Poignantly ignoring the notifications and allocations the Lair centered themselves after that last engagement. It had been taxing in more ways than one and it was time for a break. The Lair turned to their only companion who could really converse in an intelligent manner, Grumblebark, to bleed off their nerves.

“Well, we probably shouldn’t stay here. Lots of dead dungeon mobs that I can’t absorb. If we move they should dissipate, but the longer we stay the riskier it is. Given our luck with the ocean so far, I am thinking we should head inland. Do you have any thoughts Grumblebark? I am still getting things figured out. Ohhh, I hadn’t thought about this until now, but several of my summons have ‘Bellerian’ in their names. Is that the island we are on?”

Roots began unraveling and uprooting themselves as the meliae shook with movement. “That is likely a wise… consideration dungeon perhaps we should… find a place that is… more peaceful for a time.” Grumblebark rumbled and creaked, shaking sand from his trunk. “I believe that is the… name for the island in… common but it has been… a long time since I… have had reason to speak… that language if I recall… correctly it is Belleria.”

The Lair pulled the paltry remaining force of summons to the base of their familiar and then had them take up position in its limbs, except the lumbering beast. One stymphalian bird, a couple of pythons and monitors, and a single catoblepas gathered together. It felt odd after having had such a large group to organize. The bovine was limping, it had still not fully recovered. The Lair slapped itself mentally on the forehead and quickly transferred the grazing skill to the summon. While they were at it, the Lair gave foraging to the others. I need to remember to give my summons skills, they tend to be born without any.

“Thank you Grumblebark. That’s good to know, the name of the island that is. I also agree. I think we have grown enough for me only being three days old. I know you don’t know the area, but do you think you could find a place we could hole up safely for a few days? I could use the time to restock the troops. Ohh yeah, mind keeping pace with the cato… the stinky cow monster? It’s still a bit injured and I don’t want it to get left behind.”

The meliae pulsed with a now familiar feeling of assent and curiosity before offering up an actual agreement. “I will do so.”

That’s new, and welcome. The Lair smiled internally and sent a similar sensation back to Grumblebark. Then they dove into their core to evaluate what all the heck had just happened after the days work. The first notifications waiting for them were the most startling.

Quest Title: Gobbling Globs of Goodness

Conditions: Use your Consume ability on 20 or more creatures. (Hidden Quest)

Rewards: Experience

Penalty for failure or refusal of Quest: None

Do you Accept? Automatic

Quest Title: Culling Critters on the Coast

Conditions: Slay 10 or more creatures. (Hidden Quest)

Rewards: Experience

Penalty for failure or refusal of Quest: None

Do you Accept? Automatic

You have received 1,000 experience for Gobbling Globs of Goodness.

You have received 1,000 experience for Culling Critters on the Coast.

Well, I’ll be damned. I didn’t realize I would be getting quests. It makes sense though, one of the cornerstones of the Adventurer system is that every race is playable. I bet these are just the start too. I should talk about this with Grumblebark. I wonder if he has any quests that he is working on, maybe I could help him out. The Lair moved past these notifications with this latest thought nestled into the back of their mind.

Various Bellerian Fish x 9—Level’s 0-1 have died. You receive 205 experience points.

You have gained 683 experience from Consume against 9 Levels 0-1 Various Bellerian Fish. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creatures Various Bellerian Fish.

Seagulls x 6—Level’s 0-2 have died. You receive 222 experience points.

You have gained 1,112 experience from Consume against 6 Level 0-1 Seagulls. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creature Seagulls.

Bellerian Bull Shark x 1—Level 2 have died. You receive 126 experience points.

You have gained 423 experience from Consume against Level 2 Bellerian Bull Shark. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creature Bellerian Bull Shark.

You have gained 7,974 experience from Consume against Level 12 Juvenile Scylla. You have gained access to basic lore regarding the creature Juvenile Scylla.

Another huge jump, even better than the rhino, but a lot scarier. I also lost almost all of my summons. Days worth of minions gone, poof. At least it was worth it. Time to go lick my wounds.

None of the lore was really worth spending time on, except the scylla. That monster had been class upgraded as a Rogue. That explained how it had gotten the jump on the Lair each time. It most likely had some form of stealth and sneak attack abilities. Getting to the level 10 break point and pushing my skills high enough to open a class upgrade has to be a priority. Any class would make me much more powerful.

Okay, did I get any good skills or just minion basics?

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

“Keep a healthy mind in a healthy body.” - Aristides

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

You have gained a new skill from Consume: Construction (Uncommon)

“Great undertakings require great preparations.” - Heliodorus

At initiate rank you will be able to acquire appropriate sub-skills.

You have gained a new sub-skill from Consume: Simple Structures (Uncommon)

“If you add little to little, and do so repeatedly, it will very quickly become much.” - Hesiod

At initiate rank you will be able to construct simple structures without penalties.

Skill level up! You have reached level 5 in Creation Magic.

Skill level up! You have reached level 4 in Combat Tactics.

You have gained your first Aspect! You are Gluttonous! Your recent actions have defined a core element of your personality. You have chosen to devour anything and everything in your path, leaving a void of life in your wake.

Effects: +1 to Chaotic Alignment, +1 to Bad Alignment, and each time you consume a creature there is a small chance that you permanently gain health or mana points.

Levels 5 & 6 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

49

Skill Points

You currently receive one skill point per level.

6

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.

6

Biographical Information:

Name: Lurking Lair

Level: 6

Experience: 25,157

Race: Dungeon

Class: Unavailable – Requirements not met

Alignment: Neutral (+1 to Chaotic, +1 to Bad)

Languages: Common, Serpent Tongue

Stats:

Influence: 1,003 ft. radius

Durability: 900/900

Mana: 168/168

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:

Gluttonous

Skills:

Creation Magic 5, Natural

Combat Tactics 4, Natural

Feeding 1, Natural

Construction 1, Significant

Sub-skill: Simple Structures 1, Significant

Dungeon Loremaster Skills:

Foraging

Grazing

Spells:

Level 0:

Summon Dungeon Monster

Summon Dungeon Familiar

Abilities:

Dungeon Essentials: 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.

Okay, I was having a bit of a pity party. That was more than worth it. I mean, I have gained more than a level per day since I got here. That’s stupid fast. Spending years coming up with this plan is really starting to pay off.

The new Aspect synergizes perfectly with my build and new skill too. It does highlight how disruptive to the natural ecosystem I have been though. I should probably hunker down and grind some skills for a while instead of eating everything in sight

Looking around as the meliae lumbered through the forest, the Lair noticed that the environment was changing. Around the traveling menagerie lush vegetation had given way to spread out trees. The group was moving up a slight incline, the air growing colder with each step. It felt like they had made good distance. Having been lost in their typical summoning fugue, the Lair was tempted to take a break as the differences of the area became more pronounced.

“Hey there Grumblebark. How long have we been traveling? Any clues to where we might be?”

Ponderously weaving through underbrush and ducking for limbs, the meliae still created quite a wake in its travel. “We are nearing the spine… of the island where the… peaks rise tall marking the… end of the western plateau… I never thought I would… travel so far it has… been over a day.”

“That explains the changes I noticed. You haven’t found a good spot to hunker down yet? I don’t want us to be in an area that is too cold for you. Don’t you need to be back in the jungle? It feels like we are leaving it.”

Rumbling and creaking, the meliae’s laughter split through the surrounding glade, causing a few local birds to take flight. “I am no normal tree… baby dungeon you should know… that by now I can… take energy from the sun… and the soil but magic… sustains me and my kin… it is also apparent by… this point that you are… no normal dungeon.”

Grumblebark paused, seeming to consider before asking the next question, but continuing none the less. “Why are you so driven… so focused and how do… you have such plans and… knowledge while such a young… dungeon? Where did you come… from?”

Charlotte ran down the sidewalk with tears streaking down her cheeks. The flowering dogwoods canopied this way home and muted her crying from attracting others. Flapping in the breeze behind her, streamed tatters of her flannel shirt. Holding the remains closely to her chest, barely keeping her torn jeans held up with her other hand, she rounded the corner to the dirt driveway of home.

Scrambling up the front porch, Charlotte cried out for help. “Mama! Mama!!”

Rushing from the kitchen, clad in a stereotypical checked apron and yellow blouse, her mother scooped her up into a hug. Squeezing tightly, Constance pet her daughter’s long hair and consoled her. After crying eased and snot had been wiped away, she questioned her daughter.

“Heavens to Betsy Charlotte, what’s wrong? What happened to your brother’s clothes?”

Charlotte sniffled and couldn’t hide the hurt feelings from crossing over her face. However, she buried her face in her hands and emptied her heart. “Mama, the other kids chased me away from the playground. Billy said I couldn’t wear pants and tried to take them! They called me ‘faggot’ and threw tanbark at me!”

Cooing gently and still tenderly stroking Charlotte’s hair, Constance sighed. “Darling, I told you not to try and wear Justin’s clothes. Even if he gave them to you. What will the other families think? This was probably for the best Charlotte, don’t you think?”

Charlotte curled up, becoming as small as they possibly could, and wept. Wracking sobs shook her small frame, surrounded by warmth that could never comfort.

Continuing in their gradual assent towards the spine, the Lair roused from their daymare to reply. “My past is pretty complicated Grumblebark, I would prefer not to get into the specifics. Maybe, when it’s an almost forgotten part of my past. Suffice it to say that I am so focused because I have been vulnerable. I want to become strong enough to dictate my circumstances, not have them decided for me.” Pausing the Lair contemplated how much information to share with their familiar.

“I came from another realm. I had the choice to become a dungeon, and I made it with full knowledge of the consequences. So, while I am a young dungeon, I am not a young mind. Well, still pretty young compared to you, but I imagine nothing like a typical young dungeon. Not what you were expecting?”

Wood popped and snapped, the meliae halted their walk. “No not what I was… expecting but it does explain… why you are so different… most dungeons do not talk… as much or have much… personality.”

“I can see why you weren’t all that excited to be bonded with one given those prospects. Is there a reason we stopped? Or do you need to rest?” The Lair poked around with their sight, noting that they were on the edge of a cliff. The drop came upon them abruptly, but of course, the Lair could not see the horizon. The Lair filed away that Grumblebark was letting on that they knew more about dungeons than they had initially let on. Perhaps he just didn’t want to share before he got to know me better.

“There is a small valley… before us I think it… would be a good spot… for us to “hunker down”… it should only take a… little while to get to… the valley floor I was… looking for the best way… down.” The meliae let out a crunching ‘hurumph’ and started tromping down the hillside. “Dryad’s are exciting and adventurous... they all bond to a… specific meliae for like and… they heavily influence the meliae’s… growth I had always wanted… to leave the grove for… a life beyond endless conversation.”

The Lair smiled internally, this explained a lot about Grumblebark. Their familiar had shared an important personal fact with them. On top of that they had used “us” to describe the actions of the two of them. Pulsing involuntarily with a soft pink light, the Lair radiated affection for their linked meliae.

“Well Grumbles, this whole plan of moving around and going to the creatures wouldn’t work without you. We are partners in this. I need you’re help if I am going to succeed.”

Roots grasping at stones, tree trunks, and driving into the mountainside steadied Grumblebark as the meliae traversed down an incline far too steep for any human to descend. Crackling chuckles carried on the wind once more. “Most dungeons take years to… gain their first levels they... have reached journeyman or higher… in creation magic you have... done things entirely backwards you... are such an odd dungeon.”

A large stride propelled the meliae into a rushing stream of water, splashing up and onto its trunk, water disturbed the roosting flock. “It is a unique strategy… so far it has been… fun.” Grumblebark stopped, wrapping his branches somewhat violently around a set of jutting rocks. Then he plucked a long hanging moss off of a nearby pine and wrapped it around the branch.

“Dragon’s Beard lichen rare valuable… and I have always wanted… some for decoration the Foraging… skill has been interesting this… looks like a good spot.”

Caught up in raptly listening to Grumblebark the Lair poked around their influence, scanning the area. The meliae obviously had more facets to their personality than upon first blush. The group of summons were gathering around the bank of a large pool. Several catoblepas had already started sucking down big gulps of water. Birds flew to nearby branches hanging lazily over the pond. A small waterfall tumbled down broken rocks and produced a small bubbling at the far end of the clearing.

“From what I can see, this does seem like a pretty good place for us to spend some time. What can you see around us that is outside of my influence?”

The meliae swung from side to side, branches swishing with the movement. “We are at the bottom… of the valley near a… small waterfall and in a… stand of pine and fir.”

The Lair chuckled, that was the sort of description that had started to expect from Grumblebark. “Sounds like this will be home for a while, go ahead and get comfortable.”