[SP-F1] Earning a Living - Complete

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido wandered through the forest on the first floor. He was trapped in this game, but he wasn't scared or upset. He had been given a chance. Thanks to Kayaba, his body was moved to a hospital, where he would be safe from the abuse of his family. In here, he could be strong, he could fight, and actually live. The idea that people were trying to work for freedom just did not make sense to him. They were alive, they could live their lives here. He sighs, as he looks around.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

His eyes are drawn to the critters of the forest. Not combat mobs, they simply lived and existed. This world was full of surprises, enemies that could think, learn, and react to you. Livestock and animals that just wanted to survive. Could it be any doubt that this world was truely alive? So what if it was virtual, it was an amazing place. Meggido watched as a rabbit hopped to a plant, sniffing the leaves. Its eyes going wide, it jumps away. Curious, he walks over to the plant.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

His finger reaches out, touching the plant hesitantly. A description box comes up, the words Nightshade appearing. In addition to that, an option to harvest it was there. Meggido hesitated, this was a very poisonous plant in the real world. What was he going to do with this? He remembered hearing about the profession system, and he thinks that alchemist may have been one of the options, but he had always assumed that was for potions and stuff like that. He had never considered attempting to make poisonous concoctions. Gritting his teeth, he selects the harvest option.

Loot Roll:

1 - 10: 1 successful harvest

11 - 20: 2 successful harvest

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

He watches, as the single Nightshade leaf enters his inventory, and the plant in front of him shatters apart. If this was here, he had to know what else was lying around. With a determined look on his face, he starts to look around, seeing what else he can find. He figures if he finds some good materials, he could use one of his skill slots on Alchemy, and make some interesting potions, and maybe some poisons too.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido spends some time moving around the forest, gathering plants as he can. Afterwards, he decides to head back to town, to see if he can find an NPC that can teach. Leaving the area, he heads into the Starting City, and starts to look around the area. He wanted to find someone to show him the basics, so he could start learning how to make powerful potions and poisons. He hated having to rely on others, and this in particular was something he wanted to be able to do alone.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido spends some time searching around before coming to a small NPC run alchemy shop. Curiously, he moves inside the apothecary. He looks through the items in the shop, before approaching the NPC

"I Seek training in the arts of Alchemy. Please teach me how to create potions and poisons."

The NPC man looks at him.

"Alchemy is about mixing the right materials together to create the desired effect. You must carefully measure and select the ingredients, or you will waste them. To learn, first you must study. In the back are books with recipes, carefully read them, and prepare to be tested on what you learn."

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido takes his time, reading through the various recipes on both potions and poisons. There were so many options. Healing, Combat bonuses, combat debuffs, damage over time poisons, paralysis. He read through the books, absorbing knowledge and happily learning as much as he can from the recipes in the books. Finally, it was time for his test.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido sits at the table, writing down on the paper that had been handed to him. It was a quiz on the various mixtures of plants and other objects to create potions and poisons. The first section he easily aces. Then comes a section on Crystals. Meggido hesitated at this section. He had heard of crystal items, but didn't realize that was part of alchemy. Reading over the options, he looks for what would make sense to create each type. Eventually he finishes the test, and hands it back to the NPC.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

The NPC Alchemist reads over the test, then looks down at the student he had taken.

"Not a perfect score on the crystals, but a passable grade. But there is more to Alchemy then writing things down. It takes a certain touch. Go to the cauldron, and prepare a healing potion. The materials are all prepared, you must simply choose which you will use."

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido goes through the various items in the shop, selecting a few to drop into the cauldron. He decided to try to make a healing potion first. Carefully mixing the ingredients, he begins to pour it into a bottle.

Success!

The potion appears to be of very high quality. He hands it over to the NPC, and it triggers the next phase of the quest.

"Very Good! Now, you must make a poison."

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido continues to browse through the various ingredients, selecting some of the more toxic poisons. He decided a paralysis poison would be nice. Mixing the various gathered ingredients, he slowly pours the next mixture into a bottle.

Failure!

The mixture vanishes, all of the materials wasted. The NPC Shopkeep shakes his head.

"Unacceptable! Try again!"

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido sighs, and begins the process over. He works on finding toxic components, mixing them together trying to create something truely terrible. Once again, the mixture vanishes, a failed attempt. The shopkeeper just shakes his head.

"Again, this is no good. You must learn the right ways to mix the potions and poisons, or it will all be for nothing!"

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido sighs, returning to the books. He leafs through the book, looking for a good recipe. Mixing random poisonous materials was doing nothing, he needed something amazing. He spends a good hour reading over poison recipes again, learning as much as he can.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

After spending some time, he finally prepares himself. He knows what he hopes to make, and goes to work right away. Mixing the materials he needs, he brings the mixture to a boil, and waits to see the results. Once again, he is met with failure as the mixture vanishes.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido knows if he can't get this right he will never be an alchemist, so again he goes to work. He selects the materials he is using carefully, measuring precisely to get just the right effect. Bringing it all to a boil, he waits to see what happens. Finally, a vile looking poison is created, which he quickly bottles. After bottling it, he hands it to the NPC Shopkeep, so he can finish the quest.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

The shopkeeper looks at him.

"Very good! Now for your final task, create a crystal. Any crystal will do."

Meggido looks at the npc with a blank look. No where in the books was anything on crystal creation, and he was sure he failed those questions on the test. He looks around the room before finding crystaline materials. Unsure where to begin, he carefully starts to study each one, trying to find a way to tell what effects they might have.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Eventually, he thinks he has figured the crystals out, and begins to work on them. He begins to shape and form them, trying to get an effect out of one. While not amazing quality, it would serve its purpose for this day, and should allow him to complete this quest finally. Handing it over, he lets out a sigh. It had to be over now, right?

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

The NPC Shopkeeper looks warmly at Meggido.

"Well done! You have learned the basics of the three aspects of Alchemy. Now, to complete your training, there is but one final task for you to accomplish, please, follow me."

Meggido was outranged. This quest should be over already! He followed the npc, angry he couldn't just cut him down. It being a safe zone, and he would fail his quest, he was ready to give up on all of it he was so mad at this man.

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

The old man leads Meggido into the back store room, and a bright symbol appears over his head. Meggido realizes this must be the completion of the quest after all. He walks up to the man, and his proximity triggers the final event.

"Young man, you have done well today. You have much work ahead of you to master this craft, so I have a gift for you. These supplies will help you set up your own shop, and supply enough materials to get started for the first few days. Treat them well, they have been in my family for generations."

[Meggido Muneblaze 0]

Meggido accepts the quest completion, watching as the items get added to his inventory. Once he finds a good place to set up shop, he would be able to start creating some truely wonderful things. Happily, he leaves the shop, armed with new knowledge and dangerous new weapons just waiting to be made.