Harriots Lore for August
Finding Ancient Greece
Entry #102
Charlotte was fast asleep, she barely even stirred as I gathered a few things. I was getting ready to leave. For a split second, I had thought about leaving her here and getting my Ark contact to pick her up and ship her back to Calypso. But instead I was about to do something far crazier than that. I was on a mission to find the place she had been looking for before getting separated from her crew. I had never stuck my neck out for someone other than myself, at least not since Jerad had been alive… And yet I found myself almost caring about the reason Charlotte was here. I had never really cared much for the tales of bloodshed and battle in Ancient Greece, the Island was harsh enough even without looking for trouble.
I left Golden to protect her while I was gone. He seems to be on edge, I could tell it would take him some time to warm up to the stranger in our cave. Before I blindly trekked off I managed to sneak out Charlotte’s tattered map with a location and a name marked down. ‘Orpheus’ Way’. It was the only lead I had to Ancient Greece.
But once I got there I had no clue what I was looking for. Or even which way to turn. But something was glistening in the morning sunlight. When I walked closer to investigate I found white pillars sticking out of the ground, similar to something Charlotte had mentioned. There was what looked like the head of a bull sticking out of the ground. The creature was like nothing I had seen on Next Island. This must be the right way.
Follow the relics.
My eyes scanned for the next relic but only a small Haruspex encampment could be seen. It was worth a try, if nothing else they may have something good I could ‘acquire’ for my collection. Nothing, from the vines and nature reclaiming the caravans it was obvious they had been empty for a long time. I had heard whispers, stories really, about the Haruspex connection to Ancient Greece. Something about that reinstalled my belief that I was on the right track. Just as I climbed the hill, another pillar came into view.
Follow the relics.
The voice in my head kept chanting like a montra. They were my only clue. I wasn’t an archaeologist like Charlotte claimed to be but I could do something as simple as that. The path seemed to twist and turn until the rushing waterfall was at my back. Behind the overgrown plants was what looked like the entrance to a natural cave. Much like the one I had been sleeping in.
Finding Ancient Greece
Entry #103
As I approached the cave my view wavered, it was as if I had drunk too much stolen tourist whisky. I had to lay my hand on the rocks to steady myself. Just as my vision cleared another while pillar came into view. These ones were bigger, but something strange caught my attention. They were embedded into the rock formation. How long have these been here? Just as I was about to take another step, my foot stumbled over a large circular disc imbedded in the ground, sending me tumbling further into the cave. After dragging my slightly bruised body upwards I found that disc held a mosaic of what looked like an Ancient Greece figure. I had to show Charlotte this. She would know what it all meant. I had to bring her here. This could be the place she had been looking for.
I laid a few white pebbles on my way back to Orpheus’ Way so I could find the way back easier.
Golden gave out the loudest whirl click as I re-entered the cave. Charlotte was hunched over some paperwork spread out on an old travel case I had ‘found’ laying on the beach. She didn’t seem to notice me until I spoke up.
“What are you…” Charlotte gazed up.
“Oh hi, I didn’t see you there. These are fascinating. Where’d you get them? Actually, never mind, you probably stole them. This though, ‘the Stel myth’ I actually studied before I came here. It was supposed to be part of our research trip here but… That doesn’t seem to matter now.”
She grew quiet for a second. As if something still troubled her. “Oh right, I wrote down my last research notes on the Stel myth. I may have missed something, had to write it from memory an all, but you’d better read it for yourself.”
Charlotte handed me page after page. Her handwriting was almost illegible, I had no clue how anyone deciphered her notes. But sat among them was a drawing also.
“Sorry for the crude drawing. I’m not the best of artists. This however is your Stel beast, well at least how it appears to some people. Also my notes are super messing, but I’ll give you the short and sweet version. Have you heard of the ‘Original’ inhabitants of Next Island? Part of my research was to investigate the original inhabitants. Long before the first wave, this land had its own thriving intellectual species. No one can say for sure what happened to them or what they truly were but some say their ghost’s still remain on the island. Our department called them ‘The Ghost’s of Next Island’. They are said to be spirits from the old times. The Stel myth is one such spirit. Actually, from Jerad’s journal it seems to be a revengeful spirit. I believe the spirit isn’t at rest and won’t be until it ‘reclaims’ the land that it believes these ‘invaders’, the first wave, stole from it.”
The Island Beast
Entry #104
My head started to spin, more than what I had felt at the cave.
“So you’re telling me, what got my mentor killed was just an angry ‘being’ that wasn’t happy people had moved here?” I couldn’t quite bring myself to comprehend the idea of it being a ghost from the old world.
“In layman’s terms yes.”
Charlotte handed me what looked like a freshly written page.
“I believe we called in the ‘Island Beast’, you’ll know it by a fairy-tale that’s told to all Stel. I guess when they made the tale it was based on a form of truth. I would love to know how that story went, but maybe some other time. This entry here was dated 10 years ago, according to one of your recent scribbles. Am I really more like the Resa?”
I rolled my eyes, “no information is safe around you. I guess that proved my point. Anyways, continue.”
“Right, so the ‘beast’ or spirit could still be wandering around the desert. There is a possibility it returned to the place Jerad had found it, as a sort of tether to that location.”
“So how do you fight a spirit?” A cold shiver ran down my spine at even mentioning that word leaving my mouth. “I mean it’s not like we can call in a ghost hunter.” A small laugh escaped my lips at my own light hearted joke. Charlotte was stone faced as she said her next words.
“Do you know any?” Her steely resolve was quite terrifying and I had met the scariest and toughest of warriors.
“No, no I don’t know any ‘ghost hunters’” She sighed, staring a hole into the journal.
“Do you know where this is, the mutant boar lake?”
“Now that’s one thing I do know, however, I cannot guarantee my safety or even yours for that matter. The Stel’s like to hang around there. We need to find you some kind of disguise…”
Charlotte looked thoughtful for a moment. Her eyes gazed at the pile of clothes. Almost chuckling to herself.
“Why do you have a Loyalist armour set there? Think that would serve me much better than some flimsy disguise.”
I tried to hold back my laughter, the armour sat loosely on Charlotte, I had a feeling she would need more meat on her bones for it to fit properly. It would have to do. I had an unsettling feeling I would have to be on top form today, I didn’t know why but something in me felt like I had to protect Charlotte. Like watching a wounded animal. If she was right about this I had no clue what I could even do against such a being.
The Island Beast
Entry #105
I was back once again staring at the mutant boar, they looked partially agitated today. As if preparing for a coming storm. Charlotte almost ran into one of their horns as she gazed around in wonder. She barely even noticed when I speared it with my sword pulling her back.
“You have to remain vigilant here, this isn’t some tourist destination. These boars have no manners and wouldn’t think twice about attacking.” Charlotte gave a small nod but I knew for a fact she wasn’t really listening.
I took her to the location Jerad had mentioned, it was a small pond, of sorts, with what looked like someone had deliberately placed stones there. Charlotte’s eyes lit up.
“Fascinating, this is definitely the right place. You see those stone formations, this would have been placed to mark a location the original islanders would have thought held great magical potential. Which makes it the perfect nesting ground to bury their most valued members. The remains must be around here somewhere. Possibly even right underneath our feet.”
At Charlotte’s words a black fog began to form where we stood. It seemed to swirl and form patterns until two beady red eyes stared at us. This smoke seemed to waver; it almost looked like that of a big, gigantic bear, looming over us. The red coal-like eyes stared at us following our every moment. Charlotte seemed to take a step towards the spot I had mentioned to her. The eyes stared at her intently. Charlotte seemed to pay no attention as if it were an everyday thing.
“Ah here. You see this marking on the stones, its buried here….” A loud deafening sound pierced the air, Charlotte was indicated to cover my ears. After what seemed like a few minutes the sound died down. Charlotte faced the ‘being’ as if trying to square up to it. “Are you quite done? I know for a fact you cannot harm either one of us while we have these.” Charlotte held up a bright blue petal. It seemed to shimmer a little in the sunlight. I searched my own pockets. Charlotte had skilfully reverse pick-pocketed me, a blue petal was tucked neatly in my pocket. Charlotte indicated to place it back in my pocket.
The Island Beast
Entry #106
“I know these blue flowers hold a special magical power here on Next Island. Wasn’t easy to find but even an old soul like yourself knows of the significance it holds. Now…”
“You are no better than those that invaded our land.” An eerie booming voice spoke out. “Those that only wish to pollute and destroy this once sacred land. I have had to sit and watch, as species that once thrived, died one by one. I watched as invaders attacked and fractured. This land was once whole, I watched as the island broke apart. Those that are the cause must pay for what they have done.” Charlotte settled herself down on one of the rocks as if it were story time.
“I know it must have been hard to watch as the world changed. But now others are here to enjoy the place you once enjoyed, be it in a different way. The burden of this land is no longer yours to bear, you must pass it to the next generation. We must lay you to rest, properly. You can join your brothers and sisters, but you must allow us the honour of ensuring this world that they create thrives. We can be your voice to ensure the safety of the world that is to be created. But you must trust us to follow out the plan for a better world here.”
The island beast fell quiet for a moment. “In honour of my ancestors I will allow you ONE chance and one chance only to prove your worth. There is a place the locals and tourists alike call Ancient Greece. There you will find a den. Bring me back a snake from the gorgon’s hair as proof of your worth. If you fail or die on your journey you are not worthy enough to ensure the safety and longevity of this paradise”
Charlotte readily agreed, not knowing the full weight of the task that had been given. The black smoke-like creature faded until only the blood red eyes of the mutant boar pierced at us. We were surrounded.