"T-the barge was run by a woman. Tall, talked posh but pretty-like. Died when the ship sank, god rest her soul. A real lady. Name was something fancy... Luceez? No... Lucrecia. She gave me the tattoo. Told me to keep it secret, keep the beggars away"
Lucrecia!
Wyam's eyes widened and put a hand on the man's shoulder. "Thank you, that's been very helpful." He opened up the pouch and put a handful of coins into the man's hand.
He turned to Reynard and looked like he was beginning to walk away, but after about 5 steps he stopped and turned back.
"Tell me, did you see any of those rangers from Fort Rannick at the gambling boat? Also, have people been going missing around town, that you've heard of?"
The man blinks in pleased surprise as he receives the gold.
"Rangers...? Sure, I think I might've seen one occasionally up there. Just one at a time, not sure if it was always the same one, didn't pay much attention."
"People going missing? Not that I know of. We always get a few runaways, a few people succumbing to hunting accidents and the like; nothing unusual for a town our size."
Wyam nodded to the man. "Noted. Best not to say anything else to anyone." Turning to leave once more. "Come on, let's go. We need to tell the others." he waved for Reynard to follow.
Meeting up with the rest, Wyam duly fills everyone in.
Shalelu perks up a little at the mention of the ranger, but otehrwise says nothing.
Spectrum pursed his lips. "I think we should expect to be walking into some kind of fight. Any time we have come across those involved in this cult they have tried to stop us with violence."
"True. Not only that but with trickery as well. If Bartimaeus was correct and this is the same Lucrecia that was Xanesha's half sister then we will have some trouble on our hands.
I don't know if it will reveal anything but do you suspect we may find something if we check the gambling barge that sank? It will be difficult to reach due to the fact that it is under the water at this point. There must be some reason it burned down, other than simply feigning the death of Lucrezia."
"It's as good a lead as any, but get information from the townspeople first before planning an underwater expedition."
"Underwater. Hmm. Interesting proposition. I will need to acquire some new spells." Spectrum said.
"I have heard of spells that allow one to breath under water, or create a bubble of air that travels with you. They would be a great help, but if there is anyone watching for suspicious activity, or observing us specifically, it might raise flags were we to purchase potions or scrolls to that effect in any great quantity." Reynard says, once the group is together again.
"We should discuss a trade of spells. Isme as well. We are all practitioners of the arcane. Our methods are compatible."
Speaking to the locals, it's reasonably easy to find the location of the wreck.
Surveying the lake however it's fairly easy to deduce that what's down there has been down there for awhile, and if it wasn't wiped clean of evidence before the sinking and the fire, the time underwater has probably done it.
Reynard's brows knit together, and he appears about to speak but pauses. I'm pretty sure that won't work, but how do I explain the unexplained? smiling, he shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that will work. My magic is not something learned, it is simply a part of me, in a way I have never found satisfactory explanation for. For a long time, I thought it was some quirk of my tainted blood, but that's not the case. I cast from thought alone, without the gestures or components most casters need. I don't think I could teach that if I tried, nor could I learn from a more traditional spellcaster."
Spectrum tilts his head quizzically, looking a great deal like one of his familiars for a moment.
"Interesting. How is it that you learn new spells?"
Come to think of it, I don't actually know how a sorcerer, bard, etc learns new spells. Huh.
Puzzled look on his face, Reynard scratches the back of his head. "Uh, well...it depends. It seems like it's almost a product of pure willpower. The first cantrips I learned were to manipulate objects and doors at a distance, and it was almost as if, if I just wanted it badly enough and visualized it well enough, it happened. Since then, I've often taught myself things through practice, usually spells I'd seen performed or heard described. I'd hear of wizards creating fireballs, for example, and by long hours working on shaping fire spells I already knew and doing my best to visualize it, I made it happen. I know that sounds silly, but that's about the best explanation I can give."
A feminine voice speaks directly into the minds of all present. It's true. He's weird. If anyone looks at her, Gwen does her best sharp-toothed impression of a human smile.
"Fascinating. Are you able to activate arcane scrolls?"
Ours is weird too. I think it comes with only having two legs. Array said without opening his eyes from where he napped on Spectrum's shoulder.
"I admit, I only barely understand any of this Magic side to things myself. Mostly just practice and constantly seeing Isme, Spectrum and many others to a lesser degree.
Ha ha, I'm actually glad that the gods do not make me have to study to receive their blessings. It is difficult enough to recall what I know already."
"Yes, but inconsistently, and only through much study and practice. It's not something that comes naturally."
"Something just occurred to me here. It's unlikely there will be anything of use on the barge now. It may be good to be prepared for that sort of environment, but maybe we should head to the fort." Wyam was unsure and questioning even as he voiced his new opinion.
"It has been some time since the boat sank. Any salvage is likely long gone. Ah, well. I suppose there will be other opportunities to test ourselves underwater. For now, I'll simply make some notes for later."
"Where to, then?"
"Then yes, we should make our way to Fort Rannick. Probably a good thing to do, Fearghus was starting to become irritable at not doing anything the last few weeks."
Informed and well-armed, the part heads north, and after 3 miles crosses the old wooden bridge over Skull River. As the road slopes up you can just about see the edge of Skull's Crossing, an immense stone dam, a thassilonian ruin, holding back the water of the Storval Deep. A crooked wooden sign pointing up the trail proclaims 'Fort Rannick.'
Wyam and Spectrum both hear a ywowl of pain in the woods nearby, as if a large cat were wounded.
Go. Spectrum said mentally as he moved carefully toward the sound.
The little dragons swooped into action.
Hey, where are you going? Gwen asks, leaping off Reynard's shoulder to follow.
Wyam saw the group of Pseudo Dragons head off after the noise. Looking back he warned the rest of the group.
"Weapons out, could be trouble." Drawing his blade, Wyam kicked Fearghus into a forward trot.
Reynard nods, pausing momentarily to cast mage armor on himself, then follows Wyam and the dragons.
Shalelu frowns and draws her bow; she remains a few steps behind you.
Glimmer and Array come across a small clearing in the forest. At the far edges lies a firepelt mountain lion; its foot is stuck in a bear trap. Its fur is well-groomed and glossy.
Isme takes to the air and follows after the pseudodragons. Sighting the mountain lion, and taking note of its groomed fur, the raven engages it in conversation.
"Hello there. Do you need help?"
The creature looks up and cocks its head, then yowls. "Find two-legs! Master in danger; six-finger coming! Save master! Find two-legs!"
Isme quickly relays the message to the pseudodragons to tell the others before addressing the creature again. "Where is your master?" She keeps her questions simple and immediate.
"Taken, taken by ogre-uglies! Free me, save master!"
Suddenly from the east comes the barking of hounds, along with a low and deep voice singing off-key. "Kitten soft and kitten small, kitten crunch and kitten bitten..."
Reynard nods as Gwenhyfar relays Isme's message, pausing to consider the wounded puma. At the sound of the voice, he stops and turns towards it. A gladius is suddenly in his right hand, as if conjured from the air. It appears to be translucent, as if made of glass the same purple shade as Gwen's scales. Quickly, he hides himself in the bushes.
Spectrum didn't hide. He moved forward with purpose striding to the center of the clearing and, casually waving his hand and speaking an arcane word that caused the trap to simply explode.
"Tell the cat to pull back. Let the enemy come to us."
As he spoke, he drew a potion.
Glimmer pulled out a wand and touched the cat.
Array followed Raynard into the brush.
The cat is healed and the trap shattered; it gratefully purrs.
Wyam rode forward with Fearghus into the clearing.
As he realized what they were likely to be fighting, Wyam stowed his sword, instead he readied his lance.
"You ready, Partner? Today we push back some Giants."
The firepelt scampers over to stand next to Wyam; it looks to the west, softly growling. Shalelu knocks an arrow.
Five hunting dogs break through into the clearing, slavering and barking; their coats are patchy and ill-kept.
That same horrible singing comes from the western woods.
Before the hounds arrive, Isme's head suddenly snaps to the puma and the black in her eyes seem to deepen as she manipulates the strings of fate around it.
Spectrum tossed a small bead of energy into the midst of the pack. Wary of spreading flames, he warped the energy to freeze rather than burn.
Glimmer followed the cat, healing it again.