The town of Degen Dungeons is situated over a vast network of unexplored dungeons. The Degens settled on this spot precisely because the danger posed by the dungeons put it out of reach of the authorities that would seek to impede their ability to engage in high stakes gaming.
Magnus, a renowned game master and founding resident of the town, saw an opportunity to gamblify dungeon diving by taking inspiration from the royally funded expeditions of yore. Magnus could make expeditionary finance accessible to everyday degens by serving as the broker between gung-ho Champions looking for work, and Degens with fat wallets yearning for even fatter returns from the safety of their bar stools.
Degens will bet on anything. This is one of the rules encoded by Gob in their DNA. If two degens are at a bar, they'll bet on who will finish their beer first. They can't help themselves. Betting is like breathing for them. If there isn’t something on the line, they’re probably asleep. Degens are not, however, a violent people. Exploring the dungeons on their own was out of the question, but give them an opportunity to throw their money at daring adventurers in a high-risk pursuit of gold and glory, and we've got a game!
The only problem left was one of coordination: the dungeons are so deep and dangerous that even the most intrepid champions can't get very far without logistical support. Enter Victor, a Boglim always on the lookout for new business opportunities. When Victor caught wind of Magnus' new game, he hurried to capitalize on it. Aided by equipment from Victor's shops, champions reached new depths, rewarding their sponsors with the riches recovered on their dives. Other proprietors followed Victor's lead, until eventually the dungeons had enough infrastructure to support a continuous flow of daring champions for hire, willing to face certain death to satisfy the Degen's insatiable risk appetite.
Now, Magnus operates a bustling lounge at the entrance of a particularly special dungeon, renowned for the marauding horrors that inhabit it, and a rumored dragon's hoard many miles deep under the ground. Degens from far and wide flock to the lounge in search of riches, or just to watch someone else risk it all for the ultimate payout. Perhaps today, some lucky or ludicrously talented soul will outdo the rest, diving deeper than previously thought possible. Maybe someone will finally bring back the fabled dragon's hoard. Probably not, but maybe!
