SP-F3: Earning a Living - Alchemic Wonderland

[Mari 1]

Mari had found the boss room, she stared into the eyes, the many eyes of the beast - and was confident that she was one of the few if not the only one who had seen the entirety of the floor. Now, she had a few things to take care of. She had heard that there were updates to the Professions, or more so - now that they had passed the 10th floor Fishing was released, and now everyone had a chance to change their profession.

Mari, loved being a performer at first. She loved her violin, she loved playing the music, and singing songs - even if it wasn't a profitable business. However...

 

 

It seemed that all changed, she simply did not have the will to play any more. And with that, she decided she would change her profession.

[Mari 1]

Mari didn't need to think about what profession she would choose, she'd go with the one she would have been if it weren't for the Performer profession.
Mari was lingering on the outskirts of Delilah village. It was early morning and the sky was still awash in hues of amber and pinks. Mari sighed, she loved this time of day. The cool breeze, the colours. But, that was just it... she loved it, past tense. Mari wasn't sure if she could look up at the sky right now - without thinking of Alkor.

She had to wonder, was he still alive somewhere? Could there be a slim possibility that she could save him, that he was in the real world now with his grandma?

Mari gave her head a small shake. It was wishful thinking at best.

[Mari 1]

There was an NPC standing on the outskirts of the safe zone. Mari sighed, this was probably the profession NPC, for people such as herself. Player Killers. Mari approached her. She was an old lady, well into her 80's and her face bore strong wrinkled lines, her mouth wore a gentle warm smile. She wore a crochet headband in her grey hair which was tied up into a neat, tight bun. She wore a dusty rose coloured dress, and had a yellow shawl over that. She wore thin glasses and had black buckle shoes. "Hello Dearie."

Mari felt a tad awkward, it had to be an older lady didn't it? Great, more reminders. "I'm here for the Earning a Living Quest." Mari replied, wanting the conversation to be over and done with. 

The old lady, Petunia. Clasped her hands together, "Excellent, and do you have a current profession?" Mari nodded, before realizing she'd probably have to announce it to the NPC, "Yeh, I do. Performer." Petunia nodded. "Well my dear, are you happy to give up being a Performer to become an Alchemist?"


A screen popped up in front of her, confirming the question and warning that once accepted there would be no further chances to change professions in the future and that she would loose all progress she had made as a Performer. 

[Mari 1]

Mari clicked yes, and the old lady gave a warm, light chuckle. "Ahh thank you, that is excellent. Now, what profession would you li-"

"Alchemist." Mari said, rudely interrupting the NPC, its not like it would care. It was just data, nothing more. The old lady, Petunia nodded, and continued along with the next line of dialogue. "ahh, Alchemy, the subtle art of potions and crystals. A wonderful and meticulous profession, I am sure you will make a wonderful alchemist."

"Yeh...yeh..." Mari muttered, she wished that some of these NPCs just got straight to the point rather than prattle on with a life story. "So what do I have to do?"

[Mari 1]

Petunia smiled, holding out her hand, "You need to bring me 5 alchemic ingredients." She said sweetly. "There is a special root and mushroom found only in the forest of wavering mist. Oohh...." She paused, as she feigned some sort of worry or fear for the place that Mari, ironically enough had called home for the past few months. "It's very very dangerous in there though dearie! Do take caution."

Mari nodded, "Yeh, I got ya. 5 Alchemy Materials from the forest, anything else?" It was clear Mari was growing impatient.
 

[Mari 1]

Petunia laughed, "Oh ahahaha, my, my! Quite the Eager Beaver aren't you?"  She said as she waved Mari off. "Just bring them back to me lovely, and I will show you how to brew them up!" 

Mari turned on her heal and began to walk toward the Forest of Mist. There was no point in dawdling, she had things to do, she wanted to get this quest over and done with, before too much time had passed. She had to get up to a higher floor, she had to try and get a meeting organized to tackle the boss on the 10th floor. She had some sort of drive now, keep going. Get stronger. No, become the strongest.


 

[Mari 1]

It didn't take Mari long to make it to the forest, she knew it like the  back of her hand. She knew exactly where this 'special grass' was too. There was a river not far away from the cave she had taken residence in. By that river was a long grass that had a luminescent glow. Ignoring the screams that seemed to constantly plague the forest she headed toward the lake.

Sure enough, there it was- Mari bent down, and carefully dug a clump up and out. She washed the dirt off and placed it in her inventory. "Too easy." She muttered. 

 

 

Perma ID: 10218
LD: 18

Materials Collected: 1
 

[Mari 1]

Next, she'd have to find some strange root. Another easy one. There was some at the bottom of the river. Another thing she had seen during her time here. So, Mari - unequipped her armour and waded into the stream. The current wasn't exactly strong but the water was very brisk.  Mari felt a shiver go up her spine. It was cold. Mari took a few deep breaths as she waded in till she was up to her waist. Then, she dove under - the water wasn't murky, but it wasn't very clear either. She couldn't see any straight away, and had to come back up for air.

 

 

 

ID: 1021

LD: 14 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 1

[Mari 1]

Mari grit her teeth, took another breath and dove under the water again. This time, she did see some of the root - she attempted to dislodge it, but struggled to do so. it was caught under too many river rocks, Mari started to upheave them, but being underwater. It proved to be a difficult task. Soon, her air began to run out and she had to resurface. Mari's head broke the surface of the bubbling creek like a pink balloom. "ahhh...f**k!" She said, out of breath, "So damn close!" 

 

ID: 10220

LD: 14 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 1

[Mari 1]

Mari dove under a third time, and again, spent the duration of her time underwater slowly trying to move the rocks out of the way. The root was a lot longer and thicker than she first thought. The more rocks she moved out the way, the longer she realized the root was, she tried giving it another pull but to no avail. It was clear that doing this by hand wasn't going to work. Mari came back up for air, and headed to the bank, resting her back against it with a sigh as she caught her breath. Pale skin glistened in the sunlight that poured in through the trees. A cool breeze picked up and sent goosebumps down her arms. It didn't bother her too much, soon the sun would rise higher, and it'd become warmer.

 

ID: 10221

LD: 8 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 1

[Mari 1]

Mari pulled out her dagger; as she waded back into the middle of the lake. If the root wouldn't come out by hand, she'd cut it out. It'd still be just as useful. If not more. Since she'd have the large root rather than the tiny little thing she thought it was. Mari wiped her fringe out of her face, slicking it back onto her scalp before diving under again. She found the base of the root and pulled it taught, with a quick slash, the root came free, Mari had to wind it around her hand twice, as she came back up for air.  

Mari put her dagger away and took a closer look at the root in the clear light, it was a pale yellow colour, odd. Mari shrugged and placed it in her inventory. Two down, three to go.

 

ID: 10222

LD: 18 

Materials Collected: 2

[Mari 1]

Mari waded back up to the shore; and hauled herself up onto a flat rock. Mari lay down on her back, and stretched out, she would rest for a moment, and dry off before putting her armour back on. Sure, she was in a hurry, but after the fiasco of fighting 12 mobs at once, including a freaking Bone Dragon, which gave her such an intelligent look - she deserved a small break. Even if it was just to dry off. Mari closed her eyes. Listening to the ambient screams of the forest. 

Such horrific screams were meant to dissuade players, but she wasn't bothered by them in the slightest. If anything they served as a calming white noise.

 

ID: 10225

LD: 2 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 2

[Mari 1]

Now Mari was relatively dry, she equipped her heeled black boots and armour once again. She stretched before sliding off the rock. She would head toward her cave. That'd be a good call for some mushrooms. Hell, with any luck she'd find a surplus and would be able to keep some after finishing the quest. Mari still had a surplus of materials from her days as a Performer. She had retrieved them from her shop, and would use them in her hopefully more successful alchemy business.

 

 

ID: 10418

LD: 10 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 2

[Mari 1]

Mari made her way to the cave that she had called home, straight away. She noticed a few small brown mushrooms growing at the entrance. It seemed that Alchemic materials would be much easier to farm than Performer Materials.  "And yet I'm unable to find one who is available..." Mari muttered as she knelt down, first pulling the grass away to get to the mushrooms, unfortunately, in doing so she accidentally ripped a mushroom in half, rendering it useless.

 

ID: 1041

LD: 7 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 2

[Mari 1]

"UGh....dammit..." Mari muttered, she tried again - and ripped that one too. Which, apparently also rendered it useless. Who knew Alchemic ingredients were so delicate? It seemed like all she had to do was place a single finger on it and it'd shatter from the 'pressure' "This is begin to become bothersome." Mari muttered ash she wiped her brow with the back of her hand. "I got sh*t to do, I shouldn't be around here diggin' up f**kin' mushrooms..." 
 

 

ID: 10420

LD: 14 -Fail!

Materials Collected: 2

[Mari 1]

Mari kicked at the patch of grass and dirt where the mushrooms previously were. She was miffed. She stormed into the cave - where it was a lot darker, but Mari didn't exactly mind. She knelt down, and started digging up a few mushrooms, this time being more careful. Mari was in a bit of a hurry, but if she could take the time to rest and dry off then she sure as hell could take the time to carefully collect the mushrooms.

Her care succeed, Mari picked up a off white mushroom and placed it in her inventory.

 

ID: 10421

LD: 16 

Materials Collected: 3

[Mari 1]

Mari continued to look, attempting to pick up another mushroom, however - she failed. Mari gave a small 'tch' She had one of each of the ingredients she needed, she just figured mushrooms, in their abundance - would be the easiest to harvest, alas...she was wrong. Mari sighed. Whilst she was harvesting this, she may as well consider what to do about this meeting she decided to hold. She had to figure out how many players would be required to defeat the boss of the 10th floor. clearly, the number they went in with during the Hydra - was too many.

 

ID: 10422

LD: 5

Materials Collected: 3

[Mari 1]

Mari made a mental note of those who were at the battle, absently picking up another mushroom and placing it in her inventory. That was enough Mushrooms for now, she'd go back and find some more of that grass. Mari headed out of the cave, wincing slightly at the sudden change of light. She slowly made her way back to the outskirts of the forest, still thinking about the battle. There were 16 people at the Hydra, and by the end of it only 5 were active, give or take. Mari pursed her lips. If she had it her way, she wouldn't have any more than 10, but she wasn't sure if it had a secondary form.

 

ID: 10436

LD: 18

Materials Collected: 4

[Mari 1]

Mari knelt down in the midst of a large group of the special grass she was meant to obtain, and began attempting to pull some up, the first clump, failed - as it had just snapped in half. She was so close, yet so far. Needing only one more material to finish her stupid 'quest'  Her thoughts kept flip flopping between the quest, and the upcoming battle. She had only been to two meetings before - the one pertaining to Cupid, run by Lessa, and the one in regards to the Hydra. Chaired by Zelrius, although it seemed that Zero had all the knowledge.

 

After she became an Alchemist, her first point of call would be to email the guild leaders of the top guilds. She did know there were other guilds around, but wasn't sure if it would be wise to have them sit in at the meeting. Not to mention, she didn't have all the details for them, there was no viable way of contacting them.

 

ID: 10439

LD: 8

Materials Collected: 4

[Mari 1]

Another failed attempt at looting the grass. Fantastic. Mari's lips turned down into a small scowl. This was becoming tedious. Something she had sound enjoyable, farming materials...was no longer enjoyable to her. Maybe it was just stress, Mari hadn't exactly been able to deal with Alkor's death in a healthy way. Not that there was much of a healthy way to do things. She was alone in this virtual hell hole, what little friends she had - she had either pushed away, or they simply disappeared. 

 

ID: 10440

LD: 8

Materials Collected: 4