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Storyline & Lore
"Stick Together" Path
The quest you are given in the following step is based on a previous choice you made.
If you chose to gather herbs with Sirona in Chapter 7 Page 21, you must find 10 wolves while exploring.
If you chose to explore with Lorcan in Chapter 7 Page 21, you must explore to destroy 10 herbal patches.
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A patch of herbs are growing here... These should probably be taken care of quickly.
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| Destroy Herb Patches |
You destroy the herbs, tearing the plant until it's useless and unrecognizable. The tangy scent of dying plants fill the air. |
-/10 herb patches destroyed so far |
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Chapter 9 Page 22b
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"But--" She makes an aggravated noise, then looks back toward the clearing, as if considering something. With a sigh, she turns away.
"Let's find 10 herb patches. That will make them happy." / "Lets each find 10 wolves and give them the news. That will make them happy."
0/10 herb patches destroyed in explore / 0/10 wolves told in explore
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You return with Sirona, having destroyed every herb patch you saw.
You pad into the clearing, and the intense eyes of the Faelcu burn into your pelt.
Quany sits quietly, watchin your approach intently, his face stoic.
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Chapter 9 Page 23b
This page will only appear if you previously chose to seek out other wolves with Lorcan
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Chapter 9 Page 23c
This page will only appear if you previously chose to gather herbs with Sirona
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You return with Sirona, having told as many wolves as you could that the herbs are poisonous and not to be trusted.
You pad into the clearing, and the intense eyes of the Faelcu burn into your pelt.
Quany sits quietly, watchin your approach intently, his face stoic.
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"Well, well," Radha snickers. "The herb-chewer actually did it.
"You're no better than any other mortal, are you?" Ailbhe taunts. "In the end, you'll always do what benefits you."
Sirona simply stares at them, her eyes glazed.
"That's quite enough," Quany growls, moving to stand by her side. "They've done what you asked; isn't it time to hold up your end?"
"So impatient," Ailbhe tuts. "First...you'll make a promise."
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Chapter 9 Page 24b
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Chapter 9 Page 25b
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"For a wolf who isn't a part of their pack, you sure are invested in them, aren't you?" Radha seems to study you, almost as if you're a mystery to them.
"Don't try to figure mortals out, Radha. Let's be done with this; they're grating on my last nerve." Ailbhe strides forward and stands before Quany and Sirona. Their energy has changed...you're not quite sure how to describe it, but the air prickles with electricity.
Radha joins them, and with one swift motion, they press their noses against those of your friends. Both Sirona and Quany go rigid and shiver briefly as though a cold wind had touched them.
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You move to shove your friends away from the Faelcu, but the beings step back as your friends blink and return to normal once again.
You can only stare, dumbstruck and confused, as the Faelcu look pleased with themselves.
"There. Now you are bound. An Aonta will not easily be broken, now," Ailbhe says.
"What...what was that?" Quany repeatedly wipes a paw over his face, as if trying to rid it of something.
"A contingency. We'll not easily give our trust to your kind again. If you break this oath, your suffering will be great."
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Chapter 9 Page 26b
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Chapter 9 Page 27c
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"It means, nosy mortal," Radha snaps agitatedly, "that their word is bound to us now. They can't break it."
Quany growls. "You have so little faith in us?"
"I'll not listen to you announce how you never break your word, so save it, elder. We've been burned before and we learned our lesson. Now, if you don't follow through...well..." Ailbhe leaves the word dangling, letting their intention speak for itself.
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"If we were, do you think you could do anything about it?" Radha snarls. "We're just telling the truth. They can't break their word now."
Quany growls. "You have so little faith in us?"
"I'll not listen to you announce how you never break your word, so save it, elder. We've been burned before and we learned our lesson. Now, if you don't follow through...well..." Ailbhe leaves the word dangling, letting their intention speak for itself.
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Chapter 9 Page 27d
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Chapter 9 Page 28b
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"Don't be preposterous; you've only just begun."
Unease twists in your gut. Have you been tricked?
"Just begun? Stop playing games. I'm tired of this." Sirona has regained her composure and faces the Faelcu head on. "I'm not a pawn!"
"You have no choice. It's not like it's hard," Radha sniffs. You just have to make sure those herbs stay dead."
Sirona's eyes widen and she tries to speak, but no sounds comes out.
"So you want an herbalist to destroy herbs." Quany's words are measured but there's a warning behind them.
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"She will," Ailbhe insists. "She wants her packmate back, doesn't she?"
No one speaks for several moments you can't read Sirona's face, and Quany looks like he tasted something sour.
"My packmates...you'll give them back? If I agree to go against everything I know and keep the herbs destroyed...you'll release them?"
"A deal is a deal," Radha says, then adds: "And unlike you, we keep ours."
The herbalist seems conflicted. If she does what they say, she gets her family back, and her pack is protected. But that means every other wolf outside of her pack is in danger.
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Chapter 9 Page 29b
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Chapter 9 Page 30b
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Emboldened by your encouragement, she lifts her head high and stares the Faelcu down.
"Fine. You have my word. Now give me Conall and Lowen back."
The Faelcu's laughter rings out, sending a shiver down your spine. Did they find this funny?
"You expect us to give you both? Greedy, greedy mortals. You may choose one."
Sirona leaps at them, snapping her jaws so close to Ailbhe's snout that they jerk back in surprise.
"You said you'd give them back! Now who's the oath breaker?"
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Radha turns to you with a furious expression.
"We said you could have them back. We never said how many." Turning their back on you, Radha shoves Sirona back from Ailbhe roughly.
"Since we're feeling generous, you get to choose. Who will it be?"
Sirona's eyes are wide and her mouth is opening and closing, quite like a fish. It's like she's attempting to speak but can't. How on earth can she choose?
Conall, her mate and leader of the Chaorainn pack...or Lowen, her precious son and mate to her dear friend Maeve?
In her uncertainty, she looks at you. Is she really asking for you to choose?
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Chapter 9 Page 31b
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Chapter 9 Page 32c
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She nods, resolute.
"Give Lowen back to us."
Without hesitation they spin and head toward the cave. As they reach the entrance, they look back at Sirona.
"Remember your word, herbalist."
"We will be watching."
They disappear into the inky darkness and the lights begin to dance. The air is heavy, weighing you down. Then suddenly it's gone, as if it was never there in the first place. The inky darkness of the cave retreats, and it now looks like a normal cave.
You look back and forth between Quany and Sirona. Where is Lowen?
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She nods, resolute.
"Give Conall back to us."
Without hesitation they spin and head toward the cave. As they reach the entrance, they look back at Sirona.
"Remember your word, herbalist."
"We will be watching."
They disappear into the inky darkness and the lights begin to dance. The air is heavy, weighing you down. Then suddenly it's gone, as if it was never there in the first place. The inky darkness of the cave retreats, and it now looks like a normal cave.
You look back and forth between Quany and Sirona. Where is Conall?
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Chapter 9 Page 32d
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Chapter 9 Page 33c
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You see movement at the cave entrance, and call out. A wolf stumbles out, one you don't recognize, but you know from Sirona's reaction that this must be Lowen.
"Lowen!" She runs forward to greet him, nose to nose. He looks well, if a bit confused.
"Wait...what are you doing here, mom?" His eyes travel to Quany, and to you. "And Quany? Who is this other wolf?" Sirona doesn't answer, too busy looking him over for any sign that he's anything other than perfectly healthy.
"It's good to see you, Lowen." Quany steps forward and touches noses with him. "You've been missed."
"Missed?" Lowen's brow furrows. "I just went to scout the lower area of the territory. I haven't been gone long."
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You see movement at the cave entrance, and call out. A familiar wolf stumbles out, and you gasp.
"Conall!" Sirona runs forward to greet him, nose to nose. He looks well, if a bit confused.
"Sirona, what are you doing here? And Quany too?" His eyes land on you and widen in surprise. "____! It's good to see you but...I feel like I'm missing something." He watches Sirona as she looks him over for any sign that he's anything other than perfectly healthy.
"It's good to see you, Conall." Quany steps forward and bow his head respectfully to his leader. "You've been missed."
"Missed?" Conall's brow furrows. "We only went out for a short search." He looks up at the sky, as if assessing the time. "We've only been gone for a little while."
Sirona stops fussing over him and looks at him quizzically.
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Chapter 9 Page 33d
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Chapter 9 Page 34c
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"Remember what?" he snaps at you, getting agitated now.
Sirona takes over, gesturing back toward their home. "Why, you agreed to meet up with Maeve! Honestly, it's a wonder you remember you have a mate."
Lowen brightens. "Oh! Yes...I'm sure I did. I must have lost track of the time. She'll rip me a new one." He takes off at a lope, and Sirona hurries after him, shooting you a smile as she disappears.
"Well, that's a blessing in some way," Quany says to you. "At least we know if anything bad did happen when he was with them, he doesn't remember."
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"Remember? ____, what are you going on about?" he demands, his demeanor changing to one of frustration. He can tell something is off.
"Never mind ____," Sirona replies, gesturing back toward their home. "The lights have addled their brain. You're needed at home."
He smiles at his mate, nuzzling her fondly. "Very well. Let's go."
Without a backward glance, they trot side by side back to their territory.
"Well, that's a blessing in some way," Quany says to you. "At least we know if anything bad did happen when he was with them, he doesn't remember."
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Chapter 9 Page 34d
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