If there was one thing you could count on about Darius Strikestone, it was that he was always ready for a tale or two.
This is exactly why he strides into the library with his head held high, his best performer aura present as he approaches the cat Agnes had suggested the guildmembers talk to. A canary bird sits on his shoulders.
“Hello, good to meet you. My name is Darius Strikestone, I’m an adventurer of the Wayseeker’s Guild,” he introduces himself and nods towards the bandana tied to his tail. “I take it that you were looking for tales of grand adventure, yes?”
Darius places his paws in and leans in close to Will. “Well, do I have the tale for you!”
“See, it all started when we went to the Forest of Stones. Notorious place, isn’t it? Well, my team and I, we bravely ventured through the place even if the forest itself tried to resist us. You’ve undoubtedly heard how the forest seems to be… alive, in a way. It doesn’t want travelers there, and it shows. Luckily, I was there to make sure my team doesn’t fall into despair!”
Although that isn’t necessarily… true… Darius says it with the utmost certainty.
“And there was this meadow, you’ll like this one. The plants were infused with magic, and no matter where a cat stepped, they either dropped into deep sleep, got snatched up by thorny vines – or teleported across the meadow, if you’ll believe it! My team was in dire straits! Luckily, the meadow must have sensed I’m a friend of all things magical – I’m a magician, after all – and I walked through the meadow without a scratch! There was a rosebush in the center of all things, a ferocious thing, really. While I and another of our team bravely battled the thorny monster – see, it ripped my coat, dreadful thing! – another teammate of mine snatched the Laurelstone that was, apparently, powering the rosebush and the whole meadow. And then, my friend. Then…”
He pauses dramatically before gesturing with great urgency, “A Boundless appeared! Luckily, thanks to our bravery and quick wit, we were all safe and sound.”
Without elaborating, Darius moves on. “Oh, and that night, we saw strange specters! Ghosts of catfolk from times gone by! I got the sense we were somehow special from that encounter…”
Darius falls quiet for a moment, contemplative. Then, he grins. “We also saw a magical squirrel. And a hawk stole my teammate’s sword, so I’d be wary of any animal that hails from the Forest. And then, then there’s the many, many Boundless…”
His gleeful tale slowed down then and halted entirely. He seemed to think for a moment on what to say. As he thought more about how the expedition ended, he grew pale. The cavern haunted him still, the Boundless, the shining Laurelstone and… and… He didn’t want to talk about it after all.
Finally, he grins. “Well! We fought bravely and came back home. That, uh, that’s about it! I, uh, do have to caution you: don’t go wandering in the Forest. We’re experienced adventurers, and we barely got out of there alive.”
He chuckles awkwardly there, then he pats the table happily. “And there it is! Our grand tale of heroics! Have a good day, my friend, and do be careful! You can count on the Wayseekers to guard your path!”
He accepts any reward with a gleam in his eyes and he leaves with the same flourish as he came in with. There is a thoughtful, almost troubled expression on his face, though. The canary that has been sitting on his shoulder snuggles closer to him in a gesture of comfort.
Canis
If there was one thing you could count on about Darius Strikestone, it was that he was always ready for a tale or two.
This is exactly why he strides into the library with his head held high, his best performer aura present as he approaches the cat Agnes had suggested the guildmembers talk to. A canary bird sits on his shoulders.
“Hello, good to meet you. My name is Darius Strikestone, I’m an adventurer of the Wayseeker’s Guild,” he introduces himself and nods towards the bandana tied to his tail. “I take it that you were looking for tales of grand adventure, yes?”
Darius places his paws in and leans in close to Will. “Well, do I have the tale for you!”
“See, it all started when we went to the Forest of Stones. Notorious place, isn’t it? Well, my team and I, we bravely ventured through the place even if the forest itself tried to resist us. You’ve undoubtedly heard how the forest seems to be… alive, in a way. It doesn’t want travelers there, and it shows. Luckily, I was there to make sure my team doesn’t fall into despair!”
Although that isn’t necessarily… true… Darius says it with the utmost certainty.
“And there was this meadow, you’ll like this one. The plants were infused with magic, and no matter where a cat stepped, they either dropped into deep sleep, got snatched up by thorny vines – or teleported across the meadow, if you’ll believe it! My team was in dire straits! Luckily, the meadow must have sensed I’m a friend of all things magical – I’m a magician, after all – and I walked through the meadow without a scratch! There was a rosebush in the center of all things, a ferocious thing, really. While I and another of our team bravely battled the thorny monster – see, it ripped my coat, dreadful thing! – another teammate of mine snatched the Laurelstone that was, apparently, powering the rosebush and the whole meadow. And then, my friend. Then…”
He pauses dramatically before gesturing with great urgency, “A Boundless appeared! Luckily, thanks to our bravery and quick wit, we were all safe and sound.”
Without elaborating, Darius moves on. “Oh, and that night, we saw strange specters! Ghosts of catfolk from times gone by! I got the sense we were somehow special from that encounter…”
Darius falls quiet for a moment, contemplative. Then, he grins. “We also saw a magical squirrel. And a hawk stole my teammate’s sword, so I’d be wary of any animal that hails from the Forest. And then, then there’s the many, many Boundless…”
His gleeful tale slowed down then and halted entirely. He seemed to think for a moment on what to say. As he thought more about how the expedition ended, he grew pale. The cavern haunted him still, the Boundless, the shining Laurelstone and… and… He didn’t want to talk about it after all.
Finally, he grins. “Well! We fought bravely and came back home. That, uh, that’s about it! I, uh, do have to caution you: don’t go wandering in the Forest. We’re experienced adventurers, and we barely got out of there alive.”
He chuckles awkwardly there, then he pats the table happily. “And there it is! Our grand tale of heroics! Have a good day, my friend, and do be careful! You can count on the Wayseekers to guard your path!”
He accepts any reward with a gleam in his eyes and he leaves with the same flourish as he came in with. There is a thoughtful, almost troubled expression on his face, though. The canary that has been sitting on his shoulder snuggles closer to him in a gesture of comfort.
2023-02-14 11:08:33
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