Those Are my Mushrooms! Part II [Solo]

[Strychnos]

Timestamp: 3rd of Fall * Yawn * Strychnos leaned on the railing of the ferry, seemingly enjoying the crisp morningwind of the starting Fall season, aswell as taking in the scenery of the surrounding environment of Lake Ravok. The smile on his face had nothing to do with those mundane things though, he was planning, although scheming or plotting would be a more appropriate word in this context...Plotting the termination of his target, the ending of the entrepeneur's spark of life. In his mind he was going over the steps he had taken these last few days, to prepare for the Grand Closure. He had prepared his gear for this glorious day, "juicing" up his vials, needles, switchblades. Not his Chakrams though, he figured that the needles and hidden blades in his Utility Bracers would be sufficient to deal with an entrepeneur who doesn't know anything about comba----- ' Wait a minute...Why am I assuming he doesn't know anything about combat? Son of a ... He could be a freaking monster in a straight-up fight all I know... Ok, calm down, nothing that can't be fixed, realize that even if the man is a barbaric monster in battle, I would still be playing this game. Just need to readjust my gameplan. ' Strychnos spent the rest of the ferryride going over his original plan and making adjustements where necessary to make sure the termination won't be dragged out nor fair, for the entrepeneur atleast. ' The original plan is rather wellmade, no need to make drastic and improvised changes. If pressure and force needs to be used, I'll make sure to weaken him as fast as possible with poison and then create a distance for the effect of it to seep into the body and mind, then strike and cover his spark of life in Filrian Bog-Shyte. ' From the creaking noises coming from behind him and growing louder fast, Strychnos knew someone was approaching him but didn't care enough to turn around or relocate, since he made few to no enemies in his life that are alive to actually hold a grudge...he had no worries. The man leaned on the railing of the ferry aswell, few feet from Strychnos, close enough to start chit-chatting but far away enough to not cause an uncomfortable atmosphere with most people. Strychnos turned to see what kind of annoying person decided to "accompany him" while there were, since it was the earliest ferry of the day, tons of room on the ferry's deck to not need to impose on someone else's comfort-zone. Strychnos' slightly annoyed look changed rapidly and drastically...what kind of annoying person would impose on his comfort-zone...How about the kind of annoying person who talks much too loud in bars about private matters? Strychnos was standing next to his freaking target like nothing was wrong... "Shyke!"

[Strychnos]

Strychnos' face must have looked like he had just saw a Jamoura-sized "pile" being flung at him 'cause the man looked surprised at Strychnos and asked whether he was alright. Quickly recovering, Strychnos replied: " Oh yeah...It's just that...You look remarkably like my father did. " Laughing, the man responded: " Did? Did he undergo plactic surgery or something? " " No...He died recently. " The laughing and the man's smile faded in the blink of an eye before being replaced by an apologetic and serious look. " Sorry to hear that...man. " " Strychnos, and it's ok...the way life goes you know. " Strychnos was, inside his mind, completely shocked and caught of guard, but he managed to improvise rapidly on the spot while spewing the premade bullcrap about his "father", although he's spewing it earlier than planned, it still came out believably and realisticly. The man was staying silent now and looking sad like he had lost his own father, Strychnos thought about how amusing people's faked empathy was, he probably didn't even realize himself that he was faking his serious empathic look, while inside not giving anything about this news about an unknown man's father recently passing away. Strychnos felt this way 'cause he himself would feel and act that way. Projecting his own twisted personality upon others was one of his many flaws.

[Strychnos]

Eager to take advantage of this golden opportunity to increase his odds of getting to the Filrian Bog without the use of force, Strychnos was about to make his move. While he wouldn't admit it, ever, to himself or others...He was scared, scared of the threat the man posed while his abilities are clouded in a shroud of thick fog. Strychnos should have prepared himself better, he had been to anxious and eager to jump in the game as soon as possible, lacking patience and self-control...were aswell part of his many flaws. But it was too late now, no need to linger in the past, lady fortune has visited him today... and he wasn't going to let the bitch get away without taking full advantage of her. " But you know...It's a good day today...I'm going to visit his last restingplace, for the first time. " The man looked at Strychnos with a wondering look on his face, Strychnos didn't hesitate a moment to take advantage of the reaction. Continueing his monologue, he spoke slowly and with a bitter tone of voice: " He was killed...By freaking lowlife criminals ... I only found it yesterday actually, he had gone missing several days ago and yesterday I found out that they found his body in some place called the Ferilian, Furlian, whatever Bog. " The man's eyes widened slightly as the story unfolded itself within his ears and mind, Strychnos figured this must be an exciting story for him to hear...suspense, action, mystery and death all in one. Freaking A-class story!...Again Strychnos portrayed his own evil soul and emotions onto others. Then the man replied, with the exact answer Strychnos wanted to hear: " That's terrible, I'm very sorry to hear that, Strychnos. " Then a pauze. " ... You know, I'm actually headed to the Filrian Bog myself, if you want I can accompany you there? I mean, until you want your privacy to pay respects to your father ofcourse... " The man was pathetic, naive, gullible, a self-lying soon-to-be-dead son of a prostitue...And Strychnos loved it! Continueing his little play of the holding-himself-strong-son, he gratefully accepted the man's offer along with giving him a weak smile with sad eyes, like he had mixed feelings about this day, considering the emotional dilemma he was in. Paying respects to your father is good, that your father is dead...is not. So he had to act accordingly. " I'd like that... I'm sorry, I have yet to ask your name... " " Yuri. " " So why are *you* going to the Filrian Bog? And thanks for accompanying me, really, I was planning on asking someone in the Southern Trading Post for directions, since I've never been there before. " Strychnos' ability to sink into his role and his knack for deceit and lying was starting to show itself. So far he made no mistakes, eventhough the pressure was very fierce and very real. One slip-up and it might end his life. Or at least that's what he thought, since he didn't know a thing about his opponent and he imagined the worst case scenario in regards to his abilities and skills. His leg started to tremble, he readjusted his posture, one of his fingers started to twitch uncontrollably, he pretended that his hands were cold and crossed his arms, sliding his hands into the opposite sleeves...this little play of mindtorture went on and on, but Strychnos was certain of himself and his succesful attempt at deceiting the man. Lack of self-criticism, yet another one of his many flaws. " The Filrian Bog is a natural habitat to many special flora, I'm going for research and harvesting. It's not far away from the Lake, it'll only take us some hours to get there. " " Ah...ok. " Shit, Strychnos almost fell through, he was about to lose character and break away from his sad but chin-held-high self. At the last moment he recovered but not without a suspicious stumbling over words and an awkward pauze. Shitshitshit, ok, moving on, don't let awkward silence take over, it'll only make it worse. Strychnos' mind worked on overdrive, before coming to a halt and making his mouth move while the words are on automatic. " Is it a dangerous place? I wasn't sure if it was, but I heard the Wildlands are rather dangerous...I'm a city-man you see...All I have for protection is this chakram and the armor I bought. "

[Strychnos]

Strychnos figured telling the man about his leather Night-armor beneath his clothes considering one slip-up by accidentally revealing part of his armor, without having informed the stranger about it beforehand, would skyrocket his suspicion. Strychnos felt like he was being a bit too open with this stranger though, trying to win his trust too eagerly and jumping on every chance to make him feel at ease. He had to stop rushing things. Another yawn, another attempt to try and act aloof. The man didn't give Strychnos much time to try and change the flow though, asking Strychnos where he learned to use the chakram and if he was any good at it. ' Sunnova, why am I getting the third-degree now? Piss off! ' Strychnos thought in himself before responding with a slight smile: " Well to be honest, my father was skilled in using it, I was never any good with chakrams, but I'm going to .... lay it down at his grave ... " He suddenly stared far ahead of him like he was reminiscing things or deep in a train of thoughts, in reality Strychnos was just acting though. Then he continued, swallowing away " his grief and tenseness " before going on: " I think he'd like that... I also brought some of the things he made as a hobby, to place there. " The man simply nodded with a compassionate and understanding look on his face. The conversation was going alright, Strychnos was staying in character and wasn't too talkative or too silent. And the ferry was docking at the Southern Trading Post's harbor so the first hurdle of the game was already dealt with: Getting the stranger to allow Strychnos to accompany him. Strychnos got off the ferry with the stranger right behind him, buying some fruit from the Bazaar and chit-chatting a bit about mundane things like what fruit would be best to bring along and how they hoped that the trip would go without problems and such.

[Strychnos]

As they walked through the Southern Trading Post in the direction of the Filrian Bog, assumed Strychnos, they passed a couple of guards from the Ebonstryfe. Strychnos' mind wandered and he envisioned himself as one of them, his vision quickly changed from 'one of them' to 'lord of them'...He imagined how it would be to be the Ebonlord, serving only The Voice and Rhysol Himself...it was a far away dream, but one that Strychnos would give anything for to make it a reality. He wanted to join the Ebonstryfe and make a name for himself, but he was just a nobody, he didn't even know anyone from the Ebonstryfe personally to put in a good word for him. ' If only I was born in one of the Ravok Famil---- ' That's when it him. He remembered that Lazarin, a Druvik of terrifying power and influence in the Ebonstryfe and Ravok, frequented the Slave Market on a regular. Strychnos eyes shifted back to his "new friend" and how he could be of greater use to him alive than dead. He could hand him over to the Lazarin Family and make a good impression with them, and possibly Lazarin himself even. Strychnos had to play his cards right, this was his ticket into the Ebonstryfe and he had to grab it with both hands. First things first, to the Filrian Bog, that'll give me enough time to come up with a plan to get him to the Lazarin Family. They continued their hike into and through the Wildlands without anything of importance happening until they reached their destination. The Filrian Bog was in its own already a grand reward for Strychnos, but it wasn't enough, eventhough he grew rapidly extremely fond of the location, his mind wasn't going to linger at this small achievement. He needed to think beyond the norm and take steady strides in the direction of his greatest goal, becoming the Ebonlord. And this man, was the gate that he needed to walk on the path to becoming just that.

[Strychnos]

Little time was given for Strychnos to be absentminded though, The Filrian Bog was no easy location to simply walk through and have a fun picnic, it was a dangerous yet fascinating place. Along the hike from The Southern Trading Post to the Filrian Bog, Strychnos' humanoid Ebonstryfe-key had let it drop that archaelogists and even scholars of Zeltiva occasionally visit this place to search hidden treasures or whatever it was that they were searching for in the depth of the Bog. Strychnos' treasure was twofold and not as difficult to reach as diving into the Bog and come out alive, his treasures were very noticeable and present on the Filrian Bog's surface. One was, ofcourse, the man. Two were the many, many species of fungi decorating the Bog. Strychnos knew how to harvest most fungi, but there were species here that he had never even seen before, let alone know how to harvest them. There were mushrooms ranging from tiny to enormous. Some were easily twice the size of Strychnos. " Wow, what a bizarre place, it feels like I shrunk when entering the Bog. " Strychnos jokingly remarked, trying to keep the mood light and friendly. " I'm going to have a ceremony for my father now, I'll do it here, don't go too far in the meantime please. " Strychnos said to Yuri, who merely nodded solemnly and went mind his own business 15-20 yards away. He took his time with the fake ceremony for his fake father with his fake items and his fake facial expression. Everything Strychnos was doing was merely for the sake of harvesting poisonous material aswell as enslaving poor lill' Yuri. Suddenly Strychnos saw a shadow slide over the gnolly floor next to him.