All around me was pure white, no matter which direction I looked I could see nothing. I don't remember dying but I may have died in my sleep. Or maybe this is a dream, a very empty dream.
*ARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN YOUR WORLD?*
*YES/NO*
"Okay, maybe not so empty."
*ARE YOU TIRED OF LIVING IN YOUR WORLD?*
*YES/NO*
"I guess I have to answer then" I said as I clicked the yes button. Who wouldn't be tired of living in this dying world, going from day to day at a dead end job barely making enough money to survive whilst the richest people on the planet have more money than they could ever possibly spend that they earn from slowly destroying our planet.
*WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRAVEL TO ANOTHER WORLD?*
*YES/NO*
"Yay, more yes/no question for me to answer." I say into the void, once again pressing the yes button.
*CHOOSE YOUR RACE*
A list appeared in front of me.
*Human*
*Elf*
*Dwarf*
*Beastkin*
*Monster*
*Dungeon Core*
"I wonder if I can get more information about these races?" As I finish the sentence more information appears in front of me.
*Human - The youngest sentient race on Paolama but the most adaptable. Humans live on 5 of the six continents of Paolama and have the highest population of all the sentient races. Despite having the highest population humans are the weakest and youngest of all the sentient races, having only existed for 10,000 years. Humans live for an average of 100 years with some humans living as long as 300 years. The average adult human has between 5-15 in all their stats and no racial bonus. Humans are always seeking ways to become more powerful and often declare war with other races for their land and resources.*
*Elf - Elves are the oldest sentient race on Paolama, having existed for over 100,000 years. Elves live on the Continent of Eoslia, a forest continent that is home to The World Tree. Elves have the lowest population of all the sentient races but are the most powerful and longest living, a regular elf can live up to 20,000 years whilst the most powerful elves can live up to 50,000 years. Most don't live this long and usually die from accidents or in battle. The average adult elf will have stats between 45-55 and have the racial skill "One with Nature", granting them the nature affinity on top of their natural affinity and giving them a 20% stat boost in areas filled with nature. Elves are the most peaceful race on Paolama and seek more peaceful solutions to their problems with other races.*
*Dwarf - Dwarves are the second oldest race on Paolama and have existed for 55,000 years. Dwarves live on 4 of the six continents of Paolama, with 60% of their population living on the mountainous continent of Driaros. Dwarves have the second lowest population of the sentient races but live longer than Humans and Beastkin, living for an average of 5000 years. The average adult Dwarf will have stats between 25-35 and have the racial skill "Forged in Fire", Granting them the fire affinity on top of their natural affinity and giving them complete immunity to heat and fire damage. Dwarves are the most technologically advanced race and are famous for creating legendary artifacts.*
*Beastkin - Beastkin are the third oldest race on Paolama, having existed for 30,000 years. Beastkin live on 3 continents but their capital city is on the Obera continent, the continent with the most monsters on it. Beastkin are an honourable race and always respect others for following their chosen path, no matter what that path may be. Beastkin are the most physically strong race on Paolama and use their magic to augment their physical abilities. Beastkin live for an average of 1000 years and may live even longer depending on the type of Beastkin they are, Mythical Beastkin can live as long as an elf and are often chosen as leaders. The average adult Beastkin will have stats between 20-30 but their physical stats can be between 60-70. They also have the racial skill "The Beast Within" allowing them to increase their stats by 50% but will lose themselves to their bloodlust, unable to tell the difference between friend and foe. Beastkin are the most skilled fighters on Paolama and created the Hunters Guild, a place for monster hunters to gather together to trade materials and information, as time went on the Hunters Guild grew and now has a branch in every town and city on the planet. The Hunters Guild is also in charge of inspecting and cataloging new dungeons. (Choosing this race will randomly select a type of Beastkin for you to be)*
*Monster - Monsters are a naturally occurring race and almost none of them are sentient. A monsters strength and type is determined on where it is formed. The more mana there is in an area the stronger a monster formed their will be. Monsters grow stronger by consuming sources of mana, these sources can be anything from mana filled rocks to magical fruit from trees or even other monsters. (Selecting this race will randomly select a monster type)*
*Dungeon Core - Dungeon Cores often appear in areas with high mana concentration and will develop based on their surroundings. Mana Cores have almost limitless potential out of all the races but are limited by the fact that they are unable to move outside of the boundaries of their dungeon. Dungeon Cores will start with 1 room, 2 monster types, one passive and one hostile and a resource to be generated inside that dungeon. (Choosing Dungeon Core as your race will allow you to choose the type of dungeon you want to become and the starting monsters and resources.)*
"...that's a lot of information." I can instantly rule out humans as there are by far the weakest race on the list and monsters because having a completely random start sounds awful, what if I end up as a weak goblin and instantly die. This left me with 4 options, Elf, Dwarf, Beastkin and Dungeon Core. Elves, Dwarves and Beastkin all sound great but having nearly limitless potential is too good to pass up and I get to choose how I start on top of that makes it even better, not being able to leave the dungeon sucks but let's be honest, it's not like I would be going outside if I chose any of the other races. Sitting back after making my dungeon and watching my monsters do all the work for me sounds perfect to me.
"Dungeon Core it is then" I say as I click the option on the screen in front of me. Suddenly the screen flickered out of existence and a new screen took it's place.
*CHOOSE YOUR DUNGEON TYPE*
*Undead - A dungeon formed on the remains of a battlefield. This dungeon type will contain undead monsters and will grant you the Death affinity. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Mountainous - A dungeon formed on top of a mountain. This dungeon type will contain flying monsters and mountainous variants of regular creatures, you will also gain the Wind affinity. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Cavernous - A dungeon formed in a cave. This dungeon type will contain subterranean monsters and will give you the Earth affinity. This Dungeon cannot expand to the surface and can only have entrances to the dungeon on the first floor. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Fields- A dungeon formed in the middle of an open field. This dungeon is filled with regular monsters and also animals such as rabbits and foxes. Choosing this dungeon will grant you the Nature affinity. This dungeon cannot expand downwards and can only expand outwards. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Forest - A dungeon formed in a forest. This dungeon is filled with forest dwelling creatures and is rich with resources. Choosing this dungeon will grant you the Nature affinity. You cannot expand outside of forests if you choose this option. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Volcanic - A dungeon formed in a volcano. This dungeon will be filled with fire resistant versions of monsters and choosing it will grant you the Fire affinity. This dungeon is filled with natural metal and gem nodes. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Ocean - A dungeon formed in an ocean. This dungeon will be filled with ocean monsters and choosing it will grant you the Water affinity. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Fungal - A dungeon formed in an area filled with mushrooms. This dungeon type starts with fungal variants of monster and choosing it will grant you the Nature affinity. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Flowering - A dungeon formed in an area filled with flowers, This dungeon type will start with flower monsters and choosing it will grant you the Nature affinity. This dungeon type starts with passive bees that make honey. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Desert - A dungeon formed in a desert. This dungeon will start with desert dwelling monsters and choosing it will grant you the Wind affinity. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Ruins - A dungeon formed in the ruins of an old building. The starting monsters and affinity will depend on where the ruins you form in are located. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Resource - This type of dungeon forms near towns and cities. This dungeon starts with passive resource making monsters. The affinity, monsters and resources of this dungeon vary based on where this dungeon forms. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
*Spirit - This Dungeon forms on top of a Ley Line. This dungeon starts with elementals and spirits and choosing this dungeon will grant you the Nature and Life affinity. The cost for expanding this dungeon downwards is doubled but each floor grants you a passive increase in mana generation. Choosing this dungeon type will lock you on to your chosen path and all future upgrades will be based on this dungeon type.*
That is a lot of options, Undead and Ocean are instantly out as I don't want to spend all my time around corpses or in water. Desert, Cavernous and Mountainous are also out, Deserts are a whole bunch of nothing with the occasional spiky something and I don't want to spend my life there. Caverns would be an okay option if I could expand to the surface but spending all my time underground sounds terrible, spending all my time on top of or inside of a mountain sounds equally as terrible. Fungal and Flowering Dungeons are far too limiting and Volcanic sounds interesting but would probably never be visited due to the inherent danger. Ruins sounds like it could go terribly, I could either get put into an abandoned fortress or into an abandoned cottage, I don't like those odds.
That just leaves Fields, Forest, Resource and Spirit, all of them have their ups and downs, I rule out fields due to being unable to expand downwards, there's only so much expanding outwards you can do before you run into something that will stop you. I rule out Forest for the same reason, whilst you can grow more forest it takes too much time.
Choosing between Resource and Spirit was harder than I thought it would be but getting a better passive for each floor I have is better than the passive resource making mob, even with the price increase for each floor.
As I select the Spirit Dungeon the screen flickers out of existence once again and is replaced by another screen.
*CHOOSE YOUR MONSTERS*
*PASSIVE*
*Lesser Spirit - These spirits are naturally formed from Ley Lines, whilst not sentient, they are capable of following orders given to them. These spirits are capable of leaving the dungeon and collecting resources from the surrounding area, however they cannot move to far away from the dungeon otherwise they will disperse and reform back in the dungeon, leaving behind anything they were carrying.*
*HOSTILE*
*Lesser Elemental - These Elementals are naturally formed from Ley Lines, whilst not sentient they are capable of following orders given to them. These elementals can be granted an affinity by the dungeon. Elementals cannot leave the dungeon.*
"What do you mean choose your monsters, I don't exactly have much to choose from" I say whilst selecting the only options given to me. "At least I can give my elementals affinities and I am not stuck with just one type."
After selecting my options a new screen appears.
*CHOOSE YOUR RESOURCE*
*RESOURCES*
*Mana Stones - These Stones form from high concentrations of mana. Mana Stones can have any affinity but if you do not have an affinity that affinity becomes much rarer.*
"Lots of choices again, I'm going to have to take my time to choose this one" I say whilst clicking the only option given to me.
After clicking the option given to me the screen flickers out of existence and a new screen appears in it's place.
*WELCOME TO PAOLAMA*
I barely manage to read the words before everything goes dark.