Seasonal Help: Autumn

It started off like any other day with Hide logging into Terrasphere to take on the role of Alric once again. This time his destination would be Brisshal as until now he had only really taken time to explore what little there was of Astorea. By comparison Falderen was much more established in this world and seemed like a better place for new players like him to learn the basics. After resting in Stokborn and checking over his equipment the trip was underway…

---

If he had to describe the region in one word it'd be peaceful. Honestly he wasn't sure if he'd run into anything of interest in a sleepy place like this. In contrast to the paved city streets Alric now found himself on a dirt road with no one except the occasional merchant caravan for company. He was headed into what he could only describe as the countryside and away from the action. Sure, he could look for monsters to kill but with his skills all still so low he didn't expect to last too long with that kind of plan.

That's when he saw them. On the side of the road a group of farmers were attempting to wave down passing players with little success. Few stopped to hear them out and Alric happened to be one of them.

“Please help us! It's our turkeys, they refuse to look after their eggs and if we don't get these things to hatch before next month's banquet there won't be anything to serve! Anyone who's willing to pitch in will be greatly appreciated.”

After hearing their pleas he couldn't help but glance around at the crowd. Was anyone actually going to step up and do this? If not then he would be the first; it wasn't like he was doing anything else anyway.

“I'll help!” He said after pushing his way to the front.

Thrown die:

2

 

The area intermediately surrounding Brisshal, much like every other area in Terrasphere thus far, had kept reminding Zelrius of times past gone. In his half-memory, half-imaginative vision, the man kept seeing vague ghost-like images of his deceased lover. He sighed, remembering the times of late nights and early mornings, exploring new worlds, and running into various personalities, both in NPCs and other players. Everything from FPSs to Tolkien inspired RPGs, to typical Co-Op Adventure-Puzzle games. Brisshal was very generic in that way, though to this man in particular, that wasn't exactly a bad thing.

---

The man finally ended up along a mostly deserted road, passing other travelers and the occasional farmhouse in the distance. This game appeared to be very good at creating realistic Medieval scenes. The farms appeared to be small, at least by his modern standards, yet to the men and women who worked them, those very same fields were huge. This particular game interested him; it seemed unique compared to many of the other VR and AR games he had dived into so far. Yet, with that same thought, he gave a sigh, wishing that a certain someone were here to experience it with him. It was a funny way that things happen, Zelrius had come to this world in an attempt to escape, but had done nothing of the sort. At this point, it was plain frustrating; deciding behind clenched teeth, that he'd log out the instant he was in a town to get his bearings from.

Though his solemn and somber expression wasn't the most approachable, a voice still rang out anyway, Calling to, much as it had a player not a few moments ago, Zelrius to beg for help. Though with what, he had no idea.

It was the plea they had just given that aforementioned players; A cry for help about something to do with turkeys or whatever. To be quite honest, if it werent for the fact that he was utterly bored at this moment, the golden haired man woud've just kept about his way. That's when he had the thought of possible reward. Though it was unlikely that the farmers would have much to offer, Zelrius knew he didn't have much to begin with, so he elected to take anything he could get. Worst case scenario; he got nothing and never helped a dumb farmer again.

Moving right up next to the aforementioned player that had just offered to help, Zelrius stood and looked toward the farmers, giving a nod in agreeance and then reaching a hand out to the player. "Looks like we're co-farmhands today. Zelrius, pleased to meet you." His introduction being articulated flawlessly, quite used to referring to himself as Zelrius by this point.

Thrown die:

2

 

Glancing to his side Alric noticed that only one other person had bothered to volunteer. A blonde man who was just slightly taller than himself. At any rate it was a slight relief he wouldn't have to try hatching all those eggs on his own now. Not wanting to be rude to his new partner, he met the male’s palm with his own and offered a friendly smile as he shook it.

“Likewise! My name’s Alric Stalwart, though just Alric works too. But hey, do you know anything about taking care of animals? I don't… But really how hard could it be?”

At some point during their conversation the other players who had gathered started going their separate ways, leaving the pair alone with the farmers who were already waving them on to follow toward the turkey pens. “Guess that's our signal to get started then.” He said while breaking into a slow stroll after the NPCs. TerraSphere truly was a fascinating world. All kinds of crazy creatures existed alongside magic and war, yet here he was doing simple chores for some common folk. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing, just different from the usual games he had played in the past. Alric never imagined virtual reality could feel so real, yet everything here acted about as alive as he did.

Thrown die:

9

 

Zelrius nodded at the man as he introduced himself and the two shook hands. Then turning his attention back to the farmers and following his "Ally" in this task toward them. So far, nothing out of the ordinary. Just some egg hatching. How hard could it be right? Or atleast, he didn't think it'd be terribly difficult, or too long, given this was a game and all.

It was odd, The golden haired man wished he understood the ins and outs of this game just as he had with so many others. Of course, there was always a certain someone there with him to help explain and scheme in things. But, he was resigned to breaking away from the thought of her, in an attempt to break away from the grasp of her ever receding memory. Strolling up behind Alric and then quickly taking a step back to scan the area, Zelrius called back to his newfound acquaintance. "So, want to look for an incubator or...?"

The thought quickly trailed off, as he began to gather sticks and twigs together and tried to create a nest of sorts. It wasn't at all how the birds made it look, the neat little semi spheres they seemed to have perfected, but it was as close as the man was willing to try to get. Being more of a bundle of sticks held together by nothing more than the friction between each piece. Then explaining himself; "Maybe we can close em up between two of these?" He handed the 'nest' to Alric, though wholly under-confident in the effectiveness of this.

Thrown die:

10

 

All he could do was shrug in response. Having a nest seemed like a good idea and it wasn't like either of them had any other plans. Alric took the bundle and carried it into the barn where the turkeys stayed. The eggs had been gathered and arranged neatly toward the back resting on a pile of hay, but just as the farmers had said, the adults were nowhere to be seen. He couldn't understand how anything could just abandon their offspring so easily. Then again they were just turkeys in a virtual world. Was it even possible for them to feel?

Alric carefully set the makeshift nest down and began placing the eggs in it before covering the whole thing in a thin layer of hay for warmth. Now it was just a matter of waiting to see if anything actually would actually happen. With any luck their efforts would be successful…

---Total: 23 | The Turkeys Survive!---

The hours ticked by without so much as sound from the eggs. Had the two failed in being able to hatch them? Alric didn't want to think so, but things weren't exactly looking good either. He was just about ready to call it a day when a cracking sound pierced the air.

“They're hatching!”

Rushing over to the side of the next he bent his face in to greet the newborn turkeys as they discarded their shells one by one. Not only did they look fine, but they all seemed healthy as well. Whatever they did had worked alright. A little extra push was all they needed.

“This is awesome! These things had me worried for a minute there. Guess we'd better go get the farmers and tell them the good news.”

 

Zelrius watched with furrowed brows as Alric took the nest and placed the eggs in it, then covering them in hay. It seemed clumsy and lazy, the plan that the blonde man had come up with. He silently scolded himself for not taking Pyro-magicks of sorts to help this process in anyway. Instead, he was an idiot and stuck to exactly what he knew; the dual swords. A curse under his breath with another silent response; He had wished to whatever gods these farmers might believe in that the turkeys would come out alright.

And turn out just fine they did. Hours stretched into what seemed to be eternity. At this point, Zelrius was just laying in a stack of hay, quietly thinking and wondering to himself what he would do. This task ended up actually being a bit of fun, atleast, as far as creativeness goes. He had to give props to the devs, this certainly was a unique experience to him. Though the wait wasn't exactly ideal, Zel had long learned to never be too picky about game Devs. Afterall, he had seen or heard of shittier designs. He opened his menu by closing and quickly opening his hand, just to stare at it. In the top left of the opaque window was the log-out button. The man wondered for a moment if a game developer could theoretically remove that button, forever locking its players in.

That thought was dismissed with the closing of the menu. Afterall, even if a dev could disable or not even add the button in the first place, it'd be as simple as the power in the building going out, or for the users family to take off the VR Unit, right?

The eggs began to hatch, and with an actual bit of excitement peaking forth, Zelrius kicked his feet forward and stood, moving over to watch the quite health turklings (Or so he called them) hatch forth and began to move about. "Mission Accomplished," came from his mouth, now moving back toward the Farmers to tell them the job was done.

All he got in response was a thank you. The excitement that Zelrius had felt merely seeped away. He eyelids lowered to explemify contempt, and without another word, he walked back to the dirt road, and wandered back down the way he was headed; now into the setting sun.

--Zelrius Exit--