May, Year 1
Rumors schmumors News man, we've been on the hyperexpress to knowledge, accidents are expected to happen. Why, just now we've set up a nice little home for an alien chaospawn egg. Some nice decoration, some chrono-freezers, about fifty kilotons of explosives- Wait, Ford what do you mean we don't have explosives? Where the hell are those rods of fireball? Really, in transit? I thought we got rid of all those. Damn Roachmen, they survive anything short of decapitation and burning. Ford! Remind me to bring in some roachmen!
Anyway Runes! We've got plenty of runes. Let me show you around. This here is a slightly inaccurate drawing of a rune of pure, unmolested destruction. Will literally blow your socks off. Carve this on a wood disc and toss at problem, boom, no more problem.
This here is another slightly inaccurate creation rune. Need a wall? A floor? A gigantic murderplant that smells your fear? This is your boy! Get a pile of debris and weeks of work, done! I heard about a little trap down in the lower floors, I'll be sending them some samples soon, they can just wall over the floor, ceiling and walls and boom! No triggering hyperspeed rays of hoarfrost.
We're researching a few more projects but they're still in development, watch your step I think there's still a few time locked flies about. Hurts like hell and digs as deep as an arrow if you walk fast enough. Now theres an idea... Ford! Order a few spools of thread! Don't mind the groaning either, that's a work in progress. Sort of a 'Pocket Arch-Cleric' if you will.
Anyway, that's all we have time for. Tell your boss I said he still owes me for that stint five years ago. Den Smithson, Interstice Thaumaturgy, out."
The reporter finishes jotting down his notes. "Thank you, Mr. Smithson. We'll publish your story by the end of the month." He leaves and heads back to the Floor News guildhall.
You call for Duncan to come to your office. "I want to make an ad for a Clear Guild to capture some good test subjects. Give them 50,000 Cor when they bring them in." Duncan nods and heads off to publish the ad in Floor News.
The enchantment project goes well, and they have improved the rune to be able to connect to other items through one item, instead of creating multiple runes on all of them. The rune's effects have also been increased, now significantly stronger than before. Dr. Nera tells you that you can patent and market this rune, boosting not only your income but also making a name for Interstice Thaumaturgy.
You instruct the scientist working on the resurrection rune to place the rune on inanimate objects such as weapons and armor and items made of organic matter such as bone and leather dolls. Etching the rune on weapons and armor has no effect, and even causes the items to break. Placing it on the dolls has no effect either.
The stasis team has made a breakthrough in their stasis rune! They have created an anti-stasis rune that can defy the anti-time created by the stasis rune, effectively cancelling it. All that needs to be done is to chuck the anti-stasis rune into the field of the stasis rune, then break the stasis rune first, then break the anti-stasis rune.
The Chrysalis research team has had disaster once more. A horrifying shriek was heard all around Interstice Thaumaturgy guildhall. When security came to check it out, they saw the mangled corpses of the scientist and his assistants, as well as the bodies of the Phoenix Spear impaled all around the room. They call for you immediately, and point to where the Chrysalis was. In its place was a wreckage of biological matter and broken machinery, and the giant being that stood there, hunched against the ceiling. The giant suddenly looks in your direction through a window, eyes squinting.
"As'hkal mak hur dath!" it says in a deep, rumbling voice. "Un'falah'nah hal toh?"
Rune Giant is born!Charles Clark has returned from his interview with Dan Smithson, guildmaster of Interstice Thaumaturgy. They have been working on a wondrous new magical item known as a rune. Runes can be etched into anything, and different symbols will do different things. It is still in its very early infancy, but they've already got some neat runes they can give us. For example, the destruction rune! It will literally blow you away. They've also got a prototype creation rune. Watch out all you builders and engineers, this could be your best friend or worst nightmare!
On other news, the Righteous Flame are camping in the Stronghold of Vileness, just waiting for someone to crack the code in bypassing the trap in front of the boss room. The Cosmic Fury are really close in making a breakthrough, and they'll have the key ready by next month! Stay tuned folks!"
Menial Staff: 1 engineer, 15 mechanics [Done!]
Scientists: 3 scientists [3 researching]
Assistants: 15 assistants
Guardsmen: 3 adventurers, 10 men-at-arms
The Chrysalis [Done!]
Enchantment Runes [Done!]
Resurrection Rune [5 Months]
Stasis Rune [Done!]
110,000 Cor [10,000 Cor/month]
1 Fame/10 Fame (I've heard of them in the news. They sell prunes right?)
You've gained some fame, some marketing merchandise, and a Rune Giant that may or may not murder you all.