Private Quest [Wintersday] Stars Above The Tree

[Zelrius]

The crunch of snow, despite being surrounded by towering and twisting jungle trees, would never not throw Zelrius for a loop in his mind. It just didn't compute, he'd be surprised everytime he looked up from the traily of footprints he was creating, to the towering canopy of dense jungle leaves above. Their foliage and leaves intact through the Reaping season, and staying strong in the biting cold. Evergreen, a term shared by both the actual real world, and the Landers here in Arcia. Plants and trees that remained verdant no matter what the season was, staying alive for decades before collapsing nuder their weight.

That same concept is what brought him out here today. These dense trunks and beautiful treetops raked in a fortune with Nobility and the upperclasses of wealth in both Falderen and Astorea. The Adventurer's guild got hundreds of requests for trees of all different sizes, unique requests for certain species, or contests for which big-surname house would get the largest, most extravagant one. And to be the one who could turn in one such request was a chance that the Pyromancer couldn't pass up.

A personal achievement, for one. Money, for second. A good connection with someone higher up than him for a third, and some gold in his pocket for a fourth. What was there not to love? An adventure too. He had it all calculated out; scour the jungle. Find a massive fern tree. Clear the path, delicately mark it and cut it down. Get a team from a nearby village to retrieve it for easy shipping. A plan that required a second person, unfortunately for him.

So, before having left Stokbon, the man had put in a request for help, offered to split the profit half and half. Placed a meeting spot, and his name on it, and that was that. Here he was now, at the crest of a small hill, along the northbound road that trailed up from the Isulus. Easy enough to find, now it would just be a matter of seeing if anyone would actually show up before sunset, and lend the hand.

Zelrius, in the meantime, had gathered some loose pieces. Branches, twigs, leaves. Pushing aside some snow with his feat and bundling it into a small pile. With an extension of his palm and a bit of focus - poof! A fireplace to keep warm by. And to hopefully act as both a light and smokesignal to any approaching would-be companion on this Christmas Journey.

@Ayna Nietzsche

 

[Ayna Nietzsche]

⋇⊶⊰✦⊱⊷⋇

Adventurers Guild

The pale biotechnological duelist lofted on high her long purple spear. "This is Stormy Night," she said. "And it will fry your body to ashes." The druid sighed. "Very well!" she said. "If that is what you need to fight the villains, then you must slay me and let your polearm feed on my soul." "I do not want this," the lancer said to the woodswoman. "That's okay," said the nurturer, and with that, she ripped her flimsy robes and bore her chest to the warrior. "That is my heart," she said, pointing with her finger. "And that is where you must plunge."

Ayna did not get any farther than that. She stowed the makeshift novel Mickie wrote for her, about her, when Bobbert the Blue-nosed Basseal honked on top of her head, signifying that they were no longer alone. Well, would no longer be. Even she could see the fire and smoke beyond the massive trees that kept her and her strange companion within the domain of shadows. Quietly, and warily, she made her presence felt, eyes on the man before him, at the other end of the bonfire.

"Are you the one who asked for help? Half and half?"

Ayna was supposed to meet some friends today. All for some holiday cheer. But Ayna had never been one for that kind of stuff. Neither here nor outside of the game. For the past few years, she had spent her holidays alone, at work. She had grown to appreciate the lonely productivity that replaced the artificial warmth of family and friends. Ayna could no longer see herself without it. Her friends mean well, but she'd rather be out here, doing something, being productive, than inside, drinking sweets and singing nonsensical tunes.

@Zelrius