Discontinued Quest Eastern Brisshal [Reaping Season I] Moon Fearer

[Hanno Futaba]

Sweet Deer - Nighttime

With the sun already set, Hanno was taking his time pouring drinks down, letting out a quiet sigh as another day slipped by. Making sure newbies would stay safe was certainly tiring. Just as he thought the Starcalled appearances would fade a bit more, it seemed like another influx of new players had come- A worrisome reminder that no matter how much time passed, many would still take interest in the game.

He needed to figure out a way to keep attending to the new players, while at the same time making sure the UI-Locked were safe, something that has been consuming his mind and heart for a while now. Such a dilemma, to be only one and to not be able to do everything at once... Of course, he had his faction mates to help, but it didn't mean they could cover every single spot of Terrasphere all by themselves.

On top of that, the world itself needed salvation. Every time something occurred... From the Red Fever to Camp Hope, events continued to fill the world with dangers that threatened to cease any glimpse of the peace that existed.

"Another one, please-!" He asked the deer beastfolk, the owner of the business, that offered a faint smile and a nod, even if the inn was so busy that there was barely any place to sit anymore. He grinned back at the hospitality, tapping his fingers and glancing at the table, which was the only one that was mostly free, only having a seat occupied by him and another by his gigantic shield.

@Celine Veilleux

 

[Celine Veilleux]

What a long day of walking. Getting herself acquainted with the mechanics of the game had taken plenty of time, so it was good to have something to do while traveling the area to get familiar with her surroundings. She'd traveled to the city and back in that time, making sure to take care of her needs when it came to food and drink, and even managed to crack out a quest to get some gold to cover such things!

Feeling accomplished, she felt like it was time to look for more quests in one of the most proliferate places where quests were given out and turned in: a tavern.

Stepping into the warm atmosphere was a bit much for a career librarian at first, but it wasn't her first time in such a place. She preferred them quieter, but this was a nice change of pace. Her expression remained mostly unimpressed as she scanned the place analytically, looking for a place to sit and order a drink before she got to the reason she was here. As luck would have it, there was about one place to sit that was currently taken by a shield, so she approached he table and addressed the shield's owner,

"May I sit here? Not many other options, I'm afraid." It was quite the shield, too, with an eye and tentacles on it, it seemed. She didn't pay that much mind, but instead focused her steady gaze on the much shorter man. Her voice didn't help, sounding gravelly and damaged but carried almost like a whisper that broke just above the din of the bar around them. It was something she'd chosen to keep true to her real world self.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno looked up at the woman, and the shield, Ghast, followed the suit with her cyclopic eye. Both listened to the request, and the Shield stared at Hanno with a 'don't you dare' glint in her eye.

Smiling apologetically to the shield, he shrugged. "Sorry." He picked up the shield, that rolled her eye and slapped a tentacle on his head. "O-Ow, I told you it was crowded and someone would want to sit, you did it at your own risk instead of being in Inventory!" He protested, placing the shield next to him and giving it a pat before looking at the woman.

After a small struggle, Hanno looked at the lady with a smile. "Sorry about that, buddy. But yeah, feel free to take a seat." He gestured to the chair.

It was the first time he had seen her around, and it didn't look like she was a veteran... so perhaps a brand new player? If so, he should get to know if she was safe enough in the area before taking his leave.

@Celine Veilleux

 

[Celine Veilleux]

Celine watched the scene play out with little expression but plenty of questions to ask. Why have a sentient shield? What could it do? Was it worth a smack to the head over petty situations like this? Pretty eyes scanned from the shield back to the man offering her a seat, and she curtly nodded her appreciation, sitting down and smoothing out her robes. As the deer beastfolk delivered his drink, she smiled brightly at the cute girl and ordered herself one,

"I'll have one as well, please." She requested politely, which earned her a smile and a polite nod from a busy barkeep.

"So, while we're sitting at the same table: what's your story? Shield seems nice." She offered, giving a tight smile to the shield who probably didn't like her already, "I take it you're an adventurer here for drinks before running off to do something fun? Is that right? Am I close?"

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

The curiosity on the woman's face was clear, and Hanno couldn't blame her in any way. It was weird carry a Shield like that around, and it did drag a lot of attention anywhere he went to. But the woman caught plenty of attention herself, being all polite and cheerful on a place where most were at the very least rowdy.

"It is a good choice. I don't know what she puts in these drinks, but it does make it tastier." Hanno smirked, calmly pushing his mug for the woman to take it. He was already drinking plenty, so he could wait the drink she ordered to drink.

"My name is Hanno, Hanno Futaba. I've been around Terrasphere since before it was shut down." He peered at his Shield, tapping it a bit. "This big girl here is Ghast. She is a friend I have found in one of my adventures. A real tough one."

He then faced the woman. "You are right, buddy. More or less, at least. I am just taking a break before patrolling Eastern Brisshal again." He explained, then bending on the table slightly.

"How about you?" He wondered.

@Celine Veilleux

 

[Celine Veilleux]

Celine gratefully took the drink with an, "Oh, thank you very much." She could have just as easily waited but it was a kind gesture that she didn't want to go to waste. She took a drink as he introduced himself and responded in kind,

"Celine Veilleux. I'm new, if you can't tell. Nice to meet the both of you." She smiled tightly again, expressions seeming faint but genuine, "I'm a librarian here to do research of my own about the game. I want to see history as it is written, and I figured this was a good place to do that, as much has happened here. I've heard of a place in Finweald that I would like to visit, but that will have to wait, I believe, until I get more experience."

His explanation regarding his plans earned him a nod, "I see. I was here hoping to find some work, actually. More gold never hurts, much less a little excitement. I haven't seen much since I've been here. Any chance you could use a companion out there? I'm a support type, seems like you're a tank? We could probably help each other out." She offered, taking another drink as she eyed the shield over the rim of her glass. No doubt the shield would be displeased by such a prospect.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

"You're welcome." Hanno smiled and tilted his head to take a more careful look at her. "Celine huh? It is nice to meet'cha too." He nodded, noticing the woman was of a calm and gentle nature. Perhaps it was a bit fitting too, considering she was a librarian.

"So you are trying to see this game's story with your own eyes? Well... If you are saying that..." Hanno crossed his arms. "I suppose you know about the true nature of it. The deaths of players being linked to their in game deaths." He said, looking at her while studying her reactions to his words, wanting to understand how much the woman truly knew, or if all he was telling her were news to her.

Her reveal and her request caught his attention, and he smirked slightly. "I mean. Having a support around would be amazing, as much as my friend here can be a bit jealous." He chuckled, nudging his Shield that simply slapped a tentacle on his arm, making him push it away.

"... But if you really mean to stay in this game. I suppose it is also a way to make sure you are safe." He wondered.

@Celine Veilleux

 

[Celine Veilleux]

"Indeed." She said flatly to his explanation, "Rather unfortunate how many have been lost forever in this fantasy world, but I aim to protect as many as I can from such an outcome if I can help it. That is my other goal."

She'd first heard about the true nature of the game by word of mouth, whispered rumors, then by old newspaper articles that were saved from being censored, then online on forums where they couldn't be censored at all. It all made it seem like a conspiracy, but perhaps the answer was more simple and it was really a misguided attempt to make the world's most realistic and immersive game. Either way, Celine had an issue with the fact that that contingent part of playing this game wasn't explained to new players as part of the tutorial, and they had to rely on others to tell them.

She smirked as he affirmed her suspicion that the shield would be jealous, "I figured, she seems a little protective. Perhaps overly so. She must really like you. Either way, I agree. I believe it is in our best interests to help each other out."

"What sort of things do you do outside of Terra?" She said, trying to make some more small-talk and figure out what kind of person he was outside of his armor.

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno listened to the other goal Celine had in mind, something that sounded familiar, coming from his own objectives he held close to his heart. One of the many reasons he decided to keep coming back to this world despite everything that had happened so far.

A small smile crossed his lips. "Well, we aren't too different then, buddy." He said to Celine, then sideglancing at the approaching deerfolk, offering her a thankful smile and a nod as he took his drink. "... Most of my deal here is to protect people. Make sure newbies are safe when they come in for the first time, to not let anyone get UI-Locked, and well... To give the support and help the UI-Locked need." He wondered if she would understand those terms.

"I also want to understand a bit more about Terrasphere. I've been here for years, and I still don't know its secrets. I can tell you what I know, and maybe someday you will find something I haven't been able to in all this time." A new pair of eyes could have a different view of this world, and have a perspective that could spot things Hanno was already too used to figure out right away.

When questioned about his out of game self, he grinned. "I'm a Chef. A very good one at it too, in Terrasphere there are different ingredients too, so I like to put my cuisine skills at test here, I can cook you stuff if you ever wish... Well, if we travel together, you will need to, after all." He chuckled. "I also know some martial arts, it really helps in here..." Having skills in real life made choices easier in the game for sure.

He looked up at her, tilting his head. "You are... A librarian, yeah? You do anything else..? Maybe a writer, since you want to see the story of this game unfold?" Perhaps she sought for inspiration.

@Celine Veilleux

 

[Celine Veilleux]

By context, she put together that UI-locked was a way to refer to someone who had died in game and the real world and therefore was UI-locked from their inventory and such things. Perhaps better than some of the names that she might have picked.

"That sounds good." She offered simply, taking another drink, "I'll do what I can, and I thank you in advance for giving me a place to start."

So he was a chef? Interesting. She supposed everyone had their various reasons for being here, charitable or not. "A chef and a martial artist. A good combination of skills for a game such as this. Plus you get to make good food for the UI-locked, not to mention those lucky enough to be your friends. I'm sure you've heard plenty that the key to most hearts is through the stomach." She smirked again lightly.

"I have written plenty, from a dissertation to a thesis, more essays than I can remember, that sort of thing. I have always wanted to try my hand at writing fantasy, but I think I'm just better at writing technical papers. But I do also like to sing, though my voice is damaged. When I'm in my angelic form here in game, the damage goes away and I can sing. It's part of where I draw my power from, both mechanically and metaphorically. Aside from that, I'm an okay cook and amateur baker, as well. Naturally, being a librarian comes with quite a skill for research, so I'm good at that, too. I'm not really good at physical activities, though."

@Hanno Futaba

 

[Hanno Futaba]

Hanno smiled at the thanks, though he waved a hand. "No need to thank me. We will be helping each other, after all." He said with a smile, being certain of strength in numbers and of course, on the fact they shared similar objectives.

"Hah, I am the one who is lucky to find great people. I mean, I just met a potential partner, right?" Hanno grinned, with the grin only widening at the old saying of food reaching one's heart. "I did hear something about that that, I guess I got the right tools to grow on people then." He said in a jest, sipping his drink and then listening to Celine's answer to his question.

A good portion of it was expected, albeit a few things caught his attention. "Angelic form and voice? That sounds nice, I'd like to see it someday, and some of your fantasy writings too." He said, crossing his arms. "You can leave physical activities to me, because hell I will let you do any technical work we must do." He shrugged, resting his hands on the table.

"Granted, we can do some cooking together." He said.

Meanwhile, a faint crying slipped from behind the entrance, muffled by the loudness of the inn until the door opened abruptly, with a crying lady nearly stumbling into it.

@Celine Veilleux