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ABH - CH 12.5 - Interlude 2
🕑 Added 2024-08-14 14:14:46 +0000 UTCInterlude Two
A Collection of Essays on Dungeons
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On Dungeons, Anathema, and the Divine
By Hollan Signallia
“It has been widely recorded, from ages past to lives present, that whence mana is collected in great volumes, whether naturally or otherwise, the overseer of such collection must maintain a careful watch upon the mana. Mana, when dense enough, can sour and become corrupted by the energies of the world.
One would think that the energy of the world is pure and thus should not corrupt the mana. However, I posit that mana is not of the world but is of the Gods and, thus, is corrupted by the very existence of the world itself. This is why mana fights corruption by expelling it out via forming a core. Colloquially known as a Dungeon Core, these cores materialize monsters and treasure as a way to purge the corruption from the mana source.
While it has been extensively proven that such treasures are not corrupted themselves, I believe the anathemic nature of Dungeons inherently mean that such objects should be utilized only in the most dire of circumstances.
This belief stems from the information passed down by Evali, the God of Ground, Lord of Knowledge. See Polar’s examination of Evali’s prophets for more further details. He has shown us the Origin of the System, that the aether of space has been condensed and forced into such a shape by the Gods themselves. He does not explicitly condemn the existence of Dungeon Cores, but it is well-known, following the theory of Ascension, that certain Gods and Goddesses ascended via their destruction.
The children of the Great Goddess Maeve, the namesake of our Queendom, are such examples. Oberon and Kite challenged Dungeons to increase their Divinity until they were qualified to Ascend. Born mortal, the two sons of Maeve had no great advantage when it came to their progression. Until they were blessed by their mother.
Oberon is best known for his demise, as is Kite, but the two brothers were famous in millenia past for their deeds while mortal. It is recorded that Oberon cleared over three hundred Dungeons by his lonesome, whereas Kite cleared over a hundred. Together they cleared nearly a thousand Dungeons. It is , of course, relevant to note that this occurred in the Age of Confusion. Long before history was reliable, before society was fully formed, before it was truly known the cost of progression.”
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The Great Plague of Umbra: The End of the Oceanic Dungeon
By Rhiannon Klinger
“Three hundred seventy-two years ago, the late Queen Lorelei ordered the clearing and destruction of the Oceanic Dungeon that nearly claimed the lives of several noble families in the Duchy of Umbra. The Oceanic Dungeon, known to the citizens of the Umbra territory commonly as Ossy, was well known for its unique treasure with mystical properties. From pearls that could grant the Skill [Water Breathing] to gems that could enhance one’s attributes, the Dungeon was revered as an asset rather than a liability.
Umbra cleared the dungeon several times a year to acquire these treasures —as well as to prevent a dungeon break. However, after centuries of symbiosis, the Dungeon altered its floors. This unprecedented change fundamentally altered the nature of the Dungeon. No longer did it produce treasures sought far and wide. It began producing esoteric treasures, one such treasure was the named dagger Kekai.
Upon use of a generic [Inspect] Skill, Kekai was a simple dagger that when thrust out would produce flower petals. The petals were permanent constructs, much like the luckiest of artisans can produce with their Skills. However, once Kekai was presented to the University of Nadine as a unique existence, a Tier 4 [Inspect] was utilized. The petals were not as innocuous as one would expect. They carried a magical plague that spread through the region.
Previously, the magical plague had no known causes or cures, and Umbra’s population was growing more and more ill by the day. It was under these circumstance that the late Queen Lorelei ordered the eradication of the Dungeon. It is said she was of the belief that upon the destruction of the Dungeon, the ultimate treasure would be the antidote to the plague.
This was not the case of course, as we know now that the final treasure that presented itself was the Sword of Many Forms, Hirsha. Hirsha was a simple sword made up of a mystical metal, Lysyallrn Alloy, that was well regarded for it’s pink hues and it’s ability to absorb properties. Usually, the properties it absorbed depended on the area the veins were found, however, as Hirsha was a Dungeon creation, it had a unique property. It could shift it’s form.
Upon a Tier 4 [Inspect], it was revealed that the Sword of Many Forms could even shift it’s color and density, so long as it’s mass remained the same.
This, of course, did not solve the issue of the magical plague. Not directly. But it was Hirsha that the late Queen Lorelei used to threaten the scholar’s of various universities into finding a cure.”
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Economics of the Argyle Dungeon, A Study on the Strength of the Callistan Empire
By Jolene Asha
“The Argyle Dungeon of the Callistan Empire is a meticulously curated Dungeon that the Empire has possessed for over a thousand years. What has prevented the Dungeon from mutating, one author wonders. The answer? Nothing. The Argyle is well known for mutating once every hundred years, as if on a schedule. And the Empire adjusts its exports as such.
The sheer volume of Dungeon treasures that the Argyle provides is incomparable to any other dungeon in the region, as it is by far the oldest and most convoluted in layout. The Dungeon itself is known to possess over twenty floors, each more dangerous than the last. The Argyle’s first floor has grown into a theme over the years.
As of writing this essay, in 1132 SY, the theme of the first floor of the Argyle remains fire and ice. In fact, the first five floors are all contrasting elemental themes.
The Empire has, since the latest mutation, utilized the treasures of the dungeon to equip their military with elemental weapons, as well as exporting elemental stones and gems to the Queendom and other trade partners. It is unknown exactly how often the Empire dives the dungeon to it’s peak, but the first floors are perpetually producing enough items to give the Empire’s economy a boost.
Thus, the Class options for citizens of the Empire are known to be varied and dangerous. There are many uncontracted elementalists who are able to reach such levels prior to Tiering up their Class. Though the overall number is still a small percentage, often centered on their noble class, it is a much higher percentage than in the Queendom, which eradicates all Dungeons when they are young to prevent such tragedies as the Great Plague of Umbra from occurring. That is not to say that the Queendom pales in comparison to the Empire.
The Queendom of Maeve is often granted with a much higher concentration of Divinity and the populace is generally more educated. However, it is undeniable that the Argyle Dungeon is integral to the power of the Callistan Empire.”
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On Curating Dungeons
A Missive written by the late Queen Lorelei
“Don’t.”
Comments
Ben Tilly
Minor typo. objectws should be objects. I'm wondering. Does Maeve have extra divinity because it kills its dungeons? In which case, would Nemo be on the side of curating them?
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter! So Dungeons much like anything if managed well and competently can be a hugely profitable resource but powerul natural phenomens are always unpredictable so tragedy may strike nonetheless... Interesting worldbuilding interlude! That may be one way for Nora and Freddie as well to ascend perhaps...?
Irakli Jishkariani
Woooow, that was interesting. You expanded worldbuilding of this story quite a lot. I'm curious, why dungeons mutate? Are they sentient? Is it like corruption of core itself? I'm looking forward to finding it out.
