The Fabledeep: Legacy of the Core Weave

💠 Core Identity

Name: Lunessa Class: Nightblade Level: 6 Guild: None Titles: None

💥 Primary Stats

Vitality: 16 

Focus: 16 

Might: 14 

Finesse: 26 

Will: 13 

Insight: 20 

🧬 Secondary Values

HP: 160/160

Focus: 160/160

Loadout: Steel Dagger x2, Upgraded Leathers, Traveler's Pack

Auras/Buffs: None active

📜 Traits & Skills

Passive Traits:

Darkvision: See clearly in darkness

Shadow Affinity: +15% to stealth and shadow magic effectiveness

Keen Senses: Enhanced perception for detecting hidden objects and enemies

Equipped Skills:

Shadowstep: Instantly teleport up to 15 feet to any shadow within line of sight. Cooldown: 45 sec

Fade: Slip partially into shadow, reducing detection radius and gaining bonus movement speed. Attacking breaks the effect.

Umbra Dagger: Conjure a throwing blade formed of solidified shadow. Deals minor damage and marks the target for 6 seconds. Striking a marked enemy from stealth deals bonus critical damage.

Shadow Flurry: (New) Unleash four rapid stabs in a deadly burst. Final hit automatically crits if the target is marked. If cast from stealth, the first hit stuns for 1 sec. Each strike has a 10% chance to apply Bleed of the Veil (stacking shadow damage over 6 sec). Cooldown: 40 sec 

Several hours of grinding through tutorial quests had left Lunessa feeling pleasantly accomplished. The party had worked their way up to level 6 through a steady stream of rat extermination, herb gathering, and bandit camp clearing that had given them all a solid foundation in the game's combat mechanics. Her Shadowstep ability had proven invaluable for getting behind enemies, though the 45-second cooldown still required careful timing. The Umbra Dagger's marking system had become second nature, letting her set up devastating critical strikes for maximum damage output.

Her newest ability, Shadow Flurry, was quickly becoming her favorite. The four rapid strikes at reduced damage made for an incredible burst combo, especially when she could mark a target first to guarantee that final critical hit. The potential for stacking bleed effects was just icing on the cake.

Now she found herself browsing the weapon stalls in Hammerfall's market district, examining a pair of curved daggers that would represent a significant upgrade from her basic steel blades. The weapons were elegant things, with dark metal that seemed to absorb light rather than reflect it, and leather-wrapped grips that promised better balance and control.

"Shadow-tempered steel," she murmured, reading the item description that appeared when she focused on them. "Fifteen percent bonus to stealth damage, improved critical chance. Not bad at all."

The merchant behind the stall was unlike anything she had encountered in the tutorial areas. Guppi was clearly some kind of amphibian folk—about four feet tall with mottled green and brown skin that glistened slightly in the afternoon light. His large, bulbous eyes could move independently of each other, giving him an unsettling ability to watch multiple customers simultaneously. When he spoke, his voice had a wet, croaking quality that was oddly endearing.

"Ah, excellent choice, prudent selection!" Guppi said, one eye fixed on her while the other scanned the crowd for other potential customers. "Those blades were crafted by a Shadow Guild artisan. Very rare, quite precious. But for someone of your obvious skill and discernment, perhaps we could discuss a reasonable price, fair cost."

Lunessa was about to enter into the traditional MMO haggling process when she caught part of a conversation Guppi was having with another customer. Something about avoiding certain areas outside of town, places where "the old magic still lingers."

"Excuse me," she said, her lore-hunting instincts immediately perking up. "I couldn't help but overhear you mentioning something about old magic. Are you talking about ruins of some kind?"

Guppi's eyes both swiveled to focus on her with laser intensity. "Ah, curious about local history, local legends, are we? Yes, yes, there are indeed ruins not far from here. Perhaps two, maybe three miles to the northeast. Ancient place, forgotten site, older than Hammerfall itself. But such places are best avoided, wisely shunned, young adventurer."

"Why's that?" Lunessa asked, settling into what she recognized as the opening stages of a quest dialogue. Every instinct she had developed from years of gaming was telling her that this conversation was important.

The amphibian merchant lowered his voice and leaned closer, though whether this was for dramatic effect or genuine concern was hard to tell. "The place reeks of old magic, ancient sorcery, the kind that leaves stains on the world long after its makers have turned to dust. Strange lights have been seen dancing among the broken stones at night, and the few hunters brave enough to venture close report hearing whispers in languages that died out centuries ago, tongues long silenced."

Lunessa felt a familiar thrill of excitement. This was exactly the kind of content she lived for—mysterious ruins with atmospheric details and hints of deeper lore. "But surely there must be something valuable in a place like that? Ancient magic users typically didn't live in empty towers."

Guppi's throat sac inflated slightly as he considered her words. "Oh, undoubtedly, most certainly. Such places are typically home to nasty beasts and fell creatures, dangerous monsters, but who knows what treasures could lie within? Ancient artifacts, forgotten spellbooks, lost grimoires, perhaps even enchanted weapons like these lovely daggers you were admiring, fine blades you were examining."

Perfect. This was clearly a quest hook, and Lunessa knew exactly how to handle it. She had done this dance a thousand times in other games, recognizing the setup for what it was. The trick was to make the NPC think the idea was his while guiding him toward the desired outcome.

"You know," she said casually, examining one of the shadow-tempered daggers, "such treasures could be quite valuable to the right merchant. Someone with connections and expertise in appraising ancient artifacts."

One of Guppi's eyes focused on her with sharp interest while the other continued its lazy patrol of the market. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, what I believe you're proposing, young adventurer?"

"Well, an enterprising merchant might consider hiring an experienced adventuring party to explore such ruins," Lunessa continued, keeping her tone conversational. "Clear out any dangerous creatures, investigate the area thoroughly, and bring back a detailed report of any treasures or artifacts discovered. Of course, such a merchant would expect to take a cut of any valuable finds as compensation for organizing the expedition."

Guppi's throat sac began inflating and deflating rapidly—apparently the amphibian equivalent of excited thinking. "Ah, yes, yes! A business proposition with mutual benefits, shared advantages! The merchant provides local knowledge and takes on the financial risk, bears the monetary burden, while skilled adventurers handle the dangerous exploration work, perilous investigation. But what sort of arrangement were you thinking? Such expeditions require careful planning and fair compensation for all parties, just rewards for everyone involved."

And now came the haggling portion of the quest negotiation. Lunessa grinned, settling in for what she knew could be an extended discussion about percentages and terms.

"I'm thinking a sixty-forty split," she said, starting with an ambitious opening offer. "Sixty percent to the adventuring party for doing the actual dangerous work, forty percent to the merchant for providing information and handling the business side."

Guppi made a sound that might have been laughter or choking. "Sixty-forty? My dear adventurer, you clearly don't understand the risks involved in financing such expeditions, funding such ventures! The merchant bears all the upfront costs, provides essential local knowledge, valuable information, and handles the complex business of appraising and selling any discoveries, marketing any finds. Plus, I'll be providing equipment advances, gear investments—one piece of quality equipment for each party member before you depart, suitable preparations. Fifty-fifty would be generous, quite fair."

"Fifty-five forty-five," Lunessa countered. "The party takes on all the physical risk of actually entering potentially dangerous ruins. That has to be worth something."

"Fifty-two forty-eight, and I throw in those shadow-tempered daggers at cost, wholesale price, plus the equipment advances for your entire party, gear for everyone," Guppi offered, both eyes now locked onto her with mercantile intensity.

Lunessa pretended to consider this for a moment, though she was already planning to accept. The daggers alone were worth the slightly reduced percentage, and she suspected the quest rewards would more than make up for the difference.

"Deal," she said, extending her hand to shake on it.

The moment their hands made contact, a golden quest notification materialized in her vision, accompanied by the satisfying chime that indicated successful quest acquisition:

Quest Acquired: Merchant's Gambit Guppi the merchant has hired your party to explore the ancient ruins northeast of Hammerfall. Clear out any dangerous creatures, investigate the area thoroughly, and return with a detailed report of any treasures or artifacts discovered. Be warned: the ruins are older than they appear, and old magic has a way of protecting itself.

Objectives:

Gather a party of adventurers (1/5) Travel to the ancient ruins northeast of Hammerfall Eliminate any hostile creatures within the ruins Investigate all areas thoroughly for treasures and artifacts Return to Guppi with findings and discovered items

Rewards:

Experience points based on discoveries and creatures defeated 52% share of appraised treasure value Level 5 equipment piece for each party member (acquired before departure) Reputation increase with Hammerfall merchants

Recommended Party Level: 5-10

Lunessa couldn't help but grin as she read through the quest details. This was exactly the kind of content she had been hoping to find—a proper ruins exploration mission with mystery, potential danger, and the promise of actual treasure rather than just generic vendor trash.

"Excellent doing business with you, Guppi," she said, already turning to head back toward the tavern where her friends were likely still planning their next moves. "I'll round up my party and we'll head out as soon as everyone's ready."

"Be careful, young adventurer," Guppi called after her, his voice carrying a note of genuine concern beneath the merchant's enthusiasm. "Those ruins have stood for centuries, endured for ages, and they've survived for good reason, sound purpose. Whatever built them didn't want visitors, unwelcome guests."

Lunessa waved acknowledgment over her shoulder, but her mind was already racing with possibilities. Ancient ruins with mysterious magic, dangerous creatures, and hidden treasures? This was going to be so much better than collecting herbs and killing tutorial rats.

She hurried through the market district toward The Drunken Duck, eager to share the news with Ironstride, Nira, Serein, and Spudicus. They had been talking about wanting to tackle more challenging content, and this quest seemed perfect for their current level range. Plus, the mystery aspect would appeal to everyone's sense of adventure, and the promise of actual treasure would definitely get Spudicus excited about potential loot upgrades.

As she pushed through the tavern door, she could already hear Nira's voice raised in exasperated scolding as she berated Spudicus for apparently trying to mess with the immortal duck again. This was going to be fun.