Trash Mountain Dungeon

I watched as Arthur walked into my dungeon with labored breathing, quickly taking a seat in a small sitting area in the merchant's shop. In his arms were two circular objects, one of them looked strange to my eyes, like an optical illusion that didn't sit in my vision correctly. The other felt wrong though, I could feel a whisper I couldn't make out but could hear in the back of my head, it gave me the feeling that it wanted me to submit, to give up control.

WARNING!

[Enslavement Collars] Detected!

What!

Quickly I rallied my monsters, the floor one monsters positioned themselves outside the merchant's entrance.

"I do not mean harm good dungeon, simply to talk."

He held up his hands as the collars fell to the ground with a clang. I moved in my merchant.

"And what is it that you want to talk about, bringing not one but two items that insult our lord?"

"I understand that it would seem bad of me to bring such an item, but as you no doubt know, traitors appeared within my camp."

It was true that I had seen something, I couldn't tell exactly what, but I could still see fighting and hear shouting through the night. If he was betrayed but won, then he was likely here so I wouldn't take advantage of the situation.

"And to that end, I ask that your master take these items as an alternative payment for the deal, with the loss of life and available skill my people will be unable to fulfill the requested payment for many months, it is in my belief that the power and materials of these two collars would be sufficient payment.

I looked them over, the first one I could tolerate, but the second was pushing too many buttons too hard.

"The master would like to inspect them before deciding."

Ratnold then took the collars as if they were the diseased rats instead of himself, tossing them into the arms of the clockworker who took them to the second floor, the system absorbed it soon after.

Notice

1x Psionic-Derived Enslavement Collar absorbed

Reward: Mother Brain blueprint.

I would make a joke here, but the situation seemed far too serious, even if he couldn't see or hear me.

Notice

1x Divine Imprint Enslavement Collar absorbed

Reward: Divine Ash

What in the gouda god fuck is that!

Why the hell did I get... whatever those two things are from just two items, is there something about them I'm not seeing!?

[Enslavement Collars] utilize the controlling properties of an entity or entities to create an object capable of controlling anything it is placed upon; in this case, the collar is designed for dungeons. The reason for acquiring the [Mother Brain] blueprint was due to the intense usage of [Mother Brain] material. As for the [divine ash], the collar was crafted around a divine aura, likely made around an artifact or physical remains.

Ok, so it's only a bloody choker and some god dust, I swear if I had a body my blood pressure would be shooting to the moon. Sigh, while I do wish I had the three monsters I did get something good, so for now I would allow it, and maybe Arthur could use a good-natured reminder of why I wouldn't mind a gift or two now and then.

"My master has accepted these items as payment and wishes to grant you something in turn."

Yo system, is it possible to use DP to make something for a non-dungeon person?

Indeed, simply envision what you desire to create, and the appropriate amount of DP will be allocated.

In front of Arthur, I imagined a machine, one that could produce water abundantly. I reasoned that since I couldn't find a proper source of water anywhere these guys were thirsty, and while they would need to use magic to fuel the device it would be a godsend for them in their situation.

But as most of my remaining DP drained away a large basketball-sized orb shimmered into existence, a hand-shaped button with a hatch on the other side.

"The master says that the orb can quench your thirst and fill your fields if powered with magic."

Still not exactly what I told it, but close enough, like always.

To his credit, he did seem grateful and happy to accept it, it just kind of seemed like he expected something cooler, understandable, I guess. But once he felt a bit better, he grabbed his prize and shambled out and down the lift, being taken away by his brother and a guard. Now that they were gone, I could inspect my new goods properly, first the mother brain.

Mother Brain

A celestial entity derived from the [Mind Flayer] sub-type; the Mother Brain is a floor-consuming entity that creates subordinate creatures to follow its bidding. It will follow the dungeon so long as its needs are met.

Capable of flesh-crafting celestial horrors.

Subsumes entire floors to create a single living entity that spans the entire floor.

Hyper-intelligent.

Can be converted into a machine.

Creation Costs:

2500 mana

50 lbs. of organic material

An entire floor will be consumed.

Node Cost:

5500 mana

20 mana taken from production

Produces: 1 Mother Brain, countless minor sub-entities.

Jesus, and here he thought the bull was expensive. 25 hundred just to make it and 55 hundred to make a node, even if he let himself overflow on mana he couldn't make that much mana, much less handle the node cost. It wouldn't be for a long, long time before he would be able to make even a single one so unfortunately, while it is a high-value payment, it's also completely useless right now and likely far into the future. Sigh, despite that though it was still a monster and it still counted toward his next level goal. That being said he would have to continue to rely on the ratkin and other monsters he presently had. Now it was time to take a look at the divine ash stuff.

Attention

A divine material has been acquired, the material will be consumed, and two appropriate options will be generated.

Oh, that's rather simple then, well hit me with what ya got system, I'm ready.

Kannorite Slave Pens

Kannor is the god of control, a domain that extends into the wretched practice of slavery. This building is as much a temple to Kannor as it is an expression of his power. Building this will summon low-ranking celestial [Servants of Kannor] to operate the building.

Constructing this will appease Kannor, the god of control

Constructing this will anger Leighlash, goddess of freedom.

Will attract Kannorite followers.

Not choosing this will anger Kannor

Not choosing this will appease leighlash

Attracts a certain [Tortured Trickster] if not chosen

1x Free construction charge.

Pandora, daughter of bronze

The metal child of Earth divinity, P4nd0ra is a divine machine built to express the greatness of the [REDACTED]. Capable of growing and fiercely independent, this machine sees the dungeon as its parent and will give anything to protect it.

Has [Machine Rebirth]

Will reinforce the [Machine] sub-theme

Only one can exist.

Cannot be tied to a node or single room.

Will open a channel to [REDACTED]

Attracts a certain [Clef-footed Smith]

1x Free creation charge.

I didn't know what to make of these options, both on paper would be incredible, divine you could say, but they also came with a lot of potential problems. The pens, on top of being reprehensive, would anger an actual god if I took them, and while I would also garner the favor of said god's opposite I don't want to test how far either are willing to go. Adding to the facts, if I don't choose it I'll still anger a god. As for Pandora, I felt like it was the better option of the two but it was likewise impossible to tell until I chose the thing. Essentially it would be an intelligent machine monster, likely a powerful one given the rarity, what's stopping me from just choosing her was the fact that it would 'open a channel' to something, while also attracting a [Clef-Footed Smith] whoever that is. It kind of feels like no matter what I choose I'll end up dealing with a god or two getting miffed over my choice, could I just, not choose any of them?

Yes, however, the usage of the [divine ash] is required, if not through the given options then the [divine ash] can be consumed to create a special celestial-type object or consumed to acquire 1000 DP.

I guess I could understand the item part, but why so much DP?

The [divine ash] is blessed by the power of a god, despite being only an impression, it is separate in most terms from other materials.

So it's just really powerful I guess, which to be fair was assumable given the options it's given. But this does give me four options then, either I can take the pens or Pandora, signaling myself to the divinity of this world. Or I could forgo using it like that and simply create a special item or get a whole lot of DP. Both would be good options if, for different reasons, the DP would enable me to start upgrading and buying all the stuff I needed to improve my dungeon while also picking up a few monsters along the way. On the other hand, I could make a special item that I could bargain with in the near to far future. Regardless of what I chose, it would need to be done carefully, if I'm not fully committed to my choice then I could die, or worse.