Azimuth: The Elden Throne

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/Around 10 to 15 minutes later.../

The ground all around Dale was now filled with a thin layer of grass and the more he walked the 'fresher' the air seemed to become.

"Why is this place like this? No matter how much I think, I can't seem to come up with a logical explanation for this sudden environmental change." Dale asked as he stopped to take a breather

"I was wondering when you were going to ask such a thing." Misgurd said as he checked his surroundings with focus

'The more I know the better...'

'In my case, I've been thinking there's some sort of mystery and all of that would eventually lead to a Quest...'

'But I wouldn't refuse a simpler answer...'

"Of course there is." Testros replied

"According to what I know, this is all because of that desert behind us."

Dale turned around and looked at the yellow dunes in the distance...

"I can see that, what I am asking is how and why there is a desert and a thick forest so close to one another as if it was the most common thing in the world?"

'Even if the desert was growing fast, there isn't a proper explanation as to how the forest is lasting this long and the air is like this...'

"Let me finish first..."

"This desert is actually artificial."

"Artificial?! Like... Someone caused that?"

'It's not really that surprising, I don't know why I acted like that... Humans do that all the time.'

"Not someone, kid. A beast..." Testros said with a hint of rare fear

"Depends on who you ask though..." Grunted Misgurd in a low tone

"COUGH! As I was saying..."

"This desert goes all the way to the lower center portion of the Continent, and previously, it was limited to that area."

"However, around 2 centuries ago, a powerful beast shattered the mountain range that served as a barrier to the south from the desert, effectively creating a hole for the sand to flow in."

"Because of this, a lot of the south has been consumed by the desert and each day this bothersome sand spreads further due to the Northern strong winds that flow in between the mountains..."

When he heard that, Dale's mouth opened in surprise.

"Shattered the mountain?... Just what was that creature?"

But Misgurd intervened and said:

"Don't let this fool mess with you, it's true that the mountain range shattered, but it wasn't done by a beast but by a falling meteor that struck a hole through it 2 centuries ago."

To that, Testros simply smiled and shook his hands to Misgurd saying:

"Still skeptical? It's true that there was a falling light, but it was never confirmed what it was." Testros said with a serious tone

"Wait wait, you're going a bit fast, what was the cause again?" Dale asked, confused

And before Testros could reply, Misgurd said:

"Simple kid, there are many stories surrounding this event."

"In short, 2 centuries ago, the skies of the south were lit by a falling light, proceeding this, part of the mountain range actually disappeared and a massive crater was left in its place."

"Some say it was a creature that destroyed it, others claim that it is simply a meteor that fell in the wrong place."

"Especially since when the Empire moved to check, not only did they not fix the hole in the wall, but they transformed that zone into a forbidden zone."

"Forbidden zone?" Dale asked

"It's a place deemed too dangerous for even the empire to send troops to, and also a place where if you are seen walking or leaving from, you would be executed immediately by the imperial forces." Misgurd pointed out as he looked directly at Dale, warning him

"It's not to be confused with Danger zones, those are similar in nature to Forbidden zones, but the Empire only warns you of entering it, though in some specific cases, they may execute you depending on what you bring from within."

"I see... This makes the place seem a bit much for a simple crash site..."

"Exactly! This is why many believe that is the nest of a massively powerful creature and why the empire has spared not a single ounce of effort into closing that hole, effectively dooming most of the South." Said Testros

But Misgurd simply scoffed and said:

"I can understand if it was some tale associated with a God since those are plentiful."

"But this isn't it, besides, there is already a simpler explanation and that is the fact it was simply a meteor, and likely one that left behind toxic residue."

"Those happen often enough although one of such size is indeed rare, this is still the most probable scenario."

"Because a beast lasting that long in the wild is unlikely..."

"Didn't we just discuss about the monsters sealed within the Catacombs?"

"Don't you start this again..."

Testros and Misgurd stared at each other while Dale thought deeply.

'So all of this came from rumors during the course of 200 years.'

'It's true that information may have come from the North, but there is nothing conclusive even after 200 years?'

'It's a long time, more than enough time for an era to change.'

'200 years made Humans go from early machines during the late 19th Century to extreme Virtual Reality in the late 21st Century.'

'There are too many variables that could easily change the truth.'

'And be it a creature or a natural cause, there are still many things that don't seem to match...'

'How is the strongest force on the Continent unable to deal with a single creature or disaster?'

'Did they silence the news to preserve their reputation and maintain public safety and order?'

'And in the end... How do I deal with it?'

"Sigh, in the end, it doesn't really matter, it happened way ago and far from us." Testros said, interrupting Dale's thoughts

"Last question then, if it happened 2 centuries ago, how is that the forest is so well... Preserved?" Asked Dale as he pointed at the flourishing forest <subtxt> . </subtxt>

"That... I can't say because I don't know." Misgurd said as he scratched his head in frustration

"I may have an explanation for that... But it wouldn't make much sense." Testros said as he went into deep thought

"Say it, better than leaving me hanging like this."

"It's likely the Wall further South."

"What do you mean, old bag? How's that wall gotta do with all of this?" Asked Misgurd, confused

"It's not just any barrier..."

"The wall is a marvel of engineering, possessing many abilities and features in order to defend against the cursed creatures that came from the shores of the Continent."

"One of which was its inherent ability to repel foreign forces, serving as a barrier."

"It used to be pretty strong in the past, but I imagine it either decayed due to lack of repair or it simply stopped working altogether."

"And if we assume the sand has some sort of special power behind them, the wall may be stopping it from advancing, and as such, is protecting the forest from being completely overrun by it."

"Are you saying the sand is being manipulated by something?" Asked Misgurd with a frown

"There is a possibility of that being the case, perhaps if not directly, then indirectly."

[Your quest has been updated]

"..."

'I thought as much...'

]

[Resko's past

Requirements:

Find out what happened to the old Village of Resko 3/?

Find out what happened to the Southern Wall Corps 1/1

Stop 'it' from manifesting 1/?

Time until 'it' awakens ???

Stop the desert from taking over Resko 0/1

*Due to a mysterious event 200 years ago, the desert in the Extreme North of Resko started to expand slowly and after many years it now lies in the village's doors...

]

(Full Quest on N1 notes)

'How... Just how do I stop a desert?'

'Fuck you game!'

...

While Dale felt he was being abused mentally and physically by the game, the trio finally arrived on the outskirts of the farms.

It was much prettier and cleaner than Dale expected.

Beautiful camps filled with large crops growing under the wind, with a few animals grazing on the fields, one of which Dale immediately recognized!

"What the... Impossible..."

'Is that a... Ignition Bovine?!'

Far in the distance, a red bull was calmly eating grass as if it was the most normal thing in the world...

'In the tutorial, it was akin to a Raid Boss but here it's docile cattle? How funny.'

Apart from these, he could see many villagers making sure all of the crops were growing healthily and safely, and closer to them, he could see 3 large warehouses on top of a hill, protected by low walls.

With a closer inspection, Dale came to the conclusion the Hill may be artificial, deeming that this place is mostly flat land.

He could see that the base of the hill was heavily reinforced, and the warehouses were probably built there due to the flood season that happens once per year.

But what Dale found strange was how small everything was.

Considering that at least half of the village worked in the fields, why were there so few camps? He could literally see the end of the camps.

"Heh, I can read your thoughts kid." Said Misgurd with a funny smile

"What?..."

"You've been staring at the farm fields for some time, and it's obvious to notice its obvious characteristics... Especially its reduced size."

"Yes... So I will ask, why not make it bigger?"

Testros arrived behind Dale and tapped his shoulder, saying with remorse:

"Because we can't protect more than what you can see."

"Protect? Do the creatures of the night eat your crops or something?"

"Not exactly... Not them, if only they were the problem..."

"So who...?"

"These little fuckers down here!" Misgurd exclaimed as he drew his sword hastily

/Unsheathe!/

"!"

Testros also drew his sword, going into a stance almost the moment Misgurd uttered a word.

"?!"

Dale had also taken a step back, hearing strange noises in the grass near them...

'There's something in the grass!...'

/BUZZZ!/

Out of nowhere, strange little insects the size of Dale's hand jumped out of the grass.

[Bone Mice

Challenge Level: 5-15]

Several small creatures that looked like a mix of a spider and a mosquito and bigger than even most Tarantulas, two insects Dale had quite a distaste for, dashed from the grass and voraciously attacked them.

With their pair of massive fangs, they flew in the wind trying to bite Misgurd, who quickly and efficiently slashed his sword twice, killing 4 of them in the blink of an eye.

/Shoowsh!/

Testros also pierced with his sword, impaling several of them at once, and with each thrust, a new one was impaled and added to the sword...

"Dammit!"

'This spear is too awkward to use!'

...

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Notes

N1

Requirements:

Find out what happened to the old Village of Resko 3/?

* The Southern Wall Corps used to have a strong influence in these lands, however, due to fear and the ambition of man, they were betrayed by the people they protected, and eventually, their flames were extinguished.

Find out what happened to the Southern Wall Corps 1/1

* The Village of Resko is built on top of the Catacombs of the group known as the Southern Wall Corps, its leader once slew powerful creatures, sealing those he couldn't take down.

* Even after so long, they still remain in the depths of the Catacombs...

* A particularly powerful creature is sealed within the depths of Resko, even now, its power is slowly recovering...

Stop 'it' from manifesting 1/?

Time until 'it' awakens ???

Stop the desert from taking over Resko 0/1

*Due to a mysterious event 200 years ago, the desert in the Extreme North of Resko started to expand slowly and after many years it now lies in the village's doors...

...

]

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