1765/Elements & Arcanists: Part I

Elements & Arcanists: Part I
Date of Scene:	09 March 2015
Location:	Black Shroud, Hydaelyn
Synopsis:	When Arcanists go missing, it is up to Mihk Lihzeh and her friends to figure out where they have gone too...
Cast of Characters:	56, 522, 573

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Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The Arcanist's safe house was located within the village of Quarrymill, while a few of the Wood Wailers patrolled the area, the people did not mind the fact the Arcanists were there, at least not under the guise they had themselves. Given that one member was from this area, it was easy to pass the safe house as a small merchant vendor shop that sold natural herbs from the land.

And they were known to have several workers who come and go with books that supposedly archived such locations and many of them would return with ingredients, but as of late the shop had been quiet and it was this reason a great deal of concern was growing for the underground organization. Several of its members that had been stationed out here to archive down the aetheric flow and elemental connection have gone missing for nearly a week now.

Mihk Lihzeh has a plan though, which is to call up some of those within the Confederacy and even those not connected to the Alliance, to this very location to look for clues of where they have gone, and then go out to find them. Along with pray the Twelve and Hydaelyn that they are still alive....

...where-ever they may be.

Getting there is rather easily as the paths to the very village remain rather clear and the Wood wailers tend to not look to much at the outsiders, so long as they don't cause any trouble. They don't even warn about the Woodsin either, figuring either the Outsiders have heard of it or would find out the hard way when one of the elements decides its had enough.

The safe house is quiet quaint with its wood house structure, a few vines that have grown up along the walls and even a few hanging flowers. There is a counter, along with several different pouches of herbs that can be sold, all marked to what they are. Yet it is past the door in the back and down into the cellar is where the Arcanists do their true research.

Here there are books lined along the wall, even some stacked on desks. Papers lined up, a few scattered as well. Special types of ink that seem to have a gentle glow to them and a map of the Black Shroud pinned on the wall with several notations and markings.

The question remains, where does one actually start?

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk's initial plan is thus: Enter the safehouse, look for clues and find out where the Sect frequented.

    To this end, the miqo'te has summoned whoever would come, and set off on foot through the woods, keeping close to the Wood Wailers patrol paths to lessen interaction with hostile fauna. Approaching the safehouse shopfront, she knocks on the door, then when there's no answer, speaks the unlocking word under her breath and opens the doorway, stepping inside. She holds the door open for her companions, before speaking the locking word and closing the door so they aren't disturbed.

    "Look for manuscripts, mundane books and other things that may contain logs of locations, frequent trips to a certain area, or notes on an 'interesting discovery'. If the Translation Effect does not work, then it may be important and you are to bring it to me so I can decipher the Inscription." she says, then begins moving through the building.

Ariah (56) has posed:
     Ariah isn't entirely a stranger to the Twelveswood, or at least Gridania. The witch has spent more time on the island of La Noscea than in the forest as of late, and the change of scenery is not an unpleasant shift. She glances around the shop front and starts towards the counter proper. "The main floor appears relatively undisturbed," she observes quietly, holding her staff in one hand as she examines some of the herbal pouches, being unafamiliar with the local flavors as she is. "Is there more to the building?"

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk nods to Ariah. "There is usually a room, generally in any cellar or basement level that is used to house Tomes, Arcane Ink and maps of the area. They keep a detailed record of Aetheric Activity so they can tailor their experiments to the changing ebb and flow. It also helps them to avoid angering the Elements... though they are very unpredictable at best."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
As Mihk and Ariah look about, it would indeed seem like the upper floor has not be bothered at all. The herbs also seem in very good condition still and everything is very much in order. A bit of dust here and there, but nothing out of order here on the upper floor.

The door leading to the ladder down however is unlocked though....

Ariah (56) has posed:
     "Then perhaps that is where we should look..." Ariah suggests, leaving the herbs be on the counter. "This seems a busy enough shop. Or did. HAve the locals not sent anyone to investigate the sudden loss of an apothecary, or were those stationed here the sorts to hunt for herbs and Aetheric readings for days at a time? Their absence surely has gone noticed by more than just your Guild. Which may be for good or ill..." she says quietly, fingertips idly stroking over the runes on her staff.

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    "Mmm, indeed, let us check the cellar then." replies Mihk. "As for the locals... while it is odd the entire Sect has vanished, they have been taught to leave the building looking entirely abandoned if they send multiple people to a site of interest." she replies. "Any that remain behind are to lock themselves in the Sanctuary until the door is released from its magical lock."

    The Miqo'te tests the cellar door, then nods, opening it and beginning to descend. "However, we would have encountered them by now, as I had to release the lock to enter."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Once down in the cellar, it looks rather untouched as well (see opening pose for room description). Nothing seems out of place or has been rummaged in a rush. Though this may be indeed the best place for clues, given the books, papers, and map. It is the question of where one would want to start in this place.

Ariah (56) has posed:
     "Standard operating procedure has been breached, then. For what reason... that is what we're here to find out," Ariah says quietly. Then again, she's just about always quiet. "If the door was locked, they left in a hurry? But the state of things makes little sense..." she seems to be thinking aloud and speaking to Mihk all at once. When they arrive in the cellar she makes her way immediately towards the map. Her lack of knowledge about aetheric currents and Eorzean magic means something as visual as a map that she can read gets her full attention.

     And so the witch carefully approaches it and furrows her brow, trying to make heads or tails of the notes and points on it. At the very least she's studied maps of the realm and can make out where things are for the most part.

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk nods, and goes to the table, peering at the ink wells, then opening on of the books left out. "Are there any markings on the map that might indicate a point of interest?" she asks, as she leafs through the book, skimming the contents quickly with ears perked forwards, tail swishing in consentration.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
Mihk would find little in the book of note worthy to why they are missing. Just someone's scribbled notes about Sylph behavioral patterns and possible internal conflicts.

Ariah studies the map of the Black Shroud and will find it notes the shifting of the ground patterns as sketches can be seen on the notes of possible of how locations once looked before Hydaelyn came into the Multiverse. Including one of the shrouds completely scratched out.

It also looks like a location has been circled with a large circle with 'Ekder Primal Odin' written next to it not far from here along with a few other locations circled of possible interest, though what those interests are is hard to say, beyond 'heavy aetheric flow. Possible taint. Conjurer presence high probability'.

Ariah (56) has posed:
     Ariah studies the map for a few moments more before addressing Mihk. "I am not sure. There are numerous marks and points. You may be able to discern their importance moreso than I could," she admits. "The mention of an 'Odin' concerns me, but in your world I have doubts that he is a Norse deity.." she adds. "Ground shifting. Conjurer presence. Taint potential. Heavy aetheric flow. An entire region of the forest here seems to be written over..." she nods to the section of the Shroud scratched out entirely. "...could that be a point of concern?"

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk sighs, closing the book and moving onto another one. "They kept detailed notes, which is good." When Ariah speaks up, Mihk goes ridgid and looks up suddenly. Rounding the table, she looks at the map, adjusting her glasses. "Odin is hiding... but the ground shifts and heavy aetheric flow are concerning... as is an entire Shroud being written out like that." she glances back to her book. "The Sylphs are apparently undergoing some internal strife as well... and if the Conjurors are becoming active, that could mean the Elements are getting angry... We take the map, and leave immediately. I will send a missive to the Guild Master and the Council to have a new sect installed here to act as a base camp. For now, we will take this back to the Confederacy, and draw up a plan of action."

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
As Mihk goes to gather up the map, Ariah will notice there is something written on the backside of the map, as it actually looks like another map entirely with some written words around it. If she is to get Mihk's attention about this, it is easy to tell the ink is written with some type of magical effect that makes it hard to actually read.

Is this what they were looking for?

Ariah (56) has posed:
     Ariah continues to glance around the basement, eyes drifting across the tomes before back to the map. "At the very least, it will give us locations to check and perhaps something to pass on to your superiors as well for the next group to be installed here. I am, however, not pleased with the loss of your compatriots." Then she pauses, her head tilting slightly to the side when she sees the back of the map. "Mihk, put the map on the table, face down. There is something on it, but I do not think I am able to read it."

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk blinks, and sets the map down so the secondary map can be seen. A brow quirks, then nods slowly. "This is what I was looking for. This is an Inscription." she explains to Ariah, looking at the vampiress then back to the Inscribed map.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
The map is much like the one on the front, but different locations have been circled. The notes here speak about these areas. They talk about the elemental movements and how it impacts the aetheric flow. It also talks about at these locations the elements are the most connected to the land, with a rich source of aetheric energy.

It also talks about the "Guardians Of The Shroud" and some drawings have been made of these large size living trees, seeming to protect these locations. Including these locations are somehow connected to the "Life Stumps" as the Seed Seers call them to allow them to commune to the Elements.

There seems to be then a note pointing to a Book number 1778 as a reference source and testing needing to be done at an old site that has been uncovered.

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk reads the notes. "Guardians of the Shroud, Life Stumps... by the Twelve, if this is true... those fools may be in grave danger." She points Ariah over to one shelf. "Book 1778, I spotted it in my initial survey of the room. Large, red bound tome with dark brown leather straps."

Ariah (56) has posed:
     The notes Ariah can read, she reads. The rest? She lets Mihk explain. She's patient, and she's interested, deeply interested. When the mention of the book comes, however, she looks away from the map and around at the tomes stacked and shelved. "Did they not take it with them?" she asks, moving towards the shelf, her staff tapping quietly on the floor. "It sounds as if they were investigating one such Guardian? What are these Guardians of the Shroud and Life Stumps?" she queries, carrying the book back over to the map.

Gaius Van Baelsar (522) has posed:
When the book is opened, it talks about the living trees of the shroud and how all life here seems to be connected to the Elements in some way, just as all living things are connected to Hydaelyn. Though a note is written on the side: "Even Primals??"

However as a few more pages are flipped through going into the Guardian's structures, several other creatures, the Sylphs, the natives of the Shroud, but there are suddenly pages missing. Cut out with a note on the page that is remaining saying: "Elements and Aether are the same. Its mathematically sound, all equations say it can be done, and chance of failure comes out low. I will prove it to everyone, that we are the masters of Hydaelyn and these people don't have to fear the woodsin any longer."

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Reading the notes, Mihk's ears fall slowly flat against her head. "Twelve cursed fool." she says tightly, gritting her teeth as she closes the book, securing it and the map in her travel satchel. "We must prepare a search team and come back with a fully armed escort... my compatriots are planning something foolish and highly dangerous, but we cannot hope to stop them alone."

Ariah (56) has posed:
     Ariah's usually neutral expression turns a shade more dour as she reads and then listens. "Acts like these will only serve to further sow seeds of hatred and distrust towards all Arcanists. I can see where they are trying to help, but this is not the way to do so. We will most certainly require further aid, yes." She takes a breath, then exhales it, a ghost of a sigh. "Is there anything else we should take with us? Further reading on the Guardians? Any of these notes?"

Mihk Lihzeh (573) has posed:
    Mihk takes a look around the room, pulling a seemingly random assortment of tomes from the bookshelves and adding them to her satchel, before reaching for a bottle of the glowing ink. She ensures this is sealed before putting it in a pouch. "I have taken various notes on the Sylphs, the Guardians and the Elements that have been collected... I only pray we can find and stop them before they anger the Elements and cause more harm to Gridania."

Ariah (56) has posed:
     "My hopes are along those lines as well. We do not need people hating Arcanists further for the foolish acts of the few..." Ariah says grimly. "...I know how such can be first hand. Let us make haste to the Citadel and gather allies?" she looks to Mihk, both hands firmly holding her staff now. "I still wish to discuss further the flow of Aether here in the wood in the future and do some experimentation of my own, just not alone. But first, for our pressing matters."