Part 76: Understanding

Chapter 8: Understanding


Please, come in. It’s so cold in the lake, I wish you would come and warm me up.
Sorry, but I think that’s a really bad idea.
Pretty please? You won’t do it for me?
You drown people!
Maybe I won’t, for you.
…Damn it.



You wade out to the lake woman and take her in your arms. Her skin is soft but very cold. The lake spirit moans softly as she holds you closer and closer and tighter and tighter, then pulls you down into the lake.



*Glub glub*



Hey wait, do you have any “sorrow?”
What are you talking about, hunk? All I need is a little warmth from a nice, big man like yourself.
But you drown the men, right? Don’t you ever feel lonely?
I don’t know what you’re talking about, honey. It’s so nice here in the water. Why don’t you join me?
I’d really rather not. I picked some flowers earlier, though. But wait, I can’t get close enough to…well, here, I’ll just float them over to you.
Flowers? For me? No one has ever brought me flowers before. I guess I shouldn’t try to drown you now, since you’ve been so kind.
Really?



You wade out to the lake woman and take her in your arms. Her skin is soft but very cold. The lake spirit moans softly as she holds you closer and closer and tighter and tighter, then pulls you down into the lake.



*Glub glub*



…You still shouldn’t come in, though. I might still take you under if you did.
Good to know.
You don’t think I’m some kind of monster, do you? I mean, just because I’m undead and try to drown people, you don’t think I’m bad?
You can’t help what you are, I guess. Still, do you know why you’re undead? According to my magazine…
Died drowning? I guess that makes sense. I can’t really remember that much from before I was a rusalka, though. I seem to recall that there’s a town to the northeast of here. I must have lived there once.
That’s all? You can’t even remember your name?
Sorry. I’ve been a rusalka for so long, I’ve forgotten.
You don’t have to apologize to me. It must be kind of sad to live like that, though.
You know, it’s funny. Now that you mention it again, it really does feel lonely. Any time anyone nice comes along, I pull him into the lake and drown him. Once he’s drowned, he’s not much company, I’m afraid.
I’d hope not, since it’d probably be worse if he was. So what’s living in the lake like?
This lake is surrounded on three sides by steep mountains. To the southwest, it merges with the swamp. You should know that the lake is not a safe place to swim. Many unpleasant things lurk in the deep water.
And one very pleasant thing, you should add.
Thanks.
So have you been down to the swamp?
Not if I can help it. The swamp is a creepy place. Dead things lie under the water and try to drag the living underneath. Kind of sounds like my job description, doesn’t it?
Hey, you do it way better than they ever could.
Hee hee, you’re going to make me giggle if you keep that up. Anyway, the things in the swamp are a whole lot nastier than I am, so be careful there. Some of them crawled into the lake from the swamp one day. They remind me of worms and give me the creeps.
They don’t bother you, do they?
Aside from being completely gross? Not really. I don’t think they’re interested in undead like me.
It’s been nice talking to you, but I should probably get going now.
Please come visit me again sometime. It’s nice to have a friend to talk to, you know?
I do. I really do.


*Giggle*

Hey, the bush is giggling now.


*Plink*


*Plin—oh hell, you get the idea, right?*


Two and two and two make six; a little bush is in a fix. If you save a plant from goo, I can help you with a clue.
Plant? But there are tons of plants around here. Is it a bush, like that weird thing me and Al found back when the two of us were wandering around?
Oh, you’re just guessing. I want you to bring me a shrubbery! Leshy not play ring-around, leshy want plant gooed to ground.
Guess I’ll go look around for some goo, then.


Look familiar? Directions from town are one west and about four south, then a right from the swamp.

A delicately-crafted bonsai bush looks totally out of place in a pool of dark, unhealthy-looking goo.

I was hoping I wouldn’t have to be back here for a long time. I’m still a little greasy in spots from the slide down. Sure looks like a tiny plant over there under the ledge, though. Hey, maybe I can try out my magic here! Let’s see…oh, Force Bolt!



Ha, it worked! But it’s still over there. Oh, that’s right. Fetch the bush!


Your magical lasso encircles the bonsai bush, and gently draws it out of the grimy goo. You carefully clean the plant, then put it away.

Got it. Ew, it’s still all covered in goo. Wait a sec, is this the “grue goo” doc was talking about?


I’ll just grab some anyway. Still don’t know what I’d need a re-watering or whatever potion for.

The way that the fighter/paladin normally solves this puzzle is by throwing rocks at the blockage. For them, this causes the bush to slide down the rock into reach. The thief has to climb up to the ledge above (which is also how you get back to the cave as well) and use the grappling hook to fish the bonsai out of the goo.


Same pattern as last time.

Hey, leshy. I got the plant. So what did you want me to do with it?
Six and seven make thirteen; plant it in a garden green. Flowers bloom and waters flow; plant the bush where it will grow.
Alright, I think I got the idea.


Hey, it’s a wyvern!


Wyvern Battle. Wyverns are rather annoying to fight, though at least less so than necrotaurs. They can throw fireballs at range or close and attack with fangs or tail. That last is the most annoying, since being stung poisons the hero with a very long-lasting poison. Also, if you’re wondering why the Zap spell icon is green, that’s what happens when you have it active.

Ah, here we are. Looks like you might have done some good after all, doc.


You plant the bonsai in the hole and scrape some of the rich soil around it. In moments the bush begins to grow and blossom before your eyes!


Cool.


Oh great, now the bush is hiding behind another bush.
Nyaah ni nah ni naah nah!


*Shuffle shuffle shuffle*


Oops! Hi there.


Three and three and three make nine; who lives among the watery brine? Fishy, squishy riddles make, tell me now who’s in the lake?
The rusalka, right? I was just talking with her.
One and two and three make six; who hides her hut behind trick sticks? Magic Message: “Bushes hear!” End the rhyme with “Disappear!”

So you need to get in with a rhyme? Haven’t I already done that kind of thing before? Oh well, it’s getting dark now.


You know, there’s something I’ve always wanted to do.


Now that I know how to climb, I think I might actually pull it off.


Hah, I can climb over the gate now! I really am awesome!

You have the sensation of someone watching you. You sense curiosity and no immediate danger.

Hang on, is there someone out here?
Don’t worry, it is only me. It is good to see you again. I hope you are enjoying your visit to Mordavia.


Meeting with Katrina. If you think you've heard this track before, you're not far off.

Oh, it’s you, Katrina.
You need to take better care of yourself, you know. It is very dangerous out at night. Why, you’ve been injured! Take this and drink it, it should help. I would be most displeased…I mean, sorry, if something were to happen to you.
A healing potion? But it’s just a little scratch. And a couple puncture wounds where the wyvern stung me.
Come to me; I have something to show you.
Alright. Is this close enough?
Perfect. Now, I warned you it is dangerous here at night, and you do not listen. I intend to teach you a lesson.
Is it a very—

A strange feeling sweeps over your body. You realize that you now know the Frostbite spell.
Wow, how did you do that?
Oh, just an old Share Spells technique I…learned from my family. Perhaps that spell will help keep you alive, when I am not around.
Well thanks. By the way, I don’t think I introduced myself last time. I’m Nike von Slartibartfast, hero of three realms, although you might know me better as “Little Ilya,” formerly of the town of Mordavia.
“Little Ilya?” No, I’m afraid I haven’t heard much about the town’s inhabitants. You see, I live in the castle with my new Master, and seldom get out to the town.
New Master? But I thought the castle was uninhabited until just four years ago. Wouldn’t you have come here with the new owner?
The castle was once home to the Borgov family. My family once served them and so I am allowed to live there. I imagine the place would have crumbled to the foundations if we had not been there to take care of it.
Huh, I thought Papa would have said…well, never mind. So what about you? You told me yourself that Mordavian nights are dangerous. So how come a lovely young girl like you can feel safe enough wandering up to the town gate?
I am very good at spotting dangerous creatures and avoiding them. But I need to go now. I hope we can meet again soon. I enjoy your company.

Before you can think to follow her, the young peasant girl has disappeared into the forest.

Nuts, she’s gone. I wish I could have talked to her more. She seems so interesting.


Ah well.


I’m sure I’ll *yawn* see her again.


You are at the heart of all magic. You are filled with power and the knowledge of how to use it. You create flowers dancing around you. Trees fill their branches with magical fruit as you touch them. You dance in a circle and the very ground itself radiates peace and harmony. You sing the message of your heart, and the magic echoes around you a song of love and happiness. Then you realize that it is not you doing this. It was someone else back in time.


You hear that voice calling you again. Darkness surrounds you, eats at you. The voice calls out again, and you are afraid. It calls from the center of the Darkness, drawing you nearer and nearer. The Darkness sucks at you, pulling you toward the voice as it flays all warmth and life from you. You scream.


It’s a she, I know it is. But the dream…wait, what was the dream about again?