[F17 | SP] A Kernel of Truth and Doubt | <<Challenge of Olympus: Forager>>

[Acanthus 0]

“Hey, that’s ok. We all experience the game in different ways. Nothing I believe can be proven—same goes for you.” Titania laughed. “In some strange way, it's just like how people in the real world quibble about the afterlife. Everybody has strong opinions about what happens, but no one can really prove it. At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to cling to some semblance of comfort before the inevitable end.” The conversation died awkwardly as Acanthus found some more cornflowers to pick through. Just like the first batch, they withered under her hand.

Titania made an excited noise. “Oh goodie, another one!” Another quest icon appeared in Acanthus’ HUD. The two both rushed over to the items, picked them up. Then looked at each other.

“It’s kind of odd—”

“—that we’re getting these around the same time.” Titania finished. “I’m starting to think maybe it’s not a joke, or a test, but a secret, third thing.”

“We’re all getting the same number of kernels, it looks like. But the player that donates the most to Demeter wins.” Titania scratched her head. “Aw damn, it’s one of those ‘secret test’ things, isn’t it? It’s not really about who gets the most Alethia kernels. Or maybe it’s one of those heavy-handed teamwork lessons, and we have to choose who donates the kernels.”

Spoiler

Post Action: Gathering Materials
ID 228320 | LD 6 + 3 = 9. Failure.
EXP 205/299

 

Edited August 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

She hoped Titania was wrong, and looked desperately around the meadow for more kernels. Aside from a few loose materials buried in the loose earth, she found nothing.

“I’m afraid you’re right.” Titania smirked, “we could always have a friendly duel for who gets them.” Acanthus shot her a look, and Titania took a step back. “I’m kidding, I’m kidding!.. But still, how are we supposed to decide who turns these in?” Titania threw her arms up in exasperation. “Ugh, this is so frustrating! Why would they program a quest that is guaranteed to fail most of the participants?”

“It really is quite odd,” Acanthus observed. Titania clasped her hands together and bowed her head. “Acanthus, I know you only just started to like me again. And I’m so sorry to ask you for such a huge favor. But please, please, can I have the kernels? My guild really needs me to level up my foraging so I can help stock items for the next field boss. If I go home without the quest rewards, we’re gonna have to wait forever for the next spawn!”
 

Spoiler

Post Action: Gathering Materials
ID 228321 | LD 20 + 3 = 23. Success! (1) material gained. (9) materials total.
EXP 214/299

 

Edited August 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

The meadow was silent, save for the chirping of a few grasshoppers. The golden sun above was starting to drop down to the horizon. The competition would be ending soon, and Acanthus needed to make a decision. She bought herself some time with a final foraging attempt.

Acanthus regarded Titania. She’s always been pushy, but never particularly needy or demanding. And she doesn’t seem like the type to beg for every last advantage or handout. She sighed. “That’s fine. I accepted this quest on a whim, and I didn’t have much to do today anyways. I’ll just complete it the next time I have a day off.”

Besides… I think there’s more going on here than Demeter indicated. “We can save the speeches for when you all return, successful in your task.” I think there’s a chance for everyone to succeed… I’m just not sure how yet.

Titania exploded with glee. “Acanthus, you are amazing! Oh, I could kiss you!”

“Please don’t.”

Edited August 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

As the two walked back, Titania stopped them. “Wait, I think I can pay you back quickly.” Acanthus raised an eyebrow, and Titania continued. “One of my guildmates, he said that when he was on this quest, he was able to find a treasure chest around here. Said he even got a gleaming scale out of the thing.”

Acanthus looked around. It didn’t seem like the place for a treasure chest to spawn, but she had to admit she hadn’t ever looked for one before. “Lead the way.” Titania began to wind through the meadow, searching over rocks  and behind trees. “I know he said it was around here… Maybe, back here? I dunno…” 

After ten minutes of the two of them looking, Titania frowned sheepishly. “Sorry, Acanthus. I really thought chests were kind of a ‘stay in place’ thing. But I guess it makes more sense for them to spawn and despawn.”
 

Spoiler

Post Action: Searching for Treasure Chest
ID 228322 | LD 7 + 3 = 10. Failure.

 

Edited August 25 by Acanthus

[Acanthus 0]

The two found their way back to camp. Judging by the defeated looks of most of the players, Acanthus could tell who had received the Alethia kernels and who had not. As the final groups trickled into the hall, Demeter greeted them.

“My radiant sunflowers, I understand the kernels were in short supply today. I apologize for that! If you don’t have many, or any, don’t fear. There’s always next time. Will all of you please line up and present your offerings?

This is just humiliating. The players lined up, and all watched as they took turns placing their seeds into Demeter’s Cornucopia. Some players dropped one or two; a few of the luckier players dropped in a dozen seeds. The reaction of the other players on those teams ranged from dejected to bittersweet. Acanthus passed by the Cornucopia; her and a few others had nothing to contribute. Demeter gave her a quick glance as she passed by, and Acanthus’ face burned with embarrassment.

The last player dropped his six seeds into the Cornucopia, and Demeter put her hands on her hips. “Great job everyone. Before the test is over, I need you all to meet with your assigned Nymphs for debriefing. They’ll tell you what to do next.”

Acanthus and Titania approached Argo outside the great hall. He was busy weaving a lei out of seaweed.

[Acanthus 0]

Argo draped the lei around Titania’s neck. She thanked him and immediately started to fidget with it. As she wandered off to talk to some of the Nymphs, Argo leaned in with an air of conspiracy. “So, Acanthus. How come you didn’t get any kernels?” She felt the heat rising in her face yet again. He gave her a conciliatory face. “It’s not like that, girl! No judgment here. Just want a truthful answer.”

The answer began to dawn on Acanthus slowly. “I… Titania and I found the same number of kernels. We were afraid that we wouldn’t have enough between the two of us, so we agreed to let her have all of them in the hopes that one of us would succeed.” Argo raised a bright green eyebrow. “So you agreed? No forcing you or anything?” Acanthus shook her head. “Yes, I mean, no. It was totally agreed. I’ve been in a rut anyways, so I thought I could just come back and do it again later.” Argo smiled proudly. “No need, you passed. Congratulations.”

[Acanthus 0]

Titania and Acanthus were once again on the boat, headed back. It was twilight; they had spent the entire evening at Demeter’s banquet, celebrating their victory. Titania was still animated.

“What a lousy trick!” She smiled from ear to ear. “Lousy and brilliant! I never thought the game would lie to us in an attempt to goad us into telling the truth!” Acanthus smiled back. She was glad that Titania had passed. After Argo released Acanthus, he tracked down Titania to ask the same questions. Titania had answered truthfully as well; she admitted that she hadn’t found them all on her own, and without Acanthus, she would have only had half the kernels. Apparently, that was exactly what Demeter wanted to hear.

“Making it so the people that gave away the kernels had an easier truth to share was a little devious. I mean, all the players that gave away their kernels were happy to explain why they’d done it.” On the other hand, some of the players that had donated the most kernels had not been present at the banquet. She wasn’t sure if that meant they had lied about how they got them, or if they had coerced their party into giving up their kernels. It didn’t matter. She and Titania had passed, and so they celebrated.

The celebration was much more to Acanthus’ liking. It was a humble affair, with about 20-30 nymphs and the dozen or so players that had passed. There were no speeches; Demeter had simply offered them a toast of barley beer as the feast began. “To those who remain true to themselves and their friends!” The players cheered in response, and from there, the night turned into an exciting, loud blur. Acanthus swore she saw someone that looked like Dionysus drop by for a little while. In the few moments the party started to overwhelm Acanthus, she wandered outside to find some peace and quiet in the setting sun. Sometimes Titania joined her; other times, she continued on with the revelry inside.

Back on the boat, Acanthus and Titania basked in a contented silence. The waves of the ocean lapped at the trireme as it bore them back toward home.

“Titania?”

“Yea?”

“...Do you think we would be friends in real life?”

“Maybe. I’m a pretty different person IRL.” The sky had grown dark enough that Acanthus could only see the outline of Titania as she leaned on the other side of the boat.

“I see. I feel like I’ve changed some as well.”

One by one, stars emerged to dot the night sky.

Titania leaned back, the silhouette of her face turned upwards. “It’s beautiful. Even if it means nothing, it’s beautiful.” Something about her tone made Acanthus sad. “Titania, when we all get out of the game, I don’t care if it’s been two years or twenty. I’d like to come and visit you.”

Titania’s gaze remained locked on the stars. Acanthus wished she could see her face. “I’m not sure that’ll ever happen.”

“Weren’t you saying—”
                                      “—that we’re all going home, one way or another?” Titania’s hand reached up to her face, and dropped back to the railing. “I guess I did say that.” Turning to look out over the ocean, Titania said, “I just… I don’t know. I don’t want you to get your hopes up. The only reason I'm still here is because I've accepted that the game doesn’t owe us hope. Everyone I met that thinks otherwise… the game breaks them. Little by little, that hope wears them down, like a sharp pebble in their hiking boot.”

“I just wish everyone could see this game the way I see it. A big, fucked up mess without any hope.” Titania’s voice hitched on the last sentence. “that freedom makes the game worth playing.”

The conversation died off, and a sense of uncertainty unsettled Acanthus. All these weeks of growth, but she wondered how firm her convictions actually were. And part of her believed that Titania was in the same boat as her.

[Acanthus 0]

THREAD SUMMARY

• Experience: [Quest: 500] [Word Count: 5270/10 = 527] * [True Tier: 3] * [Group Factor: 1] = 2,081 * 2 (New Player Event) = 4,162 EXP                                    
• Col: 400 (One Page) = 400 col
• Quest Item: Demeter's Cornucopia | Gathering Tool | Bountiful: +1 CD when using foraging skill
• Foraging: (9) materials

Edited August 25 by Acanthus