[War Party Leader Bonus +30%]
[429XP will be divided among all party members]
[You received 72XP]
[You received 62*Nightmare Hide, 38*Nightmare Claw, 4*Nightmare Card, 52*Nightmare Meat]
[Minor Quest Received: My Little Horsey
[Find and deal with the escaped Nightmare Stallion.
[Reward: ???]
I'm miffed that the boss got away, but suprised that in doing so it gave us a Minor Quest. Another triple question mark reward Quest and I'm still trying to figure out what it means. I'm thinking the reward is actually going to depend on our actions, that it doesn't matter what we do as long as we accomplish the requirements. For example, if we finished Ramona's Quest by chucking her in a ditch, I'm pretty sure the only thing we'd get is a bitter taste in our mouths.
Elsbeth leads the way now, guiding the others through the dimly lit woods. I protect the rear, relying on the radar for any kind of early warning as I try to follow the others, examine the new materials, and dream up new crafts. With an abundance of a new kind of hide, I wonder if it'll make better leather. The last item, the cards, are a real mystery to me. I don't have a chance to talk to anyone and I don't want to accidently lose them if I take them out of my inventory, so I save them for another time.
Ten minutes later we arrive at our green dot on the map. The entrance is very reminescent of Linqs Dungeon: plain rock cave opening, another doorway inside, but the Access Panel is shattered beyond repair. The notable difference between the two dungeons, is this location's amount of water. Its flooded. We slog through shin deep pools of water, much to the vexation of Kona.
"I hate water!"
Without looking back at her, Dawn holds her hammer charged with a Smite so it glows a pale yellow and rolls her eyes, "But you like the Bath House? We always have to drag your tail out of there."
"That's different and you know it! Who knows how long this water has--"
Her words are cut off by a large splash and I get the pleasure of cat fishing her out of a sinkhole. Her poor ears droop and drip heavily and she is one miserable kitty. I Purify the water on her, just in case she's not just paranoid and summon a bedroll in the hopes that it soaks up some of the water, but mainly to keep her warm in the damp and drafty caverns.
Victoria and Dawn wave their respective torch and hammer and we can see familiar etchings on the walls, though instead of insects we can see the Nightmares, Giant Badgers, and other woodland creatures that used to inhabit the dungeon.
It's possible that the monsters inside of the Dungeons are actually twisted versions of local wildlife, but its only a semi-educated guess since we've only been in two. Well, one and the remnants of one. The sound of clopping hooves echo through the caverns, followed by frustrated neighing and we tense up before venturing further.
In games we're taught to be wary of water stages, especially in caverns and caves. Monsters leap out of the dark, dragging you down hoping to fill your lungs with water. You almost pray to die in this horrible way, because the only other thing you can look forward to is being torn to shreds and eaten alive, temporarily turning the normally clean and placid water into a chum filled slurry.
Dawn and I, though not bothered by the water itself or the cold breeze that makes the caverns feel like they're breathing, are trembling with each creature that pops up in our imaginations.
It's a difficult instinct to suppress and both of us fail, our heads and weapons jerking towards every sound, trying to keep our guards up against anything that would pose a threat to us in this environment. There's only one dot on my radar right now, but I imagine something brush against my leg and, though my movement is just to put myself in a fighting stance and move away from danger, the others still see it as "freaking out" and the tension breaks.
They're giggling turns into full out laughter at the ridiculousness of our high alert status. We press forward into the main cavern, unmolested the whole trip. Then, we step into a new zone, one that we didnt expect to find, but in our hearts hoped existed for our purpose.
The cavern's walls reach up to the heavens, curving inward, but an opening, jagged and crumbling, impedes its progress. The moon and stars lend their light to the cavern, casting a meloncholy beam into the center. This area, too, is flooded, but there are flat stones wide enough for two to stand on creating a stipled pathway to a grassy island nestled in the serene water.
The moon and star light dance on the rosy leaves of a single tree, taking the place of the podium and Dungeon Core that was heedlessly torn from its home by Travelers like me.
In front of the tree, kneeling as best as he can, is the Nightmare Stallion. He seemingly disregards our presence as he continues to revere the pink tree glowing with shimmering silver light. His eyes are closed, breathing ragged as his nostrils flare every so often and his body shivers.
He's weakened. He's defenseless. He's alone.
I slowly slide the pack from El's back, motioning everyone to silently remain here. Each step on a stone sends a single ripple out as I make my towards the island. The moment I set foot on it, however, the Stallion reacts. He bares his claws and fangs at me, still kneeling on the same spot.
My hands are also up, palms facing him and claws retracted. I slide my mask to the side, making a show of looking over at the tree. The Stallion's teeth are still bared, but he slowly eases up on his aggression and lowers his claws several inches. I strike up the barest spark of an idea, and act on it before anything can smother it. I withdraw two of the cards and hold them up him. The Stallion tilts his head and snorts, eyes darting from me to the cards. It knows what they are, even if I just have an inkling. He nods his head and snorts again and I take it as a sign that he accepts my offering.
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I toss the cards over to him. If they are anything like the Treasure Cards then I'm somberly pleased I'm able to do this much for him.
There he was, quietly grazing in the forest with his herd. In one instant half of them were dead and the next he was alone, battered and shredded. When he ran from us, I questioned our actions and wondered if there was some way I could rectify our unprovoked assault.
The cards land a few feet from him, but he is still able to reach them, touching both with two claws. A pair of Hybrid Nightmares appear in small vortexes of pixels in front of him. He affectionately rubs against their muzzels with his own and they step behind him.
"I'm sorry we attacked you. We… we didn't know any better. Please. Forgive us."
His nostrils flare once more and he hesitates, but nods his head twice. I set the Rucksack down and pull the body of Ramona from it. I can see them taking note of her and I gesture to a spot in front of the tree.
"May we bury our friend here?"
The Stallion looks up at the tree as if silently getting an answer from it and he nods slowly and solemly to me.
"Thank you."
I smooth the dirt over the grave with my hands and the moment I stand up grass shoots up and hides any trace of my work. A blue aura emminates from the tree, causing me to dodge a couple steps away from it. The Nightmares simply genuflect and bow their heads. By now the others are also with me on the island and we gape in awe as some unseen force paints each petal a pale purple color. Once the aura fades and each petal transforms, a notification pops up before us.
[The Laur Blossom Tree has metamorphosized into The Violetta Blossom Tree and has become a Minor Quest point.]
[Quest Complete!]
[You received a Treasure Card for 100*Violetta Wood, 1*Ramona's Memory Katana]
[Ramona's Memory, Advanced Unique
[Durability: 250/250
[Strength/Melee/1
[Base Damage: 19
[Twice per 24 hour period starting from the first use, the wielder sends a 20 foot dome of energy out with this weapon as the center. The energy deals the wielder's Strength*2 to each hostile within range. It also drains 38HP from the wielder. This loss cannot be prevented, lessened, or increased.]
The Violetta Wood is a unique material that can only be found through this tree and its special Minor Quest that we're not allowed to access anymore. The Nightmares get up from their kneel and stare at us. I awkwardly clear my throat, "W-would you be willing to protect it?"
The Stallion looks back at the two females, shifting its weight as if to say, "Well, there's only three of us, so…"
My eyes dart from corner to corner as another idea hatches in my brain and I bring up the description screen for Apex Predator. I know it's a Feat, but it's also a Monster Ability and I wonder if it'll work the same way. I spin it around, hoping the Stallion can understand it and to my suprise he raises a claw to the screen.
"Ardacen," Victoria growls in a low warning fashion. She places a hand on my shoulder, "What the hell are you thinking?"
[Nightmare Stallion cannot learn the Feat Apex Predator.]
[You received 200XP for teaching Nightmare Stallion: Zoom I, Enhanced Smell I, Enhanced Hearing I, and Thermal Vision.]
[You learned the feat Monster Tutor!]
[Monster Tutor: Lower amount of XP a monster needs to pay you by 15% for any Monster Spells or Skills. Increases chances of triggering Adaptibility by 10%. Stacks with other Abilities that increase triggering chances.]
[Nightmare Stallion and 2*Hybrid Nightmare are now Soul Bound to The Violetta Blossom Tree.
[Upon death, they will respawn in 48 hours at their Soul Bound location.
[Locations that have monsters Soul Bound to them cannot be removed or destroyed.]
[Quest Complete!
[You received 150XP to each party member, 3*Knight Chest]
I get the feeling it could've been 250XP and five chests had I given him all of the cards, but like every other RPG player I couldn't resist the allure of possibly owning a mount.
The three creatures bow curtly to us and we return the gesture before they rush back out of the cave. All four of the girls spin on their heels, staring at me and my audacious actions. In chorus they shout, "What the hell was that?" Even Elsbeth, who trailed behind with the speed of her hands, asked if I was out of my mind.
"Well," I began in defense, "You all saw how it turned out, right?"
They couldn't fault me, besides, we aren't staying very long in the area to see what the ramifications of my actions will be. We all say a modest farewell prayer to Ramona. Kona, Elsbeth, and Victoria tearfully hug the tree, and we head back.
By the time we return to camp and back in the vardo, the communal dinner was in its clean up stages, Gorm and his kitchen crew saving us a plate of food each. Jeremy and Margo were just about to leave when they catch sight of us.
"Gotta say, Ardacen, yor little troup knows how to cook. We thank you for the recipes and spices, by the way. Had I known we were gettin' such treatment we wouldn't have charged you a'tall!"
I realise that even in game, food is a universal language and put getting more kitchen supplies higher on my priority list.
"It's our pleasure, sir. Also, we might have created a little quest spot in the old dungeon."
He strokes his furry chin, glancing off into the distance, "I was wondering what that notification was. That'll attract more people back here again, so thank you. If'n there's anything we can do for you don't hesitate to ask. As it stands, we're doubly in your debt."
He extends his hand and I shake it firmly, "We got what we need so there's nothing you owe us."
"Well, y'all are welcome back to stay here free of charge anytime you like then."
Victoria and I set up our bedrolls and pads on top of the vardo in the unnecessary luggage rack, little risers that would keep the luggage in now keep us from rolling off. It's already late, so we lie atop our wide open bedrolls and enjoy the cool night air, intertwining our fingers between the two of us. I marvel at the night sky that a team of people undoubtedly crafted with adoration. A shooting star streaks across our vision and Vic squeezes my hand for a moment. I turn to her and whisper, "Make a wish?"
"I did, once," she brings my hand to her lips, gently kissing it before returning it between us, "Though I know it is not something meant to last."
"What do you mean?"
She takes a deep breath, sighs, and pauses before continuing, "You and the other Travelers are like the stars and the moon. You will come and you will go... But you will always remain and you will always return." She rolls over to face me and I mirror her, trying to read each other's features, "Where as I am like that shooting star, a flash of life in your presence and then I am gone… forever."
I trace my hand down her cheek and she gives me a rueful smile. She closes her eyes, "I know our relationship is moving quickly, but I chose not to slow it down. I saw something in you and I knew that I didn't want to waste a single moment wondering or regretting."
Her eyes open again, tears readying to break the levy, "It is selfish, I know, but I wanted every moment of happiness I could pull from you… before this cruel world could take me away."
I press her head lightly into my chest as she sobs, taking convulsive breathes before releasing them through clenched teeth. The sounds travel through the open air, but the world remains silent to it. I continue to hold her until she finally calms down, but by then she cried herself to sleep. I breathe in the scent of her hair and pull the covers over us. Her scent floods my mind as I, too, drift off to sleep.