"Dakota" Fanning
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Deep in the darker, denser, jungleyer parts of the Distant Woods, you encounter a man dressed in the typical khaki + fedora garb of the professional archaeologist. He turns as you approach, and gestures for you to come closer.
"Hey there," he says, with a firm handshake. "Dr. Henry Fanning, Phd. Call me 'Dakota'."
"Okay, if you're sure that's what you want," you reply. "You're an archaeologist, I presume?"
"That's right, kid. And I'm on the brink of a major discovery."
You look around, but don't see anything of obvious archaeological interest. Just a sheer stone cliff, covered with vines and moss. "Uh," you say, "I suppose it's a nice cliff, as cliffs go, but..."
"Look up, kid," Dakota sighs.
You take a couple steps back and crane your neck, and see that the cliff is actually the base of an ancient stone building -- possibly some kind of temple? There are stone steps at the top of the platform, but they end abruptly at the cliff edge.
Dakota nods as you look back at him. "Yeah, I figure the steps were lost through a combination of erosion, earthquakes, and later civilizations quarrying the stone. Later civilizations are always greedy bastards. Listen, I need a hand getting up there. I'm a decent climber, but this wall is far too sheer to just monkey up it."
"What do you expect me to do?" you ask. "I mean, I could give you a boost, but..."
"You're an adventurer, right? So your job is basically to run errands for people?"
"Excuse me, but we call them 'quests'," you reply huffily, crossing your arms.
"Sure, right. So I've got a 'quest' for you. See all the vines growing on the rock? I could climb up with those, but they need strengthening. So I need you to pick up a couple things for me."
"All right, I suppose. What do you need?"
"First, I need a bendy soda straw. I think there's a sort of demon, a Fallen Archfiend, that carries them."
"What does a demon want with a bendy straw?" you ask.
"Look, kid, ask one yourself. I'm not a demonologist. I also need some very powerful, high-octane plant food. The sort they use in magical greenhouses and conservatories."
"Okay," you say, "I think I know a conservatory that might have some of that."
"And lastly I need a sewing needle."
"A sewing needle? All right. Where do I find one of those?"
"Good grief, do I have to tell you everything? You're the adventurer, kid, go adventure one up. A sewing kit or something should be pretty standard gear for you guys, I would think. They probably sell them in vending machines! Anyway, I'll wait here until you get back."
You return to where Dr. Henry "Dakota" Fanning is sitting on a log, doodling in his notebook. He looks up as you approach. "Ah, good, you're back," he says. "Did you bring the stuff I asked for?"
You check your sack. "Nope. I just came back to say hey."
