A quest for the breath of a Flower

[whose_son_am_i]

Who: Loki of Asgard and YOU!
What: Loki has been set a scavenger hunt quest by the Sphinx.
Where: Around Anastara
When: Before he goes on a pub-crawl with Rosh. Because y'all don't need a hungover God of Mischief doing adventures, funny as that is.
Warnings: Potential language? Definite shenanigans.



Well, Loki knew the answer to the riddle. Finding an example of it would be more difficult. Was there a flower on Anastara that was known as "name" Breath? Could he find Baby's breath here? Loki honestly wasn't sure, but he was going to do it anyways.

As much as he was loathe to, Loki also knew he'd need people more familiar with Anastara than him to try and help. So, since people here seemed to actually be willing to work with him, he'll seek out those who had been friendly for aid.

Diatu Library
There was still so much to learn, but Loki had a more specific purpose this time than just browsing. First stop would be the school Library, to see if there was any lore about flora that had 'breath' in it's proper name or folk name. Currently he's up on a ladder, tall form stretched up and looking through more obscure flora taxonomies and herbiaries.

Dragonfire Library
Whatever he couldn't find in the school Library, he was sure he'd find leads in the Dragonfire Library. Even if he didn't, Loki'd planned on checking out the Dragonfire Library anyways. He appreciated Isabel's warning; this visit he planned to be on the up and up, given his goal. But it wouldn't hurt to do some scouting and learn more about the library while he was there...

"The Backwater" Tavern
The last place, beyond just walking around to explore the green areas of the island, that Loki went to was "The Backwater" tavern in the third ring. Because the 'common' folk as it were, often knew just as much about folk medicine and names as anyone else. If there was a flower or herb with 'breath' in its name or lore, he was hoping for a lead here.

While there, he's not opposed to joining in some singing and drinking. Loki has a fine enough voice, and while not letting himself get drunk yet, he'll certainly accept a drink or three.

Wildcard
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Comments

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik paused and thought. "So it is more of a riddle then." Well straight forward wouldn't be something from a fabled mythical creature, so he nodded at Loki. "I will see what I can find in some of the other books here, just in case."

And he started doing just that.

[whose_son_am_i]

Well, that was helpful. Loki smiled to himself, with only a hint of slyness to it. No harm in accepting someone's aid who was so eager to give it, after all. So for now, while the other went to do some research on his behalf, Loki went back to his own search.

[unswervingcompanion]

He'd found a dictionary on flowers but started looking in the 'b' section first. And while he loved to read on the road such as he had with the Luminary, that reading was for himself. Jasper had fostered a love of learning and reading on him.

However, this was research and while he'd done that here before, helping felt good though he wasn't sure quite how well it would all sort of turn out.

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki gave it a few more minutes, before he sought the other out. "It occurs to me, that if you know what plant I'm thinking of, you might know if there's anything similar here. We should start with that."

So Loki held up a hand, and let an illusion form in his palm of a sprig of baby's breath.

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik was carefully turning pages, making sure he didn't miss anything. He was definitely trying to assist here and half heard Jasper's impatient sighs in his mind from their childhood.

But then Loki appeared and mentioned the flower itself. And then he saw the flower that was being searched. His blue eyes narrowed a bit as he inspected it. "I have seen that here. Back when we had a Winter Ball, women were given flowers in a thin sort of paper with that plant in it."

[whose_son_am_i]

"Excellent." Loki replied with a smile. "Likely you mean a corsage. Now I just need to find, or buy, the flower."

[unswervingcompanion]

He'd had no idea if corsage was the correct word or not. But he had seen so many flowers that night. However his mind hadn't been on flowers that night. Unless one counted her as a sort of dark enchanting flower which was how the knight viewed the Lady.

"Then does this relieve us of our book research?" Hendrik asked, looking up at the other.

[whose_son_am_i]

"It does." Tilting his head, an eyebrow raised in curiosity. "I take it you're not fond of reading books and research?" No judgment, just conversation. "You are generally more a man of action, I'd wager."

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik shook his head. "Lessons and studying are easy for some, such as an old friend back home." Of course here he was referring to Jasper who had quite the wisdom which somehow got tumbled over in his need for power. "But your assessment is correct. I am much more suited to a battlefield or questing."

Sitting around and doing nothing was hard.

[whose_son_am_i]

"Ah. I suspect I'm more like your old friend from home then. But since you've helped me, I'll help you in turn if you need it, with studying aid."

[unswervingcompanion]

There was the thinnest bit of a smile. Loki and Jasper did seem to have some of the same personality traits. But of course the knight wasn't going to allow himself to get hung up on that.

"I thank you for the offer of assistance."

[whose_son_am_i]

"I doubt you'll need it, other than your dislike of studying." Hendrik certainly seemed smart enough. "In any case, were you intending to join me in my search? You'd be welcome to."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight nodded and stood. "I would welcome the chance to get out from under the rote of book studying." This was more of what he was used to. The Luminary was the one who did all of the investigating and Hendrik always went along to help in battle.

[whose_son_am_i]

"As much as I enjoy the books, go we shall." Loki chuckled, while gesturing for Hendrik to lead on. "You know these grounds somewhat better than I, where would we start?"

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight nodded. "We will start in town. There were flower stalls set up there, at least the last time I was here. But as nothing else has seemed to have changed over much, I do not worry that they have some how disappeared."

[whose_son_am_i]

"I'm not sure if I want it to be so simple as to 'buy' the flower." Loki mused while they walked. "It almost seems...I don't know, too cheap. Even though this isn't a grand quest, these kinds of things usually have a way about them where the simple solution isn't the easiest." Which didn't mean he wouldn't buy the flower if he could. Or simply make one with Discovery.

[unswervingcompanion]

The tall knight walked at Loki's pace, to be able to maintain a companionable distance if the other spoke. "But at least looking at the flower might be able to help out in some way." Hendrik wasn't sure how this sort of quest would work out either. And he himself well knew that quests weren't easy no matter how straightforward they sounded.

"And we do need some where to start." As all quests did.

[whose_son_am_i]

"Oh I'm not disagreeing, that we do need somewhere to start. Just musing out loud." Fortunately they were able to keep pace with each other fairly easily.

[unswervingcompanion]

Turning away from his companion, Hendrik made a few turns. This he was doing from memory and it wasn't long before they reached the market place. There was a small bit of a smile on his face as they got there because he'd remembered correctly.

Spying a sword on a sign, he gestured. "That is the weapons shop and on this side is where all of the flowers are." They were beautiful and all as carefully arranged as he'd remembered them.

[whose_son_am_i]

Loki was fine with companionable silence, as he was busy memorizing the route. It was a very nice market place, accompanied by the hustle and bustle of people shopping. "I remember you recommending the weapons shop before. Maybe after we check out the flower shops?"

[unswervingcompanion]

"Yes that is an agreeable course of action. And I do wonder if they have the fine collection of weapons that they possessed the last time I was here."

For now though he started looking for the flowers that he'd seen in the books.

[whose_son_am_i]

While Hendrik looked, Loki took the expedient route and asked the sellers. "Excuse me, do you have any flowers known as 'Baby's breath'? Or any other flowers that could be said to 'breathe', for that matter? It's for project."

[unswervingcompanion]

The knight didn't get in Loki's way and looked around as the man conducted his business. There were roses everywhere it seemed and a white flower in particular grabbed his attention. It wasn't what the other was searching for but it reminded him. So he blinked at it a few times and then turned away, trying to talk himself out of purchasing it.

[whose_son_am_i]

Roses were the common 'romantic' flower, and Loki suspected most looked no deeper than that. He wondered how many were actually aware of what they said, message wise, with flower-types? Maybe it was even different on this world than his own?

In any case, he would've been blind to not notice what had drawn Hendrik's notice and reaction. "Find something you like?" All curiosity here.

[unswervingcompanion]

Hendrik kept forcing himself to look around and yet his gaze always returned to the white flower. It was very trying, and he just kept shaking his head at it. And apparently he hadn't noticed Loki coming up beside him.

With a firm sigh, his eyes shit and he shook his head. "No." And then his eyes opened to look at his companion. "Have you found what you were seeking?"