Rune and the six others stood in the center of a broad plaza at the heart of Precipice. At its center rose a tall obelisk of dark stone, its surface worn smooth by time. Etched into it was an image Rune recognized instantly.
The World Tree.
Roots wound upward, branching and splitting as they climbed, leading into a wide canopy carved near the top. The shape was familiar, almost comforting, and it stirred something quiet in his chest.
"So," Rune said, looking up at it, "I just put my hand on this thing and it walks me through creating a faction?"
"Yes," Carl replied. "I have never done it myself, but that is my understanding."
Rune turned to face the group. "Before I do that, I want to be clear. You are all free now. You do not owe me anything. You can go wherever you want." He paused. "And if you stay with me, it will not be easy. I make enemies. A lot of them."
Chris, the de facto leader of the group, stepped forward. "You were the first person who offered us help without asking for anything in return."
He met Rune's eyes. "At the very least, we trust you to treat us fairly. That is more than we can say about anywhere else."
Rune nodded slowly. "Alright. But Carl."
"Yes, sir?"
"I am putting you to work. Not fighting. Not dungeon diving." Rune gestured vaguely. "Paperwork. Supplies. Logistics. Managing people."
Carl blinked. "Isn't that what the leader is supposed to do?"
"Nope," Rune said easily. "I am going to hunt, fight, and make us merits. You handle everything else."
Rune smiled.
Carl had mentioned before that he liked paperwork. That he had been a clerk. A logistics officer.
At the time, it had felt harmless. Now, he had the distinct feeling he had made a terrible mistake.
Rune turned back to the obelisk and placed his hand against the carved stone.
A presence stirred.
[Faction System Initialized…]
[User Not Currently in a Faction]
[Would you like to register a faction?]
'Yes.'
[Faction registration with Unnamed One: Failed]
[User not a part of the Unnamed One's system]
Rune frowned slightly. Before he could dwell on it, new text surfaced.
[User registered with the World Tree]
[Registering user's faction with the World Tree]
[What would you like the name of your faction to be?]
[Note: Faction names may not be changed]
Rune went quiet.
He thought about what it meant to create a faction. Not just a banner to rally under. Not a tool to strike back at the Crown. He glanced over his shoulder at the 6 standing behind him.
They had not been strong. They had not been important. They had simply been trapped.
'I do not want a faction built on fear or debt,' he thought. 'I want a place for people who do not fit. People who fall through the cracks.'
Somewhere that did not exploit them.
Somewhere that could build something solid enough to stand on those beliefs. Something that could hold.
Hope.
The thought settled naturally.
To the god who created this world, the World Tree had symbolized hope. Possibility. A future worth working toward.
And if his faction was being registered not under a god, but under the World Tree itself…
Then the name felt obvious.
'Revelis.'
[Error: Faction name is identical to the name of the World Tree]
Rune blinked.
[Override from a governing deity initiated]
[Faction name "Revelis" accepted]
[What would you like the merit split between yourself and your members to be?]
He glanced back at Carl. "This split thing. What does the Crown take? Or most factions?"
"50 to 60% is normal," Carl answered.
Rune did not hesitate.
"Yeah. No."
'10%.'
[10% merit split accepted]
[Note: This value may be changed at any time by returning here]
More text followed immediately.
[Detecting personal housing]
[Scanning location]
Rune waited.
[3 other claimed houses in this district. All personal. No factions detected]
A final prompt appeared.
[Claim faction rights over all empty and available housing in this district?]
[Note: This will convert the current house into faction headquarters]
Rune stared at the text, then smiled faintly.
'That… is convenient.'
Rune remembered what the Ledger manager had said. Housing rules changed once factions entered the picture. This was what she meant. This was how the Ledger justified its authority over property sales and management within the city districts.
When only one faction existed in a district, that faction gained the right to manage all unclaimed housing within it.
'So that is how you do it.'
The choice felt obvious.
'Yes. Claim the district. I want space between us and everyone else.'
[District 11 now belongs to Revelis]
Another prompt surfaced immediately.
[Please describe your faction symbol and specify a color]
Rune turned to the others and grinned, the kind of grin that made people reconsider their life choices.
"Hey," he said lightly, "sorry in advance for this. Please remember I did ask if anyone wanted to back out."
He focused again.
'Symbol: a circular design centered on the World Tree. Branches reaching upward, roots spreading below, a twisting trunk connecting the two. And right at the center, over the trunk, the face of a mischievous, grinning goblin.'
He paused.
'Color: white. Make it bright. Make it impossible to ignore.'
[Faction symbol accepted. Applying to all members.]
Another prompt followed.
[Six surrounding individuals possess the will to join. Accept them?]
'Yes.'
The change was immediate.
White markings etched themselves into armor and clothing alike. Some appeared on shoulders, others across chests. The World Tree stood tall in the design, and layered over it all was a goblin's face, grinning ear to oversized ear.
The 6 new members looked at one another, then shrugged.
Honestly, they had expected nothing less from the Immortal Goblin.
[Faction registration complete]
[Two week grace period active. No faction wars may be declared by or against Revelis during this time.]
Rune let out a slow breath.
'Alright,' he thought. 'Now it is real.'
"Follow me, everyone," Rune said, turning away from the obelisk. "It is time to show you your new headquarters."
He glanced back at Carl, a faint smile tugging at his mouth.
"It is quite… spacious," he added. "Which is where your first task comes in, Carl."