Dungeon Master (Karma System)

Max was sitting beside Anna in a private room of the Gilded Rose. Across the table from him were two dwarves.

”I was told that you gentleman wished to meet with me.” Max said.

Both dwarves nodded.

”I am Hammer Cartwright and this is my brother Gibble Cartwright. I want to say you have an amazing dungeon here. Did you create those automatons yourself? They are a work of art.”

”No, I purchased them from the dungeon. They help out around the village.”

”That’s a shame.” Gibble said. ”I would love to meet the one who made such beauties.”

Max let out a small laugh. ”I am sorry to disappoint.”

”It’s fine.” Hammer said, waving away the apology.

”Is there anything I can help you with?” Max asked.

”Actually yes.” Gibble responded. ”My brother and I are the founders of Gibble-Hammer workshop and we have a business opportunity for you.”

”Business you say.” Max said with an intrigued look.

”Yes, yes. My brother and I have experience in the dungeon reclamation department and are willing to offer our services for a few concessions.”

Max raised and eyebrow. ”One moment please.”

When the dwarves nodded he called out to DC silently.

{What is dungeon reclamation.}

[A fancy way to say they worked in a dungeon equipment repair department.]

{I am not following.}

[When adventurers die, the dungeon will claim their gear. These two most likely repaired or strengthend said gear so that when it was sold to a dungeon core the DP gain was more than what would have been initially provided.]

{I can get DP from selling stuff to you.}

[You aren’t selling it to me specifically. All the equipment and things the dungeon core provides come form somewhere. These were sold by other dungeons.]

Max thought over the implications of this. It opened a whole new revenue stream for him. What would happen if he built factories and sold what was produced. If he managed to acquire the parts or raw materials cheap enough, he would be able to turn a decent profit.

{Is there a concern with flooding the market.}

[It is unlikely, there are billions of dungeons across the multiverse and even if you built something in excess the extras would be stored or broken down. It wouldn’t effect the price they sell for.]

That seemed crazy and easily exploitable to Max but he wouldn’t know for sure until he got into the thick of it.

He turned his attention back to the dwarves.

”Okay, I understand. But with the revival system we don’t have gear from adventures to work with and as for natural resources. We are in a sub plane, so things are a bit different. Anything mined from the ground is something I placed there.”

At this the two dwarves turned to each other and began to discuss things quietly.

After a few minutes they turned back to the table.

”Here is what we are thinking. We have some things we can sell off for a start up fund. After that we will pay a certain amount in tax to the dungeon. we just wish for a safe place to work and sell our wears.”

”That’s possible.” Max said. ”But what would you be selling?”

”All sorts of gadgets and gizmos.” Hammer responded. ”My brother Gibble is an accomplished blacksmith, and I am a talented runesmith. We can take custom orders but we also like to invent new things.”

”What have you invented before?” Anna asked, speaking up for the first time.

The dwarves looked around the room and then back at their hosts. ”We can show you, but a training ground would be a better environment.”

”Then let’s be off.” Max said while using his privilege as a dungeon master to open a portal to the training room beneath his manor.

The dwarves grabbed their bags and followed him and Anna inside.

”Aye, this will do.” Hammer said when he saw the wooden dummies at the other end of the room.

He set down his bag and pulled out an iron box. While his brother pulled out an iron cylinder.

Hammer then pulled out a runic tablet and began to flick a few of the buttons.

”This is our newest device, we call it the defender.”

Hammer then powered it up. The lid on the medal box slid to the side and two large metal arms rose out. Gibble ran up and handed it a bow and placed a full quiver by its side.

”What this.” Hammer said.

He then flicked a few switches and the arms began to move. It picked up an arrow and nocked it on the bow. Hammer adjusted the aim and then pulled a small lever. The arms drew back the arrow and then fired. It landed perfectly in the center of the dummies chest.

”Now you may not think that is impressive but watch this.”

Hammer was right, Max thought it was cool, but not very impressive. It was a remote-control bow. But was that really amazing?

Hammer smashed a few buttons and and the cylinder that had so far remained close slipt open like petals on a flower to reveal the treasure in its core.

A crystal floated over the metal that had fallen to floor.

After pressing another button, Hammer set down the device. The arms drew another arrow and then fired. This time it didn’t stop, the arms target a different dummy and fired again.

”Can you make the dummies move?” He asked.

It was easy enough to do. The dummies began to shuffle back and forth.

The bow was drawn back and found its target each time.

”Now watch this.” Gibble said as he ran towards the dummies.

Anna gripped Max’s arm with a bit off concern.

When Gibble jumped in front of the dummy the arms were aiming at, it switched to a different target.

”See.” Hammer said. ”Our optics even has a friend or foe setting. Imagine a few optics on the edge of a tower or something and 20 or 30 sets of arms. As long as you kept the quivers full they will keep firing at everything you determined to be a foe.”

”And how much does something like this cost?” Max asked.

”Parts and labor are about 15 gold for the arms and 20 for the optic crystal. We plan to sell the arms for 30 and the crystal for 100.”

”Could they be designed to do other things?” Max asked.

”I don’t see why not, it would just take a bit of time and effort. What do you have in mind?”

Max was reminded of those automated car factories back on earth where robots would assemble things while the assembly moved past them. If he could set up an automated factory, that would be a good source of DP. And these things were much cheaper than automatons.

”I think we may be able to work out a good deal.” Max said. ”I can get you set up with a store and a workshop, but I would want your help and input on a couple of projects.”

The brothers shared a glance.

”Projects are good, but we need to hash out numbers and I want to know what your tax rate is before we agree to anything.”

”Then let’s return and iron out an agreement.”

The dwarves packed up their things and then returned to the Gilded Rose with Max and Anna.

When the dwarves learned of Max’s plan, they were thrilled to be a part of it.

He agreed to give them a store and have a gnome man the counter to help them sell things.

Their workshop would be hidden for now. Only accessible to them and the dungeon employees. Max assured them that the adventurers wouldn’t get near it.

That way they could work in peace. When the dwarves mentioned workplace accidents, he made them promise to take a day off if they injured themselves heavily or died. That would stop him from losing money.

It turned out to be a great deal. The dwarves would help him set up a factory once he decided what he wanted to produce. They already had a bit of gold with them. Not a huge amount but enough to be comfortable.

He was going to cover the lease cost of their shop for the first year and he would also sell them raw materials at cost. They would pay a tax to him based on everything they sold.

And they would also be earning him DP while they stayed in the dungeon. Both dwarves only had levels in the high 20s but every little bit would help. As long as they didn’t kill themselves too often.

Both sides left the negotiation happy and feeling like that got a good deal.