<span class="bbc_size" style="font-size: 12pt;"><strong>Closed Quest:</strong> That’s a Big Rat</span><br/><div class="floatleft">(https://i.imgur.com/M5bomIF.png)</div><strong>Name:</strong>Jasper Hulfort (https://elliquiy.com/forums/index.php?topic=333483.msg15884537#msg15884537)<br/><strong>Race and Occupation:</strong>Human Lumberjack | Woodworker<br/><strong>Location &amp; Time:</strong>Temple of Casta, Basement Door | W1D2 Castalin - Mid-Morning<br/><strong>Tagging:</strong>Abbotryx, Merry, Alyssa, Wilhelmina<br/><br/><hr/><br/>In all the time he'd spent at Amberdale, Jasper hadn't quite found the time to visit the Temple of Casta... Yet what a coincidence that his first visit to the temple would be for business reasons. The blonde male was already wearing a look of wondrous surprise on his features at the design of the structure, but the inside had been just as breathtaking as outside. Part of him was glad to know he wasn't alone in undertaking this particular quest... Not wholly out of worry, but rather the awkwardness of entering unfamiliar territory for the first time. Thankfully, Merry was a welcome sight as familiarity bred comfort... As for the other two...<br/><br/>The minotaur named Alyssa was quite statuesque to the man. A fair bit bigger than him, but no less feminine despite a build that put the average man to shame. He was pretty sure if they arm-wrestled, he would be on the floor, and he wouldn't be bothered in the slightest. Those abs looked quite good for licking, and (possibly?) unknown to the minotauress, so did other things in the eyes of the male. Her proclivity with an axe was an especially good note for the man, whose own work with an axe left him feeling like there was a connection there... But whereas his felled trees, likely hers had shattered stone. There could be no comparison between them.<br/><br/>Wilhelmina looked to be a much more straight-laced lady, prompt and focused on her work. Diligence and dedication were her constant allies, and she looked like someone who rarely found the time to have fun (how wrong his internal observations were remained to be seen, given he had no idea the woman had scoped the whole party out already). Despite these things, she looked like quite the stunner, and no doubt there were few people he would rather find looming over him attempting to bring him back from unconsciousness than her... I mean in a life-saving way. Totally.<br/><br/>The inside of the Temple had been eye-opening for the male, surprised at the relatively undressed Acolytes bathing in the waters, but the jewel of the temple leading them to the back was perhaps the most fetching. No doubt some of the others would find his eyes following her movements, before the realization that he was staring a little too hard dawned on him and he cleared his throat to get his head back in the game. For sure, he would have to come back here on his own time... With or without company, Merry had quickly proven herself to be a welcome presence in his otherwise singular, working life... Even though much of it left him more in danger than otherwise for someone who was only supposed to be cutting down trees and preparing wood.<br/><br/>"Rats dangerous enough to put people in the infirmary? Come on, the rats I've seen around the forests wouldn't have been that big or dangerous. How bad can these be?" He folded his arms and tilted his head. Alyssa seemed quite confident in her abilities, though given the monstrous axe she wielded, it was hard not to feel some sense of confidence. By comparison, his wooden hatchets looked like toys, but they would still be effective at hopefully rendering a few of the creatures unconscious.<br/><br/>The other part of him didn't want to jinx things any more than he had already, as he was sure some higher being was looking out for exactly the sort of remarks Jasper made to go 'That's what YOU think, little man' before promptly proving him wrong in a twist of cosmic karma. One thing was certain though... Between Merry's go-getter attitude and the quick flash of undergarments from Wilhelmina (He had to reconsider his opinion of her at this point; Anyone with underwear that risqué certainly had a few interesting qualities in their life), he felt like this crew of combatants was going to be an interesting workforce.<br/><br/>"Well, if we're going in... Guess I'll take the first look." He nodded to the others as Alyssa readied the ball of light named Firenz while Merry moved to enter the hall. He was quick to take point in front of the Vulpi, drawing both Wooden Hatchets and looking around the dim basement halls. The light had provided ample light, but not enough to illuminate the whole area... Down here, he felt much more anxious now than he ever did when it got dark in the forest... No doubt due to the cold stone interior.<br/><br/><em>'I'm starting to think maybe it's not all about bravado down here... This place creeps me out more than the graveyards.'</em>Though he thought inwardly, he exhaled an audible sigh, stepping carefully through the halls, unaware of the scurrying occurring not too far from them. New invaders meant new targets to attack...