Turn left in 500 feet

What had begun as a solemn quest from a star-eyed owl had become an adventure that strengthened a friendship and reminded Hadama of his early days exploring the surface. They had only been a few years ago, but for the past year his sense of curiosity and wonder had often been set aside beneath the weight of his responsibilities as King.

It was good for his soul to be doing this, in more ways than one.

With Ray at his side they had returned to Torchline and seen to their respective duties before reconvening at one of the moving Isles to discuss their options. It had been gratifying to note that they were on the same page, and now it remained to be seen if that page was the right one.

He thought they'd found the right one. The right shape (ish), with neighbors that were roughly in the right positions. Given the moving nature of the Isles, perhaps it was a longshot, but it was what they had.

Again, he surrendered the map to Ray so she could stand in the isle's center and he looked to the east.

Towards the Mistbanks.

RAY

In ancient times
cats were worshipped as gods

Finding the supposedly right Isle was difficult. But between her shangyang form from above and Hadama in the water, they'd found one. Its shape was more or less the same as the map and with the nature of the Isles, the Attuned felt fairly confident that this had to be the one. Assuming, their hunch was correct of course.

Feeling a lightness in her heart, Ray took the map from her friend once more. They'd been an effective team throughout this impromptu quest, and it soothed something in her. A reassurance that if Safrin approved and she became the second leader of Torchline, that she and Hadama could make it work. They could unite all of Torchline as a unified duo.

Moving to stand in the approximate center of the island, Ray turned and held the map up towards the Mistbanks. She held her breath as she waited to see if anything happened.

They have not
forgotten this

Nothing happens

"Hmm." Hadama contemplated the map and its mysteries while Ray held it up. When nothing happened again he tilted his head to the side. "I am uncertain what to do next," he admitted. But something that his friend had said while they had traveled back from the Oerwoud floated to the top of his memory. Something about swapping the land and water...

"Perhaps... the Miana Pool?" He took his confusion philosophically enough, recognizing that he was no great riddler. Still, he was enjoying the thrill of the chase if for no other reason than the novelty of it. He had never been on a treasure hunt before, and the challenges they faced only made him more curious as to what they might find at the end.

Assuming they could solve the map's mystery, of course.

"Is there anything more you want to try here?"

Come play!M

In the wind you hear voices. It sounds like children playing some kind of game with laughter and mischief. Then one screams. There’s a call for ‘Mom!’ ‘Papa!’ and other adults as the laughter stops. Glancing towards the direction of the commotion, you’ll see fins cutting the water. A pack of echo sharks lucks, ready to leap up and grab any who fall for their trap.

---

You’ve encountered a pack of echo sharks. This counts as a common creature encounter for the purposes of levelling, but does not count as a Random Event for levelling or MP. There will be no further admin/re intervention. If you choose to follow this creature, you do so at your own risk, however, just having it in this thread is enough to satisfy your levelling requirements.

Echo Shark (common) - A dwarf species of shark known for hunting in packs, the Echo Shark can live in both freshwater and saltwater. They are able to mimic any sound they’ve heard and band together to increase their range of vocals. The sharks use the words and sounds they’ve learned to lure unsuspecting prey into the water, where the sharks will then leap up and drag them into the waves.

RAY

In ancient times
cats were worshipped as gods

Ray pursued her lips when nothing happened. "I'm not sure either." The map's riddle continued to baffle and entice. It was tricker than she'd anticipated but hopefully that would make it all the more awarding in the end. The herbalist was certain that they would eventually unlock its secrets.

Just as he opened her mouth, the echo sharks called. Letting out a sigh, Ray rolled her eyes. "Damn sharks. Hopefully they'll pass by quickly when they realize we're not falling for it." The packs seemed to be popping up more often lately. Or perhaps she'd just been unlucky.

"I have one idea, though." Ray held the map up once more time towards the Mistbanks. But this time she held the reverse side up. Maybe that would work? Since the words were backwards? "If this doesn't work, what if we try an island that's the reverse shape of this one?"

They have not
forgotten this

Nothing happens

Hadama turned towards the Echo Sharks, a faint furrow marring the smooth skin between his eyebrows. "Hmm. They are tenacious." He had already decimated one pack with Melita's help and sent his guards to scatter another, but there seemed to be an infestation of the creatures of late. Perhaps something could be done eventually, but for now...

He nodded to Ray's suggestion on ignoring the sharks, but at the mention of trying a 'reverse island' he tilted his head to the side, looking at his friend solemnly. "Yes. The Miana Pool." He paused, realizing he was being unclear, and tried again. "If the blue is land and the brown is water, the brown is no longer an island. It is surrounded by land. So it would be a pool or lake." Or pond or puddle, for that matter.

RAY

In ancient times
cats were worshipped as gods

Ray let out a thoughtful noise at Hadama's idea. "That actually makes sense. If the words are backwards and reversed, the land being water is logical. And holding it up as if the water was a mirror might be the second piece." She carefully folded the map up and placed it in the bag that they'd brought.

"It still feels weird to read a map like that, land being water, but let's try it!" There likely wasn't any harm in investigating the Miana pool. The mystery of the map was equal parts exciting and frustrating for Ray. It had led them astray not once but twice so far, a true challenge. It gave her the same sensation of trying to solve a complicated puzzle. And she loved puzzles.

"Let's regroup at the pool?" Hashing out the rest of the details, the two parted ways to try again at the Miana pool.

-{FIN}

They have not
forgotten this