Two guys just scared of eachother lol
Armour: Platinum
Weapon: Platinum Bow (Fire Arrows); Arkhalis
Acc(7/11): Band of Regeneration, Radar, Hermes Boots, Round Shield, Aglet, Rover Drive, Crown Jewel
Health: (350/400)
There was a certain thrill to it, the fight. It wasn't pleasurable, persay. Neither did he eagerly wish to repeat the experience… but something within him just felt right when he cast his eyes upon that tremendous slime. It was dangerous, yes. It's gigantic weight could easily crush his bones to powder. The poor rotting corpse encased within the slime's translucent mass made it very clear one should keep their distance.
...
But, strangely, The Terrarian wasn't afraid - even when his brain told him he very well should be. He wasn't thinking properly either. When he was underground, battling monsters and mining for ore, his chief concern was always his own welfare. He proceeded cautiously and carefully - only letting down his guard when there was no danger to himself. Even this morning, when he fought the slime rain, he only allowed himself to grow careless because he knew there was minimal danger to his person.
Yet, as he faced down the King Slime - a creature who could easily kill him in a single moment - the reasonable idea of fleeing didn't even shadow his mind. He watched the enormous slime approach him with a salivating excitement, seemingly unable to even take a single step in retreat. His brain screamed danger, but something else within him instilled the absolute confidence he could defeat this foe.
And… that was exactly what he wanted to do.
More than anything - he wanted to kill that monster.
...
Thankfully, the mental fog faded once the King Slime's remains stopped quivering. It's exploded corpse lay still and shiny in the green grass. He was likewise filthy, splattered in blue gel from head to toe and panting something awful. All his nerves tingled as the adrenaline slowly siphoned away. He gasped as he felt nonsensical rage drain from his skull - he couldn't even remember what he was angry about. After a long moment, he was once again in control, but terribly disquieted. He stood there, staring down at the result of his handiwork, and watched his hands tremble. Was… was something wrong with him?
...
Why didn't he retreat? Why did he risk himself? He didn't gain anything from killing the King Slime. He didn't even know such an entity existed until this morning! He had found a bag of interesting trinkets in the chunks of its remains, but nothing within was particularly compelling… yet, even if there was no reward to be had - The Terrarian suspected he would still be subject to that ridiculous, and frankly very dangerous compulsion. Why did he want to slay it so very badly? Why did it feel so right to pit himself against that monstrosity?
...
He exhaled hard, and turned away his thoughts. There was no use in digging for answers within his -upsettingly empty- head. Much to his chagrin, he found his knowledge of… everything to be pathetically sparse. He didn't really know who (or what) he was. He didn't know where he came from or where he was going. He had no purpose, no security, nothing to do, nothing to protect. He didn't even know why he should continue to survive. After all, he was an empty shell. A creature bereft of everything…
...
Such dark thoughts had crossed his mind several times before. He really didn't like to dwell on the existential crisis that seemed to constantly border his consciousness. Doing so left him with a cold, hollow feeling in his gut that not even the warm fire could alleviate. He just focused on his blessings. What he had: his little clearing, two sheds, and his Guide - who was excitedly pointing at a patch of dirt and chattering away. The man no longer stank like rotting flesh, so the Terrarian trudged over to see the cause of his excitement.
"... yup, here! This is daybloom. Distill it with some mushroom to create a Regeneration Potion. If you dissolve iron into the solution, you can also make Ironskin - but be careful, take too many potions and you'll be ill. Ah, I noticed you spent all last night wandering around outdoors - so I'll teach you how to make the Night-Owl Potion as well. It's actually a 'night- vision' potion, but we've nicknamed it. Add a lens and you get an Archery Potion, probably useful for- (etc…)"
The person in question was once again bludgeoning him with information, annoying to be sure - but much preferable to the dread of pondering his very existence. This time, however, the information wasn't entirely unsolicited. Some of the slimes had vials of multicolour solution suspended in their bodies, and The Terrarian had collected them and brought them to The Guide for appraisal. Of course, he could probably just drink them and discover their effects on his own - but that would likely be dangerous. After today's brash display of recklessness, The Terrarian wasn't eager to push his luck any further. He bowed his pride and asked for advice - of which The Guide was quite happy to provide.
"Hey, there's another one. Go grab it, will you?"
The Terrarian turned and trudged away to fetch a small, yellow bloom growing near the roots of a nearby tree. He could feel The Guide's eyes on his back as he walked, and understood he was being closely observed. Perhaps The Guide knew what he was… obviously the name 'Terrarian' meant something to him considering his reaction when he first heard it. But… asking another to define you was straying into dangerous territory. What if The Guide was malicious? Could he possibly have some ulterior motive for accompanying somebody like him? Doubts rang amok in the Terrarian's mind, but that same inner swell that made him battle the King Slime also told him that The Guide was a friend.
...whatever 'friend' means
And in the same way he really didn't have a choice in confronting King Slime with a courage bordering on madness, The Terrarian suspected he would find himself woefully trusting when it came to The Guide. That compulsion rankled against him. Why should he trust that man? Why should he make himself vulnerable to deceit. True that none of The Guide's words have ever fallen flat. Neither had he ever lied to him (as far as The Terrarian knew). In fact, The Guide had saved his life not once, but twice. Perhaps… perhaps I'm being unreasonable.
…
But… Mentally, The Terrarian was no match for that man. The Guide was a veritable library of knowledge. He was sly, intelligent and there was a glimmer of desperation in him. A glimmer that said he could do anything to fulfill his goal. Surely the Travelling Merchant had crossed him, such that The Terrarian had been tasked with killing the man the next time he appeared. That was well and good… but if The Guide one day felt it necessary to do away with him, then what defense did he have?
… a hypothetical.
The Terrarian kneeled to pluck the flower, then straightened and turned to watch the Guide through his slatted visor. The man wore a brilliantly fake smile that faltered when he realized he wasn't being eagerly obeyed. What a face that man had. His features seemed to say 'trust me' whilst his silver tongue manipulated all who heard it's utterances. How ridiculously dangerous. What a terrifying person.
…
But... The Terrarian had nobody else. He would sooner kill himself than exist in isolation. He would trust The Guide, even if he hated it. He'd believe every word that proceeded out of his mouth. What choice did he have? His compulsion demanded it. His desperation commanded it. He walked back toward his Guide, Daybloom in hand. His boots cut heavily into the mossy undergrowth with every step as he approached. The Guide received the small flower with a widened grin and a voice as smooth as honey. Perhaps he understood what it meant.
"Great. Let's collect a few more, fish up some dinner, and I'll teach you how to brew potions in the evening."
The Terrarian nodded mutely and watched The Guide cheerfully continue foraging for herbs. Wasn't he distraught an hour ago? Something about "Crimson" consuming his village? Well… The Terrarian hardly had a grasp on his own emotional state. He was in no position to judge anyone else's, much less The Guide's.
A Dangerous individual...
One moment he could be sad, and another moment happy. One moment he could be a friend, another, an enemy? It was certainly possible, and The Terrarian wouldn't know he was in danger until it was far too late. He just prayed that if the time came where The Guide sought to March him to his death...
"Hey! Hurry it up! The day isn't getting any younger!"
...He dearly hoped he could live through the concequences of today's actions.
Haaaak… haaaak…
Monsters. Horrific monsters. He felt the pull on his flesh. He felt the draw on his mind. Even his very soul felt the tug of that terrifying eldritch abomination. He had seen it… that brain. The amalgamation of all the men, women, creatures the Crimson had consumed over the years. They were alive in there, alive yet not distinct. Man mixed with beast mixed with vine mixed with worm. The old man beheld it and fled. He escaped with his mind intact…
But not his body.
Those dreadful creatures overran him. He was a merchant. His livelihood were his wares… he couldn't simply leave them! He took the time to gather his belongings-
And he took too long.
The monsters found him. Horrible humanoid creatures who were once men, women, children. He barely escaped, sustaining a great wound in his gut for his troubles. He clutched his stomach as he staggered from tree to tree, making his way through the silent forest. He felt slick warm moisture bleeding between his fingers, and pain radiated from his gut with every step he took. The wound was festering. He could feel it already. Ichor. The blood of gods… it was searing his veins. It… would likely kill him.
Ah!
A building! Hope!
He staggered up the patio and collapsed, heaving on the doorstep.
just kiss already.
Poor Terrarian, he's gonna have to deal with stanky Merchant
The Guide absolutely had no idea what the flower was supposed to mean he's just trying to be as useful as he can because in he thinks T is gonna chop off his head if he's not dispensing info. He was just happy T seemed engaged. (I'll include next chap haha. Eventually the boys need to actually talk to eachother) also plain old merchant incoming. Nurse later on. Prolly demolitionist, but not sure if I'm gonna add all the npcs, esp cuz I never interact with most of them.
Does anyone read? Drop me note