[CLASS QUEST] Mella

[Suhuba]

This Quest is for Mella who is striving to become a Rogue.

OOC
||. The quest prompt must be answered with a 2000 word reply (can be more).
||. Respond to the prompt given with an adventure of your own creation as long as it meets the requirements of the specific tasks.
||. NPCs may be used as long as they advance the quest in an interesting manner.
||. You cannot include any playable characters other than the quest taker.
||. Your responses will be graded with a Pass or Fail. Those who fail will have to continue with assistance from the staff.
||. Questions about quests can be asked here.

IC

The dew was still clinging to the low grass and shabby shrubs in Sauti, the sun just barely making its way over the mountain line when the hustle and bustle of the capramel began its daily routine in the settlement of Tind. The closest village to Tale, it was also one of the smallest in Sauti and for anyone to happen to stop in Tind it would probably have to be for a particular reason.

So early in the morning, it would seem that there was indeed a reason for a messanger to be traveling through Tind, looking for one in particular. Mella was still on her return trip from the war, and the younger boy with a note in his hand was searching for her specifically. He had been to others in the area, but a call was put out to anyone who seemed to have a knack for meeting the criteria. He was here with a summons from Tinerr. A wind woman, and a wealthy one at that, was looking for someone with the skill to portray her lost loved one from the war. She had married a Zenan councilman, and had had the misfortune to lose him to the battle just recently. Many others would be there to claim the honor and the commission from painting a portrait of her lost love, but it was a difficult task. Not only would they have to paint from the widow's memory, but they would have to supply their own paint - and the woman was picky.

Quest Tasks
||. The woman is looking for someone to paint a portrait of her dead husband.
||. She will require that those who are interested pick their pigment colors from the powder of a special crystal found only in the mountains of Sauti to the north.
||. The quest should include the call to Tinerr, the trip to the mountains, and the results of the commission.
||. Mella does not have to be chosen to paint the portrait in order to pass her quest. The quest can end with either her being turned down, or with her getting the commission.
 

[Reoakee]

Mella’s fingers were stained green and she was focused on grinding the dried lilies to dust. She had stopped in Tind to resupply and to be honest with herself she had come to be around the capramel. She knew her friend Nu had survived the war, but she hadn’t really seen him since the fall back. Tind had an abundance of capramel and that made her think of Nu and his ‘amma’. She had been in the settlement for a day or two now and paid for her goods with sketches and occasionally she told others of the horrors of the war and what had happened if there were those who hadn’t been there. Hunched over she could hear capramels in the corral not too far away but still she focused on the task before her only letting her lips twitch to a smile.

Dusty feet appeared at the edge of her vision. They stayed there for a while and when she didn’t reply in anyway a throat cleared and a young voice perked up. “Are you the artist girl who has been around here? The inn keep said the artist was off in this area by the capramel pens.” Mella looked up and blinked at him wondering what else he could mistake her for. She was hunched over grinding lilies like an apothecary apprentice so perhaps it was a fair question. Nodding she looked the boy over. He had fine wind features with wispy hair escaping a tight set of braids. He seemed a little out of breath and there was a light coating of dirt on him, but he was smiling. Reaching one hand into his vest he pullout out a note and presented it to her like he was giving her a prize of unimaginable glory. As soon as her fingers pinched the edge he was off and running again. She flipped the note over to open it grimacing at the green prints left by her fingers, which were formed from the oils in her hands and the lily dust. There were smaller brown ones from the boy’s dirty hands but they didn’t seem as noticeable as her compared to the green now smeary prints. Dropping the note beside her for a moment she rubbed her fingers on a small bit of cloth to clean them. The last thing she should do is blot out the darn letter before she could even read it. Once her fingers were a remotely acceptable level of clean she reached for the letter again and actually looked at it. As far as she couldn’t tell it wasn’t specifically for her still it did apply to her somewhat…

“ To any artist of merit,

Lady Relien seeks to employ skill of artist to paint the portrait of her late husband Councilman Saliwen. Inquire directly about position in Tinerr about terms and rate…”

There were a few more lines in flowery script describing where to find the lady’s residence in Tinerr. Sighing Mella wondered why she had gotten this summons when she remembered what the messenger boy had said about the inn keeper. She smiled realizing the man must have directed the boy to her since he had seemed thrilled with the work she had done on his sign for his inn. The dusty hoof now had a freshly coated capramel painted on it which had pleased the man immensely since traders from all around came to sleep while doing business in Tind.

A small amount of pride blossomed in her chest from his recommendation that spawned this chance and since Tinerr wasn’t too far from home she thought it might will be worth the trip and check it out. Carefully she folded the summons and slipped into her bag before looking at the mess around her deciding where to clean up first. She had a lot to prepare for.  

[Reoakee]

The trip to Tinerr wasn’t too unpleasant but by now Mella’s joints were stiff and she was sick to death of this supply wagon. She gave it a small kick when she got out of it for the last time hopefully. Her legs wobbled and she nearly feel on her behind and had to hold onto the wagon she hated so much until she found her legs could hold her again. A traveling capramel seller was headed to Tinerr to hold a sale for all the towns of that area to refresh stock in labor beasts he had agreed to take Mella with him if she was going to paint him fliers to distribute in the market luring others to his sale. The man was a quite gruff one but traveling with him had seemed safe enough she supposed and had spent most all of the trip cramping her hands making charcoal fliers, a few painted ones that were far to gaudy for her taste and doing camp chores when they stopped for the night. Blowing her hair out of her eyes she was glad the man had called a stop short of Tinerr to take count of the heads of capramel. Stretching her hand, she had to admit the man took good care of his stock. If only he took half as good a care of a passenger then he would have made great company. Still watching him check the teeth of one of his stock she approached him. “Sir the fliers are all ready for distribution. You did give your approval on the last batch and these are more of the same.” He grunted ignoring her he was so focused. Smiling she continued. “They are in the supply wagon with the others. We are close enough to Tinerr now that I think I’ll walk the rest of the way. Thank you for taking me on this trip.” Again an unintelligible reply from the man but after this whole trip like that she didn’t mind at all. He was almost charming to her now. Her legs still fell like pins and needles but by the time she got to town it should dissipate. Maybe she would even call on Sinnia when all this was said and done. Mella headed to town with a smile on her face thinking of her friend and hopping to find her well.

It didn’t take long to find the house in which to inquire at all. In fact the large gathering of people outside of it seemed rather a good giveaway when over half of them carried large bags of supplies and many of htem were at work making paintings to show off their skill. Her heart sank a bit as she got closer seeing the skill of some of the others around her. Perhaps the summons was a mistake to give to someone like her, still she had come all this way she might as well see it as far as she could. Swallowing she joined the jumble of bodies outside the door waiting for their turn to be let in. Small groups were lead in and after a short time came back out many with dejected looks and some flat out annoyed. A few hopeful faces made Mella smile when it was her turn to join the group lucky enough to head in after hours of waiting. She was escorted with her group to a small room where a tall wind woman was standing there dispassionately waiting. There was something about her eyes that made Mella shiver and wish to give the woman a hug just to show her the world wasn’t as bleak as what was reflected in those dead eyes. Beside the woman was a pedestal with a crystal that seemed to just ooze light.

“Greeting to you all who have answered my summons. I am here to charge you to make a portrait of my husband.” She waved a hand at the crystal beside her. “This was his favorite crystal and it suited him.” Her hand flew up to a small piece of jewelry around her neck that was decorated with a number of those same kind of crystals. “I want his image to have ..” She took a shuddering breathe that Mella feared would shatter her on the spot. “ The portrait will have to be made with the crystal dust of this gem. I have instructions with my servant who showed you in on how to find it and where it grows. If you wish to take my money you will come with the crystal and any other paints you need. I shall describe my husband in a week’s time to a room those who are here with what they need. Those who have any skill shall have their commissions purchased at that time. The rest well it would be clear you need to practice and this will be a good exercise. Rate will be discussed at time of purchase. Good day.” She gave them all a grimace that Mella supposed was a smile. It was certainly a depressing thought to have to have all that work and have it possibly not work out at all. Still the woman seemed so detached from it all. Her husband must have meant the world to her. Mella was herded out with the rest clutching a note from the servant about the crystal and possible paint suggestions that she would have to acquire if she wished the chance to try and paint the widow’s lover.

Frowning at the list a while later she realized she was going to have to get a thicker blanket or she would freeze in the mountains and this time she wouldn’t likely cross someone willing to share a fire as she had in the past since a good number of the artists she saw were scoffing and tossing the paper to the ground in disgust and leaving. Sighing she squared her shoulders and decided to spend the day getting warmer gear for the mountains and preparing for a trip out in the morning. She only had a week to get everything she needed and get back in time. A part of her thought this was a silly waste of time, but this was a chance to help combat the grief someone now bore because of that wretched death toll. Gritting her teeth she was determined to try and bring something bright back into the darkness of that house.  

[Reoakee]

The next morning she set out for the mountains to the north near the Zenna boarder. She had learned a bit last night in town while buying supplies. The weather should hold out for a few days and there were several others who had purchased the same supplies and already headed out. Mella wished all of them luck and yet wanted to succeed herself. She had no idea how many pieces would be purchased by the widow and a small prideful part of her wanted her work to be loved by that woman and have it help ease the loss the wealthy widow had. She arranged that most of her paints she could pick up when she came back from the mountains. It would mean she would have less chance to lose them while searching for the crystals. Ticking off her mental list several times she started her trek north.

Much of her first day was hiking toward her goal. Having gotten to Tinerr in a wagon she found her legs aching and telling her that not traveling that way again was a very foolish idea. She had to stop and rest as well as stretch out her muscles several times that day. Her progress was slow taking her a day and a half to reach the place she wanted. During that time she had managed to obtain several cuts to the bottom of her feet and hands that while she was certain would heal grated on her with each step. Hoping she followed the directions given correctly she was glad to see a person in the distance. Waving her arm she hailed them. “Hello!” Picking up her pace to a jog she winced only once on her way to the stranger smiling as she got closer. The other was a tall leaf woman who had a good number of supplies strapped to her back Mella knew herself because she used them for art. The woman nodded to her but wasn’t smiling her hands clasped around a crystal that Mella thought might be the one that she was searching for. Eyes lighting up she made to ask about the crystal but the woman suddenly pulled it closer making Mella stop just short of asking. Did the woman think she was a thief? “Hello. I’m Mella. I’m looking for crystals like that one.” She pointed to the gem in leaf woman’s hands. Slowly Mella explained her whole story of the widow’s loss and desire for art with the gem. Nothing she said seemed to make a dent in the frown the leaf woman had looking at her. “So I was just wondering if you could point me in the direction you got that so I might go dig out my own.” Mella offered the woman a smile at the end hoping but the leaf woman just snorted at her and clutched the crystal even closer though that seemed impossible. Mella noticed some black stains on the woman’s fingers for the first time and wondered if the woman’s favored medium was charcoal.

Her own smile slipping a bit Mella stood there waiting patiently hoping for some advice or even a small grain of hope from the other woman. The sun god must have thawed the woman’s heart a bit, or Mella looked pathetic enough because the woman flicked a hand over her shoulder at an angle and mumbled something like ‘cave’ before she started forward past Mella not even bothering to shift aside at all forcing Mella to sidestep or risk being run over. Mella stood there staring after the woman wondering what she could have done to possibly be so offensive and make a complete stranger hate her. Frowning she raised her hands and rubbed her cheeks for a few moments before she started off in the direction the woman had indicated. In the back of her mind there was some doubt wondering if the woman had lied just to be rid of her, but still it was a chance Mella had to take since her directions on where to go had run out and she really had no idea where the entrance of a cave could be. It took her two hours of searching before she found a crevasse that looked like it was deep and perhaps opened up into a cave further down.

Sliding down into the crevasse she was careful not to scar her hands and to keep in mind of a way out. The last thing she wanted was to be trapped in a hole in the ground and die of starvation. It took some time to wiggle down safely but she managed and waited for her eyes adjust to the change in light. Small flecks of stone pressed into her feet. Picking a few up, she examined them more closely. A giddy wave flipped through her stomach. It was hard to tell in the dimness; but was this the crystal? Others who had been in the place before her must have broken off chips in their haste to harvest the crystal. She squinted at it in the light she did have and then moved as close to the mouth as could be done without crawling out entirely. It certainly looked like what she was after. Smiling like a fiend she went back to gathering as many of the chips as she could knowing not all of them would be the crystal and some would be actual rocks. Figuring she could sort it out later she stuffed her bag with as many as she could feel out. Climbing out she used the light of day to figure out which were crystals and which were useless to her. Several of the stones had small bits of crystal in them that she had to dig out with her small knives or smash out by using other rocks. Mentally she was looking at her time table to see how long she had. She had wasted a day in town and it had taken a good day and a half to reach this spot. She could spend a day harvesting and still make it back in time to pick up the rest of her supplies and paint the portrait for the widow. It seemed like a good enough plan so she did just that. Harvesting while not digging out a large chunk of crystal like the others was a slow process, but she had no other means of making a light in the cave without risking breathing in smoke and she thought since she was alone that might not be a wise idea. She might end up passing out or worse.

The trip back to Tinerr was as uneventful as the trip back thankfully. Gathering her supplies was easy enough and next came the waiting. She didn’t know how much of the crystal would be needed for the portrait and she hoped she had enough. She also hoped she had mixed it properly. It had a slightly iridescent quality about it making her other paints seem almost dull. Soon enough she was waiting with the other artists in the room. The leaf woman from the trail was there and looked very serious Mella didn’t want to interrupt her thoughts so she didn’t wave, though sorely tempted. The wealthy wind woman walked into the room and passed a hollow look over all of them like they weren’t even there. Without so much as a warning she began describing features forcing Mella and the others to set to work quickly or miss a detail. When the rich woman was done she paused for a few moments while the artists worked before she began the details again. Mella was surprised but glad for this because when the woman talked she heard a few details she had missed the first time even though Mella thought she had heard it all correctly the first time.

Her hands were cramped when she was done but she was satisfied with the art she had made. Mella was so busy looking over her own art that she jumped when the wealthy wind woman placed her hand on Mella’s shoulder. Mella scarcely dared to breath as the woman leaned down to stare closer at the work Mella had created. “Low quality at best and a complete waste of paint and my time.” Those words ripped Mella’s heart apart but she refused to cry as the woman let go of her and moved onto the next one. Slowly the woman made her way around the room telling some to stay and others that their work didn’t meet her standards in her own way. Gathering up her picture and her art supplies she left and when she reached the threshold she heard the woman gasp and turned to see if all was well. The wealthy wind woman was holding the edges of leaf woman’s work and crying smiling at the image. Mella could tell right away that whatever the leaf woman had made it was what the broken woman had needed. Hugging her own image careful of its still wet surface she left. Perhaps she should take the portrait home to Mez and leave it with her parents. It would be safe there. While the wealthy woman hadn’t wanted her work it was still a creation born of Mella’s hand and she cherished them all like they were her children.  

[Reoakee]

Mella's work

 

[Suhuba]

Class Quest Result

Pass!

Mella has passed and received a rank of Rogue!



Congratulations Mella!