Super Spark of Duper Pride [OB] - Act I: Motivation

3-K: A New Threat or Ally? (Adventurer 2 & Commander 1)

Adventurer 2:

I am currently in the capital city of Olts, which is rather close to the fortress guarding the Kasanagara entrance to the Great Elroe Labyrinth.

There has been an increase in escort quests by traders lately, mainly because the Monster activity along the main route through the labyrinth has intensified.

At least, that's what I heard.

A task force from the Renxandt Empire has been dispatched to investigate the cause.

And rumour has it that they fled from some terrible spider Monster.

I can't help but think of that strange Small Taratect that got away from me, that has never been reported as dealt with.

Although, recently, a group of Adventurers claimed that a spider Monster and an Earth Wyrm saved them.

Everyone just laughed, saying they have 'Labyrinth Sickness'.

But my guts tells me there is a kernel of truth to their story, strange as it is for Monsters to help people.

Just then, a man dressed in an all too familiar rope entered the bar I am in, located next to the Adventurer's Guild of Olts.

I bet 20 Gold I know who that is.

The man walks towards my table and sits with me, more than enough to confirm my suspicion.

"Oh, hello Tiva, it's been a long time, huh?"

Tiva: "Yes it has, Jeskan, how have you been?"

Tiva, a Court Knight of the Renxadt Empire.

And in certain circles, better known as the Savior from the Shadows.

"All is well, and since you're here, I suppose you need some help?"

Tiva: "No but I guess in a way yes, I am simply curious about the mutated Small Taratect you reported spotting in the Great Elroe Labyrinth, that you even claimed appraised you."

You say that, but I think you are just doing some investigation of your own.

Well, I don't mind exchanging information with a trusted ally.

So we chatted about the investigation into the labyrinth.

Tiva: "You see, by the time they reached the point where the Monster outbreak supposedly took place, they found no Monsters there. In fact, they encountered more on their way there."

"No Monsters there and more on the way? Was there some sort of Monster migration?"

Caused by the rumoured spider Monster perhaps?

Tiva: "More or less, after investigating the smaller tunnels, finding no clues, they eventually investigated the large tunnel where they found a partially eaten corpse of an Earth Drake in a Taratect nest."

"Ah, I see, that is not good news. Whatever it is now, it definitely caused the Monster outbreak and migration."

An A Rank at the very least, probably a Great Taratect.

Tiva: "Indeed, the task force is not strong enough to deal with whatever it is that killed the drake, so the captain made the call to leave the labyrinth and have a stronger strike force assembled by the empire to tackle the cause."

"They were lucky not to have run into it then."

Tiva: "They did actually, just as they turned back to leave, they felt an intense presence behind them, where the nest is. They cautiously looked back and saw a black spider slightly smaller than a Small Taratect."