When you find a young dungeon out in the *Wilds* it isn't always obvious what you are going to get until the last few levels. You can guess some of the potential Aspects but things are often hidden. Still almost any dungeon has something for someone in a party. Every Dungeon has 5 or more Aspects. The Academy Dungeon had Light, Life, Air, Water, and Mansophy. Talents that are not Traits but are not Magical or Martial are treated as Unique Aspects. Manasophy is Knowledge so it counts as unique. Leadership would as well. Conversely Martial Talents can be learned or improved in any Dungeon. Equipment is a subset of Martial as are Training Talents. Acrobatics, Close Combat, etc are Training.

Just as you need the total number of Aspects-1 to raise the Phase of a Talent in a Mature Dungeon you need a Young Dungeon with the proper Essence Aspects. Additionally you need to qualify for the Talent. None of us could yet qualify for a new Elder magic Talent. Similarly those of us with no Might couldn't learn Equipment Talents. Many of us could also not learn Proficiency Talents like Grappling, Maneuvering, or Crippling. However if we took a magic Talent with the appropriate boosts we could then work our way up by taking a Training Talent or two. Attributes only come from Talents, including Traits. Another option would be raising the Phase of a Talent with the proper attributes.

Nearly all of us were looking for new Magical Talents. The Treant or the Shieldmaiden might like to learn Crushing Weapons. They would probably prefer a strong melee Magic Talent. There were Talents that could mix Equipment Talents with Magic but they were very hard to get. This Dungeon had at least 4 magical Aspects that we could already identify. Water/Earth/Light/Darkness. Anything else was a bonus really.

We organized our equipment and supplies and prepared to delve into the Dungeon. We put on our best gear, stored our non-combat items as conveniently as possible and organized the food and water in case we had to stay in the dungeon for a while. Then we headed inside. The first thing we saw as we entered were a few kobolds. This was not the best news. Kobolds were intelligent by default. This was well beyond the low level rats of the Academy and the Dungeon it contained. We were looking at level 3 enemies at a minimum. Ratlings were basically unlifted beasts. Kobolds were truly sentient. Casting enemies were a certainty.

The dungeon was a traditional cavey type thing and this one was particularly dank. Mud, mushrooms, and must. Fantastic... Things really began to get interesting as we traveled through the extensive first floor. While Shadow and Mud were clearly present one could feel the currents of other Aspects flowing through. Bodies felt heavy but it wasn't tiring. Other senses seemed off as well. Before we had too much time to think about it we turned a corner into a large cavern. It was not empty.

Lesser Kobold Pikeman lvl 3*7 Lesser Kobold Blaster lvl 3*4 Lesser Kobold Shaman lvl 4*2 Lesser Kobold Smiter lvl 4*1 HP 250 HP 100 HP 200 HP 300 MP 150 MP 300 MP 400 MP 500 MOV 10m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s Spiked Tip 30 dmg 1s Manabolt 25 dmg 20m 10 mana 1s Raging Drums +10 dmg All Allies DUR 5s 50 mana 2s Impact 20 dmg 2s Stun 20m 25 mana 1s Piercing Thrust 40 dmg Ignore 50% ABS 25 mana 1s Manablast 50 dmg 20m 25 mana 2s Thunder Bolt 50 20m damage 2s Stun 75 mana 2s Thunder Blast 40 dmg 3s Stun 20m 50 mana 2s Range Dictation 40 dmg on entering range Manabomb 40 dmg 20m AoE 5m 75 mana 3s Dragon Drums +15 fire dmg DUR 5s All Allies 100 mana 2s Thunder 40 dmg 2s Stun 20m AoE 5m 100 mana 3s Chronomancer Arcanist Miamist Eruptor Cleanser Shieldmaiden Treant Crusher Health 78 Health 103 Health 78 Health 78 Health 78 Health 120 Health 126 Health 204 Mana 315/352 +8/s Mana 341/406 +10/s Mana 311/348 +8/s Mana 274/348 +8s Mana 287/352 +8s Mana 114/174 +4/s Mana 100/180 +7/s Mana 98/98 +6/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s Haste 3s Quicken 0s Jolt 0s Acid Splash 1s Lava Rain 1s Mana Well 1s Safeguard 0s Forest Heart 1s >>

The Kobolds were squishier for their lvl than uplifted rats but their spells were better. There were also 2 more mages than last time while there was only 1 less melee guard. This fight was probably going to be pretty easy. Floor 1 wasn't dangerous in most wild dungeons even if it had time to overfill with monsters. We were only 20m off their front line and 25 off their mages, not the safest place to be compared to how things normally started. I dropped Quicken as usual. It was just so good. I wonder if I would have had such an obvious phase 1 spell if I had started with a more normal Aleatory Talent.

Our backline was 25+5 off of their mages which meant we could cast Mana Bolt right away, except for the Arcanist. She could cast Shock and Jolt on their mages and Lightning Bolt on their front line. Indeed the first thing she did was Jolt the Smiter. He was easily the most dangerous with heavy control capability. The Treant ended up casting Forest Heart, mostly to lower the mana cost of Fulmenomancy for the Arcanist. The Shieldmaiden began casting Safeguard to protect the Crusher in her charge. She would redirect 40% of the damage to the Crusher to herself but thanks to Harden the Crusher would only take 48.8% of the total damage. The Cleanser went for a new option and cast Mana Well.

The Crusher ended up running up 10m. She could easily stall 3 of the Pikeman coming down the center. The Eruptor made the decision to be a chaff reaper. She cast a 9m AoE(thanks to Manasophy 2) Lava Rain on the 5m ahead of the crusher where the enemy would soon arrive. It would finish next turn, perfect timing. The Miamist cast a 9m AoE Acid Splash at the same location for the same reason. Now the Kobolds would have a chance to respond.

Smiter lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 HP 300/300 HP 200/200 HP 200/200 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 HP 250/250 MP 500/500 MP 300/400 MP 300/400 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: Marks: 0 || Control: 2s Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: -

All 7 Pikeman heedlessly ran foward at max speed with 3 being in range of the Crusher. The 6 non-stunned enemy casters were a real problem. The Crusher had 20 physical absorbtion. That was worth 10 dmg against magical abilities. So she would take 60 reduced to 29 from the Blasters and the Shieldmaiden would take 24. Luckily the Shamans didn't have any 1s abilities. Additionally she had -1 second of control from Robustness from Vigentimancy and -1s of control from her Crest of Vigor. The 2 Shamans both began to cast Dragon Drums for 100 mana. In 2s whatever was left of the Pikemen would be dealing +30 fire damage. Quite cataclysmic. The Smiter cleared 1s of control.

Chronomancer Arcanist Miamist Eruptor Cleanser Shieldmaiden Treant Crusher Health 78 Health 103 Health 78 Health 78 Health 78 Health 96/120 Health 126 Health 180/204 +5/s Mana 286/352 +11/s Mana 286/406 +13/s Mana 319/348 +11/s Mana 282/348 +11/s Mana 295/352 +11/s Mana 118/174 +7/s -5s Mana 107/180 +10/s Mana 68/98 +6/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s Haste 2s Haste 3s Alacrity 5s Accelerate 0s Jolt 0s Acid Splash 0s Lava Rain 0s Mana Well 0s Buttress 0s Forest Heart 0s Alacrity 0s

I cast Accelerate on the Crusher for obvious reasons. She cast Alacrity for the same reason. The Shieldmaiden then cast Buttress on the Crusher boosting her ABS 51.2% after Harden. The Arcanist cast Jolt on one of the Shaman's stalling the coming conflagaration. The other 5 finished their spells. Unfortunately for the Crusher she was well out of range of Mana Well and even Forest Heart.

Smiter lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 HP 300/300 HP 200/200 HP 200/200 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 250/250 HP 177/250 HP 177/250 HP 177/250 HP 177/250 HP 177/250 HP 250/250 MP 500/500 MP 300/400 MP 300/400 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: Marks: 0 || Control: 1s Marks: 0 || Control: 2s Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: -

The Smiter and Jolted Shaman dropped 1s of control. The other Shaman unfortunately finished banging the drums, though it wouldn't take effect this turn. The Blasters hit the Crusher for 25-30/2=10*4=40*.488=20 damage while the Shieldmaiden took 16. 4 Pikemen moved forwards while 3 struck out for 40 each ignoring half of the Crushers absorbtion dealing 40-15=25*.488*3=37 damage. The Shieldmaiden took 25*.4=10*3=30 damage.

Before they moved past the Crusher the middle 5 Pikemen had taken 34 from Acid Splash and 39 from Lava Rain. Ash Cloud had boosted both spells by 5 damage as had the wands of the respective mages while 4 damage was added from Ingenuity by Mana Manipulation from Manasophy 2.

Chronomancer Arcanist Miamist Eruptor Cleanser Shieldmaiden Treant Crusher Health 78/78 Health 103/103 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 Health 55/120 +5/s Health 126/126 Health 168/204 +5/s Mana 260/352 +11/s Mana 241/406 +13/s Mana 283/348 +11/s Mana 225/348 +11/s Mana 261/352 +11/s Mana 48/174 +7/s -5s Mana 69/180 +10/s Mana 14/98 +6/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s Haste 1s Haste 3s Haste 2s Alacrity 4s Accelerate 0s Jolt 0s Mana Bolt 0s Molten Spurt 1s Recover 0s Protection 1s Amber Armor 0s Pulverize/Pulverize/Pendulum 0s

I cast Accelerate on the Cleanser right away. The Crusher was in quite a bit of danger. The Arcanist cast Jolt on the other Shaman. She'd probably have to cycle to the Smiter next turn. The Treant cast Amber Armor for 48 mana on herself while it cost the Shieldmaiden 12, the Crusher, and the Shieldmaiden cast Protection on herself for 60 mana. The Cleanser cast Recover on the Crusher for 45 mana. The Eruptor lacked good options and ended up casting Molten Spurt on the Pikeman 2nd from the left. The Miasmist also lacked good options and simply cast Mana Bolt for 47 mana on the Pikeman left from the Crusher for 35+9=44 damage. The Crusher had 74 mana and 3 actions. The choice was between multi-stunning the pikemen for killing one and blitzing the mages. She could deal 37 damage per attack. She made her choice to blitz the mages. 2 Pulverizes and a Pendulum dealt 52+52=104+37+37=74+104=178 damage. At the cost of 60 mana. 1 enemy down. It would take 1 turn to get into range and then she could start crushing oversized skulls.

Smiter lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 HP 300/300 HP 200/200 HP 200/200 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 250/250 HP 177/250 HP 133/250 HP -/250 HP 177/250 HP 177/250 HP 250/250 MP 500/500 MP 300/400 MP 300/400 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: Marks: 0 || Control: 0s Marks: 0 || Control: 1s Marks: 0 || Control: 2s Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: -

The Pikemen who moved passed the Crusher were finally in range of the Treant and the Shieldmaiden. Well 1 for each. The other 2 moved another ~10m to be sideways from myself and the Cleanser. That was worrisome we'd never had the backline in much danger before. The 3 top tier mages were free next phase, the phase after that, and then the following phase. If no one did anything. Seeing that the Crusher had excellent defensive buffs the Blasters finally accepted that they'd couldn't kill her without something more Efficient like Mana Blast. Which they all began casting. It would finish next phase for them. That left 2 Pikeman on the Crusher and 1 each on the other members of our front line. This could be an issue. The 2 Pikemen on the Crusher began to cast Piercing Thrust. With Amber Armor in play the real risk was actually to the Shieldmaiden. Thankfully the Blasters might be sentient but they were still Kobolds and too dumb to consider trying to kill her through Safeguard damage. The Crusher took 22*2=44 damage from the attacks before Safeguard kicked in. The Shieldmaiden took 18 damage. The Crusher took 21. Then the Pikeman on the Shieldmaiden dealt her 32 damage leaving her at 5. The Pikeman facing the Treant dealt 28.

Chronomancer Arcanist Miamist Eruptor Cleanser Shieldmaiden Treant Crusher Health 78/78 Health 103/103 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 Health 15+72/120+72 +5/s +5/s Health 118/126 +10/s +5/s +5/s Health 152/204 +5/s +5/s Mana 234/352 +11/s Mana 183/406 +13/s Mana 247/348 +11/s Mana 236/348 +11/s Mana 235/352 +11/s Mana 50/174 +7/s -5s Mana 79/180 +10/s Mana 60/98 +6/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s Haste 0s Haste 2s Haste 3s Alacrity 3s Accelerate 0s Jolt 0s Mana Bolt 0s Molten Spurt 0s Revitalize 0s Protection 0s Bash 0s >>>>

The Treant healed back to 90% health while the Crusher was at 75%. The Shieldmaiden was only at 12.5%. Luckily her temporary health at the end of the turn would get her into good shape. Jolt put the Shieldmaiden's Pikeman on lockdown. The Treant ended up Bashing the Pikeman she was dealing with dealing 32 damage and a 1s stun. Protect finished. Molten spurt also finished preparing to deal 94 damage to the left most Pikeman. The Miasmist fired off another 44 damage Mana Bolt on the Shieldmaiden's Pikeman.

I accelerated the Crusher before she got out of range. Sadly I'd waste 1s of her Haste. The Hasted cleanser let loose with a Revitalize on the Crusher. Finally the Crusher ran diagnolly finishing in front of the Blaster 2nd from the left edge. She could now either employ triple stuns on 2 Blasters and a Shaman or attempt to start wiping out the 2 Blasters on the left.

Smiter lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Shaman lvl 4 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Blaster lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 Pikeman lvl 3 HP 300/300 HP 200/200 HP 200/200 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 100/100 HP 83/250 HP 89/250 HP 138/250 HP -/250 HP 138/250 HP 177/250 HP 250/250 MP 500/500 MP 300/400 MP 300/400 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 190/300 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MP 150/150 MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s MOV 10m/s ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: ENV: || DoT: Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: 0s Marks: 0 || Control: 1s Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: 0s Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: - Marks: 0 || Control: 2s Marks: 0 || Control: -

The 2 Shamans and 2 Pikeman were under control effects. One Pikeman was dead. The Smiter cast Impact on the Crusher dealing 2 damage to her and 1 to the Shieldmaiden. She absorbed the Stun duration clearing her control resistance. There wasn't actually much the Smiter could do to her alone and the Blasters lacked control spells. 2 Pikemen dealth 40 damage to me and the Cleanser respectively. That was super rough. Finally the 4 Blasters all dealt 50-38/2=31 damage. 40% of that dealt 50 damage to the Shieldmaiden. The Crusher took 61 damage. She was at 89 and the Shieldmaiden was at 15+21. Finally the 2 Pikeman she had ditched rush back 10m getting back in range of her and ready to attack next turn.

Chronomancer Arcanist Miamist Eruptor Cleanser Shieldmaiden Treant Crusher Health 78/78 +5/s Health 103/103 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 Health 78/78 +5/s Health 25+21/120+72 +5/s +5/s Health 126/126 +10/s +5/s +5/s Health 162/204 +5/s +5/s Mana 208/352 +11/s Mana 131/406 +13/s Mana 211/348 +11/s Mana 181/348 +11/s Mana 188/352 +11/s Mana 52/174 +7/s -5/s Mana 89/180 +10/s Mana 66/98 +6/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 5m/s MOV 10m/s Haste 3s Haste 1s Haste 2s Alacrity 2s Quicken 0s Jolt 0s Mana Bolt 0s Molten Spurt 1s Recover/Recover 0s Shield Bash 0s Bash 0s

I had to blow Quicken to get back up to speed. The Arcanist Jolted a the Smiter. The Miasmist cast Mana Bolt again. The Eruptor cast Molten Spurt to finish off the Pikeman on me in 1 more turn. The Treant Bashed their Pikeman. The Shieldmaiden Shield Bashed her Pikeman since she needed mana for Buttress. She would deal 36 damage. The Cleanser cast Recover on herself and me brining us both to full health again.

Finally the Crusher began her backline assault. With a whopping 66 mana and 3 actions for this and two more turns she cast 3 Pulverizes 1 on each enemy for 30 mana. She dealt 52 damage and 2s of stun to each one. both she and the Arcanist could hold down 3 enemies with control effects allowing only a single Blaster to be active. Indeed the Crusher could also contain the 2 Pikeman attacking her preventing Safeguard from killing the Shieldmaiden. With the Shieldmaiden and Treant both apply control effects as well, with one Pikeman dead, and 2 to die next turn, the battle was essentially over. When the Arcanist ran out of Jolt mana in 3 turns we would already have won.

This battle had been quite tough because of the surprise nature of the fight. We weren't in a good position to cast Domain spells or turtle. The Crusher needed to draw the caster attacks and prevent them from moving up to target our low health mages. The Miasmist was particularly powerless aside from Mana Bolt because of time considerations. And the Eruptor was in trouble without spell cost reduction. Hopefully the situation wouldn't repeat in the future. At least the Pikemen were Lesser Kobolds and lacked physical absorbtion. We head beyond the giant cavern after picking up our loot. While that fight was intense because of over crowding it was the only one on the first floor. We took the steps down.