fabledoath

[fabledoath]

Ashe's legs tensed in an almost instinctive manner as Minerva mentioned them. Yeah... She was on the money. His legs had been hanging entirely loose until this very moment. And that momentary press was enough for the wyvern to react, stumbling back a little and making a noise in discomfort. Shoot! He let go just as fast and saved the situation, a possible disaster turned into just a close call. His inexperience was really shining through. Note, be more attentive...

"O-Oops! Sorry! Sorry...! Okay, easy, easy..."

Part of him wanted to see if there was a way he could calm it down with... pets, or something? But that'd be reckless, so he held off, instead holding tight onto the reins without pulling. The student just waited a few more seconds to see if it calmed down. Steady... Steady...

Goddess, it must be hard to watch for a veteran.

"I'll get it right this time! Let's try this again... Like... this?"

This time though, he succeeded! Just a light squeeze, a pull, and sudden movement, but this time, it was right. It's always hard the first time, feeling like your saddle is moving under you without you, but that aside, the wyvern didn't shake him off. Wide, strong wings extended, flapping slowly but with surprising strength, lifting dust clouds below them.

They were in the air.

Green eyes opened wide, looking down. Good thing he wasn't afraid of heights. Quite the opposite. It was incredible!

"Wow... So this is how it feels!"

Don't neglect the teacher, of course! He turned his gaze to her with a smile.

"This is incredible! And you do this every day??"

How Not to Train Your Dragon

[fabledoath]

"O-Oh?"

Ashe hadn't figured he looked that tired. His hand goes up to his cheek in surprise. If only he had a mirror to check... But it makes sense. He did lose a bunch of sleep! Mareeta was right - as should be expected from one of their teachers.

"Hahah, you're probably right. I imagine I'm not as rested as I should be, but..."

There's no way that'll be a roadblock, right? Surely there's something...

"Wouldn't it be simplest to give a casual excuse? Say I had nightmares or something like that? Or that I fell off the bed and hit my head, or... something or other. People can be sleepless for any reason, it shouldn't be *that* suspicious so long as it doesn't happen again... right?"

Perhaps a bit naive, true. But being on edge about it or trying to conceal it might be more suspicious than the alternative.

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

[fabledoath]

Starter for @encantresse

Among the most recent shipment of new staves for the monastery were a few suspicious items of unknown origin that no one here recalls ordering. Worse still, the last three or four attempts to figure out how to use them have all resulted in random bursts of violence, including one full-blown fistfight and one spontaneous chair-throwing competition. That’s right - the time has come for the Academy to learn the power of the Berserk staff, whether they are ready or not! Your assistance is invaluable, be it in providing information about this sinister item or breaking up the next fight that ensues as the terrified monks attempt to master its power. [Grants Faith +1]

Magic was neverAshe's forte. Academics as a whole weren't, really - an affinity for reading stories doesn't necessarily translate to all sorts of book smarts. Not to mention he got started reading as a whole later than many of his peers...

But that doesn't mean he doesn't want to, and it also doesn't mean he's entirely useless here. He'd want to think as much, at least. If he is in fact useless, it'll sort of be his fault. Because he signed up to help with this mission by his own insistence. So he really can't afford to hold anyone back! Not that he doesn't give it his all in all the other cases already, anyway.

So, even if he can't exactly use the staves himself, he's at least here to keep the peace. From what he's heard, it's already gotten bad before, so he best be on his-

Jinxed.

A loud noise calls for his attention, near where the magic users were examining the staves. Someone's fallen over a desk for a moment, but only a moment. Even then, it's loud enough for all eyes to turn towards the source. After steadying their footing, they rise, their eyes bloodshot. They quickly turn towards the nearest person - that being, a student from the eagles, and as they lunge with their hands...

"Dorothea! Watch out!!"

The next moment, Ashe's feet move almost on their own, but it's no staff guiding these. He now stands between Dorothea and the raging student, taking the brunt of the punch on his freckled face. It's enough to make him stumble, back onto the girl he was shielding.

Ethically Questionable

[fabledoath]

Activity Tracking: Sep. 2024

New Threads:

N/A

Continued Threads:

How Not To Train Your Dragon

Destination: Flavortown

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

Skill points earned:

General Activity point (not allocated)

Skill point total: 25 Unallocated points: 7

New Classes Accessed:

N/A

Classes Mastered:

N/A

[fabledoath]

Eager to learn, Ashe kept his ears open and his eyes peeled to Minerva's instructions. The moment her hands grasped around her reins, he followed her motion - didn't seem like any special hold... He may have been just a bit nervous about messing up some seemingly inconsequential detail. But no, as she soon explained, the trick to it was the pull, apparently...?

"Of course! Let's see..."

The student didn't have the relaxed confidence Minerva boasted of, but it wasn't that bad. Ashe may be inexperienced, but he wasn't a wreck, and he could be quite calm when following instructions. So Ashe slowly continued imitating Minerva, then turning his gaze towards the wyvern to measure its reaction...

But, surprisingly, there wasn't... Much of a reaction, at all. It looked back at him briefly, or at least he thought that was what happened, and then it kept still.

"Huh...? It's... not going. But it's still not trying to shake me off. Maybe it just doesn't feel like it?" The lion's eyes went back to the instructor, for guidance.

How Not to Train Your Dragon

[fabledoath]

Maybe it's just because Forde seemed so... unassuming, but it was easy to forget that he was already a renown war hero himself. A song about him though? Goddess, that's just too cool! It does make Ashe feel a bit inadequate, like it was wrong for him to be a student at the same time as Forde...

But he also knows that, in fairness, the other is also older than him. Who knows where Ashe would be in over half a decade? He certainly has no idea. Obviously he wouldn't wish for a war or anything, but maybe he could be a knight of his own right too!

So, those ridiculous thoughts are shoved into the back of his mind, as he himself decides it should only be fuel to do better. Though there is a twinkle of fascination in his eyes at Forde.

A couple quick blinks as the question is directed at him, suddenly.

"Ah? Hmm, not yet..." Clearly all too distracted by Forde's little story, thankfully he can drink more soup now that it's cooled down a bit, and he does.

"Maybe a meat dish? Even if it's all about the harvest, I'm sure the farmers are also putting cattle to good use. I don't imagine all the food they're offering has no meat at all... Like right there! That looks like skewers! Of course, the most essential street food." His eyes catch sight of them a few stands down from the one they're by, and he already starts leading the way, being careful about what remains of the soup still.

Destination: Flavortown

[fabledoath]

Mareeta's concerns are ones Ashe shares. There was a lot of estate to search, and not exactly a lot of them. But even if there's more doubt in his heart than in hers, one thing stands true:

Regardless of if it's going to go well or not, they have to give it a try. Their best try. So they may as well go with the mindset that they'll succeed.

"Alright!" Ashe gives a quick nod, seeming reinvigorated! "There shouldn't be many servants walking around either at that hour, so it'll only be the guards. They'll probably have a lantern or another source of light too, so they should be easy enough to see coming or hide... It might take us more than one night to find something, but I'm at least fairly confident we're not getting caught."

A deep breath. Hooooh.

"Let's just act normal for the rest of the day, and... If I find out anything in passing, I'll tell you after dinner?"

Who knew that this little mission was going to become a full on espionage operation? May be good experience at least, he tells himself.

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

[fabledoath]

Activity Tracking: Aug. 2024

Hiatus Period

[fabledoath]

Activity Tracking: July 2024

New Threads:

N/A

Continued Threads:

How Not To Train Your Dragon

Destination: Flavortown

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

Skill points earned:

General Activity point (not allocated)

Skill point total: 24 Unallocated points: 6

New Classes Accessed:

N/A

Classes Mastered:

N/A

[fabledoath]

Attentively, Ashe listens and nods. Trying out as many things as he can is probably wise, actually... That way he could pick out the best things to bring back, and reduce the risk of missing out on something really special. Sure, there is the problem of viability - most places don't sell tiny portions, he imagines, but... Well, let's not give up before even trying.

He is a little surprised when Forde just goes and pays for both of them, but not for long. Forde does seem like a decent guy, even if Ashe might not know him too personally. The lion is no mooch, but he takes the cup gladly, a smile bright and wide on his face.

"Oh, thank you!"

And then, he wastes no time trying it - it's still too hot, so he recoils quickly, but then dips a piece of bread in the soup, and bites that off instead. Ashe likes vegetables well enough as is, but this soup really hits the spot. The recipe is likely not too complex, and he can likely take a guess at it it if he really tries, but the ingredients really are the kicker. So fresh!

"Mmmmm..! Is that so? Back home the town also celebrated whenever there was a particularly big haul, and my parents would use it to stock up on higher quality ingredients than usual... But I feel like even our "best year" is easily outshined by this."

Ashe blows on the soup gently, in an attempt to cool it down so he can sip properly, not wanting to use up all the bread too fast.

Destination: Flavortown

[fabledoath]

Ashe watched the instructor's explanation with interest. Wyverns were far from his strong suit, but that did not mean he had no interest in studying them. In fact, he wouldn't be on a wyvern right now if he didn't!

"I see... I can sort of see it! I wonder why..."

But, that was no reason to get distracted. Once Ashe had properly settled himself, holding tight so falling was not a risk anymore even if the wyvern somehow became agitated again, he finally gave the introduction Minerva was owed.

"A-ah, right- I'm Ashe, from the Blue Lions. I was sent here by Lord Lonato of House Gaspard, in the kingdom. And no need to apologize, really... I should've asked, if anything."

It was just as important to make his position clear, naturally. The boy may have not a single clue of Minerva's background, but she definitely had... an air to her.

How Not to Train Your Dragon

[fabledoath]

The nerves may not be fully gone, but Mareeta's attitude works wonders - this may be Ashe's first mission going along with this particular teacher, but she already has something about her that just inspires confidence, though Ashe would struggle putting it into words. It's nonetheless reassuring, prompting Ashe to take a deep breath and push his worries back, and cool his head.

"... You're right, yeah! We'll show him how big a mistake it was involving us in his plots."

That has him thinking. Okay, the Duke turning into a monster is scary and obviously dangerous, and the fact that he's keeping this side effect hidden from everyone doesn't bode well, it's clearly manipulative - but what would be the actual crime they'd pin on the man? It's not like he has done anything to anyone but himself yet...

Or has he?

"... He always prepares the ingredients for brewing by himself, so I'm thinking it's very likely he's putting something in there that he's not telling us, and it's something incriminating. That's what we should be looking for. Now... for which route to go..."

Two options... Should something so important be left up to just a coin toss? He ponders it for just a couple of seconds before shaking his head.

"I would want to avoid leaving it up to chance if we can. I think... It does look like he finished making some version of the potion, and it's possible he keeps that on himself, if he needs to have it every few hours, or every day, or something like that. Maybe the 'monster' shows up when it runs out, and he makes sure it doesn't happen during the day. Maybe." Ashe worries his lip, tilting his head. Of course, this is all conjecture, he can't rely on it, but it's still better than just... going with it.

"But, we'll probably have better results if we find the recipe itself, so we can figure out what's wrong with it by just reading it. And, that I'm fairly sure he'd keep somewhere safe, like you said. I can't imagine the Duke would want to risk it getting stolen from his person, or losing it in an accident. Especially if he hasn't made any copies out of caution. So, that option has my vote."

... He sure did go on for a bit long there. Ashe feels embarrassed when he notices that. He didn't mean to take the reins like that! He looks back at her, his eyes showing how he feels like transparent windows into his mind.

"If, uh, that works by you?"

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

[fabledoath]

Activity Tracking: June 2023

Hiatus period

[fabledoath]

Activity Tracking: May. 2024

New Threads:

Destination: Flavortown

Continued Threads:

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

Until the Seasons Change

Skill points earned:

General Activity point (not allocated)

Skill point total: 23 Unallocated points: 5

New Classes Accessed:

N/A

[fabledoath]

starter for @renaisguy

Though House Gloucester has outmatched House Ordelia the past few years, suddenly, the latter has taken back its crown as the Alliance’s leading agricultural haven, boasting production numbers never before seen by any territory in the entire continent! You arrive just in time to see such a grand harvest with every street in the region offering up the finest produce and culinary delights this season. It’s a heaven for any foodie, truly, but the new farming techniques used to encourage this growth are nothing to sneeze at either! Take a step through these fertile farmlands and see the return of House Ordelia’s finest, and, hey, why not take a sip of their famous luxury spirits while you’re here too? [Grants Lance +1]

Ordelia territory is a new frontier for Ashe! And what a first impression it's making. The boy isn't the most knowledgeable when it comes to Alliance economics, but one thing is for sure. You just don't see such grand agricultural bounty in most of Faerghus. They scrape by, to be honest. Here, though? There's plenty to go around, and then some. As far academy outings go, he's definitely lucked out with this one. No fighting with bandits, beasts, or any other manner of hostile entities... Well.

At least, not necessarily.

They will be expected to help the local guards if conflict does arise, which is entirely likely in a period of abundance. Because bandits, too, crave big bounty.

But for now, Ashe's just perusing the stalls. Fresh produce would be nice to bring back... But he has to watch his budget... And he can't just go without trying any local dishes either, right?

As indecision strikes, Ashe turns towards his partner in this task. Forde, from the Deer, who Ashe would have to imagine is having a grand old time, given how leisurely this mission is for once. He looks with those big green eyes of his up at the older student.

"Maybe we should stop standing around and actually buy something now, we're sort of in the way like this... How about you, Forde? You've been eyeing these stalls just as well, right? Anything caught your eye?"

Destination: Flavortown

[fabledoath]

On one hand, Ashe should be overjoyed that at least he wasn't alone in this endeavor. Had he been left alone with this critical information, there's no telling what would've happened - he'd be effectively cornered, like a stray cat in a den of wolves. And they're hungry. But with Mareeta here, maybe... maybe things wouldn't be so bad?

On the other hand, though... Even with her support, she was asking him to delve deeper into the den here. Into the unknown.

"Um... it's... hard not to feel nervous about it, especially when you put it like that... But... you're right, yeah. That's in my skillset. I can handle locks no problem too if I have to, so doors shouldn't be much of an obstacle unless magic gets involved."

A task that, even if slightly reluctant... he was up for. He had to be, right?

"Besides, if we don't do something about it, other innocents could get involved, so... this is probably for the best."

And that's what really mattered. He may be just a boy, he might not be the strongest in his class - far from it, even - but he knew what was right, and was willing to put himself on the line for it. He nodded, with some newfound determination, but then tilted his head with uncertainty.

"Alright, then... Hmm. How do we approach this? It'll be hard to do anything during the day, but night might be more dangerous..."

Thou Who Seeketh the Fountain of Youth

[fabledoath]

"Kinu?? Please come back... We're not supposed to get separated, remember?"

Anxious is right. Ashe isn't at all scared of the woods or hunting, for what it's worth - he understands well the need for food, and it's great for archery practice on moving targets. He'd often tag along with Lord Lonato when he went out hunting, and that's how Ashe landed on it being his main weapon of choice even before enrolling.

All that said, the boy is not exactly thrilled about the person who is meant to be his partner on this trip just... up and vanishing on him like that! Now he has to look out for prey AND for his stray partner... Ashe's a pretty patient guy, but this is a bit much even for him.

Scanning the ground yields him no results, calling out does nothing... What can he even-

"A-AH!"

And he cries out when he feels the full weight of the kitsune on his back, immediately falling over, face first. A fall he can mitigate by putting his arms in the way, and the soil is soft enough around here that he's not about to eat a rock, though not at all comfortable given the hands he's using to stop the fall are holding his bow too. More importantly, Goddess, he's finished! He just got pounced by a beast! Maybe he can turn this around somehow, try to block the bites with his bow. But... He's... Not being mauled?

And the dots connect. Poor boy is terribly confused.

"Kinu, is that you? What...? "

UNTIL THE SEASONS CHANGE.