Arc 721, 121st of Ashan
Darius had made his own way to Sweetwine Wood for the first time in his life. He was a proud Scalvorian, but the majority of his time had either been spent in Scalvoris Town, on the Hollow Sea, or - especially since early Cylus - on Faldrass. He was proud of what had been achieved in Hopetoun, and of the resilience shown by the settlers despite their many challenges.
But it also felt good to have a brief reprieve of responsibility, and to allow himself to be led once more, and to be in the same room as a number of familiar faces made it all the more appealing.
Darius listened patiently as Chancellor Kristoff Manyon offered free tuition at the University of Scalvoris, and while he was sure it was a generous offer, the bearded blond wasn't certain that he'd take it up. He had spoken to Yeva before of his reluctance to sitting in a classroom, and he sent the redhead a quick glance, for it seemed the type of reward that would appeal to his friend.
When Felicia Du'Wintre began to speak, Darius' eyes fell upon the satchels that waited upon the table, and he felt a tingle run down the length of his spine. No matter how hard he tried, the Scalvorian was finding it difficult to ignore a nagging sense of déjà vu. The previous trial had marked exactly one arc since the Faldrass eruption, and that, too, had started off as a well-meaning expedition, with equipment resting on a table, and it felt as though history might be tempted to repeat itself.
Similarly, there were a number of faces in the meeting room that he recognised from that previous event: Balthazar, Oram, and Yeva were amongst those that were familiar. They had each received polite nods of greeting when he'd entered, but Ari'sora had not. When he heard that they were to be organised into groups with a local guide - just as they had been at Faldrass - Darius silently hoped that the half-avriel was in someone else's group. As soon as he realised that she was with Yeva, the mariner felt a pang of guilt for having selfishly wanted such a thing.
Even so, he held back as the invitation was made to collect equipment. He wanted to see if there would be any arguing over the gear, just as on the Faldrass expedition, and he only realised he'd been holding his breath when no such situation eventuated.
Darius was one of the last to step forward and collect a satchel, and he was only just beginning to rummage through its contents when the first guides entered the room and began calling the names of those in their groups.
Yeva and Ari'sora's group would be with Jasper Seams, who Darius recognised from more than an arc earlier, though he wasn't sure if the professor remembered him. Either way, this interaction seemed much more professional than their first. At least there were no bananas within reach...
By the time Alison introduced herself, there was no doubt about who would be in the group she was leading. Darius had met Bao previously, and although he wasn't sure how the cadouri would fare on such an expedition, he knew even less about the others.
"Well met," he greeted Alison, Elijah, and Zoro. "I'm Darius Baer."
He laughed at the guide's unexpected jest, noting the misfortune of the name of their destination.
"Aye, does this make us knights errant, seeking Fool's Errand?" he chuckled at his own attempt, but his own humour was cut short be Zoro's sneezing fit.
When the young man appeared to have regathered himself, Darius looked over the map as he resumed his satchel rummaging, and his fingers settled upon something cold and unfamiliar. He pulled out what initially appeared to simply be a plain piece of metal, but upon turning it over, he saw his own reflection, and realised it was a mirror. Unable to resist, he bared his teeth, and rubbed a finger across the front ones to dislodge a small piece of food that had stubbornly made its home there.
"Now they're squeaky clean," he stated to nobody in particular.
At Alison's mention of cooking, Darius chuckled again.
"I'm no cook," he openly admitted. "I don't mind travel rations, though, if pressed. I'm used to sea travel, and you sometimes don't have many tasty options! To that end, I should be able to help us navigate the waters on the way to Fool's Errand, and I've climbed a piece of rigging or two, so hopefully the trees aren't too much more difficult."
He looked to Bao, then, for the cadouri was the most likely to be their best climber - even if it took every bit of willpower to resist asking if he could lift the furry creature up onto his shoulders.
But it also felt good to have a brief reprieve of responsibility, and to allow himself to be led once more, and to be in the same room as a number of familiar faces made it all the more appealing.
Darius listened patiently as Chancellor Kristoff Manyon offered free tuition at the University of Scalvoris, and while he was sure it was a generous offer, the bearded blond wasn't certain that he'd take it up. He had spoken to Yeva before of his reluctance to sitting in a classroom, and he sent the redhead a quick glance, for it seemed the type of reward that would appeal to his friend.
When Felicia Du'Wintre began to speak, Darius' eyes fell upon the satchels that waited upon the table, and he felt a tingle run down the length of his spine. No matter how hard he tried, the Scalvorian was finding it difficult to ignore a nagging sense of déjà vu. The previous trial had marked exactly one arc since the Faldrass eruption, and that, too, had started off as a well-meaning expedition, with equipment resting on a table, and it felt as though history might be tempted to repeat itself.
Similarly, there were a number of faces in the meeting room that he recognised from that previous event: Balthazar, Oram, and Yeva were amongst those that were familiar. They had each received polite nods of greeting when he'd entered, but Ari'sora had not. When he heard that they were to be organised into groups with a local guide - just as they had been at Faldrass - Darius silently hoped that the half-avriel was in someone else's group. As soon as he realised that she was with Yeva, the mariner felt a pang of guilt for having selfishly wanted such a thing.
Even so, he held back as the invitation was made to collect equipment. He wanted to see if there would be any arguing over the gear, just as on the Faldrass expedition, and he only realised he'd been holding his breath when no such situation eventuated.
Darius was one of the last to step forward and collect a satchel, and he was only just beginning to rummage through its contents when the first guides entered the room and began calling the names of those in their groups.
Yeva and Ari'sora's group would be with Jasper Seams, who Darius recognised from more than an arc earlier, though he wasn't sure if the professor remembered him. Either way, this interaction seemed much more professional than their first. At least there were no bananas within reach...
By the time Alison introduced herself, there was no doubt about who would be in the group she was leading. Darius had met Bao previously, and although he wasn't sure how the cadouri would fare on such an expedition, he knew even less about the others.
"Well met," he greeted Alison, Elijah, and Zoro. "I'm Darius Baer."
He laughed at the guide's unexpected jest, noting the misfortune of the name of their destination.
"Aye, does this make us knights errant, seeking Fool's Errand?" he chuckled at his own attempt, but his own humour was cut short be Zoro's sneezing fit.
When the young man appeared to have regathered himself, Darius looked over the map as he resumed his satchel rummaging, and his fingers settled upon something cold and unfamiliar. He pulled out what initially appeared to simply be a plain piece of metal, but upon turning it over, he saw his own reflection, and realised it was a mirror. Unable to resist, he bared his teeth, and rubbed a finger across the front ones to dislodge a small piece of food that had stubbornly made its home there.
"Now they're squeaky clean," he stated to nobody in particular.
At Alison's mention of cooking, Darius chuckled again.
"I'm no cook," he openly admitted. "I don't mind travel rations, though, if pressed. I'm used to sea travel, and you sometimes don't have many tasty options! To that end, I should be able to help us navigate the waters on the way to Fool's Errand, and I've climbed a piece of rigging or two, so hopefully the trees aren't too much more difficult."
He looked to Bao, then, for the cadouri was the most likely to be their best climber - even if it took every bit of willpower to resist asking if he could lift the furry creature up onto his shoulders.
Inventory
Clothing (Tunic and leggings, leather gloves, leather boots)
Studded Leather Gambeson
Backpack
Satchel
Map (Southern area of Sweetwine Wood)
Torch (with oil and matches)
First Aid Kit
Rope (50' in length)
Longsword
Dagger
Compass
Waterskin
Dried food rations
Items for collecting samples
Mirror
A journal and writing utensils
A pair of weighted dice
Verminparty (Magical Flute)
Studded Leather Gambeson
Backpack
Satchel
Map (Southern area of Sweetwine Wood)
Torch (with oil and matches)
First Aid Kit
Rope (50' in length)
Longsword
Dagger
Compass
Waterskin
Dried food rations
Items for collecting samples
Mirror
A journal and writing utensils
A pair of weighted dice
Verminparty (Magical Flute)
