Morning — Training Grounds
Draven faced the training dummy—Soulsteel frame, Lord-tier durability. Joran's latest engineering project.
He raised Chainbreaker. Struck.
The blade bounced. Barely scratched the metal.
Tried again. Same result. Resonance-forged steel—good for proto-harmonics, insufficient for higher threats.
Brenn watched from the sideline. "You're thinking too hard."
"I'm thinking I can't cut through Lord-tier armor. That's a problem."
"So get better weapon."
"Where? We don't exactly have artifact shops."
Brenn tossed him a worn journal. "Mira found this in Archive records. Pre-displacement artifact catalogues. Locations marked."
Draven flipped through pages. Hundreds of entries—weapons, armor, tools. Most marked "destroyed" or "lost." But three circled in red:
Crystal Caverns: "Storm-forged blade, lightning affinity"
Verdant Groves: "Life-draining dagger, paired weapon"
Ironroot Chamber: "Warden's Mantle, Lord-tier protection"
"You're saying I go treasure hunting."
"I'm saying you need every advantage. Dominion won't wait for you to catch up."
Draven looked at Chainbreaker—faithful blade, carried him through dozens of battles. But Brenn was right. Against Overlords? Against whatever came next? Insufficient.
"Chronicle Sphere isn't the only reason we're diving ruins, is it?"
Brenn smiled slightly. "Smart man."
---
Varyn approached, mane flickering. Mental image sent: Weapon does not make warrior. Warrior makes weapon.
"Wise. But wrong weapon makes dead warrior."
Varyn huffed—amusement. Then find right weapon. But remember: steel breaks. Will does not.
He padded away, leaving Draven holding the journal.
Mira appeared. "You're going artifact hunting."
"Apparently."
"Good. You fight like scholar trying to remember textbook. Time to fight like you mean it."
Draven winced. "That bad?"
"You're alive, so adequate. But adequate doesn't survive what's coming."
She was right. He knew it.
---
Expedition Drills
Ryl led the team through intensive coordination practice.
The expedition team needed to function seamlessly. Crystal Caverns meant dangerous anomaly conditions—time dilation, spatial distortion. No room for miscommunication.
Joran's Bloomscript simulators projected anomaly conditions across the training ground.
Drill 1: Time Dilation Response
Simulation: half the team moved three times faster than the other half, mimicking time zone boundaries.
Initial result: chaos. Commands arrived delayed, movements desynchronized, coordination impossible.
Solution: pre-set signals, trust-based positioning. No verbal commands—just movement reading, spatial awareness.
After twelve attempts: 60% success rate. Acceptable.
Drill 2: Spatial Distortion Navigation
Simulation: paths looped, gravity shifted, walls moved.
Terys anchored—immovable reference point. The team navigated relative to her position, using her shell as true north when everything else lied.
Draven led pathfinding. The Grimoire of Life pulsed faintly, sensing "true" routes through distortion via Fragment resonance.
Result: maze completed in eight minutes. Goal had been under ten.
Drill 3: Combat Under Pressure
Simulation: Lord-tier threats in confined space.
Roles emerged naturally:
Joran/Thea: defensive engineering, create barriers, buy time
Draven: frontline engagement, hold attention, create openings
Ryl + Terys: area denial, Molten Sanctuary protecting rear
Mira: documentation and tactical observation from protected position
Result: simulated victory, but two "casualties"—Joran and Mira.
Adjustment: Mira stays with Terys at all times. Joran adopts more conservative positioning.
By day six evening: coordination at 85% success rate. Ready enough.
---
Archive Research
Mira cross-referenced the artifact catalogue with the Keeper's notes from the Obsidian Archive.
She compiled findings into a briefing document:
Artifact Hierarchy (Confirmed):
Common → Uncommon → Rare → Elite → Lord (Theia's maximum)
King/Overlord-tier artifacts exist on other worlds/dimensions
Lord-tier artifacts: approximately 25 known on Theia (5 confirmed locations, 20 lost)
Stormfang Blade Profile:
Elite-tier (one below Lord)
Last wielder: pre-displacement Beast Speaker named Coren Storm-Caller
Died during displacement event; blade sealed in Crystal Caverns for preservation
Requires Fragment-bearer resonance to bond (safety measure against misuse)
Thornblade Dagger Profile:
Rare-tier (two below Lord)
Forged by Verdant Grove druids (extinct order)
Life-drain plus explosive growth mechanics
Paired with Stormfang (lightning + life = devastating combinations)
Warden's Mantle Profile:
LORD-TIER (highest on Theia)
Woven by Ironroot Ent personally (centuries of growth)
Binds to worthy Bearer (tests wisdom before granting)
Only 3 Warden's Mantles ever made (other 2 destroyed)
Risk Assessment:
All three locations = dangerous anomaly zones
Guardians possible (constructs, corrupted beasts, environmental hazards)
Artifacts may be degraded (centuries of neglect)
Dominion might know locations (race against time)
Mira presented the document to Draven that evening.
He read it twice. "Lord-tier cloak. If we can get that..."
"If you survive the test. Ironroot doesn't grant artifacts to anyone unworthy. The Mantle judges you."
"Then I'll prove worthy."
"Or die trying."
"That too."
---
Tower Roost
Draven climbed the tower to discuss the expedition with Zor.
Found the Storm Lord perched, lightning dancing between wingtips—controlled now, beautiful.
"We leave in six days. Crystal Caverns. Dangerous."
"You prepare weapon. Good. But weapon without power is decoration."
Zor extended his wing. Lightning arced toward Draven—not attack, offering.
"I cannot join you. Caverns too confined for Lord. But I can give you storm."
The lightning touched Draven's chest. Not pain. Connection.
His lotus mark blazed. Lightning traced its petals, settled into pattern, glowed faintly then faded.
"What did you—"
"Stormbound Mark. Fragment of my power, given freely. When you wield lightning weapon, my strength flows through you. Not full Lord-tier. But enough to fight King-tier threats alone."
Draven flexed his hand. Felt it—electricity humming beneath skin, dormant but ready.
"This... thank you."
"We are bonded. Pack shares strength. You carry storm now. Use it well."
Zor lowered his head, touched forehead to Draven's—Lord to Bearer, rare gesture of deep trust.
"Return alive. Storm cannot lose Bearer."
"I will. Promise."
As Draven descended the tower, he felt different. Stronger. Not physically—spiritually. Zor's trust, manifested as literal power sharing.
The Mark pulsed once. Warmth, reassurance, pack.
---
Intelligence Briefing
Brenn received Dorn's report in the secure chamber.
The shadow network had uncovered something critical.
Dorn's voice crackled through the Bloomscript relay: "Three Dominion artifact hunters departed Heartlands. Target: Crystal Caverns. They're four days ahead."
Brenn swore. "How do they know?"
"Vael Ruun talked. Prisoner interrogation revealed he studied same archives we did. Dominion sent specialists."
"Specialists?"
"Chainkeeper veterans. Best of their artifact recovery teams. They'll reach Caverns two days before our scheduled departure."
Brenn called emergency council. Draven, Lysara, Ryl, Joran assembled within minutes.
The decision was unanimous: accelerate timeline. Leave tomorrow—Day 10, not Day 14. Lose Northern Clans escort, but beat Dominion to artifacts.
Draven's voice was firm. "We go light. Fast. Just core team—no support troops."
Lysara frowned. "Risky. If you encounter Dominion team inside Caverns..."
"Then we fight. But we don't lose those artifacts. Dominion with Lord-tier gear? Unacceptable."
The vote passed. Accelerated departure approved.
---
Dawn — Bloomring Gates
The expedition assembled at dawn.
Team:
Draven (leader, Fragment-bearer, swordsman)
Joran (engineer, demolitions, barrier specialist)
Thea (engineer, resonance tech, field medic training)
Ryl (scout, tactical mind, Terys's Bearer)
Terys (Lord-tier anchor, mobile fortress, defensive specialist)
Mira (chronicler, artifact researcher, map reader)
Gear:
Severance tools (2 portable, emergency use)
Bloomscript relay crystals (limited range, but some connection)
Explosives (Joran's specialty, cave-ins if needed)
Medical supplies (Thea's pack, emergency healing)
Food/water (5 days, rationed)
Brenn stood at the gate. "Crystal Caverns, Verdant Groves, Ironroot Chamber. Three locations, three artifacts. Dominion's hunting too. Don't die for metal."
Draven met his eyes. "Metal that might save thousands. Worth the risk."
Lysara stepped forward. "Northern Clans arrive in four days. If you're not back in ten, we're coming after you."
Sylvara approached, pressed a seed into Draven's hand. "Ironroot's chamber. Plant this at entrance. He'll know you come with my blessing."
Zor circled overhead, lightning trailing. "Storm watches. Return, Bearer."
Varyn appeared at gate edge, mane flickering. Mental image: Hunt well. Bring back worthy steel.
Feyra sent pulse through the network—warmth, protection, hope.
Draven looked at his team. Five humans, one Lord-tier beast. Against time, Dominion, and whatever lurked in ruins.
"We're not heroes. We're stubborn. Let's go be stubborn together."
Mira laughed. "Best rallying cry ever."
They walked through the gates. Bloomring faded behind them.
North toward Crystal Caverns. Three days hard march. Then: darkness, danger, and artifacts that might change everything.
---
Notes:
Draven's Combat Assessment: Chainbreaker insufficient for Lord-tier threats; needs equipment upgrade urgently.
Target Artifacts:
Stormfang Blade (Elite-tier, Crystal Caverns)
Thornblade Dagger (Rare-tier, Verdant Groves)
Warden's Mantle (Lord-tier, Ironroot Chamber)
Chronicle Sphere (Elite-tier tool, Crystal Caverns)
Team Training: 2 days intensive drills; coordination 85% success rate; roles solidified.
Stormbound Mark: Zor's power-sharing gift; enhances lightning weapon channeling; allows solo combat vs King-tier threats; permanent bond enhancement.
Dominion Threat: 3 Chainkeeper veterans; 4 days ahead; will reach Crystal Caverns ~2 days before Draven's team.
Artifact Hierarchy: Common → Uncommon → Rare → Elite → Lord (Theia max); King/Overlord tiers exist on other worlds.
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