Greater Things CH 4
A/N: Reviews are LOVE! :) Every time I see a review, it pushes me to write out a chapter within the next day. Obviously, I am very susceptible to the pressure lol XD I've been loving writing the smaller game mechanics because I think it makes the story more fun even if it slows the plot down a little. Actually it slowed quite a bit. I wanted this quest finished in the previous chapter but oh well. lol
Normal Speech - regular text
Thoughts & Memories - italicized text
Non-English/Non-Human Language - bold italicized text
Game Announcements - bold text
Chapter 4
Arelia's POV
I woke up the next morning slightly disoriented, very confused and in strong disbelief. But when I glanced over at the table and saw flames still flickering upward from the brazier, I knew it wasn't a dream. I had met my mom! My honest to goddess mother!
But I now had a difficult decision to juggle: should I finish the quest from yesterday or explore my new powers… ?
I mean I only had a couple weeks left in Diagon Alley and… well I have much more time to explore my newly activated powers. I cast a longing sigh in the direction of the flames and start to get ready for the day. Hopefully I could get this done and out of the way.
I walk down the steps and send a hasty wave towards Tom, who waves back, and head down the main street. Right as Gringotts comes into view I make a right (avoiding the left aka Knockturn Alley) I wanted to leave that for last. I see a small sign indicating 'HORIZONT ALLEY' and make my way through the archway past a couple shoppers. I notice all sort of signs like 'Madam Primpernelle's Beautifying Potions' and 'The Daily Prophet.' It seems that this street was mainly designated for specialty and miscellaneous businesses.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see a small shop a bit out of place, it looked a bit deserted, and a bit musty, dusty-but curiosity killed the cat as they say, so I went to take a look.
A bell tinkles as I open the door, and dust comes up flying into my face. As I'm trying to clear my lungs, I take a look around and notice that the room was filled with all kinds of stuff.
(A/N: Cue Deus Ex Machina LMAO)
"Welcome Adventurer! I have been waiting a long time for you! Come, tell me what your name is?" Says nameless old guy aka an NPC. (lol)
"Um… Arelia Potter" I reply in turn, slightly freaked out.
"Ahh... Potts, Potted… Ah, Potter!" He mutters aloud.
"Ah, I have just the thing… but well... it's just maybe..."
"Maybe what?"
"No, no I couldn't ask this of you…"
I roll my eyes, "Please, I would love to help-what seems to be the problem?"
"Well... I… alright I'll tell you. If you could beat me in this game, I have something you might be interested in. It's just that no one ever comes by… and I'm lonely… ?" He finishes sheepishly.
My jaw drops slightly, expecting some sort of epic quest.
A notification pops up:
Ping! Old Man's Mini Game!
The objective of this game choose the correct cup out of three. You must win at least three times in a row to win the prize.
Success:
?
Failure:
You keep playing until you win (lol)
Would you like to start the mini game?
YES / NO
I hesitantly press 'YES'
He shows me two empty cups and a third with a galleon inside.
He then puts them face down and shuffles them obscenely fast-there is no way magic isn't involved.
Basically I could only guess. And guess, I did. I failed the first round and a cheeky 'Would you like to try your luck again?' prompt showed up. I sighed, said yes, and continued.
Of course I failed the next thirty times, but I realized he had a pattern to the shuffling. In a pattern of ten shuffles, the fifth, seventh and eighth shuffle always landed in the middle. I just had to guess the sixth one correctly.
I hadn't realized but I spent two hours doing this.
When I finally won the three in a row, he shot a cheeky grin at me and nodded. The cups and galleon disappeared, and a treasure chest appeared in its place.
In a very cliché fashion, the treasure chest glowed as I opened the lid. Inside was a lasso. I cast an 'OBSERVE' on it and:
Hestia's Lasso
This lasso, also known as the lasso of truth, compels the captured to speak the truth. You know, aside from being unbreakable and all that.
+10 to STR
+10 to WIS
+10 to LUK
Carefully checking how much this adds to my stats, I stare at the lasso in awe. I finally had my superhero weapon! I just need some monsters to practice on!
"Please come by and play some more games with me when you have a chance! It would be nice to speak to someone once in a while." As he waves me off. I leave the shop and quickly check the time.
It was about noon; I bought some little sandwiches from a lady manning a stall and head straight for about a half mile and a wind in the road led to Verdic Alley. This alley was a bit emptier but from what I can see, the two major hotspot places were the Ministry of Magic and St. Mungo's hospital. There were other businesses as well, attorney's offices and various guild headquarters.
I decided to head to St. Mungo's just to see what's up.
I walk up to the receptionist (another NPC? Come on!)
"Welcome to St. Mungo's, How can I help you? If you're incapable of reading our sign, I suggest you get help for that specific malady somewhere else." The Welcome Witch says disinterestedly- (which I felt was very ironic)
The world went dark, and a different person was standing in front of me. I started to panic when I realized my body was moving but I couldn't control it. I couldn't hear what the healer was saying to me, and I couldn't hear what I was replying with.
I let out a relieved sigh when I heard,
"We will do all we can to get rid of it but ultimately it will be up to your magic to fight it off."
My relief was short-lived when I said this and I had no control over what I was saying,
"Of course, I definitely want to undergo treatment for this."
The world goes dark again and a message pops up:
Would you like to remove Debuff [Horcrux] for 500 galleons?
YES / NO
The 'NO' was greyed out so I could only choose 'YES'
I watched from it seems outside of my body as healers carefully cut open my scar and cast some sort of spell at it.
I see myself cry out in pain and show visible struggle until finally a malevolent black smoke flies out and starts fading away.
The world goes dark again and when I can finally see, I'm outside on the street outside St. Mungo's. Confused as to what just happened, check my moleskin pouch and I really was out 500 galleons. I check my stats and the debuff is gone. I shrug it off. At least I had like 22 galleons and some change left. I start back towards the main street. Its already midafternoon and I still had one more alley to check out. I equipped my lasso and headed determinedly to the spooky alley.
As I'm about to enter I get the notification:
Ping! You are about to enter a dungeon:
Knockturn Alley Dungeon
Recommended Level: LVL 1
Warning: If you lose all HP in the dungeon, you start the game over from zero. JK, you die.
Would you like to enter?
YES / NO
I hit 'YES' determined. If I was going to be a hero, I had to get my practice in somehow.
I prepared myself, since I couldn't use magic yet, I relied on the lasso.
Lucky for me since everything was level one, one hit was all it took.
I spun, dived, and charged at the various vampires, werewolves and hags that tried to have a go at me.
I let out an epic spin that had the lasso fanning out in a huge lash that sent a wave of MP out at five attacking werewolves and they were all downed in five seconds.
When I finally cleared the dungeon. I was rewarded with this message:
Congratulations! Dungeon Cleared!
Rewards:
-1000 XP
-50 G
-7 Werewolf Fangs
-2 Vampire Capes
Ping! Leveled up!
I also got notifications for skill level ups and skill creation!
I let out a breath, that was exhilarating! I definitely have to come back!
It was already dinner time, so I head back to the Leaky Cauldron and ask Tom to send a meal up to my room.
When I get back to my room, I glance at the fire and hesitantly start calling for mom. After about a minute of silence, I hear her voice coming from the other end. I start slowly but continue on excitedly about how my day went without mentioning my powers. I talked and talked and talked the night away.
Quest Complete!
Success:
+500 XP
+Lasso of Truth
+1 Level Up!
Narrator's POV
For the next couple weeks, Arelia would visit the dungeon learning to fight with the lasso but also with the fire powers she inherited from her mom. She upped her skills and stats rather quickly as the dungeons got progressively harder. But the dungeons also started giving better loot. Like a special liquid that she applied to her wand, helping her get around underage magic laws. After that moment, she also started practicing spells, getting through more than half of the first-year curriculum.
Until it was September 1st.
Current Stats:
Name: Arelia Lily Potter
Level: 21 (850/2100)
Species: Demigod
HP: 3100
MP: 3100
(As your mana grows, so too does your HP, currently +100 for every level)
Active Buffs:
Clearsighted (+5 to INT, +5 to WIS)
Holly & Phoenix Feather Wand (+2 to all STATS}
Active Debuffs:
NONE
Titles:
Girl-Who-Lived (equipped)
[+10 to LUK, +5 to CHA)
Stats:
STR - 22 (+12)
AGI - 21 (+2)
DEX - 23 (+2)
INT - 25 (+7)
WIS - 21 (+17)
LUK - 4 (+22)
CHA - 11 (+7)
Remaining stat points (currently three for every level increase): 63
Skills (Abilities That Otherwise Normal People Do NOT Have):
Observe (LVL 8)
[Can only be used on objects only- currently only gives brief description and effects]
Basic Charms (LVL 15)
[Currently 15% Chance of Success, 50 MP Per Spell]
Basic Transfiguration (LVL 13)
[Currently 13% Chance of Success, 75 MP Per Spell]
Basic Potions (LVL 35)
[Currently 35% Chance of Success, 5 MP Per Potion]
Basic Defense Against the Dark Arts (LVL 20)
[Currently 20% Chance of Success 50 MP Per Spell]
Basic Astronomy (Level 50)
[Currently 50% Chance of Success)
Basic History of Magic (LVL 40)
Fire Manipulation (LVL 20)
[Currently 20% Chance of Success]
Food Generation (LVL 1)
[Currently only 10% Chance of Success]
Fighting (LVL 25)
[Currently 250 HP damage for every hit]
Perks (Available Points: 11):
TBD
Inventory:
72G 67S 33K
Lasso of Truth
Hestia's Scroll
Hestia's Brazier
Hestia's Grimoire
Map of Diagon Alley
Map to Camp Half-blood
3x Work Robes
1x Pointed Hat
1x Winter Cloak
1x Dragon-hide gloves
1x Brass Scale
1x Crystal Phials
1x Pewter Cauldron
1x Telescope
1x The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 1
1x A History of Magic
1x Magical Theory
1x A Beginner's Guide to Transfiguration
1x One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi
1x Magical Drafts and Potions
1x Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
1x The Dark Forces: A Guide to Self-Protection