Play@YSDC

"Yes, an excellent idea," says Henry. "London is a good place to do what research we need, and when we're ready we can proceed from there to Canterbury."

This being settled, arrangements are made for passage from Brest to Plymouth, which lies roughly sixty leagues from London.

During the passage, which is a swift and pleasant one, owing to good weather, it is notable that the sailors, notoriously a superstitious lot, avoid having anything to do with the old fellow. If questioned about this, they are unable to provide clear reasons, explaining their behavior as based on bad feelings about him.

Upon arrival at the noted port city, the man shows some signs of excitement.

"Knows this place Tom does, a-hey. First of the four is the soft silver, a-grows in the ground not far, hey. Gives to Tom, will?"

Whilst engaged in obtaining lodging and transportation, the party may spend some time contemplating these puzzling words. Asked to clarify the nature of the item desired, the fellow -- whose wits are clearly not in as good a shape as one might wish -- is unable to recall the proper name of it.

"Given the nature of what Tom ultimately seeks, I wonder if now might not be the time to seek the favor of advice from Macaria on what must be done in order to accomplish this," Lila suggests.

"I think we should hold that favour in reserve for now," says Henry. "We may need it later when it's a matter of life and death. Let's first try to figure this out ourselves. Apparently we need four things, and the first one is something silver and soft that grows in the ground near here. A mushroom, perhaps?"

"Dandelions?" wonders Ines, thinking of of the way the seeds drift like spirits.

"Ah, I see." Lila racks her brain for an idea as to what this 'first of the four' might be.

Miss Davenport's intuition suggests a possible hint as to the nature of the item in question. It cannot be mere coincidence that Tom (for such we shall assume is the name of the elderly fellow, presuming that he speaks of himself in the third person rather than some unknown other) bethought himself of the "first of four" upon arrival in this region of England. Could there be some substance for which this area, where Devon and Cornwall meet, is noted?

VictoriaSilverwolf wrote:

Spoiler:

I don't want to give too much away, so I'll allow a successful Wisdom or Intelligence roll to provide some kind of hint.

Curses! I believe I have gleaned the answer, but it does not seem like something Ines would realise. (Though I would not so impugn the character of our dear Victoria as to suggest that she is sniggering at this).

"Substance," says Ines as if tasting the word. "Could it be tin? I once travelled a little while with a whitesmith, and I think he spoke of his tin coming from Cornwall."

This remark draws the rapt attention of Tom, who undergoes a seeming metamorphosis. Suddenly he seems taller, more alert, even younger. He stands straight, unlike his usual twisted posture, and addresses Ines.

"Yes, tin is the first of the four items. It is associated with Earth. The other three are associated with Air, Fire, and Water. A lump of virgin tin, newly torn from the Earth, the size of a large man's hands, must be obtained to begin the process of removing the curse."

After this remarkable statement, Tom returns to his former condition. He is unable to recall anything he said, and speaks in his usual eccentric and half-mad manner.

"Fascinating," Lila says. "Well, Canterbury lies east beyond London hence we have some journeying to do first, and the countryside is likely dotted with mines. Shall we strike out or inquire in Plymouth town?"

"Yes, that does make sense," says Henry. "We might as well inquire while we're in town. It shouldn't be too hard to find some virgin tin with it so plentiful in the area, though most deposits of it will already be owned. Perhaps Ivan could get a job for a day mining tin, asking to keep such a lump rather than be paid in money."

It is a simple matter to obtain a lump of unworked tin, and the party proceeds on the long journey to Canterbury.

After some time on the road, the adventurers (and their hired driver) pause for rest and refreshment at a pleasant spot, where a gentle stream runs past a grassy field. This inspiring scene appears to excite Tom into a state of agitation.

"Second of four was, is not, 'twill be, a-hey. Gather must the rain that falls not from sky, hey."

"The spray from a waterfall? Or perhaps dew?" suggests Ines, buoyed by the success of her earlier intuition.

When he hears this statement, Tom once again undergoes a transformation in character.

"Collect a flask of fresh morning dew and stopper it well, that it might not evaporate."

After making this lucid statement, he returns to a state of incoherence, and is unable to supply any more information regarding this peculiar errand.

If the party wishes to undertake this seemingly pointless errand, it will have to remain at this grass-filled place, and await the first traces of dawn, when dew is likely to form, the day being warm and the evening expected to be cool. This will entail such precautions as are proper for remaining in this isolated locale overnight.

"Let's collect the dew, then," says Henry. "It must represent the element of Water. Fortunately, flasks with stoppers are basic scientific equipment, and I should have one. I can seal it with wax, too."

"Very good. Perhaps it would be prudent for us to set a watch overnight. Bandits are not unheard of and there are stranger things abroad."

"Yes, I agree," says Henry. "Ivan and I can each stand watch. I'll take the last watch, so that I can collect the dew when it forms."