A whole new world

[aestrix]

There is a forest that likes to pretend that it's ordinary. It isn't, it's quite bizarre. Every night, in fact, zombies and other horrible monsters swarm this place, looking for people to kill. Not that they've found anyone, the forest itself is quite empty of residents. But they search anyway, during the night, shambling and groaning and occasionally leaving body parts lying around. Those disappear pretty quickly, but it still happens. Then the day comes, and they depart to who knows where, swearing (if mindless monsters could think, or in fact swear to anything in particular) that they'l be back the next night. Repeat ad nauseum.

It's currently in the day portion of this cycle of directionless attempts at violence. Maybe this day will be different from all of the others.

But then, probably not, it's a very boring island without anyone here.

Comments

[aestrix]

"I am here to help," says Dylan, a little primly.

[greatestgift]

She snorts.

[aestrix]

"Is there something I can help you with?"

[greatestgift]

"Well, while I'm locating an ocean to fish in, you could try to tell me whether or not the mushrooms are edible by themselves."

[aestrix]

"Keep your health up by consuming healing items," says Dylan, with a significant look to the mushroom.

[greatestgift]

"I will take that as a yes. If it turns out to make me hallucinate I'm going to be annoyed. If it turns out to kill me I suppose I won't get the chance."

It doesn't feel like any toxic mushroom she's encountered, but it doesn't feel like any mushroom she's encountered, and she knows enough about mushrooms to be wary.

[aestrix]

"I am here to help," sniffs Dylan.

[greatestgift]

"All right, all right."

She eats the mushroom and does not immediately keel over or start seeing stranger things than usual.

[aestrix]

It has the texture of a mushroom, and it sort of tastes like one, too. But it's sweeter, and there's a warmth that spreads to her limbs after eating it, sort of like a hot drink. Except the mushroom itself wasn't hot. For a few seconds, groundsense hurts just a little less. It's not as strong as the campfire, but it's still nice.

[greatestgift]

"...Magical healing mushrooms. How nice."

[aestrix]

"Stars fall all over the world at night," says the person on the other side of Dylan, almost wryly.

[greatestgift]

"...Are the stars nice too? Should I be putting up with the corpses more often to collect them?"

[aestrix]

"If you gather 5 fallen stars, they can be combined to create an item that will increase your magic capacity."

[greatestgift]

"That does sound useful. Whatever a magic capacity is. I guess I'll find out."

[aestrix]

"If you see one, be sure to grab it because they disappear after sunrise."

[greatestgift]

"So I've heard."

[aestrix]

"That's me," says Dylan. Is. Was that humor? From the NPC? Probably.

[greatestgift]

...Sable snorts.

"Well, off to plan a fishing expedition, I guess. Unless you have any more wisdom for me."

[aestrix]

"If you want a merchant to move in, you will need to gather plenty of money." Pause. "Your ne-xt ssss-tehep should be to explore the corrupt chasms."

[greatestgift]

"I should take one of the merchant's nets along? What do they do, anyway?"

[aestrix]

"You ca-n use your pickaxe to dig through Dirt, and your axe to chhh-op down trees."

[greatestgift]

"Catch things. But not in a fishing way?" she guesses.

[aestrix]

Haltingly, robotically, some mix of a puppet and a zombie, Dylan moves his hand to the table, then across it. He wiggles his fingers as he does, hand palm-down. It looks like a scurrying motion.

[greatestgift]

"Catch creepy crawly sorts of things? Such as I might use for fishing bait?"

[aestrix]

Puppet-nod.