MH3 - Chapter 7: Transmogriffic!

Charred hero skeletons blanketed the ground outside of Monster Haven where Dolli patrolled. She popped the cork on her second to last Spark potion and sucked it down, then tossed the vial into the field of ash. The power of the gem was beyond reason, but it was near impossible to control.

Smoldering vehicles sat incapacitated at the edge of the dungeon. Dolli had taken them all by surprise, throwing herself over the ramparts with Necro-Gem_TK blazing. They didn’t stand a chance when she was full of Spark and rage.

Dolli heard quiet whimpering between two rusted panels of a destroyed wagon. She cast Fold Reality and stuck her arm through the portal into the narrow gap. The hero screamed and dug at the ground, trying to pull herself free.

Dolli wanted to blast her with necrotic energy and be done with it, but she noticed the poofy purple and black sleeve, though torn to shreds, as the leaders garb. Dolli stepped through the portal and stared down the hero: [Just_Science Cog-Master].

Her slippered feet were trapped under the heavy panel, have severed and unable to be healed by a healing potion. She was also stuck in combat since Dolli hadn’t left the battlefield, so she couldn’t Homecall. Wonderful.

“Just do it already,” Just_Science said with a nasally whimper.

Dolli shook her head. “I kill you when you promise never to assault Monster Haven again.”

“Eat a bag of ticks,” the hero said with distain, then spat. “You’re a dungeon. You exist for me to raid.”

“I’m sorry you feel that way.” Dolli stepped around the panel and launched a Spark Lance at the side. The metal dented in at Just_Science’s waist and she howled.

Dolli looked around the corner at her, the hero was pinned against the vehicle, unable to bend down. Just_Science raised her hand and Dolli disappeared behind the metal panel. A blast of blue energy ripped past her face and exploded against the stone leg of Turtle_TK.

“That was close.” Dolli launched another Lance at the panel, chest height.

Just_Science screamed. “What the actual feck, stupid NPC! Broken ass code, into torture. This is bullshit! I’m gonna call Support on your ass!”

Dolli picked up a stone and tossed it at the panel. The gong vibrated through the sheet and the hero groaned angrily. “If you promise not to raid Monster Haven again,” Dolli paused, tossing the stone again, “I promise not to do this for eternity.”

“You know what? No! I’m out!”

The hero was quiet for several moments, even when Dolli threw considerably sized rocks at the panel. Finally, she came around the edge to see the hero staring blankly into space, her mouth agape. Then, gold light shimmered in her chest and spread out over her limbs, disappearing her in light.

The light didn’t go anywhere as it did when a hero was sent for respawn. It just faded away. What did that mean?

She’d figure that out later. They had to get out of there, but go where? She opened her map and saw the pulsating tortoise figure that was Monster Haven near a village just outside a large forest. Perhaps some of the trees would be able to obscure Monster Haven as a hill.

The Lifestream Spring_TK[JH1] wasn’t anywhere near full, but it’d be enough to get them a mile into the forest. She ordered Turtle_TK up and set him off in that direction, sharing the plan through their connection. He sent back huge tears cascading down his rocky face, then the ground trembled as he rose.

Two of the enemy vehicles were pinned on his underbelly, flattened now into rusty armor. Dolli opened the Overlord menu and returned herself to the Lifewell. A blink later, Dolli respawned in her cottage.

It was still dark out, and her exhausted debuff was gone. Turtle_TK must’ve made it to the point and set down, allowing Dolli to recuperate.

She opened the Lifewell to see that a good third of the monsters were still waiting to enter the Lifestream. Outside her window she saw rubble in the streets, and the cratered garden down the road. She sighed.

All those provisions, gone. Their journey couldn’t continue like this, and they had just used another four of the precious wiggle-room hours.

Dolli opened her map and looked at the nearby village. No one would be awake at this hour and Dolli still needed time for her monsters to respawn. If she went to town now and was discovered, they’d be swarmed with heroes in minutes.

It was an unavoidable delay, but Dolli knew just how to make the most of it. She solidified her body and went to her alchemy lab. It was mostly intact aside from some broken glass and tipped over chairs. She righted the room, then pulled down her book on Nether potions.

She flipped through to the “T’s” and stopped at the sight of the pink syrupy elixir.

[Potion: Transmogriffic!]

Transfigure yourself into a monster of your choosing for one hour. Transfiguration is visual only. You maintain all your stats, spells, and abilities in the changed form.

Substitute the “1oz Monster Flesh” with whichever monster you’d like to transform into.

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Dolli stopped, her stomach turning.

Flesh.

She shuddered. There was a reason she didn’t ever open the Nether book. Eating flesh was never one of Dolli’s favorite things. Being a witch of the wilds, she loved all the creatures in her forests, and only defended herself when absolutely necessary.

But Dolli wouldn’t be consuming monster flesh.

She walked back to her cottage with the book, and double tapped the glowing rune over her hearth. Katrina appeared a second later.

“Oh, em, gee, are you guys okay? I read about what happened on the forums. Did they take anything? Do you know you forced Justice to force quit? Zoh mah gawd how did you manage that one?” The mage rapid fired the questions.

Dolli held the book out to her. “I’m not sure I know what force quit means, but it sounds like something I want to do to all the heroes who mess with us.”

“And they figured out that you have the Necrotic Gem of Sherkahn’s Shillelagh! They’re all looking for resources on it, and while I can’t say its easy to find on the wiki, but someone’s going to figure it out.”

Dolli pointed to the book.

“Oh, right.” Katrina read over the page. “I loved this potion back in the day. So cool to parade around the main city as a dire wolf.”

She handed the book back to Dolli, who dropped her gaze.

“What is it?” Katrina asked.

Dolli pointed to the “Monster Flesh” ingredient. “I need something from you.”

“Oh, a quest. Sure.”

Dolli looked up at Katrina with a pained frown.

Katrina’s eyes bulged. “Not a quest…”

“I think I’ll only need two fingers,” Dolli said quickly, trying to reassure her.

“My fingers?!”

“Do you have any friends? I need at least six different looks.”

“Whoa. Whoa. Wait. You want me to cut off my fingers so you can make them into a potion and transform into me?”

Dolli grimaced. “Yes.”

Her face broke into a wide smile. “Hell yes! That is so freaking cool! Essence of Kat!”

Dolli chuckled nervously. “Glad you’re on board. We need provisions for travels, more than I think you could buy and bring back without being noticed. So, I’m going to transform myself and five of my best monsters into heroes, and go to town for what we need while the Lifespring_TK refills.

“So, have any friends?” Dolli asked again.

Katrina’s face went blank. “Already asking.”

“I’m heading back to the alchemy lab. Come by when you’re ready to make the—the sacrifice.” Dolli swallowed hard.

“Okay will do.” Katrina said, her attention miles away.

Dolli went down to the cold storage room and retrieved the other necessary ingredients: Bristlebane seeds, Stardew water, and a handful of other common herbs. She was glad she’d created all of her hero lure quests as alchemy ingredients. Even if it was a pit summon, they’d often drop the quest items when they died, so Dolli was able to stock up on all kinds of ingredients in that time.

She returned to the lab and set to work crafting the base potion to which the flesh—sample—was added. They were just samples. It was just a potion ingredient.

Gods, she hoped this would work.

[JH1]Wtf is it called?