The next morning, autumn has arrived in full force. Nearly every single tree in the forest has started to shed their leaves, the ground colored like fire as the occasional gust of wind gathers the leaves into heaps.
I'm wandering about near the grove, taking in the sights and helping my Servants gather the fallen fruits that litter the forest floor, still dimly glowing an intense cyan color, though the fruit itself has turned a more dull shade of blue.
Inspecting one of them, this information is shown:
*Maiden-Pear*
*The fruit of the Maiden-Hair plant. Little is known about this plant, except that it spontaneously appears growing on trees in areas with high ambient Magic, having a symbiotic relationship where the Maiden-Hair absorbs excess Magic from its host, preventing the host from Overcharging on Magic, causing the wood to crystallize, killing the tree. Edible, though great care should be taken not to eat too many, as the fruit contains high amounts of Plant elemental Magic, and can cause Magic Overdrive with excessive intake.*
So it seems the flowers weren't part of the trees, but a plant that appeared when I raised the ambient Magic levels. In addition to the Maiden-Pears and assorted kinds of nuts made by the trees themselves, we hunt Myconoids, strange walking mushrooms that look eerily human shaped, with stubby legs and arms.
*Myconoid*
*A Life and Death aligned Sprite that appears in areas of natural decay, particularly in areas with high Magic concentrations in the fall. Their presence causes mushrooms to appear in great numbers. Comes in two types, the Lesser Myconoid, and Greater Myconoid, though both forms belong to the same species, merely being different growth stages. The Lesser ones are zealously guarded by the Greater, and many a Hunter has been knocked out cold, if not killed instantly, by the impressive power of the Greater's punches. Once an aggressor has been dealt with, the Lesser embed themselves into its flesh, using it as nutrients to grow. Otherwise, both kinds feed on various kinds of detritus in their environment. Once winter arrives, the Myconoids die in spectacular bursts of spores that then hibernate until the conditions of their growth are met. The bodies of Myconoids that die like this instantly transform into nutrient rich soil.
The flesh of the Lesser Myconoid is considered a delicacy, however, as it grows into a Greater, the flavor degrades and the flesh turns hard and rubbery, making it more suitable as material for shock-absorbing parts in machinery once it has been preserved properly.*
*Rank: 2 Stars (Lesser), 4 Stars (Greater)*
Since they just started appearing, there's only Lesser ones around. Even this young, they're easily the size of a small child, meaning only a few are needed to feed everyone. I decide against killing any of them myself, since I'd like to check out the Skills of a Greater in case there is a difference.
The Osseous Slime rides around on top of my head. It's busy building its skeleton using the bones it ate yesterday, so it's sluggish and slow, though still able to keep atop my head as I move about. I eagerly look forward to seeing the form it chooses to build itself into. It does perk up when I look closer at a dead Myconoid, but once it determines that there are no bones, it loses interest.
The Jotun are all busy buttering up their chosen partner, scrambling to get the nicest looking Maiden-Pears or other edibles to gift to them. Seems it's the Gyger's choice to pick, all the Jotun can do is make themselves out to be caring partners. I wonder how Goblin courting differs from this...
Huldr is looking a bit forlorn, seeing as she's the odd one out. She'd be able to have children with either a Jotun, Ogre or Hobgoblin, perhaps even a Nokk, but since as far as I know there are no Ogres or Hobgoblins in the area; the Nokks aren't interested (I checked); and the Jotun seem to all be pairing up with the Gyger; she's got no options.
Seems she's taking out her frustration by training. Her demeanor's changed a bit since she joined in on the Dungeon clearing. I can infer from reading her emotions that she's also frustrated to be the weakest Servant, only good for distractions and healing. Of course, I greatly appreciate her abilities, and I will support her regardless of what she chooses to do.
Delpha, on the other hand, is gleefully taking in the sights and smells of fall under the watchful eye of Grandma. I keep an eye on her too, but she's still not got the stamina to get far if she decided to wander off. Maybe some weapons training would help? It would certainly be a load off my mind to not have to worry that much.
By early afternoon, with Delpha on my back, we return to the grove. Once the fruits and Myconoids have been off-loaded, I head over to the marsh to see the Lizardmen village. Even though the eggs have a long while before they die, I'd like to take at least one of them with me to try to hatch.
Staggering their hatching would also give me more time to deal with any specific environmental or dietary needs the rare Pseudo Dragonoids might have. I'm greeted by several Lizardmen as I approach. Using Telepathy, I let them know my intentions. They nod and lead me to the hut.
Now, other than the Bidra and Lampetia, I know more or less what to expect from the eggs. Salamandra should be Fire-aligned, Tarasque either Water or Earth, Quetzalcoatl should be Air and the Tatzelwurm might be either Death or Dark, as there is no Poison element.
I decide that the Quetzalcoatl would be the easiest to care for at the moment. I should visit the Guild and see if they have any information on the others, so I can better prepare for them. It is my intention to make sure all of them hatches safely, and have appropriate areas to live in within my Lair if they have any specific needs.
After all, it's kind of my fault they turned out like this...
I take the Quetzal egg with me, explaining my plan of action as best I can to the Lizardmen present. Seems the Dragonewt is out hunting since their designated hunting team got killed by something recently...
"I do wonder how that happened~"
I do my best to feign ignorance at the fate of the hunters and leave.
Once back home in my cave, I set about preparing. I create a nest by bundling together scrap cloth, making it retain its shape by adding my silk. I then place the egg, which is a bit bigger than a human fist, into the nest. I tell the Osseous Slime to retreat to where the Draugr hang out, at a safe distance. Now, let's try making it hatch.
I draw Air element Magic towards myself, letting it suffuse the air around me. I hear the wind pick up outside, a mighty gust that howls and whistles as it passes by the entrance to the cave. I ignore it, continuing to draw Magic towards me and the egg.
My weather display flickers for a moment between sunny and cloudy, before switching to stormy. I keep going. The air around me is saturated, so I start expanding the area. The egg shimmers slightly, taking on a translucent aura that grows more bright as I keep it up.
Once the entire cave is filled with nothing but Air Magic, I stop drawing in more and instead maintain the current levels. I hear the faint sounds of thrashing branches and creaking wood as the outside is battered by harsh winds. I feel the unease of my Servants as they hide away in their homes.
Even as my mind goes numb from the strain of manipulating Magic like this, I see that it is working. The egg shines a solid sky blue now, and it moves.
'Crick' 'Crack'
'Pchyu~'
A hole is punched in the egg. I didn't think it'd be this fast, but I am thankful, because maintaining this for much longer would be impossible. A tan brown, hooked beak pokes through the hole, its owner seeming to take a break before continuing. The egg shudders, and hairline cracks form all over.
'Pyuh!'
The egg shatters, and reveals the baby Quetzalcoatl. I stop maintaining the Magic, letting it fade on its own, drawing deep breaths and trying to still my trembling. I did it! I hatched it! It's incredibly ugly!
Blind, featherless, its clawed wings flail weakly as it cries its distinct 'Pyuh!'. Seemingly sensing my presence, it coils its noodly body around itself to prop its head up, before opening its beaked mouth wide in a yawn and settling down to sleep. Having the general body layout of a snake with a beak and bird-wings with small hook-like fingers on them, it certainly looks odd.
I gently remove the eggshells from the nest. I do notice that it has a small pouch of yolk still attached to it, so I guess it doesn't need to be fed right away. The howling wind is slowly dying down outside, and I relay my success to the Servants.
Shortly afterwards, Huldr, Delpha and Grandma arrive to check on us. The Osseous Slime is happily munching on the eggshell, its normally grey body taking on a sky blue tint as it does so. "Oh my, its..." Delpha makes a face as she looks the hatchling over. "It's butt ugly." I finish for her. She nods, hesitantly. "I mean- aren't all baby chicks though?" She adds.
"There was a nest of Tower Sterles by my window one spring, when they just hatched, they were almost as ugly as this one, but in just a few days, when their feathers started coming in, they became quite cute." She informs. So she's not unfamiliar with Avianoid hatchlings at least.
"Any plans for it?" Grandma asks. I'm unsure of how to read her tone. "Letting it grow up healthy and happy." I respond. She shakes her head and points to the Osseous Slime. "I meant for that one."
I hesitate. "None really. I made it mostly to test out the Skills I got from the Ancient Lindorm." I admit. Does it need a plan associated with it? "You should take care to not let other humanoids see it. Undead of any kind are despised, even if they were made by the Great Monarch." She pauses, then adds; "I'm not even sure how favorably they'd view you if they knew you possess such Skills now..."
I... I hadn't considered that...
I should honestly have noticed, shouldn't I? How they reacted when seeing the Draugr. "Even so, I do not intend to get rid of it. I'll just not use those Skills if I can help it, which is what I planned to do anyway." The Osseous Slime wiggles contently as it finishes the eggshells, and scoots over to me, gently bumping into me to let me know to pick it up.
By now, it's made a cage of sorts around its core, shaped roughly like a birds skull, except with a lot of holes in it. I place it on my shoulder, and it burrows into my mane, vanishing from sight. Grandma sighs. "Just remember my warning." "I will." I turn my attention back towards the little Quetzal, who is contently sleeping still.
Let's inspect it, and see if I can get some useful information about what it eats.
*Quetzalcoatl*
*A rare Pseudo Dragonoid that might at first glance be mistaken for a Chimeroid or Chimera. Combining the features of Avianoid and Reptiloid into one body, the Quetzalcoatl are unrivaled in aerial maneuvering within the dense tropical forests that it inhabits. Clawed wings aid it when climbing, and is also used to manipulate prey when eating. Possesses no venom, but it skillfully manipulates Air Magic in order to bring its Avianoid and Insectoid prey to the ground before finishing them off with an accurately aimed Wind Blade. Raises its chicks for the two weeks it takes before they can fly by first regurgitating a meaty slurry, then by tearing bite sized chunks of prey and giving it to the chick to eat.
Quetzalcoatl parts, particularly the display feathers on their heads, are highly sought after by Aeromancers due to their high compatibility with Air Spells, and are used to imbue both weapons and armor with Air affinity, adding Air damage or Air defense respectively.*
*Rank: 4 Stars*
Unnamed
Species: Quetzalcoatl (Pseudo Dragonoid) (Rare)
Gender: Female
Status:Â Asleep (Normal)
HP: 30
MP: 40
SP: 30
Attack: 5
Armor: 6
M.Attack: 8
M.Armor: 7
Speed: 12
STR: 5
CON: 6
INT: 8
WIL: 7
DEX: 10
Skills:
Language Comprehension: Low Dragon (Lesser) - Elemental Affinity: Air (Lesser)
Sharp Beak (Lesser)
Spells:
Wind Blade (Lesser) - Updraft (Lesser)
Titles:
Monarch's Adopted Child
Hm, seems the World thinks of her as my adopted child? I mean- I did hatch her, and vow to raise her... I guess? She seems to have few Skills at the moment, I guess she'll get more as she grows up. Now, I need to gather food for her. "Delpha, would you mind keeping an eye on her whilst I go find some food for her?" I ask, not wanting to leave the chick alone.
"Oh, it's a her? Uh- sure, just don't take too long!" She settles down onto the pile of pelts that is my bed and waves me farewell as Huldr and I leave the cave. Grandma stays behind also, reluctant to leave Delpha to her own devices.
Let's see... Bugs aren't too hard to come by, just need to find a rotten tree or something. The plan will be to restrain the target and let Huldr take care of it from there. Not exactly fair to the victim, but hey.
A bit to the west of the grove is a small clearing where an old tree has given up the ghost. Judging by the barren branches and lack of fallen leaves around, it's dead yet still standing. Walking up to it and listening closely, one can hear the 'scritch-scritch' coming from within the trunk.
A threatening buzz starts as Huldr approaches. I tell her to stay back, as Minions seem to only lose hostility to humanoids and the Lair Master, which makes sense. I look more closely, and spot movement upon the seemingly empty branches. Highly camouflaged bugs line the thicker limbs of the tree, each easily the length of a human forearm.
*Shrouded Mandarinia*
*An eusocial Insectiod that relies on its superior camouflage when hunting its prey, it is among the largest flying eusocial Insectoids. Hunts by slowly creeping along the ground once prey is spotted, utilizing Illusion Magic and its Color Change Skill to remain hidden before striking with a potent paralytic stinger; then flying the incapacitated prey back to its colony to be picked apart and fed to its larvae whilst still alive. The larvae then regurgitate the partially digested food for the adults to drink, as their waists are too thin to pass solid food into their abdomen.
Their stingers are popular to use as bolts, still retaining some of the paralytic venom even after being separated from the venom gland. Otherwise, the carapaces and wings are used to make charms that grant the Camouflage Skill upon its wearer.*
*Rank: 3 Stars (one), 6 Stars (nest)*
Oh boy, wasps. Stealth wasps at that. I'd hate to anger the entire nest all at once, so let's try luring one or two. Command doesn't work, since they're unable to understand me. I could try yanking one of them away with webs, but if I hurt it in the process...
Just as I am pondering this, a forager returns, carrying a small Avianoid monster with it. Grabbing the chance, I quickly restrain both the wasp and bird with webs, causing them to drop to the ground. Quickly, I scoop them up and retreat from the nest, but it seems they're none the wiser to what just happened.
I present them to Huldr, who dispatches them, and I store both. Well, at least we have some food for the baby, and now I know where to get more. Just have to take care not to overhunt them.
The sun's setting, so Huldr and I return to the grove for the night.