Ch.2: "Trouble in Paradise" / Volcanic Paradise Island Arcadia

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto smiles and takes Hess's hand as she heads to shore, and waves to the van Donk sisters with her free one as she passes them. "It was an accident. I tried to find out what he was thinking and feeling, and I'm not sure what exactly went wrong, but I got stuck for a while. At least I know Kell is alright."

She looks around curiously as they reach the island; everything looks different now that she's using her own eyes. But she remembers seeing orchid bushes, and keeps an eye out for them.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell smiles at Shelly. "I will be sure to check out the information booth then."

To Shelly's final statement, she says, "No offense taken, but if you don't mind my asking, what warning did you receive about big people? I can assure you, Helix and I don't harm fairies."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

At the Palm Orchid
Shelly replies, "Some tourists like to hold fairies, and sometimes accidents happen."


At the Information Booth
A man who calls himself Captain Obvious sits in the information booth by the docks. His attire is that of a sea captain in dress uniform; pinned on his chest are more medals than there are colors in unicorn shit. If words could come out of his tight-lipped expression, they would be "I hate my job."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell smiles at Shelly and says, "Well, I'll allow any fairies to approach me who want to, but I won't force holding or anything. Shelly and Steph, it was nice meeting you, please enjoy your time together and you stay here. My name, by the way, is Kell." And she salutes the two before turning to Helix.

"How about we go find that information both Shelly spoke of? I have one other place I want to visit while we're here besides the Fairy Springs."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto decides the information booth is a good place to start looking for Kell. She smiles at the man sitting there. "Excuse me, I'm looking for a friend of mine. Have a unicorn and a nymph passed by here? The nymph has long silver hair, fair skin and turquoise eyes." Describing her clothing seems a little bit useless, since Kell went away to find a place to change what she was wearing.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Captain Obvious says, "I did see a nymph riding a unicorn. It was a thing of beauty. I believe they were headed toward the Palm Spring. You are obviously a Huntress. Palm Spring is a great place to go hunting. Fairy Spring is not. Do not confuse the two."

He points to a sign that more or less tells where to find stuff.

"The sign-maker really hates drawing maps," says Captain Obvious.


Welcome to Arcadia!

NW: Arcadia Village	N: You are here.	NE: Palm Spring
W: Sunset Strip	C: Volcano	E: Fairy Spring
SW: Nude Beach	S: Prude Beach	SE: Platbot Mansion

 

[Ireth]

Leto

"Thank you!" Leto looks at the sign, then heads eastward with Hess toward the Palm Spring.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Leto has no trouble finding hoof tracks, though most have been washed away in the waves. Bridgette didn't notice what few tracks there were on dry sand.

Bridgette is carrying Kell's staff, and Jay Pikeman is tagging along as well since he wants his Ordinary Spear back.

The other van Donk sisters were going to look for an inn, but since they're broke until Bridgette finds a way to earn some quick silver, they decided to go to the beach. Sonja and Hanna couldn't agree on which beach. Nissa said she would hear her sisters out before casting the tie-breaker vote. Doug Hammerhead makes a suggestion, but the van Donks ignore him.

Kell rides Helix westward, and it doesn't take long for her to notice Leto, Hess, Bridgette and Jay. Once our heroines are together, Hess makes a crude map of the island in the sand—a 3x3 grid!

"Arcadia is shaped like a perfect square," she says, "with a square volcano in the center. The lava hole is probably square shaped too."

She draws a small square in the center square.

Bridgette says, "I'm pretty sure the island is round, and so is the volcano."

"And the lava hole," Jay adds.

Hess labels the squares as the sign at the information booth was labeled.

When she writes, you are here, Jay says, "I think we're a little more to the east."

Hess crosses her arms. "We didn't go all the way to Palm Spring, so we're still in the same square."

"Yeah," Bridgette says. "Shut up, Jay."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell waves at the Leto and the others and she and Helix approach. When the two groups meet, she gives Jay a grin and tosses him his spear. "Thanks for the use of that, though I'm glad I didn't need it," she tells him. She also holds out her hand to Bridgette for her staff. "Thanks for holding that for me," she tells her.

Once items have been exchanged, she says, "At some point, I need to get to Arcadia Village while we're here. I have a friend who lives there who I promised before I left Aphrodite's villa that I'd come check on if I ever made it out this way. But we need to figure out a plan of attack for the Lava Beast before we go up there, and I'm not sure my friend Desma or her aunt and uncle will know anything about that, because Desma wants to be a baker and her aunt and uncle own a clothing shop. So I'm thinking Phoebe at Fairy Beach may be a better option for learning something of that nature. Do you guys have any thoughts about our next stop?"

"It does look like we're marginally closer to Fairy Beach anyway, if that means anything."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Helix patiently awaits a decision, but Hess has her mind made up. "Fairy SPRING! Fairy SPRING! Fairy SPRING!"

Helix suggests, Kell, how about we let the kid ride with you before she hurts herself.

The group enters the Palm Spring area, which begins at a hilltop full of palms and orchids. Leto is here for the first time physically, but she recognizes the sight and scent from when she came here mentally. The cliffs are high on the east side of the island, with multiple waterfalls whose shared source is about halfway up the volcanic peak. Everything is lush and green here. Small woodland creatures start to follow Kell (though some scurry away as if intimidated by another in the group).

Bridgette says, "Palm Spring is full of palm trees. Makes sense. But why is the other spring called Fairy Spring?"

Before Bridgette can answer, the group reaches the crest of a hill and can see a steaming pool of water a short distance away. It is only about three feet at its largest diameter. Kell sees two familiar faces in the water. Shelly and Steph relax side by side. Only their heads and shoulders are out of the water, along with their clothing, two tiny sun dresses, purses and pairs of shoes.

"I'll admit they're kind of cute," Bridgette says of the bathing fairies, "but we didn't travel all the way here to see this. Are we even supposed to see this? Sorry, girls." The big Barbierian isn't sure how to handle this.

Shelly and Steph don't seem to mind.

Steph waves to Kell, "Hi again!"

Shelly asks, "Are you bringing your friends to Fairy Spring?"

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell dismounts from Helix and puts Hess on the unicorn, telling the girl with a smile, "I think you should ride for a while."

When they encounter the fairies, Kell waves at Steph and Shelly, "Hi again you two. Sorry I seem to keep barging in on your private moments. But yeah, I brought my friends here, because we're looking for a fairy named Phoebe and we both have some information for her and hope she might have some information for us. Is this the only spring or are there others?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Shelly says, "It's okay, Kell. We are doing nothing you cannot do in a public women-only spring or spa."

Steph says, "To tell you the truth, we are really glad to see a familiar face."

Shelly says, "The other fairies warned us Palm Spring is only for big people—strong big people like your big friend with the bow and your even bigger friend… who doesn't need a bow, I guess."

Steph says, "We saw a… hawk? I don't really know a seagull from a toucan, but whatever it was, I think fairies are no different than mice to birds of prey."

A mouse and a squirrel that were scampering behind Kell look at each other, then scurry into some long grass.

Steph goes on, "We can lead you to Fairy Spring."

Shelly adds, "Yeah… just let us get dressed. And if it's okay, I want to ride your unicorn. I trust your little girl is gentle if she's with you. Is she your sister?"

Steph tells Shelly, "Nymphs don't have sisters unless they're twins from the same egg. Weren't you listening to Cathy's story?"

Shelly says, "Cathy said a lot of things." To Kell she asks, "Is she your daughter?"

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell replies to Shelly, "He's not my unicorn, but he IS a new friend, and his name is Helix and I suspect he'd be fine carrying you since you don't weigh very much. As for the girl, she is not my daughter, but we are looking after her for a friend. Her name is Hess. Then the one with the bow is Leto, the large Barbierian is Bridgette, and is Jay still with us, or did he leave?"

"Everyone, the black-haired fairy is Steph, the brown-haired one is Shelly." She asks the fairies, "I called both of you by your correct names, didn't I?""

She tells Hess, "I need you to help the fairies stay safe as they ride Helix, OK? Would you look after them that way?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Jay calls out from afar, "I'm going to stick around here and find a spot for spear-fishing. The Fairy Spring isn't really the best place for a security guard such as myself. All those little ladies combined with my protective nature makes my head spin. I think the lot of you can keep the fairies safe, so enjoy your trip!"

Kell did get the names right and Hess assures them, "I have ten fairy friends back home so you can sit on my lap or on my shoulders or on my head or on the unicorn's head, and you'll be safe and comfy!"

The fairies are safe and comfy, and though some birds are attracted by Kell's presence, they show no interest in flying close to the fairies.

There are many fairies at the Fairy Spring. It is not one pool, but many. Some are large enough for people to bathe in. Those in the springs have cloths to cover below the waist. Most of the women cover their tops, all but one of the men do not cover their tops. There are women-only areas and fairy-only areas. The largest spring is women-only and clothing-optional. It seems that the human woman have opted to bathe clothed, and there is one nymph with long, wavy hair that allows her to be topless, yet as modest as the rest of the women. The fairies who prefer to bathe nude stay away from the big people. Those closer to the big people seem to be interested in a group of women (our heroines!), fairies and one little girl.

One fairy waves to Steph and Shelly, "Oh, thank goodness you're safe! You two were gone a long time, but I told everybody, you'll see! It's their honeymoon and nothing bad's gonna happen to honeymooners and I was right, see? 'Cause here you are riding back on a unicorn!"

As soon as the fast-talking fairy stops to take a breath, Steph says, "Hi, Cathy."

Shelly says, "Thanks for thinking of us."

Steph introduces everyone in the group to Cathy. She doesn't seem to know the other fairies. There must be about a hundred fairies and dozens of big people, so it's probably best not to try to get to know them all. Kell can immediately tell there is only one nymph present.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto is a bit preoccupied by the sights and sounds of the island; everything is so new to her. When the fairies are introduced, she smiles. "Nice to meet you both."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

The fairies are glad to meet Leto and thank her for keeping them safe. They felt like Leto was keeping birds of prey away as she took in the view. With her hunting skills, she was certainly equipped to protect the fairies.

At the spring, Cathy invites everyone to her pool. Human women and nymphs are allowed here, and all of the fairies are clothed. There are colorful cloths to wrap up in (and natural caves covered in vines where one can change clothes), and a natural rock wall around the pool for those who want to sit with the fairies but stay dry.

Those who sit on stones, benches and other dry places are fully clothed. It seems that only those who go in the water are expected to dress down. (Kell's Aqua Scrunchy would meet this expectation.)

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says to Cathy, "It's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Kell and we sort of ran into Steph and Shelly when I was looking for a place to adjust my clothes after we arrived. Do you know if there is anyone around here who would know the locals who commonly hang out here? We are looking for a local fairy named Phoebe."

As she is about to open her mouth to tell Hess to stay put for the moment, a question occurs to her. "Hess, have you met Phoebe before? Can you tell us what she looks like?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Cathy replies, "Oh, it's so lovely to meet you too, Kell, though probably not as lovely as it was for the honeymooners." She giggles for a second, and resumes talking in the next second. "Anyway, I am told that I'm a fountain of information and I love to help. Now Phœbe is a common name, but I can think of three local girls by that name. One of them has her own quarters in a seaside human home with a wealthy couple that just adores her, and there's another who works as a tour guide in the volcanic caverns. She likes to be called 'Torch!' If you happen to have a description, they three Phœbes are very easy to tell apart."

Well asks for a description, and Hess replies, "Um… I never met Sapphie's friend Phœbe, but I think she has pink eyes and her hair is… maroon?"

"Oh… yes. That would be the third Phœbe. Oh. I don't want to tell you about her." Cathy rises from the water and calls down to a pale-blue-haired, bespectacled fairy bathing alone in a spring that is practically a puddle. "DEBBIE!"

Debbie looks up. "Y-yes, Cathy?"

"Could you come up here and tell this kindly nymph about Phœbe?"

"Wingless Phœbe?"

"Yes, Debbie!"

Debbie gets up out of her bath, towels off and heads into a small opening in the rock wall. She comes out wearing a modest button-down dress, and slowly flies up to Kell. She sits at the edge of the stone where Kell is seated, crosses her legs, and folds her hands on her lap. She says, "Phœbe doesn't have wings."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto flinches in sympathy at the mention of a fairy without wings. When Debbie comes back, she asks (despite her previous admonition to Kell in the Hearthland), "Would it be overstepping to ask how she lost her wings? Don't feel you need to answer if I'm past my bounds."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "I'd bet that her loss of wings ties in to why she pushed Sapphie away."

She asks the fairies at large, "What does a fairy's wings mean to her, anyway? And what would it mean to her to lose them? We're not fairies, so we may not fully understand."