bravenewworld | The Day Will Come

Who: Lenna Tycoon, Rei Hino, Feliks Łukasiewicz, Haruka Tenoh
What: Eastern Steppe exploration
When: November 13
Where: The Eastern Steppe area
Summary: In her continuing quest to look for signs of her father, Lenna has gathered a group to explore the Eastern Steppe. This is a dual purpose log to move along her personal plot as well as unlock the area for bonding.

[Now that the Warp Band's range has been expanded, Lenna has once again begun to pursue clues concerning the untimely departure of her father, Councilman Alexander Highwind Tycoon, over a year ago. He left astride the family's Dragonite, Hiryu, to address an urgent and unnamed problem to the east. The last time Lenna mounted an expedition like this, she and a small group found the Coastal Ruins. She'd been looking around the Blizzard Tundra herself more recently, but found nothing but snow and a Furfrou for her trouble.

Remembering how her first trip out had gone, however, she decided to ask some of her friends and associates to accompany her. Unlike the trip to the Coastal Ruins, she'd been entirely upfront this time, apologizing for her selfishness but imploring their aid. Of course the others had agreed, but it's always been in Lenna's nature to consider the needs of others first, even for something as important to her as family. So with a grateful heart, she and the others set off for the Eastern Steppe.]

Thank you all again for coming with me. I realize this was an indulgence on my part, but we may find something that will be of use to Union as a whole while we're looking.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Lenna sighs as the battle ends, looking back at her companions.]

Is everyone all right?

[Because it's Aqua Ring healing time for anyone who isn't. She's fine, and Bartz is unharmed, but Lenna always makes sure to take care of her traveling companions. It's only a brief bit of healing, though, as the impetuous little Jumpluff takes off toward the campsite.]

Bartz, wait! Don't go alone!

[Lenna hops down after him, running in the same direction. It's only after a few moments that she notices what he's seen as well, and she picks up her pace as her heart leaps into her throat.]

...It's a campsite! Everyone, come on!

[ Haruka remains staring at that crevice for a moment longer, but sending anything down after the vanished bug seems like overkill. So, with one last glance over her shoulder, she turns to rejoin the party, Rushing Wind swooping down to alight on the nearest boulder.

When she reaches the campsite Haruka will kneel down by any detritus left from fires, holes that might have been made by pitched tents, etc, to try and get a sense of how long ago someone stayed here. It could be nothing, really. But there's only one way to find that out. ]

[With that dealt with, Rei makes sure Casius is in better shape, spraying a potion on his injury. Lenna's excitement, though, draws her away.]

A camp? Show me. Maybe I can get a psychometric impression.

[Using her Psychic side, she starts to sweep around, trying to sense any lingering impressions. Was this a one night stop? An extended camp? Had there been any strong emotions?]

[As the four of them approach the empty campsite, they'll find not much is left over. Whoever had been there last had been very spartan about their stay, and it couldn't of been long. One night at the most, before they'd moved on to wherever they were headed. The wood that lies in the makeshift fire pit hadn't even burned all the way, leaving half-scorched sticks. Not even logs, with as scarce as wood was out here, but just sticks.

Rei's sweep over the area will reveal a strong feeling of remembrance and separation, duty and love. Her psychic senses might even lead her to a small alcove, naturally carved out of one of the boulders where a lot of these impressions are coming from.

Inside, there seems to be something that shines from the shadows.]

[Lenna arrives at the camp in fairly short order, nervous with anticipation that she might finally find some sign of her father's presence in this place. She spends a bit of time looking at the fire as Rei is scanning the area.]

This can't be more than a day old...

[It isn't long, of course, before she notices what Rei is looking at. Walking over slowly, she comes up next to her friend, peering in toward the mysterious shiny object.]

Rei...? Did you find something?

[Rei starts following, slowly tracing steps as she does. Cautiously, she peers into the alcove.]

I think so. There's...a lot of impressions here, but here, look!

[Pointing to whatever's in the alcove, she gestures to Lenna.]

There's something here.

[ Haruka stands up and backs off to give the other women room to investigate. She positions herself on the perimeter of the campsite, looking out around them at the plains - just in case anything chooses to show up again. Best if she can take care of that stuff without disturbing the Detectives. ]

[Inside of the alcove, there's a helmet that rests. The metalwork will be familiar to Lenna, struck of the same mold of a set of armor she would recognize. The decorations match that of her family's crest, and inside is a letter. It's folded, the handwriting etched into it from a fine feather pen. It reads:

Dearest Lenna,

It pains me to have left you, and to have told you so little. Know only that I did so to protect you. My business in the east is not yet finished, and I cannot return home until I have laid my fears to rest. I regret that I cannot share the details of my quest, but I know my daughter, and I know you will come looking for me. To that end, I have left this message for you to find.

If this is the path you have chosen, I cannot stand in your way, but be aware that it will be dangerous. I look forward to the day we are able to reunite, and pray that the world is more peaceful when we do. If you wish to find me before I make my return - become strong, and follow me to the east. You hold the future of the Tycoon family in your hands, and I know you will not disappoint me.

Take care, and remember that I will always love you. I am so proud of everything you have accomplished, and everything you have become.

Sincerely,
Alexander Highwind Tycoon

The helmet is positioned to look farther east, off in the distance. There isn't an end to the steppe where they stood, and the man who'd left the clue for his daughter may still be traversing the land. Who's to say, because there's no clear trail, other than the helmet.]

[Lenna is dumbstruck at the sight of the helmet, her hands shooting up to cover her mouth as she gasps loudly and begins to tear up. Slowly, she makes her way toward it, lifting it gently and reverently from its perch and cradling it closely as the note flutters to the ground.]

F-father... did you leave this for me?

[Crouching down, she sets the helmet aside as she takes the note in hand and begins to read. As her eyes scan the page, the tears that had moments before been shimmering along the edges of her sight begin to flow freely, dripping down her face and onto the paper. She has to pause several times to compose herself and wipe them away, and finally she folds the note, holding it close to her heart and bowing her head with a wistful smile.]

He was here... he's still alive.

[Drawing in a deep breath, Lenna picks up the helmet once again and sets her sights to the east. Far across the steppe, and far beyond the range of the Warp Band even now.]

I won't stop looking, Father. I promise. I'll become strong, just like you said, and someday I'll find you.

[Rei stands aside, leaving Lenna to her investigation. It's a tearful sight, and she leans against Casius just to keep the psychic tremors of emotion from overwhelming her. Closing her eyes, she focuses, fixating on that sensation and trying to locate a trail, finding that it only leads her to one place. Further east.

Outside the range of their expedition.

That meant it would take another trek. Another journey on another day.]

Yes. We'll...help you. When the time comes, Lenna-san, we'll be there.

[He's alive.]

[He can feel an echo of his own relief in her words, the wound that has only just begun to heal in him, still tender and raw.]

[He comes near to stand by Lenna, reaching a hand down towards her shoulder.]

You're like, pretty strong already, you know that?

The world won't know what hit it. [ There was a message from her father? Haruka has never met the guy, but she does think he'd be proud of Lenna. The woman's basically Union incarnate.

Haruka keeps her distance - the others know Lenna better and thus are better-equipped to be there for her - but Rushing Wind lands and flutters her feathers with a happy trill. How wonderful for you! She and Trainer will support your search! ]

The Day Will Come

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