+2 VIT! +2 PER! +4 AGL! +4 DEX! +3 WIL! +1 END! +2 INT!
You Have Found A Hidden Quest!Shrines of the Broken!
You have found and recognized one of the Lost Gods' Temples, reactivating its Shrine and taking a step forward upon the Broken Path. Dare you go further?
Rewards: Unknown
Exploration is level 26!
Exploration is level 27!
+1 Bronze Chest awarded!
Quite apart from the streaming notifications and flares of orchestral majesty, a very real, very heavy chest materialized in front of Felix. It thumped to the hard-packed earth and kicked up a trace of dust. Felix's eyes widened with delight. The chest was made entirely of smooth sheets of bronze metal, molded into a eye-pleasingly curved chest with a hefty black lock on the lid. When Felix touched it, the lock unlatched and the lid popped open.
You Received:
+500 Gold Crowns
+Far-Afield Boots
+Valdarian Satchel
Felix lifted a thick leather purse with the weighty feel of money in it. The pouch clinked satisfyingly in his hand as he shifted it and lifted the second item out. They were dark leather boots with bronze plates on the toes and up the front, while the bottoms were heavily textured as if designed for hiking. More importantly, they were in far better condition than his current pair. Felix kicked off his own ratty pair and laced them up. They fit perfectly, which both surprised him and didn't; he'd just got them as a magical reward for completely a insanely difficult quest. The least they could do was fit properly.
"Now I just need new pants," he muttered while admiring the shape of the boots. They came up with mid calf and laced at the sides. The bronze plates on the toe, heel, and front of the foot felt like armor. It would probably be good for kicking.
I should kick more often, he mused.
Last but not least, Felix fished the Valdarian Satchel out of the chest and held it up. It was a simple enough bag, similar to the Hanaari bag he used to have, made of dark leather with bright silver clasps. The moment it was out however, the Bronze Chest simply vanished between eye blinks. Felix scanned the area before him, but the chest had dematerialized without a trace, save the four slight divots in the ground. He shrugged after a moment; it didn't matter really. He'd gotten his reward. He slung the bag over his shoulder and put the money pouch inside it. Before he could give his boots and bag a once over with his Voracious Eye, the boy interrupted.
"Blessed be, did you complete a System Quest?" Felix turned to find the teen standing a lot closer than before, his dark eyes shining as they took in his boots and satchel. "Those are quest rewards, right?"
"Uh, yeah, they are."
Mervin's mouth gaped. "I thought I saw a Chest manifest! I've never seen a proper completed System Quest before, just the usual Guilder kind. Wow."
Felix's head tilted. "System--? Wait, Guilder? You're in the Protectors' Guild? Are we near Haarwatch?"
Mervin blushed slightly and nodded. "Yes and yes. Newly made Tin Rank, sir! Joined up after all the troubles."
"Troubles?" Felix called for Pit and the tenku stopped preening to step closer. "What troubles?"
"You must've been really far away, sir. Everyone's been talking about it." He swallowed and nervously smoothed down the front of his tabard, which featured a shield crossed by a sword and spear. "The Foglands lost their fog, but then the monsters went mad. Magic gone wild they say, sir. It's why the Inquisition's been called."
"The what?" Felix asked, but he feared he wouldn't like the answer.
And he was right.