Rune Seeker

The ground flashed by just a few feet below Drake’s tucked-up talons, churned mud and the remnants of the mangled, glowing roots marking the stampede’s clear trail. Hiral didn’t need to have Drahn’s skills to know which way the animals went. Except, it wasn’t the trail that drew his eyes. No, ahead of them in the storm, outlined by the flashes of lightning, something like out of a dream rose from the ground.

A dream – or a really drunk landscaper.

Mountains stretched in the distance, their peaks lighting up with each flash of the storm, but what attracted Hiral’s attention was much closer. Like hundreds of geysers of molten stone had shot into the air at every angle – and then cooled within seconds – there were hardened lines of liquid-like rock criss-crossing this end of the savanna. Arches of stone, some hundreds of feet tall, lined back and forth across the plain, with frozen ‘drips’ hanging beneath them. More than that, the glowing roots had made the entire area their home, winding around the strange structures and hanging from them. Plants that resembled upside-down trees, flowers that opened towards the ground to keep the constant rain out, and bushes like steps – it all glowed.

And it was breathtaking.

The strange display seemed to stretch on for miles, creating a maze-like hedge of giant, thorny vines, decked in dozens of colors, snaking through the earth.

“That must be the terrain that kept the Bonders safe,” Left said. “Or at least made it not worth the trouble to go looking too hard for them.”

“Are they on the other side of it?” Hiral asked, using the party chat so everybody in their group could hear them. Nivian’s party rolled along below them, but their Moto-Rings began to slow as they spotted the obstacle.

“More likely right at the far edge, though still inside of it, by the looks of how big it is,” Left said. “I suspect that mountain range is the border with the next zone – a D-Rank one, if I remember correctly. They probably have trails through it, but it’s this zone that’s the real danger.”

“Nivian and the others can’t go over it,” Seena said.

“It looks like the herd didn’t want to go in there,” Drahn said from behind Hiral. “The trail turns south just ahead.”

Hiral tore his eyes from the strange, stony display ahead of them, and followed the trail below. Like Drahn said, the torn ground altered course pretty abruptly as it came within view of the maze. No way a herd like that would be able to stick together while trying to navigate the limited paths between. But…

“Some of the tracks continue into the maze,” Hiral said, spotting places where churned dirt and breaks in the glowing roots were obvious.

“I’ll need to get closer to see what kind,” Drahn said.

“And we’ll have to land to talk to Nivian and the others anyway,” Seena said. “Let’s pick a spot.”

As Hiral’s eyes trailed across the ground in front of the maze, a spot became very obvious, with two familiar constructs sitting under the pouring rain.

“I see dungeon interfaces,” Hiral said. “Follow me.” A pat told Drake where Hiral wanted him to go, and the Dracolich burst ahead of the others to lead the way.

“Did you say interfaces?” Yanily asked. “As in plural? More than one?”

“Two,” Hiral said, Drake landing fifty feet from the two interfaces, while the other mounts quickly caught up. It didn’t take more than a few seconds for the caravan of Moto-Rings to arrive, and everybody dismounted to gather.

“Dungeon interfaces?” Wule asked, as he and Nivian led their party over to join Hiral and the others. “Out here? What’s going on?”

Hiral and Seena exchanged a look.

“Two interfaces,” he started.

“Two parties,” she finished.

“Not a coincidence,” they said together.

“But how is a dungeon interface popping up here?” Politet asked.

“It’s not the first time we’ve seen one in a strange place,” Nivian said to Seena. “Remember the Palace of Creeping Death?” he asked, referencing the third dungeon they’d entered in the undead city. “Right in front of that gate. Strange place to put a dungeon, if you ask me. It did say it was corrupted, though.”

“We also found one in Fallen Reach,” Hiral said. “Nothing about it being corrupted. I think the PIMP can create them when it wants to help guide us.”

“The dynamic quests,” Seeyela said with a nod. “Which I still don’t completely trust.”

“If there are dungeon interfaces here though,” Seena said, “then that means something is happening. Probably those Chimeras we were worried about.”

“Why would there need to be two dungeon interfaces then?” Nivian asked. “Couldn’t it ask us to form up a raid group?”

“Only one way to find out,” Seena said. “You take that one, we’ll take this one. Assuming you’re all good to dive into another dungeon?”

“We’re ready,” Nivian said, leading his party over to the second interface a dozen feet away.

“Ready?” Seena asked, and the others nodded at her. Looking up once more at the rain falling directly on them – the PIMP must be kind of desperate to create an interface out in the open like this – she swiped her hand over the crystal. As soon as she did, a notification window sprung predictably up in front of Hiral.

Wild Dungeon – Siege of the Hanging Garden

Interlopers stalk the Hanging Garden, the scent of hidden prey burning in their nostrils, and only fragile walls standing between them.

Note: Wild Dungeons are rare instances containing powerful Lost equipment and unique quests.

Note (2): Wild Dungeon—Siege of the Hanging Garden will cease to allow new entrants once it has been completed / failed a single time.

Note (3): Any parties within the Wild Dungeon when it is completed / failed will have their progress halted.

Note (4): Wild Dungeon—Siege of the Hanging Garden will not count towards unlocking the Asylum if it is completed successfully.

Note (5): Time until walls are breached – Approximately 3 hours.

Enter Dungeon?

Yes / No

“Wild dungeon over here,” Seena called to Nivian. “You?”

“Same,” Nivian replied. “Sounds like we need to go rescue a Bonder party. They’re at another dungeon.”

“It said they’re at another dungeon?” Hiral asked. “Used those words?”

“Yes,” Nivian said. “There’s even a timer – that’s already counting down – until they’re wiped out.”

“Nothing about walls?” Seeyela asked.

“Nothing.”

“We have different dungeons,” Seena said. “Different objectives too. Does yours give you three hours?”

“Of course,” Nivian said.

“Then we don’t have time to dawdle,” Hiral said. “We’re splitting up?”

“We’re splitting up,” Seena said. “Good luck you guys,” she said to Nivian and Wule’s party, then tapped the air like she was hitting her Yes button.

However, instead of a portal rippling open in front of them, a new notification popped up.

Siege of the Hanging Garden – Wild Dungeon

B-Rank

Top Clear Times

XXX : --:--

YYY : N/A

ZZZ : N/A

Attempt Dungeon?

Yes / No

Seena actually rolled her eyes at the second, redundant notification – though at least it confirmed the dungeon was B-Rank – and tapped Yes again. Still, no portal spun open, and four sets of roots began to glow brighter, each leading to a different archway into the maze.

“It wants us to split up even more?” Seeyela asked, turning an eight-eyed scowl on the interface.

“Seems that way,” Yanily said. “I call dibs on this path.” True to his words, the spearman walked over to stand in front of one of the clear ‘entrances’ to the dungeon.

“Yan,” Seeyela started, but everybody turned at the sound of multiple Moto-Rings starting up.

“We’re going,” Nivian said. “Got some ground to cover. We’ll see you after we clear this.”

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“See you soon,” Seena shouted back, and then the other party was gone. “Okay, look, we have two options here. Split up or stay together. Clearly it wants us to split up, but that’s going to be riskier.”

“We also have a third option,” Seeyela said. “Skip the maze and fly to the city.”

“Probably can’t,” Hiral said at the same time he activated Foundational Split to bring Right out, and dismissed Drake. The less bodies in the rain, the better. “If it was visible from the air, the Enemy would’ve found it.”

“Good point,” Seeyela said.

“Given the entrances, we’re looking at two pairs and two solo,” Seena said, then turned to Hiral. “In your case it wouldn’t be so solo, I guess.”

“I say we do it,” Hiral said. “Split up, I mean. I’ll take this tunnel over here – with Left and Right, of course – and Seeyela, you should solo that one. Seena with Drahn, and Yan with Gran.”

“Cause our names rhyme?” Yanily asked.

“No, Yan, because you’re a melee fighter and she’s a ranged healer, from the sounds of things. Best support for each other. Likewise, Drahn and Seena both…”

“Hit things from a distance,” Seena said, nodding. “And if Sis is by herself, she can use her armor’s camouflage to its fullest.”

“Not to mention her traps, teleporting, and poison,” Hiral said. “Honestly, I feel a little bad for the monsters having to deal with Seeyela-unleashed.”

“You make me sound like some kind of rabid dog,” Seeyela groaned, but her hands were on her daggers. It would be her first real chance to go it alone since the Necropolis of Ur’Thul. And she’d gotten a lot stronger between then and now.

Seena thought it over for another few seconds, eyes on the sky in case any squids had noticed them, then nodded again. “I agree with Hiral. There’s a risk to splitting up, but there are also some potential gains. And I think we’re strong enough to handle a rematch if any more of those Chimeras show up after the last dungeon. We didn’t get a lot of levels, but the abilities are good. Still, if things start going bad, prioritize yourselves over getting to the Bonders.”

“In all likelihood,” Hiral said. “We’ll meet up before the Mid-Boss. I hope.”

“Don’t jinx us,” Seena said. “Okay, everybody, ready?”

“Not quite,” Hiral quickly interrupted. “Even though we’re not going to be fighting side-by-side, there’s something I’d like to try.”

“Your groping buff?” Yanily asked hopefully.

“Not exactly,” Hiral said. “You’ll be too far away, and I don’t think I’ll be able to keep it up through these stone… whatever they are. Just, let me give it a try quickly before we go in. Like before, you’ll probably need to let it happen.”

Seena stepped over closer to Hiral and twined her fingers in with his. “This okay?” she asked, and he nodded. He wouldn’t need his hands for what he was about to try, and honestly, the contact gave him more support than she realized.

“Here we go,” Hiral said, reaching out with his scarves and strands of Connection to each of the other party members. Unlike before, however, he didn’t try to wrap energy around them or directly influence them with his runes. Instead, the tip of each scarf pressed up gently to the center of their chests – right where the Growers would’ve been implanted with their seeds. Since he didn’t know – at all – how Gran’s PIM worked, he just gave it a shot and hoped he’d find what he was looking for.

As soon as the connection was made, he got the same vague sense of concepts from each of them that he felt with Nivian. None nearly as strong or solid, but they were forming. Growing and beginning to influence reality around them. Even Gran had something starting, though it was Yanily who was unsurprisingly the furthest along. I’ll have to ask them about it later, or maybe even suggest they focus on it a bit more.

That really was a later issue, though, and he turned his attention back to himself. Specifically, to one of his skills. Activating his time runes – the falling rain pausing midair – Hiral compared the rules governing the ability to the feeling he got from their PIMs. The Growers – and Gran – didn’t have the rules of the universe written on their skin like he did, but he could still feel those same rules ingrained in them. In the heavy roots running through Seeyela’s body, the fire burning through Seena, the lightning crackling inside Yanily, the blue flames animating Gran, and even Drahn’s normal roots. Each of their PIMs held the instructions on how their abilities worked.

Not that Hiral was trying to change those rules. No, he just needed the hint on how the PIMs identified who the abilities worked on. The differences between self and others. He’d already inspected his own PIM, but comparing it to the others was the piece of information he needed. It didn’t take long to find it, and he moved back to his own ability, focusing on that single character within Emperor’s Decree that said he could only use the ability on himself.

Letting the time runes fade – and the building pain in the back of his head vanish with them – Hiral was almost ready. “I’ll need to borrow a touch of energy from each of you.”

“Go ahead,” Seena said, and the others nodded along – even Drahn and Gran.

With their permission, Hiral activated his Runes of Absorption, Attraction, Energy, and Unsealing. “This may pinch a little.” Then, before anybody had a chance to ask, he pulled a mote of energy from each of them. A mote containing the identity of their PIMs. Not the original, or anything that would hurt them, but more a copy.

An echo.

As the others winced, Hiral pulled the five motes into his ability, holding them in place with his Rune of Sealing, while he went to work with his Runes of Dreaming and Breaking. This was the riskiest part, but he couldn’t – wouldn’t – hesitate now. If he really was going to forge his own path, this was the one he would take.

Breaking down the character for ‘self’ in the Emperor’s Decree, he didn’t quite destroy it, but instead shrank it, creating space in the runic equation. Then in that space, he pushed the five motes containing the identities of his friends’ PIMs. Immediately, resistance welled up from within Hiral’s PIM – within his body – as it sought to expel the foreign entities, like the rallying of an immune system.

Not that Hiral would let it stop him. Compression, Absorption, Sealing, and Restoration went to work, fitting the motes into place and tricking his PIM into believing they’d been there the entire time. More resistance built, like his body was an overfilled waterskin, and solar energy churned through him. This – what he was doing – was much harder than what he’d done before with the notification window acting as connection to the PIMP itself.

Maybe I should’ve waited until we completed the dungeon to try this…

But the simple thought of relying on the PIMP to help him with his choice redoubled Hiral’s efforts. Solar energy poured into his Rune of Increase, flooding it as he bolstered his other runes with its simple purpose. Over and over, he applied the rune to the other four, holding the motes in place through a combination of force of will and sheer stubbornness.

At the edge of his consciousness, he could feel things fraying around him, though time was hardly passing while he rewrote his ability. And he was so close. All he needed was one more good push. A little extra power. He could do it if he just had…

Pop, and the solar energy Hiral had pooled around his Rune of Increase rushed out of his body in a massive leak. Had his arm exploded? He’d never hear the end of that from Nivian…

Except, there was no pain. If anything, it was like there was some kind of a calling to him. A…

A chance!

Hiral mentally grabbed hold of one thread of primed potential left in his body – the one threaded through his Rune of Increase – from his first encounter with the Chimeric blood, and filled it with Attraction, Connection, and Energy. If this worked…

It clicked in a burst of power, the Edict of Increase flashing in front of Hiral’s eyes, before it settled on him like a warm cloak. Taking hold of it, Hiral pushed the newfound power into using his other runes to reforge his ability. Like it came with a burst of inspiration – along with the power – Hiral just knew what he needed to do to make it work, to make it better, and one rune after another touched and solidified his work. Another second, and it was done, the runes and Edicts shutting off one after another to leave his newly modified Emperor’s Decree in place.

Hiral almost dropped to a seated position, but Seena’s hand in his – and his doubles’ hands under his arms kept him in place.

“That was a lot of solar energy you just burned through,” Seena said, looking at him curiously, but without worry for once. “What did you do?”

“Modified another ability,” Hiral said. Then he smiled. “Even better than I’d planned. Let me show you.”

With that, and the remaining solar energy he had, Hiral touched each of his party members again and activated the newly modified Emperor’s Decree. Around them, six spectral shapes took form.

For Seeyela – who would benefit the most from increased movement and another ranged-attack option – a young woman seemingly made of clouds and wielding a two-headed spear with curved blades. The Sho-Val of the Valley.

Next came Yanily, and he got what Hiral had almost given Seeyela. Really, though, increased attack speed to go along with Yan’s Reed Spear Stylewas too good a combination to pass up. A rat-like humanoid wielding axes that roared like primal hunters appeared in front of the spearman – the Bestial Axes.

For Seena, a massive warrior with arms like tree trunks, and shoulders that could carry the world, along with the crystal greataxe in his hands – Fate Spinner. The raw bonus to critical chance, along with reduced ability costs? A perfect match.

Up next was Drahn, and for him, Fitch stepped forward, free of the Infested within him, but with a sinuous sword in his hand – the Flame-Bladed Rapier of Eldritch Horror. The debuff from Dark Edge of Insanity as well as the eye-beam-firing tentacles from The Bad Touch would support him as a ranged attacker, and hopefully help keep aggressive enemies contained.

And for the newcoming, Gran, Dal Fillion in his leather armor, a sword like a lightning bolt over his shoulder – Stormstrike – stepped up to her. Since he didn’t know enough about her abilities, a movement skill along with the straight damage of Lightning Strike – to feed her healing – seemed like the right choice.

Finally, for Hiral, the Vassal of Ur’Thul, the Death Knight in heavy plate carrying a straight sword with a glowing-blue edge – Death Knell – stood in front of him.

As one, the six images stepped forward and touched the party members, temporarily passing the weapons’ abilities to their new bearers.

“If you check your ability page,” Hiral said, “you should each see new abilities from the weapons. Those will stay with you until I cancel Emperor’s Decree or grant you a new boon. They should help in the coming fights.”

“Doesn’t that mean you can’t use the weapons though?” Seena asked.

Hiral glanced to the Edict of Increase glowing to his eyes, then ignited the pseudo-aspect around the corresponding rune. “I’ve got plenty of other weapons.”