Paradise Cove
Our Heroes woke up the next morning to see an old fisherman with a bushy mustache and a large hat shading his eyes from the early morning sun. In a deep raspy voice, he asked them why the slept on the beach when the main inn was just up the road. In the sunlight, they could see it was the first building in the village above. He in returned is asked about mermaids and why the mermaid agates were called that. He said it was simple, they are blue-green just like the color of merfolk eyes and can be found in caves up on the mountain. Though this is not the only place in Lycretia where they can be found, just the only known place in Tempore. They became mesmerized when he began telling a story about Lycretia’s twins, Thulth and Tybeeda, who once had an argument so strong that this mountain rose from the lake, and as such Mirrurn was born. He laughed, because who knows if this story is true, but it was one of his favorites that his dad told him when he was a young lad.
The Heroes walked up from the beach, past Fatima’s Seashell Inn with a new painted sign out front. There were staff up on ladders cleaning windows and removing moss from the shingles. Clearly in an attempt to get the inn ready for visitors they hope will start showing up soon. Next they took a left and went further into the village, stopping at a bakery for breakfast as was recommended by Dinas, the old fisherman they met this morning. With a sign that said, Croissants and Things, they were greeted by a young woman, not much older than them, maybe in her early 20s. Lilian had racks of wheat breads, rye breads, croissants made with goat butter, and fruit tarts made with currants and dried peaches. During the winter months, she just makes enough for the village to eat, but starting in spring, she begins experimenting on the new pastry for the season. Eldaria asked her about mermaids and the legends surrounding the place. Lilian told there were stories about people seeing them, especially in the summer. Eldaria could tell that she was holding something back, something personal. Still, she put in a bakery order for Grainne, as a surprise.
Across the street from the bakery was a shop called the Clay Easel, a shop where tourists could paint or make pottery, drink wine, and enjoy a nice evening with a sunset. It was ran by Luisin, an accomplished painter, who used sell his work in Temparat, but for reasons the village does not actually know, left the capital about a decade ago, to open up this shop. Even in the off season, he is rarely sober. Grainne was particularly enamored when she saw the large studio full of easels and pottery wheels, thinking of the goddess Mylari and having the compelling urge to paint her.
Further up down the road, the go the souvenir shop, which was also recommended by Dinas, when they were asking about how to get mermaid agates. Sylas was the first to walk in, causing the bell above the door to ring. A boy, not any older than 13, by the name of Lino, was sweeping the floor as he walked in. In the back of the shop, there was a middle aged man sitting at a desk carving small wooden figurines. Along the walls were shelves that were only half full of trinkets and souvenirs like sea shells with mermaid agates glued on as if they were pearls, figurines like what proprietor was carving, purses made with blue and green thread, and other items he hoped to sell during the summer months. Helder introduces himself to the potential customers, and Sylas is taken back at the name for a moment, only to realize that it was probably a popular name of the region. Grainne started acting like a kid, and picking up everything, including putting two seashells with agates over her eyes, pretending she was a mermaid. Everyone but Grainne realized that Lilian’s eyes were blue green, and so was the boy Lino, currently in the shop. Elzy became very curious when he noticed this connection, and started badgering the boy with questions about mermaids. Beyond the legends of the town, Lino seemed rather innocent on the matter. But Elzy decided to pay him a few coins to make sure Grainne heard them even more outlandishly. Sylas, actually doing the business of why they were there, talked with Helder, and realized that they do know spots up in the mountain where they could find agates. Lino would gladly guide them up there, though Helder gave him a knowing look to not take them to their main cave.
They really wanted to head out as soon as they found out this information. So Lino led the up the mountain. It was tough, but it only took them about three hours to get to some caves. Eldaria notices that the boy stops too long at a crossroads, and eyes one direction, but takes them in another. They suspect that route would have led them to Helder’s cave, but they had no interest in ruining his livelihood. They just needed enough for the task at hand. At this point on the mountain, there was still snow, though in a few more weeks, would probably start to recede even more. But in the snow, Eldaria noticed strange tracks of a large creature that appeared to have six legs. They headed into the cave that Lino directed them towards. It had a large opening and was likely caused by lava thousands of years ago. Grainne had to cast some fire for them to see, but minus the cold and the snow and the ice, it seemed like a lovely cave. They found a spot relatively easy where they could start collecting some agates, only to hear after about 15 minutes, some chittering …
The World of Lycretia 