Shaking their head violently, Charlie put their hands up in front of the glowing table showing the tempting racial options. Stick to the plan Charlie, stick to the plan.

“Thank you Charon, but can you actually take that down? I don’t want to be tempted away from something I have spent years dreaming and planning for. Can you show me the information on the dungeon race?”

Ever since Charlie had gotten their first lore master’s guide and they had noticed this small detail they had dreamed about this. Dungeons in the world of Adventurer, and now Elysium, were a race that operated under the same rules as all of the others. Of course, John had never wanted to lore master a game where Charlie would be able to play as a dungeon, and Charlie didn’t blame him. How boring would it have been to make the entire party stay in one place for a whole campaign? How would it even work? That would be the most restrictive Adventurer game of all time.

Charon leaned forward, genuinely intrigued by Charlie’s request. Moving his hands across the desk in a now familiar motion caused the previous racial table to wink out, and a new shimmering table to coalesce.

“You want to become a dungeon? You are a curious person Charlie, even I wouldn’t have guessed that. As you know, they have a fair amount of restrictions that most would find unappealing.”

Race

Primary Modifiers

Additional Modifiers & Abilities

Dungeon

+10 to Intelligence

+10 to Spirit

+1 Ability Point per level

+1 Arcane Skill Point per level

Magical Construct - Dungeon Stone: Strength, Dexterity, and Movement Speed set to 0. Constitution stat x100 becomes starting durability score. 90% Physical Resistance, 90% Magic Resistance, and 100% Mental Resistance.

Starting Skill(s): Creation Magic (All dungeon school spells will be automatically acquired as skill levels increase.)

Level 0 Spells -

1. Summon Dungeon Monster

2. Summon Dungeon Familiar

God Tier Abilities – Starting Options:

1. Bind

2. Consume

3. Assimilate

4. Mana Osmosis

5. Influence Infusion

Charlie’s eyes glazed over as they looked over the information, Charon’s question and comment going largely unregistered. It’s exactly the same as I hoped it would be. All the dreaming, all the planning, and all the time I spent on this. Yes! Yes! Yes!!!

“… Charlie? Is something wrong? Was there a mistake?” Charon looked concerned and was standing out of his chair, hands braced on the desk, leaning towards Charlie.

Blinking through tears, Charlie jumped back when they realized how close Charon was. Quickly moving an arm across their eyes to dry them, Charlie smiled.

“No Charon, nothing’s wrong. Everything is perfect! Sorry, I’m just so happy. I didn’t expect to get so emotional.”

Charon sat back and studied his guest, he opened his mouth to speak and then closed it, appearing at a loss for words. Charlie almost chuckled, but caught themself. His reaction makes sense, I am overjoyed to become a living rock. He probably has no frame of reference for my decision. It’s probably hard to understand why someone would give up all the perceived pleasures of a body, let alone the ability to talk and walk. He has never had to live in constant, intractable pain without hope. Give him a bit of a break Charlie.

“Charon, you remember that I told you that I helped make Elysium for personal reasons? Well, my life so far has not been easy. I am not running from difficulty though, I can overcome challenges. Becoming a dungeon will give me the chance to define myself, my environment, and the world in a way I never could in any other form. This means… everything to me.”

Looking contemplative, Charon nodded, taking his time and giving a measured approach. “This is often the function I served in your mythology, guiding someone from the pain and trials of a mortal life to the rewards of the next. I am honor-bound by my pantheon to be impartial with your fate. However, I am pleased to serve this role for you, Charlie.”

Charlie moved past their emotional outburst awkwardly, trying to shift the conversation. “Of course, an impartial lore master is the best kind to have. So, now that I have stats, once I select my race what happens?”

“You would normally get a chance to select the general characteristics given to your new body. In this circumstance though, you will simply go to sleep. When you wake up, you will be in an appropriate location to begin your adventure as a dungeon.”

Charon paused, and then a sly smile crept onto his lips. “Is there any type of environment that you would prefer to start in? A forest? A mountain cave? The ocean?”

Charlie immediately realized what sort of benefit Charon was offering. His actions were still neutral, but he was giving Charlie the ability to push the variables of their starting location. So, if I want to start someplace isolated I could pick a desert beginning, but if I want a location teeming with life I could always go with the ocean.

Charlie considered the implications that this choice would have on how they had planned to go about establishing themself. My main goals are to make sure that I am strong enough to defend myself, power level to a class upgrade, and have a great time learning about my new world. What type of environment gives me the best chance to accomplish those goals? Charlie snapped their fingers. Got it.

“I would like to start in a jungle or rain forest, preferably one near a beach if possible. I think I would enjoy what those places have to offer.” Charlie understood that it was best to phrase things politically, and not to openly acknowledge that they would like to start in those areas for the advantages they presented. Both areas would be relatively isolated, yet packed with plants and animals – part of a dungeon’s complete breakfast. Charlie had a smile to match their generous host’s.

“That is something that I can do for you. I know just the place, it is quite lovely. Now, take a moment to make sure that this is what you want. Once you tell me that this is your selection, our discussion will be complete.”

Looking around again, Charlie took in Charon’s study again. This will probably be the last time I get a chance to talk with him for a while. I better just ask him.

“Charon, this may seem silly, but why do you have all of these ancient Greek books around us? I don’t want to make assumptions, but I realized that I had already been making them. I presumed that I could put myself in your place and empathize, which is rather ignorant and arrogant.” Charlie ducked their head a bit, embarrassed by their error and attempting to demonstrate appropriate shame with their apology.

It was Charon’s turn to take a moment for thought and contemplation. The god looked pensive as he sat, still and silent as an abandoned graveyard. However, the sound of Charon’s mental gears whirring was deafening. It seems like I asked a very right… or a very wrong question.

“I will answer your question with one of my own. If you could study the words of your creators forefathers would you? I do not think that you are as unable to empathize with me as you may think. However, it is best that we finish our conversation here. Perhaps we will talk again at length on a future occasion.”

Charlie looked up, knowing a rhetorical question – and a dismissal – when they heard one. Best not to push my luck any further. “Thank you, Charon. The talk was very enjoyable and informative. I would be pleased to speak with you again if you wish it. I believe that I am ready, I will select dungeon as my race.”

Slumping in their chair, Charlie was asleep the instant the last words left their lips. Charon stood and watched Charlie’s sleeping form for a while. Then with a wave of his hands, Charlie’s form winked out and disappeared from the room in a flash, the glowing tables hovering above his desk followed suit.

Charon surveyed his study for a moment and then nodded. A thick gray fog started billowing into the room from an unseen source, shrouding the bookcases in a roiling curtain. The center of the room, around the desk and two chairs, remained clear of the fog. The light of a single flickering oil lamp flared, casting shadows to dance in the mist.

*** Want to read more? Click here: The Lurking Lair ***