Disclaimer: See first chapter.
AN:
This is the second of five chapters that all take place during the same time frame. Locations, some characters, and some situations in this chapter are drawn from the Everquest II game. The dialog is not from the game, however. There is a bit of a bloodletting in this chapter but nothing too explicit. If anyone feels the rating should be bumped up, please let me know.
Beta:
Me, Myself, and I still. There are bound to be mistakes, especially dropped final letters and suffixes. If you spot plot holes or other mistakes, feel free to let me know.
[First Day, Nektulos Forest]
Ukyo and Winky appeared on a long dock next to a world bell. After letting their bond-mates know they had arrived safely, they spoke briefly with the Dockmaster who didn't have time to talk to them as a ship was coming in.
"Why don't head down the dock until we find someone we would be comfortable talking with?", Ukyo suggested.
"I agree!", Winky agreed. "Some of these people look to be bad people!"
Mounting their horses, they rode down the dock toward the wide beach that it served. Most of the people they passed were either very busy or didn't strike them as the kind of person they would be willing to talk with. Some of them literally stank. Finally, at the very end of the dock, they encountered a halfling woman who was talking to a traveler they had seen ahead of them on the dock. They dismounted and approached the small woman.
"Hello, ma'am.", Ukyo said in greeting. "This is Winky Potter(1) and I'm Ukyo Kuonji. We are new to the area and were wondering if you would be willing to answer a few questions about it."
"Welcome to Port Naythex, ladies!", the woman said. "I'm Daisy Winterhope. I do know a bit about the Forest so ask your questions!"
"We are looking for Marr's Ascent.", Ukyo told her. "Also, any unusual activity in the area, especially with the undead."
"Hmm, let me think, Marr's Ascent, that sounds familiar but not quite right. Oh you must mean N'Mar's Ascent!", Daisy informed them.
"That could be it.", Ukyo agreed. "Either the person who told us about it had it wrong or we misheard it. Can you tell us how to get there?"
"Well, you could take the Hidden Shore Road to the first intersection, take the road east, follow it across the nearly ruined bridge to the four way intersection, take the north road to the ramp, climb the ramp, and you're there after a two and a half day ride," Daisy said all in one breath. "Or you could take the griffin from the station here on the beach to the N'Mar's Ascent Station and be there in a few hours."
"What do we need to do to take the griffin?", Winky asked.
"Just climb the griffin tower and ask the griffin trainer for transportation and who ever it is today will send you on your way.", Daisy answered her. "There is no fee if that is what you are wondering. Either one of the empires pays for it or the Far Seas Trading Company does, I'm not sure which."
"What else can you tell us about Nektulos Forest?", Ukyo prompted.
"Well, I once had a soldier friend of mine refer to it as biologically diverse and a green hell.", Daisy informed them. "A lot of the life in there will try eat you or just kill you for the fun of it. Get too close to some plants and animals, and you will be poisoned, zapped with a elemental attack, or have your strength sapped. And that is not mentioning the undead."
"Have there been any changes in behavior by the undead or anything else, for that matter?", Ukyo wanted to know.
"Not that I know of.", Daisy replied. "But if you are going to N'Mar's Ascent, talk to the officer in charge of the detachment there. He or she receives reports on activity in the Forest and might be able to help you."
"Thank you for your help, Daisy!", Ukyo said.
"Yes, you were very helpful!", Winky agreed.
"You girls are welcome! Do be careful out there!", Daisy told them. "And if you run across any owlbears or crabs, I pay good money for their carcasses."
"We'll keep that in mind.", Ukyo said with a smile. She turned to Winky. "So horseback or griffin back, sugar?"
"Fly definitely! The less time we are away from the boys, the better!", Winky said with a grin.
So after riding over to the tower and dismissing the horses, they climbed the tower and asked for transportation to the N'Mar's Ascent Station. The griffin trainer soon had them on their way.
After flying through a canyon that cut through the low mountains that separated the beach from the inland, they flew out over a broad forest that while not a jungle was still dense. The griffin followed the same path that Daisy had described as the horse route and flew low enough for a while that the girls could see some of the local flora and fauna. As the griffin began to climb, they could see that the forest seemed to be in a large valley surrounded by low mountains on all sides with the northern quarter at a higher altitude than the southern portion. The western boundary between the upper and lower sections was a vertical cliff while to the east it was merely a steep slope. It was toward the cliff that the griffin flew and the reason it had gained altitude.
The detachment Daisy mentioned wasn't hard to find as it was camped around the base of the tower where the griffin had dropped them. Finding the officer was more of a problem as there wasn't one there. There was a soldier that appeared to be a non-com so the girls approached him.
"Excuse me, sir.", Ukyo started.
"I'm NOT a sir, ma'am, I WORK for a living!", the soldier interrupted and then smiled. "Sorry, a very old military joke. I'm Sergeant Cornelius. What can I do for you ladies?"
"I'm Ukyo Kuonji and this is Winky Potter. We were sent to investigate some unusual disturbances in Nektulos Forest.", Ukyo informed him. "Daisy Winterhope at the Port Naythex dock suggested we speak with your officer about what he knew."
"Well, the lieutenant is down at the Commonlands station taking care of some business but I figure I probably help you.", the sergeant told them. "What did you need to know?"
"We are looking for unusual activities, things that are different from the Forests usual happenings.", Winky said. "We were told the undead to the west of here are more active than is usual for them. We also would like to know if there are other places that things are different, especially if it involves the undead."
"Well there is an abandoned camp west of here, Camp Leeot, that is overrun with ghouls.", the sergeant informed them. "My patrols have reported that there seem to be more of them than normal and they are even more aggressive than usual. There are also reports that the fiends and patchwork men around Nektropos Castle seem to be agitated. You might also check with Field Investigator Chel Morgan up at Bone Lake."
"How do we get to these places?", Ukyo asked.
"Bone Lake is easy. There is a griffin station there.", the sergeant replied. "The other two are easy enough to find if you survive to get there. For Camp Leeot, take the road there north to where it crosses the east-west road and turn west. The road dead-ends into the camp. There are Dragoon skeletons, treants (both aggressive and non), flying snakes called quetzanek which are not aggressive, the occasional mad giant, and Nek wasps which are nasty not to mention the ghouls in the camp. The trip is a bit less than a days ride. For the castle, go east instead of west at the crossroad. There will be a lot of the same dangers as to the west but adding patchwork men, golems, and fiends. That trip is two to three days, depending on conditions."
"Conditions?", Ukyo said raising her eyebrow.
"How many battles you have to fight.", the sergeant told her.
"Oh! Well, thank you for your help, Sergeant.", Ukyo said. "You and your men stay safe!"
"Safe is not our job, ma'am but thanks for the thought. You ladies be careful out there."
The girls moved out of earshot to discuss their options.
"What do you think, Winky?"
"I think we should go west first because it is a shorter trip and I can feel the faint taint of a dark crystal in that direction. I can pop us back here after we check it out and we can check out the castle. A pop back here and a griffin ride and we can chat with the investigator."
"Sounds like a plan. Too bad you can't just pop us there in the first place."
"It would be nice but I can't go somewhere where I haven't been or can't see."
The ride west was a tiring one, mostly because of having to be constantly alert to threats. They managed to avoid all but one of the Dragoons and swore to avoid anymore. They were amazed at the treants, which were walking trees, and had to destroy several of the aggressive ones. They encountered no giants and no wasps for which they were thankful. As the sun began to set, they saw the destroyed gates of the abandoned camp and began to look for a place to camp themselves.
"You know what, sugar? How far can you pop? Like can you pop back to the docks from here?
"Easily!"
"Why don't we see if Kasumi and Luna have found a place in Qeynos. If they have, we can slide there and you can pop us back here tomorrow!"
"Even if I can't pop us all the way from Qeynos, we can use the world bell to get back to the docks here! I like it! I mean our tent is nice but I've rather gotten use to sleeping in a nice bed. Maybe the guys will be there!"
"Probably not but we can hope!"
After checking with Luna and Kasumi and finding out of the way spot to return to, the girls slid back to the Tent to spend the night.
[Second Day, Nektulos Forest]
The next morning, the girls returned to their selected spot using the world bell to get back to the docks and then having Winky pop them back. Winky had felt she could have popped the whole distance but it would have left her exhausted which would have defeated the purpose.
As they approached the gates again, they could see beyond them to tell that the camp was in as much disrepair as the gates. There were a number of wagons that looked as though they were designed to live in although with the holes in the roofs and walls they wouldn't be comfortable now. There were broken carts and crates, old bones, and other trash scattered about the site. In amongst all this were dozens of zombie like creatures that the girls assumed were the ghouls.
Remembering what she had heard and seen of the similar Inferi used by Voldemort, Winky whispered, "I'd better call up Smoky! We will probably need to burn these things!"(2)
Ukyo nodded in agreement and asked quietly, "Do you still feel a dark crystal this way?"
"Yes, and I feel it is close!"
"That is good. I'd try to sneak us in under stealth but it would drop as soon as we tried to destroy the crystal and I don't fancy being surrounded by attacking ghouls."
"So we go in the slow but sure way?"
"You got it, sugar! Let's start with the one closest to us by that broken wheel."
The girls began to methodically clear out the foul creatures, usually one or two at a time except for a few times when they unluckily attracted the attention of extras that wandered into the fight area. Fortunately, fire was not required to put them down permanently as long as the head was removed. Finally, after an hour or so, they managed to 'kill' all the current residents of the old camp.
"Now where is that crystal?", Ukyo queried.
"It seems to be buried here by this old chest. Let me remove the dirt covering it." Winky snapped her fingers and banished the dirt at the location she thought the crystal was located. Sure enough, about eighteen inches (46 cm) down, they found a familiar looking crystal. Ukyo used the flat of her battleaxe, er, spatula to smash it into dust. After Winky confirmed its destruction, she popped them back to the crossroads and they headed east.
In the beginning, the trip east was very much like the trip the trip west the previous day although they did manage to avoid all the Dragoon skeletons they came across. Fewer of the treants were hostile and they saw no wasps. By late afternoon, they could hear water running and decided to push on to find out what it was. Twilight was just setting in when they reached a bridge over a small river.
"This looks like a good place to stop for tonight. It will be easy to pop back to and the bridge gives us a clear view of the road on both sides.", Winky commented.(3)
"Agreed!", was Ukyo's response.
Since Kasumi had showed them how to recall to a predefined location the night before and they had set that location to their inn, they simply recalled back to Qeynos for the night.
[Third Day, Nektulos Forest]
After returning to the bridge the next morning, the girls set off eastward again although the road had become more generally northeasterly as it wound on its way. The area around them the first few hours was like the area they traveled the day before. They did see some skeletons to the north of the road but they didn't seem to be aggressive so no battles were fought. Around mid-morning the land began to change into a broad canyon or a narrow valley and the road began to climb slightly. They saw several man like creatures that seemed to be sewn together out of parts from several different bodies. Since they had a red aura, they did their best to avoid them.
As midday passed, there were more of the patchwork men and they had to fight them off frequently. Fortunately, they were vulnerable to swords, shuriken, and most spells. They also encountered a different kind of skeleton which also had to be fought off when they got too close.
Around the middle of the afternoon, they fought their first golem which was a bit tougher and more aggressive than the training room provided but with the two of them the golems weren't too bad. However, by the end of the day, the girls were tired and glad to find a large rock to hide behind so they could recall back to the inn where the Tent was set up.
[Fourth Day, Nektulos Forest]
Carefully coming out from behind their rock the next morning, the girls continued to follow the road as it became slightly steeper. The monsters they encountered were the same as the afternoon before until a little after midday. They them began to be attacked by winged demonic creatures that they assumed were the fiends they had been told about. Although they were savage and used some dark magic, the girls were able to handle them without much difficulty. It was about this time that Winky began to sense the magic of a dark crystal again.
About mid-afternoon, the road took a sharp bend to the east and went over a little rise. It continued into a small squarish valley with a gloomy, dilapidated castle surrounded by a moat in the center. The road continued up to the obviously permanently down drawbridge.
"I suppose you are going to tell me the crystal is in the castle?", Ukyo said.
"I don't think so.", Winky replied. "There is some kind of evil ward or shield over the castle that would block my senses and I can still feel the crystal. Most likely, it is behind the castle."
"My tracking abilities tell me there are a LOT of fiends, patchwork men, and skeletons around the castle. Add to that I see what appear to be gargoyles on the castle walls!"
"The northwest corner of this valley seems to be empty. Why don't you put us under stealth and I'll pop us there and see where the crystal feels like from there."
"Ok, it is definitely behind the castle!", Winky said shortly after they arrived at the corner of the valley. "Hold on, I'm going to pop us twice, once to the northeast corner and then to the middle of the valley wall behind the castle!"
Upon arriving at her selected spot, Winky turned and faced almost directly toward the castle.
"It feels like it is about half way between me and the moat!", Winky whispered. "Maybe where that stone obelisk is."
"That would be par for the course.", Ukyo whispered back. "So in, on it, or under it?"
"Under it, I think."
"Well, there don't seem to be any monsters close by at the moment so let's check it out!"
They walked over to the stone pillar and circled it at a little distance. The lower portion was carved with strange runes and the whole thing gave off an aura of evil. Not willing to touch it, Ukyo reached out with her sword and poked it. At that moment, the upper portions transformed into a large stone gargoyle and attacked!
"Mevraneth will destroy soft ones who bother master's things", the gargoyle screamed as Stoney intercepted it. "You die NOW!"(4)
Ukyo threw some of her custom shuriken and drew her swords and attacked. She soon found that the swords barely damaged the gargoyle. Stoney was doing alright with his crushing blows so she switched to her battle spatula(5) and began to use the flat side of it. Winky cast a Earthquake followed by a rain of boulders from the Shattered Earth spell, She cast Aqueous Swarm to set her water minions on Mevraneth. While Ukyo continued to bash with her spatula, Winky started cycling between Crystal Blast and Ice Storm mixed with the Shattered Earth when ever she could. When Stoney began to suffer damage, she healed him to keep him in the fray. Ukyo ducked a blow and chugged a healing potion. She spun back around and let the gargoyle have it in the head. When Stoney got its attention focused on him, she ducked behind it and grounded it by taking off a wing. As it spun around to face her, Stoney smashed a leg and Winky took off an arm. While still fighting and dangerous, the loss of its mobility allow the girls and Stoney to quickly wear it down and finally smash it to bits.
"Whew!", Ukyo said huffing. "I didn't expect a guardian, especially that tough!"
"Neither did I!", Winky assured her. "I was going to suggest that we put the obelisk in place in case our enemy checked but with the top destroyed there is not much point so I'm just going to levitate it out of the way."
Winky floated the pillar up and to the side where she just let it drop. It fell on its side and broke into several pieces. Underneath was a stone box containing the familiar crystal, which Ukyo smashed with the side of her spatula. Winky confirmed that the crystal was no longer giving off the dark trace.
"I wonder why these crystals aren't protected better like with wards or something?", Winky mused.
"This one was protected well enough for me,", Ukyo snorted, "but maybe wards or other magic would interfere with the crystals. You magic types can figure it out I'm sure, if we need to know. However, I'm totally exhausted so let's recall back to the inn and get some rest. We can see the Investigator tomorrow!"
[Fifth Day, Nektulos Forest]
The next morning the girls popped to the N'Mar's Ascent Station and after waving at Sergeant Cornelius, they took a griffin to the Bone Lake Station. After descending from the tower there, they asked a guard stationed there where to find Field Investigator Chel Morgan. The guard pointed him out and the girls walked over to him.
"Investigator Morgan?", Ukyo greeted him. "This is Winky Potter and I'm Ukyo Kuonji. We would like to ask you a few questions about disturbances and unusual happenings in Nektulos Forest, if we may. We have already investigated and dealt with Camp Leeot and the area around Nektropos Castle."
"I'm willing to answer some questions if you will answer some of mine." Investigator Morgan replied. "What do you mean dealt with?"
"There was an object in both places that was causing the undead in the area to be more active and more aggressive.", Winky told him. "We destroyed the objects. At Camp Leeot, we destroyed the ghouls that were there. We only destroyed a guardian and a few of the undead around Nektropos Castle. Hopefully, with the object gone, the remaining monsters will be easier to deal with."
"I suppose every bit helps and you probably don't have the weeks or months needed to fully clean out the Castle area.", Investigator Morgan said with a grim face. "I assume you mean beyond the norm for the Forest, not just the run of the mill activity."
"Yes, sir.", Ukyo replied.
"Hmm. The mushroom men have been up to something for the last several months.", Investigator Morgan mused. "They have a shrine down towards the Commonlands and the skeletons in that area seem to have been a bit more active of late. Understand that it is hard to tell because there are undead all over this blasted forest."
"Where is their shrine, sir", Ukyo asked.
"It is on an large island in the river just north of the passage to the Commonlands.", he explained. "You pass over it on your way to the Commonlands Station. It has a large ancient dragon skeleton on it."
"We'll check it out.", Winky said. "Did you have something else you wanted to ask us?"
"Yes. I'm looking for several missing persons and an escaped thief.", he said as he showed them his files. "Have you seen any of these?"
Both girls shook their heads no. Ukyo said, "We will keep an eye out for them and either come see you or send word if we see any of them."
As the girls walked back toward the griffin tower, Winky said, "Pop back to N'Mar's Ascent Station and take the griffin from there?"
"Sounds like a plan!", Ukyo agreed.
Arriving at N'Mar's Ascent and departing quickly for Commonlands Station, they discovered it was due south of the Ascent and a fairly long flight. Towards the end of the flight, they did indeed fly over the island in question before being dropped off at the griffin tower in mid-afternoon. Asking for information from one of the guards at the station, she suggested they travel upstream to where some beavers had dropped some trees making a happenstance bridge to the island. This way, the girls could avoid the very nasty fish in the water. The guard also warned them about the mushroom men again and mentioned the spiders, wolves, and snakes that might attack them.
Winky and Ukyo proceeded north following the road that ran along side the river staying with the road as long as the could see the river. After a while, the road began to pull away from the river and they moved over to follow the river bank. They only had to deal with fighting animals twice, once a spider that only magic would allow to be that size and once a vicious wolf that seem to want them for dinner. They did see a number of beaver, which watched them with suspicious eyes, but they didn't bother them.
The day was drawing to a close when they reached the log 'bridge' the guard had described. Rather than risk the horses footing, they dismissed them and carefully walked across on foot. As they stepped on the island they could see the rib cage of a long dead dragon it the center of the isle. Feeling that their current location was good enough to return to in the morning, the girls recalled back to Qeynos to spend the night again.
[Sixth Day, Nektulos Forest]
Upon returning to the island the next morning, the girls decided to proceed under stealth to avoid as many fights as they could. Seeing a camp off to the south, they decided to investigate it as a possible source of information about the island. As they got close, strangely, the recognized the young woman camped there. Ukyo dropped stealth and they approached the woman.
"Kitty Valencia?", Ukyo asked.
"Who wants to know?", the woman countered.
"I'm Ukyo Kuonji and this is Winky Potter.", Ukyo replied. "Investigator Morgan up at Bone Lake asked us to keep an eye out for you. Something about an inheritance due you."
"I don't know what it would be.", Kitty said. "My mother was single and an only child. I never knew my father and I have no siblings.(6)"
"You might want to talk to Investigator Morgan.", Ukyo suggested. "In any case, we will let him know we found you, unless you don't want us to."
"I don't care either way.", Kitty said with a shrug.
"Ok, uh, well, the main reason we came over this way is to ask you about what is happening on this island.", Ukyo said.
"Mostly just the usual stuff. The mushroom men attack anybody that comes near them. Qeynos has a scout camp on the north part of the where they monitor the Forest and watch the Freeport soldiers.", Kitty said.
"How come the mushroom men don't bother you here?", Winky asked.
"I traded for some powder from the Qeynosians that was developed in New Halas to spread around my camp.", Kitty answered. "It keeps them away. Unfortunately, it causes a severe rash if you try to wear it, so away from the camp I have to be cautious."
"Too bad, that would have been useful.", Winky said with a slight frown.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about the mushroom men and their shrine?", Ukyo wanted to know.
"Their shrine is near the middle of the island next to the pond that is under the dragon bones.", Kitty informed them. "Not quite a year ago, their chief shaman brought back an idol from somewhere and they have been even more hostile since. I use to be able to talk to some of their gatherers but since the idol has been here, they attack me on sight."
"Can they see through stealth?", Ukyo queried.
"I don't think so.", Kitty mused. "I don't think they see that well to begin with."
"Winky, how about your trace?", Ukyo said as she turned toward her. "Do you feel anything?"
"Yes, I have since we set foot on the island, but it is obscured somehow.", Winky replied. "The direction I get is toward the center of the island."
Ukyo turned back to Kitty. "Thank you for your help, Kitty. Take care of yourself and it probably wouldn't hurt to talk to Investigator Morgan."
Once again entering stealth, the girls moved toward the center of the island. As Kitty thought, the mushroom people did not seem to be able to see them so they made good progress. At the edge of the pond, they found the village and the shrine.
Creeping up to the shrine, Ukyo noticed a trap and halted Winky. "There is some kind of trigger here!", she said quietly. "I'll see if I can disarm it!"
Carefully, Ukyo began to nervously trace the trigger so she could disable it. However, as she tried the disable techniques she had learned but not used much, she tripped the trigger.
"Oh CRAP!", she hissed as a loud noise came from behind them. Both girls spun around to see the dragon bones pull up from the ground and form an animated skeleton and mushroom men start heading their way.
"I'll try and stall them while you destroy the idol.", Ukyo said urgently.
"NO! There are too many of them.", Winky disagreed. "Stoney can cover for me while I cast Area Effect spells. You get the idol and destroy its base as well, just in case." Stoney moved guard her as she began casting Earthquake.
"I see your point!", Ukyo agreed with a determined look and turned back toward the idol. There were now several mushroom men between her and the idol so her swords began to move like buzz saws, throwing what ever passed for blood in them all over the place. Behind her, Winky had cast Ice Storm and Shattered Earth and sent her elementals to attach the undead dragon. Her Crystal Blast was almost constantly being cast.
"Maybe we abort and bug out!", Ukyo yelled. "Come back with more help!"
"Can't!", Winky yelled back. "Something is blocking us. I tried to pop behind cover and couldn't! I think our only chance is to smash that idol!" She levitated several mushroom men and banished them at the dragon which distracted it a bit. She used the time to refresh her elementals and cast Earthquake again. She blocked a strike from a mushroom man with her dagger and then used it to gut him. She also healed Stoney so he could stay in the fight as she would not have time to re-summon him.
"Well, if that don't take the cake!", Ukyo grumbled as she dispatched a shaman in front of her and parried a strike from the side as she moved forward, spinning with her blades and kicking opponents back.
As she approached the idol, she dropped her swords, which automatically returned to their sheaths, and drew her battle spatula. Using the flat of the blade, she stuck the idol, shattering it into thousands of pieces. "That's different!", she thought. "Usually, the crystals powder to dust!"
"What ever you did stunned some of them!", Winky shouted. "The dragon is still coming, though!"
Ukyo had to fight off what appeared to be a berserker before she could take another swing at the idol's base. Just as she swung, she had to dodge another attack from the side and missed. After removing that attackers head, she swung again and hit it solidly, powdering it to dust.
"I've got some good news and some bad news!", Winky called. "The good news is that the dragon collapsed. The bad news is that the mushroom men are really, really mad."
"I'm going to try to Escape us out of here!", Ukyo called back as she ran toward Winky to get her inside her rescue zone. "Hang on!", she screamed as she executed the technique.
The girls disappeared from the mushroom camp and reappeared at the end of the bridge to the Commonlands.
"Whew! That was closer than I like it!", Ukyo breathed. "I guess the base was the crystal and destroying it removed the block on us porting."
"I agree with both statements!", Winky huffed. "Let's rest here for a few minutes and recall home." She drained a healing potion.
"When did the Tent become home?", Ukyo asked after downing a potion of her own.
"Since I started living there with Harry!", Winky said with a smile.
"I guess I understand that, sugar.", Ukyo smiled back. "I feel the same way about Ranma!"
After resting for a while, Ukyo asked, "Do we have any more place to check out in Nektulos Forest?"
"Not that I'm aware of and I haven't sensed anything else as we traveled about.", Winky replied. "I could be too far away or it could be blocked and we haven't been in the east or southeast parts of the Forest but we have no other leads to follow."
"We may want to come back to hunt for Daisy if we need money sometime, but for now let's go home!"
With that, they recalled home.
TBC
Updated: August 21, 2013 (Minor changes to AN section)
Footnotes:
(1) Since she was and is bound to Harry, Winky will use his surname.
(2) As a Conjuror, Winky has three long duration pets that she can summon but only one at a time. They are the Earthen Avatar (fighter), Fiery Magician (mage), and Aery Hunter (scout). She has named them Stoney, Smoky, and Breezy, respectively. She also has two short duration pets which can be called during a battle even it her regular pet is present. One is a water elemental that takes the form of a school of fish composed of water and the other is a fire elemental that takes the form of a blob of fire. Neither of these are named. She normally has Stoney with her when on a mission.
(3) Winky could pop them point to point based on what she can see but it would soon tire her out. Also, sight lines are limited because of curves in the road and the terrain.
(4) Mevraneth does exist in game at about this location but I've taken some liberties with him/her/it. Wait, I'm taking liberties with the whole game so never mind.
(5) This is not her original spatula. This is a reinforced version that she can use like an axe, like a broad spear, or, by striking with the side, a mace so it is either a slashing weapon, a piercing weapon, or a crushing weapon depending on how it is used. The reason she doesn't use it all the time anymore is that her twin swords do damage faster. On another note, her famous throwing mini spatulas are a form of shuriken and since she is a Weaponsmith, she has recreated them for use in Norrath.
(6) In game, this is not true. She has a half sister but because her father was forced to leave her mother, she is very bitter about life. Her sister is the one searching for her to give her her share of their fathers estate.