Soulforge Artificer, Changes in the Village

~ding

[Legendary-Grade Mission has been triggered]

As Arthur read the notification, his heart raced. Legendary-Grade Missions were extremely rare to encounter. They were quests that could shape history and alter the course of the Main Plane.

his eyes widening. `To think that we would encounter a Legendary-Grade Mission in a place like this… It's almost too much to believe.`

Arthur's thoughts were a whirlwind, his mind grappling to comprehend the magnitude of what had just transpired. Legendary-Grade Missions were beyond rare, often requiring immense feats or profound discoveries to trigger. Their rewards were unparalleled – treasures of unimaginable power, knowledge that could reshape the world, or influence that could transcend time.

Even the mere hint of triggering a Legendary Tier Mission could plunge many civilizations into chaos, sparking war and conflict as they compete for the rewards they offer. The implications are profound, far-reaching, and fraught with danger.

And in that moment, Arthur felt a strange sensation – an ethereal divine presence that seemed to linger in the air. Then, without warning, a sudden spark of light danced in the air before Arthur.

`Divine Presence!` Arthur felt a shiver run down his spine, an eerie realization dawning upon him. This was no ordinary presence.

~ding

[Legendary Mission: Legacy of the Soulforge Artificer (locked)]

[Mission Information: Khu'luk the Soulforge Artificer was a divine entity that could imbue inanimate objects with living souls, creating sentient constructs and weapons that obey their every command. It can also manipulate the essence of life itself. To find a successor, it crushed its soul into 5 Soul Fragments and imbued them in several objects. As a test, it scattered those objects throughout the Main Plane in order to find a successor who could collect them all]

[Unlocked Mission Requirement: Collect all 5 Objects containing the Soulforge Artificer's Soul Fragment to unlock the Legendary Mission (0/5).]

~Cough

"Lord Arthur, listen carefully... I may not have much time left, and I have something to give you." Thoren's voice wavered, but his eyes held a steely resolve as he pull out a quill. "Take this, this quill might be of great help to the development in your village... It contains magical construction knowledges that even I, myself couldn't comprehend all of it."

Arthur's eyes widened, his mind racing to comprehend the implications of Thoren's words. But then he nodded, his gaze locked onto Thoren's. "I understand."

~ding

[You've gained 1 Soulforge Artificer's Soul Fragment]

Arthur inspected the Quill in his hand.

[Soulforged Enigma Quill(Sealed)]

[Item-type: Relic(Epic-Grade)]

[Description: Contained one of the 5 Soulforge Artificer's Soul Fragments, this quill unravels the mysteries of soul-construction. able to modify construct forms and imbue constructs with mystical power. Unseal the restraining array to unlock its true power.]

Arthur was astonished as he read the description of the relic. `It actually has amazing skill effects!`

Thoren's smile held a touch of sadness. "It's a source of both incredible creation and destruction. Use it wisely, and it could become the key to bringing these cities to their knees."

As those words settled into Arthur's mind, a sense of both awe and apprehension gripped him. A soulforge… a relic of unlimited potential. It was a tool that could greatly increase the development of his Village.

Thoren's grip on Arthur's shoulder eased, his smile was bittersweet. "Good. Now, go. Flee this city, and gather your strength. The path ahead won't be easy, but I believe you have the potential to change the world."

With a final nod, Arthur turned to Kroos and Eamon, his gaze determined. "We're leaving."

~Tap, Tap, Tap

As they turned, Arthur's heart skipped a beat. Ahead, in the flickering glow of a distant lantern, he saw the city guards approaching here.

"We've got them now!" the senior-looking city guard's voice carried across the empty street, a cruel smile tugging at his lips. "There's no escaping us!"

"Go, I'll hold them off" Thoren's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with a fiery resolve.

Without hesitation, the Arthur, Eamon, and Kroos made their way to the burning ruins of Thoren's house. As Thoren watched them leave, he took out some sort of device and activated the device.

~Crack, Crack~

Suddenly, the ground shook beneath their feet, a shockwave of force knocking the city guards off balance. The area seemed to twist and warp, the very air quivering with energy. Then...

~BOOM, BOOM

And then, a deafening explosion rocked the street. The night seemed to glisten as flames and debris erupted into the air, casting an eerie glow across the scene. their ears rang, their vision blurred as they struggled to regain their bearings.

~Fwosshh

As the dust settled, Arthur's heart sank as he saw the aftermath of Thoren's sacrifice. The street lay in ruins, a smoky haze obscuring the devastation. The city guards were nowhere to be seen - their pursuit thwarted by the explosion.

Kroos's voice was filled with disbelief. "Master… he sacrificed himself to save us."

Eamon's gaze was somber. "He knew what he was doing. He gave us a chance to escape."

Arthur stunned as he looked at the wreckage. Thoren, the skilled architect he once wanted to recruit, a loving-father, a man who had lost everything - he had given his life to ensure their escape.

"We can't let his sacrifice be in vain," Arthur's voice was firm, his resolve unshaken. "We have to keep moving."

Soon enough, the trio turned away from the destruction sight and retraced their steps, back towards the Thoren's basement. The basement held the key to their escape, the hidden passage that would lead them away from the city.

As they descended into the basement, their fingers fumbling in the darkness as they sought out the entrance to the hidden passage.

~Click

Finally, Eamon's hand found the lever, and with a sharp pull, the passage was revealed – a narrow tunnel leading away from the city.

After a harrowing escape from the clutches of Trosty City, Arthur, Kroos, and Eamon finally emerged from the hidden passage into the cool night air outside. The stars above shone brightly, a stark contrast to the chaos they had left behind. With a shared sense of relief, they began the journey back to the Dawn Light Village.

...

3-4 hours later they made it to the Icemoor Region. As they approached the village, the familiar sights and sounds of home washed over them, filling them with a sense of comfort and belonging.

Their return was met with warm welcomes. Elara and Mor'kith were waiting at the village entrance, their expressions a mix of relief and concern. As the trio approached, Elara's smile was both heartfelt and cautious.

"Welcome back, my lord." she greeted them, her eyes scanning their faces for any signs of harm.

Mor'kith's greeted Arthur with worried, "My lord, you look dilapidated, are you injured somewhere?"

"Thank you, I'm alright" Arthur replied with a nod, his voice carrying a mix of weariness and determination.

Mor'kith's gaze shifted to Kroos and Eamon. "And who are these two? My lord"

Arthur introduced them, "This is Kroos Copper, an extraordinary architect from Trosty City, and this is Eamon, a talented bard, you probably haven't met him because we went as soon as he got here."

Then, Elara's smile widened, her welcoming demeanor extending to their new companions. "It's a pleasure to have you here, Mister Copper."

Kroos nodded his head. "Thank you."

The group made their way to the Village Hall. As they entered, the atmosphere was one of anticipation. Roderick, Amelia, Elysia, Marcus, Alistair, and Altrove were gathered, their expressions a mix of concern and curiosity.

Arthur stepped forward, addressing his people with a mixture of gratitude and resolve. "I want to thank you all for your deeds in developing the village while I was away."

A murmur of agreement and encouragement swept through the room, the subjects nodding in agreement.

Elara stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "And now, for today's reports. During our lord's absence, over 200 people with various professions have joined our village. With this increase in our population, we have not only met the requirements to upgrade the village to a Town, but at the end of the day we've also gathered enough resources for the construction of the Lord Manor and the upgrade of the Village Hall into a Town Hall."

Gasps of surprise and joy filled the room, a sense of accomplishment settling over the crowd. Arthur's heart swelled with shock as he realized how quick his village's progress had been made in only 4 days. In his previous life, he remembered the fastest lord on earth who succeeded in upgrading their village into a town should have happened on the ninth day before the Monster Feast or about 5 days from now.

"The village has grown stronger in our time apart," Arthur announced, his voice steady. "And it's time for the next step in our journey. Tomorrow, we will officially upgrade our village to a Town."

Cheers erupted from the subjects, their excitement and pride filling the hall. Arthur's gaze swept over his people, each face representing a story, a dream, a hope that was now a part of the Dawn Light Village.

As the night grew late, Arthur turned to his people with a soft smile.

"It's been a long day. I want each of you to rest well tonight. Tomorrow is a new chapter for our village, and together, we will continue to shape our destiny."