Apologize sincerely

“I’m very sorry sir, I did not mean to cause so much trouble. I shall be on my way.” You quickly and humbly respond. You start to turn away and leave when suddenly you are yanked back by your hair.

“I did not tell you you could leave, did I? You’re lucky I’m feeling kind.” He reaches his hand into your shirt and starts to grope your breast. “I could so easily peg some bullshit on you and make you my ****, but I won’t. Besides, you aren’t fit with my standards, so consider yourself lucky. Continue on the main road and turn left at the jeweler’s corner shop. Eventually, you will find said lodging on the right. You may leave.”

He gives your breast a forceful squeeze, inciting a yelp from you. He smacks you across the face again.

“Shut your trap, whore. No one wants to hear it.”

You quickly abscond from the public humiliation square, not wanting to risk putting yourself in the same situation as the other 3 women. You follow his directions and soon arrive at a shabby, beat-down building with a crumbling façade. You enter and the man behind the counter gives you a wary look.

“We all filled up girl. Gunna haf to take yer business elsewhere.” the man says monotonously.

“I’m here to see a friend…” you slowly piece together, “I believe that he… that they are in Room 02?” you lead the man on.

“Ha! That old crone? Can’t believe ANYBODY would want to see her. But I mean hey, she pays for her room and insists on doing all of the services we provide herself. Well I guess not herself, she has that dumb puppydog girl doing all that crap for her. Never leaves her room much, no… anyhow, you can go ahead and visit her. I don’t give a rat’s ass.” The man says bluntly to conclude his diatribe.

You walk away from the rude man behind the counter and approach the door with 02 on it. Well, technically there isn’t an 02 on it, not anymore. They seem to have both fallen off, the 2 visible on the floor a couple meters away, the 0 nowhere in sight. The 02 is only decrypted by less amounts of filth on the door where the 02 once was. You knock and enter upon receiving permission to do so. You see a small room, with a tiny little wood-burning stove and a large, elongated bucket used for bathing. A young, mousy girl frantically runs around, attempting to prepare a meal and ready a bath. Without looking up she says:

“Mistress Maitheanas is in the other room. She told me to let you in since she knew you where ‘the one’. You may speak with her now if you please.”

You let the girl continue her work in peace and head through the door to the other room. You see a small, empty cot- presumably where the mousy girl sleeps, and the standard bed. In the standard bed, a shrunken, thin, frail looking woman rests. Suddenly she speaks, without opening her eyes or moving at all.

“You are destined to save our lands. However, Fushi’s wall of defense is impenetrable by your strength. He possesses a buttress that can only be damaged by magical forces. And I don’t look anything like one now, but I was once a very powerful witch. I chose to use my power for peace and not dapple much with the public. However, one night, my lakeside home was ravaged, and the precious Keluwesan gem that was the source of my power was taken. I could see the beast that took it was large and covered in long tentacle prongs, and it pulled the gem into the water. The beast tried to take me with it, but I managed to break free and flee the shore. I could not see much in the dark, but I did see the creature submerge and retreat into a cavernous opening beneath the water not too far from my shelter, probably a hundred feet southeast. My strength was already declining rapidly, and my true age was beginning to show and impact my body. I packed up what was most essential and returned to my childhood home of Ira to live with my grandniece. Her parents were both executed when Fushi conquered the city to end any rebellious thoughts, along with many other civilians. She has nurtured me as I awaited your arrival. And now you’re here. You cannot defeat Fushi without my help. I cannot help you defeat Fushi without my powers. As you can see, my staff sits against the wall, as it has for some time now, without it’s Keluwesan core. Once you go to the lake and retrieve that gem for me, we can proceed with freeing this city. But until then, nothing can be done. As one takes the turn to come to Ira, or branch out to the towns of the North or the towns of the South, there is a faint trail that is hardly used. It will lead you to the trench where my gem lies. I beg of you to return it to me so we can reign triumphant. And you must not tell anyone that I am the prophet, for my grandniece and I will both suffer the price and your mission will be impossible. I spent nearly all of my remaining power to clean my grandniece’s soul of Fushi’s wrathful and dedicated plague, and I cannot afford to lose her. Please return the gem with haste.”