Well
That could have gone worse to be sure, but it also really could have gone infinitely better. The startup was perfect, everything went well, the skeletons even got a drop on this little party. And then it all fell apart the moment they actually started fighting, and really just fell apart as they went from mostly jaunting and investigative to cautious. I think these guys are just too strong from were I am standing right now to really challenge them, so when they started to take it seriously it all fell apart. Even the Guardian Crawler at the end barely caused them to stumble, let alone stop them.
Three hits was all it took for them to take down this thing I created to put in their way was just brushed aside in three hits. A little disheartening, but it just means that something was missing from it, something to push it beyond just another monster. I need to push that aside for the time being though, since I need to watch these three explore my little tomb core room. The mage, Ava, seems really interested in the words on the pillar, she is already rubbing it down with, I think charcoal, onto paper. The lizard man was more interested in the depiction of the saint then anything else, while the ranger was looking over at the knight’s tomb. They all stayed on the door side of the pillar though while Ava worked on recording the words on the pillar.
“this is amazing” Ava comments as she works.
“If the guild doesn’t take hold of it the scholars might muscle the church out” The Lizardman, I don’t quiet remember his name, notes back.
“The preservation on the work is especially well done as well” The ranger comments as he approaches the warrior’s tomb.
The amethyst at the top of the pillar pulses with energy and the sudden light of it draws all three of their attention to it. They had likely already made note of it earlier but now it was in the forefront of their minds as they looked up at it. “Is that the core?” Ava looked to her two companions for their opinions but all she got was a shrug from the ranger and not much else. They all seemed rather more cautious after that little display, seeming to think something was going to happen now that they where in the core room. It is kind of cheating to say that it was of no import but I do think it is for the best they act like that considering I might change things up later in the core room for better defense then what I have so far.
The three continue looking through the room carefully, likely waiting for something to happen, some enemy to appear. But as the seconds tick to minutes they slowly relax as nothing comes for them, not from the walls, ceiling, tombs or pillar. Nothing would come though, I had lost all of my defenders in this whole ordeal so my only defense was going to be trickery. Their eyes seemed to take in every carving after a bit, and they where especially drawn to the carving of the king that was mostly obscured when they entered. They seemed to be trying to figure out if they recognized him or not, which was unlikely but not impossible all things considered. It was an odd feeling having people bring scrutinizing gaze through my work, but that is what it was meant for so I can’t say much to that.
“What do you think it is Ava?” The lizard man asked turning to the mage.
“A long lost king maybe?” She shakes her head quietly, “it’s hard to tell Venos since it doesn’t resemble anything I have studied, but I wasn’t much a history buff.”
“So what does that leave us with?” The ranger drops into the conversation, he seems to be getting more nervous by the second.
They all looked at each other and with a final nod they began to leave the room. “Whatever it is, it’s probably best we leave it to the scholars later.” Venos and the ranger both nod at that before all exit.
With them leaving I can reassess what is happening and what the next thing to do should be and honestly, I think I need to get way stronger. Those three really just walked through the whole tunnel network without much stopping them and I can’t have things stay like that. These three where probably near the top of the totem pole of power but still if anyone even close to their level decides to come through and end me, I want to stop them. Right now though those three are about to leave and I need to try and reset my whole dungeon with noticeably less skeletons then I had earlier.
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Looking at the remains of the skeletons I don’t really know what I can do with them, they are mostly intact but important parts are missing. After some of the ghosts had entered into their new bodies I had a few pick up the remains of the damaged bodies while I did some thinking. After a minute or two I decided to make a slight branch off the boss room that only the skeletons could logically fit through, lacking ligaments and all the other fleshy stuff. I make a small room with stone slabs to lay the leftover skeleton bits on and potentially experiment on to make new things. With that done it might be worthwhile to think through what I have at my disposal to defend myself and figure things out. I am about to start some experimenting and preparing things when the system comes out to hit me with updates.
[STATUS]
Name: [UNDEFINED]
Race: Dungeon
Level: 2
Energy: [AETHER]
Location: Forgotten Graveyard
Class: [LOCKED LV. 5]
Affinities: Earth Affinity: (Extrapolated from location)
Spirit Affinity: (Extrapolated from location)
Creation Affinity: (Extrapolated from [ASWR$#!$AFSA%#!@])
Monsters:
Earth Elemental: (lesser)
Ghosts: (lesser)
Shades: (lesser)
Possessed Skeleton: (Minor)
Incomplete Creation: (least)
Guardian Crawler: (Minor)
Skills:
Identification: (Intrinsic)
Returnal: (Spirit Affinity)
Unbound Creation: (Creation Affinity)
Whispers From the Veil: (Spirit Affinity)
Rooms:
Graveyard: (Intrinsic)
Necropolis: (Spirit/Earth Affinity)
[Second level reached]
[please select a skill]
Carver: (Earth Affinity)
[Common]
A better understanding of how to create art through
the removal of material and intricate indenturing
of a surface.
Reanimator: (Spirit Affinity)
[Uncommon]
The ability to better fuse ghosts into corpses and bind them
more thoroughly then ever before. Using this ability
you are able to make it so when a spirit is bound into
a corpse you can rebuild the corpse should the spirit be left intact.
Core Builder: (Creation Affinity)
[Rare]
You learn the ability to create a core within any creature with enough energy.
These cores will slowly allow the creature to grow in power
and allow them to in some way grow sentience or house a sentient soul.
Three different choices but, well, one of these really seems like it is more useful then the others. I am already doing really well with my work in carving without the skill, so I don’t think I need to do more with it. And while that rare level skill is really tempting to take and just fast track something, that is all it is, fast tracking. The wording makes it seem like I can learn how to make these cores without the skill and that this will just make it easier. So of all three of them the Reanimator one is the best since it will easily solve the problem I was just having.
With a mental flourish I pick it without much more consideration and can feel the energy push through my core and then the dungeon. As it pushes across my skeletons I feel something click within them as they become more integrated with the skeletons they are possessing. Looking over them they definitely seemed more integrated then they used to be, and were now moving more like people then shambling bones. I quietly nod to myself as I return to my guardian crawler, it was something that needed the most work. I wanted these core things I saw in the skills for it but, well, I feel like it will take awhile to get that to work, let alone make it strong enough through time. So I need a solution now and the best thing I have in mind, is to make this a multi encounter.
As I was putting together three new crawlers, including reviving the one that fell in battle, my elemental finally returns. Turning to it, it begins to show me some of its discoveries, mostly caves and burred bodies from the graveyard we are in. then it shows me something surprising, in one of the caves, is the remains of a battle unclaimed by people. The cave is a bit away and is frankly going to be a headache to get to, however the elemental does also show it has a hole in the top of it to the surface. Thinking on it I nod slightly and order one of the new crawlers, a pair of skeletons, and the elemental to go and recover the remains and any metal bits they can from the battle.
The skeletons and the crawler take a bit to leave but the elemental moves instantly, and I can’t help but think there is a feeling of….joy? From it. It’s odd but since it has already headed out I can’t really recall it to look over so I just have to wait for it to return. So I put that on the back shelf and look at my little experimentation room I made, I now had something to work towards, learning how to make cores. So I start to focus on that, forming energy into spheres to start with and trying to find a way to make it physical.
