Unbound

The vast chamber of his Seat and Seal was built like a natural cathedral. A vault of stone rose above them, filling the air with a thick shadow offset by the aurum and argent of the sigaldry below. Seven archways opened up into further chambers just beyond, but only one was lit up. That led to his Heart of Darkness, the hub for his Shadowgates, while the others were blocked off; the array somehow prevented Felix from even approaching them. The Seat and Seal itself was a series of arrays so complex that they had become something akin to a fractal design. It was insanely elaborate, far more so than even a Mana engine; the only place he’d seen similar amounts of complexity was in the tomb beneath Ahkestria, where a Primordial had been chained up.

Nothing like that here, though. They had checked. Thoroughly. Felix glanced at his wrists. No chains on me or Pit, either.

The formation flashed with every step, releasing a series of musical chords as much as light. The looping swirls of gold and silver filled the entirety of the vast chamber, which was many times larger than the Upper Hall. Circles upon circles crossed the black stone floor, interweaving with sigils in tightly packed lines. Interspersed among them were larger glyphs, combinations of multiple sigils in one, that acted as something like focal points for the formation. Felix knew that much, at least, even if he hadn’t much clue otherwise. According to everyone that had seen it, the formation was far more complex than the ones in other Territories, but Felix knew that wasn’t true. Felix had witnessed the Seat and Seal of the Leviathan Depths as well, located beneath Ahkestria, and it had been just as labyrinthine if not quite so large.

Karys said that the Seals provided to Territorial Lords under the Hierocracy seemed to be intentionally limited, perhaps in an effort to control the power being parceled out. Vess’ father, for instance, had a Seat and Seal that were far less complex than Felix’s, though Pax’Vrell commanded a Territory larger than Nagast. Considering the System seemed to be predicated upon choice and autonomy, it seemed likely the tyrannical religious mega-state would want to curtail it. No good would come of an empowered, free-thinking vassal.

Felix regarded his wrists again, watching the small scales flex with the motion of his tendons. He wore no chains, but others did. The cudgel others fashioned out of Authority made that clear.

When he’d first gained Authority, it had very little impact on Felix’s situation. As he continued on and faced more and more enemies and scenarios where his Authority was required, Felix had discovered it had a certain potency to it that seemed to increase the power at his disposal. Not in any combat sense, but in access and influence over various System-based constructs. That and being the Inheritor of the ancient Nymean sword at his waist had proven helpful in a myriad of ways.

It hadn’t been enough, however, to stop the High Guard from challenging him for his Territory. He had puzzled at how that could be, but the only solution seemed to be that the High Guard had somehow possessed more Authority than Felix himself. Considering he controlled two Territories now, that was no mean feat. Zara claimed it to be the Hierophant’s work, though she hadn’t been able to say how.

Either way, the solution was simple. Gain more Authority so that he couldn't be challenged like that again.

There were options. Felix could invade his neighbors, challenge their leaders, and claim their Seat and Seal for himself. He even had a Quest for it.

Many are the benefits of empire, and many are their enemies. Secure a total of 4 Territories under your banner and gain a reward worthy of the ancient emperors. Beware, for the higher you climb, the greater the winds that will attempt to force you from the Golden Path. Unification may be your destiny, but violence is your birthright. Gird yourself, Felix Nevarre!

2 of 4 Territories Secured

Reward: XP, Title(s), Advanced Authority, Varies

Aside from the thought making him deeply uncomfortable, it had a host of other problems. Logistics was a big one, moving troops and food and other such supplies. Most other Territorial Lords had claims on their land that were centuries old, and while they couldn’t keep large standing armies they still had access to Hierocratic forces. The Paladins were the largest of the three orders, with the Inquisitors a close second, and both had branches in every Territory between Nagast and the eastern jungles. Places like the Ghreldan Hills, which had mostly retained their own political and System power, were few and far between. The Hierocracy had dominated a large swath of the Continent. If he moved into any other Territory, Felix would find it an uphill battle to even get within eyesight of the Lord.

His other option was diplomacy. That was why Felix had sent Kimaris north in the first place.

The Hierocracy had not returned to Nagast, not since the Battle of Sunrise Lake, and that fact made Felix nervous every single day. When his people had arrived in Setoria, the remains of the Hierocratic forces had long since fled, leaving behind a stunned populace. Felix had his people offer to allow people to enter Nagast before he closed it off, or to leave if they wished. Many chose the latter and set off across the cold plains beyond.

Felix couldn’t blame them.

The barrier they had developed was strong—like, really strong—but it wasn’t impervious. The concerted effort of several Grandmasters could break it, according to Zara. Their only advantage was how hard it was to reach Grandmaster in the first place. Add in the difficulty of convincing a number of them to act in concert beneath some other command, and it was unlikely the walls would fall.

Still, Felix still expected an attack at any moment. They had dispatched valuable combatants against him, and none of them returned. He still held hundreds of the rank and file in Haarwatch, months later. Zara had been sure the retaliation would be swift and sure, but her confidence waned with every passing day.

That mixture of anxiety and an urge to advance had driven Felix into a frenzy of preparation.

“You’ve decided?” Karys asked from behind, disturbing Felix from his spiraling thoughts. As Chancellor of Nagast, he too strode over the sigaldry of Felix’s Seat and Seal without issue.

“I think so, yeah.” Felix walked to the center of the formation, and mentally commanded a section of the floor to rise. A glyph depicting a glowing, burning eye dominated the space there, and from the very pupil a hexagonal pillar lifted soundlessly. Above it a holographic display of his Stronghold flickered into view. “Just doing a final check.”

His Authority menus appeared next to his 3D display of Elderthrone, listing all the benefits and features of his home.

The Song of Stronghold!

• General Overview
• Name: Elderthrone
• Stronghold Defensive Strength: 50%
• Stronghold Offensive Strength: 52%
• Chancellor: Karys Taiv
• Master of Glyph: Atar V’as
• Master of Forge: Harn Kastos
• Master of Treasury: Karys Taiv
• Master of Alchemy: Felix Nevarre
• Map
• Improvements
• Fortifications
• Bulwark - Defensive Fortification, Tier IV
• Effect: +0.05% Defensive Strength Per Unit Installed
• Square Tower - Defensive Fortification, Tier IV
• Effect: +0.08% Defensive Strength Per Unit Installed
• Limit: 1 Tower Unit Per Every 2 Bulwark Units
• Living Spaces
• 117 Undesignated Rooms In Stronghold
• 994 Stone Shaped Dwellings, Tier III
• 1142 Green Shaped Homes, Tier III
• 1 Ice Shaped Hall, Tier III
• 10 Ice Shaped Lodges, Tier III

• 2 Barracks, Tier IV

• Professional Spaces
• Forge, Tier IV
• Alchemy Lab, Tier VI
• Glyphworks, Tier IV

• Storage Facility, Tier IV

• Garden, Tier III
• Flora - Capacity 934/1000
• Fauna - Capacity 368/1000
• Spirit Tree - Atlantes Anima - Spirit Trees are a rare and powerful organism imbued with elemental Mana dependent on their growth cycle. Due to your strong connection and the circumstances of its origin, the Spirit Tree has taken on a measure of Unbound nature. The Atlantes Anima is attuned to all and none.

• Spirit Fruit Production: 1/week

• Auras: Spirit Cleanse, Swell the Green Wilds

His little home base had grown by leaps and bounds. Aside from the obvious growth of his citizenry and the walls surrounding them all, Elderthrone had advanced every single Crafting Hall and pushed both its defensive and offensive strength over fifty percent. The two were linked, naturally, with the Glyphworks and Forge making a slew of weapons and armor that enhanced the Legion. Alister, aside from being named Minor Nobility Liason—a title Felix had made up so he didn’t have to talk to all those people—the mage was busy advancing his siege weaponry. His Stinger was responsible for a significant portion of their offensive capabilities, and its improvements were helped along by one of the few upgrades Felix had added in months ago.

During his battles under the waves, he’d completed an old Quest called The Proving. It had required him to bring five spells to Adept Tier, and upon completing it Felix had gained a few benefits.

Title: Adept Magus (Rare)

You have shown you can rise above your peers, becoming a true force upon the Continent. Power is yours. Wield it well.

+Increased Authority

...Rewards Increased Due to Advancing 2 Spells of Legendary Rarity

...Rewards Increased Due to Advancing 1 Spell of Transcendent Rarity

Accessing Options...

Please See Your Stronghold Seal To Receive Rewards!

While he’d earned some nebulous increase to his Authority, the System hadn’t given him anything else until he’d returned to his Stronghold. Once he had, it had given Felix an option to take a personal benefit or to expend it on his Glyphworks. He chose the latter, naturally. The personal benefit would have granted him a new Skill, but Felix had plenty—too many, some might say—and the means by which he could get more.

On the other hand, the benefit to his Glyphworks had increased the learning rate of all discovered arrays by 25%. That was huge, something Atar and Alister had been overjoyed to see. The aptitude of their apprentices increased seemingly overnight, which had cascaded into more completed crafting Quests and an advancement for the Glyphworks as a whole.

The only other real upgrade to the Stronghold had nothing to do with Felix. The Atlantes Anima simply reached a point in its growth cycle that it unlocked a second Aura. Those, in addition to the Spirit Fruits, had become major benefits for their community.

The Spirit Fruits were exactly what they sounded like, giant fruits that grew on the branches far above. Each one was a marvel, containing immense power that could be used in a variety of ways. Exploring those varieties had helped Felix push his Alchemical Laboratory beyond the other Crafting Halls, all the way to Tier VI. That opened up even greater benefits to production and discovery. Mostly the Spirit Fruits were used to create Universal Spirit Draughts that he could align with any Mana type they had access to; meaning it was useful, and potent enough, to Temper anyone in Elderthrone, no matter their Tier. That reason, coupled with a steady stream of Domain delving and training, was why they boasted so many Apprentice and Journeyman Tier combatants now.

The Auras were another thing entirely—they were emitted from the Tree itself, a passive effect that touched everyone beneath its immense canopy. The first, Spirit Cleanse, did something similar to Felix’s Unite the Lost: it kept everyone’s Spirit empty of unwanted foreign influences. That included Marks, placed by those who would wish to control or track others. The second, Swell the Green Wilds, influenced nature rather than people. Crops, herbs, fish, birds, anything that grew or flourished in the wilderness was given a boost to their heartiness and fecundity. This meant their food stores had grown tremendously, which helped support their growing population, and the Stronghold’s Garden had flourished as well. It also meant the local pests had also exploded in number, forcing Karys to offer up extermination Quests with frightening regularity.

Small price to pay for the food, I guess. Felix grimaced. Then again, if I never see that many Venomous Squirrels again, I’ll die happy.

“Felix?” Karys prompted.

He realized he’d been staring at his Authority menus for a while. Stalling. “Sorry. Been putting this off so long that I’m still nervous about making my choice.”

Karys hummed something that sounded calming. “Understandable. It is not often one earns a Title that offers a benefit of your choosing for your Stronghold. Even in my time, such a thing was rare.”

Felix rolled his shoulders. Months prior, he’d earned the Challenger’s Crown I Title during the course of his struggles. It allowed him to do exactly as Karys suggested: a Tier upgrade for a single feature of his “primary Stronghold.” The trouble was, the upgrade could be applied to just about anything within Elderthrone. Felix had waffled on choosing what he wanted to upgrade, first thinking about the Alchemical Laboratory, or the Storage Facility…but the Crafting Halls had Quests that allowed them to advance, and the Storage Facility would only get bigger as the Stronghold itself ranked up. He’d be allowed to add more Beacons around, which was a useful thing, but was it useful enough to spend such a reward on?

“I’m choosing the Heart of Darkness,” he said, finally.

Karys’ soft humming stopped. “Truly? I—What is the benefit you seek to gain? They still cannot operate without their pairs, and many are still down. With the Shadowgates as they are—”

“I doubt this peace will last much longer, Karys. I wish it would, but the way everyone is talking, and everything that’s already happened…war is coming. Even if we never fight the Hierocracy again, the Chanters say the Ruin will be here. Soon.” Felix swallowed, fighting off the flash of panic that overcame him. That was what happened whenever he thought of the Ruin. “We need to be ready.”

All of the issues inherent in traveling around with an army without modern roads or a ton of vehicles were solved by his Shadowgates. Logistics was far easier to manage when he could move troops across ten thousand miles in a couple hours. The issue at hand, however, was that most of his Shadowgates were inactive.

Like Karys had said, each portal operated as a pair, one here in his Heart of Darkness and one out there, at the far flung destination. They were unique artifacts, each one built together in some fashion none of them had reproduced. The sigaldry on their surface had stymied all of them, let alone the deeper mysteries contained within. He had no way of knowing what an upgrade to Heart of Darkness would achieve, but its potential was huge compared to making his Forge a little bit better.

Tier Upgrade!

You Have Selected Your Heart Of Darkness!

Are You Sure?Y/N

Yes.

A ripple of magic expanded outward, sweeping through his Seat and Seal before splashing against the dark stone walls around them. Music followed it, a combination of swelling Harmony and hissing Dissonance, working together in a way that added an incredible depth to the sound. Light and sound coalesced in the sigaldry beneath Felix’s feet, racing off in a single direction. Directly toward one of the six remaining dark chambers around the vast area, where it vanished utterly.

Greetings Autarch.

The Third Chamber Is Available.

Do You Wish To Activate?

Yes.

All at once, the dark archway filled with a cascade of molten light. Sigaldry flashed, inscribed patterns filling with the power of his Seat and Seal and serving to further illuminate the chamber beyond. Felix traded a glance with Karys, and they both hastened across the room. Upon entering the Third Chamber, Felix blinked, unsure how to react.

Before them the chamber extended approximately sixty feet square, with about fifty of it dominated by a sigaldry-lined depression. That was it. Within the depression was an expanse of almost preternaturally still water. It gleamed in the light, kicking back reflections like a deeper, more vibrant version of liquid mercury.

“Is that a swimming pool?” he asked. It certainly looked like one. “No, that's stupid, right? Why would the upgrade provide a swimming pool?”

“No,” whispered the gentle giant. His green-gold eyes of flame were bigger than Felix often saw them. “No, this is a Halcyon Hall. And that—” he said, pointing to the water. “Is a piece of the Luminous Void.”

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