Chapter 13: The First Dungeon

“Not many know this,” I say, “but dungeons are sentient. At the deepest level of every dungeon, the core sits, controlling the denizens within. It sets up the different structures we see in dungeons, it lays out the maps and the traps. It is a living, thinking being; in some ways, it is just like we are.

“Most dungeons have gone somewhat dormant, the core just keeping things going, perpetuating the dungeon. They can’t communicate with us, and so the knowledge that they are alive has fallen out of favor. But the older dungeons are more intricate, more powerful, and more sentient. They can think, and they can talk. They can take on the forms of humanoids just like us, and speak with us directly.