Never enter a dungeon alone.
Never consume anything you find inside a Dungeon without having it identified first.
These are the two cardinal rules that the people of Tironia have followed ever since dungeons have been recorded to be man-eating monsters. As well as owning armour and a capable weapon, you should always have at least two other people with you and a day's worth of rations in your pack. This is not a law, but common knowledge.
If someone were to be injured whilst inside, how would they be able to escape on their own? There's no doubt that they would be killed and eaten by the dungeon whilst trying to escape, hence why a partner or multiple companions are advised by the guild.
Dungeons are deceitful creatures and it has been suggested that they are capable of possessing intelligence. There are many ways to die in a Dungeon, most of which are slow drawn-out deaths which feature excruciatingly horrible ends. Dungeons can even bring about an adventurer's death without them even knowing. Especially if they find themselves under-prepared, or lacking in common sense.
Dungeon Alox, which used to be just outside the city of Don, had a floor which no monsters inhabited. Adventurers who frequently entered the Dungeon had taken to calling that place a safe zone since they could relax without fear.
The whole of the tenth floor was lit by multiple light clusters, making it appear as though it was daytime inside. There was also fresh water with fish in. Adventurers would drink from that source, refreshing themselves from combat and having their attributes boosted. This knowledge was known to everyone who lived in the surrounding area and even those that visited often had heard. A dungeon which produces freshwater that boosts stats, so close to the city, was akin to bragging rights for the nobility.
The Red Skulls, who were by far the most successful adventuring group in Don, unexpectedly lost two members in one day. This was followed by another three the day after, then four more the day after that. Knowing their members had entered the dungeon, they assumed that a dangerous monster had been summoned. Gathering their entire m group together, the Red Skills headed into dungeon Alox in full force.
Pushing through the dungeon without the rest, they arrived on the tenth floor and had yet to encounter anything unusual. Ten minutes were all they were given, but it was enough time for almost everyone to drink from the stream. Safe as it usually was, no one considered the Dungeon might change its behaviour.
Halfway through the twelfth floor, Mages started hitting the ground like flies. Coughing up blood and convulsing violently, they had subjected to mana poisoning. The only Mage unaffected was the Vice Commander, Francesca Deboar. Having not long returned from a different mission, she was in possession of moonlight water.
The small container that fit in her palm contained a reservoir's worth of water. Fresher than a mountain spring, Francesca hadn't drunk from the Dungeon's Trap Water.
After their Battle Mages went down, so too did the Healers. They may have lasted slightly longer due to their Class, but that didn't stop them from coughing blood too. Only those with barely any mana were unaffected, but they couldn't do enough without support as they were set upon by the Dungeon.
Droves of monsters surrounded them from both sides, almost like they had been waiting for the opportunity. Without magical reprieve of any kind, the warriors were ripped apart as they valiantly fought their way out. No longer pressing forward, teamwork broke down and human nature reared its ugly head. Friends in disguise committed sins against fellow companions only to be karmatised a few floors later.
The only people to make it out of the Dungeon were Francesca Deboar and a few of her guards. The rest of the Red Skulls had been lured into weakening themselves so that monsters could slaughter them like cattle.
When she reported the events, 96 out of 103 people had died. The biggest loss since The Culling. Afterwards the Lord of Geo issued the Dungeon's destruction and three days later, it was gone.
There are other examples of this throughout history and we can only grow by learning from past mistakes.
-An extract from Dungeon Safety
-Written by former adventurer, Francesca Deboar.
----------------------------------------
Me's explanation on how to unlock new monsters lasted less than a minute.
There are a few ways for me to acquire new monsters. The best way is to keep doing what I've already been doing. Buying ten of the same type unlocks the next tier in that class. Doing this also nets me more monsters and seems like the most efficient option.
Alternatively, I can upgrade a single monster to the next tier by paying ten times their value. But I wouldn't have half as many monsters if I went about it that way. Not to mention that ten times the cost of Veris, my vagabond, would be 200DP. I can't even hold that much yet.
Another way to earn new monsters is by absorbing their corpses through my dungeon. Yep, just swallow them whole and then I can spit them out as much as I want. If I can afford the cost that Is. Finally, I can contract an outside monster to join my dungeon as a type of guardian, which sounds awesome.
I doubt there's anything kicking around outside my hole that wants to come and live inside a bandit hideout though.
Monsters aside, I've decided to add the Shady Tunnel between Rogues' Corner and the sixth room. I'd like to strengthen my defence, but I also want to summon as many people and monsters as possible. Knowing I should be focusing on one or the other, rather than doing bits here and there, I end up doing what I want.
Shady Tunnel has been created:
2XP Awarded
Addin more defence, I place four Poisonous Gas Traps inside the Shady Tunnel. Me said that monsters are able to see just fine in my Dungeon, even though there's not much light. How lucky are they? Even traps don't affect them.
With only a few minutes until my door opens, I still have 50 points left to spend. The problem is they don't seem to last long enough. DP, for how long it would usually take to regenerate, can be spent in seconds and I'm not sure which project to put them in.
What do I do?
Why not create the next floor? It will push your dungeon to Level 5. You still have new purchases from your previous level too.
Crap! I forgot about those. What were they again?
Can you get me a list of the available purchases, Me?
Available Purchases:
Traps:
Pitfall Trap: 1DP
Spike Trap: 2DP
Fire Pit Trap: 4DP
Poisonous Gas Trap: 8DP
Monsters:
Goblin: 3DP
Wolf: 5DP
Alpha Wolf: 10DP
Rogue: 10DP
Vagabond: 20DP
Features:
Grass: 1DP (per square foot)
Water: 1DP (per square foot)
Weak Wall Torch: 1DP
Weak Wooden Door: 1DP
Weak Wooden Chair: 1DP
Weak Wooden Table: 1DP
Wooden Treasure Chest: 1DP
Weak Ale: 1DP
Regular Ale: 2DP
Strong Ale: 4DP
Light Cluster: 3DP
Fire Cluster: 3DP
Swindlers Den: 40DP
Dungeon:
Tunnel: 5DP
Shady Tunnel: 20DP
Room: 20DP
Second Floor: 50DP
Upgrades:
Pitfall Trap: 10DP
This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.
Spike Trap: 20DP
Firepit Trap: 40DP
Goblin: 30DP
Wolf: 50DP
Weak Wall Torch: 10DP
Weak Wooden Door: 10DP
Weak Wooden Chair: 10DP
Weak Wooden Table: 10DP
Weak Ale: 10DP
Regular Ale: 20DP
Strong Ale: 40DP
Light Cluster: 30DP
Fire Cluster: 30DP
...
There are more, but they are unaffordable. This is everything you can currently purchase with your points.
I didn't need to see that much, Me.
I only wanted the purchases from my last level. I'll have to be more careful with my words next time. For now, let's have a look at Swindlers Den.
Swindlers Den: 40DP
This room requires 2 Rogues to be operational
Once set no other buildings or monsters may be added to this room
Whenever a person enters or exits the room the Rogues will create one clone each
One will attempt to deceive potential marks whilst the other steals their possessions
If successful they will give tribute to the Dungeon Core
Rewards:
4XP
What sort of description is that? I mean, I like l the tribute part, but are other summons still able to go through that room once the Den has been set? And how can they use clones? I couldn't do that when I was a Rogue.
Quite. The room will not be restricted for travel, but no other feature may be placed inside. The clones are created through the Dungeon's magic. It uses shadows to form identical bodies of the Rogues set to the Den.
That does sound good, but it's almost all of my DP.
What about Veris? I know I can't afford her upgrade but let's have a look at what Examine says anyway.
Vagabond (Veris): 200DP
Upgrade to unlock the next tier of Rogue
Unlocks: ???
Not a lot. What a crappy description.
I would much rather summon ten Vagabonds than pay to upgrade one to a harder question mark, right? When I'm flush, we'll be able to see about upgrades all day long.
But, why doesn't it show me the next upgrade, Me?
Your Rogues are a special type of monster that was created when you became a Dungeon Core. They are unique to you. Since they have never been summonable before, the system designs upgrades based on your knowledge of the class. You can add more mana to the summoning process to slightly alter them as they are created. This may also unlock a new type of monster.
That sounds really cool and almost like you may have mentioned it before, but it's a lot to remember. If she's using my thoughts though, shouldn't there be more than just question marks?
Have you given any thought to what the next monster would be yet? Its name perhaps? Also, why do you assume The System is female? Just like myself, it is without body, gender or opinion.
Yeah, sure, Me. You don't have an opinion. Also, I didn't know that descriptions would change if I put thought into them.
Still, I'll let The System make a name later. It's much easier than me having to decide. Now, what do I do with these points?
...
You really should consider building the second floor, Abi. It really is important.
Yeah I know, but I don't want to start the new floor from any of my current rooms. I've got a plan for where the second floor will start now, but we're not there yet.
Really? Would that plan involve travelling in a straight line because it would be a long distance?
Alright. Alright. I already agreed that was a stupid idea. In fact, what's your deal, Me? Are you supposed to be so... Sarcastic?
I don't know what you mean? I am exactly how I am supposed to be!
Yeah, OK. I swear you said you didn't have an opinion, yet all you do is complain and jab me.
I... It's just... I don't know what to say.
Well, it looks like you're just as screwed up as I am. Still, I'm glad to have you here, Me. You were right before, you know? I would probably still be crying if I was all on my own.
Not that I can cry, but he knows what I mean. Maybe when I get that physical form I'll be able to wail to my heart's content.
I don't know why I said that, Abi. It's... Not right.
Don't worry about it, Me. There are bigger problems than what we say to each other, right?
Quite. Your door will open in 2 seconds.
What? Already!?
The large mound of earth that is my door sinks into the ground and reveals my entrance. Leaving a fresh, gaping hole on display for all to see.
Now that I'm open for business, I try to look at the world outside. While I'm struggling to make sense of what I can't see, my Rogues enact the plan. Rushing out without fear, they form a semi-circle around my entrance and begin pushing outwards. On the lookout for my traitorous ex-comrade Kal or anyone else that might cause us trouble.
I try to keep my eyes on the Rogues as they move out, but my efforts are in vain. I can't make sense of anything beyond the Dungeon's boundaries. What looks like the rippling of water represents my border and prevents me from seeing further.
I change perspectives back to my overview. The headache-inducing vision switches and I'm left looking down from above. From this angle, I'm actually able to see a small patch of land just beyond my entrance. I decide to use Examine on it quickly whilst my Rogues are out.
Land Acquisition: 1000DP
Claim the land surrounding your Dungeon as your own
Anyone on this land will be treated the same as being inside the Dungeon and will generate DP for the Core
Items can also be absorbed through the land as it becomes part of the Dungeon
WOW. I wish I had enough points for that!
What would you do with it?
I don't know? Surely it would come in handy though. I didn't know that Dungeons could claim land. In fact, I don't think anyone knows that.
But, it's not like I have enough DP to buy it anyway. Plus, isn't the point of being a Dungeon to actually be inside a Dungeon? Why does it have to be so confusing?
Dungeon life is tough.
Oh. I've just had a brainwave! What if I hide my core inside a tree? Genius, right?! No one would think to look for it there.
What if a bird breaks it, or eats it thinking it's food?
Could that actually happen?
I have no idea. I have no knowledge on Dungeons that have ever obtained land outside their confines before. Like your Rogues, it might be due to the fact that you were human before becoming a Dungeon Core.
Hmmm.
Acquiring land seems similar to building tunnels and rooms. Only I get to do it outside the Dungeon. That's...
My Rogues dashed out the entrance as planned, but I got caught up in something else.
Me, can you see what's going on out there?
Unfortunately, I cannot see outside the Dungeon either.
Damn, I thought you were going to say that. Let's see what I can learn then whilst we wait. I don't feel as though I'm in such a rush now that I've been revealed to the world.
Hey, Tironia. Check out the new me!
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous though.
Me, what happens if someone kills one of my monsters?
They die. Obviously.
Obviously?
Really?
What I meant was, do I get any DP back from them? Like I do if I dismantle something.
No. The monster would have died by someone else's hand. Their killer will earn XP and in turn, increase their own level. This is one of the reasons adventurers seek dungeons out in the first place. The other is loot.
...
Obviously.
I get it now.
Whilst contemplating my own stupidity, the first of my Rogues returns. She's carrying a large, green lump-of-something over her shoulder and drops on my floor triumphantly.
It's too late to do anything about it as my dungeon happily absorbs the green lump and I find out what it is.
A naked-fucking-Goblin!
First-time monster absorption bonus:
25DP 25XP
A new monster has been unlocked:
Goblin Shaman: 50DP
New features have been unlocked:
Goblin Hut: 5DP
Goblin Altar: 50DP
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 5
DP increased by 20
New features are available:
Water Cluster: 3DP
Wind Cluster: 3DP
The Shop of Secrets: 40DP
Oh My God!
Why the hell would you drop that on my floor!? Where did you even get it from and why was it fucking naked?
The female Rogue who was momentarily revelling in her first catch, realises that I am not happy with her offering. She doesn't understand why though as I can't physically tell her yet.
Gods damn stupid voiceless Dungeon!
Sensing my anger, the Rogue begins explaining where she found the Goblin and claims it was already naked when she killed it. Finding it eating and with its guard down, she plunged her rusty dagger through the back of its skull.
My anger drops to frustration, but is quickly followed by confusion. It's not because of her story though. I understand perfectly well what she's saying. She did a good job on the smelly bastard, especially the sneak attack. I'm almost kinda proud, even if it was a Goblin.
What I'm confused over, is the fact that these Rogues can speak!
It's been 24 hours of me and Me and not a single one of them has said a bloody word. I was beginning to think they weren't able to speak because they're Dungeon summons.
Does that mean everything I summon can speak?
I'll figure it out later.
For now, just you wait, Dropper. That's your name now by the way. You're the first person getting a lecture when I get a body, or a voice, or whatever it was that Me said I'd get at level 10!
Manifestation.
Yeah, that! How come you didn't tell me the Rogues could speak?
I didn't know that you... Didn't know?
How was I supposed to know that Dungeon summons can speak?
And I don't know how many times I'm going to have to say it.
I HATE GOBLINS!
First-time monster absorption bonuses:
11DP 11XP
New monsters have been unlocked:
Goblin Archer: 6DP
Goblin Defender: 6DP
New loot available:
Small Bow: 5DP
Small Iron Shield: 5DP
The start of my second day as a Dungeon Core is not going well. I avert my attention from Me and back to the entrance. Stood there are two more Rogues, Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Also named in my fury. Heroically posturing and grinning from ear to ear, their offerings disappear into my floor.
NOOOOO!