Dungeon Master (Karma System)

Max was happy with the message. It was a bit different than he would have written but it worked. He did write out a private message of his own. He summoned the creature leaders for each level that he had already built.

Opening a portal Max walked through and appeared in the operations room under the village. Not only was there a large conference room but the monitoring room was also next door and could easily be connect to the displays in the conference room.

As the portal closed, Max notice Quin was still following him. He didn’t mind. He did tell the man to stay at the back with him. Besides, if the swordsman hadn’t followed him through the portal he would have been left in the 3rd level until he found a way out.

Max sat at the head of the conference table. He looked to Quin who was standing to side.

”Take a seat if you like. Since you are a contractee I see no reason to exclude you. I won’t ask you to fight so you may also retreat to the village if you want.”

Quin nodded and moved to a corner of the room an leaned against the wall.

The first to enter was Sigmund.

The satyr took a seat beside Max but left the seat on the Dungeon Masters right open, saving it for Anna.

”Looks like someone noticed our presence and couldn’t hold back.” The half man half goat said while packing his pipe and lighting it.

Max smiled. ”Let’s see what they have in store for us.”

Next to enter the room was a tall elf with long blond hair, dressed in leather armor. He had a short sword on either hip and a longbow on his back.

”Boss.” The elf said before taking a seat.

A tall figure in black armor stepped into the room next. His skeletal head was surrounded by black fire.

”My Liege.” The undead said with a bow.

Max chuckled. ”Come on Kildra. You can call me Boss.”

”Of course My Liege.” The undead said while taking a seat.

A stout dwarf walked into the room next.

”Boss, are you going to finally let me have some fun.” He said while taking a seat.

”We will see Broomer.”

”You should let me lead the charge.” The dwarf said.

”Let’s wait for everyone to arrive before we make any decisions.” Sigmund said.

A tall orc that would be recognizable to the adventures entered next.

The war chief of the orc clan sat next to the Dwarf. ”Broomer, when are you going to come back to the arena? We are growing tired of the adventures dying to creatures. We need to have a good battle.”

The dwarf snorted. ”You may have your chance for battle today. Let’s see what the boss says.”

When the Orc sat down he nodded to Max.

The last to enter were Anna who was followed in by a gnome who wore a purple cloak and a crown.

The king of the gnomes took a seat next to Sigmund while Anna sat beside her husband.

”Thank you for coming.” Max said to everyone once they were settled. ”As I am sure you already aware. We have been challenged to a Dungeon Battle. I have decided to defended during this battle. We don’t know how long Goblin Mines has been preparing for this. Since we are unaware of there defenses we will take the opportunity to cut down their numbers on our own turf before venturing into their dungeon.”

Besides Broomer and the orc chief, the others found this to be a reasonable decision.

The orcs and dwarves were ready for a battle and didn’t like the idea of waiting around, but they couldn’t go against the decision of the Dungeon Master.

”All basic and advanced class trainers will rejoin their respective clans until the battle is over.” Max announced.

The class trainers were made up of dwarves, elves, undead, and orcs. To simplify the chain of command they were sent back to their camps even though they weren’t officially part of the dungeon levels and spent all their time in the sanctuary.

”We only have 55 minutes until the battle begins. Our first order of business is to erect some rudimentary defenses. Any suggestions.”

The King of the Gnomes, King Giston spoke. ”We can help with that. Traps and what not shouldn’t be a problem.”

”I will have the dryads assist you. They can help you navigate the forest with ease.” Sigmund said.

The elf and undead offered their mages to help shape the terrain if needed.

”What sort of defenses should be prepare?” The gnome King asked Max.

”Do we know anything about the Goblin Mines?” Max asked.

”The basic class trainers may know a bit.” Giston, the King of the Gnomes said. ”I know my people have overheard some information as well. I know that it is an abandon mine that has been overrun with goblins. It is likely that they have defenses in place that the adventures are unaware of. I do know that several of the bosses are hobgoblins.”

Max frowned slightly. The information was good. But it would be better if they had more.

He sighed to himself. When this is over, maybe he should set up an intelligence department.

Quin decided to step forward. ”I wouldn’t be surprised if the adventures that are here now used to frequent the Goblin Mines. If you offered an incentive, they may tell you everything they know.”

”That isn’t a bad idea.” The elf said.

”Aye.” Boomer the dwarf responded. ”But they need to be somebody trustworthy. We wouldn’t want to be getting information from an adventure who is contracted with Goblin Mines.”

Max nodded. ”Let’s look at land owners then. Those who lease property here should be more interested in our side winning. Last I checked, their were 6 who lease now.”

”9 actually. 3 leased plots form us this morning.”

”Ignore the 3 who moved today. I doubt they are against us, but the timing is suspect. Even if I have no idea how it would help us.”

Anna flipped through her clipboard. ”There are 2 groups who have invested more than the others. The Golden Axe Group is 10 adventures who have a reputation to act as mercenaries. They bought a hall in hopes that this will become their base of operations. They should have a strong interest in seeing us succeed.”

”The other?” Max asked, already have an idea of who it was.

”The Titters family. Their guard training program is now based in our dungeon. Before they came here they used to train at the Goblin Mines.”

”Ah, Perfect. They were also the first to come to our dungeon. I don’t think we would need to worry about them giving us bad information. Anna, can you reach out to them quickly and see if they are interested. We only have 50 minutes left.”

She nodded and quickly left the room.

”Kildra.” Max called the undead.

”My Liege.”

”You and your forces are the final defense. If everything goes well, you will not be seeing any action. I see no reason for it to come to that, but be prepared, just in case.”

”Yes, My liege.”

Before Max could give out the next assignment, both Broomer and the Orc Chief were clamoring to be heard.

”I want to fight.”

”My orcs shall bath their weapons in goblin blood.”

Boomer turned to the orc. ”My dwarves will grind their bones into mortar to build a monument to our success.”

The Orc Chief wasn’t one to be left behind. ”My orcs will pile their bodies so high that your monument will be hidden in the shadow of our triumph.”

”Oye! Knock it off. We don’t have time for this now.” Max said, stopping the argument before the 2 muscles heads got out of hand.

///

Rod and a handful of recruits who had mastered the passive skill Indomitable were training the last few who had not unlocked the skill yet.

That is to say they were beating up the new recruits in turn where they would then go to be healed by the automaton in the training ground before they reentered the line to get wailed on.

Some of the recruits were nervous about the dungeon battle. They had heard about the old training camp at the Goblin Mines, even though they had never been.

Unlike the Goblin Mines, nobody died here. They were worried that if Crag Dungeon lost they would have to return to the Mines after this dungeon disappeared.

Rod wasn’t worried in the slightest. The Goblin Mines were a true beginner dungeon. He had never seen the Dungeon Master of the Mines, but knew that Max was extremely dangerous and didn’t think the opposing Dungeon Master would be at his level.

”Young Master.” A guard shouted while running over.

Rod finished with the recruit in front of him and then turned around.

”What is it?”

”The Lady Boss of the dungeon is at the gate and asking for you.”

Rod was surprised but didn’t tarry.