Marlene is poised before a large pedestal erected away from the cathedral overlooking the eastern coast of the edge of Goldshore. The pedestal resembles a candle and has a strong flame burning at the top. It is meant for the townspeople to gaze upon a symbol of Aelfric away from the Cathedral, signaling the enveloping warmth that persists even outside the Church walls.
The mother of two wearily looks up at the flickering flame and fights the urge to drop to her knees. She clasps her hand in prayer and tries not to burst into tears in public as she mutters her plea.
"Oh, my poor Flynn... Whatever am I to do... Lord Aelfric, bearer of the healing Flame, please hear my plea and save my Flynn..." She says in a hushed voice, "I... I've tried everything but... It's so hard with their father passing and … oh, I just don't know how I could go on if I lose either of my daughters...!"
She sobs and cows before the flaming monument with that prayer, though not touching the ground just yet with her knees. The area is not heavily crowded with passerby. Any who might even see generally avert their eyes from the grieving widow.
Please, please...
Alfyn purses his lips as he watches her from a few paces away. Ever the good Samaritan, he walks up to her.
"Ma'am?"
Marlene turns to see that scruffy looking apothecary that she had seen Ellen with. Alfyn can see that her eyes are red and distraught. He gives a sympathetic smile.
"Are Ellen and Flynn alright, ma'am?" He asks carefully. It had to be something to do with Flynn or Ellen, one of her daughters. She seemed to care a lot for them.
Marlene sniffles and hurriedly wipes her eyes, "You're... that man Ellen was with..."
"Yeah, Ellen's real sweet," Alfyn gives a soft chuckle, "Is everything alright?"
"... I don't know what I'm going to do..." Marlene looks away briefly, "I-I'm sorry, you're just a stranger and..."
"No, it's fine! I asked … I hope everything's alright..." Alfyn scratches his head with an awkward grin, "I mean, if it ain't I can try takin' a look. I'm an apothecary and all!"
Marlene looks at him almost like she's staring at a lunatic. Obviously, Ellen is a young child who is very trusting. But this person seems to be quite genuine and hasn't pulled anything super uncomfortable with her or her daughters.
The poor woman had experienced her share of unscrupulous figures. She lost her husband to illness after spending so much on a medicine man that claimed he would cure him. The conman up and vanished when her husband took a turn for the worse.
To be honest, she probably is wary of apothecaries. They, like the church, have a lot of power over people's lives through their word alone. If one wanted health, one had little choice.
Vanessa had bought her such hope in the speed she had cured Flynn with. And she had helped again just last night. But the way Vanessa had called her bid cheap in the manor district square... Perhaps she's no different from that conman back then after all. It starts to feel like all apothecaries want is money.
"So..." Alfyn scratches the back of his neck with a sheepish smile, "If you'll let me... one scruffy ol' apothecary at your service."
Marlene purses her lips. What other choice does she have at this point?
"... I'm afraid this is all I have..." She timidly shows him her satchel of money.
"Huh, no, no, keep that for yourself, ma'am," Alfyn points a thumb to himself, "I just gotta help when I see another person in a bind! It's nothing to do with money."
Marlene blinks in obvious surprise. What a strange man.
"So, what seems to be wrong?"
"...Well, Flynn has... developed a serious coughing... I-I suppose you should come and take a look," She wrings her hands a bit as she hurries on her way home now, "Ellen is home watching her at the moment..."
"Alright, lead the way!"
…
On the road towards the eastern caves as Tressa was headed for, their little bunch is entertained by Cyrus' long elucidations on the history of the waters surrounding these outer isles of the Coastlands. However, this time, Simeon is here to exchange with him.
"It should indeed be no surprise that this region was a place of mystique for a while. Legends of natural treasures like caverns of pearled stones and ores lulled many a sailor. What was often forgotten was the precedents of those who came before. Much treasure is actually studied and speculated to be sunken valuables from ships who can afoul of the shore before. Almost like a siren's song, more sailors would be drawn and possibly end up at the bottom of the sea themselves! And the reason for this is the irregular formation of various geological escarpments that contributed to talus deposits along the non-beach shorelines! Ah, and a talus is-"
"Ahh, but still a place of wonder! You may dispatch of the treasures as having been of a logical line of masters that now sleep below... but their souls, I am sure, are also a song that draws others to join them," Simeon rubs his chin, "Yes, yes, much like the nautical drama of Orca, by Hendrickson Sonnenberg!"
"Ohh, Hendrickson Sonnenberg! Yes, I heard of his plays from the arts department before... but he was not widely known! You must have scoured quite the many manuscripts!" Cyrus says with delight.
"Well, I am a playwright myself. It would be shameful to not know some of the smaller men in the industry. Though, Sonnenberg wasn't nearly as obscure as someone like Viktor Richnov..."
Tressa looks about ready to send the two chatterboxes packing back to Goldshore. Therese looks to be listening, but is quite lost on what the two are delving into. Olberic seems to just ignore them and keeps his eyes and ears open for any possible threats. Primrose sighs a bit but smiles with amusement at Simeon's banter with the scholar.
"Alright, alright!" Tressa shouts at last, "Let's go take a break!"
She directs them towards a large boulder for shelter as they sit down after their morning trek to rehydrate. While they nibble on a snack or take a sip of water, Tressa pores over her map.
"It should be somewhere here... We're getting close, for sure!" She nods with confidence.
"It seems the elevation gets a little higher in this direction. I can see some rises of stone in the distance," Cyrus looks with his hand shading his eyes, "My, these vistas are breathtaking!"
The world around them is somewhat an idyllic beach. It's not too sandy, with spots of vegetation and rock. Taller trees are few.
"This puts me in the mood for a poem," Simeon waves a finger through the air, "'Ere once was a youth down on his luck to town, when a loud braying began to sound. Frightened and well out of his wits, the fool took his stick and parted with it. Thus, came from behind a-"
There is suddenly a loud groaning sound. It sounds much too loud to be some tree swaying in the wind. Tressa jumps.
"What the heck?!"
"Ah, how timely!" Simeon obliviously exclaims.
The large stone they were resting by rumbles and they can see the crust of sand and dirt fall off to reveal the pattern of a spiked carapace.
"It's a monster tortoise!" Primrose yanks Simeon to his feet, "Get away before it rolls over!"
"Ahh!" Cyrus quickly pulls Therese along as he scrambles away.
"Goaaarrr..." The tortoise gives a loud, prolonged grunt as it stands on its stocky legs. Upon lifting its stony body up from the indent in the ground, several crabs scurry out from the orifice. They have orange bodies and one particularly large claw, about the size of shears.
"Agh! Scissor crabs!" Tressa yelps, "Those things'll cut at anything!"
"Tch," Primrose draws her knife. She figured she could probably strike the weak points of the crab armor, no different than using a knife to pry it open for meat when eating.
"Do not worry, Tressa!" Olberic draws his sword, "I had worried this might happen..."
"Ah, professor, be careful!" Therese has to practically pull Cyrus back by his caplet to avoid having his nose clipped off by staring too closely at a crab.
"Oh- silly me! I've never lain eyes on these creatures! They're so fascinating, is all!"
"That is quite the ill timing for curiosity, I'm afraid!" Simeon says with a nervous smile as he looks at the swarm of crabs and that huge stone tortoise before them. These creatures unfortunately block their way forward... not to mention what might happen if they tried to run...
"Have at you!" Olberic makes a wide sweep with his sword, throwing up several of the crabs. They land back on the sand with soft plops and scurry still, not very harmed.
Primrose stabs one in its bubbling mouth and lashes at another one with her throwing dagger, clipping its scissor-like primary claw clean off.
"O-oh, right!" Tressa pulls out her polearm, "Have a taste of this...!"
Green energy swirls about the tip and she swings it like a mace. The concentration of wind energy seems to disorient the crabs and make them easier to pick off.
"Fascinating indeed!" Simeon says as he hides behind a nearby rock with Cyrus and Therese, "The winds are in our favor!"
"Ahh, most interesting! I wonder why they seem to be vulnerable to the wind affinity...!" Cyrus exclaims as he observes, "Have you any hypotheses, Therese?
"Uhm... M-maybe the wind affinity... gets through their armor?" Therese suggests, only half paying attention. Since Cyrus seems way too enamored observing, she has to keep an eye out for anything coming their way.
"That is an excellent point! Air can reach through even the smallest of cracks!"
"You two talk too much!" Tressa waves her polearm angrily at them before swinging for another crab, "Dang, these things are ornery!"
"Like we practiced, Tressa!" Cyrus calls over to her, "Use a small amount concentrated to imbue the weapon and lessen the drain!"
"Ho, so he hasn't been called a teacher for nothing," Primrose smirks as she guts a few other crabs, "Olberic, dear, do you need some help?"
Olberic grapples with the large turtle, grinding the flat of his blade against its hard head and snapping jaws, "Nay... I do believe my sword is enough for this cur!"
"Most interesting!" Simeon observes as Olberic swings on the stony carapace, "It seems as if the blade can strike the stone better at its weak points...!"
"Aye, there is a common design mindset when it comes to swords that differentiates them from axes and daggers. A sword bears more heft than a dagger, while having more accuracy in focus of the user's force than an axe!" Cyrus explains, "It is similar to how a polearm or arrow differ from a dagger in penetration due to-"
Before he can finish, Therese hurriedly drags him and Simeon just enough to dodge a blast of cold bubbles from some scissor crabs that neared. The noble girl finds that she has just enough strength to do so for these two bookworms.
"Oh my!" Simeon yelps, "They are not solely users of their claw, it seems!"
"Careful!" Tressa yells over, "The claws of the dumb crabs are kinda poisnonous, or something!"
"Ah, Tressa, you must know the difference between what is venomous and what is poisono-"
"Now is not the time!" Tressa shouts at him in annoyance.
"Hrah!" Olberic slams the flat of his blade on the turtle's head on the same spot for the fifth time. There is a hard crack and the beast gives a loud, baritone groan of pain. It promptly goes to barrel past him and flee from the battle. The warrior scoffs somewhat and lets it pass.
"Good show!" Simeon cheers as the battle concludes.
"Hmf!" Primrose de-shells the last of the crabs with her knife work. Tressa's wind magic made them much easier targets when knocked over and staggered.
"You were beautiful as well, Prim!" Simeon claps.
"That was certainly a very educating battle!" Cyrus says with his usual scholarly zeal, "I think I have some good data about how to better deal with these threats, should we encounter them in the future!"
"How about you actually do something to help next time then?!" Tressa punches him in the shoulder, making him yelp.
…
"... Huh..."
Alfyn looks with a scrutinizing frown. Over his shoulder, Marlene looks on anxiously. She can't tell if he's just concentrating or frustrated. She hopes for the former. Ellen is standing by her legs, holding to her mother's skirts, looking just as worried for her sister.
"Alfyn, will Flynn be-"
"Ellen, let's not disturb him..." Marlene shushes her gently.
Alfyn doesn't seem to take notice of them as he inspects Flynn's nostrils, taking note of any irregularities at the back of the sinuses. He also opens her mouth and stares in towards the throat. He doesn't have the best lighting for this and has Marlene help him hold a candle overhead to better illuminate the view. He feels along Flynn's neck and takes note of how her breathing sounds, as well as how her chest rises. Flynn rasps with difficulty, on the verge of another coughing fit.
After a few agonizing minutes of watching Alfyn observe her daughter, Marlene cannot bear the anticipation any longer herself.
"H-how is she?" She asks, anxiety bursting a little.
"Hmm..." Alfyn knits his brows together, "Ma'am could I take a listen to Flynn's chest? I think I almost got it, but I gotta confirm. If not, ya might have to help me do it."
"O-oh... uhm, then, I will..." Marlene steps forward. Alfyn stands aside while she unbuttons Flynn's dress to expose the little chest, "What... am I to listen for?"
"Tell me what you hear. Is her heartbeat fast, or slow? Does her breathing sound like its kinda like a river running or like a … a leaf rustling?" Alfyn scratches his head, "Just tell it to me the best ya can! It's hard to describe, haha..."
Marlene purses her lips and leans down, pressing her ear to her sleeping daughter's chest. She'd never really listened for something like this before, so it was quite strange to hear something like a raspy wind inside her daughter. It reminded her of how a gust whistles through a cramped space between stone. She tells this to Alfyn.
"Hmm... not like a clean whoosh, right..." Alfyn holds his chin and seems to think hard.
"Alfyn, is Flynn gonna be alright?" Ellen looks to him worriedly.
"Yes, please, what is wrong with Flynn? She was fine after Vanessa treated her both times and all of a sudden this...!" Marlene wrings her hands, clearly at the end of her wits.
"It's alright, ma'am. I think I got a pretty good picture," Alfyn nods, "Somethin's inflamin' her throat. She eat anything odd or anything strange recently?"
"No, we don't really have anything that different... just some preserved herring, bread... herbs?" Marlene wracks her brain, "No, we didn't have anything out of the ordinary to eat... unless you count medicine?"
The medicine Vanessa gave Flynn? Alfyn keeps that on the back burner. He still didn't know what Vanessa had given Flynn, after all. It wouldn't be fair to suspect her so suddenly.
"Can you help Flynn?" Marlene asks him with obvious anxiety on her face.
"I can make a quick ingestible salve that oughta lower the inflammation a bit!" Alfyn gives an assuring smile, "And then I'll rustle up something that should help a bit more. But don't you worry! Flynn'll be right as rain!"
He has an earnest air about him. Any lingering worries about him as a conman vanish into thin air. Marlene looks to him with a brittle expression and bows her head.
"Please... save my daughter..."
Ellen grabs at Alfyn's waist, parroting her mother, "Alfyn, you'll help Flynn, right?"
"Don't you two worry! I said it didn't I? Flynn'll be right as rain! I swear, as an apothecary!"
…
Ophilia sees H'aanit and Therion return first after Alfyn stepped out.
"Where's the wonder boy?" Therion glances around at some of the mess from Alfyn's experimenting.
"Ah, he stepped out a moment..." Ophilia looks to them, "Where did you two go off to?"
"We weren by the mansiones," H'aanit sighs and stands by the wall, arms folded, "We hath seen Vanessa yet again."
Linde purrs as she rubs against Ophilia's legs and the cleric scratches between her ears.
"Vanessa? Ah, was she treating others?"
"Scalping, more like," Therion scoffs softly as he sits against the wall, "I knew something didn't smell right about her."
"What do you mean? What is scalping?" Ophilia blinks.
"I knowen not what scalpen be. She weren offereth cures per the plague of current... and it doth cost a hefty coin," H'aanit sighs, "Twas a sum I nary hear of."
"Cost? But didn't Alfyn say she works without charge...?" Ophilia's eyes widen.
"That's a load of shit," Therion sighs, "Hundred thousand a vial... that'd bankrupt a village."
"Wha- How extravagant..." Ophilia puts a pensive finger to her lip, "But why? That's much too exorbitant for people to afford with so many ill!"
"That's none of her concern, clearly," Therion looks to Ophilia, bored, "...But I forget. You don't know how this stuff works."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ophilia raises an eyebrow.
"The point isn't to cure people. It's profit, in the end. I dunno if she was treating for free or whatever, but now that's over and she's charging a pretty leaf for some bottle," Therion sighs, "Might even be snake oil."
"That's awful..." Ophilia looks pained by this revelation, "We must tell Alfyn..."
"Hey guys!" Alfyn comes into their room right on cue, "I'm back! Sorry about that... Oh, hey, H'aanit, Therion, Linde!"
"Alfyn! H'aanit and Therion saw something dreadful!" Ophilia exclaims.
"Huh?" Alfyn blinks, "What's up?"
"T'weren Vanessa," The huntress looks to him.
"She's charging for some bogus cure for the cough," Therion folds his arms behind his head, "Plenty of the nobles bought."
"She what?" Alfyn gawks, "But she works for free!"
"... That was probably just a starting run," Therion thinks a second, "The pipsqueak merchant mentioned that a 'free worker' made it hard to earn coin. This lady might've been trying to smoke out the competition before going in for the killing."
"...That's..." Alfyn frowns and clutches a handful of his own messy hair. That's way too weird. Could he have misjudged her?
"... Alfyn, are you-"
"We'll have to worry about that later. Flynn's still in trouble," Alfyn lets go of his hair with a sigh, "For now, I gave 'er some salve since 'er throat's inflamed... but I gotta find a more lasting fix."
"Vanessa hath claimed her tonic doth curen this cough," H'aanit points out, "Mayhap we oughten see'n this for ourselves. She hath mentioned it weren made from some moss..."
"Moss?" Alfyn perks up, "Didja guys get a look or a sniff of it?"
Therion scratches his head, "It looked like a dark bottle with some sparkly blue or green stuff inside."
"And she hath said t'weren difficult to obtain..." H'aanit adds.
"Hmm..." Alfyn pulls out Zeph's voluminous tome and begins avidly leafing through its pages, "Moss, moss, moss... eververde, buck fern, cellite... Did the color look anything like these?"
He faces the book for H'aanit and Therion to look as well. Linde lazily remains by Ophilia. The huntress looks carefully at the sketches in the book, as well as the handwritten notes on their appearances. Therion only looks at the sketches.
"... These aren't really colored," Therion points out.
"Ah, yeah, we didn't color too much, but the words are there!"
Ophilia glances at Therion frowning at the book. She looks about to say something, but thinks better of it. H'aanit taps on a page.
"This looketh so," She pointed to something with slight shadings of blue, "Ist roughly the color of the tincture."
"Glow-worm moss... yep, that sounds about right," Alfyn runs a finger down the moss's properties listed, "It glows just like the worms that turn into lightning bugs. We heard of it used for inflammation, so this would help lots. But it didn't grow easy either in Clearbrook... When we had to find it, we'd need t' go as far as the caves of Rhiyo..."
"Was Vanessa using this moss? Where could she have gotten it?" Ophilia perks up.
"Caves... didn't the pipsqueak and the others head off to some cave nearby?" Therion points out.
"Oh, the Caves of Azure..."
"Hmm... welp, it's decided!" Alfyn claps his book shut suddenly and stands, "I gotta find summa that moss for Flynn!"
"Aren thou surest thou willen finde whattest moss thou seeketh there?" H'aanit raises an eyebrow.
"Well, no, but that's why I'll ask around! Plenty o' locals oughta know a thing or two!" Alfyn smiles confidently as he stows away his book, "Heck, maybe we could see if those folks from Vanessa could be, uh, willing to share?"
Therion suppresses a full-on snort and he stands, "Now that sounds fun."
"Therion, you couldn't be thinking of stealing?" Ophilia looks to the thief.
"Hey, we need to stuff for a good cause or whatever," Therion rolls his eyes.
"Theft be'en a resort I doeth not finde pleasant..." H'aanit gathers her things, "If we be'en off to caves, we muste preparen fore monsters."
"I do hope we can find something to help these people though... it's horrible to have lifesaving medicine be withheld for mere money...!" Ophilia gathers her staff.
"Yeah, tell me about it..." Alfyn sighs, "But I can't worry on that now...! Let's go!"
Therion takes note that Alfyn doesn't seem too bothered by Vanessa's sudden change of business practice. Something about the woman still rubbed him wrong. She'd driven out the competition and now sells this overpriced thing that is supposed to treat this specific affliction that appeared out of nowhere. Fevers just turned into coughs overnight.
Overnight... curing overnight...
Snake oil salesmen...
The thief scratches his head and keeps his speculation to himself for now.
…
Asking around town is Alfyn's specialty at this point. He just had a natural ease of demeanor that encouraged others to talk to him, much like how he ultimately managed to win over Marlene. Therion, H'aanit, and Linde hang back whilst Alfyn and Ophilia ask around about the moss and caves nearby. When they come through to the manor district, Therion espies some of the nobles who had bought the elixir from Vanessa earlier, though the apothecary herself is nowhere to be seen...
"Oh, thank goodness for Vanessa's help... my husband is breathing much better!" One noblewoman says, fanning herself.
"The girl works far too hard! She had to immediately leave to get more supplies, she said!"
So, Vanessa went to get more plants? Maybe by the beach again? Or maybe...
"Aye, aye, the caves of Azure glow just like the color you describe!" A merchant says heartily to Alfyn when he approaches him, "I wouldn't know of any moss, but that sounds about right, maybe? Though, I wouldn't go near those caves either..."
"Oh, why is that?" Ophilia pipes up.
"I mean, who goes spelunking these days? Didn't you hear of all those monsters getting more and more dangerous? No thanks!"
"Not to mention the supposed howls from the ghosts of sailors!" The merchant's friend shakes his head, "Nasty business... It's no luck to deal with those sorts of haunts."
Alfyn had also asked those noblemen about the elixir they obtained from Vanessa for her hefty fee. They seemed almost suspicious to even hand it over. He looks it over but isn't allowed to un-stopper it. After a few moments, he says nothing but merely thanks them for letting him examine their purchase.
"Haha, well, thanks anyway!" Alfyn grins as he walks back over, "Alright, looks like we're going to the caves! Guess we might meet Tressa and the others there!"
And maybe the slick apothecary, too, thinks Therion.
They make their way due east of Goldshore, crossing the bridges that span the sandy shores onto the other parts of the Coastland's eastern edge. Alfyn walks with an urgent step. Therion follows easily, as do H'aanit and Linde. Ophilia finds her shoes, while suitable for snow, are unprepared for running in the sands. She lags behind badly, and it doesn't help that she's a bit sweltered in her clothes.
"..." H'aanit looks back and goes to help Ophilia take her outer mantle off, "Tis too heavy for thee to runnen in."
"Oh, t-thank you..." Ophilia sighs, "I just thought I could keep up without shedding my garments..."
"You alright, Lia?" Alfyn calls back, "We can't waste much more time. Flynn needs us!"
"Right!" Ophilia says resolutely as she goes to try and catch up with H'aanit at her side, "H'aanit, are your own furs not heated?"
"Tis alloweth for air over mine bare arms," H'aanit says without breaking a sweat, "Tis fine."
"Ah, how convenient," Ophilia giggles.
"I hope the others didn't have trouble comin' out here..." Alfyn says as they touch ground just outside Goldshore. Behind them, the town's glittering sands certainly somehow stand out against the surrounding areas. The island structure, with the rising manor district and cathedral, are lain bare to the eye on this side, without walls to block anything.
"... Hm?" Therion glances on ahead. His ears picked something up.
"Rr..." Linde seems to have noticed as well and goes to pounce near a dune. She gives an affirmative growl, "Rrowr!"
"Hm? Linde?" H'aanit glances over. She and Therion go to check out what Linde is looking at.
On the other side of the dune, at the end of a long trail of drag marks in the sand, is what looks like a spiky stoney shape. It seems motionless for now, but they can see that this thing has legs...
"This shape... be'en it a hardback?"
"Hardba- you mean a turtle?" Therion raises his eyebrow at the huntress, "Or a tortoise."
"Aye. It seemeth to haven draggend itself through the sand …" H'aanit points at the deep marks in the sand behind, "And it hath pushed the sand to bury itself."
Therion takes note of a deep crack in its stony carapace from which darkish green blood leaks out, "... someone fought this thing and injured it."
"Guys? Everything alright?" Alfyn calls over from where he and Ophilia were told to wait.
"Aye, tis a wounded beast," H'aanit returns over, "Linde sayeth t'will be'en nay issue to passeth it."
"Huh, well, we gotta get going so... let's go!"
"Do you have any idea what wounded it?" Ophilia looks to H'aanit, "I... hear that when it comes to beasts that you need to always be aware of stronger ones in the area..."
H'aanit smiles softly, "... I haven a theory what may haven wounded that beast... Twas a strong sword."
"Big and slow Olberic might've done it," Therion scoffs, "Less work for us. Let's go."
Linde's ears twitch a bit and she glances around a little for a second. Her eyes narrow on something ahead, but off the beaten path slightly.
"Hm? Linde, whattest doen thou sense?" H'aanit glances to her companion.
"Rowrr..." The leopard's tail swishes about a little and she prowls onward as their party resumes walking towards the caves. H'aanit glances in that direction as well with a pensive expression before proceeding as well.
…
"Hm?" Olberic stops ahead of the party and gestures to pause. Out of habit, he makes the signs to go and scout. Unfortunately, he's no longer leading a platoon of soldiers that know these signs. The others of the party stare at him a bit oddly.
"Whatever is the issue, Sir Olberic?" Therese asks.
"There's something ahead," Olberic sighs and points, "Someone, actually."
Squinting a bit, the party can see the stony cove ahead that opens up into a dark maw, the beginnings of a seaside cave. Near the entrance, they notice a small band of people standing there. From this distance, they can't make out much distinguishing features, however. They counted at least five people...
"Bah! I'll bet they're here for treasure, too!" Tressa exclaims, "Word gets around..."
"Whatever shall we do?" Simeon rubs his chin, "The common stories always tell of conflict over coinciding desires on the same stage...!"
"Now, now, no need to resort to violence so quickly!" Cyrus wags a finger, "We merely need first to ascertain their intentions! Let's settle this like gentlemen."
"What say you, Tressa?" Primrose looks to the merchant, "This expedition is yours."
"Hmm..." Tressa rubs her chin in thought, "Let's let 'em go first and follow closely! Gotta be sneaky. We don't know if they're nice or not!"
"Therion's expertise would be welcome here..." Olberic sighs, "Stealth is... not my strongest suit."
"I'd say it's not Cyrus' either," Primrose teases.
Per Tressa's decision, they wait for the group already by the entrance to go inside first before following. Upon reaching the entrance, they are immediately aware of the glowing azure color even along the opening of the cave mouth, beside the green shrubbery that clings to the sea-worn stones. These patches seem rather small or thin.
"It's not stones..." Therese approaches a patch just short of the cave bowls, "It looks like... lichen?"
"I believe it is moss, but that is a common mistake to make when identifying these plants. The glow simulates that of the common glow worm," Cyrus inspects by her side, "Most mosses rely on the movement of winds to disperse spores and reproduce. It is possible that this cave hosts some life forms that feed on this moss and thus disperse its seed in lieu of normal winds, which would be difficult to have in a closed cave system..."
"Ohh, that makes a lot of sense!" Therese exclaims.
"Hmm... HMMMMM..." Tressa looks with an inquisitive eye around the cave, "Not even some broken old chests or anything..."
"Ah, if there is treasure, we can be sure t'would be buried deeper in rather than here!" Simeon points out.
"I'll say, the old man I talked to honestly sounded a few fish short of a wet market," Tressa sighs, "I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't any real treasure... but! I wanna know what those guys ahead of us are after, then!"
"Well, let us be careful," Olberic nods after looking around and making sure there are no other stragglers around, "The men that went in were armed, likely for good reason."
"Cave monsters, likely. But they also carried other tools, I think," Primrose steps towards the cave innards now, "Well, standing about conjecturing won't do any good. What say we go in now?"
Her eyes pierce into the darkness well. But, here, it's not terribly necessary thanks to the luminescent moss stuff. There seems to be more within.
"Interesting... The darkness must provide more optimal growth conditions for this moss... Which means higher concentrations would be found within!" Cyrus nods.
"Great, no need to use a bright lantern then!" Tressa marches onward, "Let's go!"
The six walk in the cave entrance looking around. Cyrus is quite avid about the local flora.
"This is likely a localized breed of moss... Although, I have not done nearly enough research on cavernous environments and their various conditions of growth... I hypothesize the seaside moisture, as well as the salt content in the very breeze we breathe must affect the growing conditions, and even be the cause of this organism's luminescence!"
"Uhm, professor, how is it that the moss grows despite lack of sunlight?" Therese ends up entertaining his lecture, "Mosses are plants, right? Thus, they must use photosynthesis...?"
"Indeed! As autotrophs, they do require some light... but mosses are known to grow well even in shaded areas!"
"You're too loud, Cyrus!" Tressa hisses.
"Hmm..." Olberic looks on ahead, squinting at the dimly illuminated cave path, "They must have moved ahead with expediency... Perhaps we do require some better light to better view our surroundings..."
Primrose glances about. Her vision is sharp and she can see in the dark. But even she can't see everything too well with these moss lights interfering.
Eventually, they approach a cluster of pathways in the cave. Water runs in a slacking manner along the moist walls and down into waters below elevated bridges of stone. Where there is firm ground, more glowing plants grow, all with the same azure gleam. Some are more like flowers than moss, with slender stems and petals that show a soft, beautiful blue glow emanating from within its stomata.
"Many flora that flourish in these cavernous systems do tend to develop some form of luminescence. The main theories are regarding visibility for possible pollinators, whether attraction by light or for sustenance..." Cyrus just doesn't stop.
"You weren't joking..." Simeon whispers to Primrose. The dancer merely smiles.
"Hmm... I am feeling at unease somewhat," Olberic glances back at Therese by Cyrus, "Therese, mayhaps you ought to return to the entrance... just in case things take a turn for the violent."
Therese looks reluctant to take that advice. Cyrus, however, immediately agrees at the warrior's mention.
"He's right, Therese. There may be foul men ahead... and if not they, then there could be fouler beasts. I cannot fathom having you hurt again," Cyrus looks to her with utmost concern, "It is likely best you wait at the cave entrance."
"Well, surely not alone," Primrose sighs and scratches her head, "Someone ought to walk her back."
"Cyrus, you go!" Tressa exclaims at the opportunity to get away from the scholar's yapping, "She's your student!"
"But I can surely lend aid to whatever new oddities we encounter here...!" Cyrus protests.
Primrose rolls her eyes and looks to Simeon, "Could you be a dear and...?"
"Ah, of course," Simeon chuckles, "Do take care of yourself, my flower."
"You take care as well, professor," Therese says to Cyrus, trying not to pout, "Please don't get yourself hurt again..."
"I give you my word of effort."
Olberic sighs as Simeon goes to lead Therese out. He turns to go and continue. As he walks down one of the paths, he feels something tug at his leg.
"...?" He glances down to see the vague outline of something like a rope.
"Hm? Olberic?" Tressa glances where the warrior walked ahead and scurries after him, "Hey, don't go on ahead without us!"
"Ah, she is so eager...!" Cyrus goes to follow with Prim going last.
The dancer's instinct is quick enough that she detects something smelling a little strange. She hurriedly skirts back just as she sees Cyrus and Tressa collapse onto the floor. Further ahead, she can see the shape of Olberic already down. Her own legs suddenly feel the slightest of weakness.
"Gh-" She steps back hurriedly, tasting something in the air. Something knocked them all out?
Something sounds with a crack at her feet after whistling through the air. Fumes billow out and buffet her with choking vapor. She can't call out and gags, trying not to breathe it in.
"Ugh-" The dancer stumbles against the stone, pressing her back against it. Her vision blurs impossibly and she feels her strength being sapped. She's vaguely aware of someone stepping up to her and kneeling before her.
"Huh, who are these guys, even?" Vanessa holds the barely conscious dancer's chin once the fumes from her knockout gas abated. She takes note of the dancer's garb and shrugs before turning to her hired hands, "Whatever. Tie them all up. We can't have anyone finding out, after all..."
Primrose is vaguely aware of herself being bound from behind and a gag being shoved into her mouth as she clings to consciousness. She hears Cyrus snore a bit as he's being trussed. Sleeping draught?
"Geez, dis one's heavy... oop!"
They jostle something from the others and it drops to the floor with some metal clatter.
"Ngh..."
Her vision is on the verge of blacking out and she curses their carelessness before unwillingly being dragged off into dreamland.
…
The playwright and student had no real issue making it back out to the cave entrance. They didn't hear anything of what happened to those that remained within its bowels. No screams, no alerting shouts.
"Hmm... your professor seems like quite the upstanding scholar," Simeon says to Therese.
"Uh, oh, yes, yes he is..." Therese nods eagerly.
"Ahaha, I'm just trying to make conversation, truth be told... Save for Prim, my luck with women has been rather dreary," Simeon rubs his chin.
"Oh? Uhh... If I may, you seem quite... nice!" Therese says with a small smile of encouragement.
"Oh, you are too kind," Simeon sighs in resignation, "Unfortunately, my luck with lovers has been all but star-crossed, I'm afraid."
"Ah, my condolences..."
They return to the mouth of the cave. Therese sits down on a rock just by the entry and looks about a little awkwardly. Simeon sits down opposite of her and leans back on a taller rock, pulling out booklet and pen. He quietly writes in there.
"... Uhm, Mr. Simeon...?" Therese asks meekly, "I believe you call yourself a writer?"
"Playwright, to be exact," Simeon looks up, "I'm afraid I wouldn't be up to par to write long, droning stories like some."
"Ah, I see... but you're also well-versed in poetry!"
"Well, creative writing is something that playwrights commonly dabble with. I find a bit of theatrics and eloquent acting help immerse a crowd and move the stories along," Simeon chuckles, "Why? Are you interested in the theatre arts?"
"Uhm... not exactly... I would like... to be a scholar like the professor, truth be told," Therese nods a little, "I want to be able to take care of myself so... that I might be able to travel like he does."
"That is a rather grand undertaking, considering the ability of Cyrus' magic that I've witnessed. As much as he does talk too much, his magic is far from hot air," Simeon holds his chin, "Are you a Gate, my dear?"
"Well, no. Uh, I mean, not yet," Therese shrugs, "I hope it to be the case..."
"Hmm, that might be a bit of a conundrum then..." Simeon strokes his chin, "Scholars are primarily defined by their abilities in the arcane. That is, magic..."
"I mean... That's why implements exist!" Therese nods hopefully, "Wands and staves are for even those who aren't gates. I have some professors just like that."
"That is true!" Simeon's eyebrows arc upward, "I'd almost forgotten how advanced arcana studies have become in using items like soulstones to imitate casting magic!"
The two of them banter about frivolous subjects, from Common writing to other academic subjects. Simeon is largely learned in the humanities, which are also Therese's primary interests.
"The only sciences I really fancy is the arcana," Therese says, feeling more comfortable around Simeon now, "All the other ones, like herbology... they don't catch my interest so."
"Hmm, that is understandable. The very term of arcane is something that eludes common logic. So, it is something far from a typical science... Although, I admit, I have not studied up on any sciences of late," Simeon says sheepishly, "As you can likely tell."
Therese chuckles. She feels a breeze and looks up to the hanging green mosses that sway. Seeing the sun's position, she frowns.
"... You don't think they've been in there long, do you?" The student asks with slight beginnings of worry.
"Uhm..." Simeon blinks, taking notice as well, "I can't say I've been keeping time... Hm..."
"Hey!"
The two turn to see a familiar apothecary, cleric, huntress, thief, and leopard approach from afar.
"Alfyn?" Therese stands, "What are you doing here...?"
"Uhh, long story, we're here to get some moss! You guys... hey, where' the others?" Alfyn notes the four others missing.
"Oh, they told us to wait out here in case of monster attacks..." The student points in the glowing depths.
"Moss?" Simeon looks to Alfyn, "Might it be this glow worm material Cyrus was talking about?"
"Wow, there's more of it!" Ophilia exclaims as she peers into the cave opening.
"Yep! That's glow-worm moss! But it's not mature out here. See how it doesn't even sprout the seeds?" Alfyn gets distracted a moment showing Ophilia, "We gotta find some full grown, sprouting patches!"
"Haven they any luck?" H'aanit looks to Therese and Simeon, "With theiren treasure hunten?"
"Uhh, we didn't see anything..." Therese sighs, "That's why they wanted to go deeper, but they also worried that we would get hurt..."
"Yes, the professor is a splendidly protective man of his students," Simeon nods, "However, it has been a good spell since they went in... and nary a peep!"
"Oh, golly..." Alfyn looks up, "We oughta go in after 'em!"
"That's right, they could be in danger!" Ophilia nods.
"We won't be left behind this time!" Simeon announces. Therese nods eagerly.
Therion just sighs irritably. Linde smirks at the thief's reaction.
…
Within the cave, Ophilia finds her light is not so necessary thanks to the glowing fauna that flourish here. A series of barnacle bats fly down upon their entry into the belly of the caverns, screeching and buffeting them with their wings.
"Ack! W-watch out!" Alfyn shouts.
H'aanit and Linde react accordingly, being no stranger to dealing with flying hordes. Linde swipes with her claws and tail in a sort of spinning maneuver, sweeping like a blade and slashing down several bats midflight. H'aanit draws deep in her limited ability of the lightning gate and nocks an arrow in her bow. When she lets it fly, the residual traces of electricity on the arc of the projectile disorient the bats and send some of them awry. The actual shot itself is strong that it pierces several of them, sending bat blood everywhere.
"CHIII CHIII" The bats scatter after their numbers were cut down, winding their way out of the caverns.
"Hoo..." Alfyn lets out a sigh of relief after that clears up, "Gee, what a surprise that was...!"
"I... believe those to be called barnacle bats..." Simeon looks down with slight distaste at the bat carcasses by his feet, "Oh my, how messy..."
"T-thank you, H'aanit..." Therese sighs and wipes some bat blood off her face, "I hope those were the worst things living in this cave..."
"I as well..." Ophilia sighs and summons forth the light of her staff, "Perhaps this will help ward them away...?"
"You alright, Therion?" Alfyn looks to the thief.
"Peachy," Therion sighs and kicks some dead bats away.
"Hm?" Simeon glances over at something on the ground deeper in the caves. It glints in the light from Ophilia's staff, "What is that...?"
Therion catches where his gaze goes and steps forward first. The thief is a light stepper and bats an eye slightly at a rope trap someone had set up by the rocks here. It looks to have been triggered and reset in a hurry. He easily avoids it and sees the shiny thing on the floor to be some flask.
"Uh, Therion?" Alfyn calls over to him, "Find something?"
Therion swipes his blade and cuts the trap. Looking where the trigger leads, he wordlessly points to some rocks nearby.
"Hm?" Ophilia shines her light by there, "What is this?"
They see what looks to be a small catapult contraption filled with glass vials hidden by rocks. The liquid inside is a slight bluish green color.
"Soporific..." Alfyn mutters, "Don't touch it, guys. That stuff'll knock you out till next week."
"You can tell simply by looking?" Simeon looks to him with awe.
"Uhh, I'm pretty sure, yeah... It's got the same color as the sleeping medicine we used to make back in Clearbrook, though it's usually diluted... But this was set up by someone...?" The apothecary's brows knit together.
"...Tis a trap but by whom..." H'aanit glances about, "A hunter... nay. Tis the worken of a medicine man."
"... It's the pipsqueak's."
They all turn to see Therion holding the water flask. Etched at the bottom of the metal container is the initials "T.C."
"Pretty sure."
"Tressa would never simply leave her belongings about...!" Ophilia says and then realizes as she looks to the trap again, "Oh no... could they have been caught...?!"
Alfyn frowns, "We gotta find 'em... c'mon, guys. Stay close. There might be more traps..."
…
Tressa is vaguely aware of something soft tickling her face. She had gone after Olberic in the dark only to suddenly black out when she smelled something weird.
"Mmf..."
The girl shifts and feels herself lying on her side. She blinks a few times and sees that bright azure color before her. Glow-worm moss. Still in the cave, then. She also sees the familiar dark caplet of that familiar Atlasdam professorial garb. Cyrus... and his hands are tied behind him while he's lying on the floor before her...
What happened?
Her mind cleared up a bit from the drug, but she still felt a bit woozy. Her mouth is dry. She tastes the cloth jammed in there. Her arms are also bound, as are her feet.
Oh no.
She hears the sound of something like digging. There are low voices about.
"... looks good..."
"Take that there... yeah, should be fine..."
Furtively, Tressa tries and gets her bearings. Without moving too much, she tries to turn her head for a better vantage point. She manages to catch a glimpse of some men by the patches of glowing moss. It is incredibly bright in here with the moss, and the plant grows thick, mature clusters sprouting long stems with bulb-like ends. The men are seemingly harvesting the moss as well as its spores from the bulbs. And, in the middle of the whole thing, is Vanessa walking around and bossing the men around.
Wait, what? Tressa's eyes widen.
"Hurry up then, you lot. I'm paying a handsome leaf by the hour for your work. I need plenty of moss to make more of my miracle elixir," Vanessa says loud enough for them to hear.
"We don't wanna be here any longer either," One of the men grumbles gruffly, "This place gives me the willies..."
"Hmf, scared of some dead sailors?" Vanessa scoffs, "Whatever, just hurry up so you can get paid then."
Tressa looks with unamusement at Vanessa's little operation. This is some cold-blooded businesswoman! It might be a bit more admirable if she hadn't drugged them all.
"Hey... that one's awake!" One of the workers notices Tressa staring.
Vanessa glances over to see the merchant girl try to play possum. She saunters over. Tressa closes her eyes to try and appear asleep still. Something wafts before her nose. It smells so powerfully pungent that she gags immediately.
"NG-" She squirms to try and get away, but ends up just wriggling like a worm against her bonds.
"Trying to play asleep, clever girl," Vanessa chuckles as Tressa breathes heavily through her nose, "It looks like you woke up before the others. Not that it matters."
Tressa tries not to show her fear as she looks to see Vanessa standing over her with a small bottle in her hand. She used smelling salts or something?
"Anyway, back to work, you lot. This one won't do anything," Vanessa scoffs and gives Tressa a good kick in the abdomen.
"Mmf-!" Tressa winces. Vanessa takes a step away, laughing jauntily. Looking around a bit more, Tressa sees Primrose and Olberic nearby, both leaned against the cave walls. The two of them are also bound and gagged, seemingly unconscious. She also sees her pack and Olberic's things in a pile a few steps away. Thoughts race through her mind as she tries to keep calm.
What to do...
There's at least five guys here that she counts. They all seem to be the ones who went ahead, and they all look to have the tough bodies of laborers... with the addition of some swords. She might be able to get free with some wind magic somehow... but unless one of the others is awake, it'll be a dream to knock these guys out without a gale strong enough that knocks even her out from the drain...
"Whoa, found one, haha..."
One of the moss harvesters pulls up what looks like a boney arm attached to an entire skeleton, crusted with barnacles and remains of its past clothing. It looks like an old death, for sure…
"Least it ain't moving, heh."
They toss the bones aside. Another person unearths something similar.
"Lots of sailors lost their lives in these caves, along this entire shore, really," Vanessa looks at Tressa with a nasty smile, "When we're done here, no one will be any the wiser if four more bodies are found."
Tressa pales in fear at the implications of those words.
"Well, we are about done. This is a nice haul of moss, don't ya think…?"
Vanessa is looking appraisingly at their satchels of picked mosses when a sudden, familiar voice cuts through the air and fills Tressa with slight relief.
"HEY!"