Beruga Going Down

Beruga lowered her nose to the ground once more and sniffed, more to procrastinate than to catch a scent. She knew that the person she had been following was right here in the village before her. She just couldn't fathom what a visiting hiker would want with all of the poisonous mushrooms that had been freshly picked along the trail.

Perhaps her younger self would have given a stranger the benefit of the doubt and approached immediately to intervene, assuming they didn't know what they were about to eat. But now her daughter had to come first. Always. And she had heard terrifying stories of how some bald men could be cruel and deceptive. Still, the few that she had encountered didn't behave in any such way, and there was a good chance someone could use her help. It was time to make her presence known. She paced forward a few steps and called out a greeting in her native tongue.

Beruga pipes up in a muffled high-pitch tone: Hello! I do. Might you have cool fresh water for a wary traveler?

Not wanting to immediately divulge her knowledge of the poisonous mushrooms would they even be poisonous to these creatures?, Beruga decides to play dumb. I confess, I have been lost for days on end. I had set out from my home, hoping to gather food for the winter, but must have turned myself around. Last night I caught the distant scent of another traveller, which led me here. Now, if you will pardon me, I must have a drink before continuing this conversation.

Beruga bounds to the west and laps up water from the river with more excitement than necessary before returning back to the greeting party with a big smile on her face.

Thank you for your patience. And where are my manners? My name is Beruga. It is a pleasure to meet you!

I would love to meet a hunter of your village! Of course, my kind has not acquired a taste for game, but I'm sure they could teach me much about the local flora! Beruga then thinks for a moment and asks: Are you not hunters yourselves? Sorry to pry, I assumed that was what your weapons are for.

Following Speaker's lead, Beruga uses her powerful nose to try to sense if the scent of poisonous mushrooms is close.

Beruga stiffens and jumps to her hind legs. It's time to push for some answers. Do you smell that? I sense a toxic stench! Hard to tell where it is coming from though... Do you have any idea what it could be?

Beruga focuses on Speaker's reaction to her outburst, as well as the hunters in the corner of her eye. Do they appear defensive? Are they genuinely curious?

Beruga gently prods the poisonous fungi with the tip of her nose. You eat this? Quite fascinating. It is lethal to our kind, and we often have to warn foreigners lest they poison themselves. But this one- gesturing to another fungi -is an absolute delicacy where I live! And is this (alcohal) some sort of crafting material? Surely it is much too potent to be a drink!

Beruga is also sure to get a good whiff of all the parcels, particularly the meat and bone, which she will try to identify.Assuming the "poisonous" mushrooms are part of their diet and the meat isn't recognizably Pika, Beruga will relax and spend time indulging Speaker's curiosity.

Beruga's eyes widen at the mention of the Shattering. Growing up, she had only heard of this monumental event through folklore. A lullaby that her mother would sing to her. Ancient battered relics of the Dawn War that no longer served a functional purpose. Stories of crimson floods that were said to run from the blood of the slain Deity.

To her people with a 7-year average lifespan and little in the way of written history, the Shattering may as well have predated the mountains themselves. But that was not the case with everyone. Less than one month ago, Beruga had taken a contract to escort a stocky, old, bald mountaineer to the top of Grujin's Pass. Her companion was slow and navigated the terrain with difficulty. Beruga worried for his safety, since on the other side of Grujin's pass lies a Realmic Border that is especially susceptible to harsh storms. For days, Beruga would voice her concern and he would reassure her that he knew what he was doing. Only on the last day, when they parted ways at the pass, did he reveal the reason for his journey.

His name was Theodore Grujin, and as a young man he himself fought in the final battles of the Dawn War. Back then, an army of abominations brought forth by the elemental Titan Ahonai threatened to swarm into the land from the north, He and his uncle, Syvas Grujin, led a small legion to defend the mountain pass for as long as possible. It was a suicide mission, but for 24 hours they prevailed. Exhausted and bloodied, Theodore and his uncle stood petrified as the stony face of Ahonai pierced the thick clouds, gazing straight at them from hundreds of feet up. Theodore ran without a second thought. A minute later, strong tremors made him lose his footing. He fell and turned around to see his uncle Syvas, still standing strong on the mountain pass. Ahonai was poised above Syvas preparing to crush him like a bug. It was then that the Shattering reached their corner of the world. A blinding wall of lightning was the last thing he remembered before waking up days later in a dried river bed, miles from the pass.

As the new age of Strife commenced, Syvas' final resting place was commemorated with the name Grujin's Pass to commemorate his stand-off with the Dawn Age Titan.

Beruga had become so enchanted by the old man's story over the next several weeks that when Speaker described the city to the south, she knew she couldn't resist exploring. Her eyes light up and she asks Speaker: How long is the journey to this tower? If I can get there by nightfall, I must be on my way!

Beruga whispers to the hunter, "You recognize this creature? Will it hunt us? And can it climb or fly?" Regardless of the answer, Beruga positions herself on the opposite side of the nearest tree and begins to climb, looking back to see if the hunter is following.

Realizing that the hunter probably won't stand a chance against the blue terror by itself, Beruga steps forward, placing herself between the two. As the distance between them closes, she leaps into action, pulling a rip cord on her harness with her teeth. The weighty morning star swings down propelled at first by gravity, then by momentum as Beruga runs forward performing a hula-hoop gesture with her neck.

Drawing closer to the Blue Terror, Beruga focuses on her steps, trying to time the final swing of the morning star with their inevitable collision.

Beruga, caught by surprise at the Blue Terror's ease as it sidesteps her attack, realized too late that she had missed an opportunity to strike. It wouldn't happen again. As she continues to run in a tight circle, the sound of metal scraping metal quickens and her morning star reels, lashing out again at her target. At the same time, Beruga runs to intercept the Blue Terror from attacking her companion, knowingly putting herself in harm's way. Well, this had better make us allies, if there was any doubt before...

Beruga chases the wounded beast at a slight distance to make sure it does not immediately double back. She approaches the hunter as asks Are you okay? We should hurry on in case that scuffle drew unwanted attention to ourselves.

Beruga bids the hunter farewell and safe travels back to his village, then circles the tower once, sniffing for any signs of life that may have passed by recently. It's best not to waste time, with so little sunlight left Beruga thinks to herself and approaches the towers entrance. With ears perked, she prods the door with her nose and steps across the threshold, peering inside.

Beruga ponders for a moment, then decides to descend the staircase to the basement, waiting for a moment to let her eyes adjust to the darkness. Cautiously, she scans the room for any signs of shiny metal, ivory, any indication of a rare artifact.

Beruga backs up to the stairway but does not climb it. Her eyes remain locked on the golum-esque figure and her legs are bent, ready to jump in reaction to any hostile movement. Beruga pondered for a moment. The speaker did say that this tower held relics from the Dawn Age. Or was it the city to the south? Probably both... Either way, this thing probably thinks it is still living in a time of war and I doubt I resemble the type of person it is trying to protect. But it can't hurt to talk to it, can it? Evacuate... from what? Beruga squeeked, a bit more timidly than she would have liked.

Curious, Beruga is tempted to step onto the tiled floor to see where it might lead, but hesitates. Perhaps more information can be found on the higher floors of the tower. That seemed like a safer bet than blindly trusting the furry one-eyed robot in the basement. Uh, thanks, but no thanks. I'll go to... my own, er, secure facility. But, thanks for the heads up! she stamers as she slowly climbs up the stairs.

Once out of sightline, Beruga will hurry up to the second floor, assuming A1 does nothing to stop her or convince her otherwise.

Beruga perks her ears up and clambers about the room, sniffing each new item that she comes across. Sometimes she would stop to poke or nibble at one, but never for too long. When she comes across the weapons, Beruga selects the sharpest and least rusty small knife, and stashes it concealed in her harness. All the while, she tries to deduce what kind of creatures this tower was built for.

A piercing EEEEEEK! echoes through the tower. Beruga reels onto her hind legs and flails her paws in front of her wildly before falling backwards and breaking some furniture. She immediately scampers to pick up the nearest weapon with her mouth and turns to face the skeleton with her back against the wall and tail between her legs. Who are you? And why is your leg so flimsy???

Beruga prepares to evade, and will run back to the 1st floor if attacked.

My name is Beruga, and I came looking for remnants from the Dawn War for my daughter, Ki. Have you heard of the Dawn War? It ended decades ago, but I think perhaps you and that fellow in the basement have lost your place in time. I don't think there has been any storms recently. Were you guarding this tower? You must have had family living in that city to the South! Maybe they survived like you, er... Beruga looks the skeleton up and down skeptically Did you survive? How are you talking to me? Sorry, I know I ask too many questions. What's on the floor above us?

I admit, I didn't get a good look, but in the basement there is some sort of... being. It's joints were metal and squeeky, but it's head was furry. It had eyes that shone bright; brighter than the moonlight. And it spoke, asking me to evacuate.

Beruga hesitated, then added You were monitoring the planar membrane? Isn't that an incredibly dangerous task? Our people have always warned our young never to go seeking such things. But maybe you should take a look outside. I suspect this is a very different world from the one you remember during the Great War.

Despite her initial surprised reaction, Beruga found herself warming up to this decrepit, undead husk of a person. Whether it was the similarity in his story to that of the old man Theodore Grujin, or the fact that he seems to have been left alone to guard this post in an apocalyptic scenario, Beruga was getting the impression that this nameless skeleton might actually be a worthy traveling companion. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here. Who knows how he (she?) will react when they see the world they once knew withered over and replaced with a new one.

What was that light? What's gone? That golem in the basement wanted me to go somewhere. Maybe we can find more answers there? But I'm afraid you might not like what you find...

When they go back down to the basement, Beruga would like to ask GoiFetch a few more questions. What makes this place unsafe? Where does the matrix node take us? Will others be there?

GoiFetch! Beruga exclaimed, hoping to get a response from the Aid. Earlier, you said that this matrix node can transport me to a safe location? I need you to tell me the last known safe location.

Beruga looks to her skeleton companion for approval before continuing...

If this Great War you speak of was lost so badly, then perhaps that location is the best place to look for answers. Or maybe even survivors if it is recent enough! GoiFetch, can you activate the node? I am ready for transport this time.

(Assuming GoiFetch obliges) Beruga will step forward onto the matrix node once it is lit up, but not before turning to the skeleton one last time.

I wish you could come with me, but I understand if that is not a possibility. Best of luck restoring this place! But before I go, can you make me a promise? If a small child by the name Ki comes here looking for me, give her these: Beruga hands him half of her rations (2 days worth?) as well as the gemstone-encrusted ring that she found. But make sure she does not follow me from this point onward. I expect that what lies ahead is far too dangerous.

Also, you have been awake for some time now, but still cannot recall your name? I would like to have one to remember you by. How does... Chee-Klee sound? In my native tongue, that means 'setting foot on shore after crossing a river'.