Kelford didn’t know what he expected to see when he entered the hut though in hindsight more furs should have been on the list. The room was cozy and well furnished for whatever time period the creatures of this world must have been in. Or it was until time took its due. The soft crunch of pine and dirt under his boots only added to the wreck that made up the interior of the building. Furs were ripped along the walls while benches that once dominated the center of the space were covered in pine needles and alien plants. Kelford felt small as he passed by the dilapidated benches, his chest stomach level with seats. He glided deeper in with T.U.I by his side until he came to a strangely shaped fire pit.
“ Why is it shaped like that?” Kelford kneeled down tracing the edges of the symbol, “ It seems like it’s carved into stone.”
“ It’s a rune used to create fire now repurposed by the Tower” T.U.I floated higher granting him light to see more details of the rune. Kelford brushed off some of the dirt and grime that had built up in this place, finally seeing more of the grand design.
“ You know, it kinda reminds of parts of the shower knobs” Kelford tilted his head as he tried to see the jagged cuts that made up the rune in the stone, “ Only some of them which is strange.”
“ It’s because the shower RUNES are based off of this world’s grasp of magic though many times more complex. Symbols and meanings may all be different from species to civilizations to planets but every way to gather and control essence has similar foundations. An interesting fact for you Kelford!” T.U.I glowed in bright oranges and reds with her excitement which Kelford could only smile at.
“Thank you T.U.I, maybe I can learn how to make these one day.” He wiped the dust from his hands gazing around again. His eyes snagged on a broken hole in the back of the hut. Right before it a staircase went down into the earth.
“ …Is that leading to the next room?”
“ Oh no that’s a part of this one” T.U.I replied cheerfully, “ This is another special room otherwise I wouldn’t be able to speak to you right now.”
“ Well I don’t know what constitutes a room or not! First it was small cave openings and now it’s entire forests and houses.”
“But the splits are so obvious.” T.U.I said, “ Perhaps it is because you are so new, most new climbers are unskilled at telling higher room sizes according to my inquiry.”
“ What? Did you just ask your Myriad Index if people are stupid just now?”
“ With much better phrasing”
Kelford sighed and began to climb down into the basement, “ I can’t win with you”
The sounds of the rustling trees were muted as the moist smell of earth and wood filled Kelfords nostrils. The hut's basement seemed to have been for storage. Broken jars of stone were stained with long dried liquids, while broken shelves were covered in plants and shattered bone. But most of all were weapons. Spears taller than kelfords entire body lined the walls, while unstrung bows and arrows layed broken on their racks. In the middle of all of this was a relic orb bathing everything in its golden glow. Kelford did not go to the orb immediately, instead reaching for one of the spears to see if he placed it in his Inventory . He placed his hand on one for a long moment but nothing happened.
“Knew it wouldn’t be that easy” He sighed
“ It was a good attempt but unfortunately most of these items would be of no help to you. They are not even enchanted and much too big for you.” T.U.I stayed by the relic orb waiting patiently.
“Yea, still it was worth a shot. Maybe I could have found a use for it later.”
“ A good thought process that will no doubt bear fruit later in your climb but currently I believe you will be interested in learning about your first Relic Room”
Kelford made his way back and reached for the golden orb.
Congratulations!
You have the option of Unlocking a Relic subvault
Free Unlock: Uncommon
100 Karma: Rare
1000 Karma: Very Rare
10000 Karma: Legendary
100000 Karma: Mythic
Available Karma: 550
“Relic Rooms allow you to access more of the world vault, granting you a wider variety of relics to access along your journey.” T.U.I floated forward right beside the golden words, “ These subvaults will grant a variety of relics all themed around the rarest in their collection. Most importantly they will be much more useful than the standard examples you have been using.”
Kelford's eyes were like saucers, “ Just what kind of relics are we talking about here?”
“Anything you can imagine that is useful for your class though limited by the common essences and sophistication of the world you traverse.Currently you are limited from a pool of uncommon items, with the Relic Rooms you can begin to influence your growth to the very end of your climb.Take your pick and you will just what the Tower has in its vaults.”
Kelford’s eyes moved back to the menu. He only had 500 karma which limited him to two choices right now. He could save and hope for another Karma Room later or even on another attempt. The free unlock was just boring. He already had multiple uncommon items so unless he was trying to save up there was no reason to consider it. The rare item would be a good first purchase to test what T.U.I was talking about. Besides, didn't he have a quest for this?
“Hey T.U.I could you bring up my quests?”
“ Of course”
Quest
Jack of All Trades
Description:
Reach to At Least the 5th Floor With Every Class
Reward:
1 Class Slot
Quest
Rarity
Description:
Unlock one Rare Relic
Reward:
100 Karma
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Quest
Friends in Safe Places
Description:
Make Your Way to The Second Safe Floor
“ Well that clinches it” Get a rare relic for essentially free, nothing could really beat that. He dismissed his quests before focusing on the rare relic.
Would you like to purchase access to:
Rare Relic Subvault
For
100 Karma?
Y/N?
“Yes”
Congratulations!
You have Completed a quest!
Rarity
Purchase a rare relic!
You have Earned 100 Karma!
Golden words faded as the orb flared with golden light before bursting into the lesser orbs, each gleamed green before words resolved in front of them.
Frenzy
Might
Wilds
Kelford glanced at T.U.I, “ Is there anything you can tell me about these choices?”
“ Each relic subvault revolves around certain concepts that hint at the properties the relics will deal with. Any further information is unavailable.” Kelford turned back to the orbs.Without any real guidance the choice before him was up in the air. A part of him considered just going with his first indication. Just choose one at random. Each of the items would boost his power regardless. Besides it wasn’t like he wasn’t going to have another chance at this, there would be more Relic Rooms in the Tower.
“But what if this was a game?” the thought was random, “How would my thinking change if this was an rpg?”
Well he would consider his build right now and in the future. He’d picked the Heavy Warrior class which made him a beast in a direct conflict.The skills [Enhanced Strength] and [General Melee Weapon Proficiency] made his choice of relics lean heavily on weapons and damage mitigation. So what would each of the sub vaults do with that in mind? Frenzy would most likely increase his damage. Probably turn him into more of a raging barbarian than he was acting like now. Might would be a doubling down on his actual strength. It may even lead him to over powering the monsters of the next two floors, much like how his current Enhanced Strength allowed him to over power the gnoblars. Which left Wilds. Kelford was drawing a blank there. Maybe helping him survive in the woods here or maybe giving him magic powers? A cold breeze blew through the stairway causing Kelford to shiver. Most of what he was going on was guestwork at best. He needed to make a decision and move on. He’d consider all of this more deeply later.For now he would table the Wilds orb,which left Might and Frenzy.
“Hey T.U.I do these sub vaults remain open to me if I change classes?” Kelford said, “Say I picked the Apprentice class if I died in the next few rooms, would I see relics similar to what I’m seeing now?”
“ An excellent question! The base relics provided by the Tower would change but the relics added from the sub vaults will be the same no matter the class!” T.U.I said.
“ Which means that I should consider how relics may impact my subsequent runs with other classes!” Kelford turned back to the choices, an idea already burning in his brain. He had to choose something that could possibly help him now and possibly on other runs. Depending on how impressive the rare relic is he could possibly get it on another run with a different class making that attempt easier! Best of all he had the perfect excuse to do multiple runs. He chose his option without further delay.
You have Chosen:
Might
The other orbs flowed into the center before doubling in size and exploding in a radiance of multicolored light. The lights faded revealing a floating item and more golden words.
Congratulations!
You have gained access to a
Sub Vault of Might!
3 Common Relics
2 Uncommon Relics
and 1 Rare Relic
Are Now Accessible!
Belt of Fortitude
Rare
Description:
Food is sacred to the lowest gnoblar and the mightest chief. To those few who wish to master the culinary arts in these lands must first have the stomach to handle it.
Grants the passive skill
[Enhanced Constitution]
The belt was made of thick leather, with vines and runes interwoven. It was soft to Kelfords hands and as he put it around his waist fit perfectly. Warmth burned through his body as soon as the last buckle was snapped. He stilled as the skill rushed through him basking in the magical might for a moment. Kelford flexed his fingers, feeling new strength well up between tightened fingers.
“ Wow” He breathed, “ I didn’t think this would make me feel so strong! It’s almost like I got a boost to my strength again.”
“ Actually in some way you are experiencing more of the potential of [Enhanced Strength] than you did before!” T.U.I flew closer, “ Before your body was just barely able to handle the increased power from the essence veins in your system, now with a skill to keep your muscles from ripping you apart you will find that you can hit harder.”
“ W-Was my muscles ripping me apart an actual concern!”
“ Of course not! That’s why your skill could only increase your strength by so much. The Myriad Index has thought of everything when it came to pushing life based organisms to their full potential.Well Actually if can do that for- “
“ Does that mean the other enhanced skills will have similar effects?” Kelford was almost too giddy. This was an insane find. If he could take advantage of enhanced attributes then maybe he could come out of the Tower way stronger than he had any right to be! Perhaps there were more secret synergies between skills.He’d already considered a few examples of how relics could synergize with each other, perhaps skills and relics could do the same? Perhaps if he found the right combination of skills and relics that messed well with his class he could magnify his strength tenfold.
“ Why yes they do.” T.U.I smoothly answered the question as if she wasn’t interrupted, “ If you are able to get one enhancement skill for Constitution, Strength, Dexterity, Intellect, and Willpower you will find they will all synergize. To learn more you must either find the information or gain the prerequisite skills all at the same time.They must come from your class or be permanently attached from a very rare relic or higher.”
“ Dang knew there would be a catch.” Kelford sighed but still grinned at T.U.I, “ Well that just means I have to gain more karma right?”
“ and purchase Very Rare relics from a Relic Room”
Kelford nodded, he might not be able to save the world but escaping the Tower with loads of magical powers was still on the table. He’d gotten this far and maybe a couple more attempts would see him gain the Karma he needed and he’d stumble on a Relic Room every so often. It was a goal that seemed much more tangible and ,more importantly, immediate than escaping the Tower right now. Kelford’s gaze scanned the entire basement only to see that there were no other exits aside from the stairs he had already taken.
“ Uhh how do I get to the next room? There is nowhere to go from here but back the way I came.”
“ Just go up the stairs again. You will find the next room waiting for you.”
Hesitantly Kelford followed T.U.I’s instructions taking the stairs only to find that the room above was much different than what he had left initially. The same disrepair was evident but now the hut was more like a longhouse built for people twice Kelford’s height! Row’s of destroyed chairs and banners strewn the stone floor. The banners were too faded to make out anything of note but that was the least of Kelford’s worries. Broken windows let flakes of snow drift in and the cold breeze came back in full force. T.U.I was gone and the only exit was a broken door leaning on its hinges. Kelford jogged to the exit to see roiling storm clouds dominate the horizon over the side of the valley he was just in. Somehow he’d been teleported across the river without even knowing it! Kelford rolled his shoulders, it was time to get on with the next room. He pushed past the door onto the rocky path before him the echoes of thunder in the wind.