Loyal Brave True

Zavien

Having finally joined the Dragoons, Zavien was more than eager to visit the shrine for something more personal than his last visit. His steps were quick and light as he approached the statues of the Big Three. Even his hands shook in excitement, and he had to tense them in order to keep the offerings from tumbling onto the ground. Taking a deep breath, he laid the items in front of Rae's serene face: a golden seed from the supernatural tree, a bowl of sweet strawberries, and a small container of cream. He had been listening to Lena when she spoke, after all. Now hopefully she was right about the herald's preferences. 

His recent discussions with others had swayed his decision to cautiously request the nature herald instead of his usual tendency for Vi. So with a nervous hum, he knelt before the shrine and clasped his hands. "Frey, I have heard so many great accounts of your warmth and compassion. I hope you can spare a bit of time to consider my request."

---

Zavien is asking for a quest from Nature Frey! (If he rolls low, I'll use his level 3 Custom Item token. Thank you! <3)

With so many favoured in one place, fickle spirits tend to leave you alone. You cannot be cursed when visiting a shrine by a spirit.

Tis better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all.

Frey

"What took you so long, sweetpea?"

Frey's voice is as soft and abundant as their presence, and they appear almost as a mirror image to Zavien, kneeling opposite on the other side of the offerings. Reaching out for a strawberry and dipping it in the bowl of cream, Frey spends a moment to enjoy it before eyeing the seed, tilting their head. Naked and golden, though devoid of the overt sexual elements of their counterpart, the gesture to the third element of Zavien's offering.

"I believe this is meant to be planted," they say, reaching out to cover it with their hand. When they remove their fingers, there is naught but a small pile of fresh, tilled soil, as if the seed is now nestled deep beneath it. "What is your request?"

---

Zavien has made his roll, so there is no need to use his item quest token!

Zavien

The soft voice had Zavien raising his eyes quickly, spotting a perfect mirror of his own face. His eyes widened in shock and reverence. The herald was not what he expected, but they were incredible nonetheless. He watched in awe as they took a bite of the strawberry, his offering being consumed by a deity right before his very eyes. It was at this moment that he noticed they'd asked him a question. With a blush and a diversion of his eyes, he stammered, "My - my apologies, Frey. My eyes were only recently opened to your overwhelming list of positive qualities. I will not make the same mistake again." 

Their indication to the last part of his offering elicited more embarrassment, his face flushing. "Oh. Um. Yes. I know. I've already planted one with Deimos on the edge of King's End. I just thought the unique seed may interest the herald of nature." He dipped his head in respect, hoping he hadn't been too presumptuous or bold, or that his stumbling hadn't been too off-putting.

At her question, Zavien straightened, the rehearsed words coming to mind. He cleared his throat and began, "With your support, I had hoped you might assist me in bonding with a dragon. As a Dragoon, I feel that it's an important feature, and as a person, I long for the incomparable bond of a companion." The words were carefully thought out and somewhat stiff, but the passion was evident and he looked to Frey with undisguised hope. A thought came to mind and he added a belated and rushed "Please."

---

Zavien is requesting a companion quest for a dragon!

Tis better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all.

Frey

"There are no mistakes in nature, sugar," Frey assures them, the tilt of their smile reassurance enough that their initial quip had been a joke, nothing more. "Though it is always nice to hear that one has positive qualities." For a deity as well as anyone else, as it happens. As for the seed, already able to feel the doubt and uncertainty in Zavien's thoughts, they shrug their shoulders easily enough, as if to absolve him of whatever apologies he believes are necessary.

Ah, but then they are on to the meat of the matter. Sitting up a fraction straighter, as if to give appropriate gravitas to the carefully prepared words, Frey nods their understanding. "But of course," they agree. "A companion is a bond like no other. There is more than one type of dragon in the world however, sweetpea. Where they might be found and how to draw them to you are quite different. What are you looking for?"

Zavien

Reassured by the herald's words, Zavien's shoulders loosened and he sat farther back onto his heels, the easy smile readily on his lips. "Then I suppose we were destined to meet at this point in time." If they believed that mistakes didn't exist then they would be of the mind that they weren't supposed to interact before now. 

He nodded along to the seriousness of their statements. Zavien hadn't made the request lightly or without consideration. It was something he'd thought long and hard about, however, he hadn't thought a lot about the kind of dragon. There were so many in the world, he would have been grateful to receive any. The creases around his eyes and the tilt of his head told of the level of thought he'd put into the matter as his mouth opened in a silent 'oh.' 

Running a hand through his hair, he said the first thing that came to mind, "A nice one?" The realization of what he said made him laugh and his face lit up red once more. "I - I mean. One that is adaptable and good in a fight? Breathing fire would probably be helpful?" Zavien's eyes glowed with wonder again, wondering where he might be sent to find his new companion.

---

Zavien would like a dragon that breaths fire!

-The hope is to have his dragon be of small (grow larger later) 'traditional style' and an exterior that is of mirrored gold scales.-

Tis better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all.

Frey

"Precisely," Frey says with an indulgent smile, helping themselves to another strawberry and gesturing for Zavien to partake if he feels like it; what is the deity of nature if not abundant whenever they can be, sharing the bounty with all present? It's with the berry between their lips that the first of the Accepted's remarks reach their ears, Frey letting out a musical laugh. "If it is to be your companion, one would hope such a dragon would be nice," they agree, before nodding to hear the further details.

"I believe I know how you might entice such a creature to you. Here is what you must do..."

---

Zavien has received a quest! He must:

1. Complete a thread hunting and killing a creature of your choice, ensuring you harvest the meat.
2. Complete a thread collecting gemstones anywhere in The Climb. The gemstones must have 'fiery' qualities (e.g. fire opals, carnelians, red jaspers, etc.)
3. Complete a thread collecting sand from the Hak Etme desert.
4. Make a campfire, incorporating the materials collected above, cooking the meat that has been harvested.

Zavien

Too excited to even think about eating, he shook his head politely at the offer. Zavien instead let the melodical laugh heighten his anticipation, a bright smile occupying his face. He supposed it was silly to assume that his future companion would be anything but nice. A mean dragon wouldn't want to be near him, especially considering his overtly positive attitude. Even so, sometimes opposites attracted. The grump and the sunshine.

Zavien hung on every word, his feet already itching to move. When Frey had finished listing the required steps, he dipped his head deeply. "Thank you for the instructions. I will be sure to return to you when they are done." Rising to his feet, he bowed low to the deity. With a final smile, he left to fulfill his new quest in pursuit of his dragon companion. 

[FIN]

Tis better to have loved and lost,
than never to have loved at all.