Tunnels and beyond

I slowly made my way deeper and deeper into the ground. After countless steps, the stairs stopped and made way for a wide tunnel. A wide, silent tunnel. Not a single sound could be heard save for my own breathing.

The torches continued to line both sides of the tunnel, Alternating between the left en right side. The tunnel itself was clearly handmade. Large stone blocks formed the floor, and smaller smooth blocks made up the walls and ceiling. Everything was made from a light brown stone, most likely sandstone, and it gave off an oppressing feeling.

Carefully I continued to walk along the only path I had until suddenly my foot sank a few millimetres into the floor. A soft click could be felt through the sole of my boot, and I heard the distinct sound of metal scraping on the stone to my side. Without a second thought, I jumped back. Just in time to, for a large pendulum shaped blade swung through the pace I just occupied.

Calming my nerves from that sudden **** encounter I took a closer look at what was now in front of me. Seven large blades swung back and forth in the tunnel. Each with their own speed, making the entire thing look terribly confusing. Each blade was separated from the next by an area of around twenty centimetres. Getting through this would be quite an endeavour.

"Right. Now I know why the first bonus objective is for floor one."

I concentrated on getting past the swinging blades, and like in the tutorial, the game slowed down a bit and an icon appeared.

Navigate the pendulum blades: Use your speed and flexibility to move past this trap without taking damage. requires the acrobatics skill, (not learned.) Or an agility score higher than the starting value. As a rogue, your agility is higher than most, weaving and timing through this trap is no problem for someone with your level of flexibility.

"Great. I selected the option and the game resumed. My vision and mind became clear, and I could see the exact time and place needed to make my way forward. With careful, but confident steps I got to work. Several adrenaline-filled minutes later, and I was on the other side. The most damage I took from the trap was a stray lock of my hair that got caught in the blade when I was a bit to slow.

Now knowing what to expect, I proceded more slowly. Carefully scanning the tunnel surface for any more traps. I spotted a few of the triggers, but missed quite a lot, forcing me to use my agile body to avoid any damage. Finally, I neared the end. At the edge of the torchlight, I could faintly make out the silhouette of a large wooden door. Thinking I was in the clear I let my guard down and made a mistake. I was so focused on the door that I missed the trigger on the floor. With an audible *CRRK*, I triggered the final trap of the floor.

Before I could react, I was hit in my neck by a small dart. The damage was nothing, only a single hitpoint. But the debuff from it was a lot more annoying.

You are poisoned. You lose one hitpoint every hour for four hours, and natural health regeneration is stopped.

"Damnit. And so close to the end as well."

I took the last step and opened the door. Once through it, the quest window appeared.

Secondary objective: Reach the end of floor one without taking any damage. Reward: One gold.

Failed.

You probably wish you took that awareness or observation skill right now don't you?

"Great, now the game is mocking me as well."

Annoyed at my failure, and the games sarcastic remark, I descended further down the stairs towards floor two.

Despite all logic, floor two was a large basement. Wine barrels lined the walls, cobwebs clung to the corners and beams of the ceiling, a splintered wooden floor made the surface. And on that surface were rats. Lots, and lots of rats.

"Well, at least this is straightforward."

The moment I stepped into the basement room the nearest rats looked up and ran towards me. Knowing what to do here, I drew my sword and began cutting the vermin down. One after the other the rats fell to my blade or my throwing daggers. Finally, the last rat died, and a secret hatch opened in the corner of the room. Leading, of course, further down. Upon approaching the hatch the window showing the floor result appeared again. This must be something that would happen after every floor.

The great rat exterminator.__

You defeated all the rats and made the dungeon a bit more vermin free, good on you.

Take a point in strength or agility for your effort. Oh and this useless flute I had laying around. Maybe if you're good enough you can tame some rats, or children, or play a nice tune, I don't know.

I actually laughed at that comment. The stat point was nice of course, and maybe the flute would come in handy someday. Onwards again.

The third floor turned out to be a maze. One big enough that I actually lost the poisoned debuff from the first floor. Finally, I gave up on randomly moving around and used one of my throwing daggers to mark the way I came from. That made the entire floor much more manageable. When I reached the stairs down the results window once again made a jab at me whilst at the same time rewarding me.

The Maze.

Congrats on navigating this maze. Guess that head of yours is more than just a pretty face. Have a point in intelligence for thinking of a way to solve it. Oh and a gold for repairs. I don't think that dagger is in such a good state.

The fourth floor was an arena. A small arena complete with stands of cheering people, and of all things, a clear blue sky overhead. People threw flowers towards me in support, and I could hear the cries of various men professing their love for me. It was nice to hear, but my attention was quickly drawn when the rattling of chains signalled the opening of an iron gate. From it stormed a large bull.

The bull wasted no time charging towards me, and I had just enough time to activate the timed prompt allowing me to dodge to the side. The crowd awed and cheered at that. They clearly relished the spectacle I was bringing. Back and forth we went, the bull charging me, and I evading it. I tried to hit it with my sword, but it was way to fast to line up a proper strike.

After a while I began to tire from this, I had to come up with a way to stop this raging beast. I mentally went over my skills and items to see if there was something of use available. And there was. I had the magic restrains skill. Waiting for the bull to once again charge me I prepared my spell.

He charged, I dodged, and when he slowed down to turn around to face me he was slow enough to try. I released the spell at the bull and from the ground around him small runic circles appeared. Hands shot up from the circles and grabbed at the four legs.

Seeing the bull restrained, and that it wouldn't hold him long, I made my own charge. Sword held out in front of me I ran towards the struggling beast. With a single plunge, I shoved my sword into its neck as deep as I could.

The beast began to struggle in pain, but it was rapidly weakening, and soon sunk to the ground. Dead.

The crowd exploded in cheers as they chanted my name. Confetti began to fill the air somehow, and more tokens of their affection to me were thrown onto the arena floor.

I cleaned my blade, and after making an accepting bow to the people walked towards the now reopened gate.

Torro

You completed this floor. I guess some animal rights group somewhere will hate you for participating in this, but hey, you can't win them all.

Take one point in endurance, you look a bit winded.

After the heat of the arena, the corridor leading down was a welcoming cool. While I was walking down I became aware of a growing heat inside my body. The six-hour grace period you get at the start of the game was nearing its end now, and my blood of the succubi perk made me react to my growing lust faster than normal people. I realised that for better or worse, I had to appease my body or go mad from the lust.

The stairs stopped, and I stepped outside a cave only to find myself in the middle of a forest clearing.