Chapter 3 - Science and numbers_Yet another dungeon core

Exerpt of a Dungeoneers study

[Dungeon]s, a place of mystical wonder... Well to the uninitiated. These places only have 3 things in common. [Loot], [Mob]s and Death.

[Loot] is an interesting thing, it is created from the [Mana] that we as mortals cannot convert in one sense but at the same time it is wholly different. From what those like me have found, [Loot] seems to be intrinsically tied to the [Floor] one gains it on with later [Loot] being deemed as worth more due to it being much more effective or unique in some way shapes or form.

A common theory is that these items are there to incentivize delving the depths to grow stronger and to gain the [Experience] for us to fight the incursions of the [Beyond]. Of course we cannot be sure of this as the [Avatar]s of these [Dungeon]s and even they will not share their secrets.

[Loot] tends to have tiers tied with its difficulty. The earliest, bare basics. Leathers, daggers, sticks that aren't quite [Wand]s yet but have a fraction of their ability seem to occur in the early [Floor]s with various chests, moneys and the like. This does scale with each [Floor] one descends with rumor's that those which have reached the [Core Room] being granted unique skills, items, equipment of a type which can only be seen in the [Dungeon] which granted it.

This [Core Room] [Loot] has only been revealed to the world a handful of times with them being decreed national treasures in each land which they have been shared. The Northern lands which were rules by the [Pirate King] Lester Blackwood revealed the [Buccaneer's Blade] which doesn't strike anyone with confidence, but the [Pirate King] put it to great use. After conquering the [Sea Labyrinth] he came out with a this treasure which is known to be able to command the seas themselves. Historic recollections tell us of the [Pirate King] using it to summon a [Lightning God Kraken] to fight of an invasion from the [Beyond] consuming Lester's energy in the summoning of such a beast.

Another example was a [Ring] brought to us by the [Hero Priestess] Lumare. This [Ring] was told be named [The Ring of Ashes] and by fulfilling a set of conditions which we know to be:

The ashes of a recently felled mortal

No more than 2 days since death

A willing sacrifice

Then we were able to bring back anyone who had fallen. Following the history of this [Ring] shows us that Lumare used this ring thrice before the gems which it held fell dull and that there was no longer any way to use this ability leaving us back where we were. Some say that we should have never used such a device granted by the [Dungeon] we came to call [Angel's Rest] and others say that we put it to good use. But it is all speculation and we cannot act further.

Now [Mob]s, do not get me wrong when I say this. Every dungeon has them, that is the only similarity that is guaranteed between them, each one has their own variations, their own beasts, their own ecosystems sometimes which means one thing. No two [Mob]s of the same type will be the same in two dungeons. A [Slime] in [Angel's Rest] is a passive beast, one best described as [Experience] fodder for our youngest mortals whereas a [Slime] in the [Sea Labyrinth] is a large amorphous blob who will attack with ranged spears of water if you even enter its range of awareness. So do not expect the same thing whenever you encounter one anywhere. To this I would point you to the [Bestiary] which is updated regularly by the [Guild]s who help manage [Dungeon] runs.

Another thing to keep in mind about [Mob]s is that they are more than just stronger the deeper you go, but they are older. A [Dungeon] with an ecosystem will pit their creations against each other in order to make them grow and evolve into different and unique beings.

Those of us research [Mob]s have theorized that if they evolve or level to a certain degree then they could just gain [Sentience] and if they manage that then they are granted a few things by their [Core].

1 - They will always [Respawn] following their death once the floor is clear.

2 - The [Respawn]ed version shall know everything the prior did all the way to its point of death.

3 - There is no difference between one who has not been [Respawn]ed and one who has been which lays the question, is it the same soul in a different body? Do [Mob]s have the ability to gain a soul but are unable to leave the [Dungeon]s domain due to their body being built from [Mana]

4 - Their name will be displayed by the [System] for us and that colour will display just how strong they are. One notable example is [Kain The Kobalt Lord] from the [Volcanic Depths]. A [Mob] with a golden name, which is currently theorized to be the oldest and strongest.

And this leads us to our final similarity. Death. The one consistent upon the world and especially the [Dungeon]s. A [Dungeon] is not a place for those faint of heart. The early floors may be their to train us and level us but we will always risk chance of death. There is no out unless we find another or stronger [Ring of Ashes]. Death is final for us, but not necessarily for [Mob]s. Do not forget this reader, if you enter without preperation, you will die. Always enter with a party, trusted allies, friends, family, whoever just make sure you are not alone. There have been no people who are able to delve a [Floor] on their own, even those who have attempted to cultivate a [Class] for this.

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-------THE-CORE-EXPERIMENTS-----

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So here we are with our newly formed and slowly growing [Core] just after it has found its first [Mob] the [Dungeon Chimera].

The [Core] lets out a soft ripple, it could progress now. Flicking through its menus it comes across a new section

|SPAWN MOB|

/Mob Type/

|Would you like to spawn a [Mob] initial cost will vary based on materials, type, level and stats.|

|YES|NO|

Selecting yes the small [Core]s mind was taken to what could only be described as a "DESIGN YOUR MOB" screen.

|[Mob] type chosen. [Dungeon Chimera].|

|Only 1 variation of [Mana Sphere] variation available.|

|Solidified Mana sphere {Unaspected} chosen|

|Patterns available [Rat] and [Lizard]|

|Incorporated currently available patterns into designer.|

|Would you like a TUTORIAL|

|YES|NO|

The [Core] pauses, viewing the screens which had popped up in front of it. Coming to the conclusion that as it had little to no variation available on what it could use the system quickly sped through a few early selections, hoping that this would change in the future it flicked those screens away until it came to the TUTORIAL option. Selecting |YES| a new set of explanations appeared.

|Design'a'Mob|

|Welcome to Design'a'Mob an exclusive area only available to those [Core]s who take to experimenting with their patterns! In your case you are building the full pattern from scratch based on pre-existing ones to make new things for the system! That is the way of the [Dungeon Chimera] to take what exists and apply it in new an exciting ways!|

|During your selection of this new variation of [Mana Sphere] [Mob] you were provided with the patterns and materials for 2 already existing animals, the [Rat] and the [Lizard]. In this selection screen we shall go through what each selection means for you and your monsters.|

|First. Materials, of which you have 4! Each one has their own bonus, or stat multiplier, to the final total of points that you have to play with. Please note that each material may or may not have a different effect upon a [Dungeon Chimera] further to what you have already noted. This can be learned and your materials list updated once you realize just what occurs.|

| Unaspected Mana | 0 | 0.25 | ???? |

| Bone | 1 | 0.75 | ???? |

| Stone | 1 | 1 | ???? |

Flesh | 2 | 1 | ???? |

|As you can see above each material has its own pros and its own cons. These work in the following ways:

Base stat - This is the initial combination of numbers which will allow you to have a minimum number of stats for that pattern.

Stat Multiplier - The total of this will be summarized in the following sum to make a stat total:

Base stat x Stat Multiplier = Base Stat Total

Once you have that BST (Base stat total) you will be able to allocate this into the nodes for each pattern which will result in your level 1 stats.|

|Please do note, that the average level of a mortal is 5 by the time they enter their first [Dungeon]. However this does not mean equality between each [Race] each race has their own [Racial]s which will shift their base stats around to best suit them or effect them in other ways. An average level 5 mortal should have a base of 5 in every stat no matter the [Racial]|

|Another thing to note is that [Mob]s can level up, something some [Dungeon]s do is create a pseudo ecosystem or battle area in which any [Mob]s on a floor can fight with one another in order to grow stronger and gain [Experience]. In this situation a [Dungeon Chimera] would only need to beat a fellow [Dungeon Chimera] in such a way that only the [Mana Sphere] remains so that they can gain a small amount of [Experience] but if the [Mana Sphere] is consumed a total of 75% of the accumulated [Experience] is passed on, with each a cap of a 2 level increase at a time as to avoid mass powering up.|

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

|The final thing to note about a [Dungeon Chimera] is that as long as their [Mana Sphere] is still in tact and within a [Dungeon]s sphere of influence then they are able to reform at a rate of Cost*2 instantly or for Cost*0.9 if it has [Mana] pumped into it over time. Additionally once spawned a [Dungeon Chimera] will slowly consume a small amount of your [Mana] per day which lowers the amount you will gain.|

|Now that we have explained in a very large info dump about the ins and outs of your [Dungeon Chimera], their [Mana Sphere] materials and to a degree the math's behind it. Its time to discuss patterns!|

|Patterns are a wonderous things created by the system so that a [Core] does not have to individually remember and recreate the exitance of an animal or [Mob]. Through the use of the records a [Core] can then manipulate and chose to save an edited pattern to its own personal record be this unique [Evolution]s or just a variation on creation to increase or decrease something in regards to it. More often than not this tends to be a [Mana] cost.|

|At the moment you only have access to two patterns but this does allow you for a lot more play than other [Core]s. As a [Dungeon Chimera] [Core] you are able to mix, match and combine your patterns in order to create a shell or form for each of your designs, be this a [Lizard] with a [Rat]s tail or some other combination. What makes this so unique is that you are able to create a [Mob] with the abilities of another. Think of what you could do with the pattern of a [Dragon] or a [Basilisk] a stone gazer [Rat] or a [Lizard] which can breath fire. The possibilities are defined by you and you alone... Well within reason of course the stats you apply and the [Mana] you produce are your limiters.|

|CONGRATULATIONS - TUTORIAL COMPLETE|

|Grow young [Core], experiment, learn. Survive|

|CLOSE TUTORIAL|

The [Core] flicks through the TUTORIAL slowly, taking in the instructions which lay before it another small spark within it, a spark of imagination really, occurs as it does so. It could create, not recreate or modify, but create new exciting beasts eventually, though not as it was. A flicker of something runs through it as it selects the |CLOSE TUTORIAL| option.

Once the screens fell away the Design'a'Mob screen became viable. On the left lay the different patterns that it had available and on the right it had the materials that were also available. Looking over these it saw those which were mentioned within the TUTORIAL. With the equivalent of a [Core]s smile it got to work.

First it selected the pattern of a [Rat] which was broken down into a schematic, in which there was a small table near the bottom of the Design'a'Mob screen which consisted of a quick description, stat total and breakdown of the schema.

|[Rat] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Rat | DEFAULT |

| Torso | Rat | DEFAULT |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Rat | DEFAULT |

|Total stats: 32|

|For a rat the default selections are that of rat species parts and the default material is of Flesh.|

Upon selecting the rat and seeing this the [Core] quickly saw what lay in front of it before swapping to the [Lizard] schematic.

|[Lizard] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Lizard | DEFAULT |

| Torso | Lizard | DEFAULT |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Lizard | DEFAULT |

|Total stats: 32|

Seeing that there was no initial difference in between the two [Mob]s the core decided to start playing around.

First it selected a base of [Rat] and decided to toy around with some of the selections, swapping the default material to stone and watching as the schema began to change.

|[Stone Chimeric Rat] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Rat | Stone |

| Torso | Rat | Stone |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Rat | Stone |

|Total stats: 8|

|Bonus Effects|

| ?????????? |

The [Core] pauses noting a the more important changes.

First, the pattern had seemingly changed dynamically, whilst it was still a [Rat] in form it had gained the [Stone Chimeric] additional to its species.

Secondly there was a major drop in the base stats, instead of having the 32 which the [Rat] had the [Stone Chimeric Rat] had a base of 8.

Finally, the unknown bonus effects, two in this case which it knew it would only find out by actually creating the beast.

Setting this seemingly lackluster beast aside it began to toy with the schema once again, this time selecting that of a [Lizard] and choosing bone.

|[Skeletal Chimeric Lizard] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Lizard | Bone |

| Torso | Lizard | Bone |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Lizard | Bone |

|Total stats: 12|

|Bonus Effects|

| ?????????? |

The [Core] pauses at this, pulling up the [Stone Chimeric Rat] it compares the two patterns it now held before noting 2 things. Bone seemingly had a larger base stat in some way and that the [Skeletal Chimeric Lizard] had 1 extra effect. Deciding not to focus on this for now the [Core] moves onto its next experiment, this time using a mixture of selections. Bone, Flesh and Unaspected Mana just to see what could occur. Once it had selected these materials it chose the tail of a [Lizard] and a [Rat]s body.

|[Mana Touched Skeletal Tipped Rizard] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Rat | Bone |

| Torso | Rat | Unaspected Mana |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Lizard | Flesh |

|Total stats: 15|

|Bonus Effects|

| ?????????? |

The [Core] takes in its new creation, flicking over the results. First, it was the strongest creation so far with a base of 15 total stats atop of anything it would begin with. Secondly, 7 different and unknown effects. The young [Core] felt itself spark. Experimentation was seemingly the way to go, but it had to do something about the name. Focusing upon it a smaller box showed up

|Name editing|

|Is your creations name too long? Would you like to edit it? Welcome to the fabulous name rater where we take your name and throw it at you. Please not this only works with new creations and not base patterns.|

|New name|

|--------|

Selecting the blank box it quickly input F.M.B Rizard. The box closed and the pattern changed

|[F.M.B Rizard] Schema|

| Body Part | Selection | Material |

| Head | Rat | Bone |

| Torso | Rat | Unaspected Mana |

| Arms | =Legs | =Legs |

| Legs | Lizard | Flesh |

|Total stats: 15|

|Bonus Effects|

| ?????????? |

| Renamed |

With its new base patterns the [Core] moved on. It had to spawn them. Flicking its awareness over to its first cave it focused on one of its [Stone Chimeric Rat]s and watched as it began to spin into existence. As the pattern first created the [Solidified Mana{Unaspected}] [Mana Sphere] there was a new pop up

|Allocate your stats|

|As you are spawning a [Dungeon Chimera] for the first time please allocate the -8- points from creation to the base level 1. Please note these are permanent and shall not be editable in the future unless you recreate the pattern.|

|Vitality: Base 7|

|Strength: Base 5|

|Agility: Base 2|

Focusing on the stats the descriptions for each showed

|Vitality|

|This is a measurement of how strong a [Mob]s defenses are, the higher this number the harder they are to kill. They are survivors.|

|Strength|

|This is a measurement of how strong a [Mob]s offenses are, the higher this is the better they are at killing. This also makes the beast more vicious than most.|

|Agility|

|This is the simple measurement of how good a [Mob] is at moving, dodging and the like.|

|Stats are a simple numerical value, however these do have various multipliers, additions, subtractions which shall affect them in truth. Additionally, buffs or added affects can change this.|

As the [Core] read these blocks of information it allocated its [Stone Chimeric Rat]s stats to be the following:

|Vitality: 7| 0 | 10 | 17 |

|Strength: 5| 2 | 0 | 7 |

|Agility: 2| 6 | 0 | 8 |

|Mana cost calculated - Per instance of this [Mob] you require 3.2 Mana per day to sustain this. Failure to do so will result in the shattering of its [Mana Sphere] and the mob dying|

|ALERT: BONUS "Stoneskin" unlocked|

|Stoneskin: Due to its entire skin being made of stone this beast becomes much harder to kill. Applies a flat base of +10 to vitality.|

Once the allocation of stats had occurred and the alerts had been placed slowly but surely the pattern settled and the small rat was created. At a quick glance you would think that this rather large 3ft beast was a simple rat at least until it began to move. First, in one of the eyes was a [Solidified Mana{Unaspected}] [Mana Sphere] and then its skin and fir was the colour of grey stone, flexible in a sense that only magic would allow.

Now its defenses had started it formed 9 more of the beasts until it had its first 10 defenders. The cave itself began to fill with sounds of rats as they scraped one another and ran around the small section. Feeling a dip in its total [Mana] available to it over time it moved onto its next creation, the [Skeletal Chimeric Lizard].

Again the Allocation screen came up. and Again the [Core] set its new beasts stats.

|Vitality: Base 3|

|Strength: Base 5|

|Agility: Base 8|

|Vitality: 3| 3 | 0 | 6 |

|Strength: 5| 2 | 0 | 7 |

|Agility: 8| 7 | 0 | 15 |

The [Core] desired these to dart between the [Rat] based mobs, so as the [Skeletal Chimeric Lizard]s formed it took note, they were nothing but the skeleton of a [Lizard] without anything to hold them together other than the [Solidified Mana{Unaspected}] [Mana Sphere] which lay inbetween the bone tail and the rest of the small beasts.

Ignoring the fact its defenders seemed so, lackluster, the core moved to its 2nd cave, the one right before its [Core] Room and selected the [F.M.B Rizard], once again its allocation screen came up.

|Vitality: Base 5|

|Strength: Base 7|

|Agility: Base 9|

|Vitality: 5| 5 | 0 | 10 |

|Strength: 7| 9 | 0 | 16 |

|Agility: 9| 1 | 0 | 10 |

This would be its strongest creation yet, and most costly. Spinning the pattern up and spawning the beasts in it created a swarm and decided to allow them to fight one another to improve. Feeling the dip it watched as a large 15 went to fighting with one another, if one failed, well the [Core] deemed it fit. Survival was what was important. And Survive it shall.

Chapter 3 - Science and numbers

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