[Good Morning: today's date is 1st Autumn 24, Todays forecast expect clear weather and sunshine]
[Fielders Corn: Ready for Harvest]
[Dragon Bell Peppers: Ready for Harvest]
Today was the day, He would finally be done with them. Those ornery peppers would finally be harvested and be out of Alex’s hair. These thoughts uplifting his mood from the previous week of being mercilessly whipped by the stubborn Dragon Bells, causing the farmer no end of annoyance. Just yesterday the emerald devils landed a particularly devastating hit on his leg.
Full of pure excitement for the day to begin, the young farmer nearly jumped out of bed. As he walked toward the window, a big smile on his face as he continued his daily routine. The cold autumn air covering the room's window, causing it to glisten brilliantly with the morning's dew. The sun’s rays, barely cresting on the village horizon, rising slowly to greet the new day.
Staring out at the Field before him, Alex watched as the Hand sized Peppers danced in the morning sun, their long dark green coiled bodies bouncing happily, while their dragon shaped heads held on as tight as they could to the bright fire themed Vines sporting vibrant golds and reds.
It would have been a gorgeous site. The Jewel colored peppers dancing to an unheard chorus, while the Fielders Corn firing its little rave of lights and colors as a backdrop. A performance worthy of any audience. The idea seemed quite wonderful indeed, if they weren’t just so mean…
“Little demons, I can't wait to be done with you.” He breathed, after taking a moment to stretch and enjoy the morning’s warmth. A sudden rumble invading the peaceful silence of the near empty bedroom. Looks like thats my cue to head down, time for breakfast.”
Stepping out from his room, Alex looked at the door to his right. Just days before where it was once just an empty room, save for a bucket and chair, now lead to another world entirely. Flint, now taking residence within the Farmhouse, explained that ‘He didn’t need anything inside to occupy the room since he only needed the door to begin with.’ The dwarf then produced a key that, after inserting into the lock, transformed his door into a portal to his cottage estate. Apparently the old dwarf once used the room in a similar way when the prior owner, Arthur, lived on the estate. At least this solved the mystery of the creepy room, and having a magical home connected simply by a door really had the young farmer excited.
This was one of those crazy fantasy ideas that Alex always wanted to see in this new world. Something that really brought out the nerd from deep inside. Especially while growing up in the height of Saturday Morning Cartoons. Best part of all of it was, this idea was not chasing after him, blowing up in his face, or Chasing him through the forest. Making this addition, a big win, on the fantasy scoreboard.
Breakfast in the Kitchen was a hearty plate of biscuits and gravy, courtesy of Evelyn, who had been practicing more and more how to bake from, Nedry the tortoise, over the last week. Their soft flaky warmth formed a solid foundation, as the savory white gravy created a bold depth of flavor that allowed the subtle buttery experience of the biscuit to reach greater heights. The simple additions of salt and black pepper created a simple harmony that felt natural and complete.
The only thing that would make this meal perfect would have been the addition of sausage. Unfortunately their funds were limited to kitchen staples, and simple things. At least until receiving the proceeds from today's harvest. Maybe they will be able to order some various cuts of meat from the town over. Deer and fish, while quite tasty, needed a change of flavor every now and then. All in all though, she was getting really good at cooking. It was quite impressive.
“Eve I think this meal is one of your best ones yet,” Alex said to his dear friend, “I am completely in awe of your cuisine.”
Evelyn blushed at the complement, moving towards the sink to finish cleaning up the rest of the dishes. “Thank you, though I can still do better.” She told Alex with a look of determination on her face.
“Are you going back out into the woods today?” Alex inquired towards his friend, now half covered in soap bubbles. Amused at the site, he ended up giving her a warm hug as he moved to clean his plate.
Evelyn, now with a smile on her face, continued working on the dishes. “Not today, Flint wanted to go check out the main village to see what all needs to be fixed, at least what the system hasn’t put on the checklist already.”
Several days earlier, after returning to the Library from Phaestus Flint's book. Alex sent the invite to rejoin the system to the Old Dwarf raising the Population to 4. They then spent the next day going over system objectives for the farm, and village, in intricate detail.
Unfortunately those plans came to a grinding halt once the mayor, Ned, stopped by, causing a reunion that quickly swelled into an impromptu party. Causing the two old-timers to pull out all the stops, including the one sealing a bottle of 300 year old brandy. Though no one can clearly remember the events that followed, finding the Turtlekin, asleep, out in the next morning.
Flint then tried to figure out ways of helping progress the farm a little faster, before noticing that he still held a few spare materials in his personal inventory, and after Alex finished his daily chores yesterday, walked off with his staff for the day.
He now found that same staff laying against the wall by the front door. Its copper accents now, inlaid with silver adornments, as well as new runes. A silk bow was tied to the top of the structure with a small note attached, addressed to Alex
Alex,
Have fun with your new upgraded Tool, I tried fixing some other parts but they still need some more time, Thanks for bringing me back out and letting me help restore my home. So this little bit of work will be free of charge this time.
Your friend,
Uncle Flint ^.^
“Free of charge huh?” Alex laughed, “You’re the one who just simply walked off with my staff, ya old Dwarf.” a smile forming on his face.
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Stepping out onto the front porch, He once again took in a deep breath of the cool crisp air of fall. Reaching out as far as he could, enjoying the stretch, he made his way down the steps. It didn’t matter how angry those peppers were, or how hard he had to work, he loved being out here on the farm. The simple elegance of how quiet is was out here compared to the crowded spiteful city life he was used to. The cool breeze of morning lifted his spirits every time he walked out to face a new day.
Finding it to be in his best interest, Alex felt that he would harvest the Fielders Corn first. Now Having his Farming level at five, he mentally willed his Staff’s scythe form to take shape, as he went to work on harvesting his very first crop. Something was off though, every time he went to cut one of the ears of corn, two more popped into his inventory. Unsure of what was happening the farmer opened the status of his staff.
[Staff of many stories: limited form]
[Storyteller’s Staff: Locked (Restoration 80%)]
* Details Unknown
[Gentleman's Riposte: Locked (Restoration (75%)]
* Details Unknown
[Will of Gaia: Silver (Experience Lv 4)]
* Scythe - Harvest three times produce per action
* Hoe - Plows Field in one by three zone per action
* Ax - Cuts through wood with twice the efficiency
* Hammer - Increases strength by two
* Pickaxe - Increases bit hardness by two
* Watering Can - Waters field in a one by three zone
“Well that is something, guess I'm going to have to find a way to thank the old dwarf after all.” Alex admitted to himself. “Looks like a few of the names have changed as well. I’ll have to ask about that later, but it looks like I'm getting more bang for my buck for this harvest.” He smiled at his new fortune and quickly returned to work on the Corn.
Out of all the work Alex has performed on the farm so far, harvesting he soon found out, would be his favorite experience. The Fielders Corn in particular would hold a special moment in his memory, Each ear of corn would burst in a show of prismatic colors and lights, as if each were performing their own light show in the autumn sky, the leaves producing a gentle fog of sorts, similar to stage’s smokescreen, giving the small ears an even more dramatic platform to give their light to shine. After losing track of time working through the experience, Alex now had two hundred and seventy ears of corn. He would cut down the stalks tomorrow, to save his actions towards finishing a more important task at hand… The Peppers
Thankful that harvesting only took one action per plant, Alex still held onto sixty seven actions remaining for harvesting the Dragon Bell. Taking a deep breath he marched onwards towards his dreaded foe. Cutting the first pepper he realized quickly, that this would be his first mistake. After learning that it was no longer holding on to its brightly colored home. The three newly freed Dragon Bell Pepper quickly uncoiled and struck out towards the closest target, which was unfortunately the exposed arms of Alex himself.
In the back of his mind Alex could remember a time when he was sitting at a local pub with a plate of wings sitting before him. Consuming a few drinks beforehand had given the man the courage to devour the restaurants ‘ Los Diablitos’ challenge. Biting down on the wings in his encouraged form, was the second most painful experience he had subjected himself to, The wings, while expertly fried and seasoned, lacked any depth of flavor, sweetness or warmth. The only thing offered to his buzzed palette was pain, plain and simple, the sheer level of heat those wings presented brought someone who would normally partake in many spicy foods to tears. Alex found this memory now paled in significance to the feeling of now being Bitten by a spicy pepper.
White hot pain spread along Alex’s arm as the now free little dragon heads bit down hard on the farmer’s exposed arm, capsaicin now injected into his skin. Only one thought in his mind, loud, clear, and simply immutable.
“YYEEEEEOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!” Alex started yelling at the top of his lungs along with a few other choice words he would regret saying. Unaware of any movement around him, the farmer then proceeded to run towards the farmhouse, slamming the ornery jade green bodies against the slatted wood walls of the house. Desperate to find any form of relief to the fiery pain that inflicted him, he continued his attack.
Five minutes of searing torment found him staring down at the remains of the prickly peppers, their bodies now crushed beneath the heel of his boot, pieces of pepper core along the wall of the house.
“That freaking hurt,” Alex let out, trying to catch his breath as he sat down on the front porch of his house. “Its official, I hate those peppers…” Letting out a deep sigh of relief as the pain of the capsicum's bite slowly alleviated, he finally noticed the laughing and rolling of a certain diminutive elven sprite not ten feet away from him. Nearly dying of laughter.
Eve, after running to help her friend, upon discovering seeing said farmer in a ‘Fight to the Death’ with a set of peppers couldn't help but lose herself into a laughing fit at the absolute insanity of the image. The simple image of Alex, who somehow managed to make it past Rodrick the templar, Make his way across an entire desert, fall prey to an angry pepper. It was just so funny to her, for some reason. Finally composing herself, she walks up to the exhausted famer, tears still streaming in her eyes. “Alex, are you ok?”
“Peppers…” was all he managed to say, shaking his head in defeat, as he then stood up and walked towards the familiar shape of a six foot green tortoise approaching from the village road.
The bright sunny day of the clear blue autumn sky shining brightly on the farmers field, the sound of birds filled the air. Finally recovered from waking up in the field earlier in the week, the old man Felt he would go give his friends a helping hand. The thought of it being a beautiful day in Flintwood, was on Nedry Ridgebacks mind. "Ah today should be a wonderful day," he said to himself slowly approaching the Old Farmhouse. It wasn't that far away now. Watching as his friend Alex made his way towards the old turtle. Excited to see his friend, Ned waved happily towards the quickly approaching farmer. Was he running, and why did Alex have a foxlike smile on his face?
“Hey, Neighbor!” Alex exclaimed, his voice a little different than normal, “about those peppers…”
An hour or so after brutally laying into the mayor, the two of them proceeded in harvesting the savage little dragons. Only after Ned explained that Alex needed to water the fiery accented bushes prior to removing. Causing the voracious pods to happily let go and dance merrily in the tortoises claw. Alex, reacting in kind, continued harvesting, happy to be soon rid of the whole bunch.
Finally free from the task of harvesting. Alex, now covered in water and pepper leaves, gazed upon his field and passed towards the horizon. The sun reaching towards its apex, caused Alex to realize that it was soon time for lunch. Looking towards his green friend, Alex placed a thankful hand on his shoulder. “Thanks for the help friend, care for a bite to eat before I start cutting everything down?" He asked, a little bit of excitement at finally being free.
“Oh absolutely my dear boy,” The mayor answered happily before giving a look of confusion to his dear friend. “But, Why do you wanna to cut everything down? They should be growing back again soon.” Nedry explained before walking towards the house, debating on he should help make sandwiches or something else for lunch.
As if hit by the weight of hundred Ned's on his back, the reality of it all finally hit him. The thought never occurred, no he just never considered the possibility of it. Slowly He walked up to the vines of gold and crimson leaves. Alex, begrudgingly opened the status window of his newly harvested adversary. The message before him, sending a cold shiver down his spine.
[Dragon Bell Pepper: Status - Watered (6 Days Remaining)]