"The inn's called the Thirsty Gorgon. The drink is good and the food is food." Thanikos replies as he gladly takes the payment from Aika.
Once done with Thanikos, Kyronai relays what the harbormaster told him and Aikaterine.
"It seems unlikely that we'll find what we need here, but we should ask around just in case. Then, Chalcis seems a likely destination."
"Perhaps there is something specific to this location that they utilized in their mixtures? Let me think..."
She considers her scattered teachings on alchemy and what little she understands of the area. Would there be something here that cause H to come to this specific spot?
Chalcis does have it's own port, but is a bit farther north. It is accessible from Eretria by foot. As far as you know, there are a few plants in the area usable in regular medicine but nothing you are particularly looking for.
"There are some medicinal herbs in this region...but nothing like what we saw used...at least that I can think of." She shrugs. "Perhaps she did go to Chalcis. The docks are further in the north. Maybe it was a matter of price at the docks between landing here and the metropolis? It is closer to the village. Hmm...Perhaps there was something in the south of the city that was easier to get to by land than by landing in the docks? It's something to consider. In any case, I vote we head to the general store and see if the shopkeeper recalls the half-orc."
It turns out that the dark elf doesn't sail so well in small boats and she spends a lot of time in the bows, head close to the water. The sounds made are quite pathetic, especially after the first day or so when she has absolutely nothing left no give to Poseidon.
Setting foot on dry land seems to restore her somewhat however and she nods to Aikaterine. "Once we have a starting point the hunt can begin in truth." She agrees.
"No better place to ask our people than the merchants." Amphitryon agreed. "Can grab a bite to eat while we're at it." He added, being tired of trail rations already.
Gather information...
Though not exactly subtle or even graceful with words, Varocles asks around the small town. Though most are sailors passing through and thus haven't seen anyone like that, a few locals claim to have seen a half orc matching the description given. She was spotted going into the general store a few weeks ago before promptly leaving town to head north. Following up on that, the party heads to the general store. As you enter, you see a woman who seems to be a bit older, sweeping the shop. The stock seems to be extremely basic but everything is clean and well organized. "Welcome to my shop, dear customers. I am Agotha, what can I procure for you this fine day?" She asks in greeting while she puts the broom down to walk behind the counter.
Aikaterine watched as Varocles managed to get them the information they needed. Sailors usually were only interested in one thing from her, so she didn't mind letting him take the reins. Now that they head to the general store, however, she will move to the woman at the counter with an elven smile.
"Greetings, Agotha," she replies in her cute Greek, elven accent. "Let's see, I will be needing some rations for a few days. Some saltpeter," Which commonly was used for drying out meats. "Some scented soaps if you have them, and some fresh fruit?" A hand comes up to tuck her hair behind her lengthy ear, showing she clearly is an elf. "I am not certain whether you will have the fruit. I'm not sure what is in season on the island. Anything to prevent scurvy will be fine. Also, do you have wine?"
A few weeks ago is far too long for realistic tracking, so Cyrene is condemned to follow along behind the rest of the group and try not to stick out too much... given her dark skin and white hair that doesn't go so well but the gawping sailors respond to Varocles almost automatically, so it helps.
"Well I have some dried fish and plenty of jerky. I don't have much in the way of fresh fruit at the moment, the last group of sailors cleaned out the shop. I do have enough dried orange slices to last you a few days. Plenty of saltpeter to spare here of course. Sailors are always in need of soaps so I have more than enough in stock. What brings you to our small town?"
"That's fine. And the orange slices will do wonders. I suppose we are lucky you have those, huh?" she jests, poking at the consuming quantities of sailors when it comes to fruit. "We came by way of a vessel to this port by port skipping. Besides, we wanted to see a large city after some time at sea." She refers to the metropolis to the north. Aikaterine places a palm gently on her cheek and asks, "Also, we have a friend, Hermoine, a half-orc, who routinely comes through here to pick up supplies for her village. We were hoping to meet her here in time, but weren't sure when she'd be by. Do you by chance know her? Or when she likely will be around next? She was, hopefully, going to have some supplies she had acquired for us...," she leaves that last bit a little vague.
"Oh yes, Hermione. Sweet girl, smart too. She was here once as she was looking for some odd ingredients. When I told her my stock was limited, she took her leave. That was weeks ago so I fear you have missed her. I did let her know that Chalcis is a big enough place to get what she needs. It's good to know that she has many friends who care about her. I sensed so much sadness in her. "
"Sadness?" she voices with the concern of a true friend. In reality, she shares some of her true feelings of guilt to bring about the true emotion of concern. "Please...tell me everything. Was there any indication as to why she was so sad?"
Varocles will see about reading the various body language and such of this person to see what he thinks...
Cyrene watches the woman closely, she doesn't seem to be lying, but its always better to be sure...
"No, I try to not pry into other's business. But I could tell even though she put on a strong face. She's probably had it worse than most. Please don't tell her I said that, it might make her feel worse." Those in attendance believe that this woman is telling the truth.
"That is a shame...I thank you for letting me know. It's not far to Chalcis, only a couple of days, correct?" she asks rhetorically. "We were planning on heading there anyway after some time. Tell me, did her business sound like it would take a while? Or do you know of any recommended stores that would have these odd ingredients? What did you say they were?" She scratches her head in a clueless manner and holds up a finger to begin numbering the first item H stated to this woman that she was looking for. If there are subsequent items, she will raise additional fingers in an effort to remember them.
"Yes, it's not too far as the crow flies. As far as I could tell, yes it could have taken a bit of time. I don't often leave this small town so no I don't know what stores she would go to." She replies as she lists off a few ingredients used in home remedies as well as a rare type of honey found in very few locales. She also admits to forgetting some of the list as it was weeks ago.
"Thank you. Now, about my items."
She will work with the woman to procure and will pay full price on the items with minor haggling, as someone would when showing great respect more than just trying to get the best deal.
When finished, she will step back and let anyone else ask the General Store owner answer any questions they had and would meet the others outside where they will find her snacking.
After purchasing what items you need, the party heads off to the Thirsty Gorgon where Pelagos was last seen entering. Once inside, you notice that the establishment is bustling with patrons both local and sailors alike. Pelagos is at the bar, having a drink and chatting with the bartender, a rather comely lass around twenty years of age. But before you can interrupt him, you hear a commotion from outside.
Turning right around you head outside and see an older man, collapsed on the ground. People start gathering around to either attempt to help or to spectate. As you walk closer, you see Thanikos clearing people out to give the man some space. The man on the ground is barely conscious and sports bruises and cuts of differing types all over his body.
Cyrene moves in, the crowd parting around her, to kneel next to the man. A soft touch mends the worst of the damage and she pulls her waterskin to trickle liquid into the older man's battered mouth.
"What happened father? Were you attacked?"
Varocles will indeed come forward, "may the healing powers of the ocean bless you."
Aikaterine will not so quickly tear away poor Pelagos from the bar anyway, so she is busy looking out at the gathering crowd already outside. When she points out that something is happening, she ducks outside. Her companions are quick to assess and heal, but she looks for the culprit.
"Someone or something did this."
*+4 canny observer if applicable
Aikaterine also looks to see if this elderly man is perhaps related to someone nearby or someone they've seen, either in the village before, or since landing.
Both Cyrene's and Varocles' spell help greatly with the man's wounds. "A boar, but bigger and wrong. Out on the road, attacking travelers." The man struggles to come up with the words as if the physical wounds were not the only ones suffered.
While he does not seem to be related to anyone you have seen, he is obviously a local given his clothing.
"How far away? How long ago?" "Like those bears..."
"A day ago. North of here.." He replies through ragged breaths.
Kyronai narrows his eyes in suspicion. The man was so injured, and he managed to travel a full day to this town?
Cyrene's ears literally perk up - the prospect of a great boar and a hunt would be most pleasing to the Goddess!
You don't sense any deception from the injured man, perhaps his injuries are getting to him. You also know that at the very least that boars aren't native to this island.
Said only so his companions can hear, Kyronai reasons, "He says that the boar was 'wrong.' Mutated, perhaps? While it is odd that the man didn't succumb to his injuries until just this moment, it doesn't seem likely that he or the boar are intended to get our attention, seeing as how we landed at this port mostly at random.
"This may be a blessing for our investigation."
"I will hunt it down." Cyrene says firmly. "Artemis has sent it as a test of my resolve. It will fall in her name! Any of you who wish to are welcome to join me."
"No doubt we will see signs of its destruction on the road when we get closer. If it is anything like those mutated bears...it won't be hard to miss from a great distance. I will certainly have to prepare spells for combat tomorrow. Shall we go?"
"At least I'll have a spear for a boar hunt." Amphitryon said. "And mutated beasts? Let's just hope that we don't find mutated people as well. Yes, let's go."
"Ughh...," she vents as she bumps playfully with worry into Amphitryon. Clearly, his voiced worry about mutated people is on her mind as well.
Kyronai asks the man for more specific directions, and if there were any signs of anything else "big and wrong."
"Follow the road and the destruction. It walked and fought like a man but it was as big as an elephant with vicious claws."
"Big ones bleed too."
Aikaterine will begin to head down the road. She will try to enjoy the peace of the road. When it veers near to the beach, she will walk upon the sand barefoot and will use her magic to sort out metallic objects hidden in the sand; washed ashore from ancient wrecks.
If others permit her, she will challenge to see if she can pry their family member's names from their mind. With resistance, she intends to see where they are at currently and what their relationship is like with those of the group.
The day will stretch on and she will mostly be quiet, but at times, she will try to talk to her companions to learn more about them, without sharing much about herself. That will come out naturally.
As they settle down for camp, if any of them are crafters, she will give them a blessing on their creation of goods . That evening, she will declare that they should have a fun time and enjoy some wine. At some point, she will cast a few snapdragon firework spells and bless herself with a polypurpose hallucination spell while watching them go off--all while eating and drinking in an effort to relax. It is clear that Aikaterine is trying to have fun this day.
As things wind down, she will recast her magical aura spells. This is so they appear nonmagical to people trying to discern that of her, and then will consider what scroll she should prepare for the coming fight. She settles on a Heightened Awareness scroll, and will write it out by the moonlight before heading to bed.
Aikaterine decides to become a walking detector of metal and finds gold! Most of the day stretches on with little consequence, though the party does notice that there is a lack of wildlife. No chirping or even sight of birds or small woodland creatures. Any attempts to hunt end fruitlessly. The silence is eerie as you settle down for the night. The next morning comes and you all prepare yourselves for a possible upcoming encounter.
You both hear an inhuman gutteral growl and it seems to be getting closer but you don't see anything.
More than finding a cache of piles of gold, she delights in finding her four pieces of gold. Quickly, they will see why. She seems to treasure them because they came, likely from afar off. Who knows how far? Somewhere in the Levant? Greece? From the lands to the west? Were they from a merchant's coinpurse on the island who had stopped there for a rest and they fell out of his pocket? These had a far greater tale than just a stored pile of gold. She evaluates them to see if they are from another country and cleans them.
That night, she will settle down early and get to sleep so she can rise early. Sleep is patchy as she is nervous about the silence more than anything, but when they prepare themselves and begin to hear the grunting, she knows the time has come.
"Good fortune!" she blesses them, sending a prayer to Zeus and Poseidon. Then with a kick-off of the island's solid earth, she floats upward 20ft above the battlefield and seeks to continue to ascend.
Now a bit higher, she tries to spot the villain plaguing this community.
+whatever her height would give her.
*Weaknesses/defenses/special abilities
"I'm going to beat an old man if this guy isn't huge"