[QUEST] The Peasant's Crops

The summer sun was harsh and hot while the humidity was heavy, sticky on her skin as perspiration drenched her womanly form. It was times like these that Bonnibel found it hard to believe this was all just a game! In the real world a part of her knew that her body was comfortably resting in her bed entwined in the cool, merciful embrace of the air conditioner. Yet this game's realism made it hard to believe that at the moment.

Much to the red haired woman's relief, a cool breeze cut through the aggravating heat like a knife - relieving her character of some of it's heightened temperature. Taking a small moleskin pouch out of her inventory she took a few sips before closing the lid and putting it back in said inventory - it was only right to stay hydrated in the heat!

As she made her way through the Brisshal lands she looked around in wonder at the large, vast, farms that stood on both sides of the dirt path. Tall rows of all sorts of vegetables in several different stages of growth towered above her petite frame as her violet eyes drank in the beauty that was Terrasphere.

Her attention was soon caught by a long string of loud obscenities as a blur sped past her face before she could even blink. ".....?" With a look of blank bewilderment - her mind not exactly processing what just happened - she turned to what looked to be a young man walking out of the tall crops.

He appeared to be in his mid teens, with tanned rough skin, dark brown eyes, and equally muddy brown hair. His clothes were that of what you'd expect from a farmer in a fantasy game - straw hat and trousers included. He still muttered curses under his breath as he trudged over in her direction. It took him a few moments to realize that Bonnibel was right there until he looked down and gave a yelp of surprise a furious blush on his face.

"S-Sorry bout that miss! I er... I didn't see ya there!" How cute, he even had the stereotypical Southern Drawl! She squealed internally at how adorable the young man was. She just wanted to pinch his face! Outwardly she was nonplussed, a kind smile sat on her lips as she spoke calmly. "There's nothing to be sorry about, it was an accident I'm sure!"

The young farmer blushed even farther at the cute, small, Faerin girl - though Bonni didn't have a clue what the boy was thinking. They said that the AI in this game have the mental complexity of real life humans - but a part of her was skeptical about their claims. A digital being having actual HUMAN emotions and thoughts? It was pretty absurd to even imagine! What would a bunch of data even think about? Let alone how? Mentally shaking off her wayward thoughts she focused on the flustered farmer.

"Ah.... shoot! I was chasin that darn critter - and now it's prolly long gone!" Tilting her head to the side she decided to vocalize her confusion. "Critter...?"

"Yeah! Gods damned BUGS I swear it's that there Wizardry man's fault! They appeared just last year - after Ma and Pa promised him half our crops within a year! Now these dastards came outta nowhere! If I could only find their hidey-hole I'm sure I could stomp em out fer good!" He complained as a Contract Alert appeared on her UI screen.

Accepting it, she sent out a Shout to anyone in the area who would be willing to help her with this sudden quest.

BONNIBEL SWEET

I just received a quest, I need to stomp some nasty bugs for this poor farmer! Anyone up for it? Help would be greatly appreciated! <3

@Alphabet Chocolate @Kessler Cole

 

"Howdy there!" the sudden call gave Alpha a scare and, startled, had led her to draw her dagger out and get Terry into action, the pup jumping out in front of her with hackles raised. Once she had calmed down enough to get a good look at the man's face, she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly before sheathing her weapon back and giving Terry an assuring pat. Although the dingo was easy to please, it took a carrot, a graham cracker, a pat on the head, and the promise of worms and fishsticks for the rest of her crew to settle down. It was at times like these that she truly regretted keeping all of them (but she had to admit that the cuddle parties more than made up for fumbles like these). She addressed the speaker with her own tentative wave, face red as a tomato from the embarrassing scene she and her menagerie had laid out before him. The man was dressed in stereotypical southern attire; complete with a pitchfork, overalls, straw hat, and a piece of hay protruding from his lips. "Uh, hello!"

She idly wondered as to what the man needed before he, once again, parted his lips with impatience tingling in his relaxed demeanor. "I was looking for them little buggers, you happen to know where they went?" the man asked and Alpha's eyes widened, realization blossoming. She got a message about a farmer needing to get to some nasty bugs just a little while ago and, now actually observing the area surrounding the man (instead of just him, which was hard as his attire was quite odd and foreign to Alpha), she noticed a familiar face. She shook her head to the man's question before turning to Bonnibel. "Oh, you're the one that sent out that message, right? Haha, I'd love to help!" she grinned, giving a thumbs up before facing the farmer. "Don't worry, we've go this!" she cheered.

@Kessler Cole @Bonnibel Sweet

 

Kessler had been wandering around the outlands, looking for subordinates, associates, anything of the like. Truly it was hard to make a gang and group when nobody was willing. He thought to fill the difference with intelligent crafty familiars but it was slim picking, finding an intelligent creature was difficult. In the end, the shout roused him from his thoughts making him turn his head up in thought. A farming job was simple, boring even, but why not-- pay was pay, if people were willing to lend him a hand why not work for it? Kessler hoisted his hammer up onto his back as he headed towards the farm.

Arriving though he only found women, small ones at that, were they children? Kessler couldn't help sighing and rubbing his temples a little in complaint. In this game his strength was no doubt limited by 1s and 0s but at the same time he still felt a measure of misgiving. Were they actually as young as they appeared to him? Or were they older? He couldn't fathom any more with the way people's avatars changed from their reality, in the end he could only exhale a sigh and give it his best. "Alright alright, helping a farmer, first things first, finding the critters should be important right?" He asked trying to resist the desire to rub his temples again.

Truly it was hard for him, but lowering the large hammer from his shoulder, letting it dig into the soil beside him, if nobody else had any bright ideas on how to find the bugs, he'd end up doing it himself with a hand down on the ground. "If they burrow they can't hide, let's just clean this up quick." Kessler complained voicing some of his concerns as he pressed a fist to the earth. Letting the tattoos along his arm and back slowly begin to light up as he began building up magic to cast to search for creatures.

 

Bonni was quite surprised at the quick help she was getting. She merely gave a Shout less than 20 minutes ago so she wasn't expecting a reply so soon! She turned her attention to the other girl before her eyes wandered down to the female's horde of pets. "Awwwwwwwh! How CUTEEEE~!"

She cooed a bit loudly. Bonnibel desperately wanted to pet the dingo but refrained when she noticed another potential party member walk onto the scene. He was a tall, intimidating young man with a grumpy looking expression - but Bonni knew that you should never judge a book by it's cover!

" I'm glad you two came on such short notice. I'm Bonnibel Sweet, and yes - we need to find and kill these bugs... or whatever they are for the quest." She explained but the male already seemed to be two steps of head of her starting the search.

Suddenly Kessler slammed his tattooed arm into the ground, no doubt trying to route the critters out. "W-Wait! We can't hurt the farmer's crops!" She yelled surprised, hoping whatever spell or ability the hammer wielder used wasn't destructive.

Letting out an exasperated sigh the red haired Fae cross her arms around her quite supple chest before speaking up in a focused and calm tone, a huge difference from her usually bubbly self.

She was zoning into her "Game Face Mode", the part of her that when facing some sort of opposition (such as sports) she took on more of an assertive, focused, and determined nature.

"Mr Farmer here hint that a "wizardry man" may have done this. So if that's to be assumed then I'm pretty sure that their at least somewhat made from mana..." She trailed off before her bright violet eyes sharpened with a thoughtful glint. "Can anyone here use some sort of magic sensing ability?" The Faerin inquired, hoping that one of her party members had such an ability.

@Alphabet Chocolate @Kessler Cole

 

"Thanks, Bonnie!" she giggled before giving one her companions a pat. And then she turned to face the towering man and gave him a small wave. "Hi there!" she grinned before concentrating on Bonnibel's words and watched as she stopped Kessler from his plan of attack. Alpha somewhat wishes she had a Jinn's Eye or something but she shrugged. No use crying about what she doesn't have, right? She shook her head before suggesting an alternative course.

"Flower magic," she began, referring to her skill in Naturamancy. "Isn't really good for tracking stuff unless it's dead! And I already got this cool necklace that can track down dead stuff so I'm pretty useless at tracking!" she rubbed the back of her head sheepishly, a smile still planted on her face. She pulled the Unlife Fragment from her bag to show before placing it back inside, a tiny band of rope tied to the ends to make a poor, makeshift necklace of sorts that seemed to be out of a kindergartner's crafting club.

She continued, ready to introduce her amazing plan to her partners.

"So like, how about we just eat all the plants? Then we won't be hungry and then the bugs can't eat it because there are no plants to eat! It's a fool-proof plan and it's something we could all do!" she cheered before setting off to nibble on a stalk, her face soon twisting in disgust at the taste of pesticide and some other faint tastes that pervaded her tongue. "Never mind," she coughed, spitting onto the earthen floor. "Let's not do that."