[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/6W7bqko.png[/img]
[h2][color=FD0000]The Koopa Troop[/color][/h2]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/kxxtOHI.png[/img]
[b][color=FD0000]wordcount:[/color][/b] 6271 (+8) 
[b][color=FD0000]Bowser: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=FD0000]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////[/color] (149/120)
[b][color=SpringGreen]Bowser Jr: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=SpringGreen]////////////////////////////////////////[/color]//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (39/120)
[b][color=DeepSkyBlue]Kamek: Level 12 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=DeepSkyBlue]//////////////////////////////////////[/color]////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// (35/120)
[b][color=Aqua]Rika: Level 7 [/color][/b] EXP: [color=Aqua]/////////////////////[/color]///////////////////////////////////////////////// (22/70)
Level 10 Sectonia (holding 4 level up) - (17/100)
[b][color=FD0000]Location:[/color][/b] The Under - City of Tears
[/center]

After finding out, thanks to Rika, that the other half of the team were in town, the Troop had immediately trooped on over to the hotel they were directed to by the mermaid guard. A check at the desk confirming that the others were indeed there, they had promptly piled on into a cheap room and slept through the rest of the night.

Despite their thriftiness and resulting cramped row, when the next day dawned and they tried to get breakfast it turned out they were in quite the financial woe, at least when it came to raw cash. What they were flush with was spirits. Lots of spirits. The troop had practically hoarded them the previous day, having everything from giant spiders and mosquitoes to mushroom and centipede people, deadly basilisks and virulent lightseeds. Oh and an oversized turkey too.

Within, surely some riches would be found which could be used or pawned, (along with the assorted minerals and gems that made the whole situation, frankly, a lot less bad than it could have been). As for why they had not used it? Well the troop had been told of a certain accusation by a certain queen that would increase their pay out. One residing at that very same hotel, and who’s arrival the toast munchers were eagerly anticipating. 

It would also be nice to hear how the other party was doing of course, but the lack of meat in the royal koopa’s bellies was very much driving their thought process at the moment, a mood which was dragging the other two along for the ride.

It wouldn’t take long for Sectonia to make her way to the breakfast area. While she was one for beauty, she was practiced enough to not take ages to make herself presentable, although the little bit of extra makeup to cover up that small tattoo she had gotten from her excursion in the basement added a little bit more time than was usual. Still, she made her way past the troop to grab a cup of juice before glancing at the large koopa family. [color=92278f]”Oh, your here.”[/color] Sectonia said flatly. She wasn’t mad or angry at the troop, just neutral. It was early in the morning after all. [color=92278f]”Where were you all.”[/color]. Sectonia finished her first cup of juice, and went for another, this time using her new fire breath to heat the juice a little.

[color=FD0000]”Huh? Where were we? You were the ones who up and disappeared without a trace”[/color] Bowser replied, and though his words could come off as accusatory, his tone made it clear that he was mostly just confused.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”To, ah, clarify, we ran into a spot of trouble with some very large spiders, which took a little while to handle, and then after we turned around and came back we could not find a trace of you. Other than the map making man that is, but after that, nothing”[/color] Kamek injected to smooth things over [color=DeepSkyBlue]”So where did you end up going that made your route so hard to follow? I’m quite sure we ended up coming down here by an entirely different way, considering the man we met on the last leg of our journey hadn't seen you pass by”[/color]

Sectonia let out a huff as she turned to the koopa family. [color=92278f]”If you're curious, we went to a place called the ‘basement’. A horrid underground dungeon full of bodily horrors, undead, feces, and all sorts of horrid abominations. Which ended with us having to fight some eldritch fetus thing. It was awful.”[/color] Sectonia said, almost a bit glad to vent about what had happened yesterday, letting out a sigh that let loose a small puff of fire. [color=92278f]”Spiders are easy to handle compared to that place…”[/color] With that being said, Sectonia finished her juice and got a third cup. It was clear that the cups made for the smaller bugs of the hotel weren’t enough for the bee queen. [color=92278f]”I suppose my group did come out of it with a few benefits, but many things there were not for the taking considering how badly it seemed some of them could disfigure you. You’ll see when Nadia comes down.”[/color]

[color=FD0000]”I. Well. There were a lot of them”[/color] Bowser tried to respond, but his heart was not in it. Going the long way, it seemed, had definitely been the more preferable way of going about it.

[color=SpringGreen]”What’s a fetus”[/color] Jr then asked, which could have been a very awkward question, had he not been a reptile. As it was Kamek simply explained that it was [color=DeepSkyBlue]”It’s what a baby is while it is growing in the egg”[/color] 

[color=SpringGreen]”Oh. Ew. Yeah no one eldritch baby is way more than enough. I am glad we missed that”[/color] Jr said, referencing the orphan of Koss, [color=SpringGreen]”Worst we had was …. I mean the wall to wall spiders were pretty bad. And then there's a zombie plague down here too apparently which we ran into like one off. Then it was down a massive tree, and then along a beach, and then we met this place’s ex-king and learned some stuff”[/color]

[color=92278f]”Hm… It sounds like you all had a much easier time of it. A good thing you didn’t surf down a river of blood inside some eldritch stomach… Ask Nadia, Therion, or Omori about the details. I’d sooner forget that place”[/color] Sectonia said, the bee queen visibly shivering for a moment. She then channeled her jealousy of how much of an easy time they all had compared to her from the sound of things to recover her own face, as annoying as it was, the fact that the king koopa was being deflated was more enjoyable than she thought. Although she wouldn’t tell that to his face. He was being far more refined than he used to be from her knowledge. 

She then remembered what Jr. had just said [color=92278f]”So what did you learn from the ruler of this realm? Or the ex-ruler.”[/color] Sectonia asked, curious. Perhaps their explanation would explain who made that disgusting dungeon.

Unfortunately it did not, but what did do was clue her into a much greater veilness at the heart of the world that Galeem had created. Kamek, naturally, took the lead in this, explaining to the best of his ability how the flame clocks worked. How the people in this world were fueled by the lifelight, the same very thing blinding them to the true nature of that very world, and that the only way to get more was to take it from others. Or, more specifically, from the clocks that could only be filled by the deaths of others.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”It explains where most of everywhere we’ve been has been in a state of conflict of some kind or other”[/color] Kamek concluded, [color=DeepSkyBlue]”It’s not just that its set up like that at the start, its that its necessary for a place to even survive”[/color]

[color=Aqua]”That the war my …. My people were dying in was actually keeping them and Limsa Lominscuttle town alive and their clocks fed is, well, ironic. Right? That’s how irony works isn’t it?”[/color] Rika commented, before furrowing her eyebrows and then asking [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Wait, so what’s keeping them alive now then?”[/color]

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”That. I. Oh dear”[/color] Kamek replied as the reality of what they had done suddenly dawned on them all.

Sectonia thought to herself after hearing about all of that. [color=92278f]”Well this does tell us one thing. Galeem was able to merge worlds, but is unable to actively control things beyond that. Instead, to keep its ‘perfect world’ in order, it requires a constant culling of its inhabitants. A poor ruler indeed.”[/color] Sectonia said, going on a bit about what she figured that all meant. [color=92278f]”A ghoulish situation indeed, but not one we can relent on. Without looking at this ‘clock’ myself, I can’t confirm your suspicions. Perhaps there is something not being told or something not even this ‘ex king’ was aware of.”[/color]

Sectonia’s input probably wasn’t what the koopa troop were thinking she would say, and Sectonia waited to see what their reactions would be to these words before continuing. [color=92278f]”There are three things this story doesn’t account for. What happens when an area is freed by the defeat of a guardian? What about areas that allow people to constantly ‘respawn’ as they called it, and finally, how long has Alucanth been up and have they been required to engage in this barbaric behavior? Either way, we can’t lament on the past if we are to push forward and end all of this.”[/color] And to ease their worries, she said something else. [color=92278f]”and perhaps later down the line, an alternate method may open up to us to resolve this issue. Can’t run a kingdom built upon the corpses of its own citizens.”[/color]

The mood that had been getting more and more dower as she talked suddenly perked right back up when the queen reminded them of what their mission was. 

[color=SpringGreen]”I … you know what, yeah! If we punch Galeem in its stupid not face none of that matters. Coz when you punch the big eldritch god thing everything goes back to normal!”[/color] Jr cheered

[color=Aqua]”It does?”[/color] Rika had to ask if it really worked that way

[color=FD0000]”Most of the time, yeah”[/color] Bowser agreed, having punched a fair few jerks in the face for daring to try and usurp his position as his world’s big bad guy. 

[color=92278f]”And if it doesn’t, and we are stuck with a mishmash of a world, it would be quite the dominion to rule over, once things were put back into working order.”[/color] Sectonia said.

Kamek meanwhile had more of a thing and, thanks to the queen’s insite, came up with something [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Alcamoth! Yes yes the whole place is free, so we can check something. Asgore said we weren't part of that cycle, which means that if there is a clock there, it shouldn't be burning down any more! If we can find it, and confirm that, well, then we might want to rethink how we go about things entirely!”[/color] he declared.

[color=92278f]”And perhaps that insight will explain how to free entire towns, assuming something with these clocks is keeping them enthralled. Yes.”[/color] Sectonia said, musing. She finished her most recent cup of juice as the koopa troop looked much more inspired. And almost as if to change the subject, Sectonia asked. [color=92278f]”So, with that all cleared up, is there any other business that must be attended to?”[/color]

[color=Aqua]”Couldn’t we just do it manually?”[/color] Rika started to suggest but, unfortunately, the dragony bit of Bowser’s soul reared its head in response to that question, prompting him to pull out a set of bottles bristling with spirits and set them down on the table while saying [color=FD0000]”Yeah. We need to borrow your hat. You talked real big about it giving out good stuff earlier, and I need meat money”[/color] 

[color=SpringGreen]”Also cool stuff!”[/color] jr butted in to add, the act of holding off on cracking open the little mystery boxes that where spirits having been quite the act of self control on his part

[color=FD0000]”Also cool stuff for my boy”[/color] 

[color=Aqua]”and maybe I’ll get some ammo? Or ammo money?”[/color] Rika added hopefully, already dropping her prior comment in the name of reloading her dakka.

[color=FD0000]”That too!”[/color] 
Sectonia laughed, amused. [color=92278f]”Very well. But as I’m sure you are aware, since you aren’t my minions there will be a cost to be incurred.”[/color] Sectonia then withdrew the soul of It Lives, having kept it wrapped up as she didn’t want to touch it. [color=92278f]”Remember that thing I told you about? As you can guess, none of my minions want to touch this thing. I am repulsed looking at it as well, but even I won't deny it might have something strong if crushed.”[/color] Sectonia then pulled out the Symbol of Avarice, presenting it to the koopa troop. [color=92278f]”The cost incurred by you will be you crush this horrid thing, I get to look over what you gain from what you crush to see if anything interests me, And a percentage of profits.”[/color]

It wasn’t a bad deal, all things considered. There were very few things she was interested in as it was, and she doubted that hideous abomination would drop anything anyone would want, but what it gives might sell quite well. She would also warn the troop that if an item spawned atop a stone pillar upon crushing the It Lives spirit to stay far, FAR away from it until she analyzed it, otherwise something absolutely dreadful could happen to them as a backlash to touching said item.

[color=FD0000]”I think Blazermate got a big bean from one of those in the Maw?”[/color] Bowser said in response to the stone pillar thing, before grumbling about her requesting a share of their loot.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”What percentage, exactly?”[/color] Kamek asked regarding the tax that was apparently being levied on them, which did not seem very jolly or collaborative to him.

[color=92278f]”Not much. We are allies at the end of the day, but I’m not a charity.”[/color] Sectonia said flatly. [color=92278f]”And you lot are much more amiable than that Ganondorf…”[/color] Sectonia continued, giving the troop a compliment.

[color=FD0000]”Yeah, we’re way more whatever that is than him for sure!”[/color] Bowser declared, while Kamek grumbled a bit about not getting an exact number. He was used to that however, so in the end there was little more complaining as they set to work

Or rather Rika did, because she was the only one the ugly helmet fit properly.

[color=Aqua]”Ouch! Ow! That stings!”[/color] she complained as she learned about the helm’s downside, and resulted in Jr having to go on healer duty again, topping her up whenever the biting got too bad. Sectonia’s healing aura did help reduce the damage Rika took and aided Jr. with his healing. 

[hider=crushed]
[list]
[*] It Lives
[*] I’m Stuffed (got this one already)
[*] 3 Lesser Kindred of Rot
[*] 3 basilisks
[*] 6 Mushrooms
[*] 6 giant spiders
[*] 12 giant mosquitos
[*] 12 lightseeds
[/list]

[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/6lG1ZhT.png]Smelter[/url][/b]
[i]A thermos-sized cauldron. If an item that confers passive effects while equipped or held is dropped into the smelter, the item is destroyed and the effect is applied to the person who dropped it permanently. Spirits itemized by this item's bearer are more likely to become trinkets[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/co7HPRk.png]Kindred of Rot's Exultation[/url][/b]
[i]A talisman depicting the exultation of pests. Raises attack power when poisoning or rot occurs in the vicinity. "Rot for the scarlet goddess. O scarlet blossoms, flourish in distant lands, and return to us, the unwanted children"[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/XHZ6Lig.png]Pest’s Glaive[/url][/b]
[i]Glaive made from a hard, sharpened shell. Wielded by the pests who emerged from the Swamp of Aeonia. Slightly increases non-physical damage negation. Though men might recognize the keen intellect of the pests evidenced by this spear's uncanny design, it will never be understood by them[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/miIMylf.png]Mauldrone[/url][/b]
[i]A somewhat intelligent insect the size of a dinner plate, rather heavy and quite durable. Balanced between speed and attack, it deals blunt damage by ramming into its targets on the wing. However, the only way to communicate with it or get it to do something is via light or chemical signals; it does not understand intention or speech[/i]
[b]Souls[/b] x500
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/RZfZdfw.png]Staff of Water[/url][/b]
[i]While equipped, it provides an unlimited amount of water runes, effectively eliminating the need for water runes for any spellcasting that involves runes. Otherwise it doesn't not behave any differently compared to a normal casting catalyst, aside from being good quality[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/htHntJz.png]Basilisk Boots[/url][/b]
[i]Power armor for rangers. It provides a damage boost to physical ranged attacks (darts, arrows, bolts, javelins, spears, throwing knives, etc) but doesn't offer great protection[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/0WwkUmb.png]Mycelia[/url][/b] x3
[i]A valuable crafting ingredient used in the creation of medicinal inhalers (which restore health) and gas masks (allowing one to breath in poisonous areas)[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/UD2cxZi.png]Bacon Agaric[/url][/b] x3
[i]Mushrooms that look and smell tasty. Eating one instantly restores 20% of one's life[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/0BAinpX.png]Spider Eggs[/url][/b] x2
[i]If checked by someone with sufficient farming skill, these eggs will become tame spirit spiders that can be used to farm silk if fed bugs[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/1D60fQ3.png]Spider Eye[/url][/b] x4
[i]Will provide some sustenance but poison the consumer if eaten. Can be used as a brewing ingredient to make potions of poison or fermented spider eyes for stronger potions[/i]
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/1V5bijc.png]The Blood[/url][/b] x2
[i]A tincture of sanguine liquid suitable only for the satisfaction of crimson cravings[/i]
[b]Souls[/b] x80
[b]geo[/b] x12
[b][url=https://i.imgur.com/DTQhywe.png]Snake Shotgun[/url][/b] A shotgun with recoil and others stats comparable to a sawed-off. When its trigger is pulled it shoots three green snakes at once. The snakes are alive and can be killed but don't have spirits. After being shot they single-mindedly pursue the nearest living thing they can smell in order to bite them. The bites are venomous, causing pain and paralysis that builds up over multiple bites. The snakes can and will attack both allies and the shooter if they're too close. The trigger can be pulled ten times for a grand total of thirty snakes before the shotgun is useless. Ammo pickups do not replenish the snakes
[/hider]

Looking over all the items, Sectonia was surprised when she saw something so… mundane come from the It Lives spirit. Otherwise there wasn’t much of anything she was interested in. The magical staff might’ve been something, but really there wasn’t much here she was interested in. If only she knew more about the smelter looking item… 

[color=92278f]”Hm… From what I can tell from these items… I was expecting something more horrific from that spirit. It seems this item confers what item you throw into it to the person itself. And it has no transformative properties? It could be useful?”[/color] Sectonia then looked at the other items, having little interest in them but giving her appraisal of each one as she magically saw them. 

[color=92278f]”It seems many of the items here could be used by those down here. If I remember right, Therion could use those boots for example. Kamek, that staff looks like it could be useful for you. And of course this thermos, who has the courage to see what it does? The other items though, I am unaware of any of us that can use them. Perhaps they will sell well?”[/color] Sectonia said, finishing her analysis and taking the helmet from Rika.

Rika was mostly just glad for it to all be over, the ship girl rubbing her now unhelmeted head. After she got a reassuring pat on the shoulder, some praise for her endurance, and a once over to make sure she was well and good she said [color=Aqua]”Mmm, might as well find out if the thing your bitty hat is any good I guess”[/color] apparently not done with the mornings bout of minor self sacrifice.

Indeed Bowser tried to step in and assure her that [color=FD0000]”Hey you don’t need to do that, I can”[/color] but the ship girl shook her head and picked up her dated sunglasses from where they were laying next to her spartan helmet.

[color=Aqua]”Having both of these on has been super uncomfortable. And makes it kinda depressingly dark too. So I wanna check if this works or not”[/color] before she touched the floating cauldron. As predicted, no horrific mutations ensued, and instead the item simply stopped floating and bonked down on top of the stone pedestal (which someone was going to have to remove somehow if they wanted it to not go on taking up table space).

With the risky part out of the way, Rika picked up the cauldron and plotted in front of her, before folding in the arms of the sunglasses and popping them into it. Heat flashed as the item ‘melted’ in the smelter, and when Rika peeked a moment later it was gone.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”So… how do you feel?”[/color] Kamek asked

[color=Aqua]”Hmmm. About the same”[/color] Rika said, before asking Jr to [color=Aqua]”Toss something at me to check”[/color]

A spider egg went flying over the table a few moments later, only for it to slow in the air when it got close to the ship girl, like it had got stuck in molasses, giving her plenty of time to snatch it out of the air.

[color=Aqua]”Yup. Looks like it works”[/color] she confirmed as she plopped the egg down.

[color=Aqua]”While your at it, got any idea what any of these do?”[/color] she then asked, pulling out a pair of Mithril Stone Spirits, a Burnt Pan and an Earth Talisman from her pockets (and getting Kamek to enlarge the frying pan for her) [color=Aqua]”I mean it’s probably just a normal frying pan but you never know”[/color]

Sectonia looked at the items but her expression showed everyone they weren’t all that good. [color=92278f]”just some weird consumables and a weapon that doesn’t look all that interesting. Probably best to sell them.”[/color] Sectonia said dismissively at the new items. With the cauldron item having been tested by Rika, Sectonia motioned for her to hand it to the bee queen. [color=92278f]”I will hold onto that.”[/color] she said simply. She wasn’t interested in any of the other items so the koopa troop was free to do whatever she wanted with those. She was curious as to what they would sell for.

[color=Aqua]”Hang on hang on, I wanna try another one”[/color] Rika insisted, before plopping the pests talisman into it, only for her to become confused when nothing happened

[color=Aqua]”Oh wait shoot, did I break it?”[/color] she asked nervously, picking out and then popping the talisman back in again a few more times to no avail.

Looking at the item, it seemed to have cooled down after smelting a single item, getting slightly warmer as time went on. [color=92278f]”It needs some time to recharge its magical power. What it’s doing is fairly strong after all.”[/color] Sectonia said.

[color=Aqua]”Oh. Good. Phew”[/color] Rika sighed in relief, wiping her brow, before asking [color=Aqua]”So can I use it again once it’s, uh, warmed up I guess?”[/color] 

Sectonia put a hand on her hip, exhaling a bit before saying. [color=92278f]”I suppose. However if I remember right, you were also lacking in food funds?”[/color] Sectonia wouldn’t mention her funds were fairly low after yesterday, but from what she knew of this group, funds in general were low. Speaking of, Sectonia got even more juice. One would think she had a sweet tooth.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well we were, but now that we have all this, we should be able to make up some funds with some sales”[/color] Kamek said, gesturing to the items [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Some kind of herbalist or alchemist for most of these, for example, would solve our problem nicely”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”And some kind of smith for the other stuff, yeah?”[/color] Bowser added, referring to the various minerals he had in his pockets [color=FD0000]”then finally some kind of general merchant for the gear”[/color]

[color=Aqua]”No no no we should try putting all the things in the pot first”[/color] Rika insisted, and then when someone pointed out half of it would not fit she retorted that [color=FD0000]”Kamek could just shrink it right?”[/color]

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”I suppose?”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”Alright, that’s the plan then. Let’s head out, make some cash, and then we can buy a second breakfast!”[/color] Bowser declared, before scooping up a share of the things they were going to sell, while Rika darted around grabbing things she wanted to try smelting.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Would you care to accompany us?”[/color] Kamek asked, to which Rika added [color=Aqua]”So I can use your thing”[/color] 

Crushing her juice cup after fishing it and throwing it away, Sectonia looked at Kamek’s politeness, contrasted with Rika’s unabashed bluntness and said nothing for a time before replying.[color=92278f]”I suppose I should. Perhaps there might be other trinkets in the shops as well that interest me.”[/color] She then looked at Rika, saying. [color=92278f]”Just remember, we do not have a method to separate the magic from whoever smelts an item with this thing, so take into consideration if someone else could use it better than you.”[/color] 

[color=Aqua]”Sure sure. But I mean no one was interested in the other stuff right? Except the boots you said Therion might like, and I guess the magic stuff”[/color] She said, putting those to one side, along with the magic looking staff and talisman, while taking the spear, the pan, the weird shotgun and the little talisman for herself. 

And the bug.

With that the Troop set out, but stopped briefly by the front desk to let people know they were going shopping. In doing so they also received the message Nadia had read earlier.

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”Well, that is, perhaps, a little ominous”[/color] Kamek noted, before glancing back at the others, and asking [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Thoughts?”[/color] of which it turned out the rest of the troop had very few. Sectonia didn’t really have much insight either and only shook her head. 

[color=DeepSkyBlue]”I suppose we’ll hear them out then. After selling and shopping”[/color] Kamek decided for them.

[color=92278f]”As long as it isn’t this Counselor P I heard about yesterday. But from what I heard of that one, he puts everyone to shame when it comes to greed and debauchery. And that would lead to many enemies”[/color] Sectonia said. But besides that she was eager to go shopping, although her face barely showed it.

As the group of royals and their entourage. (Although it was mostly just Sectonia moving with the Bowser family) a thought occurred to Sectonia. [color=92278f]”So, I remember some of you never doing the things you were doing or looking like that. What did you find along your path in terms of new powers?”[/color] While this was a lead into what she gained from her little excursion, it would be best to at least take note of what these people could do. Things changed so rapidly in this world being behind in knowing what people did could be an issue.

[color=FD0000]”Oh wow, where to even start with all the new awesome stuff we can do?”[/color] Bowser asked, a bit rhetorically, only for Kamek to answer him anyway with [color=DeepSkyBlue]”Maybe focus on the biggest changes to our group’s abilities, rather than just our ability to blast stuff better?”[/color] 

[color=FD0000]”Huh, and what would that be?”[/color] Bowser asked, to which Kamek simply pointed at Rika

[color=Aqua]”Hi! I’m Rika, and I guess all of me is new? I mean I guess I wasn’t even a person when you all met before? But I’m a boat, and I shoot things with big guns. Or well I did, but I used all my ammo. Now I punch stuff good, and grappling hook stuff, and chainsaw it, and hack it with my hull blades and stuff like that”[/color] she explained, shadow boxing a bit as she explained herself. 

[color=FD0000]”Yup, that’s my girl, a real go getter and credit to the team”[/color] Bowser praised her, before also pointing out that [color=FD0000]”Now my boy meanwhile has picked up a bunch of healing magic and stuff, haven’t you son?”[/color] 

[color=SpringGreen]”Yup. So if you're hurt and stuff I guess I’ll fix you up. Try not to though, its kind a pain”[/color] the prince replied [color=SpringGreen]”I can also cure like, curses and put people to sleep and other stuff to, it's a whole big tool kit”[/color]
[color=DeepSkyBlue]”I meanwhile can give shields that increase physical resistance, shrink things, and create magical mounts”[/color] Kamek explained for himself, while Bowser’s own was just [color=FD0000]”I can smash, bash and blast even better now”[/color] before releasing the looks that simple explanation got him and tried to add [color=FD0000]”Oh and I can breath underwater I guess?”[/color] to save face

[color=92278f]”I suppose you all have been busy.”[/color] Sectonia said, really having more of a ‘that's neat’ tone of her voice. [color=92278f]”I meanwhile have only gained some moderate boosts to my antillions and a vague control over fire.”[/color] Sectonia said, summoning a single antillion which was much bigger than it was the last time the koopa troop had seen them, followed by making a flower of fire from her flame breath, having practiced doing this a bit beforehand, which gained her an ooo of appreciation from the young ones. There was also the whole ‘she had a smelter’ thing now as well, but that was obvious. 

Still, much like she thought, Kamek seemed to have the most useful abilities. Although the royal oaf’s son being a healer was interesting. Considering the lack of healing while going through that dungeon, having that back would be quite nice. 

First off they sold the Mycelia, Spider Eyes and blood vials which got sold to an alchemist, and the Staff of Water, Earth Talisman, Scissorman’s Shears and Insect Scythe to a general weapon’s merchant. Then they made the big bucks selling Bowser’s assorted ores, some Mithril Stone Spirit and, most worthwhile of all, a massive chunk of gold ore the queen summoned down from the surface.

They finally stopped by a monstrous pet’s vendor called [url=https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/battlechasersnightwar_gamepedia/images/9/95/Raha.jpg]Beastmaster Raha[/url], who they sold the spider eggs too, and Rika also got some instruction on how to utilize the large attack bug she had acquired. In the end it turned out it would respond to chemical signals, which was weird, and, apparently, light, which Rika interpreted as [color=Aqua]”Oh like a target designator laser? Weird but ok”[/color]

Their incredibly ad hoc solution to this involved picking up a laser pointer from a stationary shop for pittance, taping it to Rika’s gauntlet, and then having Jr rig up a way for Rika to flick it on and off. After that, it got introduced to its new home, i.e. the now empty hanger on that same gauntlet.

While they were wandering the streets making sales, they made use of the smelter a bit more. Rika melted down the pest talisman, and then got more ambitious and got Kamek’s help to shrink and then melt down the entire pest spear mostly to see if it was possible. Then Bowser gave it a go, doing the same with a frying pan. Out of the curiosity of experimentation, Sectonia wasn’t confrontational about the use of her new little way to empower herself and her minions.

Kamek initially thought this was something of a waste, but after they tried and failed to melt the Scissorman’s Shears, meaning that they must have gained passives from the other melee weapons. Sectonia wasn’t sure exactly what they got either, noticing that what power those weapons had wasn’t all that impressive. Perhaps turning them into money would’ve been better, but they weren’t her items after all. Still, the experimentation was useful.

As for the money, well the troop got a healthy 1285 geo out of their sales, though it was likely less than they could have got, had they actually known the value of half of the items
Sectonia didn’t fare much better at knowing the true value of things, although her tidy sum of 1517 gold was about what she expected. She could probably have pushed for a bit more, but making a scene in front of the koopa troop wouldn’t have done well for her. And now she had access to all her antillions, not just the couple she had been working with.

With all the selling done, all that was left was breakfast. A real, proper breakfast, not some slightly burnt bread like they had had before they set out. Seeing as it was undignified, Sectonia let the koopa troop look for a place to eat. Upon finding a place to eat however, Sectonia finally brought up the matter of ‘payment’ for using her symbol of avarice. 

[color=92278f]”Now then, about that payment…”[/color] Sectonia said, giving a bit of a haughty laugh as she started to count on her fingers. [color=92278f]”I will give you a discount for helping test that new item of mine. Considering all the fees regarding how many items you crushed… the total comes down to…”[/color] Sectonia said, enjoying this quite a bit. [color=92278f]”Lets just call it a meal.”[/color]

There was a bit of grumbling, and most of it was due to the mass of gold they all knew the queen had just gotten her own hands on, but in the end they relented and Kamek cordially invited her to join them for breakfast in his king’s place.

As for the place that Bowser’s nose had lead them too, it was run by a half sized women called [url=https://gbf.wiki/images/4/4e/Npc_zoom_3990683000_01.png]Chef Bridgette
[/url] who was apparently something called a Harvin, not that any of them knew what that was, nor did they find out much about the species. What they did find out was that she made the best big breakfast anyone could ever ask for.

Plates of bacon, hash browns, beans, pancakes, waffles and anything else you desired could be bought for surprisingly reasonable prices, and though none of it was fancy, it still managed to be a slap up feast where every individual part was cooked with oodles of care, attention, and skill.

Truly, it managed to be one of the greatest breakfasts of all time in Bowser’s book, and certainly the best second breakfast. By the end of it the troop was down a bunch of money, mostly due to the king and queen being able to put quite a lot into their large forms, but the meal was such a bang up job that no one was upset about that afterwards.

Sectonia still had to show dignity as she was not eating in the royal quarter, but watching the koopas having quite the boisterous energy was amusing. Although Bowser and his kin needed to be taught a bit of elegance, or at least as much as he could muster if he was a king. Perhaps she’d have to teach him that later, especially if they were going to be allies. But now they had a place to be. [color=92278f]”Now with that done, we had to meet with the others and see who this IGV person is.”[/color] Sectonia said as the group had exited the eatery, making sure to keep them all on task. 

[color=FD0000]”Not got P or F in it, so we should be good, yeah?”[/color] Bowser said, which turned out to not be a joke. As it was, now that they were fueled up, chased up, pasives up and Rika had a string operated shotgun kinda awkwardly strapped onto her left gauntlet, they were ready to face the day and whatever mysteries it contained.