[SP-F17] Reel In! Castaway! <<Olympus: Fisher>>

[Hirru 0]

Reel In!  Castaway!
<<Challenge of Olympus: Fisher>>

It wasn't very long since the hunter had been fishing, and working around trying to better the craft to sooner or later start catching more of those Rainbow Fish.  Gleaming Scales were quite a large part of his main professions requirements for doing well, and for all that it was worth, he wasn't doing to well in his merchant job.  It could be from the frequent changes that made it more about the appraisal than it did about selling things, or it could be from the constant moving around that he did.  His caravan was never in the same place twice, so it was hard to keep customer service up, when there are no customers.  He figured it would be good to look into something that could help him.

As he was fishing in Baldur's Ornate Pond, the hunter noticed something was odd as he pulled on his line.  There was another piece of trash on today, but this one was different from the pair of pants that washed up on his line.  No, this was a pristine looking letter, which was much more odd than it should be.  The letter was wet, but it did not tear into pieces upon being touched.  Instead, it felt as crisp as any regular paper would, while water still seemed to slip off its edges.  The symbol of a trident over a scallop shell sealing the letter, would denote that this was someone of fair importance.  Interestingly enough, the addressee was none other than Hirru himself.

"What the hell?"

He looked around to find who did this, but there was no one.  How did this letter get in Baldur's pond?  Who wrote this?  He shrugged.  There was only one way of knowing, as he broke the trident seal to read the letter.

Quest Info

Spoiler

Floor 17
<<Challenge of Olympus: Fisher>>

Quest Rewards:

• 500 Experience Points
• Amphitrite’s Net | Crafting Tool | Conscientious: +1 CD when fishing.

Requirements:

• Player must be at least a Rank 2 Fisher.
• Roleplay the following:
  • Receiving an invitation to visit Olympus, on Floor 17.
  • Meeting a nymph who will typically act as an escort for the player.
  • Speaking with Amphitrite, goddess of the sea and safe voyages.
  • Initiating a challenge set out by Amphitrite.
  • Overcoming said challenge.
• Players are given reign to craft the challenge on their own accord. They are also welcome to alter Amphitrite's demeanor and appearance to better fit the story they want to tell.
• Players are encouraged to set a difficult challenge for their characters to overcome, be it through wit, strength or sheer willpower.
• Gods in these quests are NPCs solely for RP flavour. They are unable to engage in combat nor affect the setting of Aincrad in any way.

Summary:

Players who have been keen on their gathering profession will have received a message from one familiar name of the Greek pantheon. Unlike the demeanor of his older brother, Poseidon extends a lengthy, formal offer inviting recipients to visit a private property under his name. ‘It is a domain kept pristine of our own accord’, the god writes, and he expects it to be treated with the same respect he offers in his letter. The cause of the players’ visit is to partake in the Challenge of Olympus.

Upon reaching Floor Seventeen, challengers are anointed with a ‘Blessing of Olympus’ buff and assigned a nymph escort that will whisk them away from the mountain leading to the sea gods’ main base of operations. To the coast they guide the player, and onto a rowboat. The nymphs will ferry them personally out to sea -- and no matter what happens, the player will always be ensured safe passage across the waves when embarking on this quest. A clustering of clouds later, they arrive at a hidden isle; the Land of Hesperides, a bountiful and serene outpost filled with flora, fish and mythical attendants.

Their guide will lead them to one of two divinities, one being the author of their letter whom they could expect to rule over their skills in judgement. However, it is his better half who appears before them instead. Amphitrite, a regal and benevolent goddess has been said to better suit leading a new generation of fishers into respecting the fish and the sea. With patience and compassion, she is there every step of the way to watch over her challenger’s actions, and correct them when she believes there might be something they could do better.

Her task is likely to be games of catch and release. Sometimes, she wishes to see some of her favorite subjects once more, and turns her challenges into a trial of finding and seeking them out. Once she believes that the player is ready to learn more about different fishing methods, she proceeds to educate them on the subject. For their perseverance and warmth shown to aquatic life, she will impart onto the player a net made out of rubber, deemed unlikely to harm their future catches.

Outline: 

This quest is strictly a roleplaying exercise.  There are no mandatory mechanics, save the general rules of the game.

---

NPCs:

<<Amphitrite>>
An amiable and gracious spirit, Amphitrite is keen on seeking better treatment for her subjects of fish and innocent water creatures alike. There is nothing she despises more than lack of compassion for others, and players may experience her ire should they hold such an attitude. 

Hirru Stats

Spoiler

Hirru | HP: 920/920 | EN: 104/104 | DMG: 1 | MIT: 122 | BH: 46 | HLY BLS: 36 | MENDING: 2 | REC: 8 | THRNS: 36

 

Hirru Lvl 32 (PL 59)

Fishing: 136 exp (Rank 2)

920 HP (+220 PL)

104 Energy (+22 PL)

1 Base Damage

5% Battle Healing

8 Recovery

122 Mitigation

32 Thorns

4% Holy Blessing

20% Life Mend

 

Equipment

 

Paladin's Oath ..................... // +4% Holy Blessing / +20% Life Mending

Light's Embrace .................... // +8 Recovery / 32 Thorns

Bulwark ............................ // +72 Mitigation

Blades Cloak ....................... // Vanity

Lun'Rael's Insignia ................ // Unique Vanity |

Fates Armament (Shield) ............ // Unique Vanity | 

Dimensional Backpack ............... // +1 B.R.I Slot

 

Battle Ready Inventory

 

<Teleportation Crystal> x5 ......... // Teleport to a town / out of a dungeon [Uses 2 posts: 1 for use, next to teleport]

<Favor of the Golden Dragon> ....... // +3 Loot Die

<Betrayal of the Fallen Knight> .... // +12 Damage

<Mass HP Recovery Crystal> x5 ...... // +10% AOE Heal

<Empty>

<Empty>

 

Skills

 

Heavy Armor ........................ // Rank 5: +35 MIT

Battle Healing ..................... // Rank 5: +5% HP each turn

Search ............................. // Rank 5: +5 Loot Die / +5 Stealth Detection

 

Extra Skills (Max 4)

 

First Aid .......................... // Rank 5: +20% ST-H / -15 EN

Leadership ......................... // Rank 5: Command the Front w/ Buffs

 

Skill Mods / Addons (Max 5 Mods)

 

Iron Skin (Add on) ................. // +15 Mit / +60 HP

Field Medic (Add on) ............... // +25% AOE-H / -15 EN / 3 turn Cooldown

Hyperactive (Add on) ............... // +3 EN Regen for 3 turns / -5 EN / 3 turn Cooldown

Reveal (Add on)..................... // +2 to Dungeon, Labyrinth searches / Post 10 searches / 3 turn Labyrinth Cooldown

 

Barrier ............................ // -15% Dmg shield AOE / -15 EN / 2 turn Cooldown

Energize ........................... // +8 EN ST / -10 EN

Rally .............................. // +1 ACC AOE, -1 ACC self / -6 EN / 3 turn Cooldown

Press The Attack ................... // +(Target Tier) Dmg, -(Cumulative)Dmg / -10 En / 5 turn Cooldown

Detect ............................. // +1 to Labyrinth searches | +2 Stealth Detect

 

Housing Buffs

 

Rested ............................. // -1 EN for 2 uses

Relaxed ............................ // OOC HP regen 5*tier Rec EN after 2 turns

Filling ............................ // Increase food by +1 T1 slot

Multipurpose ....................... // +1 LD, Stealth, Dection, or Prosperity to 1 post

Practiced Angler ................... // +2 EXP & +1 LD & CD to attempts

 

Edited August 16, 2023 by Hirru
Editing for current stats

[Hirru 0]

As the blue light of the teleporter disappeared from his visage, the hunter had found himself on yet another unfamiliar floor, the seventeenth.  He was starting to find this to be a reoccurring instance, as the hunter was trying to gain further knowledge of the new floor schemes, but the floors from the eleventh to the 19th were unexplored territory for the hunter.  He had truly never stepped foot on any of them during any of his questing missions, at least, until now.  He looked back at the letter that he still carried in his hand.  It was addressed to him from someone by the name of Poseidon?  He claims the status of God of the Seas?  Hirru didn't know what the game was trying to do, but he was having some influential sway in several places now.

As soon as he looked away from the letter, his quest window would pop up.  Challenge of Olympus, was it?  Looking upon the description, it described being escorted by someone.  It didn't take quite long to find who that was, as a woman with fair skin and an awkwardly worn dress would approach him.

"Are you here to challenge the gods?"

Her voice seemed to soothe his worries and make him lower his guard slightly.

"Yes, I am."

[Hirru 0]

She seemed to smile towards Hirru before bowing graciously.  For a second, he swore he could see..  He shook his head.  There was no way that that could be a thing.  He thought he saw gills on the upper part of the woman's neck, right behind the ears.  This was a weird world with many different things about it.  This floor may have fish people that weren't sahagin.  The hunter bowed back before learning that the quest updated.

"Please follow me.  There is a boat awaiting us."

"Okay, I'll stay close behind."

Hirru replied as the woman, whom still had not given the hunter a name yet, lead the way through the streets of Athenaia.  It seemed that this would probably take a while, as the hunter could not see any water close by, but along the horizon from their mountainous perch, they could see the glistening waves.  They would be walking for some time, it would seem.

[Hirru 0]

They had to pass by another large settlement that was centralized upon the floor.  How much farther was the water from here?  They should be able to take a boat upon a river out to sea, if the letter was speaking the truth.  A sea god would obviously want to meet upon the open sea, but they have been walking for a couple hours now.  The woman didn't speak a word as they walked, but it seemed that her skin was starting to dry out as they went along.  Hirru could only guess that she truly was a water being, and that this long walk was rough for the lady.  Hirru would start to look into one of his backpack's pockets for the vials of water he kept for a rainy day.  It was then that the hunter remembered that this woman was just another part of the game.  He looked up to see the yellow crystal marker that indicated an NPC, and sighed.  He was letting his emotions get to him again.  This wasn't his world anymore, he didn't have to be kind to those that don't need it.

..However..

Hirru stepped forward in a slightly fast walk before the guide, and handed her the water flask.

"You're looking a little dry."

..He couldn't help being nice..

[Hirru 0]

She took it without a second thought.  It seems that this was something within their programming, to accept gifts.  The woman would take a drink from the bottle, absolutely downing the thing.  Hirru had seen plenty of people down the single bottles, but none that did so in such a thirst driven way.  She was definitely thirsty, it seemed.  The hunter grinned a little before the lady returned the empty bottle to the hunter.

"My thanks, Challenger."

"It is my pleasure."

He put the bottle away, while they strayed ever closer to their destination.  The ocean could be seen from this elevation, and it was magnificent.  Not as large as the twenty fourth floor's ocean, but it was nearing there.  With all of the architecture, the hunter thought that the two floors seemed slightly similar, but the differences would start to add up slowly.  From the denizen's attire, to the topography of the floors, it was nearly impossible for them to be the same area.  Hirru wondered what this god's challenge would be once he got there.

If he got there.

[Hirru 0]

When they rounded another cliff face, it seemed that they finally entered the coastal plains area of the floor.  Hirru sighed with great relief, as they had been walking for some time now.  It would be good to finally get off his feet and sit in a boat for a while.  He looked around, but the lady was still keeping forward, as if driven to continue their mission to the fullest.  Though, it could be the urge to get to water, as they were starting to dry out again.  Either way, the both of them wouldn't take long until they reached the shore, where a small dock could be seen.  Tied to the dock was a small sailboat.  Was this the vessel that they were going to go out in?

"So.. do you know how to sail this?"

"The gods will guide your hand and your way."

"I was afraid you'd say that."

[Hirru 0]

Manning the helm, the hunter looked around at the ship and wondered what he would have to do.  From stem to stern, it looked like it was seaworthy, but Hirru couldn't really say so, nor make heads or tails of anything that he was looking at.  The woman had sat down near the rear of the ship, which gave the hunter a quick understanding of where it was probably safest to be on the ship.  He couldn't tell very well, but he thought he could see something glistening off of some of the ropes near the edge of the port side of the ship's deck.  It was a rope that seemed to be locking the entire ship to the dock.  He sighed.  Hirru forgot to untie them from the dock.  This would be a long day of preparation and training.  After untying the grounding rope, there was something else that was keeping them down.

"Pull the anchors, challenger."

"What's that?"

"Poseidon save us.."

[Hirru 0]

Almost on cue, a flurry of water seemed to splash up from the sea, as a wave collided with the ship from the starboard side, pushing the ship nearly against the pier.

"Well that's bad.  What do I need to do?"

With a look of desperation, he turned to find another glittering rope, this one on some kind of pronged metal piece, called a cleat.  Hirru didn't understand what was going on, but his hands seemed to work on the knotted rope that was tangled there.  As soon as he did, it seemed that the sail seemed to slightly unfurl, but not by much.  He took the hint, and continued looking for and working with whatever was glittering within his field of view.  Sooner or later, the hunter had made the vessel sea worthy, and the only thing that was left to do was to take the helm proper.  Hirru reached out to the weird wheel like thing, and grabbed the pegs around the outside of the turnstile.  Wind seemed to fill the sails, and before he knew it, they were off.

[Hirru 0]

"Could you tell me where we are going exactly?  I feel we've been traveling for some time."

It was true.  Not counting the couple hours it took to get to the boat, it seemed that it was taking longer to get to the destination.  Was it because he was the one steering the ship?  No, the lady was the one that was telling him where to steer, and the strange seaweed or glistening rope would indicate things that needed to be used.  It was a slow and meticulous encounter, as if he was being tested.  Was this the challenge?

"We are going to the Isle of Respite, Land of Hesperides.

"I didn't understand a word of that, but I'm sure you're leading me in the right direction.

Hirru smiled to the NPC woman, but quickly shook it off.  She isn't real, so there doesn't need to be all these niceties.  He didn't have to do that for these things anymore.

[Hirru 0]

Some time more had passed, and Hirru was starting to feel listless.  There was nothing to do, except maintain course for whatever they were going to.  At some point, the hunter looked back and noticed that they were surrounded by water.  That shouldn't have been right, as the floor wasn't that big.  He should still be able to see the main land mass.  Was this all part of the quest?  Many questions passed through his head, so much so that he missed something that the NPC was saying.  Although, it wasn't much suggestion as she used to, it was now shouts?  Warning?

Snapping back to reality, a heavy force smashed against the starboard side of the ship.  Water splashed high into the air, spraying the face of the hunter and the woman.  It was salty.  The sky seemed darker than usual, and the sea was much rougher than it was before.

"I told you to turn towards the mist!"

"Sorry, I.. I spaced out."

"Get out of the way!"

 

[Hirru 0]

Pushed out of the way by the guide, she seemed to take the helm like an expert.  Immediately, she called out for the sails to be drawn back in, as if ordering the hunter to follow her commands, or else.  He didn't understand as the situation was still dawning upon him.  He had phased out of reality into his thoughts, which ended up leading them into a mess.  As he peered towards the ropes to pull the sails back up, he noticed the sea was incredibly rough and waves seemed to be nearly clawing over the sides of the boat.  He ran over to the rope, with each step splashing into water that had been collecting on deck.  Were they taking on water?  No, it was just water that had spilled over from the waves, but still that was getting to be a constant thing.  As he got to the rope and untied it to start pulling, the hunter heard a shout.  He couldn't discern what it was from another wave cresting over the starboard side.  The force of the wave seemed to hit hard against the ship, causing it to tilt quite harshly.  It was all Hirru could do to hold on, while holding on to the rope.  He had to tie it around his arm to keep the line taut enough.

C..R..E..A..K <SNAPSNAPSNAP>

What was that sound?  Looking up, the hunter watched as parts of the sail broke apart in the storm, including the part that was tied around his arm.  As it crashed into the water, the hunter only had moments to undo what he had done before the broken piece would pull him under.

[Hirru 0]

The danger wasn't immediate, but the sinking was pulling the ropes attached with it.  He had to think fast, as he tried to use Shelob's fang, but shelob was a two handed weapon.  Trying to use it with one hand was a bit harder to do, and the hunter didn't want to cut his hand off.  Not again, at least.  He figured that he could saw at the rope, but the line was starting to disappear into the dark frothing waters.  He didn't have much time left for this.  Just as another wave seemed to splash him in the face, he noticed that they were facing into the waves now.  What was she doing?  Would that help them?  He didn't have too much time to think on that.

"I need help!"

Just as he said that, the woman was bounding over the turnstile, rolling over a ledge onto the main deck while pulling something out from under her dress.  A dagger?  With a quick slashing motion, the guide cut through the rope when the rope was quite taut, and ready to pull the hunter in.

"Are you alright?"

"Yes."

"Good!  Cause I hope you know how to swim."

"Huh?"

As the hunter said that, he noticed the ship was tilting upwards.  Looking on, he saw the wall of water roaring above them before it came crashing down.  For a split second, he only reaction was to shield his guide, before being swallowed up into the mighty deep blue.

 

[Hirru 0]

Spoiler

Have you ever felt the waves crashing against you?

How do they feel when you are pulled under by them?

Does it feel like a blanket of water crushing and enveloping you?

or

Does it feel like the push and shove of a dozen hands, rolling you under, and pulling down?

I'll tell you something...

The hunter awoke coughing and sputtering as he lay face down on a soft, wet sandy ground.  His vision was filled with the bright grains before a film of foamy water would slosh around him.  Instinctively trying to get away from the water, Hirru found himself on a little patch of sand surrounded by the sea.  The blazing sunlight above seemed to tell him that the storm from before had passed, but it did not seem like the light was where it was supposed to be.

"Uh.. has it been a day?"

He thought to himself before looking around.  This wasn't the only island it seemed, as there was little offshoot that sprung up from the water.  Shallow reefs and a narrow stretch of shallows seem to cause these islands to encompass a decently sized lagoon.  On one side of the shallows he would see it, the wreck of the ship that he sailed on.  It looked like it was partially capsized and buried under silt and saltwater.

"Yeah that isn't going to sail.."

It was then that he remembered.

 

[Hirru 0]

The girl!  Where was the girl?!  The hunter looked around but couldn't see any living being other than the foliage on the land, and the fish in the sea.  If there were any woman that was with him, they are long gone now.  Possibly drowned underneath the waves that capsized their boat.  It was a rough thing to do to make someone that doesn't understand a thing about sailing to start sailing.  This quest had already claimed a life of an NPC.  Hirru shook his head after thinking that.  It was a bloody NPC!  They would probably spawn back in the main town once more when someone else wants to do the Olympian quest.  They didn't matter in the slightest, nor did he care.

What he did care for was what he was going to do now, as there was no way that this whole island wasn't apart of his quest.  His answer would soon be shown to him, as the sea started to churn and waves would form from nothing.  The waves would crash together one after another, as the water would fill into each other.  The form of a humanoid being would become apparent from the waters form.  A woman of fine appearance and visage would appear before him, looking at the hunter with an upset look to her.

[Hirru 0]

"You do not sail.  You do not swim."

The lady of the water would start to pout about the things that have happened to the hunter.

"You pay no mind to those that are missing, even though your life is fine as is."

She would continue to speak about the hunter as if she had been watching them the entire time to then criticize him at every turn.  Who is this being that kept throwing insults his way?

"About the only thing you seem to be good at is to fish, but even then you are still of amateur level for.  Yet, you wish to be granted audience with me?"

Hirru then thought that this question was probably something that was not casually something that would have been said.  He could feel the ire from the being and, for a moment, thought that he was talking to one of the gods that he was supposed to meet.

"I am one of the gods you were supposed to meet.  In fact, I'm pretty sure my husband may have tried to send for you to speak to me, but now I don't think that it may be wise anymore."

Edited August 12, 2023 by Hirru

[Hirru 0]

Hirru held his hand up to the water goddess, as if to ask for something.

"Wait.."

"I do not wait, mortal..  The sea waits for no man.  The flow is everlasting and the cycle forever ongoing.  If you think that you can make nature wait, then you are very mistaken."

"I apologize.  I did not mean to offend."

"Then you would do well to set out your rod and fish out your female companion.  She has been lost at sea for some time.  With a little bit of luck, I'm sure you would find a way to seek her out and rescue her.

The goddess would smile before looking around the lagoon.  The hunter would do the same, but all he could see was just the island, the lagoon, and the boat.  Looking back at the spot where the goddess formed, the water would crash against the shore, the visage of the goddess long gone.  That didn't mean that the voice wouldn't linger throughout the sea.

"You should hurry!  The sea waits for no man."

[Hirru 0]

Taking in the sights, the hunter could only think for a moment before getting the fishing pole out of his inventory.  If the goddess was correct, then the lady that was with him was somewhere out there.  He had to slow himself as he thought he was on a timer after what the goddess said.  Though, with him being on this island, he could not think about where else the woman was.  There was no way to get off of the island that he knew of.  There had to be some here that would point him in the right direction.

Walking along the shoreline, Hirru couldn't see much out from the horizon.  Maybe there was a way to climb higher up, but he didn't have the capabilities to do that.  Maybe if he had cloth or light armor set, then maybe, but he as a heavy armor specialist, and that meant that he had to deal with stockier options.  Even when taking the armor off, the effects of the skill were ever present.  The only thing that he felt was a proper spot was near the capsized boat, or into the lagoon itself.

[Hirru 0]

Taking his time to work through the water enough to get to the ship, the size of which seemed bigger compared to what he rode on.  Must have been from how most of the boat's underside was under the water.  Still, he was able to climb on top of the ship to get a better look around the area.  From where he was, he couldn't see much upon the sea, although the way the water was seemed slightly visible.  There must be slightly more shallows than he thought, but as he looked on the other end of the boat, the darkness of the deep would slowly fill his view.  There was no way that she was down there, was she?

Without much thought in it, he threw the line out there to see if anything would come up.  Maybe he would fish her up.  With that thought, he could only shake his head at the stupidity.  Would a body float?  No, the system shatters anything that is dead.  Though what if she wasn't dead?  Floating or sinking would still have a physical presence.  Maybe he would get something in here to help him out.

This was a trial by water, although it felt like fire.

[Hirru 0]

Nothing was coming up from this side, as he got nibbles after bites.  The ones that came up were just regular fish that he threw back, but there was the occasional piece of metal and wood that he got.  Was it part of the boat?  Could he repair it?  He had no background knowledge of ships so it was definitely out of the question.  After some time, he had to call it quits because it was taking far too much time to fish up anything from here.

Turning around and getting off the boat, the hunter slipped and fell into the water.  In its unusual feel, the man was face first looking down into the lagoon side.  It was also dark and deep, but something was odd.  There was something down there.  Something that sparkled deep down where he could not get it.  Even with his fishing rod as it were..

A thought came to him as he looked back at the boat.  Would there be a longer rod and line in there?  Maybe something heavy he can tie the line to to sink it towards the thing.  Searching the wreckage, the hunter didn't find any like a pole or longer line.  What he did find was a mesh of ropes tied together in an odd way.  He remembered that this was called a net.  This would do perfectly if he tied some weights to the ends.

[Hirru 0]

Throwing the net into the water as far as he could, Hirru had hooked a part of the net to his fishing pole to use it as some kind of crane deal.  He had no idea if this would even work, or if he was being completely stupid.  There was nothing else he could think of, as he couldn't swim as well as he could fish.  If there was any thing he could do, it was this.  Waiting and waiting for so long that he had to look down into the water to see if the net was where he wished it to be.  Seeing that it wasn't, he would reel it back in and try again.

Again and again he would try until night would fall across the sky.  He wouldn't give up as he threw this last one is all he could.  It would fly far before splashing into the water.  Hirru couldn't look into the water anymore to see, as the darkness of the water and the darkness of night blended together to hide the shiny object underwater.  All he could do was wait.  Wait for something that may signal if everything was right.  Though, it didn't seem to come.  The hunter started to real in, thinking that it was another dud.  He would have to try again tomorrow, as he was tired and was using the last of his energy to do this last run.

Suddenly, there was a catch in the line.  It pulled taut before feeling incredibly heavy.  This was bigger than he thought as he had never felt something this big, on the line.  Pulling and reeling as hard as he could, he feared that the line would break long before.  Not long after a few rounds of tug and reel, there was a glint of something in the water.  It seemed slightly obscured by the mesh of the net, but he could definitely say that he got the glittering thing, which seemed to be a giant pearl.  How in the world did he fish this thing out of the water?

"Come on..  Out of the water now!"

He shouted as he kept reeling and pulling it out until he could grab the rope that extended the line more than he could have it.  Thankfully, there was nothing down the that it could be snagged on.  Pulling with all his strength, he would finally see the net come out of the water.  As it did though, the pearl would begin to dissolve once it touched air.  Around the netting as the hunter pulled, seafoam would disperse from the pearl as it grew smaller and smaller.  Soon a small hole could be seen forming before it grew bigger from the pearl dissolving around it.  It didn't seem like a pearl after a time.

It was an egg, that contained the woman from before.

Though, as the woman came to, her features seemed much more scaly.  So she really was a person of the sea.  It was then that the seafoam would give form to the goddess once again.  She would look upon the woman and pat her head before saying,

"I was quite worried that he wouldn't fish you out of your bed."

"Huh?"

"You found the net that would be your reward for this venture much sooner than I thought.  Keep it, mortal, fore you have saved one of my sisters with it.  It has been enchanted with the waters of the lagoon to catch those that would seek to be left alone.  Take it with you and find my other children and sisters alike.  I'm sure you will do well to respect them all."

Before Hirru could say anything else, the goddess would come to him with the net in hand, folded neatly, and placed in his arms.  Soon after, she would dissolve into the seafoam once more and splash into Hirru.  It felt light, but.. so.. heavy..

* * * * *

Hirru awoke on the beach of the not so familiar floor.  Did he do it?  He thought as he looked to the quest window that did confirm as such.  He sighed before looking around to see that there were slender footprints that had lead from the water, dragged him up the shore, and went back.

"Thanks.."

He would say before falling back unto the sands.  Exhausted, he would camp here for the night.