But after all this it felt a bit like "binge watching" Dungeon Master. In an effort to try something new, I started sort of a diary for my dungeon run. This might turn out to be rather boring and I may not even continue it much further, so here goes nothing
I hope reading it isn't too much of an insult to the native speakers, heh
Chapter zero: Hall of portraits
Today I found myself standing in a series of empty hallways, I have no idea how I got there, but my wand was still with me, at least. The walls were cluttered with strangely vivid portraits of people of all kind. I passed by many a face, some friendly, some with piercing looks in their eyes...warriors, I assume, some with a lot of wisdom and some grinning as if contemplating about sinister plans. Some faces even seemed to belong to a different world altogether.
What is the purpose of all this? I do not know, but somehow it is like my subconsciousness knows what to do...or at least to some extent. I wandered around a bit, found the place to be devoid of anything useful or at least edible and then I came to a portcullis that started to open upon my approach. It made a rather horrible rustling noise as if it hasn't been used for a long time.
Who was here before me? At least it wasn't as much dust on the floor so I'd leave footprints, so it couldn't have been too long, I guess.
The first thing I saw were a set of shackles mounted to the wall..and an apple?
Is this a torture room? I turned the corner and ventured into the unknown.
I came to a set of stairs leading down. I can't really say that a foul stench emanated from there, but curses! I had hoped I'd be able to go upstairs..stairs leading me to fresh air, the light of the day, to a friendly face of another being... As it is of now, I do not even know if it is day or night.
There were some provisions strewn about in the immediate vicinity..this was a welcome sight, since I'd have to eat at some point or other. I gathered everything from the floor and also took a torch from its handle since it seemed complete darkness was awaiting me one floor below.
I know, I'm a supposed to be a wizard, I can make my own light...but I'm far from being a master or even an artisan. So it'd be good to have some sort of backup.
There was a vi-Altar nearby, but alas who would carry my broken bones here if the worst came to happen. I am all alone and all I can do is go forward....
chapter one: a rat's maze
I lit my torch and descended into the darkness. At first it looked quite similar to what I've seen upstairs, but that familiarity quickly vanished as I heard something nearby...footsteps...slow and scuffling. It cut through the silence like a knife as I expected myself to be alone. Is this a good sign? I walked a couple of feet closer...not too fast. While holding my breath I mostly heard the crackling of my burning torch now.
I turned the corner and the bit of light I brought with me filled the meager space of some sort of cell. At the end of it I barely distinguished the silhouette of a human form.
A prisoner maybe? A kindred soul that underwent the same fate as I?
Greetings..I called out to it. Nothing happened.
I opened the rusty portcullis leading to the cell, as investigating further seemed to be the only right thing to do. Hello..? Now I heard moaning and as the torch started to light up the room, piece by piece it came to me that I was gazing at the back of a completely mummified person standing right up. How is this possible. I didn't know what to do. I was still contemplating whether to feel bad about disturbing the peace of someone who must have suffered and died long ago and put in this godforsaken place, as it slowly started to move and turned around to face me.
It is alive? ..maybe someone just did this to this fellow being and I am not too late to help. I can save someone here. In my mind I prepared some kind words...but I suddenly stopped.
Usually I pride myself to be a good-natured person, but something in me told me to act differently here. I am ashamed to say, but I didn't even tried calming it with my wand. I just took something from my backpack and chucked it at its head. I thought it would retreat of sorts (not that there was much room left behind it) but as soon as my loaf of bread hit it...it turned to smoke. There is some dark magic afoot here, I know this now.
The smoke cleared and revealed what must have been the deceased's burial objects. There were some provisions, a dagger and some sort of sword.
As this only seemed the beginning of things to come, I thought it prudent to arm myself. But I shuddered at the thought of logging this heavy weapon around the dungeon for no end, so I just picked up the edibles and the dagger. It seemed a better choice to throw than the lump of bread. And next time I might not be as lucky as I've been right now.
I proceeded further, now prepared for new horrors and the hallways seemed to echo my heartbeat.
I walked for a while, came to doors, found keys of all sorts, doors that seemed to have been waiting to be opened, levers to be pushed. I even found a mechanism to close a pit at one point, leading me to some old rags. This seemed easy enough, but what sense is it to leave keys lying around for every locked door in the vicinity. The feeling grew that this was either a rat's maze concocted by an evil mind..or.. that a helping hand may have been here shortly before my arrival..acting in my favour. If this turns out to be true, I just might have a fighting chance for the things to come.
I pressured onward, came across some old boots, more rags, nothing actually worth taking, let alone exchange my comfortable garment for. With each key I picked up I seemed to be able to get just a bit further, hopefully to an exit. I almost forgot my encounter with the mummy a while ago as I opened just another door and found a tree in the middle of the hallway.
This is truly an enchanted place. Instead of leaves it had a glowing substance as a treetop. I came closer, but flinched back immediately as it emanated a piercing screeching noise. Fearing for my ears I retreated. This seemed a good opportunity to make use of my newly acquired weapon. So I flung my dagger at it and it quickly fell apart. Not vanishing completely but leaving fruity looking parts on the floor. It looked like parts of melons and tasted very bitter. Nonetheless I stuffed it in my backpack, fearing that at some point it might be of value once I'd run out of those dungeon floor apples and/or the stale bread that I was able to gather up so far.
In my victory over this second creature I felt a sudden rush in pride. I did this...me, who was always more at home at studying herbology than brute force. With a sharp weapon, nonetheless.
After that I came to more challenges of this kind, but I knew what to do and it didn't take long until my backpack got filled up with creature parts and I was in possession of all sort of throwing weapons by now. I also found some flasks and scrolls containig spells for various potions. I never really tried brewing any of this stuff, but it might be a good idea to practice this art at some point in here. Maybe when I've reached a safer spot later on..
I continued my journey, used levers, got teleported, stepped on pressure pads, doors opened. A feeling crept up again that I was being tested, but what else could I do.
It was time to show my antagonist, that I am more than a mere thief, throwing daggers and arrows. I knew what to do. The last thing my master showed me..FUL IR. I still hear his voice in my ears. Tiggy..my apprentice, only use this when in real danger. You need balanced judgement..do not harm a kindred soul or you will damage your own.
It was a ball of fire to hurl at my enemies.
I practiced it a bit and I felt almighty..for it did not take long and mummies and screamers turned to smoke as soon as my spells hit them.
But this could not go on forever, I felt quite worn out by now. But could I dare sleep? A scream of only one of these mummies might be enough to end me. My pace got slower by the minute...and then I saw a fountain in the distance. Maybe get to this and rest for a bit...
In an effort I hurried over there, drank with my bare hands and finally turned around.
There it was..another staircase leading further down the dungeon.
It was crazy, but I somehow felt safe at this spot...slumped to the floor and rested...
.
