Morningstar

Noxthral roared in pain, a deep, guttural sound that reverberated through the chamber. The force of the blow staggered the creature, but it quickly regained its composure, whipping its massive tail around to strike. Morningstar barely had time to raise his sword, the impact sending him skidding backward through the sludge. His feet struggled to find purchase in the muck as he dug in, holding his ground.

"Keep it busy!" Kent shouted from behind, nocking an arrow and drawing back his crossbow. He aimed for the creature's eyes, knowing that a well-placed shot could turn the tide of the battle. He released the arrow just as Noxthral lunged at Morningstar, its jaws snapping shut inches from his face. The arrow flew true, striking one of the yellow eyes dead center. The creature reared back, screeching in agony as red pixels drifted from the wound.

"Nice shot!" Morningstar called out, taking the opportunity to close the distance again. He swung his sword in a wide arc, aiming for the creature's underbelly. The blade bit deep, slicing through the thick, rubbery hide, but Noxthral was relentless. It lashed out with one of its powerful arms, catching Morningstar in the chest and sending him sprawling into the water.

                                                                                                                            Noxthral, Spawn of the Sewers

They found themselves in an open chamber—the dungeon boss's lair. The water had mixed with slime and turned murky green. In the middle, the boss feasted. Noxthral, Spawn of the Sewers was its name. It was large, and had to be quicker than it looked to evade the two trackers. It had two arms that it used to pull itself along the ground and a tail that spanned about ten feet. Four yellow eyes focused in on its deceased prey. It was the woman they had followed into the sewers. They were too late.

"Damn it," Kent whispered.

Morningstar's sword lit up with the priming of a sword art. He confirmed that Kent was ready before charging in headfirst. He leaped off of the walkway and into the mucky water. The creature only noticed him when he was close enough to touch it. He swung down, cutting into its heavy body.

He assisted Kent, who was seconds from being engulfed by the slime's noxious body, by running through the remaining slime with his blade. It was low enough for him to finish it off with one hit. He had the advantage of not being forced to reload every so often. That was the tradeoff for ranged weaponry.

"Thanks," Kent huffed. "I owe you big time."

"I'll collect some time," Star joked.

They weren't done yet. Neither of the blue slimes was their culprit, and a trail of green ooze still paved the path ahead. The kidnapping mob lurked somewhere at the heart of the sewer system, and Star had a feeling they were closing in on it.

They continued through the sewers, their footsteps echoing off the walls. Water dripped from the ceiling. All else was quiet. Morningstar broke the silence with a question.

"What's got you hunting this thing, anyway?"

"It's what I do. I'm private investigator. People disappear, and I go looking."

"What's that like?" Star asked.

Kent pondered for a moment. "Hard," he decided, "and sometimes unfulfilling."

"How so?"

"I don't always get the answers that I'm looking for. Or, that I want. It's a dark business."

Star nodded. "And this case? How do you feel about it?"

"It's much simpler than I'd originally thought. And, in some ways, a lot more complicated."

"A monster hiding in a city," Morningstar peeked around their next left, clearing the way.

It was Kent's turn to ask a question. "Ever seen that before?"

"Once. Sort of. It took control of guards and city folk. Made them violent."

Looting Noxious Slime 2
ID223909 | ld20 +9 = 29 | cd7
10,500 col ((700*6)+(700*2)+(700*7))
2 materials
T4 Perfect Weapon 223909a
T4 Perfect Weapon 223909b
T4 Perfect Weapon 223909c

They took on one Noxious Slime each, splitting up to make space. Morningstar circled around his slime, watching it expand and contract with that unsettling rhythm. The fumes were worse up close. Kent, on the other side, was trying to keep his distance, firing arrows to keep his slime at bay. “These things are tougher than they look!” he shouted, his voice strained. Morningstar grunted in response. He lunged forward, slashing through the slime with force, but it just absorbed the hit, pieces of it rejoining like nothing happened. It was like fighting water—it flowed back together after every strike.

“We’re not getting anywhere like this,” Kent said, frustrated. He fired another arrow, this time aiming at the floor in front of the slime to slow it down. It simply passed over and melted it on contact. 

Morningstar took a step back, his mind racing. They had health bars like every other mob. All they needed was persistence. Kent started to backpedal, drawing his slime closer to the room's edge. Star did the same, slashing and moving, guiding his slime to the opposite corner. He slashed consistently at the slime while he kited, until eventually it popped.

Looting Noxious Slime 2
ID223906 | ld16 +9 = 25 | cd12
7,000 col ((700*6)+((700*2)*2))
1 Demonic Shard
Random Dungeon Map 223906

An arrow whizzed by Morningstar's head, aimed immaculately at the leftmost slime. It dug straight through it, getting stuck in its core, where the slimes noxious attributes melted it away. "Geez," Morningstar said, remember not to punch or kick the damn things.

His sword seemed to be okay whilst touching the slimes. It would sizzle on impact, but never melt or dissolve. He sliced a piece of gelatinous goo off of the other slime, but it remained unphased. How did you kill something that didn't have a heart or a brain?

Or any muscles or organs, for that matter.

"Let's just keep pushing them back. If they can't touch us, they can't kill us. They're pretty slow," Morningstar suggested, knocking both back with a quick arc. They flew a foot backwards, hitting the ground with a gross smack, and slowly sliding their way across the room, back towards Morningstar and Kent.

"Is that it?" Morningstar frowned. Kent was equally as confused, but covered up his wrist crossbow with his sleeve anyway. They had taken out the group of rats and were free to move on. They remained on opposite sides of the water, following the slime trail through the underground tunnel.

Eventually, they came to a round, open space. The water was covered by slabs of stone, but continued to flow underneath it. The tunnel continued straight ahead.

Stepping onto the floor triggered the next set of mobs to appear. From the ceiling dropped to enormous slimes. They were blue, and expanded sporadically as if to breathe. Morningstar was accustomed to fighting with the tiny little fellows in his slime farm; however, these were not the same monsters.

"They're toxic," Kent said. "Don't let them touch you."

Morningstar dove in first, slashing in an arc at both of the slimes. His sword cut through them like gelatin, but it was difficult to judge the effects of his attack.

Morningstar stared in awe at the ranged weapon. Since when were those a thing? A rat lunged at him, forcing him to snap out of his surprise. He cut through it, splitting it into two halves. It dissolved at his feet, leaving him room to step forward into his next foe. Another rat gnawed at him, and he smacked it with the flat end of his blade, paralyzing it. He used his foot to nudge it over the edge and into the water.

Kent was playing backup from a distance. He was agile, and a great shot. He leaped across the sewage canal and onto the walkway opposite Morningstar to give him more room. Three more crossbow bolts were launched through the air, each one hitting their mark. It was impressive how accurately Kent could land them.

Star twirled his blade, ready for the next wave.

But no more rats came.

Looting Giant Rat 2, 3, 4
ID223894 | ld15 +9 = 24 | cd11
ID223895 | ld9 +9 = 18 | cd10
ID223896 | ld11 +9 = 20 | cd12
17,600 col (((400*6)*4)+((400*2)*2)+(400*3)+(400*4)
8 materials
T4 Perfect Consumable 223894
T4 Rare Trinket 223895
T4 Perfect Weapon 223896

The boar became more and more agitated the longer the fight went on. Even at a young age, it was a beast full of anger and rage. Ty pulled the truffle from her inventory and lobbed it at the boarlet, and Morningstar was happy to see that it hit. She had a good throw; he wondered if she was an athlete back in the real world.

"With an arm like that, you should consider throwing weapons. Replace that truffle with a knife and that boar's as good as dead, I'd bet." Star drew his sword and bent down. He took a look at the boarlet's tusks, reminded of the time he took the quest, all those years ago. They were small, and it always surprised him that Lyle could find a use for them in his crafting. He may have been unfriendly, but he was good at his job. With the edge of his blade, he sawed off the boar's tusks, tossing them to Ty.

"Next," he said, using his sword to point to the boar in the distance.

(1/3 boars sedated)

Morningstar took Freyd's offering, tossing his empty to the side. It shattered against the far wall, dissolving. "Freyd! Can't say I expected to see you here," he pulled an empty chair over for the Whisper and toasted to his arrival. "To not being stabbed!" Star shouted, and the group cheered with no clue as to what he referencing.

Perhaps he should have anticipated familiar faces in a place so public, but he was just as surprised to see Nymoria as he was to see Freyd. Even more so, actually—she didn't seem like the tavern-going type. He'd never get used to the odd, Charles Xavier, telepathic sign language that the system had put in place for her. He understood few signs, but the words flowed right in his head regardless. She was looking for Absolute Zero, and she was doing it alone.

Alexander's expression turned quickly. Star gathered that he was not fond of the "avalanche monster," as Nym had put it. "It used to be called Avalanche. These days, it's known as Absolute Zero," the innkeeper explained over the noise. "It's a threat to the town that keeps on coming, no matter how many times your lot takes it down."

He looked her up and down, clearly unimpressed. "If you think you stand a chance, we can always use the help."

Her second miss wasn't unexpected. She was learning a new skill, and swinging a sword was more difficult than it looked. Morningstar watched closely as the boar charged, and was thankful that she evaded its tiny tusks. At least she had the sense to get out of the way.

"Keep your back straight," Star advised. "It's like you said, third time's the charm."

Morningstar stood by in case of emergency, but was determined to let her figure it out on her own. She needed to learn what it was like to fight by herself. There wouldn't always be a group available to back her up; Star had experienced that countless times.

Was it too late for her to swap between tools? Her arsenal had another, he recalled: the tranquilizer truffles. If she could put the boar to sleep, they could take a tusk and be on their way. Another boar stood off in the distance, taking no notice of them. It would be their next target.

Morningstar looked up from his messages. "I've got one," he replied. "It'll be his first raid. He'll need to bump up his level a bit before game day."

He typed out a string of coordinates for Wulfrin to follow and hit send. Star recalled the pressure of the days leading up to the raid and wondered if his friend was experiencing the same. He was reliable, and a good man, but his numbers weren't yet favorable. They'd need to whip him into shape.

Star wandered over to Hirru, looking over the list they had put together. "Hellfire's popular. I'm thinking we start there and see how much daylight's left. Any luck with your postings?"

For efficiency's sake, they needed a fourth. Six sounded better, but groups had already formed throughout the floors and the number of available frontliners was dwindling. They would need to dig deep if they were going to find anyone. He sent messages to NIGHT and Freyd, and tried not to be offended when they told him they'd built a team without him. Nari declined, lacking the free time to join them, and there was no word from Rebekah. His pool was running dry.

| MORNINGSTAR  | Lv. 62 >> P. 29, Lv. 33  | Status: [ boss raid imminent ]  Notes:  LOCKED TO TIER 2

Hide contents Morningstar | HP: 760/760 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 17 | MIT:20 | ACC:4 | AA | EVA:4 | BH:42 | REC: 2 | FLN: 8 | PARA-V | LD:5 equipped Dying Sun FLN II, AA, PAR VEN Red Longcoat EVA II, REC I Sapphire ACC III, EVA I battle-ready inventory Magdalyn's Cuckoo skills   Hide contents mod count: 4/5 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 (5) night vision, detect, tracking, reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST CHARGE extra (active) SURVIVAL FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY LADY LUCK DISGUISE data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs   Hide contents statue # | # consumables # # paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts   Hide contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x11 -> x14 TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x16 | DELAY TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER TECH-F | x12 | AOE STUN TECH-G | x16 | BURN data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== misc/housing buffs   Hide contents Dimensional Backpack | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30. Tasty | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill.  fishing # data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

"Oh, yeah. Updates happen. New quests appear out of the blue. Field bosses too. Who knows how or why. Keeps things interesting, I guess," Star shrugged, curious as to where the updates came from as well. He had thought about it once or twice, but couldn't decide whether somebody on the outside was still pushing buttons or if the system had become fully automated. It probably didn't matter either way.

Ty came face to face with her first boarlet. She hesitated whilst choosing her weapon, but settled with the straight sword. Her swing was far off its mark, but lucky for her, so was the boar's charge. "Nice try," Star said. "You'll get the next one."

He kept Dying Sun close, for if Typhoon lost control of the fight, he would be forced to step in. Unfortunately, it meant ruining the loot drop. The quest had strict rules about escorts helping with combat.

Star forgot that he had been Ciela's first customer. He had placed a custom order, he recalled. Actually, he was pretty sure he still had the consumable on him. "At the time, I didn't realize you two knew each other," Morningstar admitted, obliging Wulfrin and making himself at home. He took a seat and graciously accepted Ciela's cookies. She was the best baker he'd met in Aincrad, and he had met quite a few.

They were lucky to have found a house so close to both of their shops. Morningstar wished he could have done the same. The trip between Raitoborou Bay and the Forest of Wavering Mist was a commute, to say the least. There were also bears along the way, and one in particular liked to tussle during business hours.

Morningstar scarfed down a few of Ciela's chocolate chip cookies, savoring them in his own animalistic way. After he'd finished up, and around the time Wulfrin returned, they worked on Ciela's meal. He put together his burgers and gave one a taste. It was perfect. "You, Ciela, are a genius. Great food. Thanks for the meal."

"Sure," Morningstar agreed.

He gave his body a quick stretch while Freyd and the moose were locked in combat. He twirled his blade, stoking himself up. Then, he swung at the crippled beast, the entire weight of his form crashing against its spine. The bite of Dying Sun shocked Owij'be, causing his muscles to spasm reactively. He looked to Mina. The fight was all but over.

The moose lay sprawled over the dead grass, weak and defeated. Star stepped back, refraining from finishing the job. It wasn't his kill to take. The others had worked through the labyrinth, clearing it of mobs and finding their way to the indomitable boss. He would honor that, and let them complete their quest. He left the slaying of Owij'be for the other two DPS to settle, keeping close in case he was wrong about the creature's fragility.

It was strange, he thought, how calm the end of battle was. He could almost forget how hard they'd fought.

The White Rabbit Tavern was lively as usual. A band of bards serenaded its patrons with happy-go-lucky tunes. They were a notable group called "Kevin and the Magma Wyrms," who travelled between floors and performed wherever the coin was shiniest. The music covered up the sound of smashing bottles, the tavern's latest norm. The burly security installment ignored it; they left no mess since they would disintegrate a moment after shattering. Rowdy folk sang, danced, and spoke loudly amongst themselves. They had begun celebrations early because nights had the habit of ending too soon, and the crew wanted to savor this one.

The bartender was located towards the back of the bar. He and eight others had dragged a number of chairs over and pushed together a few tables. They sat in a tight circle, laughing, drinking, and worrying about nothing. "Happy birthday, Markie!" Alexander cut through the noise.

Morningstar sat right beside Alexander. They had picked him up off the sidewalk and indoctrinated him into their ever-growing group. The party did not seem to discriminate, nor did they care whether they new you. Everyone was welcome at the White Rabbit.

"Happy birthday, Markie!" The rest of the tavern shouted in unison.

Star finished off his drink and tossed the bottle at the wall behind him. He motioned to the barman for another, and the NPC tossed it like a dagger. It soared across the tavern, landing in Star's arms, ice cold and safe. He used the edge table to pop off the cap and took a long swig. After six or eight, he had finally gotten accustomed to the miserable taste and the burn in his throat. Still, he wouldn't have suggested it to his worst enemy.

Markie, the birthday boy, was a short, stocky man with a shock of red hair and a grin that never seemed to fade. Tonight, he was in his element, holding court at the center of the circle, recounting age old stories and adventures.

"Thirty years, my friend! How's it feel?" Alexander asked, smiling widely.

"Like I'm ready for my seniors discount! Whaddaya say?" Markie joked.

"Not a chance!" Alexander retorted, and the group howled.

More and more players flowed in, enticed by the bright, glowing sign out front. "ALL WELCOME," it read. "DRINKS ON US!"

| MORNINGSTAR  | Lv. 58 >> P. 25, Lv. 33  | Status: [ // ]  Notes:  //

Hide contents Morningstar | HP: 760/760 | EN: 114/114 | DMG: 26 | MIT: 20 | EVA: 4 | ACC: 4 | BH: 38 | LD: 5 (6) | REC: 4 | FLN: 16 | AA | PAR VEN equipped Dying Sun FLN II, AA, PAR VEN Red Longcoat EVA II, REC I Sapphire ACC III, EVA I battle-ready inventory Magdalyn's Cuckoo Teleport Crystal x5 Dewdrop Salve | HP III Popcorn x10 | VIT II skills   Hide contents mod count: 4/5 2HSS | RANK 5/5 precision, stamina, ferocity shift: tech CLOTH ARMOR | RANK 5/5 athletics, nimble COMBAT MASTERY: DMG | RANK 3/3 SEARCHING | RANK 4/5 (5) night vision, detect, tracking, reveal BATTLE HEALING | RANK 5/5 ENERGIST CHARGE extra (active) FORGOTTEN KING'S AUTHORITY LADY LUCK DISGUISE extra (inactive) SURVIVAL data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== buffs   Hide contents statue # | # consumables Imperial Quarter Blend | DMG III # paragon Lv. 5 | Gain additional col equivalent to 15% of EXP earned in that thread. Lv. 10 | +1 LD to looting. data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== sword arts   Hide contents en cost matches multiplier unless stated otherwise. shift underlined. ST | x12 -> x15 | x20 AOE | x11 -> x14 TECH-A | x16 | STUN | 13EN TECH-B | x16 | DELAY TECH-D | x16 | SHATTER TECH-F | x12 | AOE STUN TECH-G | x16 | BURN data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== misc/housing buffs   Hide contents Dimensional Backpack | +2 Battle-Ready Inventory Slots. Well Rested | -1 energy cost for the first three expenditures of each combat. Squeaky Clean | The first time you would suffer DoT damage in a thread, reduce damage taken from DoT each turn by 25% (rounded down). Filling | Increase the effectiveness of a single food item consumed in a thread by +1 T1 slot. This can exceed normal Cook enhancement caps. Ex: A perfect T2 MIT food gives 35 MIT instead of 30. Tasty | Turn 2 identical food items (same quality, tier, & enhancements) into a Lesser Feast. A Lesser Feast contains 4 portions of the food items sacrificed. Lesser Feasts created this way cannot be used outside of the thread they are created. Limit 1 item created per thread. Relaxed | Increases out-of-combat HP regen by (5 * Tier HP) and decreases full energy regen to 2 Out of Combat Posts. Multipurpose | Gain +1 to LD, Stealth Rating, Stealth Detection, or Prosperity to one post in a thread. Can be applied after a roll. Skylight (Searching) | +1 Expertise to declared utility skill.  fishing # data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw== data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==   data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAPABAP///wAAACH5BAEKAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAICRAEAOw==

Approved!

Lyle grumbled inaudibly as they left, and Star imagined it wasn't anything Ty would deem respectful. At least he was as Morningstar remembered. Ungrateful, harsh, and not so fun to be around. They left Lyle's shop behind them and returned to the slightly less irritating city.

"I don't know about bugged, but something's definitely different. I'm wondering if the quest was updated. I can't think of another reason why Zackariah wouldn't train you," he said. "And, actually, Lyle never loaned me a sword. I've never heard of tranquilizer truffles either. It's your lucky day, apparently," Star chuckled.

The first floor's plains were the best place for hunting boars. No where else in Aincrad would you find a field so full of weak mobs. It was prime for training and leveling. He had started there, as had the rest of the frontliners. Now, Typhoonflame would too.

"There," Star pointed. "Start with that one. Pick your poison: sword or tranquilizer."

Approved

Star was about to rush in when he heard Mina's call. He was confused, and it paired with his disappointment. Retreat? Were they in such a bad position that teleport was their only solution? He peered at their health and energy bars. The latter was beginning to run dry, but they still had more than a few attacks to spare. Nari tossed a crystal to Mina, in agreement with her order, and Star didn't argue. He pulled a crystal of his own from his inventory and crushed it into dust. His body turned to pixels and his vision began to fade. He lost sight of his party and of the Ancient as he dematerialized into nothing.

Then, he was thrust into a new location. His body reformed, piece by piece, in Home. Not his home, of course, but the settlement with the unsuitable name. It was dark, and smokey too. He waited to see the rest of his party arrive in town. Afterwards, he would be on his way.

---

Morningstar activates a teleport crystal.

"One's pushing it," Star said to Mina. "I'm sure it would accept three, though."

Hirru's barrier gave them the confidence to play closer to the moose. Engulfed in light, the blonde swordsman dashed in. It swung at him with its massive set of antlers. They acted like miniature spears, threatening to pierce him if he stepped incorrectly. Star toyed with the beast, ducking and weaving around each attack like he was weightless. Fed up with his antics, it charged. Morningstar fled, rolling to the side, and Owij'be crashed into a heavy tree.

It wiggled its head, trying to free itself from the tree. It was stuck, Morningstar realized. The opportunity was perfect. He dove back in, swiping Owij'be across the torso before dropping down and nicking his leg. It let out a roar, either from pain or rage, and yanked itself from the tree. 

Star braced himself, but hoped to avoid repercussions. 

Approved.

"Mmm. I'm an appraiser, not a cook. It's probably best we eat somewhere else. We can pick something up on the way to Zackariah's, if you want."

And so they did. He showed her a cafe he liked because it was nearby and had nice muffins. He paid, of course, for whatever it was that she wanted. Morningstar chose a black coffee and a blueberry muffin. It was his usual order.

Zackariah had been waiting for them. He was happy to see them return with the tiny material collection they had collected. "Ah, yes! Thank you! This will do perfectly. And for your reward," he handed a ruddy bottle to Typhoon, "a mix of my special draught. May it serve you well!"

It looked gross, and Star didn't remember getting any when he ran the quest. "You're not going to teach her alchemy?"

Zackariah laughed out loud. "What? Teach her alchemy? Why in the world would I do that?"

"Because... you... never mind," Star said, leading Ty back outside. "We'll go see Lyle next."

Lyle Tealeaf was a blacksmith who Morningstar always found unpleasant to exchange with. He was gruff, mean and to top it off, did not have Dorian's money. But, they'd visit him regardless. When they found him, he was working at his anvil. He clanked away at a straight sword, shaping the metal with a heavy hammer. "What? Can't you see I'm busy here?"

"We're wondering if you-"

"I don't do anything without payment. Go deal with a few of those pesky boarlets for me, and bring them back whole or else just their tusks. I don’t care which.  They're pretty weak, so even you shouldn't have any trouble.  Do that, then I'll hear you out," Lyle said, wholly uninterested in what Star had to say. He put down his hammer and tossed a sheathed sword to the ground before Typhoon. Additionally, he gave the party a bag of boar tranquilizer truffles. "Here. Take these. Bring the sword back in one piece, though."

--

Lyle offers the following to Ty:

• T1 Perfect Straight Sword | ACC 2 | DMG 1
• Bag of Tranquilizer Truffles (puts a boarlet to sleep on BD 5+, requires a post action to attempt using)

Through a filter of green, Morningstar scanned the tunnels. There were three routes to take: left, right, or straight down the middle. Whatever had taken the girl left a trail of thick ooze for the pair to follow. Kent knelt down, taking a pinch of goo with his fingers and holding it to his eyes.

"I've seen this before," he told Morningstar, pulling a handkerchief from his coat pocket. "On the sidewalk, just a few days ago, near a different entrance to the sewer."

"Let's see where it leads," Star said.

Kent nodded, wiping off his slime-covered fingers. Aside from water flowing, scurrying was the most common sound they heard in the tunnel. Rats hurried along the walkways, squeaking harmlessly. 

They followed the snaking path, and an aura washed over them. It was the same feeling he would get when leaving a town or a city. He was vulnerable. They had reached the end of the safe zone and were now in the territory of their enemy.

"I don't understand. Are we outside of the city?" Morningstar asked, drawing Dying Sun.

"No, these tunnels don't reach that far. The sewers loop around Taft, but they don't go past the walls."

Before Star could respond, the scurrying of rats began once more. This time, however, it was far louder. The horrific cries of the critters echoed through the sewers. They turned the corner quickly, charging at the pair.

Kent pulled up the sleeve of his jacket, revealing a hand crossbow. He launched a bolt into one of the giant rats and it sank into its forehead. The mob rolled over, dropping into the flowing canal.

Looting Giant Rat 1
ID223720 | ld19 +9 = 28 | cd6
6,000 col ((400*6)+(400*2)+(400*7))
2 materials
T4 Perfect Weapon 223720a
T4 Perfect Weapon 223720b
T4 Perfect Weapon 223720c

Star was first to reach the manhole. He dropped to his knees, relentlessly searching for a way to pull it up. Kent drew his sword, offering it as a wedge. It was thin enough to fit but thick enough that it wouldn't snap. They pried open the cover, revealing a narrow, dark pit. Without stopping to think, Star climbed into the hole. His foot touched a steel ladder, and he used it to lower himself into the dark.

He had never been so glad to have purchased the Night Vision mod. The tunnel around him went from pitch black to bright green. As his visibility increased, so did his disgust. Slime coated the walls and the scent of decay wafted up. It almost made him want to turn off the lights.

Kent knew where they were headed. "This leads into the Taft sewage system," he told Star, who had assumed that while going in.

He reached the bottom with a splash. A puddle of slime lay at the bottom of the ladder. It stuck to his boots, slimy and wet. He cursed, repulsed by the gross substance. "Watch your step."

Days passed, and Morningstar remained in the city, driven by the gnawing suspicion that the disappearances were malicious. His mind never rested, constantly theorizing, leaving him with only three to four hours of sleep on good nights, sometimes even less.

Beside the inn was a narrow alleyway. Morningstar passed it every morning and every night, and he knew that there was nothing in it, but for some trash and boxes. His room was right next to it, meaning he could see some of it from his window. It wasn't a great view, but he had paid very little for it. He paid little attention to the alley, always focused on the main street instead. He'd catch street brawls outside of the bar, lovebirds on date night, and all sorts of other characters. But nobody ever went near the alleyway.

One night, Star awoke from his light slumber to rummaging outside his window. From the third story, it was difficult to see what caused it. He had been warned of rats in the inn's walls, and assumed that one was digging through the garbage bins below.

Then, he heard the scream.

It was sharp and abrupt. He thought it was a woman's voice, possibly young. He sprang into action, crashing through his door without courtesy for those in the rooms next to him. He tumbled down two flights of stairs, fiddling with his inventory to equip his gear, and rushed outside to the alleyway.

He wasn't alone. A man in a familiar trench coat sprinted from the opposite road, joining Morningstar at the alley's entrance. It was Kent. Together, they peered into the darkness just in time to see the drop of a manhole cover, muffling the desperate cries of the girl who had been taken.