Welcome to the [Old Ruins]!

Naus permits your entry.

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Hello! Please go through the front gates, don't fly in over the walls. Thank you!

Best regards: Naus, Goddess Of Nature

 Before the golem was the walls and the gate of a castle. The walls were worn down and covered in cracks, moss and vine. It could even see birds, squirrels and whatnot on the vine covered walls. The rusty and vine covered gate had a faceless statue that was also covered in moss in front of it, probably worn down by time. It was clear that no one had bothered to clean or maintain the castle, hence the title of 'Ruins'.

"Excuse me? How do I get in?" Asked Poopy. 

It wasn't the biggest fan of talking, but it had gotten bored of circling the walls in search of a different gate. This was obviously the front gate (since it was the only gate), so it hoped someone would respond. 

"So you have come... young one." whispered the statue.

Poopy nearly jumped in fright, but managed to compose itself.

"So how do I get in?" it asked.

"Oh, that's just an automatic gate. It'll open on its own once you walk in front of it!" laughed the statue.

The golem was rendered speechless. It was that simple? Why not just remove the gate then? It walked in front of the gate, and lo and behold! It rumbled and began to open... then got stuck on a rather thick vine.

"Oh dear!" cried the statue as it moved away from its pose. (Poopy was quite surprised that it could move.)

It walked towards vine, and tried to pull it out, but that wasn't working since the gate was still trying to open itself, giving the vine a death-choke.

"Silly door! Why can't you have an off button?" bemoaned the struggling statue.

Poopy couldn't help but think that the moving statue wasn't very bright.

"Why not just cut the vine?" it asked.

"What? No!" the statue somehow managed to looked horrified despite not having a face. "This is Naus's haven! How can we hurt the plants that seek refuge here?"

"You're stepping on the mossy floor!" retorted Poopy.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"Oh dear!" realised the statue. "You're right!" 

It then crossed it's legs and began to levitate in the air.

Poopy: ....

"Ah, yes. Thank you for telling me that. I'd never realised!" smiled the faceless statue.

"Whatever. But now that the gate's stuck, how am I going to get in now?" frowned the golem.

"Oh bother! I have no idea!" laughed the statue.

Poopy really wanted to punch the statue... but it refrained.

"How about flying me over the walls?" the golem realised.

"I don't think I can fly... I am but a golem, you see?" said the statue that was now revealed to be a golem, making the conversation even more confusing.

Poopy was now convinced that the statue golem was so stupid, it wasn't worth talking to. 

"Buggy?" it said to the beetle beside it. The beetle looked at it. "Climb over the walls!"

Naus said they should not fly over the walls, but she didn't say they couldn't climb over it, right? The golem held one of the beetles legs as it climbed upwards.

"Wait, I don't think you are supposed to do that!" cried the statue in alarm.

"She didn't say I couldn't climb the wall!" said the golem that was now tens of metres above the ground.

"Ah. Fair enough!" nodded the statue as it continued to float. Hours later, it would run out of mana and hit the mossy ground, crushing the tiny plants. It would then bawl for hours and scream at itself for being a murderer. Someone please tell me why Naus thought it was a good idea to put this guy on guard. 

Shortly, Poopy was over the walls. There was many similarly mossy buildings in poor shape and many cute and ferocious animals around, although the predators seemed to be on good terms with the little critters. Ironic isn't it? The nature goddess discouraging survival of the fittest. There were also many unique plants and fungi growing all over place, so the golem began to search for a suiting moss.

....

And bingo! There is was, a pinkish moss speckled in fragrant little flowers. Was't that bad, was it? Only took a mere hour. 

Poopy began to scoop up the moss.

"Hey! Stop right there!" Poopy turned around, only to see that another another faceless statue. This one had a mouth however, which was how the golem told them apart.

"Why?" asked Poopy.

"You can't just take any plant out! These are all endangered plants! I think..." hollered the mouth statue. It's arms were crossed, giving it a very strict look. Apparently, this statue wasn't very smart either as it was stepping on the same pink moss it was trying to protect.

"But I need it! It's very important to me!" whined Poopy. Perhaps the statue would pity it?

"Hmm..." mused the mouth statue. "I know! You could do a quest! You can take some of the moss out, but you'll need to do a quest first! Also, you will be punished if Naus finds out you mistreated the plants!" 

"Ok..." Poopy resisted the urge to tell the statue it was mistreating the moss itself. The last thing the golem needed was a another silly floating statue! "What's the quest?"

"Fantastic!" smiled the mouth golem. "Invasive slimes have been destroying the ecosystem of a nearby forest! Horrifying news, isn't it?"

"Uh... I guess." lied Poopy.

"Yes, very nice to see a compassionate friend. Your task is to destroy the slime queen! A horrid crime, I know, but what's to be done must be done at times." sighed the statue.

Quest: Slay the Hive Slime Queen in the Ancient Forest!

Rewards: Pleasant Pink Moss.

EXP Bonus: 10,000 Druid EXP and 10,000 EXP.

Accept?

Yes No

Poopy hit 'Yes'.

"Excellent! I look forward to your success!" praised the mouth statue who seemed to have instantly snapped out of its trance.

Poopy then held Buggy's legs and flew into the air.

The next stop was the Ancient Forest!