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

[greatestgift]

"...okay..."

That sounds like a suggestion to put on the boots. She puts on the boots.

[aestrix]

The boots inform her in no uncertain (or explicable, the knowing is directionless and apparently baseless, but absolutely certain in it's truth) terms that Sable can now jump much higher, and fall further distances without injury. A sufficiently long fall will definitely still hurt her, but it's harder to do.

[greatestgift]

How convenient.

"What about this stuff?" she asks, showing him the potions.

[aestrix]

Of the blue potion: "Mana potions can be used to restore mana. Make them with two lesser mana potions and a glowing mushroom at an alchemy station."

[greatestgift]

And the rest?

[aestrix]

The yellow potion: "Spelunker potions can be used to see precious ores, gems, and other useful items through blocks. It can be made with bottled water, blinkroot, moonglow, and either platinum or gold ore at an alchemy station."

The green potion: "Night owl potions are used to improve someone's night vision. They can be made with bottled water, daybloom, and blinkroot at an alchemy station."

[greatestgift]

"Well, that sounds... less painful than using my groundsense, I guess. Are you going to tell me about all these weird herbs?"

[aestrix]

.... Silence.

[greatestgift]

"I guess not. That will make finding them interesting."

[aestrix]

"You can tell a Blood Moon is out when the sky turns red. There is something about it that causes monsters to swarm." Pause. "Hey, buddy, do you know where any deathweed is?"

[greatestgift]

"That wasn't even one of the original weird herbs! But good to know, I guess."

[aestrix]

"I am here to help."

[greatestgift]

"Uh-huh."

[aestrix]

The guide smiles, just a tad, and then it flickers away and his face is back to its ordinary emptiness.

[greatestgift]

"But weird herbs are probably lower on the priority list than going underground, right?"

[aestrix]

"You should prove yourself by defeating a strong monster. That will get the attention of a dryad."

[greatestgift]

"...Is the dryad weird-herb-related?"

[aestrix]

Shaky, puppet-like nod.

[greatestgift]

"A lot of things seem to come back to this dryad."

[aestrix]

"For a nurse to move in, you might want to increase your maximum life," offers the guide.

[greatestgift]

"Which... comes back to going underground?"

[aestrix]

"Underground are crystal hearts that can be used to increase your max life," he agrees.

[greatestgift]

"Yeah. Me and my weird frog boots will get right on that."

[aestrix]

Another smile, from the guide. "I'm here to help."

[greatestgift]

"Against all odds."