Nebulous treasures

Arrival and Patching Plans

The Wainwright was doing better than he imagined! Despite rusting for a near century, the walker had practically bulldozed the obstacles from the archipelago. Trees and boulders were crushed or pushed aside, waves however...

*Fwoo-splash!*

"Gah!!!" Yelled a ball of blankets as it rolled off a bed, down the pilot's access stairway and into the kitchen wall. The ball unfurled with a groan of pain, revealing the machine's only crewman. "That's one way to wake up, guess I'll make breakfast and get some work done." Keeping the the warm blanket over his shoulders, he went to the kitchen. Opening the fridge he pulled out a few containers and grabbed a dinner bowl and utensils from the pantry. In about three minutes he had a breakfast salad with chicken and juice, leftovers given from the party two days prior. While he ate he began pondering about his current plans, what happened during his debt meeting yesterday, as well as his finished decodings on the Reclaimers.

The debts he apurchased were almost completely paid off. The Amitolas only needed two months to make the final payment. The Happy Huntresses found the last supply cache, which had what appeared to be a literal house on wheels, along with several books that were damaged by frostbite. What was more interesting was the call he got from General Ironwood himself. Apparently, the military was over budget and needed to cut funding with several departments.

A load of hogwash in his opinion. They still paid his debt, had an entire fleet of ships as big as their buildings, and somehow give every single soldier separate uniforms for fighting and formal occasions. How a penguin suit was more important than dust research, he didn't want to know. "Maybe I'm overthinking things and their bookkeepers are slacking off." He thought, idly chewing on some lettuce. Then there was the logbook noting several messages from a base in the Vale mountains, which was most likely the main HQ of the Sanus branch.

The high altitude with its cold air would be crippling for anyone not adapted to it. From his experience at the Lake Matsu Base, he narrowed his search near places with dust-altered weather. The best place to start would be around Fallen Jewel, an active volcano at the edge of Forever fall. The landmass is infamous for proving that dust could be found the area, but effusive eruptions set off the dust just before the energy within the crystals can settle. According to rumors, a picture of it was placed on a dartboard during an SDC business meeting, with a maid bringing tea winning the whole pot. Chuckling at the thought, Jaune placed his plates in the sink and went up to the cockpit to adjust the course.
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Combe Grotto was the easternmost village in Sanus, named for the two landforms it's built near. The two rivers granted a good supply of fish along with the cave gardens that were built. Another additional benefit to the natural defenses is frontier towns making their own peacekeepers, often called mediators. They patrol the area, reset the Grimm killing traps every other hour, settle disputes, and deal with wild animals. Roark Talpa however, is waiting for a boat of lumber to reinforce the main cave and inform the older guards of its arrival. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed a shape coming from the ocean.

"*static* This is Roark, I see something coming towards me from the river's mouth." The boy, around 13 years reported to the elder mediators via radio.

"*static* What are you talking about boy? We didn't send anyone out and the Grimm won't— hang on, I'm getting a transmission."

Roark continued to stare as the shape revealed to be some sort of boat, the center held the cockpit and motor. Surrounding the main parts was a frame of pumps and winches leading below... where a large shadow was below it?!

"Uh-huh... the valley needed to pass through has several boulders and rockslides... a detour through Forever Fall? There goes me asking to clear a route for us... It's the one with the green roof..."