Countryguy's Blog
Chapter 8
The Dungeon of Skills
Part 1
Carl Point Of View
When we were at the guild I bought a beginner’s kit for each of the girls. After removing everything back at the house we found multiple items:
1 water bottle
1 Handheld GPS
1 Emergency food
1 Emergency blanket
1 Small dissecting knife (according to Appraisal)
1 Healing potion small
1 Poison antidote small
There was a list in the bag, but my appraisal showed better results. Potions and antidotes come in different strengths, small being the weakest. Small, gives you 50 HP, basically it will keep you from dying. Medium, 100 HP, restore some strength to move. Large, restores 200 HP. Elixir of the Gods will do a complete recovery of full stats, but hasn’t been made in hundreds of years. It has been found in the Dungeon every 5 years or so. When I looked those up online only the small ones have been made so far, no one has been able to make any of the larger ones. It also stated prices are not fixed and can raise or lower due to demand.
We were in research mode the next day. I took my laptop over there so I could share anything I found. While in the middle of reading about the nearest dungeon I heard the *ding again, but no announcement about a new skill, it said I had a message.
Status Open
You have a new message.
What is this some voice mail system too? I listened to the new message and then told the rest of my Party.
“It seems the new dungeon is still being built, but we can access the 1st floor only if we want.”
“There is no way my father or yours would approve of me going.” Mia
“I can use the GPS to find it so it will be easier to find later for us. I can go alone or take 1 person.”
“That’s a good idea since we agreed to never enter alone. Akeno, do you want to go with him?” Mia
“Yes, please.” Akeno
“How about tomorrow morning? I will let my father know the 2 of us are going for a hike just outside of the gate. He shouldn’t be against it if I say you want to check the surroundings a bit so you are familiar with the area if
something happens.”
“Sounds good to me.” Akeno
“Please be careful.” Mia
“”Promise.”” Akeno and I look at each other and laugh.
I headed to the office to talk to my father and he wasn’t in the office so I went to my Uncle John’s office.
After being told to ‘enter’ I walked into the office.
“Hello Carl, this is a surprise.”
“Hello, Uncle. I just wanted to let you guys know that the ladies want to send someone outside the fence to take a look around. I told them I could probably take one out, but the rest should stay inside.”
“Why do they want to look around?”
“They want to get familiar with the area if there is an emergency. So I thought I would take Akeno outside the main gate and up the hill, that way we are close and she can see from the top of the hill.”
“Okay, I will let the others know. Are you heading out in the morning?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Be careful and have a good time.”
“Thank you, sir.”
I left the office and headed home. On the way I called Akeno and told her we were cleared to leave in the morning. We agreed to 8 am. As I was about to hang up I asked her to wait. Clint was headed this way. So we kept talking as I walked by him. I nodded but did not stop to talk. I thanked her and hung up.
I showed up a little before 8 am with a pack full of supplies, including the beginner’s kit.
She came out with a bag as well.
“I have my beginner’s kit and some food. This is all new for me, but I figured food was a good idea and it was on recommendation on the guild webpage.”
“I loaded my bag from their list as well. Shall we head out?”
“Yes.”
As we headed towards the gate we got a lot of stares and surprise looks. One of the people was Clint. The way he was looking he must have been interested in Akeno.
“That is the guy who kept watching me when I was outside.” Akeno
“That is Clint, the guy who earned me the skill ‘lie detector’. Do you mind if I have some fun?” She said she didn’t mind.
At that time Clint approached us.
“Hi Carl, are you working?”
“No, just going for a walk. We wanted to be alone for a while and talk.”
“Oh, do you need a security escort? I am free right now.” Clint
“We just want to be alone, thanks though.” Akeno
“Plus we are both qualified as security experts in hand to hand fighting.” Me
“She is too?”
“Yes, she could kick most of the guy’s asses on this base in hand to hand. Well we need to get going, later.”
“Thanks, maybe he will quit hanging around so much.” Akeno
“It was a pleasure, trust me. I hate guys who want to be friends just to get closer to someone they know. I will be happy when we can leave this place.”
When we reached the gate the guard told me to use the alarm if I have any trouble and backup with be up as fast as possible. The alarm lets off a really high pitch sound and a light flashes so people can find you.
As we got out of sight I pulled out the GPS and headed towards the coordinates in the message from the god Zecks.
It took about 30 minutes to reach the area. It looks like a cave opening except for a glow around it. I took some pictures with my phone to show the others. Then we approached the entrance and walked in.
Welcome to the Dungeon of Skills. Records show this is your first visit to a dungeon which is why you are hearing this message. Please listen carefully because you only hear this message the first time you enter a dungeon. Pay close attention to your surroundings, be curious but also cautious. There are many things about dungeons that your world has not discovered yet, the guild will pay the person who reports them. They will also buy items found in dungeons. Things found in dungeons are usually weapons, gems, ores, potions and monster materials. In a Dungeon of Skills you can also find ‘Skill Orbs’. ‘Skill Orbs’ can be taken in by the person who finds them or sold to the guild, a merchant or to other individuals. The more skills a person has the stronger they are, so ‘Skill Orbs’ can sell for high prices. Remember this may be a dungeon of learning, but it is still a dungeon with monsters. Since this is your first visit to a dungeon the rest of your stats have been added to your status. Good Luck.
“Huh, the rest of our stats?” Me
“Let’s check.” Akeno
Status Open
Name/Age:
Carl Adams 17
Race/Sex/Level:
Human/Male/Level 1
Occupation:
Explorer
Skills:
Identification lv 2
Appraisal lv 2
Martial Arts lv 1
Short Sword lv 1
Magic Skills:
Life Magic
Stats:
HP 200/200
MP 1000/1000
STR 80 (100 max)
SPD 80 (100 max)
SIGHT 85 (100 max)
HEARING (100 max)
DEX/FLX 50 (100 max)
VIT 100 (max)
INT 90 (100 max)
AGI 85 (100 max)
LUK 200
Titles:
God Zecks Blessing
***
Life Magic - ability to use magic for everyday life. Fire- for heat or campfire, water- fill a bottle, breeze- to clean the floor, earth- cover waste with dirt and clean- cleanse body.
“Did you get life magic?” Me
“Yes, I also got some other stats like INT.”
“I think that is intelligence. Please never ask about my DEX/FLX.”
“Bad?”
“That took a whole 2 seconds for you to ask. Yes, that is my only bad one. I don’t know if the HP and MP is bad or not. HP 200 and MP 1000.”
“My HP is the same, MP is 1500.” Akeno
“Let's hope we find some magic skill orbs for you. The message said things have not been discovered in the dungeon yet so we need to look for things some people would miss if they were in a hurry.”
We looked around the first room for 10 minutes each covering the entire area and found nothing so went on.
The next place looked like a staging area or something, it was clean with nothing in the room. There was the door we came in and one opposite of it to exit. We started looking around again. It was dark with little crystals providing a little light. I took out a flashlight to see better. After going all the way around the room I found a design right by the door we came in.
“Hey Akeno, check this out. What do you think?”
“I have never seen anything like this before. Did you touch it or push on it? It might be one of the things people are supposed to find.”
“It could also be dangerous. We are in the first room and in a learning dungeon so let’s hope it is safe. Stand behind me just in case, please.”
When I reached out and touched the symbol, it lit up and we heard a scraping sound. Something was coming out of
the wall.
Teleport Crystal
When I look at the name it says to touch the crystal the first time I come into the dungeon to register in the dungeon.
As I find other crystals throughout the dungeon I register on those as well and can transport between locations instead of walking. I reached out and put my hand on the crystal, it glowed blue and then faded. Guess that is it. I tried touching it again.
You have not registered on any other dungeon crystals at this time, teleportation is not possible.
Akeno touched the crystal next.
“So cool.” Akeno
“I know, I love magic.”
“I guess you made one of the discoveries they were talking about.” Akeno
“Just an accomplishment for our party. Anything they pay me will be put in a fund to buy a place for us as Explorers.”
“Awe, are you already asking me to move in with you?” Akeno in a teasing voice.
“Every man will be jealous of me and want me dead.” lol
We walked through the other opening. It looks like the other room, cave walls with crystals as lights. Suddenly something comes towards us.
“Is that a rabbit?” Akeno
“Slow Rabbit, try to identify.”
I took out a throwing knife and hit it in the chest.
*Ding New Skill acquired
After a quick check I had knife throwing as a skill now.
“I learned the knife throwing skill. Did you bring any throwing knives?”
“Yes, I will hit the next one.”
I put the rabbit in my bag, thankful it was small.
We alternated between kills. The only monsters we saw were ‘Slow Rabbits’ and tried different ways to kill them.
“Is that a room?’ Me
Akeno was behind me, “Let’s go in.”
There was a wooden box in the middle of the room.
“It says ‘Treasure Chest’.” Me
“You're up, I’ll take the next one.”
I slowly approached, bent down and opened the lid very slowly.
“You sure you don’t want it? It is a white glass ball, maybe a skill orb?”
“Nope, I will take whatever is in the next one.”
I used appraisal, skill orb. Took it carefully out of the box and looked at it. I felt Akeno come up behind me. Slowly the cloudy white cleared and the words ‘Item Box’ appeared. No fucking way. I thought, I want this and it dissolved.
*Ding New skill acquired.
I did a quick look and saw I had a new skill ‘Item Box’
The info said that the storage amount depends on my level. So not unlimited, still very helpful though.
I took the monsters out of my bag and added them to the storage box. Then asked Akeno for hers and added them. It makes the bags a little lighter.
We looked around the room again to make sure we didn’t miss anything. Then left the room and started walking down the hallway again.
I got the next ‘Slow Rabbit’ and then the next monster was something different, it was a rabbit though.
Horned Rabbit
“I would use the throwing knives since this is the first time with this thing.” Me
“Okay.”
Akeno took out 2 knives and waited for it to make the first move. It would not move, so I pointed my hand at it like I was going to use magic. That is when it started its charge. Akeno still waited, probably to judge the speed. Then pulled her arm back and let the knife fly.
“Damn! Right in the head, nice shot.” I wish I could do that, I am happy if I hit the chest.
“Thanks.”
As we approached to grab the body it started to smoke. What the hell? It disappeared and in its place was rabbit fur.
I concentrated on the fur and it turns out it is a rabbit storage bag - unlimited.
Sure she gets unlimited, well I guess it is better because I would not want to carry it around.
“Looks like you got an unlimited storage bag, I guess anything that fits in the opening.”
She picks it up, “Good thing I got it, I don’t think it fits your style.” hehe
We kept walking after collecting the storage bag. We finally reached the end of the hall where another room was. It once again had a box in the middle of the floor. It is a large room so I thought of a boss room, but there is no boss. I asked her to let me open it to be safe. Not like I have a skill to disable traps, but I would rather get hurt than let Akeno get hurt.
After I opened it I backed away so Akeno could grab what was inside, it was another skill orb. We looked at it waiting for the clouds to clear, and finally the words ‘Fire Magic’ appeared.
“Nice, you got fire magic now.”
There was no symbol in this room either so we headed back to the entrance.
“Maybe we can come as each floor is finished and then when the dungeon is complete we bring the others. They can learn the skills and we just keep an eye on the surroundings.”
“I like that idea, but I don’t think Mia will. She will think it is safer all together.” Akeno
We exited the dungeon and headed down the hill. As we were descending I checked my phone, we were in there for over 4 hours. I sent a quick text to Mia.
We’re out and on our way back.
“I think you’re right. We were there for over 4 hours, I hope they didn’t worry.”
“Oh, they did. It didn’t seem that long.”
“Would you like your rabbits or would you rather wait till we get back so we can show them the item box and storage bag?”
“Let’s wait. I think they will like to see it.”
We approached the gate and the guard looked relieved.
“I have been getting a call every hour to see if you were back. I think they were going to send a search party before long.”
“Sorry the view from the top was amazing today, I love going up there and clear, sunny days.” Me
“I know what you mean, my wife loves it up there. I will call and let them know your back.”
“Thanks.”
We continued walking towards the guest house.
“We’re back.” Akeno
“It’s about time, we were worried.”
“Time goes by fast, we didn’t think we were in there that long.”
We explained what happened and what we found.
“Would you like to see my stats?”
“””Yes!”””
Status Open
Name/Age:
Carl Adams 17
Race/Sex/Level:
Human/Male/Level 2
Occupation:
Explorer lv 2
Skills:
Identification lv 2
Appraisal lv 2
Martial Arts lv 1
Short Sword lv 1
Knife Throwing lv 1
Hand to Hand Combat lv 1
Item Box lv 1
Magic Skills:
Life Magic
Stats:
HP 200/200
MP 1000/1000
STR 80 (100 max)
SPD 80 (100 max)
SIGHT 85 (100 max)
HEARING (100 max)
DEX/FLX 50 (100 max)
VIT 100 (max)
INT 90 (100 max)
AGI 85 (100 max)
LUK 200
Titles:
God Zecks Blessing
***
They all got behind me to see the screen.
I then took out 2 slow rabbits from the item storage and handed them to Akeno and she placed them in her storage bag. It didn’t even have a bulge, it looked completely empty.
“Well I better get back, I guess they were calling the front gate a lot. Akeno can you fill them in on anything else?”
“Yes, I will take care of it.”
“””Bye”””
“Bye, see you later.” Me
Part 2
Akeno Point of View
“Here are my new stats.”
Status Open
Name/Age:
Akeno Yamada 17
Race/Sex/Level:
Human/Female/Level 2
Occupation:
Explorer lv 2
Skills:
Identification lv 2
Appraisal lv 2
Martial Arts lv 1
Short Sword lv 1
Knife Throwing lv 1
Hand to Hand Combat lv 1
Magic Skills:
Fire Magic level 1
Life Magic
Magic Items:
Rabbit Storage Bag - Unlimited
Stats:
HP 200/200
MP 1500/1500
STR 75 (100 max)
SPD 88 (100 max)
SIGHT 85 (100 max)
HEARING 90 (100 max)
DEX/FLX 90 (100 max)
VIT 100 (max)
INT 90 (100 max)
AGI 85 (100 max)
LUK 150
Titles:
Goddess Iris’ Blessing
***
“So as soon as you walked in you got new stats?” Mia
“No, at first since it was our first time we got a speech about the dungeon. At the end of that it said since it was our first time it would finish adding our status. That is when we got the stats and life magic.”
“What is life magic?” Suzaku
“Life Magic - ability to use magic for everyday life. Fire- for heat or campfire, water- fill a bottle, breeze- to clean the floor, earth- cover waste with dirt and clean- cleanse the body.”
“So you can clean your body while in the dungeon. That is nice to know if we have to be in there for a while.” Lisa
“So what’s next?” Mia
“What do you mean?” Akeno
“Can we go early or do we have to wait till it’s done? Also you three can change places, but how do I get there?” Mia
“Carl was wondering the same thing. If he and I go again then maybe we can finish it and then find a way for all of us to go. If we do it that way then we could stay back and watch around us while you three work through the dungeon. I didn’t think you would like that though. You do worry a lot.” They all laughed.
“I do worry, but it might be the best way. That way you can get some skills and then we can later and you would know the way.” Mia
“Let’s talk to Carl tomorrow, maybe he will come up with something. He is the Party Leader after all.” Lisa
“Is that sarcasm? Did you want to be Party Leader?” Mia
“No. I originally thought of you as Party Leader, but with as much work as Carl has put in I think he is a great choice.” Lisa
“What do you guys think?
“I agree, my choice was between the two of you. He puts in so much work, I mean he found the information on the tutorial dungeon. Plus how we level up ID and Appraisal.” Suzaku
“Same, he has done so much and I have a feeling he will find a way for all of us to go to the dungeon. Of course I think you would be a good choice, too.” Akeno
“Well I guess we better put in some more work, so he doesn’t have to do everything.” Mia
Part 3
Carl POV
When I got home I went to the kitchen and made a sandwich. Then headed upstairs to study my stats and research.
I went to my desk and opened my laptop. I went to the Explorer Guild website to see if there was any new information. Oh, I can set up and account now. Let’s see, I open the info and can put our Party or individual. I better check to see what the girls think.
“Carl, are you home?”
“Yes, be down in a minute.”
I sent a quick text about what I found to see which way to go. Just as I hit send the door opened.
“I just want to know if you wanted something to eat. We are eating at Charles place, the guys need to talk about something.”
“I made a couple of sandwiches earlier.”
“Okay. I will see you later, goodnight.”
My phone vibrated with an incoming text.
Is registering as a party anonymous for individuals? -M
Yes, we can set up individual accounts. And then our ‘party’ and then we can login and just do everything with handles thru party account. -C
Can you come over tomorrow to walk us through everything so we don’t mess up? -M
Sure, got a time U want me there? -C
Anytime after 9 -M
Ok, see you then. night.-C
Night -M
I then started to set up the personal account. After I finished that I set up a ‘Party’ account. I had to scan my guild card with a special scanner, guess that’s on hold. I decided to call the local guild to see where I get one.
“Independence Explorer Guild, how can I help you?”
“Yes, I was looking to set up an online account and it requires a guild card scanner. Where do I get one of those and if I buy one would I ever need it again afterwards?”
“We have a few here in the office, they are quite expensive at $200 though. You can also buy through the website store. As far as if you will ever use it again, if you start a ‘party’ then you could scan their cards too. There is already talk of Clans, basically like a ‘Party’, but it has even more people divided into several ‘Parties’. They set up an office and put the scanner in there so it is available for members. We also are hoping to get bank accounts so you can access the bank account through the website, for security purposes you would need to scan your card every time to verify it is you to access their account. It won’t matter if it is only to check the balance or actually make changes, the card would have to be scanned every time.”
“Thanks, I have no problem with scanning it every time, we all know accounts can be hacked. It is just an extra line of security.”
“Yes, it is. If you don’t want to buy a scanner right away then I can set up the online account here in the guild. It would be on a private computer so we don’t see anything, we just use our scanner.”
“I will think about it, thanks again. Goodbye.”
I might be a little later, might have to run to town.-C
Everything ok?-m
Yes, I just might have to buy something.-c
Ok, any time is fine.-m
Thanks -c
I ran back downstairs to see if my mom was still there.
“Oh good you're still here. I need to run to town in the morning, do you need anything?”
“Again? No, I am good. Here, your birthday present. You can deposit it when in town.”
“Thanks.” It was a check. They have been giving me checks for the last couple of years since they found out I am into tech, but like to check the best deals for electronics and configure them for my personal needs.
As she went out the door I headed back upstairs. I put the check in my wallet.
*Ding You have acquired a new skill
*Ding You have acquired a new Title
What?
Status Open
You have a new message
I listen to the message first.
Who is Iris?
I got a new blessing from the goddess Iris. All the message said was keep doing right by the girls.
The new skill was Partyfication
After looking at the details I decided I needed to talk to the girls tomorrow.
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