Morningstar

"Pick one of those items you found. I know I said that they were payment but I'll let you keep one of your choice for being so eager to learn," Drax gestured towards the workshop. Morningstar did so, walking back towards the room where he had appraised the items. He inspected each item once more, identifying which would be of most use to him. He was not one for heavy armor, so that felt like a definite no. He liked to be quick and wanted to avoid over-encumbering for no reason. The sword intrigued him but its quality seemed low, despite the adornments of the hilt. He ran his hand along th

The abrupt entrance from the party had gathered a crowd. It seemed the four lesser pirates were only the beginning. Now, rising from below deck, two pirates who looked far more dangerous than the rest appeared with a pair of deckhands following close behind. Nari took the lead this time, barreling towards the pirates alongside the flashy scythe she carried and dealing significant damage to the deckhands and boatswains. Although three were stunned, the fourth remained unafflicted. Jessamine, catching Nari off guard, tossed a not-so-gentle stab in her direction, barely piercing her. Swoopin

The customer's expression shifted, a mix of surprise and relief evident on their face. "I still need a sword," he said to Drax. "Of course. In the meantime, I will provide you with a replacement sword at no additional cost." Drax turned, retrieving a basic steel straight sword from a case behind him. He slid it into a scabbard and handed it to the customer. I understand the importance of having a reliable tool for your battles." The customer's eyes widened, their surprise turning into gratitude. "Well, thanks. I appreciate the help." "And I, your patience." The customer too

Morningstar and Drax exchanged a glance, silently communicating that the latter would take the lead on this one. The blonde spectated as Drax, with his years of experience and expertise, stepped forward. The room seemed to fill with a slight air of seriousness as Drax stepped forward, his expression becoming more stern and focused. It felt like the opposite of what Morningstar had just been taught moments prior. They spoke for a moment, identifying the customer's problem. "Thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention," Drax began, his voice firm yet composed. "I understand that yo

He picked up one of the teleport crystals and tossed it to Morningstar. "Take one of these for examples. What use do they have?" "Well," Morningstar said, "they teleport you back to towns and cities." "Correct; but it goes deeper than that. Why might someone need to teleport to a city or a town?" Morningstar thought for a moment before answering. "Maybe they're stuck in a dangerous place?" "Exactly. Your target is someone on the front lines, someone who spends a lot of time in dungeons and risks their life battling monsters." He nodded, returning the crystal to the cou

He paused for a moment, allowing Morningstar to absorb his words before throwing more information at him. "Remember, our profession is not just about objects and their values. It's about connecting with people and building relationships. A satisfied customer is more likely to come back to us in the future and recommend our services to others." Morningstar nodded. "So, how do you go about connecting with them?" Drax thought for a moment. Then, he straightened up and began to share his insights. "First, always greet the customer with a friendly attitude, even if you're not in the frien

"Well, with experience, of course!" Drax said, leading him to the storefront. Morningstar followed him behind the counter that sat across and to the left of the street entrance. Various wares and trinkets had been placed around the shop with strategy, his most profitable and popular items at the forefront of it all. A few teleport crystals were all that was on the countertop and inside the glass display case beneath it was a beautiful crimson sword. "What's it called?" Morningstar asked, referring to the weapon. "Beastslayer," Drax said, obviously proud of his possession. "I'm e

Purchasing 1x Teleport Crystal Total: 800 Col

He glanced up at Drax, having successfully appraised the weapon. "This blade has the paralyze enhancement. I didn't realize that something like this existed." The man smiled, reaching out to take the sword from Morningstar. "I'm sure you'll discover many things in this world that you did not know existed, apprentice." Gently, he placed it on the table and stood from his seat. The formal appraisal was complete, but the journey of knowledge and growth had only just begun. With a knowing smile, Drax decided to impart another valuable lesson to his eager student. Leaning against the

Morningstar was not sure he had done much but he was grateful for the praise either way. There was not much to the profession after all. He continued, this time taking the vial and inspecting it. He tapped away once again, pressing all of the same buttons as before, and read the summary of the item aloud to Drax. "A damage potion that reduces mitigation when consumed," Morningstar shared, captivated by the potion's unique twist. Curiosity piqued, Drax inquired, "And what about its quality?" Surprise flickered across Morningstar's face as he replied, "It's rare." Drax's enth

"Now," Drax cleared his throat, "let's begin. Identify the armor to start and we'll see how you do." The professional sat back, arms crossed, and Morningstar smiled nervously. He lifted the chest piece and placed it down in front of him. Nothing immediately stood out to him. He glanced up at Drax, unsure of how to actually proceed. All the theory-crafting they had done really did not help, now that he was face-to-face with an item. Accidentally pointing his finger in just the right way caused a small menu to open up. An appraisal menu. That's really all that the art of appraisal was.

"Today, we shall delve into the art of appraisal," Drax's voice was firm, "To become a skilled appraiser, you must learn to discern the true worth of items just like these. A keen eye and knowledge of the market are essential." Morningstar listened attentively, his eagerness to learn growing with each passing moment. He knew that appraising would not only provide him with valuable skills but also present opportunities to grow his wealth and enhance his equipment. He really was quite low on col and his gear was, not to sound too harsh, terrible. Drax began explaining the intricacies o

Morningstar finally arrived at the Town of Beginnings, relieved to see familiar surroundings after his exhausting walk through seemingly endless fields. The bustling streets were filled with players going about their own quests and activities. Morningstar headed towards Drax's shop immediately, eager to begin his lessons in appraisal. The structure stood strong and imposing, matching the demeanor of its owner. Morningstar swung the door open and entered quietly, so as not to disturb the owner if he was busy at work. Drax's stern face appeared at the entrance to his workshop. His piercing

Morningstar retraced his steps, glad to be done with the gathering phase of the quest. He was ready to do more, even if he did not look it. It reminded him of the beginner quests he had done and how tedious they felt to him. This was no different, he thought, but perhaps once the appraising started he would have more fun. The walk back felt quite a bit longer than the walk to the tower. The sun was higher now and felt far hotter. Morningstar wiped the sweat off his forehead, speeding up his pace. He wanted to return to the Town of Beginnings as soon as possible and quite frankly, walking

Against all cautionary tales and warnings, two intrepid players tip-toed through and around plant life, their bodies fueled by excitement and trepidation. Guided by the light of the full moon, they ventured into the heart of the garden, oblivious to the danger they had put themselves in. Their eyes played tricks on them as they moved through the unexplainably thick air. Shadows danced in the corners of their eyes, disappearing when the pair tried catching them. It was cold—so cold that they could even see their breath as they exhaled. The wind kicked up and the two players stopped in thei

Somewhere off towards the stern of the airship was Morningstar. He had stepped away from the bar since his brief interaction with Yona, intent on getting some fresh air. It was a simple task, considering they were flying. He had ensured his drink was topped up before leaving so he could nurse it conservatively for a little while longer. He leaned against the ship's railing. It was strange, being at a party like this. It was so similar to the parties he had attended years ago, in the real world. Of course, they had not been in the sky so they were ultimately less interesting. Morning

"New sword?" Elwood broke the silence. Morningstar, frazzled, looked to his left. Meteor leaned against the arm of the chair, faintly glowing at his side. "Yeah. A blacksmith up in Ronbaru crafted it for me." Elwood set the teapot down on the tray. He traced the floral pattern on his cup before lifting it to his lips and taking a long sip. Steam floated from the top. Morningstar picked up his cup, following his friend's lead. Before he could take a sip, he stopped himself. He stared into the cup for a moment, watching the dark water swirl. Then, he looked at Elwood. "What a

House Name: Morningstar's Beach House Location: Floor 24 - Raitoboru Bay Description: Nestled along the edge of vacation hotspot, Raitoboru Bay, Morningstar's beach estate exudes the essence of tranquility. Surrounded by breathtaking natural beauty, this property offers a captivating blend of coziness and coastal charm. Set on a private plot of land, the estate boasts immaculate green terrain that seamlessly merges with the sandy shores. Tall palm trees sway in the gentle ocean breeze, casting dappled shadows over the pristine lawns and vibrant flower beds. A pathway of wooden stairs

With that, Morningstar stood up. He had not found what he thought he might in the man; however, the conversation was valuable on its own. It was interesting, talking to a man who intended on taking his first steps outside of the walls of the safe zone. It brought him back a few years, to himself. He had had plenty of help from others back then and felt obligated to pay it forward. He swished his hand horizontally, opening his menu. Finding his "Friends" section, he entered Ink's username and sent a friend request. "If you need a hand with a quest or something, just shoot me a message. It

His walk back to the teleporter was interrupted by the sudden grand opening of a new store. It caught his attention with the promise of free clothing to the first five customers. Tossing his nervousness to the back of his mind, he strolled up to the shop. Immediately, he was greeted by the store's owner. "Welcome! We're so glad you could make it to the grand opening of our tailor! As the sign says outside, we're offering unlimited free vanity items to the first five customers!" The owner said. He was unsure of who "we" were, considering it was just the two of them in the store. Ignor

"Can I assume you're here for a rumor? Chasing anything in particular?" Morningstar chuckled. Asphodel appeared to be good at what he did. Morningstar denied following a specific rumor and asked for something fresh. "Very well. Floor Eleven. Visit the Grand Cathedral in Taft and wait for the bell to strike. Then, look at the ground where the shadows of the stained-glass windows are cast," Asphodel said. He was short and to the point, although Morningstar was uncertain what the directions would lead him to. He stood up, intent on taking his leave. The snake flicked its forked ton

Dante seemed pleased with such a large order of food. He snapped with joy. "Right away, good sir! I'll throw it on ol' Star's tab," He winked, rushing to the kitchen to prepare the small feast. Morningstar shook his head and sighed. The bartender was always throwing things on "ol' Star's tab'. It was almost like a game for him but, of course, Morningstar did not complain. In return, he knew he could count on Dante during difficult times. Ink's motivation seemed basic enough. It was respectable, leaving the Town of Beginnings after all this time. It took more than simple courage,

"Talk ter the fella in black, jus over there," The bartender pointed towards a table in the corner. There was a man, like he said, dressed in a black robe. He looked sort of like what a monk would look like if they practiced necromancy. The stranger was bald and tall. He sat alone, a long staff leaning against the wall behind him. "Who is he?" Morningstar asked. "E calls himself Asphodel. E's a broker, 's far as I know. He should have wha' yeh're looking fer." "Thanks, for the drink and for the help." "O' course." Morningstar left the bar, striding up to the man i

Joaquin nodded. "I'm heading back to the guild hall. Where will you go?" "I'm going to stick around here and make some plans," Morningstar replied. "Plans?" Joaquin frowned. "Yeah, you know. For our exploration team." Joaquin tried smiling. "Right. Sounds good." They parted ways but Morningstar knew they would see each other again soon. When they did, they would both be different; changed by both the events of that day and by those that had yet to unfold. To his left was a small building, in comparison to the rest. He pushed open the wooden door, revealing a tavern. It

On their way back to the teleporter, Morningstar stopped his friend. "What will you do now?" he asked. Joaquin thought for a moment. "I don't know, Stephen. I've got a report to write up. My guild will need to know about what happened today." They stared at each other for a while before Joaquin spoke again. "What about you? Will you keep searching for him?" Morningstar turned away, his eyes fixed on the path to the flatlands. What benefit was there from continuing their hunt? It would kill him, quite literally, he thought. He imagined Grace and Simon and considered what the