A fine day for pelts, and friends.[Tessia, Artemisia]

[Tessia]

Stalking her fourth rabbit, Tessia crouched low in the brush and watched it dart about.  All of the others had already been killed by her swift bow and ax.  It was darting about uncertainly as Tessia knocked another arrow and sat still, activating Fatal Ambush once again and marking the Rabbit for death.  The skill was quite useful with her bow as it allowed for range and a massive amount of damage against the little critters.  She was mainly using it to gauge from 100% mana, how many times she could use Fatal Ambush until she ran out.  So far, thanks to her high mp as a Ritual, she had been able to wipe out three Rabbits before restoring her energy.

Watching the Rabbit finally stop moving, Tessia felt the ping in her mind that Fatal Ambush was ready to be set off.  In one fluid motion she stood, drew up the bow and fired her shot right at the Rabbit.  It looked at her strangely in just enough time as the projectile ran through its tiny head.  Exploding into coins and a pelt item, she nodded and put her bow away.  Marching on over and retrieving her bounty, she really did feel like she was back home, hunting for the nights meal and her new coat.  Hearing someone approach, Tessia placed one hand on her ax pommel and watched in the clearing.  She was still aware of Pk's going on and some vicious fights too, she waited half visible as she leaned against a tree.  Mainly to conceal that her arm was bent and holding onto her weapons handle.

[Deleted]

Artemisia had finally overcome her discomfort about leaving the sanctity of the town. Through a few adventures here and there, the blonde fox tail had successfully pulled herself up enough levels that she felt safe enough to step into the forests. Even still, she did not travel far. Although she had made progress, she was still agonizingly weak compared to some she knew. Her class was notorious for their low defense and should she find herself ambushed by too many monsters at once, it was sure to be trouble. She still preferred to tag along with someone rather than venture out alone. Today, however, was special. She wanted to try her hand at making something new. It wasn't for any particular reason that she desired it other than her own urges. She knew the only way she would truly be satisfied would be by going out and gathering the necessary ingredients herself. Anything else simply wouldn't cut it and she would continue to agonize over the taste she desired. She wasn't completely confident her skill as a Chef was up to the task but she was willing to try over and over again until she got it right... a perfect, sweet berry jam.

A little bit of poking around with the store owners in the town had led her to this particular section of the Windsor Greatwood. Each and everyone had spouted the same information... this was the best place to find the sweetest and plumpest berries. Artemisia strode through the woods with her staff swinging by her side in her right hand. Her long pigtails bounced and swished along with each step she took. She was humming, slightly off key, a melody she couldn't quite recall and so every so often she skipped over a few parts, picking it back up once she remembered the tune. Just as she was about to transition to her next song, a small clearing popped up into her view. She looked up and to her right, activating her map for a quick moment to confirm this was indeed the place she had been directed to.

Artemisia pushed her way passed two trees and stepped out into the tiny clearing. All about she could see bushes loaded with delicious looking berries. Her green eyes sparkled as she thought about how much jam she could make. Ideas bounced around her mind, wondering what else she could make with all of the extra berries she was sure to have. A berry tart, a refreshing berry flavor-infused drink, maybe even... some kind of pie? The possibilities suddenly seemed endless to the sweet tooth driven girl. She walked over and kneeled down beside one of the bushes, about to begin gathering them, when a faint sense of unease creeped up on her. Her tiny fox ears twitched and listened but she simply didn't have the skills or the ability to tell if someone was nearby, other than her own intuition. Chances are it was a low leveled monster but just in case, she glanced around the clearing. There was no one or thing obvious to her. She squeezed her hand around her staff and spoke evenly, "Is there someone there? If so, come out, I will not attack you so long as you do not attack me." She felt a little silly speaking into the empty forest but it was better safe than sorry in her mind. She waited quietly for a moment, her green eyes darting back and forth for any sign of a monster or Adventurer.

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Notes: Artemisia's got such a sweet tooth!

Words: 590

[Tessia]

She hated it and loved it at the same time.  Such nice sights in this game and yet, she had to keep her distance at first and watch.  The lone Sorcerer picking berries and milling around looking for more.  She was a real sucker for blondes, and had to keep herself from staring too long less she step on a twig.  After assuring herself that this player was alone, she slipped away her battle ax she had out, feeling stupid and silly thinking she would attack her.  Listening to what she had to say made it even more apparent, stupid and really silly indeed.

Standing up abruptly she waved and adjusted her battle ax's strap on her back  and tugged down her face mask,  "Hey.  Sorry about that but Pk'ers usually target this spot for easy marks.  Though, that was awhile ago.  My name is Tessia Meier.  Assassin, Tracker, Hunter for hire.  And you are?"  she stepped up to the girl and extended her hand, hoping she hadn't already scared the girl with her appearance.  The marks all along her arms, collarbone, and forehead marking her a Ritual.  They seemed to shimmer even more than the usual silvery color as Tessia walked up too the Mage.

"You seem fairly leveled for a new player though.  Spent some time in the city?"  she said, being sure to keep a respectful distance but with her hand out in a gesture of friendship.  It had been awhile since she got to just talk to another girl, let alone have the chance to make a good friend.  Offering a genuine smile that she hopped didn't look absolutely goofy on her face she awaited the girls response.

[Deleted]

It didn't take long for the source of her unease to appear before her. She had, surprisingly, been correct in her guess that she was not alone in the clearing. From behind a nearby tree, what appeared to be a female Adventurer stepped out. Artemisia looked her over once and couldn't help but notice she was adjusting a weapon on her back. I'm sure she was just being cautious. I did the same thing, after all... She thought to herself, relaxing her grip on her staff slightly. She neither trusted or distrusted this new arrival. "Hey. Sorry about that but Pk'ers usually target this spot for easy marks. Though, that was awhile ago. My name is Tessia Meier. Assassin, Tracker, Hunter for hire. And you are?" This new being introduced herself, quickly informing Artemisia not only of her name but of her class and subclass.

Artemisia, who was still partially kneeling, stood up quickly as Tessia approached her. Despite standing at her full height, she was still several inches shorter than the Assassin woman in front of her. "My name is Artemisia... Sorcerer class and chef, kind of," She hesitated at calling herself a chef. She hadn't had much success in raising her cooking skill despite having chef as a subclass. Or rather, it was more appropriate to say she simply hadn't had a reason to raise it. Until recently, she had been spoiled by the easily swayed hearts of men. Her new determination to get out there and experience the world she was now living in was only beginning and today was set to mark the start of her journey to conquer her Chef subclass. Regardless, the petite girl reached her hand out, grabbed Tessia's and shook it a few times before releasing it and returning her arm to her side. After the introductions were through, Tessia posed a question.

"You seem fairly leveled for a new player though. Spent some time in the city?" Artemisia's tail swished behind her as she considered this. She was not ashamed of how she had survived in the game until now but she could truly see no benefit for divulging the information to someone she had she met. However, she assumed the woman was referring to her clearly cheap weapon, clothing and armor. It was all rather "first day" stuff. She was hoping to get it replaced soon but in some ways she didn't hate it. Who was going to attack her when she obviously had nothing worth stealing?

"Yeah, I guess you could say that..." She smiled at the person in front of her but quickly changed the subject. "So, Tessia, what brings you out to this part of the forest? You probably saw me, I'm hoping to gather as many of these berries as I possible can," She gestured to the shiny berries on the bushes around them. "If you're here for them, too, we might have to have that fight after all," She laughed as she spoke, making it clear she was saying this teasingly. She mentally tallied up the people she knew in this game and quickly came to the conclusion that her encounters had, thus far, been almost exclusively with men. A few of these men popped to her mind ahead of the others but even after some digging through her memories, she was coming up empty for females. Well, perhaps this person would adjust that for her and help her balance out her friends list.

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Notes: I accidentally deleted half of this once and had to start over x.x Any specific direction you want to take this in?

Words: 579

[Tessia]

"Well, I came out here to gather pelts for a People of the Land merchant.  Since they cant seem to be bothered to go hunt Fremric Rabbits themselves, they usually hire Trackers for it.  I was just finishing up and was about to head back.  Care too join me?"  She smiled as she said it, hoping to at least appear friendly and not a complete goof.  Considering she was sure she looked so silly with that smile on her face.  "I figure once I turn them in, we could walk about the City maybe?  That's....if you feel like it of course.  I could use a break from all of the questing.

"And a pretty girl like yourself near as well?  Sign me up."  She was glad she didn't really speak what she thought at times, that would have been a deal breaker for sure.  Truth be told, Tessia hadn't, outside of combat, really taken the time to seek out girls with which she could relax around.  Considering she preferred there company over guys, aside from her Bro, she was beginning to feel a bit of strain in her heart.  Even if it was just to be a simple romp around the City with a adorable girl nearby, she would take it over any more combat at least for today.  

"We can even go check out my shop slash home in the making.  They are building it atop a second floor terrace that was dilapidated in a fire.  I'm turning it into a open door shop were I will be making and selling Magitech devices.  Have you heard of the Mana Liner Shield?  I built the original schematic, and I would love to forge you one if you um......don't mind me seeing your armor."  Blushing at this, more from the embarrassment of the suggestion than anything, she awaited the girls response.  Still scanning about with her hand on her ax pommel, ready to kill anything that would mess up this moment.