[SP-F1] Return to the forest <<The First Few Lessons Are Free>> [Complete]

[Merlin 0]

"Ugh, what did I expect?"

In the town of beginnings, our wanna be wizard is currently sitting on the steps of a shop, with the sun beating down on him. His sweat is pouring and he seems a little dehydrated.

"I mean, what should I have expected? It's that time of year again and I wish it would just cool down... Maybe a spell would help?"

Pulling out a piece of chalk, he starts to draw on the ground, just for a pop up of <<Immortal Object>> to shatter any plans for a witch circle to bring a everlasting winter upon them...

"Dang it... Why did I come here again?"

Seemingly delirious, he looks up to the sky and starts to mumble.

"You can do it little cloud, I believe in you..."

"You there, boy..."

Jumping up, then immediately regretting it and curling up in pain, he looks up to an old man staring down at him...

"Do you need anything?"

"... Meep."

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

"What's this, and that and this and that and that this and this and-"

Aden finds himself within an mid evil chemist's lab, complete with bottles, weird and foreign ingrediants, with the right amount of homeyness and mad alchemist elements to make our redhead relax completely. Aden was in heaven, all of these things are so beautiful and amazing and cool and MAGIC RELATED!!!

"Hmm?"

The old man, who was working over something, heard the now turned his attention towards him

"Who are you?"

With a chuckle, he gives Aden a grin.

"Sorry bout that boy, age is getting to me. I used to go by many names, but it seems you younglings prefer to call me Zackariah, so Zackariah I shall be."

Under the gaze of the old man, Aden panics a little, still excited.

"I just wanted to know what all of this is..."

Zackariah gives him a odd look, then starts to appraise Aden.

"You didn't come here knowing?"

When Aden shook his head, the man gave a sigh and started to explain...

 

Edited March 5, 2017 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

"I've become known in these parts as a teacher of sorts, a beginners first step into the world of Aincrad. I essentially give them knowledge and a lesson in alchemy in return for materials, something I can't retrieve with how my body is now a days..."

Zackariah chuckles, and looks straight at Aden.

"Would you like to do a old man a favor? It'll mean alot to me."

A quest notification appeared in front of Aden, spooking and making him take a step backwards. It was fairly strange to Aden, who's only seen the store screen of NPC's. He looked up only to be faced with Zackariah's grin. 

"Just grab me five materials from this floor. They don't have to be anything special, just anything that stands out from the foliage will do."

Fairly confident, Aden relaxed and smiled at the old man. He felt like he had something learn here, even if he wasn't sure what.

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Aden accepted the quest without further motivation, smiling all the way through. He took a step towards the alchemy table, prompting Zackariah to wave him off.

"Go and grab your materials and then we'll talk. They are out on the fields, you can't miss them."

His pulse quickening, and his heart pounding, he rushed out of the door way. The sprint took it's toll on him quickly. Pushing as hard as he could, he stumbled through the gate and into the fields. Breath harsh and legs aching, Aden crashed into soft grasses of Aincrad.

Attention skyward, his eyes held wonder in them. It was mid day on floor one. Warmth seeping into his bones, his breath calmed and he started to relax. Shifting himself into a sitting position, he observed his surrounding area.

A sea of green dotted by the occasional wolf and (much to his distaste) boar. But what drew his eyes was not monsters, it was the plants that stood out in the brush. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for, but Aden pushed himself up and moved forward, letting out a whisper as he walked.

"I am back... May the spirits watch over me."

Edited August 9, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

He decided to go towards a plant that had the least amount of mobs surrounding it. Dancing around aggro and backing out whenever he spotted a hint of aggression, he made it unscathed through the field. Kneeling down, he took a closer look at his objective.

It was a flower, orchid like, with a white tint that seemed to glow. Delicately, he felt the petals of the flower, silky to the touch. And when he placed his thumb into it's yellow center, the flower emanated a low glow, and a sweet scent was released into the air.

Fairly certain that this was a material, he drew his knife from it's sheathe, and began to delicately slice at it's stalk. Yet it's appearance did not match with it's durability, the knife struggling to find purchase even with the assistance of Merlin's skill of gathering. Aden began to hum a mantra, yet he got distracted, added to much pressure, and snapped the flower, shattering it into the breeze.

Sighing, he began to weave around the mobs once more to find his next chance.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104231

LD: 9 (+1) = 10 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

His next target was not a flower, instead it looked like coral growing on land. However, Aden could guess it was a mushroom by its stalk like base, just one with a weird, coral like cap. Yet when got close, he had a sudden urge to puke. The smell was putrid, and even monsters did not linger long.

Eyes watery, he took a glance around his surroundings for another item to loot, but they were all surrounded by mobs, and it would take them a while to move out of his way. Taking in a deep breath (and gagging afterwards), he resigned himself to this smelly, weird, mushroom.

The rotten stench distracted him greatly, and instead of making precise, firm cuts, Aden found himself rushing through the process. Applying too much pressure and not paying attention to where his hand lay, he crushed the cap of the mushroom, making it shatter into the wind.

Admittedly, Aden was glad. Any spell or potion that required that thing had to be evil.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104232

LD: 6 (+1) = 7 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

A grimace still lingered on him as he continued to step in and out of mob's aggro range, and while the smell dissipated, in his mind it still rang loudly in his memories. He took another glance at his target, another flower. While there was another mushroom easier to get too, he remained a bit shell shocked from the previous incident.

Sighing in relief as no odor of any kind hit him, he began to feel over the flower. This was harder to spot, as it was a green rose hidden in the grasses, but he could make it out from its red stalk.

"A colored swapped rose..."

He treated it delicately, slowly sawing away with his dagger. But his reluctance to go for the new mushroom and instead go for this one backfired, as a mob began to inch closer into range.

Realizing that perhaps the protection sigil isn't working today, he abandoned the rose and began to dance out of the mobs aggro. During this time, Aden heard his plant fragment into dust.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104234

LD: 2 (+1) = 3 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

With a reluctant expression, Aden made his way over to the mushroom. Admittedly, this one didn't look to bad. It had black spots on it with a blue cap, and a white stalk. It looked like a stereotypical mushroom, instead of red though, it was blue.

Hesitantly, he leaned in and gave the mushroom a sniff. Oddly enough, it didn't smell like anything surrounding it. Aden got closer, and he began to relax around this mushroom, and a small smile appeared on his lips. He grew curious, and started to run his hand over it's cap, curious about the small bumps that wrapped around its cap.

He leaned down and began to cut efficiently into the mushroom. He was slowly sawing away at the stalk, and he began to hum a little tune. Then, without any interruption, the mushroom came cleanly off and dissipated into his inventory. 

"Maybe all mushrooms aren't that bad."

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104235

LD: 18 (+1) = 19 [Success]

[Quest Material #: 1]

 

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

A bit tired of the mushrooms and flowers of the fields, Aden pushed into the deciduous forest of floor one. Nostalgia flooded him as he took in the familiar surroundings. Taking in the atmosphere, Aden began to hum a Celtic tune.

His voice rang through the light green leaves, the branches swaying in the wind. The light of the sun was mellowed by the tall oaks granting the forest it's shade. Relaxing, Aden began to walk to the beat of his tune, not caring of the monsters that hid in the shadows.

Getting really into it, his hums developed into singing, his song floating alongside the wind. Safe to say, he was distracted. And while distracted, he felt a crunch under his boots, and his blissful expression had a sour tone to it as he saw shimmering particles float into the sky. Rolling his eyes, his smile still remained.

"I really am back."

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104239

LD: 5 (+1) = 6 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Footsteps echoing between the trees, Aden was plodding along, trying to find something that would catch his eye. Then, at the base of a ancient tree, was a odd flower under the sun light. It's stem was similar to a orchid's, however its bulb was translucent, and in the middle of it glowed a warm green light.

Intrigued, he moved forward and began to play with the flower. First, he covered up the bulb from the sun, and to his surprise the light under it dimmed. He poked the bulb, and it felt sticky to the touch, which he rubbed off on a nearby leaf.

Slowly sawing at the base of the flower, Aden took his time. There were no mobs nearby, and there was little reason to hurry. After steadily cutting through, the item was successfully obtained, and he placed it into his inventory with a grin. Wondering, he began to leave the trunk.

"I wonder if they liked my song..."

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104240

LD: 17 (+1) = 18 [Success]

[Quest Material #: 2]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Aden was in a pretty good mood, the quest was making good progress and he was pretty happy to be back in the place where he took his first step into Aincrad. Then, he saw them. Creatures of no soul, and devils in their own right. A snort reached him, and he shivered. It was the boar. Yet, beyond the foul beast, was a beautiful tulip with iridescent petals.

Taking his time, he slowly inched around the beast, taking care with his every foot step. This vile creature, licks its lips, perhaps thinking of all who they have slaughtered. It may be giving Aden a bored look right now, but he knew, that it would stab him in the back using his bloodied hoof...

He did eventually circle around boar, but as he cut into the tulip, he constantly looked over his shoulder. The boar still gave him a bored look, and began to sniff the grass. By the time his attention returned to the flower, it was already broken into the wind.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104243

LD: 9 (+1) = 10 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Backing away from from the area with the boar, Aden set his course towards Horunka Village. Taking a nearby path, his demeanor relaxed as he continued on the familiar road. The light shining through the trees took on a orange tint, bathing the forest floor in amber.

Breathing in the cool air, Aden let his gaze wander between the canopy and the side of the path. Though he wasnt looking very hard, a plant stood out of the foilage which caught his eyes. A orchid with a lunar glow. Drawing his knife once more, he gently grasped the flower and prepared to cut.

Then a grunt pierced through the peaceful atmosphere. Surprised, he almost broke the plant in two, but held back. He was so close, and he was beginning to get greedy. Activating his searching skill, he realized that the boar, while close, was actually behind some foliage. Realizing he hasn't drawn aggro yet, he finished up and continued on, carefully backing away.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104244

LD: 10 (+1) = 11 [Success]

[Quest Material #: 3]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

As he traveled, he kept tabs on the types of mobs nearby.  While boars still prowled and tortured the weak, insect types were prominent here. Wasps buzzed around and giant worms crawled on branches. Aden wasn't confident in his ability to escape flying buzzers, and seeing a worm leap onto a branch was admittedly terrifying. So he tended to stay away from materials that were surrounded by them.

A lily with a sunset like glimmer appeared off the beaten path. Confirming no happy surprises awaited above him, he once again held the flower. It gave off a warmth that tickled Aden. For a moment he hesitated, this flower was fairly beautiful, and definitely seemed a little magical. He decided to grab in anyways, instead treating it as gently as he could.

Letting his knife cut into the stalk, he slowly cut into it.  The knife went through the base of the plant like butter unlike his previous materials. Getting up and dusting off his knees, he continued on his way.

[Quest Material Gathering]

ID: 104273

LD: 19 (+1) = 20 [Success]

[Quest Material #: 4]

 

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Letting himself get side tracked, he used a few landmarks to make sure he knew the way back to the path, and pressed into the brush. It was getting cooler, though it had been a long day. While walking, he swiped his finger and brought up his menu. Making a bottle of water appear in his hands, he began to casually sip his drink as he trekked into the unknown.

The water felt great running past his lips, cooling his body further. He wore a smile as time passed on. It was all so familiar to him, and he continued on, swirling his drink in his hand. It felt like stepped back into the past, where he gathered enough courage and spells to dare trek into here.

As nostalgia filled him once more, his eyes weren't as sharp. And, yet again, he heard the crunch and shatter of a plant. Rolling his eyes, he poured the rest of the drink on the ground, and threw a bit of bread as a offering to the spirits, and continued on his way.

[Consumed 1x Water, 1x Bread]

ID: 104283

LD: 3 (+1) =4 [Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

A few moments after, his eyes widened at a sight. There was a flower a while back that he actively pursued in his first adventure. It was a flower which would refresh one's strength if used in a spell. The flower in question was a sun flower. This was something he knew how to work with, especially with zero mobs surrounding it.

Admittedly, it wasn't a normal sun flower by any means. It's petals were the color of the sky, a entrancing mix of orange, red and purple. Similar to the plant before, it gave off a warm feeling, yet this time it mirrored the strength of the sun's rays directly. 

Instead of cutting at the stalk, he would cut into the base of the flower itself, looking only for the petals and the seeds. He continued to cut away various flowers, which still maintained their colors when separated from the plant. Though all of that work counted as one material, Aden's expression was content, happy to see the plant he pursued once more.

[Quest Gathering Material]

ID: 104287

LD: 17 (+1) = 18 [Success]

[Quest Material #: 5]

[Quest Requirement #1: Done]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

He was done with his quest, however he wanted to stay and gather a few more materials for his own purposes.

Happy that his little ritual succeeded, he continued to wander around, making sure he didn't stray to far from his land marks. There were plenty of materials, yet most were guarded by devilish boars, buzzing hornets or a sneaky giant worm. Looking around, nothing really stood out from the foliage that didn't have mobs around it. Starting to trek back to the path, he was interrupted by a beautiful whistling sound.

The noise only occurred when the wind blew, so it took him a few moments to find it. It didn't look like much, just a normal blade of grass. Yet it's tip was shaped beautifully. It looked delicate to the touch, and he gently began to cut away once more. Yet he heard a sticky sound, and spotted a worm that was getting dangerously close to being in aggro range.

Half way through, Aden knew he couldn't finish in time, and instead beat a retreat, a shatter ringing out behind him.

[Normal Gathering Material]

ID: 104288

LD: 6 (+1) = 7[Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Sighing in relief, he muttered thanks to the spirits which he believed protected him. He stepped forward onto the path which he began, heading back towards the starting city named "The Town of Beginnings". On the way, he sent some idle glances towards some materials, yet they were all guarded. Combat didn't suit him, especially due to the lack of spells/physical prowess.

So instead, he sang as he walked. Celtic in tone, his voice carried no words, simply switching octaves to a unseen melody. He harmonized with the wind, a duet between him and the game, though he believed it was with the spirits. Then, his voice was caught in his throat as he saw a flower beginning to bloom in front of him. But as he stopped, the flower reverted back to a bud.

It seemed like a ordinary white flower with a yellow middle, but Aden restarted his song, kneeling down next to the flower. As soon as it was in full bloom, he gently cut the flower from the ground, and placed it into his inventory. He stood up, with one thought in his mind.

"Is song magic?"

[Normal Gathering Material]

ID: 104294

LD: 19 (+1) =20 [Success]

[Materials Gathered #: 1]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

With this thought, he began to play with octaves, trying to see which notes he could and couldn't hold. There was a time outside the game he studied into song for shamanistic song. However, he didn't become a song bird after mirroring one, so he eventually gave up in that path.

Here, there were new rules, and Aden believes that song is entwined with one of them. Yet as he pushed his voice to cracking and shifting at one point, he got fairly hungry with all of this. Opening up his inventory with a flick of his finger, he got a bit of bread and water, and began to find a area with good shade.

Finding one along the path, and not seeing any nearby mobs, he didn't look much closer as he sat down. The familiar shatter was ignored for the sake of bread and water, though one couldn't tell whether his sour expression came from the poor quality of food, or the fact that he ruined another plant.

[Consumed 1x Water, 1x Bread]

[Normal Gathering Material]

ID: 104301

LD: 10 (+1) = 11[Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

Finishing off his meal and dusting off the crumbs, he set off once more. He took his time with the road, letting the forest slowly pass him by. His thoughts returned to home, about his Mother. Biting his lip, he realized that all of the nostalgia this forest was giving him was reminding him of home. About the times where he was playing in her lap, listening to her stories.

Reigning in his emotions, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes, waiting for the tears to disappear. A moment later, he let out a big sigh and continued on. He disliked how childish he was in his final few days with her, about a goal that she had no control over. Muddling over it, he saw a way to distract himself in the form of another plant, a beautiful blue rose.

He began to cut, and he lost himself in it. He was so close, but he wanted to try something better. Applying a bit too much force, he accidentally snapped the flower again. Yet as he saw the particles float into the sky, he resolved to himself...

"I won't end up like that flower, and return to my home."

[Normal Gathering Material]

ID: 104310

LD: 13 (+1) = 14[Fail]

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin

[Merlin 0]

He was silent for the good while, mulling over home and the like. Yet there was a focused look in his eye as he looked around for any trouble, and potential materials. Luckily, the sun was still high enough for the forest to be bright, yet it was beginning to dim. Picking up the pace, he was about to jog, when something odd caught his eye.

There was a weird looking tree, the trunk a bit to big to be normal. Curious, Aden activated his "Search" skill, and to his amazement a section of the tree was highlighted, indicating something was off about it. Getting closer, he tapped onto the section, and found that the tree rang hollow. Using his knife, he pried off the covering with his knife to reveal a chest inside, looking worn and old.

It smelled admittedly pretty moldy inside, but Aden didn't care about that right now. Instead he regarded it with doubt.

"This looks like a trap..."

[Looking for Chest]

ID: 104311

LD: 17 (+1) = 18 (Success)

 

Edited August 10, 2018 by Merlin