Lore

The lore takes the form of Journal Pages, characters that have gone into this wretched place before you, and have written down and kept records of what their experience was like being in The Ancient Dungeon. * Written by Eremite_E

All of the pages from The Cartographer can be found at the beginning of each dungeon floor, the others are found once per run in various special rooms that can appear in any of the dungeon floors except The Beast's Cradle. They have a set order to them, so each page has its unique room it spawns in for a specific dungeon floor.

Overgrown Gatehouse
"It is the end of my first day within the Ancient Dungeon, and I am wildly optimistic.

Despite my surroundings being a bit less than “dungeon-like”, they are untouched. In a world less and less unknown to mankind, it is truly thrilling to be within such a mystery.

I have begun my map. With perseverance, it is sure to be the greatest achievement of my life."

Infested Dungeon
"I believe my current location was an actual dungeon at some point. Iron-barred cells are common, and I have crushed a good number of bones under my clumsy feet.

Uncommon, however, is the red fungus that grows here. I have collected a sample to study, which, perhaps fortunately, has caused a cinnamon smell to pervade my pack.

The map is progressing, as best it can. This place resembles nothing so much as a mass of knotted rope."

Forgotten Library
"I write these words surrounded by lost knowledge, endless books on endless shelves. For the first time, I wonder if mankind has forgotten more than we have retained.

I cannot carry more than one or two books with me. Hopefully, my map will lead a greater contingent here in the future.

Concerning the map...it has grown complex, and...contradictory? It is impossible, but it seems this place is moving."

Luminous Mines
"This place does move. My map is a tangle and I am lost. I continue...forward? Backward? In any case, I have kept moving. I have abandoned all my aspirations now and only hope to survive.

My surroundings have gone from hallways with sconces to caverns only lit by glowing crystals.

Worst of all, I am not alone. I have heard beasts in the shadows. Hopefully a sturdy walking stick and some stern words are enough to fend them off."

Beast's Cradle
"I fear I am at my end.

For all my desperate wandering, I believe I have only ventured deeper into this labyrinth, possibly to its very heart. I can feel a terrible presence here, pressing at the back of my mind, pressing me towards it.

I have resisted, but now the promise of rest seems a greater gift than life itself. The Child hungers, and must be fed.

To any who find these writings, I wish you a better fate than my own."

Day the Fourth of the Third Season, Year 1265
"The “sciences”, as defined by my peers and forebears, have been triumphed. The great discoveries have been made, so I turn my attention to those spheres of knowledge yet untouched.

“Magic”, to use the broadest term.

My work will surely be spurned by most scholars. Even so, I intend that it will not--cannot--be ignored."

Day the Twentieth of the Third Season, Year 1265
"I feel like an unlucky miner, forever bashing at rock without uncovering the slightest gleam of metal.

For every bit of sense that I uncover a bucket of nonsense follows. It seems that, much like science, the practitioners of magic are composed of a few brilliant minds whose genius is drowned in a sea of foolish utterances.

No matter. I will collect all the bits until the truth is plain."

Day the Seventy-Second of the Third Season, Year 1265
"I have done it. I have worked magic.

A small thing, perhaps: A single tongue of flame, perched on the end of my fingertip, seemingly “summoned” from nothing.

I spoke no arcane words, nor drew complex symbols. Simply a singular will, a belief that it could happen...and suddenly it did."

Day the Third of the Fourth Season, Year 1265
"The strength of my abilities seem to vary both according to my “focus” and, oddly, my location.

Concerning focus, I have observed my flame grows and shrinks in accordance with my vigor. Early morning and midday is ideal.

Concerning location...I am uncertain. The third larder seems best, producing a flame both large and bright, but I see no reason why. Further study is needed."

Day the Thirty-First of the First Season, Year 1266
A breakthrough! Today, after emerging from the larder, a kitchen servant asked, “You lookin’ for the ghost?”

It seems the servants have long regarded a section of the basement--directly below the larder--to be haunted. Upon investigating the previously unknown location, I found my power accentuated further.

I am relocating my studies to this area. Greatness awaits."

To-Do
"Dear A Merchant,

Please attend to the following, or risk your flesh-cage being ground into a palatable sludge:

An adventurer has died in your area. Retrieve and bleed forthwith.

Apple crops are high, stock both pots and small crates.

Monitor for mimic infestations. Adrenaline spoils the taste.

Hugs and Kisses,

The Merchant"

Stop!
"Dear A Merchant,

Have you been making flyers? FLYERS?!

Stop it. Initiative is not a desirable trait in a meat-puppet. Whatever shred of self is still careening around that empty head, I STRONGLY encourage you to ignore it.

With Barely-Contained Fury,

The Merchant"

How are you?
"Dear A Merchant,

Hey. How are you doing? I...I just wanted to check in, I know our last conversation was...tense"

Tinkering
"Dear A Merchant,

Have you been tinkering with my equipment?! The “Bandit Box” at your store has been paying out rather too often. The last few adventurers passing through your area have been absurdly well-equipped!

I will visit soon to make adjustments, and if I find evidence of tampering you will be immolated immediately.

Looking forward to the BBQ,

The Merchant"

Slimes
"These creatures have a semi-gelatinous body, which they compress and expand rapidly as a means of locomotion. Their forms are covered in a thick layer of mucus, any contact with which can result in direct harm. They consume their prey by enveloping it with their bodies and slowly dissolving the corpse.

Still, they’re kind of cute."

Zombies
"The reanimated corpses of humans, these creatures rely on the consumption of human flesh to survive. Lacking adequate “nutrition”, they decompose and fall apart. Even so, a proper nourished zombie can maintain a surprising amount of the agility and strength they must have previously possessed.

Also, they smell unbelievably bad."

Skeletons
"Unlike zombies, these creatures are strictly “animated” rather than “re-animated”. Unbound by the weight of flesh, they are amazingly agile and capable of tremendous physical feats. Even more impressive, they seem to possess a sort of intelligence and a hierarchy among themselves.

Happily, the inescapable clacking of bones as they move provide ample warning of their presence."

Freedom
"Dearest Anna,

For the first time in three years, I walk without chains and put ink to parchment. Please know that I regret nothing, save that I shall not see you again.

I hope you are well and that life has been kind to you. Know that I do not believe your husband was aware of the depths of my master’s cruelty when I was handed over.

With Love,

Anthony"

Privilege
"Dearest Anna,

You will likely never read these letters, but it gives me great comfort to write them.

This place I have been thrust into is equal parts terrifying and awe-inspiring. The things I have seen thus far challenge all I thought I knew of the world, and there is an odd sense of privilege (imagine, a “privileged” slave!) in bearing them witness.

Unendingly,

Anthony"

Twerp
"Five gold and a blank book...hardly worth wetting my knife. The skinny twerp looked shocked to see me down here with him, and more shocked when I stuck him. It was a mercy, really, he would have been torn apart by the first shambling corpse that fell on him.

I have enough food for a month or more, but only a week of water. I’ll need to find a place to fill my skin, but there are beasts in here, so there must be water somewhere."

Idiot
"Can’t believe it, some idiot set up shop down here! As if there was a town guard around the corner to stop anyone from just walking in and taking whatever they want! Hilarious, couldn’t hardly stop laughing long enough to slip my dagger between his ribs.

Nice haul, too, three potions for the price of none!

Hmm...maybe this place really does drive people mad."

Dullard
"Can’t find a way out...guess my pa was right, a damned dullard I am. Me, who knows every alley and backstreet of every city within 500 miles, lost in a cave.

Still have food, at least. But then what? Just wander this place ‘til I starve or get killed?

What a joke. Been avoiding cages all my life, and here I just walked into one."