EQG: Sword Art Online - Ruby Palace

Episode 80 — A Questing We Shall Go
Twenty-Seventh Day in the Month of Sakura (April 27) in the Year of the Griffon
Front Line — Floor 60

Lisbeth was done with Harmonic Salvation. Bladescape paid for the work, set the next order, to Lisbeth’s annoyance, and took the blade. She had added another Sharpness Enhancement. Harmonic Salvation was now +12, with eight enhancements failing to take, but none did critical damage to the sword's stats. Bladescape had thirty more attempts to enhance Harmonic Salvation left. Hopefully they would all take so the blade was a fully finished product at +42. Her goal was to have it completed by the boss fight on Floor 80.

Technically, the blade was now Harmonic Salvation 2A2D2H2Q2S, or 2 Accuracy enhancements added for improved critical chance, 2 Durability added to increase the durability, 2 Heaviness which increased the chance of breaking the opponent’s weapon or armor, 2 Quickness which helped the speed of attacks, and 2 Sharpness which increased the weapon’s damage. She planned to make all enhancements 4 before beginning to tune the sword.

With sword in hand, Bladescape teleported to Isonset on the Thirtieth Floor. The first quest for Mo was there, in the castle that held the Steps of Battle quest that Knightstar was trying to crack. The keep had been locked with the king away when they had first entered the city.

Bladescape headed to the palace and this time the keep was open. She inquired about the quest to trigger it. She had to rescue a princess, solo. It sounded simple enough, except she had to solve one puzzle. If the player failed, they had to fight a high-level, shape shifting witch. To date, sixty-eight attempts had been made on the quest and all had failed. No one had been able to beat the witch because it was a solo quest. According to Mo, Kirito had declined to take the quest, leaving Bladescape as Mo’s “only hope” at getting the item called the “Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric.” Mo’s goal for the dish was unclear, but there was more at stake than just the dish. It felt like it was a part of a larger quest.

Bladescape made her way north, to the ruins on the Floor. As she left the safe zone, an NPC called out an offer for renting a horse. Bladescape stopped and turned, looking at the chestnut horse he had saddled and ready. The ability to rent a horse was extremely common. Many towns had at least one stable and more if it was the main settlement. Most players ignored them. Horses were tough to control in the game, or so she had heard.

Bladescape had the Col, so she paid for the rental and put her foot in the stirrup. She had ridden some of Applejack's horses before, but never very far or fast, and it felt just as odd now as it had then. She was comfortable, but there was the lingering knowledge that she was a pony riding a horse. That idea was just wrong, but she gripped the reins and kicked lightly with her heels like she had been taught at Sweet Apple Acres.

It took a bit to figure out the quirks of the system. It appeared to be quite realistic, but Bladescape was not well versed in riding. By now, she could have been halfway to the ruins, but she kept going, prodding it to move. She was supposed to be in control, but she also understood the mind of a horse. If it was anything like she was as a pony, it was stubborn and would require a firm grip and force to do what she needed it to do.

It was a frustrating learning curve, but she soon began to enjoy the ride. It took her far longer to get to the ruins than walking would have, even without the use of a Sprint Skill. Thankfully, she had the time to spare.

Once at the ruins, she went to dismount, but her leg got caught in the stirrup and she fell off the horse as she tripped. She stood up and dusted herself off while the horse whinnied, almost as if it was mocking her. Thankful no one else was around to spare her dignity, she tied the reins to a post and walked into the ruins.

There were a few bandits, which she easily dispatched on her way to the only tower still completely standing. She got there and entered the hole that had been broken into the wall by previous players on the first attempts at the quest. She found herself in what was formerly a grand hall. The once brilliant carpet resisted the decay of time as best as it could.

The door on the far side was closed and Bladescape crossed over to open it. She entered the next room in an attempt to find the stairs. Instead she was in another hall. On the far side was a throne and sitting on it was a woman. Lining the walls were tables, upon which were all types of items of various materials.

“Welcome,” the NPC said. “What brings you here?”

“I seek the princess,” Bladescape plainly replied.

“To win her, you must complete a simple task,” the woman said, not moving. “Bring me the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric and you can have her.”

Bladescape glanced back and forth at the tables. Not everything on them was tableware. Some were great treasures, others weapons, and still more were simple items. Pieces of Col were also scattered about.

“I give you a warning,” she suddenly said. “Bring me the wrong dish and you will face my true form, and the princess will remain forever beyond your reach. Taking any object other than the dish will trigger my anger as well. Even touching the sacred items will trigger my wrath. So, do you wish to proceed?”

Mo had warned Bladescape that there was no known way to tell what the dish looked like. Other questers and several information brokers had searched fruitlessly for anything that might reference the dish or whoever "Rhygenydd the Cleric" was. According to Mo, the going theory right now was that the information was on a higher floor that hadn't been reached yet. When asked why she didn't want to wait until the information was found, the artifacts dealer would only say that she had a "hunch" she wanted to confirm, and nothing more. Even knowing all of that, though, Bladescape didn’t think it would be this difficult to decide. She had thought there would be a few obvious choices, not a hoard to search through. Bladescape was outwitted from the start. She began to walk up and down the tables, first visually picking out the tableware from the rest of the items, an important step since touching any of them was prohibited.

The witch began to tap on the wooden armrest of the throne. It immediately began to do its job, drilling into Bladescape’s mind, making it harder for her to concentrate and making her feel rushed. She forced herself to calm down and continued.

“It is a simple task,” the witch said, startling Bladescape. It was more pressure.

Bladescape tried to turn things in her favor. “What does the dish do?”

“Whatever you desire to eat, it will be found there," the witch answered.

Bladescape grinned. That was the key. She had to desire to eat something so strongly she would find the dish. Except she wasn’t hungry.

Bladescape wracked her brain, trying to decide what she wanted to eat. It couldn’t be a full meal, or even a normal thing. Konpeito could now cook most of what they wanted, at least by taste. There wasn’t anything lacking in the food and flavor department for the Wondercolts.

Bladescape snorted as she remembered the two things Konpeito had not been able to replicate: Ice Cream and marshmallows. Marshmallows were useless, but ice cream was cold. Bladescape stretched out her hand, fingers almost touching the nearest bowl. It was silver and intricately carved in a geometric pattern. There was no response so she pulled back her fingers. She skipped the next few items, looking for any pattern. Bowls and plates were made out of gold, silver, tin, bronze, wood, and clay, and they came in a variety of styles from plain to painted, or etched, gilded, and jewel encrusted. There were no obvious stand outs.

Bladescape paused as her eyes caught sight of a jar. It was a ceramic piece with a lid sitting beside it. Laying against it was a silver tiara. It was a trap because of the tiara and it needed the lid to complete the dish, which no other items had. Bladescape moved her fingers to almost touch the jar.

“Is that your choice?”

The sudden question made her flinch and her fingers hit the jar’s rim. Bladescape pressed them in, making sure she didn’t let go. If she did, it sounded like it would be an automatic fail. She carefully picked up its lid and used it to edge the tiara away so that she could pick the entire thing up without touching it.

Bladescape faced the witch, narrowing her eyes. Now that she had the item in her hand, she could be angry. The witch had tricked her into taking the dish. She should not be as surprised as she was. She put the lid on it and then prepared to calmly present the dish to her.

She began to walk to the throne. Something was bothering her about the quest. She stopped several paces away.

“Well?” the witch asked. “What are you waiting for?”

Bladescape picked up the lid and peaked inside. The air inside wafted out, nipping at her nose. It was very cold inside. The frozen cold of ice cream. She had the right dish.

Except the quest was to rescue the princess, with the dish as the reward. There was no way giving it to the witch would allow her to get it back.

“Why didn’t you find it yourself?” Bladescape warily asked.

“It is not my task to complete, but yours,” She smiled back. “It is your test, to see if you are worthy.”

“And if I take it and walk?” Bladescape asked.

The witch smiled coyly, like a spider enjoying her trapped prey’s struggle against the unyielding web. “You want the princess, don’t you?”

“I want the dish,” Bladescape replied. “Why should I give it to you? I have what I came for. The quest reward was listed, including the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric.”

The witch stood up. “I can’t take it myself, the Cleric’s magic is too strong, but if I am handed it, it is mine. The princess in the tower holds the power over it, thus keeping me from taking it. Hence our trade."

Bladescape slowly knelt down and set the jar on the ground. As she stood she drew Harmonic Salvation.

The witch snorted. “Do you intend to fight me instead of giving it to me?”

Bladescape calmly explained her logic. “No matter what I do, I don’t see how I can get the dish and the princess. It's a trap. A clever one. No matter what the other players chose, they would always fail.”

The witch's smile was wiped away and Bladescape grinned instead. “I don’t think I introduced myself, princess. I'm Bladescape, leader of the Wondercolts.”

“Very clever,” she spat. “I was locked away by my own father for disobeying him. I loved a man he disapproved of. Instead, he told him to find the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric, and that it would open the door to my tower. When he came here, he was attacked by my father’s men and slain. Instead of going home as expected, I decided to disguise myself as a witch, who held the princess captive and who also wanted the very dish my love was sent to find for my hand. The knights who killed my beloved were not ready for my skill. I kill all I can to make my father suffer for his crimes.

“Of course, now that you know, I can’t let you leave. Otherwise you would tell him.”

Bladescape had been waiting for those words. She leapt the last few feet, over the jar, swinging her sword. The blade glowed green and swung true. It slipped through thin air as the witch princess transformed into a frog, dropping below her blade’s path.

Immediately she became a snake and struck. Her fangs failed to pierce the dagannoth plate. Bladescape savagely kicked her, sending her flying across the room and thudding into the wall where she transformed back into her human form, dazed. Bladescape launched a throwing pick before she could move, pinning her with a paralysis effect.

Bladescape walked over to her and put the tip of Harmonic Salvation against her throat.

“Wait!” She screamed. She couldn’t move and she knew it was over. Bladescape nodded though, and she continued. “I know where my father has hidden many things. Tudwal’s Whetstone is one and so is The Halter of Eiddin Klydno. I know their secrets.”

Bladescape recognized both of those names. They were the main rewards of the other two quests Mo had given her. If she knew, then the quests were certainly connected in some way.

“Tell me and I will sheath my blade,” Bladescape said, digging the tip into her throat for added assurance.

“The whetstone's secret is that it is coarse. It isn’t smooth. It is a block of coarse, blue granite. To get past the guard you must answer his three questions. The first is always the place you were born. He knows if you are telling the truth or not. The second is the weight of my father’s crown. The weight is the empire he rules. The last question is whether white or black is better. It is a trick question. The answer is that they are a duality and cannot exist without the other. Therefore, neither can be better than the other, for that would upset their balance.”

“And the halter?” Bladescape asked, not removing her sword.

“You must ride a horse through the yellow gate. But be careful, for a knight is on the other side, already charging at you. To pass through is to be skewered on his lance. The knight’s mount is using the halter. He must be beaten to claim it."

Bladescape sighed. She pulled her blade from the princess' neck and sheathed it. She turned around to get the jar while she slipped her hand to her throwing picks. The paralysis had worn off, and the deal wasn’t that she would get to leave with it.

As Bladescape had predicted, the witch launched herself at her, shifting into the shape of a dragon. Bladescape flipped two picks at her, forcing her to shift to a hawk instead to avoid the picks. Harmonic Salvation rang out clear as she was drawn and sliced through the hawk before she could change again. The hall was filled with polygons in an instant. The princess witch was dead with such a simple trick, it was almost hard to believe. However, it was a puzzle quest, not a kill quest, and the floor was way below her current level.

Bladescape sheathed Harmonic Salvation and picked up the jar. She put it in her inventory and went in search of her horse. She found the horse where it was left and she began to ride to the major city.

If she was going to have to face a charging knight while on horseback, Bladescape had to become better at riding. She worked on everything she could think of, particularly making tight turns so she could get exactly where she needed to attack from.

The extra time spent on the horse meant that it was sundown by the time she was back at the palace. This time she strode through it, past guards who were trying to stop her. She ignored them and threw open the double doors to the throne room.

“What is going on!” The king yelled, standing up and grabbing the hilt of his sword.

“I come with news of your daughter,” Bladescape declared. The guards halted their advance and she was beckoned in further. Bladescape got all the way to the throne before she spoke again. She bowed and then gave him the news. “Your daughter died, ages ago.”

“What!” he exclaimed.

“The witch killed her and lured more to their deaths by telling you she had possession of her. With each kill, she became stronger.”

“And the Dish of Rhygenydd the Cleric?" The King asked. "Did it even exist?”

Bladescape lied. “I never found out. She attacked me because I figured out her plan. I killed her though, and that is how I learned what she had done to the princess. Her bones were in the tower’s top room.”

“I see,” the king sighed. “That is dark news indeed. I must mourn my daughter’s passing. Please, leave my presence."

“Sire," Bladescape said, trying to be kind, but start the other quests. "My adventures lead me to many places. Places that require a sharp sword. I could use a better whetstone than what I currently have. Do you know where I can get one?”

He looked at her, trying to pierce through her soul. “I will gladly give you my personal whetstone in exchange for Tudwal’s Whetstone. Speak to my clerk about the details. I have to mourn. Leave me!”

Bladescape quickly walked out, head held high. She got the details from the clerk and headed to the teleport plaza. She teleported to the Town of Beginnings and sprinted to Mo’s.

The door was unlocked, the lights were off, but Mo wasn’t inside. At least, not at the first glance. “Mo!” Bladescape called. Mo operated out of a shop, which meant they typically had hours set by the owner to keep others out. After the third call she was getting concerned. Mo had many special things hidden away. An unlocked shop was unwise.

A bookshelf along the back wall swung open and a tired Mo walked out with a yawn. She was wearing a sleeping outfit Bladescape instantly recognized. Diemond had made it. It was what Konpeito wore, except it was a soft gray-blue. Mo had shopped at the big sale.

“I have the jar,” Bladescape said, opening her menu.

Mo stretched and yawned loudly as she ignored Bladescape and walked to the back room. She came back with a box. Bladescape had the jar in her hands.

“Put it in here,” Mo said firmly. She wasn’t joking. She obviously didn't want to touch it.

Bladescape put it inside and Mo immediately shut the box up and took it to the back. When she came back out she gestured to the sitting area. Bladescape sighed and sat down on the couch across from her.

“So, you got the dish," Mo said. "And the rest of the reward?”

“The quest is still open,” Bladescape stated. “The witch was the princess. That is the short version. I figured it out in time and killed her, but she did confirm her treacherous switch.”

Mo leaned forward, elbows on her knees as she toyed with a bracelet on her forearm.

“I was afraid of that,” Mo finally stated. “That was the first quest on the list. Do you have another?”

“Yes,” Bladescape replied, trying to keep Mo from seeing all her cards. Bladescape was appropriately wary of Mo’s intentions.

Mo stopped playing with the bracelet and pulled her menu up. She locked the shop’s door with it and stood up. “I will be right back with some tea.”

It was a short wait for the tea. Bladescape nodded for her to continue as she took her own cup and sipped the hot and calming tea.

"I was not sure if it would be finished or not,” Mo stated after taking a sip. “The Glass Tower Quest has every indication of being a large quest with lots of smaller ones inside. I have gotten references to it so I know it's out there, but I can’t figure out how to trigger the overarching quest. I couldn’t beat the witch if I failed. I made a calculated choice withholding that information, but you outsmarted her, there is no point in trying to match wits with you.”

“What is the Glass Tower Quest?” Bladescape asked.

“Truthfully, I don't know, beyond that all of the information I have found on it refers to the Arthurian Legends and Merlin’s magical glass tower where he kept the thirteen most powerful items in the kingdom. Items of great power, as odd as some of them might be.”

“Like a dish that makes whatever food you want?” Bladescape asked.

Mo snorted. “Hardly, although the dish is one of the treasures. Try a coat that fits any sized man of high stature and will never fit a man unworthy of it, like a commoner. Or a knife that would serve for 24 men at a table. I don’t know all of the legends exactly, I never studied European myths and legends. What I know I had to drag out of the few players who have studied those legends and it cost me some hefty col. It also doesn’t mean all of the items will be a direct copy.”

“I’m no good at this,” Bladescape sighed. Knightstar was who she needed, but at this point she couldn’t go to her. It was still too early to reach her guarded friend.

“You are better than me,” Mo stated. “But I know this, the original legends state that Merlin is sleeping there in the glass tower with the items, but if they are spread around Aincrad, I am certain that the tower itself holds more. We just need to collect the items for Merlin. Or what Merlin will require to be woken up. However it will work. We don't even know where the glass tower actually is yet. I assume it's on a floor we haven't unlocked. Those three quests I gave you are the first three in the Glass Tower Quest that I have found.”

"So, I have to find these items and hope we can figure out how to get into this tower?" Bladescape asked.

Mo nodded. "Some of these items, the ones not listed in the quests I know of, but are in the legends, are items of great value, tactically, for this game. A sword, a concealing cloak, and potentially others. Merlin, or the tower, or whatever, might have other things we can trade for our uses as well."

Bladescape sighed, setting the empty teacup down on the table. "So, you expect me to continue these quests for you off of the idea of a maybe for potential magical loot?"

"Very nice use of the triple vague words," Mo complimented her with a smile. "I know, it was a nasty trick to play on a friend. I am appropriately guarded. You said you were looking for a hobby and I offered questing to you. Did you enjoy it?"

Bladescape grumbled. "No. I didn't."

"But you are hooked with no idea of what else to do and without a skill to choose for what, your ninth slot?” Mo pointed out.

"Tenth," Bladescape said, purposefully triggering her trap with false information. She didn't want to reveal just how far ahead of the bulk of the Assault Team she was.

"Be my pawn for the next few days and I will make it worth your while," Mo offered. "Somehow."

"An interesting offer," Bladescape replied. "Does your pawn get full disclosure?”

"Of course," Mo said with a nod. "What little it may be."

"How about that amulet as a reward?" Bladescape asked. "The one we are not to speak of."

Mo narrowed her eyes at Bladescape sparring with her in a test of willpower.

"If that trinket is all you think you are worth, I will spare it," Mo finally declared.

Bladescape grunted, acknowledging her defeat. "I have to know I can trust you. I need that assurance. The nature of your occupation makes that a concern, but that shouldn't be taken personally. I've worked for Argo, so I know what it's like. She hasn't treated the Wondercolts poorly or unfairly. Actually, I'd say the opposite. You and I can divvy up the rewards, or swap, when this is done."

"Deal," Mo coyly grinned. "But in full disclosure, I am warning you, I deal with the rarest of the rare, and while I try to pass those items on to those who need it, I don't give up most of what I get. I don't trust many players and for good reason. Some items I have would destroy the balance of the game as players truly turned on other players. There may be items that I won't tell you what they are for, or lie about, because of their nature."

"I remember," Bladescape replied. "I trust that we can agree on those items. I'm giving you a huge advance on my trust."

"I know," Mo solemnly replied. "I am well aware of how powerful that advance is because of your reputation. Now, what do you need for your next task?"

"Two things," Bladescape grinned. "The witch tried to bargain for her life with information about other things her father hid. For the Halter quest that means beating a mounted knight, so riding lessons, and then I need directions to where Tudwal’s Whetstone is. She did tell me how to answer the questions the guardian for the whetstone will ask."

Mo nodded. "I know someone who can help you learn to ride and I know where the stone is said to be held. You can only take one stone out. If it is the right one, it is yours. If it isn't, it turns to dust and the way back in is blocked forever to you. Go home and rest. Tomorrow will be a tough day learning to ride. I’ll get everything set up for you."

Bladescape stood up, but before she took a step, she asked a question. "How many necklaces are there with a tiny teleport crystal on them?"

Mo snorted, holding back as much as she could. The bite was still strong. "I had to give the only one to Argo. It was an exchange I couldn't pass up. At least she is reputable enough to be trusted with it."

"And she has legitimate reasons to be using it," Bladescape added.

"She was burning through a lot of crystals to get the information for the bosses," Mo stated. "But that wasn't why I traded her for it. That item is an unspeakable one."

"Follow-up question," Bladescape asked. "The Beast Tamer's Charms. Are they one of those dark items?"

"A dark gray," Mo admitted. "But they are with a white player and a member of the Assault Team at that. She deserves them, but I know you understand the power behind those charms."

Bladescape silently nodded and finally headed for the door. She teleported back to Mishe. It was late, but she wasn't expecting to find Natora at the guild hall table. She was asleep, or had been until Bladescape had entered their headquarters.

"I have a quest project," Bladescape immediately stated. "I'll be off the front lines for a few days."

"Okay," Natora shrugged. "We can handle it. Malus has stepped up nicely, she always was a natural leader, and Kiefer is doing well too. The guild is well stocked, our coffers expanded nicely since Argo bartered for all of us to get into the boss raid. We need to start thinking about a new place. This place is great though, I'm not sure if we can match the amenities we have here, so maybe just a new place for the headquarters, where we can officially hang our flag. It's just something to consider, something we will need to do by Floor Seventy, Seventy-Five at the latest.”

Bladescape sighed. "Yeah, I know. I hadn't quite figured out how to overcome the great features. I'm afraid we won't find them elsewhere, but the idea of a second place is a good one. A lot of small guilds are using houses, not headquarters. Headquarters have clear advantages, even if it is just a front and meeting place."

"You seem to be enjoying questing," Natora added. "That's good. You deserve the time off. It's well earned."

"I am, sort of," Bladescape said. "It's interesting. I figured a few things out to beat the system, yet that seemed the only way to win. Working for Mo is interesting, a lot like questing for Argo, yet distinctly different. At least I'm used to part of it. It's a quest chain, with the first three available. It comes with the potential for some really powerful and worthwhile rewards, but that's just a potential."

"Hey, so long as you enjoy it and get a break, that's what matters," Natora said. "Anyway, I'm going to go to bed. Nothing interesting is happening in the clearing effort."

BLADESCAPE: Level 80 — Two-Handed Sword — Searching — Weapon Defense — Leather Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Sprint — Blade Throwing — Extended Weight Carry — Acrobatics
NATORA: Level 76 — Two-Handed Spear — Purchase Negotiations — Sales Negotiation — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Acrobatics — Armor Pierce — Sprint
MALUS: Level 75 — One-Handed War Hammer — Heavy Shield — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Extended Weight Carry — Battle Regeneration — Fishing — Search — Martial Arts — Rend
THUNDERBORNE: Level 75 — Rapier — Sprint — Acrobatics — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Armor Pierce — Martial Arts — Blade Throwing
KONPEITO: Level 75 — Two-Handed Axe — Cooking — Weapon Defense — Light Metal Armor — Martial Arts — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Music — Blade Throwing — Bard — Extended Weight Carry
DIEMOND: Level 76 — Mace — Heavy Shield — Sewing — Heavy Metal Armor — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Light Metal Armor Forging — Heavy Metal Armor Forging — Extended Weight Carry — Jewelry Creation
DOOMBUNNY: Level 79 — One-Handed Dagger — Hide — Fighting Spirit — Blade Throwing — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Familiar Cooperation — Mixing — Listen — Reveal — Main-gauche
KIEFER: Level 73 — One-Handed Curved Sword — Slash Weapon Forging — Light Metal Armor — Weapon Defense — First Aid — Katana — Battle Regeneration — Slash Weapon Forging — Blade Throwing — Armor Pierce
SORYUTO: Level 71 — One-Handed Sword — Shield — Light Metal Armor — Music — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Fighting Spirit — Armor Pierce — Acrobatics — Extended Weight Carry
REISENKI: Level 73 — One-Handed Axe — Heavy Shield — Heavy Metal Armor — Equipment Repair — Metal Equipment Repair — First Aid — Battle Regeneration — Cooking — Metal Refining — One-Hand Weapon Creation