Fufulupa’s irritation was only intensifying. Today had been a fairly quiet day in Horizon… at first. It all came crashing down when Eorzea’s heroes, the five Warriors of Light who had toppled the Praetorium and driven off Gaius van Baelsar, starting rushing back and forth through the settlement.
Their first trip through town was standard. They arrived via aetheryte and descended into the mine shafts to the west, presumably heading to the former headquarters of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn to pick something or other up for their new base of operations. But then they came back not a few minutes later empty handed and left via the aetheryte. It’s not as though it were the Brass Blades’ business what the heroes were up to. Their demeanor did seem considerably more… confused if anything, but if they were departing it surely wasn’t anything too important. The Brass Blades would just have to go check the area later, make sure the region was still secure.
The Warriors came back, grumbling at a book. Fufulupa’s curiosity was piqued, but not enough to interrogate the quintet. Off to the west they departed, only to return again a few minutes later without the book harboring an even deeper cloud of confusion. They ran up to Fufulupa’s fellow Brass Blade stationed in Horizon, discussed something with him, then rushed over to the aetheryte and teleported away once more.
Fufulupa couldn’t help himself, the Warriors of Light were behaving rather oddly and he needed to know that Horizon was safe. The town was otherwise quiet, so he made a move across the plaza to speak with his fellow. “Giselberdus! What were the Warriors asking you about, might I ask?”
“Ah, nothing too important. They were asking after Memenugu, and I happened to know he was in the vicinity of Fesca’s Watch so I directed them there. They were rather cagey when I asked what they needed him for, mentioning only something about him knowing some steps?”
“How curious… well, as long as it was nothing we need to concern ourselves with, I suppose all is well.” With that, Fufulupa returned to his post, just in time to witness two merchants beginning to scuffle.
Another bell passed, and the Warriors returned once more. Their mood had soured considerably, with the Miqo’te hero (“Satora”, was it?) arguing with their Lalafellin companion. Fufulupa recognized him, Coconori and his adopted sibling Sibold had been common sights amongst the residents of Pearl Lane for years until they vanished and reappeared moons later as part of the Scions. Their Viera companion was scowling at the two of them, bopping them on the head as they exited town again into the mines, while their Hrothgar member released a howling cackle. The only words the Brass Blade managed to pick up were something about “moving forward and back”.
This continued into the next day. The Warriors would appear at the aetheryte, depart through the mines with ever worsening moods, only to return minutes later with confusion plastered all over their faces. Finally, Fufulupa had had enough. When they returned once more from the mines, Fufulupa marched over to the aetheryte to intercept them. “Just what has had you five marching in and out of Horizon for the last few days, causing disturbances every time? Is there something we need to know about?”
Confusion replaced instantly with startlement and shame, the heroes glanced at each other before Sibold spoke up. “My apologies, sir. We discovered a series of riddles left behind by the adventurer Winebaud and we sought to solve it. We had thought he may have left a treasure trove behind, but we just solved the last riddle and… well, the treasure was certainly not what we expected. The riddles were excruciating and it may have worn our patience a tad thin. I promise we will not let it happen again.”
Laughter. All of Horizon was made to know the laughter of a very stressed Brass Blade finally releasing days of tension. The Warriors of Light made it a point to avoid Horizon for the next several moons.
