"Ding!"
"Ding!!"
"Ding!!!"
I stare at the flashing box in front of my vision for a second in annoyance, just to process what is interupting my moment of rememerbrance. After a short while my curiosity gets the better of me and I try to concentrate on the box to understand what's going on.
After I focus my full attention on it the box expands and reveals words and information that somewhat suprise me.
Congratulations Dungeon Core #1000!!!
You are the first of your generation of cores to develop enough awareness to be introduced to the system!
+10 Exp +10 Mana +10 DP +1 Int +1 Wis +Unlock Luck Stat
Congratulations Dungeon Core #1000!!!
You are the first Dungeon Core to show signs of a conscious mind within minutes after being born without recieving external aid or stimulus!
+100 Exp +5 Mana +5 DP +10 Int +20 Wis +Title: Enlightened One
Congratulations Dungeon Core #1000!!!
You have Levelled up! x 4
You have reached Level 5!
+200 Durability +4 to All Stats +10 DP (Level x Rank=DP reward)
Note: Think 'Status' to view your Status Screen New Dungeon Core and Good Luck Out There!
It takes me a bit of time to digest all this information. For now I am thankful for the screens and notifications because it at least gives me a concrete view of my situation while also giving me information about the world around me.
For now I try to gain more information by thinking 'Status' upon a new screen opens up while the previous ones were closed.
Name: None Dungeon Core #: 1000 Title/s: Enlightened One, ... Race: Dungeon Core Status: Normal Dungeon Core Type: N/A Rank: 1 Level: 5/100 Dungeon Mana Density: N/A Dungeon Points (DP): 25
Current Exp: 10
Exp to Next Lv: 40
Dungeon Floor #: N/A Core Durability: 300 Mana: 3615 Mana Regen: 550/min Luck: 4 Int: 36 Wis: 55
After looking through my status sheet I am unsure how to feel. I think that it is good but since their is no frame of reference or something/someone else to compare to I am unclear whether my current state is impressive, average, or even weak. Most of the stats on the sheet seem pretty self explanatory to me such as Int being Inteligence, Wis being Wisdom and so on but some I have no clue about.
For starters I try to focus and get more information on a few particular words that I am unfamiliar with. Lets start with my supposed race of 'Dungeon Core' and what a 'Dungeon' is..
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Dungeon Core: A physical vessel, often in spherical form, that is the core/heart of a dungeon of it's own creation as well as the resting place of it's soul. Not all dungeon cores have souls as it has been theorized that they need specific conditions as well as time to be naturally developed. A dungeon core is the source and engine behind a dungeon's growth, mana, monster spawning, and reality bending abilities. Normally if a Dungeon Core is physically removed from their dungeon or destroyed then any developing soul within will perish along with the dungeon. The same would occur if a Dungeon Core has it's soul destroyed or removed. Dungeon Core's are typically made of high density mana that is continously compressed by the core as it cycles mana throughout the dungeon. This allows the core to passively attract and absorb all kinds of mana and magic. For this reason they are also sought after by skilled mages of all fields for various uses.
Dungeon: A dungeon is a location filled with dense mana that has been claimed and/or generated by a Dungeon Core. Dungeons grow through expanding their Dungeon's territory by claiming ownership of their surroundings with their Dungeon Mana. To defend their core/heart and ensure the circulation of mana in their territory Dungeon Cores instinctively create numerous traps, items, mazes, and creatures to guard and populate their land/s. Typically when a dungeon encroaches on too wide an area that they start to inconvienience settlements or cities of sentient beings they are destroyed however their are exceptions whereby cities of sentients are built completely around or in the territory of a Dungeon. Most dungeons that expand vertically are usually tollerated by sentient beings due to the natural training zones that Dungeons represent but if the defenses are not powerful enough all it takes is 1 greedy individual for that to change..
That was informative. It seems I'll need to ensure that I am adequately protected.
Now let's see my titles.
Enlightened One: One who has gained enlightenment about themselves granting them the ability to think and rationalize at a higher level than the normal average for their race. (+20 Wis +10% Mental Resistance)
First of the 1000 Series: You are the first of the 1000 Series of Dungeon Cores. It is on you to lead, set an example for, and inspire others in your generation and beyond. This title is to show your status as a promising Dungeon Core and potential leader for your Generation, Faction, and/or Race. (Dungeon-to-Dungeon related achievements and interactions are 1% more beneficial while penalties are 1% more harmful)
Mana-Touched: You possess a strong connection and link to mana by virtue of either your Race, Class, Affinity, Soul, Birth Conditions, and/or Physical Constitution. (+100% Effectiveness of Int stat to Mana conversion +Increased Mana Recovery depending on Environmental Mana Density)
After reading my titles I am pretty satisfied with them. Not sure how I feel about being a leader but assuming that their are other cores older than me that are numbered below 1000 I don't really feel all that pressured, especially since their might not even be that many other cores numbered after 1000. For now I'll just put that information behind me to focus on improving myself and my situation.
Now lets double check the obvious stats to ensure I am correct in my interpretation.
Int (Intelligence): Determines your intelligence, knowledge aquisition ability, magic damage, and how much mana you posses. 1 Point in this stat = 10 Mana.
Wis (Wisdom): Determines your Wisdom, reasoning ability, mental/soul defenses, and how much mana recovery per Minute you gain. 1 Point in this stat = 10 Mana Reovery per minute.
Luck: A hidden stat that requires a special action or achievement to unlock. Normally cannot specifically add points to it and can only be raised through chance. Is one of the few stats that can become negative. Determines how lucky (or unlucky if negative) you are. 1 Point in this stat = +1% chance of encountering unique people, events, or items +0.1% chance of surviving that encounter.
Dungeon Points (DP): The currency of Dungeon Cores and their Dungeons. DP is used to purchase and trade for various goods and services with the system as well as with other Dungeons. You gain DP by fulfilling certain milestones and achievements as a growing dungeon, having creatures die in your dungeon, as well as a small daily quota by surviving or having outside creatures stay in your dungeon for long periods of time.
Rank: A measure of an ability/skill or entity's personal mana density and power. The higher in Rank a being or ability/skill is the more their very presence can effect the world around them. Several species have a Max Rank they can naturally achieve due to the inherehent flaws of their species or class and cannot normally surpass that Rank. However over thousands of years of research and effort several methods have been discovered for different Races such as race or class evolution, race or class change, and many more with mixed chances of success. Other Races, such as the Dragon Race, are born into this world with a medium-high Rank from the start and only grow stronger as they mature.
Level: An indication of an ability/skill or entity's growth and progress to the next rank. Max level is 100 for every species and skill. At certain levels certain skills and abilities are unlocked that very depending on the race, class, or skill/s of the user. To increase in Levels one must gain expereince through actions that are in line with their Race, Class, or Skill/s that they want to level up. Other methods would be through achievements, titles, or combat.
Mmmm...., I see. More or less I think I have to work towards increasing my Ranks and levels through building my dungeon.
Ok so lets get this whole dungeon thing started!