On the Trail of Behemoths/Story

(Talk to Helka)

Paimon: Huh? Didn't the Guild say that this was a super-tough quest commissioned by an "organization whose details may not be disclosed"? Why's the client a little kid?

Helka: (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍) and Paimon, I presume? Nice to meet you both. I'm your client, Helka. I trust you've been informed about the details of this commission?

Helka: In short, I need help gathering information on giant monsters, including combat-related performance data. I look forward to working with you two.

Paimon: Sure! Leave it to us... Hang on a sec, we haven't been introduced — how do you know who we are?

Helka: Considering the difficulty of this commission, the Adventurers' Guild was likely to pass this task on to seasoned adventurers with commensurate experience.

Helka: And considering that duos consisting of a "golden-haired traveler and little white guide" are rare amongst these more famous candidates...

Paimon: Ohh, so that's it. You might look like a kid, but you sure know a lot. You even talk kinda like an old...

*cough* A more composed sort of kid.

Paimon: Ah, yeah, that! Anyway, are you really our client? Also, this "organization whose details may not be disclosed" thing is kinda...

Helka: I was indeed the one who issued that commission, and as for the "organization"... Well, Katya taught me to say that.

Helka: Though I'm reluctant to admit this, an institution with murky origins is more likely to be taken seriously by the Guild than some child with no background to speak of.

Helka: But the organization's existence, at least, is no lie. I am a part of it.

Helka: I just told them what I thought they should know. As for what information they got from parsing my words... That's up to their imagination.

Is this the sort of organization that occasionally throws parties?

Paimon: Huh, so it's the kind of "secret organization" that has get-togethers with food... Wait, isn't that just a normal friends' club!?

Wow, so it's a "secret club."

Helka: That's right. I made an agreement with Maisie before I left that I wouldn't lie or cheat others, or do anything dangerous. I succeeded in both.

Helka: Even when telling the truth, one can phrase things in a manner more advantageous to oneself — and with strong enough backing, even dangerous spaces can be made safe.

Paimon: Are... are you sure that's how it works?

Helka: Of course I am. If you're both ready, then, let us set off.

(Talk to Helka)

Helka: Thank you, (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), Paimon. I couldn't have completed my task without your help.

Will you let me join your organization now?

Paimon: Wait, you actually wanna join, don't you?

Helka: Hmm... Your age might complicate things somewhat, but the real issue is that I've gotta hear what the others think. If all votes say yea... Well, it's not as if there's no precedent for this.

Helka: If you ever find yourself in Nod-Krai, hit up the "Speranza" in Nasha Town. Katya's not one of us, but she's a trustworthy sort. She'll help you out.

Paimon: Sure. Speaking of, you were taking all those photos and drawing in your notebook while (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍) was fighting. It all looked pretty professional!

Not trying to secretly study my fighting style, I hope...

Are you an artist doing sketches, or a director shooting a film reel, by any chance?

Helka: Hmm... Well, I suppose I can tell you. My task is to collect information on 100 monster varieties. Thanks to you, my Natlan and Fontaine series are all squared away.

Helka: Next up, I've got to head to Sumeru, where I'll likely hire some Eremites. That said, I should remember to send the illustrated handbook I've made back to Nasha Town.

Paimon: Wow, so you're making some sort of monster index?

Helka: Indeed. There's no monster in Nod-Krai that I don't know, so I decided to get acquainted with those from further afield.

Helka: Maisie's a timid girl, but she loves hearing stories about these monsters. You should see her every time I give her a newly-made handbook of mine — she's pleased as pie!

Helka: Shame that her constitution's too frail for travel, though, or I'd have brought her along. Plus, Katya's also said that if I produce a good enough book, I might even be able to get myself published.

Helka: Now, I'd love to give Maisie a real surprise — take a copy of my newly-published handbook, hide it under her pillow, and... *cough* Ahem. Sorry, I got a bit distracted there.

Paimon: Hehe, you sure do care about your friends, don'cha?

Helka: Friends, huh... I'd say they're more like family, even though we're not related by blood. *sigh* Let's not dwell on things like that!

Helka: Oh, right! Let me give you a copy of my handbook, too. Now, I need to keep a copy of the pictures and send them to Maisie, so, as for your copy...

Don't worry, I know a thing or two about photography too.

Don't worry, I can see these monsters anytime I want.

Helka: That's great, then. I should be setting off for my next destination, so I'll probably head out sometime over the next few days.

Paimon: Safe travels!

Helka: You too. Best of luck in your travels!

(If the player has not completed Whither Shall a Member of a "Secret Organization" Go?)

Helka: I'm ready any time.

(If the player has completed Whither Shall a Member of a "Secret Organization" Go?)

Helka: The commission is complete. If you still want to challenge these gigantic creatures, however, I'm more than willing to come along.

Let's head to the challenge location.

I've got other things I need to do at the moment.

Available near the Secret Source Automaton: Firepower Enhanced

Helka: Ready to take on the giant mechanical monster?

I'll get prepping now.

Let's talk a bit first...

Helka: I've seen relics of a similar stripe in Nod-Krai... Yeah, on the island where the Frostmoon Scions gather...

Helka: But they're all as dead as dead can be, so this is the first time I'm seeing one move the way this one does. Fascinating — I'll record this and tell Maisie all about it.

So, who are these "Frostmoon Scions," again...?

Helka: They're a... weird bunch, I'd say? They're not like the people of Nasha Town at all, the way they live in the wilds and forests most of the time.

Helka: Word has it that they worship some moon deity, and you can find statues they've made all over Nod-Krai. As for the rest, I don't really know — Katya's warned me not to look into them too much.

Helka: But what I have seen them do is magic. It's a shocking sight, I'll tell you that.

Hold on.

Helka: Ready to clash with the giant centaur statue?

I'll get prepping now.

Let's talk a bit first...

Helka: This device was created by an ancient civilization, I believe. It appears like nothing so much as a musician on a stage. The society that created it must have been impressive indeed.

Helka: Katya said that Nod-Krai was also once home to an ordered and prosperous civilization, one that you can catch glimpses of from time to time.

I'd like to know a bit about this "Nod-Krai"...

Helka: Well, about that... Nod-Krai is actually part of Snezhnaya, and once upon a time, they performed lots of large scale development in the area.

Helka: But you can't find hide nor hair of that nowadays — unless you're talking about the mechanical scrap you can see everywhere.

Helka: But maybe that's precisely why Nod-Krai's become the bustling place it is today.

Give me a moment.

Helka: Ready to rumble with the giant ball of water?

I'll get prepping now.

Let's talk a bit first...

Helka: So, the will of water can also manifest itself in such a form... Inconceivable. It really doesn't look as though it lacks a soul.

Helka: Katya once told me a story about a fisherman who fell in love with a spirit of pure water, but such entities have no souls, and thus the fisherman set out on a journey to discard his as well...

Could you tell me a bit about Katya?

Helka: She used to be a great adventurer back in the day, and her exploits took her all over the world. Eventually, her injuries led to her retirement, after which she settled down in Nasha Town.

Helka: She's always taken good care of us, and gave me lots of practical advice before I set out... I have immense respect for her, and am also immensely grateful to her.

Helka: Oh, right! If you get the chance, you should definitely try her cooking!

Give me a moment.

Helka: Ready to tangle with the giant crab?

I'll get prepping now.

Let's talk a bit first...

Helka: Nod-Krai is also home to crabs, but they look very different. Hmm. I should take a few more photos — for all I know, Maisie might like Fontainian crabs better.

Helka: But then again, I wonder... Is the appearance of a species like this a result of the hot spring, or is it the Tyrant's presence that caused the springs to boil?

Tell me a bit about Nod-Krai...

Helka: If I had to describe it, I'd go with "a dangerous yet lively place"? It's been leaning toward the former in recent days, though.

Helka: Before I left, the Fatui had moved a lot of construction materials in. Word was that a Harbinger — or Harbingers — were present, too. As for what they intend, I couldn't say.

Helka: I've heard bad things about the situation to the north as well. The Abyss's influence has been expanding... Katya even warned me not to return via the northern paths.

Give me a moment.