The world gradually returned and Lanek found himself standing in the middle of the forest just outside of the tomb. Looking around, he discovered the armor he had selected during the calibration process simply lying on the ground. However, he was hesitant to put it on considering he still didn’t have any clothing beyond a primitive grass-woven loincloth. As he picked up the armor, he found that it wasn’t as heavy as he thought it would be, which made him suspect that the metal plates weren’t iron or steel as he had first assumed.
After a few more minutes spent inspecting the area for his weapons, he found nothing. Did I do something wrong? Why is the armor the only item here? Lanek even returned to the tomb in case the weapons had manifested in there, but once again found no traces of them. Deciding to return to the grove before moving on the cult’s location and the tree, he attempted to summon his companions and found his request being ignored. While odd, he didn’t worry about it too much as he could feel that they were perfectly content and safe through the bond they shared, so he simply walked back to the grove on his own.
The journey took a bit longer this time as carrying a bundle of armor in his arms was more than a little awkward. Once he entered the grove, Lanek walked over to the spot he had been sleeping in only to notice a bundle waiting for him. He opened what turned out to be a brown travel pack that certainly hadn’t been there when he left earlier.
Upon opening the pack, he discovered several pouches of food, his [Purification Flask], and a full set of traveling clothes that he remembered stashing away in his quarters at the monastery. The clothing was a simple green cloak with a hood, a pair of black pants, and a black shirt. Digging deeper, he also found a pair of socks, undergarments, and boots. How did this end up here? Did Idril let my friends know that I’m still alive and pick this stuff up?
Quickly, Lanek put on the clothing, immediately feeling much less exposed and much more comfortable. The clothing wasn’t made out of fine cloth or anything, but it was still comfortable despite its modest make and materials. Now that he was dressed, he reached for his armor, preparing to put it on for the first time. However, unlike the first time he picked up the armor, this time he received a notification.
Activate Mark of the Herald?
What? Uh, sure. As soon as he agreed, the armor flashed beneath his hand and disappeared. Before he could even acknowledge the disappearance, the armor reappeared on his body, perfectly cinched and fitted to his form. Okay… that was easy. Can I dismiss it as well?
He focused and discovered that he could indeed dismiss the armor. Well shit. I still prefer this to plate for flexibility and mobility, but I guess I didn’t need to worry about how easy it would be to put on. What about my weapons, is that why I couldn’t find them? If so, why was the armor sitting there and the weapons weren’t?
Lanek tried summoning the weapons, but they stubbornly refused to appear. It was only when he summoned the armor and attempted to summon the weapons individually that they would actually appear. Hmm, maybe the armor is stored in the Mark but the weapons are stored in the armor? That kinda makes sense in terms of why I wouldn’t be able to call the weapons up without it. Either way, I’m sure as hell not going to complain, this is incredibly convenient.
When he attempted to [Identify] the armor, sword, and spear he would always receive the same answer regardless of the item he was focusing on.
Mark of the Herald (Wild) The Mark of the Herald is given to the chosen herald of each Primordial. Once bonded with the Mark, the Herald will select suitable equipment to ensure that they can complete their patron Primordial’s tasks effectively. As the Primordial served becomes stronger, the Mark will provide additional benefits, such as the ability to select additional equipment or improve the power of the current gear.
While he pondered the implications of his new items, his companions finally chose to return to his side. It didn’t take him long to figure out why they hadn’t responded before now. As he hefted the spear, he could feel Maximilian’s essence within it. Likewise, he could feel Kazuma’s presence in his armor and Sanguineus’ presence in the sword. It also seemed like they each provided benefits to their respective pieces, although he was forced to focus on the Mark of the Herald to get the necessary information rather than use [Identify].
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Arming Sword – Sanguineus’ Vessel
This blade receives the ability to drain the life from your foes to heal yourself due to Sanguineus’ presence within the weapon.
Void Runner Evolution: Sanguineus’ evolution has granted this blade the ability to boost your attack speed and reaction times when you are not in direct sunlight.
Yari – Maximilian’s Vessel This spear provides a substantial bonus to strength and damage when thrusting thanks to the presence of Maximilian within it. The weapon will get an additional damage boost when charging your opponent.
Karuta Yoroi – Kazuma’s Vessel
With Kazuma’s presence within this armor, you gain the ability to enshroud yourself and your weapon in a fine mist.
Cloud Hunter Evolution: The mist can now be pushed out to cover a 5 meter radius around you.
“Excellent, I’m glad you guys got new vessels. Something tells me that these will likely last you a lot longer than the old ones did. Although, let’s not test that out if we don’t have to. That’s not an experience I want to repeat.” He said with a laugh as his companions clustered around him, all of them looking for attention.
He dismissed his equipment, deciding that he would travel as comfortably as he could. Even if he was attacked, he felt confident that he could summon the armor quickly enough to be effective, especially with his companions arrayed around him. Besides, he needed to get used to riding the demigryph and he would rather learn how to do so normally before trying it with armor on.
They journeyed throughout the day, finding no foes in this section of the forest. This was most likely due to Idril’s frequent visits to this area. If the Myrmidons avoided fighting her, the much weaker creatures in the area certainly wouldn’t stand a chance against her might. Although, it could just as easily be Eldros’ presence.
As night fell, the group found a small clearing to make camp. However, Lanek didn’t bother building a fire as the food he had found in his pack did not require cooking. The small packs of food were a variety of nuts and berries that were surprisingly filling. His companions, all being carnivores, hunted for their own meals and presumably ate them where they made their kills as none of them brought their meals back to the clearing.
Despite the freezing temperatures, Lanek was quite warm as the three furballs all gathered around him. Feeling the pleasant warmth and knowing that nothing would be able to approach him without being detected by one of them, Lanek slept peacefully and deeply.
The next few days passed in similar fashion, although threats were beginning to make their presence known. The monsters were becoming more bold the further they got from the Primordial’s influence, but they were still hesitant to approach the party after spotting Lanek’s animal companions. He knew that this wouldn’t last, however, as they would eventually run into more powerful creatures or large packs. Lanek had already spotted what he believed to be signs of a gaunt band passing through the area.
The terrain gradually opened up, the thick forest to lightly forested hills when he felt a pull from the System. His quest was notifying him of their proximity to their target, which forced him to slow down and travel more cautiously. For the next two days, they made camp in the most sheltered places they could find and well before sundown. The last thing Lanek wanted to do was stumble upon the servants of the Void in the middle of the night. During the day, Lanek would creep to the tops of hills to survey the area while trying to avoid giving himself away. In the meantime, Sanguineus and Kazuma were ranging throughout the area searching for any signs of the cult.
It was only on the third day of searching that Lanek found what he sought. Situated in a deep hollow was a collection of buildings hidden by the looming hills and forest surrounding it. Due to its location, it was almost impossible to spot until you were almost upon it. As he crept closer to the buildings, he felt his heart sink at the sight.
This was more than a simple hideout, it was a village. The buildings were all well-maintained and surrounded by a sturdy, yet simple, palisade. However, it was the identity of the cultists that gave him pause. Every figure he could see moving within the village was human.