Cavern Quest REDO : It Is Still Dark

[X] Tower of Mystery.

 

[X]Arcane University
Tons of mages will offer loads of low quality wonders anyways. More importantly, it will mean every mage is replaceable. A place full of mages is kinda hard to attack if they know what they are doing, even if it isn't impossible like with the walls. It gives us security and economic growth.

 

[X] Arcane University

 

[X] Tower of Mysteries

 

[X] Great Elevator(s).

Seems interesting. It seems like it will give us industry bonuses and will make getting the shinies in the ruins easier!

 

[X] Great Elevator(s)

 

[X] Arcane University

 

Guys, we're going to have a basic school anyway- And the great elevators are a game changer for sheer mobility's sake.

They free up more land and more resources, and allow us to expand further and faster than any of the other options.

 

And the other one preserves endgame knowledge and prevents a EXP lose or gives out a EXP advantages for our mages.

 

[X] Tower of Mysteries. Within this young and as yet unnamed city lies some of the best wizards still among the living. But these wizards have no place to work wonders. Forced to work within the streets and bare caves, is it any wonder they can not produce their best? But that could be changed. The city's geomancy is as yet young and changeable, and it would not be impossible to.. focus it a bit. Focus it on the new great Wizard's Tower, that is. Such a focus of energy could have very beneficial effects on any spells worked within, as well as being channeled, potentially, into many other useful things.

 

[Keeper of Storms, Drakebane, Demonic Spoon, Kelenas, Ephemeral Dreamer, Shad4c, Shadell, emeralis00, Biigoh, Carrnage, Scia, Robotninja, fitzgerald, MHLord] Arcane University
[Vindictus, redaeth, Emral282, drake_azathoth ] Great Elevator(s)
[kinglugia, east2idaho, Redon] Tower of Mysteries
[Bloodshifter] Wardwalls

[Vindictus, MHLord, Emral282, fitzgerald] Tartarus

Since no one was voting on the city name even though I said it was still open, Tartarus it is.



Time has past since the ground was broken to form the first homes, since the first explorer found a way down to the ocean and gave people their first taste of food that wasn't slug, rat, or mushroom based in months. The city is rising. And from public opinion coalescing, a name for the city has been found. Tartarus. One of the mystical pagan hells of a long lost people, said to be used as a prison deep underground where enemy gods were held captive.. Apparently people found the name apt. Or perhaps ironic, for they are far from gods.

Still, the city has grown, and as the years have gone past, as buildings have rose and the process of turning the place from a random collection of camps and houses into a real settlement have progressed, a great facility has been carved from the stone, the caves farthest along the wall chosen, and then extended, excavated, expanded into a giant facility, a University of the size and grander to compete with any on the surface. And not just rooms, but more things were built or replicated, ancient scrolls scribed from memory onto mushroom scrolls, laboratory equipment manufactured or seized from the ruins, quarters for the teachers furnished, internal gardens planted for both research and food, and last but not least the wisest of sages and wizards chosen to teach.

The first class starting just next month, in fact, and just in time, for the cold and damp and dark has not been good for anyone's health, much less the eldest, those who know the most of the forgotten lore.

However, it has been finished in time, and while not everything will be saved, much that would have been lost will be preserved. Perhaps as only dusty notations in a scholars scrolls, but still there for reference, even if much will soon be beyond the skills of the next generation to actually put into practice.

But as expected, yours is not the only city to stand tall and proclaim it's identity, for word of others have come.

Cointown was the first, for it was by the spread of its merchants that you heard of the others. And speaking of merchants, the traders of Cointown (An apt name, even if one that doesn't immediately reveal how it is literally built on a lake, in a flooded cavern.. a real floating city..) have established a great Merchants Guild, an organization of surprising size that seeks to organize all levels of trade for maximum profit.. Already, their tendrils can be found in most major traders organizations.

But beyond that is news of Mercy Tunnels, which you knew of when you left. It has finished organizing itself (The local priests seem to have come out on top), and created a vast hospital complex to save all the exiles they can. Such a legendary hospital probably knows more then even the university within its sphere. The Noble's expedition you knew of has also found a home upon the shore of a long and distant underground river that may empty into this very cavern, which suggests interesting trading possibilities if only you had easier access to the sea. Still, the new city of Port Granite sounds as if it is growing fast as it explores the underground waterways. More important, however, is the news that the Nobles somehow managed to smuggle vast amounts of overworld seeds down with them, and with well payed and substantial magical assistance have created what is already being called the Gardens of Wonder, the greatest and only flower garden within the deep dark. Who knows what mystical or medical resources may be found within its crop?

Not that you would be the only ones interested in the mystical potentials of such plants, for it seems another group of sages and wizards set out on their own expedition, made of those who were exiled after you left as well as those who just didn't come along with you. The strangely named town of Darkout was established far closer to Mercy Tunnels then your new home, within a giant cavern with a large lake. And with that lake (And the node of elemental water magic that apparently rested within), they have built a tower fully a match for the Tower of Mysteries some wanted to build in your home. Few foreign casters will be able to match the power and training of those wizards who grow up under such a powerful and effective center of wizardry, to say nothing of the geomantic effects it may radiate into the town.

Meanwhile, the heroes of the rebellion have suffered a surprising and impressive split between the warriors who follow the famed and deadly Lord Tibero and the Priests of the Unquenchable Flame, with both sides seeming to have decided it would be best for the health of the other side if they weren't sharing living space, though true information on whys and whats and who was set on fire remains rare.

Lord Tibero and his followers have moved into a giant vertical shaft of twisting tunnels and smaller caves, rich in minerals and full of bats. There, the new city of Fort Tibero is rising, and Lord Tibero has created a vast Sword Shrine to pass down his skills to the next generation of Blademasters, which will keep the warriors of his new castle some of the best in the underground, you'd guess.

The Priests, on the other hand, have ventured almost as far away from the Pit of Exile, where all exiles are thrown down, as you did if not in the same direction, probably all the way to the vast range of the Fangs of Fire the sages tell you. For they have set up within a giant volcanic rent in the earth, where magma can be seen deep below and the very walls can glow red with heat. There the fire spirits play, and at its very center they have created a wondrous temple known as the Altar of Flames, where they can directly beseech the great volcano spirit who's dominion extends over their fair city as well as allowing them to converse with the other local spirits with far greater ease then otherwise. The priests of Fortress Igni shall be priests to reckon with in the area of fire and earth magic, considering they are liable to have been taught by the very incarnations of those elements.

Still, even with connections newly being forged between the cities and the many lesser villages and towns that are springing up around each oasis of life that can be found, the course of life goes on, and the city grows. Now if only people would agree on just how it should grow..


First off, within the University, discussion is raging over the hierarchy. To put it simply, from which department should the (First) Provost that runs the whole thing come? The choice was important, for it determined which department would be seen as the most important within these founding years, when the traditions of the university are being forged.

[ ] The Department of Names and Incantations
[ ] The Department of Known and Unknown Geography
[ ] The Department of Humanities and Mortality
[ ] The Department of Theology and Begging
[ ] The Department of Math and Finance
[ ] The Department of Enchantment and Creation
[ ] The Department of Invocations and Evocations

Secondly, as the city has grown, the population has come together to make it better for the future generations. Here, while the city is young, is a chance to make a foundation that will only grow greater with age, even if it will be but a shadow to the university.

[ ] Market Square : As the city grew, the random scattering of shops and craftsmen's workplaces no longer sustained the town acceptably. As such, by the official order of the town mayor, the Market Square was opened, for the profit of all. Serving as a center for commercial activity in the town, the Market Square would also attract traders and new merchants, leading to a general enrichment of the town.

[ ] Town Watch : While the exiles to the Deep Dark were, all in all, too busy with the need to survive to really cause trouble for one another on large and organized scales, the fact was the natives were more then happy to make up for the lack. Giant albino snakes, hopping magic mushrooms, three headed giant lizards, swarms of ants the size of dogs, horrible vampire bats that hunt man in the dark.. Well, it was no wonder that the creation of the Town Watch, an armed and organized body of men to defend the town from wandering menaces, brought both peace of mind and security to the town.

[ ] Sewage System : The fact is that while people are alive, they make a mess. The suggestion to turn everyone undead to fix that was not well received, so instead the town has gone ahead and built a large network of.. well, waste disposal and collection tunnels. It would do double duty as it both made the town much less messy and more hygienic, and collected all the sewage for use in farming, greatly helping with the food supply as much as many people didn't like thinking about how it helped.

[ ] Ruins Outpost : While the Ruins offer much reward for those who dare to explore them, the fact is that exploring them is dangerous. Even beyond the monsters that have moved in, they are simply old and in bad repair. And once you have found something valuable, you must make a difficult and extended journey to bring them back to Tartarus. It is no surprise, considering these facts, that those who would delve into the ruins worked together to create a formal and fortified outpost at the edges of the ruins, where one could find both medical assistance, ammo reloads, and storage space without having to go all the way back to the city.

[ ] Caster's Tower : Just because a true wizard's tower can not currently be crafted and supported does not mean that the wizards should be let loose in the university, claimed some, for magic has the unfortunate tendency to make unskilled and over confident casters to explode, splattering strange gunk over the books. Better to give the wizards somewhere safe to practice, experiment and live, instead of a class entering a classroom to find it full of slime, a smoking corpse imbedded into a wall, and all the furniture stuck to the roof.

 

[X] Known and Unknown Geography.

This sounds like 'finding more resources to exploit' to me. Though math and finance would be 'using the ones you know about better'. Hm. Well, still going to go with Geography.

[X] Ruins Outpost.

ADVENTURERES.

 

Also, if people can correctly guess what all the departments do you may get a (Minor) reward.

 

[X] The Department of Enchantment and Creation

[X] Caster's Tower : Just because a true wizard's tower can not currently be crafted and supported does not mean that the wizards should be let loose in the university, claimed some, for magic has the unfortunate tendency to make unskilled and over confident casters to explode, splattering strange gunk over the books. Better to give the wizards somewhere safe to practice, experiment and live, instead of a class entering a classroom to find it full of slime, a smoking corpse imbedded into a wall, and all the furniture stuck to the roof.

 

Ritual-based, and focuses on Spirits/Elemental summoning.

Mapping out the geography of the area. Good for making maps, as well as Geomancy shenanigans.

...Somehow I am reminded of Yuyuko Saigyouji. Undead and Necro?

Priests all the way, as well as thieves?

Arithmancy hax.

Making enchanted artifacts and conjuration stuff.

Offensive spells.

 

[X] The Department of Math and Finance
[X] Sewage System

The Sewage System will be much easier if we make it earlier, the other buildings aren't quite intertwined with the city proper.

 

[x] Department of Known and Unknown Geography
[x] Sewage System

 

] Sewage System : The fact is that while people are alive, they make a mess. The suggestion to turn everyone undead to fix that was not well received, so instead the town has gone ahead and built a large network of.. well, waste disposal and collection tunnels. It would do double duty as it both made the town much less messy and more hygienic, and collected all the sewage for use in farming, greatly helping with the food supply as much as many people didn't like thinking about how it helped.

Hey! I think turning everyone undead is a great idea! Really fits with the 'Tartarus' theme, and ensures that knowledge is passed down through the... Wait, no, 'Generations' is suddenly an -issue- isn't it?

Right, so maybe not.

 

[X] The Department of Math and Finance

[X] Sewage System

 

[X] The Department of Humanities and Mortality

[X] Ruins Outpost

 

[X] The Department of Enchantment and Creation
[ ] Ruins Outpost : While the Ruins offer much reward for those who dare to explore them, the fact is that exploring them is dangerous. Even beyond the monsters that have moved in, they are simply old and in bad repair. And once you have found something valuable, you must make a difficult and extended journey to bring them back to Tartarus. It is no surprise, considering these facts, that those who would delve into the ruins worked together to create a formal and fortified outpost at the edges of the ruins, where one could find both medical assistance, ammo reloads, and storage space without having to go all the way back to the city.

We should look into getting good relations with our other wizard city. We both have tons to offer one another in time. Student exchange programs, magic items, etc. . .

 

[ ] The Department of Names and Incantations <- General spell casting department. The true Names of the forces invoked in magic and how to cast with them, IE, designing and learning Incantations.
[Chibi-Reaper, emeralis00] The Department of Known and Unknown Geography <- Mapping things, Geology studies, botany, all the fun earth sciences go here.
[east2idaho] The Department of Humanities and Mortality <- Human studies. Politics, general literature, and all that as well as human biology.
[ ] The Department of Theology and Begging <- theology and divine magic. (IE, begging the gods/great spirits/whatever to do things for you.)
[Emral282, Malcolmo] The Department of Math and Finance <- This is the math department. And the higher math. Also teaches finance.
[MHLord, Robotninja, Shadell, Drakebane, Shad4c, Keeper of Storms] The Department of Enchantment and Creation <- making permanent magical things/effects. At the low end, this is items. At the middle end, golems and enchanted structures. And the high end is geomancy.
[Biigoh] The Department of Invocations and Evocations <- Spirit magic. Either invoking a spirits power through the caster, or evoking their power outside the caster.

[ ] Market Square
[ ] Town Watch
[Emral282, emeralis00, Vindictus, Malcolmo] Sewage System
[Chibi-Reaper, Biigoh, east2idaho, Robotninja, Shadell, Drakebane, Shad4c, Keeper of Storms] Ruins Outpost
[MHLord] Caster's Tower



Ruin Fever. That is the disease that has the city in its grip. It's the University's fault when it comes down to it, to be honest. It all started when the first magic items were being.. acquired. And then the learned sages of the Department of Enchantment and Creation got a hold of a few.. It seems whatever natives of this long ruined city adventurers have been looting had some very different magical practices then what is known in modern day, and all the departments want to get a good look. And the Department of Enchantment and Creation, being the currently dominant department, has had the most success in getting shinies..

Of course, with the news that the University is willing to pay big money in exchange for loot, the amount of adventures interested in looting said ancient city has gone through the roof. It seems a new expedition launches itself every day.. and while some don't come back, many more do. Seeing this, those people interested in making money off the current ruin madness have created a fortified outpost by the main entrance people use to enter the ancient city. Well, they call it an outpost, but it has its own bar, its own inn, a warehouse or three, and more then one house. Also a medical clinic and a small shrine. It's more of a small town by this point, and it's already proving profitable, both to those that set it up and the city tax collectors.

The bad side is that with the sudden explosion of civilization by the ruins, and an equal explosion in the number of people going into the ruins.. well, everything big and snarly seems to be waking up and causing trouble. Something will have to be done about this..

Meanwhile, your fellow cities down here in the deep dark have not been idle either. And speaking of security, Cointown has opened an official Mercenaries guild, as the Great Merchant Guild has forced the local sellswords to organize themselves after one to many headache when trying to arrange for caravan guards. Meanwhile, Port Granite has created an official Town Watch, to both deal with criminals and any monsters that would attack the city as well as cracking down on the smugglers attempting to make themselves rich off the Gardens of Wonder.

Tibero's Castle on the other hand, has chosen to vastly fortify the main entrance to their own city, while causing a selection of cave ins to block off most of the lesser entrances to the great shaft that they live in. Combined with their Blademasters, few would be stupid enough to attack them now.. Hopefully, with that done, they can focus on more productive things now. Meanwhile, their sister city of Fortress Igni has recently unveiled the first large scale Steel Smelters in the Deep Dark, making steel weapons, armor, and tools now viable for use in mass. As expected, they're also taking advantage of their current effective monopoly to make themselves filthy rich. Some people have pointed out the lack of any major source of Iron, as of current times. Once they finish using all the ore just lying about on the surface, someone will have to make a mine and this current glut on the market will end.

Darkout and Mercy Tunnels have chosen less.. dramatic things to occupy their time these years, and the news of the Fishing Docks and Graveyards (With attached gravekeepers) both respective towns have developed are much less exciting to most.



University Upgrade
[X] Enchantment Forges : With the ride of the Department of Enchantment and Creation to local current political dominance, the university has spent the last of the founding money to create and Enchantment Forge, a workshop dedicated to the creation of enchanted items.

Ruins Security Upgrade
[ ] Mercenaries : The new mercenary guild in Cointown grants the ability to.. well, hire mercenaries in sufficiently large numbers that it would be distinctly possible to hire a large band to safeguard the Ruin Outpost.
[ ] Outpost Wall : Some people think that by building some nice thick walls, you could keep the monsters out.
[ ] Combat Mages : The university trains mages, so why not make it an extra credit option for some of them to come down here and throw fireballs at the local nasties?
[ ] Bounties : With all these adventurers around, surely some bounties for the heads of the most troublesome monsters would have success?

Minor Reward Upgrade
[X] Incoming Event : While no one got everything exactly right, people did guess enough to get an incoming positive event~

 

[X] Bounties : With all these adventurers around, surely some bounties for the heads of the most troublesome monsters would have success?

 

[X] Combat Mages : The university trains mages, so why not make it an extra credit option for some of them to come down here and throw fireballs at the local nasties?

Go with our strengths

 

[X] Combat Mages : The university trains mages, so why not make it an extra credit option for some of them to come down here and throw fireballs at the local nasties?

Although Bounties is interesting too.

 

[X] Bounties

 

[X] Combat Mages : The university trains mages, so why not make it an extra credit option for some of them to come down here and throw fireballs at the local nasties?

 

[X] Combat Mages : The university trains mages, so why not make it an extra credit option for some of them to come down here and throw fireballs at the local nasties?

 

My god.

Are people literally just voting for the things that won last time over and over?

That sounds... Incredibly boring and stale.

Come on, let's vote for something different.