Nari-Lanreth

“Well, it’s just that…when I started out with blacksmithing, and even up until recently…they’d always be these shiny metallic looking bars of varying colours – sometimes gold, sometimes silver, or copper.” She began walking towards the town again, determined to get the quest completed so she could begin the real trouble. “But now, as I was thinking about…things…they suddenly changed. Now, they’re all crystals – beautiful, no doubt. But they kind of remind me of gemstones. Likes this one –“ Picking up a red one as she walked, she held up the small, octahedron looking piece to show to NIGHT

“Hey…” Her sentence fell short as she pulled into herself. Something in NIGHT’s tone had hurt, even if it had been nothing more than a bit of friendly jesting. Something about it had hit her deeper than she’d expected, however. Pawing silently at the dirt for a little while, she tried to keep her focus on the goal at hand. Her search for materials had been less than productive so far, and her foraging skill had appeared to be of limited use, at least at the moment. She wondered – not for the first time, if there was some sort of emotional tie to her success. As her hands grasped the

“I said or so. And it wasn’t like…a professional recital or performance or like…it wasn’t like I was auditioning on the Idol of something.” Her voice had taken on an almost alarmed tone, as she slowly slid sideways on the grass, as if trying to put some distance between her and NIGHT. “It was just…a local thing. And my agent at the time said that it was just…normal. Like, a school play?” Even to her, the words sounded uncertain and unassured. She forced her hands back into the dirt, frantically pulling at bushes and grasses in an attempt to find the final materials she needed. She felt h

Her strike had caught two of the creatures, and she barely had a moment to revel in the achievement before Jomei had launched past her, slamming his own strike into the four creatures. Caught by surprise, she missed the approach of Koga, his own strike eliminating three of the creatures, and leaving on the fourth standing before them. Shaking the shock off herself, she forced her mind back into the situation. Sliding her left foot backwards, she brought her spear up and level against the rounded left corner of the shield, dropping her weight slightly as she prepared herself. “Morrígh

“I-It wasn’t anything like that!” Her spine had gone straight as she realised NIGHT could hear her. She’d thought that the words had been whispered so that only she would hear them, but her partner had no trouble catching them on the air. Her hands paused again as she turned to glance out of the corner of her eye at NIGHT, not quite looking at the girl. “It was just…a little performance. Like a talent show…” She forced her hands to continue their digging, softly pulling aside the dirt around the base of a tree in the hopes that something would appear. Her eyes remained disconnected, stari

“Well, I wouldn’t call it…professional training…I mean it was but I never really went anywhere with it…And it was only for a few years. Just during high school, mostly…and a year in college…” She’d begun fumbling her words again, the embarrassment at the admission taking over her normal calmness. Her frantic search had found nothing, but she wasn’t ready to give up quite yet. Pausing only long enough to watch as NIGHT dispatched a few of the local boars, she returned to her searching, mumbling to herself as she went. “I mean, it’s not like I was Taylor Swift or anything. I just…did a few

Nari’s ears peaked up at the girl’s mention of previously completing the quest. She glanced over at NIGHT, a look of curiosity on her face as she pondered how best to approach the question. “You…used to sing?” She kept her tone filled with a tone of interest, trying to convey in her words that she wanted to hear more without making the girl think she was judging. “I…took some lessons in the real world, a few times. But…well, Aikido took up too much time and I never really went anywhere with it.” She made her way towards the gate of the city, waving at the guard – was his name Merv? Marvin

Nari paused in her response – the attended recipient appearing before her, a look of wakefulness still some degrees outside of the realm of visibility. She cocked her head to the left, staring at NIGHT with a stoic impression. Did the girl truly just get out of bed? Nari was more surprised the girl was up and moving, while still somehow appearing to be half asleep - something that was some cute, and concerning all at the same time. “I have food here, if you’re just looking for something to eat.” She waved a hand at the kitchen around her, pointing out the fridge and numerous appliances th

With the consent of the other two received, Nari eyed up her potential targets. She knew that both Jomei and Koga were well handed in dishing out the damage, and decided they could afford a little risk. Smiling back at the two of them once, she took off in a sudden charge across the open grasses of the garden, letting her spear tip dip as she went. The large green creatures quickly filled her vision, and as she reached her striking distance, she pushed herself into the air, forcing her body into a controlled, but likely wild appearing spin to bring her weapon around in a wide arc. “C

“I will have you know these are the finest pieces…out of my junk pile! Maybe not the finest I’ve ever made. But they’re the best of the worst, so to speak!” She gave a wink at the other, barely able to contain her giggles as she responded to the jest. She spared no glance at the pieces on display, knowing full well that they would’ve just been sold for junk, or destroyed if they hadn’t been repurposed for training today. “Alright, all jokes aside, you’re right. Let’s finish this up before little kitty there decides to have his afternoon nap.” She’d meant the comment in jest, but as she l

The reaction could not have been more perfect if Nari had choreographed the entire scene herself. At first, Cleo had shown anger at the commentary – a resentment towards the idea of being incapable, in any degree. But that had quickly fallen away as she glanced about the room, an almost apologetic – if not shy – look crossing her face. Lastly, the smile broke through. She was just about to make a comment on overcoming challenges, when Cleo knelt down beside Éli, running a hand through the fur of the kitten. Deciding to instead lean back and watch, she waited as the cat readied itself, bef

Giving a slight smile to NIGHT, she led the way towards the teleporter, chattering needlessly as they went about things that had happened recently – including her shopping trip. “Oh! I found a nice little shop down on floor one! The…Cincinnati? Cinnomonti? I can’t quite remember the name exactly, but it’s run by someone named Bistro. Nice little café feel to it.” She bounded the final steps up to the teleporter, suddenly realising she probably should have taken a jacket. Refusing to let her discomfort show, she waited patiently until NIGHT had arrived beside her, pulling the girl in close

“I’m closing down the Winter Fox Smithery. I’m redoing the living profession quest, and leaving the blacksmithing behind.” Although there was a touch of sadness in her eyes and features, her face was also lit with a beaming smile, and a hint of excitement at the new prospects. It took all of her control not to hop around NIGHT, knowing that it would likely end with her collapsing. “I…was up last night doing a once over on the forge and shop, and…well, I made my decision. As much as my heart lays with the forge, it’s…well, it’s a past thing now.” Her fingers had begun twirling a lock of ha

She’d been more than pleased the last time she had visited the little store front, and had decided a return trip would be necessary. Wandering into the small shop, she gave a quick wave and greeting to Bistro, before eyeing the available items. Her gaze travelled across the few options, before frowning. “I’ve got a need for something other than what you’ve got-“ Grabbing an order form, she filled out the required fields before handing it over to Bistro, a shy smile on her face as she did so. “Thanks in advance, by the way. I’ll come pick it up in a little while, if that’s alright?”

She’d woken up early that morning, her excitement getting the best of her. She’d spent the previous evening considering her changes, the ideas she’d had around it. A good portion of the evening had been wandering through the forge and the shop on the twenty seventh, running her hand over the tools, the bench, even the anvil as she considered her path forwards. Her love for the forge hadn’t diminished, but with the number of available blacksmiths, and the state of her business itself… Late into the evening she had realised how long she had spent sitting on the shop’s counter, considering e

Having received directions to the small shop found on the first floor, she found herself hopping up the steps with hesitation. She had never visited this area of the town before, and although everything looked new, something about this specific storefront had her apprehensive. Her contact had informed her that the shop owner could be trusted, and that their wares came at a value worth contemplating, but Nari had still held reservations. She never liked stepping outside of her comfort zone, and this was certainly well beyond it. A deep breath, before she entered. Finding the individual whe

The girl spoke, and Nari listened. Listened to the words of being chased, being hunted. Of having lost someone, and wanting to find them. She knew the feeling of that loss herself, and could empathise with the feeling, but as the girl continued speaking, Nari foresaw a darkness coming over the small girl in her grasp. At first, it began as one afeared of being hunted, likely by the player killers that Nari had heard so much about throughout her time here – especially lately. But the final ideology that the girl presented, that hit Nari harder than anything else. “You don’t want that, no m

Nari wandered into the small little café that she had visited before, glancing around as she moved towards the displays. She took her time, pouring over the available items as well as the custom orders that could be placed. When she was ready, she made her way to the counter, smiling as she came up to the girl behind it. “Hey! Long time, no see! Looks like you’ve got quite the little café going on here!” A quick smile before she began pointing towards a number of items. “I may be emptying you out a bit, but everything here just looks so good!”

“All I’m saying, is that people have been busy. It’s no surprise that things like these rumours go missed once in a while…” She popped another piece of fruit into her mouth, as she stared at Onóra sitting by the small wood stove in the kitchen. A true kitchen now, not the little kitchenette that her previous estate had. Although the house was smaller, it somehow felt more complete. Likely a bonus of the numerous additions she’d managed to add onto the place, including the extra bedroom. “No, I get that. But…doesn’t it seem weird that no one else has taken it up yet? Doesn’t that worry you