An Introduction to Magic and Mana.
There are eight elements available to the aspiring mage and they are taught in magic schools across Tironia.
The basic elements require less mana to cast and have shorter chants. They are:
Fire
Wind
Water
Earth
After these come the more advanced elements. These contain harder chants, require more mana and possess longer cast times. Because of this, they are much stronger than the basic elements:
Light
Darkness
Time
Space
Most people are capable of mastering a single element in their lifetime, depending on their mana pool. People that are naturally attuned to mana have a larger pool and should be capable of more. Depending on your talent, and the amount of mana you possess, you could master more than one. Not many people can handle more than two elements and you will be known as a prodigy if you can.
In the rarest of scenarios, there have been a handful of people who were capable of mastering more than three elements. Only three of these have actually been recorded throughout the entire history of Tironia though.
For the aspiring mage, logic dictates that you should set your sights on one of the four basic elements to start with. Earning mastery over one and expanding your mana pool before attempting a second element.
Magic schools generally take applicants between the ages of 8 and 16 and conduct a mana test upon entrance. Consult your local branch for more specific information regarding application criteria and fees. All schools are subject to a yearly review by the governing area's local lord, or two separate reviews over two 6 month periods whichever has been decided upon by the lord in power, and the LMA. Local Magic Association.
A pamphlet titled, An Introduction to Magic and Mana.
Created by the Mages Association to be distributed to all major cities and towns across Tironia, 1934.
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Where do I even begin?
Stockpile?
The Black Slime?
My level?
Or the fact that Dropper and Light manage to kill a Level 19 human Warrior?
Overwhelmed by curiosity, I use Examine to view the status of my two Rogues.
There's a few discrepancies between their skills and level, but that's probably due to the different monsters they brought back on their first outing.
Overall, they're both looking pretty good.
Rogue:
Dropper
Level 10
1/20XP until next level
Skills:
Assassinate: Level 1
Pierce: Level 1
Silent Feet: Level 3
Shadow Step: Level 1
Rogue:
Light
Level 9
8/20XP until next level
Skills:
Pierce: Level 2
Silent Feet: Level 2
Dodge: Level 1
They've made great progress in such a short amount of time. Like, serous progress. Dropper is the same level as me for the Cores sake.
It seems unfair in a way, but I'll let her off since I created them.
I'll have to have a look at what skills the other Rogues have later, especially Talia. I know that she earned new skills when she became the Tavern's proprietress, but I never got around to checking them.
I'll definitely remember to do it later. Right now, I have a something important to find out.
Willing the two Rogues into telling me how they managed to kill a swordsman, especially when his level was as high as theirs combined, they begin explaining how lady luck fell into their path as they were returning home empty-handed.
Tallon the Defiler, which is just a horrible title by the way, was already covered in wounds when they happened upon him. In a dense section of the forest, about a mile west of my dungeon, the two Rogues came across a massacre. The woodland had been painted red and bodies littered the area.
It looked as though everyone was dead, but the two checked the area just incase. Further from the bloodshed, they found the cause huddled over his victim. Doing as his title suggested.
Other than heavy breathing and the muffled sobs of sorrow and shame, the forest was eerily quite.
Caught up in his own sadistic pleasures, Talon was covered in burns and cuts. Too invested in his prey, he hadn't even bothered to heal himself.
It's hard to understand what goes on in the minds of those who are clearly insane.
Treading cautiously around bisected people, Light and Dropper snuck closer to the only-two people still alive. They went unnoticed thanks to their targets attention being obsessively focused on his victim.
Once they were in position, Light leapt out of cover to draw the naked man's attention. The Defiler, caught off-guard in the middle of euphoria, looked to be outraged.
Given his level, he should have still put up a good fight against my Rogues. Even naked! Unfortunately for him, being caught with literal wood by Light's sudden arrival was the worst situation he could have been in.
All eyes forward as his tree sagged over, he failed to notice Dropper creeping up behind and Talon's throat was slit ending their story.
Brutal.
Great coordination and teamwork from these two, but brutal nonetheless.
I love it.
Light carried the warrior home whilst Dropper brought back his gear. They left the distraught lady alone. I'm sure I heard something about wanting to put her out of her misery, but they already had their hands full and didn't bother.
I think I need to revisit that statement though.
Accepting their story, I can't help but be shocked at how extremely lucky they got. The high-levelled Warrior was injured and distracted by being a stain on sociey, but it won't always be that way. Life's not a picnic where unicorns pop over for tea and shit-out DP.
I'll need to have a serious discussion about who is and isn't killable very soon, but right now I have a lot of points to spend.
I send Light and Dropper off to Talia's Tavern to relax. They did awesome and deserve a good rest.
Getting easier every time, I will my own status up next.
Status.
Dungeon Core Abi Level 10:
96/110 XP until next level
2 Floors
14 Rooms
14 Tunnels
22 Monster
34 Traps
300/200 DP Available
Hehehe.
I've come a long way from one room and 20 DP.
With the new and improved 80% upgrade from Stockpile, I can hold an extra 160DP. I should definitely be able to handle larger tributes now. Unless I'm already full, but then it will just go to levelling Stockpile. Which is even more beneficial than I originally pegged it to be.
There's still a bit of time before Ali's meal will be ready and once everyone's together, I've got a great surprise to show them. I can't wait! I've got to make sure that Colin and Barry are there too.
For now, though. I need more.
Much, much more. After leveling up three times, I have a crazy desire to spend points.
My first purchase is the Tavern's Second Floor and the only unnecessary DP I'm going to part with. I'm calling it unnecessary because my Rogues already have somewhere to sleep, but I figure comfort will improve their performance if some of them sleep here. It probably won't, plus 80DP is a lot to fork out on a feature. After rereading the description again, it specifically stated that the Tavern needs the second floor before I can purchase the building's next upgrade.
So there, it's done now. I'll get over it.
Tavern 2nd Floor completed:
8 XP Awarded.
New features available:
Average Bed: 5DP
The Cracked Cauldron: 20DP
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
The Cracked Cauldron?
I know I'm glossing over the fact that a human died and it appears as though I haven't given it a second thought, but to be honest the notification keeps playing through my mind. Not that he was a stellar example of humanity.
I was expecting it to happen eventually seeing how I'm now a Dungeon Core, but everything seems to be moving really fast and I'm still unsure how I feel about certain matters.
I mean, people die every day in dungeons. What difference does it make if that dungeon's me?
I know he didn't exactly die inside my dungeon, but I did absorb him.
It's kinda the same thing.
Plus, he was a Defiler. I know monsters don't have the best of reputations, but I can personally guarantee you that none of my summons have been out defiling people.
The Tavern sprouts a brand new floor and grows slightly in size. Every window is blacked out for privacy and the feature is actually starting to look good. Inside, two set of stairs lead up to the second floor beside the main entrance where guest rooms line the outer wall. Railing runs around the entire upper floor and has left the tavern on display below.
I could upgrade the it again if I wanted to. I'm guessing the next level will have even better features, but I shouldn't keep concentrating on the same building. Plus, I already said it was the only unnecessary purchase I was going to make.
I decided a while ago to move Trixie and her pack, so that's what I'm doing next. But first, I want to edit the room they'll be going in. I said I'd make them a forest.
Error:
Unable to change the dimensions of this room
The diameters of the room will not fit between the two previously placed tunnels
Okay, so that didn't work.
Don't make me a liar, System.
I suppose I could use that free cave feature to make them a room. I should try create a forest for them as well, they don't seem half as scary now that I've gotten used to them. I bet they would love the open space too.
Not to mention that Trixie is a total babe. Adventurers won't stand a chance, they'll be paralysed by beauty and the power of attraction the moment they lay eyes on her.
I feel a little ashamed that I can't provide a suitable location for the wolves, like I have done for my Rogues. I let them know that the Wolves' Den has temporarily moved and is in the tenth room just for now. I also tell them not to get comfortable as I'm going to make a floor just for them.
For now, they're to head to the Tavern with everyone else.
I call Colin and Barry up as well and continue my purchases whilst they arrive at Talia's. Ali's looks to be almost ready with dinner and I use the last-few minutes to spend a little more DP before I unveil my surprise.
I'm definitely becoming a boss at imposing my will.
Moving to the ninth room, I browse my list to see what's next. This time, I purchase the Box of Worship for the cheap-cheap price of 20DP and watch as a small-box forms into existence.
Box of Worship:
A place for people to offer prayers to the many different Gods of Tironia
Requires two Acolytes to function correctly
A new Monster has been unlocked:
Acolyte: 10DP
New loot unlocked:
Acolyte's Robes: 2DP
2 XP Awarded
I'm glad I unlocked the summons to go with it. Otherwise it would be unusable and a waste of DP. Costing the same price as the Rogues, I summon the needed beings to operate the feature.
Unlocking exactly what I need, I summon two Acolytes to operate the box. Aptly named, it is exactly what it said it was. A small, dirty-brown, box. It's about as large as a cupboard and has a door on the front that doesn't close properly. It said I needed two people to run the feature, but looks like it will only fit one and wouldn't that be the person praying?
Who the hell is going to want to pray in that thing?
The Acolytes at least look the part. A male and female, both wearing simple-grey robes with string tying them shut, were what I got for 20DP. Feeling lucky, I name the male Zen and the female Ang.
Zen looks like your typical monk. His clothes speak of a modest life and his eyes convey understanding. Ang is no different. I was going to call her Angela, but didn't think it was very Acolyte-ish. She has dark-brown hair and is blessed with a bosom shaped by the Gods themselves. I'm sure if she were dressed in anything other than these robes she would be an eye turner.
Because of the feature and the Acolytes, I'll name this room the Prayer Room to make it unique. The Acolytes look just as human as my Rogues and also seem to be blessed with good lucks. Before they can get settled, I send the last minute additions off to Talia's to see if Ali is ready with the food.
Waiting to spring my surprise is killing me, I haven't even used it once.
How great is my determination!?
I move passed the temporary location Wolves Den into the next room. Here, I place 30 Pitfall traps and leave them open. Now, the floor looks like a block of cheese and the monsters I'm about to summon can either fill them in or cover them up.
Opening my list, I already know what I want and select 10 Baby Spiders.
A new Monster has been unlocked:
Sticky Spider: 6DP
New loot unlocked:
Silk: 3DP
It said Baby Spiders, but they're a lot bigger than the description lets on. Infact, they're that big that they would reach my knees, if I still had them. I can even see the grey and black hair that covers each one of the eight-legged monsters clearly as 80 fear-inducing eyes stare right at me.
An imaginary shiver runs through my non-existent body and if I was still human, I might have wet myself. As it turns out, my fear towards the Arachnids is not as strong as it was for the wolves. Feeling a little relieved, I summon a Sticky Spider because I'm brave like that.
Once the summoning light has gone, a white spider with grey stripes remains. With long-bristly legs, it's twice the size of the others and twice as scary. Black, beady eyes run down its face in teo rows of four and it's mandibles look sharp enough to eat a person alive.
It is most certainly a far cry from cute.
Optional Mini-Boss is now Unlocked:
Set Sticky Spider as a Mini-Boss for the first floor
Yes/No?
Me, how many Mini-Bosses am I allowed on a floor?
Any monster that has passed the first evolution can become a Mini-Boss on the first floor being the Dungeon's weakest level. Most first floors, however, are not usually this big and do not need for more than one.
Fair enough. In that case, why not?
Yes, please.
Confirming my choice, I name the scary-looking-Sticky-Spider Webster and confirm his status as my second Mini-Boss. I also do the ten Baby Spiders at the same time, naming them all William because they look identical.
Adding the web feature for no cost, it improves the aesthetics and defence. Any adventurers that happen to make it his far will get a nice fright upon arrival.
I'll name this room, 'The Wonderful Womb of Web'.
That said, what am I actually going to do with the Rogues? I'm just kinda doing what I want and yet expect them to defend me if we're invaded. Will they do that forever?
There are too many questions in my new life of a Dungeon Core.
Like, why are all the buildings I create so damaged and rundown? The poor descriptions don't do them any favours either.
I've already asked Me, but he doesn't know. Plus, he gets grouchy when I ask questions he doesn't know the answer to.
He can tell me how dungeons were created, who created them and the reason behind said creation, but he can't tell me what comes after the Vagabond because it depends on me?
Whatever, if I want to build a Bandit village or a Rogue camp then that's exactly what I'll do. It should be fine. I'm lucky that dungeon monsters don't attack each other. No matter what, they're safe from friendly fire. Unlike humans. Its won't be so lucky for any adventurers that stumble upon me out in the middle of nowhere though. My summons work as one without argument or complaint.
As a former adventurer, I'm somewhat reluctant to let others enter my dungeon. Not because I'm worried about them dying. I'm not down with them killing my monsters. I'm growing attached to these guys. Not to mention they source my DP.
No one would mind if a Defiler or two happened to go missing whilst inside one of my reputable establishments, right?
It's a tricky subject, but one that I've got to contemplate still. I don't want to forsake my humanity and succumb to eating people, but I'll do it if I'm forced to. Or if one of my cute monsters are killed.
This is hard. Maybe my dungeon could be a fun dungeon?
One where you don't kill the monsters?
Or is that me just being stupid again?
Potentially.
Potentially what?
Exactly.
Don't do that to me, Me. It's not funny when you do it.
Exactly.
Alright, point taken.
It was stupid.
Ignoring my own naivety, I add torches to the rooms and tunnels that are still without light. Other than the areas that are meant to be shrouded in darkness, my Dungeon now has sufficient light.
When adventurers see how good looking the humans in my Dungeon are, they might keep the location a secret. Jealousy and greed. If I spruced this place up good, it could be the perfect spot for a secret rendezvous. Hell, they could even bring us tributes named gifts that I would absorb when they leave.
That would be awesome. Free DP.
Hmm.
Now that I think about it, sounds like owning a brothel. Do I really want a place like that in my dungeon and could I do that to my summons? Then again, I might already own one. What if the Box of Worship upgrades into...
Yeah, let's stop that thought there. Hopefully that won't happen, but there's another problem with my idea. Now that I've placed my lights, people will see how handsome the men are. Again, jealousy and greed.
Damn!
I suppose it doesn't really matter. It could go one way or the other.
Getting out of my thoughts, I put my DP to use. Adding a new tunnel to the second floor, I place it on the opposite Barry's on the other side of the room.
Now that my tunnels have doubled I length, this distance adventurers have to travel has also increased. At the end of the tunnel, I add the smallest room I can create. It only ends up costing me 2DP too.
The room is just as wide as the tunnel, making it not appear to be a room at all. It looks pretty good, I think. I'm going for a long corridor effect so that the path feels endless. It will take a while though as Im slowly running down my DP.
With the next tunnel, I make it descend whilst slowly curving round at the same time. It takes two more curved tunnels before I manage to get below the small room I created. This endless tunnel system I'm making will spiral down as far as it can before I have to stop.
Another camouflaged room comes next. The reason I'm placing these is because I need a certain number of tunnels and rooms to unlock the next floor.
After that, I move my Core to the bottom and watch it reemerge in its temporary home. I wonder how long it will take to create an actual Core Room. One that doesn't change location every few hours?
Ten minutes worth of effort and I'm down to 75 DP. I've done a good bit of work and it's the perfect time to stop. I see the excitement in the Tavern as Ali is handing out plates left, right and center.
Talia seems happy with the riled-up atmosphere now that the Tavern has people inside. There is also a number of non-human patrons, spaced accordingly, eating from bowls.
Underneath the surface, I suppose every single one of them is a monster. Just ike Me said. All the way down to that inconspicuous chest on the counter, covered in its own saliva.
Barry and Trixie are outside since they're both too big to fit inside. It's not sad though, they're still here at least. Although, Barry looks like he's itching to do some digging. Playing in the dirt with his finger.
He's like a mana junkie.
I'm sorry, Barry. I have a quick surprise to show everyone, then you can go back to what you do. Ok?
Feeling my compassion flow through my will, the loveable Mythril-Golem bows before me.
What a Rockstar.
Don't worry, Trix. I'll make sure they bring you something out too. Even if you don't need it.
Feeling gratitude feeding back to me, I give them both a sneaky peek at my surprise. That way, Barry can go back to work if he wants too while I knock everyone's socks off.
Once I'm finished, I have to contain myself and calm down. I feel quite ecstatic, but neither of my monsters seem to understand the significance of what I just showed them.
Barry leaves and I move my view to the balcony on the Tavern's second floor feeling a little deflated.
Inside, plates and bowls cover the tables and floors. The atmosphere is electric. Humans and monsters eating together like this is something you would have to see to believe. Colin is on the bar and has his tongue inside a pot of Ali's food, happily slurping away. The only outliers are Zen and Ang, sitting together by the door they're enjoying their meal in silence.
Dropper is with some unnamed Rogues living true to her name. I don't know if she's already drunk, but she just spilled her entire drink and is now complaining. Talia is refills the empty mug quickly and moves over to clean up after Tweedledum and Tweedledee who are having an eating competion at the bar.
The wolves take up alomst half the floor, howling affectionately between mouthfuls and adding to the merry atmosphere. Talia quickly leaves two bowls of water before responding to the Acolytes.
The sound in the Tavern is the loudest it's been in my dungeon. It looks like such a happy place and you could almost mistake it for a Guildhall, even with the wolves.
Veris is sat on the balcony above, childishly swinging her feet. Sipping her broth in peace, she couldn't look more content. Even if she can see that Light has fallen asleep on top of the table below us. Talia moves past the snoring Rogue and collects his glass.
Talia's everywhere.
Either Light can't hold his liquor or the fact theat he's been awake for over 27 hours has finally taken its toll on him. Speaking of, Ali is also looking a little weary now shes finished and it looks like she could drop at any moment. After a hearty meal, consciousness stands no chance.
Veris definitely chose the best spot in the house. The room below is full of happy faces. Happy faces that all share the same bond.
Me.
It's now or never, Abi.
I'm feeling awkward all of a sudden.
Am I... Nervous?
Seeing those smiles gives me the courage I need. Looking out next to Veris from on top the balcony, I imagine myself smiling. Using all the strength I can muster, to be as loud as possible, I activate my new skill.
"Hey guys!" I burst into existence above the balcony as a tiny ball of light. Green like my Core and no bigger than the flame of the Weak Wooden Torchs hanging in my dungeon,im small and insignificant. However, my voice is insanely loud.
It scares the crap out of Veris, who's right beside me and she falls off the balcony in surprise. Dropping her food on Talia, who immediately becomes furious, she lands on the sleeping Rogue's table and sends poor Light flying through the air. He knocks Colin and his pot of food off the bar, covering Dropper and her friends. The pot and Mimic don't stop Light as the momentum caused from Veris carries him forward into Dum and Dee's eating contest, hitting every bowl on the way.
Falling off the bar after a clean strike, Light lands amongst the Wolves who jump away in futility. Almost everyone is now covered in the remains of someone's meal after the five-second disaster comes to an end.
As they look up at me, dissatisfaction written across their face. Talia is at boiling point and isn't because the food was still hot.
That didn't go the way I thought it would.
"Surprise."