Meet the Landers: Helba

The Giant's Seat is one of the first locales that ever had its Dungeon Heart cleared out. As such, it's considered a safe haven on the road between Alne and Carmina Gadelica Port. Being a few hours away from Alne, it's rarely a stopping place. But it sees enough travel to be used as a quick place to grab a snack or get some trade done.

It is on one of those stops, in the midst of the evening, that Fukaziroh finds herself in this place. Flames lit and stars above.

    The life of a road warrior is often busy. And while Fuka's not really one to be searching out gasoline and bullets, she too needs her fuel. Carrying her own food is one of those exercises in futility really. She's too prone to buy and pack food she really enjoys, and when she eats it she usually gorges on it. So even when packing food with the best of intentions she frequently stops in places such as these to relax, refuel, and prepare herself for the lonely roads ahead. Well, lonely at least save for her constant trusty traveling companion Sandy, happily fuelling herself on whatever Pekos enjoy. It's not like Fuka has to worry about overindulging on those sorts of things!

    Fuka can be found around the cookpot now, banded together with a few merchants who are willing to share their food while Fuka entertains them by singing. And entertaining herself for that matter; she does enjoy singing, and is an enthusiastic seeker of notes indeed. Not that she sounds bad, but it's probably a good thing she doesn't have to earn a living as a musical idol!

There are many travelers who prefer to be left alone out in the Yamato region. But none so much as the woman known as Helba. Her presence draws an intense amount of attention most days. Yet, for all of that draw, it seems that sometimes she has to make her presence known to the world beyond.

Wielding her staff, he steps out from within the barrow-mound while the merchants are busy sharing their food. There's a certain amount of time-pressure the woman is under the moment she steps out like this. Her appearance is recognizable. But she may as well be, as Adventurers always Inspect those around them - and her name is sure to stand out regardless.

The woman stares at Fukaziroh from at the entrance of the barrow, and motions for her silently while she makes her music known. It's a commanding a firm motion. Almost as if Fukaziroh had been sought out specifically for this purpose.

    Fuka's not particularly interested in being alone, accepting it when necessary but hardly seeking out solitude. She's a people person and, in a game world at least, she's relatively popular.

    Witness, as such, a tall woman in a spectacular outfit trying to get her attention. Ah, the price of fame and amazing excellence! Fuka grins and waggles her fingers, bringing her song to an early but not quite abrupt conclusion. "Thank you, thank you, I'll be here all w... well an hour or so maybe. Try the stew and ale, it's a delight~!" she mouths, doing her best lounge singer impersonation. Might explain her off-beat singing... or possibly that's just Fuka being Fuka.

    Fuka studies Helba a moment. She's not eager to respond to commands, but then the last time she saw this figure it was rather serious. Her desire for lore and cool secrets wars with anti-authoritarianism briefly, and curiousity wins out in the end. She ambles over. "Was it the singing or the food?" she asks cryptically. "I'm not responsible for any of it. Well, I mean I kind of am, but expecting me to be responsible rarely works out so just forget that. But you're free to join and enjoy?"

As Fukaziroh gets up and her gaze meets the tall woman, she may notice something happening near her. A few of the Merchants, just a few, suddenly motion at their UI. They try to speak very softly, but she can hear the words 'Helba' and 'Heathcliff' being spoken in short succession. Not specifically in that order.

Helba doesn't seem to emote much. But then, her eyes seem to be well hidden behind a strange device. "I cannot stay long." Helba cuts off Fukaziroh in the middle of her talking about the singing and the food, and joining in. Perhaps a bit rude, but it makes the situation clear.

She glances over Fukaziroh's shoulder, as two of the Merchants get up and begin to step away to Chimlink without anyone else overhearing them.

"This will have to be quick. I have need of your talents and connections. There is a new group of Goblins that have taken up a sea-side cavern against the edge of Ezzo Empire - outside of the dome." Helba points out. "It's a large maze cavern. But more importantly, they appear to have collected a significant amount of Enigma Pieces that can shut down peoples' Cosmosphere protection. That means that people will suffer pain when dealing with those Goblins. I need you to send in teams and try to remove as many of those pieces from their hands before it is too late." Helba posits to Fukaziroh. "And bring at least one of them to me."

    Well, Fuka can forgive someone for being a bit rude. Social graces sometimes have to be set aside for a time for important things. Or fun. Fun is important after all. Still, the little sylph peers dubiously at Helba, taking this odd appearance of the woman with the odd appearance with the seriousness and solemnity it deserves.

    "Goblins huh? Well, I'm no stranger to goblin fights." she says uncertainly. The bit about contacts makes sense. Fuka's made a point of making contacts, and she probably sorta kinda does owe Helba something. But she's not sure what her capabilities have to do with anything. "And enigma pieces ... Huh. That's not good." she nods. She hasn't dared try anything with those pieces she's come across, but she's known Merek long enough to have a pretty good idea what happens when someone's system protection is pierced. Definitely not a good thing.

    "I guess I got no problem with accepting a quest like this. Seems important and all, but I'm curious why me? Just because I have contacts?" she asks, then narrows her eyes. "Is this because I'm short enough to go into goblin tunnels?" she asks with mock severity.

The woman turns quiet as Fukaziroh answers. Constant glances over the short girl's shoulder to check on the status of the Merchants. Then back down to her again; "That is not good." Helba helpfully repeats after Fuka. But then the conversation shifts a bit.

Why her.

"That is accurate. Goblins favor shorter tunnels. So your short stature will be greatly benificial to you." The woman answers.

Pause. It is. It is totally because she is short!

"Additionally, because of our previous meeting, I was able to find you more easily. And you are one of the few that were there, that is not part of Scale Emblem." Which brings her to; "Where it is important that they do not know of my involvement in this, or your connection to me. For your own safety, and my own. Understood?"

    As much as Fuka plays the clown, she's no fool. She takes note of Helba's glance, puts a few things together. "You're being hunted then." she states, voice actually relatively quiet. Well, it makes sense. She had some issues with what was going on in the Tower that fateful day. Not to mention some advice and hints of some serious power. The question is, why does that make her hunted? Does she oppose Scale? That might explain much. Does Scale want to use her in ways that would end up breaking this world? Well... duh. Of course they do. And that thought's enough to ensure Fuka's fully on board. She doesn't hate Scale. She quite likes some of their members, really. She'll even help them from time to time, knowing that they're still so very far off from their goal that having fun now is all she needs to worry about. But no, she's not going to help Scale do something that'll break the world entirely. That... just no.

    Fuka nods, then makes a brief arcane gesture. A little menu-surfing later, she offers up a friend request to Helba. Though the question is, can Helba actually receive the request, or even notice it's been done? "I'll need to find you when I get one of those Enigma pieces." she claims. "Or send a message so we can meet. Something tells me you don't want people knowing where you live!" Fuka adds brightly.

Helba watches Fukaziroh going through the UI, clearly familiar enough with those gestures that by the time that Fukaziroh presses the send button, Helba immediately has accepted it. The signs of a skilled player.

"Be aware that after this transaction, I will be removing this. But this is the best way for you to contact me when you get the item in question." The woman points out to Fukaziroh, looking down upon her.

The woman then touches the staff to the side of the wall. "Do not delay." Before the staff pushes along the side of the wall, and it 'rips open'. Allowing the woman to step through, and the wall just 'closes' right behind her!?

    This isn't the first time Fuka's seen Helba's portals. It's a niiiiice power, very handy, very powerful. Also abrupt. Well then. "That's what I was thinking, yes." Fuka agrees, having decided that a chim would be the only effective way to contact Helba given the woman's apparent desire for solitude.

    It's also rather rude, noting that they'll be friends only for this transaction, but then Fuka can understand shyness and social awkwardness too. She hadn't fooled herself into thinking they'd become fast friends, though it stings a little. A pain she's rather used to, however, so she's quick to dismiss it and focus on something more pressing.

    "Waaaait, she called me short! And that I'd be good for sending after goblins! RUDE!" Fuka stomps her feet and turns back to the others. Of course this is *after* Helba's closed her portal and gone her own way.

    Oh well, she'll still do it. But ... who knows, maybe the merchants will see the abrupt dismissal and Fukaziroh storming off and come to the wrong conclusion? Either way she returns to the cooking area, eager for a bit more companionship and an opportunity to perhaps deflect some curiousity should that be needed.