Chapter One: Entering the Tower

ONE 

“Are you the tower master?” Roan asked the creature seated across from him. A loud snort issued from its large pink nose, twitching in time with its long whiskers. Old scars ran over its face, puckered and faded with its gray fur not growing over the old wounds. 

“Do I look like a tower master?” Its voice was very deep for something that looked like a rabbit. The large ears, pink nose, and fur all looked just like a rabbit. If Roan hadn’t known about the beast-kin servants who lived in the towers he would have been shocked by the man sized creature. 

“Not really. Just figured I’d ask, just in case.” Roan looked over the room as he spoke. Every inch of the room was filled with classical weapons. Swords, bows, axes, flails, maces, crossbows, bolos, and other things that he couldn’t identify. The rabbit-kin’s desk had a massive stack of other items, rings, bracelets, loose papers, vials of bubbling liquids, and a glittering emerald crystal the size of his fist. 

“This will go faster if you listen to what I have to say without interruptions. Then you can get to dying,” the beast-kin said. Roan just nodded along, there had been plenty of knowledge that had come from the other twelve conquered towers. This was well in line with what he expected.

“You are entering a tower. Inside this tower is ten floors, made of ten levels each for one-hundred levels. Each floor is themed with every level an increasing difficulty. At no time may you leave this tower until every level has been cleared. After clearing the final level of the final floor, you will be allowed to challenge the one-hundred-and-first level. If it is cleared then the tower will open and those who have survived may leave from any safe point.” The battle scarred rabbit-kin stopped to grab a bottle of amber liquid from its cluttered desk, unpopping it and drinking from it deeply. He belched a little bit, wiping at his mouth with the back of his furry wrist.

“At the end of every level there is a safe room where you may rest and train until the next level opens. There is a timer for every level that will allow you to enter the next level. You may explore any level you have cleared until the floor is finished. Every safe-room allows you access to the Market. You earn credits for slaying mobs, completing puzzles, or finishing floor or level quests. Each floor will have unique items to be harvested or items to be bought in the Market. Any changes you make to yourself inside of the tower are permanent.” The beast-kin paused and stared hard at Roan.

“My own ancestors started as tower climbers. They weren’t rabbits.” The old beast-kin let that hang between them before it looked back to a series of folded pages it was reading from. 

“Where were we…ah, yes. The tower is populated by mana constructs, known as mobs, and servants such as, well me. There is a bounty on everything inside of the tower, though servants are not restrained by floor or level power constraints. They will not attack you unless they are attacked and they can not hinder your climb in any way, though they can aid you if they wish. Basically, don’t fuck with us and we won’t turn you into mulch,” the old rabbit said. 

That tracked with what Roan knew about the other towers. Aside from the Market and not allowing anybody to leave. Most towers allowed an exit after a floor clear, allowing others to come back in at the floor they’d cleared. Roan had just figured out one of the mysteries of why no one had ever left this tower before. 

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“That’s about it. Rest you can figure out as you climb. As our tower master has removed the safeguards from the tower he has had to add benefits. One of them being the Market place. Another benefit is a starting item that you can choose right now,” the rabbit leaned back and waved at the collection of clutter that filled the office.

“Anything in here?” Roan asked.

“Pick and I’ll tell you. Some of my personal items are mixed in,” the old rabbit said. Roan looked at the mystery orb of crystal on the desk, but had to fight back asking. It could be something powerful, or nothing at all. In the century since the towers had landed, no one had managed to clear this tower. It alone had stood unconquered. Taking a stupid risk like gambling on a mystery rock was the easiest way to die.