Nari-Lanreth

Nari was used to locating the form of Nemo – the man tended to stand out against most civilised areas, the straw hat and goofy lopsided smile anything but normality among a population fighting to stay alive in most cases. More so out of place in a town that was anything but alive. She’d found the non-player character at the very edge of the town, just beyond the gates leading beyond and outwards, his stance, colourful disposition, and general personality make him stand out against everything around him. ’Hey, Nemo. How’ve you been holding up?’ She gave a small wave, the shield and spear

’I would be excited to host you!’ They carried on in silence for a time after the commentary, speaking only randomly and sporadically as they crossed to the edge of the floor. Nemo commented on various things they saw, Nari and Onora providing brief, albeit polite commentary in return. The two women allowed Nemo the chance to engage and be excited, but never pressed him into any sort of frenzy of socialness; instead, simply letting him express himself as he saw fit in the moment. At some point Onora had linked arms with Nari, and although the knightess would’ve preferred to have her weapo

’Oh! It’s good to see you again as well, it’s been far, far too long! You don’t have to stay away, or be polite you know – the garden is always open to you for visiting!’ Nari sensed a deeper, almost desperate for attention tone beneath the words and kind smile. She’d learnt during a previous encounter just how lonely Nemo often got, and though she’d maintained a resentment towards the non-player character for some time, she’d thawed enough to feel a measure of pity towards his loneliness. A feeling that she herself had gone through, and wished upon no one else – even a computer generated bein

’We’ve been a bit busy, as of late. It’s held us up from visiting as much.’ Nari side eyed the man-drake, a smile on her face and yet a coldness to her tone that was anything but cheery. She quickly added to her statement after a sharp elbow to the ribs from Onora, taking the queue to attempt to be a bit more pleasant. ’We’ve missed you and the garden, though. It was high time we came back and spent some time together, there.’ The words were anything but entirely truthful, and yet there was no lie in what she said. Nari had chosen her words carefully. Although many of the non-player chara

They’d left the town quickly, Nemo excited for the company, and Nari clearly in a rush to enter the garden and begin the trails of locating anything of value. Not that she was entirely waiting just for the garden to come into view – her hands and eyes plucking at any flowers and fruits that they passed along the way, following the road that wound deeper into the flowing fields beyond the Town of Beginning. ’It’s been some time since you visited, I was starting to wonder if you were ever going to return!’ Nemo beamed as he spoke, as if seeing an old friend for the first time in decades. Th

Nature's Treasure: Little Eden ’What was they said about overdoing things?’ Nari didn’t look over at Onora as she continued walking through the town’s streets, looking for any sign of the man-drake that would lead them to the garden. She’d heard earlier in the day that the form of Nemo had been seen roaming the first floor once more, as if taunting players to come find him – a task that Nari had been more than inclined to accept. Onora had been dragged along in the excuse of having a day away from the shop – the blonde had been attending to it with a fervor that screams oncoming burnout –

The glitter of multiple colours breached the water a single second before Nari pulled the line fully from the depths of the lake. She felt the excitement growing in her as she confirmed the collection of the fish – a rainbow trout, from the depths of the lake that contained glittering scales of multiple colours. Collecting her other assortments of fish, she turned towards the house that she had left behind mere hours ago, prepared to return to Anthony and confirm that she had completed the task at hand. Her steps were long and fast as Mio followed her through the forest; the small kitsu

Another draw backwards and another dark scaled fish at her feet. Nari glanced at the pile collecting beside her, wondering if there would be anything specific she would need to do in order to find her special fish. She didn’t think there would be, but who was she to doubt the actions of the game? ’Hey, Mio, think salmon steaks would be good for dinner? Or…cod…or whatever these things are? Fish steaks, I guess.’ She glanced down at the kitsune, seeing the single eye staring back at her with an expression that was less than enthused at having been woken up just to give an opinion on cooking

The line sudden snapped heavily in her hand, and Nari was shaken back to reality as she realised she’d drifted off in thought. She reeled in the bait and line, saddened to find nothing attached to the end of it, before releasing it back into the water. Alright, this is taking a long, long time. I feel like I’ve been here for hours already. In reality, she knew she’d barely been there an hour – but something about the relaxed activity, and the calmness of everything around her left her feeling as though it had been far longer. Sighing to herself, she confirmed the idea that she was going to be

Maybe that’s still plausible. If nothing else, the death game makes you appreciate every second a bit more…if you’re not wandering around in fear and horror at the thought of immediate execution. Nari felt herself frown. Another thought had come across her mind, and she wasn’t entirely sure how to take it as she glanced down at Mio suddenly. Is it really any more dangerous than our own world? Sure, we lived in relative safety and didn’t have to consistently fight for survive…with weapons. There was definitely fighting for survival though… Nari frowned further. She’d never been uncomfortab

Maybe they were right about something. Even a broken clock… She grinned to herself at the comparison, before remembering that it was a rude statement in the way she had thought it. Still, she couldn’t quite find it in herself to apologise for the attitude, especially seeing as it had been self-contained and not heard by anyone else. Turning her thoughts, she glanced across the lake into the woodlands beyond. The expanse stretched further than Nari could really see, and she found herself wondering at the way in which it covered and shifted. Browns and greens, mixed with various spots of co

The wind had picked up at some point, and as Nari watched the bobbing fishing line, she began to understand why people enjoyed the activity. There was a level of calmness, of peace and tranquility behind it. Perhaps not the same as pure meditation, or martial arts, but a calmness that seemed to settle over her and the land around her. The lapping of waves dulled any real thoughts, and the way in which the breeze combed through the tree line left her feeling oddly relaxed; more relaxed than she had felt in some time. Is this why everyone says to get out and fish? She thought back to many o

The line gave another jerk, and as Nari pulled in another fish – this one dark in scales, compared to the lighter scaled one she’d obtained earlier – she considered how long she would have to be sitting here. She knew that these quests always took time, though somehow she thought that the act of finding a specific fish would take even longer. Good thing I don’t have any major plans today, then. Onora will be a bit peeved though, so I’ll have to make it up to her somehow… She considered all the ways in which she could make amends, deciding that taking her newfound skills and applying them to ma

Nari let the line sit for a while, her thoughts drifting after she became bored with the entire event of fishing itself – a factor that occurred rather quickly. Her mind shifted to thoughts of the future between herself and Onora, the shop and where she was going in the next foreseeable time. She knew that she would be getting back into the main aspects of being more alive, more engaged, more…something. Whether that led her back to the frontlines and the push for freedom or not, Nari wasn’t entirely sure. ’Think we’ll make it back there, Mio?’ The small fox like creature had curled up at

The first floor was as it ever was; a mixture of busy streets, open fields and rushing non-player characters alongside players who were there for various reasons. Nari shifted through foliage as she came across the small hut, the marker leading her directly to its doorway and beyond. She knocked on the open door’s frame, calling out as she came to a stop. ’Hello? Anthony?’ A brunette covered head appeared in her view, peeking out from behind the house and waving slightly as a warm smile spread across his face. ’Over here! Anthony Gill, at your service! How can I help you out?’ Nari t

The day was already half over before she even had the chance to relax and consider her purpose beyond the crafting that needed to be done to keep up with the demand. Nari was happy that her shop was managing, but as she glanced at the long list of quests outstanding, she couldn’t help but wonder if they would need to hire some sort of assistant to run the location. ’Maybe more resource gathering would be good…though I do need some specifics for my equipment…’ Her eyes stopped on the quest that would assure she obtained what she needed, though a part of her recoiled at the thought of it. ’

Nari rolled to the side, turning away from the sunlight streaming into her room. She wanted nothing more than to return to the slumber that she had just been yanked from rudely, and although she could feel Onora shaking her again, she fought with all her effort to resist the call of the day. It was only once the voice called out that she forced her eyes open and her mind to a measure of awareness. ’If you don’t get up, I’m going to eat all your food.’ Onora’s voice and face seemed to shift into focus slowly, the words echoing in her ear as Nari tried to break free from the comfort of slu

Nari’s eyes shifted at the new direction, giving a soft nod before stepping off once more. She’d listened to the other two as they’d chatted, biding her time and trying to figure out a good place to jump into the conversation – a place that wouldn’t come across as overtly awkward or out of place. As she turned, she glanced over at the other two, recognising the subtle ways in which they each carried themselves, and the determination that still rested within their cores. She could see the more worn away core of Acanthus, but the fight still strong within the woman. ’Don’t think that those

’It tastes…of home, memories…and heart. It is a perfect impression of you, made into the tastes of home and hearth. There is heart and soul…’ Hestia spoke between bites of the meal, the movements somehow still overtly proper and presentable even while chewing. Nari waited patiently, uncertain whether she had met the goddess’s expectations, or if she was simply being placated. Silence passed between the two for a time while Hestia seemed to continue the meal – something that Nari took to be a good sign – before she spoke once more. ’Homely…hearthy…this is the type of meal that brings one, or mo

Nari plated the pieces before Hestia atop the dining table that the goddess had returned to, the slender figure glancing warmly at them and waiting. Nari stepped back once both were set down, placing her hands behind her back and immediately falling into explanation, knowing that the goddess was likely waiting to hear how these dishes were important to her – or, at least, that’s what she’d seen on cooking shows long ago. ’Today I’ve made a pairing of macaroni and cheese, with beefs and porks alongside a plating of poutine – a traditional dish, you could say, from where I come from. It co

The final touches were almost done. Nari shifted the pan once more, ensuring that the curds were well heated through, before moving them to the dish on the side of the stovetop. She carefully spread them atop the fries that were waiting, before moving back and beginning the process of the gravy itself. Seconds ticked by, turning into longer and longer minutes. She wasn’t sure why, but Nari felt rushed in the completion of her task – as though the amount of time it took was something Hestia was considering, on top of everything. A foolish notion that Nari was certain she was only placing upon h

She shifted pace suddenly, pulling the pasta dish to the side as she’d plated the first piece, the anxiety and concern overcoming her. She didn’t discard it – deciding instead to place it upon a warming plate in order to keep it aside while she worked on her most recent idea. Tools flew once more as Nari collected the various items she’d need, locating large peelers, pots and oils that would help in a deep-frying that would follow. She could see Hestia off to the side once more, watching the progress with an interested eye, as if calculating and considering the sudden change in service a

Time passed as Nari focused on the cooking of pasta, cheeses and meats. The creation was a simplistic idea – a combination of pan fried hotdogs paired with macaroni and cheese – but it had been an absolute favourite of hers as a young child; a meal that had brought much comfort, regardless of what had happened. She focused herself on the swirling pasta waters, the way in which the cheeses needed to be maintained within their roux, ensuring that it didn’t burn to the pan. She barely noticed the form of Hestia moving along behind her, watching her movements and intense focus. ’This meal…me

I need to make something. A flurry of motion took over Nari as she realised just how long she had been standing in the kitchen doing nothing but staring at the drawers. Determination set in as she began pulling random ingredients from drawers – or, at least – they seemed random to her at first. Her eyes darted, pulling pot and pan aside, looking for the various spatulas and cooking spoons that would be required. Immediately she began to fill a pot, placing the water atop the cooking surface and igniting it to bring it to a boil. The refrigerator to the side was pulled open, various cheeses and

Nari turned to look at the kitchen once more, taking in the various cutlery, pans and pots, and assorted other items that were out and prepared for her use. Her mind raced, trying to make sense of what it was Hestia was looking for her to complete. Without conscious thought, her feet had carried her to the edge of the counter, located on more modern side of the kitchen. She pulled open cabinets and drawers, looking for anything that could give her some sort of idea or incentive. A dish that speaks to my home…history and humours? Is that like a dish that I find…funny? Or is it more of a…