Ding! You have acquired a Dungeon Core! Your choices are as follows:
1) You may reactivate the Dungeon Core. It will reconstitute into a different Dungeon after the Core has a complete reset. It will repopulate with new random mobs and Boss. Note that this will create a Permanent Dungeon. New items and opportunities to gain unique skills may become available.
2) As a Priest of [Multiple Factions Available] you will be able to offer up the Dungeon Core as an offering of Faith. Unique rewards, Faction gain and special Quests may be granted.
3) There are ongoing Guild Quests for all acquired Dungeon Cores. See Guild postings.
4) Absorbing the Dungeon Core yourself will grant 25 Green Nodes, 8 Blue Nodes, 3 Red Nodes and 1 Silver Node.
Do you wish to exit [Revelation of Cel] and return to Sector CL560T The Abbey of Twilight? {Note: Once exiting this Dungeon, it will become a redundant sector and be permanently closed}
Yes/No
I held the recovered Dungeon Core in the palm of one hand and regarded it. It seemed no worse for wear having been lodged inside the Murk Worm Queen. Whether the creature’s goal had been to digest or absorb the Core’s Mana was unknown. The notification I received after pulling the Core free from an intestine was the same as the one I had received from the previous Dungeon, so I decided not to worry and accept that Cores were not so easily corrupted or mutated. I placed the Dungeon Core into my Inventory for now. It was time to leave.
“I don’t know precisely how this works, so everyone hold hands.” I reached out to take Jenny’s hand on one side and Burl’s hand on my other. We formed a circle, with a grinning Curmlough in between Jenny and a scowling Hanson on the other. The dwarf was apparently still on the fence about whether to trust a Satyr or not.
I mentally selected Yes to affirm I was ready to leave the Dungeon and the world faded into a swirl of colors then darkness for a moment before light returned and we were standing once again within the Library of the Abbey of Twilight at the bottom of a pile of stacked books where the dungeon portal had previously been.
“We’re out. I can feel it!” Jenny exclaimed. Her relief spread to the others and everyone, even Hanson, accepted a hug from Leif’s teary eyed Mother.
“Listen to me now, all of you.” I said, after accepting my own hug, shoulder pats and several handshakes from the others. “My friends, it would be best if all of you left for Goodlabor immediately. I left Cole Norden and Maddie Koff in charge of restoring the town. I plan to return and aid you all if I am successful here, but my friends and I still have more work to do for now. I have no doubt you all want to return to your friends and family immediately. The way should be clear and no threats have we been able to locate in any part of the Abbey outside the Dungeon Portals.”
“Yes, yer right, Brother Kenric. We know the way back to town and thanks to your healing I think even ‘ol Silas here should have no trouble.” Burl said with a wink in my direction.
“Hmph! Let’s just see you youngsters try to keep up with me! I’ve got to get the Shop open and distributing what I can spare to the folk what needs it!” Silas declared with a shake of his fist.
I don’t think I’ll mention we already broke into his shop looking for supplies. Best if Cole and Maddie break it to him.
You have received +5 Faction Sul!
“Alright then. Oh! If you happen to run into any more Satyrs on your way, would let them know their brother is alright?”
“Don’t tell them I went into any Dungeons, okay? And tell them I definitely don’t have the Aulos of Marsyas either!” Curmlough added with a serious look upon his face.
I must not have told him that his Sister already knows he stole it from the Grove. Best if he finds that out on his own later.
You have received +5 Faction Sul!
Oh, come on now!
We escorted the four survivors to the gates of the Abbey and I had one final thing to say before they set out.
“If Vicar Hamish is being held within the final Dungeon Gate, I will do all I can to save him. This I promise you, in Ord’s name.” Each of the survivors looked at each other then Jenny spoke.
“Brother Kenric, it’s been hard to believe in any of the Gods after what we saw happen to our town. Whenever the Monks came to town to trade, we always got on well with them. Then one day that Prior started acting strangely and after that only ever spoke to Miller Sneed. Then one day, they just stopped coming. That was when Sneed started preaching that the Gods were false and that Xat was who we should be praying to, a part of me understood why so many of us started listening to him.”
“Aye, it shames me to admit it, but seeing more and more of our young folk move away to Kore and Sulheim made me believe Goodlabor was doomed. That the Gods had abandoned us.” Burl said, eyes downcast. “Felt like the world had forgotten about us too.”
“It wasn’t just you, Burl. I’m guilty of it too,” Silas said. “I wondered if maybe for Goodlabor to survive, it had to change. That we had to change.”
I thought for a minute about what to say. It was moments like this, when people had a crisis of Faith, that a Priest had to step up and say something inspirational.
I should admonish them for abandoning their faith, but is it really so surprising they did? When people are hurt, feel abandoned or that they are alone in the world then those feelings can cause a void to form in their hearts. Pain replaces love. Fear replaces tolerance.
“We are Mortal,” I said softly. “Imperfect beings in an imperfect world. So, of course we want the Gods to be perfect! We want a plan. A roadmap that leads us to a better life for ourselves and our loved ones and we want our faith rewarded if we follow the path the Gods lay out for us.” Everyone was listening rapt to me now, but I was listening to the voice inside my own heart in that moment. It was as if a Light had kindled inside of me. I had absorbed a piece of the former God and perhaps it was He that worked through me as I tried to restore hope to those who had lost theirs.
“Yet, the Gods are not perfect. Throughout the entirety of the Gospels of Ord, we learn of Ord’s bravery, strength, wisdom, compassion, but in only one small paragraph do we see Ord’s fragility. His self doubt. His humanity. It is from the 7th Gospel of Ord, Verse 87, Paragraph 42. I know it well, despite most Ordite Chaplains never mentioning it or even knowing it is there! It is when Ord is holding a dying boy in his arms. We don’t know much about this boy, perhaps a standard bearer? A squire? A lad no more 10 years old, no less than 6. During the final battle, Ord sees the boy struck down by a Goblin arrow. He gathers the dying boy into his arms and he says, ‘Why? Why this boy? How can you do this?’”
I paused now, to see the effect my words were having on the others. Jenny was crying. Burl and Silas were weeping too and even Hanson was teary eyed. I continued. “Don’t you see? Ord doubted. A warrior who became a God did not have the answer. He was asking why such a young life was lost? As a warrior, he understood loss, but the reason for that loss was difficult for one such as he to understand. And Ord wept. A God wept for the loss of a single life that history does not even record that boy’s name.” I stepped forward and took Jenny’s hands in my own.
“A man I deeply respect, Father Wolric, once told me that doubt is healthy and inspires meaningful discussion. I think we will all have much to talk about in the future once we heal Goodlabor of its remaining ills.”
“Yes, Brother Kenric.” Jenny smiled, consoled for the moment.
You have received +50 Faction Light Pantheon!
Achievement Unlocked! Preach, My Brother!
You have successfully brought renewed Faith to others.
Reward: 1 Red Node, 2 Blue Nodes, 3 Green Nodes, 1 Secondary Node
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I hadn’t been trying to be preachy, but I felt uplifted that I had somehow managed to say something to Jenny and the others to ease their troubled spirits. Even Curmlough seemed pleased with what I had said. Octave had flown off somewhere and I hadn’t asked where he was off to. As had been the pattern, I never knew when I was going to receive an Achievement, but they were always welcome and I was eager especially to attach the Secondary Node somewhere it would be of most use.
I said my final farewells to Jenny and the others and watched them walk off. The day was still young. We had been in the Dungeon for far longer than I had realized, certainly more than a day. I still had 4 days until I was due to return Curmlough to his siblings and still had a modest amount of time until a Void Portal was opened. I was disappointed that destroying the Murk Worm Queen and her Fel Shards hadn’t solved that problem, but when had anything ever gone that simple for me since my life as a Prophet had begun?
“Well, it’s time to play catch up with my Quests and see where I stand. Ord knows I’m not entering an Elite Red Portal Dungeon until I am certain I am as prepared as can be.”
I opened my Status and navigated to my Quest tab. Nearly all of my Quests had received an update since last I had checked them.
Quest: Locate the remainder of Goodlabor’s Survivors. (4/5)
Rescue the remainder of Goodlabor’s Survivors. (4/5)
Success: Rare Item, Goodlabor’s survival +50%.
Failure: Goodlabor’s survival -50%.
A straightforward update. I had already reasoned I needed to rescue Vicar Hamish to complete this one. By doing so, Goodlabor’s chances for recovery would increase exponentially and I would be given a new item.
Quest Part 1: Exorcise the tormented spirits of the monks within the Abbey.
Monk Spirits Exorcised: 40/40 (Complete)
Spawn of Xat Eliminated: 40/40 (Complete)
Part 2: Locate and use Condemnation to destroy the Limbus Fel shards growing within the Monk corpses!
Monk Corpses Purged: 0/54
Reward: Lost Ara Skill
Thank Mir I found them all! I hope the Lady forgives me for not initially saving those few monks I encountered until I learned to separate the Spawn from the Monk Spirit. I still need to find where their bodies are located to purge them of Fel shards or their souls may never find peace. Will they be through the Red Portal? Perhaps I should check the graveyard one more time?
Quest Part 1: Locate Prior Sandoval (Complete)
Part 2: Locate Abbot Caspendeau (Complete)
Part 3: Locate the Shard of Ara
Success: TBD
Failure: Loss of all Faction
This may be my most important task. Without the Shard of Ara, I won’t be able to unlock the Skill reward I receive from rescuing the Monks. If it is as powerful as Condemnation is, it will be a game changer. I have to assume that I’ll find it in Hadaeon’s Descent. If the Infernal that Sandoval released is looking for it too or already has it, then there is a good chance it is trying to corrupt it with a Void Infestation as the other one is.
Quest: Locate the Shards of Ara! (1 of 6)
Locate all Shards of Ara to unlock the lost Skills of Ara’s Priesthood!
Success: One ARA Skill unlock per Shard
Failure: Skill lost indefinitely
Quest: Path of Hope, Part III
Locate and unlock another of Ara’s lost abilities.
Reward: 30,000 Experience Points, Quest: Path of Hope, Part IV
These quests both tie together. If I’m successful in finding the third Shard, I’ll be halfway to collecting them all.
Quest: Locate the Book of Prophecy, The Revelations of Cel and read from it. Discover the secret the founding Abbot of the Abbey of Twilight sought to hide from the world forever.
Reward: +500 Faction Cel, -100 Light Pantheon
Or…
Quest: Locate the Book of Prophecy, The Revelations of Cel and destroy it! Some secrets were never meant for mortal eyes and in his wisdom, the founding Abbot of the Abbey of Twilight sought to protect future generations of Humankind.
Reward: +500 Faction Ord, -100 Shadow Pantheon
I cannot destroy a book. Yet, must I read from it? If I do read from it, I will lose even more ground with the Light Pantheon. I’ll fall into the negatives with Ord’s Faction and his followers will become suspicious or even hostile towards me! That is most of the Human controlled territory! If I just keep it in my Inventory for now, it doesn’t hurt anybody. Right?
Quest: Gather the Tomes of Lore I (1 of 5)
Description: Gather [5] Tomes of Lore and donate them to any Library in Aramyr.
Reward: +100 Faction Cel for each book donated.
Failure: Nil
Duration: There is no time limit for this quest.
While running a Dungeon that was a Library, I had expected to find at least one Tome of Lore I might loot, but had found nothing. Yet, in retrospect it had been entirely my own fault, as without my Lore Sight, how was I to find them! A lost opportunity to gain much needed Faction with Cel, to be sure.
Quest: Reunite the Quartet!
Success: Locate Curmlough and reunite him with his brothers and sister, +200 Faction Gor.
Failure: Curmlough remains lost. -200 Faction Gor.
Duration: 5 days, 18 hours remaining
Curmlough had been a tremendous help in the Dungeon and to be honest, after being on my own for a time, it felt good to have companions like Octave and Curmlough. They were not at all what one would expect behavior wise from an Angel or a Satyr, but we had formed an unlikely partnership and what I hoped was friendship as well. I was beginning to suspect Octave had flown off to fill the Goblet of Sweet Dreams dropped by the Planar Frog from whatever water source he could find. Seeing Curmlough’s frown as he led us towards the Abbey Graveyard, his head on a swivel looking left or right, made me suspect as I was right and the Satyr was upset he had been left out.
Quest: Deliver the Rune Lockbox to Hierophant Johannes. There is no time limit on this quest.
Success: Ord, +500 Faction.
Failure: Ord, -1000 Faction.
Still no update and I didn’t expect one. If Ord had intended to punish me for opening the Lockbox and using his holy relic, he would have done so by now. I simply needed to keep the relic safe, Octave by my side and I would eventually deliver all to the Hierophant in Port Tyren.
I closed my Quest tab, but next navigated over to another tab I had largely ignored. The Foci tab still listed the choices I had been given when I hit Level 10 as a Prophet. In that time, I had learned a few things about the rare class that caused me to feel a bit concerned. Mainly, that I needed to keep the Class hidden or I risked being killed. Why? I could hypothesize from what my conversation with Sul had revealed. There were those upon Aramyr who viewed the Class as too dangerous to exist. There was no question the Class was powerful, but risky enough to murder? I wasn’t locked into spells from just one God, but could draw from all of them! Building upon that uniqueness, each Foci unlocked a path that would allow me to specialize even further into what a Prophet was truly capable of.
Foci: Prophecy
Description: You walk the path of Divine Knowledge. Upgrades Lore Sight to now see into an object or person’s future. *Note: There are many possible futures and it requires the wisest of minds to discern which path will reach the desired end point. Taking Prophecy will forever remove other Foci not of the Prophecy path. -100 Faction Light/Shadow/Elemental Pantheons.
Foci: Exorcism
Description: You walk the path Infernal punishment. Upgrades Condemnation to eradicate Infernal energy from all Entities. Demons and Undead will flee at your approach. Taking Exorcism will forever remove other Foci not of the Exorcism path. +250 Faction Shadow, -100 Faction Light, +50 Faction Elemental Pantheons.
Foci: Life
Description: You walk the path of Healing and Renewal. Upgrades {Ara Skill Unavailable} to now fully restore the {Information Unavailable}. All will know that you hold the keys to Life and Death. Taking Life will forever remove other Foci not of the Life path. +/- [THE GODS WILL JUDGE YOUR ACTIONS WITH EVEN GREATER SCRUTINY, KENRIC] Faction TBD.
“Oh…Oh!” I exclaimed. Curmlough looked over his shoulder where I had stopped in my tracks beside the path leading to Garfle’s Alchemist hut.
“Everything alright? You need to relieve yourself?” the Satyr asked. I shook my head.
“No, I mean yes I’m fine and no I don’t need to relieve myself at the moment. I just noticed that the choices for my Foci updated.” I bit my lip and ran a hand through my hair. When was the last time I had washed it? In the Orichalcum Ocean? How had Jenny and the others not commented on the state of me and my smell? Likely, they had just been acting politely.
“Don’t worry, Kenric. Lord Gor always lets us know the right thing to do.” Curmlough said with a smile.
“How does he do that? Let you know what he wants you to do, that is?”
“Well, one time he made a Shadowcaller Owl fly through the Grove and defecate in Turlough’s mushroom stew, because my brother forgot to clean the Harken Rabbit poo from around the Oak Shrine.
“Shadowcaller Owl? Harken Rabbits?” I asked.
“Yes, Shadowcaller Owls can summon shadows to hide themselves in and you never know they are there until the last possible moment and Harken Rabbits are these really cute bunnies that are always trying to get your attention by repeating back words they hear you say.”
“I see. So, Gor sent your brother a sign of his displeasure by making an Owl poop in his stew and he did this due to the poo around his shrine not being cleaned up?”
“Yes. Or at least, that’s why Draflough said it happened and my sister is very smart,” Curmlough answered.
“Okay,” I sighed. I wouldn’t call Curmlough misinformed, but that action seemed a bit petty for a God. Still, I think I would have put up with having bird crap in my food rather than losing any more Faction. As it was, the Gods had sent me a pretty clear message with the Foci updates. The Faction penalty to the Class standard Prophecy path had been reduced. Were the Gods easing their worry over my meddling with Fate? Or was it a bribe to edge me closer to taking it? Likewise, with the Exorcism Foci I would receive an even greater buff to Condemnation than I would have with Purgation. Again, there was another easing of Faction changes and an unspoken promise that Infernals would rue my coming. Lastly, and most concerning of all, were the changes to the Life Foci. I now had confirmation that it was linked to an as yet obtainable Ara Skill. Apparently, this lost skill of Ara was so controversial that the Gods promised even greater attention to my actions, for good or for ill.
Thinking about Ara’s skills, I pulled the corrupted Shard of Ara from my Inventory and held it in the palm of my hand.
Shard of Ara [CORRUPTED]
Grade: SS
Level: 999
Quality: Legendary
Primary: Unlocks access to [1] ARA Skill
Secondary: +10 to All Attributes
Even without Lore Sight, I remembered that there was a 50% chance of a skill mutating if I used the corrupted Shard to unlock a skill.
But that’s exactly what I’m going to attempt. I need every tool I can get for Hadaeon’s Descent. How much have I missed and what advantages can I not afford to miss moving forward?
I needed to absorb the Shard and unlock Lore Sight permanently. I would be relying upon my current Luck attribute of 11 and my Mark of Luck passive. Would that be enough to increase my chances of success?
I considered unlocking Purify Mana in Cel’s Tier II Web.
Purify Mana (2 Active)
Mana Cost: *TBD
Description: Unravel and replenish the ambient mana of an object or area which has become corrupted by invasive energies.
Duration: Permanent
Cool Down: 168 hours
*Mana cost will be dependent upon size of area and level of invasive energies. Spell can be cast as a Ritual of Mana Purification with other Priests of Cel to greater effect.
Certainly the Shard had invasive energies corrupting it, but I worried that a Tier II spell wouldn’t be strong enough to cleanse a piece of a God. Every node was precious and I couldn’t afford to waste a single one a spell that wouldn’t do what I needed it to do. There was also the word ambient to consider. By definition, ambient mana was the mana that surrounded an object or place. Not the mana an object already possessed. Yet, the Void Infestation was still trying to corrupt the Shard. Would purifying the Shard weaken it?
Or should I risk casting Condemnation upon it?
I knew the moment I had the thought that it wouldn’t work. While the skill could purge the Corruption, it would also perform a “reset” upon the Shard itself. Without knowing what that entailed, I didn’t dare attempt it. I also wanted to save my final cast of Condemnation for the Dungeon.
“I only wish I had more guidance, Curmlough.”
“Well…why don’t you pray for guidance then? Isn’t that what Priests do?”
I blinked. Then, I started to laugh.
“You’re right, my friend. That is what we do.”
