March Catchall - Goals and Quests

[bladeofnymeia]

Who: Firoza and YOU! With a private toplevel for Firoza and Shoka
What: Firoza Istus has plans, and has things to do. You're super welcome to join her as she goes about on her own personal MSQ
When: The month of March
Where: All over Bottlecap Bay!
Warnings: Shouldn't be any, but I'll put them here when they come up.

[Well! After a stamp of approval, some advice on how to put some things into motion, and a month under her belt of living in this new world, in this new form, Firoza has some things about town she's focused on taking care of over the course of...what seems to be the Second Astral Moon? One, two, three...yeah, that'd be Second Astral.

(The Eorzean calendar can be a bit rough to remember when you don't grow up with it. But anyway.)

The Questboard is checked pretty often, and while her eyes linger on the exploration or rescue missions, Firoza knows her limitations. She needs practice in combat before she can effectively contribute to any of those. So, for now, the supply missions are what she's taking on. While she goes to gather berries and twigs with Emporio and Junpei on two separate occasions, she also goes back down to the Mines to help get some more cool rocks with Shoka. If you'd like to thread something out during those explorations, or even just meeting up outside the questboard to talk about joining up for that, you're absolutely welcome to! And you're super welcome to notice how pointedly Firoza's eyes linger on the other kinds of quests.

When not out gathering materials, Firoza can be found in one of two places. The first? A clearing in the Canopy, where a tired old stump has been left to be reclaimed by the earth. Must've been a big tree that fell over in a storm, by the looks of how the top is splintered, but some Pokemon probably tugged that huge fallen log away to use for construction long ago, because it's nowhere to be seen, and there's no beaten down path of grass from a recent effort.

But it's perfect as it is, this stump. After all, this is clearly a Level One Training Dummy.

Firoza's cries as she lashes out at the stump ring out from the clearing, as she launches herself at the wood in Scratches and Double Kicks, and even the occasional attempt at Poison Sting...but only if she's still and aiming very carefully. We don't need errant poisonings here. She works on lashing out on all fours, on rearing up on her hind legs, maintaining balance...it's all simple moves, more to train herself on how to move rather than building strength in her blows. That can always come later. If you want to smack a stump for a while, or are concerned when you hear yelling somewhere in the Canopy, you're welcome to come over! Absolutely critique her form if you know what you're doing, she'd appreciate it.

The other place Firoza often lingers is at a shop run by Spinarak, specializing in producing things made from extremely strong thread spun by the proprietress in question and other Bug Pokemon. They're all very bemused by this gentle-voiced Nidoran fumbling with a wooden sewing needle in her paws and her unrelenting persistence, and are very welcoming, considering her greenlight to namedrop Ribombee as the one who pointed her this way. Anyone can come and see her here...but Shoka is the one person who gets a personal invitation to come along one day, if she's interested.

Other than that? Firoza's staying at the Cheri Berry base, so her fellow guildmates are welcome to find her there! Feel like chatting? She's happy to listen! Think of this as your Wildcard option.]

Comments

Closed to Shoka - Spinarak's Shop

[bladeofnymeia]

I've found a tutor. For sewing, specifically.

[This is Firoza's opener to Shoka when she happens to track the woman-turned-Mimikyu down.]

She is a spider - er, a Spinarak, specifically. And I made sure to ask if she wouldn't mind another set of hands to help at her shop, so long as they were there to learn. She's given her blessing. We could go now, if you like. The shop isn't far from here.

[Wherever they are, yeah, for brevity's sake, shop's not too far away.]

[telewarped]

[Conveniently, Shoka doesn't appear to be doing much of anything in particular when Firoza finds her. She's just aimlessly wandering the city and its shops, and though she greets Firoza amicably enough, she seems a bit listless.]

Oh, sweet. Good for you.

[Now, however, she perks up. She did say she wanted to learn how to sew, back when her earring cursed her to be extra talkative. It belatedly occurs to her that Firoza might have been looking for her specifically, just to make sure she could be included.

It has her taken aback. The droopy ears of her disguise even pop upright for a moment in pleasant surprise.]

Oh! Right now? I mean... Yeah! If she's really cool with it... I'm down.

[bladeofnymeia]

[Of course she was. Why would she not? Shoka was interested, and frankly, it'd be a crime not to foster someone's interest in the noble pursuit of clothcraft.

Also, they've done a whole quest together at least, by now. So they're definitely friends. Right? Right.]

If you aren't busy, yes. We could go now.

[telewarped]

Don't have anything better to do right now, so... I'm in. Lead the way, boss.

[Even if she was busy (and even if she is feeling low on energy and a little intrusive, despite being invited), she'd probably still try to make time for this, but she's trying not to act too enthusiastic about it.]

So... a sewing spider, huh. Maybe I should've guessed...

[bladeofnymeia]

I should have as well. A natural-born spinner of silk would of course be suited to the task.

[But hey, sometimes what you know about your world can be applicable to this new one, and you don't realize it because it's all so new.]

I feel as if I've entered the Weaver's Guild anew all over again.

[telewarped]

Right?

[Fortunately, she doesn't have any problem with creepy-crawlies. Come to think of it, she technically is one now.

She laces her claws together, fidgeting a little.]

You've got way more experience at this than me, so... how do you bet we're gonna start?

[bladeofnymeia]

Well, we would be learning our available tools and materials. Seeing what works best with our hands, as they are. Learn the basic stitches on scraps...that's how it started for me. I can't imagine it wouldn't be similar.

[telewarped]

Right... Makes sense, I guess. Not that I'd really know...

[There's an awkward pause; she tugs lightly on one of her disguise's ears.]

... Hey, listen. Thanks—for coming to get me and all. Really. [It means a lot to her—but she's already said that to Firoza once before.] I'm... ready to give it a shot whenever you are.

[bladeofnymeia]

[Firoza looks a little surprised at the additional thanks.]

Of course - it's no trouble. And it wouldn't be fair if I kept the opportunity to myself, after you said you were interested.

[Like you just always see if you can help a friend out, that's just how it works.]

[telewarped]

[Her tail-stick actually gives a brief and apparently subconscious wag at that.] Lead the way then, boss.

[She would like to see the spider!]

clearing

[offtracks]

[Ingo is out for a bit of a walk, still working to familiarize himself with as much of the terrain surrounding the village as possible. At home, he's a much more effective warden now that he knows his territory and the Pokemon there; he must reach that same level here.

Right now, though, he's not on any quest in particular. He certainly has time to investigate an apparent training session.]

Good afternoon!

[bladeofnymeia]

[Ah! Caught her right in the middle of...well, it's not really Tackle, unless Serebii.net lied to me and Nidoran can use Tackle, so it's more of a ram-yourself-into-the-wood and kind of try to gouge at it with your horn sort of...thing. She pulls back after doing a little shake and pawing at her head. Skull's still pretty thick, but it doesn't make that hurt any less.]

Ah, hello...just practicing. Am - have I...

[How does she phrase the thought that came to mind here, hmmmm.]

...Was I too loud?

[offtracks]

Not at all! I am not one to talk about such things at any rate!

[His speaking voice is pretty loud...]

But I can certainly leave you be if you prefer to train alone!

[bladeofnymeia]

[Oh, phew!]

No, I don't mind. The stump is large enough for multiple...combatants?

[offtracks]

[Oh, well, he'd largely just intended to spectate and try to advise...but nothing wrong with working on his own moves some more. He could use it! Ingo will circle around to the other side of the stump.]

What are you working on?

[bladeofnymeia]

[Whichever he wants to do is fine! She thought she'd offer, though, just in case. No such thing as needing to hold enmity for this, anyway.]

Balance and movement while executing attacks. The more natural that becomes, the more effective the attack.

[She sounds very certain of that, as if she's put it into practice many times before.]

[offtracks]

Mm, quite so!

[Mostly getting used to the body, then? That definitely makes sense. Ingo takes aim, and shoots a few small embers at the stump.]

Ah. I am trying to use ghost fire, not regular fire.

[bladeofnymeia]

[Ghost fire............

Okay, that makes her pause.]

What...makes the fire "ghost"...?

[offtracks]

It is purple, and ghost-type!

[whatever that means...]

Canopy clearing

[quirkynote]

[The sound of shouting and the echoing thuds of attacks usually puts A.B.A into caution mode, and this is no different. Thankfully there's plenty of plants to hide behind, even if she's quite large. As easy as it would be to just run away and play it safe, A.B.A is a curious creature by nature and timidly peeks between foliage to see what sort of danger awaits her.

Oh.

Never mind.

It's just the tiny Nidoran partaking in some perplexing landscaping.

Carefully, she takes a few steps out of her hiding place and into the clearing, head tilted much like a dog. ...or perhaps a bird. Like some sort of animal.]

That stump is already quite dead.

[bladeofnymeia]

[She doesn't get startled, thankfully - but Firoza didn't expect someone to arrive here. So, she backs off from the brutal Scratch assault on some particularly resilient bark and gives her body a little shake.]

Yes, it is. That's why I'm hitting it. I am training.

[quirkynote]

[Her head tilts the other way now as she steps closer, examining the stump to see just how much damage it's received so far.]

A-Ah... The Oran Berries... They offer training services to Pokémon of all guilds, if you'd rather work with more suitable equipment.

[She starts circling, her head still tilted.]

As a member, I'm instructed to offer my services as a teacher, although I'm still in the process of learning, myself...

[bladeofnymeia]

Mm, I remember. I am...working my way up to that.

[She's still clumsy with her attacks, still thinking (mostly) like a beast instead of a Pokemon, and trying to use what her body has at its disposal before reaching down deep to unleash more of the untapped potential within.]

Mistress Mightyena asked you to teach? Then...perhaps you are to learn while teaching, too.

[quirkynote]

Working a way up to training...? I don't think I understand...

[If A.B.A had lips to bite, she'd be biting hers right about now. Instead, she nibbles at the end of one of her claws.]

Yes, I believe that's the intention. Miss Mightyena knows a great deal about training others in the art of fighting, so I have no reason to question her methods... Still...I can't help but feel like I might be passing down my........flaws onto those trying to learn from me...

That kitten... Firepaw... He's a suitable teacher...

[bladeofnymeia]

Mm, maybe it's not the same here...but where I am from, there are...training dummies that are more suited to those who are stronger? I suppose they are more sturdy.

[Lv 1 versus Lv 100 training dummy, or something.]

Well, you likely won't know what would be a flaw until you discover it. And then, you can work on improving on it with those you teach. I know I would prefer that to an infallible teacher.