1.14
If you have WATCHER IN THE BRUSH, TRAIL OF VINES, or DEEPER MOTIVES, complete it.
Zek finishes his tea and stands. “Well, I suppose I’d best get up to Lone Tree and let Elder Thrush know about all this.” He heads for the door and shouts to his stilt-horse. “C’mon, Nel! Quit snacking; we’ve got a ride ahead of us!”
You spend a few hours at the biological station resting after your hike, while Sirisana continues her studies. As the light is starting to fade, Sirisana’s apprentice, Tiella Jakarra, returns from a day of field studies with a rucksack full of lichen and an armful of branches for the fire pit. Sirisana gets her up to speed on events, and the two immediately fall into a lively debate about what, if anything, to do about the reclaimers.
“They are clearly an invasive species,” Sirisana says. “There is no prior record of these biomelds in the Valley. Our ancestors encountered these reclaimers in the time before we settled here, but that was long ago. They're yet another biomeld run amok, fulfilling some esoteric purpose that's at odds with the natural world.”
“We don’t know that for certain,” Tiella retorts. “Even if they are fulfilling some outmoded purpose, they’ve had centuries to become part of the ecosystem! Look at the relgarbeasts! They were once viewed as an invasive pest, but over time we've learned how critical they are to the ecology of the Verdessa! Or take growling weevils—”
At this point, you hesitantly interrupt to point out that what these beings are may matter less than why they have suddenly arrived and whether or not anything can be done about it. Both Sirisana and Tiella stare at you, like the idea never occurred to them.
IF THE RANGERS HAVE BEFRIENDED THE VERDESSIAN, GO TO 1.14A.
OTHERWISE, READ:
“They must have a nest,” Tiella says. “Somewhere they congregate. To learn more, you’re going to have to find it. Maybe you could tag the reclaimers and then follow the tagged ones back to their nest?”
You agree, and Tiella and Sirisana spend the next hour rigging up a simple tagging system; small, sticky balls of sap treated with a particularly pungent substance. Then they hand you a small cage full of wood shavings; in the center of which is a drowsy looking mole with a long pink muzzle.
“Becher’s mole,” Tiella explains. She reaches into the cage and pulls out the mole, who yawns sleepily. Then she wafts some of the pungent aroma under its nose, and the mole suddenly perks up and starts yipping shrilly. “One whiff of this mole sow musk, and Gus will follow it to the ends of the earth. He can smell it from up to two kilometers away!”
You leave with the mole and the sap tags, but only after making a promise that you’ll do your best to return Gus safe and sound once this is all over.
Complete the JOURNEY (BIOLOGICAL OUTPOST) mission, and gain the FIND THE NEST mission.
1.14A
“They must have a nest,” Tiella says. “Somewhere they congregate. To learn more, you’re going to have to find it.”
You tell them about the vision Nal experienced before the Verdessian disappeared, that she saw the nest but couldn't see exactly where it was. You relay Nal's description: climbing vines, a collection of ruins, and a river.
"That sounds like the Alluvial Ruins to me," says Sirisana. "Of course!" Tiella says excitedly. "If the reclaimers are drawn to ruins for some reason, what better place for a nest than the largest ruins site in the Valley?"
“Well what are you waiting for?" Sirisana asks incredulously. "Go to the nest, and learn all you can about the reclaimers. Ancestors guide you. Be swift!”
Complete the JOURNEY (BIOLOGICAL OUTPOST) mission, and gain the INTO THE NEST mission.