Complete Western Brisshal Fungiland

[Hanno Futaba]

When Harveste told Hanno something about looking for rare ingredients, mostly magical mushrooms, in the depths of Western Brisshal, the faerin immediately made time to go meet her.

As usual, he was doing his patrols by Eastern Brisshal, but knowing she would be all alone in a forest filled with bandits and goblins was far from being something he would accept to happen. Of course, he believed she would defeat anyone that tried to approach her with ease, but this was considered a 1 versus 1 situation. The true danger was that the goblins from that region were very well inclined to simply create traps that would lock any strong enemy down or to simply use the dirtiest of the tricks.

Besides, among bandits, there were quite competent PKs that were very dangerous to deal with.

Regardless, Hanno was already next to Harveste, crouching down with a bag filled with herbs, other plants, and fungi.

As he finally reached for a purple cap mushroom, he plucked it out of the ground and glanced at Harveste with a hum. "There are some very weird mushrooms in this forest, I must admit it." He chuckled, tilting his head.

"Do you know what these mushrooms are for? Or what they are for?" He asked.

@Harveste

 

[Harveste]

The western part of the Brisshal forest. It meant they were in Astorea, a country she still frequently visited, though usually just for leisure. She did help merchants travel through the forest from time to time, but generally, it was considered a more dangerous place than the eastern portion in Falderen, or so she was sometimes told. As was a natural habit for her, she'd begun telling Hanno about her travel plans in the game and outside. She knew he would worry for her, but thought it better to tell him now than to tell him after the fact and potentially get scolded.

She was still a bit surprised, though, that he'd decided to join her for something as simple as foraging in the albeit dangerous neck of the woods. It probably shouldn't have, but it did. She knew well enough that he worried for her, offline and online alike. She knew the chances of death always loomed wherever you went in Terrasphere, and that with one death already on the counter from her last rodeo, he probably felt more inclined to protect her from another two, lest she be UI-locked.

So, she'd thanked him. It was a good excuse to spend time with him anyway, without just following him on his patrol like she often thought of doing. The thought made her blush slightly as she tried to focus on her notebook, which had notes and awkward doodles relating to every plant the small Faerin found.

"I often help collect herbs and mushrooms for the local merchants," she explained. "Some mushrooms, even toxic ones, have uses in alchemy. The purple ones around here aren't safe to eat plain, but..." She flipped her notebook to the right page finally, concluding, "It can be used to make a wide variety of medicine. Ironically, that even includes anti-fungal treatments." She found it weird enough people used mold to treat bacterial infections, but fungi to treat fungi? That was certainly a new one to her, when she first started at any rate.

She giggled, picking another one and putting it in a bag of her own. "They certainly are weird though. Then again, that's only to us. Landers are used to these things and would probably find our world just as peculiar, if not more so."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Interesting..." He muttered about her explanations. "Well, if it was in real life, I would be able to tell every single mushroom out and know which ones are edible. It is my deal after all, but in here? There are more species, so it is harder to figure out which ones are proper for that sort of thing." Hanno shrugged with a sigh, casting a glance at Harveste with a grin.

"But again, the one who is doing the stuff here is you." He grinned. Hanno was but an assisting figure in that moment of mushroom collection.

He then leaned in to peek at her notebook, smirking a bit at the doodles. "We got an artist here, don't we?" Hanno chuckled heartily at it, not trying to be mean or anything.

"You like to keep those for personal notes and studies, or is it for something else?" Perhaps it was part of her quest, or something like that.

@Harveste

 

[Harveste]

"I'd need a book in real life to know what's edible or not. Maybe instead I should just take you with me next time I go on a nature walk." Harveste couldn't help laughing a bit at the thought. Normally, nature walks had someone who knew the information leading the way. She just thought it would be fun to say anyway.

When he mentioned she was the one doing things, she smiled back at him. "I can still be thankful you came to help me, can't I?" She leaned on him for a quick moment, giggling before returning to the notebook.

"I know I'm not very good, you can be honest," she told him with a slightly rouged face. "I do this so if someone asks me to find them again, I can find them more easily. My memory isn't reliable with all the plants I've seen... So, by doing this, I can remember what is safe to eat if I get hungry, what specific plants generally look like... All that good stuff."

Standing up straight, she began to scan the area for more mushrooms, as they were running low on them in that particular spot. "Let's see, they prefer this kind of tree, so... We just need to find another of them..." She pointed in a direction where she could see more of the same type of tree. "Most fungi prefer specific kinds of trees to grow around. I don't really get why, but it's the same in both worlds regardless."

Holding a hand out to him after tucking the bag of mushrooms in her pocket, she smiled. "Shall we continue?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"Of course, you can, if I'm helping you out. I mean, I'm mostly escorting you anyway." Hanno chuckled. He would prefer if nothing dangerous occurred near her, but he knew that Western Brisshal was an entirely different place than Eastern Brisshal (that was also dangerous, mind you, just not as much for someone that wasn't a newbie).

"I mean, it isn't that good, but the important is that it gives the information you need." Hanno shrugged, looking at the drawings that due to the simplicity, were fairly straightforward to show what were the important parts one should check in a mushroom to notice their species.

Following with the eyes where Harveste pointed, Hanno tilted his head and nodded.

"Nature is just curious like that, Luna." He muttered, glancing at her.

Hanno reached for Harveste's hand, taking it firmly and flashing her a smile. "Of course, let's go." He said, leaning closer and walking right next to her.

As they neared the trees, more mushrooms could be found, and their roots entangled the surroundings with ease.

One particular pair of roots was so thick and strong, that they simply opened a hole on the ground, almost like a grotto. Harveste would be able to smell something magical deep inside of it, and Hanno would spot a brim of magic in the depths of the grotto, which was surrounded by mushrooms of all kinds.

"Huh-" He frowned.

@Harveste

 

[Harveste]

Harveste wanted to remind him that 'Luna' wasn't her name in this world, but as there was no one else around, she deemed it silly to worry about. Besides, she could understand the urge to call someone by their name or nickname in either world. At least while they were alone together, it would be fine to leave it that way, right?

"That's true, nature is rather... unusual, in its own way." She laughed slightly, gripping the hand holding hers with care and walking with a sense of ease.

As they got closer, though, she picked up a curious scent. Sniffing the air carefully, she tried to find the source, finally noticing the grotto of sorts that opened up in the ground. "Something smells strange from down there..." It wasn't a bad strange, but still unusual. "I don't think I've ever smelled anything like it in this world yet... Peculiar."

She took one step towards the grotto, not far enough to separate from him, but enough to stretch her arm out just slightly that was still holding onto him. "I'm curious, but..." But curiosity had killed the cat and, whether satisfaction brought it back or not, she knew she only had two lives left in this game. She didn't want to make him worry needlessly.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno chuckled at her words, being only able to nod in agreement to her words, walking side by side as they neared the unusual spot.

In all honesty, Hanno was just as curious as Harveste, and the grip on his shield made it clear that he was sure that it could mean a lot of danger. It was just how the unknown acted in that game, it seemed to be no big deal until it became a huge deadly deal.

"It is very weird, yeah... I'm seeing all sort of..." His vision prickled. "Intense magic in there." He frowned his lips, turning to look at Harveste when she took a step forward and judging by her words, she truly wanted to see it.

Hanno offered a small smile, taking a step forward and squeezing her hand.

"I will protect you," Hanno said firmly, looking at her eyes before averting toward the hole.

He took another step, with his shield risen and ready to deflect any harm that could come to him or her.

As they took steps closer to the intriguing magic, the intensity became stronger, almost unsettling... The smell of humidity followed it, in a way that almost made their lungs drown. The air and the feeling of the surroundings no longer felt the same as in Western Brisshal... And soon... The two of them met an entrance...

@Harveste

 

[Harveste]

The woman couldn't help a small giggle when he said he'd protect her. She was pretty strong in her own right in this world- so while she needed all the help she could get on the outside, she was at least a little confident in her abilities here. Tugging on him slightly, she smiled brightly. "And I'll protect you! We'll work together."

To her, that was what games were all about when you had someone with you- teamwork. It was true she was primarily a support, but nature could be dangerous, and she knew a few spells to ward off enemies. Plus, any beasts in there would likely listen to her... Well, assuming she sang the right song.

"It looks like some sort of door... Were there always doors way out here?" She asked him, caution in her voice as she sniffed it. The humid air made it harder to smell, but it was still oddly strong magic filling her nostrils. "It's too damp for me to make out what kind it is, but there's definitely magic beyond that door..."

Looking around, she realized it just didn't feel like it belonged at all. "Are we even in the forest anymore...? I want to know where it leads, but..." But something felt off, concerning even. And she wasn't quite sure what.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"I am lucky then, to have you protecting me... I agree, let's protect each other." Hanno grinned confidently, knowing very well how capable Harveste was, but also knowing that this world was a dangerous place even for the strongest. Which was the reason, not even he, with all his confidence, dared to go around and fight without having someone next to him.

He had someone today, though, and someone very important.

"I'm not sure what this door is about, but generally there aren't doors around random places. This is something that should be uncommon." Hanno frowned slightly, casting a glance around when Harveste mentioned them not being in the forest.

"Yeah, there is a lot of magic involved. In fact... This whole place is somewhat magical in a way." He muttered, but noticed Harveste's curiosity regarding the door.

"We are together, so if you want to," Hanno said with a reassuring smile, looking at Harveste's eyes, waiting patiently for a decision.

@Harveste

 

[Harveste]

Harveste smiled up at him, relieved even more that she'd told him about this trip into the woods. Not only did it feel nice to spend time with someone she cared for, but she felt safer knowing he had her back. She was just glad he wasn't rushing into danger without her having his as well.

"A magic door..." She put her free hand near her chin, a finger tapping it gently. She felt like she remembered something regarding mysterious, magical doors- but nothing was coming to the surface of her mind. She sighed softly. "It smells so strong I can barely smell at all."

Looking around, she had to agree- the entire landscape felt like magic was imbued in it. She gripped his hand a bit tighter as she looked up at him and nodded. "Let's take a look." She was normally not so sure about things, but with safety in numbers, it should be fine... Right?

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"My eyes aren't being able to take it much longer either... The ley lines are all blurry to me now." He frowned, slipping out a sigh as he couldn't really pin point anything anymore. It all swirled in the depths of that door.

When he felt the hold on his hand tighten, he shifted to side glance at Harveste, nodding to her with a small, reassuring smile. "We shall take." Hanno nodded, averting to look at the door with curiosity. If they were to step in that unknown place, it was better to be prepared.

Focusing on his will to keep both of them safe, Hanno surrounded both of them with a divine shield, warding them from danger before it was their time to march forward and toward the door... A door without a keyhole, one that would invite those who could see it in.

To where it would go, however? Only time would tell...

@Harveste

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