Runeguard 049

Dawn rose, bright and beautiful. 

Sitting down on the eastern slope of the hill that had so recently borne witness to a bloodbath, I gazed into the rising sun. Plans were already underway for the exodus to the exit portal, but I wanted no part of that. Let Everett, Evelyn, and the others bear that burden. 

I had done my part already.

No, my thoughts were preoccupied by entirely different matters. The System. The Simians. Humanity’s purpose in this world. The strange directive 52-24. My Rune Essence. They were just some of the puzzles I still had to resolve.

But the many mysteries plaguing me were not what concerned me the most. At the forefront of my mind, was worry about what Sector 52 had in store for me. And not just me, but the rest of the Creche’s inhabitants.

A lithe shape dropped down next to me. Beth. 

“I was wondering where you’d disappeared to,” she murmured. “Why aren’t you at the celebration?”

I blinked. “There’s a celebration?”

She laughed. “Ah, Dace. Sometimes I think you must hate other people.”

I opened my mouth in protest.

“But then I remember everything you’ve done for everyone in the Creche,” she said, speaking over me, “and I know that can’t be the case.”

Closing my mouth, I shrugged awkwardly and returned my gaze to the horizon. 

Beth followed the direction of my gaze. “I wonder what awaits us out there,” she mused.

“I was wondering the same thing,” I admitted.

The red-haired woman turned towards me. “How are you feeling, Dace?”

I looked at her blankly.

“You orchestrated so much destruction today,” she said softly. “Does it not disturb you?”

It did, but it was not something I wanted to talk about, and certainly not to Beth. I shrugged. “I only did what needed doing.”

Beth frowned but she didn’t contradict me. “You should join the Paragons,” she said.

I stared at her in surprise. “What? Has Bayan decided to extend me an invite?”

She shook her head. “No, but I want you to join us.”

I fell silent, thinking. “I don’t think I should,” I said finally.

“Why not?” asked Beth, shock and a little hurt in her voice.

I bowed my head, while I struggled to articulate my thoughts. “Your guild—all of you—know what you want,” I said after a drawn-out moment. Seeing that Beth remained unenlightened, I added, “You want to be the best. The best guild, the best players.”

She nodded slowly, not understanding where I was going with this.

“But I am not sure what I want.”

Beth’s brows drew down. “What do you mean?”

“I’m not sure if I share the same goals as your guild,” I explained. “I’m not sure if being the best is what I want.”

“But—but you are the best player I know!” Beth exclaimed. “Not even Jorge or Bayan come close.”

I smiled. “I didn’t set out to be the best. Most of it just… happened.”

She looked at me askance. “What, you mean, you got lucky?”

I shook my head. “No, not lucky,” I said. “I was just trying to stay alive and do everything I could to stay that way.” I gestured north in the direction of the exit portal. “But out there, in Sector 52, survival alone will not be enough. I need to find a reason to live.” I looked at her. “And that reason may not be becoming the best.”

Beth threw up her hands. “But what else is there!”

I swallowed. This was the hard part, and I was not sure how to put it without hurting her. “I don’t know, not for sure anyway.” I gestured behind us. “Perhaps it will be taking care of all those people back there. Who else will look out for them in the sector?” I shrugged. “Or maybe it will be finding the ones that put us here in the first place and putting an end to whatever they’re planning for humanity.”

Beth snorted. “Those are all big dreams, Dace, and even given all you have accomplished, they are impossible tasks.”

“I don’t disagree,” I said, meeting her gaze, “but someone has to try.”

The Paragon mage looked away. “Will you join the Wardens then?”

I shook my head even though she could not see the gesture. “No,” I said. “I don’t think that is my path either.”

Beth sighed and rose to her feet. “Well then, Dace,” she said a little sadly as she looked down at me, “I wish you the best of luck then.”

She walked away.

“Beth,” I called before she could disappear from sight. “I will see you again, won’t I? We’re still friends?” Aren’t we?

She stared at me for a long minute. “Time will tell, Dace,” she said finally before retreating again.

✵ ✵ ✵

It took four long hours for Everett and Evelyn to organize the convoy and get it ready for departure. Many players were disgruntled at the delay and threatened to leave on their own—an idle threat only in my opinion.

I, for one, was simply amazed that the pair managed to organize everyone as quickly as they did. 

To begin with, I remained sitting on the hill, pondering my future. But when, after two hours of fruitless thinking, I was no closer to determining the direction my life would take, I left off further contemplation and wandered the town. 

Every few minutes, players—some known to me, but most strangers—stopped to shake my hands and thank me for what I had done for them. Now that the battle was won, everyone was grateful.

Mostly, I just bobbed my head and smiled pleasantly, being as polite as I could, but after a while, I began giving away all the items I didn’t need. 

The System offered only a pittance for them, and without an inventory, I wouldn’t be able to carry most of my items through the exit portal, anyway.

After a while, tired of being stopped by players, I wandered the recent battlefield and looted the ratkin that the System considered mine and Night’s kills. By that time, they were about the only remaining corpses on the hill.

Still, I netted a tidy sum from my scavenging.

You have acquired: 30 gold coins.

And finally, as the allotted time of the convoy’s departure drew close, I made my way to the bank to purchase more slots. 

It was the best use for my money that I could think of, and at the back of my mind was Adi’s words that everything in the sector itself would be many times more expensive than here in the Creche. 

I reached the bank in good time, but as I prepared to step in, the townhall caught my attention. 

And just like that a new and strange thought occurred… 

What if I start a faction?

Mid-motion, I froze as I considered the startling implications. I didn’t like managing people, and I knew I would be a bad leader. Nor was I any better at following orders. It was these thoughts that entered my mind every time I considered joining or starting a guild.

I was a loner. 

I had been one for most of my life and would likely die one too. It was an aspect of my nature that I had long come to accept.

Yet, I could not deny that the plight of the others in town had moved me. I was not selfish, at least I didn’t think so. True, I looked out for myself first, but I also did my best to help those around me.

If I could, I would prevent harm from happening to people like Evelyn, Everett, Juyorah, Alexis, and even Doren… if I can find him.

Was there a way I could help all of Creche’s former citizens while still maintaining my independence? 

Perhaps, I can with a faction, I thought.

Swinging around, I made my way into the townhall.

✵ ✵ ✵

Standing in front of the guildstone, I placed a tentative hand upon it. The expected System window opened up in front of me.

Guild Management Window

Your current affiliations: none.

Pending guild invitations: none.

Money: 591 gold, 3 silver, and 0 copper coins.

Available Options

Join a guild: not applicable, cost: 0 gold.

Leave a guild: not applicable, cost: 50 gold.

Create a guild: cost 50 gold.

Create a faction: cost 500 gold.

Found a kingdom: cost 10,000 gold.

After a moments’ thought, I selected the option ‘create a faction.’

A second System message opened.

Error. Only a guildmaster can create a new faction.

I grimaced. “Bah!” I spat. “So much for that idea.” I turned away from the guildstone in disgust and hurried to the room’s exit.

“Dace, wait,” Adi said, speaking up suddenly.

I paused. “What is it, Adi?”

“If I divine your intentions correctly, you wish to create a faction, but not belong to a guild?”

“Correct,” I said tersely. “But that doesn’t look possible, so—”

“But it is,” Adi broke in.

I stilled. “What do you mean?” I asked at last.

“You can create a guild of one.”

I frowned. “A guild of one?”

“Yes, with you as the only member.”

“I see,” I said. “And that will allow me to create a faction.”

“It will, Dace.”

“Thank you, Adi,” I murmured, stepping back to the guildstone.

I placed my hands on it once more and this time willed the option, ‘create a guild.’

You have created a guild for 50 gold. Before your guild’s creation can be completed, you must provide it with an identifier. Name your guild.

The System message caught me by surprise. I don’t know why though, because of course, a guild would need a name, and for that matter, so would a faction.

Briefly, I considered choosing something random, but that did not appeal to me. My brows drew down. 

So, what do I call my guild of one? 

It would have to speak to my identity, that much I was sure of. My own sense of who I was. 

And who are you, Dace?

I’m a guardian. This was the first thought that sprang to mind. I was already one in the literal sense of the word, and I hoped to be one more figuratively too, to the people of the Creche. 

What else?

The runelord class was something else I aspired to, and eventually I expected to become someone who could wield the power of the Creators’ own Runes.

It came to me then. I knew the answer to my question. “Runeguards,” I whispered to my two companions. “That shall be the name of our guild.” 

“I like it,” Night replied.

“I do, too,” Adi began. “But, Dace, I would not advise—” 

“I know what you’re going to say, Adi: the name is too revealing. And I agree.” It would not be wise to let slip the truth or even hint at any possible association between me and the Rune Essence. “Which is why,” I went on, “the guild’s official name will be different.”

“And what will that be?” Adi asked quietly.

I smiled. “The Soldiers of Ruin has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

Nigh snorted. “Is that a play on the word, Rune?”

I grinned. “Sort of. What do you think, Adi? Will it pass muster?”

“It’s vague enough not to draw notice,” she agreed.  

I clapped my hands together. “Then, that’s settled,” I said, and conveyed my response to the guildstone.

Name accepted. 

Dace Tolman, you have been appointed guildmaster of guild: The Soldiers of Ruin. New guild management options are available for adding and removing other players. Interact with the guildstone to find out more.

Still smiling, I touched my hand to the guildstone again, and willed the option, ‘create a faction.’

You have created a faction for 500 gold. Before your faction’s creation can be completed, you must provide it with an identifier. Name your faction.

This time, I had to think less hard. I knew what I wanted my faction to stand for, and I named it accordingly. 

Name accepted. 

Dace Tolman, you have founded the faction: Humanity Rising. New faction management options are available for adding and removing other players and appointing your faction’s officers. Interact with the guildstone to find out more.

You have acquired a new Creche task!

Creche Task 09: Establish your Province

Congratulations, you are the first human to have created a faction. You have been awarded the following task: establish your province.

Main Objective: Claim a territory that includes at least 3 settlements within its area and hold it for at least six consecutive weeks.

Secondary Objective 1: Claim your first town.

Secondary Objective 2: Build your first castle.

Secondary Objective 3: Claim your first resource.

Secondary Objective 4: Claim your first ten thousand subjects.

Secondary Objective 5: Claim your first dungeon.

Secondary Objective 6: Fill your treasury with ten thousand gold.

Founder rewards: +3 Essence Points for each objective completed.

Officer rewards: +2 Essence Point for each objective completed.

Member rewards: +1 Essence Points for each objective completed.

Additional requirements: Must be achieved within six months. 

“Wow,” I breathed on seeing the new task. I hadn’t expected anything like this. 

Totaling up the potential Essence Points I could earn from the rewards, I realized it equated to at least one free level for me, and for most other players with fewer Nodes was more like two or three free levels.

I grinned. Sometimes, good intentions did pay off.

With a smile still pasted on my face, I touched my hand to the guildstone again. My eyes widened at the new options that came up. 

If I understood my new task correctly and the faction options available to me, I suspected I could spread some of my newly-earned good fortune. And I already had a few candidates in mind.

Whistling tunelessly, I left the townhall.