It was 14:20 by the time we finished our meditation break, or, at least in this time zone, evening. After what we had been through, none of us even considered proceeding further into the dungeon at less than 100% . Ferret told us that Ahhshaww seemed to be emotionally well after her experience in the pond. He wasn’t convinced about that. While his Rank D Read Emotion skill had advanced beyond emotions openly shared with him, it was not yet sufficient to bypass emotions someone was concealing even from themselves.
That concept got me thinking.
“My Group Mind is only at D as well. Will I be able to more deeply understand what Sun and Arrjee say as it ranks further?”
I am not knowledgeable in the skill, but I would presume it gains effectiveness at higher ranks. It is possible for the improvement to only be range, but I find it likely that sharing within the group mental pool becomes deeper.
“I’ll ask Sun later. They may not want to discuss it in front of everyone.”
Time to get moving.
“We’ve still got the boss room and who knows what else ahead of us. Let’s proceed carefully.” Everyone got up and readied their gear. As usual, Onre activated his stealth; we allowed him about a ten-yard lead. I changed my position from second with Sun to the rear. This place could send foes from behind us again.
As we walked, I wondered aloud, “Did anyone else notice for the most part the heat beam damaged us slowly? But for Ahhshaww it would have been deadly in very little time. Wasn’t that exceptionally dangerous for a category 6 floor?”
Onre replied, “Some hazards will be more dangerous to some species than others. That might have been a worst-case trap for Air Elementals. On the other hand, the caustic element of that chest barely affected her, but ate away at us quickly.”
I: Onre is correct. The heat and light beam burned at your skin, but did not immediately penetrate. Ahhshaww’s transparent nature did not block the light, so it damaged her immediately both on the outside and inside. That sort of effect would likely be unknown to beings living deep underground.
We thought about this silently for a moment, until Ferret informed us, “She says Uncle Interface is correct. She was burning everywhere in her body at once. ‘Real caves safer.’ She is very glad to have strong, solid parents.”
We reached a side room. This one had a combination of flying and large, slithering snakes. There were ten total, five of each. It didn’t take us long to defeat them all. Among the drops this time were two pouches of sweet dust and another throwing knife. Ahhshaww got the dust and I took the knife, with Onre and I each having two now. The rest of the drops were six bronze coin stacks, which I think of as $10 of Earth year 1900. The final drop was another shield exactly like the one we had gained from the gremlin lord, with enchantments for durability and +1 rank. Ferret kept the original and Arrjee took the new one. My brother reached his level brake during the fight.
The cave terminated at a wooden door inset into a stone wall. The door was large, about eight feet tall by four feet wide. Onre investigated it, but found no trap. It was not even locked. I decided, “I have Dodge and the most hit points. This may well be the boss room. If we have to, we’ll use the doorframe as a bottleneck again.”
I had everyone stand near a side wall to hopefully avoid any ranged attacks. This door opened outward, and I chose to be a target, one ready to dodge almost any attack. There wasn’t one. In fact, I walked into a wide hallway which looked more like an armory than a cavern with monsters. There were numerous types of weapons and shields visible in display cases. But about four feet in, blocking the way forward, was a floating shield with a longsword floating diagonally in front of it.
FR: I think we’ve got some sort of challenge here, guys. It is not immediately offensive, but the way forward is blocked.
I could hear the others move forward to get a look. No one entered right away. I moved to the right, but the shield and sword moved sideways to continue blocking the way forward. The same thing happened when I moved left.
FR: Sun and Onre, carefully enter the room. Be defensive unless we need to become aggressive at some point. Does anyone know what is going on here?
KS: Not specifically, but it looks to be a shop of some sort. Either that, or an elaborate, openly visible trap. With the sword and shield floating like that, who knows what the rest of the weapons might do?
Onre entered, slowly approaching the first display case on the right. Nothing moved to block him. He checked the case, but said he could not detect a trap. As Sun entered, the blocking implements moved back several feet.
FR: It looks like we are being given room for all of us to come in. Onre, inspect the cases on the left and right. If there are no traps, I suggest we accept the invitation. Is there something else we can do?
AS: Well, if it is a shop, maybe we should announce our presence.
FR: Good idea. No one else enter yet.
In a slightly raised voice, I said, “Hello. Is anyone here? You have a number of customers.”
From around a corner I didn’t realize was ahead, a large knife joined with the first impediment, as well as a bo. The first challenging items shifted to move in front of Sun, the bo in front of me, and the knife in front of Onre. Then all of these floating arms pieces began moving away from us, back toward the corner the new ones had come from.
“I’d think this was an odd invite, except that weapons are being used in an attempt to draw us in. Do you sense any sort of trap yet, Onre?”
“No I don’t, but people manipulating objects like this may have ill intent, but it would not necessarily be a trap of the sort I can detect. I wish the danger sense part of this skill was active. If it is active at all, I don’t sense a problem. That doesn’t mean much at Rank D, though.”
“Well,” I said, “we can walk into a possible ambush, or return to the safe room and go home. Based on floor difficulty, we should be okay even with an ambush. Opinions?”
“Shop we buy.” || If there is a way we can buy at this shop, I would like to. willingness to advance
“Sun desires to chance the ambush in hopes of accessing the shop. Does anyone else have an opinion?”
Ferret said, “My main concern is Ahhshaww’s safety. I know that might be overprotective; she has more hit points than I do, and most forms of attack don’t seem to bother her. She wants to go forward, though.”
No one objected to advancing. “Okay, Kossa, we don’t want to be the first to act offensively. Will your Sensory Filter be interpreted as a sign of ill will?”
“It shouldn’t be. In a sense, it is just another buff for us. I don’t think even an evil shopkeeper would find it to be aggressive. But who knows?”
“Before we turn the corner and expose ourselves to possible attack let's put it up, for our possible defense. It will also allow Ahhshaww maximum freedom to use her skills.” We gave Kossa the time to do so.”
While she was doing that, I told everyone, “I’ll go first again like I did when entering this ‘shop’. I’ll back up if I’m attacked, otherwise I’ll call for Onre and Sun again. We’ll proceed deliberately and avoid acting aggressively.”
I advanced slowly. The animated bow ahead of me rounded the corner and went out of sight. I passed the knife and sword/shield combo, which remained stationary. My Dodge probably would not protect me from a simultaneous attack, but we decided to chance it. I rounded the corner, and barely believed what I saw past the bo and behind a counter 20 feet ahead of me. At that range, I could only receive a Rank D report, but that was more than sufficient.
Blacksmith Kemdek, sexless Iron Golem, adult
Level 25 shopkeeper
FR: Guys, there is a shopkeeper behind a counter 20 feet ahead of me. A Level 25 adult Iron Golem. We aren’t supposed to fight that, are we?
I: Very unlikely in a low level floor of an intermediate dungeon. While he may be the floor boss, ‘defeating’ him does not necessarily mean you have to kill him. You may need to satisfy him in an unconventional manner.
OL: This whole room has been unconventional. I suggest Sun and I advance to the corner, if the weapons before us allow it. Then you try talking to it directly. If there is no hostility, everyone else can advance to a few feet behind us. Maybe we need to signify we are customers.
FR: I like that plan.
I held out some coin we had gathered. “Sir shopkeeper, my party of seven is possibly interested in purchasing some of your goods. We have no ill intent, and we will not steal anything even if you choose not to sell to us.”
He replied in a loud, deep rumbly voice. “Each and every one of you must earn that privilege. My children are willing to fight you in a series of one-on-one battles. Defeat them all, and you will be welcome to shop here. You will be sparring, not fighting to the death. My children are automata and may be fully defeated. On the other hand, if you wish to submit then drop to one knee. Your Air Elemental friend would submit by dropping to the ground. If one of you submits, you all must turn back.”
She is out of his sight. He must sense everything in his shop.
Yes.
At that point a Level 7 monster clone of me appeared, nude and sexless but with a leathery skin. He was holding the bo. Maybe he had been doing so the whole time, but invisibly. Onre announced, “We see clones of ourselves holding the weapons. I guess they were not floating after all.”
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“Arrjee, Kossa, Ferret, and Ahhshaww, I believe it is safe for you to advance.”
FR: Interface, should we trust his word?
I: I cannot imagine a reason for deception. If a Level 25 Golem wanted to kill you, it could do it.
“Okay, alpha,” Kossa said, “we’re all behind you now. Yes, that Level 25 golem could wipe the floor with all of us if it wanted to.”
Fortunately the room was very wide at this point, obviously designed as a fighting space. The golem announced, “Round 1, Forrest versus not-Forrest. All your foes will be one level lower than yourselves, but will be very well trained. They will have their own abilities, not your classes. Begin at my mark.” I readied myself for battle, adopting the Steady Horse defensive stance since I had no idea how talented ‘I’ would be. I will be fighting a bo-wielder, something Master Birch had prepared me for. “3 … 2 … 1 … Fight!”
Clone-me advanced, holding the bo in two hands. It was unadorned wood, but well crafted. He swung at the left side of my head. My dodge and athletic leap allowed me to avoid the blow, jumping behind it. I punched hard at the lower base of its skull, which would often lead to a knock-out blow against a living opponent. The clone felt the blow, pushing itself forward out of my reach, but it didn’t seem to harm it in any significant way – at least its health was still above 90%, and it suffered no status effects. It turned around and made a quick bow of respect. Then it rushed forward with the bo swinging hard at my leg, at the side of the knee.
With Dodge on recharge, it connected. Lenyet has warned me a thousand times that being protected from attack the majority of the time is not the same as all of the time. ‘Be ready to take a hit.’ I did, and it really hurt. Fortunately the swing was to the side of my knee, not a blow meant to ‘kneecap’ me. I jumped past him again, landing on the targeted leg. I felt an echo of the initial blow; increasing the total pain at my knee. But since I was behind him, I grabbed his shoulders and pulled down, hoping to drop it to its butt. It did bend backwards, but it was strong and kept its balance. Thinking it might not be in full balance, I kicked at the back of its knee. That worked as I had hoped, and this time he did drop to his butt.
He wasn’t defeated though. He used the position to anchor a backwards swing of the bo over his head, successfully connecting with mine. It hit hard, and I saw momentary stars. I must have been temporarily stunned, because when I was alert again, he was standing and facing me. It couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, but that is all it took.
Okay. Time for mutually assured pain.
I would punch hard at its chin, in full knowledge that the bo would strike me wherever it was aimed. If I connect with full penetrative ki, it would be a disabling blow against a Human or Covargh. It could easily break their jaw; I wasn’t holding back. The staff hit my temple where it was aimed, but my right-handed punch connected head on.
More stars. It took me several seconds this time to recover from the stunning blow, but there was no follow up. When I could look around, it was gone. In its place on the floor were two silver coins. “Winner, Forrest Rhodes. Please back up and allow Onre Litman to take your place.” Before I turned around I saw knee-high sparks shimmer next to the shopkeeper, and my clone appeared there. It bowed and I acknowledged with a bow of my own. Then I picked up the coins, and turned around to see Onre’s knife-wielding clone. He and Onre passed me as I went back to where Sun stood. My teammates congratulated me.
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“Round 2, Onre versus not-Onre.” Onre still had his stealth active, but it was only partially successful in this moderately bright room. Still, it would add to his defense. It is not as protective as my Dodge skill, but it didn’t have Dodge’s recharge time between activations, either. And I know he is damn good with a knife. “3 .. 2 … 1 … Fight!”
Onre’s battle was as much as a dance as it was a fight. His clone was trained in kick-boxing as well as knife-wielding. They were both cut and stabbed numerous times, but Onre’s advantage lay in his HPR Boost and Bless Blood. He could both heal himself quite quickly and recover any lost blood, all the while actively engaged with his foe. I think Onre’s clone was overall better at offense, but Onre’s defense and ability to self heal allowed him to slowly overcome his foe. When its health reached 20%, it dropped to one knee, and Onre backed away. “Winner, Onre Litman.”
“May I heal you, honored foe?” Onre asked, just before bowing. Instead of answering, the clone sparkled away – away to unsparkle itself behind the counter with the shopkeeper and my clone. There it silently returned Onre’s bow. “When my children reform themselves, they regain their full health. We appreciate your offer, however.”
“Round 3, Evening Sun versus not-Sun. In recent millenia, my children seldom have had the opportunity to adopt a Trichyan form.” Onre picked up his two silvers and joined us in the rear.
“He speaks as if he exists between instances, or at least remembers previous engagements.”
This dungeon system may have enabled the shopkeeper AI to maintain a sense of self, but it is unlikely to be actual self awareness. Alternatively, the shopkeeper may not exist at all; what we perceive as the shopkeeper could be the system itself emulating the shopkeeper in real time.
“Peel back a layer. Is the dungeon system self aware?”
I do not know. Its complexity could necessitate self awareness, but that is only speculation. Very advanced AI can be almost indistinguishable from self-aware sapience.
Sun and his foe advanced to the fighting area. “Sun, you may choose to give up a shield, or allow your clone to use a second shield or a second weapon. Which would you like?”” They thought for a moment.
“Choose foe can?” || Can my foe choose? fairness
“Disadvantage I desire not.” || I do not desire to cause disadvantage.
The shopkeeper laughed in a low rumble, almost like metallic drums bangimg lightly. “Thank you for offering us the choice. Win or lose, you are a being of honor. Your clone chooses two weapons.” As that was spoken, a truncheon similar to Sun’s appeared in his clone’s third hand. So this battle would be Sun’s truncheon and two shields against one shield, a sword, and a truncheon.
So many varieties of battle between two Trichyans.
Yes.
“3 … 2 … 1 … Fight!”
Sun’s clone had an ability to rotate itself almost instantly one-third circle clockwise or counterclockwise. It didn’t need to pivot on its legs the way Sun needs to do. Instead, in just a blink, the clone’s whole body rotated. Sun can do that with their neck, but not their whole body.
As it turned out, the clone’s trick was not effective against Sun. Their long, tri-segmented arms allowed Sun to position any arm in front of any side. An arm would lose its reach being active at its opposite side, but in practice that meant it was almost as capable as my arm acting in front of me. The big trade-off is total strength versus total reach; in my sparring with Sun there seemed to be a dynamic balance that didn’t favor either one of us. Well, the third arm feels like kind of a cheat, but in the fight before us, they both have three arms.
Sun’s classes were ideal for this fight. As a Defensive Armsman, his parry sense was beyond what I can imagine, and Retaliate means that when they did get hit or stabbed, they got in a very quick free blow – sort of like a fourth arm. And as a Guardian, the clone could barely land a blow in the first place. Basically, these foes were not well matched. Part of that might be due to the dungeon's inexperience in modeling a Trichyan, but I think most of it is that Sun is just that skillful. Not that the clone was unskilled; they were just outmatched. The fight was over in about five minutes, with the clone taking a knee.
“Winner, Evening Sun.” They bowed as their foe appeared behind the counter, then picked up their two silver. Presumably we could keep these even if we ended up losing, but it did not seem right to ask.
“Round 4, Kossa versus not-Kossa.” She advanced, and for the first time there wasn’t already a foe in front of her to advance with her. Instead, Kossa’s clone walked out from behind a display case ahead of us. As I had come to expect, the clone was nude but with the leathery, armored skin of the others. In this case, though, it bore a flute and a knife which both appeared to be very similar to Kossa’s.
“Kossa, as you can see, your foe is also a bard. Would you like to renew your buffs before fighting? If so, your clone will do the same.”
“Sir shopkeeper, are you aware that my flute is enchanted with somnolence? I do not wish to debuff my opponent before the fight begins.”
Blacksmith Kemdeck rolled out his laughter again. “Such honorable youths. Note that the somnolence enchantment only affects foes. Until the battle begins, your clone is not a foe.”
“Well then, allow us to buff ourselves.” He did, and the two bards spent about five minutes buffing, giving their music plenty of time for an extended battle. Kossa indicated she was ready.
“3 … 2 … 1 … Fight!”
The clone played a debuff tune; I didn’t know which one. But Kossa’s Sensory Filter attenuated it, whatever it was. Kossa didn’t bother with a debuff, expecting that the clone had cast the same buff. Instead she dropped both an Absorb Warmth attack and her void debuff field. The clone realized Kossa’s debuffs would be the more effective, and changed tactics to fire globes of force at her. I think that was a Forcemaster ability, so this fight would be extra-healthy bards, one a Forcemaster and the other a Void Mage. The globes appeared to strike Kossa with the same momentum a hard-thrown basketball would. They were too big to be penetrative, and slow enough that they could be dodged about half of the time. While the clone had a seemingly unending supply of them, Kossa was continuously sapping her foe. They never engaged in a knife fight. They must have both been convinced their ranged capabilities would win the day. Kossa’s did. The continued loss of the clone’s body heat ended up winning the day, even though Kossa had been battered many dozens of times and likely heavily bruised. Eventually, clone-Kossa dropped to a knee, and Kossa dropped her void attacks.
The clone sparkled itself to behind the counter, and Kossa bowed, and picked up her coins. “Winner, Kossa Smithson.” As soon as Kossa joined our group of onlookers, I touched her cheek and began sharing my health. She had only lost about 15%, but I knew being bruised all over would hurt a lot.
A clone of Arrjee walked from behind the same display case Kossa’s did. It was armed the same as my brother, with sword and shield. “Round 5, Arrjee versus not-Arrjee.” Our teammate had joined his clone in the battle area.
“3 … 2 … 1 … Fight!”
Arrjee had adopted a defensive stance, but he simultaneously pushed his foe away telekinetically. Or tried, anyway. It could still advance, but it was obviously struggling as it moved forward. It countered Arrjee’s ranged capability by encasing his legs in what appeared to be clay rising from the ground. It extended from the ground to mid-calf, with about a three-foot diameter. My brother responded by switching from push to pull, causing his clone to unexpectedly stumble forward. Arrjee was able to strike the clone’s shield arm above the elbow, achieving a nasty gash through leathery skin. I think he switched while the clone was off balance from a full-body pull to a hold of its shield arm, so it was unable to protect itself as it otherwise would have. It backed away, but at the same time increased the imprisoning clay to knee-height. This could be bad if it was able to keep adding clay.
The clone rushed forward. This time Arrjee did not impede its motion. In fact, he let it stab him, using his shield to guide the clone’s sword away from vital areas. But it had committed itself, allowing Arrjee to multistrike twice in succession. At rank E, it only gave him two decently accurate attacks, but against a foe who was busy stabbing him, they both hit. He had aimed for the same spot on its shield arm, getting two blows against his foe for the one which hit my brother. It was a nasty wound now, a gouge about two inches long that cut all the way to the bone.
“Crap, it’s raising the temperature of the clay now. It’s not burning hot yet, but it could be soon.” While I’m sure the words were absolutely true, his words were also a distraction. He pushed his shield forward, shooting it right at the clone’s nose, hitting edge first. I don’t think they have frisbees here, but Arrjee was ready if they do!. He was not prepared for that kind of attack, and it landed hard. Arrjee pulled the shield back, to see a heavily bleeding and likely broken nose.
He backed up, then charged at Arrjee, knowing he could not move away. My brother didn’t even try. He held it’s right foot, causing it to trip as it ran. The clone fell hard face first, slamming his face on the ground. Arrjee took advantage of his prone foe by shooting his sword at its skull, hilt first. It landed hard, and the clone stopped its attempt to stand. It completely collapsed and stopped moving. The clay around Arrjee’s legs began to dissipate back to the aether. As the clone sparkled away, the shopkeeper announced, “Winner, Arrjee Silverstone.” Arrjee bowed at his reconstituted clone, now behind the counter with the others. He picked up his two silver and joined the rest of us.
“Round 6, Ferret versus not Ferret.” An unarmed, leathery, hairless Ferret clone walked into view. It was not in Ferret’s current Earth Elemental form, and it may not even be a shape-shifter. I had no idea what this clone was prepared to do. At least it was only Level 2, one less than our friend. I was surprised to see that Ferret shifted back to his default form. He explained, “I’m really quick and sneaky as a Ferretman, and he likely is as well. I would rather not be ponderous rock fighting myself.”
The shopkeeper said, “You made an unexpected choice, young Ferret. I will allow you one minute for your Shapeshifting skill to recharge. May you demonstrate the same degree of resourcefulness as your friends did.” We encouraged him during that minute. He seemed confident and anxious for his challenge to begin.
Following a quick laugh, he told us, “Ahhshaww told me to kick his butt. I don’t know where she picked up that expression, but I’ll do my best.” She flew off his shoulders and formed into her default spherical shape, floating about four feet in the air.
“3 … 2 … 1 … Fight!”
Ferret entered the battle area alert as he could be for whatever tactics his opponent might use. Clone-Ferret stood and observed, apparently waiting for our guy to make the first move. Ferret grew, not to the nine-foot giant Ferret we had seen early in today’s adventure, but from his normal five and a half to nearly seven feet tall. He also bulked up, extending his base strength. This added to his reach advantage. The clone smiled, but otherwise did not move.
How would I handle a foe I knew nothing about but waited for me to attack?
Ferret approached his foe slowly and alertly. Still the clone waited, arms relaxed at his sides and keeping his smile as almost a challenge. When he got within reach, Ferret threw a punch at his clone's face; it didn’t even move to block it. The blow connected, the clone’s head shifted sideways with the momentum of the strike, but Forrest’s arm did not retract. He tried, but his fist appeared to be stuck somehow to the surface of his opponent’s cheek. The clone wasn’t like secret tar- elemental Leknor. In that altercation the attacks of the mercenaries’ hands had penetrated into Leknor, getting stuck within his body. Here, Ferret’s closed fist had become bound to the surface of the clone’s right cheek. It used our friend’s surprise and struggle to free himself to kick at Forrest’s knee. It landed hard, possibly breaking the joint.
Ferret yelled in pain, but managed to remain standing, favoring his injured leg. “You want me? How about all of me?!” As Ferret shouted, he increased his mass to its maximum, and made a single hop forward from his uninjured leg to slam against his clone, full body style. Clone Ferret was not prepared for that tactic and was not able to remain standing. He probably had expected Ferret to be the one to drop. They fell, with the clone landing flat on his back, with forty stones of Ferret (about 560 pounds) stuck to him, stomach to stomach. Ferret had intentionally grabbed hold of his foe’s right arm with his left, taking that appendage out of action. The clone’s left arm was also partially constrained, its motion limited by Forrest’s elbow pinning his forearm to his side. Ferret’s choices were quite limited, with his right arm still stuck to his opponent’s face. They struggled in place for about a minute, Ferret remaining on top the entire time.
Clone-Ferret managed to cause our friend further pain though, using its leg to connect to Ferret’s broken one. Their position now allowed the clone to keep shifting Ferret’s leg. Our friend was swearing and had tears in his eyes, but he did not surrender. For no apparent reason, his foe did, sparkling away to unsparkle behind the shopkeeper’s counter. “Winner, Ferret Drewson.”
Onre ran forward to heal Ferret’s knee. Ahhshaww floated a foot above him, extending a tendril to his cheek. “I won? I won! I’m not in position to bow, honored and sticky foe, but thank you for this experience.”
The shopkeeper announced, “We will take two minutes before beginning Ahhshaww’s battle.”