Towers And Tieflings: ONC 2021 Longlist

7: The Perks of Befriending a Wallflower

Back on the adventurers' trek through the Starchasm Forest to the Spire, Sage gently tugs on the left sleeve of Orianna's white robe. When the tiefling wizard's black eyes meet the druid's, the latter points over to a leafy green herb growing just a few feet away.

"Hey guys?" Orianna calls out. "Sage needs to stop for a second."

Adam sighs reflexively, but gestures for everyone to stop and let Sage harvest her herb. The druid girl bounds toward her desired plant in an instant, like an energetic dog that just escaped its leash. Kohl starts tapping her foot against the forest floor, eager to progress on their journey.

"Again? We're never gonna reach the Spire today at this rate," Seamus grits his teeth in annoyance. "What does she even need all these plants for anyway?"

Sage easily ignores the conversation and starts digging up the earth, eager to get to the root of her target. Upon passing an 'Herblore' check with ease, she receives the following notification:

~ Three 'Ginseng roots' added to inventory. ~

Satisfied, Sage dusts the dirt off of her hands and rejoins the party.

Orianna smiles at the elf girl, welcoming her return from her short excursion. She then raises an eyebrow, curiosity overcoming her features. "What exactly are you gathering herbs for, Sage?"

Wordlessly, the druid clicks through various 'Herblore' and 'Medicine' checks on her character screen. With most of the necessary crafting tools already in her possession, Sage passes each step of her secret process with ease. In less than a minute of real world time, she mixes together two healing potions. The elf girl passes her concoctions to Orianna, who then tosses one to Seamus and hands the other over to Kohl. The  tiefling wizard then ruffles the druid's long hair, a look of pride upon her face.

"Holy crap, Sage, this is amazing! You can make healing potions?" The half-elf pirate gratefully adds the medicinal drink to her inventory.

"She's worth her weight in gold literally and figuratively now." Adam beams at the druid staring intently at a blade of grass. "So happy to have you on board with us."

"You and I should start a business together, Sage. We could make so much gold selling these." Seamus thrusts the vial into the air, watching the virtual sunlight brighten the red liquid inside. His fantasy of becoming the tyrannical king of this world suddenly doesn't seem so far-fetched.

Sage shakes her head, not interested in the slightest. 

Kohl cackles at the druid's blunt, nonverbal refusal as the group resumes travelling. The pirate places a hand on Seamus's small shoulder and feigns sympathy. "Aw, you poor thing. Does rejection get any easier? You're the expert, right?"

Seamus simply smirks. "Gotta ask for what you want to have a shot at getting it. Some of us don't want to be forever alone at sixteen."

Kohl's hands move to rest on her hips, contrasting with the relaxed expression she strains to wear. "Staying single sounds preferable to me over having been dumped ten times."

"I know it does." Seamus glances over at the pirate walking a few feet away from him, his voice dropping dramatically in volume. "And that's part of the problem."

"Hey guys?" Again, the group focuses their attention on Orianna, waiting to hear whatever message Sage wants to pass on through proxy. "Sage wants to know if we want her to start scouting out ahead. She says the surrounding areas of the Spire can be dangerous."

"Oh yeah, then that'd be great. It'd be nice to have some warning next time we're about to head into combat." Adam says, once again grateful for Sage's contribution to the team.