The consolidation of Classes are a known phenomenon. Strictly speaking there hasn't been any data suggesting any two Classes are completely incompatible. The requirements for a Class consolidation are often dependent on the Classes themselves. Take the [Archer] and [Scout] two Classes which are often taken together. Enough time spent in the woods, mastering their craft and they might morph into a [Ranger] or [Woodsman] dependent on which Class they leaned towards. Note that a Class consolidation differs from Class mutations.
- The Origin of Classes and Specializations, The Untethered Tomes
Jayke woke up blearily. Panicked again. He was prone and lying on his cheek. Immediately he could tell he was still in the underground village. He was in a rather large room, not one he recognized from previous explorations.
He flinched at the pain when trying to prop himself up on the elbow. There was a weight on his back and he looked over his shoulder. "Healing slime." He said, dropping back down. "That's right, one of those Rootgrimp Elites got to my back."
Oz's voice rang out. "And you don't want to know how much work it got done before I knocked it off you."
He traced the voice and found the blue man sitting on a large smooth stone. Jayke slumped, as much as he could when already on the ground.
Quest: [They're in the Roots!] (Unusual)
Rootgrimps are forest creatures that dwell under the greatest and oldest trees, absorbing nutrients through their roots. Rootgrimps are pack animals, usually all claiming a single tree or root system. Under the myconid village of Glow's Edge, a particularly large family resides. The eldest and largest of them have taken notice of the rapid extermination of their family.
Eliminate the Rootgrimp Elites by nightfall!
Bonus Objectives: Eliminate all rootgrimps by nightfall!
Rewards: EXP, Item
Note: Bonus Objectives affect preexisting rewards for the better. This effect generally presents itself in increases in quality or quantity but is altogether determined by the nature of the rewards. A small possibility exists that by completing Bonus Objectives hidden rewards may instead reveal themselves.
"The Quest isn't done?" Jayke frowned.
"I'm finishing it," Oz replied. The blue man glanced over to him. "Six hours you've been out. Since then I've gotten a handle on my spiked slimes. The rest of the rootgrimps are little resistance."
"How close to nightfall?"
"Not long but not a problem." Came the reply.
Jayke rested his head. The sensation from the healing slime was pleasant. He took the time to check on the rest of his prompts.
Level Up: Level 8 [Protection Mage] -> Level 9 [Protection Mage]
Level Up: Level 3 [Code Mage] -> Level 4 [Code Mage]
He was close to a milestone level in his [Protection Mage] Class. With that, there was a pretty decent chance he'd attain a fitting Skill. He honestly had no basis on what to expect from a Skill regarding his shields. More durability or range maybe? He had a lot of ideas but none were any he could reasonably expect given his inexperience with the System.
What did that wolfar say? Many of the testers hadn't even reached their first milestone. And here he was about to hit Level 10. What level did that make everyone else? Was it possible he was close to them? But if that were true, it wouldn't make sense, he'd started with nothing barely a week ago.
There was some disparity there. If everyone was around Level 10 or close to that level after all their years living then Jayke shouldn't have been able to close the gap so fast. It was unfeasible given the amount of progress he'd made in such a short time. Was there some reason for his growth he was missing or was he completely ordinary and there was some specific detail he was overlooking?
After an hour of healing, he was still in awe at how fast his back recovered. The healing slime worked wonders and not for the first time Jayke wondered at how much Oz trusted him by revealing it to him.
Oz cracked an eye open and found Jayke staring at him. "You must come from very far."
"Why's that?"
"You haven't even gawked at the idea of a healing slime." He said.
"There aren't many slimes where I come from."
"Really?" Oz replied, befuddled.
"Really," Jayke repeated. "More killer-beasts that hunt anything moving."
"Makes a little bit of sense from how you handle yourself." He went back to closing his eyes. "If you're used to constant threats like that shieldshot, I'm not surprised at your battle manner." Jayke managed to not cringe at his own naming sense.
Instead, he left it at that and observed the room they were in closer detail. Like most of the stone village's carved areas, this one was awash in strange carvings and symbols, no doubt what used to be the local language. He turned his head from the center of the circular room and examined the wall nearby. The slime jiggled with his movement.
Reaching out was easier now that his back was a little more healed and he traced the symbols with a finger. Completely non-recognizable. Just the same as parts of the village that stuck up from the ground and permeated the newer settlement above.
He remembered visiting those large stones in the middle of the myconid village. The symbols and marks that covered those were completely different from the ubiquitous ones from the rest of the ruins. Like different languages. He wondered if those stones preceded both settlements.
He carefully got his legs under him, the healing slime seemed to be perfectly capable of sticking upon his wounded back. The pain caused by the motion of standing was bearable.
He wandered over to Oz. "How are your slimes?"
"Sweeping the entire root system. They should be just about done. The rootgrimps have no other-"
Quest Completed: [They're in the Roots!] (Unusual)
Rootgrimps are forest creatures that dwell under the greatest and oldest trees, absorbing nutrients through their roots. Rootgrimps are pack animals, usually all claiming a single tree or root system. Under the myconid village of Glow's Edge, a particularly large family resides. The eldest and largest of them have taken notice of the rapid extermination of their family.
Eliminate the Rootgrimp Elites by nightfall!
Bonus Objectives: Eliminate all rootgrimps by nightfall!
Rewards: EXP, Item
Note: Bonus Objectives affect preexisting rewards for the better. This effect generally presents itself in increases in quality or quantity but is altogether determined by the nature of the rewards. A small possibility exists that by completing Bonus Objectives hidden rewards may instead reveal themselves.
"escapes." Oz finished.
The surge of power and potential coursed through him like a river's current. They'd completed the Bonus Objective, a fact which he was just simply aware of. Even if he hadn't had that innate sense he could've guessed the fact since it shouldn't have been nightfall yet the Quest had concluded anyways.
He didn't hit Level 10 [Protection Mage]. That much was clear to him immediately. He'd gotten a decent sense for his level, it was a fact of himself he just knew if he thought on it. The EXP awarded was very generous, and made a lot of progress for his next level. He noticed that his [Code Mage] Class barely budged and wondered if it was from its lack of use during the Quest. He supposed that made sense.
Before he could think further on the subject his attention was stolen from something that appeared in his perception as if it had been there the whole time. It was leaning on a rock near Oz which Jayke had been in the process of commandeering for a seat.
He picked it up.
Reward: Item: [Gnarled Staff] (Uncommon) -> [Gnarled Rootstaff] (Unusual)
A magical tool formed from the twiddled roots of ancient trees. The staff acts as an instrument for spellcasting, channeling the user's mana and allowing the wielder greater control. The roots which twist upward and form a mounting crest are natural conductors of magical power. Through their channels, the loss of mana upon casting and forming spells is reduced.
Note: For completing the Bonus Objective, this reward has been upgraded from an Uncommon Item to an Unusual Item.
Jayke grasped the staff and held it in his hand.
He formed a shield originating from the tip of the staff and held it above him like an umbrella. His [Lesser Data Sense] was telling him all sorts of things about the Item. That casting of the shield had been the easiest he'd ever done.
"An Unusual Item," Jayke said in quiet admiration, flipping the staff over in his hands. He appreciated the fact he had achieved an upgrade from an Uncommon.
"Likewise," Oz replied, in slight reverence. He was holding a bracelet made of roots. Jayke wasn't able to bring up any information on it through the System. Oz slipped his hand through it. Was that information hidden from him then?
Oz stared at Jayke's reward as he did his. Perhaps it was.
With the help of Oz's sensory slimes, they were able to navigate the stone village easily and find an opening to the surface. The sun was setting and it colored the sky a fiery orange through the thick canopy above. When they managed their way to familiar surroundings it wasn't long before they found their way to the mushroom house they'd been staying at.
Sterext was nodding in approval.
----------------------------------------
After completing the test, they had been notified that they had the rest of the night to rest. The proctors, along with any testers, would be heading out at first light.
It had been nearly a week since then.
"The entire point of the stop was to stock up on supplies, Jayke." Ercur looked at him with a raised brow. "The Mountains of Rune are a moving target, the journey for them is always variable." She said.
"Amidst all the testing I never really caught on," Jayke replied with a sigh. He had unceremoniously been using his staff as a walking stick. "I didn't manage to stock up on any supplies until that morning."
He stared above the treeline and off into the distance. The good thing about their destination was they didn't need to navigate by star or landmark. They just followed the giant floating mountains, whether it moved from or toward them was the mountains' decision. They were still far enough that said mountains blurred into the sky, breaking clouds. Jayke only recently had realized what that meant as his food supplies began to dwindle. At the very least, thanks to his water container he was able to stock up on drink for every stretch between potable water sources.
He munched on some beet-adjacent vegetable courtesy of the produce vendors in the center of the village. Raw vegetables weren't the most ideal but the texture was more than enough to make up for the taste. Plus it wasn't as if he had a choice in the matter. He'd spent a long time eating nutritional paste or packages non-perishables, so the vegetables were refreshing.
Sterext spoke, "The path of the mountains favor our journey. We'll be coming across a rest stop soon enough. There'll be an abundance of edible plants in the area." Jayke felt that the last part was directed towards him.
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Oz was playing with a slime in his hand. "A rest stop? Here?"
"An old temple to a forgotten god," Sterext replied. "One of the only structures in this stretch of the Uncharted, so far as we know. I advise you all to maintain reverence, the presence of the divine is a feather's touch."
"How long until we make it the Mountains of Rune?" Jayke asked.
"That is for the mountains to decide. Dependent on the wind, it could take anywhere from months to a few weeks time." Sterext said.
Eventually, they deviated from a direct course to the mountain. The proctors ahead followed suit without problem. The clearing in the forest was atypical, more so for the fact it was filled with blooming plants. The rich greenery decorated a once great temple. The glass from its windows were gone and part of the structure had simply collapsed.
The entire scene was beautiful in an uninhibited way. A deserted building taken by nature. It seemed there was a theme around these woods. Despite that, the picture was sublime and vivid, rather than desolate and abandoned.
Jayke found others staring. Some people were plucking the plants or wandering the area. The proctors made their way towards the main temple building, unconcerned with the few loitering testers. The majority followed them inside.
Passing through the temple's tall double doors, he found the building spacious but no less empty for it. For the most part, the inside was intact. There was damage to the great statue that stood at the end of the building. It depicted an ambiguous form. It's only defining feature was the low-brimmed hat and the arm that was reaching up to adjust it. The sculpture captured the motion brilliantly and Jayke felt he was the only one who stopped to appreciate it. It was as if the statue was a mysterious passerby. A traveler, perhaps.
The sound of tired men and women inundated the temple. The shrugging of packs, the sighs of feet given rest. Short snippets of conversations echoed lightly across the temple. Anyone who'd made this far wasn't the type to complain.
Jayke set his pack down and placed his staff horizontal across his lap, sitting cross-legged on the floor. There were pews but most had long been ripped from the temple or destroyed. He continued to admire the statue in a quiet reverence that Sterext would've approved of.
"Do you heed the gods?" Oz was sitting arms splayed nearby.
Jayke turned to him. "I gave up on my god nearly a year ago." He shrugged.
"If you ask me nothing beats Fors, God of Happenstance." Ercur sighed. "I hear you can only come upon his temples by... well, happenstance."
"Some of the smaller deities don't even have temples or altars," Oz said, he glanced upward at the high ceilings. "This is an older structure, nature's almost taken it over. Maybe one of the old gods that fell out of favor."
"How can we tell what deity this was devoted to?" Jayke asked them.
"Looking to devote yourself again?" Ercur poked at him with a grin.
Oz was the one who gave an actual reply. "In this state of repair? No." He said looking around. "Normally a temple will generally display aspects of the presiding deity. This one's been picked clean, whatever deity was here is lost to time."
"Nothing about the place screams out at me," Ercur said. "Just looks like it fell out of favor."
"Indeed." Came Oz's reply.
Jayke stood up, shouldering his pack. "I'm gonna go picking for herbs or food." He pushed up with his staff. "Sterext, how long are we here?"
The proctor was speaking to the proctor of a nearby group. He turned to Jayke and answered. "We're here until first light. Moving any further in the woods beyond during the night is foolish." He looked at him. "Do not wander far."
Jayke didn't.
A few [Mages] were loitering outside, practicing spells. He focused on them briefly but, as expected, his [Lesser Data Sense] offered nothing forthcoming. He turned his attention back to the clearing which was strange to find in the middle of this forest, it had been nothing but dense and lush plant-life so far, enough to cover their heads indefinitely in shade. Here, the dimming rays of the sun found him easily.
He pulled something from his pocket. Healer's Stalk and Greenleaf. One of the first things he had applied his code magic to. Since then, he'd gotten a better feel of techniques he'd need to apply. They were good test subjects and thus had been the center of multiple experiments, including the latest.
He hadn't spent the week traveling unproductive. He'd tested a backlog of ideas. Most of them stemmed from his code magic and were unworkable but his most recent idea seemed to bear some fruit, or rather, herbs.
Staring at the two plants in his hand his [Lesser Data Sense] filled his mind with the ambient data within them. He parsed through everything and left only the visual physical features. Interfacing the magic with himself was the hardest task. His eyes processed things differently than his magic perceived them. However, by some combination of [Lesser Data Sense], his innate sense of self, a decent understanding of the processes in the eye, and a natural intuition, he was able to create something workable.
The program swirled at the tip of his [Gnarled Rootstaff] grey, green, and lightning. The staff had been a boon, it being able to channel the magic meant he was free to devote his full concentration to actualizing and developing the magical program. Jayke channeled the magic and absorbed it back into himself.
Immediately, in his vision, Healer's Stalk and Greenleaf lit up in blue outlines. The range was nothing impressive and the magic's ability to recognize the plants was nowhere near perfect. Still, the little bit of magic was one of the most complex he'd ever attempted to date.
Without going into too many details, he had run into complications with having the magic interact with his eyes. He'd only been able to address the errors after comparing with the bot he had run for the poker game which similarly took input from his eyes. That bot operated differently as it was less recognizing the cards as it was understanding his mental interpretations of them. With this plant searching program, the input was the visual data straight from his eyes. A raw stream of data for the program to interpret. Since he couldn't readily determine which plants were Healer's Stalk or Greenleaf from a cursory scan, the program did it for him.
He hadn't made the program self-learning. Teaching an AI would've taken too long given the lack of simulative software.
He hadn't dared push for more than highlighting the plants in blue. He was too afraid of damaging himself by way of inexperience. Outputting something to his vision was another monster of a task altogether, he let it be as soon as he'd managed the bare minimum of indicating the herbs.
He walked around plucking the plants from the soil whenever he saw them. Not all of them were correctly identified but enough of them were correct for it to be worth his time. He kept a constant supply of mana flowing to the program running within him. And with that, a constant supply of herbs. Additionally, he spotted some edible plants with small berries that had been pointed out to him by Ercur previously. He found some other edible vegetables.
He stuffed them into his pack and looked around, straightening his back-
He paused, spotting a game animal. A little creature that resembled a squirrel. He'd seen them a few times before. They had furry wings and were apparently delicious. That was the impression he got from Ercur. They were also quick to scurry away.
Tilting his staff ever so slightly, he formed a perfect sphere from his protective magic. He'd been practicing with it, both the staff and his new implementation of magic. Normally, controlling something like this would've been difficult, but the help that his [Gnarled Rootstaff] provided was understated. Without needing to explicitly focus on feeding the 'shield' mana he was free to manipulate it in other ways.
He hurled the orb at the winged squirrel and it cracked the creature against the tree bark just as it had sensed the danger. It fell limp to the floor and he started walking over. The sphere dissipated as soon as it hit its target, shattering on impact. He picked up his dead quarry.
"Lucky shot." He remarked. He'd shattered the skull.
On his way back, he managed to hunt another winged squirrel. The only problem with his shield spheres was the lack of cohesion and weakness once they were far from him. He was able to accelerate them with enough force to match a decent punch if only they had the stopping power and durability to survive it.
He held the dead squirrels by the neck and trudged his way back to the temple.
Emerging from the forest he found more people outside. His eyes tracked the commotion and he watched two people arguing. He recognized one party. The fair-skinned man who occasionally glowed with green runes. The one that could call forth beams of purple light.
The other man was frowning at him. "You runeskins are all the same." He spat. "Nothing but cowardly and selfish thieves of magic."
The fair-skinned man looked at him flatly. "I have no quarrel with you. Leave me."
"Acting all high and mighty, are you? You think you're better than anyone else here don't you?" He boiled, barking the words. "Bastard runeskin. I have quarrel with you." He growled. "Why would they even let one of you test?"
The runeskin - a fitting name Jayke supposed, though it felt like an insult - raised his head. "You by yourself are not threatening to me. You would not last a second in battle with me." He said calmly. "Walk away, friend."
"You." He growled, stopping himself. The tension left him but his scowl didn't. He spat and turned. "You best watch your back, friend." He spat.
The rune-skinned man nodded.
But Jayke saw more. The other man drew a dagger and lunged backward before anyone could react. His movement was vicious, quick, and physical - not one that any nearby was expecting. No one reacted fast enough.
None except Jayke.
He walked idly by as the man's weapon bounced off of a shimmering shield. Jayke hadn't twitched a muscle or moved a hand. The most he'd done was tilt his staff. He'd been practicing the omission of his hand movements, the magic was an application of that mental practice. The man stumbled, lunging again at the shield before anyone could react. Jayke held steady.
"W-what the hell?" The man said wide-eyed. "[Sidelunge]!" He was instantly on the side of the shield, lunging back towards the runeskin. His wrist crumpled against another shield.
The runeskin stared at the barrier then at the man who had tried to kill him. A shadow crossed his face.
The rune-skinned caught Jayke's eye as he walked idly by. He assumed that the others that stared at him had some type of mana sight because their heads had snapped towards him immediately after. He ignored the commotion and the stares and made his way past them. He had helped, that was enough.
Jayke wandered into the temple as a number of testers stepped in at the violence. Passing through the temple doors, he heard the shouting commotion of people rallying. He kept walking.
There were a lot of campfires set up within the temple. The smoke left the broken building easily so the fires weren't hazards. He found Oz, Ercur, and Sterext who all eyed the winged squirrels he brought. He was holding them limp by the neck.
He laid them by the fire and took his spot nearby.
Sterext glanced at him. "Good work." He said simply. Jayke had the odd feeling he didn't mean the squirrels.
"They weren't the hardest things to hunt," Jayke responded, ignoring Sterext's piercing stare. "I don't know the first thing to prepare them though."
Ercur pulled out a knife. "You can leave that to me."
Oz joined her and took the other squirrel wordlessly.
Just as the squirrels were put to roast, the commotion outside became prevalent. The proctors had stepped in and had apprehended the parties involved. The rune-skinned man and the assaulter were pulled aside. They were right in front of the temple's statue and speaking to a handful of proctors who didn't look too happy.
The wide-brimmed hat of the deity's statue seemed to hide a grin behind the arm that reached up to adjust its hat. Jayke wondered if he imagined it.
He turned to the crackling fire and flipped his skewer over. His mouth watered at the meat. As sweet smoke rose up from the fire. He wasn't the only one affected by it.
"What happened with them?" Oz looked over between roasting squirrel. Jayke wiped his drool.
"My bet is they had some type of scuffle." Ercur followed his gaze. There were a lot of people staring at the ring of proctors talking to the two individuals.
"They were fighting outside," Jayke replied, looking over too. "The guy pulled a dagger on the other."
"The runeskin pulled a weapon?" Ercur leaned in.
"Other way around," Jayke said. "It didn't look the guy had any reason but calling him a runeskin."
Sterext hummed. "The rune-written are a people filled with history. The story changes greatly depending on those who tell it." He began. "They were an ordinary race of bipeds who lacked the talent of magic but surrounded by many races who were considered peerless in the field. They were masters at the physical arts, [Warriors], [Archers], and [Rogues]. Masters of the basic disciplines. But they excelled in study and thievery, though none ever knew. The story goes that they branded the greatest magical works of their neighbors upon their very bodies. The magic molded to them and completed itself, transferrable through the very genes of their bloodline."
"I've heard a similar story," Oz added. "They stole the works of every major magical power near them and attained greater heights than anyone before. At the cost of great spite and hostility. Hostility that hasn't died down to this day."
Sterext looked at the rune-skin. "They make for promising candidates. Though it's not surprising there are often those who have problems with them."
"And the other guy?" Jayke asked.
"He could be any of the numbers of races the wrune long-ago stole from. They say there were countless." Oz replied. "I don't recognize him."
"Me neither," Ercur added.
"Wrune?" Jayke asked, hearing the 'w' in the word.
"The rune-written, runeskin." Sterext explained. "With runes born on their very skins."
Jayke ripped at the skewer with eager teeth. The meat from the squirrel was perfectly fine unseasoned. A juicy gamey taste that had no business coming from such a thin animal. Parts of its wings were skewered along with its regular meat and they added an entirely different taste to his palate.
Back at the facility a feast like this never would've been possible. He'd considered eating some of the abominations that routinely died on the compound but voted against it. He could never have been sure what he was eating. He cherished the flavor of every bite-
Someone tapped his shoulder. "Excuse me? They're asking for you over by the temple statue." He turned to find a short dark-skinned woman.
"Huh? Why do they need him?" Ercur prodded.
"They say he had something to do with the commotion outside."
Oz eyed Jayke with a question but he waved it away. Ercur had a similar look. Sterext, unsurprisingly, was unsurprised. He smiled at them and got up, opting to take his staff with him, for no other reason than he enjoyed walking with it.
Jayke approached, picking his way through the campfire crowds. The proctors were standing with arms crossed, right in front of the deity's statue. Not for the first time, he wondered what kind of deity inhabited this place. The statue was even more towering than he thought once he came closer.
"Him?" Someone addressed the wrune man.
"Unmistakably." The fair-skinned man replied.
The other man scowled at both the runeskin and Jayke. His dagger was gone, but his eyes were just as sharp and angry. He spat, much to the disgust of a nearby proctor.
One of the proctors turned and Jayke recognized the color-patched man. Hucobb regarded him. "Would you mind if we questioned you...?"
"Jayke Cipher. No, I wouldn't mind."
He took a bite from his skewer.
They ended up questioning him for an inordinate amount of time considering the briefness of the entire commotion. They questioned him on what he heard of the dispute, any magics employed or witnessed, and a number of other things. He admitted to conjuring a shield to prevent the attack. After that, they had no further inquiries, which was reasonable because he really didn't stay for the entire thing.
"If that's all," Hucobb began, looking at his fellow proctors. "Then we've learned no defending evidence." He looked at the other man pointedly. "The Practitioner's Coterie is one inundated with rumors of backhand dealings and the hoarding of secrets. Understand that reality is often contrasted to rumor, within our ranks we accept those of only the highest integrity."
Another proctor, Jayke recognized him too. The old lizard man from before. "Ghufor Felzan, for the attempted murder of a fellow tester, we are failing you." The words hit the man like a hammer.
He wobbled, "He's a runeskin! He'll steal all your magic, you know how they are!" He yelled, echoing through the temple. "You can't fail me here!" His words attracted the attention of the entire temple.
"Consider yourself lucky Ghufor. Best you fail now than months more into your testing." One proctor scowled. "In some places, attempted murder is offense enough for a beheading. Here, in the Uncharted, there are no laws but those self-imposed. Once more, consider yourself lucky that the Coterie does not consist of cold-blooded murderers."
"But-" He began.
Hucobb cut him off. "When we leave at first light, do not follow us." His words were like a gavel. They brooked no further discussion.
Ghufor fell to his knees indignant rage through teary eyes. He stood up and stared at the wrune. The fires of rage cooled to an ember of defeat. He clenched a fist but said nothing and walked out of the temple. Jayke hadn't expected the man to leave so easily, but something in his posture simply left him. His fight, Jayke saw the moment it flickered away and went out like a flame. It was when he'd noticed the stare of the rest of the testers when his words had echoed back at him.
He watched him go. Some small respect in the man's decision to extricate himself quietly and without trouble.
Jayke had made himself comfortable on the pedestal of the statue. The sculpture reached the ceiling. Here, by its feet was a stone tablet protruding from the pedestal, carved from the same block that the statue was. Hundreds of lines of writing. Unreadable, Jayke's eyes widened-
A voice to his left. "Thank you." The wrune man said. "I was prepared for all but a physical attack." He bowed.
Jayke jumped and looked at him, calming down. "Don't mention it. I'm not the type to let a stranger get stabbed if I can help it. Especially if they don't deserve it."
The wrune regarded Jayke. "Not many would help a wrune. Are you aware of my people's history?"
"Just recently, yes."
He eventually found the answer sufficient because he turned. "I am Maxeth Mageblood." He introduced himself. "It has been a pleasure." Then he began to walk away.
"Jayke Cipher. Likewise." He called out. The wrune paused, half-turned, and nodded.
Jayke watched him go and realized their apparent conversation had attracted a handful of nearby eyes. He stared at a few of them to make them turn away before he quickly went back to the stone tablet. Searching. He scoured the writings hurriedly. He was sure he hadn't imagined it. He pored over the tablet until he found the line again. His eye twitched as his brain realized he was reading something he was familiar with. He was right, he had recognized it.
Impossibly, in plain English: Keylos, God of Lost Travelers
New Personal Quest: [Mysterious Arrival] (Epic)
Keylos, God of Lost Travelers, beckons those who hail from other worlds, realities, or planes. He is the patron deity of all lost travelers, acting as both guide and protector for those not knowing their way, or unfamiliar with their reality. As one who comes from Earth, seeking him out may answer questions, even those unasked. Follow the traveler's waystones and discover an enduring place of worship devoted to the God of Lost Travelers.
Reward: Unknown