It's still early in the morning by the time the silhouettes of the town buildings and piers form out of the swamp-fog and darkness. The only place that keeps a lamp going at this hour is the pier at Oggton Bote Rentils, so that Emmett can always find the place in the dark if he gets too drunk. The little skiff with two otters and a Lapi on it has finally made it back to shore, sometime between midnight and dawn.
Aviri breathes a sigh of relief at the sight of the town. "Finally," he says.
Linyala is leaning against Trilup and fidgeting with the puzzle lock on the small box they recovered from the downed airship. She's not making any headway but it's certainly keeping her occupied as she doesn't notice the light by the dock until they bump up against it.
"Why are you so relieved," Trilup grumbles. "I'm the one doing all the poling." She pushes a bit on Lin to warn her that she's about to move, and reaches for the rope to tie the skiff to the dock with.
"Because we're home," the Lapi replies. "Thanks for doing all the poling."
"What are we going to tell Jack?" Trilup asks. "We didn't find Swampy's lair."
Aviri stretches his back as he gets out of the boat. "We found a lair. And ivory-pirates. That should keep him busy." He casts a glance to Linyala.
Lin sits up and fastens the box to the rope around her waist. She mutters to herself, "Now'e figure out if we're cursed, or posessed, or 'nchanted, or haunted, or-" ticking off the possibilities on her fingers.
"We have to go see a witch you mean?" Trilup squeaks.
"The box isn't cursed," Aviri says. "No witches. I'm done with witches." He shivers. "No apples, either," he adds.
"Apples?" Trilup asks. "Apples can detect curses?"
"No," Aviri says. He gets an odd look. "Well, maybe that thing could .... no witches!"
"Prolly a good idea." Lin chirps. "You were sayin' you had to take something from the boat. Why not Aviri?"
"Because I've had enough of witches," Aviri says. "We could take it to that gypsy woman. She might be able to tell."
"You mean she's not a witch too?" Trilup asks. "I was told she was the gypsies' witch.."
Lin frowns at Aviri. "Right then." She hopps out of the boat and starys walking away. "I'll send y'all a message after I see a witch."
"Doesn't that mean we have to wake one up though?" Trilup points out, double-checking her knots. "I'm pretty sure they sleep."
Aviri says, "Yeah, probably not a good idea. Jack won't mind though, and I'm sure he'd like to see the box, too. Plus, if it's cursed, wouldn't you want to share it with Jack, Linyala?"
The departing otter freezes. "They wouldn't out another curse on my if I woke one up right?" She squeeks and turns around.
"I don't know.. but I was with Nene and Bebe on a raid once, and the Gypsy witch turned a guy into a frog," Trilup claims. "A big frog.. but.. still very froggy."
Aviri asks, "Do you want to risk something like that?"
Lin blanches and comes back. "Forgot my hat anyways." She mutters and fishes around in the bottom of the boat.
"Can't trust witches," another voice adds. "They's tricksy."
"Exactly my point," Aviri says, looking around for the source of the new voice.
Startled by the new voice, Lin tumbles into the boat.
There isn't anyone else on the dock with them. Trilup bends over the side to check underneath.
"You ain't the one who got the point though," the voice whispers.. right into Aviri's left ear.
Aviri seems to freeze when he realizes nobody's there, then jumps when he hears the voice again. "S-see?" He says, obviously trying to remain calm, "this is-s the kind of thing you invite when you see witches..." He looks around in quick, jerky motions.
"I don't see anyone in the water," Trilup announces. "So.. do we panic now or just pass out?"
"Found it!" Lin chirps and holds up her hat. "Wouldn'this be a good reason to see a witch? Us all hearin' voices?" She asks nervously as she steps back onto the dock.
"That's my hat," the voice says from behind Lin.
"Haunted. Deffinitely haunted." Lin anounces, takes off her hat, and passes out.
"Dammit, Lin," Trilup yelps. "Now I can't pass out! You spoilt it!"
"What the hells are you, anyway?" the voice asks, apparently addressing Trilup.
"I'm an Oggton!" the otter barks, hugging herself.
Aviri says shakily, "Nothing to be afraid of ... voices not hurt anything. Natasha know what to do." He walks to Linyala's body. "Help me carry her?" he asks Trilup.
"Alright.. you, ears-boy," the voice says next. "I never heard o' Kavis with boats. Where is this place?"
Trilup hops into the boat to lift up Lin's shoulders, and asks, "The hat too?"
Aviri says, "Yes, the hat, too. And your horn, and the chest." He puts the chest on Linyala's body. "Just ignore the voice," he says, though it's not clear whether he's talking to Trilup or himself.
"I'm not used to hearin' voices," Trilup says. "This happen to you a lot?" she asks as she hefts up her half of Lin, putting the hat over the otter's face.
"I will not be ignored," the voice claims. "I'm captain.. uh.. captain.. something.. of the.. whosit.."
"Darkeye..." Lin murmurs from under the hat then snores.
"Not voices that aren't my own," says the Lapi as he begins to lead the way toward the gypsy camp. He looks up into the air. "Hey, who's Kavis?"
With Lin slung between them like a wet sack, it takes a moment for Aviri and Trilup to get coordinated enough to start moving. At least the Gypsy camp is close. "Kavis are like.. little demons or something. Mischievous spirits! Yeah.. not like Awkavi at all.." Trilup claims.
"Ah, okay," Aviri says.
The Gypsies don't mind burning a few candles all night - possibly a habit picked up through travel, given the nasty nature of many places in Sylvania come dark. And if there are any of the nocturnal sorts about, the seem content to just watch the pair haul their friend between the wagons. At least the voice has quieted down for the moment.
Eventually they rich the center, where Madame Natasha's wagon looms.
"See," Aviri says, beginning to struggle under the weight. "Ignore it and it goes away. Ah, here we are." Gratefully he makes to set down the limp otter.
"That's what you think, longears," the voice whispers.
"The name's Aviri," the Lapi says. "And at least I have a name, Captain Uh Something!"
"If Lin don't wake up, do we offer her as a snackrifice to the witch?" Trilup whispers nervously. "Do you just knock on her door, or recite a spell or sumpin'?"
Aviri gives Trilup an odd look. "We'll try knocking first," he says. He gives the door a quick rattle with his fist. His hand is once again shaking, now that it's been freed of it's burden.
"Dis better be importan of yer gonna get cursed wit' somet'ing really unpleasant," comes a rather groggy-sounding voice from somewhere on the other side of the door.
"It be important!" Aviri says, perhaps a little too urgently.
"Prove it," comes the reply.
"Being haunted by a ghost!" Aviri attempts to say quietly.
"She'd only curse you right?" Trilup whispers to Aviri. "I didn't wake her up!"
"Most of the people in dis land is haunted by a ghost. Vhat else?" comes the reply. "An vht did you do t' annoy it?"
Aviri ignores Trilup for the moment. "Well, I took broken watch, Trilup took ivory horn, Linyala took hat. And treasure-chest that the ghost died protecting."
The door swings open and a gorggy, disheveled, feline head peers out. She looks Aviri up and down then sighs. "Y'see, if more items did dis to people dere would be a lot less thefts. Did you try apologizing to the ghost?" she asks, "An what d' ya want me t' do about it?"
Aviri says, "The person who took the chest is out cold." He gestures to Linyala. "And the ghost's been mostly asking where it is and who we are, which doesn't rub right with me. Calling me names, too. Don't you have a way to get rid of ghosts?"
"Hey, you can't just get rid of me," the ghost speaks up. "That's not how this is supposed to work.. I got unfinished business!"
"Of course, but such an approach is rather destructive. It be better if the ghost leaves of its own will over bein' obliterated," Natasha notes as she leans to the side and looks over Aviri's shoulder. "Voul' vou like bein kicked in de head until vou left town, eh? It be rude," she points out to the lapi.
Aviri sighs. "Fine, okay." He looks away from the wagon. "Okay, Mister Captain Something, what would get you to leave us alone?"
Natasha grabs something from inside her wagon, then opens the door completely. As she walks down the steps, she's tightening the tie of her worn bed-robe. "I kin make dis somewhat easier; y' should talk to dis ghost face t' face," the khatta notes, "An follow. I can't cast in de wagon; it be unhygienic to let weird spirits in yer home."
"What.. they can't even see me?" the ghost complains. "No wonder he called me 'mister'.."
Trilup picks up Lin's tail, and bites it to see if it'll wake the other Akwavi up.. her arms are tired and she doesn't want to have to keep dragging her around.
"I'll tell you what I want when I'm good and ready," the ghost also notes to Aviri.
Lin yelps and sits up, rubbing her eyes. "Huh? I'm awake! I'm awake." She looks around blearily.
"Get up 'fore the witch curses you," Trilup whispers to Lin. "We gonna go talk to the ghost or something."
Aviri glowers at the air, but otherwise remains silent. He steps aside to let Natasha do whatever it is she's going to do.
Lin picks up the hat and stands hurriedly. "So we are haunted?" She asks.
"Dunno, maybe it just likes us?" Trilup says.
"Jus stand still for a bit, I haf t' vork," Natasha says to the air. She digs in the bag she brought from her wagon, producing several colorful bottles. Colorful chalk dust, it turns out because she uses it to draw out a circle on the ground ... right around the spot she just spoke to. The inner circle is is just a simple line, but the outer circle is a series of stylized symbols expertly executed on the rough earth. "It is more the items vou carry are haunted. Vou just need a bath." the khatta notes.
"Aviri does stink a bit," Trilup notes.
From within the circle, the ghost notes, "I can't smell any of you, thankfully."
Aviri looks at the voice. "Well you didn't smell too good, either...."
Lin absently reaches down and turns a bit of the puzzle box. "You wouldn't be able ta tell me how to open this wouldja?" She asks, trying to adress the air just above the circle.
"Quiet. No more distractions," Natasha chides. She flicks her hands, gesturing for the others to back away. The khatta then draws herself up to full height and takes a deep breath. Those gathered possibly never thought magic could sound like a song; but this spell does. The language is unknown to those gathered, but it is flowing, soft with lilting accents in the words. As she sings, the characters drawn on the ground trace themselves out in a soft blue light ... then one by one, rise off the ground to swirl about the circle.
Trilup remains quiet by stuffing her fingers in her mouth, otherwise watching wide-eyed.
Lin shufles back a step and drops the hat.
Aviri obediently steps back, watching with enwrapped attention.
"If you're going to use my hat, at least take better care of it," the ghost grumbles.
Lin quickly grabs it and puts it on her head. She dusts it off and looks at the circle like it's about to shoot lightning at her.
The symbols shift and tear themselves apart as they swirl. Bit by bit a shimmering finger is born from the 'death' of the symbols; each stroke of the characters becoming a stroke in the weaving of a person within the circle. When the last stoke is make with the brush of song, Natasha says, "Now Are vou so keen on destroyin' somethin' when you kin look it in de eyes?" she asks the living that stand nearby.
The first part to become visible is a bandit's mask, then the brown eyes inside it, and slowly the rest of the raccoon. The Rath'ani woman is dressed like she was in death, although the pirate-looking attire is in much better condition, despite being slightly see-through like the rest of her. "Oh, that feels.. better.." the captain says, smiling. "Yes, much better. I'm Captain.. uh.. Silky! Yes, Silky Underthings. No.. wait.." the specter's face screws up in thought. "Pomegranate? No.. Pom.. Pom.. Silvia! Silvia Pommundersky.. Pommundersky? Yes.. that sounds right.."
"Y'aint sure?" Lin asks, taking a few steps forward to get a better look at the captain.
"Sure enough," the ghost claims. "Uh.. so.. where am I, 'zactly?"
Aviri says, "Know where you landed your ship?"
"Landed?" Silvia asks, looking confused again. "Not sure about landing. Was heading for.. for.. someplace. In Sylvania.. yes. To deliver the chest. It was important. I had to take an oath on my life.. oh, yeah, that might be why I'm a ghost.. They never tell you that part. Bloody fine print.."
Lin unties the chest and holds it out to the ghost. "So d'ye know what's in it?"
"In it?" the ghost asks, whiskers twitching (and the ectoplasm turning to vapor at the tips). "Oh, right.. IN it. In the chest! Ahh, of course.. yes.. in it.." Silvia pauses and stares out at nothing for moment. "Don't remember," she admits. "It was important though. Really.. important. For something." She scratches at her cheek, and notes, "I really want to wash my hands. Stuck in that.. stuff.. couldn't wash my hands.. where am I again?"
"Important fer somethin' a long time ago- What year was it when ye died?" Lin asks suddenly.
"Why.. uh.. 60.. 6035?" the ghost reckons, taking her hat off and rummaging around inside of it, finding nothing, then putting it back on. She then checks her pocket-watch. "That sounds right. 6035.. had to bring the box to... someone. It was important. For the war.."
"Yes, 6035 RTR, sure as my name is Silver Poodleboat," the raccoon assures.
"Was it t' aide or t' stop a Necromancer?" Natasha asks from where she stands behind the others now.
The ghost looks confused again. "It was for.. the Duke? He needed it, and.. ivory. Lots of ivory. Oh!" She points accusingly at Trilup, but is smiling. "You got the horn! I wasn't sure that would work! I knew the horn was important."
Trilup squeaks in alarm and curls into a ball.
Aviri says, "So, you need to deliver the chest ... wait, lots of ivory? You need to deliver all of that ivory to ... somewhere?"
"I think the horn was the important piece," Silvia (or Silver) says. "The rest was.. to hide it? Or maybe he was gonna pay me for it. I dunno.. the horn I remember though. That's important. The horn and the box. And my hat. I loved that hat. I think I had a baby in it? Not sure. Something was in it.."
Lin sits on Trilup and fiddles with the lock on the box. "So all we've gotta do is get yer box an horn to a duke in Silvania who'se prolly dead by now. Can I keep the hat?"
"You're a girl right?" the ghost asks Lin. "An' what are ye? I never seen your like before."
Trilup snorts at being sat upon.
"Yep!" Lin chirps and patts Trillup, "I'm an Aquavi, a scout, an one of the best sneaks in the swamp. Ye kin call me Lin."
"And soon t' be cursed for wakin' up a gypsy in the middle of the night," Natasha mutters.
"You don't think being haunted is bad enough?" Aviri asks. "Er, no offense, Captain, but you are a ghost..."
"Dis is a very polite ghost," Natasha notes.
"Well, I swore an Oath and all, and Silvan Pumpernickel never breaks her oath," the ghost swears. "And what's wrong with being haunted by me? At least I'm not one of the half-rotten, makes your water turn into blood howling all the time ghosts. But, I will be watching you while you sleep and do other things. All the time. Until my oath is completed."
"Comforting," Aviri says. "Do you remember the name of the dead duke?"
"Of course I do," the ghost insists. Then stares into space again. "He was.. the Duke of Curry. In.. Pudding.. shire.. Or something."
Aviri gives a soft groan.
Lin looks back and forth between Natasha and the ghost. "Are ye sure ye... Er... Brought her back right?" She asks hesitantly, "I don;t think she's all there."
"Blackshire," Natasha offers. "Duke Kurai."
"Yes, what she said," the ghost agrees. "I was heading there, when.. uh.. we were shot down.." The transparent Rath'ani looks a bit paler now. "That's right.. shot down by.. flaming skulls. They were screaming. Skulls. Who does that?"
"That don't quite explain how we found ya tied t'e mast with this box in yer hands." Lin remarks and pokes Trilup.
"I'm just a chair.." Trilup claims.
"Oh, of course.. that.." the captain says. "That's obvious. I had thistlebark woven into my coat. So zombies couldn't get the chest. But how'd someone detect it? Was supposed to be hidden.. oh right, the horn. The horn was to hide it.. I guess it didn't work."
"Duke Kurai vas known t' have many powerful artifacts used in the destruction of Necromancers," Natasha remarks, adding her own bit of information to the discussion. "I admit t' bein' curious t' what is in dat chest now."
"Duke Kurai is dead?" Aviri asks.
"It was something he needed, or wanted.. uh.. how'd that all turn out, by the way?" the ghost asks. "You haven't told me what year this is where I am or if the war is over?"
Lin glares daggers at Aviri and mocks his voice. "'No lin don't take the dead captain's clothes.' Ah could 'ave had a zomby-proof pirate coat!"
"It is bad luck t' wear a dead person's knickers," Natasha notes.
"And disrepectful," Aviri adds.
"It ain't all that handy when you're a ghost though," the raccoon points out. "Makes your spirit itch something awful. Pins you down.."
"Vou died seventy years ago. De war is long over. De Duke won," Natasha also summarizes.
Aviri scratches his arm. "So, the recipient's dead. How do we deliver this to a dead person?"
"Well.. I guess he didn't need-need it then," the ghost says, pouting a little. "Where's that leave me then? I was supposed to get this thing to him. There still any necromancers around?"
"Some crop every so often. One tried t' invade dis town no so long ago," Natasha answers that, "He vas destroyed."
"It's prolly bad luck to get eaten by a zomby too." Lin grumbles and rubs the hat against her head.
"Oh.. OH, you're a WITCH right?" the ghost asks, pointing at Natasha.
"Somt'ing like dat," Natasha says.
Aviri says to Lin, "But not disrespectful to get eaten by a zombie."
"We just went out looking for a zombie's house you know," Trilup points out from the ground.
"Well.. if you knew what was in the box, you could tell me what to do with it, couldn't you?" Silvia-Silver-Silvan asks Natasha.
"Quite possibly," Natasha agrees.
"Hah!" the ghost crows. "There! I just have to haunt you bunch until you get the box opened then."
"Haunt vho? Me? I no de one who rifled through ver knickers. Dat all on de water rat and twitchy," Natasha notes.
"Without setting off any of the horrible curses that have been placed on it," the ghost then adds as an afterthought. "Horrible, terrible curses. I think there was mention of shriveling, and bleeding black blood out embarrassing places."
"Some good respect'd do ya if yer dead." Lin shrugs and goes bact to picking at the puzzle lock. "Wait. So I've gotta solve this ta get you to stop hauntin' us?"
Lin drops the box on her lap.
"Well.. someone has to solve it," the ghost says, crossing her arms. "Where are we? Really, I know my memory isn't that great but I can't tell if anyone has told me yet.."
Aviri says, "Stonebarrow. You wouldn't happen to know where the key to the box is, would you? You didn't have it on you."
"Stonebarrow?" the ghost asks. "Rolling green hills, vineyards, really good wine and really short, nasty populace? Key? I wasn't given a key.. it's a puzzle lock. Key, he says!"
"Puzzles have solutions," Aviri says. "Thus, keys."
"Keys are for locks, brains are for puzzles," the ghost notes, and takes off her hat again to rummage around in it. "I know I had my brains in here.."
"Your brains are back at the ship," Aviri notes.
Lin takes off the hat and looks in it for the first time. "I hope they aren't still there." She mumbles.
"Was it medicine? Chew.. maybe it was my chew.. no.. that would stick," the ghost mutters. "Peanut brittle.. Jerky! Yes, it was jerky. Always keep some jerky on you, that's what mom always said."
"Fish jerky?" Trilup asks.
"If it really bother vou, I kin take the box an try t' open it," Natasha notes, "But vou vill owe me a favor."
"Just the thought of that makes my tongue wither," the ghost notes. "Hither? Wither? Wait a minute.. this can't be Stonebarrow! There's a big huge honking swamp we just came through! No swamp in Stonebarrow."
"De swamp is residue from de war," Natasha notes.
"A favor," Aviri says. His eyes get wide. "What degree of favor. A go-get-some-undead-mushrooms type of favor, or a clean-my-wagon type of favor?"
"A favor of my chosin'," Natasha answers in her typical vague way.
Lin snatches up the box. "Thanks but no ma'am! Ah've been messin with that lock fer hours now an nothin's happened yet. But do ye have a spare anti-curse thingey that'd keep anythin' really bad from happening? Like turning my fur blue or summin'?"
Aviri looks at the ghost, seriously considering how bad it would be to be haunted for the rest of his life. "Hey, Silvia, can you haunt all three of us at once, or do you have to, like, stick around one of us?"
"Vou vould look quite stylish in blue," Natasha remarks.
Aviri nods in agreement with Natasha's remark.
"Wait.. you mean you aren't all together?" the ghost asks. "I thought the cat-witch was your adopted mother or something.."
Lin sticks out her tongue at Natasha and jams the hat on her head.
Natasha mutters something, waves her hand ... and Lin's tongue is glowing faintly blue.
Trilup snickers but doesn't point out the change to Lin.
Aviri snerks at Lin's new look. To Silvia he says, "No, we're not a family. I'm just a Lapi that ...." he drifts off and gets an odd look on his face.
"That hangs out with two weird girls in the swamp in the middle of the night and ransacks old wrecks?" Silvia guesses.
Lin prods Trilup and stands up.
"When I was a kid, my mates and I would go after the fabled Honeydragon at night," Silvia claims, holding her hat over her heart. "Good times, good times. Ruined a lot of pants though. You just.. you just would not believe.."
"That gets dragged into things like this," Aviri says firmly. "I'm just a botanist. Not some treasure-hunting zombie-killing ghost-appeasing ... Jack. Trilup was my guide, and Lin was spying, and we had to save her."
"And vou don' enjoy it in de slightest, eh?" Natasha asks the lapi.
"Spy eh?" Silvia asks, lookint at Lin. "Explains the good taste in hats. Though.. I'd wear more than just the hat myself. But I was an early bloomer. Not sure if you Aqua-Kavi are kids or growed up or what though.."
Aviri looks at Natasha. "No, I don't enjoy it."
"Vou vill make a great politician some day wit' a face like day," Natasha remarks dryly.
"Well, it would be much more convenient for me if you all stayed together," Silvia says. "How much rope do you have? I know some good knots for tying people together."
"Ey, I too old t' be part o' dis," Natasha points out and holds up her hand, "An I know how t' dispel ghosts."
Lin hapily adjusts the hat. "We're still kids." She chirps, "Avery is old an grumpy though."
"Hmmm," Silvia says, leaning towards the edge of the circle to really look at Aviri. "I unnerstand those two," she says. "But not you, bun-bun. Why did you take my watch, Mr. Botanist?"
Aviri pulls out the broken watch and holds it up to the ghost. "I kinda like trinkets," he says. "You can have it back, if you want. It is yours, after all.... Name's Aviri, by the way. Aviri Chalk."
"De Wingnuts kin probably fix dat," Natasha remarks.
"You took it, it's yours now.. but I expect to see it all polished up," the ghost claims. "Chronotopian, that is. Given to me by.. ah.. an admirer. Willingly, I might add! I didn't have to steal it. You can't prove that I stole it!"
"Can we keep her?" Lin asks Natasha.
Aviri holds up his hands. "Didn't accuse you!" he says. He pockets the watch. "Get it as ... I'll get it as shiny as the day it was made."
"If you don't open the buy it vould seem vou are stuck wit' 'er," Natasha points out.
buy -> box
"Oh.. oh it's on the tip of my tail.. what was it..?" Silvia asks, tapping the side of her head. "The horn. Ah, yeah, the horn. Do not lick the horn! Or.. something else. The horn is magic-something. Not magicAL, but.. something. But don't lick it until you've washed it really good. Nobody ever washes things properly.."
Aviri tilts his head. He mutters "Not lick because dirty or ...?" He shakes himself. "Nevermind. Linyala, while you'd look nice in all blue, mind giving the box to Natasha to give it a shot?"
"Heh, if you were blue, we could prank Emmett," Trilup notes. "He'd think he was really drunk if he was seeing blue otters."
"Hey! I can't be a proper spy oweing everyone an'eir sister a favour." Lin clutches the box to her chest, "But that does sound pretty fun."
"Emmett is all about trading favors," Trilup says, and holds up a webbed finger, "Otter Scout Maxim 12: Owing someone a favor is as good as being owed two. See me for advanced training on why that is."
"He told me it costs two favors to get the advanced training though," Trilup admits.
"If I get your watch fixed," asks the Lapi, "can I be considered free of ... all this?" He gestures to the otters and the chest.
"Tell 'im no," Natasha suggests, "It'll be good fer 'im."
Lin smirks. "Then all ye need ta do is owe 'im a favour and you can get the advanced training." She steps over to Natasha. "I'll owe ye a favour on one condition. Make it somethin' interesting."
"If you get my watch fixed then you have a working watch," Silvia points out. "That really doesn't help me, though. That's like taking a sandwich from someone, adding mustard, then eating it and asking 'does that make you less hungry?' I may be dead, but Silvester Poppinstock is no fool. Wait.. did I say Silvester? That's not right.. I'm Sexy Pushpram.. no.. maybe you should just call me Silv and leave it at that."
Aviri frowns. "True," he says. "I'm going to hate myself for this, but for goodness' sake I'll take your favor if you give Natasha the box," he says to Linyala.
"I'm findin' dis terribly amusin'," Natasha notes, "De ghost is harmless, y' may as well keep 'er."
"Not nice to the ghost, though," Aviri says.
"Do you like dese people?" Natasha asks the spectral Captain.
"I'm very picky about neatness and cleanliness," Silv notes. "And brushing your teeth."
"But I can also tell you tales of my daring escapes fro the dread pirate.." the ghost claims, then looks confused again. "Upchuck? Le Puke? Some nasty Poodle Pirate with a Vulgar Name, in any case. Scourge of the skies and all that. Had an eyepatch and a wooden ear."
"How did 'e hear?" Natasha asks dryly.
"Through his other ear, of course," Silv claims. "It's an important lesson, kids: do not wear too many shiny earrings if your first mate is an often drunken Vartan."
"I think I'm going back ta bed," Natasha says.
"Thanks for helping us out," Aviri says to her. "Sorry for waking you in the middle of the night."
"Well me an Trilup swim a lot and have ta keep out fur clean so it doesn't get all matted up an wet." Lin says, somewhat left behind in the conversation.
"Thank you for the assistance, madam," Silv says, doffing her hat and bowing to Natasha.
Aviri asks the ghost, "Do you want to be a ghost?"
"You do have decently shiny fur, even if you're both too skinny," Silv commends the otters. "Mr. Chalk however is in desperate need of a hot bath and combing. And a change of clothes. And.. what? Do I want to be a ghost?"
Aviri nods. "Yes I am. And do you?"
"I.. don't know?" Silv responds, looking confused. "It's not like.. just.. being alive but a lot lighter. I exist for a purpose. I have to finish something. I miss eating though. And.. uh.. other things. Mostly the eating."
Lin looks at trilup conspiratorialy. "To the bath-house then?"
"Because if you don't mind being a ghost, then fine, just leave me out of it," Aviri says. He looks to Linyala. "Else, we need to complete this purpose of Silv's. Can't hold a ghost hostage against its will. Ghostage?"
"We can't share a bath with Aviri though.." Trilup claims. "Uh.. do you know how to wash clothes there? He needs his clothes washed." She then thinks to ask Aviri, "Do you know how to wash your clothes?"
Aviri says, "Yes, I know how to wash my clothes. And my body. And ... no, first." He looks to Silv. "Do you want us to complete your quest for you?"
"If you find you cannot solve the puzzle, den come see me again. But, you did start dis path, it is important you try t' finish it," Natasha says as she heads back to the wagon. "Best not t' have too many unfinished t'ings in life, or too many regrets." She pauses at her door and looks back. "An I know y' see dat ghost as a weird t'ing, or somet'ing scary. But, try t' remember dis: What you hold is precious. It is a memory of someone who once vas. Don' dismiss 'er so quickly. She died here, alone. She has been given a chance t' be remembered, to leave a small legacy. Honer dat, eh?"
"I want my purpose fulfilled," Silv says, nodding. "I took an Oath. I'm bound by it. Maybe the details of the goal are different, but.. still, the spirit is the same." She then winks. "See what I did there? Spirit is still the same? Ghost humor."
"Thanks Natasha!" Lin giggles at Silv, "I think we'll be gettin' along just fine."
Aviri sighs an almost content sigh. "Okay, good. For clarity, the goal's to get that box open, right?"
"Nope!" Silv says happily. "First the box has to be opened, then whatever is inside given to the right person to be used as it was intended."
"Let's start with the box," Aviri says. "I'm going to go home. Get cleaned, burn these clothes, maybe go on a three-year sabbatical ... meet back here after that?"
"Right'o!" Exclaims Lin. "How's about ya meet me at the bath-house soonish? I've still got cave muck in my toes an this fur don't clean itself."
"You can't go indoors like that," Silv tells Aviri. "You have to wash up first! If you were my kid coming home like that, I'd set you on fire."
Aviri says, "A good fire's the only thing that'll clean off all this," Aviri says. "Also, need some sleep. How about bath-house 'round mid-afternoon?""
"It'll be busy then," Trilup notes. "Now there'll be nobody there." She looks to Lin. "So.. do we wait, or overpower him?"
"You can still burn your clothes," Silv notes. "Lin will lend you my hat to cover yourself with."
"Sometimes force works better'n stealth." Lin grins back. "Let's go get cleaned up. We'll ave lots of time for a nap later."
"I'll burn these clothes on my own time," Aviri says. "Goodnight, the three of you. See you later." He begins trotting away toward the northern forest.
"Well, I figure Parsley can bring him fresh clothes," Trilup says.
"Should we follow him?" Trilup asks Lin.
"Get 'im!" Lyn shouts and sprints after Aviri.
Aviri immediately begins bounding away with great speed.
Soon two otters and a ghost are on the Lapi's tail! Of course, only the ghost can keep up. "You Lapi really like to run, don't you?" her voice asks. "Hey, if you're going to sleep, can I enter your dreams? I wonder if that's possible. Now I've got to try!"
Aviri doesn't reply, focusing all his energies on running as fast as he can to the forest.
"Whoa, what are we over?" Silv asks as they reach the Chalk pastures. "This is funky. Do you live here?"
Aviri slows to a trot. "Yes," he says between breaths. He continues for the forest, however, not his home.
"You live underground, in that.. but you aren't going there, right?" Silv asks. "Don't go down there!"
Aviri looks over his shoulder for Linyala and Trilup. "I'm not going down there," he says to Silv. "I'm going to clean up."
"Good," Silv's voice replies. "There's something down there. I think it would eat me."
"Well, that's where I live," Aviri says. "If you want to haunt my dreams (which I think you'll find extremely boring, anyway), you'll have to go down there."
"Can't you just stay up here, or sleep with the Aqua-Kavi?" Silv asks.
"Forrest." Lin calls back to Trilup and stops runing. "We kin follow by scent easy enough. He smells like half the swamp were distilled and poured on 'im."
"He goes into the forest?" Trilup asks as she catches up to Lin. "It's haunted and full of monsters and stuff though isn't it?"
"No, I can't," Aviri says matter-of-factly. "You'll just have to stay up here with the Aqua-Kavi if you want to haunt dreams."
"It's not that, I was just joking about the dreams, honest!" Silv claims. "But if you spend a lot of time down in that place.. it's going to hurt me. So the more you stay up here the better."
Lin follows along Aviri's scent trail. "That's where I followed 'im once. He just stared at moss and talked to himself."
"I didn't think he was that weird," Trilup notes.
Aviri looks at where the ghost's voice came from as he continues his trek into the forest. "Are you tied to me, somehow? Is it the watch? Couldn't you just ... not go down into the warrens with me?"
"I'm bound to all three of you," Silv explains. "So.. if you go down into the warrens, the big thing might find me through you."
"Unless the horn can hide you," Silv adds.
"Why are you bound to me?" Aviri asks. "What did I do?"
Lin stops abruptly. "This's silly. He kin be dirty an' booring ifn'ee wants t'be. Let's go get cleaned up and have another round at this box." She proposes to Trilup.
"You took the watch," Silv says. "It's not the watch itself.. it's the connection. The others have stopped following.. they're going to go somewhere else to wash up."
"At least the hot springs are only haunted by Gunther, and he's not a ghost or a monster.. well.. he's not supernatural.." Trilup says, agreeing.
Aviri slows a bit and looks behind him again. "You know, you might be handy. So, what's this about the horn?"
"The horn hides things," Silv claims. "Hides things from those that can see magic and spirits, I think. So it might hide things from your warren demon."
Aviri says, "That sounds extremely useful. But I'll have to have it whenever I go home....?""
Lin turns quickly and heads for the shortest route to the bath-house. "Race ya!" She chirps and takes off.
"Well, yeah," Silv claims.
"No fair, you're longer than me!" Trilup claims and races after on all fours.
Aviri heads to a small, seculded pond where he can wash up. "Hmm, might have to get an above-ground ... place, for a time," he says to himself.
Aviri says to Silv, "But I'm going to need to go down there to get some stuff. Money, books, inks, that kind of thing."
"Just get the horn from Trilup when you do," Silv asks. "You're going to wash up in some river pond instead of a hot bath? Do you belong to some weird ascetic religious sect?"
Aviri dives into the cold water fully clothed. "Not some religious sect," he says when he surfaces. "Just prefer to get clean before going home. Why, do ... did you need a hot bath to get clean?"
Already being dirty, Lin takes a shortcut through the Milkrun river and hits the Manor road looking like a ghost. She slows enough for Trilup to catch up a bit before racing off again.
"Hot bath, soap.. fluffy towels.." Silv lists, sounding nostalgic. "When I could. But I think key term to remember is soap.. plus that's where Trilup and Lin went and Trilup has the horn."
"That's not blue!" Trilup calls after the chalk-stained otter.
"Soap is at home," Aviri says. "As are a fresh set of clothes. You could tell Trilup to meet me in the chalk fields with the horn, so I could get properly cleaned."
"I haven't been cursed yet Trill." Lin calls back.
"Speaking of curses," Silv whispers to Trilup, "Aviri insists on going underground where there's a ghost-eating demon or something in order to get 'properly cleaned'.. I dunno, do Lapi require tongue-baths or something? Anyway, he needs to have the horn with him to hide his connection with me.. I hope."
"I'll never catch Lin if I have to double back now," Trilup complains. "Tell him to come get it from me. I'm tired! I had to do all the poling and stuff, while he sat in the boat."
Back at the pond, Silv tells Aviri, "She's tired and says you're lazy and should get the horn from her at the bath place."
Lin tags the end of the Mint bridge and runs a bit hardser on the home stretch, dodgeing through the little bit of early morning traffic.
The hot springs are there before Lin: washing areas, drying lines and cabinets.. and the big wooden walls of the bathing area, split into men and women's side with their own changing rooms.
Aviri swims lazily through the pond, rubbing a rough stone over his fur to try and get the gunk out. "Okay," he says. "I'll be there in a bit."
"He'll catch up later," is what Silv relays to Trilup and Lin. There's not much traffic at this hour.. mainly early risers gathering up last night's wash.
Lin is very out of breath when she tags the entrance to the springs. She takes a minute to catch her breath and let her heart settle; it's been a long day.
Trilup bounds up a few minutes later, and just slides across the waxed floor of the changing area on her belly, straight into the hot spring.
Aviri, after cleaning his own fur to the best of his abilities does his best to clean his clothes of their gunk. In this case he's less successfull, but also seems to care less.
Lin sets the box and hat on the edge of the bathing pool and hits the shower, combing through her fur with her claws to rinse out the worst of the grime. Once somewhat satisfied, she grabs some soap and flops into the main pool.
"Get all the stink out?" Silv asks Aviri.
"Enough," Aviri says, pulling the clothes back on and trotting off toward the main bathing area.
"I didn't look at the box very closely," Trilup says. "It's got turny-bits and slidy-bits and stuff right?"
"Eyeah." Lin sighs as she floats over to the box. "Should be like disarmin' one of those Wingnut traps they set around their compound."
"Just with curses," Trilup says, floating on her back with the spiral horn held to her chest. Cleaned up, it's rather pearlescent. The young otter can't help but lick the tip. And when nothing bad happens, she bites it a little. "Bleh, horn tastes like.. uh.. horn," she reports.
The box has a latch, with what looks like a set of combination dials showing various symbols.. but parts of the wood covering the top and sides also look like they could be moved.. there are even gaps, showing a darker wood underneath.
Lin gives the box a little space for the time being and soaps up until she looks like a suds monster. "I've been looking at it an fiddlein' for most of the way back. If'n the slidey parts are part of a puzzle then the dialey parts should be... A password or summin' to go woth it? Even if we get the puzzle part solved then we'll still have ta guess the passwprd. Or the puzzle hides the password, or-" She submerges her head to rinse the suds out and stop herself from overthinking the box.
"If it was a Wingnut box.. the combination wouldn't do anything but distract you I bet," Trilup suggests.
Finished for now with her grooming, Lin leans up on the edge of the pool and examines the top of the box for any bits of pattern or an inscription. "If I kin just find somethin to show me where the pieces are 'sposed to slide."
The pattern of the slats that make up the surfaces seems.. impossible. Some pieces seem to pass above and below one another without actually being above or below. But the gaps seem to be just wide enough to have something slide into it.. from any direction.
Other circular features look like they could be turned.
Lin stares dumbfounded at the box then tries to slide the pieces on the sides onto the top.
One of the slides reveals a new gap with a symbols in it. The symbol glows, and the corners of the box sprout branches (or possibly wooden tentacles) which begin to wave and flail about!
Aviri is slightly out of breath as he reaches the baths. "Silv, mind getting Trilup for me?" He asks the air.
"The girls might be a bit busy at the moment," Silv notes to Aviri. "But it's not like you haven't already seen them without clothes.. they might need your help."
Lin barks and drops the box on the edge of the pool. "Tril!" She calls woriedly.
Aviri says, "Help? In the ba ... this had better be something about that box." He enters the woman's bathing area.
The box bounces on its branch-limbs and starts to scurry around randomly along the platform surrounding the pool.
"Don't let it get me!" Trilup wails, hugging the horn and diving under the water.
Lin retreats to the middle of the pool.
Aviri looks at the scene in the baths. "Whyyyyy?" He sighs. "Trilup, I need that horn!"
The box scurries across Aviri's feet, thus failing to escape the bath.. and then settles down as the branches retract into the corners again and the tabs and sliders and spinners all rearrange themselves into a new configuration.
With the box calmed down, Trilup sticks her head out of the water again. "What? Oh, the horn.. You'll give it back though, right?" she asks.
Aviri picks up the box either fearlessly or furiously. He tucks it to the side of his damp, still partly-mucky clothing. "Yes, I'll give it back," he says. "Just need it for a bit."
"Hey!" Lin barks. "I was just startin' ta get somewhere with that. I think I'ave one of the symbols now."
Aviri says, "Last I saw you were both terrified of it, cowering in the pool while it danced circles around you."
"But I have a symbol now." Lin shoots back. "Pass it here an I'll se if the symbol matches one o' those dials."
"It just surprised us," Trilup claims.
Aviri keeps the box away from Linyala. "Think I'll hold onto it for a bit," Aviri says. "Just until I get back from gathering things from my house, okay? But I'll need the horn."
"Don;t give it to 'im." Lin growls. "He'll prolly just toss the lot in the swamp.
"If you gotta get stuff, you don't need to hold the box too," Trilup notes. "It's not right for one of us to hold everything.. that's gotta be dangerous or something. You gotta give the box back 'fore I give you the horn. What all do you have to get, anyway?"
"Fine, right. I'll give you the box if you promise to write down all the symbols you see, and what happens when you see them," Aviri says. "Okay?"
"Got somethin' to write on?" Lin asks.
Aviri says, "No, but you're creative." He hold the box out.
The Lapi turns to Trilup. "I need to get some money for a room on the surface, a few books, some pens and ink, and maybe a few other supplies. While Silv's following me around I can't rely on my house, apparently." He glares off into the air.
"You're the one sleeping in a demon's lair," Silv notes to Aviri. "You can't blame me for that."
Lin takes the box gingerly. "Silver?" She asks. "Think you could take notes on ghost papar for a while?"
"Sure!" Silv says. "I have an excellent memory, Llll.. it's Lin right?"
"Trilup," Aviri says, "can I please borrow the horn?"
Lin points to a branchey symbol on a dial. "Then take a note. Slid side pieces up, symbol was revealed, glowed, and the box sprouted tentacle twigs. Hostility undetermined, danger undetermined." She dictates to the ghost. "Let's see if'n we can get another one to show."
"Alright, but I want it back when you're done and don't poke it into anything that isn't jam," Trilup notes. "I prefer strawberry." Then she swims to the side of the pool and offers up the horn.
Aviri accepts the horn. "No promises," he says, trotting out of the baths and back toward his home.
"This reminds me of the time I went tattoo hunting on.. well, you might too young for that story," Silv says.