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]

"Thanks for the warning, anyway."

[aestrix]

"I am here to give you advice on what to do next." Pause. The tiniest of frowns from the guide.

The merchant calls: "-I've heard -"

"- to move in, you will need to -"

"- guy who was here -"

"- to help!"

Silence. Silence silence, silence. Slow blink from the guide. "My name is Dylan. I am your guide."

[greatestgift]

...She peers at Dylan.

"...So... your mind is busy?"

[aestrix]

"If you see a pot, be sure to smash it open. They contain all sorts of useful supplies."

[greatestgift]

"Taking that as a yes."

She goes off and starts organizing for her expedition. First she's going to have to gather a lot of platinum, which means ore hunting. While she's out there she can keep an eye out for foods that aren't blueberry or exploded rabbit, because it's important to vary one's diet. Right, goal formulated, off she goes.

[aestrix]

There are mushrooms! They are bright and yellow and have orange spots.

[greatestgift]

In the evening when she heads back home, she goes to see Dylan and shows him the mushroom.

[aestrix]

"Lesser healing potions can be made at an alchemy station, out of bottles, gel, and mushrooms," he proclaims.

[greatestgift]

"Are the mushrooms safe to eat?"

[aestrix]

"A mushroom, a goldfish, and a bowl over a cooking pot makes a bowl of soup."

[greatestgift]

"...And where do I get a goldfish?"

[aestrix]

Paaaaause.

"You can make a fishing pole with 8 blocks of wood at a workbench."

[greatestgift]

"Okay. And then I can catch goldfish. In weird cube world magic ways, or relatively normal ways?"

[aestrix]

"Some amazing things can be found deep underground. Even the ocean is a biome."

[greatestgift]

"...Do your crazy goldfish live in the ocean or is there something else going on here?"

[aestrix]

"Sword beats paper!" calls Gus.

"You need to make better armor."

[greatestgift]

"Fishing in the ocean is going to get me better things than soup? Soup is important!"

[aestrix]

"A salmon can be made into a cooked fish at a cooking pot."

[greatestgift]

"Got it."

[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.