My eyes adjust to the darkness of the cave, and laying less than twenty feet from me is a large brown bear curled up in the center of the small cave. A small sigh of relief escapes me as the creature in the cave with me is at least asleep. I however fear moving or making a sound not wanting to wake it. Screens begin appearing in front of me one after the other.

New dungeon has been formed. 50,000xp obtained

Dungeon has utilized existing structure [small cave room] -1000xp.

Set Dungeon Core #212 Permanent name.

Small Polychromatic Diamond cannot be placed due to intruders within all available dungeon rooms.

[Cave Texture] added to available new room texture designs for 0xp extra cost.

Current xp consumption set at 1xp/7 days.

I quickly access [Dungeon Core] and find [Dungeon Core Room] for 10,000xp. It’s quite expensive but I need to get away from this sleeping bear so I try to purchase it.

Dungeon core room requires dungeon crystal to be set

I quickly add a new room to the back.

Current new room texture set as [cave texture] extra cost is 0xp. Would you like to proceed?

When I nod the room is finally added.

Small Polychromatic Diamond added to room [small cave room]. Dungeon will remain inactive while crystal room is inaccessible. If crystal room remains inaccessible for 23 hours 49 minutes, crystal will be moved to deepest accessible dungeon point.

I quickly add the [dungeon core room] and then move to it.

From inside the dungeon core room I can see both rooms clearly. The entryway is a small tunnel roughly 50 feet long and 10 feet wide. At the very back where the tunnel ends is where the bear is sleeping. I can now see that around the bear there are 4 small bear cubs curled up with the mother.

The other room is a rough square shape about 20 feet by 20 feet, and it has the same cave like natural walls. In the back of the room a small clear rock the size of an apple is growing from the wall. It pulses like a heartbeat with a light changing color with each pulse.

Now that my life is no longer in immediate peril I calm down enough I look at the screen asking me to enter a name… I slide it over to the side and begin working on the dungeon.

Opening the screen I find many new items for room construction. I start with adding another room and this time instead of using the natural cave texture I use a stone block look.

This time without the panic, I notice I can change the parameters of the room before finalizing it. Instead of the standard 20 foot by 20 foot room I stretch it out to 50 feet long, 30 feet wide, and even raise the ceiling to 15 feet high. Ironically, even with all the changes when I finalize the room it still only costs me 1000xp.

I connect the large stone room to the natural cave room by a large rusty iron door for 50xp. Next I add another room to the side of the large stone room I start to make it standard size then decide to stretch it out to run the full length of the large room. I then place a thick stone wall right in the middle then attach each side to the main room with weak wooden doors. Costing a total of 1120xp

I don’t understand if you can make the room any size, you can just place walls at a fraction of the cost, but I guess if you end up making a dungeon one huge room. Using the walls, floors, and such if any intruders enter your entire dungeon then would be unable to be edited…

I place another room on the other side of the central room setting it up the same exact way. Next I select to add a new floor, and a screen appears showing the available types of staircases. I select a stone spiral staircase, and once I try to finalize it a message pops up.

Warning! Placing [Sub-Level 1] permanently sets dungeon to build [Sub-Levels], and locks the ability to place floors above [Ground Floor]. Do you wish to proceed?

I nod, the floor is set, and 10,000xp disappears…

From the bottom of the staircase I place a large 50 foot by 50 foot room with tall 12 foot ceiling. I place one more standard size room at the end of it attaching them with the rusty iron doors and move the crystal inside. Cost 2100xp

Now I got 22,660xp for traps, treasures, and monsters.

I never did learn how to summon a boss monster… I use one of the things Thirty-seven taught me.

[Search] [Boss Monster]

Boss Monsters: There are three types of boss monsters. The most important of which is the dungeon’s [Primary] boss monster. This particular boss monster will always be the most powerful boss monster in your dungeon.

[Primary] boss monsters will evolve along their race and class qualifications as they gain levels. [Primary] boss monsters are capable of leveling indefinitely.

[Secondary] boss monsters maintain a boss status, and have higher stats then a normal monster. However they are unable to evolve, and will reach a max level at a 10% higher level than others of their race and class qualifications.

If a [Secondary] boss monster surpasses the [Primary] boss monster in power, they will become the [Primary] boss monster.

Non-summoned boss monsters are monsters that you recruit from outside your dungeon. You pay double the xp cost of the recruited monster for it to become a boss monster. Monster must be intelligent enough to accept.

Once becoming your boss monster they are then broken down into either the [Primary] or [Secondary] category.

Boss monster summoning: You can summon a boss monster once you create a dungeon for the first time for 1000xp. Boss monster summoning also becomes available again after reaching key milestones at a higher xp rate.

When summoning a boss monster, they share the favored element of the summoning dungeon core. They are from the race and qualifications of the strongest monster available for you to summon, albeit typically 2 ranks higher.

Ok… [Boss Monster Summoning]

Would you like to summon a boss monster now for 1000xp?

Yes…

Boss monster summoning unavailable. Due to the unique nature of the Polychromatic Diamond, only non-summoned boss monsters are possible.

I am out of training and still getting screwed out of my boss monster from the start…Well putting off a boss monster for now I guess I will summon the rest of my monsters.

I don’t know how strong the local humans are so it makes it kind of tough to decide a balance. If the dungeon monsters are to strong they might send for heroes because they are afraid, but if I don’t put enough defenses they might take out my crystal…

I put four of the earth golems in my crystal room, just in case. With my [Uniquely Gifted] skill they only cost 750xp each, leaving me with 19,660 xp

I won’t set any rifts for now till I get a handle on how strong the locals are.

I can’t place anything in the entryway because I don’t want to mess with the bear, so in the square cave room I put 4 young kobolds with various rusty equipment and 1 young kobold mage. Cost: 384xp

In the large central room I place 4 normal kobolds with various iron equipment, and 1 kobold mage. Cost: 948xp

I put one more set of normal kobolds in each of the four small rooms to the side of the great room. Cost: 3792xp

In the big room on the bottom floor I put 4 crimson kobolds with various steel equipment, and 1 crimson Kobold Mage with good equipment. Cost: 2100xp

I spend another 2000xp on random décor items, furniture, and lighting. That also includes a bed, desk, and chair for the [Dungeon Core Room]. The last Items I purchase are 4 small unlocked chests for 25xp filling each with 75xp worth of small treasure items like coins, and gems. I then stash them in random locations in within the dungeon.

Dungeon not active must move crystal to room accessible from the outside. 15 hours 10 minutes remaining till crystal is moved automatically and dungeon is activated.

Dungeon consumption now 2xp/day

That ought to do it…It will all be for nothing though if I can’t get the bears out of the dungeon long enough to connect the first two rooms though.

I try to send in one of the young kobold, but I receive a message.

No direct access to room, monster cannot be moved.

I try to summon a new young kobold in the room with the bear but get another message.

Cannot summon monsters into a room occupied by invaders.

Well I was able to transfer to the core room from there with the bear there. I could try luring them out but I don’t exactly know how strong that bear is. I guess even if my crystal moves to that room the bear wont mess with it. Once they finally wake up and leave I can quickly move it back to the second floor. After all, how long can a bear sleep?

Unable to sleep I slowly watch, and as the timer finally runs out I get a message.

Dungeon forced activation. No path accessible to dungeon crystal room, crystal will automatically move to the deepest room accessible to the outside.

All rooms accessible to the outside are inhabited with invaders. Crystal has begun to take damage, if crystal not placed within 29 minutes 32 seconds, crystal will break.

Oh…That’s not good… I quickly borrow the gear from one of the crimson kobold and leave the core room appearing next to the exit of the dungeon. I cast a [Fireball] at the bear causing it to catch on fire.

The sleeping bear wakes up with a roar, and starts rolling around on the ground. The bear cubs being tossed about when the momma bear started rolling wake up as well.

I quickly make my way out the mouth of the cave, and bang my sword on the walls to make noise. I hide behind a huge rock by the front of the dungeon as I hear the loud thuds of the bear running through the tunnel.

The bear charges out of the dungeon and roars causing several birds in the trees to take flight. After a few moments the bear roars again and moves over to the nearest tree standing up on its hind legs it scratches and shreds the bark of the tree with its large claws. The small cubs however do not leave the confines of the cave…

I hit the momma bear again with a [Fireball] causing it to catch fire again. As she starts to roll around on the ground again I dive back into the cave running along the tunnel.

“Sorry baby bears but I don’t have time.”

The bear cubs have curled back up together onto the floor at the end of the tunnel so I toss another [Fireball] right in the middle of them.

They squeal and make all kinds of weird noises as they catch fire. Their voices echo in the cave and the momma bear enters the cave behind me at a full charge.

“Damnit!” I quickly enter the dungeon core room.

I watch on one of the screens as the momma bear charges all the way back into the tunnel back to her cubs. Three of the cubs manage to roll on the floor and put themselves out, but the fourth didn’t make it.

The momma bear gathers the three remaining cubs and slowly leads them out of the cave.

As soon as the last one hits the door I get the message.

Intruders neutralized.

Battle results:

Acquired: 1xp

New monster can now be summoned

Bear cub 10xp

I quickly shut the screen and place an archway for 20xp to connect the tunnel with the square cave room. With barely 5 minutes remaining I get a message..

Crystal room now accessible from the outside, dungeon has been activated.

Crystal no longer taking damage.

2xp consumed, normal consumption will begin at the start of the day.

That was a close call… I yawn and stretch. Fatigue finally catches up with me I set [Menu] to play a loud sound if intruders enter, and then I lie down and get some sleep…

I wake up early the next morning, and quickly check the status of the dungeon. With nothing in my training dungeon the monsters acted like dolls, but now the kobolds are wandering around their rooms interacting with the furniture and such I put in the room.

After watching them for a while I figure their intelligence is somewhere between a tool using animal like a raccoon or otter, and primates like a chimp or gorilla. I quickly get bored however then pick up another copy of Dungeon Core Information from [Menu] for 5xp.

First I flip it open to my own page.

Current Dungeon Core #212 [------] Location: Emeraldline Mountain

Dungeon: Kobold Stronghold Crystal: Small Polychromatic Diamond

Dungeon contains 2 floor, 7 rooms, 39 monsters, 0 traps

Dungeon core level: 3 XP: 10,028

Dungeon active: 0 years

Kobold Stronghold is a small stronghold buried in the back of a small cave, on top of a small mountain in the Emeraldline forest. No humans know of its existence. Most favored monster weak earth golem, most favored trap N/A, most purchased monster kobold, most purchased trap N/A, boss monster N/A

Emeraldline, wasn’t Emeraldline forest where Madam Erin’s dungeon was. I quickly flip back to her page and confirm it. I guess her dungeon is pretty close by then. I then flip the page to check and see how the other rookie cores are doing.

Current Dungeon Core #108 [Newt] Location: Adra Mountains

Dungeon: Windy Cave Crystal: small wind jade

Dungeon contains 2 floor, 5 room, 23 monsters, 5 traps.

Dungeon core level: 3 XP: 5661

Dungeon active: 0 years

Windy Cave located in the eastern mountains of Adra is a small dark cave where the wind steadily blows from its depths. No human has discovered it yet. Most favored monster wind imp, most favored dart trap, most purchased monster wind imp, most purchased moving tile trap, boss monster lesser wind demon.

Current Dungeon Core #405 [Derek] Location: Merretta Border

Dungeon: Forgotten Soldiers Rest Crystal: small shadow quartz

Dungeon contains 2 floor, 3 room, 70 monsters, 20 traps

Dungeon core level: 4 XP: 341

Dungeon active: 0 years

Forgotten Soldiers Rest is the site of a large battle between the Merretta and Adra kingdoms more than 50 years ago. The rumor has started to spread among humans that the long dead soldiers have begun walking the battlefields. Most favored monster skeleton knight, most favored bone spike trap, most purchased monster skeleton, most purchased bone spike trap, boss monster death knight

Current Dungeon Core #594 [Alex] Location: Adra Mountains

Dungeon: Southern volcano Crystal: small fire garnet

Dungeon contains 3 floor, 10 room, 5 monsters, 20 traps.

Dungeon core level: 3 XP: 75

Dungeon active: 0 years

Located in a small volcano in the southern Adra Mountains, no humans have yet to discover it. Most favored monster weak fire elemental, most favored flame trap, most purchased monster fire elemental, most purchased flame trap, boss monster Amy.

Current Dungeon Core #712 [Sara] Location: Southern Merretta

Dungeon: Fairy spring Crystal: small water tanzanite

Dungeon contains 2 floor, 5 rooms, 20 monster, 3 traps

Dungeon core level: 2 XP: 3319

Dungeon active: 0 years

Fairy spring is a small pond in the southern forest of Merretta, recently small pixies and fairies have been witnessed by humans passing through the area. Most favored monster Pretty Pixie, most favored trap mud trap, Most purchased monster fairy, Most purchased trap N/A, boss monster Pixie queen.

I see that Corpse, and Midget already changed their names. I really need to decide on a name soon. I bring the screen forward asking me to enter a name, but after a few minutes I give up sliding it back out of the way.

Midget, well I guess its Sara now. She told me to send her a message after I got set up so I decide to send her one.

“I see you changed your name. How are things going on your end?”

Sara: “Yep! Yep! You can call me Sara now! You better hurry and pick one yourself.”

“Yea, I am still thinking on it.”

Sara: “Oh! Oh! Oh! I got a Pixie Queen as a boss monster! She is so CUTE! I named her Lili! What did you get?”

I decide its best not to tell her that I can’t summon one so I just say.

“I haven’t summoned mine yet.”

Sara: “You need to hurry! They are super great! Oh! Oh! Humans have already passed by my dungeon. They just wandered around for a bit watching the fairies I had already summoned.”

“Be careful.”

Sara: “I will! Oh! Oh! And some of the wildlife from the forest use the pond where I set up my dungeon, so I am getting BUNCHES of xp!”

“Good for you.”

Sara: “Oh! I just had a goblin wander in! I got to go!”

After that I send a message to the others as well, but only Alex answers me back. We only talk for a few minutes, sending a few pleasantries and that’s it. I then send a message to Thirty-seven asking her how she is doing.

She replies with just. “Fine.”

I send her a few more messages but with short one or two word answers I finally give up.

Over the next few days not even so much as a mouse enters my dungeon. I continue talking with Sara off and on she always seems excited and happy to talk. On the fourth day Sara tells me about a beastkin hero that came to the pond.

Sara: “And then! And Then! She looked like she was going to make camp, but after reading a book she didn’t stay.”

“Well, be careful. It sounds like someone like that could easily wipe out us dungeons that are just starting out, if they want to.”

Sara: “I didn’t have the fairies attack her because I seen she had a magic sword. I think she was looking for the goblins that have been coming around.”

We talk for a bit longer then I decide that I want to check out the area around the dungeon. I take the gear from one of the crimson kobolds, and spend 20xp on a few gold coins from the [Menu]. I then set out of the dungeon.

A few hundred feet from the opening to the dungeon there is a large open area in the trees with a rather sizable lake. I go around the lake till I find the path that the humans use that goes down to the village at the bottom of the mountain.

Once I find it I make my way down the mountain to the human village. I make it to the edge of the village in only 15 or so minutes and I look back up the mountain.

“That’s a bit further then I thought it was. This might complicate things a bit.”

The village proves to be quite a bit larger than I anticipated and I quickly get lost among the streets. Soon several of the villagers wearing just normal clothing start whispering about me. Soon an older man walks up to me.

Old Man: “You lost sonny? We don’t have much of an adventurer’s guild here in Tobes, but it is right off the village square.”

With a little assistance I find myself at the village square. There isn’t really anything in the line of shops and such but one of the buildings have a sign that reads adventurer’s guild, but it looks more like a pub.

Once I enter the building it seems clear that it is more of a pub then an adventurer’s guild. There is a bar and quite a few tables but the chairs are all stacked on top of the tables and I don’t see anyone around.

“Hello?” I call out to the empty room.

After a few moments a stout redheaded guy with a bushy beard walks out of a door behind the bar.

Man: “Well, I haven’t seen one of you in over a year. What brings you way out here in the sticks?”

“Isn’t this the adventure’s guild?”

Man: “Well technically it is, but like I said we don’t get many adventuring types here. Mainly the townsfolk just gather here in the evening for a drink.”

“I see.”

Man: “We don’t got no commissions or anything like that, but if you are looking for something to do before passing through town you might talk to Herald. He’s the one that keeps the peace around here I think I heard him say something happened up in the forest a few days ago.”

“Ok, I guess. Where can I find him?”

Man “You take the road on the left side of the building here, and go down two... No three houses and that should be his.”

I leave the pub and head to the house the man mentioned and right next to the house there is 3 guys standing there. One is up on a stool stretching out a pelt tacking it to the side of the wall while the other two guys are talking to him.

Man on stool: “I am telling you that’s why we need you guys to check it out.”

Man 1: “If it can do that to a bear I am not going to go look for it.”

Man 2: “Maybe whatever it was just passed us by and won’t be a problem.”

Once the guy steps down from the stool I notice he it was a bear pelt that he was hanging and it has two large scorched holes in it… The man getting down from the stool notices me.

Man: “Who are you? Well, I guess that really doesn’t matter. You might just be what we are looking for.”

The other two men turn and look at me and suddenly seem a like they are greatly relieved.

“Are you Herald?”

Herald: “Why yes I am. Did Duke from over at the adventurer’s guild send you this way?”

I assume that’s the name of the man I talked to at the adventure’s guild so I nod and Herald continues.

Herald: “We don’t get adventurers though these parts very much but if you got the time you might be just the man we are looking for. You see we had this bear come charging into the village a couple days ago. She hurt two hunters pretty bad before they brought her down.”

“I am sorry to hear that.”

Herald: “Well something must have attacked her in the forest, because she had these huge burn wounds on her. I was trying to recruit someone to go up into the forest, but these two are useless.”

“I have actually been lost in the forest the last few days found a cave with some kobold in it maybe it was them?”

Herald: “Kobold? Are you serious? There have not been any monsters in the forest in over a hundred years.”

Man 1: “Hey if you are talking monsters we are definitely out.”

Man2: “You need to send word to the city, to the real adventurer’s guild if there are monsters moving into the forest.”

They seem to be in a bit of panic over a few kobold, maybe it wasn’t a good idea of letting them know we are up there just yet.

“The adventure’s guild wouldn’t send a hero way out here for a few kobolds would they?”

Herald: “Na, I doubt they will send anyone to a backwater place like this without major pay, especially if they aren’t bothering the village. Besides you are already here, surely an adventurer like you can take care of a few kobolds.”

“Well you see I am not exactly an adventurer, I just wear this for protection while I travel.”

Herald: “That’s awfully expensive gear for just a traveler.”

“Better safe than sorry right...?”

Herald: “If your just a traveler why where you in the forest in the first place?”

“I thought I would cut through the forest on my way to the tower of the gods and I ended up getting lost.”

Herald: “Lost is an understatement if you were trying to get to the tower of the gods. You’re even on the wrong side of the mountain…”

Herald is starting to look at me suspiciously I guess Madam Erin’s dungeon isn’t as close as I thought.

Herald: “Well anyway if you can’t help I guess I will have to send word to the city.”

I nod and try to sneak away.

Herald: “You think you could lead one of the hunters to the cave? That way we at least know where to send the real adventurers.”

“Yea it shouldn’t take long. It’s up there by that lake in the mountain.”

Herald: “You mean they are that close? I think I know what cave you are talking about if it’s by the lake. Well if they are in that cave, I better warn the other villagers to keep an eye out. Oh and this time go around the forest.”

I nod as Herald heads to the town square.

I guess I need to sneak back up to the dungeon now…

It’s been two weeks since I went down to the village, and so far nothing has entered my dungeon. Sara told me she often gets people that go to her dungeon now just to watch the pixies and fairies. Even Derek finally messaged me back making fun of me.

I tried to teach a few of the kobolds chess…But they just kept smashing the pieces…

I talked to Madam Erin a few days ago and asked how close I actually was to her dungeon and she said only a few hours, but after talking to Thirty-seven later I found out she meant in a straight line over the forest not on foot. That was a waste of a day trekking through the forest…

A few more days pass while I am sitting there bored looking over the Dungeon Core Information when I receive a message.

Intruders have entered your dungeon.

“Oh thank god…”

I quickly check the screen.

Two young men and a young woman enter. The first man looks human with light brown hair, he carries a sword, shield, and has on some leather armor but it can’t be that good of quality. The other man looks to be some kind of beastkin but I can’t tell what kind with his short round ears and thin long tail, and he carries a wooden shield and some kind of club. The woman has short black hair and is wearing robes so she must be some kind of mage, and she to also appears to be human.

Human guy: “Be careful this cave isn’t supposed to be very deep, and at least one of the kobolds can cast fire spells.”

Beastkin: “You’re the only one with the metal shield, so you better block fire spells.”

Once they reach the end of the tunnel the woman speaks up.

Woman: “I guess they moved on.”

Beastkin: “Wait there is an opening over here.”

One of the young kobolds walks past the archway and the human guy calls out.

Human guy: “Get ready!” –He then bangs his sword against his shield making a loud racket.-

I have the five young kobolds rush though the archway. I know it’s not really a good idea to bottleneck them in the archway, but I don’t mind if the humans take these ones out I just want to judge their power.

The woman quickly casts a spell and a kobold with a spear hits the ground. I can’t make out what kind of spell it was but then I notice the kobold isn’t dead. Must be some kind of knock out or sleep spell I am guessing.

A kobold with a greatsword attacks the beastkin, and one with a sword and shield attacks the other guy. The greatsword hits the wooden shield causing it to crack but the beastkin brings the club around hitting the kobold hard right in the head. The human guy and the kobold he is fighting exchange blows back and forth as the clangs of their weapons hitting each other’s shields echoes through the cave.

An archer kobold kicks the sleeping kobold as he is lying right in the middle of the archway. The sleeping kobold doesn’t budge and the archer step over it while firing an arrow at the woman.

Woman: “Archer!” –She ducks behind the human guy while casting a spell at the archer.-

A small black fog covers the archer’s eyes, and he starts rubbing his face with his arm. With the sleeping, and blind kobolds blocking the doorway the kobold mage can’t get past.

The greatsword kobold swings his sword again, this time the wooden shield breaks cutting a deep wound into the beastkin. It doesn’t stop him from knocking the kobold upside the head again with his club, this time causing the kobold to fall.

The human guy is not having any luck with his kobold, but the kobold isn’t making any progress either. The woman casts a spell this time on the beastkin and the wound on his arm closes and quits bleeding.

The mage is still stuck in the other room so I have him retreat into the iron doors. Having the mage go in now would just be throwing xp away.

The beastkin takes his club in both hands slamming it as hard as he can into the side of the blind kobolds head with a loud crunch.

The human guy never does get a hit in on the kobold he is fighting as the beastkin moves in taking it out as well.

Human guy: “I would have taken him if you gave me a chance.” –He moves over stabbing the KOed kobold in the face.

Beastkin: “I didn’t see any mages. I thought they said there was a mage.”

Woman: “I did see what looked like a mage try to come through the door but when he couldn’t get past he retreated back.”

Beastkin: “This cave is not that big it can’t have gone far. We need to take them all out to receive the commission.”

After walking into the next room they look around then stare at the large rusty iron double door.

Woman: “We were not told about this. This room shape is not natural, and this door is not supposed to be here.”

Human guy: “The guy back in the village, didn’t he say it was just a small dead end tunnel?”

Beastkin: “The door is rusted though, so it has to have been there for a long time.” –He runs his hand across the archway. - “This opening is to smooth as well. This had to be here for ages but was just sealed off.”

Woman: “If the mage went through the door, who knows what’s on the other side. Shouldn’t we go back and report this?”

Human guy: “And lose our commission? I don’t think so.” –He moves over to the door pulling on the handles of both doors swinging them wide open.-

A blast of fire comes flying from the room hitting the human man square in the chest knocking him back and to the floor, and the woman rushes forward casting a spell healing the wound.

Beastkin: “This isn’t right.”

After hitting the human man with the fire spell the little kobold runs back behind 4 larger kobolds all armed with better gear.

The human guy gets back on his feet. “We will just have to take out these ones as well.” He then charges into the room.-

Beastkin: “No! You idiot, can’t you tell these ones are much stronger!” He then rushes in trying to catch up.

A kobold archer takes aim at the charging human and lets loose an arrow nailing the guy in the leg. The woman then steps inside the room casting a spell at the archer. The black fog covers the kobold’s eyes but this time the kobold just takes a few steps back moving behind the rest of the group.

I order the kobolds though the [Menu] to try to capture at least one of the adventurers alive.

The human guy makes it to a kobold with a sword and shield, and attacks it. He was however on par with the young kobold in strength and now with the injured leg stands no chance against this kobold.

The beastkin tries to save the human guy but is blocked off kobold swinging a greataxe at him. He tries to block the blow with his wooden club, but the club splinters and breaks causing the beastkin to fall back to the floor.

A spear wielding kobold steps forward piercing the human guy’s heart, while he is fighting with the sword and shield kobold. The woman panics and tries to run away, but while they were occupied with the group in front of them, I snuck in two spear wielding kobolds to guard the iron door leading out.

She casts a spell blinding one of them with the black fog while the beastkin rushes back to her. The other kobolds however move in subduing them both.

I have the kobold toss the two in one of the side rooms but not before moving the kobolds out of it with [Menu] so that the adventurers don’t see them.

I have the kobold strip the mage of her staff and robe leaving her in just her underclothes, and search the beastkin. He only has a small pouch but I have the kobold remove it as well.

Once the kobold are back to the main room I clean up the bodies, and collect the items including the gear the kobold collected from the adventurers. I then get a message.

Intruders subdued

Battle results:

Acquired: 2xp, 1 [Old Leather Armor], 1 [Iron Sword], 1 [Small Iron Shield], 1 [Wooden Staff], 1 [Mage Robe], 1 [Leather Belt Pouch], 1 Male Beaskin (Rat) prisoner, 1 Female Human prisoner

Losses: 4 young kobold

I only got 2 xp from the human? Well he was on par with the young kobold in strength, so I guess that sounds about right. I just kind of expected more… I will hold the prisoners a few days then they can “escape” if nobody comes back they might send in a much larger and stronger group of adventurers.

I watch the prisoners on one of the screens while I go through their gear.

I find several gold coins on from each of their things, three identical little books that say Adventurer’s ID on the cover, some dried meat and bread, and a canteen of water.

The coins look different than the ones I summoned with xp so maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t try to spend any of my dungeon coins when I went to the village. Going through the little books, each has a single page, and it resembles the pages from the Dungeon Core Information book.

Adventurer #23,487 [Colleen] Base: Kartova

Race: Human Gender: Female

Rank: D Level: 1

Class: Mage Favored Element: Water

Commissions Complete: 2

Dungeon Crystals Destroyed: 0

Adventurer #21,926 [Ratone] Base: Kartova

Race: Beastkin (Rat) Gender: Male

Rank: D Level: 3

Class: Warrior Favored Element: Fire

Commissions Complete: 10

Dungeon Crystals Destroyed: 0

Adventurer #20,104 [Kenneth] (Deceased) Base: Kartova

Race: Human Gender: Male

Rank: D Level: 1

Class: Warrior Favored Element: Fire

Commissions Complete: 0

Dungeon Crystals Destroyed: 0

On the back cover of the booklets it has the words:

Property of Adventurer’s Guild, if found return to nearest Adventurer’s Guild for reward.

The woman Colleen is huddled in the corner of the room hugging her knees wearing Ratone’s shirt that he gave her shortly after being confined in the room. Ratone has walked the perimeter of the room several times checking the walls.

He eventually tries to open the door surprised to find its unlocked but when he slowly opens it two kobolds with spears make racket shaking their spears in his face and he retreats back inside shutting the door.

Colleen: “What are they going to do with us?”

Ratone: “I don’t know, I have never heard of kobolds taking prisoners before.”

Colleen: “You don’t think they are going to eat us do you?”

Ratone shakes his head and looks like he is about to deny the possibility but stops and instead says. “In any case we need to find a way out of here. The doors are just wood, and don’t even have locks, so if we don’t panic I am sure we will find a way to escape.”

Colleen: “What about Ken?”

Ratone: “There is no longer anything that can be done for him. He is gone.”

Colleen: “how many kobolds do you think are out there?”

Ratone: “I don’t know. There is at least that one small mage that retreated at the start. Then the seven larger ones we fought with in that large room. I saw three other doors then this one in that big room. I also saw stairs to the back. There is no telling how big this place is.”

Over the next few hours they don’t really say much else but Ratone tries to peak out of the door every hour or so only to have the kobolds push him back in.

When night falls I set the dungeon to warn me if they leave that room and go to bed. When I wake the next morning Ratone looks like he didn’t sleep at all but Collen looks to be curled up in a corner sleeping. I also received a message.

12xp rewarded for intruders in your dungeon at the start of the day.

12xp bonus for intruder prisoners in your dungeon at the start of day.

Well that doesn’t even cover the cost of just one of the tiny kobolds they killed, but at least it’s something.

After another hour or so Colleen finally wakes up and says. “I am starting to get really hungry, do you have anything?”

Ratone: “I did have some a little but it was in the pouch the kobolds took.”

Colleen: “What time do you think it is?”

Ratone: “It is probably a little after daybreak. We have been here about 15 to 18 hours.”

That’s right humans have to eat food, I completely forgot… How much do they have to eat though? I might have to let them escape tonight, so they don’t starve.

I send the food and water that Ratone had in his pouch to one of the kobolds and have him deliver it. Colleen shakes in the corner when the kobold enters the room but Ratone bares his fists. When the kobold drops the stuff on the floor and walks out, Colleen rushes over and grabs it.

Colleen: -After taking three or four bites and taking a big drink out of the canteen- “Here you have some too.” –She gives some to Ratone.-

Ratone: “This looks like the supplies I had packed” –he takes a bite then continues. - “You might want to save some, I don’t know if they will give us anything else after this.”

Ratone speaks to late though as Colleen is finishing off the last of the food.

Colleen: “Now I have to go to the bathroom.”

Ratone: “I found a bucket and used it while you slept, it’s over there in the corner.” –He points to a bucket.-

Colleen: “I can’t do that!” –She looks offended.-

Ratone shrugs and sits down leaning against the wall. “I am going to try to get some sleep, wake me up if anything happens.”

Nothing happens for the next few hours. Colleen makes several trips back and forth to the bucket always changing her mind, but eventually she gives up and uses the bucket.

Once night falls I move all the normal kobolds to one of the other rooms leaving only the small kobold mage at the door. At midnight I get another 24xp minus the 2xp that is consumed.

Shortly after Ratone checks the door this time he moves over to Colleen and whispers.

“There is only one small kobold mage at the door, if you can put it to sleep with a sleep spell, we might be able to get out of here.”

After cracking the door a bit Colleen casts a sleep spell on the kobold making him fall to the floor then they carefully and quietly sneak out the iron door.

I have two archers standing ready in the little square room hiding in the corners. Once they start to exit the archway I have the archers step forward both hitting Colleen in each leg. Ratone quickly scoops Colleen up and runs for the exit. One of the kobolds takes another shot hitting him in the shoulder but then I order them to back off and let them go.

Damn I didn’t expect him to carry her out. I wanted to be able to learn her spells…

Intruders have fled the dungeon.

I decide to reset everyone’s positions and then replace the dead young kobold with normal kobold, but leave them in the rusty gear. Cost: 300xp

I now decide to add a few traps to the dungeon. Placing a [Ice Covered Spike Trap] in the archway using a trip wire activator, in the large room I put 4 [Ice Dart Traps] with tile switch activators. With my skill reducing the cost of the elemental base traps it cost still costs me 555xp.

I then go to bed.