[IC] To stop a Plague

[Cuccoruler]

A letter was sent out to many of the heroes of Gilf, it read as follows.

"Hero, you have fought long and hard in our war.
We have need of you once more to help us preserve the peace that is to come.
Come to the castle in the center of Hilfguard, the Capital of Gilf.
There you will be asked to perform an important task for the kingdom."

With that the Letter ended stating that it was from the queen of Gilf herself. She had been working for years to put an end to the world, however her husband would not allow it to end peacefully. The most she could do was make sure that such a war would have a peaceful aftermath.

Feon entered the palace, as always wearing her rather regal looking dress and crown of branches. She had another outfit for battle when needed but it was rare to see her in it. She looked like any other member of the court except for her eyes, pale complection, and crown of branches. She wondered when the others would appear. She had heard that there would be atleast two others coming.

[cloudystar]

Pholus

"Wwwwooo...so many types of materials here. Wonder if the head of this meeting wouldn't mind me taking a few herbs and such...could make more tools out of them."

Pholus was taking very careful note of the materials he kept encountering as he headed into the queen's territory. Sure, he wasn't a well-known hero like most, mostly made tools and such for wandering heroes that happened to pass by his and his master's workshop/laboratory/apothecary shop...but he was glad he got one. Now, he can put to good use all the knowledge and inventions he made into an actual beneficial use with him being there to see it happen! He heads into the court showing his letter and sits down at a table patiently. On his back was his large traveling pack that he used to carry most of his tools such as small explosives, ammunition for his crossbow...etc...while still carrying his usual combat satchel on his front.

"Sorry for being late, was really taken in by the scenery. Definitely might collect some herbs, samples...and draw a picture of this place if I'm allowed to."

[Cuccoruler]

Feon turned to see a young man with rather complicated looking machinery. "It's nice to meet you. I am called Feon of the forest." Feon said to the boy with a kind smile on her face. Her black eyes were certainly out of place along with her own pale skin. "I heard you say something about herbs, I may be able to help with such a thing." Feon added with a smile as she held up her hand and a small bit of oregano grew from a patch of dirt in her gloved hand.

[cloudystar]

"Wo..guessing that's magic huh? Not really a huge fan of it, rather use machinery of sorts or my own tools. More consistent in my beliefs."

Pholus takes a quicker look at the woman who showed him her oregano and moves a bit closer to her. He taps it quickly to see if it was realistic and nods his head approvingly. The youthful inventor shows her in his Adventurer's Pouch on his chest the small plethora of healing herbs he collected...which also had some vials of some brews he made as well.

"Like I said, inventor...and I do have a small collection of herbs myself. Hope we get along well hehe, would love to use some of your herbs if you don't mind producing them. I'll be sure to put them to good use! The name is Pholus by the way...guessing you're here for this meeting thing? Surprised I was asked to be honest..."

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

Feon's eye brow raised as he mentioned he was an inventor. Strange to be having someone of mechanics for this mission. She turned and went to go sit down across the table from him. As she sat down she heard large doors opening in the distance and then the queen herself coming between them at the middle of the table.

"I'm glad you could both make. We were to have a third of you come but it seems that something has postponed him, he may or may not be joining you later on." The queen said. As she finished her face turned to one of dire concerning. "Now as to why I have brought you here. I want you two to be a sort of task force for me. More specifically a task force that will specialize in the decommissioning of weapons of mass destruction created during the war. I believe that you two are the best for this job. Feon of the forest, you have experience with nature and magic. Pholus, you are well versed in machinery and the ways of mankind. I hope that between you both you will be able to take on this important mission. Now before I continue are there any questions you might have?" The queen finished and paused to allow questions to be asked.

[cloudystar]

"Weapons? What kind of weapons are we talking about? Or at least, which one will be the first we're going after? I'm alright with joining already, master said I should go out and see the world more...so this'll be a good trip. Definitely would enjoy the company so far if Feon here is joining hehe."

Pholus laughs a bit and winks at Feon, not meaning anything besides being a friend. He was glad that he was chosen for those reasons and for his teammate that was gathered. Definitely not the best combatant in fighting like a swordsman, he definitely hopes his tactical ideas and gadgetry will produce grand results for their journey. Resting his gauntlet on the table with his arm still inside, he takes out a wrench of sorts to do some final modifications as he keeps paying attention to anything that may happen. Just a way to relax of sorts before the trip...

"Can't be too hard to break down...most things have supports of sorts if they're large weapons. Just tear down what's keeping them up and we'll be good on destroying them...unless they're much worse. Then it'll be a hindrance."

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

The queen gave a quiet sigh then began to speak. "We have several different kinds of weapons on the list along with their locations. However How to decommission them is going to be up to you. You will be provided with the location and name of the weapon by bird once we get enough information. Those created by Gilf we have most of the information on. However those that were made by vallen we are still researching. As it is the most volatile ones are those that were formerly owned by Vallen. As such your first mission will be to decomission a Vallen weapon. It is believed to be a sword of sorts. It is called 'The Sword of Rulers'. It was meant to be used by the dictator of Vallen but we were able to get to it before he did thankfully."

To Feon this was quite alot of information to take in. "So where is this weapon now?" Feon asked speaking up finally after the queen had spoken.

"At the moment a few days travel from here by horse. In the smithing town of Redvel." The queen stated. "Now are there any more questions to be asked before you two are on your way? You will have plenty of time to get to know each other on the way I'm sure." The queen stated with a rather regal look on her face.

[cloudystar]

"One last question, any particular individuals we should watch out for that may come after us? Just curious because I'm not the best fighter out there, rather have all the gears and tools in the plan besides just one."

Pholus gestures with his screwdriver of sorts and puts it away. He gives Feon a stare of sorts to really study her as if she was an invention of his for a moment. The inventor didn't really put too much forethought into thinking about his comrade until the Queen mentioned that they were the only duo so far. Now with newfound interest, he notices that she seemed to be one who enjoys nature...or at least seemed like it. Not really focused on her looks, he keeps trying to assume the abilities she can do and leaves a void space to fill in his head to ask her about it later.

"Apologizing now Feon if you hear a lot of loud noises...my tinkering tends to do that hehe..."

[Cuccoruler]

Feon turned to see Pholus staring at him. She quickly got a bit nervouse and without thinking turned her nose up to him. She was acting the same way that she was dressed that was for sure. The queen herself noticed the staring going on but tried to ignore it. Though she did a poor job of it and let out a slight giggle. "I'm sorry, you two just remind me of myself and the king when we first met." She said with a smile. Her tension entirely broken at this point thanks to her little laughter.

"Anyways as for your enemies expect some resistance from Vallen, that's as far as I know at the moment. You will again get information via pigeon on your journey. In the mean time I suggest you both make your way to Redvel." With that the queen began to leave satisfied with what she had told them.

Feon sighed after the queen left seemingly changing her personality from uptight to relaxed. "Tinkering shouldn't bother me too much so long as you don't mind trees and foliage growing around me." Feon said giving a slight smile of Pholus. Though she was a bit wary of him at the moment.

Feon stood up to look at the door now. "And as for growing you herbs. I should have mentioned this before, but I need seeds in order to do that. I can't conjure them up from nothing." Feon stated.

[cloudystar]

Pholus gets up and picks up his large bag of sorts off the ground as he starts heading to the door that leads the way out. He was a little confused at her reaction of stiffening up for some reason. The inventor laughs though as she states she can make nature grow around her as if it was common though does stop when he takes into consideration the fact she needs seeds at least to use her nature-type of magic. Quickly opening the door for her as he gets ready to head out with a large smile on his face, Pholus looks at her with anticipation and excited for this adventure...despite the high risks and matter of importance the quest is regarded as.

"Then we'll get along well Feon. Well guess it's time for us to get going hehe, this is going to be exciting. Might as well have some sort of fun as we head out and get to know each other, so you mind while we ride...unless we ride fast...if I can draw a picture of you in my journal? I tend to always write down everything in there and pictures of people that are important to me or even objects and places are in there. That and if you have any questions about my gear or such to be prepared for what I could do...in well most situations, just ask ahead. Well while we're on the horses and on the journey of course."

His strange looking rapier was at his side and a weird-gladius sword of sorts was on his back...including his rather large heavy armored gauntlets, despite his own personal armor and clothing appears rather light...that and the rather large unsettling pack on his back, despite having a much smaller Combat Pouch on his front right hip-side. The inventor's blue hair and sapphire eyes shone in the light entering through the door...

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

"You wish to draw me? If you wish then that will be fine. I doubt we will have much of a rush or need to ride fast anyways." Feon said still trying to act a bit like a noble. As she exited the room trying to look noble she found herself tripping and almost falling if it weren't for her catching herself. Her face turned slightly red as she walked out.

"I'll meet you at the gates in an hour. I need to pick up a few things before we leave." Vert added before headed outside and soon disappeared into the town. She spent her hour shopping for various seeds and what seemed to be several pouches.

An hour later Feon was at the gate with a different outfit on. She was wearing what seemed to be a sort of long white coat with floral patters of roses on it. Inside of it were several pouches which she used to house all of her seeds as well as few other traveling materials. She had rather plain looking blue puts and a lighter blue shirt on that almost looked like a mini dress.

As she stood outside waiting a bit of the grass around her started to look like over growth. She still had her crown of branches on of course and her hair was tied back. She was ready.

[cloudystar]

Pholus nods his head understanding as he heads out to the gates. He already prepped and gathered all the equipment he needed for this journey, including rations and traveling supplies. The town didn't even have the gear, materials, or tools he required anyway to maintain the type of equipment he has on him. When Feon tripped, he was ready to catch her but was glad that she was able to catch herself. Unpredictable events resulting on unprecedented reaction timing that Pholus isn't ready for catches him off guard easily...much more of a planner after all. After waiting for Feon to grab her gear, he sits on a horse....already drawing a pretty detailed picture of her nearly falling of sorts from earlier. He did have a silly grin of sorts as he drew, pausing every so often to admire his drawing technique.

"All set here Feon. Nice garb you have there...hm...could probably tinker it or make some adjustments to make it less bulky or a bit of armor of sorts for protection. Never hurts to have some sort of extra line of defense after all. I did happen to finish one little picture for myself of you if you don't mind me drawing it, but I will draw another one of you as we ride if you don't mind...do you always have to wear that crown? And you know, you can ease up around me. I stayed in a workshop all the time so if you're worried about me spreading a reputation about you being lax, don't worry. I rarely go out on trips like this heheeh..."

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

Feon seemed a bit more relaxed now with her current outfit on. Though when Pholus started talking she rolled her eyes a bit. "The crown is a way to appease the forest after the war. I would rather not go into the details of why, but taking it off is a bad idea." Feon added as she lightly touched the crown of branches on her head and made sure it was snug.

She got on her horse soon after and the grass around her feet had stopped growing. At that point they were about waist high instead of foot high like they were when she had first gotten there. "You like to talk a lot don't you?" Feon added before taking out what looked to be a piece of jerky and started to chew on it. Many people would not expect someone from a village that worships the forest to be eating meat. But in truth it was quite common. Her village after all could only focus on the forest so much. They would often prefer to eat meat even as they often saw no reason in taking care of many animals that lived within.

[cloudystar]

"Yeah...sorry, if you want me to shut up, I guess I will now."

Pholus didn't mind she started eating a piece of meat as they rode on. He just keeps sketching a portrait of her eating now, his eyes rather focused on the journal he was drawing on...his horse mostly behind Feon's so that it can follow along without his rider's attention. The inventor would much rather talk so that he can get acquainted with her better if not be a friend...but considering the fact that she seemed to enjoy the silence, he would oblige. After all, his master did instruct him to treat his companions with more respect than received so that that a mutual bond should be created...or something along those lines. That or his master could have been yelling at him for making a mess from combining explosives with gunpowder and herbs again. Finishing up the drawing, he shows it to Feon as he rides next to her...showing a pretty detailed sideview of her eating jerky.

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

As they rode throughout the land there was not much to see. At one point Feon had actually fallen asleep on her horse. After awhile of getting more comfortable with Pholus presence she finnaly spoke up. "I didn't mean you had to stop talking entirely. Anyways I guess we should start getting to know each other now. I can be a bit shy so I don't talk much." Feon paused for a moment watching a bird fly above them. "I come from a village in the forest, every generation someone among my village is born with high attunment to the foliage and trees. I happened to be the one. From there I came be known as a sort of protector the forest." For now that was all that Feon would say about her past. She wouldn't speak much about what happened during the war though.

"So where do you come from?" Feon asked watching a tree nearby seem to grow a slightly accelerated rate.

@cloudystar

[cloudystar]

Despite no spectacular scenery for them to look at, Pholus still kept drawing the areas they passed by that even seemed intriguing. His journal was nowhere near fill, due to how he drew his pictures in mini backgrounds to save paper. He does pay attention to her statements and returns a nod as a response for now...waiting a while until she was done. Then again, he lost track of time when waiting and his horse shook him a bit to remind him to the lady next to him. Pholus nearly falls off and then looks at Feon, chuckling a bit nervously as he flips through pages quickly in his journal. He shows a map for a moment of the region, then points to a dot that has his Master's base, nearby the meeting city they were called to. Flipping to another page, it next picture takes up both pages to show himself and a shorter older man next to him using a cane to stand next to Pholus.

"Lived nearby the city where we met...was a sort of...thief before Master took me in. Guess you can say he adopted me and taught me all I know hehe. Great guy though gets really mad when I keep leaving a mess from the explosions I made. Not as noble as a background as you, basically spent everyday wondering how the rest of the world was from all the rumors I kept hearing about. Made inventions, tools, studied...yeah it was great for a while until I wanted to explore. You can say that this adventure was a blessing or gift for me...and nice that you're protector of something or at least have a responsibility. All I had was being a thief, blowing things up, or making new things."

Pholus laughs once more as they keep going on the horses, giving her a wide smile from realizing that she actually is a much more important figure than the way he was treating her...though decides to keep treating her like this as a friend.

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

Feon giggled a bit at the thought of Pholus with soot covering his face. "Must have caused a alot of damage. Bet you got good at carpentry from that too." Feon said with a giggle.

After a few more hours the two came to Redvel. It looked like a smithing and mining town with smoke stacks coming out of chimneys. Feon could also feel the tree's in the area, many of them cut down for heating and smithing. However quite a few of them were replanted as well. The forest seemed to be less angry about the cutting down of the tree's thanks to the planting of the new tree's.

As the two entered the town a pigeon seemed to fly down and landed on Pholus horse's head. The horse jerked back a bit but then calmed down. The pigeon had a note attached to it's leg. It read:

Dear hero's
We have received new intelligence of an assassin from Vallen headed towards Redvel in search for the sword.
Please be advised as he is extremely dangerous. Do not let your guard down.
From Intelligence office of Gilf.

Feon turned her attention to Pholus as she noticed the bird. "Anything important?" Feon asked curious of the letter.
@cloudystar

[cloudystar]

After quickly sketching another picture of the area/view they had of the town, he reads the note in a moment and tosses it over to Feon. The area was quite familiar to him despite him never being here, a map already being formulated and tested mentally inside his head. Signaling with his hand toward a nearby inn, he starts leading the way to a building that appeared to be an inn in his opinion.

"We'll talk inside, just trust me...I got a bad feeling about something. Let's go rent out a room out or something for more privacy, will be a lot safer than just talking out here. Ears everywhere after all."

The genius part of his personality kicking into gear as he keeps trying to think of multiple scenarios with multiple solutions to each one in case something bad happens.

@Cuccoruler

[Cuccoruler]

Feon looked at the note she was thrown and her eyes seemed to widen a bit. "T-That isn't good." Feon stated looking at the contents of the letter. Soon enough they were inside of the inn and Feon found herself looking at a steak which was on the menu. Something she seemed to really really want. "One of these please!" Feon stated to a nearby waitress the waitress took their orders.

"So what was it you wanted to talk about?" Feon asked turning her attention back to Pholus, her eyes wide with curiosity as she was rarely out of the forest. This was a great experience for her after all.

@cloudystar

[cloudystar]

"Well...first off, we should watch out for those around us. If I read the books in the workshop correctly, assassins tend to be very sneaky and good at taking their targets out without them suspecting it. That and they can gather information from the area about said target rather easily. So...let's just see if we can get as much information about the sword right now in the tavern or around town, then regroup here to rest for the night and discuss what information we get. That alright with you Feon? Shouldn't be too difficult, I'll most likely look for a general store and a smithy to see if I can find any information about the sword there...that and hopefully find out a way to break it too."

Pholus gets a bowl of soup to satisfy himself. He studies Feon one more time and shrugs as he thinks that Feon can think of a way to hopefully get information. Though he does give her a puzzled look of sorts as if to feel bad for her that she has to do this on her own as soon as she enters a random town.

"If you want...we can stick together. I don't mind if we stick together."

@Cuccoruler