Mitler's Mystery Theater: Stoalphea Berry Research July VSS
"Welcome one and all to Mitler's Mystery Theater! Tonight we shall tell a tale known to many, but still only a few. Sit back and journey with me to a time and a place long forgotten!" a voice called out as the red fleece curtain slowly pulled open.
A man stepped onto stage writing in a notebook, a lizard sitting on his shoulder. "If I'm being honest, Wulfgeat, I can't imagine how we ever considered the scientist had done it."
The room bathed in the low light of twilight seemed to take on a dreamy quality as the man sat down in a tall-backed chair, the lizard scurrying down his arm. "Time to revisit the case. When Mr. Blubber approached us a week and a half ago, he mentioned he had lost an....uh what was it again? The word, it's just out of my grasp...no matter, he had lost an object."
He flipped through his notebook, hunting for the answer. "Ahh...He had lost his recent research on the germination of the Stoalphea Berry. Frankly speaking, that berry isn't all that important. Why would anyone would steal his research on it?"
Getting up, he pulls a book off-the-shelf opening to an image of the berry. According to the article, the berry can be used in the making of gums and resins, and is the gap between can easily identify the plant its teal colored flower petals. The leaves of the plant are favorites of the Universe Mantis, a bug indigenous to the Northern half of Delesia's Eastern coast. ”Could this have something to do with the bugs? Getting rid of a single bug could destroy an ecosystem…Of course it is Wulfgeat. We must make haste to Cypress Lane and let the others know what we have discovered.”
Picking up his lizard the pair leave the room and walk into an unfamiliar room occupied with a group of individuals. "I'm glad to see the strata of high druids have assembled from Triothel, Vinorion, and the Iron Empire."
"I do hope you've come to justify why we need this pact, Casey." a woman asked taking notice of him.
"Indeed. When Raspberry's info on the Stoalphea Berry went missing, we accused a rival. But, new evidence suggests it was taken to get rid of the Universe Mantis."
"Why?"
"Elementary, Sandralsia. Getting rid of the Mantis will cripple the empire."
"Okay..."
"Let us note what creatures the mantis eats. Given the bad blood between Triothel and the Empire, it's possible that the scientific research was stolen by Triothel."
"That's preposterous!" yelled Triothels representative.
"Triothel was at it's zenith before the war. You've floundered since the creation of Vinorion, so it makes sense that you would try to find some way to deter the Empires success. Truely I cannot think of a more ingenious way to send a message to them, then to use nature against them."
"No, we wouldn't need to kill the mantis to get rid of the Empire. if I were you I'd stop being so inquisitive sir."
"Is that so? I'm rather curious myself why he should stop trying to figure this out." Sandralsia asked turning towards the vampire.
"Shut your mouth, this doesn't concern you." The vampire snapped back.
"I think that it's immaterial that Sandralsia represents Vinorion. Why is Triothel still trying to get rid of the Empire? We've lost most of our land, including the Porthy Canopy."
"Why shouldn't we plan the empires destruction? They attacked us first. Did any of you bother to investigate why they attacked us?"
"It was investigated, yes. It's why they lost so much land in the treaty." Sandralsia responded.
"This whole meeting is a scam! I will not sit here and allow my country to be treated in this manner!"
"Sit down Melchior. We will continue to navigate this maze that is peace between you and Anthonye" said a new individual coming into the room.
The scent of Eucalyptus followed the individual as they entered the room. A small kobold carrying a tie die esque oven mit. "Considering you need Anthonye, and mortals like him to survive, the hate you seem to exude for him, is confusing. I do understand from Anthonyee's side since there have been several reports of Vampires leaving people partially dead, or kidnapping people from the empire to take back to their masters. I would tread carefully Melchior with your next statement, lest you harm Triothel's relationship with this council."
Melchior's eyes blazed like wildflire as he glared at the assembled high druids . Wind flooded the room from the open door and windows. "We will not be treated as the perpetrator of this crime. While yes we want the Iron Empire wiped off of the face of Milleadh, we would not harm the Mantis, it has far too many benefits."
The room fell silent. "Very well, who in your mind would do this then?"
"Perhaps they did it to themselves, in order to cast shade on us. I mean it wouldn't surprise me that their navy would try something like this. They have the technology and the desire to frame us."
"I find it strange that you both accuse the other of wanting revenge, and using the mantis to get it. I honestly think we won't reach an answer today. At least not with this vein of questioning," the ovenmit stated looking at the individuals in the room. "Wulfgeat, Casey, I believe a bit more information is needed. Please obtain it."
The room darkens. Casey steps to the front of the stage looking at the lizard on his arm. "Our assumptions can't be completely wrong. Weathering the loss of the Mantis through the Berry isn't something any of those three can handle. Let's cast a wider net?"
Casey and Wolfgeat spend several minutes flipping through books at various tables. Various images are magnified on the screen behind their silhouettes, including the Mantis chasing various insects and small creatures. The screen eventually stops, showing Casey's hand slowly moving along a page. The name Drakos appears several times on the page. The lights turn on and Casey and Wolfgeat look at one another. "Drakos...The only Drakos who fits this description is Drakos Bedrock. He was the mayor of Rodog. It's on the other side of the bridge from Woham in the Empire. One of the towns they lost.....Where is he now...Last I heard he needed resucing from the Republic. Kidnapped during the war."
"It's amazing what isolation can do to a human, isn't it? Melchior's farce in Fastingfell's Bush garden will never be caught Drakos. We will bring the Empire to its knees, all because of you."
The fall out from the meeting was felt for months as the mantis was slowly whipped out. All while Casey and Wolfgeat attempted to make progress on the location of Drakos in Triothel. "Logic dictates that he should be here, the half-life of the tracer the Empire uses says he should be here. Why isn't here here in Winig Park. Dang it. What an enigma this is turning out to be. You don't think he could be in the undermeadow?" Casey asked looking worried.
Wulfgeat blinked and licked his eyeball. "We must solve this Wulfgeat. The peace between the Empire and the republic depends on it."
"And thus began the epoch of the downfall of Triothel. A story that happens to coincide with another tale, one for another day my friends."
Comments