Day 247 Patron Quest

[the_last]

[When Estelle arrives, she will experience sudden disorientation, as if suddenly unfamiliar with being inside her body, perhaps not even knowing why she is there or who she is. It lasts for but a moment and then slowly fades... The world around her seems unusually quiet and gray, as though the color were stolen but there remains just enough to suggest that things have been greatly subdued. Within the gray is an expansive forest of every tree imaginable and dry, brittle grass that extends to mid-calf. Here and there, one might even spot some faded prints left upon the ground. The sky is equally gray, although not one cloud can be seen.

And just in front of her, three thumb-sized seeds rest on a flat white rock.]

Comments

[the_last]

"That's an odd quest... Trying to help a sick friend?"

[fullmoonblooms]

...I guess it's a bit like that, yes.

[the_last]

"I don't know what you expect to find around this mountain. They say enchanted creatures like to roam there. Dangerous ones that lure in the innocent with their appearance but seek to only steal their lives. Many a lost soul has fallen prey to their likes."

[fullmoonblooms]

I see...So I should just be careful about animals that look too friendly?

[the_last]

[A more genial laugh.]

"Only the ones that look like what you'd expect to find in your dreams.

Now, I can show you a safer route around the mountain. If you're looking to plant a seed, there's much more fertile ground beyond these parts."

[fullmoonblooms]

[a pause]

I'm pretty sure it needs to be planted on the mountain.

[the_last]

[He looks concerned now.]

"Come now, miss, you'll never be able to climb that on your own. One look tells you it will be absolutely exhausting."

[fullmoonblooms]

I've climbed a tower taller than this mountain and still fought the criminal on top of it. I can handle this mountain too.

[the_last]

[He frowns.]

"If you say so. Just don't say I didn't warn you."

[He reaches into a pouch (that may or may not have been on the horse's back a moment earlier... ) and removes a set of grapples, which he drops at the ground.

Before wheeling his horse and riding off in the opposite direction.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[--!! immediately picking up the grapples and waving at him!]

Thank you!

[TIME TO CLIMB A MOUNTAIN WITH SOMETHING RESEMBLING PROPER GEAR]

[the_last]

[It will still take a bit... but she will also notice a gentle breeze and maybe a tiny white flower here and there on outcroppings. But should she try to touch one, they will vanish.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[oh...i suppose that is a clue to keep climbing up.]

[the_last]

[Climb climb]

[fullmoonblooms]

[just keep climbing, just keep climbing, climbing, climbing]

[the_last]

[When she pulls herself over the top, she'll find the surface is completely barren and even more gray than anything she's seen so far.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[taking a few moments to breathe before standing and looking around the area]

[...then taking out her seed to see if it'll glow.]

[the_last]

[It is glowing ALMOST BLINDINGLY.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[then finding a spot to start digging a hole and planting it]

[the_last]

[It is planted. But... nothing seems to be happening. :|a]

[fullmoonblooms]

[...watering it to see if that helps.]

[the_last]

[Super super tiny poke of green but nowhere near the seedling size of the others. . .]

[fullmoonblooms]

[...gently digging that back up and then starts walking around to see if there's a better spot...]

[the_last]

[Seed seems to glow no matter where she walks.

Also, so does the watering gun but only were her fingers are touching it. Curious.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[...hmm...]

[starts watering the ground and then poking the spot with her finger...]

[the_last]

[A touch of color appears where her fingers came in contact with the ground.]