>>4005673
Give me the Gunlance.

>>4005673
>Gunlance
I'll admit to also being a fan of the switchax but a shield is a godsend if your unfamiliar with the enemy.

>>4005673
>Greatsword

we will tackle our way to victory.

>>4005673
>Gunlance

>>4005673
>Insect Glaive

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Gunlance. Ever since your tryouts, the thing sent a shiver of satisfaction down your spine when you used it. Shelling monsters to shreds at both a close and medium range while also being able to chop and puncture away at their hides always brought a smile to your face as you used it. It was the weapon that you grabbed from the rack on the testing days and you just knew, this was it.

You load your gunlance with shells and extract a clean rag, polishing the gunlance and your shield with it before you set the iron weapon to rest upon your back with it's shield. It fit nicely with your matching set of alloy armor, which sparkled as well under your care and maintenance.

As you stepped back onto the deck, it crossed your mind about how names weren't really dropped in these kinds of labor, well, hunting that is. Usually, hunters picked up a nickname they carried with them as they have forever now.

You also had a nickname, one given to you by a good friend from the old world actually who was also a hunter that went by 'Popper'. He just started calling you it and within no time it stuck.

Your nickname was...

>Input nickname or title.

>>4005869
JC

>>4005869
Lance and we never forgave him. Our weapon is a GUNlance not an ordinary lance.

>>4005930
Support

>>4005930
This is the last dance for Lance Vance.

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Lance, and sometimes Lance Vance with your first name in the mix. That nickname stuck and you had accepted it, but you'd never forgive Popper because it just didn't make a lick of sense since you carried a gunlance and not a mundane regular lance. You always told people it was your preference that you liked 'Gunlance Vance' you yourself fashioned better, but they still called you Lance and Lance Vance regardless. You also had hoped you'd be able to convince people in the New World of that, but unfortunately you slipped it to the crewman about your sticking nickname, which they'll no doubt spread since they come to Astera often.

"Oi, hunter, here's your luggage." You hear a crewman say as he shuffled off a sack to you. You nod and take it, strapping it around your belt. The sack contained some basic commodities and items, a few spared as a parting gift by Popper before you joined the Argosy.

You had ten Potions, three Mega Potions, five Antidotes, one Energy Drink, two Flash Pods, and a Well Done Steak wrapped in a napkin. You had some essentials such as a whetstone, a fishing rod and a split for cooking too. You were also to report to the smithy for a 'Slinger' issued to you by the Field Team Leader too.

As you stepped back off the ship and into Astera, you heard a familiar voice from behind.

"Hey! Don't fur-get me Meowster!"

You turned to see your Palico, your Felyne companion coming over with their own bag of equipment over their shoulder. They joined you last year willingly as the only other positions at that time would have been scrubbing floors or other sorts of cleaning for some castellan. Over that year you and your Palico became fast friends and were rarely ever separate.

"I'm real excited Meowster! I can't wait to see all the new kinds of meownsters we'll encounter!" They said with bravado, their almost entirely cream coat of fur shining in the sun.

Your Palico came with some vigorwasp spray and had a suit of iron armor you yourself paid for.

No monster could ever hope to last against you and him.... or was it her?

>Ah yes, it's a he and his name is...
>Ah yes, it's a she and her name is...

>>4005983
>Ah yes, it's a she and her name is...
Furierosa aka Fury. Only other Palicos are allowed to call her Furry or else.

>>4005983
>>4005999
His trips demand it.

>>4005983
>Ah yes, it's a she and her name is...

Vivianne, Vivi for short.

>>4006025
Going with this.

>>4006025
Supporting this

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Ah yes, her name is Vivianne, or Vivi for short. You nodded and Vivianne looked around, taking Astera in all at once.

"I'll go see about the living quarters Meowster, I'll find where we'll be bunking at." She said, giving a salute for charm before hopping off in the direction of the cabins.

You took this time to observe and note your surroundings too as well, getting a feel for where things were at in Astera, including the spots where provisions and cargo were handled, where the officers made their rounds and where the scholars studied monsters as well as fostering plants for use by hunters. The lifts were helpful and allowed anyone to get around quickly. You used it to get to the smithy then. You felt the intense heat of the smithy's forge and approached the conveyor belt upon which equipment being made and fixed flowed. Haughtily, a man with a maul and quite the beard came over and took a seat in front of you, he had the physique and visage of a tried and true engineer. You took your helmet off and let it hang by your neck from it's strap.

"Ahh, hmm... don't really recognize you, but then again my eyes are almost blind anyway. New Hunter?"

"Yes sir, I just arrived off the boat, I'm not from any fleet."

"I see. Second Fleet Master, pleased to meet you. So, you're fresh then? Well you're gonna need your Slinger. Oi!"

The Second Fleet Master raised his arm and caught a metal device chucked to him by one of the other technicians then and presented it to you. You took the device and looked it over before strapping it onto your left arm as per the Master's pointing.

"It's a real innovative device that one. You can fire it with one hand, and loading is as simple as inserting something in the slot there. You can shoot anything that fits from it. I wouldn't shoot any soft fruits or berries though, might burst and get it jammed."

You got used to the Slinger fast, pulling back the slot and testing out how it fired with one arm. Though perhaps the most useful utility to you was it's hook that the Fleet Master explained could be used for climbing and latching onto things.

With that all finally noted, you thanked the Second Fleet Master and left. Now you could finally get down to taking on real Hunter's work. Conveniently, there was a board for quests posted by residents of Astera right next to the smithy's entrance. Everyone seemed to post the same quests on each board so you took a look over it all.

There were several quests ready and available to take on.

>Peruse and take on your first quest in the New World.
>Go hit up the Canteen, a Hunter has to eat big before he can hunt big.
>See if the Field Team Leader has any assignments, or if the Commander is present and has any.
>See the Provisions stockpile for some items to use in the field.
>Check where Vivi went and see the quarters.
>See if the Argosy's Captain has any iron in cargo for sale, for upgrading your gear.
>Go on an Expedition and explore the New World, maybe even slay a monster.

>>4006041
>Go hit up the Canteen, a Hunter has to eat big before he can hunt big.
Them buffs are always helpful.
Then
>Peruse and take on your first quest in the New World.

>>4006041

Seconding >>4006045

Buffs for the day, maybe socialize a little.

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This was the kind of world where feasts made men stronger. A man like you needs a fill before he can take on a beast. You strode across the waterfall bridge and took in a good look of Astera's midday sun as you came over to the canteen, brimming with Felyne chefs. There wasn't really much activity here, so some of the chefs were relaxing, except for one stirring a large container of some kind of broth without end, limbs visibly shaking from it.

You sat down at one of the crude stools and looked up. The sight to greet you was that of quite the extraordinary Felyne head chef. He had a scar over one of his eyes and stood there staring at yours with his arms crossed.

"Hmpf." He came suddenly as he put his hands to his sides. "You're the new skinny I saw come in with the tub. Just starting out hunting?"

"I've been hunting for a year now, but mostly small jobs. I'm hoping to do bigger tasks here." You replied. He nods.

"Well if you're gonna do big, you gotta eat big. Mass moves mass you know. So what will you be having, scrawny?"

>What will you order from Meowscular Chef?

>>4006086
Chef’s Choice because it gives the best health buff. Plus I’m too lazy to ever learn custom dishes

>>4006086
Get Chef's choice and then ask about who the best hunter around is.

>>4006086
King Turkey + Emmerald Durian

I guess it is a lvl 1 canteen IDK. Chef’s Choice is probably better.

>>4006086
Let's get the Chef's Choice

>>4006086
Chef's Choice.

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You glanced quickly over the menu hanging above the canteen and tapped your chin before looking back to the chef.

"I'll have the choice."

"Good pick." Meowscular Chef said.

Right away, the Felyne chef and his assistant cooks popping out behind him got to cooking. He had something quite different going on at his stone stove and it piqued your interest as all variety of meats were handled coupled with vegetables and fruits being diced and handled.

It didn't take long as they went at it, but what really puzzled you was when Meowscular Chef began to toast two quite large and thick slices of bread on the stove before piling it and the meats and vegetables all together on one large plate. The Meowscular Chef himself finished by planting a toothpick with an olive on it down into the creation and then smiling to himself.

You were mesmerized by this platter as one of the Felynes presented it to you.

"What is this...?" You say aloud.

"I call it... a sandwich." The Meowscular Chef says.

Carefully, you take one half of the big meal in your hands and take a bite. Almost immediately it assaults your taste buds and you feel as though you're in heaven. You waste no time in digging in greedily, nearly choking by it as you ate away and the Meowscular Chef smiles to himself again, satisfied by the appreciation and the wanting stares that others present at the canteen gave to your strange looking meal. The other Felyne chefs gave each other high fives.

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In no time, you were finished with your meal and stood, nodding to the waiter and looking up at the chef.

"Say, Chef, who around here is the best hunter?" You asked.

The Meowscular Chef didn't answer, rather, he only pointed over with one finger and his arms still crossed to a table only mere feet away behind you.

You saw a hunter standing there conversing with a girl seated at the table holding a large book in her hands. He was clad in a majestic suit of shining golden armor with fur gold trimmed hanging like a cape from his shoulders. He rested his arm against the handle of his weapon, which was a hammer, also not surprisingly made of golden material.

"That's the Sapphire Star himself, he's even better than the Huntsman. He could drop an Elder Dragon for exercise." You hear the Chef say from behind.

You rubbed your chin and looked for a second. One thing crossed your mind...

>Imagine the things he's slayed to craft that glorious set...
>Impressive, quite the respectable looking fellow.
>This guy looks like a chump. I'll surely surpass him.
>Write in.

>>4006553
>Imagine the things he's slayed to craft that glorious set...

>>4006553
>Imagine the things he's slayed to craft that glorious set...

All dragons, all creatures, nothing more than parts for our forges!

>>4006553
>>Imagine the things he's slayed to craft that glorious set...

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Imagine what monsters he has felled and harvested to forge such a magnificent set of armor and matching hammer.

One thing you always had a fancy for was armor yourself. Hunters often prided themselves on having both protective and functional armor that was also fashionable. You coveted having such a nice thing too. Not that you didn't like your alloy set, it was fine to the eye, but it was more the thing a nameless rank and file soldier or hunter would wear. You wanted something more.

But if you were to ever get something more, you needed materials. To get that, you needed to hunt monsters. So you threw a little tip of zenny to the waiter and went back across the waterfall bridge. You saw Vivi rush to you, now donning her set of iron Palico armor.

"I put the luggage up Meowster! Now I'm ready to go on a hunt!"

"Alright, let's get to it." You say as you walk to the quest board and overlook a large quest paper.

The quest in specific was for a monster known as Tobi-Kadachi. The reward was three thousand four hundred zenny. The client was a 'Apprenticed Ecologist'. The bounty read...

"My lugheaded research partner went and did it this time! He's been forgetting his lunch outside of camp and some Tobi-Kadachi picked up on it, now it's getting too friendly and keeps bothering us for food and won't leave us alone! I'm sure it hasn't even tried to hunt for itself in a while even! I need it gone so I can work in peace!"

Huh, well... you could easily handle this, but... you mean... killing a monster that's openly friendly? Well, it still is just a monster.

>Take the quest.
>Look at another quest.
>Go on an expedition instead.

>>4006686
>Take the quest.
All we have to do is roast some barbeque and bait it away. Having a friendly monster to encounter during expeditions or quests could be nice. Maybe even tame it...

>>4006686
>Look at another quest.
They're researchers. I'm sure they can find a way to make use of it.

>>4006686
Let's see some more quests before we make a definite decision

>>4006686
>>Take the quest.

You tack the quest paper back on the board and look over the others available. You would view the options before coming to a decision.

Poisonous Purveyor
Client: Smart Biologist.
Reward: 2300 Zenny.
Goal: Capture a Pukei-Pukei.
Location: Ancient Forest.

"A few students of mine are due for their advancement in biology soon, but the lesson I was going to teach requires a live subject and involves poison in monsterkind. A Pukei-Pukei is required for this class."

Lightning Hound Grounding
Client: The Commander.
Reward: 29000 Zenny
Goal: Hunt a Zinogre.
Location: Coral Highlands.

"I've been hounded recently by plenty of reports of an unusually fine specimen prowling the area. An investigation should begin immediately for anyone willing to try, but try not to get yourself killed as well."

Monitoring 101
Client: Scanner Scholar.
Reward: 11000 Zenny.
Goal: Accompany and protect me as I survey the area.
Location: Elder's Recess.

"A hunter venturing out in the area recently told me of a massive tremor that happened there not long ago, one that destroyed much crystalwork of one of the large crystalline pillars in the area. My aim is to watch from up high and see what I can discover. I'm putting this quest out for anyone willing to come with, as I need some form of protection, though I suspect nothing bad will come of it. Most time will be spent staying put and observing from high. It may take a day however. See me at the Gathering Hub if you're interested, I will depart soon."

Finding The Night
Client: Seasoned Ecologist.
Reward: 6700 Zenny.
Goal: Discover a Nargacuga den.
Location: Ancient Forest.

"I've been studying a Nargacuga resident in a far part of the Ancient Forest this last month over, noting it's routine of hunting and sleeping. However, I seemed to have lost track but soon realized that it had fled it's previous territory to make a new den somewhere else. I don't know what drove it away, but locating the new den is top priority for me. I would be grateful for anyone who could carry out a scouting and foraging mission for me to this end."

Horny For Hornetaurs
Client: Lazy Hunter.
Reward: 2200 Zenny.
Goal: Hunt 14 Horntaurs.
Location: Rotten Vale.

"I really need some Hornetaur materials, but I'm too busy eating food to get around to it! Won't someone be a pal and do it for me?"

Two Monsters In One Stone
Client: Irate Fisherman.
Reward: 4000 Zenny.
Goal: Hunt a Kulu-Ya-Ku and Jyuratodes.
Location: Wildspire Waste.

"That 'dag 'ole bird stole my bait and tackle! And just when I thought I'd try fishing using more traditional means, the mother of all fishies almost buried me alive in mud! And it was really sticky, and it STUNK! That thing's gotta pay for messing my overalls up like this! Get to it!"

Hmm....

What will you do now?

>>4006811
You know what, the first one we saw seems the most interesting.

>>4006811
Go kill the Tobi-Kadachi. It seems like an easy quest to start us off for a decent amount of Zenny.

>>4006811
I'll stick with my original vote for the first job involving the tobi-kadachi.

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Well, most of these quests available are a bit.... advanced. You'd take them on now that you're in the New World, no doubt but.... maybe when you have better gear, and some more experience. With that, you take the paper for the Tobi-Kadachi quest and shove it into your belt pouch.

In the Old World, one of the latest advances by years ago was taming and training smaller flying monsters to carry hunters in order to provide a means of fast transportation. In the new world that was no different if the Mernos flying overhead was any tell. Directing them where to fly was as simple as pulling in one direction, and getting them to descend only needed the hunter to lightly yank at them, or climb towards them to get them to ascend.

You already knew the basics and so whistled from where you stood, Vivianne hopping onto your leg and holding on. At the sound, a Mernos flew down to you and you latched onto it's leg with your Slinger hook, swinging in the direction of the forest, the Mernos flying off that way.

The travel was relatively short as you went off to the vast Ancient Forest. The wingrake seemed to double time it there and flapped down through an opening in the large trees, soon descending to a wide encampment inside a roomy space behind large tree limbs. There were three tents and a stove carved from stone with a fire burning fresh inside. In front of you lied a large trunk with supplies no doubt. You didn't have a map with you as you forgot one, but thankfully there was a spare inside the trunk.

Looking on it, you saw that you were at the Northwest Camp. The way out was through a crawling space in the tree limbs. You grabbed two rations from the trunk and a first aid med before you ventured out of the camp and into the Ancient Forest.....

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You weren't exactly sure where to go. You've never encountered a New World monster and today would be your first. Interesting it was however to explore this foreign environment.

You went over grassy and leafy paths between and through trees and rises in the dirt, and it wasn't long until you heard something, panting. You turned to your left and saw two Wyverians fast walking through the brush. They come in front of you and stop to catch a breather.

"Do you think we lost it yet...?" One of them, wearing glasses, asked.

"We have to have, surely it couldn't have picked our trail up after that dung bomb." Another one with smoother features says.

"You, Hunter, are you by chance here to fulfill the quest I posted on the boards?"

"You the Apprenticed Ecologist?" You ask.

"Yes, I am. And this lughead that got us into this mess is my partner. We were about finished with some work we had involving the Jagras, but then the whole lunch thing... and you get the idea. That Tobi-Kadachi is obsessed with following us, it nips at our coats and pockets thinking there's food inside! We've already tried to run it off but it won't get the idea!" The Apprenticed Ecologist says. He then hands you a bottle filled with a purple extract.

"Here's some poison I got from one of the local poisonous plants. I was going to see if I could scrounge some Aptonoth meat from a leftover kill to put it on, but there's an Anjanath prowling through the ways to the Aptonoth feeding grounds so that's out of the question. If you end up fighting the Tobi-Kadachi, beware it's nimbleness and trees, they're known to charge themselves with electricity from the friction of them rubbing against them rapidly. And they can glide off of things too." He says.

You nod and the two go back to the camp.

There's a number of things you could do now. You think you saw a trap tool in the camp's trunk, so with any luck you could turn that into a pitfall trap for the Tobi-Kadachi to fall to. You could bait it regardless with the well done steak you had with you, or poison it with the poison you just received. Of course, there's always either simply charging in to face it head on in a blitzkrieg, or playing the waiting game and striking when it sleeps....

What will you do?

>>4007157
So it's not actually hostile but desires food. It seems to be surprisingly friendly...hm. I really don't want to kill it because it could lead to a serious breakthrough for beast taming larger creatures. I think we should take out the well done steak and start heading towards the aptonoth grazing grounds. I want to test out what will happen if someone who is willing to feed it is in danger and acquire more meat. I am curious if it prefers cooked over raw.

Before we leave though make sure to send a letter back to the beast tamers and see what they have to say. Maybe we can even lure one over to help out.

>>4007199
Support

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"Vivi, are you thinking what I'm thinking?" You ask.

"Hmmm..... Nyah, I think I am thinking what you're thinking Meowster." Comes her response.

You might not even have to slay the Tobi-Kadachi on this quest. In fact, you might even be able to tame the monster yourself since the researchers clearly refused to. First, you needed to attract it.

Judging from where they were running, it couldn't possibly be that far away. A quick peak at the map reveals a grounds listed as being a hotspot for Aptonoths. You could gain more meat there.

Firstly, you began a trek that ways, taking a longer route by first following the path you saw the researches fleeing from, all the while holding up high your large, juicy well done steak taken out of your bag. It was cooked only yesterday just as the Argosy was approaching Astera and wrapped so it should still be good if not warm, the smell was definitely prevalent and already spreading through the forest. You just hoped it didn't attract any other unwanted attention.

As you go along on your walk, you hear a rustle in the leaves above you but continue your trail through the forest. You knew that something was watching you, and by luck you had peaked your head over your shoulder then and glimpsed the thing far behind you up in the trees. It was blue and scaly, with red eyes. It hops out of vision then to another tree and you continue walking along.

Vivi saw it too, confirming it was the Tobi-Kadachi you were here for with some looks at the quest paper she took from your bag. Whenever quest papers had a specific monster listed, they usually had a painted icon on them too to show the monster stamped on.

By the time you were exiting the trees and vines, you felt something braze by the back of your neck and a large presence had shot by through the shrubbery, starling you into dropping the meat and pulling out your weapon and shield. Nothing more happens, but Vivi directs your attention to something else surprising as she holds up the well done steak. All the meat was gone, it was just the bone now.

Hmm.... It's definitely friendlier since it didn't attack, but it doesn't seem to completely trust you. Because you were a new face, it would take some convincing. You turn your attention to the watery grazing grounds and it's herd of Aptonoths. You needed some more meat to really convince Tobi-Kadachi.

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It takes but only two swings and a jab of your gunlance blade to fell one of the fattened Aptonoth. The rest of the herd charges off another way, scarred by your attack. Now left all alone to it, you sheath your weapons upon your back and grab at the tail of the Aptonoth and begin heaving and pulling the slain beast back over closer to the edges of the Ancient Forest with some difficulty. Now close enough to spread the smell, you take out your carving knife and get to work on the hide.

Sitting down at your BBQ split, you carve out some fat chunks of the Aptonoth meat while Vivi gathers some bark to burn in it. Sliding the fresh and bloody meat onto the bone of your last steak, you slow cook it over the flames and wait.

Some times passes slowly, but eventually you hear the bushes rustle again and see the full figure of the Tobi-Kadachi as it crawls out on a tree to stare at you, but most importantly the meat you had just finished cooking to well done. It's mouth is watering but it doesn't move, so you do instead, slowly approaching it and presenting the meat.

It's hisses grow quieter until instead it makes a gruff purring and takes the food from your hands to chew on. Coming down from the tree, it had no qualms laying about on the ground around you to eat the meat, so you could tell it was definitely comfortable around humans and the like. But was it really friendly? Or just too lazy to hunt for itself, which seemed to be what the quest papers suggested....

You still think there's a good chance you could tame it. Now you just had to see how comfortable it was with physical contact. Slowly, you outstretched your arm to pet the fur of the monster...

Only to reel as it's hide alights with electricity as it brushes against the grass rapidly and hisses viciously.....!

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.....Thankfully however, this sudden aggression was not addressed to you, but rather another large creature that had made it to scene, attempting to approach stealthily to pounce at you and the Tobi-Kadachi.

It was large and pinkish with brown and blackened scales and fur along it's hide, it's body was built with plenty of muscle and powerful legs and a jaw lined with sharp rows of teeth. The thing was in the stance to jump when suddenly it was stunned by the electricity of the Tobi-Kadachi. It's right foot was caught in the water then and a current of the electricity was sent through, up into it's body.

The thing looked angrily at you in specific with it's orange eye, here for a fight and prey. You drew your gunlance and prepared for a fight yourself.

>Shoot at the creature's head part.
>Fire your Wyrmstake Cannon at it.
>Close the distance and stab at it's legs.
>Come around to swing at it's tail.
>Write in.

>>4007467
>Fire your Wyrmstake Cannon at it.
Since its stunned time to bring out the big guns for a charged shot.

Also good to know it prefers cooked meat over raw.

>>4007467
>>Fire your Wyrmstake Cannon at it.

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Hopping forward closer to the large head of the monster, you fired two shells into it's face, making it flinch and growl from the pain.

You held your gunlance firmly and moved it up and down, pulling one of the trigger mechanisms, changing mode, eliciting a clattering noise from inside as you aimed at the head of the still stunned beast. It shook the last of the electricity out and stopped it's spasms before it went to lunge at you.

As it did, you fired the mighty Wyrmstake Cannon bolt directly into it's wide maw. The thing recoiled and was pushed back by the force, choking and gagging at the metal rod impaling the inside of it's mouth, sending a burning feeling that made it shake from the pain throughout it's mouth and head, trying to unloosen the sharp barb of the rod's tip from it's flesh, only cutting more of it until finally the rod exploded into a puffy cloud of fire and force inside it's mouth.

The creature screeched and fell to it's back, and you took this opportunity to dive forward, wailing on it's feet with your gunlance's blade. You hacked away until you heard a cracking and saw that it's bottom most claws were broken. Vivi, who had hopped on it's belly to slice away jumped down to collect the materials for you.

You jumped back too to safety when the monster regained it's footing and stared at you furiously. It lost it and unleashed it's terrifying roar, making you flinch and raise your shield. The thing was nigh about to charge again, but stopped when the Tobi-Kadachi nearby leaped from a tree and clawed at it. You were amazed at the display, but quickly your enthusiasm faded as the monster stumbled backwards and managed to catch Tobi-Kadachi in it's maw. You saw what was coming and pushed Vivi out of the way as you raised your shield. The monster threw Tobi-Kadachi at you with all the force it could muster.

You were taken off your feet by the heavy body of the Tobi-Kadachi as it collided against your shield, taking you backwards with it into the water.

Tobi-Kadachi scrambled to get it, but did so slowly while hissing over the new holes it got on it's torso from the other monster's large teeth. You panicked, thinking it would take this chance to attack, but you heard struggling to the left instead and saw the large monster attacking another new monster that just entered the scene to try and snag the Aptonoth you killed. It was green and similarly large like Tobi-Kadachi, with what looked to be a head of hair too.

You could take this chance to easily make a retreat now. After all, you had basically finished the quest, as you thought you might now take on looking after the curious Tobi-Kadachi. But still, you didn't give a fight up easily. Vivi was trying to help pull you out from underneath Tobi-Kadachi. You still could reach your sack with your right hand, maybe hand her a flash pod to throw. A potion was also something you should drink by now, the force of being hit Tobi-Kadachi did hurt quite a lot....

What will you do now?

>>4007517
Drink a potion and then move to flank behind it while reloading. Focusing on the tail while the beasty is distracted. If there is an opening unleash another charged shot.

>>4007556
This, but give Vivi a flash pod to use as well

>>4007517
>Go look for some watermoss while drinking potions
you DID get a slinger, right?

>>4007556
Yeah, let's bah ourselves an Anjanath.

>>4007517
Supporting >>4007556 and >>4007575.

You shuffled, grasping at a flash pod from your satchel and taking care not to crush it. You handed it to Vivi to use as you made an effort to get out from being lodged underneath the dazed Tobi-Kadachi.

You saw the two other monsters still fighting, the larger one clearly the victor here as it slammed the green one around. You guessed it was a brute wyvern as you reached for a potion and popped the lid off, chugging down the soothing green liquid as you circled around. Now staving off the inflammation with the potion, you drew your gunlance and took aim at the larger brute wyvern's leg as it hurled the other green monster away between the trees.

It stumbled as you unleashed a charged shot from the barrel into the back of it's curvature, it's leg shaking from the shot. You unleashed another two shells into it's tail before you took a swing at it's leg that you already shot. The brute wyvern slipped with it's foot grazing a rise in the stone and came onto it's side, allowing you to attack away at it.

>Choose a body part to attack. (Head, Legs, Tail etc)
>1d100 to land a powerful blow.
>Whoever has the highest roll decides what is attacked.

Rolled 7 (1d100)

>>4008382
Head

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>4008382
>Head
Hope no other surprises pop up.

Rolled 100 (1d100)

>>4008382
Tail so we can sever it

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>>4008415
HOLY SHIT

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You saw it struggling a bit to stand again, as it wasn't exactly the king of monster that laid about much, the powerful legs built more for movement. It was trying to push itself up with it's head but snarled as the Tobi-Kadachi leaped on top of it again and scratched at it's eyes.

You took this moment to raise your Gunlance with your left hand and hoist it back. You bent in such a way that it nearly touched the ground behind you with the opening of it's barrel. Your left leg extended upwards and you let out a war cry of your own as you gathered all your force and threw it forward.

Your left leg met the ground with a stomp and your arm carried the gunlance forward at an incredible velocity. Next came the roar of the monster, loudest yet as the blade cut through it's tough hide, shattering it's scales and spreading it's hair about in a puff. The blood from within sprayed like a thickened mist and most of the tail flopped down to the ground in a wallop, the heavy muscle and sinew adding to it's weight.

The monster finally caught it's balance again and let out another quaking roar of fury, making you flinch from the intense noise. You were kicked then as it sent it's clawed foot backwards, knocking you to the water, granted your shield took most of the blow. The monster turned to face you again, two wings spreading from it's back and a large nostril rising from it's head.

It crackled ferociously and you saw fire building up in it's throat. It was going to roast you alive. You were a quicker thinker however, and saw watermoss to your right. Loading one of the moss balls into your slinger, you fired it into the mouth of the monster, the watery burst quelling it's flames down and making it gag and cough smoke out.

The thing turned then and began to flee, running straight down to the hillock where the Aptonoth herd had fled. Vivianne quickly comes over to your side and helps you up. You sheaved your weapons.

>Continue the pursuit, don't let up and allow it to escape.
>Trail the monster and follow from a distance. You'll wait to strike again when it's guard is lowered.
>Call it a day and consider your quest finished, returning to Astera for the reward.
>Write in.

>>4008503
>>Continue the pursuit, don't let up and allow it to escape.

>>4008503
>Continue the pursuit, don't let up and allow it to escape.
Is there any watermoss left?

>>4008503
>Continue the pursuit, don't let up and allow it to escape.
Dem bonus objectives always offer the best rewards in quests.

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Firstly, you took your knife out and quickly carved what you could from the severed tail. It was a golden rule of hunting monsters to never let any materials go to waste. With that done, you shoveled a few more of the puddle pods from the watermoss into your satchel and loaded another in the slinger. It was useful for dealing with the fire you just learned the other monster could make from it's throat.

The Tobi-Kadachi you were originally here to deal with was gone however, but that didn't stop you.

"Come on! Let's keep the pressure on!" You say, breaking into a sprint towards it with Viv following close by, taking care to reload the gunlance then with both shells and another Wrymstake rod. From the distance you were at, you could still see the large figure ahead trying it's best to flee. But then it ducked down behind some rocks and vanished from sight.

You ran even faster to the locale ahead, hoping to catch it before it manages to get too far away. You soon came to find that getting out of there was the last thing it wanted actually.

It appeared again standing on top of the boulders this time with it's strange nostrils flaring up and exhausting twin jets of flame as it snarled and bent down. You knew exactly what was coming and kept running as it leapt to the air to try and land on you. You ducked and drew your gunlance as it was above you, firing a shell into it's crotch and causing it to groan wildly.

It turned quickly and prepared a jet of flame in it's throat to burn you with. You had turned as well and were nearly about to fire your own Wyrmstake Cannon again to meet it's flames when suddenly you and the monster both came to a halt.

"WATCH OUT MEOWSTER!" Vivi's voice came as she threw the flash pod into the air. It landed between you and the monster, blinding both of you with it's nauseatingly bright and eye damaging flash.

You and the monster both growled in frustration and irritation from it, but neither of you tried to stop attacking over it. The monster leveled it's head and still came to use it's fire, and you aimed your gunlance to let loose the Wyrmstake rod again despite your blindness.

Whoever hit first would come out on top this time...

>Roll a 1d100 to finish it off.

Rolled 62 (1d100)

>>4008798

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>>4008866
I guess the others are asleep.

Rolled 23 (1d100)

>>4008798

Rolled 38 (1d100)

>>4008798

Rolled 34 (1d100)

>>4008798

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>4008798
believe

Rolled 43 (1d100)

>>4008798

There was a click, and then some heat.

You fired your Wyrmstake cannon and the rod hit a mark, a really good one in fact. The head pierced straight through the enlarged nostril of the monster and punctured it's way through the layer of bone protecting the inside contents of it's skull. But not before it came with it's own attack at you as you fired.

A stream of flame erupted from it's mouth at you and you fell to your knee to hide behind your shield and armor. The intensifying heat of the fire warmed up hotter than what went through the stoves at the canteen, making it difficult to hold your shield as the handle and metal that composed it became blisteringly hot. Your helmet did too, as well as plates along your arm and torso. Your cranium throbbed and you felt an onset of inflammation coursing through your own skull, threatening to make you succumb to a brief unconsciousness. You felt blisters pop up on your arm and hand too.

The stream ended as the monster recoiled itself from the Wyrmstake shot's own heat and blade tearing through it's head. You looked over the shield with only one eye to see the explosion happen within it's skull as it finally went off. The monster's eyeballs bulged out briefly before sinking back in and blood and mucus flew from it's nostrils as it stood completely still there, slouching.

It's lids struggled to stay open as it struggled to stand, but it eventually gave up and fell down in front of you. The monster was no more.

You exhaled and your weapons fell from your hands to the dirt. The trauma of the heat still working it's awful touch on you and making it harder to breath. You could take it no longer and collapsed yourself into the ground, your world blackening out....

You were pretty sure you were sound asleep now, it felt like someone was talking, so you rubbed your face with the rough leather of your glove and opened your eyes.

"MEOWSTER!" You heard before you saw Vivianne jump onto you and squeeze you into a hug.

"Hey, looks like you're alright after all. Good job slaying the Anjanath."

You looked over and saw the Field Team Leader and felt yourself moving. The two Ecologists you were doing a quest for were carrying you with some difficulty by your arms before they sat you down at a chair. You were presumably back in Astera, inside what looked to be the cabins for Hunters. It was mostly vacant save for a few Hunters here and there chatting and preparing to go out with their gear.

"Your Palico ran as fast as she could back to that camp and got these two to help carry you back. Save for a few burns, you're mostly in one piece after that fight. That's admirable for a Hunter with a rank like yours." The Field Team Leader explained.

"Yes yes, that's all fine and dandy but consider the quest off for now." The Apprenticed Ecologist says. "That Tobi-Kadachi is still alive, so I can't hand out a reward for your efforts, and from the looks of it, you even tried to feed it's habits yourself, literally! I'll just find someone else to do it..."

The Ecologists left without another word and you groaned to yourself. Not only did you have to fight a monster bigger than what you usually killed today, but you were also getting no reward for it...

"Don't feel so down over that." You heard a new voice and looked to the side to see another older individual walk up. The other Hunters present gave a quick salute as he passed by.

"I apologize for not being present to accept your signing on today, I was distracted by something else. I heard you arrived on the Argosy, payed for a trip to the New World. You're a novice hunter at best as the papers indicated, yes?"

You nodded.

"Well you're here for work, so you're a bit of a freelancer then. What is it you seek the most here?"

>"I came looking to make something here for myself, I've always been interested in the New World."
>"To build a small fortune maybe, help out with the jobs people usually look over."
>"To make a name for myself here and slay some mighty monsters. The Old World is in the past for me."
>"For me, it's to find the thrill of exploring new environments, uncharted territories. I live to be in the great outdoors."
>"I came looking for the thrill of the fight. You point me to what needs slaying and I'll get it done."
>Write in.

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>>4009327
>no Tobi Kodachi buddy
Well, at least we aren't dead.

>"I came looking to make something here for myself, I've always been interested in the New World."
I really wanted that zappy lizard.

>>4009327
>"I came looking to make something here for myself, I've always been interested in the New World."

>>4009337
Me too. We failed to save the friendly zappy lizard.

>>4009327
>"I came looking to make something here for myself, I've always been interested in the New World."

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"I see. I think you'll be glad to find that Hunters here usually do as well, they're in high demand since the Fifth Fleet arrived." The man says, nodding as he crossed his arms.

"I'm the Commander, I usually call the shots around here since the Admiral prefers to sate his wanderlust more than often, so Astera and anything important is my responsibility."

You nod and salute the Commander.

"From what I can gander already I'm guessing that a little zenny to help start you off is what you were after when you took that Tobi-Kadachi quest, am I right?"

"Yes sir. I've always handled smaller jobs but now that I'm here in the new world I'm ready to start taking on bigger jobs." You say.

"I like your tenacity. I think you'll find that you're in for a little reward after all." The Commander says. The Field Team Leader threw you a purse of zenny at that and you looked back quizzically.

"I was planning to put out a notice for that Anjanath you slayed today anyway in fact, but you've already cleaned house in the Forest so the reward is yours. From what your Palico's been saying, you might have killed that thing in record time to boot." The Commander says as he and the Field Team Leader turn and walk away.

"Work towards some better gear and keep up the good work, Hunter." The Commander adds as he exits the barracks.

You counted the Zenny inside the purse and were overjoyed to find that the various different coins totaled in at five thousand. You give Vivi a high five with your left hand but shake it as the burn gives a little pain. They would probably be gone by tomorrow and it was still midday. You spent the rest of the day cleaning your equipment before getting a full night's rest.

You sleep comfortably in a bunk bed that currently only you occupied, with Vivi enjoying a hammock next to it with a tiny curtain to provide minimal privacy over the whole section you were assigned.

You woke up stretching and took a minute to get out of bed completely. It was surely better than the rags that passed for hammocks on the Argosy, the crewmen might have enjoyed it but not you.

Vivi meowed and yawned, brushing her fur with a brush before hopping up ready for the day.

"So what's next for us, Meowster?"

The burns mostly don't hurt that much anymore, but the blisters on your head still felt, so wearing a helmet wouldn't feel as good. All things considered, you were still combat capable.

And to your surprise, a quick look in the trunk next to your bunk marked with your name revealed monster materials, most likely from that Anjanath you slain. It was your kill after all.

>Go for some breakfast at the canteen.
>Visit the smithy and see what you can do with the materials.
>Take a look around the tradeyard for provisions to buy.
>Check the quest board for newly posted quests.
>Report to the Field Team Leader for an assignment.
>Get ready and go out on an expedition.
>Go out on a specific expedition, you still wanted to see what you could do with that Tobi-Kadachi.
>Take a look around the Gathering Hub to find one-time event quests.
>Write in.

>>4009385
>Go out on a specific expedition, you still wanted to see what you could do with that Tobi-Kadachi.
This seems like a timed event.

>>4009385
>>Go out on a specific expedition, you still wanted to see what you could do with that Tobi-Kadachi.

I'm not gonna let them kill the surprisingly friendly zappy lizard, but is there anyway we can teamup with a tamer and bring them along?

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"That Tobi-Kadachi from yesterday crosses my mind right about now..." You say, standing up to gear up in your Alloy armor set.

"Oh? Did you still want to try taming it?" Vivi asks, beginning to put on her own set.

"Sure. I was about to make some progress yesterday until that Anjanath attacked. I think the Tobi-Kadachi fled before we went and slew that Anjanath. It's a lot friendlier than most non-docile monsters I've ever seen, it would be a shame if some other Hunter just went and killed it. Think for a second of the research purposes it would serve if I were to tame it." You murmured, taking care not to speak too loudly for any other Hunter in the barracks to hear.

With everything set and ready, you fastened your satchel onto your belt and came out from behind your bunk's curtain with Vivi hanging onto your back. It was then that you saw something out of your peripheral vision as you hadn't yet put your helmet on.

To your right, there was another Hunter there standing oddly close to the wooden beam that separated your little section into the wall from his own, he was wearing a full High Metal set and had a Bone Shooter heavy bowgun on his back alongside a large book of sorts hanging by a strap. He just sort of acted as though he wasn't paying attention to what you did and waved when you stared for a minute. Awkward....

You keep an eye on it, walking out of the barracks and past the tradeyard. The other Hunter you saw still following all the way to the gate until you stopped and faced him.

"Ehh.... It's a bit rude of me to follow but there isn't anybody around to hear now, so let's speak." He says through his high metal helmet. You cocked your head and just looked.

"I don't mean to come off creepy and this introduction might seem a bit odd. I'm Brigg, with two gees....... that's my nickname. I used to lead a sensei's brigade back in the Old World in training routines and uhhh......" He says before coughing to make the conversation seem ordinary. His voice got a bit jollier then as he pulled the book and showed it. It was labeled as 'Advanced Almanac'.

"See, I couldn't help but eavesdrop, which is a... problem I have admittedly. I overheard your plans on taming that Tobi-Kadachi. I also had the same idea, and taming a monster has been a dream of mine ever since I arrived with the Fifth Fleet. Now is a better chance than never, right? I saw that you're fairly new, heard about how you handled things last night when they drug you in. I'm also kind of like that. I don't want that Tobi-Kadachi dead either if it doesn't really deserve it."

"I've been studying the advanced almanac for a long time, got it from the head scholar. I can identify monsters and plants and... well everything out there for you." Brigg says.

"For me?" You ask.

"Yes. I propose we work together. I would come with on your expedition and assist in mutual cooperation to a common goal." Brigg says as he offered a handshake. "What say you?"

>What will you say to Brigg?

>>4009429
"Agreed. Always useful to have a gunner watching my back in case we get interrupted again. I do hope though that you actually know more about taming then me or know someone who does that will be willing to help."

>>4009429
Yay monsta hunta!

Seconding >>4009442

>>4009429
Take him up on his offer. MC is reckless for trying to tame it without reading up at all, anyway.

Make sure none of you have anything made of kadachi on, including ammo. Brigg's will probably be able to mention that watermoss could work as a disciplinary spray so we can stock up on that when we get there, so what's left is a way to communicate.

Might require a chat with the local grimalkynes, but I don't think either of them are going to think their way to that step.

>>4009442

+1 to this

>>4009429
Accept his offer.

>>4009442

Agreeing to this

>"Agreed. Always useful to have a gunner watching my back in case we get interrupted again. I do hope though that you actually know more about taming then me or know someone who does that will be willing to help."

You said as you shook Brigg's hand.

"I think I've gotten the gist of it in my time studying. I can't speak for others but it's not unusual for Hunters to verse themselves in science to assist during their hunts. I think I may be doing a little more in that regard though, the nights of my last weeks were spent studying the advanced almanac, which is constantly being updated here in the New World." Brigg says.

The gate you stood out lead straight out to the Ancient Forest through a checkpoint. You guessed you could just walk this time rather than call for a Wingdrake. So you started on your way with Brigg following close beside you as you ventured out of Astera and into the Ancient Forest through the gates.

"Have you ever seen any Elder Dragons before? In real life I mean." Brigg asked.

"Hmm... Well, I saw Zorah Magdaros once." You said, making small talk.

"Really? In the Old World?"

"There was a lot of crowds watching from afar the day it made off into the ocean to go on the Elder Crossing, I was there too. It wasn't long before the Fifth Fleet set out too to follow it. Oh, you're with the Fifth Fleet too. Whatever did happen to Zorah Magdaros anyway?"

"By now it's already dead. Two operations, both of which I was at happened. One tried to capture Zorah but he managed to escape us for a long time until we found him again trying to embed himself deep into the Everstream. We managed to divert him back out into the ocean before it was too late. If he had burrowed into the Everstream and died there, it would have resulted in a bioenergy explosion that could have destroyed the whole continent." Brigg explained.

"No kidding.... And, the Everstream?"

"A vast system, it connects all of the New World."

"I see. So... why exactly was Zorah Magdaros trying to go there?"

"I wasn't there myself but our very own Sapphire Star was the one who found out why, him and the Admiral. It turned out that an unknown Elder Dragon was gestating in a deep part of the Elder's Recess, the guild officially designated it 'Xeno'Jiiva'. It was the reason behind the Elder Crossing, somehow drawing Elder Dragon's to it, attracting them. Apparently, it is dead now, so the Crossing may be over at last." Brigg said as you and him had passed the rising rocks and neared the woodland.

"Strange..." You say.

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You and Brigg continued small talk as you both strolled through the foliage of the woods looking for the Tobi-Kadachi. You had made a pitstop and slaughtered another Aptonoth for meat as the one from yesterday was already gone, having been picked off by Revoltures and some other kind of monster. Brigg seemed to be pretty strong as a pack animal and carried the most of it with him in his own bag.

"Hey, look on the bright side, you get used to the nickname eventually. At least you didn't have one like me before everyone called me Brigg, with two gees." Brigg says.

"Oh yeah? What was your last?"

"Well I think it's quite obvious how deceiving of how a person really looks can be the armor they were. I'm fairly muscled underneath this big suit of plate, but because on the outside the armor looks fattened like a rich baron, they used to call me Fatbody before I lead my old sensei's brigade." He explained.

You suddenly had a newfound liking of your nickname even though it didn't match your weapon. But that quickly subsides as you raise a hand and come to a stop.

"Hey... Brigg... you ever see something before and just feel like you're already in danger?" You asked. He scratched the head of his helmet.

"No? Why?"

"Well, that makes me feel in danger already." You say, pointing down to something indented in the soil in front of you.

There was a massive footprint, from a foot that utterly dwarfed the size of a foot from something like the Anjanath. The last thing you needed today was to have a run in with another bigger, scarier monster than you have already.

"My my... that's gargantuan! Wait, I think I've seen this before. Let me just..." Brigg said as he opened the advanced almanac and began to rapidly flip through it's hundreds of pages.

There wasn't really any time to just stand around and wait for him to identify it. You saw a way up a root path to a massive tree ahead with water flowing down through it. A camp had to be around somewhere.

>Search for a nearby campsite.
>Continue wandering in the woods for the Tobi-Kadachi.
>Set up a site to cook and spread the smell of meat to attract Tobi-Kadachi.
>Make your way back to the hidden camp where the Apprenticed Ecologist usually works.
>Go to the far left reaches of the forest and search for a nest.
>Write in.

>>4010132
>Set up a site to cook and spread the smell of meat to attract Tobi-Kadachi.

It has a preference for cooked meat over raw. Maybe try to find a campsite to cook at and hope it comes over.

>>4010132
>>Continue wandering in the woods for the Tobi-Kadachi.

>>4010132
Supporting >>4010144.

You take a look around your general perimeter and spot an opening to the left. It was nice and flat and roomy enough so you began walking over with Vivi hopping off your back and climbing up to it by vines. Brigg stumbles and comes too when he finally realizes you're walking off.

You dust off your BBQ split's stool and take a seat on it, Vivi running to collect some branches and leaves again for a fire while Brigg prepared the meat at your behest.

You had the used meat bone with you again, lathering meat over it to cook on the fire. It was good that for this occasion Vivi had brought another thing along with her, it was a small fan from back in the Old World. It didn't help much but taking it into your own hands you were able to help spread the smell of the cooking meat over the area. You just hoped it didn't attract anything unsavory again....

Time passed and by now you had already prepared the whole stack of the sizzled Aptonoth meat. With nothing left to cook, you packed your things up and just stood, waiting while Vivi brushed herself and Brigg read his book. The smell was getting thin now and you had expected that it wasn't coming this time.

Had another Hunter already killed that Tobi-Kadachi? Did it flee? Perhaps something drove it off or... well there was still that massive footprint.. and that would be an unfortunate outcome. You had nearly decided you should leave somewhere else then when you heard the sounds of something landing against the tree bark and looked up.

There it was, the Tobi-Kadachi looking down upon you from a tree. It's eyes scanned you and your partners quickly but deferred to the meat on the ground still smoking. It's tongue flicked and it wasted no time pouncing downwards to it. You eased away carefully as the monster took in a whiff of the smell and started to chow down. The thing was greedy, not saving any time to chew as it shoveled the meat in.

"My word." Brigg says, dazzled by the sight as he flipped a few pages and came to some in his book about Tobi-Kadachi in specific. "This one is relatively young if my almanac is anything to go by. Let's see... three hornlike scale sprouts, it must be a female, the males usually have only one sprout."

"Any clue why it hasn't attacked anyone yet?" You asked.

"Perhaps it hasn't fully matured yet. The adults of this species are noted to be more inclined towards their defense and warding off potential threats. They mostly feast on Mosswine and insects. I heard the Ecologists report and this one had taken to going after lunches instead, which a lot of time include rations of Aptonoth meat since they are so easy slaughter and reproduce in droves. Tobi-Kadachi don't usually go after Aptonoth that often as the elders in the herds can rally the rest of the herd to charge them, and their familiar sizes usually end with the herd overpowering the Kadachis by number alone. This one seems to have an addiction to the Aptonoth meat since it found a steady supply." Brigg explained.

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By the time that was done, the Tobi-Kadachi had already eaten all the Aptonoth meat there was and picked at it's teeth with a claw.

It's head shot to you and your partners then, turning slightly in curiosity before one foot stepped closer, and then another too slowly. Was it getting ready to try and pounce at the three of you? But you had fed it!

"Brigg, what do we do now? You're the expert here."

"I... uhh.... I don't exactly know. Tobi-Kadachi haven't been recorded to be tamed as much as any monster we know from the Old World... my book doesn't say anything on it." He said, inching away further behind you. You stood your ground and had your eyes locked with the monster slowly creeping up.

It's fur wasn't electrified and it made no noise. You took that as a cue then to take a step forward yourself. The monster stopped briefly and it's eyes scanned your foot before returning to meet your gaze. It came closer at a quickened pace and you did as well.

If it was going to attack, you would anticipate it and still be able to put up a fight. At least with Vivi and Brigg here you would surely be able to slay it so you were reassured in the actions you took now. You inhaled deeply and exhaled before coming close enough that you stopped a foot away from the head of the monster, which lowered to be level with your own. You felt it's meat scented breath blow against your skin and decided you had enough of this staring contest.

You extended your hand and it's red eyes followed as you planted it against the fur of the monster and petted it back and forth before returning your hand to your side. The Tobi-Kadachi just stared blankly.

And then you were surprised as it's long tongue came out across your face all of a sudden. You were nearly pushed over as it rubbed it's head against you and purred at the touch. The monster was quite happy to receive this attention, like it had never known such a happiness and touch before in it's life.

"Well I'll be, it seems to really like you. I guess when they're younger they're not so fast to mistrust others." Brigg pondered.

"Well let's hope it- ugh- stays this way." You mumbled, the Tobi-Kadachi not ceasing to let up, rubbing it's temple against your own.

You finally managed to get away and back over to your partners and the Tobi-Kadachi stepped closer, still looking on at your group. It seemed to want to follow now.

"Hey, since we're acquainted with her now..." Brigg says, taking his turn to pet the monster. "We should name her. What do you think?"

>What will you name the Tobi-Kadachi?

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>>4010374
We did it!

>What will you name the Tobi-Kadachi?
I can't into Japanese, let alone Australian Japanese, so I'll pick Donna(for Donner). When in doubt, pick a German word.

Now we can't just feed her cooked meat, otherwise she'll end up with a weak jaw.

>>4010374
And she shall be named ~sexy~

>>4010374
Electra.

We are gonna earn so much cred after we get back with this accomplishment. Them researcher babes are gonna be all over us. Now all we gotta do is gather ingridients we need for creating supplies.

>>4010374
Name her Suzaku

>>4010374
italian name for memes

Kada-toth
Levinmaw for latin
Tabitabi for vaguely japanese

>>4010374
>>4010409
I'll go with Tabitabi to break the tie.

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"Hmm..." You came over and rubbed the Tobi-Kadachi on her chin. "I'll call you.... Tabitabi."

The Tobi-Kadachi responded with some sort of cooing and nuzzled you once more at that. With something to recognize her by, things would go a lot more smoothly now.

"I have another good idea." Brigg said as he reached into his satchel and pulled out a brass tag. While the Tobi-Kadachi is too busy nuzzling at you to notice, he fixes it around her right arm. "She's marked now. The brass is clearly visible easily to so we don't lose her. It's a tag to mark specific monsters to avoid with, that way her chances of survival are better if any other Hunter comes her way."

"So what do we do with her now? She's following us close, and we can't bring her back to Astera, there would be an outrage over it and she might get killed..." You ask.

"I suppose we'll have to try getting lost from her one way or another. If there was something we could drug her to sleep with that would be easier. Oh, maybe we could go to one of the camps and call for Wingdrakes. There's no way she'd be able to follow us that fast."

"Say, Meowster look!" Vivi, who was atop the Tobi-Kadachi says. You and Brigg turned suddenly to see the Apprenticed Ecologist running fast towards you along a root path, his clothes and hair rugged, his demeanor one of pure terror as he panted.

"YOU.. YOU! THERE'S NO TIME! WE HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE!" The Wyverian shouted as he almost dove into you.

"Woah, calm down there. Look, we solved your Tobi-Kadachi problem..." You say as he looks back and around, trying to still push past you.

"Ehhh....? I don't care anymore! Do with it what you will let's just get out of for the love of the Five! You don't understand, IT'S still out there! It got my partner and then chased after me!"

"What chased you?"

"The... the th-..."

There was a roar then, something completely out of this world. It sent a chill down your spine. Vivi fell to the ground with a grunt as Tabitabi raised her head and went into an alarmed state before she turned and hurled herself into one of the trees, vanishing into the woodwork.

You felt your heart stop as loud stomps approached slowly in the distance. You and Brigg both cautiously backed away. The Wyverian researcher just stood there looking back, almost frozen in fear until he blinked as something large and dark appeared far away.

"......."

It jumped, high into the air.

"......Ouhhh... Augh... aehhh.... ahhh...."

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"AAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHHHHHHhh---" Was the last thing he could get out as it landed and came down on him.

The thing snapped it's horrific jaw shut down on the Wyverian, sending his form splashing to the air like water falling from a fall.

You gasped, the air taken out of your lungs, your becoming cold from the dread that washed over you all of a sudden. Brigg pointed and began backing away with you.

"D... DE..... DEVILJHO!" He shouted before turning tail and speeding off as fast as his bulky armor would allow. You idiotically stood there staring in fear, cringing at the sounds the maw of the beast made. Crunching as it chewed on what was an alive scientist mere seconds ago. Then it smelled around, searching for the source of that cooked Aptonoth meat until it's eyes fell on you and widened.

You bolted off as well now, kicking the dirt behind you, Vivi and Brigg already having gotten a head start ahead of you. The Deviljho licked it's thorny lips and smelled again with droplets of drool falling from it's jaw. Deviljhos always loved a good chase.

Your heart skipped a beat again as it gave out it's thunderous roar and began to stomp after you as well.

Things seemed as though slow motion to you now. There were several ways you could flee. There was no way for you to fight against that Deviljho, not like this, still only past being a beginner. It would be suicide. You had to protect yourself and your companions as well.

>Aha! The large tree den! We can climb far out of the Deviljhos reach there, the upper platforms would be far too small for it to be able to pursue us at, and we could call for Wingdrakes!

>We'll have to take a risk and speed along the way we came, back out to the hillock. We can signal with SOS flares near Astera's gate, others will come running to help. Maybe even the Sapphire Star will show up and save us!

>Now's our chance to make a detour and try to lose it through loops and turns. Once we've overloaded it's mind with too many navigational errors in the twisting vine walls, it'll quickly lose interest and we can hide at a camp.

>I got it! We'll swim out in the Kestodon watering hole. It's too heavy to follow us out to the sea!

>>4010716
>>Aha! The large tree den! We can climb far out of the Deviljhos reach there, the upper platforms would be far too small for it to be able to pursue us at, and we could call for Wingdrakes!

>>4010716
>Aha! The large tree den! We can climb far out of the Deviljhos reach there, the upper platforms would be far too small for it to be able to pursue us at, and we could call for Wingdrakes!

>>4010716
>Now's our chance to make a detour and try to lose it through loops and turns. Once we've overloaded it's mind with too many navigational errors in the twisting vine walls, it'll quickly lose interest and we can hide at a camp.

>>4010716
>Aha! The large tree den! We can climb far out of the Deviljhos reach there, the upper platforms would be far too small for it to be able to pursue us at, and we could call for Wingdrakes!

Quickly, you pulled left, swiping your feet through the flowing water stream of the path upwards into the great tree of the forest. There was likely a wyvern nest or den at the top but that didn't persuade you to turn back as Brigg and Vivi followed close behind you now.

The Deviljho stomped inwards and opens it's maw as it piled towards your group. By that time, you had taken to climbing the roots and vines that had grown inside the tree, pulling up with your hook as you carried Vivi on your back and Brigg hurried up right behind you. The Deviljho slammed it's head against the tree bark, nearly making Brigg fall until you got up all the way and caught his hand to pull him up. The monster below snarled and eased back, signaling that it was going to jump up.

You jumped too, to the next set to climb up as the Deviljho made an impressive leap and got itself to your previous platform. It hopped again, trying to catch you by the leg but missed by mere inches. It growled and instead bit at the vines you climbed, shaking and pulling some down, making one hand of yours lose it's grip but giving Brigg and Vivi ample time to reach the top from where they pulled you up next.

The constantly hungry beast below was becoming increasingly annoyed by the second and hopped up to try and reach the next platform. It didn't work out so well this time as the Deviljho's skull collided with a large tree limb in the way, disorienting it for the second and making it fall all the way back down to the bottom of the great tree. You took that as a sign to hurry and get the hell out of there before it did find a way up. You looked around at the now almost entirely solid floor of wood and organic materials. This was definitely a roost for a large wyvern like a Rathian or Rathalos. You just hoped it wasn't home as you began a trek upwards again, to the top of the tree where you would find the nest.

There, you could call the Wingdrakes and be safely taken to Astera. On the way, you picked up honey and some unique flowers as you walked along the way up...

Now, you had reached the top of the great tree and worked your way up a curving path of bark layered with foliage. There was indeed a nest up here. Many things collected from the forest all over had made it up. Thankfully, no wyverns of any kind were around to be resting in the giant nest.

You had looked around for the minute, admiring the view that this place up here had.

"Oh! Wyvern eggs!" Brigg announced as he knelt over a smaller nest to the side with three large, sturdy eggs nestled inside cozily. "It's a shame, that Deviljho is going to try everything it can to get up here and when it does, it'll have these over medium. I can't imagine the look on the Rath's face when it comes back and finds them then." He said in a way that sounded more wise cracking than somber.

"Well, we can't take them, they would weigh the Wingdrakes down." You said before whistling.

You heard rumbling from below. The Deviljho was trying it's best to get up the smaller platforms. You heard a loud noise from below too, it must have fallen attempting to balance itself on the small spaces again, but if it did get up....

You shook the thought and continued whistling while looking to the sky...

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It took a few minutes of waiting, whistling and firing and SOS flare Brigg had in between it all but eventually you looked over and saw them. There was a small pack of Mernos, three of them in specific, with two wearing leather vests and the third seeming to be a stray that followed just to.

You saw them glide over and called for Brigg and Vivi. You Palico hopped and grabbed ahold of your leg as you caught a hold of one of the vested Mernos with your slinger. Brigg ran quickly too and grappled onto his own.

The Mernos hovered there for a minute and you rocked back and forth to try and direct them, but they were taking a moment to comprehend the direction.

Of course, this could not end like this so well. A cracking of wood from your right turned your head to the curved slope leading up to the next. The Deviljho was standing there and had made it at last. It looked hungrily over to you and your companions hanging by the Mernos in the air just high enough that it could still reach the both of you. It roared and charged then, intending to barrel off the nest and take all of you with it. It would no doubt survive that fall, but you and your companions falling that far with it's weight over you? No way at all.

Brigg desperately tried to reach around and grab his heavy bowgun, but his clunky armor got in the way. You had a free hand and took your gunlance out by the handle, it was primed and loaded.

You aimed towards the face of the Deviljho, hoping whatever you could fire out would stall it in time for the Mernos to finally carry your group out of reach as they became spooked and flailed in the air.

>1d100 to stall the Deviljho.

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Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>4010875

>>4010876
ARE YOU KIDDING ME

>nobody else is around to roll
OHGODOHFUCK

Rolled 97 (1d100)

>>4010875

>>4010885
To the rescue.

Rolled 78 (1d100)

>>4010875
if that's a wyvernfire, I sure hope we can survive falls better than the sapphire star.

>>4010889
>>4010890
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ps--sgUQ-qo

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You did the only thing you could. You shelled the face of the approaching Deviljho. It growled, seemingly unaffected by your first three shells. The only visible damage being soot marks against it's scales and only the tiniest thorns broken off from it's face.

You held your cannon, aiming it as best you could. Your firm grip kept it steady as the Deviljho slowed to a halt before diving off the side of the nest.

"SHOOT IT! SHOOT I-HI-IIT!" Brigg pleaded in terror.

The didn't seem to believe your small minded Mernos were actually going to fly away as they flapped wildly there. It took some sadistic pleasure in the look your face made as it licked over it's maw and many thorns.

It pushed itself up with both legs and stood at full height with it's maw hanging agape as far as it could. It would going to take you all out in one swift, all-consuming bite!

You closed your eyes and muttered a quick prayer to whatever divinity was listening with but the word 'Please' and no more.

The Deviljho went to swing it's jaw.... only to be rebuked back when your gunlance finally fired it's last blast you had been concentrating and saving up. Like a jet from a star, your formidable Wyvern's Fire blast rocketed forth from the barrel and hit the Deviljho straight in it's small, exposed eyeball. The force of the blast sent you flying backwards across the air, hanging onto the Mernos tightly with your slinger's hook. Brigg's hand shot forward in that instance and let the momentum carry him too.

The Deviljho wailed in pain but nonetheless still tried to collect your group in it's mouth as it bit forward. The blast had carried each of you out of the way by a single foot, your legs all going soft as the jaw of the Deviljho snapped shut to bite the air.

The horrible monstrosity's left foot trembled as most of it's weight shifted too far out over the edge of the nest. Unable to do anything about it, it simply roared as it fell forward and began a plummet to the ground far below.

In that instance, you looked down as the Mernos regained their composure and began flapping away. You locked eyes with the Devil and it returned a glare of seething hatred as it fell. It would survive.... and it would remember you. It felt like it had your name, it had your address....

That was something you were going to have a nightmare about.

With a groan, you finally landed on the wooden planks, the Mernos flying back to their perches on the Gathering Hub. You could almost kiss the floor you were so relieved. Visibly, you still had a slight shake to your body, most in your hands.

Brigg had bent over panting to regain his breath and composure. He slaps his own helmet a few times and shakes his head.

"Alright! Alright.... I'm.... Ohhhh.... That was.... positively frightening."

"That's an understatement." You say, trying to appear normal when you see some other Hunters passing a confused look.

"Well... look on the bright side, we accomplished a lot today. Made some admirable progress. If it weren't for that encounter with the Devil itself, I'd say it was perfect." Brigg says, chuckling, but nervously. "I'm glad we could be partners for today, Gunlance Vance."

"Yeah, me too. Let's cooperate again sometimes you and me."

"I shall surely look forward to such. In the meantime, I have to report the presence of that Deviljho to the Commander. With any luck, one of our best will have it dealt with soon enough. I'll leave spilling the blastnuts on our Tobi-Kadachi friend to you. I'm going to go.... have a drink and take a breather." Brigg says. He gives a farewell gesture and begins to walk off on his lonesome.

"W-Woew, Meowster!" Vivi says as she lets go of your leg and steels herself. "That was intense! Maybe t-too intense for me!"

"But we still have paw-lenty of day left." She shakes her head. "What do you want to do neow?"

You take a deep breath and sigh, rubbing your eyes and the sweat off your lobe. The Ancient Forest was a big no-no for now with a giant pickle actively prowling about that way. You did wonder how the researchers mostly avoided all these giant monsters in any places they were stationed at? The two from today didn't seem to so well.... A shame really.

What will you do now?

>>4010915
Let's look into those mats we got.

>>4010915
Anjanath bits should have us looking a bit more local.

See if we can buy a water weapon for our palico friend.

>>4010915
I'd say it might not be a bad idea to do some decompression via a low-risk job, like a gathering expedition, assuming we've got access to somewhere that isn't Pickle Forest. There's still some time left in the day, and we can leave an order with the smithy before bed and pick it up in the morning.

>>4010915
>>4010918
Supporting, maybe we can glue some to our GL in MH world style

You remembered the Anjanath materials that were locked away in your trunk and so headed off the way of the barracks with Vivi following close by.

You opened your trunk up to the sight of the materials and took out a burlap sack from the trunk to gather them up inside of before you went out again and turned to climb the stairs to the Smithy. Coming inside, the Second Fleet Master turned and faced you as you set the sack down in front of him and opened it.

"What by chance would you be able to create with these?" You asked.

"Hrrrmmmmm...."

The Second Fleet Master's hands dug around inside, inspected the variety of materials and counting them up, looking over their size and making some measurements.

"Well, it depends on what you're looking to make. I could forge a set of armor, or a weapon of your preference on them, but there's only enough for one."

"Can you gauge the prices on that?" You asked, knowing full well that nothing was free in this world. You had at least three thousand zenny on you when you arrived from saving up, and you received five thousand more for slaying the Anjanath, totaling you at eight thousand or so zenny.

"Well, for the weapon I could make of these Anjanath materials, it would require me to forge something new to upgrade with them from monster bones and the few donated Barroth parts I have lying around. So that would make it cost extra. I'd say.... four thousand one hundred zenny. For the weapon." The Second Fleet Master says.

"I see. And for the armor?"

"To forge an armor set I would have to use up all these materials and draw from my supply of malachite ore and monster bones. I'd say... Seven thousand five hundred Zenny." The Second Fleet Master says, resting both hands on the maul.

"One more question, could you readily make a weapon for my Palico? I was looking for something with the water element."

"Erhmm..... Yeah, actually I should have a Jyuratodes fang in stock. You know what? Since you're new, I'll let you have that one for free. Consider it a little friendly gift. But anything else you'll have to pay for. So, do you want to place an order? I'll have it ready by tomorrow evening."

What will you do?

>>4011406
I suppose it's going to be a Blazing Gunlance?

>>4011444
I'll take the weapon; doubt we can afford the armor set right now.

Something for us to keep track of inventory throughout the quest would be nice.

>>4011406
Always weapons first, armor second and then look to upgrade from the same monster.

Gimme Weapon.

>>4010915
Called us Gunlance instead of Lance. That right there makes him bro material.

>>4011444
Agreed elemental specialized weapons are a must. Gotta have one for each for when you need it.

Watch us encounter a goose on our next outing.

"I'll have whatever weapon you can produce from it."

You took out your zenny purse and counted through the coins quickly, placing down enough to cover the cost, leaving you at three thousand nine hundred zenny.

The Second Fleet Master shoveled the money into a register of sorts next to his grindstone and raised his arm. His other workers responded by raising their hammers and bellowing a jolly cry of work.

"You can trust me to get the job done. Be back here tomorrow by the time the sun's at the top of the sky. I'll have your Blazing Gunlance and Palico weapon done by then." the Second Fleet Master says.

You nod and turn away, leaving the Smithy.

Right now you figured it would be a good time as any to see what you could do to build up your own purse. An influx of zenny will go a long way to helping you progress, being able to get your hands on better weapons and armor.

There were multiple things you could do now. There seemed to be new quests posted on the boards. You could go have some lunch and maybe socialize with other Hunters too.

What will you do now?

>>4011676

Gathering quest, we need more mats and zenny

>>4011676
Let's check for a relatively relaxed quest first. We'd probably still have time for chow after.

>>4011676
Check the quest board.

And try to actually DO the quest properly this time, we didn't make a great first impression as a monster hunter by trying to make friends with the monster we made a deal to kill.

>>4011696
>>4010168
Me

You step over and view the Quest board. The same quests from the last time you perused it remain hanging but there are new ones as well.
>>4006811

Tzis Is Out Of My Control!
Client: Endemic Life Researcher.
Reward: 6400 Zenny.
Goal: Rescue my poor baby!
Location: Coral Highlands.

"It's just awful! My little snuggims and I were collecting bugs until a Kirin passed about! It scared us with some lighting as a warning and we fled! When it was safe again I came out only to find my little snuggims wasn't with me! He got caught on some weeds and now he's hanging on for dear life! He won't survive the fall! And if things weren't bad enough, I saw a Paolumu flying about! Oh someone please help me!"

I Got A Little Hankering.
Client: Hungry Worker.
Reward: 3700 Zenny.
Goal: Deliver three Wyvern Eggs.
Location: Wildspire Waste.

"I work a long shift and back in the Old World my favorite thing to settle down to when I got off was an omelette, but not just any kind of omelette, a wyvern omelette. The chef will cook it, I just need the eggs."

Dirty Beauty.
Client: Grim Biologist.
Reward: 18000 Zenny.
Goal: Hunt a Kirin.
Location: Coral Highlands.

"The Kirin is such a majestic lifeform. So rarely seen only in lifetimes and wonderfully powerful. I have long admired it's outer beauty but seeing it's inside marvels are a fascination of mine too. Kill it."

Employees Must Always Wash Hands/
Client: Squeamish Germophobic Researcher.
Reward: 3900 Zenny.
Goal: Collect enough bubbles and suds to fill my bottles.
Location: Coral Highlands.

"I can't STOMACH the thought of having to touch the things we do in our roles, and the conditions in which we live in Astera have gotten me nigh ILL I tell you! Luckily, I had heard from the Scouttress that a rare specimen never before seen in the New World has appeared in the Highlands and it brings it's abilities of cleanliness with it! I want some so I can feel clean again! Get it for me."

Crunch The Crystal Bruncher.
Client: Mineral Gatherer.
Reward: 9000 Zenny.
Goal: Hunt a Dodogama.
Location: Elder's Recess.

I think it's already well known that few Hunters are willing to take these damn things out with their dumb excuses like 'it's cute though!' but we really need this one Dodogama gone. We can't properly mine for fulcium and dreamcore with that thing shooting exploding rocks at us. Do the deed already for gogsake.

Full Hands, Fast Run.
Client: The Commander.
Reward: 10000 Zenny.
Goal: Make a daring resupply delivery.
Location: Wildspire Waste.

There's a dangerous situation going down at the Wastes. Some Hunters set up a new kind of ballista of the SFM's design under my orders but were unable to properly test it as a Bazelgeuse attacked and began to bomb their area out. They have everything they need, except for the special ammo. We need someone brave to make the run and deliver their ammo across a long ravine while avoiding explosive scales. If you volunteer, may the Sapphire Star guide your way.


Duuude....
Client: Addicted and Questionably Legal Researcher.
Reward: 8300 Zenny.
Goal: Gather and deliver 15 Gaia Ambers.
Location: Elder's Recess.

Maaannnn.... that stuff is like, good stuff man. Me and my buddies need more, this food thing isn't cutting it. Is all for research purposes believe me, we need more. Could you like, get us some more of that stuff? I would like that stuff man......

Today's Forecast.
Client: Mildly Annoyed Ecologist.
Reward: 14000 Zenny.
Goal: Lure Nergigante to Kushala Daora's den.
Location: Elder's Recess.

I am very interested in seeing how quickly it is that the Eater of Elders can fell another Elder, and seeing how it feeds on them too. It just happens that he's around and so is that bitter Kushala Daora, but he won't follow me when I try to attract him myself, and when I try nearing the other Elder, I can't seem to move as the wind carries me away. I need some help in the regard, but the result will pay off big time.

Oh Pest Controoollll.
Client: Meowscular Chef.
Reward: 5000 Zenny.
Goal: Hunt all target Monsters. (Odogaron, 10 Shamos.)
Location: Coral Highlands.

I don't usually spend much time with Gramma these days, she's hunkered down in Seliana most of these days. So imagine the look on my face when she visits! I thought I would show her these nice coral flower patches I knew about cause I know she likes flowers, but then some monsters got in the way and I want them dead. Get to it, skinny.

Hmm....

Which quest will you take on?

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>>4011966
>Duuude....
Seems simple enough.

>>4011966

>Horny For Hornetaurs >>4006811
or
>Employees Must Always Wash Hands

Loving these descriptions, by the way.

>>4011993
support

>>4011964
Lightning Hound Grounding

>>4011966
>Duuude....

>>4011966
Monitoring 101 or Employees Must Always Wash Hands

>>4011966
>Duuude....
Also you should probably get a trip, QMdude.

>>4011966
Supporting Duuude....
It's gathering some amber. As long as we're careful to not piss anything off, we should be fine.

>>4012193
And isn't the Elder Recess is a ways off from the Ancient Forest?

Well, that does it. You take 'Duuude....' off the board and shove it into your satchel.

"Seems simple enough." You say, Vivi turning her head to you.

"I dunno Meowster, 'Elder's Recess' sure doesn't sound too safe to me!"

"It shouldn't be too much trouble. I know what that name might imply, but all I have to do is go and gather some things and run back to camp. I'm a fairly good runner too, so I'm perfectly capable of outrunning any larger monsters I might see. Besides, I might not even need to fight either, just run and go along with it." You say, trying to reassure her.

"If it makes you feel better, you can sit at the camp until I finish."

You decided it would be a good time as ever to quickly resupply. A quick stop at the provisions stockpile and some spent Zenny garnered you a full set of ten Potions, ten Mega Potions and a Hot Drink when the manager heard you were off to the Elder's Recess, warning of intense lavascape known to be there.

You thanked him for the warning and went to the Resource Center then to speak with the Analytics Director. The Wyverian chief was able to offer you a map of every inch currently discovered in the Elder's Recess, noting that there are still some places yet undiscovered there as well. Seeing that you were a new face around, he didn't hesitate to provide copies of maps for other areas such as the Wildspire Waste, Coral Highlands and Rotten Vale as well.

Now all set and ready, you called for a Mernos, as the Wingdrakes seemed to be willing to fly any distance, and with Vivi tagging along by your back, you set off at last to the Elder's Recess.

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It clearly took a prolonged while of flying to reach the place at last, but on the way you were able to catch glorious glimpses of what the New World offered. It's landscapes were so unique and varied, different than that of the Old World. The Coral Highlands, what you could see of it, glimmered like diamond in the middle of the greens of the forests and wooded areas.

You saw something brighter, the Elder's Recess. The whole environment there was composed almost entirely out of crystals. The crystalline biome of the area was heavenly in appearance, with abundant landfills of rock and lava flowing through. You were actually quite excited to get around and look for yourself. You dispatched the Wingdrake to leave elsewhere and dismounted at the camp there with Vivi.

The camp was unoccupied for now, but there was a fire burning in the nearby stove so people were definitely here. Your first thought was to search the collective trunk of the camp and see what was worth borrowing. There wasn't much available actually, but you did find a rather large ration pack which you stuffed away inside your bag.

Vivi waved and wished you the best of luck as you told her to stay put in this foreign place. You ventured off without her into the crystal roads.

The trip around had you looking everywhere for both sightseeing and cautiously watching for any monsters about. Your eyes caught onto a monster quite matched the description of one you heard of in the Old World, an Uragaan. The thing seemed to be wandering and soon rolled away down a tunnel into a roomy rocky cave that the wind howled through. You took that as your cue to move and jogged ahead, going over crystalline rises and down large heights by carefully climbing and jumping down. It wasn't long until you finally found magma flowing ahead and so drank your cool drink.

The areas pumping and flowing with lava ahead were ripe to go finally find what you were looking for, deposits of Amber materials sought by your quest giver. There were plenty around anywhere you looked and so you got to extracting. You found both things from the Amber you couldn't take and what you were supposed to take, Gaia Ambers.

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The search took some time, at least an hour of looking around for more deposits. Not just that, but also sneaking around what you thought to be Lavasioth, which was yet another monster from the Old World you heard of.

You had to sit and wait a moment from afar before you could move again as the piscine wyvern strolled about it's lava ridden territory. Briefly it had a standoff with an Azure Rathalos that happened to be flying by. They both bellowed their cries and roars to one another before the Rathalos responded with a fireball from it's mouth that really didn't do much to the Lavasioth save for anger it into firing back it's own, more powerful ball of magma. The Rathalos dodged it but flew away shortly after with the Lavasioth retreating back down into it's lake.

You slid down the path leading there and quickly sprinted through, skidding over rocks against the wall until you found one last Amber deposit and a sixteenth Gaia Amber to carry along on your journey.

The effects of your cool drink had worn off by then and you sweated intensely as you run-walked away from the lava area. You came out to a little path between two lava areas and held yourself against your knees, panting from the heat as you wiped your head rapidly with your glove.

You felt a bit of a relieving feel as a puff of air blew against your face. But what was it from?

You looked up. You felt like the blood just left your veins.

Standing there in front of you was the Empress of Flame herself, Lunastra. And not too far behind was her mate, the Emperor Teostra. You lost your breath and stood as still as a statue, frozen solid in fear.

More air was felt as the Lunastra snorted and sniffed again. Her mate Teostra didn't seem to want to come near, but was watching you with a deadly gaze as if it would pounce the moment you gave it a reason to. The Lunastra seemed to explore with her sense of smell more, sniffing at you and snorting, her fangs not yet drawn for a fight. Usually, these Elder Dragons were known to violently ward off anything around them no matter how small, Lunastra especially as a hyper-territorial monster, but this one seemed have it's interests piqued by you, or rather by your bag which it sniffed at...

It wouldn't stop sniffing at that place. Was it the Amber or something else inside?

What will you do?

>Dive under her and catch your feet to flee the way they came.
>Turn and run as fast as your legs can take you back the way you came.
>Rush to the right and try to grapple a high crystal with your slinger hook to get away.
>Dive off of the giant crystal you walked on and into some unknown depth to save yourself.
>Open your bag and let it sniff inside.
>Write in.

>>4012520
>Open your bag and let it sniff inside.

>>4012520
Lets see try not to get ganked by her paranoid mate. We somehow drew its yet to be hostile interests of the female. What is with us and female monsters?

>Open your bag and let it sniff inside.

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>>4012520
>See? Simple as can beeeeeeee....

>Open your bag and let it sniff inside.
Any other option is death.

>>4012520
>>Open your bag and let it sniff inside.
If this ends up going the way I feel like it might possibly could, you might have to rename this to Monster Tamer Quest.

>>4012565
I really wanna tame a big flying monster to ride on(seriously though we even got a gunlance we can use while riding) and an elder dragon just because. Basically I wanna ride big monsters into combat and stab things to death while doing so.

>>4012565
Us? Being on neutral terms with ornery Elder Dragons, of all things? Tabitabi I can understand, there is a narrative reason for her being on good terms with us, on top of her specie's normal behavior. I cannot accept Lunastra doing the same.

You made an audible gulp and nervously, and more importantly, slowly moved your fingers down to your bag and opened it.

Come to think of it, you could smell it too. It was the ration you took from the camp earlier, the strangely large one. It was huge for a ration, so you wondered, just what was inside?

Well, you were about to find out.

Lunastra's nose prodded at the thing and you took it out. She didn't seem to even know you existed, focusing solely on the ration. The smell was sweet, like a bakery. Your hands undid the paper that sealed it inside and threw it aside as your tore it away to reveal it's contents.

It was a.... cookie cake?

Maybe this wasn't a ration after all, but rather dessert that someone else was storing for later. Well, whatever it was you didn't really care that you were giving theirs away, because this was basically the only reason that Lunastra hadn't rended your entrails the second she saw you.

You held it up and the Elder Dragon took the dessert from your hands, eating it in one bite. Teostra hung his head a bit low though, was she not going to share?

As soon as Lunastra had eaten it, she gave out a growl at you and you took that as a warning to back away as far as you could without falling off of the crystal beam. The Empress seemed to enjoy her authority over lesser beings and strode by gracefully without further input. Teostra followed and you saw him glance your way as he left off with his mate.

With both Elders out of site, you finally let loose and began breathing as though you were suffering a panic attack, sweating profusely from the heat so much that a puddle formed at your feet.

You think this may have also been quite the lesson in how important willpower and keeping your calm is. You used your slinger grapple hook to ascend a large wall of crystal so you could get on your way out of here.

At least from this point on the way was safe now and you wouldn't run into anything else terrifying, right?

.....

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.....

You looked ahead from where you stood.

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You had no idea what that, but it was impossibly large and seemed to be staring in your direction. You can't decide whether or not you should lay down and die or try running again.

Your thoughts however are cut short, another grapple hook pulls up three more Hunters behind you and you are confused. These three were veterans, you could tell by the exotic armors and weapons they had, such as a black thorny greatsword and a charge blade brimming with energy from it's white bones.

And then a fourth came up behind them, and it was to your relief none other than the celebrated Sapphire Star himself in his gleaming golden set.

"Gentlemen, what did I tell you? He'd be perfectly fine."

"Only because of my cake! Hey, you owe me for that one." One of the veterans says.

"What? I don't understand." You say.

"We had been following you around this whole time." The Star said. Your expression scrunched up slightly. "We were chatting about something when we noticed you land at the camp. All of us were perplexed to see such a beginner come here to this dangerous place of all you could have. We did some things that us veterans usually do when we see the rookies in the field, a bit of wagering and gambling on how long you'd last."

The Star did a signal with his hand and the other three veterans began to walk off towards that massive beast lumbering in the distance.

"Do not dwell on it negatively. We Hunters have been doing it for generations. I've been in your spot before, and others doubted me before I got where I was." He says, stepping up to you.

"And you know what got me through it? Courage, unmatched courage. That display back there, only one in every ten thousand would have handled it the way you did, most would have ended up dead. I commend you, really." The Sapphire Star says, giving you a thumbs up.

He walked past you and heaved his hammer up, looking back slightly.

"Now then, we came here to deal with that thing, it's the second one to show up so far. Extremely fatal, we call it Behemoth. You already got what you needed. You can slip by and get back to camp while it's distracted with us. Take care, and keep up your good work, I'm adamant you'll do great on your own. A Hunter's power comes from his own two hands."

You nodded faintly and watched as he too ran off to the battle against the giant monster, one of the other veteran Hunters in Diablos armor getting slapped through the air, laughing a bit too wildly in his over-enjoyment of the fight.

You ran along the edges of the large cavern and climbed your way out of there. The Star's applaud stuck and it seemed to do well for your self esteem, receiving such a praise from so great a hero. What a guy.

With your objective fulfilled, you double timed it back to camp and called for your ride back home.

You waded through yet another long trip back to Astera on the Mernos. By the time you got back the sun was setting and Vivi yawned as you landed. She giggled to herself again thinking of how you must have felt when you had your close call with the Elder Dragon royalty. You scoffed and rolled your eyes.

"I'm all tuckered out Meowster. We had a real adventure today. Mind if I go ahead and get my catnap?" Vivi asked, striking a convincing pose with cute eyes.

"Hmm. I could never say no to that face. I'll be there soon."

She nods and skips off to the barracks. You just had to find the client for the quest now. It didn't take too long, some questions and asking around eventually led you to some door in a little place along the extended housing under the water turbines. It was practically hidden between two larger shakes.

You rapped at the door and there was a crash from the other side. It creaked open and you saw that the frame was built right up against a tiny opening in the rock that formed one side of the waterfall, leading into a space carved out within. Dim candles lit it and you covered your nose, there was some strong smell exploding forth from the door, bombarding your nostrils and making you feel light headed.

Inside you three laid back figures, a Wyverian with really long hair and bloodshot eyes, a Hunter in a Jyuratodes set with a trail of smoke coming from his visor and a black furred Palico with green eyes wearing a scarf and ragged cap. The Wyverian put a bandana on his head and stepped up from the chair he reclined in. His movements were that of a noodle being slurped through a fork.

"Heyyy...." He says. "Did you uhh, did you like, take our quest?"

".....Yes, I got your goods right here." You say, dumping out the Gaia Amber onto a small table in front of them.

"Woah.... dude.... that's like... the most awesome thing anyone's ever done for me..."

"EYY! EYY! YOU ROCK MY MAN!" The other Hunter said loudly, slapping his chest and pointing to you before reclining back even further to the point of nearly breaking his chair's legs.

"So uh... what research do you do with this stuff, exactly?" You asked.

"Oh we uhhh...... heh heh heh, we research how good it makes you feel when you boil it in that." The Wyverian says, pointing over to a tall glass object with tubes running out the top.

"You suck up those vapors it makes and then you.... blllow them out and it washes over your brain. It's like, euphoria, dude. It makes you see the air." He says.

"EYY! EYY! PAY THE GOOD MAN FOR HIS DEED!"

"Oh yeah, almost forgot about that hahah..."

The Wyverian dumps some Zenny out of his purse to the floor. You shoot him a look and raise your eyebrow before picking up the pieces and counting them. It totaled only eight thousand Zenny. Checking the quest paper again, you see that you were three hundred Zenny short of the full reward and look at him again.

"Oh is it not enough? Uhh.... crud.... I thought it was enough to cover that dude..... uhhhmmm... Oh! Like, uh, you can have a free hit or two if you want." The Wyverian says, pointing to his device.

>Sure, a little pick-me-up can't hurt.
>No way, that'll be enough.
>Demand they pay full price.
>Write in.

>>4012825
>Write-in
Ask if they have anything else worth the deficit that they're willing to spare. If they don't, then just leave; we've dealt with too much today to argue with blitzed people.

>>4012834
+1

>>4012834
Absolutely, we need our cash, and collateral or a favor down the line will do if they don't have any. They probably have some other form of herb or powder on them they're not currently smoking that we can use.

>>4012825
supporting >>4012834

The Jyuratodes Hunter takes something off from around his neck and hoops it to you. You caught it and saw it was some kind of necklace.

"What is this?"

"EYY! EYY! THAS AN ARTILL-A-RY CHARM! IT ENHANCES GUNLANCE SHELL-ING WHEN YOU WEAR IT!"

"Why did you have this?"

"EYY! EYY! IT WAS CAUSE I USED THAT BABY'S WEAPON BEFORE I DISCOVERED SOMETHING PATRI-SHIAN! LISTEN!"

He grabbed a Hunting Horn from the floor and blew on it, playing a tune.

"Oh! Uh, like, you can also have this too I guess, I don't really need it." The Wyverian says.

He handed you a red bottle and you recognized this all too well. It was a Demondrug, a liquid medicine that enhanced one's strength.

"Will that like, cover it dude?"

>Yes. This will suffice.
>No, I think you can do better than that.

>>4012902
>Yes. This will suffice.
Let's go home.

>>4012902
>>Yes. This will suffice.

>>4012902
>Yes. This will suffice.

>>4012902
>Yes. This will suffice.

>>4012902
>Yes. This will suffice
Btdubs lovin this quest QM. Spot on monster hunter light heartedness but with much more deadly consequences

>>4012902
>>Yes. This will suffice.
Sweet loot

Just caught up and I have one thing to say. Mounted gunlance cavalry.
Tho, I am reminded of some old concept art about a weapon that was basically a sword and hunting dog. Shit was tight. Are we gonna revolutionize the hunt? Or is tobi a glorified jagras/shamos/girros?

>>4013614
>Are we gonna revolutionize the hunt or is tobi a glorified jagras/shamos/girros?
We haven't really thought that far yet, so it's probably the latter for now.

"Yeah, that'll be fine." You say. You turned and left the two delinquents to their hashing and made your way back to the barracks. Vivi had already beaten you to sleep and so you collapsed into bed after stripping of your armor. Maybe you should acquire some barrel bombs soon, those always looked fun especially when you detonated them against a sleeping monster's head. You dozed off....

Come next morning, you awoke to see Vivi was already gone from your alcove and got up slowly. Once your armor was on you stepped out from behind the curtain to see her looking out the door to the barracks. You came over and looked too. Outside, the Commander was giving a debriefing to a rather large crowd of Hunters, most Fourths and Fivers. Among them stood notable figures such as the chiefs, the Second Fleet Master, the Sapphire Star himself and behind the Commander was a larger man with spikey hair and muscles that made him look like he could tear a Tigrex in two with his bare hands.

You stepped out and up to the back of the crowd to hear what was going on.

"Our best minds on the field are speculating that it might be a late arrival to the Elder Crossing. Regardless of what attracted it here, it isn't leaving any time soon. It's presence presents a good opportunity for research so for now I advise you all to avoid coming into contact with it should you ever encounter it. The docility of these Elder Dragons in specific is questionable at best, and still unknown." The Commander says. Muttering comes among the crowd.

"Rest assured though, we discovered the reason behind the Crossing with your help, and we stopped the threat to the Everstream and the whole New World that Zorah Magdaros presented. It was with your help that we prevented the catastrophe that Shara Ishvalda was causing and beat back many more Elder Dragons. In no time, we'll have this one figured out as well." The Commander said. The crowd erupted into some cheering and a few Hunters clapped, all feeling good on themselves from his words.

"Now, I'll immediately begin preparations for investigations into the whole ordeal. Anyone interested in lending a hand towards our next big goal should direct their notice to the Field Team Leader. With that all said, you may return to your duties, and may the Sapphire Star guide your way. Dismissed."

The crowd dispersed then. The chiefs and high ranking officers and Hunters all gathered around the Commander's table for a discussion. You scratched your chin as you walked out to the lift. All around you everyone in Astera was chatting and discussing themselves about a 'Elder Dragon seen last night'. You wondered just what it was that roused them all like this?

Maybe you'd find out soon enough. For now, you were starved and went the way of the Canteen. It would be a bit more of the day before your order at the Smithy was ready for pickup.

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You strolled up and took a seat at the Canteen, ordering the chef's choice again. You had the taste for that 'sandwich' thing he cooked you last time, it was plain delicious.

"Hmm..... hmm hmm hrmmm...."

You looked to your left and saw Brigg sitting in the next seat over with his large almanac on the table. He looks up at you and waves.

"Oh, what a coincidence, I was just about to go seek you out myself. Did you hear the big news?"

"I only woke up a bit ago, I was exhausted from yesterday. No, I haven't, what's the big whip this time?"

"Apparently, an elusive and mystically rare Elder Dragon from the Old World was spotted arriving here in the New World from the sea last night. Not just that, but it flew overhead of Astera in fact while most of us were sound and sleep." Brigg explained.

"Really? What kind of Elder Dragon?"

"One of the strangest ones known in the whole world. It's called Yama Tsukami. It's unique for it's ability to levitate, and how it does is a mystery." Brigg says, before drinking through his helmet with a long straw.

"Yama Tsukami? Huh. What could attract that thing here? I thought the Crossing was solved."

"It was, but Yama Tsukami are usually slow to move far distances. I think it's already speculated it might be a late arrival to the Crossing. An investigation into why it's here is to begin soon, but I think in the end it will just fall to the late arrival theory before the case is closed. I don't know if we will end up slaying it however, Yama Tsukami are sedentary and keep to themselves." Brigg says.

"Where do you think it's at now?"

"Possibly still on the move, trying to find somewhere to claim as it's own. It shouldn't be long until we find it out there. I hear the pay for the investigation will be quite good to whomever does the most for it. I was thinking of joining myself."

You nodded as the Felyne waiter placed your food down in front of you. As you ate, you thought about it too. Going out there into uncharted territory, facing down all sorts of monsters while picking up the trail and connecting the dots to find a mystically obscure Elder Dragon. It sounded fun, but also very dangerous and life risking. But hey, maybe you could team up with Brigg and join the investigation, maybe split the reward if you both did really well....

In no time of chowing down, you were done with your meal and the waiter took away your leftovers. You sat and drank the same creamy white drink that everyone in the whole world drinks and thought about what you'd do today to pass the time.

>Go look for a new quest to take on.
>Or go explore on your own in an expedition.
>Go see the Field Team Leader about joining the investigation.
>You kind of stink, you should get a bath to pass the time.
>Maybe the Deviljho was dealt with by now, it may safe to go visit Tabitabi.
>Write in.

>>4013747
>>Go look for a new quest to take on.

>>4013747
>Or go explore on your own in an expedition.

Let's get some practice hunting monsters out in the wild where there's lower stakes. Maybe we can even get a few other rookies to hop in with us. We can go for money when we have a shiny new gunlance to smash things with.

>>4013747
>Or go explore on your own in an expedition.
inb4 our bo repels monsters or something like that.

>>4013747
>>Or go explore on your own in an expedition.
We need to gather materials. Monster Hunter requires so much goddamn farming even without killing monsters.

>>4013747
>Go look for a new quest to take on.
Let’s take a bath later

You set your drink aside and flip out your map of the New World, one you received while aboard the Argosy on your trip.

The map was fairly detailed, showing out the lands discovered by the Commission and charted. There was the Ancient Forest of course, the Coral Highlands, Rotten Vale, Elder's Recess blah blah blah... You got the drift.

Gathering materials to forge new things with would go a long ways to helping you out on your journey here. You supposed you would wait a bit however to get your new Blazing Gunlance before you set out.

You think you would inquire with Brigg on what he knew and could tell about the resources these specific places garnered. You sat and talked with him for bit, learning new thing after new thing about the areas.

Now you had to decide where your traveling would take you next. And most importantly now knowing what these places had an abundance of, what materials were you after?

>Go on an expedition in the Ancient Forest.
>Go on an expedition through the Coral Highlands.
>Go on an expedition into the Rotten Vale.
>Go on an expedition across the Elder's Recess again.
>Just leave through one of the main gates and start wandering.

>>4014070
>>Go on an expedition in the Ancient Forest.
Start with the basics. Herbs, honey, bones, and ores. Get all we need for potions, concoctions, and basic upgrade materials. We keep on getting nailed by big critters before we can gather much on our quests.

>>4014070
Supporting >>4014099.

>>4014070
>Go on an expedition into the Rotten Vale.

Huh, no Wildspire waste? And here I was thinking we could get bone and stone for armor. Oh well, I suppose if we're quick, we could still get some bones in the Rotten Vale's upper region. The lower region's full of noxious odors and hell for us, but maybe if we're brave we can pop some Girros.

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>>4014104
>Huh, no Wildspire waste?
Drat, I forgot that part. You can still choose it though
My focus is a bit slurry running this and playing Iceborne all at once

>>4014070
>>Just leave through one of the main gates and start wandering.

>>4014129
Oh, then absolutely change my vote to Wildspire Waste. Ancient Forest might still be a designated Pickle Disaster Area, after all.

>>4014070
>>Go on an expedition in Wildspire waste

>>4014144
You got a point with that place still being a bit hot for us. I'll change my vote to

>Wildspire waste

>>4014099
Was my old one.

>>4014070
>Go on an expedition to Wildspire waste

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Of the things you needed, potions and brews and things to mine were at the top of the list. You heard that the Wildspire Waste usually has a variety of things to be found there that tick every listing from Brigg, so you've decided.

"Oh? Going somewhere I trust?" Brigg asks.

"Yeah, this Wildspire Waste. I need to gather a lot of materials and this sounds pretty ideal." You reply. Brigg's head looked around for a second until he waved over at two other Hunters that had just finished their own breakfasts. The two see and come over as Brigg motions you to them.

"I'd like to introduce you to my two other friends that I've made in my time here. Guys, meet Gunlance Vance." Briggs introduces you. The pair was a Hunter wielding a Longsword with some feathers knitted into it's sheath hanging from the back of his Barroth armor, and the other a strikingly pretty Huntress in Kirin armor with a Thundersword in her possession.

"Heya! Nice to meet'cha! I'm Senzo, but please call me by my nickname, Hulk!" The Barroth hunter says, reaching forward and shaking your hand in an amusingly rough way.

"Hi! I'm Atricia. I'm known as the Scoutress here in the New World. I'm glad to finally meet you, Brigg told us about that wild encounter you had with the Deviljho, that must have been like a nightmare!"

"Yeah, it sure was. Seems like I've been running into only big monsters lately, might be a bit of bad luck or karma. Nice to meet you both though." You say, nodding to them.

"Speaking of wild, Vance here was heading to the Wildspire Waste for a bit of gathering. I was going to offer joining, get out a bit. What about you guys?" Brigg says.

"Hey, I needed some more Barroth parts speaking of materials, but I could go for a fight with any big monster today. I'll come too if you let me, I haven't got out much lately." Senzo, or Hulk as he's known says.

"I was thinking of joining the next big investigation, but I usually wait until those sort of things kick into full motion and get real, this Yama Tsukami ones only just been announced. I'll tag along too since I have some free time." The Scoutress says.

"Well that settles it, it's a fully party then now. What do you say Vance? Would you have us?"

"Sounds like a plan, there's no way I could say no. Sure, it's a party." You say optimistically.

"Splendid! Let's get to it!" Brigg says jovially.

With some new companions on board, you ensure your stock is in order and your weapon sharpened before setting out and departing to the Wildspire Waste with your new partners tagging along.

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Flight from Astera to the Wildspire Waste wasn't the longest thing, you could tell as the heat increased slowly as you approached the area and were dropped off at camp by the Mernos.

You stuff four First Aid Medications into your satchel and are the first to hop out and about into the arid climate of the Waste, your three other comrades following close by, chatting and making small talk, occasionally cutting up. This feeling of cooperation was quite nice, you could get use to having friends like this to watch your back, and you theirs.

"I know a little stretch out there where plenty of ore veins are usually found, but I must warn you, it stretches all the way down deep into a den where Diablos have been spotted before, including the dreaded Black Diablos." Brigg informs you. You were undeterred though, sure that the four of you could handle any Diablos these wastes threw at you.

So you got to picking where you saw them. Herbs and stalks of honey hiding in plain sight, seeds for enhancing one's physical abilities, and whatever berries you could scrounge up as well. There was a part of the Waste that included greenery, lots of greenery, and you were fast to go it's way, picking whatever you could find. Your companions helped out as well, searching for bugs to collect and even doing a little fishing.

You grabbed up some monster bones to stuff into your bag and decided to see what the more sandy dunes offered as you went that way out of the forestation.

You walked between two tall rises of rock, sand, large tree limbs and mossy weeds. Ahead of you was a natural underpass formed through the two cliffs. Quite interesting really.

But suddenly you stopped and held your hand to stop your companions too.

"What is it? See a monster or something?" Hulk asks.

"A monster of sorts, but not a big one. Look." The Scoutress says, pointing to where your gaze was fixated.

Up there on the ridge was a small creature in a tribal mask that obscured it's features save for it's two glowing yellow eyes. It was making some strange giggling noises and watched you closely. But wait, there was more, from behind.

You turned and saw more of the things barely making an attempt to hide in the greenery from where you just left, looking your way too, wielding large knives and moving in a dance-like rhythm.

"Gajalaka...." Brigg mused.

"They don't usually try going out of their way to attack unless you stir them up on purpose. What could they want with us..?" The Scoutress said.

"Well if worse comes to worse, I'll pummel those little things!" Hulk says, punching his palm.

>Let's just continue on our way, these Gajalaka look harmless as a fly.
>We should try climbing the cliff and going another way.
>Let's shoot our slingers as a warning to scare them off.
>This isn't a game, let's fight them off!
>Write in.

We should probably get the gunlance that was getting forged from last time after the expedition

>>4014664
>Let's just continue on our way but try to avoid them

>>4014664
>Let's just continue on our way, these Gajalaka look harmless as a fly.
They're not exactly attacking but they obviously don't want us to turn back.

>>4014664
>Let's just continue on our way, these Gajalaka look harmless as a fly.

>>4014664
>We should try climbing the cliff and going another way.

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"Hey, it's probably nothing. Maybe they just want us gone. Let's get going." You suggest. The other nod and follow your lead.

The Gajalaka ahead trains on your movement and flaps his hand to the right just as your group is about to pass under the ridge. Suddenly, another Gajalaka that was kneeling down and hiding stands, with a long horn in his hand. You all stopped again as he blew hard, sounding the horn off.

"REEEEEEEEEEEEEEYEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!" The Gajalaka ahead suddenly screamed. His warcry was suddenly joined by more and it became a chorus as at least a few dozen more Gajalaka suddenly jumped up and revealed themselves all above you.

"GAJA! JAJAJA! JA GALA LA GAJALAKAGAJ!"
("Now! Strike! The fools are vulnerable!")

Without much time to react, you winced as dozens of sharp daggers were thrown into the air to rain down on your group from both ahead and behind as more Gajalaka appeared! The ones approaching from behind carrying rope and short trees they had cut down!

You saw the Scoutress get hit in the foot by one of the knives and a yellowed electric current fell over her as Brigg dived to catch her and shield her from the knives with his armor. Hulk staggered from a purple knife hitting a gap in his armor around the arm.

"Gah! Poison!" He shouted

You quickly drew your Blazing Gunlance, which you had picked up before leaving on the expedition from the Smithy and blocked some incoming knives. Brigg and Hulk's armor helped to protect against of the knives but the Scoutress was still exposed and the Gajalaka were approaching fast from behind. Some of them were swinging the rope about like whips.

"GAK GALAJ! JAJAGAKA LAKA GALAKA KALAGA LAJLAJ!"
("Make haste! Capture the sacrifices for our Water God!")

>Let loose and start firing at them, standing your ground to fight against the horde.
>Yell to your companions to follow you and make a run for it, there's too many to handle.

>>4014911
>Let loose and start firing at them, standing your ground to fight against the horde.
Charge up a shot until they get close and then blow it up in their faces.

>>4014911
Well fuck.
>Yell to your companions to follow you and make a run for it, there's too many to handle.
We need to make an opening. preferably back the way we came.

>>4014911
>Let loose and start firing at them, standing your ground to fight against the horde.

swapping to this>>4014925
from this>>4015113

>>4014586
Briggs called us Gunlance Vance *sniff* Im going to cry.

"We need to draw them out.... Argh! Get into a better position! Follow me!" You say, running through the rain of daggers and under the ridge.

"He's right! We can turn the tide easily with the right setting!" The Scoutress shouted as he leaped from Brigg's arms and along with you, overcoming her temporary daze. Brigg and Hulk weren't too far behind, coming along quickly too.

As you ran forward, the Gajalaka on the ridge threw down a large net of tough fibers to catch you with, but thankfully it didn't serve it's purpose well enough as the Scoutress leaped off a stone and drew her Thundersword, cutting through it in midair, the thunderous power of her greatsword zapping away most of the fibers.

"HUUURGHHH! GAKAJ ALA KAGALA LAJLAJ! JAJ LAK GAJA, GAGA AKAL!"
("We cannot fail our great God! Get after them, don't let them escape!")

You peeked back briefly to see the horde of Gajalaka pursuing you fast, skimming across the distance at a worrying speed as they took to all fours and came like a pack of Jagras, never losing grip on their weapons, managing to recollect a majority of their daggers in between gaining up to pursue.

You ducked to the right and over some rocks, pressing down your bayonet and using your gunlance to vault over a high wall of the boulders. Brigg and Hulk came over too at their own pace while the Scoutress had the same idea, except with her greatsword she came flying by at an even greater pace.

Ahead of you was a wide and open grounds of sand, with large spirals of clay rising from the dunes. A quick look at the map after sheathing your weapon revealed that continuing along the desert to the northwest would eventually lead one out towards the way of a 'great ravine'.

You stopped however as ahead of you was none other than a Barroth with it's back turned. You had an idea and ducked behind one of the spirals with your companions. You leaned out to observe your plan unfold, and then backfire.

The Gajalaka were relentless and fearless as they came over the rocks. The Barroth turned to their screaming and charged, until the bulk of their force appeared over and yellow daggers were promptly flung into the Barroth's hide. The monster fell mid-charge and whined as the Gajalaka assaulted it, stabbing at it's eyes and into it's orifices. The Barroth went backwards as it tossed and turned around in the sound, and when the stun was over, it fled the area and ran, disappearing over a dune.

The Gajalaka were searching now, spreading out to look. They would eventually find your group....

>This is the perfect place to fight them however, large and open and noway for them to overwhelm us.
>Hmm... if that swirling sand is of any clue, we may be able to sink the ground underneath their feet with a well placed cluster bomb from Brigg.
>There's an opening nearby in that crag spiral. We can go underground to shake them off and lose them.
>I see a way leading down from here, maybe to a deep cave. We should make a run for it.

>>4015192
>This is the perfect place to fight them however, large and open and noway for them to overwhelm us.
they're less likely to bother us again if we best them in honorable combat. No need to make this a diablos big of a deal

>>4015192
>This is the perfect place to fight them however, large and open and noway for them to overwhelm us.

>>4015192
>Hmm... if that swirling sand is of any clue, we may be able to sink the ground underneath their feet with a well placed cluster bomb from Brigg.
Kablooey

>>4015192
>Hmm... if that swirling sand is of any clue, we may be able to sink the ground underneath their feet with a well placed cluster bomb from Brigg.

>>4015192
>This is the perfect place to fight them however, large and open and noway for them to overwhelm us.

>>4015192
>>This is the perfect place to fight them however, large and open and noway for them to overwhelm us.

>>4015192
>Hmm... if that swirling sand is of any clue, we may be able to sink the ground underneath their feet with a well placed cluster bomb from Brigg.

swapping to this>>4015301
from this >>4015227

"Brigg, you see that spot over there?" You said, nudging his shoulder plate.

"Mmm..... yes, that spot has always looked a bit unstable. What are you thinking?"

"Most of them are gathered on top of it. I figure you could make the whole thing collapse under their feet. Do you have any cluster bombs?"

"One." Brigg says, drawing his heavy bowgun and taking care not to make too much noise unfolding and loading the thing with a cluster bomb from his pack. He gets down on a knee and begins to back away slowly across the sand.

"What are you doing?" You whispered over to him.

"Just trust me for a moment, I know my gun well." Brigg says.

"It's about fifteen feet from where we stand." Hulk whispered over.

"Then this should be good enough." Brigg said, firmly gripping his heavy bowgun and raising the barrel to the air. "Now, observe."

You peeked back around the pillar and looked at the horde of Gajalaka screaming to each other in their language, searching around. You heard the THUMP characteristic of a heavy bowgun and watched as the cluster bomb fell from over the rock spiral you hid behind, Brigg having calculated the distance. The bombs broke off and fell all over the swirling pit of sand. The Gajalaka paused and cautiously looked them over.

"Gaka....?"
("What....?")

"Jal, laka gaga..."
("Wait, these are...")

"GAGLA!"
("BOMBS!")

The Gajalaka were helpless as the cluster of bombs exploded underneath their feet, throwing the majority of them to the ground. They all began shouting in distress as the sand underneath their feet began to sink out in a tremor, falling to whatever ground lied beneath. Some away from it threw in their ropes, hoping to try and catch one of the comrades, only to get their rope on the sand and drug in as well.

You saw only a few remaining afterwards and gave the signal for everyone to come out with weapons drawn to drive them away. You hopped out and fired some shells at some of the tribalistic Lynians you saw. Brigg emerging and firing normal ammo too while the Scoutress shot some torch pods with her slinger. The remaining Gajalaka either fled or burrowed to escape save for a few losing their balance and falling down into the earth through the hole just made by Brigg's cluster bomb.

Hulk seemed to have an idea of his own and stepped towards them drawing his Longsword.

"And don't you mess with us Hunters ever again you little schmucks! Take this!"

Diving forward, the dull back side of his blade hit one of the last three Gajalaka in the mask, making them fall down into the pit.

"Senzo, get back!" The Scoutress called.

"Let me get these last two real qu-Hwagh!"

To everyone's surprise, one of the last two Gajalaka managed to gain some momentum in his arm and throw his rope, wrapping it around Hulk's leg and making the Hunter lose balance himself. He was helpless as the rope suddenly pulled him down into the pit as well.

You dived forward to grab his hand and pull him back, but you were too late as the arrogant Hunter joined the Gajalaka in their fall. The sand stopped flowing down then and you got a good look at what lied so far down below, a whole new chamber underground. You saw a pile of sand and the horde of Gajalaka digging themselves out.

Hulk could do nothing as the Gajalaka swarmed over him with their ropes and a sleep dagger, they hogtied him and lifted him up by a large tree limb they were carrying with themselves. Your hand extended out over the pit as you prepared to leap down too, only for it to be hit by a paralysis dagger. You groaned at the pain and fell down into the sand below with a loud rumble, making elaborate spasms as you groveled on the sand.

The Gajalaka around you returned some firepower to Brigg who was shooting down at them from above, they pulled bombs they were carrying out from the back of their masks and hurled them up to the top of the opening. Brigg and the Scoutress could not come down in time as the explosions rocketed them back.

"GAJALALA GALAGAJA GALAK! GAJA LAKA LAKA LAKAKA!"
("THIS ONE WILL SUFFICE! BACK TO THE TEMPLE!")

You were unable to do anything but watch as the Gajalaka picked the tree limb that Senzo was tied to up and began to run with it out of a way that lead up from the chamber you were in. They danced around while fleeing, laughing and chanting away in their strange tongue as more and more of them disappeared from sight.

By the time you were up again, Brigg and the Scoutress hopped down at last and came to your side.

"Are you well? Where's Hulk at?" Brigg questioned as he handed you a potion to drink.

"They.... they tied him up... like a fresh kill.... and then they made off that way!" You said in between chugging the potion down.

"Damn it! It won't be long before they manage to get out of our reach, they're fast little wankers! We have to hurry!" Brigg said.

You agreed and the three of you began to run the way you saw the Gajalaka go. But just as quick as you went forward, so did you stop. Something else was coming down that long slide of sand. It's massive twin horns appeared from behind the rock wall and you saw it peer the way of your group with enraged scarlet eyes. It was the desert tyrant, Diablos. It's anger stemmed from intruders into it's home. It was prepared to charge, and with how big it was, getting past wouldn't be so easy. The distance between your group and the Diablos was frighteningly short.

>We must try to gain our way past it even at the cost of an injury, we can't allow the Gajalaka to escape with Hulk!
>There's another way over left, we can scale that short rock wall and then climb up to get closer to the ambush grounds.
>We can slip under it safely and get away by first blinding it with a flash pod.
>We can use our slinger hooks to rope our way back up to the top and gain some high ground in our chase after the Gajalaka.
>We should run back the way behind us to escape and pick the trail up there. Surely there will be enough time to save Senzo, so let's take this slowly.
>We came here for ore, and there's plenty of time to rescue Senzo. I see a sleep knife on the ground over there, we can put the Diablos to sleep while we gather and then leave.
>Write in.

>>4018193
>>We can use our slinger hooks to rope our way back up to the top and gain some high ground in our chase after the Gajalaka.

>>4018193
>We can use our slinger hooks to rope our way back up to the top and gain some high ground in our chase after the Gajalaka.

>>4018193
>We can use our slinger hooks to rope our way back up to the top and gain some high ground in our chase after the Gajalaka.

Called it

>>4018193
>>We can slip under it safely and get away by first blinding it with a flash pod.
>>We can use our slinger hooks to rope our way back up to the top and gain some high ground in our chase after the Gajalaka.
Both

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Your hand shot to your satchel and loaded a flash pod as the Diablos brushed it's foot against the sand and roared.

"Cover your eyes!" You shout.

The Diablos charged then, nearly closing the distance entirely just before you fired at it's face, blinding it with the flash pod. The creature hollered out as it rocked it's head back and forth, slipped and going forward. You pushed your two companions down and dived yourself as the Diablos went over everyone's heads, crashing into the sand behind you and missing crushing your team by an arm's length away.

You slid back and jump to your feet, helping Brigg and the Scoutress up before pointing above and telling them to follow you. You shot your hook up onto a rock, which it embedded itself deep enough into to give some leverage and you pulled yourself up out of the sinkhole with your companions in tow.

"The Gajalaka around the wastes don't usually go far out from the shaded grounds. I'm willing to bet they have some settlement not too far away where they're headed, we should go back the way we came and look for Senzo." Atricia says.

"I do admit, sometimes he can be a..... bit moronic, he's a soul of a bravado, but we can't just abandon him." Brigg said.

"We all came here as a party and we'll leave like one too. I'll make sure of that." You say as you run along the dunes and back out to the ridge, your sudden approach scattering the local Apceros herd off from spooking them.

You slowed from sprinting to running now as you swept across into the trees and bushes. You looked around for any sign of the Gajalaka until you heard their distant cries again. Your group didn't hesitate to take off in that direction, running into the trees and shielding your face from loose branches and the leafy arms of whatever lied in your way.

You came to another stop. Everything had gone quiet. Your eyes went all around and all over until you spotted the faint yellow glow of the eyes of the Gajalaka as their horde moved more silently behind a row of many trees you saw. The glow disappeared and you heard a loud noise coming from over there, like three hammers all hitting the same spot at once. Upon investigating further, you found some sort of large hatch of stone with Gajalaka carvings covering it. It looked fairly durable, as evidenced by multiple large gnashes the size of a Barroth's head failing to completely destroy the door.

There were some sconces of red painted wood hanging above the giant door, with fresh embers coming off. And from what you could tell, there was a black hole on the door at the height of your pelvis large enough that you could fit your hand inside. A metallic medallion of some sort was also driven into the rock above the door, it's handle looking as if it could fit inside.

It didn't take much to put two and two together, you asked Brigg to try and light the sconces and jumped up to retrieve the medallion, shoving it into the hole and twisting it.

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As you expected, the door began to shift. There was some tingling from behind and slowly the bulky hidden entrance unfurled, scraping against the dirt as it split to two and opened the way ahead. Through a tunnel riddled with cave paintings and torches, you and your teammates moved inside the Gajalaka stronghold, steady and stealthily approaching inwards.

You heard more chants, as well as the sounds of flutes and bongos being played. Within the threshold of the stronghold, you and your teammates discovered something incredible. A vast and expansive wharf built into an underground cavern system that lead out to deeper depths. There were glistening natural formations of rock poking up from the ground and the ceiling, and in the distance you could see and hear the flow of water making up a source that no doubt lead back to sea one way or another.

There were many Gajalaka here, more than the horde that attacked, but not much more. They had erected some primitive housing, mostly teepees and tents huddled around the corners and walls of the caves. Chimes and decorations with plumes and feathers, highly detailed carvings representing monster faces lined with paints and spikes were practically everywhere too. It was intrinsic of this tribal society.

And then you caught sight of the leader. A bigger Gajalaka, he were a large headdress painted in blue and yellow with red horns and three tall chutes from which flame spewed, and quite the long cape of fur too. The chief Gajalaka tapped his stave to the podium he stood on, garnering the attention of his flock.

"GAJAJAA GAJA LAK GAG GAGAJA LAKAJA GAJAKA GAJAJAGA GAJA GALA GA LAKAKA!"
("My brothers and sisters! I must thank your brave efforts capturing the human! Our Water God will be most pleased! Many a blessing will be spared unto our kind and great harvests for this prize!")

You saw what they were worshiping. Gajalaka were splashing water from bowls onto it and fanning it .

"Is that...?" Atricia starts.

"A Lagiacrus." Brigg says, amazed. You were taken aback by it too.

The Lagiacrus in question laying down at the water in front of it's congregation looked old, withered and past it's prime. It's eyelid fluttered open as it looked up and you could tell that it was blind in it's left eye. Some horns and thorns were chipped and broken on it's body and big scars lined it's neck and back, and it was missing half of it's right arm, which was now only a stub. It was breathing heavily, choking and coughing as though sickly.

You saw Hulk, still unconscious. They hung him by rope from the ceiling with a series of wooden loops. Slowly, he was being lowered down over a fire the chief stood in front of.

The Lagiacrus looked to be easy pickings, nothing too hard to kill from it's condition. But the number of Gajalaka was overwhelming. The leviathan seemed to fall back asleep, not ready to eat it's offering. You may could use this time to send for more help or supplies from Astera.

What will your group do?

>>4019026
Let’s get more help

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Well, the way I see it, if the Lagiacrus is asleep with its eyes closed, there's two ways we can do this.

1) We can head out the cave and send out an SOS Flare to call for everyone we can for help, which may possibly get us some degree of commendation for finding a Lagiacrus of all things here, though we also will end up destroying everything in this cave in the process.

2) We do one hell of a teamwork play to try to bamboozle the Gajalaka. Pic Related. We've got three people, one of which is a gunner. The Stupid Plan For Glory (tm) is to wait for them to all be facing the same direction, have us fire another Flash Pod (assuming we still have one) at that spot, and at the same time, Briggs shoots down the rope while Atricia dashes forward to catch Hulk and get him out of there before the stun wears off.

If Plan 2 is both selected and works, this means instead of having a bunch of hunters come and bust everything up, we could potentially get a research team over to study this behavior, as well as the Lagiacrus itself.

tl;dr if we call for help it's pretty much guaranteed to save our friend, but if we do it ourselves we can make some huge strides in our standing via this research contribution.

I'm abstaining from voting for either of my plans right now.

>>4019026
>>4019120
I feel like I'm gonna regret this but I pick with the second option.

>>4019026
Here's another suggestion then.

Leave and fish up a Gourmet Tuna. Have Briggs set up his mortar, then come in to negotiate swapping the offering. Threaten to collapse the cave and anger the water god if they don't play nice.

It won't be too hard to call in the gajalaka experts after we secure Hulk. Unless we decide to use sleeping gas and round up every single gajalaka, taking them on is most definitely gonna get collateral enough to anger the lagi.

>>4019026
The Lagiacrus seems weak, focus on the Gajalaka first. Open up with shots from our gunlance before engaging in melee.

>>4019120
Support for plan 2

>>4019120
Fug it gimme 2)

"Brigg, I've got a plan that might just work." You whisper over.

"Well don't dally, fill us in."

"First, I've gonna need a ration, and a flash pod. Do you have any?"

"I've a flash pod, and Atricia has a ration."

"First, I'm going to draw the crowd's attention, and then blind them with the pod. You should get to a spot where you can shoot the rope so Senzo falls. Then Atricia can run in and grab him and get out while I follow and keep the Gajalaka away with my shield. What do you think?" You explain.

"Shoot the rope down huh? Ah! Some slicer ammo will work well for that, Brigg says as he fiddled with his pouches and quietly unloaded and loaded the HBG. The Scoutress nodded silently and pointed to some rafters where you and her could jump down to grab Senzo from before tracing along the edge of the cavern wall and up a natural pathway that lead straight back to the exit. You give a thumbs up and begin to walk that way crouched down, Atricia follows closely behind while Brigg comes as close to the nearby ledge as he can without being seen, training his bowgun onto the rope and adjusting a scope on it.

You sat and watched the Gajalaka continue their dancing until the chief called them all over to his stand. They stood in front of it in rows, stomping rhythmically at the cue of one Gajalaka waving a charred stick with a glowing hot burnt end to weave faint drawings in the air.

"Gajalaka, jakagalaka gajakalaka gagajaj lak jakala kalejaga Lajlaj." The chief announced as two Gajalaka came with a bowl filled with red liquid for their next ritual.
("Brothers, let us prepare our divine offering proper for the Water God!")

You watched as they began to throw the liquid up onto Hulk with long spoon like tools, soaking his form in it as the rope slowly lowered him closer to the fire. The Gajalaka in the crowd threw clumps of spices at him, dousing him in a powdery and strong smelling cloud. They threw fruits and berries that hooked and lodged onto his armor. You could take no more of watching this and looked to Brigg and Atricia for confirmation they were ready, they returned with thumbs up.

You loaded the ration you had into your slinger and fired it into the air. The unwrapped ration landed in front of the crown and they stopped to look it over curiously.

"Jaga...? Hmmmm.... Doh! Kajla jaka lala! Gagal ka la-"
("What...? Hmmmm..... Doh! This smells good! Throw it on-")

The Gajalaka all squealed then in shock as the flash pod was the next to land in front of them, blinding them all. They fell to their sides and panicked and the chief tripped off of his stand. This was your chance.

You came running down towards the scene after jumping off the rafter. Atricia was right behind you and you stopped and raised your shield. Brigg fired slicer ammo that flew forward, cutting the thick rope in half after shifting it from impacting. The Scoutress followed along with the plan perfectly, jumping up and using your shield to leap, propelling her towards Senzo.

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You got a good view of her elegantly bounding over the fire, grabbing onto Senzo's armor and holding him over her head as she landed on both feet upright.

"Now! Let's get out of here!" She yelled, running past you. You were just about to follow as well when she ran up the pathway to the exit when suddenly something else caught your attention, another voice from behind.

"W-Wait!"

You turned back to see it was none other than the Gajalaka Chief himself, coming over in a rush with his stave.

"You.... understand our language...?" You asked.

"Yes! I spend long time learn... re... serch... commission speak! I speak few words, learn from Grimalkynes in trade!" The Chief said. "Please, hear me Gajjagajj out!"

"Our Water God is soon to be gone! Water God old and reee... klu... sif! Water God protect tribe and tribe home from other invader Gods! Give us blesses! We take care of Water God for blesses! We get food for Water God and Water God give blesses!"

"Water God have eggs, Water Goddess mate dead. Eggs hatch and young Water Gods leave. Without food Water God leave and die too! Tribe have no Water God so invader Gods come! Invader Gods destroy tribe and tribe home!"

"Please give food back! No food, tribe nothing!" The Chief, presumably named Gajjagajj begged, practically groveling at your feet humbly.

What will you tell him?

>>4020497
Point the tip of our gunlance at him and tell him to GTFO

>>4020497
Ask if anybody packed a fishing rod or harpoon.

In the absence of a harpoon we could probably use our gunlance to spearfish.

>>4020497
>”look, unless there’s something else you can offer as food to your “god”, we won’t help you and offer our friend as ration”

>>4020497
We can spare whatever food we have, since we're about to head back anyway.

I don't think we're geared to take on something that goes toe to toe with a lagi, so we should come back with the research team.

If they REALLY think they're about to be attacked, we can SOS hunters to stand watch.

>>4020497
Tell him that he can't just have a hunter, but if his tribe agrees to cooperating with the research commission then the commission will help out by providing something like say apceros and aptonoth portions big enough to satisfy their Lagiacrus. Then we head back to astera and spread the word to the commander and researchers.

>>4020958
We still need to go mining anon. They waylaid us when we're about to go mining which was the last thing on our to do list.

>>4020865
>>4020958
These two have a point. So why not kill some small critters that they can take back instead of pissing off the hunters? Besides if they let the researchers in they probably won't mind helping them out in terms of food. Especially considering the coexisting nature of this village. They are bound to be interested. So kill them something and let them take it instead while informing the researchers and arrange for them to come over safely.

>>4020497
>>4020980
Exactly, we're here to do some diplomacy, assist in hunting things that aren't hunters for their food, then have the researchers take care of future needs. Full-on cooperation with a gajalaka tribe is pretty rare.

>>4021161
At this rate, we are going to be best buds with the research division. They are going to love us and become their favorite hunter.

"Listen, Gajjagajj was it? We're willing to help feed your uh, 'water god', but you have to help us too in return."

"...You help? You help, want us help back?"

"Yes, exactly. You can't just feed a Hunter to your Lagiacrus, they're uh... sentient and help keep the ecosystem clean." You explained.

"....Uhh.... no feed smart being? Only feed.... dumb invader Gods?"

"...Yeah, don't feed anybody who would actually know what's going on. Listen, the Research Commission will help keep your tribe safe if you cooperate with us." You say. The chief seemed to lighten up and the Gajalaka all around were whispering among each other.

"Re... research commission help tribe? Protect tribe home if tribe help research commission? You speak truth?"

"Yes, we have Lynians who can speak your.... speak, understand you. They'll help if your tribe allies with the commission."

"Hmmmrrmmm..... Me Gajjagajj see... but Water God still hungry."

"We can take care of that, won't we, guys?"

"Well, things are a bit more cordial now, I don't see why not. This presents great opportunities I'm sure the researches will love to hear about." Came Brigg's reply.

"What Brigg said. We have some fishing rods back at camp, we can pull up a load for their Lagiacrus." Atricia tells you.

"Huh? Wha...?" Senzo muttered.

"Just wait here, we'll be back." You tell the chief.

"Yes.... I wait for Hunters..." The chief nods.

You gave the chief a little wave and turned back, leaving the cave with your team. It took some time along the way back to the nearest camp to calm Senzo down when he got a bit perturbed about the Gajalaka's plans with him, but he eventually came around, sticking at the camp to clean his armor from the condiments all over it. You, Brigg and Atricia retrieved some rods and headed to the nearest waterbed you could find.

The rest of the day until dark was spent fishing. You had gathered your haul into a wagon carried from the camp, enough fishes to fill the thing up were caught. Your team also did a bit of plundering, pocketing at least twenty seven Whetfish Fins from it, splitting it among each other with you receiving ten. A quick little trip was made back to the Diablos den for some safer mining, the local Diablos having retreated deeper within the sands to rest. Plenty of ore was gathered and carried in tow back to the camp before you went alone and took the carriage off to the Gajalaka stronghold.

The Gajalaka were all surprised you returned and kept your word most of all. They seemed overjoyed, as you brought along more than they could catch. They didn't hesitate to jump around, taking the carriage off your hands and laying out a long mat to dump the fishes on. They danced around it in a circle, throwing on their spices and fruits.

The Gajalaka chief came over to you and took to his knee, bowing in humility. The rest of the Gajalaka came over too when they saw and did the same.

"The tribe thanks the Hunter for help! Food bounty for Water God will not be forgotten! We will be ally with Research Commission!"

A smaller Gajalaka approached you then and held up a small banner which you took. It was painted with Gajalaka symbols and a depiction of a Gajalaka.

"Flag is symbol of ally. Tribe trade flag with tribe when help each other. Please give to Research Commission tribe chief ally." Gajjagajj says. You nod and take the banner before leaving the stronghold just as the Lagiacrus next awoke, you caught a glimpse of it beginning to feed just as you left.

With that, you and your partners gathered your collected items and split them, most going to you before packing up and leaving back to Astera.