Torquetum

Torquetum is an all-female adventuring party of gifted young explorers, not an item despite the artifact-like name. Its three founding members are all Class III explorers, a rank reached by only a small elite, and being in their teens (or apparent teens) makes them a celebrated 'rising star' team. The party is led by Lupinus = Lord = Denton, a noble elf of a viscount house who serves as tank, protecting the group with her heirloom Oreparts, the Achilene Shield, and her Relic 'Fortitude.' Alongside her are Pakira, a catfolk attribute-user, and Riv, an eccentric, hard-to-read but formidably skilled swordswoman. The name 'Torquetum' comes from a medieval astronomical instrument that measures three coordinate systems (horizontal, equatorial, and ecliptic) — Lupinus chose it precisely because the party had three members.

The party is the linchpin of the protagonist's early story. During a Class II qualification survey on the 33rd floor, Torquetum was ambushed and effectively wiped out by a white albino Chimera whose Relic 'Evil Eye' froze them at fatal moments. Wof, working unseen, revived the dying party with a legendary Elixir and used their return stone to send them home, leaving them alive and unwounded but baffled as to who saved them and why. This unexplained rescue becomes an ongoing mystery for the party and repeatedly draws them back into contact with Wof, who keeps his involvement secret.

Over time Torquetum grows into one of Hydrangea's most famous parties — three beautiful, capable girls whose reputation makes them a target for lecherous nobles and third-rate clans (such as the Dragon Fang scheme). They ally with the Tasan house, whose annex is built onto their base manor, and they become close to Wof, testing his dungeon, taking joint requests, and even taking in the knife-throwing girl Bidd as a live-in companion who eventually joins them as a fourth member. Their persistent struggle is money — reaching Class II is costly — so they grind requests and hunts (like the crystal-beast hunt in the Haizen great forest) to fund their shared goal of all reaching Class I.

Bidd's addition triggers the party's defining internal arc: because 'Torquetum' referred to three coordinate systems for three members, Bidd feels she can never truly belong to a 'Torquetum' as a fourth. After a candid heart-to-heart, Lupinus resolves it by renaming the party 'Four Aster' — keeping the astronomical, star-related theme while embracing four members. The rename is formally filed and accepted at the explorer guild, and news of it spreads quickly, a testament to how popular Torquetum had become.