Open Log: The Two Faced Forest

[brosif]

Characters: Sif and anyone interested in ~*~Quests~*~ and rewards!
Open? Yes, to those who want to join the ~*~Quest~*~
Where: Outskirts of the forest.
When: Noon
What: A research trip: checking out reports of the thorns that grow overnight and the beast that lives there. When the sun goes down, so does Shit.
Warnings: It is completely possible to have your character attend both this thread AND the ball, so long as they cut out before dusk. If it seems like your character can't hold their own against a threat, Sif may encourage them to leave (but whether they listen or not is up to you). Relatively open format: Thread hopping and mingling highly encouraged!



Sif waited on the edge of the forest, near the stables. It looked lovely in daylight, but she had heard tales enough of the land’s danger when the sun went down.

She wasn’t in full armor, only chain mail. It was something that she might have come to regret, but the weight of the armor they had to offer here was too restricting. Better fast than untouchable, as she suspect the thorns didn’t care about a few extra inches to eat through.

Comments

[sorcerous]

He appears next to her.

Appears, having used illusion and magicking to disguise his approach. Sweeps from shadow to presence, as suddenly as when he'd first learned to teleport himself.

(He would not think too hard on his decision to come with her; he'd decided long ago to explore the forest at night, and now was as good a time as any. That it was Sif meant nothing.)

"Prince," he says, his tone ever-so-neutral, ever-so-careful. He had no need to put scorn in his voice -- she would know to read the scorn regardless.

[brosif]

Sif is unsurprised by the way in which Loki appears. If the man could make a spectacle out of the act of breathing, he would. But that he comes at all is a genuine surprise to Sif.

“Wizard,” she returns. If he wants to use titles, so be it.

[sorcerous]

He seethes at the title, his mouth thinning.

"As this is your quest," he says, "perhaps you would care to tell me how you would prefer me. A bird? A beast? A spider? -- You notice I only offer alternatives that leave me without speech, as I know how troublesome words can be for you."

[brosif]

Sif is unbothered – he called her prince first, when he knows her true name well enough.

“Perhaps something without ears,” she says, sweetly enough. “For it will be a long day, and there seems to be nothing I can say that will not leave you unsettled.”

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura initially hadn't been too sure about the outing. He hadn't been especially useful in the last two and didn't want to start being a burden on people.

Then he'd tried to leave the house and found himself hiding from airheaded girls in dresses clambering for dates, worse than the previous days and decided that even if there was a chance of being useless, he would much rather be out in the forest than having to barricade himself at home!

Staff in hand he some how managed to run, dodge and hide his way out to the edge of city and out into the fields leading to the forest. "AaaAaa! That even in a place like this there would be fanclubs..." he lamented, flopping down to sit on the ground, not even noticing Sif standing there as his shoulders slumped.

[brosif]

“I’m not entirely sure what that word means,” Sif said, staring down at the boy. “But if you are referring to the townspeople clamoring for dates, excusing yourself to perform services to the crown seems to be socially acceptable enough.”

Sif had been dealing with pressure on her own side to pick a partner. She’d rather have the thorns.

[shiromadoushi]

Bakura blinked up before looking utterly sheepish as he nodded. "I'm really not good with girls... and I'm starting to think they can tell!" he half sighed, shaking his head slightly. "They don't let me even say anything..."

[brosif]

“Insult them,” Sif suggests, gamely. She knows a few things about warding off unwanted suitors. “Tell them you find them boring to converse with and tedious to look upon. If they are feminine women, insult their femininity.”

[shorterinperson]

Alanna left for the thorns a good while before the rest of the group in order to catch up with Eagle Vision, outfitted with a sword, several light knives, an axe and the smallest suit of armor she could find. None of the leather gear at the castle fit her, or she would have much preferred that.

Intent on meeting with the rest of the group before beginning her investigations, Alanna waits with her horse at the village nearby where they had talked about meeting.

[brosif]

Sif recognizes the woman from her introduction, and is pleased enough to see that her appearance, at least, matches up to expectations: practical and ready to work. She walks up to Alanna, placing a fist over her chest in the standard greeting of the Aesir.

“Sir Alanna. I am The Lady Sif, of Asgard.” Her clothes speak enough of the station granted here – prince – but Sif is rarely in like company and would prefer to use her true name in it.

[shorterinperson]

"A pleasure to meet you in person, Lady Sif," Alanna replied formally, though clearly not with the ease of practice. She removed the gauntlet from her right hand and offered it to shake, hoping only that the culture of Asgard included such a gesture and she wouldn't look like a fool.

[brosif]

Hand shaking was not such the custom in Asgard, given its origins. The Aesir had no need to check one another for weapons when they all carried them so openly. Still, Sif had been to other realms often enough to recognize the gesture and return it in kind. She grasped Alanna’s hand firmly, clearly glad of the company.

“I see that you come prepared. It would seem that the thorns respond to attack, so today is primarily a mission to gather information. However, the forest at night crawls with danger, and I have every intention of staying long past daylight.”

The fact that such an endeavor would keep her from the social events of the evening was not a point that had gone unconsidered.

[goldeneyeball]

Money...

Danger...

Money...

He reminded himself of the money. He'd been spat out in this God-forsaken place for a reason. Maybe actually doing something would get him a ticket home. The wizard in purple stalked through the grass towards the stable, puffing as he did so like a man twice his age. Turned out magic practice really took it out of you. That and it was a hell of a ways to walk! When he spotted the woman from the Orb he gave her a tired half-wave.

"I'm here about the thorny information quest thing. With the reward at the end." He thought he should add that just in case she forgot.

[brosif]

Unlike Alanna, Sif’s initial impression of the wizard had not been ideal. Meeting him in person inspired little confidence. If the walk itself tired him so – in daylight, with no foes to meet – how much use could he be? She nods, acknowledging the wave.

“Yes. Should we find any useful information. First, we will interview those who live nearby. Then, those who are able to will stay in the forest past sunset, to see what dangers arise at night.”

[goldeneyeball]

James stood before her and did his best to stand up straight. If you looked like a slacker you didn't get paid. Working at Clausele's had taught him that.

"Right." He looked around the area. It didn't seem that populated to him. "I come form a place where people like to pretend that kind of thing doesn't exist...this interview thing might be tough."

[brosif]

“But you are in a place now where such a thing does exist. The sons of many of these men are off fighting the thorns. Perhaps those around you will have more to say on the matter than you expect.”

Sub Thread: Interviews

[brosif]

[If your character is going to head out and interview a townsperson, this is place to do it! Feel free to respond OOCly with any questions.]

[thequestgiver]

[[there are plenty of villagers about, some which will give any hero type a bit of a side eye as they go about the normal business, whatever it may be. There's a withered old lady who looks like she'll talk for years at you, a harried looking young man hauling a sack, a mother of two young children who won't stand still, a middle aged man taking a break from his work to smoke a pipe, and a young maiden who is batting her eyes at you. Yes, even if you're female.]]

[shorterinperson]

[ Alanna, of course, is most comfortable talking to the man smoking a pipe. She gives him a very masculine nod. ]

Mind if I join you?

[brosif]

[Sif hovers in the background. Less of a diplomat, she is happy to let Alanna do the talking.

Still, her hand is on the hilt of her swords. There are many kinds of diplomacy.]

[Just pretend this is from the mod account ^^;;;]]

[shiromadoushi]

[[He eyes her slightly and shrugs]] Don't mind. Don't mind much of anything these days. You smoke? [[offers her the pipe]]

The Forest in Daylight

[brosif]

[Want to inspect the Two-Faced Forest in broad daylight? Feel free to do so here.]

The Forest at Night

[brosif]

[When the sun goes down, so does any gurantee of safety. So naturally, some people are going to want to check that out. Subthreads are encouraged, but we should also consider putting together a posting order.]

[brosif]

Sif walked cautiously; hand on the hilt of her sword. It would not do to attack the forest outright – they had learned as much from the white-haired-man’s orb the day before. All the same, now was the time to be on guard.

“I plan to patrol overnight. If you are not able to join me, now is the time to go. I thank you for the time you have already spent here today.”

[[ooc: Feel free to tag in if your character is staying overnight, and we’ll establish a posting order from there.]]

[sorcerous]

Loki does not move. He has been steady and silent, this day, curtailing his tongue in favor of watching, listening, gathering any information he may have about his companions.

Now, he stands his ground, his gaze level at Sif.

He is not going.