The Woodlands of Gael.
The elven tribe of Gael detest those who aren't of elven blood. Dwarves and humans are thrown together with the likes of dungeons and monsters in their eyes. They are known to skin their enemies alive, followed by roasting if the victim survives the flaying. Knowing this fact, no one ventures into the elven woods on the south of Tira anymore and to see one outside of their home is unheard of. They are now as rare to come by as Mimics are these days. Truly one of the most dangerous places to find yourself in is the Gael Woods, if you're not an elf that is.
The Mines of Cair Dun.
The Dun Mountains reside in the heart of the Cair continent and boast the largest collective range of dangerous mountains across the whole of Tironia. If one is not native to the area, or ventures too far into the mines located in almost all the surrounding peaks without a guide, it is very likely they will become lost and even easier to stumble into a dungeon mistaking it for a cave.
The chances of stumbling back out alive are slim to none as the undead litter the dungeons in Dun. If safety and precautions are not on your mind whilst travelling here, it will be the last place you ever see.
The Seas of Tironia.
The high seas of Tironia boast some of the strongest monsters to date. Giant aquatic beasts lurk in the large body of water that merchants use for travel. Strong adventurers take jobs involving protection details on the sea. Most voyages will never make a full journey without at least having a few encounters along the way. If you come across any beasts from the real deep on your voyage though, then the odds of you reaching land again are slim to none as some of those monstrosities are capable of swallowing a ship whole.
The Floating Island of Zabul.
Not much is known about the floating mass of land named Zabul. It is said there is a golden city that resides on top, but no one has ever been able to reach it to confirm this rumour. Another rumour is that the inhabitants of Zabul all possess wings so that they can travel down to the surface of Tironia and back again. No one has ever claimed to meet such a being however so the island is presumed to be empty of life. Except for a dungeon, but again, that's just another unsubstantiated rumour.
Excerpt from the Worldpedia. Chapter 7. Dangerous and Mysterious Locations.
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Ali did not bring back a single monster from the entire time she was outside my dungeon. With the sad end to the cutest Slime I've ever seen, I was hoping she would have something cute that I could summon hidden away in her bag.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be. Inside the sack, which she took from a monster she killed and bisected, were a dozen different varieties of wild vegetables and a large amount of meat from the monster itself.
I earned 12DP from the veggies, 1XP from the Boar meat and a large amount of sadness for free.
New features available:
Vegetables: 1DP
Boar Meat: 2DP
All rooms can now be customised with the farm effect for no extra cost
Farm effect?
Trying to lose the cloud hanging over me, I wonder where farming fits in with being a dungeon?
"Master?" Nervously rubbing the hem of her clothing, Ali looks less confident than she did on her return.
What's up? Is what I hope my will relays to her.
"P-Please may I have some meat and vegetables to cook dinner for the others?"
What?
Ali's request for food completely kicks the cloud of sadness away.
Is she hungry? She must be, right? She wouldn't ask otherwise. I thought you said they didn't need to eat or drink, Me?
I said they might not need such things. Regular monsters need neither food or water to sustain them. A steady connection to the mana you produce is enough to keep them content and is provided automatically through your will.
That's all well and good for my regular monsters, but will the Rogues run my DP into the ground? When there's more of them they'll need large amounts of food on a daily basis, right?
Then again...
I summon 2DP's worth of Boar meat for Ali, and so I can see what portion sizes we're working with. To my surprise, it's more generous than what I absorbed in the first place.
How does that work?
When I summon the Vegetables, it creates lots of different types all at once for the cost of 1DP. With all that food for the insanely-cheap price of 3DP, I shouldn't really complain. Especially since they're bringing these goods back.
So the Rogues will have no problem staying fed and I don't need to worry about the price. Three meals a day won't break the bank. I need to remember to keep it in my calculations though.
Ali's eye's light up as the food appears before her. "Thank you, Master," she beams and begins chopping vegetables immediately. On the floor of the dungeon I might add.
The sight pains me to my Core. The woman in front of me, chopping vegetables in less-than-satisfactory conditions, strikes a chord with my heart.
It reminds me that I didn't have much growing up and life was always a constant struggle. Losing both of my parents at a young age, I endured many hardships and did what I could to live.
It would be nice to say I grew up in a large mansion, with both parents around to love me forever and enough money to buy whatever I want, but that's just a dream. After doing what I did to make money and join the guild, I met Anya. She changed my world. Registering and forming a party, we took a few contracts and were even close to ranking up. In those short few years, my life had changed drastically and I was doing well. Then... Deadded.
I got deadded.
Leaving my past alone, where it should, let's see what I can do about Ali's problem.
Hmm...
After browsing through my list, I choose an appropriate object for my task and begin the creation of a weak wooden wall for 5DP. It was one of the new features that unlocked when I created my second floor.
I shrink the wall and fold it over on itself as much as I can whilst flattening it down. There are no problems as I do this and the wood becomes stronger through the process. It doesn't take long until it's reached a rectangular shape. Focusing a little more, I carve grooves down one side and leave the other plain.
This is the first item that I've used my points to alter since Me mentioned it. It wasn't actually that hard either. I feel really proud of what I've just accomplished even if it is just a chopping board. Because of its size, it only cost 1DP instead of the originally 5.
As the object materialises in front of Ali, I convey its use through my will and she looks grateful for the gift. I also receive a new notification.
New loot has been created:
Cutting Board: 1DP
That was unexpected.
I can tell that Ali is delighted with her new piece of equipment as she dices veg. Her prep looks a lot easier now that she has a flat surface to work on, if not to mention much more sanitary.
Thinking about what Ali will need next, Talia's Tavern springs to mind. It would definitely be a better place for her to work, rather than continuing her food preparations in my entrance. Not that I'm a dirty dungeon. I don't have any viruses or contaminants that I'm aware of at least.
I send Ali to Talia's with my will and off she goes, disappearing faster than a Dole Hound.
She's been alive almost as long as I have. Seeing as how I'm no longer a human, a sniffle escapes me, I don't have the urge to eat anymore and that makes me feel worse for the Rogues. They must be starving.
Since upgrading the Bar to the not-to-shabby Rogues' Tavern, it actually looks like quite a welcoming establishment. Even if it is intended for the dregs of society.
A fair amount of seating is spread with and if it had actual customers, there's no doubt it would be making some good money. As long as I keep supplying it with alcohol which won't be a problem considering how cheap it is. The best part about it is the fact that I'm the grower, brewer and supplier, all rolled into one.
Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
Maybe I could provide adventurers with alcohol in exchange for not being sold out to the local Lord?
Or maybe Rogues' Corner could be a safe zone where no monsters attack? You might still get robbed blind though.
I don't know.
Realistically, I'm only a day old now. That's a bit of a kicker. I do have a few ideas circulating, now that I'm not as emotional as I was. I'm still disappointed that I'm never going to be a human again, but you have to move on and stop wailing at some point.
Viewing the Tavern, I discover it has a fully functioning kitchen with a magical oven in the back. Pots, pans and other kitchen utensils must have appeared when it upgraded.
I wonder what the next upgrade will bring.
Rogues' Tavern:
A place for weary Rogues to fill their belly with a hearty meal whilst enjoying a good Ale
Backroom deals can be made here
10% of the cost go to the proprietress
All Rogues have their attributes boosted by 20% whilst on the same floor as the Tavern
All seating is extremely comfortable regardless of type or material
Upgrade Rogues' Tavern to ????: 160DP
Rewards:
Weak Spirits: 8DP
????: 40DP
8XP
Wow.
These Rogues will be living comfier than the humans soon. Except for when they'll be fighting off invaders for me.
I hate those question marks. Why can't The System just choose a name for now? Why's she so lazy? I would at least have an insight into what comes next.
Me said I could name it too, but I think he's having laugh. ????: 40DP? How am I suppose to put a name to that when I have no idea what it is?
Ignoring the frustrating problems, I shift my attention back to Ali. She's reached the Tavern and has started her preparations again. This time on a more suitable worktop.
I don't get to watch her for long as two female Rogues return, both struggling to keep hold of a jelly-like object. One has red jelly, the other's green and each is cradled between the arms of a Rogue like a baby.
I didn't want to get my hopes up, but once I absorbed them the future of cuteness in my Dungeon rose ever so slightly. Acquiring 2 new monsters, I also breached my threshold and leveled up.
First-time monster absorption bonus:
10DP 10XP
New monsters have been unlocked:
Red Slime: 10DP
Green Slime: 10DP
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 7
DP has been increased by 20
New features have been unlocked:
Darkness Cluster: 3DP
Earthern Cluster: 3DP
Camping Ground: 40DP
Yes!
They're not pink, but it's a start.
Who's the Dungeon Core? Yeah. That's right.
The two Slimes are a welcome addition and much better than any of the Goblin drops I've had so far. Maybe not for XP, but they look a damn sight better than the gobs do. They feel so much nicer to absorb too.
Maybe I'm overthinking it?
Still, I really want a pink Slime. I bet it will take a ages to unlock one though.
For now, I'll keep on Dungeon'in.
Using my will, I send the Rogues to the Tavern to rest and eat. The notion of dinner hits home and they both run off immediately. As they disappear, I'm hit with another obvious fact. If they need to eat, then they need to sleep too and the Tavern doesn't have its second floor yet.
Fortunately for me, a cheaper and more reasonably-priced alternative just made itself available.
Camping Ground: 40DP
A choice selection of tents will be made available with fire pits included for cooking
That's it?
I'm not sure why, but I was expecting a more. Even if just a little. From the description, I at least know what I'm paying for. It's not the Tavern's second floor, but it will do for now.
I place the Camping Ground in the room before Rogues' Corner. There's enough tents that a few would be left empty if all of the Rogues decided to sleep at the same time.
Not that they would.
Now that I think about it, shouldn't I have someone stand guard? Dungeons usually have guards, albeit not ones Spawned by the Dungeon itself. Where would they go though?
My entrance?
Didnt I unlock a feature for this type of thing?
Thinking about what I've unlocked recently, one such feature does spring to mind. I unlocked it after upgrading the Rundown Rogues' Bar and it's a perfect fit for the position I want to fill.
Watch House: 40DP
A suspicious building that houses Rogues
Keeps record of all underhanded affairs and shady deals that occur in the Dungeon
Rewards:
4 XP
What the hell?
Rogues in a Watch House? I was really hoping to unlock Guards or Soldiers pr something like that.
Seriously? Can't the System come up with something better? She's almost as bad as the Lazy God that left her running. I huff and move on because what else can I do about it?
Examine is a good skill, but the descriptions that she comes up with are severely lacking sometimes. I could alter them if I put some thought into it, however it appears that I have the same problem as the System.
I can't think of a decent name to save my life.
Ignoring my naming problems until I can gather inspiration from somewhere, I splurge 40DP and purchase the Watch House.
I'd like it to be as close to my entrance as possible so it can go in the room next to the traps. Another badly-damaged building, just like the Rundown Rogues' Bar, forms into creation. Once finished it looks old and decrepit, like it's been around for thousands of years. Large segments of the wall are missing and moss is covering the entire building.
Even though it's seems partially damaed, The Watch House takes up an imposing amount of space even pressed right up against the wall. It sits directly infront of the tunnel to the Camping Ground and intruders have to go through it to progress through my dungeon.
I'm getting pretty good at this.
I didn't actually expect it to be that big if I'm being honest. Me said I can move features for no extra cost so aswell, so that's good to know.
Even if I want to change the layout of my dungeon, it won't cost me a single point.
After my spending is over, I'm left with 19 dungeon points to my name. Willing my status up, it shows that I'm quite a ways from my next level.
I knew my growth would start to slow down eventually. It did when I was a human so why wouldn't it now? The higher your level, the more XP you will need. Fact.
Dungeon Core Abi Level 7:
9/50 XP until next level
2 Floors
14 Rooms
12 Tunnels
22 Monsters
34 Traps
DP: 19/140
Tweedledum, Tweedledee and a flustered looking female return as I'm viewing my stats.
Dee is trying his best to hold onto a slippery Red Slime whilst Dum and the unnamed female are both trying their best with green ones. Each one of the squat-legged trio look comical as hell trying to carry the dead-wobbly monster.
I'm so much happier now that my Rogues have stopped dropping off ugly monsters.
The Slimes brings no XP as neither of them are first-timers, but I still earn 15 DP from them. The next Rogue also seems to have had trouble with her tribute and can barely hold on to them. As she enters the fish slide free from her grasp and disappear in seconds.
No wonder these guys took so long, they can barely carry what they've got without dropping it.
I earn no XP and 3DP from the fish before sending the tired and weary-looking Rogues into the dungeon. Hopefully Ali's food and a good sleep will raise their spirits.
With just Light and Dropper yet to return, all the other Rogues are safely back in my dungeon waiting for dinner.
Whilst we wait, I make my first purchase for the second floor. Now that the range has doubled, my tunnels span 100 foot in length and are almost 10 foot wide. There almost large, rectangular rooms.
Usin my overview, I place the tunnel east of the stairs. Instead of adding a room at the end like usual, I place a second tunnel heading south.
Using my will, I inform Barry that the intersection between these two tunnels will be the new location of his cave system. He can dump his loads in the tunnels outside and absorption will do them rest.
I thought about letting him continue drillin' away in my trap room, but it doesn't feel right having him so close to the entrance. Not because I'm worried he'll be seen, or that he might be killed. No, I'm more scared that someone's going to steal my prize-winning, DP-making machine.
After Barry has settled in at his new spot, I go check on Colin. The Mimic of cuteness. For some reason though, he's not in the Core room where I left him.
Where did he go?
After a quick check, it turns out he's in the previous Core room. Just after the Wolves' Den, I find him sat in the corner just chest'in.
Feeling a bit guilty, I realise that I may not have told Colin to come along when I moved my Core. I was rushing to get back to Ali after sorting out Veris' Boss Room and the second floor.
Which still needs a door.
Don't you worry though, Colin. I'll get you something first cutie.
I let the adorable Mimic know my intentions and he heads to the new Core Room. I raise a small, square section of the floor and place ten wooden chests around it, leaving the raised platform for Colin to sit on. He moves into position with great satisfaction and settles down to blends in with the other chests.
The only notable difference afterwards is the drool leading to him.
A new feature has been unlocked:
Bronze Treasure: 2DP
Upgrades are always appreciated, but I made those chests for Colin. It's not like I have anything else to give him at the moment and after making purchases for the Rogues it only seems fair.
As soon as I have the points, I'll purchase the forest-room upgrade for the Wolves. I think I might move them closer to the boss room as well. They're quite a strong force and I think it will be a better location for Trixie and her Wolves. They're only where they are now because the first tier freaked me out enough that I sent them away.
The wolves don't need to eat do they, Me?
Abi, you have a tendency for asking the same question multiple times just in different ways. Regular dungeon monsters do not require food. Mana within the dungeon is what they feed off and before you ask, I do not know why your Rogues are incapable of this.
Oh. OK, thank you anyway. I only ask so much because I want to make sure it's right.
There's a lot to remember, you know?
As I was talking to Me, a surge of power rushed through every fibre of my Core. Changing views to my entrance, it appears that Light and Dropper have finally returned and have just deposited their tribute.
It seem that one of the things I've been trying to ignore has finally happened. Only it's sooner than I had anticipated. I didn't know how I was going to cope with it once the time came, but all I can feel at the moment is shock. I'm amazed at the large, blue box displayed before me. I'm also a little curious as to how good my Rogues actually are in combat.
First Time Absorption Bonus:
173DP 173 XP
New loot unlocked:
Refined Steel Sword: 40DP
Refined Steel Shield: 40DP
Exquisite Decorative Steel Armour: 160DP
Refined Steel Boots: 40DP
Steel Ring: 16DP
Garnet Jewel: 50DP
Human Absorbption Bonus:
106DP 106XP
Tallon The Defiler:
Level 19 Warrior 10600XP
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 8:
DP has been increased by 20
New features have been unlocked:
Large Light Cluster: 6DP
Large Fire Cluster: 6DP
Pit: 40DP
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 9:
DP has been increased by 20
New features have been unlocked:
Large Wind Cluster: 6DP
Large Water Cluster: 6DP
Box of Worship: 20DP
Dungeon Core Abi has reached Level 10:
DP has been increased by 20
New monsters have been unlocked:
Weak Spider: 3DP
Cave Bat: 5DP
Black Slime: 20DP
New features have been unlocked:
All rooms and tunnels can now be customised with the Cave effect for no extra cost
All rooms and tunnels can now be customised with the Cobweb effect for no extra cost
All rooms and tunnels can now be customised with the Stone Brick effect for no extra cost
Passive Skill Stockpile has reached Level 8:
1272 DP required for level 9
Passive Skill Regeneration has reached Level 3:
DP rate has increased to 1.5 DP per hour
A new Skill has been acquired:
Manifestation
Holy Shit!