Take me down to the steamlake village where the grass is green and the girls are pretty
Hello you guys! For this post, we wanted to try something new so we got ourselves a new partner!
Well, more like a substitute. Our old narrator just went out to buy milk and never came back, the bastard.
Please remember to give us a feedback on him!
Oh boy this is a bit nerve wracking…. Ahem. So, the party is finally ready to move on, as the members in the strategy room decide where to go.
It seems the public has decided we’re paying a visit to the lake village, master.
Okay good then, we’re finally moving. Do we need to make any preparations before we go?
Hm, this actually sounds doable, can you tell the minions to get on that, Ceres?
Yes milord, but I don’t think they’ll serve as anything other than moral support for now, they’re not trained for combat or anything. Would you know anything about that, druid?
These didn’t pop up naturally back in the forest, if you give me some more time with them maybe I can help with that.
While we’re in the Steam village I can send scouts to clear a path to the other areas, don’t worry.
Hmm, giving out mounts to our scouts might be a nice investment for the future, is that doable?
Well, technically yes, but we’ll need some time to plant a specific subspecies of Leaflings, they’re very rare.
Hehe, I wonder how a big one of these cuties would look.
Cavalry huh… They’ll be a valuable reinforcement for my army, but for now we need to establish a foothold.
Why would you need that, you don’t even have feet!
Mordred…. How about you go get some sweets for the travel?
Yay, sweets! I’ll be right back.
Okay, then, while you guys get ready, I’ll let Lily know that we’re going.
I’m curious about that one as well, but buttlerbot is already chopping wood in the forest… Do you think you could have the doggo give us a sneak peek?
Well I could certainly try…
Ophi moves to Lily’s workshop, it only takes a second, as the doors of the tower can open to any floor you want whenever you want.
It seems we got here in a bad moment though!
Ahem… Is that the..
Please don’t ask…
Don’t worry I wasn’t going to… how about I leave you with your work… You hear that? I think Elgor is calling me for some important business, that silly wizard, I’ll see you soon.
Oohh… Yes, important business yes. Bye bye!
Ophi leaves the room in a hurry, still hearing the heavy vibrations in the background.
Oh boy that was awkward.
What do you mean, that looks like a good bit of fun we could get in on!
… Maybe when we get back, my ass is still sore from the last time. Elgor is busy researching the Leaflings so it’ll be hard finding him in the forest, we can just let him have his fun, but we should come by the mushminion village before we go, we can see how they’re adapting.
On the way to the village you find Wendy, still checking out her work.
It took us a while but the houses seem to be growing strong, soon we’ll have a huge population of these guys!
Hm, fair enough, let’s see how much the little guys can fit in there.
Ophi look for one of the smaller houses, there’s a weird noise coming from inside it. Maybe they’re still working on the decorations?
…..Oh.
Does anyone have some brain bleach?
Hey! They were just getting to the good part!
I told you they were lewd little creatures.
How about we just go…
Oooh we’re finally going for a walk?
It seems the group has caught up to Ophi, just in time to get us out of here.
Umm, yes?
Yay! I’m going too! We’ve been here for too long, I wanna go for a walk!
What are you, an actual dog?
Anyway we can’t just stay here and wait, soon that mouse thot is gonna show up, we have to get ready fast!
And if we need to contact anyone in the tower we can always use the crown, so we can keep track of what the other two are doing.
Okay then, sounds like we’re all ready. I’ll go with you, I can guide you through the forest, and I need to collect some specimens for the forest floor.
Right, if you’re all done fraternizing, it’s time to move!
Finally, Ophi, Ceres, Wendy and Mordred leave the tower on an epic travel we’ll totally skip due to time constraints!
Through the power of narrative time skipping and lazy writing, the team arrives at Steamlake Village with no interruptions! It seems a bit underwhelming though.
As the team explores the village, little crab creatures pop up out of the water to greet them. But the city seems to be almost empty of people!
I’d never come this far south, it’s so pretty down here, these little guys seem nice too.
hmmmm…. I don’t think they like me very much…
I thought you said this was a merchant town, it looks pretty empty to me.
Yeah… This is a bit weird. People should be working out in the streets right about now.
Hey, heads up boobs, there’s someone spying on us.
It seems like one of the denizens of the village is out in the corner, peeking out at the colorful visitors.
How dare him! Ceres, get that guy!
Yes, milord!
Wait wait wait, don’t panic, let’s just ask him what’s up with the town, then we find out what he wants with us. Remember, we wanna make friends with these people.
The mousekin comes out of the corner and waves hello to the party, it doesn’t look like he wants any trouble.
Heya girls, what’s up with the clothing? It’s pretty chilly down here to be wearing that don’t ya think?
Umm, we’re eh… Independent merchants, doing research on… Umm, up and coming markets. We heard you had a pretty business going down here, what’s going on, why are the streets so empty?
Well… You see, our town is in a bit of a bind right now. The Crabee Queen stopped producing steam, and without that the crabee drones can’t produce the honey curry the town is famous for.
That’s a shame. I was hoping to–
Ophi quickly slaps the eye on her armor and muffles the overlord, despite his protests.
Ahem, *cough cough* I’m sorry I’m a little bit hoarse.
Are you sure? I’m certain I heard your armor talking.
Ehehe, It’s just your imagination. But please, tell us about the queen.
Using her experience as a bartender, Ophi quickly convinces the mousekin to take them around the town and tell them his story.
Well, a couple of weeks ago the Crabee Queen started behaving strangely, a few days later we noticed the lake had chilled down, and then it’s too cold for the crabees to make their honey. We still don’t know what happened with the queen. We think she might be sick or something.
Hmm, I happen to be a bit of a natural researcher, maybe I could take a look at the queen for you?
You could?! I mean, that would be great! We would ask the merchant’s guild for help, but we already have a pretty large debt with them, we don’t know what we would do if they increased it even more… You know what, here, let me take you to see pops.
Pops? Why would we want to see your father?
Woah big girl, don’t lose your head! My pops is the mayor of the town, he needs to give us permission to see the queen crabee, she’s our treasure after all, she’s right over there.
the Mousekin points out to the center of the lake where a massive 4 stories tall mass of shell spirals up from the lake into the sky. You’d never believe it was a living creature.
*whispers* Imagine a thing of that size on our army!
Yeah, our big girl isn’t too hot these days. Hey, you’re a dullahan aren’t you? That’s pretty cool! I read about them but I’d never seen one!
Uhhh… Thanks, I guess… Now, how about you take us to the mayor then, we’ll see what we can do.
Good job Ceres, see? Friends!
The party, happy with the lucky break, follow the mousekin to a large manor in the middle of the village, built partially over the lake waters. The lanky mousekin takes them to a room in the upper floor, where a couple new characters seem to be discussing some serious business.
Oooh! They look the same!
Hey pops! I found some people who wanna talk to you!
Sir, looks like your son found some strange company again.
It’s the third time this week, sir.
Goddarn Boy! I’ve no time for your shenanigans! I already told you I can’t give you more money to buy shit for your girlfriends!
Fuck, I already have Bleu fucking me upside down demanding we pay the last loan!
Yo pops, chillout, this is different, they’re here to help with the crabee steam problem.
Sir, they’re barely wearing any clothes.
They look very suspicious indeed sir.
The mayor scans the party up and down for a minute before softening his expression.
*sigh*
Okay then, I’ll bite. How can you strangers help us with our problem?
It seems the party found themselves a potential ally in the village, what kind of offer should we make to the mayor? Let’s find out in the next episode of Ophi’s Quest!
