Sunnyfest - Treasure Dive Quest

As the boat disappeared around the corner of the cliffs bordering the coral reef, the cloaked figure surfaced to recharge her air bubble. She searched the surroundings to make sure there were no other onlookers before diving back to search the reef for what her nemesis had discovered. The flat rock was still partially uncovered when she reached the area and the orange Pouflon shook off her hood to get a better look at the carvings. “Stupid pirate didn’t even bother to cover It up again, it’s like she’s trying to loose” she smirked to herself as she made a mental note of the clues. 

The boat’s propellers made a trail of bubbles under the water in it’s wake as It sped around the corner of the cliff. Eponine was the first to speak up above the sound of the water as she moved closer to the vespire at the wheel. 

“The map points to the sea trench between  Riddlock point and Marshgrave. The easiest way to get there from here would be to go around the broken Island off the coast of redwick instead of going between then follow the cliff around the corner.” She instructed, blowing softly on the map still laying on the boat console until a dotted line appeared showing the path to follow towards the X making their destination. Vasha raised an impressed eyebrow at the blue haired Pouflon and slowed slightly to hand over the wheel so she could look closer at the map. Eponine grinned and took the wheel happily, moving them In the direction she knew all too well from sailing on her father’s merchant ship. 

“Where’d you learn the fancy map skills here Seablade?” The Vespire asked, using the nickname she’s given the sailor before in the reef. Eponine puffed her chest at the praise and shrugged her shoulders “it’s the navigation enchantment my Capp’n uses when we’re sailing.” She replied casually, keeping her eyes ahead to the water where her toucana companion was moving with the air currents and keeping a lookout for surface rocks under the water.

On the front deck of the boat, Aria was still cradling the small Hermyte shell to her chest as It clung to her fur. Nimbus watched with amusement where he was tucked on the bench next to them. 

“I wonder what Chirp is going to think of this little one when we get back to Citremery?” He chuckled, peaking down at the curious pippet. Aria let out a melodic laugh and nudged their shoulders together “as long as they don’t pinch his fathers I think they will get along just fine.” She smiled. 

The boat jolted to a stop when they reached the water boundary that separated Marshgrave from the jagged edge of Riddlock point. Eponine shut off the propeller and she guided Vasha on the best way to anchor the boat against the cliff side since the sea floor below them was too far down to properly drop the boat’s anchor. 

“Any clue what’s down there Seablade?” Vasha asked Eponine once they were secure, but Aria spoke up before her friend could respond. “It’s the old Rosamond ship.” She chipped In happily, tucking the Hermyte into her hat before standing up with the others. Looking confused at her friend and team leader’s shocked faces. “What? I heard about it at Riddlock when I went for my exams last spring” she shrugged, as if the information wasn’t a big deal. Eponine and Vasha traded an unreadable expression before turning back to Aria “Think you can take the lead on this one Siren?” The Vespire asked, recount an excited but determined nod in return. Aria nuzzled Nimbus’s cheek before jumping over the boat railing into the water. Eponine gave Nimi an amused look as he blushed and tossed him her bag before following her best friend into the water. Vasha was the last into the water after she gave the male Pouflon a nod and she disappeared under the water to follow the two capricorns. 

The cloaked Pouflon following the treasure team watched the boat from around the corner of the cliff on a flat surface jutting out the side of the rock face. She raised an eyebrow in interest and craned her ears to hear what they were saying before they dived into the water. “Sunken ships? Lost treasure? This is a lot more interesting then I thought it would be” she mumbled to herself and sunk back down to lay and wait against the rock. She knew better then to follow them under the water where they had the advantage of both fins and light magic on their sides. 

Aria and Eponine effortlessly swam between the cliffs of the sea trench, their back leg fins and gills giving them an advantage over their vespire team leader who was an expert at holding her breath for long periods of time. Aria took the lead, using an illuminating spell to light the way when the water around them grew darker. There were creatures swimming around them that let off faint glow the further down they swam, until the two Capricorns reached the mast of an old merchant ship. 

It was covered in sea grass, rocks and barnacles, showing exactly how long it has been submerged down in the depths of the sea trench. Aria motioned for them to follow her further down as she sent her balls of light further around the ship’s main deck. This was where Eponine’s orientation knowledge was useful as she lead the team towards a small hatch on the main deck leading down into the ship’s hold. She and Vasha went through the hatch as Aria hung back to search around the exterior of the ship. She had somewhere else she needed to check first. 

With a determined look, Aria sent her light spells down to the hold with the other two before swimming further up the deck. She ducked under one of the fallen masts and stopped suddenly when she reached a door covered with seaweed and algae. It only took a few well placed slams with her tail until the door loosened from its bindings. She felt a pull towards the room as she swam inside without a second glance. The captain’s quarters were still magnificent and well preserved, even with a layer of chipped and rotten wood covering the surfaces from the poop deck floor above. The ship had belonged to a pirate captain, who often traded or fought with the Vespires of the Ebony Wreath. She shuddered at the cold water surrounding her and spotted something interesting on the main table in the centre of the room. A map lay still held down with rocks and shells and a large pointed object was stabbed into an area of the ocean that Aria didn’t recognise from where she was standing. Carefully with her front pooves she dislodged the pointed object and started removing the weights around the map perimeter. If she was careful she would still be able to preserve the map in its current condition and get It back to the boat safely. It wasn’t made from the usual wheat blend parchment like most of the modern maps that she helped make at the local cartography shop In Citremery, this old map was made from thin flexible layers of redwick wood bonded together with enchantments. It started floating upwards without it’s anchors and she rolled it carefully, securing its vine strap. After grabbing the pointed object, she turned to exit the quarters but stopped short when one of her balls of light caught against a shiny surface. 

Rays of light reflected In all directions from a small pear shaped stone strung up on a hook on the wall next to water soiled papers and photos stuck to the wall. When her eyes rested on the jewel, It lifted off its hook and floated upwards towards the doorway where she stood. 

Eponine called out to her friend from further down the deck and Aria snapped out of her trance. She looped the gemstone around her neck and glanced back at the cabin one last time as the door slid closed behind her. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she had discovered something important back in the cabin, a long forgotten memory or link to her past. When Aria rejoined her friend and teammate, Eponine noticed her thoughtful expression but knew not to question the young Pouflon. They silently swam back up to the water surface and Aria carefully guided the map and object onto the boats deck before they all climbed back out the water again.