The Ancient Ruins

The Ancient Ruins are not true ruins. Rather, this is an ancient dungeon that has been known for as long as Zyrxia has been a founded. Legend says it has been around for much longer. 
The royal family controlls the Ancient Dungeon. It's room being located within a special building and guarded night and day. Only a limited amount of hunters are allowed to dive into this dungeon. The royal family also possess rights to half the loot that any dungeon diver may find. 
The theme of the Ancient Ruins revolves around old technology, mystery and lost knowledge. Because of this, divers may find various chest that continue books, old artifcats, ancient coins, scrolls and in extremely rare cases relics from Zyrxia's history.
10 different floors make up the Ancient Ruins. The begining floors are relatively easy, and a place where the Zyrxia army sends squires and new recruits to train and prove their might. Starting on floor 4, the difficulty begins to increase. No one has defeated the boss on the 10th floor in the history of Zyrxia. 
Some of the common monsters one may find within are: 

• Ruin Mimics: Mimics that can be found littered around the first couple of floors. They take the floor of rubble and ruins before attacking unsespecting divers. 
• Ice Golems: Golems that are contructived of the Elemental Affinity of Ice. These are found in the middle floors between 5 and 7
• Book Mimics: Found on the Ancient Library on floor 9. These mimics take the form of books. They may reside on the library shelves or random books stacked on desk, the floor or even those lying open upon the floor. 
• Quill Mimics: Also found on floor 9. These mimics can be found on the various desk within this floor as well as the different rooms. 
• Crystal Golems: These golems are found on floor 8. This floor resembles an ancient abandon mine. Rare gems and crystals can be mined from the golem once it's defeated. 
• Black Bloods: These creatures have a glossy black coat. They can come in various shapes and sizes. They typical resemble beasts of some type or another. Some might even appear as Drakes or in very rare cases low level wyverns.
• Clockwork Automation: These creatures are found on floor 10 and it's suggested not to fight them. They function as sentient or sapient beings, but are clearly automaton with various gears showing. These are considered lost knowledge as no one recorded are able to create an automaton. These creatures are considered golems. 
• Paradox: Creatures that shouldn't exist. They defy the logics of Ethia in one way or another. The main feature noted from these beings are tha they lack elemental affinity, something that nothing within Ethia should lack.

The floor Guardians: 

• 1st Floor: Gargolye mimic - This creature appears as a gargolye on the type of an ancient temple type building. Rather than coming to life as an actual gargoyle, this creature will sprout a maw of teeth and a loopy tongue, traits common to other mimics.
• 2nd Floor: Old Crypt Keeper - Upon the second floor is an old graveyard that is delapitated and uncared for. This Gaurdian is an elite undead. Many may underestimate this creature as it appears as a decrepid old man who's one hit away from death. An interesting note about this Guardian is the fact that it's blind. 
• 3rd Floor: Gamekeeper and his Hounds - All three of these Guardians are Black Bloods. They posses glossy black skin or fur, abilities of darkness and shadow movement. 
• 4th Floor: The Kraken Priestess - A monster resembling the mix between a siren and Kraken. It has the elemental affinity of water. It has the ablitity to create buffs and debuffs with it's singing.
• 5th Floor: Astral Golem - A golem made of meteorite and imbued with cosmic energy. It has the ability to summon small meteors, manipulate gravity and use Starlight attacks. This creature has an element of darkness and light.
• 6th Floor: Mirror Wraith - A spectral monster that has the ability to become a mirror image of anyone of the party members. It can change it's form at will to mimic one of the current party members. This has the Elemental affinity of Light
• 7th Floor: Forge Master - A powerful blacksmith that has extended his own life and power by fuzing with his creations becoming a cyborg. This type of technology is forbidden and seen as abborant in Ethia. He has a hammer. This creature is darkness and earth affinity.
• 8th Floor: Crystal Queen - A sorceress that uses gems and cryatls to empower her spells. She is Light affinity.
• 9th Floor: The archivist - A wraith type librarian who gaurds the 'forbidden' section of the library. Once defeated a special room will open with rare and forbidden tomes. This librarion is a fire and light afifnity. 
• 10th Floor: Clockwork Automaton; Dragon - This automation takes on the form of a massive and ancient dragon. This creature is both a draconic beaing and a golem. It contains various types of earth breath, a crystal body made of diamonds and controlls aspects of time magic. It has the elemental affinity of Earth and Darkness.