Dungeon Master (Karma System)

Rod ran to the gate while a few recruits and guards watched the commotion.

”Mrs. Clarkson. What can I do for you?” He asked when he arrived.

”We were hoping that you could provide us with some information on the Goblin Mines.”

Excitement washed over Rod. His father had instructed him to try and build a good relationship with the Dungeon Master. This was the perfect opportunity. He quickly calmed himself.

Rod realized that yes he could provide some information to them. But there was someone who could do a better. If he had a scheming personality, he may have volunteered to help, but in his heart he knew that he should pass this opportunity to someone else.

”I have been to the dungeon several times, but there is someone more suited to help you.”

”Oh, and who would that be?” Anna asked.

”Before we came here, our training camp was at the Mines, it was run by Cotton. He would know much more than I would.”

”Can I speak to him soon. We are in a hurry.”

”Of course, Mrs. Clarkson, please follow me.”

With that Rod turned and ran back into the training ground with Anna.

The pair approached the house at the back of the property. Luckily, Cotton was walking out the front door.

”Ah, Mrs. Clarkson. How are you? Should we be worried about the Dungeon Battle?”

Anna sighed. ”I am a bit concerned even if my husband isn’t. Rod tells me that you would be the most knowledgeable about the goblin mines.”

Cotton nodded. ”Aye, I have spent many years there. I know quite a bit about it.”

”Would you be willing to provide us information.”

Cotton thought abut it. Of course he was willing, he truly loved this new dungeon and much preferred the training camp to remain here. That wasn’t even considering the fact that they had spent a good amount of gold on their camp here and didn’t want that to go to waste. But he hoped he could get something out of it. The question was how much could he get without annoying the Dungeon Master.

Anna was aware that it was rude to ask for something without receiving anything in return.

”It is possible to reward you with vouchers to see basic advanced class trainers, or we could also pay you in Dungeon Dollars. Unfortunately, we don’t have time to negotiate at the moment.”

Cotton smiled. That was good enough for him.

”Of course, we would like to see Crag Dungeon continue to prosper. I would be happy to help.”

”Great. Would you please come with me?” She said while summoning a portal to the conference room.

///

The door to the conference room opened and Anna walked in followed by Cotton.

The grizzled man with an eye patch walked into the room. He was surprised to see so many different races inside the dungeon.

He was aware that a normal dungeon core would only let a Dungeon Master summon creatures of the same race.

He had always suspected that Max had a faint fey bloodline, but now that idea was turned on its head.

The gnomes and the few class trainers could be explained away by the fact that a dungeon master could capture other races and add them to his dungeon. But when the second level was revealed he began to doubt that. There was a large amount of orcs and a good number of creatures un related to them.

Anna had explained that the clan leaders would be involved with this meeting. Now he was sure that Max had something unique here. Dwarves, orcs, gnomes, elves, fey and undead. They were far too varied to be captured by a low level dungeon, but now wasn’t the time to dig into that mystery.

”Cotton.” Max said while standing from his chair and shaking the man’s hand. ”What can you tell us about the Goblin Mines.”

The man collected his thoughts and spoke. ”The mines themselves are an unorganized mess with several trails that branch and descend further underground.”

As Cotton spoke, Anna was taking notes on her clipboard.

”The first floor has several different routes that lead away from the entrance and the boss can be found at the end of one. But where the boss resides randomly changes. After the first floor is passed, there is a second network of tunnels that each lead to a strong hobgoblin. Like the first level, the Boss is randomly placed among different hobgoblins.”

”Is there any level past the second?” Max asked.

”Last time I entered 3 months ago there was not.”

”What about the entrance. You said it was a large cavern?” Asked Sigmund.

”Yes.” Cotton replied. ”Usually it is fairly open and barren. It can hold thousands of people if it needs to.”

Broomer the dwarf spoke. ”Then since they have been preparing, it is likely that it will be heavily defended.”

”What can you tell us about the goblins themselves? I am not familiar with this race.” The elf asked.

”The goblins... Where do I start? Let’s see, they breed like rabbits. Three months after being born a goblin is able to start leveling up. As you can imagine, there numbers grow very quickly. The dungeon’s first floor is usually a mix between melee goblins and those with slings or crude bows. On the second floor they have more developed classes. You can fight casters, healers, rouges, and all types of melee and ranged attackers.”

”And what of the bosses of the dungeon?” Max asked.

”The first-floor bosses are usually a strong goblin with a well developed class backed up by 4 goblins to compliment its strengths and cover its weakness. The second floor has the hobgoblins I mentioned. They are goblins who have evolved. They are faster, stronger, and more durable. The Boss, like on the first floor, has a well-developed class and is supported by strong goblins who are about to advance.”

”Hmm, that gives us something to go on.” Max said.

They asked a few more questions, like the size of the tunnels and similar things before they began to wrap up.

”Is there anything else we should be aware of?” Anna asked.

Cotton thought for a moment before answering. ”It was a few years ago but there was a boss on the second floor who wasn’t a hobgoblin. I never heard anyone claiming that he was defeated but he stopped showing up one day.”

”What made this goblin special?” Sigmund asked.

”It wasn’t confirmed, but at the time we believed him to be a goblin king. Unlike the other bosses on the floor, instead of being supported by 4 strong goblins, he ordered 20 above average goblins to fight for him and was able to call for reinforcements.”

”That sounds like a goblin king to me.” Said the gnome king.

”Thank you for the information.” Max said. ”Outside you will find an automaton who will help you return to the village. I have instructed them to make sure you are rewarded. You can chose how the reward is received.”

Cotton thanked Max and made his way out.

”How much did you give him?” Anna asked.

”200 Dungeon Dollars. The information was nothing outside the scope of what we expected but it was good to have confirmation. We now have 40 minutes to plan our defense and counterattack. Let’s get to work.”

The gnome king and Kildra the undead were the first to depart. The gnomes were a group that was good with their hands like the dwarves. Where the dwarves were master of the forge, Gnomes were skilled tinkers and could cobble something together quickly. Since times was of the essence, the gnomes went to the fey forest to begin setting up the defense.

Kildra, the leader of the undead was aware that if things went well, there wouldn’t be a place for him and his people in this battle. They worked on what was currently the deepest floor and it was their job to ensure no harm came to the dungeon core.

If things went as planned and Max held off the first attack and was given the option to enter the enemy dungeon, that didn’t mean the enemy would no longer be able to enter his dungeon. Even after entering the Mines, they needed to safe guard against a thief or a sneak attack.

The Orcs were dissatisfied with the size of the tunnels in the mines. There talls frames would make it difficult to fight in the lower levels and there was no chance for most of their beasts to enter the mines. They would be put on defense.

The dwarves were pleased, they had no issue entering a mine and fighting. This meant they were assigned to the assault team. They would still help with the defense but to keep their numbers high they would let the orcs defend first and only step in if they needed the help.

It was decided that the beasts who were part of the third level with the elves would remain on their level. They were too large for infiltrating into a mine and they would not be able to cooperate well with others on the defensive side. It was better for them to be another layer of protection for the Dungeon Core.

The elves would compliment and assist the orcs in defense. While the orcs did have ranged attackers and casters, the elves had many times more. And the elves had one things the orcs did not, stealth classes.

The fey would of course defend their forest but they were the weakest out of the group. That didn’t mean they were weak though. Fey nights was designed to befuddle and confuse. If the goblins attacked in numbers like they suspected that may not help the fey much.

But the Fey were not without support. Sigmund was the strongest creature in the dungeon even if he wasn’t meant to be an attacking classes. Sigmund was truly a support character, but in such a low level dungeon he could easily lead an offensive encounter. In fact Max had originally summoned him to be a boss but for some reason the Satyr didn’t want to and Max didn’t want to force him.

Individual assignments were still being handed out but the general plan had been established.

The Fey and Orcs would be the main defenders. The elves would assist and then join the dwarves for the assault. The undead would be guard the core while the gnomes would provide logistics.

The gnomes could be fighters but that was not their specialty. They had a unique way to stay in contact with each other and they could move with a decent speed for their small size. This made them perfect to transport supplies if needed and act as radios between different groups.

The gnome King and Anna would stay in the monitoring room while Max and Quin would be near the battle but staying out of sight.

On the field Sigmund would be leading the defense. Max thought he would have to argue with the orc chief to get him not to take the position, but the orc was far more interested in bashing skulls and didn’t want to lead.

Broomer the dwarf would then lead the assault once they gained access to the Goblin Mines while Max and Quin would bring up the rear.

With 20 minutes left the conference room cleared out.