There was supposed to be a craftsman around these parts who had helped constructed the Forest in the Sea and various other naval and architectural constructions. After her failed attempt at hunting for treasure, Alpha soon found herself curious as to who (or what) could've made such a magnificent display of hundreds of lined ships with such perfected work. Who could've created a renowned attraction that still remained significant to hundreds of tourists everyday which littered the interiors and sidelines of the fleet? That question was what drove her to investigate the matter further and, upon discovering the man's location, she had immediately set to it. He didn't create every single ship himself; no, that would've been an impossibility and unfeasible to any mortal man regardless of their caliber. To do so, it would've taken decades if not over a century of work, which was definitely not within the life range of any human that she knew of. Not to mention that the meticulous care taken to smooth out every nook and cranny had been taken to extremes. That kind of attention to detail would've required much more patience and time to complete. Thus, she had settled with one of the major artisans who had helped build this marvel. It was a team, of course, who had proudly created one of Dunnstads' most popular locales. But this man that she had been tracking had had an essential part in blueprinting and manufacturing the ships and thus deserved her recognition. As she walked through Dunnstads, her animal companions all at her side once again (as always), she kept herself in her thoughts of what ifs and wonders. What was the experienced man like? Did he have a grey and frayed beard? Did he have blonde locks and blue eyes? Was he a friendly man or was he a disgruntled one? Questions kept her occupied and, apparently, had done its job too well as she soon found herself bumping into a person and falling to the floor on the bottom. Did you know snakes could give screams? Alpha didn't know until Fish let loose a shrill sound from his throat as she barely managed to keep him safe from the impact to the concrete ground below. She gave him a pat, gave a breath, and patted the dust off before craning her head up to look to who she had hit. "Sorry!" she bowed her head and Luna, the precious rabbit she always was, took out one of her 'Apology Carrots' which were just a fancy name of rotten carrots she somehow kept inside her hanbok that she gave out to unsuspecting strangers whomever Alpha had ever apologized to. Alpha never knew where the hare had learnt this behavior but, as Luna pulled it out and offered it to the stranger, Alpha felt her face redden and blush as she pushed the paw down. "Bad Luna, no more apology carrots!" she scolded and gave the tiny critter a small pat on the back before getting up. Luna squealed.
_____Somehow Morpheus once again amazed himself with his sheer inability to stay on course. His red eyes closing slowly as his expression was blank, his gaze set on the sign ‘Dunnstads’ and the fact he could see the ocean and ships. He seriously needed to get a guide at some point to reach Dormont before the end of the year at this rate. Sighing lightly he figured he would need to ask for directions and hopefully get someone heading the same way to guide him there. Hands resting in his pockets as he entered the port town. _____As the Felis walked he could not help but notice the ships in the distance, the level of craftsmanship was very applaud able if not warranting a most definite drawing of them as he took out his scroll and began to draw them as he approach. Every so often he would write down information about the ships, the woods used, the likely time it took to craft each piece with such details, the size and approximate weight without anything inside it. It was truly remarkable to say the least and his only snap to reality was someone running into him for his slow pace. _____Turning slowly as the girl seemed to apologize and the small rabbit offered a rather odd carrot to him. Even if Morpheus wanted to accept the carrot the small rabbit was not even close to arm’s reach as he stood at six feet, his gaze from the angle they had was likely that of anger until he leaned down to offer a hand and show he was just naturally tired looking and had dark lines around his eyes. ”Your apology is accepted however unnecessary, if not for my pace slowing down while I was drawing and recording information of those ships in the harbor we would not have collide, so I am the one who should be saying sorry.” _____Morpheus slowly reached out his hand to the girl to help her up before returning to his fully rose position, his black cat ears twitched slightly as his tail flicked around calmly before he turned and resumed approaching the ships while recording the encounter with the girl in his head to later write down after he finished his current project. It was not like him to keep a conversation going with other players, his unease around her causing him to assume she was such and drawing in his mind to avoid her slightly unless they had the same destination. _____The last work striking his memory back into order as he finished his notes on the ships and began searching around, his head moving slowly like he forgot where he was until he turned to see if maybe the girl was still nearby, his interest re-sparking to speak with her in hopes she either knows the area better them him or could point him towards Dormont. It was a shot in the dark but if she was still nearby he would approach and try to speak up to be heard. ”Forgive me for interrupting you if you have somewhere to be but I was wondering if you might know the directions to reach Dormont? I set out from the village I was in to assist them in rebuilding and repairing the area but my sense of direction has now led me to this city twice, and once to druuk island. If you don’t know the way I am sorry for wasting your time with the questions and my ranting.” _____If he was given directions Morpheus would bow his head in thanks and began wandering away, however after a few moments he decided maybe it would be ok to stay here and search for the builder of the ships to get some information and tips. He after all had recently been given the job to make a ship himself and after the fight with a sea monster Morpheus was not against the idea of a ship designed to hunt the monsters of the sea. _____Turning back around as he began to walk towards the docks still looking at the ships using them as his compass marker to avoid getting lost within the city.
Alpha tilted her head in confusion at the man's vibrant wording, her head racing to translate it all into plain English. She had never been good at academic subjects despite her plentiful struggles and, although she had made some progress in a few fields, never reached a level which could comprehend more sophisticated wording. Regardless, she managed to get a general gist of what the man was saying and, stumbling over her words, tried to reassure the felis that he had done no wrong. "Uh, no worries! It was kinda my fault or, well, maybe both of our faults? Anyways! It's nice to meet you! You sound really smart like a teacher or something...are you a teacher?!" words flew out of her mouth with no filter as she spoke with exaggerated gestures and an eagerness to befriend the strange man. She reached out to give him a pat on the head (an excuse to pet soft feline ears masked in an apologetic action), only to miss when the man had turned around in order to write in his books about things she can only wonder about. She didn't know why she had continued to follow him after that. Curiosity? A misguided belief that she could take the man out of his refuge of books and befriend him? Either way, she scooped Luna into her arms, the surprisingly light rabbit cuddling into her chest, as she swiftly navigated through the crowded street after the intellectual man who had stuck out from the rest of the population like a carrot in a barrel of hotdogs. And then, suddenly, he turned around. Alpha barely managed to keep herself from jumping in surprise (proudly retaining some of her composure) when he addressed her directly. She hadn't expected the man to notice her slinking around behind him but, when she did, she coughed to hide her shock and replied: "Uh, I think Dormont is Astorea now! Well, last time I checked was after that entire invasion; you're pretty far from the target! It's a long way over there," she pointed northwest from their position. "You'd have to pass Pormont and Brisshal and..." she tried to list other places that came to mind yet they all seemed to pass her, "...Stokbon?" She shook her head, giving Luna a scratch on the head to which the rabbit responded to warmly. "Uh, you don't happen to know where that shipbuilder is, do you? I heard he lived down the coast but I'm not too sure!" And then it clicked in her head. "Oooh, that's what I'm forgetting!" she said right after she had mentioned the artisan. "Haha, sorry bout that! Just remembered where I was gonna go; see you later!" she quickly sped off, oblivious to the fact that Morpheus would be needing to meet an artisan as well. She wondered how she forgot that she'd forget the directions: turn right from the restaurant that has a pig's head stuck on a pike. Ha, there can't be too many of those around here! @Morpheus
_____Morpheus wanted to repay this favor, when the girl started to get moving again he reached down and picked her up to his left shoulder so she could sit there. ”Should help you find the spot you're looking for from up here, just tell me what directions to go, least I can do to repay for the directions. That and I think I might stick in the town to find out who built those ships over there.” Morpheus would point with his right hand to the ships he had been drawing, his left and moving carefully to make sure the girl did not fall or it looked overly weird for other people to see. _____Morpheus had considered setting her so her legs fell over his shoulders but figured that might make her feel weird or like a very little kid, though that would have been the best choice to hold someone considering he had enough practice with the young kids in stonefell who always wanted to ride on his shoulders to see what he could see. The added height would help her not only see more but move faster than she would alone. _____Most people when seeing a larger person with someone smaller thought father and child and moved so they could get around quicker. Not to mention the strides Morpheus took allowed them to cover more ground and all she would need to do is point or say what direction to go, it was a lot easier that way then trusting Morpheus to get them there. When they arrived Morpheus would gently set Alphabet down at ground level and look around.
Alpha huffed in surprise when she felt her feet leave the comforting embrace of the ground and was lifted over the surprisingly bulky-ish shoulders of the feline man. After he had set her on his shoulder, however, she got the gist of what was going on and gave him a friendly nod and a brilliant smile. "Haha, thanks buddy!" she grinned before she used one of her hands to latch onto Morpheus whilst using the other to cover one of her eyes. She squinted and looked around for what may be their destination. She didn't question why Morpheus would help her or why he needed to visit the artisan in the first place; she didn't really care. All she really knew right now was that there was some awesome guy giving her a ride and she's taller than the entire planet at this very moment! She laughed, her eyes crinkling at the edges, when she finally spotted the signature pig's head on a pike. She pointed at it and looked down to attempt to meet Morpheus' eyes. "Just go right of there!" There was a bit of hesitation. She didn't want to stop this joyride (not many would give her shoulder rides out of the blue, you know) but she also knew that she wanted to talk to this mysterious architectural genius of a gentleman as soon as possible (her nerves were trembling from excitement). Not to mention that Luna didn't share the same sentiments regarding this particular method of travel and looked a bit queasy from being so high above the ground floor. When they finally reached the next door building: an unimpressive, ramshackle cabin that looked like it befitted a hobo more than a famed architect, Morpheus took her by the waist and set her down onto the floor with a gentle plop. She pouted but didn't comment on how short the entire journey was. Maybe, after this, she could convince him to let her sit on him for a quick adventure to Astorea or something... "We're here! Now, where is that guy?" Right on cue, the deteriorated door slammed open and, grudgingly sliding through the opening, was a bearded and grimy looking man who seemed to be in his late fifties judging by the amount of grey that popped out of his head. He looked around, one eye bulging open and the other closed shut, before focusing his vulture-like eye on Alpha and Morpheus. He opened his mouth, a stench breezing through holes between his teeth, and rasped out: "What're you two doing here?!" His back was crooked and, from this angle, Alpha could see a growing bald-spot from the top of his head...What?
_____When they arrived at the area and the man walked out Morpheus was a bit surprised. He was not fully sure why the girl wanted to be here but the fact he was partly tossed into her group by the man Morpheus decided it might be best to speak first. ”Hello sir, do you by any chance know who had been part of the team to make those ships over there in the harbor?” Morpheus would move out of the way to give a better view of the ships before he resumed talking, now needed to explain why he had asked the question, such was the proper interaction with others according to sources online. ”I was recently given a task of building some ships for people during my travels and was wondering if the person who had part in those ships could shed some light or tips into crafting such works of art and detail. My skills as a ship builder and decorator are a far cry from perfect to be honest…” _____Morpheus began to tense up, he went and mentioned one of his flaws to random strangers and the past records of such always resulted in him being bullied or insulted due to such downfalls he had. That and the fact he would do the same to others made him think Karma was about to give him a heavy slap for all the times he enraged people by going after their weaknesses because he enjoyed it. Stepping back slightly as his tail flicked nervously and his ears lowered. _____A giant scared of his feelings getting stepped on, no wounds hurting him nearly as much as those to his mind or heart it seemed as he kept slightly backing away the longer a reply took to be delivered by the man he had asked the question to. Hopefully he did not stumble on people like himself.
The old man scoffed but, despite his seemingly rude behavior, welcomed them into his abode with a startling bow. "The pleasure is all mine, you young fop-doodles!" he growled but, in spite of his scathing remark tagged to the end of his pleasantry, he seemed to cherish guests all the more. "Ain't got any visitors anymore since I hit sixty but I reckon that I could entertain you lot for a bit," he explained but his cranky facade was definitely broken by his eager demeanor. He welcomed them in such a rush that it'd be impossible to mistake him for anything but happy. Alpha took his invitation as he guided them through his home although she hadn't looked back to check if her solemn companion was still following her. Luna, having been set down a while ago, was having the time of her life hopping and enjoying the simplicity in life (you grow that much more respectful to what you have when you've been dragged off of the precious ground and onto the shoulder of a behemoth for a couple of moments). Alpha took the time to introduce herself to the peculiar, old man. "Uh, so—" Alpha couldn't even finish before the man cut her off. "Shush. Let me enjoy this moment for awhile; company is hard to find these days, child. I've heard that you and the boy have been looking for a mentor in shipbuilding and the likes of my folk? Easy. Let's just sit down over a cup of warm cider first. Fresh off the farms on the countryside and let me tell you, it's one of the best brews around!" A cup of apple cider and a comfortable seat later, the man finally opened up to them with a raise of a brow. Alpha soon found herself staring at blueprints of all sorts of fascinating machinery and creations on the coffee table, all designs so ingenious that it made Alpha's head spin and twirl in confusion. Luna nibbled on a carrot as the man addressed them curiously. "Name's Davy Brooke, used to be an engineer of all sorts back in my day," he coughed. A few tense seconds passed before he cleared his throat and continued. "Left the place disgraced; don't ask, I don't wanna tell y'all. Long story. Anyways, I left my life as a famed artisan without a single friend or heir...never did need one of those idiots by my side. They took all my wealth and left me with nothing but this cabin here and enough fame intact for me to go ahead and ask the farmers around for fresh cider." He gestured to the warms cups on the table and picked up a pile of papers before facing his guests once again. "I thought I'd die forgotten. Well, until a couple of months ago...that's when strange things began to happen. Positively loony folks—all with the same story that this was all a game or something. Don't listen to those cracknuts, they're all crazy. But, soon afterwards, peculiar stuff happened. The Spider Queen went on a rampage. Yladia attacks. Castle Dormont was taken and some new nation by some name was created from the remnants. Something big is going on and, even if everyone calls me crazy, I know that this is the chance for me to go down in history!" Alpha's eyes widened at his words. The man seemed to be very keen and intelligent despite how first impressions went and the air he gave off was one of not only arrogance but of confidence in his beliefs. And Alpha couldn't tell the man that, yes, this world was a game and that most of his claims were right. She remained silent, listening with apt attention and engrossed eyes. The man set the papers back on the table, the blueprints now facing opposite of his sight. "And that's why I was excited to meet you two," he explained with a mad grin and a toothy snarl. "You see, I needed someone new and bold to show my work to the rest of the world. To continue my legacy, so to speak. I am willing to give you all my books; all my knowledge...and, in exchange, you'd do me a favor and tell everyone that the great Scorpion of the Forest on the Sea had taught you what you know. Promise me that my name will live on forever in the pages of history in that new nation that was crafted! That Falderen would regret leaving me to the aisles of the forgotten...and you will have all my dreams and thoughts and knowledge." Alpha was stunned speechless. Her tongue was tied. She didn't know what to say. So, she opted to say the only thing she could at the moment. "Sure." And she heard a ping of her user interface give her some sort of notification. Later, as she finally exited the old house with a pile of papers in her inventory, she finally checked that notification and smile. "An artisan, huh? That sounds cool." Maybe she'd meet Davy Brooke and Morpheus (whose name she never learned) again one day. @Morpheus
_____Morpheus would enter the house with Alpha and the old man, his interest now taken by the fellow who seemed to be the person he was looking for. Morpheus was not much for talking when the man began to speak his tale, all the felis did was draw the man and record the information in a scroll like he had with his encounter with Alpha not long before. When his focus was moved to the table he seemed to gain a bit more interest skimming the designs. He saw very small number errors that would not stop the build, just give them issues later on. _____When they left the area Morpheus looked over to Alpha and showed her exact copies of the blueprints with slight number changes. ”The numbers he has are not wrong, but over time those larger numbers will cause the builds to have some issues sooner then they should, and with enough strain even collapse at those points. Least from my calculations.” It might have seemed odd or even unnatural, he only glimpse the papers over yet had exact copies and did the math for them in the short time of being in the house. ______Morpheus would slowly reach his hand out after storing his copies of the papers. ”Forgive my delayed introduction, the name is Morpheus. I was the resident artisan and engineer in a village the past two months. I’m also sorry to ask this question again… but how do I get to dormont from here? I already forgot outside go east…” Morpheus was that bad, her scratched the back of his head out of nervous habit as he looked towards Alpha in defeat. _____He simply had far too many things going on in his mind and directions never sat high in his list so it was always shoved away to make room for things like perfectly memorizing the blueprints, or recording the texture of animal droppings and running mental notes if it might be useable as a good fertilizer. Shifting unease for a few moments before he would resume walking, with or without directions.
The old man, Davy Brooke, crooked his eyebrow as his other guest hadn't left the area yet. Whilst Alpha was whistling and skipping on her way, forgotten to the world, Morpheus had nervously asked for a set of directions. "Bah, humbug!" he groaned. He was reaching a point in old age where he's giving out street directions to strangers for free (or, well, not really since he's counting on them to spread his name and fame worldwide and so on, so forth). He rolled his eyes to the point that, for a second, it seemed as if they were lobbed straight in the back of his head, before waving Morpheus off with a classical 'shoo' motion. "Turn left, turn right, who cares, who knows? Do you think I left this place," he jabbed his thumb over to the dilapidated cabin. "In years?! Just go where the wind blows or something and, while you're at it, tell everyone that you meet of my name...best way to achieve immortality in this old age and all that..." he trailed off. And, with that, he shut the door in Morpheus' face as the man began to walk once again.
_____When the old man did not seem so willing to help Morpheus find where he was trying to go the felis could only sigh and bow his head before departing for the streets. He still had a long way to go before he would find Dormont on his own it seemed. It was just going to be one of those things he had to do on his own and it did not fully bother him. Reaching into his bag to add a few more notes about Dunnstand before he departed the harbor town once more hopefully for the last time before reaching Dormont. ~Morpheus exit~
