[Quest] What Curious Things These Turtles Be...

[Alexander Massing]

The First Cycle of Immanis of Winter,
Era I of the Celestine Mandate, Era XV Post Fractum

Cold. Freezing really. That was the best way to describe the feeling of Jaedaxia during Immanis, certainly not helped by the fact that Alexander was probably once of the worst people in the entire city when it came to adhearing to a stable sleep schedule. This Brightening, or rather still several candlemarks before Dawn, the cold was quite noticable... well, it would have been if he hadn't already been wandering around the city for nearly two candlemarks, he couldn't even feel the temperature anymore, his only reminder was the slight billow of his breath as it turned to vapor before him in the pre-dawn twilight. With his cloak drawn tight around him, holding in just enough warmth to stave off any major decrease in body temperature for at least another candlemark or two.

It was during this wandering that a tremor hit the city, startling him quite a bit and nearly tripping him. It was by pure luck that he was close enough to the wall of a shop to catch himself before dashing his skull against it. Within the candlemark it seemed that everyone was speculating on what had happened, Alexander had even heard one very drunk looking man say something about large rocks falling from the sky, but it didn't take long for people to start hearing what had really happened. It was several candlemarks after Dawn, and many short conversations, later that Alexander had finally managed to get ahold of a copy of the Libertas and confirm, in a manner of speaking, many of the rumors he'd been hearing. His mind started spinning ideas in that same moment, This could be a great boon to Alchemical research... a creature such as that, with such potent organs... but that wish, it could be used to accomplish so much. No, I won't be killing one of those things merely for their heart, but should I find one... then I certainly won't turn down the oppurtunity to study such a creature.

With a bare and rushed breakfast of some bread and cheese, Alexander was already set on his way towards the coast, rapier on his hip, dagger tucked in its sheath and his satchel bulging with a full complement of as many tools and supplies as he could carry.

[Crimson]

Curious indeed.

Braving the cold and frigid early brightenings of Jaedaxia, the lone Alchemist moved eastward toward the reported coast where the baby zaratan was found, died, and its remains buried, perhaps hidden, from the rest of the population. These supposed 'cover-ups' by the Protectorat and the Institute did not go unnoticed by Jaedaxians of course. Many fishermen, especially those who returned the brightening of the tremor with no catch, demanded to see the remains of the zaratan to 'break the curse' brought upon them. Other, more curious citizens, demanded to see the remains of the zaratan youngling simply to poke and prod and decide whether the magical creatures were really hording unimaginable treasures and priceless artifacts.

The walk to the northeastern tip of the Jaedaxian penninsula took some candlemark or more for Alexander. The tall grass of the wilderness of the Carmelyn Hinterlands covered the rolling, uneven terrain with its emerald majesty. But with the coming of winter, of course, the tall grass was patched with snow, frozen dew, and other dangerous sections that caused any inexperienced traveler to slip, fall, or loose their footing. Thankfully, Alexander experience no such hindrance. And by the time he reached the coast, a cold, salty breeze greeted him, effectively refreshing his body while causing him to shiver uncontrollably.

From the elvated ground, Alexander saw that the penninsula fell abruptly over the edge near the coast producing a cliff of sorts before touching the rocky beach below. A little more walking, however, led the Alchemist to a steep and narrow pass that zig-zagged downward toward the beach in irregular intervals of steps, slope, and sudden climbs before reaching the waterfront. There did not seem any other way down the cliff, unless Alexander wanted to take some more time northward toward an ominous looking structure in the distance. He immediately recognized it as Chateau Noir, the notorious nest of vampires that was supposedly purged by local and foreign groups of volunteers during the Second Vampire Scare.

[Alexander Massing]

Alexander spent several minutes pondering what seemed to be his only two options of getting to the beach at the present. He was, at this point, just glad that nothing bad had happened to him yet, beyond feeling the cold bite of the ocean wind. As much as he was in a hurry to reach the beach, and thus get closer to the Zaratan, his satchel and rapier made any kind of climbing a very unsafe proposition, as they made it somewhat difficult to give his legs and hips enough room to move properly should the climbing become difficult. All that in mind however, he knew very little about Chateau Noir and the Vampire Scare, beyond what he'd heard around Jaedaxia in the past few cycles, but he was also somewhat curious as to whether those accounts he'd heard were true, especially the stories about the vampires being real... though in the same breath he also hoped that the purge had at least driven the Vampires, if they had ever truly existed, out of the castle as he convinced himself to go in that direction. With only a moment more of hesitation, Alexander fell to the sway of his intellectual curiosity and set off northwards towards the castle, with his right hand ready to jump to the hilt of his rapier at a moment's notice.

[Crimson]

Chataeu Noir was perhaps one of the most ominous places on the Jaedaxian Peninsula. It stood hundreds of feet from the cold earth and was surrounded by an outer wall that was broken in many places, a reminder of the seige Jaedaxians laid on it just a season ago. As Alexander neared the place where undeath supposedly slept it suddenly got more cold if that was even possible. The aspiring Alchemist felt the very hairs on his skin prick up and he was suddenly seized by an unnatural spasm, causing him to shiver violently.

Overhead, the clouds continued to swirl in unlikely patterns forming an odd vortex above the castle. Now that was definately not normal. At least, not in the natural world. Should Alexander decide to continue, he would see that the tall grass that rolled over the Hinterlands suddenly disappeared within two hundred paces of the castle, replaced by what looked like charred earth as if a great fire created a semi circle around the formation of the keep.

And then, without warning, Alexander's vision blurred and was replaced by shifting shadows -- producing a myriad of dark shapes and forms. However Alexander reacted to the inexplainable events he would see a single image before his sight returned, several moments later.

It was ... an ocean of inky darkness. The sea, sky, even the Suns seemed blotted out by the sheer amount of the black substance. What could it mean? Regardless, Alexander found himself mostly intact, laying on the grass along the coast on his right, unhurt, despite being obviously shaken. But as he shifted to get back on his feet, he'd find something heavy in his left pocket. And should he reach in, he would find a black sphere the size of a small child's fist inside.

[Alexander Massing]

The shivering hadn't bothered Alexander much at first, as he kept reminding himself that it was Winter, he was by the coast and he was relying on a single wool cloak and some normal clothes to keep him warm. But as it worsened, and as he saw the clouds forming a vortex above the castle, he grew a bit more concerned with his current situation. He was sure that he hadn't eaten any odd foods and so his mind was racing to try to pluck at any other occurance which could explain what he was feeling. He approached the castle a bit, but as he saw the grass transfer into mere charred earth, he made an almost unconscious start to walking away from it and back towards the coast. But as the mental, the visual, the darkness, assualted his mind he tried to focus on it, tried to organize it in some meaningful way, to lend order to chaos. But finally a single image remained, of darkness, inky darkness.

When he finally realized that whatever he had just been experiencing was over, or at least was over as far as Alexander could tell, he tried to reason out what could cause him those effects, though his lack of knowledge of herbalism and only limited knowledge of Alchemy prevented him from getting very far with that line of thought. Besides, who would even want to bother poisoning a research assistant? He was hardly even worth what he was paid for work right now, it just didn't make any sense to him if it really was the work of someone else, but if it was something else, then he might start to feel worried. It actually took him a moment to do so, but as he got up he did notice the slight weight in his pocket and slowly reached a hand to grab whatever it was, cautious in the event that it might be some kind of crab or something.

[Crimson]

Reaching into his pocket, he felt something smooth, something round. He grasped it, all the while still hoping that it wasn't a crab. That would have been awkward. Pulling it out, Alexander soon found a black stone the size of his palm. It sat on his hand comfortably. Its surface was deeply polished, showing no defect whatsoever. Alex could have deemed it as a gem, but it lacked any facets whatsoever. So, the closest 'known' object he could relate it to was a stone.

While he inspect the black stone, however, the aspiring Alchemist heard something shuffle along the frozen grass behind him. Spinning around, he saw a mousai -- an overlarge field mouse with two huge brown eyes and a light tan coat. It chirped happily as it poked its head up from the high grass, knowing that it has been discovered.

"Alas!", he said in high tones, "you saw me! hehehehe!" He hopped up then, prancing over to Alexander as if they were long time friends or some such, "what's your name? I'm Randiel! That's me! That's my name! What's your name? Huh? Huh? Huh?" The mousai stood just below Alexander's belt buckle and wore a light olive cloak over some dark underclothes. He had a pair of trousers as well complete with a few sheaths of daggers from the looks of things. He had a solid tail which continued to wave and sway behind the mousai's form as he spoke.

[Alexander Massing]

Not sure of the mousai, of Randiel, Alexander slid the stone back into his pocket and tried to take a step, a bit off put by the mousai's apparent over-friendliness, wary of the fact that it seemed to be armed and suspicious as to whether it had just been sneaking up on him or just sneaking in general. Nevertheless, he did at least introduce himself, as it was only proper. "I am Alexander Massing, an Alchemic Researcher from the Socrates de Ambergois Institut, Randiel."

Not sure that he really wanted an answer, but overcome by his own curiosity, Alexander proceeded to ask, in as much of a casual tone as he could, "What are you doing out here, Randiel? Doesn't seem the place most would go to alone?" Though he asked that, what he had really wanted to ask was what this mousai was doing sneaking around so far from the city. All the while though, he kept his right hand hovering close to the hilt of his rapier, should he feel the need to draw.

[Crimson]

Whether or not Alexander was unsure of the mousai or not, he still managed to give his full name, employment status, and title of all things. Telath was indeed a strange place to live in. Finding these facts thoroughly acceptable and not remotely in excess, Randiel clapped cheerily and bounced up and down in excitement. "Wow, that's grrrrreat!" he replied with a swift nod of his furry head, "Alchemy! Research! The famous institute on all of Telath! Wow! You are ... like, totally, like, ... wow!" He clapped again and bounded from side to side, circling Alexander.

The alchemist's next query however did not at all bother the still-cheering mousai. Instead, he replied: "Well, I was just ... not exactly stalking you, but I was ... well, curious." He grinned, showing his square teeth and giggled lightly. "You fell, you know. There was a thump!" he clapped his hand together for effect, "and I followed the sound and saw you. You were unconscious ... and it seemed like you were dead and it seemed like a real waste to let all your things fall into the wrong hands." He giggled again. "But you're alive! And that's better ain't it!" He rubbed his hands together then before looking up at Alexander.

"But before all that, I saw someone, a fish person, he put something in your pockets!" The mousai's huge brown eyes widened then. "Do you know him? Well, you wouldn't know exactly cuz you were unconscious ... I thought dead .. but" he shrugged his tiny shoulders, "jus' thought I'd mention it ... maybe he was a researcher too? ... though he did have fins, which turned to legs, then his legs turned to fins again when he ran back into the ocean ..."