Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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Like many would've expected to see, his house wasn't a leather Hut made of the skin and bones of beasts he slew during his life...

It was a fully-fledged stone house shaped like multiple cylinders atop each other, each signifying a floor, with 4 in total.

It stood right at the end of the Council Road, with the other houses left and right of the street likely belonging to the other Elders.

From the outside to the inside Dale saw many items and even some level of technology employed in it, displaying the authority of its owner and importance to the city.

Murals, paintings, and carvings, together with those strange crystals hanging loose all around, decorate this seemingly simple stone structure into what Dale could only call a Manor.

By now he already understood clearly how much hierarchy was necessary for the Karkavan, he just needed to learn how powerful they were now.

Because Kuddan looked like a pretty easygoing old man from the moment they met to now as they walked through the streets, he saw no fear in the eyes of the other citizens as they walked.

As all seemed to recognize him.

Compared to what he expected to see from those in the utmost position of this society, Muddan didn't seem like someone commanding or tyrannical.

Was this why prosperity bloomed in this place?

…

Upon entering the stone house, the Raid Group was met with a cacophony of items spread out in a large and fancy open room, making even Tina nod in approval as she liked the rustic design.

Testros was entranced by the simple beauty of this place while Dale thought of his grandma's house... From his mother's side.

His Granduncle from his father's side was completely different from what one might expect as he had already said before, his house being more in touch with the times than even his...

From relics to small hand items displayed in small altars to full sets of bone-like armor proudly resting on stands...

On the ground, Dale could see the skin of monsters he never saw before, with one so large it occupied half of the entire room.

On the walls, if they weren't already filled with brilliant crystal torches or the stands for the Relics, he would see paintings and carvings of beasts and other creatures.

On the ceilings, he saw the bony remains of many beasts, so many he could barely even recognize the patterns on the wood...

This room seemed like a museum, it even smelled like one.

Almost every item had a plaque beneath it full of wriggly runes, some bigger than others…

But Dale couldn't understand any of it, and neither would the system translate it for him.

As he expected since long ago, the System's translation feature only went as far as giving him a hand with the base language of Azimuth, the rest was up to him to figure out if he ever came across them.

He was trying his best to learn the base one amidst his already intense training sessions, any more than that and he would really die of exhaustion...

Just thinking about this made Dale remember that one day he would have to log out... And the pain of synchronization would hit every fiber of his body as he Leveled up over 10 times already...

"Cough…"

His thoughts were thankfully interrupted by Muddan as he cleared his throat, preparing for another round of words.

He was getting better at speaking, and that was evident as he was taking fewer pauses between phrases, albeit he still coughed frequently from time to time.

"I apologize for the mess, this place does deserve some… Restructuring." Kuddan added as he looked around

He stared at the items spread around for a few moments before he resumed his walk.

"Speaking in your language has made me remember many things of the long past… Including your sense of organization."

"There's much to learn from that…"

As he said that, Kuddan turned sideways, pointing at the Hall.

"This is the Remembrance Hall, a place where we gather and store the Relics of our past Great Warriors and Heroes that have been turned into Burial Totemic Artifacts so the generations afterward may remember their greatness and struggles."

"This place is open for all during the first and last days of the Moonlit Eraks Festival."

"I can feel the history in this place." Testros added as he bent near a curved sword full of sharp teeth embedded onto it

"This place is quite... Stuffy." Tina added as she looked around, feeling the faint waves of Prime Force in the air

She looked at Dale, but the boy didn't seem as affected as she was, perhaps because his training hadn't reached such a state...

Or because he was too young to have his Prime Force pushed around by the Vitality of those that have long passed...

/Exhale.../

She let out a small sigh, just how uncaring could he be?

She wondered what meaningless thing he was thinking about now... But oh well, she smiled.

Because she knew he would likely just voice out whatever was on his mind, that was the kind of boy he was.

"Hum?"

As he heard those words, Dale remembered something…

'Didn't I… Also have one of those Burial Totemic… Artifacts?' He thought as he opened his inventory

[Executioner Hyfor Remembrance earrings (Half-Fable)

Rating: 7-Stars

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Hidden Requirements: Soul Power: 50; Prime Origin: 150

Requirements: Strength: 200; Constitution: 220; Dexterity: 80; Mental Power: 230; Reflexes: 80; Mana: 100

Hidden Requirements: Soul Power: 50; Prime Origin: 150

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]

'Right, the item that I can't equip…'

'There were some locked features for this item.'

'But how would he react to it if I showed him?... Well, a little bit of probing won't do any bad...'

"Uh... What about the other Relics? And what even are Totemic Artifacts?"

"..."

Kuddan turned to Dale, his eyes wide open through his mask.

"Uh… Did I…?"

'Did I say something wrong?'

"Hohoho!... Cough!"

But Kuddan laughed loudly before having a slight coughing fit.

"I think that throughout all of my life… I never answered that question."

"All Karkavan will learn what a Burial Totem is before they are even one Cycle of age, and during those early years, they usually don't leave the confines of their homes."

"So before I even have the chance to teach one, they already end up learning it..."

"Even my direct Kin never asked that to me... I wonder where he learned that from?..."

Kuddan went silent for a few moments before continuing:

"A Burial Totem is a special item we create to honor the dead by keeping his Hex Essence in the world of the living while his Vital body returns to the earth, enriching it and empowering it…"

"And since the soil provides sustenance for all life, it all eventually returns... To us."

"It is an item made so that the original accomplishments of the dead can still be passed on, even if only in a metaphorical way…"

"All will eventually move on, but they may be unwilling to do so... The Totemic Artifact allows them to leave a small part of them behind so they may rest easy knowing someone else will continue from where they stopped."

"It is a Great Honour to have a family member be strong enough to make one, as it takes many resources to do so, materials that need to be collected by either the dead prior to his demise, or by the family members, usually done so by the Direct Kin as a way to prove their worth and their intent to succeed them."

"A normal Artifact is usually created through a lifetime of experiences, and it can only be made naturally, with its husk being every item you can imagine."

"However, items and materials of great intrinsical value, such as cleaves and coats made of the bones and leather of mighty beasts have higher chances of displaying unique powers, sooner."

"The possession of an Artifact is also a key part in the transformation of a simple Warrior into a Great Warrior whose achievements will be passed on."

"Though we shall remember and honor all, regardless of how little they did as long as they shed blood for the sake of the Tribe."

"That is the purpose of the Obelisk, though that is for later…"

Dale nodded, and in a sense, Kuddan's words made him remember the spear that he carried on his back.

Wasn't it also changing and transforming in accordance with his actions and experiences?

Could it be classified within the same group as these Artifacts?

He left this Question at the back of his head, he would bring it forth later...

"Cough... At the end of their lives or before a dangerous fight, a Warrior will usually share his intent towards his Artifact with those around him so they may know how to proceed following his passing."

"He can either pass it on so his Kin may have access to it, or he can leave it to others to turn it into a Totemic Artifact."

"And if the latter is chosen, after all rituals are completed, the Totem will be brought here and immortalized for generations after, becoming the duty of the First Coulder Elder to take care of..."

Kuddan smiled slightly.

"Together with the others too of course... It can get a bit difficult for an old Karkavan to clean and make sure everything is where it should be…"

"I uh… My head isn't the same as it used to be and sometimes… I even forget where I left my shoes…" Kuddan said with a light laugh

"And I'm one of the better ones haha!"

While Kuddan said that, Dale inspected the Totemic Items, realizing they were all Unique Grade and above, perhaps to indicate they were all singular in the world?

'Woah... Some of these items are quite impressive… Their Specs are very good…'

'Actually, some are just so good I could change my current Accessories... But not all, I quite like some of them.'

'There are many Relic Grade items, a few Epic ones… And even a few Fable ones!'

'Not Half Fables but a full Fable grade… And they're not Accessories.'

'Weapons and Armor… Even Sandals... But why Sandals?...'

He looked around for a bit more, with Kuddan waiting for them next to a flight of wooden stairs.

"Hum..."

'Are there no higher grades though?... A bit disappointing…'

'Well, there are many, many items here, so there may be a higher grade somewhere…'

With those thoughts in his mind, Dale turned to Kuddan once more, asking:

"What is the difference between these Artifacts? Before and After the Rituals?"

"Cough… You ask the most bizarre of questions… But that's good, challenging Questions invoke the better in us."

"In a way you may understand, an Artifact contains chaotic, muddled, and heavy Hex energies."

"The wrath of the warrior that was imbued into a blade together with the resentment of the foes it took down… It's not channeled, it is raw and berserk."

"It can easily consume those without the proper knowledge of how to handle it, albeit not all end up like that, as the experiences of a Hunter with a calm mind as he patiently wields his bow can induce completely different Hex energies to imbue his body and consequently, his Artifact."

"It isn't as dangerous as one may expect, but it doesn't diminish the latent potential of the energies within such weapons."

"Some Artifacts can be too much for the young ones to handle, as such, all Children are taught to never grab one… Even then, some do disobey our orders and… Perish as a result."

"When a Warrior is noticed to be on the Cusp of acquiring one such Artifact, even if he does not realize it yet, he will be sent on a lone mission to sharpen what he has acquired, far from others where the destructive forces within him may not spread onto those that can not handle it."

"Not all cases are like that as Artifacts aren't solely created from combat... Many Artisans have left their mark in this Hall, albeit in diminished numbers."

And lo and behold, on the corner of the Hall, Dale saw a few such items such as small hammers, chisels, and even pickaxes.

"A Burial Totemic Artifact on the other hand has gone through multiple refining rituals that enhance, purify, channel, improve, or even dimish the forces within, shaping them onto something more substantial."

"In your own kind terms, a normal Artifact is only a half-finished after me."

"Though even if they succeed, that may not change how we product, one that can only be completed with the death of its creator as his own Essence is transferred within."

"A Cycle that ends when the Karkavan draws his last breath."

"And before you ask… No, it isn't possible to have an Artifact go through the rituals while its holder is still alive… It simply does not work."

"I already tried to figure out a way… Those before me too… And with the time I have left, this will be a task for those that will come after me."

"Though even if they succeed, that may not change how we proceed with our rituals, since that, even if they find a way to tap into the Essence of the living, it may not be substantial enough to create the same Artifcats we see today."

"But time passes and our methods change... We haven't been stagnant as we always strived to improve."

"I see… It's... It's quite poetic." Dale said awkwardly as he scratched his head

'A tribe of Giant Warriors that look like... Orcs being this gentle and respectful...'

'It's rather odd.'

"Hoho… Indeed it is… That was how they used to describe us." Kuddan replied as he approached a set of wooden stairs

"When first introduced to our culture, your kind usually describes us in one of these four ways:"

"They say we're pure… But I always believed they were the pure ones…"

"They say we're foolish, wasting our potential… Sometimes even Barbaric."

"They call us uncivilized, for relying on unstable rituals and something else I don't quite remember…"

"This was usually said by a singular group that wore long cloaks… Ah, yes, Mages."

"And then there's you, people that call it… Poetic."

"Do you think they were right?" Kuddan asked as he smiled lightly atop the wooden stairs

"I…"

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Notes

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