Deviant Adventures(Firehead)

[Sallin_Kari]

"Oh yes... Always was, but has been more as of late. He doesn't have the best reputation after all. So while he always looked for talent to take under his wing, now he only chooses the most rare talents," She answers, her eyes going to the past.

[Firehead]

I listen to her a moment getting curious as she continued to speak. A few questions came to mind that she was curious about though she worried she might be prying into something personal. "You speak as if you knew him very well. I hope I'm not prying too much if I ask this, but I have a couple of questions. Did the two of you have dealings in the past? What is wrong with his reputation? Who was his last protege?"

[Sallin_Kari]

"Oh, I was once an adventurer, and he is very famous," She says chuckling at the question, before taking a more somber tone, "We occasionally worked 'together' on large quests requiring multiple parties... As for his reputation... well, his last protege was magic knight. Young human, good future ahead of him... and after one emergency mission dealing with rampaging minotaurs... Lothrin came back and his protege didn't... again. There are many times in his past where a mission goes poorly, but it is completed with him as the only survivor. By the time I came to this town, there was an unspoken rule that no one would party with him, but he would occasionally take on young talent, especially those who others wouldn't give a chance. Many of them also suffered from this... curse for lack of a better term. It caused most to believe he is simply using the naive as a meatshield to save his own skin, but those people simply don't pay attention. He, regardless of his party status, regularly takes very dangerous mission. Those you would expect heavy casualties, and even alone, completes them without fail."

[Firehead]

I listened in fascination as she told me a bit more about Lorthin than I already knew. I thought about the missions I'd helped him in so far. They were certainly intense considering I'd twice now gotten myself in over my neck. If he and Nekothra hadn't been there, I could have been dragged off to be a breeding pet for some monster, though one of those was because we encountered a monster we hadn't expected. "Yes, he certainly takes on difficult missions, but he certainly hasn't used me to protect himself. In fact, he's saved me twice and they were both kinda my fault." I'd need to be more careful in selecting the missions I would be performing without him. I gave her another curtsy. "I hope I'm not taking too much of your time with my questions. It feel like it would be difficult caring for a small forest like this in the middle of a big city like this."

[Sallin_Kari]

"That does sounds like him," She says with a coquettish laugh, before smiling at you, "Growing it was the hard part. At this point it is just mostly just maintenance, and snipping the occasional crisis while it is still a bud."

[Firehead]

"Yes, I couldn't really imagine the soil here is that good for growing. They probably don't want the plants competing for space with all the buildings." I raise a brow at the mention of crises. "What kind of crises come up in such a lovely forest?"

[Sallin_Kari]

Oh, it doesn't take up much space, and with how many elves work as adventurers, it isn't worth the trouble for them," She says before chuckling at your concern, "Oh well, trees aren't immune to parasites or blight. Nothing serious if you catch them before they can spread, but droughts and other forces of nature are... more difficult."

[Firehead]

I nod as she tells me about some of the more troubling hindrances to taking care of this forest. "I see. Well, I think I'd like to take a look around, so I can get back eventually. Would it be alright to ask for a little tour of the garden? I could take a look around myself, but you'd know some of the more interesting sights."

[Sallin_Kari]

"Of course," She smiles before leading you through various plants and small animals that can only be found in an elven forest before leading you to the largest and very distinct tree in the center, "And this is my pride and joy... though it remains empty." It jogs memories a similar looking one near where you grew up. You remember your father always telling you to be careful not to harm it and to give it respect, but there was an air that he didn't want you to get close to it for some reason. It is very beautiful, with vibrant shading in the bark to the multi-colored leaves.

[Firehead]

I gasped when I saw her best work seeing the familiar leaves that looked almost like a little rainbow. "We had a tree just like this back home. I never really thought that much about it though when I had one so close to home. I gotta admit, I've been so excited about the city that I didn't realize I was started to miss such splendor." My father's discomfort had always been confusing, but as a young girl, I'd always kept my distance as my father wanted. "It really is very pretty. What do you mean about it remaining empty?" Was there something important about these kinds of trees besides how lovely they looked?

[Sallin_Kari]

She pauses at that and turns her head, "It's a dryad's tree, dear, though this one is lacking of said dryad." Dryads! Of course! They are incredibly important to the elven forests and elven spirituality! They are said to be the most beautiful beings one can see, and will pick other beautiful people, usually elves, to be their entourage... Though father didn't seem to want you to get involved in such things.

[Firehead]

It was news to me to hear this kind of tree was meant to house a dryad. Did father not want me joining our local dryad's entourage? "I see, it figures that dryads wouldn't exactly be drawn to the city streets. Have you tried seeking one out to invi..Oh right, you're probably too busy tending the trees here to leave the city and go out searching for a dryad, aren't you? And that's assuming a dryad might be willing to come to a grove in the middle of a city." It really was a cunundrum.

[Sallin_Kari]

You are realizing more and more your father kept you quite sheltered from the world. "That and their methods for choosing a tree is quite... mysterious often. Sometimes they just show up. Other times they are invited... Regardless there is little I can do but wait and hope," She sighs, resigned, "At least it can bring solace to those elves who pass through and wonder to those not of elven heritage."

[Firehead]

I felt a little hurt that so much was hidden from me, and it wasn't until I'd left without telling anyone that I started learning all of this. "I see, I wish you luck in finding a dryad to inhabit your tree. I should probably get going now. It's been a pleasure speaking to you; thank you for your time." I took a quick look around a moment and gave a whistle to get Nekothra's attention in case he had wandered a little. He didn't tend to go far, but he sometimes liked to find little hiding spots.

[Sallin_Kari]

"Likewise. It has been a pleasure," She says with a nod. Nekothra has taken to lounging in a tree branch a few dozen meters away, though at your call and after a quick stretch, bounds down to take his position beside you. Clearly he quite likes it here.

[Firehead]

I chuckle at how comfortable Nekothra had made himself giving him a pat when he reached me. "You certainly seem to enjoy the scenery. We'll have to make time to come by again soon." With my companion once again by my side, I decided to take a short walk looking for somewhere I hadn't been before.

[Sallin_Kari]

"Please do," She says with a nod. Wandering around for a bit, you find your way to a secluded shop, squirreled away down a narrow alley way. It's hard to tell exactly what kind of shop it is, but the sign out front boasts a magical symbol of some kind.

[Firehead]

Giving a final farewell to the madam of this forest before taking a short stroll around. Passing an alley, I noticed the strange shop. It was unclear what their wares were, but it must involve something magical. I felt a bit hesitant considering this place looked a might on the shady side, but I did have Nekothra with me this time. I hoped he wouldn't have to protect me, but his presense should act as a deterant. "C'mon boy, let's see what this shop is."

[Firehead]

Giving a final farewell to the madam of this forest before taking a short stroll around. Passing an alley, I noticed the strange shop. It was unclear what their wares were, but it must involve something magical. I felt a bit hesitant considering this place looked a might on the shady side, but I did have Nekothra with me this time. I hoped he wouldn't have to protect me, but his presense should act as a deterant. "C'mon boy, let's see what this shop is."

[Sallin_Kari]

You open the door and a powerful blend of burnt smells assaults your nose and throat, forcing you to cough. Regardless you manage to power through and see a plethora of ingredients and potions in a haze of smoke. You spot a male figure hunched over a table in front of a flask, muttering to himself as he jots down notes, completely oblivious to your entrance.

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