Dungeon Master (Karma System)

”We did die.” Rod said when he saw Max’s shocked expression.

”Did you not check your buff list?” He asked.

The foursome shook their heads and then quickly checked.

They found and icon of a halo, it was marked as resurrection. There was a count down next to it.

”That’s possible?” Dirk asked in surprise.

”What are these numbers counting down?” Lana asked.

Max puffed out his chest proudly. ”As a business owner it seems foolish to kill off my customers so I spent some money and now everyone who dies in my dungeon gets resurrected. The count down is the time until the buff comes back online.”

He then spread his hands in a helpless gesture. ”While it’s possible to prevent deaths, the ability takes a good amount of power. As you can see, you have a little under 12 hours till it is at full charge again. If you were to return to the dungeon before then, you may revive or you may not. I can’t guarantee it. But there is a way to recharge it instantly, you can buy a Fast Pass. 10 silver pieces per level will reduce an adventures time by 1 hour. If you have enough money, the dungeon can convert it directly to power and apply it to your buff so that you can get back into action immediately.”

”That’s expensive.” Dirk said.

Max shrugged. ”True, but you are basically buying another life. Besides, you don’t have to pay. You can wait 12 hours after you die. We have plenty of facilities to keep you occupied, or you could always leave and come back later. There is also the option of saving up your dungeon coins.”

The truth was that they were guaranteed to revie again if they did die. The timer was fake and something he added, but he had to make his money somehow.

The Fast Passes were also a good way to earn DP. 10 silver equaled 1DP. If a level 10 wanted to pay off a full 12 hours it would earn him 120DP. That was a good chunk of change. Without the revival system, a level 10 dying would earn him 40DP. If he found some rich impatient people he would earn a killing.

Lana nodded with what he said. It wasn’t cheap but this was their life they were talking about. Waiting wouldn’t be bad either. ”It’s a relief that we aren’t really dead.”

Max rubbed his chin. ”So what did you think about the story the system gave you when you entered the dungeon?” He asked.

”You mean the sign by the forest?” Rod asked.

Max shook his head. ”The story in the dungeon information tab.”

The foursome once again shook their heads. They felt a little bad when they realized how sad Max looked after he received their response.

Anna’s bell like laughter broke the silence. ”Don’t mind him. He has been tinkering on the level introduction every night. Just make sure to read it next time.”

Max sighed. ”Is it normal for adventures to not check their systems when they enter a dungeon.”

Lana and Silvia shrugged. This was their first dungeon. Dirk and Rod both nodded. ”We have never done it before, and I haven’t heard of others doing it either.”

”Pah, I guess I should post a sign at the entrance telling people to look at their buffs and read the introduction.” Max said.

After he spoke, he vanished from the spot, leaving the foursome with Annastasia.

”We are sorry if we upset your husband. We really didn’t know.” Lana said.

Anna smiled. ”It’s no problem. Since you are the first to try out his dungeon, why don’t you have lunch on me. When Max’s returns he will join us.”

They all looked at each other before Rod spoke. ”I could eat.”

”Good.” She said with a small laugh. ”We only have two restaurants in the village so far, but I am in the mood for a lively atmosphere, so let’s go to the tavern.”

She led the group to a large building near the center of the village. When she pushed the door open Rod immediately went for his axe. But the thing wouldn’t budge.

The tavern was half full, it was filled with creatures eating their meals. But what alarmed him was the satyr sitting at a table with 5 quicklings.

”Do not worry.” Anna said. ”This is a sanctuary floor. You can’t harm others and they can’t harm you. And remember, Max doesn’t want to kill his customers, but he also doesn’t want to kill his employees. Everyone who dies in the dungeon comes back. It’s best to leave any hard feelings to be settled in the actual dungeon levels. Here, they are just employees on their lunch break.”

To prove there was no bad blood, the satyr and the quicklings raised their drinks and nodded to the adventurers before going back to their conversation.

Lana’s head was on a swivel. It was a little scarry but so exciting. She saw a group of dwarves arm wrestling. In the corner were several skeletons smoking something. On a stage off to the side were two dryads dancing while a group of fairies sang. The music was beautiful and calming but didn’t have the bewitching effect like it did in the forest.

As a young woman who spent most of her life pampered and staying in the manor with her instructors, she couldn’t have even imagined this scene before today.

Anna led them to a table in the corner.

A gnome wearing an apron quickly came over and took their orders.

Anna waited for the group to get settled. She imagined they had a lot of questions.

”So Max is a dungeon master, and you are his wife?” Rod asked. He was the first to break the water.

”Yes, Max is always working hard to improve the dungeon. He spent most of his life helping others. When he became a dungeon , he was determined to do things differently. That is what has led us to what you see before us.”

Lana was using her sharp mind to quickly work through how things operated here. ”I assume he plans to grow his dungeon by collecting passive power instead of the dungeon consuming those it kills.”

”Yes, while it earns slower, he believes that with repeat business and word of mouth recommendations he will soon be earning more than those big dungeons. And then there is the fact that the services we provide aren’t free.”

Lana nodded.

”Then why doesn’t everyone do it like that?” Silvia asked.

”The revival system isn’t cheap. And I am sure you have realized that Max has put a lot of Dungeon Points into this project. I don’t know how much those big dungeons have, but I am not sure they could afford it. And in their minds, they are already a big dungeon, why change what works.”

”How did you meet Max?” Lana asked.

”That is actually an interesting story.”

///

Gilmore paced outside of the dungeon entrance. He was nervous. His niece was off in a dungeon for the first time and he had let her talk him into staying behind.

”Calm down Gilly, they will be fine.” Said the carriage driver.

Gilmore looked to the man when he stopped pacing. ”I can’t help but be nervous Old Crow.”

The elderly man just shrugged. ”I can understand the feeling. Just remember that the threat level is low.”

The driver saw that his words didn’t calm the assassin in the slightest. ”Stop pacing before you wear a trail into the ground.” The old man barked. ”If you are so nervous that you can’t help but act like a worried wife, go check on them.”

”I-.”

Old Crow didn’t let him interrupt. ”You didn’t say anything about not following them.”

”That’s true.” The assassin said. He then turned towards the dungeon. ”I will be back in a while.” He said while walking to the door.

The old man pulled an apple out of his pocket. He adjusted his large straw hat, took a bite and then leaned against the carriage.

///

Gilmore was immediately alarmed. When the dungeon announced that it was a 5 person instance he already knew that this was a wealthy dungeon. He had experienced Instances before. He knew he wouldn’t be ablet to find his niece since they weren’t in a party.

A part of him wanted to turn around since it was pointless to search for them, but he decided to forge ahead. That way he would be aware of what they encountered.

The assassin stood at the entrance, he could see the fog filled forest in the distance. He, a man who had seen much, felt a bit of trepidation at the scene.

”Oh, hello there.” Said a voice from behind him.

Gilmore panicked. He hadn’t even heard anyone approach. With a dagger in hand, he spun into action.

*Clang*

His hand was a blur, as he turned to face whoever had snuck up behind him, his knife was already inches away from his target.

He noticed that the strangely dressed man seemed surprised that he would attack. The man flinched back and flicked away the dagger.

Gilmore couldn’t hold his grip. He froze as his dagger went flying into the darkness.

”Woah, that scared me.” Max said while putting a hand on his chest. ”I guess I kind of snuck up on you. My bad.”

Gilmore cautiously stayed still. This man had disarmed him mid strike and hadn’t even broken a sweat. He couldn’t tell much about the man from his actions or the way he dressed, like how he normally sized up his foes. But what he could tell, was that this man was dangerous.

”Are you with the group that came before?” Max asked.

Gilmore’s eyes narrowed. He realized that this man had seen, or was aware of his niece. He chose to remain silent. He took in the man again. This time he noticed that he was carrying a sign.

”Okay... well, those teens were a bit to eager and didn’t check their system when they started so I am just here to put up a sign.” Max said while his conversation partner remained silent. After looking at the assassin for another minute and giving him a chance to respond, which he didn’t, Max turned and got to work.

He grabbed a large post and easily rammed it into the ground in one go. Then he grabbed the sign he had already made and nailed it to the post after making sure it was straight.

Max stepped back and took a look.

{ATENTTION!}

{Check your system buff list and dungeon info tab.}

”What do you think?” Max asked the assassin. ”Does it look straight?”

Gilmore slowly moved to the front of the sign. He looked it over and then nodded. It wouldn’t be wise to continue to ignore this man who could singlehandedly drive a post into the earth with ease. Then he noticed the message. He quickly opened his system.

His eyes widened when he saw the buff that was applied to him.

”The others... They are okay?” the assassin finally spoke.

”Oh yes. The are great. A little shaken up since they didn’t know they were going to revive. But they are fine.” Max said. He then went into his explanation of the revive system.

It wasn’t normal for Max to do the explaining. He had set up an information booth in the hospital and normally it would be their job to explain things to the newcomers. He had volunteered to do it with Anna since it was their first ever adventurers.

Gilmore took in all the information he was given. He wasn’t sure if he should believe it. But with this monster of a man standing before him, he didn’t have much choice.

”Is it possible for me to see them?” He asked.

Max took a moment to think while he pulled up the man’s information. He was sure this was part of his special dungeon core. DC had informed him that it wasn’t normal for dungeon masters to be able to uncover detailed information about the adventurers. It was usually limited to class, level, and general stats.

Max brushed aside the pages of advancement details and injury reports. He found the man was a level 39 assassin.

Chances are he could solo the first level. Maybe. He noticed like the others that he was lacking in skills and his proficiencies weren’t high. He could make him go through the dungeon. He would either succeed (Kill a bunch of his employees), or die (Cost him DP to revive). The best option would be to let the man skip ahead.

”Sure, we were just about to grab lunch.”

Max waved his hand and a doorway appeared. He walked through without hesitation and then looked back towards the assassin to urge him to follow.