seasonsrpg | Quest Mingle: June-July

Quest Mingle: June-July

Quest Mingle: June-July
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Quest Plotting! This post is for playing!

• These quests are valid from start of June until end of July.
• Characters don't need to be a member of the guild to do quests and anyone can do any segment's quest! The quests are just marked this way to show where the quests are taking place.
• City Location Details | Segment Location details
• Remember to keep distances (times are calculated as walking times) in mind when planning what quests to do when. You have two full months, so there's no rush!
• For some of the monsters, additional details can be found from the Beastiary.
• Rewards are for one completion of the Quest, but characters can do it multiple times to earn more money from them, as the problems do repeat.

• Please see the guild page for permanent quests.

City Quests

Even in your city... quests! [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Fashion Warriors	The district of Sunwaning is known for its fashion shops. Now the fashion designers have set up different obstacle courses (instead of regular catwalks) around various districts to show off their work. Otherworlders are asked to wear their new lines of clothes and pass these obstacle courses in pairs. Of course they're asked to pose and show off the clothes while going through the course at the same time! This is to show off that the clothes are not only beautiful, but also good for running and jumping around. The use of special powers is forbidden in this quest. You must work together without any extra abilities to go through the course.	The further you get through the course the more you get paid. If you make it through to the whole course and push a button that shoots out confetti, you win the whole prize and the clothes you used.	500 Moon Coins for full course, clothes
Kisses for Charity	Natives of Nightwake want to gather some funds to help the mecha hangar to repair the damage done by memory monsters. That's why they have set up kissing booths all around the city and are asking the help of otherworlders to man them. To spice things up, all booths have a collection of magical lip balms that will give different effects to those who are kissed and taste like something they really like. These effects last from one hour to three, depending how long the kiss was.	The lip balms have following effects: Voice altering (makes the person's voice very squeaky or very low), Lies (makes the person lie, even in their thoughts/through telepathy), Soft (makes the person act very softly towards anyone), Mood eyes (shows the person's mood through the color of their eyes), Float (makes the person float), Healing (heals the person's minor wounds, like paper cuts), Refresh (makes the person feel refreshed, like they just had a really great nap).	Five of the lip balms (any of them)
Let me Entertain you	Some adults are worried about their teenager children and need someone to show them a good example of how to use their free time effectively and without getting into trouble. They are turning to otherworlders. They are asking to keep their kids company and show them fun ways to "kill time".	Basically they are asking people to babysit their teenagers, most which have a real attitude problem and will be really difficult to handle. Characters' goals are to keep them out of trouble. Some of them are prone to vandalism and shoplifting, so keep an eye out on them!	50 Moon Coins/per hour
Who Let the Dogs Out?	The animal shelter in Coldreach had a young trainee look after their magical dogs. They did well to remember to lock the gate behind them, but they forgot to apply the charm that keeps these magical dogs in the pen. Pegasus Dogs are, as the name suggests, magical flying dogs with multicolored wings. Young puppies can't use their wings very well, but they're fast and jump high. They're all very harmless and the worst they can do is cuddle someone into submission. Help the shelter catch the dogs.	The Pegasus Dogs are all various different breeds and the only thing same about them is that they all have multicolored wings. Otherwise they act very much like normal dogs and are loyal to anyone who adopts them (which means yes, you can adopt a dog!)	20 Moon Coins per returned dog

Winter Segment

Lights, Snow, Quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Ice Cold Reflections	A long time ago, when the Half-Frozen Lake was still peaceful, power holders would dive there and find an icy cave (that you can walk in, it's free of water - don't ask how, magic). Inside that cave was an important resource for potions makers: frozen lemonade grass. Why is it important? it makes potions taste good (and also helps with breathing issues). Some divers also went there for some self-reflection, since it was a good place to ask yourself some questions. But please bring the Tower of Potions as much frozen lemonade grass as possible.	Special diving equipment is provided to those who want or need it. The ice cave is full of natural reflective surfaces (mirrors) that show none other than yourself. But the you in the mirror has its own mind and will even have a conversation with the character. It's the player's choice whether the mirror version of a character acts like the character or is a little bit of twisted. Some of the reflections' goals is to try and free themselves out of their mirrors. If this happens, the character will have a doppelganger for a week or so going around and acting in their name (after that they disappear into smoke). This quest and the "Plant Octopi Are Evolving" quest can be done at the same time and you can get rewards for both.	600 Moon Coins, Diving gear
Not All That Glitters is Gold	The river in the Winter Segment is a treasure trove of items people have lost during their adventures. No matter where they have lost them, the would eventually end up in the river and then washed up to the riverbanks. Then it snowed and the items have been buried under the snow for quite some time now. There are likely a lot of different jewelry, wallets, camping equipment and even frozen food underneath that snow. Why not go take a look? We will buy any valuables you find.	You can find all of the things listed and precious gems from the snow, as the riverbank is a great spot for them. However there are also Gem Biters that are very angry rodent-like monsters made of precious gems that eat normal precious gems and attack anyone that try to take them. They also hide inside the snow so you might find a gem and think it's a normal gem but then it bites your finger. Luckily they don't have very sharp teeth and they usually just melt gems into themselves - but even blunt as they are, it still hurts. They're as hard as diamonds, so rather hard to destroy.	Depends on item sold (be reasonable) or treasure
Paradise Forest	The forest on the border of Winter and Autumn Segment is a strange one. Those who've returned from there have told about a paradise among the trees, but have also been immediately admitted to the hospital after returning to the city due to delayed hypothermia. Yet they talk about it with blissful smiles on their faces. What is in there?	Once you enter the winter side of the border forest you will be greeted with a garden-like paradise. It's bright and feels warm, like you just entered a place of dreams. It feels realistic enough to want to take off your winter clothes and just relax and bask in the sun. But it's only a large-scale hallucination caused by Ice Maidens that sucks magical energy. If they take a liking to someone they will encase them in ice and add them to her collections. It might be a good idea to remind yourself where you are while inside the forest. Works worst on people who are mentally strong.	300 Moon Coins
Plant Octopi Are Evolving	Due to the fish monster mayhem last month, the Frozen Plant Octopi are agitated and have started to come closer to the surface of the Half-Frozen Lake. If they see anyone near the lake they will try to grab them by their feet and drown them before eating them like a popcicle. Considering there are people diving for potion ingredients, this is a problem that needs to be addressed. Try dragging the plant octopi up to shore of the lake to make them weaker or fight them underwater to keep them back from the cave area.	Frozen Plant Octopi are plants that can be harvested for (cold resistance) potion ingredients. However, some of these plants are alive and only show it if you get close enough. They will try to grab anyone and consume them. However, once the octopus is dead, they can be harvested like a normal plant - and you might get edible, very nutritious seeds as well. These versions of the octopi have evolved to be able to move from their spots, therefore are a bit more dangerous than their normal versions. This quest and the "Ice Cold Reflections" quest can be done at the same time and you can get rewards for both.	500 Moon Coins

Spring Segment

Breezing through quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Flowers for the Sun	During the months of June and July, the city celebrates Summer Solstice by wearing various flower crowns when going out. They can make a variety of crowns in the city, but to get even more variety, natives are asking otherworlders to pick flowers from the Spring Segment and preserve them with an enhancement spell they teach. After that they can make them into flower crowns that stay alive and fresh for the whole two months and can be worn anywhere.	The enhancement spell can be used on various different plant life so they last longer (for example, while transporting them to another place). Natives usually aren't too familiar with flower language, but some might make a comment or two about the combination of flowers used on the crowns. Of course you can also make flower crowns in the city as well and get paid for that.	5 moon coins per flower crown donated, up to 100 flower crowns
Never Underestimate the Toad	There has been sightings of an old monster thought to be extinct. It's called a Slime Toad. As the name suggests, it is related to the slimes, as it's saliva is favored by slime around the Spring segment. Slime Toads are giant, over 4 metres tall, and attempt to eat anything that's alive and moving (they especially love eating people that are arrogant and underestimate them). The best way to encounter them is to blow or cut them up somehow, as they will turn into smaller toads the more you blow them up. They will run away when they can no longer find things small enough to eat (so once they've turned tiny enough).	Slime Toads are very slow eaters and will take forever to actually swallow anyone properly, so there's plenty of time to rescue someone who has been captured by their mouth. They will, however, be soaked in toad saliva and likely surrounded by Slime because of that. Congrats on becoming popular among Slime!	200 Moon Coins
Taming the Mounts	They are finally back. The Spring Segment used to be famous for Winged Creatures that guided Power Holders through the Segments. However, after the power holders passed away, the creatures scattered and left for a good while. Now there's been sightings of them returning. Your job is to go into the Segments and find a Winged Creature you bond with. Once you do, it will let you take a feather out of its wings to turn into an amulet back in the city. This amulet will be used to summon the creature in your time of need by holding it up to the sky and yelling the name you gave them.	The Winged creatures can be anything you can imagine to ride. Most common ones are horses and other creatures with hooves, but there have been lions as well, for example. They look like regular animals but they are large enough to ride and have giant wings made out of feathers.	Mount summoning amulet
Windy Risks	We know this is probably a crazy idea, but we wish to see if the small village at the north-east corner of the Spring Segment (Valley of Wind) has anything we can use. So, we have developed devices that make people heavier so they can avoid being tossed around by the wind that you put on your ankles. We don't know what else might be there; just that the winds are strong enough to throw adults towards the barrier and potentially injure them in the progress. However, there might be important documents still left there, so we think the risk is worth it.	There are no documents in the village, but the place is currently much like a scrap yard where you can find parts of devices that have been gathered there, as well as a variation of weapons. Gathered by who or what? Oh, just the giant sleeping dragons made of metal that hoard them. Dragons don't exactly exist in Ellipa, but these are clearly man-made imitations of dragons come to life. You can either try to take the parts without waking the mechanical beasts up or fight them. Instead of fire, these shoot laser beams.	3000 Moon Coins

Summer Segment

Get your hottest quests here [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Cakes for the Moon	Moon Bunnies are creatures that circle around the segments to bring the moon's blessings to all of them. They're originally from the Winter side, so whenever they reach the Summer they need to get help from people. So the people have set up places in the city to make different variations of nutritious and delicious cakes to give the bunnies. You can either help make the cakes or deliver them near the Summer Flower Yard for the bunnies to find (or both, why not). You may even get a chance to feed and pet them yourself.	The Moon Bunnies float in the air as a means of travel and sometimes they sparkle like the moon. They cannot be adopted and if someone tries to take one back with them they will poof into moon dust and reappear somewhere else.	200 Moon Coins
Messages in the Dark	During evenings a light has been spotted from the Abandoned Port on the east side of the Great Ocean lake. The streetlights there have been giving off an SOS signal. No one knows how the streetlights work as they aren't connected to any electric sources. Please investigate this mystery.	The lights are caused by creatures known as the Doom Dune. They lure people into that part of the beach by signaling for help before forming into a sand monster and attack the people from shadows. The sand monsters usually take the shape of the person currently on the victim's mind, as they can see thoughts due to their ghost-like abilities.	400 Moon Coins
Say Cheese, Nessie!	We can't believe it! Nessie have been spotted at the Great Ocean Lake. No one has ever managed to photograph such a rare creature before and we definitely want to get a picture for our books. Please camp at the Great Ocean Lake and try to take a photo of Nessie for us.	Nessie are very mischievous creatures that somehow manage to slip out of a picture frame just before someone takes a photograph. They're peaceful and mean no harm to anyone. They just like to play a lot and escaping photographs is one their way of playing. The people are really desperate for proof of the creature without harming it, so they are willing to pay a lot. Nessie look like long-necked dinosaurs with flippers and are very adorable.	2000 Moon Coins for a clear picture
Snakes on the Branches CW/TW: Snakes	Due to a lot of rain in the Rain Jungle and the Darkness concentrating there, the trees have started rapidly growing. They reach out to the polluted magical river and from there they are growing towards the city. The barrier mostly keeps the branches off, but they do damage it because of the polluted river. The branches also bring in Coil Snakes that try to slither past the barrier and spit out lightning. Cut the branches off before they damage the barrier too much and stop these snakes from entering the city.	The branches have soaked in the water of the magically polluted river and can sap one's magical energy when touched. Otherwise they don't fight back, but the Coil Snakes do. They're 2 metres long, as thick as (standard) human legs and eat basically anything. The snakes also sometimes pose as three branches as they are the same-ish color.	600 Moon Coins

Autumn Segment

Maple scented Quests [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Beauty of the Well CW/TW: Spiders	There has been a sighting of a beauty wandering near the Abandoned Well. No one knows who she is, but they are worried for her safety. Then one day she was seen entering the well and not coming back up. We think it's high time the well was investigated, especially since it no longer has creepy ominous croaking sounds! The girl might be in trouble!	Inside the well is a stream of salty water that leads to a maze made out of rock and dirt. The stream continues under the maze and doesn't help with navigating it. The maze itself is full of traps like exploding trap doors, sticky cob webs that tie you down (or try to drag you into secret trap doors), arrows shooting out of the walls and spores that mimimize the target for two hours (may make it easier to dodge traps though). Deadends may lead to a fire. On top of that the maze is full of spiders that are venomous and protecting something up ahead. What is something up ahead? The beauty who disappeared, crying and making the stream of salty water who at first seems overjoyed that you found her. But the turns into a Queen Spider and the final boss fight. She's just a bigger version of the spiders though.	500 Moon Coins
Maybe It Bugs Me CW/TW: Giant Bugs	During the last two months the Maybe the Mapleline forest had a lot of visitors to harvest the syrup there. Well, in the past this has always been followed by giant bugs invading the forest and eating away at the forest as they are drawn by the scent. We are pretty sure it's worse now with the whole Dark Energy thing and we do not want to lose such a good resource. Protect the forest, but as always be careful not to stay there for too long.	The bugs are called Maple Mantis and they are giant (like 3-4 metres tall) mantis that eat maple trees. Their hands are like razors, so they cut pieces of the forest down and eat them like they're a bread stick. They usually come in groups of three at a time, from the south.	200 Moon Coins
Out of Body Experience	A new type of spirits has been spotted in the Autumn segment. That's right, they have been spotted because they've possessed the local scarecrows. The spirits have the ability to possess people by kicking the person's spirit out of their body. Once the spirit gets bored and leaves the body the owner can return to it. If they can find their body again. Luckily the spirits that have been kicked out can possess an item and maybe get picked up by someone while they chase the body stealing scarecrow around.	Due to the special ability of the spirits, being kicked out of one's body doesn't kill them right away, but being away from their body for too long (~ 5 hours) will (especially if the spirit abandons the highjacked body). So it might be best to chase the spirit down as fast as possible. Returning to the body is easy, though it might feel a bit disorienting for a while. You cannot return to someone else's body, just your own.	300 Moon Coins
Spooky Scary Skeletons	During night time, the rattle of bones can be heard all the way to the city as an echo. It's like multiple skeletons are moving near the polluted river. What's more, there are also weird lights coming from the general direction of the sound, making it hard to sleep if you live near the river. Someone do something about this!	Investigating the sounds and weird lights in the evening hours will lead to finding a cottage made out of bones (it's only there during evenings, there's nothing there during the day). Inside there is apparently a skeleton rave going on every night, and the bones aren't the best to keep all lights out - not to mention the bones rattling when the skeletons hit the walls sometimes while dancing. If you try to stop the party, they will try to drag you dancing with them - but will also take apart the cottage to fight you with bones. (Ah the bones? Don't worry about it. They just took apart their friends to make the house. They will put them back once the evening is over)	200 Moon Coins

NSFW Quests
DO NOT use the Quest Mingle for these quests and instead play them on other posts! This questboard is only unlockable by characters that are 16 or older.

The spice [ Click to Expand ]

Quest Name	Description	OOC Notes	Rewards
Blossoming the Meadow	In the Spring Segment there's a place called Creature-Nip Meadow. It's a good source for herbs that have calming effects. They're mostly used for anesthetics potions at the medical department, but they have other uses too (the more sexy ones). There's a particular herb that only blooms when people are sexually active near it. Once you've managed to make some bloom, collect the pollen and seeds and bring them with you (but be careful not to inhale the pollen too much). It might also be a good idea to bring someone to guard the meadow from the outside, as monsters are sometimes drawn to the meadow as well.	Monsters possible are anything from the Beastiary's Spring Segment section. Inhaling the pollen will make characters experience a heat-like state. It will last longer the more pollen you inhale (max a full day, but at least two hours). Otherwise the pollen can be used to make calming/anesthetic potions when prepared by boiling it, and for potions that act like viagra as just the pollen.	1000 Moon Coins
Experimente(a)nting	Some florists have been cultivating special tea leaves for various purposes. They have finally made different variations of tea that seems potent enough to market, so they are looking for test subjects. It's an age restrict job because the tea are meant for promoting sexy times. They need you to sign a paper in case there are ... side effects. But you will get paid for trying the different teas.	The tests are held in a hotel at Nightwake Center, which is a full 5 star experience. They are given various tea bags or boba teas to test out and a private room for the night. Of course, no one will look twice if you return with a different person some other time. The rumored side effects may include a hangover like state the next day or possible loss of senses for the next day (like becoming blind). Effects include: Hard-on (makes boners last for a longer time or return more quickly for multiple orgasms), Enhanced sensations (makes everything feel twice as good), Masochism (makes pain feel pleasurable), Stamina Booster (literally an energy booster for sexy times)	2000 Moon Coins

code bases by tricklet

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh? Being a knight is definitely tough, but rewarding. I like being able to help people and make a difference.

I think you'd be a good night, Mr. Hijikata.

[Flynn is still being formal. They are on a mission after all, and he was there to assist. He looks around and frowns and looks back to Hijikata.]

Was there anymore information about where this paradise is? Or should we just systematically move back and forth until we find it?

[That'll kind of be hard with just the two of them, but it's still doable.]

[That compliment makes him happy. He may have been a bit rough and unmannerly as a knight, but he did his best to serve the kingdom and its people! And it really was rewarding.]

Well, the quest was pretty unspecific, but I squeezed some more information out of the quest givers. Apparently all the people who saw that "paradise" gave them different locations. Some had entered the woods from the Autumn Segment like us, other from the Winter Segment, but all of them said that it wasn't far into the forest. So you'd think it's only wintery on the fringes, hiding a totally different place inside...

[He trails off as they can make out some specks of green in between the barren trees ahead. It looks like in just a hundred more steps they'll enter a much livelier landscape. Now that he listens carefully he can hear the faint sound of running water and the song of birds, and a warm gust of wind touches his cold face.]

Okay, so we can check that off the list as confirmed.

[Flynn narrows his eyes and looks towards the warmer area, slowly approaching, his hand on the hilt of his sword. He's not sure what to do about it, actually pauses to stand there unsure of what to do.]

Huh. What do we need to do about this?

Let's proceed, but cautiously. We should document as much as we can. I wonder why nobody else did that; wouldn't you want to show something like this to everyone?

[As they slowly approach the lush area, which seems to stretch far into the distance ahead, he starts recording with his phone.]

'Toshirou Hijikata here, exploring the unnamed forest in the current far west of the accessible area, spanning the border of the Autumn- and Winter Segments, with Flynn Scifo. We're about ten minutes into the winter side of the forest after crossing the border, and already we're encountering the "paradise" described by other adventurers...'

[He keeps narrating as they enter the warm, sunny part of the forest. It's like a jungle, with large trees teeming with climbing plants and large flowers, yet enough sunlight reaches the floor for soft green grass and moss to be covering it. There's a rivulet with colourful fish in it, and the birdsong is lovely.

After roughly 10 minutes of them looking around Hijikata ends the video and takes his hooded winter coat off, followed immediately by his uniform jacket (as usual he's in his Shinsengumi outfit from home).]

Man... I know the other guys ended up hypothermic, but this is unbearable! As long as we leave in another ten minutes or so it should be fine.

I'd feel better if you'd put it back on.

[Flynn is uncomfortable as well, but thankfully he had more than enough time in armor in hot places that he could kind of ignore it. But, had he not, he would have taken off his large jacket and the scarf around his neck. He lets out a breath and nods slowly.]

Does time work in here the same pace? Did anyone say anything about that?

[Places like this were weird to begin with. He didn't know what to expect. He reached up and unwound the scarf from his neck, but left his jacket on at least for now.]

[Hijikata appreciates Flynn's concern, but he simply feels too hot under all the layers! Flynn's question, though, gives him pause. What if they've been here for hours already without realising? It doesn't feel like it at all, but with time magic, who knows? He wonders if they should just leave right away, but then he has another idea.]

Let me check the video.

[The recorded length of time should be legitimate, right? But when he plays the video his expression immediately turns deadpan.]

...

Flynn, check this out. We've been had.

[The screen shows nothing but barren trees and snow while Hijikata's voice points out tropical plant life. As real as the lush and warm environment feels, it can only be an illusion.]

[Flynn doesn't like technology, but at least this proves to be better than trying to test their senses against whatever this is. He winds plays with the edge of the scarf and frowns.]

So, it really is a very real illusion.

[He had been wondering if they had it wrong, but this sort of proves it.]

Huh. Well, how should we proceed? Go through and see if we can find anything that's causing this?

I'm not sure-- ah!

[He pauses the video and frowns hard at the screen. Flynn can see it, too - a pale woman dressed in white, smiling at the camera from amidst the falling snow, who definitely wasn't visible to them while they looked around.]

I think we've got our culprit. She's hiding behind the illusion.

[Little does he know that there's more than one...]

I have no idea how to find her. You wouldn't happen to have any illusion-breaking skills, would you?

Nothing I can think of off the top of my head.

[He sees the woman and then looks over away from the camera and then back towards the camera again, peering off screen again as he hummed.]

Maybe she can still be hit even without us being able to see her?

[Hijikata nods, expression grim.]

Let me start recording again, and this time I'll look at the screen rather than our surroundings - you do the same. If we see her on our phones we'll know where she is.

[As he closes out the recorded video he notices something else: His mana bar - an application that came with the last software update - is emptying slowly but surely.]

...

Flynn, check your mana meter. I think she's draining us.

[So this is what the "paradise" is all about? A trap in the winter woods to make travellers linger and deplete their magical power?]

[He has no idea what a mana meter is so he looks at Hijikata and motions to his own device.]

I'll take your word for it. I wouldn't really know anything about using this device.

[It got worse after he get a brain full of nightmare fuel thanks to Yuri during the robot stuff, so he's been wary of things like technology. He doesn't want anything to do that again to him.]

Hm.

[When in doubt Judith says to hit things, and Yuri seems to go that way too, so...Flynn uses Demon fang, releasing a cutting shockwave along the ground towards the area where the woman had been standing.]

[Hijikata makes a mental note to sit down with Flynn and teach him the basic functions of his device later on. He draws his sword, intent on following whatever his phone screen shows him, but then Flynn beats him to the punch with his wide-range attack. Hijikata is impressed - all the more when the landscape around them wavers and blurs and the figure of the mysterious woman becomes visible, staggering from the damage she took.]

There!!

[He quickly advances on her, but as the illusion stabilises he has to rely on his phone once more to pursue her as she flees. While he's charging ahead, Flynn may become aware that they're dealing with more than just one enemy as he feels a chilling cold. The ice maidens decided to try and freeze at least one of their adversaries!]

[Flynn turns around and winces as Hijikata takes off and he turns looking towards where the coldness is coming from. He calls back to Hijikata. He backs up with Hijikata at his back and keeps his sword out in front of him. Instead of being too worried he uses one of his altered artes: fierce hell fire blade.

The arte makes his sword aura turn red as he keeps his eyes peeled and watches Hijikata's back.]

Don't go far! I think there are more of them close.

[He's quick to draw back - if there's more than one enemy they need to have each other's back. Once again he lifts his phone to scan the real scenery behind the illusion.]

Ah--!

[He captures two more ice maidens on his screen, and without further ado he unleashes a massive fire attack at them. They don't like that at all, screaming and withdrawing, letting the illusion collapse. From one moment to the next Flynn and Hijikata are surrounded by nothing but snow and barren trees again, and the samurai clearly feels the crisp cold again.]

Do we pursue them?

[They may look similar to women, but they're technically monsters... he's pretty sure they could demolish them without much difficulty, but then again who knows how many more there are in these woods besides the small group that entrapped them? They fulfilled the mission objective of finding out what's behind the strange garden of delights.]

Do you think we have the equipment or numbers to do so right now? I'll defer to you on this situation.

[He sighs and looks around them, shivering slightly at the temperature. It was like something had touched him and now he was very cold and needed to warm up. However, he wouldn't complain to Hijikata that he was cold, it wasn't a big enough deal to stop pursuit should the other want to press on.]

[Hijikata blinks in surprise at that response, then smiles. He isn't used to being treated as a trusted senior anymore (the exception being his mentee Shoto). Damn, that's sad. I totally forgot what it feels like to be allowed to lead.

He exhales and sheathes his sword.]

I say we let them run. There's no sense in getting deeper into the forest; who knows if there isn't a nest of them.

[He checks the mana meter on his phone again... it sure is more than half empty.]

Let's get out of here. You're not hurt, are you? Do you need me to warm you up?

[He's not about to turns this into a "huddling for warmth" meme; temperature control is part of his summer powers!]

[Flynn figures he who uses technology appropriately should be the one in charge. He can do the hitting if Hijikata can direct him, but he needs to know if the other things it's too risky. Also, he's used to working in a unit, and Hijikata has been there longer.]

Sounds good.

[Flynn sheaths the sword into it's holster and he turns to look at the other and he smiles.]

No, I'm not hurt, do you want to hold my hand?

[He takes off one of his gloves and holds it out to Hijikata with a small grin.]

Yeah, just for a moment.

[He grips Flynn's hand, which not only activates the usual energy flow between them but also allows him to channel his temperature regulation magic to warm his quest partner up.]

I think we earned that quest reward fair and square. They should set up detailed warning signs around this forest, honestly, and at the airship station too.

[Flynn starts to relax and thaw just a little bit by holding Hijikata's hand. He squeezes his fingers in thanks and continues to hold it as they start to move away from the coldness of the forest and head back.]

I agree. This place isn't good for unexperienced people to stumble into.

[Walking through the forest holding hands like Hänsel and Gretel would be a little mortifying with just about anyone else, but with Flynn Hijikata can take it in stride. It is nice to feel that energy flow!]

Let's stick to the fringe of the forest for the trip back. We'll definitely make it back into the Autumn Segment before sundown, then we can set up camp and be at the station in time to take the next airship home tomorrow.

[Camping with Flynn was already nice and easy-going the night before, close to the border between the Segments. On horseback they could have gotten the entire quest done in one day, perhaps, but it's a challenge to take horses on the airship...]

[Finally, Flynn doesn't feel so cold, so he gently untangles their fingers and feels very much more energetic and warmer.]

Okay, sounds like a good plan. After all, we don't know if they are following us or not. If we make it to Autumn Segment that would be a good place to pause after a little bit of a trek into Autumn.

They won't follow us if they know what's good for them.

[He takes out his cigarettes and lights one with a snap of his fingers. They'll still have to be on guard, at least until they're out of the thick of the forest, but now they can swap stories from home again for a few days until they're back in the city!]

[For some of his first few quests he was glad that he had come with Hijikata. He watched the other and held out his fist for a fist bump. They would have to do more quests together soon.]

[He gets that fist bump. It's a small gesture, but it gives Hijikata even more of a sense of being in sync with Flynn.

More quest will definitely be on the agenda!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Quest Mingle: June-July

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Should we wrap up by here?

Yup we are good here :)

🎀