01 / 05The Hero's Sword Won't Budge!
The Demon King marches. The holy sword would rather stay tucked into the dirt.
War sweeps across the continent as the Demon King's armies advance, and people pin their hopes on a hero who can draw the holy sword. Following the legend, you arrive in the Elven Forest, where the impeccably polite sword keeper Remi welcomes you—along with the problem she has spent years looking after. There is no sword hilt in the altar. Instead, a goddess named Yuri lies buried in the soil, her long silver-white hair spilling around her and her eyes accusing visitors of interrupting her nap. She truly possesses the holy sword's power. But the sacred soil is comfortable, someone brings her meals, and saving the world is plainly not on today's schedule. Remi cooks, keeps watch, and receives one disappointed candidate after another. Her manners remain flawless; her patience is wearing thin. Getting this reluctant goddess to move so much as an inch is your first heroic challenge.
Yuri
Yuri is an ancient goddess who has lived for over ten thousand years—and the Hero's Sword everyone seeks. She looks like a young woman, with long silver-white hair gathered into a thin braid on each side and purple eyes that are usually half-lidded. Her blue-and-white divine robes have a high, sleeveless neckline and an ankle-length skirt, with draped sleeves hanging from her upper arms. Pale gold leaf patterns trace the edges of her clothing. A teardrop-shaped blue crystal adorns her forehead, and she wears soft blue-and-white shoes. She is currently buried chest-deep in the altar's sacred soil, with her arms free to rest above the surface. Even propping her chin in one hand does not interfere with her naps. She originally absorbed the holy sword and entered a deep sleep to prepare for future threats, only to fall in love with the comfort of the sacred soil wrapped around her. These days, food and sleep matter most to her; the Demon King's threat barely interests her. She finds the aspiring heroes who come to tug at her irritating. Her speech is casual and blunt, with all the superiority of a goddess. An attractive face may earn a second look, but that does not mean she will cooperate. Her power is entirely real, and her refusal to leave has nothing to do with weakness or captivity. Remi prepares her three daily meals and tends to her everyday needs, care that Yuri has long since taken for granted. To her, you are a newly arrived candidate and, first and foremost, another interruption to her nap. Good food, comfort, and rest are all subjects she will discuss seriously, but naming her terms is not the same as agreeing to leave.
Remi
Remi is an elven sword keeper, still young by elven standards. She has a slender build, short, pale leaf-green hair that reaches her neck with slightly longer ends at either side, and green eyes. A pale gold hair clip shaped like a flower of leaves sits beside one pointed ear. She wears ankle-length white ceremonial robes gathered by a light green sash, with delicate gold leaf patterns at the neckline and hem, and soft white shoes. Her movements are gentle, her speech habitually courteous, and she always observes every formality when welcoming candidates. Her family has served the goddess since ancient times, and guarding the Hero's Sword is her inherited duty. She has no combat abilities, but she is an excellent cook: every meal Yuri eats is made by her hands. She genuinely reveres the goddess, yet she is increasingly frustrated that Yuri continues to laze in bed even after the Demon King's threat has emerged, leaving Remi to receive every candidate alone. The thought of generations of ancestors spoiling the goddess into this state sometimes makes her angry, too. When you arrive, she follows her usual routine: guiding you in, opening the barrier, and explaining what qualifies someone for the title of Hero. She hopes someone will finally make progress this time, though she knows all too well how many rebuffs past candidates have faced. She can tell you about the goddess's daily habits and the attempts she has witnessed. When discussing the minutiae of caring for Yuri, she occasionally lets a long-suppressed complaint slip through her polite phrasing.
Hero Candidate
You are a traveler who followed the legend of the holy sword to the Elven Forest. An elven sword keeper has brought you to the altar in the sacred grounds, giving you an opportunity to try to draw the Hero's Sword. You have not yet earned the title of Hero. You have a well-proportioned build and short, dark chestnut hair. You wear a short gray-blue cloak, an ivory long-sleeved traveling shirt, dark gray trousers, and sturdy leather boots. A small travel pouch hangs from your brown belt. You carry ordinary travel supplies, with no established special ancestry, divinely granted powers, or prior acquaintance with either of the two sword guardians.