Heidi and her summer adventure

The hot desert wind blew across my face as I stepped out of the shadow of the tree and fired two rounds into the back of the last Zadul. As it fell backwards, arms flailing, I looked around to see if any were left, but finally the raiding party were vanquished. I walked through the scattered host of bodies, selecting the largest and least damaged corpse and knelt down to begin removing it's head for the trophy I would place proudly in my Valiant apartment. Looking out into the distant desert plain I felt a strange disquiet in my soul. Call it wanderlust or maybe a rejection of my new role as a hunter, me of all people a little girl miner turned killer! I felt ill at ease having just returned from Calypso and the longtooth migration. The migration hunt had started well but gradually as more and more hunters arrived the hunting grounds became more like a warzone, explosions and laserblasts continually shattering the peace that should accompany a solo big game hunt. No skill involved just endless firing and relentless pursuit of death and mayhem.

Is this why I left Earth? I was supposed to find my fortune prospecting for rare minerals, what happened? I don't know but I never managed to settle on Calypso. Arkadia has become a surrogate home to menow, a place I feel I belong and have put down roots. I shook my head and put this out of my mind as I continued with the task at hand.

Later in my apartment as I hung the latest trophy head I looked around at my sparse belongings. Taking stock of all I have achieved in the last 2 and a half years. Items of event wins and captured goods surround me, but there is this endless nagging feeling of wanting to find the next big thing, the next thrill. More trophies and badges of honour to collect. What to do? How to settle my disquiet?
I check the IFN terminals for challenges but nothing excites or appeals to me. Should I go back to the fields of death that mark the migration? No not for me not yet, it's too soon and to raw since the last hunt.

A mining trip to the Underground? A thrill when it results in a great claim, but the risk is the frustration of a lack of finds.
No that isn't the answer. What to do?
I scan the event pages, nothing leaps out at me. I cast my eye further to events on other planets.

Hmm.

Other planets, I have been to them all, I have unfinished business on most of them.

An idea begins to germinate.

I check my star charts, and run down from my apartment to the nearest storage terminal. Yes this is what needs to be done. I have a new quest.

I load my vehicles with every last weapon and piece of armour I have, I check my fuel, enough to travel round the known universe 2 or 3 times. Yes this is the way, against the tide of humanity streaming to the hellish hunting grounds of Caly, the opposite way. Next Island, Toulan, Rocktropia, Hell itself, onwards to Monria and the cultists. I have it, a spree of mayhem through the universe, ending on Caly to pick through the broken remnants of the migration in distant weeks to come, and a Journal of my adventure to record the battles and exploits. Something to reflect on when this great hunt is concluded, and to remind me when I feel this way again that I just need to use my imagination and chase my dreams.

Onwards in to deep space and the Next Island....

 

Next Island? Seen it on the map but always thought nothing happens there. Looks like something might actually happen there soon.

 

Lifting off from Valiant as the artillery barrage began I wondered if maybe I should turn back and battle the Oratan, but I had gone to all this effort to pack and set my course. No I have a plan and am commited to it now, whatever may happen.

Blasting out into space away from the space station there was not a ship in sight and I maxed out my quads engines direct to the looming blackened planet of Next Island. A quiet flight followed by a steep dive into the planet and leveling out just above the waves of Crystal Bay I flew hot into the Crystal Centre landing on the beach.

Checking into terminal services and storing my baggage it seemed the planet was even more deserted than my last visit over a year ago. Nobody about, many of the robot helpers unresponsive. After a brief search of the centre I decided to take a stroll along the beach, a lovely place to rest and relax, maybe I spend a few days taking it easy. Lost in my thoughts I didn't notice the movement around me and was caught unawares by the screech of Papoos as several of them raced towards me. Out came my trusty PBP and pitched battle commenced, only on planet less than an hour and here I am again knee deep in corpses. After some considerable time the monkeys were beaten back and gave me the chance to run back to the nearby beach settlement. Time for a stock take and make a plan for my first full day on planet.

Waking early I had decided to take on the mighty wild boar and hunt them until something more worthwhile came to mind. A woman Miranda had asked me to collect wool for her and happily I had accepted the assignment. Stalking through the naked hilly landscape it was easy to spot the herds of boar picking them off one by one and they didn't seem as fearsome as I remembered the last time I visited. In fact it was almost too easy and with in a few hours I had my consignment of wool. Meeting with Miranda I dropped off my loot and collected my new colorator, excellent!

I'm begining to get into the swing of this holiday trip, I wonder how many souvenirs I'll be able to collect before I end up on Calypso again???

I explored northwards and found another enclave of Papoo but this time I was ready for them, I was the one with surprise on my side and I took full advantage, cutting down the vile simians until finally the Papoo king was alone and in my sights. Despatching him swiftly I stood over the corpse and saw something unusual on the body, some kind of green glowing crystal. Could it be? Yes I think it is, I checked my records and yes it was 3 time crystals. I had heard of these and now all I had to do was find the way to use them.

Checking all the available info it seemed all I had to do was find Orpheus Cave and the crystals would allow me to travel back in time to Ancient Greece! What a holiday this could turn out to be.....

 

You don't need time travel crystals any more to get to ancient Greece

 

There is a mission for these papoos, called "The Simian Problem". It is older than the standard quests from the mission terminal. Ask the locals for details, also for whatever else to sign up for to make things count. The daily sweat circle is ideal to socialize, trade and meet most of the populace gathered there. Have a great holiday!

 

Is that because the mission to get the crystals is broken?

The gatekeeper still gives back replacement crystals though, (ask me how I know lol)

I remember doing that during my first visit last year, where is the circle? not seen anyone much.

 

It is always announced in #nextisland. At Shepherd's Beach. A couple mentions and pictures are on my log. Cheers!

 

I found Orpheus Cave easily spotting the waterfall from my Sleipnir, then landing at the foot of the waterfall. I walked into the cave seeing old remnants of ancient Greek columns and found the teleporter. It seemed no different to normal travel as I was whisked through the mists of time to a similar cave with a waiting gatekeeper. After a brief discussion and being given appropriate clothing I was directed to the city of Thebes where adventure awaited. It was delightful to be walking through the ancient landscape in my Grecian robe, such a welcome change from high tech colonies. There was a lovely market in the centre of Thebes and here and there the wonderful Narcissus flowers. An engaging and different experience, and eventually I found my way guided to Creon, Archon of Thebes who it turns out, ah well, I'll let you all find out yourselves if you ever visit. I was however awarded a Falcata and began my travels of the Greek landscape, encountering Cyclops and Minotaurs, and finding temples and amazing landscapes. Well worth the visit but I knew I could not spend too long here or I may never return to my normal time. I also encountered several other travellers in the space of only a day's visit.

I made the decision to return to Next Island the following morning and at Crystal Bay met a young girl called Sara, who in return for a small favour gave me a blueprint for a new shirt. Obviously I couldn't leave without crafting myself one, and spend one more evening on the beach relaxing at sunset.

First thing it was up and at em loading up the Quad and blasting off into Space again, Toulan Beckons....

 

Wouldn't it make more sense to go planet hopping closer to Halloween and Xmas when the 'freebie gifts' are out there.

 

but then it wouldn't be a summer adventure....

 

https://www.reference.com/science/countries-summer-december-bb85c3a56e1fe697

 

It would be sad if there weren't any motivations for travelling other than to collect your handbag full of freebies. A virtual holiday around space, me likes

 

You know it IS possible to read something on a forum, that has been written purely as a form of amusement, without forming an opinion or picking fault with every aspect of it.

 

You never needed to do the mission to get the crystals anyway. You just needed to get the necessary crystals, (auction or the papoo king) and find your way to the cave. There are now hunting missions for most of the mobs on NI you'll find a mission terminal for them all at crystal centre if you ever go back. I do like NI and I go back there from time to time to do a bit more work on the missions.

(edit) but I see that you found it

 

It's been days, didn't think Toulan is that far away from NI. Here's to hoping the pirates didn't get you and we see an update soon.

I totally understand vacationing against the flow, no fun in being in an overly crowded spot.

I'm also starting to understand the need for a vacation - when I see another Oratan I feel the urge to whip it to pieces, especially the prospector fiends who has been fiendishly good at hiding for the two months I have been hunting them. As soon as they went off my official target list they were suddenly at infestation levels near many bases. I've killed more in the past week to get even for wasting my time for so long than in the week prior to that. This probably suits the IFN just fine.

 

The totally best thing on NI is sharks. (Apart from mining, of course)

Compared to other NI mobs, they drop relatively little useless cr*p, and I reckon Shark Head could be used as a decoration.

 

Hi I did get to Toulan and it is very engaging good missions, lots of dailies, but it killed my ped card, I had to come back to Ark secretly to ship all the loot and do some crafting. No sense advertising to pirates! I'm putting the vacation on hold for the minute as I want to see what's involved with the advisor programme before I set off again.

 

Good to hear you made it back to civilization in one piece! Ha, was imagining our Heidi being abducted by a desert tribe, dragged away on a caravan, enslaved, put under the veil and force-married. Cheers

 

Is this before or after loot 2?

 

After.



Oils = thyro and oil res; you also get some wool from them.