The Dungeon Fairy: Two Choices: A Dungeon Core Escapade (The Hapless Dungeon Fairy Book 2) by Jonathan Brooks (free e books to read .txt) 📗

you using the other 1,300 Points on?” Shale asked, curious.  Tacca thought that at least one of the answers was obvious, though they hadn’t really talked about what she was going to do after she acquired those two things.

Well, I was thinking that I should increase my Control Limit again, because I’m going to need more than 100 for my new section.  If I get the chance, I’ll probably have to up it a few more times in the future, too, just so that I have plenty to work with.

“Good idea – that’s what I was thinking, too.  A good guide to go by would be to double what you used on the previous section, because it should be twice as difficult for the Raiders—but you know that already, I’m sure.”

She did, which was why it had been the obvious solution.  She ended up using just under 200 of her Control Limit for her easy dungeon, so the next should be at least 400, she was thinking.  More if she could swing it, and if that wouldn’t make the dungeon too difficult.

I do, but it’s good to have that backed up by another.  As for my last 500 Points…I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I think I want to raise my maximum DF up by 500.

Now he looked confused.  “But why?  I thought you said you couldn’t spend your Dungeon Force past a certain amount all at once, or it would start to crack your Core.  You’re rarely that full, anyway, since you spend most of your DF before it can accumulate to more than what you need at the moment.  Wouldn’t it be better to pick something else, or even save it for your next opportunity to Level up?”

You’re right about not being able to spend large amounts, but I have a feeling that it will help in other ways.  When I’ve added to my Dungeon Force before, I think it helped me with my trap limit problem by easing the pressure of having so many.  I don’t know if that was indeed what helped, but if I’m going to be able to put any traps in this new section, I’ll have to eliminate some of what I’ve placed to help defend my Core.  I’d rather not have to do that, but if this doesn’t work, I’ll do it.

Shale just shrugged, not knowing what else to say. Tacca’s situation was unique enough that no other Dungeon Cores suffered from her issues with cracking, so it was a bit of a shot in the dark.  Therefore, before she purchased anything else using her CIPs, Tacca used 500 of them to add an additional 500 DF to her maximum and confirmed her selection.

Almost immediately, the strain on her Core that was coming from the sheer number of traps she had placed around her dungeon, eased.  It was different from the “weight” being lifted when she got rid of her negative Characteristics; that was more of an internal lessening of restrictions, while this was more of a pressure against her entire Core that faded away.  She could sense that it would come back if she went overboard on the quantity of traps she placed again, but she also thought that she now had enough leeway to place enough in her new section to finish it off.

It worked!  I think that’s the key: The more Dungeon Force I can “hold”, the more traps I can place.  I still don’t think I can use anywhere near my maximum DF all at once, unfortunately, but perhaps I can attempt to use a little more than what my limit was before.

“It makes sense, I guess.  Alright, now I’m eager to see your other purchases.”

At his prodding, Tacca purchased her Control Limit increase, which now put it at 400, and then bought Mountain Environment Access.

Mountain – Environmental Access

The Mountain Environment allows the custom creation of basic and advanced rocks, gemstones, ores, and other minerals in different varieties and densities.  Additionally, any Environmental Objects created will be automatically restored if broken or shattered.

Access Costs:

Rock (Basic): 1 DF per cubic yard

Rock (Advanced): 3 DF per cubic yard

Ore (Basic): 10 DF per cubic foot

Ore (Advanced): 50 DF per cubic foot

Gemstone (Basic): 50 DF per cubic foot

Gemstone (Advanced): 100 DF per cubic foot

Mineral (Basic): 10 DF per cubic foot

Mineral (Advanced): 10 DF per cubic foot

The Mountain-based Environmental Objects weren’t very popular for either Dungeon Cores or Raiders, mainly because Cores were instructed not to use what was provided except the most basic or advanced Rock.  The reasoning behind this was that Cores could actually create veins or deposits of metal ores, including copper, iron, silver, and gold; not only that, but they could also place any number of precious or semi-precious gemstones, such as amethyst, rubies, emeralds, and even diamonds.  The use of these was essentially forbidden, however, for a few fairly obvious reasons.

One, the Raiders could obtain these ores or stones and bring them out from the dungeon; doing this would not only ruin the local economy, but would then make many of the nearby dungeons obsolete.  One of the main reasons people delved through dungeons – though not the main reason, which was to get stronger – was to acquire rewards for killing creatures; if a dungeon was providing 100 times the rewards for only a portion of the work, then there would be no reason to visit the other dungeons in the area.  Obviously, this would stagnate their growth, which was a big no-no.  Dungeon Cores, while not actually expected to work with or promote each other, shouldn’t do anything to actively hinder their peers’ development, either.

The second, and the most important reason to Dungeon Assistants and Dungeon Cores alike, was that the greed from those taking advantage of acquiring these ores and precious stones could be deadly.  Just