Millibelle's POV
I wake sometime around noon. Doing a big stretch, I then take stock of my supplies. The Grand Cave Whip Spider should last a while longer, so I'm in no need of food at the moment. Really, all that I'm lacking is metal.
I guess I could head to that mining town and see if I could buy some, or even better, pick up some equipment so I can gather more on my own. I still have the two Gold that Lentil gave me, that should be more than enough to cover the cost.
I spread my wings and take off into the skies once more. On the way I fix my human form back to well, human. From what World Knowledge tells me, nothing resembling the drider currently exists, so it's best if I don't use that form at all. Something about missing data or whatever.
A few hours of top speed flying later, I land within a forest of pine-like trees. Better not spook the locals by flying closer. I switch into my human form, donning the best pair of silk armor I made yesterday. I also quickly make a belt with hoops for the Paired Fell Chelicerea. Now then, I look somewhat like an adventurer!
*Like an adventurer that had her armor stolen and all she's left with is her padding.*
Hey, that's rude. I guess it does look that way, though... But I currently don't have anything to fix that with, so that's how it'll have to be. Besides, with my Skills and Stats the way they are, I don't really need armor at all. It's more to sell the story.
I adjust my armor and weapons slightly before heading onto the nearby forest road. It's a simple packed dirt road, covered in brown needles shed from the surrounding trees. Keeping an eye out for anyone approaching or coming up behind me, I break into a light jog.
Before long, the lights of the town at the foot of the mountain come into view. I slow down to normal walking speed. Would be hard to pass as a human if I came in like the Roadrunner. By the time I arrive at the gates, the sun hangs low in the sky. I also notice a distinct chill building the closer to town I get.
"Greetings, Traveler, what is the reason for your visit to Hu'ul?" A Beast-Folk male, who I assume to be a guard, asks me. "I'd like to purchase ore, or equipment to gather ore." I inform. He gives me a look, as if I'm not quite right in the head. "I don't know how far you've traveled to get here, but currently, all mining operations are suspended on account of the Morke that's overtaken the mine."
"I apologize, I tend to wander a lot, so what happens in the Kingdom isn't always known to me." I explain to him, hoping he'll buy it. "How long has it been here? The Morke I mean." The guard shrugs, seemingly not used to people not being in the know. "I mean, we're the main supplier of ore this far east in the Kingdom, so our operations being out for over two months should be well known at this point." Whoops.
I mean, that's almost longer than I've been alive in this world, so... "That long? Why hasn't anyone done anything about it yet?" I ask him. If they really are the main supplier of ore, then having the mine operational should be the main priority? "Maybe you don't come this far east much, but Morkes are some of the most dangerous things in this part of the kingdom." The guard explains.
"Call 'em the Wandering Winter around here. Cursed things freeze anything that gets too close to 'em solid." He shakes his head. "Guild still hasn't scraped together enough B-Rankers to take it out, on account of the travel restrictions imposed by the Harmekians." Oh, so the neighboring kingdom prevents Hunters from entering Parshura. That's bad.
"Isn't the Guild meant to be independent though?" I inquire, remembering learning that sometime whilst shopping with Valena. The guard guffaws. "Hah, fat chance of that happening when both Kingdoms have their coin-pouches in front of the Guild's nose like a carrot on a stick. Now, I'd love to stay here and talk to you, but my shift is ending soon, and I guess you have better things to be doing. You may enter the town for now, but I doubt you'll get your ore here."
With that, the guard turns to face the entrance once more. I thank him for his time, and head into the town proper. I cast a glance up at the entrance to the mine, looming at the top of the village like the mouth of a giant beast. A fog of icy air seeps out from within. I can only guess how cold it must be in there.
I decide to find an inn of some kind to spend the night in. Other than the Guild Hall, it seems there's only one other place for travelers to stay. "The Roped Crossbeam" is the name of it. Charming. I'd much rather stay at the Guild, but I'm not affiliated with them (at least, not in this form), so this place it is.
"Now this is a rare sight." A heavyset human woman remarks from behind the bar counter. I firmly close the door behind me, as to not let out the heat. "'Aven't seen a traveler not with the Guild in a good while! I 'ope you're not trouble." The woman looks me over. "Where's yer armor, missie? Mus' be awfully cold to walk about without it."
Uh, shit, give me a good excuse, World Knowledge!
*Claim you're a Light Armor user. Most mages, healers and some martial artists use this type of armor.*
"I, uh, I'm a healer, this is light silk armor. It's rather insulating too." I manage to cook up a half truth. "A healer, eh? With fancy armor?" She puts a hand under her chin, as if that's too good to be true. "Your weapons, though? Use them for some healing too?" She smirks.
"I- uh-" I stammer, my face getting hot. The woman laughs. "Hohoho, oh dear, I didn't mean to fluster you! Don't worry, I won't mind your reasons as long as you can pay for your stay, it's fifteen copper a night."Â Uh, how much is that in Gold?
*100 Copper equals 1 Silver, 100 Silver equals 1 Gold, 1000 Gold equals one Platinum, though it is rarely used, since one Gold is often all the average person makes a year.*
Wh- then why do I have two Gold as if it was nothing?
*Hunters are not the average person. The yearly wages of a successful C-Ranker can be upwards of 50 Gold before expenses are considered. The fresh Dreadtail you brought in averages a value of 10 to 15 Gold, depending on the age of the monster as well as state of the body.*
H-huh... I compose myself. "I suppose you're not able to convert from a Gold?" I ask meekly. The woman behind the bar looks at me sternly. "I don't even make a Gold currently with how the mine is. You should head by the Guild Hall, they'll sort your money out." She shakes her head and goes back to cleaning the counter.
I sigh and head back out into the increasingly bitter cold. The sun has set, and a vivid night sky hangs above. Suddenly, I hear alarm bells going off. What's going on? They seem to be coming from near the mine. I look towards it, and with my improved vision, see movement from within the icy mist.
"Take shelter! Take shelter! The Morke comes!" A guard shouts as he runs through the town. As his calls of alarm are heard, the lights inside the houses are put out. Before long, an eerie, silent, darkness has enveloped the town.
I haven't moved, enraptured by the movements within the mist. Suddenly, with a scream that could wake the dead, the mist parts, revealing the Morke. It is at least twice the height of a normal human. A thin, see-through membrane covers it like a cloth. It seems feature-less at this distance, but I can make out what looks like limbs writhing beneath the membrane.
It seems to be looking for something. As long as I stay still, it shouldn't take much notice of me. But then I hear faint cries coming from the next street over. And then knocking. Desperate knocking on a wooden door.
From the way the Morke reacts, it heard it too. With an eerie, undulating glide, it makes its way towards the helpless person. I can feel the cold get even worse.
*Status updated: Hypothermia (Lesser) - Increases SP and MP usage. At Normal or higher, HP starts to deplete.*
Ach, my limbs feel like they're made of lead. My mind feels a bit foggy as well. But I must try to help that person! I hurry to where the knocking comes from. A human man, on the verge of tears, startles as I run up to him. "Oh by the Divine! Please! Help me! The- the Morke!" He stumbles backwards as he points to something behind me.
As I turn around, around ten meters (~32 feet~) behind me, stands (hovers?) the Morke. The cobble street has turned slick with ice behind it, leaving a distinct trail where its membrane sweeps the ground as it glides forwards. Now that I have a good look at it, it's not entirely featureless.
The sheet like membrane is drawn taut over its head, revealing a distinctly human-like skull. Large, almost comical, glassy eyes with tiny pinprick pupils glare at me. The membrane (or is it the Morkes skin?) then billows out, swaying and undulating in a nonexistent breeze. I can make out some darker parts moving about beneath the membrane.
*Status Updated: Hypothermia (Normal)*
Fuck, the cold... It's making it hard to think... I glance over at the man, he is huddled in a fetal position in the doorway, quietly reciting what sounds like prayers. He must be having it even worse than me. Looking back, the Morke is now even closer. It's getting hard to breathe, as each breath chills me more and more.
I activate Combustion. Heat surges through me, and the sudden temperature shift causes the street to fog up.
*Status Updated: All Clear*
The Morke tilts its head at me, unsure of what to do. I'd be pretty confused too I guess. In this moment of hesitation, I inspect it.
Unnamed
Species: Morke (Sprite) (Rare)
Gender: NA
HP: 500/500
MP: 100/100
SP: 100/350
Attack: 50
Armor: 150
M.Attack: 100
M.Armor: 200
Speed: 45
STR: 50
CON: 130
INT: 100
WIL: 180
DEX: 30
Skills:
Frigid Presence (Great - Unique(Morke))Â -Â Elemental Affinity: Water (Lesser)
Elemental Affinity: Dark (Normal)Â -Â Elemental Affinity: Cold (Great)
Heat Drain (Normal)Â -Â Damage Resistance: Cold (Great)
Condition Resistance: Hypothermia (Grand)Â -Â Vitaephagy (Normal)
Condition Resistance: Paralysis (Great)Â -Â Condition Resistance: Poison (Normal)
Magical Flux (Normal)Â -Â Hover (Great)
Spells:
Ice Lance (Normal)Â -Â Hail Cannon (Normal)
Slick Ice (Lesser)Â -Â Glaciate (Normal)
Dark Bead (Lesser)Â -Â Shadow Grasp (Lesser)
Social Titles:
Manslayer - Relentless
Final Form - Coward
*Morke
An elemental Sprite of Cold and Dark, the Morke is also known as the Wandering Winter. Its Frigid Presence Skill causes temperatures around it to plummet to -30 degrees Celsius (~-22 Fahrenheit~). It relentlessly pursues its chosen prey before sucking out the last remnants of life left when its victim collapses from fatigue. It then freezes the body, using it to decorate its den. It is rarely hunted, except when one decides to make its den near villages, as the area soon becomes a frigid wasteland if it is allowed to stay.
Cold resistance is key to even be able to approach the Morke, as the temperature shifts around it makes magic behave oddly. As such, either melee combat or physical ranged options are key, though the Morke is deadly at either range.
Rank: 6 Stars*
Oh boy. I can feel the warmth from my Combustion Skill wane, as if it was sucked out of me. I suppose I should try to act before I run out of fuel. I grasp my Paired Fell Chelicerae and charge at it.
Seemingly taken aback by my actions, the Morke slides backwards, as if to get away. I manage to clip it with one of the blades, leaving a small gash in the membrane. A watery, silver-colored liquid spills out. The Morke cries out in... fear? Is it afraid of me? I take a stance, making it clear I wont back down.
The Morke shivers as it lets out another, mournful cry. The entire street freezes over in a mirror-polished layer of ice. If I move now, I'll just slip and slide!
*Spell learned - Slick Ice (Lesser) - Covers an area of ground in a layer of thin, slippery ice to hamper movement.*
The Morke twists and turns on itself, seemingly under the effect of the paralysis. Despite its tortured movements, it slowly makes its way back up to the mine, more concerned with getting away from me than hunting. I deactivate Combustion to conserve my SP, turning to tend to the human male as the Morke vanishes into the icy dark of the mine.
I carefully make my way over to him. He is cold to the touch, and a check of his stats confirm that he is half dead from hypothermia. "Someone! Please, the Morke is gone!" I call out into the night, hoping someone would be brave enough to open a door for us, so we could get somewhere warm.
Behind me, a door creaks open. The round face of a Beast-Folk child peeks out. "Shasha! What are you doing!?" A concerned voice calls out from inside the house. "The Morke is gone, mama, the lady chased it off!" The child responds. "Please, he is very cold, if we don't warm him up soon..." I tell the child as I scoop up the now unconscious man.
A stocky woman with proud reindeer-like antlers upon her head comes to the door. "My word! Brother Crym! Quickly, bring him in!" She gasps and opens the door for me. The warmth of the house stings my cheeks, telling me just how cold I am myself.
"Here, sit him down by the fireplace. Shasha! Set on the kettle! And fetch the Peppershroom tea!" The woman instructs as she maneuvers a chair to in front of the fireplace. I sit Brother Crym onto the chair before sitting down next to him, enjoying the warmth.
The woman vanishes into a different room, possibly the kitchen. A few minutes later she arrives with two big mugs, steam lazily drifting from the piping hot beverage within. "Hm, will be hard to make him drink in that state." she mutters as she notices that Brother Crym is, indeed, out cold.
"Let me see if I can rouse him." I tell her, setting down my mug onto the floor before getting to my knees. I try casting Recover on him. "So you're a healer?" The woman asks as she sees my hands glowing whilst I work on him. "Sort of. I have no formal training though." I respond as Brother Cryms eyes flutter slightly before he wakes up.
"She fought the Morke, and it got scared and ran!" Shasha comes into the living room, carrying a plate of dried meat. "Shasha! I told you to stay away from the windows!" Their mother scolds. "But I heard Crym call for help! And then she came and chased the Morke away!" Shasha seems to have no regrets in disobeying their mother.
I take a piece of dried meat and slowly chew it as I relish in the heat of the fireplace. Brother Crym is shakily drinking his tea, all the while looking intently at me. "Is there a problem, Brother?" I ask him, a bit annoyed with his staring. He glances away for a moment, silently contemplating something.
He then sets down his mug and asks me bluntly: "You're not human, are you?" H-huh? Do I really need to go find and kill a Mimic for the False Info skill, or am I just that bad at pretending? Whatever, I'll be honest with him, might as well. Besides, it's not like they'll be able to hurt me, even if they wanted to.
I nod. "Sharp eye." I sneak a look at Shashas' mother, who is suddenly occupied with getting Shasha to bed. "How did you tell?" I ask. "The fact you were able to get up close to the Morke without keeling over from hypothermia was a big hint." Crym says as he helps himself to a piece of meat. Soaking it in the tea, he treats it like a biscuit.
"I'll not tell anyone, and I hope Shasha and Skela will keep quiet as well." He looks over at Skela as he says this. She responds by placing a finger over her mouth. Seems she'll keep quiet too. "In return," Brother Crym looks me in the eye. "I want you to finish off the Morke." Hey now, that's not that good of a deal, you know?
"I'd need time, and some resources, to prepare." I tell him. "Although I was able to approach the Morke, I'd need proper armor to be able to actually fight it." Brother Crym thinks for a moment, absentmindedly dunking the meat in the tea. I finish my mug. A hot, comfy warmth fills me from inside.
"What would you require?" He finally asks. "A place to sleep safely in and info on where to find monsters resistant to cold." Brother Crym seems relieved. "That I can easily manage." He turns to Skela. "Thank you for your help, Skela. And you too, Shasha." I catch a glimpse of Shasha in the doorway to their room, hurriedly making their way back into bed before their mother could catch them for not sleeping.
"'S no problem. Have a safe trip home." Skela bids us farewell as Brother Crym and I exit the house. By now the lights of the town has returned, so we were well lit on our way towards the clergy house. "I forgot to ask, are you named?" Brother Crym asks as he unlocks the door.
"I am. My name is Millibelle." I hold out my hand to him. He accepts and we shake hands. "Well, Millibelle, I hope you'll be able to slay the Morke. And if you do, I'll make sure you're well rewarded." Now that's more like it! Crym shows me to a guest-room. "Is this big enough for you? I can gather some blankets and such if you desire." He asks.
The room is simply but tastefully decorated. A small statuette atop the nightstand depicts a six armed woman.
*An icon of the All-Mother, the Goddess of Life, and chief Deity of the pantheon of this World.*
I see! Other than a simple one-person bed, a small dresser, the nightstand and a washbasin, the room is empty. If I move the furniture around a bit I'd be able to sleep on the floor. "If I rearrange the furniture a bit, there should be room for me." I tell him before picking up the bed and setting it against the wall.
"Ah- I- I'll go get some blankets for you then." Brother Crym stammers, taken aback by me effortlessly moving things about. As he returns with an armful of blankets and a few pillows, I arrange them on the floor to create a nice nest for myself. "I- um, if you don't-" He blushes a bright red.
I understand what he desires though. I swap into my true form, quickly storing the armor mid-transform as to not give the good monk an eyeful of temptation. "A-ah, you're..." He gasps slightly at my form. "I'm sorry. You're beautiful, your highness." He composes himself. "You know what I am?"
"Not entirely. But the scriptures tell of how both the Tyrant and the Emperor looks. And your form is quite literally something in between." He explains. "Well, I guess I am both, in a way." I respond. "Did the King send you here?" Brother Crym asks.
"No, actually. I came here to seek ore or mining equipment. I just happened to be outside when the Morke appeared." He seems dejected by my answer. "I- I see." He rubs his neck for a moment before stifling a yawn. "Goodness, seems almost dying makes you quite tired. I'll leave you be for tonight, we can talk more tomorrow." He bows and closes the door behind him.
I briefly enter my human form to lock the door. I then go to sleep for the night.