Everwake (Tim)

[Bannanachair]

(Duck14, you're in this ISRP!)

"Under the circumstances, Duck, you can be forgiven. You may have noticed that the plants in this general area have begun behaving in weird ways, likely violent ways. That was the case in Saffur before its destruction and, I suspect, will be the case for many more miles if not throughout the entire Empire. The reason is that Gen Saeyi, the Wyldun, has escaped. Bayod can fill you in on the rest of the details, though what I've said is the gist of it. There was a girl traveling with us - sarcastic, sassy, likely to insult you upon first seeing your face. Her name is Enoise. Do you happen to know where she ran off to while Bayod had the dumb idea of fighting that Tocthani?"

[Tikobe]

(Forgot we had our own Duck. Yes, I'm being honest. I chose Duck cause I liked the sound of the name for some reason. Guess we know why now.)

"Ah, yes. Gen Saeyi," Duck gave an awkward chuckle, almost losing his smile for once.

"You met her?" Bayod asks.

"Some of us were near the city when she was released and was able to warn us about her before she came. The humans chose to stay here in the plantation, but I remembered the stories which spoke of their goal of destroying civilization. I chose to bet on those stories and hope they were true. I took the myself and the others of my kind and fled into the forests away from here. It turned out to be the correct decision since we encountered her and even had a conversation, but she did not attack."

"You talked to the Wyldun!?"

"Yes. She's surprisingly sociable. At least, it's easier talking to her than a human with a whip, the latter of which is a situation that occurs near daily for us. However, the humans who stayed were not fortunate. They got caught up in the destruction and we've yet to find a survivor from them. It's almost like she's a natural disaster, stay out of the way and you'll be fine. Though, I suppose likening something like her to a force of nature is something that becomes applicable in a literal sense as well as a figurative," Duck explains as he begins to ponder. "Now, Enoise... You two were the only humans we've found so far but the Enoise registers with me a little. Sounds like the name of a 'business associate' of mine."

"'Business associate' of yours? Eh, can't be. She works as an engineer on an airship. Strange girl, said that there was a hidden airship here," Bayod explains.

"She did? Then the Enoise we're thinking of is one and the same."

"Huh?"

"She told you there was an airship here, did she not? Now who told her that?" Duck smiles. "Even a saint's lips can be unsealed for the right price, and let alone saints, she and I already know each other and what we want quite well. But, she's lost, you say?"

[Bannanachair]

(Let me guess - you thought of him for the past few months as just Alfred, Verous and Arthur, right?)

"She ran away from the Tocthani when Bayod decided that we should fight it," I said. "In all likelihood, she's gone to the hidden airship."

[Tikobe]

"Impossible. Pardon my rudeness, but the information I've given her is no longer the case," Duck replies.

"Huh? Then there isn't an airship anymore?" Bayod questions.

"No, it's still here. However, the entrances to the port were destroyed when Gen Saeyi visited," Duck points out. "Enoise is an incredibly clever woman, but she has a flaw in how she exactly follows exact information. Call it a matter of her upbringing if you will, but she is a perfectionist who not only expects herself to be perfect but everything around to be perfect and she always act under the assumption that it is. This means that the first thing she'll do is thoughtlessly examine those two entrances without considering any of the alternatives."

"Well, I don't see why she would need to do otherwise when she knew the entrances already."

"Captain Bayod, you've still much to learn about how to think about such things," Duck smiled, masking his statement about Bayod's stupidity under what could be misinterpreted as saying Bayod had a lack of critical thinking. "The beast that attacked you was a tocthani, was it not? How did such a thing find it's way to the plantation?"

"Err... I think Enoise said that Duke Larchont already had it in a collection somewhere."

"Enoise would be correct. Marquis Isou of Sunreach lent it to Duke Larchont. Now why would it be here?"

"Errm... Uh... Eh..."

"Captain Bayod, it was to kill you and your men should you ever find the secret passage."

"Huh?"

"Think about it: Your men infiltrate the secret passage, they start moving in and the people here released the tocthani. The beast kills you, the only man who couldn't be bribed in this town, they make your death an accident and pay off the rest of the guards to ignore the passage. It's a scheme so simple a child could think it up," Duck points out as he ignores the fact that Bayod turned as white as a ghost. "Now, the only place to hide such a thing for such a purpose is the secret passage, but it's so large that if we tried to make the entrances large enough to move it in and out you would've noticed the passage a long time ago. So, if it was in the secret passage, but the entrances were not only too small for it to escape but also destroyed by a Wyldun, how did the tocthani escape to terrorize the plantation?"

[Bannanachair]

"The passage was torn open by Gen Saeyi - a much larger entrance revealed, which the Tocthani used to escape through," I answered. "At least, that's what I would look for first."

[Tikobe]

"That's what the essential form of it looks like," Duck replies. "Of course, it doesn't appear that she knew that she made a new entrance into the passage; We've already found it and thoroughly searched it, everything's all there and in tact. But she has, indeed, made a new way into the passage."

"Wait a minute, you've all already found the entrance? Then why are you still here?" Bayod questions.

"Just because we know that there is a ship doesn't mean we know how to fly it. An airship's engine is an incredibly fickle and difficult thing to work with, making things so that an engineer who has advanced knowledge of how it works an absolute necessity in order for the airship to fly. Why would Duke Larchont teach any of us amarzi how to work one?"

Duck was right. Even you, as an admiral, only had a basic enough understanding of how the engine worked. However, it was only to the point where you could maintain it for an hour or so, not enough to start the engine or do any substantial distance of travel. Slaves at a plantation had no chance of operating it.

"Regardless, it brings back to the main point: Enoise," Duck announces, interrupting your thoughts. "An admiral, a captain of the local guard and a group of amarzi aren't going to get us alive. Finding Enoise and keeping her alive should be our first priority, since she's the only one that I can think of as having the know how needed to work the engine. There's just one critical issue: The tocthani are being led around by the wisps."

Bayod looks confused, forcing Duck to clarify things.

"Did you think we had the tocthani freely roaming around the passage? They were both in cages, cages which were thankfully left untouched by Gen Saeyi. However, when her wisps moved into the plantation they tempered with the locks and released them. Or, at least that's what the logical guess would be. I just saw locks with roots jammed into them."

"Did you just say both?" Bayod exclaims, picking up on the obvious problem.

"Yes. There were two. The one you met, which I had thoroughly researched for a situation like this, and another one that I can't say I know anything about. Well before it arrived on this plantation, it had obscured itself inside of it's cage using webs and had remained completely hidden from sight, almost as if it was an intelligent being trying to keep its existence a secret. That being said, given that not only was it's cage unlocked but I was able to walk into it and come out alive, there's more than enough reason to believe that it's out and about somewhere. However, I can't say I know anything more than that, such as if its relationship with the wisps is the same as the other, which I see quite often being led around by the wisps who bait it into action."

"The wisps are leading that monster around?" Bayod repeats as something slowly sinks in. "Then, Enoise might..."

"Well, that's what I was saying before: The wisps are using the tocthani as a tool to kill us for them, such as they always do. And they certainly don't slack. This means that as we speak, the wisps are leading the tocthani towards either us or towards Enoise, assuming that they don't have something even worse planned."

[Bannanachair]

"Then we split into two groups, one to head towards each of the now-blocked entrances. Both groups will need one of your Amarzi who have explored the new entrance, as that will be the rendezvous - the group that finds Enoise will fill her in, and the group that doesn't will know that she's at the other entrance. We meet inside the passageway, perhaps right where the airship is."

[Tikobe]

"And in the situation that she isn't at either?" Bayod points out.

"We'll know when both groups turn up without her. However, if you're really so concerned, I can send out Hog and Horse. They're practiced hunters, their job was to off the rabbits that infested the crops and turn the vermin into a profit. If they find a trace of Enoise, they'll be able to track her down. What say you, admiral?" Duck smiles.

[Bannanachair]

"My mind had already realised the former, though now that I know you have people who can search for her... Why, I can't refuse. If they find that she's just at one of the entrances, then you've lost nothing."

[Tikobe]

"Well, we've got all that sorted out now," Duck smiles. "I'll send you and Bayod with Ox. He's a trustworthy man, and he'll be able to assuage the other amarzi that'll be going with you."

All of a sudden a small head shows itself from behind Bayod. It was the little amarzi girl that Bayod was protecting when you met the tocthani.

"Ah, Swan. Good to see you safe," Duck smiles at her, though Swan makes no acknowledgement to his statement. She just clings onto Bayod a little tighter.

"Seems she's grown attached to you. It might be best to send her with your group. We've all put a little effort into raising her, so she's a community treasure. We'd feel safer if she was put in the charge of military men. Is that amiable with you, admiral?"

[Bannanachair]

"I'd feel better if she wasn't being put at risk of being attacked by a Tocthani, though your current position's not much better for that security. We shouldn't waste much more time - every second that we spend talking is a second that Enoise could be spending being killed by one of the Tocthani."

[Tikobe]

"Alright then, onwards we go! Ox, take a group of some of the others and guide the Admiral and Captain to the exit in the mansion. Everyone else, follow me to the slave's entrance. Keep an eye out for anything off, though I do suppose that given the environment now there isn't anything normal out here at all," Duck says cheerily, almost as if you're all headed out for a light stroll rather than a search to rescue a certain difficult-to-mange engineer from a possible death that could quite simply lead to the possible deaths of everyone gathered.

Ox picks out a group of amarzi and then approaches you, Bayod and the girl Swan.

"The noble's mansion is that direction. Normally, it'd take us a dozen or so minutes to reach but with what's going on it'll take some more longer, especially if we prioritize caution over speed. Duck seems to have given the reins to you humans, so I'll let you decide if we want to take a half hour long trip or rush things and risk falling into a wisp's trap."

[Bannanachair]

"If we waste any time, Enoise might end up dead. Don't be stupid enough to fall into a trap, but don't waste time either," I say.

[Tikobe]

Ox gives a displeased look.

"I knew that a trustworthy human was too good to be true," he spat. "Do you know why us amarzi were split up into the two groups like this? It's so that if one gets killed then at least there's another group of survivors. I'm the guide, and I won't be leading my people to their deaths just for one damned girl. We're moving across the edge of the plantation, where it's safest."

"Hold on, but what the Admiral said was true. If we take too much time, then Enoise really might die and then how else would you find a way out of here?" Bayod points out.

"To hell with your human woman! If she dies then we can just throw the two of you at the tocthani and find another way out. That we should have to trust in humans who've just shown me as having no regard for our life is a ridiculous idea in the first place. What was Duck even thinking when he saw you two?"

[Bannanachair]

I consider telling Ox off, but decide against it - whatever authority Duck gave me would be meaningless if Ox sours all of the Amarzi against me. Instead, I argue with him.

"What is your other plan for leaving if not with an airship? Surely you have another plan, or otherwise you wouldn't be as hesitant about this one. Going slowly won't guarantee our safety and might allow us to be attacked by the Tocthani. Plus, Duck put me in charge, not you. I value your opinion in this regard, but I still disagree."

[Tikobe]

"My plan?" Ox scowls. "My plan is simply whatever Duck's plan is, so long as it doesn't involve you accursed people. A lot has happened and Duck's confused, that's the only reason why you're here. I'm taking this group down the path that I want us to go and you can't stop it. If you hate that so much, then just try reaching the mansion on your own. Let's see if your 'human superiority' serves you folk well on your own."

Ox storms off before you can speak another word and starts to lead the group. Bayod looks at you with a bit of a grimace on his face.

"Well, he doesn't like us."

"Brother Ox lost his twin brother to the humans," Swan, the little girl, says as she grips onto Bayod's shirt. "The fields got blighted once and Duke Larchont's father took it out on the nearest slave, Brother Ox's brother. I heard Sister Roach talking with the other sisters about how they whipped him to near death. The wounds got infected and he died shortly after."

Bayod stood aghast as he stared at the child, "And who told who stories as grim as that?"

"Hmm? Isn't that the usual thing? Sister Rat told me almost everyone here has a story like that," Swan looked back, puzzled at Bayod's shocked expression.

[Bannanachair]

"Well little Swan," I say to her as we walk, "You just need to remember that Duke Larchont is a bastard, and were it not for his rank then I would gladly let Bayod mete out whatever justice he thinks suitable - a hanging, I would hope."

[Tikobe]

"Hanging? Personally, I think it's much simpler and satisfying to break his face in with my shield," Bayod mutters.

Swan just looks at the both of you with a face indicating her confusion, but before she can say anything Bayod picks her up and holds her in his arms as he follows you.

"Well, with that being said, it's clear that Ox may not comply with us when we need him to. What are we planning to do? I've only fought Crestrisens and big monsters, but I've heard that a wisp infected territory is the worst place for distrust to be coming out."

[Bannanachair]

"We just need to hope that his loyalty to Duck is more important to him than his hatred of humans," I say.

[Tikobe]

"Mmm," was Bayod's only reply as he began to focus on following Ox.

Ox led you and the amarzi along the outer edges of the plantation and through the areas where the vegetation was thickest so as to prevent the tocthani from being able to get to you. There was a tense and awkward silence between you and the amarzi, probably caused by the bickering between you and Ox. The only time there was a conversation with them was to ask Bayod to hand Swan over to them, since they couldn't leave the precious young girl in the hands of humans, or so were their words. However, Swan refused to leave Bayod's side and at one point the amarzi gave up, but it caused the situation to actually get worse.

As you were on your journey, you begin to hear the sounds of something running.

"Admiral," Bayod says as he points out the source.

You look at out the dark night and you begin see the silhouettes of wolves exposed by the moonlight.

The amarzi are unsure of how to react to this, but then Ox exclaims.

"Damn! They're tiarfend wolves. They must've come down from the mountain when Gen Saeyi was destroying everything!"

You recognized the name of the species. They lived up in the mountains, and were slightly larger and burlier than other wolves with the exception of the dire wolf.

And most importantly, they were known to be hostile to travelers.

[Bannanachair]

"Be quiet!" I whisper-shout. "We can't afford to get into this fight, so we need to move as quickly as possible while still being quiet."

[Tikobe]

Ox shoots a glare at you, but in the end he, and the rest of the amarzi, follow your advice and stay silent.

Eventually, the wolves pass by and your group is able to move on.

But it seems you've far from escaped trouble in this place.

As you reach the manor of the Larchont Plantation, Ox stops with a worried look on his face.

"That can't be right."

"Ox?" one of the amarzi asks, wondering what could have Ox so scared.

"The curtains on those windows are closed. They weren't when we were here before!"

"Relax, Ox! Someone might've closed them when we were looking through the place."

"And why would someone do that!? Besides, even the curtains on the second floor are closed, but the stairway to that floor was destroyed when we were looking through the manor!"

[Bannanachair]

"It's probably a wisp," I say. "Making things seem odd to draw us in, then spring a trap on us - maybe draw the tiarfend wolves towards us, or the Tocthani."

[Tikobe]

"Is the entrance in there?" Bayod questions.

"... Yeah, the damned thing's in the cellar," Ox mutters, albeit very hesitantly. "If you humans want to find your girl, it might be necessary to have to go in there."

[Bannanachair]

"Right then, we'll go in. But be careful of a trap, I can't shake the feeling that there are wisps in there."