Before inspecting the gifts the Mother Tree had laid out for them, Jake and Will got to work on what could be considered a surgery for the Leaf That Remains In Winter. While they were gone, Thorn and Branch had already gathered her legs, arms, and a few of her other stray pieces and lined them up.
“This One shall handle the shifting of her pieces once you have placed her beneath the soil,” said the Mother Tree. Jake and Will just had to bury her.
With that in mind, they dug up a hole that was about the wooden child’s size and put her in.
“You know, this wasn’t the kind of body I was expecting to be burying when you came to my house today,” Will said as they shoveled dirt onto the wounded warrior. They buried her up to her shoulders like a friend at the beach and left her head sticking out like a sprout.
After that, Jake ported out their still cold drinks from his Inventory and the two of them sat down to enjoy them. The Mother Tree thanked them for their efforts and with that, their work for this quest was really finally done.
As they drank, they inspected the fruit that had been laid out in front of them. Apparently, the plant people had some knowledge of craftsmanship as the fruits were laid out in woven baskets.
“Take as much of the fruit as you want,” the Mother Tree said. “And feel free to come back for more.”
Manaborne Fruits
Benefit Type: Health
Delicious fruits grown in mana rich environments. Over a twenty-four hour period following consumption, they provide the body with an increased recovery rate. This effect is refreshed by consumption of more fruits
Effects
First 4 Hours - 2x Health and Body Recovery
Next 8 Hours - 1.5x Health and Body Recovery
Next 12 Hours - Effects Gradually Deteriorate to Normal Levels
2x Effects while Sleeping
Effects Refreshed by Consumption
Manaborne Fruits
Benefit Type: Health
Delicious fruits grown in mana rich environments. Over a twenty-four hour period following consumption, they provide the body with an increased recovery rate.
Effects
First 4 Hours - 2x Health and Body Recovery
Next 8 Hours - 1.5x Health and Body Recovery
Next 12 Hours - Effects Gradually Deteriorate to Normal Levels
2x Effects while Sleeping
Effects Refreshed by Consumption
Of the fruit there was one that stood out separately.
Manaborne Blueberries
Benefit Type: Mana
Delicious blueberries grown in mana rich environments. Over a twenty-four hour period following consumption, they provide the body with an increased metabolism for mana.
Effects
First 2 Hours - 3x Mana Recovery
Next 2 Hours - 2x Mana Recovery
Next 4 Hours - Effects Gradually Deteriorate to Normal Levels
Effects Refreshed by Consumption
There was also mint and lavender mixed in.
Manaborne Mint
Mint increases the alertness of the mind. The scent of mint grown in a mana rich environment helps the mind better resist sleep and lethargy inducing abilities. It also increases sensitivity to surroundings.
Manaborne Lavender
Lavender helps the mind relax. The scent of lavender grown in a mana rich environment helps the mind better resist fear based abilities.
Nice! Jake thought. Everything had pretty great base effects and they’d probably make good ingredients for something even stronger.
Tutorial - Foods, Potions, and Medicines
Edible consumables that have been gamified, unless otherwise stated, have the same consumption restrictions as mundane foods.
Overeating leads to lethargy and—in extreme cases—regurgitation.
Higher vitality levels increase the amount that can be safely consumed in quick succession while under the effects of mana.
There was a word in that tutorial that caught Jake’s eye.
“Do you know anything about making potions?” Will asked the Mother Tree. He was on the same train of thought as Jake was.
“I’m afraid I know little of the alchemy that humans participate in,” the Mother Tree responded. “Though, I would like to learn more of it if it will help me protect my kingdom in the future.”
“Probably another feature locked behind the store,” Jake said in a soured tone.
“Well, it’s only a two week wait,” Will said.
“There is still more to be given, my heroes.” Following the Mother Tree’s words, the bees that had been hovering above lowered themselves to the ground and surrounded a honeycomb shaped wooden box.
Information from Will’s Scan appeared above the worker bees.
Big Bee - Level 2
Big bee was a bit of an understatement when the bees were the size of your head. They moved out of the way when Will walked over and allowed him to pick up the honeycomb-shaped box.
“What is it?” Jake asked.
“Royal jelly,” Will said, peeking into the box as he walked back over to Jake.
Giant Bee’s Royal Jelly
Extremely nutritious. Increases the pace of healing when applied to wounds.
Now they had all these different types of alchemical ingredients, they just needed some recipes. In the meantime they could just set some of them apart for that and use the ingredients as is.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
“And lastly, there is this,” the Mother Tree said. A vine descended from the Mother Tree’s canopy carrying a single fruit. Jake got up, but before he could go over to take it, Branch grabbed the fruit with one of his vines and presented it to him.
The fruit looked like an apricot and had a slight radiance to it that made it look particularly delicious.
“I’d like to give one to you both,” the Mother Tree said. “But I’m afraid you'll have to wait until spring comes for the second one.”
Just the act of holding the fruit in his hand made Jake want to take a bite out of it. He distracted himself from the thought by reading its description.
Fruit of the Mother Tree
The betrothal fruit—
Jake stopped reading right there. “Betrothal fruit?” he asked.
The Mother Tree hummed. “This one did not give the fruit to you expecting you would consume it,” she said. “Though this one would not mind if you partook.” There was a tired amusement in her voice.
“Keep reading the description, Jake,” Will said, having finished reading it himself.
Fruit of the Mother Tree
The betrothal fruit of a young mother tree. Those who consume it will be filled with power of a forest and given authority over lesser flora.
Consumption Effects
Increased Vitality, Greatly Increased Mana Capacity, A Major Affinity for Flora, [Advanced] Flora Manipulation, Floral Authority, and Disaster Sense
Warning
The fruit’s effect that allows one to unlock the Flora Affinity warps the mind and unlocks the Nature Lover’s Disposition. It takes a greater will to reject this change in personality.
“This One would not suggest consuming it,” Mother Tree said. “Unless you are ready for the change in your perspective.”
Jake received a message from Will.
Will: I wouldn’t mind it for a MILF tree.
Jake: PLEASE! Do not say that out loud.
“I think we’re good where we’re at right now,” Will told the Mother Tree.
“This One assumed so,” she replied. “She is also aware that there are druids amongst your peoples who would give fortunes for such a fruit. Let it be considered payment for the gold this one can not bestow you with.”
“We’re not signing you off to get married to someone if they eat this right?” Jake asked.
The Mother Tree chuckled. “One need not worry, hero. It merely marks one as a suitor.”
“If you say so.” Jake made the fruit disappear into his Inventory. “How much of this do you want to bring back into the house, Will?,” he asked, referring to the rest of their rewards.
“Three days worth of each?” Will said. “Don’t exactly need to go far to get some more.”
Jake nodded. He proceeded to teleport a few servings worth of fruit from each basket into his Inventory along with the box full of royal jelly. Once he had done that, there wasn’t much left to handle other than pleasantries.
“Farewell, my heroes,” the Mother Tree said. “This One would have liked to show myself to you as the little ones have shown themselves, but it appears that she shall have to wait for spring when she has fully recovered.”
“Tell us if the tunnel wolves and the goblins are getting ready for something again underground,” Jake said. “We’ll send them back to the pits where they belong.”
“It shall be done.”
Thorn gave Will a hug, Branch shaked Jake’s hand, and Jake gave Leaf a pat on the head. With one more goodbye, the two friends took off their display shades and departed.
After storing the fruit they’d been gifted in Will’s kitchen, Jake and Will went back to the lounge room where they had left the Gamify Founder’s Kit
“Have you read the descriptions for the new quests yet?” Will asked as he sat down in his chair.
Jake shook his head. “No, not yet.” He pulled them up once he was seated comfortably.
1
Beneath the Mother Tree
What exactly sits beneath this Mother Tree and her garden kingdom? Though her roots touch the surface of the mystery, even she does not know.
Find what mysteries lay below and what treasures lay hidden behind them.
Reward: ???
2
The Burying the Wolves and Goblins
Outstanding Quest
The tunnel wolves and their goblin masters started this war and you're going to finish it. Take the war to their home turf and put an end to the threat that they pose.
Rewards: ???
Failure’s Consequence: There is a high chance that the goblin’s and the wolves will return to attack the Mother Tree’s garden kingdom again one day.
3
The Murder of Wasps
Outstanding Quest
The murder wasps have returned to their nests to rest after their failed invasion, but the only type of rest these sorts of monsters should be getting is an eternal one. Put an end to the threat that these flying pests pose.
Rewards: ???
Failure’s Consequence: They will continue to steal resources from the surrounding above ground areas and may perform swarm attacks.
“You seeing this Outstanding Quest thing too,” Jake asked Will.
“Yeah, you know what that is?” he asked back.
Jake said, “No,” and they both got a tutorial notification.
Tutorial - Outstanding Quest
Outstanding Quests are quests that test the limits of a user the quest is given to along with their party.
For a quest to be considered outstanding, it has to be of a difficulty that a party is not expected to be able to complete it based on the party members’ current levels and the assumption that they are above average individuals.
Warning!
That is the minimum difficulty. There is no limit to how difficult an Outstanding Quest can be.
“In other words, don’t go hunting monsters in the tunnels right now or you’ll die,” Will said.
“Sounds about right,” Jake said. The minimum difficulty for an Outstanding Quest literally supposed to be ‘it’s too hard for you.’
It had taken pretty much everything they had, a small army of wooden children sacrificing themselves, and a giant tree’s help for them to beat the fourth Founder’s Quest. That was what had been required for them to complete something Outstanding.
He really didn’t want to have to go all out like that every time he got a quest. A few goblin annihilation quests in between the hard ones was more the pace he was looking for. Though, considering his luck, Founder’s Quest 5 was probably going to be outstanding.
“How much do you want to bet that Founder’s Quest 5 is outstanding with a three-day deadline,” Jake said.
“I’m not making any bets,” Will told him. He probably didn’t want to jinx them like Jake was currently doing by saying that.
“Hmph, hold on. Let me check the next Founder’s Quest and forward it to you.”
Founder’s Quest 5 - A Founder’s Will
Note: Congratulations! Due to your progression through the Founder’s Quest line, you’ve unlocked the Outstanding Quest label to distinguish quest difficulty.
The Founder’s path is not easy. Many great challenges await those who walk it on their way to finding or creating something worthwhile. You’ve gotten a taste of what it’s like to be the kind of person who strikes out and conquers the unknown. Prove that you truly have the will for it by facing the hardest challenges.
For every seven days that pass, you must complete an Outstanding Quest or fail this quest.
Rewards: Founder’s Privileges Retained
Failure’s Consequence
You will be stripped of your Founder’s Privileges. The scanner sets your party currently holds will stop functioning and you will no longer be able to generate instances as you see fit.
Note: Not all instances you generate will generate Outstanding Quests so choose carefully.
Time Remaining Until Next Deadline
6 Days, 23 Hours, 17 Minutes
Approximately 7 Days Left
“Well…” Will said, after reading the message. “It’s not three days.”