Chapter 14: Chapter 14: The inner workings

One must be prepared, upon entering a dungeon, for the prospect of extreme violence.

There has never been a recorded case of a dungeon and collective society co-existing in harmony, rather, there has always been a deadly tension between the two parties.

Like any animal, the dungeon simply wants to consume resources and grow.

We however, as a society, want the boons gained by plundering said dungeon. After all, it is simply a natural resource like any other. A dungeon is no different than an apple-tree on a meadow, or a bee-hive in a woodland, or an abundant mine in the mountains. It is a feature of the natural world and in order for our civilization to grow, we must reap its fruits.

However, like any bear that is hunted, the dungeon will defend itself to the death and in this aim, it will employ several tricks.

Most notable of these deceptions is the creation of fake people, often referred to simply as 'fakes' by adventurers. Scholars refer to these constructs as homunculi.

Homunculi, while looking, sounding and smelling exactly like a real person, are simply constructs of magical energy brought to life like any other creature such as a goblin or kobold or fairy. These can come in every form we know of, from a human, to an elf, to even the almost extinct dwarven folk.

Here is my wisdom to you.

Never trust anyone you meet inside of a dungeon.

They might not be real.

A notable, grim example of this tactic can be seen in the Deadlight-Graveyard, in the far northwest. The dungeon-core here has created homunculi in the shape of grievously lost children, wounded and begging for help or healing.

Upon approach, they will lash out, revealing themselves to be undead ghouls.