Nightclown shifted his attention.
At another large table... a portly panda merchant was lecturing his young apprentice. A wide-eyed bear cub. The cub nodded earnestly. Occasionally jotting notes in a small notepad.
"Now, listen carefully, Pawpaw." The panda merchant rumbled. Patting his ample belly. "When we go to Toonstar Town next week for the trade fair, you must remember these rules."
"First!" He said. "Never, ever trust a fox wearing a monocle selling 'guaranteed enchanted' wares. Ten times out of ten, it's just a painted rock or a fancy piece of chalk."
Pawpaw scribbled frantically. "No monocle foxes, got it, Mr. Bamboo."
"Second!" The panda continued. Holding up a paw. "The 'Discount Dimension Door' stall. Avoid it like a bad joke. You'll end up in the laundry room of a giant. Or worse, a forgotten corner of the Void. It's a prank, and a dangerous one at that. Always use the official Toonstar teleportation gates. Even if they cost a few more coins. Safety first."
Pawpaw nodded. His pen was scratching. "Official gates, not discount doors."
"Exactly. Third, never buy a map from a pirate parrot. They always lead to empty X's or, inexplicably, to their own parrot nests where they demand more seeds for the 'next clue'. It's a classic scam."
Mr. Bamboo took a sip of his tea. "And speaking of food, be wary of the 'Everlasting Lollipop' vendors. They're fine for a quick treat. But if you eat too many, they can temporarily turn your fur bright pink. It fades. But it's an unnecessary embarrassment for a serious merchant."
Pipsqueak's eyes widened. "Pink fur? Oh no!"
"Indeed. Fifth, the back alleys of Toonstar Town are not for sightseeing." Mr. Bamboo warned. "There are 'Shadow Thieves' there. Roguish characters that pickpocket unsuspecting toons. They're quick, silent, and can vanish into any dark corner."
"Thieves?"
"Yes. Keep your coin pouch secured and your wits sharp. And never go down a street that smells like stale ink and burnt toast unless you absolutely have to."
"Understood, Mr. Bamboo." Pawpaw said. Looking very serious. "No monocle foxes, no discount doors, no pirate parrot maps, limit everlasting lollipops, and avoid shadowy back alleys."
The panda merchant smiled. Pleased. "Good. Toonstar Town is a vibrant place, full of opportunities. But it is also full of… colorful characters. Stay smart, stay observant, and always negotiate. Never accept the first price they offer."
Nightclown found this information incredibly useful. Toonstar Town sounded like a major hub. A potential source of advanced gear, quests, and new characters.
The warnings about scams, dangerous locations, and Shadow Thieves were practical advice for any visitor. It painted a picture of a bustling, slightly chaotic city. A contrast to the rustic Toon Forest Village.
Cammy zoomed in slightly, capturing the expressions of both panda and cub.
Near the tavern entrance, a large husky farmer with a perpetually worried expression was conversing with a sturdy beaver carpenter. The husky slammed his paw on the table, rattling their mugs.
"Again, Woody! They did it again!" The husky farmer's voice was a low growl of frustration. "Those blasted Stone Imps. Sneaked onto my fields again last night. They didn't even bother to hide. Just marched in, grabbed my prize-winning squashes, and vanished into the Northwest Rocky Hills like a puff of smoke!"
Woody, the carpenter, stroked his chin with a calloused paw. "Hmph. Stone Imps, eh? Pesky devils. Solid as a rock, quick as a hiccup, and twice as annoying. Did they leave any trail this time?"
"Just a few misplaced pebbles and a couple of half-eaten carrots they dropped." The farmer grumbled. "My scarecrow, Strawhead, was right there! But they just ignored him. Laughed, even! I swear I heard giggling as they ran off."
He groaned. "They're getting bolder, Woody. Last month it was only a few radishes. Now it's my whole squash harvest!"
"They're evolving their tactics?" Woody observed grimly. "They usually stick to small, easily carried root vegetables. Squashes are heavier. Means they're either getting stronger or working in larger groups. Or both. It doesn't sound good, Grey."
"What am I going to do?" Grey slumped. "My farm can't take another hit like this. I've tried everything! Fences, traps, even staying up all night with a shovel! But they're too fast, too hardy. My shovel just bounces off their stony hides."
"You need something with a bit more… oomph." Woody suggested. "Their weakness, if you can call it that, is their rigidity. A strong impact, a sudden jolt. Maybe some kind of explosive? Or a really well-aimed, blunt weapon that can shatter their forms."
He paused. Thoughtfully. "I could reinforce your fence posts with ironwood. But it won't stop them from tunneling under or simply climbing over if they're so determined to get your squashes."
"It's not just the squashes." Grey whined. Lowering his voice. "They trampled my spinach patch. Ripped up my prize-winning 'Laughing Lettuce'. Those things take weeks to grow. They're not just thieving. They're destructive now."
Nightclown listened intently. Stone Imps. Northwest Rocky Hills. Nocturnal, rocky hides, quick, annoying, steal vegetables, now destructive. Weakness... strong impact, sudden jolt, blunt weapon.
This was direct combat information. These imps sounded like good targets for his Thunder Nunchaku. It also provided a clear picture of the more mundane, but still challenging, threats faced by the average toon in Toonworld.
Cammy recorded their exasperated discussion. Their gestures. And the worried creases on Grey's brow.
Nightclown finished his carrot soup. Scraping the last bit from the bottom of the bowl. The root beer mug was empty.
He had consumed his meal and gathered a significant amount of data. The North Dungeon's Fat Dragon, the Centipede Warlock, the Mystic Valley's bizarre denizens, Toonstar Town's pitfalls, and the troublesome Stone Imps.
Each conversation was a thread. Offering potential quests. New locations. And insights into the deeper workings of Toonworld. He had a clearer picture of the risks and opportunities that lay beyond the confines of the Toon Forest Village.
His hour and a half was ticking down, and he still had more to do before returning to Sherra. The information gathered here would need to be reviewed with Vale and Daisy. For now, it was time to put some of these new leads to the test.
First target... the Stone Imps. Northwest Rocky Hills.
Nightclown pushed through the heavy wooden door of The Carrot & Clover Tavern. The cool night air hit him. His internal clock confirmed his remaining time: fifty-two minutes. He had information. Now he needed action.
He turned northwest. Moving away from the cluster of buildings and towards the edge of the village. The path quickly transitioned from packed earth to rougher terrain.
Low bushes dotted the landscape. Their leaves seemed to be drawn with a thick, inky outline.
Cammy floated silently behind him. A small whirring sound was the only indication of its presence. Its single lens tracked his movements. Capturing the fading taverns lights. And the surprisingly not-so-dark night of the wilderness ahead.
Past the last fenced-in field, where cartoon carrots poked out of the ground in neat rows, the path vanished entirely. The terrain became rockier. An early indication of the Northwest Rocky Hills.
Just a few minutes later, Nightclown saw them. Seven small, hunched figures. Their forms were almost indistinguishable from the grey boulders until they twitched. Stone Imps.
They were exactly as described in the tavern. Roughly human-shaped. Slightly smaller than his size. With disproportionately large heads and small, chisel-like hands.
Their rocky hides made them blend in with the environment. A crude, effective camouflage. Nightclown stopped. His ears swiveling to check the surrounding for other possible threats.
He activated his newly acquired skill. [Inspect!].
A glowing outline appeared around the nearest Imp. A small text box overlaid his vision.
[Stone Imp]
[Description: A hostile, mischievous monster of the Northwest Rocky Hills. Highly aggressive against lone small creature. Cowardly against big creature or multiple creatures.]
[Abilities: Quick Scratch! Dashing Tackle! Stone Block!]
[Resources: 70 XP, 85 Coins, Stone, Mana Crystal (Rare)]
He could see the monster's resources now. He quickly inspected the others. Each imp showed similar resources. Mana Crystal. Stone. The same number of EXP. And coins ranged from 70 to 100.
The [Mana Crystal] drop should be significant. Much better than the Stone. Obviously.
The Imps didn't wait. A sharp, grating chirp echoed through the night air. Seven pairs of small, glowing orange eyes fixed on Nightclown.
They moved. Fast. Quicker than Nightclown initially anticipated. They scattered. Approaching him from different angles. Their small rocky feet scrabbling against the loose stones.
Nightclown reacted. He pulled his [Thunder Nunchaku] from his belt. The two weighted sticks, linked by a short chain, felt solid in his grasp.
He activated [Sprint!] then. His legs, already agile, blurred. The world around him seemed to slow down by comparison. The Imps' rapid advance now appeared merely normal speed.
He didn't plan to quickly finish his opponent. His current strategy was clear... bludgeon, stun,... steal.
One Imp, bolder than the rest, lunged first. Its tiny claws extended. [Quick Scratch!].
Nightclown sidestepped. Bringing the nunchaku around in a wide arc. The solid THWACK! of wood on rock echoed. The Imp shrieked.
Its head snapped back. Then stars, animated in cartoonish way, began to spin above its now dazed skull. Its movements became sluggish. Erratic.
"Gotcha!" Nightclown muttered. He focused on the [Mana Crystal] and extended a hand towards the dizzy Imp. [Steal!]. The other new skill was activated.
For a moment, nothing seemed to happen. But then...
[Successful attempt!]
[Item acquired: Mana Crystal (x1)]
The Imp stumbled backwards. Still dazed. Nightclown didn't give it a chance to recover fully. He spun the nunchaku. Bashing its head once more with a loud THWACK! sound. Before transitioning seamlessly to the next target.
Another Imp, attempting a flanking maneuver, found itself intercepted. Nightclown brought the nunchaku down hard. A direct hit to its head.
THWACK! More stars. More daze. Nightclown activated his [Steal!] once more.
[Failed attempt!]
He frowned. The skill wasn't foolproof. He bashed its head again. Not to end the Imp. But to keep it disoriented. The imp wobbled.
The third Imp, seeing its companions struggling, tried to scurry away. Nightclown moved faster. With another precise strike, he stunned it. And... [Steal!]
[Failed attempt!]
Another failure. Nightclown didn't mind it. He shifted his grip. Using the nunchaku like a bludgeon. Knocking another Imp into a spin. This one was easier. [Steal!]...
[Successful attempt!]
[Item acquired: Mana Crystal (x1)]
The fight became a dance of speed and blunt force. Nightclown was a blur of grey fur and blue fabric.
He weaved between the attacking Imps. Using the nunchaku to stunning effect. Aiming for the head. Generating cartoon stars. Then attempting to steal.
Cammy bobbed and weaved around them. Capturing every hit, every dazed Imp, every successful or failed steal attempt.
After some time fighting, the last Stone Imp finally fell. Reduced to a small pile of grey gravel.
Nightclown was breathing heavily. But his movements were still sharp. Seven Imps. Seven piles of gravel.
[Stone Imps (x7) defeated!]
[Experience Gained: +490 XP!]
He looked at the scattered loots and gathered them. Gaining... [649 Coins] and a [Mana Crystal].
Nightclown checked his inventory. He had five [Mana Crystals]. His [Steal!] skill had succeeded four times out of seven attempts. He should only get four crystals. But the un-stolen imp had surprisingly dropped a crystal upon its demise. Nice!