Chatting with its only remaining companion, a colorful parrot perched in Grumblebark’s branches. The birdsong and waves helped bring normalcy back to the moonlight night. A monitor gnawed on one of the durian fruits, its flesh exposed and accessible after being squished open. Coiled in the lower branches of surrounding trees a few pythons waited for more unsuspecting prey. The Lair let its minions enjoy some time being simple animals and looked over the results of their first successful hunt.

Bellerian Spiny Rhinoceros—Level 8 has died. You receive 3,942 experience points.

You have gained 3,942 experience from Consume against Level 8 Bellerian Spiny Rhinoceros. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creature Bellerian Spiny Rhinoceros.

Biographical Information:

Name: Bellerian Spiny Rhinoceros

Level: 8

Experience: 39,420

Race: Rhinoceros

Stats:

Health: 144

Mana: 8

Armor: 18

Strength: 16

Dexterity: 9

Constitution: 17

Intelligence: 6

Spirit: 12

Charisma: 7

Luck: 9

Resistances:

50% Earth Resistance

25% Nature Resistance

-50% Wind Resistance

You have gained a new skill from Consume: Foraging (Common)

“Nature is wont to hide herself” - Heraclitus

At initiate rank, creatures have a 5% chance to find a random resource related to their environment, while actively searching. Adequate lore skill level must be possessed for the environment to utilize this skill.

You have gained a new skill: Combat Tactics (Rare)

“I do not steal victory.” - Alexander the Great

At initiate rank, you no longer suffer a penalty for directing troops, minions, henchmen, multiple summons, party members, etc. Combat Tactics grants access to coordinated attack strategies and implementation.

Skill level up! You have reached level 2 in Creation Magic.

Levels 1, 2, & 3 Acquired!

Received per level

Points

Health & Mana Points

You receive 5 – 10 hit points per level + constitution modifier (0)

You receive 5 – 10 mana points per level + intelligence modifier (16)

N/A

71

Skill Points

You currently receive one skill point per level.

3

Ability Points

You currently receive two ability points per level.

6

Racial Bonus

You receive an additional skill point per level that is restricted to an arcane skill of your choice.

3

Well butter my butt and call me a biscuit. That’s 10% of the Rhino’s experience for the kill and another 10% from using Consume. I got to Level 3 from one large animal. If I keep this up, I’ll get to select my class in a jiffy. In fact, I will probably need to power level skills for a couple of days to balance everything out, but it shouldn’t be too bad. Easier to level skills with more mana after all. Now, what to do with the points? Classic newbie mistake and spend the skill points immediately or save them up for important breakpoints?

“Hey Grumblebark, I just jumped a few levels from downing that rhino. I am thinking about what to do with the points from leveling. Have you spent your skill points or are you saving them?” The Lair sent an inquisitive pulse to their familiar.

Creaking out a yawn, Grumblebark blinked his wooden eyes. “Hmph… gained a few levels in… a single night and I… thought you were going to… die and release me of… this bond baby dungeon your… idea may not be as… stupid as I thought.”

He was sleeping? He is rather ambivalent regarding my survival. I was assuming he would back me up without having to give him clear directions. I need to be clear with him and not just take him for granted. Besides, he actually gave me a backhanded compliment for the first time. Maybe it’s an olive branch? The Lair sent a pulse of humor along their link, wanting to encourage this new development.

“Glad you’re coming around on the idea Grumblebuddy. So, back to my question, what did you do with your skill points when you leveled? Also, do you have any idea of how quick dungeons tend to level? I should have asked that earlier.”

Leaves rustled and the birds squawked their protest. Grumblebark didn’t seem to approve of the nickname. “I still have them… seemed prudent to hold… for an appropriate time… elders of the grove convinced… me how would I know… how fast dungeons level?”

If the Lair still had eyes to roll, they would have. “Got it, thanks, Grumblebark. Here is the first skill we talked about.”

Focusing on the Foraging skill, the dungeon pushed the information towards the teal orb. The small stream of data was absorbed by the sphere and then the new skill flared into existence on Grumblebark’s status page. A pulse of curiosity, tinged with gratitude flowed back to the Lair from their familiar. Maybe we can make this work after all. At least he isn’t boring. Anyways, let’s get to the fun part.

The Lair pulled up the ability point selection chart, settling on saving the skill points for the right time.

Ability

Level

Points to upgrade

Bind: Create an inviolable bond with any living creature. This bond allows for mind-to-mind communication within one mile and will allow you to resurrect the creature if it dies. This bond allows compulsion of the creature with a successful willpower check. These creatures will be free to exit your sphere of influence. This bond cannot be broken once established.

1

1

Consume: Devour deceased or helpless creatures within your influence to gain their strength. You gain 10% of the creature’s experience, a 25% chance to gain a skill the creature possessed, and basic lore on the creature consumed.

1

1

Assimilate: Devour deceased or helpless creatures within your influence to gain their strength. You gain 1% of the creature’s experience, 2.5% chance to gain a skill the creature possessed, and full lore regarding the creature. This will allow you to summon an approximation of the creature with an appropriate level spell.

1

1

Hrmmmmm. What to level? It takes 1 point for level one, two points for level two etc. So, I could level each skill once and then one of them another time or I could bring two abilities up to level three and leave the other as it is. Well… I am a hungry, hungry dungeon. The Lair pushed Consume and Assimilate up to level three and reviewed the boosts.

You have chosen to increase your ability: Consume to level 3. You gain 10% of the creature’s experience, a 35% chance to gain a skill the creature possessed, 30% of the creatures mana, and basic lore on the creature consumed.

You have chosen to increase your ability: Assimilate to level 3. You gain 3% of the creature’s experience, 7.5% chance to gain a skill the creature possessed, and full lore regarding the creature. This will allow you to summon an approximation of the creature with an appropriate level spell. This creature will retain skills of the assimilated creature.

Biographical Information:

Name: Lurking Lair

Level: 3

Experience: 7,884

Race: Dungeon

Class: Unavailable – Requirements not met

Alignment: Neutral

Languages: Common

Stats:

Influence: 1,001 ft. radius

Durability: 900/900

Mana: 87/95

Strength: 0

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 26

Spirit: 26

Charisma: 11

Luck: 13

Movement Speed: 0

Resistances:

100% Mental Resistance

90% Magic Resistance

90% Physical Resistance

Aspects:

None

Skills:

Creation Magic 2, Natural

Combat Tactics 1, Natural

Dungeon Loremaster Skills:

Foraging

Spells:

Level 0:

Summon Dungeon Monster

Summon Dungeon Familiar

Abilities:

Dungeon Core: Bind (1), Consume (3), Assimilate (3)

Traits:

Magical Construct: 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.

Dungeon Loremaster: Can gain any skill, but can only use dungeon appropriate skills, i.e. magic and knowledge-based skills. Non-dungeon appropriate skills will be gained with no level or aptitude, but can be taught to creatures with high enough levels of aptitude.

Sphere of Influence: Dungeons have mana sense and can perceive all elements within their influence throughout the sensory spectrum. Dungeon influence naturally expands at a rate of 1 radial foot per day.

Very nice. Now I have a way to regenerate mana instead of just waiting for my basic regeneration. Each critter I eat equals more monsters in my horde. It’s also pretty shiny that I’ll be able to spawn assimilated creatures with skills built in. Increased quality should equal better survivability. Okay Lair, enough dilly dallying, mana is back to full. Time to grind out another army.

The Lair sunk into their well of focus, summoning, inspecting, and waiting for their mana to replenish. It would have been boring if there weren’t so many new things to look at, but eventually they had looked over everything in their still limited sphere of influence. With nothing else to distract themself with, they attempted to strike up another conversation with the meliae.

“What was it like? Growing up in the grove? Did you have a mother and father?”

Intermittent wobbly pulses came off of the teal orb in the Lairs crystal, Grumblebark appeared to be considering their response.

“It was a slow process… meliae come to awareness over… years and saplings are not… recognized by the grove until… they can participate in the… conversation the grove takes care… of all the saplings together… my guardian is Swiftleaf but… my pollen and seed came… from others Swiftleaf is like… my parent but not.”

I did just rip him away from his home. I hadn’t really thought about that until now. The Lair sent a reassuring glow Grumblebark’s way. “Would it be alright to go and visit your grove after a bit more hunting? Or am I not welcome?”

Swirling emotion, unreadable and thick shrouded Grumblebark’s core. Its teal color shifted from blue to purple to green. It was terrifyingly gorgeous, but the Lair was concerned. “I’m sorry, did I say something wrong? Are you alright?”

Grumblebark’s orb shook and then slowly the teal color pushed the other colors out of the sphere and shone brightly. “I am fine baby dungeon… you are full of surprises…. my departure from the grove… was contentious I thought that… I would never be returning… once I felt the summoning… so I was not polite… when I said my goodbyes… it would be unwise to… return.”

The tree remained settled, at some point in the morning the meliae had rooted itself again. With no more conversation offered, the Lair settled back into their routine of summoning. Letting their mind relax and settle into casual experimentation with their senses. After trying to open scent data again, the Lair had to immediately shut it off. Whatever those fruits are, they smell like hot garbage. After I get a few more levels I will change locations.

By midmorning, the Lair’s horde had multiplied and there was now a decent sized flock of various jungle birds, snakes, lizards, and even a few large, brightly-colored tree frogs mingled with prowling coconut crabs. The ripe, pungent fruit warmed up with the sun and lured several lower level animals to their doom.

The first came swinging in on the branches of the tree and dropped cautiously onto the smashed fruit. The Lair was not familiar with many of the animals they had encountered so far, at least outside of zoos, and this one was no exception. It was the first orangutan that the Lair had gotten to look at up close. Its features were strikingly human, down to its scraggly beard and wise expression. While it had been easy to overwhelm with numbers, it was unpleasant to absorb.

A small pack of pig-like animals with long, elephantine snouts nervously circled the fruit for about an hour by the time they began to eat. The Lair waited patiently for all of their herd to gather and begin eating. The summons had begun to grow restless by the time the Lair ordered them to attack. It was a bloodbath. In comparison to the rhino and even the orangutan, their struggle amounted to little. A few of the summons managed kills, unable to stop themselves in the heat of battle. Regardless, the Lair continued to steadily grow.

By the time the moon hung low in the sky, casting eerie reflections off the stream, the Lair had steadily advanced. Prey had begun to taper off as the fruit was eaten, dried up, and the lingering smell of death permeated the air. Several hours went by with nothing new entering the area. The Lair took a break from the monotony of grinding out summons to finally survey the progress they had made.

Bellerian Orangutan—Level 2 has died. You receive 229 experience points.

Bellerian Tapir x 5—Level’s 0-3 have died. You receive 776 experience points.

You have gained 458 experience from Consume against Level 2 Bellerian Orangutan.

You have gained 1553 experience from Consume against x5 Level 0-3 Bellerian Tapirs. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creature Bellerian Tapir.

Levels 4 Acquired!

Skill level up! You have reached level 3 in Creation Magic.

Skill level up! You have reached level 2 in Combat Tactics.

Biographical Information:

Name: Bellerian Tapir

Level: 2

Experience: 4,554

Race: Tapir

Stats:

Health: 32/32

Mana: 2

Armor: 6

Strength: 10

Dexterity: 11

Constitution: 14

Intelligence: 6

Spirit: 14

Charisma: 16

Luck: 10

Resistances:

50% Earth Resistance

-50% Fire Resistance

You have gained a new skill from Consume: Grazing (Common)

“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” - Aristotle

At initiate rank, creatures that consume plant material can spend a four hour period eating to fully replenish their hit points, mana, and per day skills or abilities.

On top of leveling again, the skill increases, and the outright skill gain; the Lair had managed to preserve most of their army. Counting the summons that had survived the rhino battle, the Lair had a swelling force. Twenty-six various animals prowled around the stream banks, tree branches, and in the water.

Most were of the summons the Lair already had information on, but there were a couple of new ones. The piranha-style fish were barely worth mentioning; when the Lair changed locations they wouldn’t be able to follow. A pair of noisy monkeys swung through the trees. The area of the Lair’s influence was getting rather crowded. Perhaps neglecting Mana Osmosis wasn’t the best idea. It’s going to be a bit of a mad house until I open up the spell that lets me increase my influence radius.

Just as the Lair was about to move on to reviewing their status, new visitors appeared on their doorstep. All of the minions went silent, sensing danger. Upon first glance the Lair had assumed more wild animals had come poking around, but it didn’t take long to reveal that these were no mere beasts driven by instinct. Scaled reptilian skin slid over the jungle floor and into the Lair’s full senses. Hissing sounds carried from one member of the yuan-ti party to the next.

Taking point was a half-man, half snake slithering carefully and tasting the air with quick flicks of its tongue. It held a spear in its two hands and armor covered its torso, but its scaled and fanged head remained bare. The next pair followed just as cautiously. They walked on two legs and carried large packs, each with a shield strapped in place. Finally, behind the front guard came four serpents clothed in long, dark robes with almost fully human faces. This last group was chanting in a rhythmic song.

When the whole group had crossed over the threshold of the Lair’s influence, the singing reached a crescendo and ceased abruptly. Silence washed over the forest, the night creatures wary of these new arrivals. The party approached the remains of the smashed fruit, holding spears and scimitars at the ready.

The Lair looked over each of their guests with trepidation. They had not expected to have an adventuring group so early, even if it was obviously denizens of the jungle. Is it best to lay low? I have no idea what level they are or even what they are saying.

Sending a soft whispered message to the meliae the Lair sought out advice. “Grumblebark, are you familiar with these guys? They look pretty tough. Do you think we should just let them pass through or should we try to eat them?”

The teal orb sent a pulse of amusement, and for the first time Grumblebark’s voice pulsed internally. “Baby dungeon why do you… whisper they cannot hear you… talking to me inside your… own head they are serpents… of the jungle and worshipers… of Phobos god of fear… and blood I only know… that their temple is deeper… inland and far from the… grove I do not know… if they taste good.”

During the Lair’s conversation the yuan-ti party had done a full circuit of the durian trees. They now stood, with their backs together, conversing through a series of hissing and hand signals. While the Lair was debating their course of action, something rather unexpected happened.

The four robed serpents circled around the spear wielder and began chanting again. Then after a short moment they all dropped to their knees. Each took out a curved dagger and plunged it into the snake-man. Oddly, he remained standing and did not strike back at any of his attackers.

The daggers stuck in and out with wet sucking sounds, until at last the victim fell lifeless in the middle of the group. The remaining yuan-ti held their positions, but began hissing in their unnerving conversation. Then they wiped blood from the corpse and smeared it over their faces. The Lair was a bit stunned, but also curious. There was only one way to sate their curiosity and it was a gamble. The Lair decided to roll the dice, they had a feeling they were right about this.

Consuming the deceased yuan-ti did not take long, the scales and muscles broke down and appeared to sink into the soil. The remaining party members silenced their hissing when the dungeon started eating, but as the Lair had predicted, they didn’t move. As the body disappeared, the Lair received what they had presumed the yuan-ti had meant to give as a gift, even if their method was rather harsh.

You have gained a new skill from Consume: Language—Serpent Tongue (General)

“The snake would change its skin but it would not change its mindset.” - Aesop

You will now be able to comprehend and speak the Serpent Tongue.

Slowly the hissing sounds morphed into comprehensible syllables and syntax. The group was essentially repeating the same message, apparently looking for a sign.

“Ssssss…Dungeon, we offer you thisss sssacrifice ssso that you may grow. We will return to grow ourselvesss...”

For a moment, the Lair wanted to play a practical joke on the group and drop snakes on them, but it didn’t feel right. There was something about this that demanded an appropriate response. The lair sent a communication to all of their summons, except their familiar, to look in the direction of the yuan-ti at the same time and utter a single sound. The reflections bouncing off all the hungry eyes and the staccato of clacks, bites, hisses, and squawks cut off as quickly as they began.

The snake-like humanoids showed no fear. They simply bowed their heads and backed out of the area. Leaving the Lair with a lot to ruminate on.