Need to go over the character sheet quickly, Rhys has no idea how to dungeon. Let’s see…

Guiying Tuzi (L. Sapiens)

Monk 3

Strength 10

Agility 10

Dexterity 10

Constitution 10

Intelligence 10

Wisdom 10

Charisma 10

Luck 10

Okay, stats are all ten and I have three levels in Monk. No idea what any of that means right now, but I guess that’s good? Bunch of skills unlocked, a few mastered. Mostly stuff everyone knows, basic math, reading, fitness, that sort of thing. Also some bars on the display, not sure what they’re about but I think it’s bad if any of them are completely empty. So keep the bars full and make the numbers go up. Simple enough.

“Okay Rhys, let’s talk mobs before we go much further.”

That same sense of confusion… and a pin-stripe suit and tommy gun?

“Not those mobs. Dungeon mobs are different. Monsters, NPCs, treasure chests, that kinda thing.”

“Oh.”

“Well, let’s start by figuring out what our options are.”

I opened an interface for him, and got a few categories.

“Well… can tell you right out we’re not starting with goblinoids or slimes. They always get out of control or do disgusting lewd things to women. Hard no.”

“I understand and accept, and will add the undead to our list of rejected starter… mobs.”

“Good choice. That leaves us with insectoids, beasts, constructs, and… cobalts? Shouldn’t metal be a construct thing?”

I looked at the options. Oh. Ohhhhhh…

“Kobolds, Rhys. They’re either a type of gnoll or a weak dragonoid, depending on culture. I think we’re looking at the dragonoid type. Weak individually, but a highly dangerous threat in their home turf thanks to their ingenuity as trapmasters and advanced group tactics. Bit silly more often than not, but that’s part of what makes them fun. Plus we can throw in some lesser beasts and plants to round things out. There’s a few other options, but I like the kobolds if you do. Their resourceful nature makes them good candidates for a startup like us. Plus we might get access to stronger dragonoids if we stick with them. Dragons are awesome.”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

I could feel Rhys thinking it over when his mind hit a skip.

“How do you know all this? None of these monsters existed on your world.”

“Oh, Monstrous Manual v5. I think the Encyclopedia Cosmica has a version that would be accurate to this world’s biosphere.”

“Huh. So it does. Kobolds, draco habilis. A minor species of dragon known for building large and highly dangerous warrens near civilized areas. Though technically capable of forming symbiotic relationships with dungeons… oh.”

“Oh?”

“It says here that few dungeons can maintain the contract.”

“Leave that to me, I’ll charm them.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of. Fine, I’ll select the option.”

And with that, a beacon was activated that would hopefully attract any nearby kobolds to our little home.

“You’ll want to build a cave on the edge of your influence, put a dungeon spring in it and a few futon for guests.”

“Already done. Anything else?”

“Well, the kobolds will do most of the work for us when we contract with them, so you just need to make sure the lights stay on.”

“You’re talking in memes again.”

“Power, Rhys! Energy! Everything’s gotta use some, and you can’t build or maintain anything without a reserve. You got a little as a freebie, but we must construct additional pylons!”

“Pylons?”

“Well, something like that. What do you use for qi around here?”

“Roughly the same stuff, just a different label. Also, direct cultivation like you’re used to isn’t possible.”

“Well drat. Could’ve just given you actual plans for those pylons if it was that easy. Guess we’ll need to do it the hard way.”

I plopped down at my kotatsu (so comfy and warm!) and used the interface to draw up a toy I’d been playing with to refine my cultivation ability as soon as I’d learned my affinity. Coiled wire, magnets, central shaft, easy enough to make. Just have to figure out the way to keep it spinning.

“No wind, and keeping a strong enough water current going would cost more than it would generate without a natural source. Too far underground for solar… hey Rhys, is there anything really hot in your influence?”

“Hot?”

“Yeah, geothermal. Magma, geysers, even just really warm solid rock. Your radius is what, 300 feet?”

“100 meters, which is actually a bit larger, and no. The only geothermal hotspot I know of in this area was the one I was formed in, and that cooled off and shifted away two geologic eras ago.”

Hm.

“Well, we need a way to make this motor go vroom. I can do it, but bunpower is very finite and would cost you more than you’d make from the deal. As would pretty much anything you could make to do it manually. So unless there’s a seam of coal nearby, I don’t think we’ve got any options.”

“Coal? There’s a massive seam of anthracite running just above us. Could probably get the kobolds to mine it out while they make their home here.”

Oh.

“Well, that works. Not exactly carbon neutral, but brown always comes before green. Plus it’ll be good for starting up forges and foundries, if we can get some metalworking started. Know what iron is?”

“I’m a rock, please don’t insult my understanding of geology. Yes, I’m familiar with iron, tin, lead, zinc, copper, and other base metals. But the only stuff around here that’s any kind of common is aluminum, so we’d have to convert or generate the rest.”

“Alu… min… um?”

“Yes, it’s a particularly common base mineral that is almost impossible to find in native form. I’m actually mostly aluminum by mass, though technically I’m an oxide and my coloration is caused by a certain percentage of chromium in… nevermind. Making heavier minerals like gold and silver would be difficult, but I think I can convert the local rock to more useful materials with a minimal energy cost.”

I nodded. “Okay, so we get our monies from the outside. Any kobolds yet?”

“As a matter of fact, a group just showed up.”

“Awesome. Shut down the beacon, and let’s give them some time to settle in.”