Can you show us?” Arizo asked. She wondered what the core made with that massive iron work.
I showed them both the blocked entrance. As the holes in the portcullis were large enough for Olive to squeeze through it was more to tell others to leave me alone than to keep everyone out. Though having a back door meant I could close up that entrance permanently. I didn’t want to do that, just wanted a break from invasions to take care of all the boxes that were still flashing in my vision and learn how long I had been out.
“That should stop or slow large challengers.” Una stated.
“Exactly. So much has happened in such a short time and we need to regroup.”
Arizo smiled and took a seat on my core. “I’m glad you’re back and that’s all that matters.” She patted my top beside her leg.
“I am so sorry I scared you. It wasn’t a fun experience for me. I will not be doing something like that anytime soon. And if I do go looking through my head again I will stay a much shorter time. And let you know what I’m doing.”
“Thank you.” She was a bit misty eyed and her voice was choked. Arizo shook her head and gave a watery smile. “Let’s see what you have.”
I opened the first notification. A cascade of boxes and information was thrown at me.
Know Thy Selves
Unlock Creature(s)
Blueprint Unlocked: Silver Carp
Blueprint Unlocked: Dungeon Crab
Blueprint Unlocked: Sea Urchin
Blueprint Unlocked: Panther
Blueprint Unlocked: Chicken of the Woods
Blueprint Unlocked: Shrieker
Blueprint Unlocked: Strangler
Blueprint Unlocked: Goat
Blueprint Unlocked: Red-Tailed Hawk
Blueprint Unlocked: Taipan
Blueprint Unlocked: Shambling Juniper
Blueprint Unlocked: Thrush
Blueprint Unlocked: Crow
Blueprint Unlocked: Anti-Toxin
Blueprint Unlocked: Cade Oil
Blueprint Unlocked: Chitin plate
Blueprint Unlocked: Claws
Blueprint Unlocked: Crab Meat
Blueprint Unlocked: Fangs
Blueprint Unlocked: Feather
Blueprint Unlocked: Goat Meat
Blueprint Unlocked: Horn
Blueprint Unlocked: Juniper Berries
Blueprint Unlocked: Kings Trumpet
Blueprint Unlocked: Leather
Blueprint Unlocked: Porcino
Blueprint Unlocked: Pork
Blueprint Unlocked: Red Tail Feather
Blueprint Unlocked: Sea Urchin Meat
Blueprint Unlocked: Spine
Blueprint Unlocked: Talon
Blueprint Unlocked: Tusk
Anti-Toxin: Removes poisoned Status. Strength and rarity vary.
Cade Oil: Made from the tar of juniper. Useful for itching and irritation. Also used in potion making and alchemy
Chitin plate: Shell made by many arthropods. Is thick enough to be used as armor
Claws: Sharp curved nails of many predators.
Crab Meat: Meat of a crab
Fangs: sharp teeth of a predator.
Feather: Used as quills or as stuffing.
Goat Meat: Has a bolder flavor than pork or beef. Can be, young lamb or old mutton.
Horn: Hardened bonny potrutions found on many ruminates and other mammals. Useful in crafting.
Juniper Berries: Tastes fresh and tangy with a strong aroma of pine and citrus. Used in cooking, alcohol making and potion making.
Kings Trumpet: A hard to find mushroom with a rich flavor. It is also sought after for its healing properties
Leather: Hide of many mammals. Many uses from armor to art.
Porcino: Can grow quite large but usually picked when small for their rich nutty flavor.
Pork: Meat of pigs
Red Tail Feather: Tail feather of the Red-Tail Hawk. mostly decorative.
Sea Urchin Meat: Meat of a sea urchin. Difficult to get, making it a delicacy
Spine: Sharp spike found on many animals. Can be barbed or poisoned depending on the species.
Talon: Hooked claws of a raptor
Tusk: elongated, continuously growing front teeth that protrude well beyond the mouth of certain mammal species. Used in many crafts including alchemy and weapon crafting
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“Ow.” I whined. “My sore mind didn’t need all that at once.”
“What was that?” Arizo inquired. I had been showing her everything that popped up for me. It was easier than explaining things.
I looked over the massive list again. “The top one says ‘Know Thy Selves’. So Maybe it’s an achievement.”
“Pull that up and see.”
Open Sesame
Finish the first floor
Common plant
Double Trouble
Increase 2 levels at once
common beast
Triple Play
Increase 3 levels at once
Unique beast
Welcome
Open Achievements page
1% 5XP
Finders Keepers
Unlock 100 Blueprints
10% 20xp
Feast
Unlock 25 blueprints at once
upgrade one random blueprint 10%
Deeper We Go
Move the core one floor deeper
15% 100 XP
Know thy selves
confer with a past life
Creature(s)
2 Grow
Achieve Ascension Level 2
5% to all blueprints 500 XP
common creature blueprint
Off and Running
Increase ascension level in first century
2 skill points 100 XP
Galloping
Increase ascension level in 50 years
3 skill points 200 XP
Rushing
Increase ascension level in 25 years
5 skill points 500 XP
What?
Increase ascension level in first decade
5 skill points 500 XP
How?
Increase ascension level in first year
10 skill points 500 XP
“7 new achievements.” I said looking at the list in shock.
“I’m surprised that’s not an achievement.” Arizo responded. “Gaining 2,300 experience points in achievements you must have leveled at least once.”
I gave the perception of a nod. “That will be some of the other boxes in my face. Alright, let's see what’s next.” I said opening the next oldest pop-up
Blueprint Unlocked: Bugbear
Blueprint Unlocked: Goblin
Blueprint Unlocked: Hobgoblin
Blueprint Unlocked: Goblin Teeth
Blueprint Unlocked: Goblin Blood
Blueprint Unlocked: Hobgoblin Heart
Blueprint Unlocked: Wooden Club
Goblin blood: Corrosive blood of goblinoids. used in stat lowering potions.
Goblin Teeth: Used in summoning spells and alchemy. Some creatures keep these as symbols of status.
Hobgoblin Heart: All of the hobgoblins' magical energy is concentrated in the heart making it useful for alchemy and potion making. It can also be used in other magical arts.
Wooden Club: wood of any variety shaped into a club. Used to bludgeoning. Very effective but inelegant.
“How many goblins attacked?”
“6 Bugbears, 3 hobgoblins and a dozen goblins.” Arizo answered “But Grug and 1 of the goblins are still here.”
The bulk of my attention snapped to the 2 creatures. I examined them and found both were still slightly wounded. They weren’t healing as fast as my summons. Before I could ask, a prompt popped up over each of them.
Accept ‘Grug’ as a dungeon resident?
Yes?
No?
Accept ‘Arizo’s goblin grunt’ as a dungeon resident?
Yes?
No?
“Arizo?” I called her name and showed her the prompts.
She looked puzzled. “I… I don’t know. I’ve never heard of a dungeon resident.”
I chose yes.
Dungeon Residents:
Grug
Arizo’s goblin grunt
Open Arms
All dungeon residents gain the same benefits as dungeon spawn.
“I got an achievement accepting them. They should now heal like my dungeon creatures.” Focusing on them again I could now interact with them as if they were my creatures. I pushed healing mana to them and they were almost instantly healed.
Both looked around wondering what had happened. “Grug happy.” The big lug said. The little goblin seemed fearful and scurried under the nearest kobold bed.
“I can’t believe I didn’t even notice them. My mind must have been just too overwhelmed.” I would shake my head if I had one.
Arizo gave a soft smile and patted my core. “Don’t stress. They aren’t any danger to you.”
“You’re right. Let’s move on then I can properly rest.” That said I opened the next box.
Blueprint Unlocked: Dire Bear
Blueprint Unlocked: Bear hide
Blueprint Unlocked:Dire bear claws
Blueprint Unlocked:Dire bear liver
Blueprint Unlocked:Dire Bear teeth
Bear hide: Found on almost any kind of bear. Can be used to make leather or as a decorative piece such as a rug.
Dire bear claws: These claws are as hard as steel and wickedly sharp. They can be ground for use in potions or attached to weapons.
Dire bear liver: This organ is used in potions and alchemy to increase health and vitality.
Dire Bear teeth: Both sharp and serrated, the teeth of a dire bear can be used in weapon making or ground for use in potions and alchemy.
“You fought a Dire Bear? Is everyone ok?” My mind swept over the dungeon before she could answer to ensure no one was missing.
“It was a tough battle. We almost lost Una. But we won.” She showed me the battle and the confrontation between Una and Saw.
“Those 2 are very smart. And you’re right I do want them as contracts.” I turned my attention to my very first creature. “Una, you overreacted.” She lowered her head. “She spoke out of fear not contempt. As our home grows your leadership skill will grow. Until then, try not to act out of anger.”
“Yes Creator.” I could tell she was embarrassed and ashamed of her actions.
“Should I be expecting anything else?” I asked Arizo.
“Nope. That was the last thing to happen before the team arrived.”
“Great. Let’s see what the rest of these boxes are about.”
2 Grow
5% to all blueprints, 500 XP, common creature blueprint
The sound of the roulette wheel was heard again and another box popped up.
Blueprint Unlocked: Toad
Blueprint Unlocked: Frog legs
Frog legs: The meaty leg of a frog
“That was simple enough” with a bit more confidence I opened the next box.
You have Reached Level 6
Arizo and I shared a shrug and I moved on. The next 5 boxes were each of the other ascension achievements followed by:
You have Reached Level 7
“So that wasn’t as bad as I feared.”
Arizo shook her head. “Most cores would be overjoyed.” There was laughter in her voice.
“I would be… well I kind of am. It’s just so much has happened all at once and I’d like it to calm down so I have time to adjust. Is it too much to ask for a few months of just building my dungeon?” I was weary of the constant action.
She moved down and hugged my core. “No it’s not too much to ask. You are still a baby core. You should have all the time you want to build and shape this dungeon as you see fit. Not being besieged by hostile creatures. Invaded by curious humans and set upon by your own past lives.” She squeezed me as tight as her small form would allow. “I wish there was something I could do.”
“You do so much for me.” I instantly replied. “Just being at my side. Keeping me straight and sane is a blessing in itself. I don’t know what I would have done without you. Probably died from a build up of mana before ever reaching the surface.”
Arizo’s whole body glowed as she blushed.
I couldn’t help but chuckle. “There are only a few boxes left.”
649 Experience Gained
Blueprint Unlocked: Healing Salve
Blueprint Unlocked: Bed Roll
Blueprint Unlocked: Wax
Blueprint Unlocked: Glass
Bed Roll: A leather or cloth pad that is used for sleeping outdoors. It can be rolled up for traveling ease.
Healing Salve: Heals 10-15 hit points
Glass: Crafted by heating and shaping sand. Most often used to make windows and potion vials
Wax: Produced by bees. Has numerous uses.
ERROR: Knowledge from ‘Rune Scroll’ has been added. Blueprint not formed.
“What is this?” I showed the error to Arizo.
“That will come up every time you absorb any non magical scrolls or books. You can read the scroll and learn what it has to offer but you can’t reproduce it. Just like you can’t make readable signs.” She explained.
“What about magical scrolls and books?”
Arizo was back in teacher mode. “You will get a blueprint from them and can remake them. But if you try to edit them there is a high chance of failure. When you get a magical scroll or book you’ll be able to see if any of your creatures can learn the spell.”
Fondness for the fairy filled me. She is so adorable. “We’ll have to experiment when we get one.” Her and Una could feel my mischievousness. “But I can make all the scrolls I want. On leather or….. Something. Anyway, I’m not going to try and force any blueprints right now. Imagine the faces of invaders when they think they found a great scroll and it’s just my dungeon gibberish.”
Arizo blinked a few times then dissolved into laughter. “To add to the humor you can make it say something funny.”
Una shook her head at our cackling. “A whole line of work about the goings on of my spiders.”
More laughter filled the core room.