The Vault of Lost Names was buried deep beneath the Eclipse Palace, sealed behind layers of enchanted stone and runes older than the empire itself. Few had ever walked its halls and returned unchanged.
Xel'Varyn strode forward without hesitation, her six arms brushing against the damp, ancient walls. The deeper she ventured, the heavier the air became—not from dust, but from the sheer weight of history.
At the vault's heart, a throne of black obsidian pulsed with eerie blue light. Upon it sat the Wraith Archivist.
Or rather, what remained of him.
His body was long gone—only a shifting mass of translucent energy remained, wrapped in layers of tattered robes that had outlived their master.
The hollow sockets where his eyes once were glowed as he turned to her. "You seek knowledge forbidden, Empress. Are you prepared to pay the price?"
Xel'Varyn's lips curled into a smirk. "I always pay my debts."
The Wraith's voice echoed through the chamber.
"Then listen."
---
[System Update: Ancient Knowledge Unlocked]
Revealing Report: The Veiled King & The Forbidden Relics
The Veiled King is no mere noble. He is a remnant of an ancient lineage—one that predates even the fallen kingdoms.
The artifacts fueling the rebellion were sealed away long ago for a reason. Each one is a fragment of an entity known as The Dread Sovereign, a being whose power was shattered across the ages.
The first relic has been located. It lies in the ruins of Dah'Zirath, the City of Chains, buried beneath the sands of the eastern wastes.
But you are not the only one who seeks it.
---
A Race Against Time
Xel'Varyn exhaled slowly. "So that's their game…"
Victor Dain's voice rang out from the entrance of the vault. "Whatever those relics are, we need to destroy them before the rebels claim them first."
Edwin, still hidden in the shadows, chuckled. "Or perhaps… we take them for ourselves?"
Xel'Varyn's gaze remained on the glowing throne.
The choice was clear.
She could destroy the relics, ensuring that their power never fell into the wrong hands.
Or she could claim them, adding their forbidden strength to her own—no matter the risk.
She turned, her golden eyes gleaming.
"Summon my war council."
The hunt for Dah'Zirath's relic had begun.
And she would not be the one left behind.
---
[System Update: New Quest - The City of Chains]
Objective: Reach Dah'Zirath before the rebels.
Choice: Destroy the relic… or claim its power.
Empire Stability: 76% → 74% (The rumors of your search spread. Fear and curiosity grow in equal measure.)
New Title Acquired:
Seeker of the Lost (Ancient forces stir in your presence. You walk the path of those who came before—will you follow, or will you rewrite history?)
New Trait Acquired:
Echo of the Forgotten (Artifacts react to your presence, revealing fragments of their past to you.)
---
The Journey Begins
As Xel'Varyn stepped out of the Vault, a storm gathered on the horizon.
Somewhere in the sands of Dah'Zirath, a relic pulsed with hunger.
And soon, it would know her name.
---
[To Be Continued...]