G slumped against the anvil, his mind reeling from Dr. Reamus's advice. "What do I need to do?" he had asked, resigned to his fate.
A prompt appeared.
You have been offered a Quest: Steal the Astral Ship
Subquest: Avoid Tychon's Minions.
Dr. Reamus leaned in conspiratorially, his words carrying more than a hint of humor. "There's an astral ship hidden away in the heart of the city. It holds immense power that could tip the scales in our favor. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to steal that ship."
G rolled his eyes at the magnitude of the request. "Steal the astral ship? That's... how am I going to storm the palace and take the ship? Especially if Ryan is there?"
"You'll need to move swiftly and quietly, "Dr. Reamus said.
G sighed, a heavy knot forming in his stomach as he shook his head, the weight of the decision settling in. His mind raced with doubts. Steal an astral ship? Am I really considering this madness? Yet, he mentally accepted the quest.
Dr. Reamus smiled, a glint of pride in his eyes. " Now, remember, time is of the essence. Use your respite here wisely; I expect there will be little time for preparations once you leave these halls. And above all, trust no one. Tychon's agents can hear even the most discreet conversations."
G rubbed the bridge of his nose, still grappling with the enormity of the task. He looked up at Dr. Reamus, his eyes searching for something more tangible than advice. "Is there anything else you can offer to help with this? Any resources, allies, or tools, perhaps a rocket launcher?"
Dr. Reamus's expression softened as he reached into the depths of his cloak, pulling out a small, intricately carved box. "While I can't provide a rocket launcher, and you have allies already, you're right to ask for a bit more," he said, handing the box to G. "Inside here is the Astral Compass. Not only will it obscure the astral ship's presence from magical detection, but it's also a crucial part of the ship's guidance and flight systems. This device can greatly assist you in flying the vessel through those perilous routes of the Dark Pathways tunnels."
G accepted the box with a nod, feeling a surge of cautious optimism. The weight of the object in his hands was reassuring, a concrete aid in a mission that had seemed insurmountable moments before.
Dr. Reamus then glanced around before leaning closer. "You will have to use your wits for the rest, I'm afraid. Ensure you do not show that device to anyone before using it. Tychon must believe he has everything under control and within his planned design."
Dr. Reamus clasped G's shoulder, his gaze intense. "And G, be swift. The astral ship won't remain unguarded for long, and Ryan is no fool. He will suspect something soon. You now hold the key to not only stealing the ship but also mastering its journey back through the shadows."
With a final nod, Dr. Reamus glanced at Bitsy and added, "You should learn how to talk to your new friend."
And just like that, G found himself back on the floor, staring up at the darkness. Nausea washed over him, the view spinning. "Sheesh," he muttered, seeing that Breamus was now gone, "the least the Doctor could do was stop the roller coaster."
Closing his eyes, G struggled to quell the rising tide of nausea, but there was no escaping the weight of his new quests. The task of stealing the astral ship loomed large, its importance underscored by the need to evade Tychon's minions. Yet, amidst these pressing concerns, another thought plagued him: how could he possibly confront Ryan while also needing to evade him? The dual objectives clashed within him, stirring a tempest of uncertainty and doubt.
As he closed his eyes, trying to will the nausea away, Tocai's absence struck him. With a sudden jolt, he sat up, then rose to his feet, scanning the surroundings. "Tocai, where are you?" he projected, his hand seeking balance on the forge. But Tocai wasn't there. Panic rising, he patted his hood, finding it empty. Dr. Reamus's words echoed again. Tocai was in the mine shaft. G peered over the edge into the darkness below. How would he get down there?
G projected with force, "Tocai?" but there was no response. He looked around the edge of the pit and found a platform lever that looked much like the one he had seen in the tower to the mushroom forest lift. G moved around to it, looking up then down, noting the absence of any visible lift. He pulled the lever and, high above, heard the grating of long and unused metal and a clang. Some debris rained down the shaft as G backed up away from the edge. There was a steady clank, clank, clank, and a wide rusty platform with high railings, and a small gate descended. It stopped near the lever.
G and Bitsy descended the rusty platform to the bottom of the mine shaft. Bitsy didn't flinch when the lift started moving. Heavy with the scent of earth and must, the cold, damp air enveloped him as they descended further into the darkness. The creaking of the platform's chains and the distant dripping of water echoed around them.
As they descended into the mine's dark abyss, a prevailing sense of urgency drove G's actions until he caught sight of Tocai far below. A glowing orb, surrounded by six mana spirits. The urgency that had gripped him loosened, washed away by the relief of finding Tocai safe. The spirits, their iridescent bodies shimmering in the dim light, circled the orb. G pondered if these were the same spirits from the construct spiders, they looked to be.
As he descended, he marveled at the sight before him. The mana spirits had formed a perfect circle around Tocai, and as they circled, a ring of small mushrooms sprouted from the ground. These mushrooms glowed with a soft, ethereal light and were unlike any he had seen in the dark pathways or mushroom forest. Their deep red amanita muscaria type caps emitted a faint humming sound that vibrated lightly through the air, further calming the atmosphere and deepening G's fascination as the lift came to a halt a half dozen meters away from the circle of light.
Watching the spirits dance, G noticed the mushroom circle grow with each fluid movement. The chamber filled with a rich, earthy aroma, the ground beneath him subtly vibrating.
The mana spirits encircled Tocai in a captivating dance and started taking on the appearance of various creatures from the natural world. One spirit resembled a swift deer, its legs moving gracefully around the orb. Another spirit transformed into a soaring eagle. Its wings extended as it flew in circles above the orb. A third spirit appeared as a playful otter, flipping and splashing in a small pool of water that had formed around it.
The fourth spirit was a shimmering serpent, its body weaving in and out of the other spirits with fluid ease. The fifth spirit appeared as a massive bear, its deep growls echoing through the cavern as it circled the orb. Finally, the sixth spirit appeared as a majestic unicorn, its horn glowing with a soft light that bathed the orb and the surrounding area in a soothing aura.
Together, the spirits pranced and danced around the orb, creating a magical and awe-inspiring sight that left G breathless. The spirits seemed to be attracted to Tocai's new form, as if attempting to communicate with G's transformed familiar.
The orb flickered, growing slowly brighter as the mana spirits danced and the mushroom circle expanded. The scene accelerated as it flew upwards, and the world spun below the view. A solid stream of yellow life mana flowed from this opaque world into Tocai, filling him as his inner light grew. The orb that now contained his familiar flashed several colors in quick succession as the light receded, and the dancing slowed, causing the spirits to appear diminished as they, one by one, floated away into the cavern walls, no longer visible to G's magical sight. As the last spirit vanished, G felt a twinge of unease, wondering if their departure would leave Tocai or himself vulnerable to unseen dangers in the now chilly darkness.
He waited several minutes, reluctant to disrupt the magic he had long imagined while playing games on Earth. There it was, the magic he had longed for, with his familiar, his old AI, his friend, at its center. Bitsy snorted loudly, breaking the spell. G glanced at the Grurender, grateful for her loyalty beyond what he could have expected. Breamus had advised him to learn how to communicate with her. He sighed, acknowledging that this task was near the top of his very long to-do list. First, he needed to determine if his friend was within the orb. G opened the lift's small gate latch and approached to examine Tocai.
G carefully lifted the Elemental Storm Orb from the center of the fairy circle. It hummed with a faint energy that tingled through his fingertips. The magic runes on its surface glowed with an otherworldly light in his mana sight, shifting and changing as though alive. The subtle enchantments crisscrossing the orb were almost invisible, but G could feel their power vibrating just beneath the surface.
As G scrutinized it, a rush of mana surged through him, thrilling like a lightning strike. He tuned in with his bond to Tocai and the subtle movements of the mana inside. He could almost hear Tocai's voice, a faint whisper on the internal mana storm's wind.
G felt Tocai's presence intensifying within as the orb's pulse grew stronger.
He activated his Identify skill on the orb."
Tocai, the Artifact Elemental Storm Orb
Race - Magical Entity
Level 5
Hitpoints: 100
Mana: Unknown
Tocai is a powerful magical entity bound to the Elemental Storm Orb, a crystalline sphere that crackles with energy. The orb is approximately the size of a human head, and its surface is etched with intricate lines of glowing mana runes that pulse and shift in patterns that seem to respond to the thoughts of those around it.
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Upon closer inspection, one can see that the orb is actually a complex series of interlocking layers, each containing an inner core of elemental energy that radiates with intense heat, crackling lightning, or other elemental forces. These layers are held in place by a web of interwoven mana threads, each one shimmering with a different hue of magical energy.
Tocai's form is that of a tiny elemental creature, resembling a miniature storm cloud with a core of pure elemental energy at its center.
Special attacks: Unknown
Overall, Tocai is a truly Legendary and powerful entity that should be treated with the utmost respect and care. Those who seek to harness his power must be prepared to face the full force of the elements themselves, as Tocai is not to be trifled with. But the rewards can be legendary for those brave and skilled enough to summon and control this elemental force.
Wow, that is amazing… wait a second, 'But for those brave and skilled enough?', thought G, no way.
"Tocai, you're awake, aren't you? " projected G.
"Of course I am awake. I do not sleep, " responded Tocai with a bit of joviality in his voice.
"You put that last paragraph in there, didn't you? Truly Legendary? Really, buddy? " asked G, chuckling.
"Well, yeah, I am. I am legendary. Even Breamus said I was!" said Tocai.
"No, no, he didn't. He said you were unique. There is a difference, " G said, smiling at his friend's new home.
"No, there isn't. Not to me, " said Tocai proudly.
G patted the orb and brushed some dirt off the side. "You're right, you're right, you are truly legendary to me too. How are you feeling? "
"I feel great," Tocai said. "I mean, I don't experience emotions in the same way as humans do, but I do feel things on a magical level. For instance, I am feeling quite hungry. May I have that?"
"Hungry? How? You're an orb!" G replied, his voice tinged with concern as he realized the potential danger of Tocai's hunger, his mind racing to understand what was happening.
"I consume magic," Tocai explained. "I consumed the magic that the spirits sent to me. I can subsist on mana, but I like eating magic. I can sense the magic emanating from the ring on your finger, and it feels delicious. I want it."
"Whoa there, bud," G said, trying to stay calm. "Let's not start eating my gear. Keep your magical hands to yourself until we understand what's happening."
Tocai sounded dejected. "Okay, G. I just really want it."
"That's going to be a new feeling for a while," G replied. "Think it over while I check out these mushrooms. If you're still hungry when we return to the forge room, maybe I can spare some less dangerous tools, like scissors or a knife."
Tocai fell silent. G couldn't just carry the orb openly nor stash him back in his hood any longer. Struck by sudden inspiration, he imagined a macramé-like cord basket hanging from his belt and channeled mana into his robe. A few moments later, Tocai was securely tied to G's waist, hanging from his belt. He put a bit more mana into the magical clothing and willed the cords that held Tocai to close over and hide him, G tried to make it look like a water skin hanging there as best he could.
As he studied the mushroom ring encircling the chamber, G asked, "Tocai, can you still analyze plants, well fungi?"
"Yes," Tocai responded. Almost immediately, the information came through in the familiar prompt format.
The Feyweave Mushroom: This small, red-capped Mushroom is about the size of a human fist. Its cap is soft and velvety to the touch, and the underside is lined with gills that shimmer like threads of silver. When in season, the Mushroom emits a faint, sweet fragrance that lures in fey creatures from the surrounding area.
When grown in a circle, the Feyweave Mushroom opens a minor gateway to the Feywilds for a short period of time. The gateway remains open for up to one hour, allowing the user to enter and exit the Feywilds at will. However, the gateway can only be opened under certain conditions, such as during a full moon, in a natural setting, or at the location of a powerful fey creature. Failure to meet the necessary conditions may result in the Mushroom having no effect or summoning an unwelcomed guest.
The Mana Bloom Mushroom: This small, white-capped Mushroom is about the size of a human fist. Its cap is smooth and glossy, and the underside is lined with gills that seem to glow with a soft, blue light. When in season, the Mushroom emits a faint, floral fragrance that attracts mana spirits from the surrounding area.
When planted in a ring, the Mana Bloom Mushroom allows the user to call forth a single mana spirit to aid them. The spirit remains under the user's control for up to one hour, after which it returns to the Feywilds. However, the Mushroom can only be used under certain conditions, such as in an area with a high concentration of mana or during a time when the veil between the planes is thin. Failure to meet the necessary conditions may result in the Mushroom having no effect. Additionally, overuse of this Mushroom may result in the user becoming too reliant on the aid of mana spirits, leading to negative consequences in the long term.
G was relieved to find that the mushrooms were not poisonous, and he carefully gathered several of each up and added them to his inventory. He noticed that they were categorized as seeds and fungi rather than food. This was interesting, as it opened up a new way for him to use his inventory to identify unknown plants. Edible or non-edible, just because they didn't say poisonous didn't mean they wouldn't make him sick. But it was still a nice trick.
After a thorough scan of the mine's shadowy depths and abandoned cart tracks, G hurried back to the lift, wary of lingering dangers, he pulled the lever. As he and Bitsy ascended, he took the opportunity to review his many prompts.
The sound of trumpets accompanied the first one he opened.
Congratulations! Epic quest complete. Rewards obtained.
Through skill, hard work, and perseverance, you have completed a Legendary Quest. You have saved and sustained a new life form. Rewards await.
Reward:
You have gained favor with the new life form Tocai. As your bond deepens with your familiar, so will his power.
You gain experience of 500*level 5 = 2500 experience.
Congratulations!
You have gained level 6.
Subclass Level 1:
You gain the ability to use magical items without using the command word. Your will alone can activate any magical item you physically possess.
You gain the ability to sense magical items up to 3 meters away, +1 meters for every level of subclass.
You gain the ability to identify a magical item(information dependent on subclass level), your current possession of this skill automatically upgrades it to the next tier upon reaching level 10.
Call of the Companion: Magical
Artifact hunters rarely travel alone, and they may have a faithful companion, usually a horse or other creature, to speed their travels. You may only choose one willing creature for Call of the Companion who will be lost upon its death. This ability allows you to call your companion from great distances, who will unerringly travel to the location where that ability was used. Creature limitations apply.
Mana cost: 1
Cool Down: 24 hours
You have gained level 7.
Enhance Mending: Magical
This skill lets you transmute bandages, creating them from nearby items such as leaves, wool, cloth, or silk. The speed at which bones and internal damage are healed is improved, and as your skill improves, so will the effect. You must touch the item to transmute it.
Range: Touch
Mana cost: 1
Cool Down: 5 minutes
Subclass Level 2:
Trap and Trigger Detection: Magical
This magical skill will help you locate hidden traps or doors. You must activate this skill to use it.
Range: 10 meters
Mana cost: 1
Duration: 1 hour
He received abilities for his class level as well as his subclass level, a welcome addition to his capabilities. Having a subclass proved beneficial, particularly with Enhanced Mend. While he had healing spells, the limitation of needing mana had been a hurdle. A you are out of mana and dead kind of hurdle. And there were new skills that also used mana, such as making bandages out of leaves? Nice.
And the prompts kept on coming.
Congratulations!
You have gained a New Title:
Elemental Guardian of Magic - Keeper of balance among the elements.
+5 Increased elemental resistance.
+5 Improved elemental magic results.
+10 opinion of all magical entities and elemental-based beings.
G opened this next prompt.
He heard drums, a tambourine, and clapping, and the border of the message blinked gold.
Hark and Be merry, for you have created an Artifact!
By combining items that others believed were worthless and using wild magic to summon and subdue forces few would dare to tamper with, you have exemplified what it is to be a true Aardsilvian Wild Magic Artificer, triggering your bonus 10% chance to make a higher quality item. Your unique item, Elemental Storm Orb, has been upgraded to an artifact-quality item. What this means, only time will tell.
Reward:
All effects created when using the Artifact: Elemental Storm Orb will be enhanced by 15%
You have gained +10 ranks in the Enchant Magical item skill for creating an artifact.
Congratulations!
You have achieved 10 ranks in Enchant Magical item skill, you are a Journeyman.
All enchanted items you create will be 5% more power and duration.
G observed that he now had 12 skill points in Enchant Magical Item, with the title of Journeyman next to it. That was a nice achievement. However, he noticed no list of the quality types for items. He would have to figure them out on his own.
As the lift arrived at the platform of the forge room, Bitzy wandered back toward the hallway that led to the Sphinx and lay down. G needed to find a place to sleep; he was exhausted and didn't want to risk sleeping out in the open or near the Sphinx room.
He noticed stairs leading up to another level and cautiously ascended, staying close to the wall in case the crumbling stone stairs gave way. The stairs wound in a large circular route around the chamber, climbing dozens of meters into the gloom above until he reached another level. From here, he could just barely make out the forge, suspended over the darkness of the mine.
To his right were a couple of rooms, and straight ahead, a hallway led to a door that appeared on his mini-map. G recognized it as the door with the trap chute leading down to the Sphinx, the one he fell through. It was still sealed tight, a reassuring sight. Instead of venturing further into the unknown upstairs, G decided to explore the nearby rooms first, looking for a safer place to rest before tackling the daunting stairs ahead. He thought of something, trying his new skill for the first time, Trap and Trigger Detection, and one mana ticked away. It was instant and required no words or gestures to activate.
As he looked around the first two rooms, G felt sadness at the tragedy that had befallen this place. The first two rooms were similar, with open stone doors. They contained old, destroyed furniture. As G touched a bed, it crumbled to dust under his light touch, revealing that a spell of time and death had preserved its form until now. He left the room, closing the stone door with a resonant thud, and moved on to the third room.
This next room featured a stone flue and a mostly broken cooking stove made of stone and rusted iron, evidence of long abandonment. Attached was a dining room, but it offered nothing suitable for secure sleeping as no doors were there.
The final room was an office, holding a few dusty tomes ruined by rodents long ago. Stone desks and cabinets, intricately carved, still stood defiantly against time. He rummaged through a cabinet, finding it empty except for bits of dried leather, possibly remnants of a scroll or book. He closed the cabinet, then paused and reopened it. Tucked in the back was a sliver of green glowing faintly. Intrigued, he examined it closer and used his identify skill.
Unknown Switch:
As G examined the switch, he noticed it didn't seem magical. However, it did have the same color as the switch that had opened the door to the sewers.
Tocai informed him that his Magical Trap and Trigger Detection skill had just progressed by one point. G looked at the switch with suspicion, sensing that someone didn't want others to know what it did. Although it didn't appear to be trapped, it looked like a rough spot in the back of the cabinet. G shrugged and pushed the button, and a grating sound indicated that the cabinet was shifting to the left, its base pushing the accumulated dust on the floor like a snow plow.