-0-0-0-0-0-

Port Laviet, The Phenoc Kingdom, Theona

Two Days After the Delve

-0-0-0-0-0-

Felin followed Layla and Teak into the Guildmaster's office. They'd fled that island with the wind behind them, returning as fast as possible to make their report. The Guildmaster was an older man, though that didn't mean he was weak. Betram Losat was the highest ranked adventurer on the east cost of the continent. It was a tragic story, really. The leadership of the Guild were intimidated by his rise through the ranks and made sure that he ended up out here, hundreds of miles from anything resembling a dungeon, to make sure he couldn't gather more power.

The man had a receding hairline, his hair a dark grey specked with pure white. His robe-like clothing was designed to hide and downplay the armored undersuit beneath. Mounted on the wall behind him was his famous weapon, The Moonsilver Staff, the thicker end of which was topped by a perfectly spherical crystal. Allegedly, the Guildmaster had soloed a young, wild dungeon in the East and took its core. Once properly fashioned and prepped, Cores made excellent magical conduits to empower spells and lower their mana cost.

The only reason Felin even knew that was because Layla had gushed about her grandfather and his staff many times over the years.

Once they were all seated, Betram looked up from his paperwork and quickly assessed them.

"Underestimated the monster, the dungeon, or too overconfident?" He asked. Layla replied quietly.

"The first two." Layla replied quietly. "We cornered it and had almost won when it threw itself at her. Teak managed to kill it, but Herna was crushed."

"I'll get on the paperwork, then." The Guildmaster sighed. "What's your assessment?"

"It's Lost. No doubt about it." Layla said confidently. "Remnants of the dungeon's old masters in its tactics, monster quality and some architecture. Age-wise; tentative Elder, but could easily be Ancient." The old man lent forwards.

"Monsters? How many floors?"

"We only explored the direct path to the first floor's Guardian room." Layla admitted. "The monsters were crabs of unusual size, different breeds for different roles." She explained the different types, their physiology and tactics. "The guardian was a combination of all three, Large with thick armor, pincers mimicking a sword and shield, grey coloration and ability to hide as a boulder." She hesitated before continuing.

"During the battle, Herna threw a fireball at the monster. The fire hit, and stuck to the shield. Then the fire changed color to teal, the same color as the lights. the monster was feeding its own mana into the fire, to gain control of it. The dungeon, or the monster, must have figured something out because not three seconds later its sword-pincer burst into flames as well." Betram stroked his goatee.

"I see now why you think it Elder." He said into the silence. "That is a remarkably quick learning speed. Though, given it's also Lost, and the habit of dungeons to go dormant when not challenged for many years, it's more likely re-learning things it once knew as it awakens fully." Felin shivered slightly. If this was the dungeon at even half-capacity, he couldn't begin to imagine how deadly it would be at full power.

"Beyond the Guardian's arena, there was a basin filled with mana saturated water." Lalya continued, bringing out the potion flask they had filled. "There were enchantments on a stalactite above to condense water and fill it with mana. More evidence of the dungeon's old masters."

The Guildmaster took the flask filled with water that sparkled and twinkled, squinted at it, then put it down on his desk. "I'll have someone test it for poisons or other harmful effects, but I agree with your assessment. Did you venture to the second floor?" Layla shook her head.

"No, I didn't. Felin did, though." Layla said, turning to him. Felin gulped as the Guildmaster gave him his full attention.

"It was wet and dank." He rasped, his tone respectful. "Square corridors covered in carvings and writing. I could hear water further in. I didn't see any monsters, though I expect it would be more crabs." The old man nodded.

"A reasonable expectation. But remember that older dungeons, especially those Conquered or Lost, have a greater understanding of humans and our thoughts. When in a dungeon, expect to be surprised and stay on the alert for anything that looks off, or odd." Betram advised in a lecturing tone. The three nodded quietly. With a wave the Guildmaster dismissed them.

"Off you go. I need to finish the paperwork and inform the local lord of the find. He'll probably want to settle the island and exploit the dungeon." He sighed. "I'm not looking forwards to this..." Suddenly, his face brightened. "Layla, my darling granddaughter! Could you do your dear old grandpapa a favor?" Felin didn't like the look in the man's eye.

He had a bad feeling about this.

-0-0-0-0-0-

The Dungeon, Unnamed Island, Kalenic Sea

Seven Days After the Delve

-0-0-0-0-0-

It's been a productive week.

For my new third floor I decided to create a single, cavernous room. Several football stadiums in length and width, supported by dozens of incredibly thick columns. For several yards below the floor, I destroyed and powdered the rock. Above this layer of shattered stone I placed fertile jungle dirt, stolen from the island above.

Carefully, I carved a channel through the level that would create a mostly fast-flowing river. The riverbed wound from west to east. On the western side I carved a dozen grates enchanted to purify the river and remove the salt content. This start point began half-way up the cavern wall, creating a small waterfall.

In the middle of the room I let the water pool into a medium-sized lake with plenty of eddies and access to stagnant pools. At the far end after a series of rough rapids, the river passes out through the wall of the cavern. A vertical tunnel and some enchantments to provide lower gravity and lift brings the water all the way to the surface, where a new fresh-water spring bursts into existence. It actually ended up creating a rather spectacular waterfall, so I'm quite happy with it.

I added a single mana-star on the roof, to provide my room with a single light source. This one, I create several enchantments to regulate. I created an anchoring enchantment, keeping its position relative to a bit of stone above it. This stone I enchanted to follow a carved path across the roof of the cavern, east to west. Once it reached the western wall, a layer of stone would extend around the light to block it off, in concert with nightfall.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

The encased star would return to the other side of the room along the same path, then the cover would retreat upon reaching the eastern wall. I had (mostly) accurately replicated the day-night cycle. I also managed to change its colour with an enchantment to alter the waveform of the photons leaving the mana star. Yellow-white light was more appropriate than the teal it was naturally. With a light source, soil and water, I planted trees.

Gull provided dozens of seeds, and I found a little over a dozen species. Tall, towering trees, thin and spindly trees and everything in between. Once I had a thick jungle, the third stage began to show its work. Along the riverbed I had layered enchantments to gently heat the passing water. Soon the air was moist; condensation forming on the thick leaves and bark of the trees. A similar enchantment impregnated the river water with just a little bit of mana, which should create a fog-like effect in any person with mana-sight.

Thankfully, the transfer of soil brought most of the bugs that lived in it, with it. I had worms and ants and beetles and a hundred other bugs soon buzzing around the place, thanks to a little mana-prompted breeding. I enhanced seven of these species, leaving the rest with enhanced breeding cycles to support the larger bugs.

Ants half an inch long, with sharper mandibles, a stronger grip and a pain-inducing contact toxin. Given their new habit of hunting larger prey to take advantage of their new size, I named them Hunter Ants.

A species of wasp also gained the general package; an inch-long size increase, venom potency upgrade and stronger flight in general. I also added a red stripe along their abdomen. Widow Wasps were born.

A species of tarantula-like spiders became a foot in size. Acromantula. Bees given the same size as the wasps. Titan Bees.

Flies and Mosquitos were a given, of course. Both increased in size, but they fly was mostly an annoyance with increased volume. Hummingflies. Bigger mosquitos were already a nuisance, but a potent numbing effect makes them worse. Vampire Mosquitos.

There were a couple of hives of Wasps, Ants and Bees spread across the map, The others were all over the place.

Now with a basic ecosystem, some environmental challenges, I needed some kind of monsters beyond little insects. If a determined party came through wanting to kidnap or enslave me, I needed a way to capitalize on all the distracting elements of the area. This is where the lizards came in.

I took these tiny lizards and grew them, shaped them. In the end, I had what I will call a Kobold Villager. Three-foot tall bipedal lizard people with reddish-brown scales. Males slightly bulkier, females more flexible. At my prompting they took to the trees, quickly constructing a 'village' in the tree-tops that was completely invisible to anyone on the jungle floor. Unprompted, they created basic spears and clothing for themselves. I guess i made them more intelligent than I'd though.

My intentions for these monsters was a harasser role. They would keep the parties paranoid, stealing bags and weapons when they sat down for a rest, throwing spears when they dropped their guards.

Thankfully, monsters bred with other monsters of the same species propagate normally. Either way, I now had a three-dozen strong village of Kobolds, which would probably split into two villages in the next few days. I'm happy with this. I also think they're worshiping me.

Eh. That'll turn out okay.

Next task is to create the exit. And I have a plan. Along the walls at random points I created five fake exits. All had intricately carved doors, which seemed to lead into a boss arena. I even created a mini-boss creature from the Kobolds. Essentially a six-foot Kobold with crab-shell armor and pincer-weapons (Mace, Sword and shield, Two-handed sword). These are Kobold Hunters.

Though, the fifth mini-boss I gave an much larger monster core and the ability to use Fire-magic. He's the Kobold Shaman.

Actually, I have an idea.

I enchanted each boss room to act as a 'key'. Once all five mini-bosses were killed, a secret door would open.

This door wasn't so much a door as it was a rock encased by the roots of a tree. A circular hole in the rock would open, revealing a tunnel large enough for a Kobold Villager to walk through standing. Human will have to crawl. The tunnel goes down, winding past massive roots and through tight squeezes. Eventually It leads to a slippery, muddy slope which drops the slipee into a muddy, stagnant pool.

This is the boss room. They would be dropped straight into the fight. The Boss, I spent a bit more time on.

An Eight foot tall Kobold, I gifted him great strength and washboard abs. Continuing the 'Evolutionary line' of the Kobolds, I created the Drake-kin. For this boss, I grew a very special crab. That crab's shell was created to be as hard as it could be, and shaped into perfect armor plates. I also formed a Halberd for his weapon. I also gave him fire breath. You are Mushu, The Drake-kin. I informed him.

He kneeled, his off hand thumping above his heart in a fist, and growled out something along the lines of "I understand, god."

Okay! A lot more religious than I intended. Then again, I did actually create their species. I kind of am their god. I created a little side room for him to rest with appropriate furniture.

This room's exit was enchanted similarly to the two floors above. It would only open upon the death of Mushu.

In order to keep an open path for the mana-stream, I hollowed out a tree and had the stream snake across the room before flowing down through it and into my crystal room. Past a dozen grates and plenty of spikes, of course. Making a shortcut is not my intention.

Alrighty. The floor is essentially done. I'll probably tweak it as I learn more.

Good thing too, I see a whole fucking fleet of ships incoming. Guess my tutorial is over.

-0-0-0-0-0-

Phenoc Galleon Iron Fist, Kalenic Sea

Off the Coast of the Unnamed Island.

-0-0-0-0-0-

"So, that's the dungeon?" Asked Davad Medean, the future governor of this little Island.

"Yes, Lord Medean." Layla Losat answered. Her grandfather had assigned her to the island as the guild's local authority. A desk job isn't exactly what she wanted to be doing, but she knew he was just trying his best to keep her safe. If she did well enough in this post, he had practically guaranteed a promotion to full Guildmaster within a month or two. She took a deep breath, then observed the island.

"Felin," She called, summoning her oldest friend. "That waterfall wasn't there a week ago, was it?" He grunted a negative. The waterfall was spilling out over the cliff above the dungeon.

"Odd, but fortunate." Davad mused. "It must be a freshwater spring." He stated, then smiled. He pulled a pendant of Jaita from under his shirt and kissed it. "The gods have provided a boon to speed the settlement's construction." Layla wasn't so sure. more likely it was something the dungeon had done. Why it would create a spring was beyond her. although...

"It may be that the dungeon has further awakened, and activated old enchantments." She said slowly, "The water likely originates from the dungeon itself. We will need to test its drinkability." The noble nodded.

"Sound advice." He replied with a smile. He then turned from their position on the bow and addressed the other people on the ship.

"My people! This is to be our new home! Though the next few weeks will be trying there is ample food in the jungle, plenty of wood to build our homes. Even better, there is a dungeon to provide us wealth! I name this place Medea Island in honor of my father, who granted us this land. Board the longboats! We make for the shore!."

-0-0-0-0-0-

The Dungeon, Medea Island, Kalenic Sea

-0-0-0-0-0-

I watched as the humans disembarked then began setting up tents, constructing a pier and, weirdly, a booth and fence outside my entrance. It kinda makes sense, though. It's probably to keep out unauthorized delvers, or charge them entrance. I don't know. Ah, well. I guess I have some new neighbours.

...

I hope they don't want to enslave me.

-0-0-0-0-0-

© Max Porteous, 2021