Open - [Bounty] A Wooden Heart

BOUNTY: OAKHEARTS
LOCATION: ADECUS FOREST
EMPLOYER: KING THEODORE
REWARDS: 30 GOLD PIECES and RECOGNITION IN FALDEREN

Alpha glanced at the crumpled poster for a couple of seconds before tossing it over her shoulder. The parchment made no sound as it landed in a distinct puddle of rainwater and shriveled. Alpha had heard of Oakhearts before during her travels, the creatures being quite renowned to haunt the western and northern fronts of Adecus Forest. She personally tended to avoid those routes as she wasn't the type to actively seek combat or trouble, preferring the more idyllic adventures in meeting others and exploring what Terrasphere had to offer. The request, however, peaked her interest. It was common knowledge that the unruly, terrifyingly powerful beasts that lurked around had a fatal record for those who crossed its path. Even Alpha, experienced from months of playing the game, acknowledged the present danger those beasts presented to even her own wellbeing. She shuddered to think how the locals, without a hint of battle knowledge, would handle the terrorizing creatures. And, if she remembered correctly, the northwest parts of Adecus Forest and the northern part of Brisshal had never been fully explored, the far lands a curious mystery to those around.

Thus here she found herself on the outskirts of a Stokbon tavern, unable to actually enter due to age restrictions and such. The tavern, the Crimson Barkeep, was a staple for bounty hunters and the like. Even standing quite a distance away, she could see mercenaries and heavily-equipped men and women usher themselves through the entranceway at a continuous flow. It was like pouring an everlasting pot of water through a funnel. Either way, she tapped her foot and waited for a passerby to acknowledge her. Although she couldn't close the difference and actively ask if anyone would like to accompany her on a mission that, she was sure, needed additional help (that was not the cheerful presence of her favorite little critters that are currently playing on the grass) in dealing with the treacherous journey of exploration and, possibly, Oakheart hunting.

Fish was coiled around her neck, Juno was perched on her shoulder, and Terry, Corn, and Luna were prancing about. She smiled, waiting for a stranger to take interest in her. Won't be long now, she mused.​

 

"Pff." Damon blew out as lowered a mug of pig-swill. The wood mug had housed a brownish-yellow liquor which did not sit well with the newbie. This is what Damon got for being caught up in the aesthetics of the game. After wondering in "That's what I get for trying to take in the local color." A displeased frown spread across the man's lips before he slid the drink away from his person. The beer in this tavern was horrible, worse than expired protein shakes. The game might have registered the assault on his taste as poison if the drink was any worse.

A glare from the barkeeper was shot towards Damon who returned fire as he stood up. "You expecting me to pay for this shit? Pour it back into your kegs or down the throat of whoever pissed this out, mate. I'd sooner bend my knee to the devil 'emself than pay for that swill." At this insult the bartender would reach out to Damon with a fist before falling forward onto his bar. Dancing away from the scene, Damon rushed towards the steady influx of patrons. He'd push and slip through the bodies before coming out to see the sun again.

Taking a step to the side Damon watched and waited to see if the NPC would follow pursuit to seek revenge. Motionless with eyes wide, one would assume he was a rouge or a similar class of character. Yet the player remained hiding in preparation to fight the NPC. He'll teach him to pour poor alcohol.

Several moments passed with only odd glances and stares from those passing by. Still no bartender nor anyone else seeking Damon's pale-haired head. A huff, half relief, half disappointed came forth from his lungs. Though these feels quickly vanished when his iron-hued vision fell upon a strange girl surrounded by familiars. She was like a walking menagerie. "Are you looking to put on a show sweet-heart? Or on a quest to recover some pets?"

@Alphabet Chocolate

 

Alpha stared. And stared. Until her eyes felt dry and kind of hurt so she blinked and then, afterwards, she resumed her staring. It took a few moments for the man's words to sink into her brain and, once it did, her face twisted in indignation. She stomped her feet in defiance to his claims and, with the sudden movement, felt the startled Juno ruffle her feathers and nearly fall off her shoulder. Alpha quickly moved her arms to catch the falling bird before giving her a rub on the head as an apology and sat her back on her preferred perch. Fish, ever the stoic snake he was, paid no mind and continued watching the oblivious trio playing around. After everything was settled down, she turned to give a lighthearted glare at the man. She was the type of brush off insults but she was bored and causing drama would be a distracting diversion. "It's not a show!" she gritted her teeth, banging her foot down like a childish tantrum. "We're a—" that was about as far as Alpha got before she burst into laughter, unable to keep up her charade. She was never the one to do something without the utmost dedication and, as such, she laughed with such vigor that her feet trembled and she felt herself sinking down, holding her stomach in an effort to stop her wheezing pain from the intense guffaws. "Okay!" she wiped a tear off from the corner of her eye. It was a false start as she collapsed soon after, desperately trying to breathe. "Now!" she finally declared, after a solid minute of laughter. "Hey there sir!" she cheerfully waved, getting up from the ground and dusting the dirt off her attire. Fish slithered up to her and Juno sat atop her head, the both of them having fled to play with the other three of their ensemble during her fit. "I was waiting for someone to come over here! And, well, you're the only guy to come in hours so you're fit for the job!" she grinned before grabbing his sleeve.

She motioned to her little zoo and they all abruptly stopped, eyeing the stranger cautiously and, in Terry's case, baring his teeth. Terry seemed to have this odd hatred for most living things and Alpha couldn't understand why. Luna, however, seemed nice enough as she hopped forward, hoping to get some pets. Her expectant face was so adorable and Alpha detached herself from the red-clothed man's sleeve for a split second to give her a playful rub before latching on again like a leech. Although Alpha wasn't strong, she then attempted to pull the man to her destination with all her weight and force. She hoped it did something. "C'mon already! You're gonna help me hunt some Oakhearts!" she declared assuredly, struggling to get the man to budge. "They're gonna pay gold and I need that right now after I bought this bunny slippers!" she exclaimed, pointing to the item on question (which was a snug fit on her two feet) with her free hand. She gasped for breath and looked straight up at her companion (or so she decided). "We have to get there fast! The place is, like, right over there!" she jabbed her thumb behind her. "And there's a bunch of guys that are already there! We have to hurry up! Hasta lavista! Hace pronto! Whatever language you speak or don't speak, let's get going!"

@Damon Nixion

 

A blank stare took up residency on Damon's face as he tried to pay attention to the small girl. How old was this girl anyway? She looked and acted like a child. He hoped that wouldn't be the truth behind her identity. Maybe this was one of those Role Players Damon heard of that roam MMOs in search of different lives and adventures. So why is it the idea of an old man behind that avatar creep'd up inside his mind's eye. A cold shiver of disgust crawled up and down his spine as the girl mocked him with a comedy. Or at least what she assumed to be comedic. Though to Damon it simply looked like a failed sketch from a television cartoon. "So that was meant to be acting huh?" He muttered whilst being pushed by the smaller player.

As Alphabet failed to move the towering man, Damon placed a thumb on his chin and glanced above to the sky in thought. So she was looking for help for a job? Sounded good enough for him to start moving. Thirty gold was much in his mind; even though he was dirt poor will his treasure ranging in the low twenties. With some more gold Damon could afford some decent weapons to use. Maybe a new hat or some other piece of gear that would aid in his quests. Plus loot from the bodies could--

Damon's train-of-thought came to a halt with the girl's constant yapping and pushing. It came to a point when Damon made a tight fist in an attempt to direct his growing frustration without yelling. He failed. "Shut it already!" He commanded with a glare. "People I.R.L. could hear you goddamnit! Listen I'll help for the sole reason to increase my very limited wealth and to -- Make. You. Shut. It." Damon would then follow the line of his lips with fingers pressed together. Drawing an invisible line until reaching the corner of his mouth. He'd pretend to flick away a key before turning away from the girl. "Plus I could use some combat practice. Haven't really done much since I started recently. So lead the way little goblin and lets do our best. I don't feel like dying on such a fortuitous day such as this."

 

Alpha paused, face unchanging for a couple of seconds as she looked straight at the towering man with pure indignation. She stomped her foot to the ground, this time actually having some level of spite in her demeanor. "Don't tell me to be quiet!" she yelled on the top of her lungs in an effort to rebel even further. She didn't like being told what to do and the man would be a fool to think otherwise. Subtly, Fish was hissing at the man and her little gang of animals encircled him, glaring daggers at the offensive guy. She gritted her teeth. Never before had anyone been so rude to her outright and even the jerk Jack Anders hadn't been as blunt and infuriating at this. She may dislike Jack Anders, but she was still impressed by his skills and respected him immensely for his part in many important events during the game. Her face was a cherry red, as if she'd blow up at any second, lighting up further as the man highlighted his words with the movements of his hands and lips. Alpha gave him an obscene gesture that she had long since learned (and used once on Ortix Farlin).

"You buttface!" she pouted before she heard the man's last words. At the realization that the man would be tagging along for the journey, her face brightened and her previous bad mood seemed to cease immediately. Although her small companions were confused, they followed suite and stopped baring their fangs and such. She laughed before skipping away. "Better hurry then! We're already wasting so much time mister stranger in red!" she laughed.

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It was that exact sequence of events that ended up in her being surrounded by two very large, very angry Oakhearts that lingered along the forest. She looked over to her partner. "How did this even happen?!" she mouthed before pulling out her weaker dagger and tossing it straight in the eye of one of the towering creatures. She didn't stay to see if it hit or not, using the opportunity to maneuver to a treetop. She looked down. "I swear we were just walking for, like, two minutes!" she screamed. The events in-between were shoved off to the back of her mind as she narrowly dodged a thrown rock by a hair's breadth.

@Damon Nixion