Grimroot's Dilemma

Tyler heeded Rice's suggestion, at the break of dawn when the embers of light cracked over the horizon scaring away the night life. The city quieted for barely half a moment before it's bustle came slow into view.

Tyler had taken the early hours to visit witching hour street. A stretch of road almost like China town, except with those who practice Black magic and varying other magics. 

His main stop was Naida's pharmacy. A short strip store akin to a small grocery market. Only difference was they sold medicines, tonics, textures, concoctions and finally herbal teas. Actaully anything herbal, but that's the better known selling.

The doorbell ring with a tingle "Welcome to Naida's Pharmacy, how may i- oh. What you up to here? Had a bad battle big bro?"

Tyler's sister worked in the witchery feild and naturally he came to this pharmacy often for any sort of medicines. This time he came tidied. "nah, I need some medicines to thwart mutation growths and tonics to resist it."

His sister gave him a weird look. There was only one reason that anybody would need those. Deep delvers for grimroot forest. 

"wha? Why are you going to Grimroot?! Did Hellrazer stick you up to this?"

Her faith in the faction wasn't high, but it was all but tarnished if this was the case. He quicker waved her accusion down. "no, no.. it's uh.. look I didn't want to say anything until I got promoted but-" he didn't get far.

"promoted? Your getting a promotion!"

Finally! Her big brother was rising the ladder again. Years of experience have led to this moment. 

Tyler tried to calm her down. "y-yes, but I need those medicines or Rice will kill me.."

"Rice? Who's Rice?"

Tyler rubbed the back of his neck. "he's uh showing me the ropes to three letter.. told me to come pick up medicines for the job. I can't say too much else.."

She signed at him but smiled. " at least you have a henchman guarding your back."

"Renala! Don't call him that!"

The tsked slamming a few medical bottles on the table. "Oh whatever. You know everyone calls the hellrazers the hellhounds of Azura. I doubt your instructor would care."

Tyler was speechless but couldn't respond. To be honest he cared, but Rice yesterday took that name in stride. Even if it was degrading. "ha.. alright well I gotta go"

He paid for the meds and waved at Renala. Who waved back before turning to another customer.

Rice picked him up at the Hellrazer Hq.

"you got the stuff?"

Tyler nodded showing the medicine. "you make it sound like I'm selling an illegal drug."

Rice shrugged "Eh, it's you who is making it weird for yourself. Anyway, the case file is on the dash. Have a read. I'll answer any question, I'm already caught up."

Tyler had a read. 

Grimroot forest is to the east of the city. It runs a considerable part around the city. That said much of it isn't considered grimroot. Only a specific area to the east itself. A place where mutated monsters, plants and even sometimes rocks can become creatures. 

Hunters often stick on the outside of its forest. Harvesting The beast for their bodies use. Widely ranging from medicinal, soaps, exotic foods or what have you. The real danger isn't the monsters that is sprung from the forest, but rather the atomsphereic effect of being in the forest. 

Those who enter are often mutated without will nor the medicines to counter act them. Sticking near the edge of the forest amounts to little chance of it. That said the further you go in the worse it gets for you. 

Many of contemplated the reason, but many already know the cause. Within the forest in a Grove of everchange stands a tall grosques tree weeping. The tree excludes an arua of mutation, unwilling by the very living tree himself. It's weeping the stemming issue of its power causing loneliness. 

They armed him grimroot, therein the Forest around him was called grimroot forest. 

Their case was abnormal because they were going in there directly to him to talk about contracts. Almost always the Eclipse Courts would handle the express of laws and whatnot. However..

Due to Grimroots arua, they can't just do that. So they have The Hellrazers commit to that task. 

Nobody can just up and kill him either. Grimroot was a vital business. He mutated the landscape and it's animals. Bringing opportunity to it. 

That and Grimroot was a very strong supernatural. He stood near the top of the powerhouses throughout Dezer Plaza. Sure he can't enter the city, but that doesn't exclude him from the cities affairs.

Their job was to update him on the laws and way to execute them remotely without putting anyone in danger. 

They had to do this.. but what Make Tyler think twice was that. What if they just brought technology he could use to reach them? Or used remote methods to reach out?

Rice had a simple answer. "Dont quote me on this kid, but anywith an energy signature gets mutated. Doesn't matter what it is. With that being the case we have to walk there. Leave any electronic on you in the car. I don't want to see them turn into skin burrowing bugs.. don't ask."

He said the last part quickly when Tyler seriously looked at him with eyes of question marks. 

Rice visibly shivered, certainly not a memory he could provoke..

The drive to Grimroot took a few hours, when the cities buildings thinned and their stories grew smaller. He could see it, the top of the forest. It's lush canopy Shimmering with a masima. He could be sworn just saw a triple rainbow.. wait.. isn't it sunny?

Rice pulled into a parking lot near the forest, alot of hunters park here. More than a few glanced their way, but paid no heed.

"We walk from here, I don't wanna lose my baby to this forest."

That was another thing Tyler came to learn quickly. Rice cared a lot for his Chryslr. Like more than he probably should. But asking about it earned him a free slap pass and a scolding about cars. A gibberish he could not relate to. 

Rice locked up his car and they started their journey, occasionly glancing at a paper map. Noting land marks and moving on.

"alright go ahead chew half the bottle, I'll take the rest."

Chew? "sir your supposed to swallow it."

Rice looked at him weirdly. "well yes, but chewing it means your system won't immediately intake all the medicine. We need to only swallow when we start entering the groive area. For right now we are mostly safe. Don't you feel it?"

Not as first, but Tyler did feel it. His energy for his abilities were being sapped slowly. Rice followed up. "once we enter the inner Grove we are going to need to swallow or we will be powerless to what happens next. Rice spoke from experience, clearly this wasn't his first time.