"Our first necessity must be to provide for your basic needs, as while your Dungeon Heart can sustain you, your physical body is flesh and blood and not a magical construct. Your mana can preserve it, but while it will be to little lasting effect, you will still feel the unpleasantries of thirst, exhaustion and starvation. Later on, we will construct a proper inner sanctum from which you will rule your subterranean empire."
Ranma nodded. "Ah, okay..."
"Are you sure you got that?" the Mentor drawled, contemptuously.
"Yeah. Don't need it but food, water, and sleep are still a very good thing. Build 'Lair' and 'Hatchery' now, and an 'Inner Sanctum' later?"
"You're getting the hand of this, Keeper," the Mentor quickly replied. "Now before we begin we will require capitol with which to begin our construction. Start by selling what remains of the prison."
Ranma blinked. "How do I do that?"
The Advisor sighed. "Just do it. The Dungeon Heart has many inbuilt magical functions that are all but instinctive."
Ranma nodded and concentrated on it. A 'whoosh' sound filled the halls and a small pile of gold seemed to materialize on the floor of the heart room.
Glancing at the gold, Ranma wondered aloud. "Okay, that was strange... I mean, where did that gold come from? The room just kind of vanished and then there was gold..."
"That's a very complex meta-magical function," the advisor replied. "It will take several hours to explain and I doubt you'll understand a word of it."
"Ah," Ranma gagged, "Nevermind then..."
"Good. Now, we will have to expand the dungeon in order to properly fit the necessary rooms. Order your imps to dig out new chambers. I recommend you build separate chambers for yourself and the Reaper..."
Ranma blinked. "Imps?"
"Your magical servants..." the Mentor deadpanned.
"What magical servants?"
"The ones that are created when your Dungeon Heart becomes active," the Ghost all but growled.
Ranma shrugged. "Only servant I got was Horny."
"Very strange..." The Ghostly form seemed to blink then looked around, before its eyes settled on the Dungeon Heart. "You bloody fool!"
"Huh?"
"You're using all of your mana to empower your own body, aren't you!" It demanded.
Ranma paused. He guessed he was. While it was really really different from what he was used to, he could feel the power from the Dungeon Heart just pouring into him.
"So?"
"You must allow your mana reserves to build if you are sustain imps and cast spells. It is unwise to overpower yourself with mana. If you require physical enhancement, then I will arrange for you to learn the proper spells." He sighed. "Now I will also have to show you how to cast 'Create Imp' before we begin..."
Ranma frowned and released the energy he'd been pooling into himself. At once he could feel his reserves as a keeper slowly begin to grow. It was rather odd... glancing at the dungeon heart he saw that there was now what seemed to be sparkly green smoke pulsing up from it at every beat.
"That is Mana." The advisor noted. "Now, we must create your imps..."
Ranma growled in frustration. He was getting annoyed by all this. The fight had left him too tired to complain, and the mana tap just felt great, now that he was back to normal, he was getting annoyed.
"So how the hell do you expect me to do this, just wave my hand?"
"Yes, exactly that."
Ranma snarled. "You're kidding, right? I mean there has to be some technique to it..."
"Yes," the Mentor admitted, "But you will learn it with time. Creating an imp is a basic function of the Dungeon Heart. All the technique does is improve the quality of the minions you create. Any half-assed excuse for a Keeper can create imps, so you should be capable of it, though if I had breath, I assure you, I would not be holding it."
Ranma growled. "How about a hint?"
"Alright, simple enough," the Mentor relented, "You must focus your energies, let your power flow though you and your instincts as a Keeper be your guide. It will come to you."
Ranma closed his eyes and sat in lotus position on the floor. This peeked the Mentor's interest, who began to float around him, observing.
Taking a deep breath, Ranma began to meditate, focusing on his new found abilities. It was strange really... he could feel the hand like ethereal appendage that was connected to his heart flitting around, through the rock and around the room. It really was odd. Delving into his new powers he actually now knew what the Advisor had meant by building rooms... Lairs to rest in, Hatcheries for meat, Cisterns for water, Treasuries to store gold, all the basic necessities for survival were instinctive to Keepers it seemed... and he realized what he'd meant by Inner Sanctum, though his sensed that he would be unable to afford it for a while as it was very, very expensive to construct... He smiled and held his breath as he scratched the surface of his new magical abilities. He could feel it... like calling the name of a technique before you attacked he could feel the incantation coming to his tongue to focus it. Here goes...
"Impious Acturia!"
The room resounded with a loud crack and the squeal of a high pitched voice. Ranma opened his eyes and was rather surprised by what he saw. In front of him was a hideous little green creature clad in loin cloth crowned with a massively deformed bulbous head with pointed ears and almost comically massive black eyes. In its hands it protectively held a pickaxe and on its back was a massive sack.
"Excellent work Keeper, especially for one with no magical background..." the Advisor soothed.
"Thanks," Ranma grinned.
"Now create four more as to give yourself at least a rudimentary workforce," the Advisor commanded.
"Yes, sensei," Ranma sighed.
With a wave of his hand, he created four more imps.
"Yes," the advisor cooed. "Now dig out the new rooms and tunnel for any gold you can find. Once the dungeon is ready, we will begin to look for any major tunnels or portals."
"And if we can't find any?" Ranma asked.
He could almost feel the spirit scowl. "Then we tunnel to the surface and face the dangers that lie in the lands above."
Ranma looked over to him. "What dangers?"
"Heroes," the Advisor replied frankly. "They..." he paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully, "Are rather intolerant of those such as us. They would kill you to look at you my dear boy."
"Hey, but I haven't done anythin' to them!" Ranma protested.
"You're a Dungeon Keeper. That's enough. Now, build those rooms so you may rest."
Ranma nodded and issued the command. Immediately his imps rushed off like good little soldiers to do as their Keeper demanded.
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(Posted Sun, 17 Dec 2006 08:32)
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