Sophos blinked in astonishment as she found herself transported to the strange forest displayed in the gate. She was still in virtual reality, right? She looked at her hands, she felt her long elf ears. She took out a scroll and check her stats. Yeah, she was still in the game, but she couldn't really be blamed for thinking otherwise for a moment. Every single one of her senses was telling her this was real. The breeze on her face, the wild smell of the forest, it all felt fantastic in the true sense of the word.

In the distance ahead of them she saw an odd looking building. She couldn't quite place the architecture, it resembled the structures seen in the other options given to them, but was clearly distinct. Her eyes moved to something to the right of the building, it was the remains of a car. Judging by the amount of overgrowth on it she could assume it had been there for a while. In front of the store was a postbox and a CRT television. These objects all looked quite anachronistic together. 

A man stepped out of the building, Sophos narrowed her eyes. She knew the building looked familiar, but she wasn't expecting to actually see a certain video game character. Had that talented game developer made a deal with WEO? With this barely alive game? She put the thoughts aside for a moment as she focused on what the man had just said. She put on a wide smile and walked up to him.

"Sorry if we scared you, we're new to this region and are simply exploring on behalf of a benefactor of ours. If you wouldn't mind, could you tell us a little about this forest?"

The man opened the door, looking ruefully at the crowded room with various objects piled upon the table. [color=f7976a]"Hmm, I'd thought to invite you all in for some tea, but it seems I've not room to do so."[/color]

With a critical eye that would make anyone feel as if they're being analysed, the man spoke again. [color=f7976a]"Oh? Perhaps we should introduce ourselves before anything else?"[/color]

Sophos nodded and walked towards what she assumed to be the man's shop. "Of course, I'm Sophos. If it would be too much trouble I'm sure some of the others could occupy their time exploring." She gleefully let herself in, examining the assortment of objects inside. "And you are?" She asked, looking to the NPC.

[color=f7976a]"Rinnosuke Morichika, owner of Kourindou, this shop you see here."[/color] He gave a gesture towards the building behind him before realizing Sophos has already entered. [color=f7976a]"Might I ask who your benefactor is and what they want with this forest?"[/color]

As Sophos entered the building, she could see various strange objects within that room alone; a rusted tsurugi, jars of odds and ends, even a strange thin and tall glass vase with a pipe going out from the bottom. Even stranger, several old pieces of technology could be found, from record players to an old looking vinyl record with only a white cover.

Sophos's ears twitched upon hearing the man's name. It really was who she thought it was, this was starting to feel surreal. "He is a man with a lot of money and influence where we're from. As for what he wants with this forest, nothing I assume?" Sophos placed a finger on her chin and looked upwards quizzically.

"After all, this is the first time anyone from our home has ever laid foot in this land. However, I would be lying if I said any valuable resources wouldn't be of interest." She let out a cough and held her hands up. "But don't worry, we aren't here to take anything by force, we're hardly an army as you can see. As a matter of fact we would be more than willing to help however we can."

[i]Ohh, fairies![/i] Not being able to visit the village, Ami was dissappointed but it didn't last long. Stunned by all the intricate details, the multi-colored fox girl approached the clearing with her head on a swivel, clearly beguiled by the new surroundings. 

The breeze through her hair... the fresh air... the texture of the forest floor... 

Of course, it was all simulated, but she'd never experienced anything quite like it. Nor could she resist finding the newest NPC extremely interesting. She listened intently as the elven thief, 'Sophos', began interacting with him-- interest quickly feigning as she tip toed around Rinnosuke's questions.

 Lingering in the doorway for a moment after the two entered the shop, Ami made a weak effort to stifle a sigh as she slipped inside and picked up a jar, squinting at the contents. 

[color=#ffe6ff]"You sure you want to speak for all of us like that?"[/color] she chuckled, moving on to investigate the next jar.

Rinnosuke's expression was unreadable, though his smile stayed on. He wasn't a fool, from the way they skirted around his question, it wasn't that hard to put two and two together. He looked at Ami with only a mild curiosity before turning back to Sophos.

[color=f7976a]"Oh? So you're here for resources, but you're also here to help?"[/color] He pushed up his glasses. [color=f7976a]"A group of people, coming from a rich and powerful person, ordered to come to a place, he has no interest in."[/color]

Adopting a thoughtful pose, he continued. [color=f7976a]"Well, if you're here to claim this land, then you and your group should fight me outside. I have a lot of things here I'd rather not break carelessly."[/color]

Sophos looked at Ami, her face somehow looking upon her the same way a parent does when they come home with the family car dinged. "Actually, I'm pretty sure of it now." She let out a fake cough and turned to Rinnosuke. "Look, you don't want to fight us, and honestly I'd rather not fight you. I'll be straight with you, our king sent us here, but not to slaughter the locals. This can be a beneficial relationship for all of us. If we find a valuable resource we could pay for it, I'm sure we have something to offer." Sophos put on a wide smile, perhaps too wide. "I do hope the first impression we get here isn't that people are unwilling to be civil."

[color=f7976a]"Civil?"[/color] Rinnosuke held out his hand, a rusty tsurugi flying to his outstretched hand. [color=f7976a]"A king sends armed men to my doorsteps and expects things to be civil? To have a beneficial relationship for all? You'll forgive me for saying this, but I have no trust in any such king sending such flowery promises."[/color]

There seemed no way around this now; Rinnosuke looked determined as he went outside and took his place.

"It appears the diplomatic process has broken down." Sophos let out an amused giggle and walked outside. She really wasn't as dead set on a peaceful solution as she had seemed. She simply had a habit of always trying the pacifist route first when it came to NPC interactions, she wouldn't want to miss any interesting content because she murdered a character right away after all. She equipped her daggers and stood opposite of Rinnosuke, waiting for him to make a move.