It takes her a few minutes of literally crying into Ameiko's shoulder, but eventually she manages to pull back and give a watery smile. "I may be jealous, but...like I said, I know it's irrational. And...I do think it's good, you welcoming Amaya. Deserving or wanting or anything else aside...another sister can only be a good thing. We'll get through this. The three of us." There's just a hint of force behind the word 'three'.
"Thank you. For coming back. For being my sister. For...for being you."
On the way to Brinewall Teruko continues to huddle into her coat, even if she's unwilling to outright complain about the cold. She mostly talks to Ameiko, Koya, Aspexia, and (rarely) Amaya.
"Father died four years ago. Ever since then, his spirit has been haunting me. He talks to me. Sometimes, rarely, he outright possesses me." For the first time there's a flash of emotion on her face. Regret? Fear? It's hard to tell.
She pauses to let Amaya take in this news before continuing. "He's had a lot to say about Brinewall and our family legacy. He doesn't know what it could be, but he wants to find out. I plan to let the others know before we start exploring; his knowledge might be...useful. Even if it isn't, or if he isn't willing to tell me...it's good for them to have an idea of what's going on if I start acting completely different."
"He's your father too." There's another pause, as Teruko tilts her head slightly before sending a wry smile Amaya's way. "Whether he wants to admit that or not. So I thought it was only fair to let you know first. Just don't expect me to be able to answer questions on his behalf; I can't read his mind."
The closer they get to Brinewall the more agitated Teruko seems. By the time they reach the rickety bridge, she's practically vibrating. "Thanks Koya. Depending on how dangerous it is, we may need your help." She sounds distracted. "The people who are going...could I maybe speak with you for a moment?"
She's not entirely sure why she's still trying to keep this a secret, but she waits until the exploration group gathers and everyone else has left before she says anything.
"I...this is going to sound crazy, but Ameiko can confirm it." Teruko once again adopts a completely neutral expression. "My father, Lonjiku Kaijitsu, has been haunting me ever since his death. I can hear his voice. Sense his emotions. Sometimes...sometimes he talks through me." Her neutral expression falters slightly as she looks at Hana. "You said once I sometimes acted like a completely different person. That's because sometimes I am a completely different person."
She stops looking at anyone in particular and instead fixes her gaze somewhere on the horizon. "I can't read his mind. Sometimes he gives me useful information, like when he told me the names of the wrecked ships. Or...or who Tsutamu was." This time her gaze shifts towards Yuto before she takes a deep breath and once again stops looking at anyone. "He wants to discover whatever family legacy is hidden here. If he knows anything useful, I want to be able to share that information without having to explain how I know it. If I start acting strange..." She closes her eyes. "He's...dead. We're not. He doesn't always consider that when making decisions. Keep that in mind. Don't...if I'm not making sense, don't listen to me."
A Kaijitsu, voluntarily ceding control to the masses. Outright telling them that she cannot be trusted. It's almost obscene.
But them knowing here, now, when Ameiko can back up her story...it's the best chance she has of being believed.
Yuto nods to Sandru, and dismounting from his horse he grasp his katana and shield. Giving a quick look to Ameiko, he starts walking forward "Le-let's see what is there"
The young man gives a concerned look to Koya and nods as a goodbye before starting to walk through the rickety old bridge with all care possible.
When the group reaches a calm area and Teruko makes her reveal. The boy looks at her confused and brings down his stare when she cites Tsutamu. Understanding how hard the confession is for her, Yuto places a gentle hand over her arm "N-no need to wo-worry Teruko. We-we have seen in the last wee-eeks so many things we thought no-not possible. E-even a serpent taking control of people" he gulps remembering the fishing shack "We-we freely decided to come here to find out about this legacy, a-and we will help you find th-that"
As the weather gets colder and she spends more and more time scouting ahead of the caravan, buffeted by cutting winds, Torra relents on her stance on bulky clothing, and begins to wear the cold weather garments she had purchased. Bundled up in layers of wool, leather and fur, the dwarf is practically spherical, something that sours her mood considerably.
As they reach the river, she gives Ameiko a concerned look as she notices the young woman's demeanour. "Are you scared, Ameiko?"
Teruko's revelation is met with sympathy, and Torra nods firmly alongside Yuto as the samurai voices his support. "Having another person in your head must be hard. We'll take care of you."
Amaya looks at Teruko curiously, before a brief, tiny smile ghosts over her lips. "That sounds awful." Ameiko, meanwhile, remains close to her sister, one arm wrapped around her shoulders.
Meanwhile, Lonjiku doesn't appear to care overmuch that she's told everyone about him, but the fact that she's letting others decide whether or not to trust her infuriates him him. "Foolish child! This is my home, my legacy! You have no right to allow others to choose how to- ghhk!" His voice cuts off abruptly, as something sends a shudder through her spine... but it's gone as suddenly as it came. "W-what was that?" For the first time since he died, Teruko hears fear in her father's voice.
Shalelu, meanwhile shakes her head. "Lonjiku, too damn stubborn to stay dead. Somehow, I'm not shocked. Just keep in mind that the dead aren't always reliable sources of information - especially since this place was abandoned so long ago."
Ameiko offers Torra a wan smile. "No, not scared... just... I think I ate something that disagreed with me earlier this week." She waves a hand weakly... before her eyes roll up in her head and her knees drop out from under her, unable to support her weight.
Teruko manages to catch her - albeit only to lower her slowly to the ground.
Shalelu and Amaya rush to her side, examining her closely. "What the-?" Shalelu curses in Elven. "Amaya, stay here with her. I'll go get Koya and Seishin - they might be able to help her more than we can."
The youngest Kaijitsu nods gravely, examining her eldest sister with an expression of swiftly mounting panic.
Teruko's first thought is that she wishes she were stronger; Ameiko's weight is too much for her and it's all she can do to not outright drop her. Then the full reality of the situation hits. "Ami? Ameiko!" She gives her sister a slight shake, hoping to return her to consciousness. When Ameiko's eyes remain closed she forces herself to calm down and assess the situation.
She doesn't know much about medicine, but she has been trying to learn. Ameiko is clearly unconscious. If this was really the result of bad food she should have been vomiting or...otherwise expelling things from her body. (Even in her near-panicked state Teruko's nose still wrinkles at the thought.) She's not running a fever. In fact, there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with her at all. She's just not waking up.
"Magic?" Her eyes flicker to Amaya, who seems to know a lot about a wide variety of topics. "Have you heard of a spell that could cause this?" She closes her eyes and reaches out with more than sight, hoping to learn more.
Torra kneels by Ameiko's side, taking her hand to feel her pulse at the wrist, and with the other hand touching her forehead, the side of her neck, holding it in front of her lips.
"No fever, no trouble breathing, pulse is steady although a little weak... I don't think this is a natural illness, no."
"Oh no!" Yuto rushes to kneel next to Ameiko and try to help Teruko shake her "What's it?" he looks hopeful at Torra knowing the dwarf has proven to be skilled in the healing capabilities found in the wilderness.
"Magic Teruko? I do not know... she was behaving strangely since we started to approach to Brinewall" the man looks up towards the ruins "Do... do you think... it might be there is so-something about this legacy hidden in Brinewall that is somehow affecting Ameiko"
Standing up and looking forward he adds "Perhaps we should rush in and find out before this legacy affects more heavily on her. Koya and Seishin can take care of her"
"I have not seen this like before, but I think your assessment is correct, Torra, Teruko. I have no other explanation than magic..." Amaya replies, her brow furrowed in a frown. "If you want to go on ahead, feel free, but I will stay her-"
Koya arrives before she can finish the sentence, along with Seishin, Shalelu, and Sandru. The elder priestess of Desna curses in Varisian before kneeling beside Ameiko and uttering a few prayers over her, examining the younger woman closely. Sandru bends down next to her, his eyes wide with dread.
"Well, I believe this to be some manner of magic, but I do not know what." Koya says, finally. "She does not seem in any immediate danger, and I will watch over her for so long as this persists. I do recommend that you go investigate Brinewall without us - if, as Yuto said, Ameiko's been growing weaker as we've been approaching Brinewall, then..."
"Yes. You ought to look into it." Sandru's voice is rough with emotion, but he manages to speak without stumbling.
Shalelu adds her own piece. "We'll take care of Ameiko. You can come back to the caravan to rest and check in on her whenever you need, at least until we figure out what's causing this."
Koya smiles up at the party, though concern is clear in her expression. "Not to worry. I've a few ideas as to how to get a better sense of what's wrong with her, but I'll need to pray to Desna to receive certain miracles tomorrow."
Teruko pauses, her brow furrowed. "A magical effect..." She bites her lip, (Koya and Sandru after all know nothing), then decides it doesn't matter. Ameiko is more important. "Father sensed something strange, right before Ameiko collapsed. Something happened. I don't know what. But it startled him." That's not entirely accurate, but it's the best explanation she can provide for his unusual behavior.
She straightens, shoulders tensing. "If something in Brinewall caused this, we need to determine what. Who. How to fix it." She eyes the others. "Will you explore with me? If she is in no immediate danger, we should investigate before we leave. If we find nothing within a day or two, then we can take her to a city for treatment. But I fear leaving just might make things worse."
Yuto nods to Koya, Sandru and Shalelu "Teruko, Hana, Torra, let's go find if we can find in Brinewall what is causing this"
The young man starts walking forward, but seeing Hana frozen in shock next to Ameiko, he steps back and places a hand over her back "C'mon friend. The best way we can help her is finding out what is about Brinewall and the Kaijitsus..."
With that, he is ready to walk into Brinewall.
Koya looks at Teruko oddly, but swiftly refocuses her attentions on Ameiko.
"What could startle a dead man clinging to existence in his daughter's mind?" Amaya asks thoughtfully, though her eyes are still lowered to look at her eldest sister. "Or perhaps more usefully, what would he notice that would startle him, that we wouldn't?"
Sandru's speaks softly. "The nearest city is Riddleport. I'm not sure I'd trust anyone there to treat her in good faith, but if we can't figure out what the issue is, perhaps we can find someone there who can."
"Give us a couple of hours" Yuto swallows and looks towards the ruins "I-I have faith we will safe her"
"I don't know." Teruko shakes her head in response to Amaya's question. (Even though she suspects it was hypothetical.) "There was something though, for just a minute. It interrupted him while he was...talking to me." The long pause before 'talking' indicates that perhaps another word would be more accurate. Ranting, perhaps. "He didn't seem to know what it was either, and hasn't spoken since. But if it only affected Ameiko, and Father sensed it...there might be a connection to the 'enemies' Grandfather spoke about in his letter." Ameiko was after all the oldest living Kaijitsu.
"Regardless. Koya, you think you can keep her stable? Make sure she-" For a fraction of a second Teruko's voice breaks before she collects herself. "Make sure she gets enough water. We'll investigate Brinewall. If we don't find anything there, we'll head for Riddleport." Her shoulders straighten. "I can be very persuasive if need be."
Torra shifts from one foot to another, torn between the excitement of exploring Brinewall and the dread at Ameiko's condition.
"It doesn't make sense, but... It seems the best way to help her is to leave her." The dwarf looks around at the others, at Koya, Sandru, Amaya, Shalelu. Knowing that her mentor was going to stay with Ameiko put her more at ease about venturing into the ruined fortress, but she still feels the wrongness of it.
"Of course, Teruko. I'm not going to let her starve or anything." Koya replies, gently patting her shoulder. "Now, you should get going. We'll get her back to the caravan - you go investigate your ancestral home."
With that, the others take Ameiko back to the caravan, leaving the heroes alone at the fringes of the ruined settlement.
Hana looks at Ameiko and the others as they leave, before turning her eyes back to the party. "I'm... I have to go be with her. I'm sorry. I'll see if anyone else can go with you, but I need to be with her."
With that, the kitsune ninja flees back through the forest paths towards the caravan.
It has been three nights since Riftun first arrived in this old, ruined settlement that his old friend Kelda Oxgutter had called Brinewall. She had written that she, along with a longship full of raider-adventurers, would be arriving here, and that Riftun ought to meet up with them there - so they could take him onwards and away from his pursuers.
However, on the day of his arrival, he saw the ruined remnants of an Ulfen longship on the waterfront, as well as a corpse that he recognized as a sea drake floating in the bay. Now he had been searching for any sign of survivors for three days… but something is very wrong in Brinewall.
The first night he’d spent, sheltering from the cold in a ruined building, had seen his weapons - all of them save his dagger - vanish by morning. The second night, he awoke to find the room even more broken than it had been. The wood had been reduced to splinters, and the stone had been scarred with claws.
This morning, Riftun woke to find that his surroundings are totally unfamiliar - he was not where he went to sleep last night...
Now it is nearing midday, and Riftun once more faces the prospect of a long search for Kelda or any other survivors. The only places he hasn't looked thus far are the keep on the northwestern peninsula, the lighthouse on the northeast... and the graveyard in the southeast - though hopefully she's not there.
Just a few minutes ago, Shalelu, Ameiko, the heroes of Brinestump (who Elvina knows as Yuto, Teruko, Torra, and Hana), and the mysterious young Minkaian woman Amaya left the caravan, heading towards the ruined settlement of Brinewall. Slightly worrying is the fact that Ameiko looked rather ill when she left. Moments later, Shalelu rushed back, took Sandru and Koya with her, and vanished back into the overgrown trail.
Now Shalelu, Amaya, Koya, and Sandru are back, the other elf holding Ameiko in her arms. Koya looks around before her eyes light on Elvina. "Ah. There you are, Elvina. As you can see, we have a bit of a problem. It looks like Ameiko's been afflicted by some sort of curse or enchantment, and I can't do much to help her yet. She's not at risk." The younger woman adds hastily, "But she isn't conscious, and I need more time to figure out what's going on. Amaya, Seishin," who Elvina remembers is a priest of some foreign god, "and I will be looking after her here - and I'd like for you to go with the other four to help keep them healthy." Koya offers Elvina a tired smile. "Is that alright with you?"
Before she can respond, Elvina hears the sounds of someone rushing through the undergrowth - Hana Tenko, one of the heroes of Brinestump. "I, uh... I want to watch over her, too." She says to Shalelu in the distance. Shalelu looks at her with a slight frown, but nods.
"Other three, then." Koya says, looking slightly alarmed - Yuto, her foster son, is among those three.
"Hum... let's see... there is a kind of fort, and a ruined village here, mmm... this place is larger than I thought" Yuto turns towards the north and points the lighthouse there "Wha-what about exploring the northern structure first?"
The grizzled young man turns towards the others and sees Hana hesitant. It took a lot of time for the kitsune to stand up and she is still there even after the others took Ameiko. Yuto slowly starts to understand "Ju-just go... it is ok... w-we will be ok"
As Hana gives him the climbing ring just in case the group needs it and runs away, Yuto looks at Teruko and Torra a bit concerned. He fits the new ring in the right hand and sighs "I-I guess it is just us three then"
Teruko bites her lip, then nods. "I suppose so, unless Hana's able to find someone else." She takes the small cloak Hana shoved in her general direction and puts it on. "I hope she is able to find someone. There's no telling what we might find in there." Both Hana and Seishin had been vital when they were exploring the swamp. Now both of them were staying behind.
"Let's wait thirty minutes or so to see if anyone else is coming. Then I agree with checking out the lighthouse. If we can get the high ground, we might be able to get a better idea of who, or what, is in the area."
"W-What but where am I? H-how in the name of all the gods did I get here?" He stammers through chattering teeth as he pulls his winter gear close to his body in an effort to keep in his body warmth.
"This can't be real... what's happening to me? Is this place actually haunted?! No... it can't be... not a whole town... Ohhhh gods Riftun what have you gotten yourself into this time?" The young man clutches his head as his anxiety spikes and stands tall amidst the empty streets.
"The best option is to keep an eye out for Kelda or any other survivors of that horrible attack. They'll certainly know what to do!" Riftun resolves, clenching the straps on his gear while taking in his surroundings.
The young man decides to try his luck at the lighthouse.
Long had lighthouses been considered a beacon of hope. A guiding light for wayward souls just as he was now. Perhaps he would find what he was looking for there.
Or at least, shelter from the storm to come if his pursuers found him here.
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Just a few minutes ago, Shalelu, Ameiko, the heroes of Brinestump (who Elvina knows as Yuto, Teruko, Torra, and Hana), and the mysterious young Minkaian woman Amaya left the caravan, heading towards the ruined settlement of Brinewall. [...] Shalelu, Amaya, Koya, and Sandru are back, the other elf holding Ameiko in her arms. Koya looks around before her eyes light on Elvina. "Ah. There you are, Elvina. As you can see, we have a bit of a problem. It looks like Ameiko's been afflicted by some sort of curse or enchantment, and I can't do much to help her yet. She's not at risk." The younger woman adds hastily, "But she isn't conscious, and I need more time to figure out what's going on. Amaya, Seishin," who Elvina remembers is a priest of some foreign god, "and I will be looking after her here - and I'd like for you to go with the other four to help keep them healthy." Koya offers Elvina a tired smile. "Is that alright with you?"
Elvina approaches Shalelu Andosana, who's carrying an unconscious Ameiko Kaijitsu. Elvina has a hand in her adventuring sash, searching for a herbal remedy when the other elf has requests other plans. Elvina peers curiously at her longtime friend. "Of course."
The elf gently brushes a strand of hair from Ameiko's face to examine her expression. She wouldn't question if her skills were better here. Shalelu was a skilled adventurer and had a keen eye for assessing situations like this. With nothing more than a nod, Elvina dashes off towards the direction Shalelu and the others came.
Slender ears bouncing, the elf spots Yuto, Teruko, and Torra grouped together. She slows her run, looking around carefully as she reaches them. "Shalelu sent me. I saw what happened to Ameiko. Are you all alright?" Her concern sounds genuine.
Hedgie, sensing his mistress has stopped sprinting, pokes his head out of the leather flap of her adventuring sash. His nose rapidly sniffs the air before looking up at Elvina with a disapproving expression as if to say I wanted to stay on the caravan.
Yuto nods "Ok, let's wait a bit Teruko Sama" meanwhile he keeps examining the environment nervously, holding his katana in one hand and the shield in the other "I-I hope Hana can convince Seishin to come"
When Elvina makes appearance Yuto bites his lower lip recognizing the elf who has been collecting all kind of herbs as the caravan advanced through the lands of Varisia "O-ok. Are you su-sure? This might be dangerous. Dang, I am not sure myself I wa-want to go there" but if Koya and Shalelu have sent her, they knew she can help "We-we want to start exploring by the lighthouse" and looking at the light haramaki that Elvina is wearing he asks "Do-do you have something to defend yourself? I-I hope we do not need it, b-but you never know in the-ese kind of ruins"
Once everyone is ready, Yuto nods and leads the way towards the lighthouse.
Though the cold isn't as potent here as it would have been in his homeland, Riftun has, perhaps, grown overused to the warmth of the Lost Coast, as the chill nibbles at his extremities. As he walks slowly towards the lighthouse, he hears... voices. At first, it seems like they might be his imagination playing tricks on him, but gradually it becomes clear that there are people speaking Taldane, off to the east.
Torra nods quietly, eyeing the newcomer before looking around herself.
Yuto kneels and touches the ground "Yo-you see this? These three clawed toes marks are de-definetely not humanoid..." the young man gulps remembering the experience in the goblin marsh "No-not the sinspawn monster fr-from the marsh"
He raises his head looking towards the village "Th-that thing went to the village. We-we better go to the lighthouse first"
Hearing the voices gives Riftun a start. Jumping to attention the red-headed man clutches his chest to still his racing heart. Thoughts rushed through his head and he wondered if these were friends or perhaps... his pursuers? Or almost just as bad spirita of the adventurer-raiders come to enact vengence upon the living?!
There was no way to be sure and thuse, bowing down low, the young bard trepidatiously made his way towards the voices. Hoping to spot them before they could spot him. Trembling all the way.
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Teruko is surprised to see Elvina. The elf is a friend of Shalelu's, she knows that much, but she didn't expect to see her volunteering for a mission like this. "We're alright," she finally answers. "We think whatever happened to Ameiko might have had its origins in Brinewall. In my Grandfather's letter, the one that sent us here, he mentioned 'enemies.' It seems too coincidental for Ameiko to collapse here, now, without Brinewall somehow being related." She swallows hard. "We're going to investigate and see if we can find out anything. If we can't, we'll take her back to Riddleport."
She blinks hard as tears threaten to fall. She's been pushing to investigate Brinewall, but a part of her wonders how much of that is her own idea. Lonjiku doesn't want to leave without discovering what happened here. To the Glassworks. To his home.
(And Father doesn't care for Ameiko.)
She'd warned the others not to listen if her decisions seemed illogical. That all of them were still on board with this plan was a good sign.
"As Yuto said, we plan to check the lighthouse first. See what we can from there." She straightens, squaring her shoulders. "Thank you for agreeing to come. With any luck the place will be abandoned and we won't need to fight, but lately luck has not been on our side."
"It's good none of you are injured." Elvina's eyes soften at Hirabashi's concern. "With you all here, I'm sure I'll have nothing to be afraid of. Especially after hearing of your impressive journey as we've traveled." The hedgehog in Elvina's adventuring sash makes a noise like a sneeze before submerging back into the pouch.
Elvina stares off towards the woods as Teriko debriefs her of the situation. "Hmm. I think you're probably right Teruko; it does seem too coincidental." The witch adjusts the strap on her mithril buckler and pulls the light crossbow from her back. "I'll follow your lead."
While Riftun doesn't get a very good view of the newcomers, they do see a very obvious red-headed figure on the opposite side of the path.
Yuto looks at the lively hedgehog and smiles "Yo-your little friend is very cute. Whe-where did you find each other?"
"O-ok, then let's start..." spotting someone trying to hide, Yuto raises his head and starts shouting "" the man raises the katana and points in the direction of the figure "Ha-have you seen it? It's a redhead I-I think" he tells the party, then turns again shouting "" but those a bit attentive would see the katana is shaking despite the loud tone.
"WHAAAaaaAAAAaaa!?!" the crimson haired young man cries out in utter shock and horror as his location has so easily been called out by the newcomers. Riftun flails his arms haplessly in the air at the sudden shock of it all and collapses onto his rump still spastically flailing his arms in front of himself to ward off any attack. The brute was pointing a blade at him after all, he clearly meant business.
Tears instantly overflowing from his azure blue eyes with tiny red speckles, the slim young man begs for his life. "P-PLEASE I DON'T HAVS MUCH BUT YOU CAN TAKE WHATEVER YOU WANT!" He squeeks and sniffles pitifully. "J-Just don't hurt me..."
Teruko's head whips around towards the newcomer. Her first thought upon seeing red hair is that Hana had come back after all. Her second is of Hana's old clan, the kitsune ninjas she'd been hoping they'd left behind. It isn't until the figure speaks that she recognizes him. "Riftun?!" Realizing that Elvina in particular might never have met him, she clarifies, "Riftun is a friend of Ameiko's." The confusion in her voice is palpable.
She must be seeing things. Riftun had left Sandpoint a while ago without a word, devastating Ameiko and confusing everyone else. But it looks like Riftun...and he's acting like Riftun...
Teruko moves closer, though she still keeps out of arm's reach just in case this is a trap somehow. "Riftun? It's me, Teruko. We're not going to hurt you." Crouching down to seem less intimidating, (not that she ever looks particularly intimidating), she asks, "What are you doing here?"
"Ritfun?" Yuto looks startled at Teruko, then back at the newcomer and blinks "Is tha-that him? Ummm... hum... yes, it might be..." the man quickly sheaths the katana and extends a hand making signs for him to approach "I... I remember to have seen him once when I went to the Rusty Dragon to fix one of Ameiko's curtains"
Assuming he does approach, Yuto frowns in concern "But loo-look at you, you look terrible, wh-what has happened to you? Do-do you want some water? So-some cheese perhaps?"
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Riftun's pupils shrink to pinpoints as he hears Teruko call out his name.
Oh sweet Starsong they know your name! This is it! This is the end, this is- The terrified man's train of anxiety is interrupted as he can barely make out through his tear-filled eyes, the slight woman kneels nonthreateningly before him.
He barely recognizes her at first but, after rubbing the majority of the tears out of his eyes onto his sleeve, he sees the familiar sight of Teruko Kaijitsu.
"T-Teruko?" His voice trembles as if still unsure of her intentions as he swivels his head about to glance over the whole group gathered before him. "Yuto a-and Torra's here too?" He stammers on though he now seems a bit more calm as he lowers his arms to his sides to push himself up off the ground and trepidatiously step forwards at the samurai's beckoning.
"Thank Desna it's you all I thought it was bandits, or more ghosts, or even... anyways. I-I'm afraid I don't have much of an appetite Yuto but o-otherwise I think I'm fine now that you're all here at least." The young man gives a nervous but genuine smile and casts a quick cantrip to remove all the dust from his traveling gear.
"As for what I'm doing here? Well... I had a friend... Sorry... HAVE a friend... have... who promised me safe passage aboard her craft... well... far away from here. But umm... when I arrived I-I found her whole ship in wreckage a-and there was a huge sea drake corpse beside it! A-and to make matter even worse I-I'm fairly certain this place is haunted as things have been disappearing off my person, or being destroyed by an unseen force. S-sometimes these spirits even transport me somehow to places I don't recall going as I've been searching high and low for my friend!" He gives a confused grimace then shakes his head as if casting off these grim thoughts.
"But I'm sorry, I'm rambling again! I always do this... I haven't even asked what you all are doing here?" He looks over the group questioningly before noticing the woman in the back who he hasn't quite recognized. "Oh my! I'msoterriblysorry!" The man sputters holding his hand over his lips as his pale face goes beet red with embarrassment. "I_I haven't even introduced myself to you're friend! I-I'm so sorry! Please, my name is Riftun. It's a pleasure to meet you!"
He waits a moment for the woman's response before gasping allowed and returning his attention to Teruko cupping her hands in his own as he practically shouts in the panic of sudden realization. "OHMYGODDESS! ANDHOWISAMEIKO?! ISSHEALRIGHT?! SHE'SNOT HURT IS SHE?! THAT'S NOTWHY YOU'REHEREISIT?! OHHH PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEAAASSSEEE TELL ME SHE'S OKAY!" The bard pleads.
"Ghosts? A Sea Drake?" Yuto gasps and blinks "Oh, and more ship wreckages, of course... I foresee fireworks and skeletons going forward..." his hand goes to a wakizashi of beautiful Minkanian manufacture that hangs from his belt.
As the boy becomes excited and his speech speeds up, the Tien opens his palms and makes signs trying to stop him "Ca-calm down! Ameiko is ok!" a pause "Well... kind of..." he bits his lip and looks towards Teruko for help.
Trying to calm the redheaded by focusing him in something different he says "We were sent to explore this place, apparently there is something dangerous for the Kaijitsu's legacy here. Our initial idea was to start with the lighthouse. Have you been in there? Anything remarkable?"
Elvina turns from her conversation to scan their surroundings. Her eyes follow the length of Hirabashi's blade. A person? Her gaze fixes on a splotch of red that's the boy's head. It was a striking color.
"It's going to be alright. You're with friends now," the elf soothes. Elvina digests Ritfun's tale. Transmutation? Elvina had never moved through the astral plane but she was familiar with the concept. From the books she's read, it was advanced magic and her ancestors had been very good at it.
Elvina pulls out a folded linen square from her adventuring sash and offers it to Riftun. The handkerchiefs were typically made to transport fresh herbs, but the bard looked in need of a hankie. The passion of humans burns just as bright as their brevity of life. When one lives such a short lifespan, it seemed sensible to Elvina that everything would hit much harder. Elvina supports Hirabashi and Teruko's comforting assertions with her own: "I'm sure we'll all get to the bottom of this together. Whatever powers affected Ameiko will be investigated."
"She is? Really? You promise she's okay?" Riftun breathes a huge sigh of relief inclining his head gratefully towards Yuto for the information causing his single braid of hair to dangle out in front of him.
He lifts his head once more and notices where his hands are, still cupped around Teruko's, and he jumps back with a literal squeek. "I'msosorry!" the young man's face is positively crimson at this point as he accepts Elvina's handkerchief and uses it to dry his eyes/hide his face.
Th-Thank you kind stranger... I'm afraid I still haven't caught your name but it is r-really too kind of you... As for the lighthouse... I'm afraid I haven't been there yet but I was just heading on my way to check it out... there are many tales of lighthouses being beacons of hope after all and I was really in need of some... and then I ran into all of you so I suppose it did work out after all." he mummbles through the kerchief, his voice sobering.
Until.
"WAIT! WHATDOYOUMEAN'KINDOF'?! ISAMEIKOINDANGER?! ISSHESICK?! ISSHEHURT?! IHAVEASMALLPOTIONWITHMEPLEASEGIVEITTOHER! OHGODSTHISISALLMYFAULTISN'TIT? IF I HAD JUST BEEN THERE!" The young man has torn the kedchief away from his face and begun panicing again at the thought of the fate of his dear friend and whatever role he may or may not have played in it.
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Teruko freezes when Riftun grabs her hands. She'll occasionally put a hand on someone's shoulder or the like, but she's not used to anyone so familiarly grabbing a Kaijitsu. Particularly not Riftun, who's always been nervous around her.
She resists the urge to scrub her hands against her clothes when he lets go. Sweat and dirt and oh gods he's been here for days probably without bathing...
When Riftun starts panicking again though she tamps down her instinctive disgust and grips him by the shoulders. His clothing should be clean he knows Prestidigitation I've seen him use it before. "Riftun. Calm down." She takes a deep breath. "Ameiko's in good hands. Koya's looking after her, you remember Koya?"
"Like Yuto said, we're here exploring. We found a letter from my Grandfather you see, talking about a family heirloom hidden in Brinewall." She forces a smile. "Ameiko being Ameiko she just had to check it out. She talked Sandru, Shalelu, and Koya into it, they brought along their friends...long story short there's a whole caravan here. But when we got close to Brinewall she collapsed. We're not sure why, but Koya thinks it was some sort of magic."
"Ameiko's not fine, but she's not in any danger either as far as we can tell. Everyone back at the caravan is looking after her. We were going to explore Brinewall, see if we can figure out who, or what, might have caused her to collapse. If we don't find anything, we'll take her back to Riddleport and see if we can find someone there who knows what's happening. She's going to be fine." (Teruko is trying to sound much more confident than she feels.)
She lets go of Riftun's shoulders, forcing another smile. "And see? From what you've said there is someone here, someone with powerful magic, but who hasn't hurt you. That's a good sign. Maybe some fey realized Ameiko was heading the expedition and thought it would be a funny prank. We just need to find them and convince them to stop." She pauses. She has a lot of questions about Riftun's friend, about why he'd left without a word, but while he's panicking is not the time to ask.
Yuto reacts driving his hand to the katana's pommel when Riftun makes touch contact with Teruko, but relaxes the gesture as it becomes clear the boy is just going through a stressful situation "Ye-yes. She is going to be fine"
Looking up and down at the boy and at his dagger, the Tian adds pointing past the forest "The caravan is there. But i-if you want to give it another try to find your friend, it w-would be good for us to have a gui-guide that has been around the village before. A-and an extra weapon might come handy if we find some of those... ghosts and sea monsters you cited..."
If the boy accepts, Yuto nods and starts walking towards the lighthouse.
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Riftun audibly gasps and recoils sharply from her touch as Teruko lays hands on him. There is panic in the boy's eyes, about his friend certainly but there's something more there as well. It's almost as though he fears her touch will rip through him like so many razorblades.
There is a moment of peace as silence hangs in the air... Riftun clenches his fist and exhails deeply. "Right... if she's in Koya's care then Ameiko is in good hands... And it would make sense that if this is indeed magic then the source would have to be somewhere nearby..."
The young man hangs his head and chuckles sadly. "Of course Ameiko would find herself in trouble off adventureing doing feets of daring do... I tried to warn her... but, I guess she wouldn't be the Ameiko we all know and love if she listened now then would she?" Riftun lifts his head and nods.
"I-I'm honestly terrified of this place but... Ameiko was alwaya there when I needed her. I-I'd like to return that favor in some small way... wouldn't be much of a friend if I ran away now now would I?"
Riftun nods with a new determination in his blue and red streaked eyes, his fists are still shaking despite all this however and he begins walking with the others towards the lighthouse.
"I've explored the whole town aside from the lighthouse, the keep, and the... the graveyard. I'll guide you as best I can." He gulps.
Elvina adjusts her grip on the light crossbow. "We should make haste." She was accustomed to travel, but carrying around a weapon in her hands was uncomfortable on her lithe frame.
As they talk, the group proceeds to the ruined lighthouse. Perhaps once, this place shined light across Bunyip Bay, but now it stands an empty shell of all that it once was. What few windows it had are shattered, and even from the outside, the party can see that the roof has collapsed into the remnants of the building. The door, long since rotted past any function, hangs open on a single hinge.
As she looks upon the lighthouse, the oracle sees it standing proud and tall over a bustling port village. In the distance, she sees a few buildings - one of which was her home of many years. She's come back here at her father's behest, and now just waits impatiently for him to finish his business with Andril Kortun, the captain of the guard here, and now she's looking upon the lighthouse once more...
The memory fades, leaving only sour melancholy in its wake, and the reality of the ruined sentinel of the shore, barely managing to keep its few walls upright.
While most of the ruined foyer of the lighthouse is just that - rubble from the ceiling - there is a glint of metal in the noonday sun that catches in the corner of the party's eyes. Further investigation reveals that it's a lockbox of some sort.
As the group closes to the ruined structure, Yuto mutes. In tension, he slowly pulls open what remains of the hanging door with the tip of his katana.
Gulping, the prematurely grizzled young man looks around, trying to protect the group with his shield.
Yuto starts moving a few rocks that seem secure enough, but then turns as something catches his eye "There! I-it is so-some kind of me-metal box of some kind...."
Carefully picking up the lockbox, the Tian shows it to the group and examines it thoroughly for traps before opening it.
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Taking the lockbox in hand Riftun reaches inside a peculiar bright blue bag with a crimson rope tied around the opening and fumbles around for a while whilst examining the mechanisms of the lock as best he can. After a moment he withdraws a fine set of thieves tools and begins making progress on the lock itself holding his braid in his mouth so it doesn't get in his way.
Partially crushed as the lockbox is, it doesn't look like any locks or traps that may have been present when it was still regularly used have survived the decades since Brinewall's fall. Inside, there are a handful of papers, with long-faded writing that can't be made out, a stack of gold coins that seem to have been minted in Halgrim... and a key, rusted and fragile-looking.
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Riftun glances over the papers, his lips pushed out into a pout as he attempts to decipher the writing to no avail. "Well... that's not exactly what we're looking for here... And for a moment I was hoping it would just be that easy and we could get out of this creepy place."
The young man sighs and glances over the ruined building as well as the items they have just discovered muttering some arcane words under his breath and waving his hands about. The blue in his eyes suddenly glimmers a bit brighter as he searches his memory for anything he may know about this tower.
"I-If anyone has some climbing experience they may be able to scale the tower and see if there is anything of interest at the top?" Riftun theorizes whilst twisting and turning about trying to look at everything he can whilst the spell is active. "I'd be more than happy to cheer you on... It might even make for a good story! It's just an idea though... it might be dumb."
As for the lighthouse... well, it's a lighthouse. It doesn't look very stable, but it's probably strong enough to bear a humanoid's weight... though it does occur to him that it really should've been placed over where the keep is - perhaps attached? - because as it is, the ship captains would've needed to be aware that there was land in between them and the lighthouse...
"Hmm... that is odd..." Riftun mumbles scratching his head. "From an architectural and geographical standpoint this lighthouse is in a rather peculiar location... Really, it should be where the keep is located. After all inbound ships would need to know that there was land between them and the lighthouse in order to avoid a potential disaster... Most peculiar." The bard rambles on, clearly lost in his own train of thought.
Yuto looks at the rusted and fragile looking key with sorrow "I do not know what this key might had opened in the past, but it looks so broken I doubt it will serve to open anything nowadays"
He then looks up as Riftun encourages the group to climb up. He gulps at the sight "I-I think we better d-do not gamble with the few stones on place collapsing over our heads unless we have a real reason to do it..."
And when it comes to the architectural observations, Yuto nods genuinely surprised by something that has not passed through his mind at all, then comments "U-unless you have a reason to want the ships to crash against the land..."
Then looking at the ruins and trying to thing where to go next, he asks "Y-you said the-there was a graveyard, isn't it Riftun? Pe-perhaps we-e should check it next... wh-what better place to find the Kijitu's hierloom?"
Teruko stands outside the lighthouse for a long moment, looking up. "This place was beautiful once," she murmurs. She goes inside just in time to see Riftun pull out the thieves tools, and her eyebrows rise. "I didn't know you could do that. Were you a locksmith at some point?" Her tone is completely neutral, so it's difficult to tell whether she's making an observation, an accusation, or a poor attempt at some sort of joke.
Regardless she's disappointed by the state of the papers within. "Most likely just shipping manifests, but still. It's a bad sign for the condition of anything else we might find here." She sounds like she's about to say something else, then Yuto makes his observation about crashing ships and her head whips around. She stares at him for a moment, eyes narrow, then deliberately takes a deep breath and looks away.
"According to Grandfather's letter the heirloom is buried under Brinewall Castle, but we'll have to pass by the graveyard to get there anyway. Maybe there'll be a clue there regarding what happened to Ameiko, or to Riftun's friend." She closes her eyes, shoulders tense. "Those are our top priorities. The heirloom is secondary."