"My sharks...most of them died to the Scourge," Honoke responds mournfully, still swimming circles and still dragging the sharks through the water. "These are the only ones left and they're weak, too weak to swim, too weak to pass the water through their gills...so I swim, to keep them alive. My sharks...they look to me to provide for them, to keep them safe...and I failed..."
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Now that's... something I've felt before. How they died, no matter what you did to prevent it and help them in the moment. Helpless as you watch them cut down one by one. Imperia swallows the knot in her throat before speaking. "What can we do to help your family?" she offers, almost compassionately, her voice lacking much of the edge it normally carries.
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"I...you would help them?" Honoke responds, his own voice wavering as though he might actually cry. "Yes, please! If any of you think you can help...please, do what you can for them...!"
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Guadaloupe watches as the whale sharks are pulled behind the giant of a man, as a nostalgic smile crosses his lips.
"I'm not one for much of healing, but yes, these are beautiful creatures! Reminds me of my life at sea...." He plays with his whiskers for a second, trying not to get too emotional as memories from his past stir up.
"Anyway, I'll try my best if no one else things they can handle it...." He look towards the cleric nervously and somewhat worried.
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He looks towards the giant leading the whales around and smiles to himself. "What beautiful creatures you have! There must be someone that can do something for you, and for them. May I have a closer look at these wonderful creatures?"
He approaches the whales and waves his hand in a specific way and says a few words. "From the depths of the sea, to the ocean shores, speak to me."
To the whale sharks he says, "What ails you my brethren? What ails make you weak? How can we help you? How does it hurt?"
Honoke nods his assent once more and slows his pace - though only slightly. "Yes, please approach! They're gentle creatures and will not harm you," he reassures you.
After making what preparations he might need, Frank approaches the tank and climbs the ladder up to the top. He carefully slips into the water and approaches the sharks, examining them for the cause of their suffering - but also asking them, thanks to his magic.
You get a jumble of responses as the sharks answer you all at once.
"So tired...tired..."
"It burns, the red clouds burn!"
"Hurts hurts hurts it hurts it hurts!"
"Big friend hurts too, the red clouds, the red clouds burned him!"
Although the sharks speak of 'burning' you realize that the Crimson Scourge seems to act more as a poison to any living organism that it comes into contact with - and that even Honoke is suffering from its effects. With this in mind you try to do what you can for the sharks but treating poison is a skill outside of your wheelhouse and you're unable to affect any real change in their condition.
As you begin working with the sharks, you notice an odd pattern of notches down the fin of one of them.
Where it seemed that Frank had failed, gentle and quiet Baied succeeds - easing herself into the tank she carefully examines each of the sharks and determines that they've been badly poisoned by their brush with the Crimson Scourge. Though she's much more used to treating people than animals, the young cleric determines that the same sorts of antitoxins should work on the sharks. She carefully administers a triple dose to each one, accounting for their massive size....and the sharks slowly but surely begin behaving as though they feel better, growing more lively.
"My sharks! You've done it, I think you've done it! They already swim more quickly and their color is improving, see?" Honoke exclaims with joy. Though he continues to pull the sharks through the water he slows his pace and scoops up Frank and Baied in one massive arm, hugging them tightly - though thankfully not enough to actually hurt.
"Thank you my friends, thank you! These were the only ones to survive our encounter with the Crimson Scourge and I don't know what I would have done if they had perished as well," Honoke continues, swimming another lap before releasing the pair of Pathfinders from his grip. "I'm indebted to you and your friends. If there's anything that I can help you with, you need only ask and I'll do what I can to be of help!"
Honoke rolls himself in the water to face Karabo, eyes wide and bulging. "All of my stock I'd give it, if I had any besides my sharks! Outside the submersibles I was at the time, guiding my sharks along...and only shortly before the Scourge descended upon the group I heard some sort of clanging, as though someone were striking a metal pipe or some sort of chime."
Here, Honoke actually ceases his swimming long enough to hang partway out of the shark tank, one arm pointed dramatically towards the building's ceiling. "And then! Then, as sure as I am that we'll all one day return to the great ocean, I felt the tide shift towards our little caravan! Too many coincidences to be a coincidence!"
And dramatics aside, Honoke's story does seem to corroborate what Zahra had to say about rhythmic clanging just before disaster struck - and this new tidbit about a shifting of the tides.
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Imperia stands silently as her companions ply their craft with the whale sharks. Tears well up in her eyes at Honoke's overwhelming joy, but thankfully her helmet obscures her face.
As Karabo begins his questioning, she steels her voice and asks some of her own. "What could have caused the tide to shift? Sounds like magic or some beast to me. Is there a magical piece of equipment that could have done it or a creature native to this plane with such power?
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He smiled, though it was hollow after hearing the whale sharks pleas. He looked toward Honoke and said to him in a low voice, the sorrow evident, "My friend, you should go and get yourself checked too. No need to be strong for your friends that already know. Let us help you, or go and seek aid so they can be happy again." [b] He moved away for now before putting his monocle back onto his eye and saying, [b] "We will be taking your words to heart, and will check for any pipe or chime on our journey. Do you suggest that we should seek someone else out?"
Honoke shakes his head. "Your guess is as good as mine, Little Crab! I don't know of anything - man or beast that could shift the tides all on their own. But that doesn't mean that magic did not somehow play a part in this despicable tragedy!"
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In response to Frank's questions, Honoke strokes his beard thoughtfully. "Hmm....only those who were architects of Zahra's little expedition. Myself, Yuka Kannamen and his strange little submersibles, Tsomo Qorra who helped map the route and Razethka, the brine dragon who provided supplies. One of them might be able to tell you more!"
"And do not worry about me, Small Friends," he adds, now smiling. "Once I am certain that my sharks will be recovered enough to swim without me I will seek out treatment for my own condition."
"Hmm...?"
Honoke looks confused, but as he looks more closely at the shark that Karabo points out, his eyes widen with shock and surprise. "Teeth and scales! This mark isn't one of mine, not at all!"
The aging giant looks around his domicile, eyes narrowed. "Someone else has carved those marks - and recently at that! Thieves! Fire! Murder! No one touches my sharks without my say-so!" Honoke bellows. "No one has been here since we returned from that disastrous expedition so it must have been done before we departed!"
"No, not to my knowledge," Honoke scowls, shaking his head. "But it could have happened during the preparations, because as mighty as I am even I can't be in multiple places at once!"
Honoke seems quite sincere in what he's telling you :)
"There are others, I'm sure, but their enterprises are puny compared to mine!" Honoke booms with laughter. "And hmm...I believe Flotsam here was bringing up the rear of the group, hauling some extra supplies along with Jetsam."
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He looked more... Angry as time went on. How could someone do such a thing to these wonderful creatures... THEY WILL PAY!!! He shook his head, trying to keep himself under control as he looked back at Karabo.
"Not that I heard the first time, mostly about the scourge burning them... Lots of cries of pain and fear. Though if I took the one that is marked away from the others to figure out more, that might be possible."
"Take away? Erm...well, I could move Flotsam to a smaller tank away from the others if you think it would help," the giant replies, looking a little puzzled. And, assuming that's what you want, Honoke does so.
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He nodded and moved back over to the other shark and began his chant once again, "Who marked you. Who else touched you besides big friend? What did they look like?" He tried to get as much basic information from the shark as he could, such as description of the person themself.
After asking the question, he would pat the whale shark on the snout and wiped his eyes, trying to hide the anger and frustration building up inside of them.
Now feeling much better after Baied's TLC, Flotsam swims around you with some energy and enthusiasm.
"Another shark! It was another shark!" comes the puzzling reply. "He asked me to go find more sharks! He said that Big Friend wouldn't miss me for just a few laps! So I did! I went and found more sharks and they were all happy to see me, they petted on me and seemed very pleased with my visit. Then they told me it was okay to swim back to Big Friend and his friends, so I did!"
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Baied offers to treat the wounds of Honoke too.
Please let me help you with the pain and poison of the Crimson Scourge. You need to be in full health to better help your sharks. And while I treat your wounds, could you give us your opinion about the events, what really happened? Maybe you've seen or heard something no one else did?
Honoke gives Baied a strange look, though he obligingly climbs out of the larger of the tanks and drips over to sit next to the little healer. "I...I'm just thankful that you were able to help the rest of my sharks but if you believe you can help me, too..." the giant remarks, grateful for the medical assistance. "But I can't really tell you anything other than what I already told you! Have your ears been feeling stuffy? Sometimes strict air-breathers have trouble with their ears refusing to pop when they visit this realm," the giant asks, giving Baied a sympathetic pat on the back that nearly knocks her over.
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Baied smiles
Sorry about that, but as you just say yourself, I am a land dweller. I didn't knew you could hear sound Under the waves, for example. Was it far away? Close? Could you describe or mimic the sound? And you said you felt the the tide shift. Do that mean that the tide moved by itself? Is it usual? Or could someone or Something change the movement of the tide?
Honoke furrows his brow in thought, trying to recall anything else that he might've forgotten in his earlier statement. "It was...it wasn't close; it didn't come from within the caravan itself. But it was still close enough to be heard, so the origin couldn't have been more than maybe a mile or so away at the most," the giant finally responds. "And yes, it was the strangest thing - the very direction of the tide itself shifted! The tides are eternal, unchanging barring utter catastrophe! So for the tide to shift on its own..."
He shakes his head. "Some sort of powerful, powerful magic had to be at play. No other explanation that I can think of makes sense!"
When Frank inquires about shark owners and beings that look as sharks, Honoke sighs and shakes his head helplessly. "There are many within these walls that own sharks - some for hauling cargo and such, like mine, but some are simply pretty pets kept for amusement and company."
Something suddenly clicks in your mind as you try to think of anything or anyone that might be called or look like a 'shark' by another shark - the beings known as sahuagin.
You recall that sahuagin are a prosperous and warlike aquatic race, launching constant raids on coastal races and underwater cities. They once had mighty empire on the Plane of Water, but bitter in fighting caused it to crumble. Even more importantly, sahuagin have a strong affinity for sharks, allowing them to telepathically communicate with the creatures.
Sahuagin are prone to beneficial mutations, such as four-armed sahuagin or spined sahuagin. Vialesk is known to have a tribe of prehistoric sahuagin among the ranks of its army.
Rumors speak of rare sahuagin mutants known as malenti, who are identical in appearance to aquatic elves but share their kinfolk’s bloodthirsty nature.
Baied knows that magic similar to what Frank seems to have used for Flotsam and the other sharks would allow someone to speak with sharks or any other designed animal or beast. But as to what magics might shift the tides...she has no idea of anything specific - only that Honoke's assessment that it would take something very powerful seems to be on track.
Honoke pauses, looking thoughtful. "I'm guessing that dear Zahra sent you to speak with me, yes? To get to the bottom of this treachery? Then she probably has others for you to speak to as well for it wasn't me and my sharks alone that brought the expedition to life, hahaha!"
"I'm not sure who else you may have paid a visit to but if Zahra suggests it then the key likely lies somewhere among those names! And I do not begrudge her for adding my own name to that list - given what you've found concerning Flotsam it seems like it was a wise move indeed!"
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"There was that shark-man who accosted the sahuagin outside of the engineer's earlier," Karabo notes.
"The dragon may be able to provide wise counsel and know what sort of creatures could speak to the sharks," he adds as they conclude their discussion with Honoke. "Thank you for speaking with us."
"Har! No, thank you for coming to me; if it weren't for you then my poor sharks would still be on death's door," Honoke smiles warmly. "And by 'dragon' I take it you mean Razethka? Hmm...not a bad sort, as far as brine dragons go. I'm betting she'll have a lot to say about what happened to the expedition - she attached a lot of her money and her name to it, after all. Woe to anyone who interferes in a dragon's business is all I can say..."
Hoping that Razethka can shed some light on things - perhaps by offering some tidbit to help you piece together the few clues you've gathered - you all bid Honoke and his sharks farewell and set out for the dragon's probably-not-humble abode. Vialesk is quite the sizable city and it takes you a good hour of travel to make the journey from Honoke's home to the massive marble pool that is Razethka's home. Surrounded by stained glass windows that shed dazzling green light throughout the water, it's quite the sight in a city that's already full of sights. You’re met at the door by the dragon’s manservant, a young undine by the name of Jeeves.
"Ah yes, you wish to have an audience with the great Razethka? This can be arranged but you must wait within the atrium until she is ready to receive you," he explains without missing a beat. Apparently this is typical procedure for anyone coming to meet with the mighty dragon.
After a thirty minute wait, Jeeves escorts you to a large audience chamber covered with a number of large, cushy pillows. The great brine dragon Razethka rests upon a number of said pillows, a blue-green neck frill sweeps back from her head, leading to a body of shiny scales and fin-like crests. Her body also boasts a number of scars, each covered by patches of brilliant sea anemone.
"Greetings, Visitors to Vialesk. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company this day?" she greets you, speaking with a precise, clipped tone.
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Orym walks in with the others and bows formally as Razethka addresses them. AfterKarabo introduces the group Orym speaks up. "Greetings Razethka. Thank you for welcoming us into your beautiful estate. We are indeed investigating an issue that might be of interest to you. " Taking slow, deliberate steps around the pool Orym does his best to gauge Razethka's reaction to what he says next. "We believe some one may have tampered with your expedition, intending to thwart your efforts for some unknown reason before you even left the city."
"Ah yes! I suspect you must be friends or allies of Zahra, for only she would have sent you to me. It seems that most others believe her to be responsible for the expedition's failure." The dragon snorts derisively. "Typical of those who were not there and not involved at all, to simply believe the most mundane of explanations and give it no further thought."
The dragon leans forward, smiling as much as a dragon can smile - which is actually a bit unnerving, what with all the sharp teeth. "But I personally think that there must be some other explanation...as do you, it seems. And I am willing to personally fund your little Society's next expedition to the Lament Bloom...so I hope your superiors will reconsider any thoughts they may have been having to abandon the project. Especially since I personally attached my name and resources to the first attempt!"
Her offer is sincere but you get the feeling that she's got another reason for making it.
"Now...you said you have been investigating the failure of the first expedition, hmm? What have you learned, little Pathfinders, that merits illumination?"
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I'll slay a dragon as big as you one day. Imperia looks Razethka in the eyes as best as she can and answers her question. "We have learned of what is likely magical interference. The tide was manipulated at the sounding of some sort of chime or gong. We have additional preliminary evidence, although nothing firm on that front yet."
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He moved forward and smiled as he tucked his monocle away into his front pocket as he said, "It is well met, and a wonderful time to converse. I would love to talk trade with you at sometime, but our matter is a little more concerning. And while my compatriots have wonderful questions, I have a question of my own. Do you know of any Sahaugin tribes around here? One that would want to mess with Honoke's whale sharks?"
Razethka cocks her head slightly to one side as she listens to your questions as well as some of the things you've learned on your investigation so far.
"Well, well, let me see...both Honoke and Zahra claim to have heard something like a gong before the expedition was engulfed by the Crimson Scourge? Hmm...well, you might not know this since you are new to Vialesk but the city does posses the Sonaphor," the dragon remarks. "It is a series of tuba-like horns that are used to hear and communicate sounds over a long distance. After all, sound is highly instrumental to long-distance communication underneath the water."
The great dragon shakes her head. "Hmm, but reports from my agents have told me that the Sonaphor has been terribly clogged with seaweed for nearly a month now. It seems that the device's maintenance team has been having terrible difficulty in keeping it clean."
"As for sahuagin? Oh yes, there are several tribes that make their home out in the Lambent Bloom," Razethka continues. Her voice takes on a professor's dull drone as she launches into quite the detailed explanation. "You see, the sahuagin are a prosperous and warlike aquatic race, launching constant raids on coastal races and underwater cities. They once had a mighty empire on the Plane of Water, but bitter in-fighting caused it to crumble...as it should. Such creatures have no business leading anyone or anything, even themselves!"
The dragon smiles again, widely. "One of Honoke's sharks was marked, you say? I am surprised that Honoke would not have known this, but the sahuagin have a strong affinity for sharks, allowing them to telepathically communicate with the creatures." She gives an almost flippant shrug of one mighty shoulder. "Of course you being unaware of this does not surprise me, being outsiders to this realm."
"Hmm...what else? Oh! The sahuagin, for some unfathomable reason, seem highly prone to beneficial mutations such as growing four arms or spines. Why, Vialesk is known to have a tribe of prehistoric sahuagin among the ranks of its army, you know!" Here, Razethka pauses and then leans in close, as one might when they're sharing a parituclarly juicy bit of gossip. "In fact, rumors speak of rare sahuagin mutants known as malenti, who are identical in appearance to aquatic elves but share their kinfolk’s bloodthirsty nature."
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