• Solo • Starter Quest: Eerie Passages

[Lykla Gofrith]

Two trials prior, Kiljan looked askance at Lykla, and lifted a brow at the young Gofrith. "It's a bit against the grain, is all." He stated of the lad's purported intention to join the Aesir. "For a Gofrith to join the priesthood. And not even as a freebooting shaman, but a loremaster? Nose stuck in books?"

Lykla, at the time, couldn't disagree more. Treasaure and pursuit of riches and power were entirely Gofrith traits. And one could not separate the need for pursuing knowledge from an actual search foro artifacts. But he said none of this to him. In truth, although he respected Kiljan, he wasn't going to argue what being a Gofrith was to ohis would-be mentor. "I'm joining the Aesir. I can do it with your guidance or without."

Lykla held up his iron ring, the one bearing the stone of Vynmur's test. "I am a student of Riverlore. This is my path, set out from that Hesterfore where you'd guided me through the trials. I..."

Kiljan held up his hands, and nodded his head in surrender. "There's no need to lose your head over it. You are obviously determined to see this through. I've already made up my mind in truth..."

"Then you'll help me?" Bright red colors filled the irises of Lykla's eyes as he absorbed the meaning of Kiljan's words.

"I have a task for you first. Go into your family's library." Kiljan smiled, his eyes distant as he thought over the instruction, "There will be tomes about the lineage of your family. Index and find information on Gluenlep Gofrith, and his diary should be somewhere near the dustier sections of that library."

"Er... Gluenlep..." Lykla scratched the back of his neck, his eyes shading from bright red to a more purple shade of concern and uncertain intrigue. "That's very specific, Kiljan. Why..."

"Just find the information. The purpose of this is to test your patience and discipline through research. You'll be poring over many papers and maps and scrolls if you're intent on becoming a Loremaster."

And so, Lykla, a few trials afterward, found himself in a less trafficked section of the library. Mostly it was filled with boring logbooks and detailed accounts of the ill-fated travels of lesser known Gofrith. He searched through many of the indexes that were kept in these libraries, poring over stacks of scrolls and books, and pieces of parchment. Scanning for that elusive name, Gluenlep. Who were they? Clearly enough, they were known to Kiljan, but for what purpose would he have Lykla search for that strange name.

If nothing else, he was intrigued, and his eyes shifted between neutral gray and the intrigue of a dull purple as he scanned the papers. If nothing else, he was learning more about the method of keeping travel logs for his ancestors.

[Lykla Gofrith]

The shing shing of Rhianshi preparation knives were always the sweetest music to Lykla's ears, whenever he chanced to visit the kitchen of The Gull's Roost, his ancestral home and one of the strongholds kept by House Gofrith. Scrimshaw Jinks, as they called him, a mer chef stood over the stone cutting board, carving up fish, vegetable, and herbs alike with masterful precision. There were times, watching him, Lykla almost thought he'd chosen the wrong profession. That perhaps he ought to take up as a chef in some fancy Rhanshi kitchen in the capitol of Melrath under an assumed identity, forget he was a noble and just live for the creation of beautiful fish dishes.

His mouth watered as the fish were fileted, not a bone left to them as he discarded what wasn't needed from the catch of the day. Lykla sometimes was tempted to ask him what this cut was, or where that fish was caught from, and how he sharpened his knives, or where he found the amazing ingredients for his myriad of Rhianshi sauces. He would've asked more often if he wasn't sure Jinks would make him part of the menu out of sheer annoyance.

Jinks appeared entirely too skilled with those blades.

However the mer didn't mind talking once the job was done, and so when the plate of Rhianshi rolls, stuffed with bluefish, seasoned rice, and topped with a creamy hot sauce and herbal garnish, he was open to talking. "So... Kiljan sent me after this name in the ledgers of my family... I've been asking everyone about it all day, and they all look at me like I'm crosseyed. I swear there's something to it, if everyone is so up tight about the name... Guenlep."

Jinks looked at Lykla for a moment, and for another moment Lykla thought he was going to finally make good on his previous threats of turning Lykla into the very first biqaj Rhianshi feast. Instead, he scoffed, and chuckled. "Kiljan eh?"

Lykla nodded, but politely didn't speak up as he was chewing on one of the rolls, after having dipped it in the creamy hot sauce. His eyes colored curiously as he watched Jinks turn that over in his mind.

"Are you daft, boy?" He stated it as bluntly and solidly Lykla had ever heard.

"What do you mean?"

"What kind of biqaj, nay what kind of Gofrith doesn't know what the hell Guenlep is?"

"What?"

"It's a seaweed, you idiot boy."

Lykla stared, and swallowed, "A..a seaweed? You mean... Guenlep..."

"It's just a weed. Useful, one at that, but not a person." Jinks said, and then left Lykla to chew on that, shaking his head as he stalked off to the backroom of the kitchens.

Lykla finished his plate in record time, and felt supremely embarrassed. He'd not paid much attention during their lessons on the various water flora during their childhood, taking much more interest in the histories and values of precious gems and metals. Well, he decided, he'd have to rejig his whole approach to the investigation. This time, at least, he had a frame of reference for the first two passages in the riddle.

Eerie Errie where it is dark as can be
Bring along Gluenlep so you can find the key

He'd need a light, or perhaps need to use gluenlep for something else entirely in order to find the key. First order then, was to learn more about Gluenlep. And he knew just where to find out.

[Lykla Gofrith]

It didn't take much convincing to persuade some of the resident fishermen working for his father to accompany the young Gofrith on his sloop. In exchange, they'd promised to tutor him on some of the finer points of waterbound survival. But really, what Lykla was most interested in learning about, was the specific uses of Gluenlep. He stayed mum on the topic for a while, just following their instruction as he went to work on the various tasks of driving his ship. The sloop was a good craft for its type, and many of the fishermen were eager to try their hands at landing a catch on such a finely equipped vessel as the Gofrith's boat.

So he went about the rest of the trial setting the rigging for the sails, and getting it underway. He of course manned the steering wheel of the boat, as the most skilled navigator among them. Add to that, he knew his ship and its capabilities. Meanwhile, the men went about their business casting their nets and rods, and waiting for something to bite.

Fishing was busy work for the set-up and payoff, but there were long stretches between those two points where one had much too much time to talk, to think, and to waste time.

Some of the fishermen got to playing dice with each other. Lykla found one that was apart from the other, and greeted him, "Hello, I'm Lykla."

The man was older, with a mop of salted black, shaggy hair and a beard. He stuck out a stern hand for the young noble to shake. Which he took. ""ello milord."

"So, I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind, showing me the basics of harvesting Gluenlep?"

The fisher looked at him a moment in wonder, and then nodded. "Well, we usually bring up some with the nets and fishing lines. Not a large amount, but enough to keep us going on gluenlep supplies for a while."

Lykla nodded, and the fisher went on. "Gluenlep is good y'see for keeping torches and lanterns lit, and can also be a good for a dizzy spell, like when you've spent a long time atop a mast. It's also been a stand by for some of the new sailors, sufferin' sea sickness."

This made more sense, with regard to the passages. If Gluenlep needed to be used to find the key, it might be in a dark area as the rhyme insisted. And perhaps there was a dizzying narrow walk way, through which you'd want to stave off vertigo in order not to fall to one's doom. Both were distinct possibilities, and Lykla wasn't liable to discount either. So he'd have to prepared.

By the end of the day, they'd dredged up a good amount of the Gluenlep from the bottom of the Vynmur river. It shone, and glowed in the afternoon gloom as the suns went down. Lykla had some of the fishermen put the gluenlep in coopers barrels, with adequate moisture to preserve them.

The fisher that had been conversing with Lykla spoke to him afterward, "I wager you've probably eaten Gluenlep, in yer fancy Rhianshi dishes that Jinks likes to kick up."

Lykla nodded, "Probably, that would explain the faint glow of some of those sauces... But anyway. Thanks for the lessons. You all can keep the fish to yourselves and your families."

The fisher and his mates nodded in thanks, "Thanks milord. Our families will keep yer in our prayers tonight."

Although he didn't know it yet, Lykla would probably need those prayers.

[Lykla Gofrith]

Rewards Requested

Notes/Warnings: Nah

Thread: Starter Quest: Eerie Passages
City/Area: Melrath Cities and Villages

Renown: nope
Collaboration: No

!	Message from: Kasoria
	Done!

[Kasoria]

Lykla Gofrith

Ooooooh now THIS is gonna be fun! Definitely gave me Indiana Jones/National Treasure vibes! Kudos for nor rushing and keeping things at a brisk yet measured pace. Fine way to tell a story that I'm sure will span plenty of threads.

• XP: 10
• Knowledges:
  • Investigation: One of the best places to find information include libraries.
  • Investigation: Beware of the red herrings presented by mischievous souls
  • Seafaring: Setting the rigging for a sloop, and hoisting the sails and such.
  • Field Craft: Gluenlep is good for keeping torches and lanternslit, burning longer than most fibers.
  • Field Craft: Gluenlep is good for staving off vertigo from heights or dizzyness or nausea.
  • Field Craft: Gluenlep is identifiable by its glow and salty-lemon taste.