“Fancy,” Dosan says as we all look at each other with raised eyebrows.
Upon entering the building, I can see multiple tellers on either side of the large room before us. Towards the back, a wide staircase reaches up to connect with the balcony that surrounds us along the walls, leaving the middle area open. A chandelier covered with glittering clear jewels is reflecting and amplifying the light from a large ball of white energy suspended in the middle.
An elf who looks to be middle aged walks towards us from a counter in the middle of the room. He is dressed extremely smartly in a black tailored three-piece suit with coattails, top hat and a cane twirling between his fingers.
“Welcome to the Bank of Augustus. My name is Marcus the eighth. I am the curator of this branch. How may I help you ladies and gentlemen this morning?” the elf says with an elegant sweep of his gloved hands in a bow.
“Well met, my good sir,” I say promptly. Might need to be a bit more extravagant with this fellow. “My companions and I are here to access our accounts and retrieve the relics within them.”
“Relics? Oh my! Another lot of travellers from the Ivory Expanse? How wondrous!” Marcus's features brighten considerably; then he gives us a wink and lowers his voice conspiratorially. “I don’t really care about the rumours of you travellers bringing the apocalypse with you.”
We all just give each other a look of confusion before he straightens with a laugh and a clap of his hands.
“Now, I would be delighted to assist you in retrieving them. I have heard from some of the other branches that there have been a lot of family heirloom relics being collected of late,” he says excitedly. “I am somewhat of a collector myself and would be very thankful if you would do me the honour of letting me see what you retrieve.”
He gives us a grin so wide I can't help but smile with him.
Not one to waste an opportunity, Ezekial says politely while eyeing Marcus's attire, “I'm sure we can come to some sort of agreement.”
A soft laugh escapes Marcus and his eyes twinkle. “Indeed, we very well may. Follow me, please. I will show you to one of our viewing rooms.”
Turning on his heel with a perfectly straight back, he strides away from us towards a door beside the stairs on the right-hand side. Another elf who is dressed very similarly to Marcus opens the door and holds it, waiting for us to pass before closing it once more.
The corridor beyond the main room is extremely extravagant. Various pieces of artwork, sculptures and equipment adorn the walls amidst walls painted with the likeness of a forest. Whoever designed this bank certainly had an eye for flair. Obviously, the bank does very well for itself.
What is even more interesting is that Augustus was the first Emperor of Rome and that Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa was a close friend and general to his armies as well as a statesman. Marcus was renowned for creating a number of buildings that contributed to the grandeur of Rome. It's obvious where the game designers took their ideas from with this bank, with the Roman architecture of this building and all that.
We follow Marcus down the corridor and stop at an engraved door. Taking a golden key from his pocket, he unlocks the door and pushes it open, gesturing for us to enter. He follows after us, closing and locking the door behind himself.
Turning back to us, he motions towards the middle of the room, where a long table is positioned lengthwise between us, with five podiums surrounding it. Each podium has a sphere of light blue crystal set into the top of it.
“Please stand before the podiums and place your hands on the summoning crystal. You will be able to summon your relic onto the table before you from our vaults by doing so,” Marcus directs us.
“Very fancy,” Dosan says, glancing at Marcus.
Ifalna is just rubbing her hands together with a wide grin as her eyes lock onto the podium and she moves towards it. I follow, moving towards an empty podium as the others do the same. With wide grins all round, we follow Marcus's directions and place our hands on the crystals.
Congratulations! You are able to retrieve your long-lost relic. However, you won't be receiving what you thought you would. From the 20 items you previously left with the bank, you may only take a single item as a relic from the vault. You may, however, merge and combine as many of them as you like into a single weapon, piece of armour or accessory. Any leftover items will be removed and recycled into the world once more.
Any abilities or effects on the items you merge will be combined as well. Where applicable, the system will try to designate abilities and effects based on your class. You may choose only the shape of the item depending on what items you merge.
Warning! You cannot change the new relic if you do not like the new effects or abilities.
Good luck!
When I finish reading through the message, I close it and look over the new window that popped up. At the top are the icons for the twenty Legendary items I had deposited into the bank what feels like so long ago. In the middle are twenty empty slots, and directly below them is a button called 'Merge'.
I never even had a chance to find out what the random Legendaries I bought were, so I do so now. Reading through all the abilities and effects of the various pieces of equipment, I am slightly overwhelmed. Coupled with the pieces I had collected over the past years, I have no idea what I should choose.
Staffs, swords, shields, rings, various pieces of armour and a couple of non-equipable items fill the slots. Honestly, every single piece of equipment is amazing, or it wouldn't be a Legendary in the first place.
I realise that I actually won't be able to choose, and even if I did, I would probably forever kick myself if I think I've chosen wrong. Therefore, I choose the only reasonable option and select every single one of them to merge together.
Wincing slightly, I select the 'Merge' button.
A bright flash of light blinds me momentarily. Blinking my eyes to clear the after-images, I see a gleaming silver quarterstaff with thickened ends lying on the table in front of me. There are also four other items on the table in front of the others.
Focusing on the weapon before me, I pick it up and I'm in shock at the description as I read it. My relic has such an awesome backstory!
Quarterstaff of Unpredictability.
Description: This relic staff is said to have been wielded by the famous Merlos Khan when he created his empire, burning his way across half the known world. He was a master of all weapons. After saving the life of Amaranth, a god known to be equally mischievous as he is unpredictable, he was gifted a weapon with a unique true polymorphic ability. The downside was that he had no control over what creature the target was turned into. Emperor Merlos eventually had his luck run out when he granted a lowly vassal any boon for their own service. The vassal asked for help with a volcano about to erupt. Honour bound, his only option was to use his weapon’s morph ability, casting it on the volcano, which in turn became an elder twilight dragon. A quarter of his empire was rendered to ash before the spell wore off and the fire-breathing dragon turned into a mountain once more, this time without Orbis’s lifeblood of lava running through it. The vassal's town, however, was left untouched.
Durability: Unbreakable.
Rarity: Relic.
Ability 1: Staff can morph into any weapon the caster can use at will for any length of time. Upon use, for the next one minute and 28 seconds, all damage dealt disregards 28% armour rating and resistances. Cool down of three minutes.
Ability 2: Morph target creature into another random creature with up to 73% of their mass for one minute and 28 seconds. Damage dealt to target does not break morph, and the spell doesn’t require concentration to hold. Costs 20% of total mana per cast and will not be able to be replenished until the spell effect has ended or the creature dies. Cannot target creatures higher than the highest-level creature defeated by the caster.
Ability 3: This ability is only unlocked after 1000 enemies are defeated.
Ability 4: All abilities of the Quarterstaff of Unp
redictability grow in power equivalent to the level of the owner. Current level 28.
This item is soul bound to Sybaal.
If this is how Victoria was able to get such a powerful weapon, then I wonder if everyone in the game has a relic this powerful. If so, we are going to need to be extremely careful when fighting other players. Our third ability is locked though, so I wonder what that is.
So I guess there isn't the standard sheep morphing with this weapon. From the description, it looks like I won't be able to control what creature I want, so I really hope we don't get screwed over like that Merlos fellow. The disregard armour or defensive rating is pretty cool though.
Shaking my head, I begin to look at the other items on the table. Kazzrak has a black and green veined medium-sized kite shield. It's embossed with what looks like an underground castle under siege taking up the entire surface.
Deep King's Shield.
Description: The Deep King of the dwarves used this shield to defend the last of his surviving kin during the final battle of the kobold wars. Caught sleeping with his wife in the dead of night and only armed with his shield, the king fought off the Kobolds that secreted into his bedchambers. His wife and sons were able to escape, though his most trusted guards had turned into ore-hungry dwarf traitors and slew their king. Reinforcements arrived in time to turn the tide of the battle overall, though not before the Deep King perished. This shield had been lost to the deep ever since.
Durability: Unbreakable.
Rarity: Relic.
Ability 1: Become invulnerable for 28 seconds. Three-minute cool down. (Immovable Object Ability Granted.)
Ability 2: Reduce all incoming damage by 28%.
Ability 3: This ability is only unlocked after 1000 enemies are defeated.
Ability 4: All abilities of the Deep King's Shield grow in power equivalent to the level of the owner. Current level 28.
This item is soul bound to Kazzrak.
Did he use that rock we received off that fire-breathing turtle boss we killed in DSR1?! Jeez, looks like his gamble payed off big time. Those two damage reduction abilities are awesome.
Turning to Ifalna's relic, it looks like a very unassuming wooden bokken training sword. There has to be more to this bokken than meets the eye, surely.
Bokken of Dawn and Dusk.
Description: A ronin of unknown origins stood his ground on a narrow mountain pass before a conquering lord's army of several hundred. He defended the village of elders, women and children from this army to his last breath, fighting from dawn till dusk. Not a single man survived that battle, including the village's saviour. Legend has it his skill with Iaijutsu was so great, most of the battle was done with his hidden sword sheathed, only being drawn to immediately slay an enemy. This is his bokken, originally named 'Morning Wood' before his last fateful battle, where it was renamed in his honour.
Durability: Unbreakable.
Rarity: Relic.
Ability 1: Unsheathe the sword hidden within to activate this ability. Both sword and sheath can be used as weapons. Intelligence and Wisdom statistics are swapped with Strength and Dexterity for 30 seconds or until sheathed. 30 second cool down after activation. All statistics are increased by 2.8% for the duration of this ability.
Ability 2: Iaijutsu technique (art of drawing the sword) grants three seconds of 228% weapon damage.
Ability 3: This ability is only unlocked after 1000 enemies are defeated.
Ability 4: All abilities of the Bokken of Dawn and Dusk grow in power equivalent to the level of the owner. Current level 28.
This item is soul bound to Ifalna.
Morning wood? Really? Like, seriously? I shake my head at the admin people. At least now Ifalna can help out more than just with flashing lights. It will be interesting to see how she utilises her abilities.
Moving on, I look at the black and white ring in front of Dosan with a frown. I thought we were only getting weapons?
Cursed Creators Ring of Bondage.
Description: This ring is of unknown origins. Legend says it was gifted to Morrigan, the goddess of death, as a marriage proposal from Attis, the god of rebirth. Morrigan spurned Attis, casting the ring aside and down to the mortals below. It's said Morrigan was so repulsed by Attis that she cast a curse on the ring, causing the various necromancers and summoners to have used this ring over the ages to die horribly gruesome deaths for her to collect. The ring was eventually found by a necromancer, who used its power to lead a plague of the dead across half a continent before she was stopped. At this point, Morrigan took her soul for herself to play with.
Durability: Unbreakable.
Rarity: Relic.
Ability 1: Increases the amount of summoned bonded creatures under your control by 2.
Ability 2: Increase the level of reanimated minions by 2.
Ability 3: This ability is only unlocked after 1000 enemies are defeated.
Ability 4: All abilities of the Cursed Creators Ring of Bondage grow in power equivalent to the level of the owner. Current level 28.
This cursed item is soul bound to Dosan.
Cursed?! What the fuck is this shit? It is actually cursed for real? If it is, I guess Dosan is going to have to get used to dying a lot, then. And how will it work with Morrigan taking his soul if he is a player? Will he be able to go to some unknown godly location? Because that would actually be pretty darn cool.
Maybe.
Lastly, but certainly not the least, I pay attention to the recurve bow shrouded in different greys.
Bow of Misfortune.
Description: This is the bow of a woodsman whose family were murdered by the tyrannical overlord governing his lands. He was out hunting within the depths of the forest near his home, as he could not pay the exuberant land taxes. When he found out, the woodsman began to exact revenge on every one of the overlord's men. He called on Lady Luck each and every time he needed to fire a lucky shot with his bow. His already uncanny ability became legendary. Lady luck is said to have blessed this bow due to his misfortune, so he is now able to grant misfortune to others.
Durability: Unbreakable.
Rarity: Relic.
Ability 1: Negates the Luck of a single enemy by 20% when within the bow's sights. Removing the sights restores the enemy's Luck.
Ability 2: Negates the use of physical arrows for a period of one minute. Creates magical duplicates of any arrow in the owner's quiver at a thought, and they deal 28% more damage. Cool down of three minutes.
Ability 3: This ability is only unlocked after 1000 enemies are defeated.
Ability 4: All abilities of the Bow of Misfortune grow in power equivalent to the level of the owner. Current level 28.
This item is soul bound to Ezekial.
Whoa, it looks like Ezekial won't even have to hit them with an arrow for the negative Luck thing to work, he just has to look at them down the sights. Oh god, if that works on normal people, I'm going to have to see when we can go and fuck with random people in town. Looks like we can recreate the fantasy version of the Three Stooges. Ha!
I look down at my staff and activate the first ability. I think about dual long swords, and just like that, the quarterstaff flows like mercury into the shape of two swords in my hands. The weight and balance of them is superb. It's like I'm not even holding anything at all, they are that light.
Opening my character window, I unequip the two Exceptional Swords of Intelligence and place the Quarterstaff of Unpredictability in their place. The old swords and sheaths disappear from my waist, and then two new sheaths appear, created by the staff.
I have lost some extra Intelligence, but the power in the abilities of the relic more than make up for it, for sure. Sliding the two swords away and grinning like a maniac, I stroke the pommels while I look up at the others.
They are paying just as much attention to their relics as I was to mine. Kazzrak now has an exquisitely detailed embossed kite shield on his arm, replacing his old one. Ifalna now has her bokken han
ging from her left hip, while still being able to keep her small shield on her left arm.
Holding his bow up, Ezekial points it in my direction, and I feel light-headed all of a sudden.
“Don't you point that tree branch at me, Ezekial,” I say after blinking a few times and shaking my head. “You're making me dizzy and giving me a headache.”
“Phrasing!” Ifalna laughs, grabbing her bokken and pointing it in my direction lewdly. “How do you like my morning wood?”
“Gah! It won't come off!” Dosan yells, while it looks like he is trying to rip his finger off.
“Oh, your ring? Just unequip it? Duh,” Ezekial says, lowering his blasted luckless bow. My headache goes away immediately.
“I can't! I keep getting a notification saying it can't be removed because it's cursed!” Dosan's reptilian form collapses on the floor with a sob.
Kazzrak leans over Dosan and pats his shoulder. “What's wrong, buddy? From what I could tell, the abilities on that ring are pretty awesome for you.”
“You don't understand!” He raises his head to look at us with what looks like terror on his face. “I received a private message from Morrigan the second I put the ring on. It said that she has been lonely for so long and that she won't wait the customary six months. She's coming for me right now!”
“Hosh-posh,” scoffs Marcus. “No one has seen or heard from the Goddess Morrigan in hundreds of years. Why would she come and see some random traveller?”
Before anyone else can get a word in edgewise, a black portal appears directly behind Dosan, and out flies a midnight black raven to land on his shoulder.
Eyes almost popping out of his head and his mouth opening in a silent scream, the raven digs its talons into Dosan's shoulder and squawks before flying off into the portal. A Dosan-looking shape made of misty white smoke is dragged out of Dosan's body and through the portal behind the raven.
Dream Stream Reality: Publisher's Pack Books 1-2: (A LitRPG Adventure) Page 46
