The priestess blinks, as if only now realizing that not even all of the strange visitors seem to be on the same page. She laughs, but it's a gentle and mysterious laugh.
"Yes...one and the same they are," Zuri nods. "Long ago, his benevolence spared the people of Mercy from a terrible tragedy...and we have followed him ever since. It is he we have to thank for our bountiful crops and protection from the mana storms!"
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As Sticky and Skarlit approach the two figures in the alley, they can see that they're dressed in orange like the other villagers. More disturbingly, they also seem to be covered head to toe in bandages, with only their eyes and noses peeking out. When Sticky waltzes up and sticks his hand out for a shake, the lead figure giggles - the giggling of a child.
"Hi," the child - a little boy judging by the voice - says a bit shyly, shaking the leshy's hand. "I'm Caleb and this is my sissy Joanna," he continues, indicating the other child standing behind him, peeking out at the two leshies. "You're new, right? Why didn't your parents make you wrap up? Aren't you all itchy?"
"No, that's my cousin. I'm Sticky. So why all the bandages, were you both just pruned?"
Caleb and Joanna look at each other and then back at Sticky, as though confused. "Um...well, our parents put them on us because we're all itchy," Caleb replies. "A lot of us are itchy but mom says it's normal and that it's just a 'phase'...whatever that means?"
Though she's remained silent this whole time, Joanna suddenly reaches out and pokes Sticky's arm. She gasps and then giggles. "Hee! You are sticky!"
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Skarlit listens to the children with interest and concern. "I wonder what's making you itchy? That must be so annoying. Did your parents tell you anything about what causes it or when it will stop?" She recalls for a moment the details of Amenira's report. "How do they treat it? Are they giving you any medicine - like an ointment or something? I hope there's some way to make it itch less!"
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Uproot listens to the two different convestations going on with the vines and the priestess, thoroughly confused and not sure what to say. He pops out fo the stupor he'd fallen into and wipes up the drool at the priestess' comments about Robori saving the town. "Wait it sounds like there's a story behind that! Can you tell us? Please? I really like hearing new stories!" ....and I might finally have a clue about something that's going on.
Caleb opens his mouth to reply but is beaten to it by Joanna, who pipes up, "Daddy says everyone gets itchy then they're little! But that it goes away when we get bigger and then we look normal again!"
"Um, yeah, pretty much that," Caleb agrees. "And...oint-ment? Is that that smelly stuff? Mommy puts this smelly goop on us in the morning and then at night before we go to bed."
Joanna makes a face. "It's stinky! Stinky like lettuce when it goes all brown and mushy!"
Zuri perks up, as though she'd been waiting - and perhaps hoping - for one of you to ask. "Well! That, I can certainly do," she smiles brightly. She sits down on one the great, gnarled roots of the big tree and motions for everyone to sit and join her. Once everyone is settled, she clears her throat.
"It was...years and years ago, when Mercy was first settled. No one knew why but the children born to the first settlers began to...change...as they grew. They sprouted strange growths, like...well, like a plant. Of course there was a panic and some of the villagers were convinced that the children were diseased. They...even spoke of abandoning them to the Mana Wastes, before the rest of the town could be infected," Zuri explains, shaking her head sadly.
"But there was one gifted man who knew the ways of nature and was gifted to be able to speak with the very plants themselves - much as you folks seem able to do,"[/b] she smiles as she idly raps a small ring against the wood of the tree. "Desperate, he cried out for a miracle to spare the children - and the great tree spoke to him! He named himself Robori, God of Trees, and told the man to take heart and not be afraid for that the change the children were undergoing was not a disease but a boon! In time, the children would return to normal but would forever carry his great blessing."
Zuri pauses for a moment, her expression filled with wonder, as her ring continues to tap away at the tree. "And though it might have seemed mad, this man carried this message to the rest of the settlers. Much discussion was had but they decided to wait...and see. 'Lo and behold, it came to pass that the children's growths eventually abated and fell away, returning them to their normal appearance. But they were stronger and healthier than before, with even the sickliest of babes now running and playing, color in their cheeks at last!"
"And so in honor of their good fortune, the settlers officially named their new home Mercy...and the man that Robori first spoke to, my grandfather, found himself the first high priest of Robori," Zuri finishes. "A great responsibility that has been handed down from my grandfather to my father and from my father to me."
Though her sermon was delivered with apparent ease and familiarity, you realize that Zuri's ring-tapping must be something that she does when feeling nervous or anxious.
"Oh! Oh! You can have some of mine," Joanna exclaims, bouncing up and down, eager to help. Reaching down, she picks at the bandages on her arm for a moment until she's able to catch an end and then partly unwinds it from her arm. You catch a glimpse of rough, scaly-looking skin with an odd greenish hue to it before the little girl drags her finger around and scoops up a small bit of amber-colored goop, holding it out to you.
"See? Mommy always says that it's good to share what you have," Joanna beams. Meanwhile, Caleb makes a face at his little sister. "Yuck, that's gross Joanna! They probably don't want it after it's been on you, because you're a girl an' everyone knows that girls have cooties!"
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Something suddenly clicks for Vintner and he positively shrivels as it dawns on him. So then....I see. Stupid lucky tree. No one ever worships me when I do some healing...
Vintner pulls Plumeria aside I think this guy prayed to whatever this warmth and light is but since the TREE was here he thought it was that. These people are worshipping the wrong plant!
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"Maybe. There was a rotten smell and something that looked like onion skin. I picked it up. Might have something to to with the children growing things on them."
She looks at the priestess. "She might be nervous or anxious. The tapping is something a person might do when they are feeling that way."
"You are one of the children that had the growths? Other than being stronger did you get any gifts? Gifts from plants are wonderful." Plum will say to Zuri. "It's wonderful to be blessed so."
Zuri fidgets. "Ah...no, that happened many years ago before I was born," she replies to Plumeria. "But to the best of my knowledge, those children didn't develop any...how do you outsiders say...'super powers'? They were simply hardier in body, more resilient than before."
You get the strong feeling that Zuri isn't telling you everything in regards to the tale of Robori and the children.
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Skarlit carefully takes the goop and wraps it up as best she can so that she can show it to the others later. Hopefully one of the others will be able to make some sense of what this might be. As I recall, Amenira was trying to get a sample of it herself. Turning to the children she is gracious. "That is so nice of you to share. You are clearly well-behaved children. I have no doubt that you make your parents proud. So how long have you been wearing these bandages? And have your Mommy and Daddy told you how long it will last? It must get kind of boring. Do you have to stay inside all the time? Did they tell you what will happen if you take your bandages off? And where does the ointment come from?"
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Plum gives the woman a long look as she realizes she's holding something back. "So this wonderful blessing hasn't been passed on to later generations? How interesting, and sad. One would hope that a blessing like that would continue to later generations. Having plant attributes is a wonderful thing. We're experts in that." she waves to indicate the other Leshies.
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Happy to finally hear the story of the tree and why everyone worships it, Uproot beams at the others and Zuri and mentally tunes out for a second, happily turning the parts of the story over in his head and trying to remember it. After a moment to refocus, he realizes that the priestess is holding something back. His eyes narrow for a second, before a literal flash pops up behind his eyes. As a small lightening bug flies off, he stands up.
"Ah, thank-you for the story! It'd only be kind for us to give you one in return!" With a smile he gestures for everyone to gather round and sit down.
"A long time ago there was a little leshy. He lived in a land far away form here, that had lots of water and plants and people and magic! He lived with his creator and his creator's companions in a wonderful place where all sorts of plants and vegetables and fruits and colorful things were grown. The leshy had an extremely important job, while his creator and the other people slept at night, the leshy had to take care off all of the plants, making sure that they weren't getting sick, had enough water, and most importantly of all, that they weren't eaten by anybody!"
"During the day, though, the little leshy had nothing to do, but his creator forbid him from leaving the green place, in case he got hurt or lost. So the leshy stayed, finding things to do or helping in the garden where he could, but for the most part he was bored during the day light hours. So one day he did a naughty thing, he snuck out."
"The outside world dazzled him, there were all sorts of new sights, sounds, views, people and plants. But it also sickened him, because he learned the truth, that all the vegetables and fruits he'd been growing were being sold to people so they could EAT them! Sickened and disillusioned, the leshy went back to the druids that he lived with and asked, in a very roundabout way what happened to all the plants that they grew."
"The druids told him the truth, that they sold them to people for food, and that these plants were raised for that purpose, that by giving their lives they could help others live, because people need to eat plants to live. They also mentioned about a few who only ate plants to be more 'humane.' After finding out what the word 'humane' meant, the little leshy grew angry, recognizing the lie for what it was. How could it be any more humane to eat the babies of Mrs. Cucumber, than the ewe in the feild? How was pulling up Mr. Carrot and chopping him up any better than killing a cow?"
Angered by these people, the leshy took to sneeking away during the day and giving speeches in the evils of Veganism, how it was jsut as painful to the plants as any animal! The stories of a leshy giving speeches during the day made it back to the druids, though, and they immediately asked the little leshy if that was him. Afraid he'd get in trouble, the leshy lied. But he didn't stop giving speeches and even went furhter to spray water and play pranks on people known to unfairly eat vegetables only."
"That is until one day when a druid was walking by and caught sight of the little leshy! The man caught him and dragged the plant back home. Everyone was pissed that the leshy had been sneaking away and doing bad things, but they were most angry over the fact he'd been lying! The druids then decided to toss the leshy out of the gardens and force him to live on his own. They say that he still is wandering this day and telling people the dangers of Veganism and lying!"
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Skarlit carefully takes the goop and wraps it up as best she can so that she can show it to the others later. Hopefully one of the others will be able to make some sense of what this might be. As I recall, Amenira was trying to get a sample of it herself. Turning to the children she is gracious. "That is so nice of you to share...."
"Yeah...." Sticky says looking at the goop uncertainly.
"Um...well, Joanna hasn't had hers long but I've had mine for..." Caleb pauses, "...two cycles, I think! Because I'm oldest."
Joanna nods. "Mommy and daddy and all the adults say we'll be like this until we get bigger. But it doesn't hurt! It doesn't! Just...itchy..." she says, scratching at her arm a bit as she wraps it up again, albeit haphazardly. "The ooooint-ment helps."
"Yeah, it keeps us from being itchy all the time," Caleb says. "And no, we don't have to stay inside all the time! We really like coming outside to play, right Joanna?"
"Uh-huh! We come here to play after we do our chores," Joanna giggles. "So do some of the other kids. We like to play hide-and-seek, that's our favoritest."
High Priestess Zuri grows visibly flustered as Plumeria and Vintner continue to bombard her with probing questions. "Wh-no, no we are not leshies..." she begins, only to be cut off as Uproot decides to offer his own little story in return. Though she does humor him and the rest of the group and listens, her face grows more and more flushed and by the end there's a hard, tense scowl on her face.
"That's quite the story, friend," Zuri finally manages, voice trembling slightly with anger. "But tell me, what right do you have to come into our village and insist that we change our ways? And to accuse me or anyone else of lying?"
She quickly rises to her feet, brushing off her robes. "If that's the way that all outsiders behave then I think it would be best if you took yourselves elsewhere, otherwise I'll be forced to call for Sheriff Molume!"
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Uproot happy taht he finished his story beems over at the preistess before realizing that she's not happy with the story. He gives her a confused look, that then turns into a flustered one as she gets angry with him in particular and everyone in general.
With a slightly panicked look, he starts sputtering something or other, before stopping and thinking. After a second he comments, "Ohhhhhh, right, that sotry would imply that.... haha sorry, I wasn't meaning to imply that! It's just the story that popped into my head just then! Lying is definietely bad, but I don't mean to say you were lying! Sorry!"
After getting booted out of the temple Uproot gawks at the onion skin. "Ohhh, this is very interesting! Is it edible, and is it plant based? We might have dinner here, if it's okay to eat it!"
He then nods at Plumeria's suggestion of the house, adding, "We might want to go find the other two before we possibly do something illegal!"
Although a couple of you make (mostly) valiant efforts to salvage the situation, Zuri remains firm in her desire for you to vacate the temple and so you do before any further ruckus is caused and the sheriff is involved. Once you've quickly put some distance between yourselves and the temple, the four of you pause to catch your breath - and to have a talk about what to do next...
"Um...different places," Caleb replies to Skarlit. "Sometimes around here...the trash heap, it's a good place, it's full of old furniture and stuff...we tried the guest house once but we got yelled at - even though there wasn't anyone staying in it!"
Joanna nods. "Yeah, that was soooooooo unfair! We didn't even break anything!"
"Sometimes we'd hide around Miss Amenira's house too," Caleb adds. "Even though we weren't supposed to; mommy and daddy told us she was always really busy and not to bother her..."
"Yeah..." the little girl agrees again, a bit sadly. "But she sounded really nice from what Miss Zuri said in church one day. She even made us toys! A kite for Caleb and a dolly for me...but now mommy says Miss Amenira went back home. I guess she missed her mommy and daddy too."
Explosive Runes!
Deciding to hurry and find Sticky and Skarlit before doing anything else, the BIB sets out through the town, trying to track down their companions. Considering how much the leshies stand out, it isn't very hard for any passing villagers to point the group in the direction of the square adjacent to Sheriff Molume's home. In short order, the four members of the BIB happen to pass by a small alley and catch sight of Sticky and Skarlit standing within, conversing with two small, bandaged figures. Both figures shrink back as the rest of the group comes walking up, but they don't run away.
"O-oh! So many," a small, feminine voice comes from the shorter of the two figures. Both of them look to Sticky and Skarlit. "Are these your friends? Did they want to find beaches too?"
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"We have beaches," the second figure pipes up, the voice that of a young boy whom Sticky introduces as Caleb, "and they're really huge! You can see them from...well, I'm sure you could see them from the bell tower!"
"Uh-huh, they're really pretty," adds Joanna, the smaller of the two figures and apparently Caleb's little sister.
"Well, no..." Caleb admits, shuffling his feet. "The sheriff rings the bells every morning and night for curfew so we're not 'sposed to go up there. But...um....sometimes some of us sneak out after dark and, um...yeah..." he trails off.
"Caleeeeb! You shouldn't sneak out after dark," Joanna whines. "The creaky monster'll get you!"
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"Um, I don't think so...the sheriff's usually hanging around working on his garden during the day, I think," Caleb shrugs. "Besides, sometimes you can see if the sky's clear! It's very pretty. And don't listen to her, that's just something the bigger kids made up to scare us."
Joanna pouts, stomping the ground with one foot. "Is not! Katrina said she saw it too! A little person creeping around at night - but she said it didn't move like a person; it was all like...jerky and stuff...and, and, she said it made creaking sounds like the squeaky part of our floor!"
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Skarlit listens to the stories of their young friends with interest. "Caleb, have you ever seen the creaky monster? What do you see when you sneak out at night? Do any of the grown ups go out at night? It sure is interesting, hearing about all your adventures. You both would probably make good Pathfinders when you grow up! Do you know what that is? It's someone who goes places and finds things and has adventures and sometimes hides and sometimes seeks. Would you like to be junior Pathfinders?"
"Um...we've not seen it ourselves," Caleb admits. "But some of the bigger kids said they saw it out near the market square, after all the grownups went to bed. We're supposed to go to bed pretty early, right after church," he continues, making a face. "Church is boring, though."
When Skarlit and Vintner offer to make the siblings honorary junior Pathfinders, their eyes immediately light up - what you can see of their eyes, anyway. "Oh wow, you're in a club!? That's sooooo cool!" Caleb exclaims, bouncing up and down with excitement. "Yeah! The big kids told us we were too little to be in their club but yours sounds neater than their dumb ol' club anyway," Joanna eagerly agrees. "What do we do first???"
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Based on this report you know the following:
(1) The people of Mercy are quite secretive and impose a curfew at night (which you've all been subjected to as well). However, Amenira noted that they eventually quit caring about her breaking the curfew as long as she kept to herself.
(2) There is an ongoing rivalry between the carpenters and the blacksmiths of the town; Vintner witnessed some of it earlier when he was hiding in the artisan's square.
(3) Amenira apparently managed to infiltrate the home of the town weaver, though she doesn't elaborate on how. She seemed to be after some sort of ointment. It could be the same home that Sticky and Skarlit visited earlier in the morning.
(4) Amenira mentioned being afflicted with some sort of illness that continued to grow steadily worse...and somehow make it more challenging to hide when breaking curfew.
(5) Amenira noted that another mana storm passed through and split into two sections when it reached the town, sparing it. She suspects that there might be some sort of artifact at work.
When the party came across a shallow cave just off the road on their trip to Mercy, they encountered a pair of mutant creatures as well as witnessed evidence of a recent mana storm's passing - burnt tree stumps and blackened sap as well as a strange lack of debris. After the battle, investigation of the cave and the nearby area turned up the following:
(1) Skarlit noticed a set of small footprints exiting the cave but not entering it.
(2) Within the cave, you found an altar that Vintner pointed out was dedicated to Azathoth and had dried blood on it, with evidence of someone attempting to wipe it away. The blood was also noted to have a greenish tinge to it.
(3) You found several items of interest in the cave, including a Nethysian staff that may very well have belonged to Amenira.
Mercy enforces a lot of strange rules and practices strange customs, from what you've seen:
(1) For example, these rules posted on the sign just outside the town walls, forbidding firearms, dishonesty, and large weapons.
(2) Mercy enforces a curfew for visitors, as explained by Sheriff Molume.
(3) News of visitors to Mercy spreads pretty quickly, as Sticky & Skarlit found out on your first morning in town.
(4) Mercy utilizes some unique aesthetics when it comes to color and the like.
The prevailing bit of information that keeps popping up about Mercy is their worship of a so-called tree deity named Robori.
(1) During a conversation with Robori himself, Seedy learned that the ancient tree seems to be in pain for some reason.
(2) Robori also mentioned being planted to stand watch over the husks of the ones that planted him.
(3) Based on information gained from talking with the morning glory vines, Vintner was able to learn something about the terrain surrounding Mercy. He also posited a theory that the unexplained plant growth stems from something underground somewhere, rather than from the sun and the rain.
(4) According to High Priestess Zuri, Robori has quite the fascinating origin story.
(1) During conversations with honeysuckle vines growing along Robori's trunk, several of you learned that the plants seem quite happy to chat and that they find Robori mean because he never talks with them...or this mysterious 'Warmth & Light' they kept referring to that supposedly takes care of them.
(2) While out in town, Plumeria caught wind of the stench of rotting vegetables, as well as discovered a piece of onion-like skin.
(3) Through befriending a couple of children, Sticky & Skarlit learned that the children undergo some sort of phase that leaves them itchy and warrants being wrapped in bandages and ointment.
(4) The children, Caleb and Joanna, also mentioned that Amenira made toys for them - a kite and a doll, respectively.
(5) Caleb and Joanna also mentioned rumors of a supposed 'creaky monster' that roams the town after dark.
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Vinter shivers You like the beach Sticky? But what of all the saltwater.....it doesnt absorb the same way and the deposits on my roots take weaks to shake off...
"You aren't supposed to drink the water, man. You surf on it."
"We have beaches," the second figure pipes up, the voice that of a young boy whom Sticky introduces as Caleb, "and they're really huge! You can see them from...well, I'm sure you could see them from the bell tower!"
"Uh-huh, they're really pretty," adds Joanna, the smaller of the two figures and apparently Caleb's little sister.
"See man, I toldja there was beach here. Grab you boards and let's ride!"
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Uproot looks between Sticky and Skarlit uncertain as to who to follow. After a second he adds in, "Uhhhh, I kinda didn't bring my board with me to the desert... Didn't expect to see some beaches. Maybe we can go to Amenira's place and she might have a couple boards we could borrow?"
The two children look confused for a moment and then hesitant. "Um, we should stay here if you're going to Miss Amenira's," Caleb finally says, albeit reluctantly. "Our parents wouldn't like it if we got too far from home when, um...there's...visitors in town. Oh, but n-no offense, okay? You guys are really great!"
"Yeah," Joanna nods in agreement. "You're all really nice! And our house is over that way," she adds, gesturing to an unseen point on the opposite side of the square. "Maybe you can come over and play later! We can even build a clubhouse!"
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After bidding Caleb and Joanna goodbye, along with whatever promises you might make to come visit them later, Plumeria leads you back towards Amenira's house. A short walk later and you arrive at what really is the only painted building in the entire town.
Amenira's home is a well-kept wooden building, painted in festive shades of orange, that sits on the western edge of Mercy. A pair of cashew trees flanks its front entrance and you can seen an overgrown garden running the length of the house's eastern side. A cursory check of the front door reveals it to be unlocked.
A quick study of this home reveals that it’s much newer than the other buildings here in Mercy, likely built only within the last couple of years.
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Uproot's eyes light up at the idea of building a clubhouse. "Ohhh, a clubhouse! I'd love to build one! If we got a dead tree and maybe asked it's spirit reeeaaaaalllllly politely we might be able to get some wood for that! Or we could use stones! That'd be amazing! Maybe Prickles could help us move the big heavy stuff? Ah, right Prickles! I'll have to introduce you to Prickles next time! We'll definitely come play later!"
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Uproot looks over the house and garden, bummed that the plants were being left all alone, and not raised properly, with the set boundaries that all small things need to learn. He spends a minute chatting at the various plants, only really getting a response back from the vines, and trying to train back some of the stronger plants from overcrowding the weaker ones. "Oi, Oi, Mr. Mint, you can't crowd out Mrs. Dill like that, that's not nice. Here I'll try putting a barrier in so you can play nice."
After a little gardening, he bounds up to the door, gives a knock, and calls out "HEELLLLOOOOOO? Anyone home?", before testing the handle and slowly opening the door. He peers into the room, glad he doesn't need light to see.