As Deo, Pyro and Caelum crested the top of the hill, they immediately spotted Freya and Hilda. The landscape around them was rugged and unyielding, much like the two dwarves themselves. The two were covered in dust and sweat, their pickaxes resting beside them as they lay slumped on the ground. Despite the clear signs of their hard work, they bore expressions clouded with frustration.
“Hey there,” Deo called out as they approached, greeting them with a friendly wave.
Freya, wiping sweat from her brow, looked up, surprised, and responded with a grudging half-smile, her tone laced with exasperation. "Oh, it's you, Deo. Morning.”
Hilda, leaning on her pickaxe, added, "Excuse her manners, Deo. We've been at it since dawn, and all we've found is more rock and more stone. Not a speck of ore in sight."
Their clothes were stained with the evidence of their labour, and their faces showed the fatigue of a morning spent in fruitless search. The area around them was littered with small piles of discarded rock and Hilda had numerous smudges of dirt on her face and arms, her hair escaping in wisps from under a bandana. Meanwhile, Freya had a fine layer of rock dust and mud stains on the clothes covering her sturdy frame.
Deo smiled understandingly and replied, "No problem. We've come to help you with the prospecting." His tone was cheerful, aiming to inject some optimism into the situation.
Freya let out an exasperated chuckle, her scepticism clear. "Huh, a Green Mage, a halfling child, and a Hellhound helping in prospecting?" She shook her head, half in disbelief, half amused. "Sounds like the start of a joke to me. Well, I suppose things can't get much worse. We haven't had a speck of luck all morning."
Hilda intervened, offering a more welcoming response. "Honestly, we'll take any help we can get at this point," she said, casting a grateful glance towards Deo and his companions and a warning look aimed at Freya. "Sometimes a fresh pair of eyes, or paws, can make all the difference."
After the brief exchange, Deo got straight to business. "So, what are we looking for specifically?" he asked, surveying the rocky terrain around them with a curious eye.
Freya, pausing to wipe her hands on her pants, responded with a hint of pragmatism in her voice. "Any metal ore would be a good find, but we're mainly on the lookout for iron. It's essential for most of what we do at the forge. Of course, stumbling upon rarer metals like Mithril or Demonsteel would be a dream, but that's not going to happen here," she added with a wry chuckle.
Hilda then straightened up and began sharing some practical tips on prospecting. "You want to look for unusual rock formations, something that stands out from the rest. Iron ore, for instance, often appears as dark, rusty patches and is heavier and more lustrous than normal rocks."
Deo nodded thoughtfully, absorbing their advice. "Well, just you wait, Freya. Now you're in my territory. My sensory abilities have been upgraded to help detect almost anything within my domain," he said with a confident smile.
Freya raised her eyebrows, clearly impressed and slightly mollified, by Deo's declaration.
With a deep focus, Deo closed his eyes and invoked his Whispers of the World Tree ability, amplified by his connection to his own domain. As he tapped into this profound skill, his mind was instantly awash with a kaleidoscope of sensations. He was engulfed in a vibrant array of colours representing the myriad forms of life around him — each hue and shade a distinct signature of different plants and creatures.
The world around him transformed into an ethereal landscape within his mind's eye. He could perceive the subtlest movements of life: blades of grass swaying gently, insects burrowing beneath the earth, the pulsating rhythm of small rodents scurrying in the underbrush. The vividness of each colour revealed the vitality and presence of each organism, from the robust oaks with their deep, earth-gripping roots to the delicate flowers dancing in the breeze.
As Deo's senses expanded, his focus instinctively centred first on Harmony's Refuge. In his mind's eye, he saw the white forms of Lena and Thalen moving within the brewery, their movements fluid and purposeful. Further away, Braldin and Kiera's figures were visible in the blacksmith and workshop, engaged in their craft. Each person was a bright beacon of life, their activities painting a vivid picture of the settlement's daily pattern.
Then, unexpectedly, Deo felt a strong, unidentified pull coming from the west. It was a compelling force, drawing his mental gaze beyond the borders of his domain. As he mentally navigated towards the edge of his territory, the pull persisted, reaching into lands beyond his sensory reach. Curious but cautious, Deo filed this intriguing sensation away for future exploration and refocused his attention on their immediate surroundings.
Traversing to his current location, the colours of Pyro, Caelum, Freya, and Hilda were clear and distinct amidst the natural hues of the southern hills. Delving deeper, Deo observed the life teeming beneath the earth's surface, his mind's eye revealed a bustling underground world. Earthworms, with their elongated, segmented bodies, wriggled through the soil, leaving behind a network of tunnels. Their movements were slow and deliberate, aiding in aerating the earth and facilitating nutrient distribution. Each segment of their bodies moved in unison, propelling them through the dirt with a graceful, undulating motion.
Nearby, he saw another species of burrowing insect with elongated, armoured bodies, shimmering with a metallic sheen. Their multiple legs, equipped with sharp, spade-like appendages, worked in perfect unison to tunnel through the hardest of terrains. As they burrowed, their segmented bodies flexed and contracted, allowing them to navigate through tight spaces with surprising agility. Ants were also present in abundance. Their bustling colonies formed a complex network of chambers and tunnels. Deo noticed different types of ants – some with larger mandibles for cutting and carrying, others smaller and more agile, scouting for food and resources. Their movement was quick and purposeful, a stark contrast to the earthworms' languid pace.
Above ground, the plant life on the hills was equally diverse. Among the most prominent were low-lying shrubs with thick, leathery leaves and a waxy coating. These shrubs sprawled across the rocky terrain, their roots delving deep into cracks and crevices in search of moisture. Scattered amongst the shrubs were clusters of wildflowers, adding bursts of colour to the otherwise muted landscape. Their petals ranged from vibrant yellows to deep purples, each hue a stark contrast against the earthy tones of the hills. Grasses of various kinds grew in patches, some with tall, slender blades that swayed gently in the wind, while others were short and tufted, hugging the ground. Amidst these more common plants, Deo noticed several patches of a particular herb with lance-shaped leaves, growing predominantly in the areas with the most rugged conditions. The leaves were arranged in a rosette pattern, likely an adaptation to capture as much sunlight as possible.
With a mental shift, Deo redirected his focus from the lively world of plants and insects to the task at hand – analysing the rock makeup of the hills to locate any hidden ores or metals. He concentrated, extending his senses to perceive the less lively, more inert aspects of his surroundings. As he tried to attune himself to the geological formations around him, Deo encountered a challenge. His ability, so attuned to the nuances of life, struggled to interpret the silent, lifeless world of stone and mineral. He could sense the solidness of the rocks, the density and weight of the earth, but the finer details of their mineral composition eluded him. The rocks and soil formed a static backdrop in his mind's eye, unyielding and opaque to his life-centric senses.
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He probed further, seeking any sign of the metallic glint of ore, but found that his powers were not suited for this kind of detection. The vibrant spectrum of life that he was so adept at sensing – the greens of plants, the varied hues of insects and animals – offered no insight into the hidden veins of iron or other metals that might lie within the hills. With a heavy sigh, Deo opened his eyes, the vivid inner world fading as he returned to the physical reality of the southern hills, frustrated to be thwarted after he had been so confident.
As Deo turned to the others, he gave a sheepish smile, admitting, "Well, it turns out my skill isn't exactly suited for identifying rocks and ores. It's more attuned to detecting life."
Freya let out a groan. "Of course," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "So much for our secret weapon."
Deo, trying to lighten the mood, added, "I did sense a lot of interesting life, though! There’s some beautiful flowers on the other side of this hill. There was this one hardy herb that was basically growing in stone and there’s a whole colony of ants thriving just beneath our feet."
Freya continuing her moaning, began sarcastically, “Great let’s go make a chainmail of daisies or power our forges with ant–“
Hilda interrupted, her tone laced with sudden interest, “Hold on, Deo, can you describe that herb to me?”
“Sure," Deo responded. "It had these lance-like leaves and flowers arranged in a rosette.”
“That sounds like copper flower!” Hilda exclaimed in delight, her face lighting up with excitement.
“Copper flower!" Freya echoed, her demeanour transforming instantly. She wore a wide, almost maniacal grin as she bellowed, “Well, lead the way, Green Mage! Show us where this miracle herb is!”
Deo led the group to the part of the hill where he had sensed the clumps of the mysterious herb, the anticipation grew among them. The herb was nestled among the rocky terrain, its distinctive lance-shaped leaves and rosette arrangement of flowers making it stand out against the rugged backdrop.
Upon reaching the herb, Deo knelt down for a closer inspection. He activated his Botanical Knowledge skill, focusing on the plant before him. A moment later, information flooded his mind:
Ocimum centraliafricanum
* Tier: Uncommon
* Description: This hardy herb is known for its robust growth in harsh, rocky conditions. It features lance-shaped leaves and a unique arrangement of flowers in a rosette pattern. The plant is resilient, adapting to grow in nutrient-poor soil, making it a remarkable specimen of flora in challenging environments.
* Properties: Known for its high resilience and unique ability to thrive in copper-rich soil, Ocimum centraliafricanum is a valuable plant for both ecological studies and mineral prospecting. Its presence often indicates the potential for copper deposits in the surrounding area, guiding geologists and miners in their search for valuable ore.
[Experience Gained: +18 XP]
Whilst Deo had headed to identify the plant, Freya and Hilda instead scampered over to some nearby rock formations. The excitement was palpable as they approached what could potentially be a significant find. Hilda placed her hand on the rock formation, her eyes closing as if in deep concentration. It seemed she was trying to discern something about the rocks through touch or perhaps intuition. Freya, clearly eager for results, tapped her foot impatiently beside her.
"Well?" Freya asked, her voice tinged with a mix of hope and impatience.
After a few moments of silence, Hilda's eyes snapped open, and a broad grin spread across her face. "Jackpot," she exclaimed, her voice brimming with triumph.
In response, Freya let out a whoop of joy. The two cousins then engaged in a spontaneous happy dance, their earlier frustrations forgotten in the wake of their discovery. They hopped around in a circle, laughing and cheering, their jubilation echoing off the hills.
Catching her breath, Hilda shared the good news. "We've hit a huge vein of copper," she began excitedly. "But there's more — veins of tin, silver, and even a bit of gold! Not an enormous quantity, but plenty for what we need at Harmony’s Refuge."
As Deo approached, Freya suddenly swept him up in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground. "I knew you Green Mages were amazing!" she exclaimed, her gratitude and excitement tangible.
As Freya lifted him up, Deo couldn't help but laugh, "Ha, liar," he said playfully, though clearly happy that he had been able to help.
As she returned Deo to the earth, Freya began animatedly discussing their next steps. "We need to figure out how we're going to extract all this. Braldin and Kiera are going to be over the moon!"
Caelum, who had been listening intently, piped up with a curious expression, "How do you mine the ore?"
Freya turned to him, her face breaking into a smile at the young halfling's question. "Well, lad, mining ore involves a lot of hard work. We'll have to dig into the earth where the ore is, using pickaxes and shovels. Then we break the rocks and extract the ore from them. It's tough, but it's also kind of fun, like a treasure hunt," she explained in a simplified, yet enthusiastic manner.
Caelum nodded, his eyes wide with understanding and a new appreciation for the miners' task.
Hilda, however, wasn't quite ready to move on. "Hold up a minute, Deo," she interjected, turning to him with keen interest. "What other plants can you sense around here?" Her eyes sparkled with curiosity as she rattled off names of other plants, each with distinctive characteristics, like the red alpine catchfly with its vibrant blooms and the chandelier tree known for its towering, unique structure.
Deo focused for a moment, trying to sense the presence of the plants Hilda had mentioned. After a brief pause, he shook his head regretfully. "Unfortunately, I don't sense any of those around here," he replied.
After Deo's response, Freya chimed in with a slightly different request, her tone still ringing with excitement. "What about those blasted ant beetle things that eat stone? They're always burrowing around in rocky areas."
Hilda nodded in agreement, adding, "Oh yes, what about the Armoured Rock Scarabs? They have these thick, metallic shells and they're known to burrow with appendages like shovels."
Deo thought for a moment, recalling the various life forms he had sensed earlier. "Ah, yes, I think I do remember sensing some creatures like that," he said, his face brightening. "They were burrowing through very rocky earth. Follow me!" he exclaimed with even greater enthusiasm.
Energized by their recent successes, the group moved swiftly through the hills, following Deo's lead. Their excitement was palpable, creating a buoyant atmosphere as they traversed the rugged terrain. Before long, they arrived at a seemingly nondescript area, a flat expanse of bare earth that Deo identified as the location of the scarabs.
Deo pointed to the ground, explaining, "They're many feet below us here." As if on cue, Pyro began to dig at the earth with his paws, instinctively indicating where the hidden creatures might be.
Deo watched Pyro's efforts with a smile and then said with a chuckle, "It's quite far down, Pyro. We're not going to reach them with just your digging I’m afraid."
As the group gathered around the spot Pyro had excavated, Caelum, the young halfling, peered curiously into the small hole. "Are those scarabs really down there? Below our feet" he asked in a soft, awestruck voice, his eyes wide with wonder.
Yeah, they are," Deo replied with a reassuring smile.
Hilda, peering into the dug-out area, nodded thoughtfully. "Hmm, well, we don't have the equipment to excavate that deep right now. And my skill for detecting ores needs direct contact with a rock containing the vein. Still, this is an encouraging sign. Those scarabs are often found near iron or even rarer metals!"
Freya, who had also been examining the area, added, "We’ll mark this spot and come back with the proper gear. For now, we've got more than enough to start with. This is just the beginning."
Hilda turned to Deo, Pyro and Caelum. "You three have done more than enough for today. Freya and I will handle the extraction of the ores and take it from here. Why don't you head back and grab yourselves a well-earned drink at The Hellhound?" she suggested with a warm smile.
Freya chimed in with a grin, "We'll be toasting to you tonight when we head back. You've earned it, especially after finding those copper flowers and the scarabs!"
The group shared a moment of laughter and camaraderie before Deo and Caelum nodded in agreement. The promise of a relaxing end to the day at The Hellhound was appealing, especially after the day's fruitful endeavours. With a final wave and words of thanks, Deo, Pyro, and Caelum began their journey back to Harmony's Refuge, leaving Freya and Hilda to their expert work. The promise of a celebratory evening awaited them, a fitting conclusion to a day marked by discovery and teamwork.