Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1274: Chapter 1065: A Task from the Halflings

With two hand axes strapped behind her back, holding the Cornucopia Shield in her left hand, the blonde priestess in a brown robe and saffron-colored overcoat returned a gentle smile: ”Good day, Son of Grace.”

”I am Ellie Dudley Horn Guard.”

’Snow Cloud Peak’ was taken aback for a moment before responding, ”I never thought I’d get the chance to meet Yudala’s exclusive priestess, truly my honor.”

Ellie gently shook her head and sighed, ”If nothing unexpected had happened, I should be staying in the Horn of Plenty Monastery in the mountains, tending to my fields and the children of my lord.”

”Life is always full of surprises,” ’Snow Cloud Peak’ laughed, ”so there’s no need to be too anxious when encountering anything. Consider it as meeting a new friend!”

Ellie laughed. Though she looked quite cute, the corners of her eyes already had wrinkles, indicating she was probably middle-aged.

Although halflings never really show their appearance much, especially Ellie, who is obviously a tall halfling... that is, the kind with Elven bloodline, Yudala’s exclusive priestesses are actually all of the very strong in combat type.

Halflings, being one of the physically weaker small stature races, are very much in need of the protection from these professional warriors... Some Horn Guards, in their younger days, truly traveled across the entire Ferun Great Land upon the goddess’s call to protect their community.

Once they were capable of establishing a sufficiently strong protective monastery for Yudala... those monasteries essentially became fortresses protecting the nearby halfling communities. Only then did these exclusive priestesses settle in certain halfling congregation areas.

But by that time, the Horn Guards had really endured every pose of weather.

Ellie is evidently a female warrior with rich experience.

However, the relationship between halflings and elves has always been harmonious, and the Undead Tribe, which bears the name of Teraxil Elves, is famously of the Coron Direct Line, so Ellie’s attitude is very friendly and relatively straightforward.

She looked earnestly at ’Snow Cloud Peak’ and said, ”Alright, my big friend.

The race of elegance has always been the most sincere partners of Yudala’s children, so I’ll be direct.

Halflings are not concerned with matters related to Mystra, especially since this time seems much more troublesome.

My lord didn’t care much either, considering that even if Toril’s God Above Gods wishes to reclaim some of the Divine Power network, it doesn’t really relate to halflings... After all, when we halflings came to Toril, the Weave had already formed.

So both the halfling god system and Siderean Godly System basically put those communication channels directly on the Weave.

Though that meant less work, sometimes messages took too long to pass through and caused a bit of minor trouble.

Therefore, I’m here seeking assistance.”

She sighed softly, ”There’s a halfling community in the Merrodin Ruins east of Anmur.

That’s one of our three major settlements apart from the Luron Kingdom, unlike the more scattered halflings here on Moonshadow Archipelago.

We can live reasonably well here only because there are mostly human druids who don’t overly emphasize pure nature, and there’s no conflict with the halflings skilled in farm and estate work, and they even quite enjoy the food we make.

Sigh... why am I even talking about this! I really am getting old; I panic when something happens.

What happened at Merrodin is truly... unbelievable.

Even though everything is paths and defenses, and even the mountains have been dug out like a honeycomb... yet somehow, a thief managed to steal the Divine Artifact there... the Horn of Plenty crafted by the goddess herself!

It was because they were the first halfling community to rebuild their home, the grace bestowed upon them by my lord... It shines with the glory of Yudala above it!

That horn is large enough to feed the entire community!

Honestly, I can’t understand how that thief managed to steal it!”

She muttered with some despair.

’Snow Cloud Peak’ raised an eyebrow... this priestess seemed to avoid mentioning key parts when she spoke.

The halfling divine artifact must usually be kept in the strongest protected center of the temple; it wouldn’t be stolen without inside cooperation.

Even now, as the Weave’s instability prevents halfling priests’ Divine Arts from being used... this is the downside of not having their private network.

However, most halfling priests are actually skilled in weapon combat, let alone those guarding their monasteries. They might not be able to defeat their opponents, but discovering a theft should not be impossible.

He contemplated for a bit but didn’t voluntarily bring up this matter.

The residents on Moonshadow Archipelago should have a pretty deep impression of their Undead Tribe, Ellie, even if she doesn’t want to be embarrassed, will say what needs to be said, just with some preamble perhaps.

Although halflings sometimes seem oblivious, they don’t quite like to hurt others... and it’s very hard for them to be tempted by evil.

While some among the halflings indeed engage in the thief profession, it’s just petty theft that Yudala disapproves of... Most halfling thieves would rather be caught and beaten by humans than discovered by Yudala’s priestess, who would shadow them daily to bring them back onto the right path.

Most importantly, halflings are extremely united; it’s through this unity that they survived the oppression from bigger folks.

However, because of this absolute trust among their kin, once an evil believer appears among them, the damage can be immense... to themselves.

After all, most halflings find joy in the kitchen; it’s really too difficult for them to instinctively grab a short sword rather than a kitchen knife.

Ellie lowered her head and said cautiously, ”Our news spreads slowly, but fortunately, because of those women...” She glanced at the girls on the bow of the ship who were already flirting with some adventurers on the shore, and her lips curled into an unhappy arc, ”Anmur has seen a lot of boats since yesterday.

Halflings... someone happened to be a cook on a certain ship, so sent me the news.

Merrodin had investigated this for a long time, suspected vampires did it, and those guys ran westward, probably heading to Moonshadow Archipelago.”

”Hmm?” Snow Cloud Peak looked at Ellie puzzled, ”What are they doing stealing the Horn of Plenty Divine Artifact? Vampires... aren’t they undead?”

”Yudala’s aura allows all guests to taste the flavors of gourmet food.” Ellie proudly puffed out her chest, then deflated again, ”That vampire Duchess Elisa Daresin on Snowfall Island has always hoped to live like a normal person.

So she once offered a culinary reward to taste delicious food.

Even halfling cooks tried; she paid generously, but even using culinary spells, she could only sense a bit of taste.

But the Divine Artifact created by my Lord, even undead can feel the true taste of food like a normal person.”

Snow Cloud Peak nodded in astonishment... In Toril, anything can happen: there’s even a Dragon Lich wanting to have offspring! So a vampire wanting to eat normally is just about right.

”When we head to Snowfall Island, we’ll help you search for it... but...” Snow Cloud Peak said hesitantly.

”In times of peace, my Lord’s Divine Artifact is just a glory.” Ellie said straightforwardly, ”But the Falling of Yudala’s Divine Artifact into the hands of undead is disgraceful.

It’s not only a colossal insult to the halflings but also an affront to my Lord.

Hence, we plan to offer 10 high-grade Horns of Plenty as a trade.”

She tilted her head, saying seriously, ”Even if it’s my Lord’s Divine Artifact, the food created at one time is only for a thousand people.

Food made by 10 high-grade Horns of Plenty exceeds that and can be used separately.

After all, food made by the Horn of Plenty will still spoil, and mass-producing so many at once is pointless.

Wasting food like that is to invoke nature’s reproach!

Moreover, these are also created in Yudala Temple, with a slight culinary enhancement when summoned.”

Snow Cloud Peak frowned.

Ellie nervously looked up at the expression of this elf... the halflings could only offer these strange objects! They truly couldn’t produce that many gold coins.

Meanwhile, the Old Age Striking King chuckled twice, turning and shouting to the person behind, ”Elvia, speak on the price of high-grade Horns of Plenty!”

White Dragon Queen instantly sat up, asking seriously: ”Made by Yudala Temple or the halfling High Priest?”

”High Priest made them in the Temple...” the Old Age Striking King summarized, ”What’s the difference?”

”There is a difference!” Elvia’s eyes sparkled, ”Those common Horns of Plenty crafted by priests circulate outside... regardless of the servings, the taste is the same.

But those blessed by the Main God in Yudala Temple will randomly become specialties of renowned Yudala chefs... how many famous halfling chefs are there!

In Toril’s upper echelons, there’s a yearning for such top-level Horns of Plenty.

Sadly, for halflings, the Horn of Plenty can be given to friends, but it absolutely cannot be sold outside... even thinking that the Main God’s gift shouldn’t be sullied by money?

Such a peculiar reason, if Tiamat knew she could sell something of hers, she’d probably do it herself?

Anyway... the price isn’t just doubled!”

She stood up, took two steps forward, and said passionately, ”The normal price is 60,000 gold each, but due to rarity, the minimum selling price is 100,000 gold!

Halfling priests themselves probably aren’t aware of this; they earn rewards at market prices.”

”Old Dog, saw that?” the Old Age Striking King said calmly, ”No need to ponder how much that is!”

Someone behind Snow Cloud Peak, whose head was buried in a tablet, leaned in and whispered in his ear.

He immediately smiled, ”We are very willing to accept this task and will certainly deliver Yudala’s Divine Artifact...”

He raised his eyebrows as a gesture towards Ellie.

The Priestess shook her head, ”You should be heading to Anmur, right?”

She took the short sword from her waist, holding it in both hands, handed it to Snow Cloud Peak, ”If it’s possible, please deliver it directly to Merrodin.”