Finish up in the city.

You spend a bit of time getting something basic for the girls to wear. Niki finds some black shorts, Eva wears a pale blue dress, and RF has assembled something quite different. She's garbed in a full black robe with a wooden mask concealing the top half of her face. She looks like some kind of cultist assassin. They'll do for now, anyway. When you're all back home, they'll be able to garb themselves properly.

Once again, you manage to buy yourselves a seat in a trade caravan for the trip back. The road is busy enough to do so consistently, which is nice. It isn't all that expensive either. The seven of you sit around in a circle together in a wagon to yourselves. It'll be a couple days until you arrive back home, and you can't wait to get the quest payment back somewhere safe. Yin has been home alone for quite some time as well.

"Hey RF," you say. "You're the only one here not living at the manor, I guess. We should figure out how to divvy up this money."

The masked edgelord turns to face you. "No need. I fight only for justice," she says in a gloomy, whispering voice.

"Why are you talking like that...?"

"Hey, Delphi. Can I ask you something?" Eva says.

"Yes, girl. It is too late to buy underwear, I'm afraid," Delphi replies.

Eva puts her hands immediately between her legs and flushes red. "I-- I have some already!"

"Of course you do."

"I just wanted to know what kinda other people you've met in the forest besides other pixies..."

"Honestly, not many. The last person I met was an elven woman. She was travelling with a dwarf, and--"

Suddenly, Amara butts in, which catches you by surprise. She isn't normally one to do that. "What did she look like?"

"Well, she had pointy years, blond hair... I can't remember every little detail. Green eyes, I believe."

"Did she have a necklace?"

"Now that you mention it, I do remember her having a silver pendant that looked like a moon. Pretty thing."

"How long ago?"

"You're pretty excited about this. Well, it was probably about a month or so back, if I had to guess."

"You all right, Amara?" you ask.

The elf nods and takes a deep breath. A somber expression falls upon her face. "My mother matches that description. She often does travel with a dwarf as well. It has been a long time since I have seen my mother, as she has been on a quest of her own. But I would love to have caught her... Was she doing well?"

"Yeah. Tough lady, she was. I'd guess a pretty high level cleric?"

"Yes."

Delphi ponders for a moment. "I'm thinking about it more, and I think she was talking to the dwarf about going south to Gen Village. No idea where that is, but yeah. Also, something about ingredients."

"That is not far south from our home! Thank you, Delphi."

"Hey don't mention it." She scratches the back of her neck nervously at Amara's affection.

"What kinda quest is she on, Amara?" you ask.

"Though I do not know what she is doing currently, many of her quests involve aiding those who are sick or injured. It may be that she is seeking ingredients for a cure, perhaps for somebody in Gen Village, or that may be the location of yet another part of the cure."

Meanwhile, the golem sits quiet. She doesn't know anybody here--or anywhere. All she can do is listen. You look to her as the others converse. Her gaze turns up to you, and she runs her hand back through her soft green hair. Barely anything about her seems like what you'd expect from a golem. You wonder how she was made in the first place.

"How are you doing?" you ask.

"I am doing well. Thank you."

"It must be hard. Do you even know why that guy made you in the first place?"

She shakes her head. "I do not know much, sadly."

"Well, you can stay with us until you figure it out. As long as you're all right living with all these goofballs."

"Did you mean what you said before?" she asks.

"Said what?"

"That I was beautiful."

"Oh. Yeah of course, Alice."

She smiles and looks away. "I see...