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Lupa

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Lupa is a small farming community located between the coast and the Tapana Woods. It’s number one export would consist of fruits and livestock.

It is also a very relaxing city, as the people who live here are very laid back. Many travelers stay here to relax for a few days, but it is recommended that those travelers who wish to explore the Tapana Woods gather some supplies here as well.

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The quest board Clive had found was just off a large road that must have used by the farmers and merchants to deliver their products to surrounding towns and cities. The plain wooden board must have been put there in an effort to attract the attention of travelers along this road.

From where Clive stood on the top of a small hill he could see the quaint farming town of Lupa stretching out before him. Surrounding the small collection of dwellings that made up the town center were acres and acres of fruit orchards and grazing land that eventually faded into the forest beyond.

As Clive made his way towards the town, the morning mist was just beginning to burn off the landscape as rays of light found their way through the cloudy sky. On one side of the road, just outside of town, Clive would notice a large willow tree with young women in a dark cloak and pointed hat resting in its shade.

As Clive got closer his keen eyes would notice there was something a little different about this girl. For one, her hair was a vibrant green and looked as if it was made not of strands of hair, but blades of grass. What's more, though the girl was pretty well covered up, the parts of her skin that could be seen had the appearance of polished wood.

A warm breeze blows past Clive and the young woman, causing her grass like hair and floppy, pointed hat to flutter in the wind. Clive suddenly realizes that the girl was asleep though his words must have reached her for she suddenly began to stir.

The girl slowly looks at the boy now standing in front of her with a groggy look on her eyes. "Oh, uh... Hello. It's such a nice, warm day. I was trying to absorb some sunlight this morning and I guess I, uh, must have dozed off. What brings you to the similarly sleepy town of Lupa?"

"Ah, I should have guessed. You're one of those adventurer types. Most people don't go around with things like that unless they know how to use them." The strange girl motions to the scythe strapped to Clive's back. "That sure isn't used for harvesting wheat."

The girl stands up and brushes the dirt from the cloak she had wrapped around her. Underneath it Clive can see she wears a simple black dress with stockings. She picks up a heavy, worn-looking tome that had been lying by her side and tucks it under her arm. With her other hand she offers a handshake. "My name is Poa. I hail from the Tapana Woods. I guess I'm sort of an oddity for my kind. Most dryads shun contact with civilization, but there are certain things you just can't get in the forest."

After waiting for him to shake her hand she would continue on. "So anyways, you want to know about the quest they have on the announcement board? Well, ask any villager and they will have a different story to tell, though Mr. Redford would probably be the best source of information about that stuff. He's the current leading councilman of the town, so he gets to hear everybody's complaints. Other than that, old Rancher Hopkins said one of his cows disappeared last night. It probably just wondered off into the forest but you can go ask him about it if you want. His house is located at the southeast edge of town."

The girl paused and thought for a moment. "Hmm, I'm afraid that's about all the information I have on the subject. I think it's just a bunch of superstition. The people here unjustly fear the forest, but I guess that's just my opinion."

Poa laughed at Clive's comment. " Gossip travels fast! Though, I guess I do spend a lot of time in Lupa. Good luck on solving the mystery. At least it'll give them something else to talk about."

As Clive began to walk away, Poa sat down back underneath the willow tree and began to leaf through her ancient-looking tome. When Clive turned back to her to ask his questions she shrugged her shoulders. "I mean exactly what I said. The people here fear the forest and what potentially lies within with little justification for it. I understand it's human nature to fear the unknown, and there are indeed wild and dangerous things living in Tapana Woods--but they never leave the forest. Besides the occasional bear or wolf attack on cattle, the creatures of the forest avoid entering this place. On their turf, it's a different story, but no major attack has ever taken place in Lupa by a denizen of Tapana Woods. Why, you should have seen how they reacted the first time I came out of the forest to try and trade with them! I had to learn how to wear human clothes and everything..."

Poa paused, realizing she was beginning to go on a bit of a diatribe. It was obvious this topic was a sore subject to her but she quickly changed her tone as not to give a bad impression of the place. "Don't get me we wrong. The people here are good people. They're honest and laid back and pretty accepting of others. They just have this irrational fear that Tapana Woods is out to get them and nothing I tell them to the contrary seems to ease their troubled minds."

"Oh, this?" Poa's mood instantly shifts to excitement at the mention of her book. "Why, this is a book detailing how to perform advanced evocation techniques! I think it's about a hundred years old or so, but it's hard to tell as there are no dates written within it and I am not familiar with the author. It's definitely a good read though! Magic hasn't changed much over the centuries and the way he writes makes the concepts really easy to grasp!"

Poa eyes Clive curiously now. "Why do you ask, by the way? Are you a spell caster yourself? I could make some excellent recommendations!"

Poa playfully shakes her head. "Ah, well, I'm afraid I can't help you out there. Elemental magic is quite different from that of the arcane, though I definitely know a thing or two about manipulating trees!" Poa winks at Clive and returns his smirk. "You know earth elementals aren't the only ones with powers like that."

As Clive converses with Poa the sound of a wooden wagon can be heard rattling down the road towards town. Poa immediately perks up at this sound. With great enthusiasm she whips her head around to look in the same direction. "Is that... It is! It's my book merchant!" She excitedly turns back to Clive. "Well, it was nice talking, Clive. If you're going to be staying in town for a while, I'm sure we'll see each other around. I got to see if there are any new books for me! Good luck on on your quest!" And with that the dryad takes off down the road towards the merchant with alarming speed.

The tales from the townsfolk on the "Beast of a Thousand Knives" were as wild and varied as Poa had suggested they would be. The only things that could be drawn from the multiple conversations was that no one had ever actually laid eyes on the creature and that everyone believed it was some sort of monster from the forest.

After questioning some of the villagers, Clive would be directed to the town hall as the place to see Mr. Redford. The place was not hard to find as it was the largest building in Lupa, located right in the town's center. Upon entering Clive would find himself in a large open hall lined with benches. The place was obviously used as a gathering place for the community. At the back of the room there was a raised platform that supported several chairs and a podium. The room was completely empty but Clive would spot a door on one of the side walls. Neatly farmed on the door were the painted words "Councilman Leader Redford."

Upon entering the room Clive would be greeted with the sight of a large bearded man in his late 40s crouching over a desk busily writing on a piece of paper. Hearing Clive enter the office the man would look up from his work to examine this newcomer. He raised an Inquisitive eyebrow and asked. "Can I help you?"