RECAP 1/4

A handful of hours passed while the Dungeon busied itself with its new floor and the new inhabitants.
Familiar footsteps closed in on the dungeon until Grez stepped into view, she seemed to have calmed down from whatever she was going through earlier, she looked a bit out of it and she shyly tucked a loose strand of hair, that had somehow escaped from the usual ponytail, behind an ear, “You dealt with her, I assume?” she asked.

Slightly offended by its on-going role as a doorman, Chadaklin made his way to the dungeon entrance with powerful strides, once there he answered on behalf of the dungeon, “She was put to good use,” replied Chadaklin, “You won’t be seeing her again, however.”

A smile crept onto Grez’s face, one which she tried very hard to suppress, “I see,” she said, then clearing her throat and holding out a hand, “My payment?”

Fresh out of Dungeon Points, the Dungeon had currently no way to spawn any gold pieces.
Chadaklin was ordered to stall for time while the egos discussed how they were gonna spin this.

“First,” said Chadaklin, folding his arms, “Where did you go all of a sudden? The city above is crawling with those that want you dead, but you just took off.”

The half-orc rolled her eyes, “What’s this all of a sudden?” she said with a slight nervous chuckle and a blush creeping into her face, “You’re not my dad. I go wherever I want.”
”But if you MUST know,” she added, patting a small weapon at her side, “I bought a weapon. A sort of mace. Well, more of a cudgel really.”

Chadaklin raised an eyebrow, “You never carried weapons before.”

“Well,” replied Grez, folding her arms, “When I watched the half-giant pulverize a goblin’s skull with a fist I realized that could’ve been me. I’m not sure what was up with her, but most people would’ve tried for some revenge in a certain death scenario like the one she was just in. Maybe crack me over the head or stab me.”

The tall, half-devil nodded, “Why a mace?”

Grez shrugged, “With a dagger you’ve got a good chance of them bleeding out if things go south when there’s still some distance between us and the dungeon. So, I figured a mace would be better.”

[There are one-hundred and seventy-five (175) gold pieces remaining in the dungeon.]
[Total amount of Monster Points (MP) remaining: 5]
[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 0]

A wayward bird chirped from within the jungle, having been drawn there by its intoxicating scents.
It chirped not because it was content, but in sheer alarm as it stared at the various creatures crawling up the trees in an effort to meet it.

“Understood,” said Chadaklin, “Your payment will have to be wait until tomorrow. The dungeon has made some big chances to ensure its survival and that has exhausted their resources for the time being.”

Grez frowned, “I thought we had a contract,” she barked, hands flailing, “Where's my money?”

>>5270373

RECAP 2/4

“Yes, but said contract makes no mention of immediate payment. Just that there will be payment,” corrected Chadaklin, “You will get your money. Tomorrow. In fact, you are free to spend the night here if you want. There’s too many hostile forces out and about.”

The half-orc clasped her hands behind her back, put on pouting, and theatrically had one foot grind against the dungeon floor, “Awwww,” she said, batting her eyelashes, “Are you concerned about me? You going soft on me?”
She then gasped, her eyes going wide as she held her hands flat against her face, “Have you fallen in LOVE with me?”

“You know where to find your stash of gold coins should you need them,” replied Chadaklin flatly.
”There is, however, one other option,” added Chadaklin, “A boon.”

Grez rolled her eyes, slightly disappointed at the lack of reaction, “This ‘Pause for suspense' thing really doesn’t suit you. Spit it out, will you?”

The Sadist’s eyes locked upon the Scholar, then narrowed. An intense, cold stare.

“What?” replied the Scholar, “I tried to build suspense!”

“The Dungeon has recently acquired a new kind of brand. An extremely versatile one that allows you to change one thing about your appearance. This can be something simple like your eye-colour or things like your height, gender, or even race. With the proper modification there’s a very good chance that those that are hunting you won’t even realize as you pass them by in the streets,” explained Chadaklin.

For once there was no witty remark. No retort, joke, or pun.
Grez simply stood there in wide-eyed amazement, rapidly blinking a few times and then just staring, mouth opening and closing as she struggled to find the words.
“…You can do that?” she said eventually.

Chadaklin gave her a strong, decisive nod.

The half-orc’s face was a flurry of emotions: disbelief, happiness, confusion, and finally – suspicion.
”Such things are rarely free,” she said, “What will that cost me?”

Chadaklin smirked, “You catch on quick enough,” said the tall hobgoblin, “The Dungeon requires knowledge. Magical knowledge in particular. Your job will be to go out and acquire as much of it as you can. Be it scrolls, books, runes, or otherwise. We’ll provide the gold if it is required. Think you can manage this?”

>>5270377

RECAP 3/4

“Not as I am now,” said Grez, gesturing at her half-orc self, “Magical stuff is rare. I suppose it can be found near the Birdsong Academy, in Arcane Avenue. You can borrow books from the academy if you’re a student, but I’m not magical – so that’s a no-go. There’s some stores in Arcane Avenue where they sell some of the books and items the academy no longer has any use for. However, most of the shopkeepers there hail from the Noble Quarters and they don’t like half-orcs much. The best shops with the most expensive and rare items are in the Noble Quarters, no doubt, but I’m not even allowed into that district as a half-orc. My best bet is probably to go to the Upper Trade District and try my luck at the auction house.”

Chadaklin folded his arms, “Won’t you need to carry a lot of gold for auctions?”

“You used to,” admitted Grez, “But there were a lot of folk from the Lower District prowling about on auction night. It was nothing short of a miracle if you carried a lot gold and made it to the auction house’s entrance with it still on you. These days you can just bid and pay for the item when you go to collect it the following day or something. Although I heard they only hold onto it for a short while before it simply gets put up for auction again and you get blacklisted from the auction house. The 'New Wind' auction house is probably the most likely to carry any magical stuff.”

“How do you know all this?” replied Chadaklin, raising an eyebrow.

“Prowling about on auction night,” answered Grez, displaying a wide grin.
She went quiet for a moment, gripping her left wrist with her right hand and tilting her head towards the dungeon floor, “Hey,” she said in a quiet voice uncharacteristic for the post-brand Grez, “You were serious about that dungeon magic, right? You’re not just having fun?”

“It is real and the offer is genuine,” replied Chadaklin.

Her right hand moved up her left arm until Grez was gripping the elbow, she spoke with a tremble in her voice, “I don’t want to be called a monster anymore,” she stated, “If I wasn’t a half-orc then people won’t look at me in disgust anymore. If I hadn’t been a half-orc then I might’ve been adopted when I was younger. I just want to be normal.”

"Just human,” she concluded.

The titanic hobgoblin gave her a genuine smile, lightly stepped to the side whilst turning slightly, and gestured to the deeper parts of the dungeon, “And so it shall be,” he said.

Grez was led towards the [Branding Chamber] which had hastily been cleaned up. No need to to frighten the girl with all the blood and its sickly, metallic scent. Still, despite the dungeon’s best efforts it was still a dark, smoky place illuminated by little more than the light creeping in from underneath the door and the fires angrily cracking within the pit.

>>5270380

RECAP 4/4

Grez was led towards the [Branding Chamber] which had hastily been cleaned up. No need to to frighten the girl with all the blood and its sickly, metallic scent. Still, despite the dungeon’s best efforts it was still a dark, smoky place illuminated by little more than the light creeping in from underneath the door and the fires angrily cracking within the pit.

Once there, she was lead towards the large table which had restrained Zarkha only hours earlier, though the restraints were notably absent now. She sat down on the elevated table, feet dangling over the edge and slightly swaying.

Feeling like it had been dormant for far too long, the brand on her shoulder flared up.
A sense of approval swept through Grez as she took in her surroundings.
The cages, the pit, the branding iron.
”Lovely place you have here,” she said, her face lit up by the glow of the fire pit.

A small creature went unnoticed as it appeared behind her, sunken eyes barely visible within the torturer’s cap, a small mallet raised above its head. It slammed the mallet down in a sweeping blow and struck Grez on the side of the head, forcing her unconscious. The half-orc was then, with a little help from the dungeon, laid down on the table.

“Was that necessary?” asked the Scholar.

The tiny torturer shrugged.

“It’s the [Brand of Icarus] this time” said the Sadist.

The small goblin puffed up its cheeks and exhaled heavily.
This was gonna be a big one.

The little goblin turned its attention to the bellows, once again ensuring the coals were heated to the point the coals were red-hot. It took hold of the branding iron and patiently waited as the symbols on the end of it began to shift through various shapes before finally settling on the [Brand of Icarus].
The little torturer hovered the brand above various places until it received some sort of approval.

When the branding iron hovered above Grez’s upper-left arm, the goblin got the feedback it had been looking for.
Grez’s usual attire would hide it well. The tiny torturer pressed the red-hot metal to her green skin where it applied the brand with violent hiss. A small symbol representing a sun. A circle surrounded by tiny triangles with their points facing outward. A mirror image of the symbol consisting of wispy tendrils made of blue magic danced and wavered directly above the brand as the magic tried to take hold. It seemed incomplete somehow. As if waiting for the final piece.

“Make her human,” commanded the Sadist.

The magical representation of the brand rapidly spun in place, casting an eerie blue glow on not just Grez, but the entire chamber. It pulled in more energy as it spun, further brightening up the room. Once it decided it had enough it stopped abruptly and combined itself with the brand now present on the skin.

File: HumanGrez.jpg (135 KB, 1360x962)

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>>5270382

RECAP 5/4

A shockwave of blue magic travelled through Grez, modifying and readjusting the most fundamental pieces of her.
The green skin paled until it turned a fleshy white, similar to the skin colour of the majority of Duskmire’s citizens.
The magic that bounced around within Grez lit her up from within, showcasing veins, nerves, and muscles.
Though her eyes were closed, the goblin watched as Grez’s eye colour shifted from the typical orc red to a vibrant blue.
The pointed ends of her ears smoothed out. Some other things happened here and there, it was a very extensive process that had Grez groaning and trashing with various tiny movements.

Until finally, it was done.
Splayed out on the table was an individual that was unmistakably human.

END OF RECAP

The Dungeon decided to let Grez rest for a good while, partly because she could use the rest and partly because it didn’t quite feel like putting her new human appearance to the test just yet.
When she finally did wake it was well into the afternoon.
Like the previous time, the subconscious part of the dungeon that cared about the wellbeing of its subjects made full use of this time to get the once half-orc in her best possible shape. Even her new clothing was cleaned and maintained, the new shirt and pants were spotless. The leather jerkin was cleaned and oiled.
She had to be put into stasis for this, but was brought back up and placed on the table before she awoke.

[You’ve gained two (2) ‘Dungeon Points'.] (Daily)
[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 2.]
[The Dungeon is currently 10 day(s) old.]

Grez opened her eyes and scowled. The brand on her shoulder pulsed, not quite fond of being left at something else’s mercy that long.
She eyed her surroundings suspiciously, but hopeful, “Did it work?” she said, then looked down at her hands and saw the change in skin colour.
No longer a mossy green, but a fleshy white. She felt her ears then, noticing the distinct lack of any pointy parts.

“It did, Grez,” said Chadaklin, sporting a comforting smile and patting her on the shoulder, “If you still go by that name that is.”

Having received some sort of conformation that this wasn’t a dream or illusion, Grez smiled in earnest and a brief chuckle escaped her, “Not a very human name, I suppose.”
The brand on her shoulder burned as it witnessed the sheer audacity of displaying gratitude to somebody, stealing the happiness from Grez’s face. “Give me a mirror,” said Grez coldly.

-----------------------

“It’s that damn brand of yours,” snapped the Scholar, “Can’t we get rid of it?”

“We just have to alter our approach…” replied the Sadist, then went on to whisper instructions to Chadaklin.

>>5270392

Patience is a virtue. A large, body-length mirror was brought forth with a snap of the massive hobgoblin’s fingers. Courtesy of the dungeon.
Grez lingered before her, eyes wide in disbelief. Her hands touching parts of her face as if it to confirm the things the eyes were seeing.

“As promised,” said Chadaklin in rumbling tones, “You’ve earned this. Without your efforts it wouldn’t have been possible. The people you’ve led here strengthened the dungeon to a point where it can grant you such boons. Really, this reward pales in comparison to what you’ve done for us.”

Grez turned this way and that in front of the mirror, slightly adjusting the fit of her leather jerkin, “I know,” she said, standing taller and puffing her chest out, “What would you do without me?”
The brand on her shoulder warmed in approval.
”But I suppose I should honour my part of the deal,” she said, trying various hairstyles in front of the mirror, “Magic items and lore, was it?”
Ultimately, she decided to have her hair loose for the time being – she felt that it framed her face in just the right way.

Two days passed. Days during which Grez was busy aiding the dungeon in various ways.

---------------

Vote will last until tomorrow.

DAY ONE

>1 - Grez stays out of sight and does nothing
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)
>4 - Other (Write-in)

DAY TWO

>1 - Grez stays out of sight and does nothing
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)
>4 - Other (Write-in)

---------------

File: QuarryExport.jpg (73 KB, 885x500)

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>>5270398

A layer of chalk dust covered the floor of this shabby office standing in the midst of sizeable quarry.
Rather than a door, a brown curtain covered in the same chalk dust held the blazing sun at bay.
The curtain was now pulled to the side, its ring bearings scratching against the curtain rod.
A dusty man stepped in, attempting to clean his hands by patting them against his trousers – accidentally releasing small clouds of white dust into the office.

“You wanted to see me?” said the man.
Much like the rest of him, his face was layered with a coat of chalk dust outside of the occasional line where a drop of sweat had taken some with it on its descent.

“Wir' behind schedule,” growled a dwarf in chalk-stained overalls standing bend over a table with various documents.
He had to stand on a small stool to properly loom over the table, but the stool’s presence was best left unmentioned if you enjoyed the luxury of having teeth.

The dusty man sighed, “Again?”

“Aye,” confirmed the dwarf, then exhaled heavily through the nose and looked up, “Ony word o' th' lassie?”

The dusty man shook his head, “Not a peep,” said the man, “Maybe she’s just late? It’s a long haul to Duskmire after all.”

The dwarf’s bushy eyebrows furrowed, “She’s ne'er late. Not in oal the years I’ve ‘nown 'er.”

“Maybe she took the profits of the shipment and ran off with it?” said the dusty man with a shrug.

There was a moment of silence. “Nah,” they said simultaneously.The Zarkha they had known for these past years would never do that or even consider it.

The dwarf hissed a breath through clenched teeth, hinting at the anger boiling within, “Each day that giant woman ain’t 'ere i’m losing gowd by th' bucket,” he said, glancing at the content of some papers, “She hauled mair stane than five men pat th'gither.””'N' she ne’er moped or moaned!” he added quickly, “Nae wance!”

The dusty man nodded sagely, “Zarkha’s absence is also bad for morale,” said the man.

“Woh? How come?” asked the dwarf.

The dusty man’s cheeks flushed underneath the coat of white chalk covering his face.
There was some vague muttering and gesturing. Words like glistening, sweat, and muscles were used.

These are the kind of workers foreman Emberforge was now stuck with. ”Juist send word tae Djuskmire, wull ye?” he said in tones heavy with disappointment, “A seven foot lass can’t juist disappear lik' that.”

>>5270398
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

>>5270398
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)
Might as well give it a shot, right?
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
More points are always useful.

>>5270398
DAY ONE
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

DAY TWO
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

>>5270407
Hmm, should this be cause for worry? Grez did make a scene when she got Zarkha. Nobody will recognize her ofc, but she'll have to be a lot more stealthy with her schemes, switch up the lies a bit more when people start catching on.

>>5270428
Not too much, since they have no real lead and the one lead they do have (half-orc) is not gonna show up again, but we will probably have to seriously consider asking her to lay low regardless, or slow down and only attract 1-2 people per week or something.
It's easy to forget since the quest has been running since mid-December, but it's only been 10 days. If we plan on doing this long term, we will have to slow the rate with which we snag people.
Maybe she can focus on gathering magic artefacts in the meantime? That would attract much less attention and still benefit us.

>>5270398

> Day one: Victim
> Day two: Magic item search

Let's get the dp we need to buy the item before we need it. If a basic vitality ring is five hundred gold then we're gonna need more dp before we buy.

>>5270434
Hm, true. If someone gets nabbed every day in a small peasantry town, there's bound to be authorities. I feel like we have to diversify our hunting grounds in the near future if we're going to consume nearly every day. We should swipe more homeless/orphan people and avoid the ones with jobs and shit that trace back to bigger companies. Preferably, we drag the poor souls with a foot in the grave to our lair.

>>5270398
2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)
Ay new thread nice.

>>5270398
Supporting >>5270567

Hopefully i am not to late. >>5270407
So she did have friends..... or at least employers that cared for her. Well she gave us lip. She payed for it.

>>5270407
Chadaklin is just called Boss (Unnamed) on the monster imgur page

>>5270398
DAY ONE
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

DAY TWO
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

>>5270398
DAY ONE
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

DAY TWO
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

>>5270398
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

Victim first, magical item next.
Quite easy reasonning : we might need the victim's fund to get the magical item.
Also, could we please stop acting as short-time sociopath gobling up every people we lure? This is always a source for more trouble, we can be smarter with the use of contracts.

Voting closed

DAY ONE
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

DAY TWO
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

D&D was cancelled at the last minute today since somebody had fallen ill, so I'll see if I can get some updates out.

>>5271299
well i hope your player will recover soon. Having to cancel sucks. Especially last minute.

>>5271299
It had better been a STRONG ailment for them to cancel DUNGEON NIGHT sheesh with how hard it is to get people together...

Grez spend the first of those two days hunting down another victim. She had gotten a taste for it.
The afternoon sun warmed her now white skin as she exited the orphanage grounds.
She was a new person – in more ways than one. Around her the Lower District bustled with activity.
Carts, people, and livestock hurried past her. After pulling at her leather jerkin to test the hold of the straps, she moved across the city in a brisk pace whilst humming a delightful little tune.

She could choose to approach any of these people, fill their heads with hope and promise, and have them bruised and bleeding on the ground before her before the day was over.
The idea that the once wretched half-orc orphan named Grez could hold this power brought a smile to her face, she winked at a passing young woman – causing the woman to blush and probably destroying her productivity for the remainder of the day whilst she wondered if the wink had any deeper meaning and how she felt about that such a thing.

Her presence drew some glances, but whether that was because of her radiating appearance or the fact that she was humming some stupid song in the middle of this incredibly depressing part of the city was hard to say.

Her stroll took her past a series of stalls and, feeling spontaneous, she approached a fruit stand to buy a singular apple.
Grez made an act of looking over the appetizing greenish red apples, like she was searching for the best one.
Truth be told, they all looked amazing to her. She couldn’t remember the last time she had eaten an apple that wasn’t bruised to ruin after falling from a cart and had to be fished out of a gutter, but that was a different Grez.
A filthy half-orc that had to resort to poking around in trash heaps on the lesser days. Others orphans might’ve begged on those days, but for an half-orc such things were just a waste of effort.

Out of the corner of her eye, Grez noticed the vendor, a man with a shaggy collection of dirty blonde hair who she assumed to be in his early twenties, readjusting his attire before approaching with a beaming, although forced, grin.
Would he have smiled at the Grez of two weeks prior like this? Or would he have kept a watchful eye on her, assuming she was about to steal something?

The man cleared his throat before speaking, “You, uh, like apples?”
He grit his teeth within his now closed mouth, his lips a line. Dammit.

“Oh, I’m not sure,” replied Grez nonchalantly, “Apples, sure. But these in particular? I don’t know.”
She tucked a strand of her now loose hair behind an ear. Maybe the ponytail had been better, but the half-orc known as Grez wore her hair in a ponytail and that was no longer her.
That had been a different life.

>>5271477

The messy-haired man hastily reached over, picked up an apple, and cleaned it on his shirt before holding it out in Grez’s direction, “Well, only one way to, uh, find out. Haha,” he said.
He had meant for that last part to come out as a sort of chuckle, but had instead spoken the word. Ha-ha. The mental anguish was clear on his face.

Grez took the offering gratefully and, opening her mouth to reveal her slightly enlarged canines, bit into it with a satisfying crunch.
The apple had been incredibly juicy, a line of juice escaped through the corner of her mouth, causing Grez to bend over slightly and away from the stall so it would fall on the cobblestones rather than the other pieces of fruit.
She sucked in the juice and cleaned her chin with the back of her hand, “They’re great, mister salesman,” she said with a short laugh after swallowing the bite.
No response was forthcoming, the man was simply staring.

The man snapped out of his haze, “It’s a fresh, uh, shipment,” he said, “They’re from a couple of miles out. From the orchards just beyond the wetlands.”
He cleared his throat again, “So, uh. How many can I get you?”

“Oh, I just wanted the one,” said Grez, flashing the man a playful smile accompanied by a wink.
“You have a great day now!” she said as she walked off and put some distance between herself and the stand.
There was the faint sound of somebody getting berated for giving away wares in the distance.

Grez finished the remainder of the apple as she walked off into the busy streets of the Lower District.
Time to get to work.

Just as she was about to do her job, she received a mental notice.
She rolled her eyes.

[The Dungeon is requesting that dungeon ally 'Grez Wildflower' share her senses.]
[Sense-sharing privileges will last until revoked.]

The dungeon was trying to check in on her like some concerned parent.
Grez sighed. She did owe it and that bothered her greatly.
But heeding the dungeon’s requests had done nothing but improve her life so far.
She eyed her surroundings and escaped into a nearby alley, then spoke in whisper, “…Sure.”

[The Dungeon can now make use of the senses of 'Grez Wildflower'.]

She winced as a set of invasive voices excitedly yapped in her mind.

>>5271479

“Ooooh, where this then?” said the Scholar, looking through Grez’s vision and taking in the sights of the alley.

The Sadist nodded, “This’ll do nicely,” it said, nodding in approval to it own statement, “I had been wondering where she had been going while not in the dungeon. This is a lot better than the [Goblin Scout]. She can go anywhere.”
The Sadist briefly disconnected from the mental link to address the [Goblin Scout], “You’re basically useless now.“
Somewhere in the dungeon, the [Goblin Scout] deflated.

“I can take away these privileges at any point,” hissed Grez.

“Oh, right. You can hear us as well,” said the Scholar.

“What do you want?” said Grez in an angry whisper.

“Oh, just checking in, checking in,” replied the Scholar, “Found any magical items yet?”

Grez frowned, “I left like half an hour ago,” she said, “So, no.”

“But,” said the Scholar in mournful tones, “Why not?”

Grez exhaled heavily, “Just shut up if you’re gonna be in my head. Okay?”

Having been told to shut up, the Sadist immediately spoke up, “How’s your body? No issues I take it?”

“What?” replied Grez, raising an eyebrow, “No, it’s fine. I feel great.”

“Might take some time before it fully settles,” said the Sadist.
The dungeon had her sleep through the initial adjustment, when brands are most unstable.
It should be a few more days until the brand fully completed and all the remaining traces of Grez’s former race had gone.
Things like the dark lip colour and the extended canines. She would be fully human then.

In a moment of curiosity, the Dungeon decided to check over Grez Wildflower.

[Investigating dungeon ally 'Grez Wildflower'.]

File: HumanGrez_May.jpg (72 KB, 682x962)

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>>5271483

Name: Grez Wildflower
Type: Humanoid (Human, Formerly Half-Orc)
Level: 2 (1 => 2)
Health: 2 (1 => 2)

Strength: -1
Dexterity: +2 (1 => 2)
Constitution: +1 (-1 => 1)
Wisdom: +2
Intelligence: +1
Charisma: +5 (3 => 5)

Brand of Cruel Intent Curse Mark (Brand)
The recipient becomes more assertive, controlling, and takes delight in suffering of others.
Furthermore, they become more charming and persuasive when it comes to tempting others to act according to their will.

Contract Mark Curse Mark (Brand)
A complex magical circle that can be used to enforce a contract.
The circle itself has to be placed upon the recipient, which is often the person in the subordinate position.
Abbreviated….

Brand of Icarus Curse Mark (Brand)
Standing between the seven of perfection and the seven hundred-seventy-seven of the creator, seventy-seven grants limited control over the creation.
It allows one to determine the meaning of perfection and mould the recipient to that image.

You can change one physical aspect about the recipient.
The recipient’s race has been changed from Half-Orc to Human.

Amount of brands: 3/3

Equipment
Wearing light, leather armour and a small mace.

>>5271489

DAY ONE
>2 - Grez tries to find another victim to lure to the dungeon. (List of options to be displayed)

Grez’s [Brand of Cruel Intent] gives her advantage on these checks. (Roll included in brackets after DC)
Since human Grez can basically go anywhere within the city, I’ve included the district in the option displayed.
Remember that Grez’s charisma modifier will be added after this.

>1 - Lower District - A thug seemingly searching for someone (DC10, 2d20)
>2 - Lower District - A pair of guards investigating a murder. (DC13, 2d20)
>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself (DC 15, 2d20)
>4 - Arcane Avenue - A bespectacled wizard that is clearly sleep deprived, but still busy (DC18, 2d20)
>5 - Noble Quarters - A well-off playboy of a man and his three bodyguards (DC20, 3d20. Yes 3.)

Vote will last until tomorrow morning

>>5271491
>1 - Lower District - A thug seemingly searching for someone (DC10, 2d20)
I guess we should stick to the lowest scum for now, so we attract as little attention as possible.
We can start attracting more interesting people when we get strong enough that we don't have to fear wide spread knowledge of ourselves getting out.

>>5271491
>1 - Lower District - A thug seemingly searching for someone (DC10, 2d20)
I might want to go for the wizard, but in his "sleep deprived" state, he might just flee. The noble's loss will definitely be noticed by people we don't want noticing yet, and guards going missing presents a similar issue. I think black leather man also has promise, but we don't know his connections, and if he does escape, the fact that he "loudly talks to himself" might bring unwanted attention. The thug seems like the safest of the options we can expect a return from.

>>5271491

> 3 the man in black

A little crazy and distracted? Sounds like a brand that's effecting his mental stability. Gotta catch em all!

>>5271491
>>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself (DC 15, 2d20)
Gotta catch 'em all.

>>5271491
>1 - Lower District - A thug seemingly searching for someone (DC10, 2d20)
>>5271502
>>5271505
I'm curious, when should be the time to strike out now and find bigger targets on the reg like Zarkha? I was thinking that by the time we have 2 complete floors is the time to go for bigger cattle. I don't hate picking on the city scum, but I don't want to feed on just them forever, especially if they're weak and on their lonesome half the time.

>>5271529
I think we're strong enough to start picking bigger targets now, but the attention from getting people with connections is dangerous. I think once we're a "proper dungeon" with 3-5 ish filled out floors, we can start to think about higher profile targets.

>>5270371
How many of these quests are a front for terrorism?

>>5271529
I agree in that I don't want to stick to gutter trash forever, but it's kinda hard to gauge properly. The annoying thing is that realistically if word gets out we can expect the strongest people in town to come knocking, which will be far more then we can handle. Zarkha alone with an axe could probably have soloed the first floor, and against a team of 3-4 equally strong people I'm pretty sure even a second floor wouldn't save us. In other words, we should not risk word getting out until we can comfortably risk attracting teams like that without getting curb-stomped.
Ultimately it depends on how well connected the targets we find are and how much heat we have on us. If we can get away with luring someone without attracting attention then we might as well.
For now we have Ben and the Blackwood brothers to worry about so I would wait until we eliminate them as potential leaks. If other people like Rollen's master or Zarkha's boss find and chat with Ben for example, then that would be bad. Once they are gone though nobody has any way to trace their respective disappearances to us, or find a common link between them, so they are fated to find nothing.

>>5271491
>>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself
Hopefully he's too proud to bring anyone but himself

>>5271491
>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself (DC 15, 2d20)

Lets see if we can find someone that is actually worth it to make a pact with. nad he seems like the same person that we heard from some time ago. A typical adventurer.

We shouldnt try and get new adventurers by contracting them under threat of death and it wouldnt get us what we want. After we kill ben we should go quiet for awhile and have grez scout for us and try to get some contractors

We need to have grez offer the contract to train in our stead and be a frontman so we dont end up with a bunch of people trying to brake the contract. Make it like a underground adventurer training ring.

>>5271491
That reminds me i think i asked you this before but you didnt answer. Can grez brand people for us with like a predone branding iron or does she need to know magic. Wonder how the debtors did it.

>>5271949
Well if the man is under some kind of Brand then he would probably ve very grazeful if we removed it. Or made a contract with him to not talk about us in return for removing the brand

>>5271952
>>5271949
We should probably grind a little, work on the second floor, or maybe even expand the first a little? So many possibilities!

>>5271491
Voting closed
>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself (DC 15, 2d20)

Need DC15 saving throws for Grez Wildflower (+7) (+5 Charisma modifier and +2 from journal / treasure story)
Roll comes down to: 2d20+7 (Taking the highest d20)

Please include the following message:
Rolling for Grez Wildflower against man clad in black leather

>>5271491
>3 - Upper Trade District - A man clad in black leather that loudly talks to himself (DC 15, 2d20)
The Thug could potentially be looking for either of our two earlier snacks, or Grez herself. Chances are if they go missing a larger group will come out to search for them. The disapperance of two Guards similarly wouldn't go unnoticed, especially since they are investigating a murder.
The man in black is probably just an eccentric and not under any sort of brand. His absence will be noticed, but hopefully it will only cause someone to raise their eyebrows at his absence and not get traced back to us instantly.

>>5271952
>>5271949
...alternatively we can just not attempt to force contracts on people who are most likely unwilling subjects and instead just eat them and become more powerful. We managed to contract Grez only due to her being shunned by the only 'friend' she had left in her life, a few spectacularly successful and unsuccessful dice rolls and Chadaklin's Silver Tounge. If you wanted a detached force that could operate outside of the Dungeon, the [The Conquering Horde's Garrison] would've given us exactly that without the possibility of attempted betrayal from people who's loyalty will be questionable at best, even with a [Contract Mark].

Instinct made mention of Dungeon Cultists that ally themselves with a Dungeon for some reason or another. I would much rather wait for one of those to throw themselves in to the Dungeon and offer their live in servitude to us rather than throwing Contract Marks around at anyone we can get our hands on and see which one of them stick.

Rolled 1, 4 + 7 = 12 (2d20 + 7)

>>5271965
37 seconds too late, not that it mattered. Lets see those dice. 8 or above, lets go!
>Rolling for Grez Wildflower against man clad in black leather

Rolled 6, 16 + 7 = 29 (2d20 + 7)

>>5271965
>Rolling for Grez Wildflower against man clad in black leather
Catch this double 20

>>5271966
> If you wanted a detached force that could operate outside of the Dungeon, the [The Conquering Horde's Garrison] would've given us exactly that without the possibility of attempted betrayal from people who's loyalty will be questionable at best, even with a [Contract Mark].

If we were in a Forest or the Mountains i would say absolutely.

But we are in the City. Not being super consipcous is gonna be the most important thing. And anything aside from a human is probqbly gonna at least raise Eyebrows

>>5271968
Well, that was impressively terrible. I'll restrain myself and only roll during invasion DC's from now on. Goddamn 84% chance of rolling 8 or above at least once and I whiff both, this is bullshit.

>>5271974
>But we are in the City
No one said we had to limit our operations in the city. There are tunnels that connect to the entrance area of the Dungeon that goes who knows where, if we're lucky one of them passes underneath the outer wall and would've allowed us to send out a raiding party unnoticed to pillage caravans. Worst case scenario we could've done some digging to make that exit.

>>5271984
What do citys usually have? Surrounding settlements. Marauding Orcs showing up from nowhere would raise extreme suspicion. Especially since they are not exactly subtle creatures and most likely would be easy to track by any seasoned adventurer.

And if we send them further away they are at risk at being spotted. And the only thing more suspicious to a heavily armed Orc to these people is one that is heavy with loot coming towards a city.

And if it is so that we might be able to get them later again they would also be useful with a higher DC. Especially since they might have to invade a Dungeon

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>>5271965
>>5271968

A young man clad in black leather sat on a barstool in front of the bar of the Red Herring Inn, wincing as the whiskey burned its way down his throat, “The story is from my perspective, because I’m the protagonist,” said the man.
He didn’t actually like the taste of whiskey, but it seemed like the sort of thing an assassin was supposed to drink.
He slammed the glass down onto the counter, briefly putting his bandaged right arm on display.
Staring up he saw a massive double-bladed axe affixed to the wall behind the bar, “Kukuku,” he said out loud, voicing out what seemed like some kind of chuckle, “Very adventure-esque. Not at all foreboding.”
There was a thin layer of dust on the axe, it was never used.

The barman gave him a look, “You alright, lad?” he asked.

“The portly, ginger man behind the bar, his arms dotted with freckles, seemed like the kind of stereotypical barman you’d expect to find in stories like these. He looked like the kind of man that would spit in a mug to clean it,” said the assassin.

The barman raised an eyebrow, “Now that’s just rude that is,” he said, “I don’t spit in any mugs outside of maybe Randy’s, but only when it’s full and that’s because he’s an arsehole.”

A man at the tail-end of the bar briefly looked up, his voice distant, “Huh?”

“Just mind your own fucking business, Randy,” barked the barman.

“Kukuku,” said the young man, turning away and sweeping his gaze over the rest of the patrons.
There, in the remote corner of the inn, was a figure wearing a deep-green cloak facing away from him.
The hood concealed the figure’s head. Upon closer inspections, however, it turned out to be nothing more than cloak hanging on a coat rack.
“Kukuku,” said the assassin again, ordering another whiskey and sipping it with much displeasure.

The double doors of the inn opened with a groan, a young woman stepped in and she made her way to the bar.

The assassin eyed her up and down after she arrived at the bar, “Skin like the silver of the moon which lights our passage. Raven-haired, the colour of the night and those that dwell within it. Her leather armour tight in all the right places. An aura of hostility surrounded her.”

The woman eyed him uncertainly, slightly turning her head, “Are you sick in the head?”

“Kukuku,” said the man, wincing as he sipped his whiskey, “And so the love interest appears.”

The black-haired woman’s mouth dropped, “Love interest?” she said, clearly trying to keep herself from laughing, “I don’t think so.”

>>5272050

The man clad in black leather smiled knowingly, “That’s how these things go. We’re hostile at first, but as time goes on we’ll warm up each other. Perhaps we’ll have some short fights in alleyways where our hatred deepens. Yet our repeated meetings will form a relationship between us. Until we’re forced to cooperate at some point to face a common enemy too great for us by ourselves. Then our bond will grow and slowly but surely we’ll end up as a duo of black-clad assassins. Your outfit tighter than mine – of course. Very much in love. We’ll wield our daggers for the greater good with deadly precision.”

The woman nodded in near approval, she was almost impressed with the level of his delusions, “That’s great, but,” she said, tapping a small weapon dangling at her side, “I carry a mace.”

Wrinkling his nose in disgust, the man spoke, “A mace,” he said, disdain dripping from every word, “That won’t do. That won’t do at all. That’s not how this is supposed to go.”
The man yelped out in pain, clutching the bandages on his right arm with his left hand, “Kukuku, be still my right arm.”

The woman leaned away, “Uh?” she said.

All of a sudden the man frowned, loudly stated, “I’m working on it,” then continued as if nothing had happened.

Waving his hand dismissively, the man explained, “A terrible power dwells within this right arm of mine, kukuku. I keep it sealed until I absolutely need it, but even with these seals in place the power still seeps out on occasion,” he said, taking a breath, “You should use daggers.”

The woman shook her head, “I don’t thi--,” she tried, but stopped. A strange desire came over her then.
Could she really be a successful assassin with something like a mace? Maybe daggers were better. It felt right.
She stared out into empty space for a long moment, the man looking up at her in silent approval.
Then the moment faded as she grit her teeth, pain bubbled out from her right shoulder, “I don’t even WANT to be an assassin!”
She yanked the whiskey glass from the man’s hand, downed it in one go, slammed it on the counter, and stomped off.

The assassin on the barstool cupped his hands in front of his mouth, “Things have already been set in motion, my dear! The tale of the ‘Night Born Lovers’ has already begun! We WILL meet again!”

The woman slammed the door behind her as she left.

“Kukuku,” said the man, turning back around to face the bar, “At least she already has the whiskey drinking down.”
He ordered another glass for himself, took a sip, and winced.

-------------

Both of the dungeon’s egos still hung around in Grez’s mind. They were on edge.

“Did… did you feel something earlier?” asked the Scholar nervously.

“Yes,” replied the Sadist in serious tones, “It became… crowded.”

-------------

>>5272054

The following day arrived.

[You’ve gained two (2) ‘Dungeon Points']
[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 6]

-------------

DAY TWO
>3 - Grez checks if she can find anything magical to bring to the dungeon. (DC15. Grez has a +1 modifier)

Since human Grez can basically go anywhere within the city, I’ve included the district in the option displayed.
Remember that Grez’s intelligence modifier will be added after this.

>1 - Auction house in the Upper Trade District
>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue
>3 - Rub shoulders with the posh people of Duskmire in the Noble Quarters.

Need DC15 saving throws for Grez Wildflower (+1)
Roll comes down to: 1d20+1

Please include the following message:
Rolling for Grez Wildflower to try and find a magical item or lore.

Just need a singular roll from one person since they (for now) all use the same DC.

>>5272055
Rolling for Grez Wildflower to try and find a magical item or lore.

>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue

Less interesting but should be more reliable than the Auction House

>>5272061
..... why am i so incapable of rolling.

Is it dice+1D20+1 or 1D20 + 1 or what is it?

Rolled 15 + 1 (1d20 + 1)

>>5272055
I will try again

Rolling for Grez Wildflower to try and find a magical item or lore.

>>5272069
Ha nice. Something at least works

>>5272069
Congrats.

QM, I really dig the "protagonist syndrom" sidequest that will surely pop back again.

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>>5272075
To be honest.... the Dude reminds me of Owain from Fire Emblem Awakening with how dramatic he is being.

And Grez reaction to his blabbering was just Gold. And the dude might be loaded if he can just affoard to sit around on his ass drinking or playing pretend. Maybe he can be enticed with real adventure. Not this pretend business. Though likely he will be alone or count on Grez to be his sidekick.

>>5272079
Weaves of fate have been tied. We'll obviously run on him again.
Grez might even be compelled to fell in love with him.

>>5272084
Wait... did the dude have eyes that were obscured by his hair? If so then Grez might be in big trouble.... he would be the strongest Protag of all... a Harem Anime Protagonist. Those guys are pretty much unbeatable.

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>>5272087
Well, depends of your anime. Some are only attracted to ugly ladies and have some... deep... troubles plaguing them

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>>5272088
You are right it depends..... lets hope this one is not so disturbed as that he would find.... pic related attractive.

Or lets hope it is a Cursemark. Then we might have some beautiful/ugly way to drive people absolutely insane. Though if it is one i do not think that we would like to find the person who invented it originally.

It also did seem like he has some hypnotic powers or something.... or maybe he contains corruption from another dungeon. He was used as a receptable for corruption and then kicked out and told to absolutely never come back again.

>>5272055
>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue

>>5272055
>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue

>>5272055
>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue
Thanks guys, on the rolling and shitposting high forgot to actually vote

>>5272055
Voting closed
>2 - Having a peek in various stores found in Arcane Avenue

>>5272069
Success.

Might take a while until I get the next update out.

>>5272137
Take your time QM, it will be worth it
It always is.

>>5272137
Be honest QM. You did not expect us to just make that check on the first attempt did you?

I certainly did not expect this to be completely honest.

Preparing the List will take some time i take it?

>>5272149
Just had some work I had to do that would eat up my remaining time of the afternoon.
But I'll start working on the update now.

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>>5272055

The wooden door of the small office clicked shut after the armoured woman had entered, she stood at attention and saluted the man sitting behind the desk, “Sir,” she said.
She wore the low-ranking uniform of the guards, a combination of leather and chainmail worn underneath a tabard of murky green sporting the symbol of Duskmire.
Her blonde hair in a tight bun. A short sword safely tucked away in a scabbard dangled from her belt.

“At ease,” said the man behind the desk, a desk which was covered in papers of all sizes and origin.
He sighed and rubbed his temples, fingers circling around in the greying hair, “Any luck on the investigation, private Stone?”
The Captain scraped some remnants of tobacco out of his wooden pipe using a blunted letter opener.
Bookcases filled with with folders, papers, and files about cases, both current and past, lined the walls.

Private Stone solemnly shook her head, “Me and trainee Highmountain spend the better part of the day checking around the Lower District, searching for any witnesses, but we’ve got nothing so far. Have you read the report, Captain?”

“I have,” said the Captain, he began shifting through the various documents littered across his desk.
“Here it is. Dreadful affair, really,” he said as he began to leaf through the pages, “Body found in an alley not too far from the Sleazy Goat Inn at the Lower District. Death by bludgeoning. Hard knock to the back of the skull was what killed her, but the entire body was covered in bruises. Somebody took their sweet time with the poor woman.”
”Oh,” said the Captain, remembering something as he once again began to search through the pile of documents, “Got the coroner’s report.”

Private Stone perked up, “Anything new?”

The Captain extended the folder towards private Stone, “Have a look. It only arrived an hour or so ago.”
When she reached for it, he pulled it back a short distance and gave her a serious look, “You may not like what you find, Esmeralda.”

Esmeralda Stone swallowed, then nodded, taking the folder in hand and began reading the contents.
She visibly paled. Horrendous. Disbelief turned to anger, “A psychopath then,” she said.
The blow that killed the woman wasn’t the first one, but the last. She was there for all of it.
Every bruise and broken bone. The hit to the throat had been the first.
A blow to stop the victim from screaming loud enough for anyone to hear. The killed had enjoyed it.
Private Stone’s expression twisted in anger, a vein pulsing on the side of her face.

>>5272722

The skies were clouded over on this day, but such a thing didn’t bother Grez much, she hummed contently as she turned into Arcane Avenue, the most reputable place to find anything and everything involving magic.
The street was lined with shops featuring all kinds of magical wares, though most tried to specialize in something to put themselves apart from the rest.
There were shops prominently displaying spell and skill tomes, those that specialized in arcane lore, and a fair few selling magical items ranging from the mundane magical tools to highly coveted magical devices.

Good-looking, clean, and outfitted in a set of well-cared for leather, Grez was a welcome sight to any shopkeeper.
Only two days prior they would’ve called the guards if her Half-Orc self had even looked into the direction of their shop, but now she was the thing these shops desired more than anything.
A prospective customer.

Most of the things on display in the various shops were certainly interesting, but she wasn’t sure whether they were things a dungeon would be interested in.
Though she did little more than window shopping, Grez turned up the charm and ensured she was pleasant in all her interactions.
It wouldn’t do to offend any of these shopkeepers, they likely talked amongst each other a fair bit.
Getting blacklisted by one would rapidly mean getting barred from any and all shops within Arcane Avenue.

During her afternoon of browsing, she found the following items:

>1 - A skill tome for something called “Flowing Body” that can negate one attack per invasion. (500g) (Consumed on Use)
>2 - An orb with deeply-dulled colours swirling within, almost entirely grey. (1000g)
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)

[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 6]

>>5272726
Meant to post earlier, but wasn't able to.
Vote will last until tomorrow morning. (8h from this past, give or take)

Hmm, so in order to get someone enslaved to us it's as easy as
>Defeat them
>Apply Brand of Submission
>Bully them into accepting a restrictive Contract Brand
>Remove Brand of Submission so they're useful again

>>5272726
>2 - An orb with deeply-dulled colours swirling within, almost entirely grey. (1000g)
Try to haggle it down using Grez's charm.

>some people won't want to go for the mystery box
Shame on you people

>>5272726

> Home defence system

I'm betting that the orb is a dungeon core, possibly a way to heal a corruption point, or expand our max hp. Might be a great pickup after the next invasion. Alternatively maybe it's a way to get a new personality without taking the hp hit.

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)
This looks to me like it would give us a room schematic, and that sounds pretty good to me.

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)
Arcane defense system for corridors and literally any other trap room, yesbox.

>>5272729
>some people won't want to go for the mystery box
>Shame on you people
I will not pay one thousand fantasy gold for a broken Dungeon Core. I will however advocate for stealing it.

Tell Grez to inspect the store as inconspicuously as she can without being caught snooping around. Try and find unusual entryways, such as a fireplace or a ventilation shaft (if those exists) that the Goblin Scout can use as ingress points.
Maybe we can corrupt the Scout with the Scholar Corruption after the next Invasion so he gets a bigger brain that he can use to be better at stealth.

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>>5272726
Can't we make enough coins to buy all three?
If not then >2 - An orb with deeply-dulled colours swirling within, almost entirely grey. (1000g)

>>5272748
That is actually not a bad idea. Though I doubt the shop is unguarded, with goods this valuable.

Anyway, in light of that >>5272729
>>5272726
Changing my vote to
>3 Schematics for a magical home-defence system

>>5272749
We can make 600g with 6 Dungeon Points

>>5272726
>>5272749
Fine... i change my vote to:
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)
More defences is always good.

>>5272726
>2 - An orb with deeply-dulled colours swirling within, almost entirely grey. (1000g)

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)

We could sadly not afford the mystery ball yet. Though its potential seems immense. Some more traps though that are more advanced pr different from just enviorments would be appreciated

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)

>>5272726
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)
>Corrupt scout with savant
>Send Arcane trickster steal the shiny

>>5272728
Voting closed
>3 - Schematics for a magical home-defence system that would attack intruders with spectral weapons (500g)
To be clear, this is basically a trap room with a higher than usual starting DC as it is a Tier 2 room.

>>5273354
Goood. Let the gauntlet of desth and headscratching puzzles commence

>>5273354
Sounds good to me.

>I'm still wondering what will happen when someone "solve" our puzzle room.
Will we get rewards like room, item, brands schematics?

>>5273387
Still haven't placed any book in the room.
I'll make sure to get a prompt going for that before the invasion arrives.

>>5273506
Update will be posted tomorrow.
Invasion also tomorrow.

>>5273994
#excite

Are we tomorrow yet?

>>5274781
There's a lot of tomorrow, it might not be the right part of tomorrow yet

Not having received much clarity on exactly what the dungeon was looking for, Grez decided to go with the schematics for some kind of arcane defence system.
She figured that, the dungeon being made of rooms and all, another room probably wouldn’t be the worst thing to get.

Flashing the shopkeeper a charming smile, she pointed at the scrolls that made up the blueprint, “These ones, please.”

The man behind the counter rolled up the wide sleeves of his elaborate robe and reached for the scrolls.
“Excellent choice, excellent choice,” he replied, mirroring her cheeriness, “That’ll be five hundred gold pieces.”

“Ah,” she said.

“Ah. Indeed,” replied the shopkeeper, scanning her expression and placing the scrolls back.

Grez fought down the urge to scowl at the moment, the [Brand of Cruel Intent] on her shoulder hissed quietly underneath the leather tunic.
Clearly, she had improved much compared to her time as an orphan that didn’t know where her next meal would be coming from, but this place and the expensive items it sold reminded her that the progress she had made so far hadn’t actually been all that impressive.
It told her that she was still little more than nothing.
”Just hold on to that for me, would you?” she said, “I’ll be back for it soon.”

Raising both eyebrows, a slight smile on his lips, “Of course,” said the shopkeeper.
Though the man tried to hide it, Grez recognized contempt when she saw it.
It was something she was all too familiar with.

Once outside, Grez exhaled heavily. Her hand slid towards the mace dangling on her side.
She gripped the handle firmly, then let go again, patting it twice after she did so.
Smashing the man’s face in and watching the bloodied mess squirm on the floorboards would be satisfying, sure.
However, the dungeon did say that it would provide any gold necessary for magical purchases.

A small gaggle of wizards passed by just as a small smile found its way onto Grez’s face.
One got distracted and stepped onto the hem of the robe of another, tripping her and sending the books of the young wizard flying.
The entire thing went unnoticed by Grez.

How satisfying would it be to return here in a little while with the required amount of gold?
She spend the entire trip back to the Lower District thinking over the kind of things she would say after she handed over the money.

>>5275037

Per usual, she resorted to back alleys and less-travelled passages once she got closer to the orphanage.
Her route took her behind the Sleazy Goat Inn where a small gathering of guards was investigating the site of a recent murder, she made brief eye-contact with one of the guards and felt herself looking away – hurrying onwards.
There was a rattle of chainmail far behind her as she turned the corner. One of the guards following.

Grez took a sharp turn into a narrow alley. Moving the loose board from a wooden fence at the end of it and squeezing through.
A cry came from behind. A command to stop. A command that went ignored. She ran.
Grez’s leather boots splashed through small puddles of water that had collected in the muddy ground. A dog barked as she passed.
She cut another corner and turned into an alley flanked with derelict warehouses she knew ended in a crossroads boxed in by buildings.
Three separate alleys going into wildly different directions.
Grez took none of them.
She briefly glanced over her shoulder to ensure the guard hadn’t caught up and vaulted through the window of a warehouse that had long since lost its shutters.

Once inside she hurried to a dark corner, tried to regain control of her breathing, and went quiet.
A noise like an angry collection of tin cans racing down a road. Slowly intensifying, then fading.
Grez’s parted lips slowly curled into smile, she looked down onto her trembling hands and balled them into fists.
The guard might’ve been a problem anywhere else, but the Lower District was her home and shew knew it inside out.

Standing in place, she considered her next move.

>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads
>2 - Leave through the warehouse’s front door. Exciting into the seedier parts of the district.
>3 - Go through the window, but quietly follow in the footsteps of the guard.
>4 - Other (Write-in)

>>5275040
>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads

Well the Main Roads are the most "secure" place to be when there is apparently a murderer about that got the Guard down here to investigate.

There might be patrols of Guards but any further problems can probably be handled through more Cardio or Sweet Talk.

>>5275040
>3 - Go through the window, but quietly follow in the footsteps of the guard.

>>5275040
>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads
Get going girl, the shopkeep will not wait indefinitely.

>>5275040
>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads
Not sure why she ran from the guard or looked uneasy in the first place, she's done nothing explicitly illegal, and certainly nothing this guard could prove or suspect her of. There's really no reason to be afraid of encountering guards, except for ironically the fact that we ran from one in the first place.

>>5275040
>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads

>>5275061
well she still has old instincts. And as a half-orc she would probably have been immediately on the shitlist of the Guards even if she did nothing. They would have probably just abused her while she could do nothing about it. Since if she got violent/ realiated she would be either beaten or maybe even killed.


>>5275040
Get a Grip Grez. Your a human now. Act like it.

>>5275040
You know, this murderer is probably doing a great job covering for the disappearances we're causing...at least in the short term.

>>5275037
Voting closed
>1 - Leave back through the window. Returning to Lower District’s main roads

>>5275040
>>5275099

No time to waste, the guard could double back at any second.
She perched on the window frame for a moment, looked left and right, and tipped back into the alley.
Time to go back to the orphanage.

A short while later, Grez was walking down the street leading towards the orphanage.
The alleys containing the guards were on the opposing side of the Sleazy Goat Inn and out of sight, but she hurried all the same.
Her eyes narrowed at the sight before her.

A small group of leather-clad folk were idling just outside the entrance of the orphanage grounds.
Some tapped their feet or angled their faces to the sky and boomed a sigh in annoyance.
One sat down against the wall surrounding the orphanage and rested his face on a fist, then huffed.

A woman wearing a sleeveless leather tunic and a large scar running over her left cheek spotted Grez and prodded a man on the shoulder, nodding into Grez’s direction.
The man with an unkempt beard and scruffy brown hair frowned at Grez, then began leaning slightly backwards as he turned his head to talk to somebody else, then pointed in the direction of Grez.
This other individual had the bearings of a ranger and briefly glanced at Grez, then he tapped the white skin on his left arm to indicate the colour, and lightly shook his head.

>1 - Approach these people. Ask what they’re doing here.
>2 - Take a detour without drawing too much suspicion and approach the orphanage from the back by climbing over the wall.
>3 - Ignore the people and just walk into the orphanage grounds.
>4 - Other (Write-in)

>>5275129
so those are people that are here for Grez...... i take it Ben put them up to this.

They might have a setup inside to make sure no one goes downstairs or comes outside from there.

We might have to search for a different way into the sewers.

>4 - Other (Write-in)
>Find a different entryway into the sewers that would lead straight here. Ask the dungeon to send the Goblin Scout out to greet you and get back together.

>>5275134
+1

>>5275129
>2 - Take a detour without drawing too much suspicion and approach the orphanage from the back by climbing over the wall.

>>5275129
>4 - Other (Write-in)
>Keep walking, paying no further attention to the group. Find a vantage point to observe unnoticed until they leave.
They've already spotted us, and they seem the suspicious types. Any attempt at entry is a bad idea and would probably lead to a little too much heat on Grez. Best lay low and wait until they leave before entering the Dungeon.

>>5275129
>4 - Other (Write-in)
>Try to bait them to follow Grez into the dungeon

>>5275180
My brother in Christ, they are already going in to the Dungeon. Why else would a well armed group be standing around an abandoned, completely looted orphanage. And if they are not, this would 100% blow Grez's new cover as a human.

>>5275129
Invasion will be moved to tomorrow, didn't end up having as much time as I thought I would.

>>5272722
wait grez did this

>>5275185
To be fair, they could have been sent by the blackwood brothers to look for Grez. That would explain why they are hanging in there, since its where she used to live.

>>5275190
no she didn't?

>>5275194
nu uh, yes she did

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>>5275195
When?

>>5275199
That's the point
https://gprivate.com/5z8hr

>>5275129
>Write-in
>Kill some time, create an alibi. Go look for work at an inn, at a shopkeeper's, maybe someplace where you can learn to read. Learn about maps and places and work on that fake identity.

shitshitshitshitshitshitshit Grez is not dead right now ONLY because of her skin. Lucky...

>>5275199

Victim killed with a mace, in a sadistic manner. Be a hell of a coincidence if it isn't her.

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>>5275201
>>5275211
OH...
Shit you're right, i mean, the sadist brand + a new mace = (still unconfirmed)murder?, sounds probable, logic even...

>>5275188
QM is this true? we turned Grez into a skull crushing murderer with the brand?

>>5275192
Which means it's even less of a good idea to tempt fate. The Brand of Icarus changed her skin and removed her pointed ears, but she still very much looks like Grez the Orc. She would still look remarkably similar to any description the Blackwood Brothers have of her.

>>5275213
She went outside to murder someone whilst we where eating Zharka. Impressive of the girl, she'll make a fine minion when she realizes she can't remain outside the dungeon due to her being unable to satisfy her newfound extreme sadistic needs without risking being caught.

>>5275129
>1 - Approach these people. Ask what they’re doing here.

>>5275129

> 4 Any approach where Grez lays low and doesn't risk her cover.

She's a valuable asset and she should lay low.

>>5275190
hmmm interesting theory....

I am so proud of our little psycho bitch.

Well.... not of her impulse control... The Dungeon went through that Phase as well. But that can be worked on. As a good sadist she needs more subtlety for the future.

>>5275129
Voting closed
So there isn't really a clear "winner" this time around.
A lot of votes for varying forms of ">4 Other (Write-in)"

I've summarized the votes as followed:
>Avoid the group for now. Find a different way inside the dungeon. Keep an eye on the group if able.

Whoever these people were, they seemed like trouble. Grez decided to give the group a wide berth without being too obvious about it as she walked past them into an adjoining road.
Once she put some distance between herself and the group, she held a hand over her mouth and faked a cough, then whispered under her breath, “You two still in there? Did you see that?”

---------------

Having little else to do with no invaders present, the egos had, in fact, been watching and had already commanded the [Goblin Scout], who suddenly felt their existence very validated, to hurry on to the highest level of the orphanage dorms and keep an eye out.

The group seemingly kept guard though they seemed to take no pleasure in doing so.
Every now and then an on-looker approached, but was eloquently turned away by shouting phrases like: “Fuck off unless you feel like dining on your teeth.”
About fifteen minutes passed before a man in a full-suit of armour holding a small leather bag approached the group.
Several members of the group sighed in relief and got up with the telling groans and grunts of men in their later years.

The Scholar perked up, “Hey,” it said, “It’s that Ben guy, isn’t it?”

“It is,” confirmed the Sadist. It didn’t like the look of Ben’s new armour.

---------------

One of the men spit on the ground, “Took you long enough,” he said with a scowl.

Ben had been an orphan for many years before aging out of the orphanage, but even he had standards.
Growing up he had always told himself he would never involve himself like the people standing before him.
Now here he was. Forced to call them ally and entrusting his life to them.
”We had to make some final preparations,” he said, holding up a small bag.
He opened the bag to reveal three large, glass containers with a sloshing, red liquid within them.
”Potions,” stated Ben, “We don’t have enough for everyone, so we’ll use them as needed.”

The woman with the sleeveless leather tunic smiled and held out a hand, “Give me one,” she said.

Ben gave her a flat look, “Like I would trust you with something this expensive,” he said, ”The bunch of you morally bankrupt rat-folk would sooner watch each other die than waste a potion.”

The members of the group merely chuckled. “Big mouth,” said one, “I’ve killed people for less.”

>>5276124

“Well isn’t it a shame you can’t kill me then,” replied Ben, undoing the leather straps on his left-hand gauntlet and revealing a [Contract Mark] on his lower arm.
Unlike the usual blue colour, this one was crimson red.
“Blood bound,” explained Ben, “If I die then your boss’s right-hand man dies. And if he dies then…”

“Yeah, yeah,” said the woman with the sleeveless leather tunic, waving her hand dismissively, “Then we all die horrible deaths as well. We’ve already been told as much.”

The man sporting the appearance of a ranger approached Ben from behind a swung an arm over Ben’s shoulder, “You were clever to force these terms before revealing the location of the dungeon,” he said with a half-smile, “Otherwise we would’ve probably offed you the moment we cleared out the place.”

Sheer disgust on his face, Ben removed the arm slung across his shoulder with a slap, “Get the fuck away from me.”

The ranger took a few steps back and made a mocking show of being terribly hurt, “Don’t you worry,” he said after noticing his little act didn’t get any laughs, “We’ll make sure there won’t be a scratch on that borrowed armour of yours.”

The woman with the sleeveless tunic and the scar clasped her hands together and dreamily stared off into the sky, “Our little knight gone to avenge his fallen love,” she said, batting her eyelashes for emphasis, “I might cry.”

Ben’s face twisted in anger, “I hope you all eat shit in that dungeon. You people have no idea what’s waiting for you. This dungeon isn’t like any other. It’s ruthless and would love nothing more than to see you crippled and bleeding. It cannot be trusted,” he said, “You hear me? Refuse all offers it gives you.”

The leather-clad group gave him a mocking salute, “Sertainleh, Meh’lord,” they cried.

No respect, but then again the feeling was mutual.
“Check your equipment,” barked Ben Nielsen, “We’re leaving in ten.”

---------------

While the above was going on, Grez had successfully managed to circle around the orphanage grounds and climbed over the wall, eventually sneaking into the dorms and making her way down to the dungeon.
Here she mentioned the blueprints for the arcane-magical defence system and the gold it required.
Of course, the dungeon had been sharing her vision all the while and was already aware of the cost.

>>5276125

[Total amount of Monster Points (MP) remaining: 5]
[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 6]


Spending DP / MP
>1 - Give Grez gold pieces for the blueprints (500g - 5 DP) and tell her to go get them (Will take a while)
>2 - Use the DP to buy something else (See OP prices)
>3 - Use the MP to buy something else (See OP for prices)
>4 - Other (Write-in)

What should Grez do?
>1 - Hang around in orphanage grounds, but stay out of sight
>2 - Stay hidden away in the dungeon. (Can be called upon at any time. Cannot be respawned at this point in time.)
>3 - Travel far away from the dungeon for a few hours.
>4 - Other (Write-in)

Dungeon Ally combat without certain utilities present
Dungeon Allies can be assigned to rooms just like monsters, but can also be kept in reserve and deployed mid-invasion as needed.
They are one of the very few units that can be used in this way. (Though once deployed, they stay out)
Keep in mind that without the presence of certain utility rooms they cannot be respawned.
Though if they died in the dungeon they could be absorbed for MP / DP, but will not count towards the “Victory / Defeat” rewards.

>>5276126
Can we get some info on the trap rooms we unlocked for the second floor? I don't think we've got any yet.

>>5276126
>4 - Other (Write-in)
>Give Grez gold pieces for the blueprints (500g - 5 DP) and tell her to go get them (Will take a while)
>pay her for the last haul

So Ben told someone about the Dungeon and its the Mob... great. On the other Hand. Good to know that the Bosses Right Hand apperantly is bound to Ben through that contract. Might give us leverage on the guys against the Thugs

Grez
>Go buy the Stuff and grt yourself something nice to drink.
>Ask the Dungeon if they can share the sight once they have captured Ben and plan to torture him.

>>5276126
>1 - Give Grez gold pieces for the blueprints (500g - 5 DP) and tell her to go get them (Will take a while)
>3 - Use the MP to buy something else (See OP for prices)
Corrupt a Shade into Shade of the Magi

>>5276137
I like this idea, +1

>>5276126
Spending DP / MP
>2 - Use the DP to buy something else (See OP prices)
Expand the [Vale of Shadows]
>3 - Use the MP to buy something else (See OP for prices)
Corrupt a Shade that doesn't get mutated into a Shade of the Magi

>What should Grez do?
>2 - Stay hidden away in the dungeon. (Can be called upon at any time. Cannot be respawned at this point in time.)
We might need her to fight off the Invasion, though it is risky. The trap room won't be useful for us right now, and we will have enough resources after the invasion to send Grez to buy it anyway. Might aswell roll for Mutations on our Shades first, and then corrupt one that doesn't get mutated.

>>5276126
Changing my vote from >>5276132
To support >>5276145

>>5276126
>https://i.imgur.com/sVhbeJ1.jpg
changing my vote from >>5276137
to >>5276145

>>5276145
+1

>>5276145
makes sense, changing to this

>>5276145
>>5276150
>>5276152
>>5276157
>>5276181
I love to see such nice consensus. Well thought, anon, it fall at the exact right place regarding to the plan of empowering the dungeon in the way to second floor minimal layout.

Voting closed
>>5276145

Need 3d100 rolls for random mutation. One for each [Shade].
Above 75 means a mutation.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>5276214
Nat100

Rolled 57 (1d100)

>>5276214
Lets get 'er done.

Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>5276214

Mutation Go

Rolled 17 (1d100)

>>5276220
>>5276218
If you guys could learn to roll better

>>5276224
lol

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5276214

>>5276132

Oh fuck this is excellent we can have the mob work for us! We beat this invasion nab Ben then send grez to negotiate with the mob. Make a deal where they work for us and we dont kill ben. It would be excellent for us and them. We are a perfect body dump and they can help us stay hidden and be more outside minions.

Also we can let Grez tourcher Ben endlessly as a gift as we can just keep resuscitating ben.

>>5276224
Sure i could learn to roll better. But cheating works better with physical dice.

At least we got one Mutation.
>>5276217

>>5276235
Look if he dies then thr Contract would be void. And we can not patch him up endlessly. We can however use him as a dump to mark him every day and develop new brands that way.

Also we should likely propose it more as a businessdeal. They will likely respond better to that than just outright blackmail with us being their master. Partners would be betterbas long as they stay away from our turf. Maybe propose it like a new gang carving their niche in the underground.

>>5276243
You make good points...but I wonder if Grez still has aspirations towards cleansing the city of its filth, or if the Sadist Brand has rid her of that. If she still has lofty intentions then it may be hard to persuade her to go along with forming an alliance with the mob.

>>5276217
One mutation.

Need a final d100 for the mutation chart.

>>5276235
Honestly we should let Grez decide the fate of Ben. If there's anything that will make the Brand of Cruel Intent evolve further it would be tormenting the one who judged her and left her to die, and since people can die-die in the Dungeon like Myriel did when we decapitated her Grez can kill Ben when he is being held by the Dungeon and hopefully level up.

As for working with outsiders, not a fan of that idea. Especially not with these lowlife scum or their boss. They're absolutely going to find ways to circumvent our deal and sell us out. If we defeat this invasion they will only know that Ben failed to beat the Dungeon, but not where we are, so we can stay hidden a little while longer before they find us. Gives us a little more time to sneak items from the surface and maybe eat one or two more victims that Grez brings us to power up before the real gauntlet begins.

Rolled 72 (1d100)

>>5276252

Rolled 45 (1d100)

>>5276255
You fool

>>5276254
Even if we make a deal they won't necessarily know where we are, I'm sure these companions are interested in self-preservation first and so we will be able to bargain Contract Brands with them. We just have to stipulate not revealing the dungeon's location (along with anything else) in the brand on whoever we release.

>>5276254
>>5276260

They know its at the orphanage, their squad was waiting there. The deal was they he made a blood contract with the sub boss then told them where it was so our location is already known. However a mob seems unlikely to tell others where we are in hopes of claiming the treasures themselves.

>>5276243
I agree with this we should set up a mutually benefical buisness deal with them.

>>5276260
>You fool
Why? Because i rolled?

Did i misspell something?

Did i link the wrong Post?

What did I do wrong ):
;)

Seriously though. Why am i the fool

>>5276266
You didn't roll a 100, thus you are a fool. It's okay, we're all fools here.

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>>5276288
Are we at least Defiant Fools?

Or are we doomed to fall prey to the crucible that is the life in this city?

>>5276305
God I hate Shu so much, I hope she dies with her dreams dashed against cruel calcite rocks and family flayed around her because of the stupid decisions she's made.

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>>5276126
>>5276145

[Memory of Frost] - Random Mutation (4 HP)
Once a vibrant, warm being, but then betrayed.
The [Memory of Frost] is a shadow of its former self, a creature that using its chilling touch to feed on the warmth by living entities until there is nothing left.

Combat
Attacks made by [Memory of Frost] force a DC16 Wisdom saving throw against a single enemy.

Denizen of Darkness Trait
All hostile creatures have disadvantage on saving throws made against Valley-spawned monsters in the first round of combat.

Haunt Passive Skill
Upon defeat, the Memory of Frost will haunt the hostile invader that has bested it.
Memories are able to leave the dungeon when haunting an enemy in this way.
Other than eavesdropping, the “Haunt” can be used in the following way:

In both instances, the “Haunt” comes to an end when either of these abilities are used.

- In Combat: Momentarily posses the haunted individual, forcing them to fail their saving throw.
- Outside of Combat: Posses the individual for a short duration, forcing them to perform an act that isn’t lethal to them.

Frost Nova Passive Skill
Upon defeat the [Memory of Frost] will release a wail that will chill hostile creatures to their core.
Hostile creatures will need to succeed on a DC16 Constitution saving throw or take two (2) frost damage.

-----------

[Total amount of Monster Points (MP) remaining: 5]
[Total amount of Dungeon Points (DP) remaining: 0]

>>5276145
>Corrupt a Shade that doesn't get mutated into a Shade of the Magi
Not enough minerals.

Corruption of Sadism on Shade = 4 MP
Corruption of the Crazed Scholar on Shade = 6 MP

Spend any MP?
>1 - Use Corruption of Sadism on a Shade
>2 - Spend MP on something else
>3 - Don't spend any MP right now

META VOTE
There's gonna be a lot of rolling.
I've been thinking of putting a previous suggestion of a "dice pool" to the test.
We would basically roll a bunch of dice at once and I will pick the dice from the pool in the order they've been rolled.
Could get slightly metagame-y at times since you would know what roll would be coming next, but I'm willing to give it a try.
Expect prompts like "Roll me 10d20." and I would add the modifiers myself.

>1 - Use previous rolling system of one roll per person per ability
>2 - Use the "Dice Pool" system as an experiment


Final votes before we start invasion

>>5276506
Lost my name thing there for a moment, but you see by the ID that this post is me.

>>5276506
>2 - Spend MP on something else
>Get 1 Shade in the expanded Vale

META VOTE
>2 - Use the "Dice Pool" system as an experiment

We can try it out. If it does not work then we can still default to the last system. But in theory at least it will increase the speed at which we roll. Maybe add in a roll that per person there can be at most X Dies rolled at a time until some arbitrary time limit has expired. So that more people get to participate if they want to

>>5276506
>2 - Spend MP on something else
>Get 1 Shade in the expanded Vale

>1 - Use previous rolling system of one roll per person per ability

Way too easy to meta game. If you're worried about too much rolling in thread, I would suggest rolling some yourself outside of the thread. If you want, you could even include the results as part of your post.

>>5276506
>1 - Use Corruption of Sadism on a Shade
>1 - Use previous rolling system of one roll per person per ability

>>5276506
>1 - Use Corruption of Sadism on a Shade
Nice, one terrorist ghost. Now to make a punchy ghost.

Vote closes in about 30 min

>>5276506
Supporting >>5276549


Well lets see what the Underworld is willing to throw against us. We will strike right back.

>>5276506
Voting closed

Spend any MP?
>Get 1 Shade in the expanded Vale
Was a tie between shade and corruption, so I flipped a coin and it ended up being another shade.

Meta question
>1 - Use previous rolling system of one roll per person per ability

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>>5276670
This is the current dungeon setup.
You can decide whether or not you want to move around any units while I write the fluff for the invasion.

>>5276670
Well good thing you rolled the way you did, because it wasn't a tie, it was 3-2 in favor of the get 1 shade.

>>5276680
i really hope that Chadaklin will get something to do. How about putting a book into the Room of Bewilderment?

>>5276680
Move the second Savant in to the Jungle Room to take advantage of the Raid Leader. We might need to use both Savants AoE this invasion, best give it as good odds as possible.

>>5276684
Ah, you're right. Overlooked this one >>5276612

>>5276688
I'm down for that, if it doesn't exceed the jungle room's unit cap.

>>5276688
Don't do that, if they have an aoe of some sort the entire floor would be fucked. This way they might take some damage in the second room at least, even if they just nuke the jungle.

>>5276686
>How about putting a book into the Room of Bewilderment?
Good call. I did mention we had to do that at one point.
You currently have two books which can be researched.
You acquired both of these back when you researched the ruined mansion on the orphanage grounds.

Ornate book: Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic
Protect your family, valuables, money, and valuables through basic arcane traditions.

Book with the dragon cover: Standing against the Dragon’s Flame
An account by Darius Strongarm about his coalition's struggle with Acidfang’s dungeon.

It was a heroic tale written by a warrior by the name of Darius Strongarm about how he and his adventuring companions stood against a being of terrible peril that Acidfang.
A black dragon with a breath so foul it could corrode even the most durable weapons and armour.
It has extensive notes regarding the layout of the massive dungeon complex that housed this beast.
A seven level behemoth of a dungeon, with the final floor dedicated to Acidfang himself, the core of the dungeon pulsing in the dragon’s chest.
Ultimately, the dragon, and with it the dungeon, was bested.
Its acid was harvested and twisted into a poison so voracious that those who had succeeded in synthesising it were awarded with a pat on the back, fancy jackets, and a shove into a padded prison cell.

Which of these would you like to place in the Room of Bewilderment?
>1 - Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic
>2 - Standing against the Dragon’s Flame

>>5276697
>1 - Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic

something practical first. Though the other book might have interesting insights as well. At least from a lore perspective.

>>5276697
>1 - Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic
I suppose?
Not too sure what researching these does

>>5276693
It should be a unit cap of 5. 3 for the base room and then +2 per room evolution.

>>5276694
That's a risk I am willing to take in order to increase the DC of both Arcane Explosions. Besides, every invasion we've been the once to initiate combat so we'd be able to get off both Explosions before they can respond. Potentially dealing 10 on the opening is worth it.>>5276697

>1 - Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic
Magic time.

>>5276701
>>5276698
with ritual Magic our Savants might be able to use some magic that we can use to either improve traps or add additional hazards.

>>5276701
In the short term it makes the Scholar happy.
In the longer term you will learn spells you can teach monsters or learn about rooms that you can then creature.
There's also some other stuff, but those aren't really relevant right now.

The longer I'm running this quest the more I feel like I've started to overcomplicate it.
Oh, well. I'll reflect on it some other day.

>>5276708
>The longer I'm running this quest the more I feel like I've started to overcomplicate it.
I think it's fine, it will only become a problem if we don't keep track of the rules. You might want to add miscellaneous notes like this explanation into a separate imgur image, so we can look it up if we forget. You could add things like the cost for making new floors, or corruptions costs formulas and things like that.

Voting closed

>You can decide whether or not you want to move around any units while I write the fluff for the invasion.
>Move the second Savant in to the Jungle Room to take advantage of the Raid Leader. We might need to use both Savants AoE this invasion, best give it as good odds as possible.
Two in favour, one against. Moving savant.

>Which of these would you like to place in the Room of Bewilderment?
>1 - Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic

>>5276712

>You could add things like the cost for making new floors, or corruptions costs formulas and things like that.
From the OP: https://i.imgur.com/HPU7Okw.jpg

>>5276721
Forgot about that image, my bad.
Then I think it's fine, you have yet to add anything that is overly complicated, I think.

It's been so long since we've seen our dear Benjamin. If we pull this off and manage to beat the invaders, we should devour the dumb muscle but let Ben's fate be in Grez's hands. I'm sure she would LOVE to pay back his kindness.

But if not, we could be in trouble. I'm not sure how it all works, but what would stop an entire gang from just running a train on a poor dungeon over and over until it gets mindbroken?

>>5276754
well say you can send in a Hundred Schmucks. That is what Traprooms are for. If the Dungeon can kill just a fraction of the Schmucks(since only so many people can fit inside a room at a time the Dungeon may be able to ward enemies off for quite some time before they break in further and break it)

We know only one Breaking Attempt can be made per Invasion. So when they leave the Dungeon has the chance to just devour everything he just swallowed and just grow immensely. Next time the surviving Schmucks might not even make it to the new Bossroom and the Bossmonsters due to stronger AOE Traps as well as new and better Monsters.

If you do that. Unless the Dungeon is very weak. You will just make it much stronger very quickly.

I would not allow her to kill him yet. He might be a bargaining chip if the Mobboss values his second in Command like >>5276243
said

Through the scout’s vision the dungeon confirmed the enemies were on route.
It had to act fast. Mere minutes remained.

“Grez!” cried the Scholar.

“Ah!” screamed Grez, clutching her head, “Shout again in my mind like that and so help me gods!”

“Sure,” said the Sadist, “That mace on your belt. You know how to use it?”

Grez scratched the back of her neck, “I’ve had some practice, yeah. In a way.”

“It’ll have to do,” replied the Sadist, “Ben and his merry band of brigands are coming. We’ll hide you in the dungeon for now.”

“What do you mean ‘Hide'?” snapped Grez, “Don’t you remember what that fucker did to me when I was basically a cripple? Like hell I’m missing out on this. Hell, I’d much rather finish him off myself!”

“Just shut up and do as we say,” roared the Sadist, losing his calm, “You’ll have your revenge!”

Grez’s hand rested on the mace at her side, opening and closing her hand, but eventually pulled her hand away, “I better,” she said, walking into the dungeon and allowing herself to be absorbed into the floor. It was almost like stepping into a pool of murky water.

[Dungeon ally “Grez Wildflower“ has entered the dungeon.]
[Dungeon ally “Grez Wildflower“ has been put into stasis.]

“Sparky!” cried the Scholar in dramatic tones “Heed my call!”

The Blue Spark responsible for all dungeon construction passed through the veil between planes and lazily hovered into view.

The Scholar waved his hands in a frenzy, “Shadow room bigger!”

A fizzy, blue question mark materialized above the Blue Spark.

“Expand the [Vale of Shadows]!” explained the Sadist.

The Blue Spark did just that. Adding another room’s worth of meadow, trees, and graves.
One of the [Shade] that had been subsisting in the chamber mutated slightly and became clinically depressed.
It turned ice white and radiated a chill. It’s a good thing that ghosts aren’t bothered by such things otherwise there would’ve been a complaint as the temperature within the chamber dropped by almost a dozen degrees.

------

META
See >>5276506

------

>>5276805

The [Vale of Shadows] was now one chamber worth of space larger and the various ghost-like entities within enjoyed the additional floating space.
That is, of course, until another [Shade] was spawned into the chamber and they had to give up a large portion of the newly acquired space to their new neighbour.

“Are we forgetting anything?” snapped the Sadist, “Anything at all?”

“Book!” cried the Scholar, rapidly instructing the dungeon to inhale one of the books they had found and projectile vomit it onto the lectern in the [Room of Bewilderment].
The spine of the book neatly hit against the lectern, folding open by itself.
”Leopold Brightwand’s Introductory Guide to Ritual Magic” was now available for research.

Finally, the [Goblin Scout] came running back from its place near the roof at a frantic speed, rushing down the caverns leading down to the dungeon while it desperately clung to its leather cap.
It darted into the [Bugbear Den] where it usually resided and kicked out the [Goblin Savant] after receiving a command to do so.
The [Goblin Savant] had to go and spend their time with the rest of the jungle folk.

--------

Then, footsteps. The jangle of armour and the squeaking of leather boots and armour.
The group of five that been idling outside the gate now stood before the dungeon entrance in earnest.

The woman with the sleeveless leather tunic placed her hands in her side, “Well, whadda ya' know. There really is a dungeon in the middle of the city.”

After stepping a bit closer and sniffing at the various scents wafting from the [Jungle Room], the ranger-like man replied, “Anya, don’t tell me you thought our good Bennie boy a liar?”

Ben drew his sword, “Enough, Marek,” he said, readjusting the grip on his new shield.
He glanced down at the small leather bag dangling from his belt, “Remember, we’ve got three potions, but that doesn’t mean you can do something stupid like letting your guard down and make us waste them.”
This was it. Revenge for Myrin, Rollen, Manson, and, with a little bit of luck, death for the dungeon and it’s lackey – Grez.

[Five hostile creatures have entered the dungeon]

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>>5276809

Name: Ben Nielsen
Type: Humanoid (Human)
Level: 3
Health: 4 (+1)
Strength: +5
Dexterity: +2
Constitution: +4
Wisdom: +3
Intelligence: +1
Charisma: -1

Intercept Skill
Ben Nielsen can intercept an attack targeted at an ally.
The original roll will be used, but the saving throw that was made will use Ben’s modifier.
If the attack still hits, Ben will take the damage instead of the previous target.

Armour of the Martyr Magical Item
This armour grants +1 health to its wearer.
Furthermore, the wearer can invoke the holy might within the armour to cleanse itself of detrimental magical effects at the cost of 1 health.

Common Healing Potion (3) Magical Item
Restores one (1) health when consumed.

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>>5276809

Name: Marek Jones
Type: Humanoid (Human)
Level: 4
Health: 4
Strength: +3
Dexterity: +4
Constitution: +2
Wisdom: +2
Intelligence: +0
Charisma: +1

Keen Eye Passive Skill
Marek has advantage on perceiving sneaking enemies and extends this benefit to the group by calling out what he sees.

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>>5276809

Name: Anya Kensley
Type: Humanoid (Human)
Level: 3
Health: 3
Strength: +4
Dexterity: +1
Constitution: +3
Wisdom: +1
Intelligence: +0
Charisma: +0

Primal Might Active Skill
Once per invasion Anya can invoke this skill to grant her advantage against strength-based saving throws for the current room.

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>>5276809

Name: Celeste Ashfield
Type: Humanoid (Human)
Level: 4
Health: 4
Strength: +1
Dexterity: +7
Constitution: +2
Wisdom: +2
Intelligence: -1
Charisma: +3

Dungeoneer Passive Skill
Celeste Ashfield has advantage against simple traps. (Floor 1)

A Simple Turn and Twist Passive Skill
Celeste Ashfield gains a +10 modifier to undo locks up to DC15.

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>>5276809

Name: Zach Dewhit
Type: Humanoid (Human)
Level: 3
Health: 3
Strength: +4
Dexterity: +3
Constitution: +3
Wisdom: +3
Intelligence: +2
Charisma: +2

Fan of Knives Active Skill
Zach pulls forward a collection of string-tied daggers he can unleash in a wave before him.
All enemies have to succeed on a DC13 (Dexterity) Saving throw or take one (1) piercing damage.
This ability can be used once per invasion.

In an attempt to make this go slightly faster, I'm clumping up the rolls for the [Jungle Room] and adding the modifiers myself.

I need 6d20 for "Constitution" saving throws for the invaders against the [Jungle Room].
6 because there's 5 of them and one has advantage. The rolls will be applied in the order of the invaders.
So: Ben, Marek, Anya, Celeste, Zach.

[Monster [Goblin Raid Leader]'s skill [Scream and Shout] has activated.]

Goblin Savant One - DC14 (12+2) Intelligence
3 Essence remaining
> Attack Ben Nielsen (+1)
> Attack Marek Jones (+0)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+0)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (-1)
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+2)
> Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
> Cast a spell: Slow (Specify Target) (Cost 1 Essence)
> Do nothing

Goblin Savant Two - DC14 (12+2) Intelligence
3 Essence remaining
> Attack Ben Nielsen (+1)
> Attack Marek Jones (+0)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+0)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (-1)
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+2)
> Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
> Cast a spell: Slow (Specify Target) (Cost 1 Essence)
> Do nothing

Goblin Raid Leader - DC 14 (12+2) Strength
> Attack Ben Nielsen (+5)
> Attack Marek Jones (+3)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+4)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+4)
> Do nothing

Goblin Blight Bringer - DC 14 (12+2) Strength
> Attack Ben Nielsen (+5)
> Attack Marek Jones (+3)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+4)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+4)
> Do nothing

Bugbear - DC 16 (14+2) Wisdom (First attack only)
> Attack Ben Nielsen (+3)
> Attack Marek Jones (+2)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+1)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+2)
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+3)
> Do nothing

Rolled 18, 12, 5, 13, 15, 15 = 78 (6d20)

>>5276847
Goblin Savant One
> Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
Goblin Savant Two
> Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
Goblin Raid Leader
> Do nothing
Goblin Blight Bringer
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
Bugbear
> Attack Anya Kensley (+1)

Double explosion, aka the Vietnam Napalm Special.

Rolled 19 (1d20)

>>5276830
Gotta take this boi down first, but in general I vote we nuke these fucks first turn with both goblin savants. He's the only one with an int bonus so taking him out before the puzzle room gives us better odds on this invasion fizzling out.

Also if we can manage to take down Ben then threatening his death might be enough to get the others to withdraw.

>>5276847
Dice for one of the enemies con throw.

>Gob Savant 1 and 2
Arcane Explosion

>Gobbo Blight Bringer and Bugbear
Zach Dewhit

>Gobba Raid Leader
Zach Dewhit if attacking doesn't put the leader in danger. Just hold back otherwise.

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>5276847
Goblin Savant One - DC14 (12+2) Intelligence
Goblin Savant Two - DC14 (12+2) Intelligenc
> Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
Goblin Raid Leader - DC 14 (12+2) Strength
>do nothing
Goblin Blight Bringer
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
Bugbear
> Attack Anya Kensley (+1)

>>5276850
Dude seriously..... one roll man. Otherwise this is just no fun if only one person gets to roll

>>5276847
This vote will remain open for a long while as it's currently a bit too late to run the full invasion.

Important notice
tl;dr --- Next week is gonna be spotty with updates.

I'll be boarding a plane in about 6-7h for a work-related trip. This trip will last a week.
I'll be taking my laptop with me, but I'm not entirely sure how much time I will have for updates.
I should be able to update at least once a day, but I can't make any promises.
Prompting for the occasional roll should be doable even if I'm busy.

There might also be times I'll be so busy I won't even remember to post a "Sorry, no update today" post.
Just a heads-up.

>>5276850
Zach's got an AoE that could clear errone in the current room if we don't take him out before he uses it. We really need him gone on this first round.

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Rolled 18 (1d20)

Well, this is going to be a little greasy on the first floor. The Jungle Room is unlikely to deal any damage with all these Constitution buffs. The Arcane Explosions are probably still the best play, we need to get some AoE damage in and hopefully finish off those who survive. Luckily we have three excellent targets for Chadaklin's Charm ability with Ben, Marek and Anya being easy targets for a Disadvantage DC15 Charm roll.

>>5276847
Both Goblin Savants
>Cast a spell: Arcane Explosion (Cost 3 Essence)
Get the cleave in and try to make someone die.

Goblin Raid Leader
>Do nothing

Goblin Blight Bringer
>Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
Highest DC, hopefully we won't lose the Blight Bringer to that.

Bugbear
>Attack Zach Dewhit (+3)
We have to break Zach or he cleaves our whole backline with the fans. Not nice.

>>5276854
Wow I can't believe the Jungle actually dealt damage against this team. Impressive.

>>5276854
Sorry, QM said he needed a "6d20". Didn't realize he wanted everyone to roll one dice.

>>5276855
Thanks for letting us know

>>5276861
Yeah this floor is pretty fucked.
Chadaklin should get some nice hits in though, and the metric fuckton of WIS rolls on the second floor should also hurt. And maybe the puzzle room will do something.

>>5276847
>>5276850
I'll change my vote to:
Goblin Blight Bringer
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+4)
Bugbear
> Attack Zach Dewhit (+3)
I'm pretty sure we won't take him out because the blight bringer is a bitch, and the bugbear has a disadvantage because of Keen Eye, but I guess we might as well.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>5276851
+1 Support

>>5276896
This marks 5 dice, assuming we use the first roll from Mr 6d6 here >>5276850

Rolled 11 (1d20)

>>5276851
+1, Zack needs to go

>>5276861
Ben is actually an insane target to charm, we can have him intercept attacks against the Boss, and have him give health potions to the boss too.

Damn, this is a crowded invasion.

>>5276861
Supporting

>>5276960
I didn't even consider that we could ask Ben to hand over the potions, that is a 500IQ idea right there. Maybe we could even tell him to take off his armour?
We will just have to remember to explicitly tell him not to use his armour's ability, or else he could most likely cleanse the charm off. If we do that, then that would be perfect.

Though ultimately the real question is what constitutes as "within reason".

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Just got back for more dunge-
>>5276818
>>5276823
>>5276825
>>5276828
>>5276830
>these fucking stats
>this many people
gonna have to go with >>5276851, scorch as many of the fuckers as possible, and beat Zack into paste.
>>5276997
oh boy, I can't wait for him to meet the big boss and proceed to shit himself when he realizes the dungeon got even stronger. If it comes down to it we have to charm Ben into healing and intercepting for the boss. Let's just hope he doesn't have a hidden plot armor buff, and harem protagonist's his way out of Chadaklin's spell.

>>5276851
+1

This run can still go either way, it really depends on how these rolls shake out. I trust yalls judgement and the preparations were good and made sense. Lets hope it was enough now

Rolled 14, 10, 14, 18, 15, 17 = 88 (6d20)

>>5276847
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (-1)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (-1)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
> Attack Celeste Ashfield (+1)
> Attack Anya Kensley (+1)

>>5276805
>Grez scratched the back of her neck, “I’ve had some practice, yeah. In a way.”
told you}11!!! she killa

Holy shit it is on. We drive this one off and we're going to be scary as fuck.

If we drive it off.

>>5277284
It's entirely possible, though the minions on the first floor is likely to be overrun without doing much. Even Chadaklin could potentially struggle to kill more than one or two invaders with these stats.
Though it is worth noting that if they enter the Second Floor with 3 or less invaders we do win automatically. Since a defeated Shade can force a failed check on an invader, if they manage to work through the 16 HP worth of Shades we have we can force a failed constitution check on the detonation to cleanly wipe out the whole invasion.

>>5277502
While we do get 3 guaranteed fails, that does not mean 3 guaranteed kills. Even if they all fail the con check, that doesn't mean they all die to it. It's only 2 damage, and these guys have 3-4 health each plus potions. If they take low enough damage from the fights, it's conceivable that they enter with 3 or less and exit alive. Also, thinking about this made me realize: the shade floor now is counterintuitively a fight where we want to spread damage rather than focus characters down, so that they can die to the AoE we can force them to fail.

So going forward, I think we should expand the jungle room until it increases its DC threshold again. This is partially so that its DC increase, and partially so that we can stack more goblins in there to benefit from the Raid Leader's buff. The Level 2 stuff is great, but still expensive as of yet.

>>5277712
I agree, but we don't want anymore goblins. They are far too weak to justify over other units.
We should get Hobgoblins, at the very least. Personally I'm curious as to what corrupted bugbears would give us, so I would like to get another so we have both types, just in case one has a useful ability we would want more of.
If nothing else, corrupting our current bugbear with sadism would cost only 2MP. Not a huge investment.

>>5277712
>>5277747
Once again, great plan for the future. But right now I won't feel secure until Puzzle + Bossroom downstairs. Might be debatable between trap second floor and expanding vietnam

>>5277761
True, boss room & puzzle room are no brainers. After that though I feel that unlocking hobgoblins would be a good move.
Maybe spend 3DP for a puzzle room on the second floor first, since puzzles are stronger on lower floors.

>>5277747
Sure goblins are trash, but they're also super cheap. A bugbear costs what 3 goblins do, for not much gain in damage potential (to be fair doubled HP...that's still less than 3x the HP though). The more units the more likely mutations are to happen as well.

We can't even recruit hobgoblins right now, I think we need to upgrade the gobbo warcamp/warren to a 4-tile room to unlock those.

>>5276847
With so many enemies and mobs and saving throws the fight will be a mess. Isn't it smarter to just allow us to choose who to target first and that's it? Way more rigid and innefective but the game will turn into a bitch if things keep getting more and more complex. Warhammer 40k throwing 60+ die per attack level of complex

>>5276851
Yeah, taking out the int boy is definitely a must
>Supporning
>Gob Savant 1 and 2
Arcane Explosion
>Gobbo Blight Bringer and Bugbear
Zach Dewhit
>Gobba Raid Leader
Zach Dewhit if attacking doesn't put the leader in danger. Just hold back otherwise.

>>5277853

Five tiles actually.

There's definitely an advantage to numbers if we didn't have to deal with aoe. A goblin gets multiplied by the number of turns it stays alive, and the number of turns it lives scales up with the number of goblins who have to die before it.

All of this gets short circuited by aoe of course. Using 1MP goblins might be an effective way to bait out aoe, stack five+ in the jungle, then have a horde of even more in the warren to take advantage of numbers.

Tier 2 and 3 Shadows might be so much stronger than basic goblins though that it just doesn't matter. An aoe bait might be a worthwhile investment either way though.

>>5277853
No, goblins are simply not worth it anymore, no matter how cheap they are. Their DC is just too low.
If it was just 3 DC8 against 2 DC12 (3 goblins vs 1 bugbear) then sure, maybe the math works out so its not terrible, but most invaders are going to have modifiers that make an already low DC of 8 even more useless. Look at the current invasion. At that point a DC 12 will still have a chance to do damage occasionally, as the enemy makes its way deeper. DC8 will be useless.
Remember Zharka? with +8 strength goblins were literally useless, didn't even need a roll. It's an extreme example, but this is the type of shit the first floor will face as invasions get harder, in which case only stronger units will be able to do anything.
And I didn't even mention the DC14 WIS check that bugbears have on the first attack.
Also consider the fact that a horde of weak goblins is weak to AoE, and would take up a lot of room space we don't have.
And for what it's worth, both goblins and bugbears are completely outclassed by shades, as they are more cost efficient in both health and DC then either. If we care about efficiency then we just get those.
I only mentioned bugbears because we have yet to corrupt a single one, and I'm curious as to what it would do to them. Both goblin corruptions were very big upgrades, so it would be worth considering.

And yeah I know we can't make hobgoblins, I'm saying we should make it possible.

>>5277884
Supporting this. Monster spots cost DP, after all. I'll only support buying Hobgoblin and Tier 2 shades in the future.

>>5277853
>>5277884
First floor is excellent for what it is, but it'll just get mogged by adventurers who are simply at a higher weight class. Gobbo's aren't going to do shit to someone level 10+ no matter what. I think its best that we give most of the love to the second floor, shades have yet to prove themselves, and I'd rather see ghosts in action than poor Boblin the Goblin getting punted by Clod McDouchebag.

>>5277884
We should buy no more tier 1 monsters, period. Tier 2 monsters are just that much better, even than hobgoblins. We would need to invest DP into unlocking hobgoblins that could be used making the second floor better, all so we can get a less efficient unit than things we already have unlocked. If you want to play around with mutations, do it with the shades.

>>5277712
I don't even think we should expand the jungle. I have no idea why QM hasn't shown us the unlocked trap rooms for tier 2 yet, but if the monster rooms for tier 2 are any indication, they will be much better and more efficient spends.

>>5278004
I think we didn't auto-unlocked trap stuff. We'll have to pay or research it.

>>5278013
Weird to gatekeep an entire room-style that we already have unlocked, especially since we auto-unlocked traps for the first floor.

>>5278004
>Tier 2 monsters are just that much better, even than hobgoblins
You mean floor 2 monsters I assume? Because bugbears are tier 2, hobgoblins are tier 3, and shades tier 4.
I won't defend the base bugbear, as it is completely outclassed at this point, I only advocated for testing corruption on them as we are entirely in the dark in regards to them and they might give us something very useful. The Goblin Savants are really nice for instance, and they are made from shitty gobbos. A corrupted bugbear might be an equally large and comparatively cheap upgrade, but we won't know if we don't try. Wouldn't take much MP to just get see what our option are.
But I don't plan on dying on this hill, shades ARE much better, so if no one else likes the idea that is fine by me.
Hobgoblins though I argue are very much worth it. They are less efficient then shades, but their ability to choose between STR and DEX is really useful, and as it stands they are our best source of both STR and DEX checks from any monsters, shades included. They are also our ONLY source of DEX checks we can buy. Also, at 3 HP they die in two hits from any 2 damage attacks, just like shades would, so they are not even that much of a downgrade health wise. Unless we get better sources of STR or DEX later, Hobgoblins would be a very valuable addition to the dungeon as it stands. And upgrading the camp to 4 tiles would only take 6DP, 1 more then a boss room. Not a huge investment when it unlocks such a good unit.

>>5278052
Partially agreeing with you. We should fill up first floor with Hobgoblins and corrupt what we already got - but it's really low priority.