Private - What Started With Spinach

Ah, Brisshal! Where new players spawn after character creation. Iván admired its large, grassy hills in the north, things of beauty, peaceful bliss, unless of course you get attacked by a monster or two. Not that it always happened to everyone but technically a lot of new players have gotten that experience. Iván thought it was not unlike waking up to someone trying to hit you with a frying pan, spawning somewhere where a monster was waiting to eat your face.

Thankfully, Iván's own first experience with Brisshal was a tame one. He simply came across someone else who was already on a quest. Well, her and another girl. It was a pretty standard quest, though Iván did fear for his life. Somewhat. That cursed village was definitely creepy. He should probably go back there and check if it's still creepy. They never did get to the bottom of why it was creepy and cursed. Did they? Iván couldn't remember. It was such a long time ago.

Riding his Snow-Quilled Guardian, actually his summoned magical familiar who had taken on the form of one of the Spire's deadliest predators, one of which lost its face to Iván who had fashioned it into what he now wore as a stinky red mask. Iván had always been big on keeping his face hidden, on maintaining the mystery of his identity, though to be fair, in a world with monsters and magic, it was probably not that big of a deal. For all he knew, someone was watching at that very moment, a floating invisible eyeball keeping tabs on his movement, waiting for him to slip-up and show his face. Why? Mages get bored.

"Oy, you over there," Iván reined in his makeshift mount, patting it on the head to keep it from wrecking the newb (@Mugen). "Yladian? Do you know where the spinach farm is? I lost my map..." Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian ate it actually, but the Yladian didn't need to know that and Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian didn't need to be shamed for being hungry. "...and I really need to get those spinach leaves before someone else does." Iván noted the Yladian's height and build, wondering if he was some sort of sneaky ninja assassin, probably with Acrobat and Aeromancy. That was a pretty good combo for sneaky ninja assassins.

 

< LOGIN ESTABLISHED >
​

Randomizing... The system had begun the procedures in order to address the newest login, sequences calculated a randomized location apart from so many other adventurers; while the general vicinity of his arrival may not be the first to have started in the region, it would certainly be unique in the data-driven parameters.
As Mugen came too into the world, it seemed otherwise rather uneventful for the first moments. Expected, after-all not everyone's stories needed to hit it off with grandeur. Though, he was a bit unsure where he was; for as far as he could see in any direction of the rolling plains that surrounded him- or even the distance elevated landmasses, there was no town, city or settlement of people. "Charming start." Mugen spouted to the air that he was given to begin with.

Mugen took some moments to skim through the basics of the menu system, movement and general quality-of-life things that a person would need in order to act and play with some level of competency. From there, he took focus of the gravel road that splayed about until it fell out of sight through the horizon. "Well. Better that then nothing, it's bound to go somewhere I s'pose." The young Yladian muttered to himself, making his way towards the road.

For as far as Mugen could recall, it had to-of been an hour or two since he started walking down the winding road. His expression while considered rather dour to begin with; started showing signs of boredom to layer atop. Heaving a breath to relieve himself of pent up stress. It was then, he overheard a second clamor of movement from behind; faster than a being that resembled a humanoid. So instinct drew him to address with it his vision. With a strained squint he had noticed the rather daunting looking creature also came with a rider. With some assurance that it wasn't just some beast that sought to make him lunch. Mugen halted his advance, after-all it was the first person since he logged in to meet... Hours in.

"Erm... 'Fraid not no." Mugen replied in a rather droll voice, it didn't sound forced either. Perhaps a level of monotone was just natural to him. "I just started not long ago-- And frankly, I'm not exactly sure where anything is for that matter..." Mugen had turned to look down the road, while he couldn't see anything past the horizon; he was quite sure that there was still some distance left to be covered to reach anything- Or at least, by means of the road. He hadn't wanted to consider what lay outside of the path. "What good is Spinach anyways? It doesn't sound like a terrible valuable good." While the otherwise empty question was asked, the Yladian had taken some moments to identify the man- at least at face-value, or in Iván's case mask-value. If Mugen didn't know it was a game, and genuinely met someone adorned with such a thing, he would have immediately wrote them off as a lunatic, and likely made any effort to evade interacting. As such, being a game there were exceptions to make.

"Say. It sounds like we're looking for similar things. You need a farm-- For spinach; and I figure a town might do me some good to get my feet on the ground. Metaphorically- I have the literal part down pack. We could continue on together, might act as some insurance to creatures- or unsavory sorts." Mugen has raised the question, and seemed intent on continuing given if Iván was interested in the thought of continuing as a temporary duo.

 

“Hmm…” Iván narrowed his eyes from behind his red mask at this blasphemous Player (@Mugen). Spinach was good! It wasn’t terrible. It was, in fact, very valuable. Well, quite valuable. Somewhat valuable? Spinach was awesome. End of story. This person had just offended the well-known curry man of Stokbon. Well, quite known. Somewhat known? His curry was awesome. End of story. Iván needed to teach him a lesson he would never forget. “Sure. Sounds good.”

Iván patted Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian on the head and made the familiar turn its back on the Yladian, intending to lead him to the nearest town. The masked illusionist pointed in front of them, not really caring if the new Player saw him or what. His voice would be enough. “That’s where we gotta go, stranger,” he deadpanned, before turning his head in his direction, a sly smile on his face, hidden by his mask. “You want a ride?”

No, you fool! Don’t offer him a ride! Kill him! Murder him! Deadify him! Smash him to a juicy pulp and feed him to Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian! Offer his soul to the purple god, the one true god, the only god that can save this world from itself!

Iván shook his head to quiet the voice only he was hearing…in his head. He flashed the new Player another smile, failing to remember that he was wearing a rather uninviting mask. Those five holes were most definitely not comfortable to look at…or smell. Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian didn’t seem like a really comfortable ride either, especially when it let out a guttural noise, what was supposed to be a yawn but instead enough to scare tiny Faerin babies.

The new Player, the Yladian, deserved better, a better ride, a better tour guide, but he didn’t really have a choice at the moment. Still, it was a better schtick than getting mauled by a crazy berserker on your first day in the game. Somewhat.

 

Mugen had given a dismissive wave of his hand to the adventurer, and his... Stead. Instead he took the cue and started walking towards the direction that Iván was so generous to point out. "Name is Mugen, rather than stranger I s'pose- And if we're any distance away we might as well get some formalities away I think." Mugen's hands drifted into his pant pockets. While it served no purpose mechanically, it appeared to be a bit of a habit to the player, and it contracted to the character itself.

After some minutes passed, assuming Mugen wasn't interrupted. He would turn his attention to the mounted individual, taking a moment to examine his details a bit more carefully. "So why the mask and uh-- I never did catch your name either." The Yladian was pretty clear-slated as a new-player if his attire didn't give it away, his mannerisms and approaches to conventions were a bit strung strangely to the average gamer.
As time progressed, it was a bit abundantly clear he was growing impatient with the distance. He had eyed the creature uneasily and let out a pursed breath. "Perhaps I should take you on the offer of a ride."

@Iván Carl

 

"Hmm," Iván narrowed his eyes, a little bit interested in the new Player's name. He hasn't heard such a name before. Or has he? It does sound a little bit familiar to him, but where exactly has he heard that name before? Moo-gen. Mooooo-gen. Ah, well. Iván shrugged as he decided right then and there that whatever it was, if it was even a thing, wasn't as paramount as helping his new friend get to where he needed to be. "The name's Iván Carl, my friendly friend. I own a restaurant in Stokbon, Iván's Curry House. It's a big hit with merchants, and adventurous families, and witch hunters."

"Mask? What mask? Oh, this mask," Iván had momentarily forgotten he was wearing the red stinky mask he got from his failed expedition of the Spire, a previously unexplored and, well, technically still unexplored area...somewhere. Where was it again? Did it matter? Ah, good times. Except with all the dying and ear-losing and getting hallucinations from berries and stuff, that adventure was pretty enlightening. That was where Iván first encountered his purple god.

What are you doing? Eat him! Take his soul! Offer it to me!

Iván shook his head, once again blocking out the purple god, or at least something that resembled it, in his head. Dying three times will take its toll on you, as Iván was currently experiencing. Man, he really needed to find that spinach farm. It looks like it's getting dark soon, and terrible things happen in the dark, especially when Iván's around. He swallowed air and put a hand on his throat, massaging it for some reason.

He turned to @Mugen with a smile that the other Player would never see, "Funny story... So I went on an expedition, right? For some rangers or something. It was an expedition to this unexplored place called the Spire. Wait, did they actually call it the Spire? Or did I hear that from him? Anyway, one of us lost an ear, two ate berries and fell madly in love with each other or something, and one of us got stepped on by a giant monster. Oh, and I died. I got this sweet mask, though, which was cool."

"Doesn't this face remind you of something?" He scratched the top of his faithful steed's head, forcing it to turn to Mugen's direction, showcasing how the creature's face resembled Iván's mask. "I fought one of Snowy's kind down in that Spire. We killed it and now I'm wearing its face. Cool, right?"

Seriously, what are you doing? Aren't you hungry yet? It's coming. You won't be able to fight it. Eat him! It's the only way! It's either you or him!

"Oh. Would you like to ride, Snowy?" Iván tilted his head to one side. Shrugging, he moved back, gesturing to the spot on Snowy's back before him. "Sure, why not? Snowy won't mind, right?" He scratched the side of the monster's hairy body and it let out another guttural noise in response. It would've been cute if it hadn't been so nightmarish. "You can take the seat in front of me." From behind his mask, Iván grinned slyly.

 

He really likes to chatter it seems; has some kinda' restaurant. And some sort of expedition he died in-- Really gets himself into this whole thing doesn't he. Mugen pondered a bit idly as Iván went eagerly into details of everything from his name, the occupation and down to how and why he had the mask- It wasn't that Mugen didn't ask for some information; but he felt it was a bit much. And his body language likely portrayed that, even if just a little bit.

As Iván made motion to sit atop 'Snowy' and at the front, Mugen gave a cautioned look at the creature; mostly due to the noise it made. "Well. It's certainly something to be wearing a creature's kin as a mask. But I s'pose it's a game, so some morality can be mostly set aside." Mugen muttered with his usual droll. Making an efficient use of his size and motioned himself up atop the mount, and in the front. It was fairly common practice to have the passenger in a position like such; after-all it allowed the rider know if they were almost falling or needed attention.
Once in position Mugen was careful to lower himself a bit as to make sure Iván could still see ahead, given their height differences. "So how long do you figure till we reach the farm if both of us are mounted hm?" Mugen inquired, looking off to the side; a habit to take in sights, but it also aided in making sure he was heard to the person behind him.

As for the remainder of the ride remained to be seen, and what they came across at the farm if they arrived.

@Iván Carl

 

The gears in Iván's head started moving after @Mugen mentioned something about morality and wearing something else's face as a mask. Was he being terrible for wearing that poor creature's face as his mask? That Snow-Quilled Guardian from down in the Spire was just bumming around in his hot springs abode when their expedition's party came across it and annihilated it like it was easy prey, all so they could take that creature's hot spirings abode for themselves and Iván that creature's face for his mask. Sounds like some historical thing, but Iván's brain couldn't remember what.

"Well, to be fair, Snowy the Snow-Quilled Guardian isn't actually related to the Snow-Quilled Guardian down in that Inverted Spire," Iván narrowed his eyes, making sure his thoughts were coherent this time. "Snowy's more like, uhm, a magical familiar that I summoned using this red mask. She could've taken the form of anything, really, but I wanted her to look like the Snow-Quilled Guardian I encountered because I'm nostalgic like that."

Iván unnecessarily went on about the intricacies of summoning magic, magical familiars, the difference between summoning and beast taming, the similarities between them, and of course, what makes a magical familiar special and separate from your run-of-the-mill beasts. Before long, they had found themselves where they needed to be, "Ah, it seems we are here!" Iván reined in Snowy who let out a creepy guttural noise. "The place looks empty, though... What the hell is that thing?!"

Thrown die:

47

 

"I see, so it's more of a sentiment over anything. I guess that's sort of a nifty ability then." Mugen replied in content a bit with the answer, after-all; it was really just a game. Why would he necessarily have to apply the same logic of morality here? Nevertheless, while Mugen rocked back and forth in tow with the motion of the mount beneath him and @Iván Carl they continued for sometime. Given such, it appeared Ivan was quite eager to meander on about the magnificence of magic, summoning and a bit of a lecture of sorts on variances of his magic comparative to others.

By the end of their ride, Mugen was admittedly growing a bit dullen to the musing of his newfound companion, and his fascinations. Upon the announcement of Ivan, Mugen's attention drifted from being out of focus in-game from his mind wandering. Back to processing and interpreting what was before him, that is to say a rather large field of spinach farm goods.

Almost too much? And devoid of any sort of attendants; needless to say it bore a rather unsettling air about the area, and too Mugen. Who kept his eyes open and cognizant of the fields. "A bit strange, yea." He responded to Ivan's comment of the emptiness.
It was then, that Mugen flinched when Ivan then called out with some exclaimed inquiry, one of which caused the white-haired man scan the horizon more carefully- But for what? It was all spinach and land!

Thrown die:

44

 

“Hmm,” Iván narrowed his eyes at the thing he saw from afar, having had enough time to calm down after that unnecessary and unwarranted bolt of fright. For someone who has died numerous times, he was still pretty squeamish. It was probably just because an entire week had come by without anything threatening his life, his very existence, his face. That safety, that security, was an odd feeling for an adventurer such as him. Something was bound to happen, something terrible, and he had an inkling it was going to involve his new friend and the empty spinach farm. “Do you see that…thing?”

Iván pointed at the…thing. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. Was it even there? Was he hallucinating it? Purple god darn Jasper, did he poison him again?! Oh, wait, no, it definitely looked real. He just needed @Mugen to confirm it. If he could, that is. “You’re seeing that, right? Wazzit?! A scarecrow? Hmm…”

Was he at the right place? He felt odd, as if he was already going through all this. That scarecrow seemed familiar, and so did the farm as a setting. Suddenly, Destiny Divebird’s face flashed in his mind. Why? Who knew? Maybe Iván owed her money or something. Maybe she was thinking of him. Whatever. What was important at the moment was to figure out how to get spinach back to his Curry House. He must, he must, he must.

“Uhh, you okay? You look a little green.”