16th of Lenzin

In the morning we had breakfast and talked about the day. I recommended we head to the Glimmering Scale, the magic shop I noticed last night. When we got there we saw the shelves were filled with random trinkets and other assorted items. The proprietor of the shop was an older green Rasp. He noted that they mostly trade in raw resources. When I inquired about something that may help my spellcasting he said he didn't have any, but what I would want to look into was something he called Mana bark. Specifically the blue type. Evidently it's rare and grows out in the woods in the surrounding area. It's mostly acquired by trading with the local Rasps. It's a magical wood that is pliable and takes enchantments well. The Rasp druids grow it to trade and to protect the woods from overlogging. They trade it to keep the humans at bay. I'll definitely have to keep an eye out.
 
Otherwise, most things they kept there on the shelves are powders and satchels of herbs. Also crystalline dust and silver powder. Lots of things for spell components. Overall though, it's more like an herbalist or alchemist's shop rather than a standard magic shop. Nothing really caught my eye but Velvet went and bought something, claiming it to be for a friend.
 
The group went to the shrine area and Mara knelt down. I was pretty startled. On the back of her neck and shoulders there were these strange black protrusions that looked like scales. The scales themselves aren't magical but we were able to determine they were recently spurred into being by magic. Mara mentioned the feeling reminded her of when she had a fever in the past. There was also some sort of strange bump on her forehead above her eye we couldn't identify.
 
We went to a healer's building where there was an old man tending to the front. The healer mentioned that the scales do seem to be a part of her now, although he was not familiar with any diseases that would cause someone to grow scales. The healer was unfortunately not able to help us. Mara quickly left after we left the healer's shop to go see Chael. Concerned for her, I went about my business.
 
We met back up with Chael and Mara after and we headed out to go hunt the Sabercat. Ashton tracked the cat and it was determined to likely be quite a large beast. Before we could go too far we heard crying off the path and we went to investigate. Off the path we found a blonde woman with a slight elongation to her ears. Possibly a Tiefling or Half-Elf, Dr. June Manji. She had dropped her research materials into a large tar pit somehow and was worrying herself delirious at the loss. Harper volunteered to dive in to find it while Ashton tied some rope to him and the other end to Harper as Harper went inside. Harper went in and ultimately found June's materials and returned it to which she thanked him profusely.
 
We kept going until we found a ruined building where we encountered the Saber Beast and multiple other smaller cat monsters. We fought them as well as some more plant monsters. It was a tough battle but we ultimately overcame the Saber Beast and emerged victorious. What was particularly surprising is shortly after the start of the fight when Mara let out a battle cry she just kind of... turned small. I don't know how else to describe it, but it's almost like she's half her normal size and looking much younger, yet still retaining the same level of strength as she did as normal, swinging around her greatsword. I have no idea how this could have happened but it has to be related to those scales we saw before. Something happened for sure. But since it doesn't seem to be actively impeding her or hurting her, I guess looking into it can be put on the back burner.
 
Note to self: Do not antagonize small Mara.
 
As we began to salvage the claws for the quest we heard Harper let out a yell. We pivoted and began to attack the group of spiders that attacked him as he had gone to another part of the ruin. I tried to jump up to the next area where the action was taking place but ultimately faceplanted. Rather embarrassing, but I did eventually manage to join the fray. I'll have to work on my athletics again sometime so that doesn't happen again. We eventually finish off the spiders and took a short rest.
 
Once the rest was done the group split up temporarily with Harper, Ashton, and Chael working to salvage parts from the Saber Beast and Mara, Velvet, and I heading to the room where Harper was attacked. In the room we found a silver trinket we brought back with us. The others managed to claim its large, striking pelt intact.
 
As we were on our way back to town we found a patch of the same plant that Velvet paid money for: Devil's Ginger. The group collected a bunch (6) of it on our way back.
 
We got back early in the evening. We headed to the blacksmith's shop and returned the claws as requested. He rewarded us (50 gold apiece) for the quest and we then headed across the way to the (magic shop). We asked him to identify the pelt of the Saber Beast which we claimed earlier. He noted that it would work well to create some kind of magical clothing or cloak. As payment for the appraisal I passed him my share of the Devil's Ginger which drew a look from Chael. I didn't realize it was worth a lot! I was just trying to be nice.
 
Later when we were back at the inn Harper revealed himself as one of the "Scions of the Bowen family", the third son of the family. Strangely enough I did recognize the Bowens as one of the two families that dwell over Hotlake that look over Dwarven artifacts. Harper divulges that he left his family as he didn't want to be married off to someone he didn't know, indicating that it would have been to one of the Stagdews. We spoke and it was determined we'd eventually head in the direction of Hotlake as Harper needed to finally face his past. This does mean that I'll be able to look into those Dwarven artifacts like Eamon requested. Hopefully that gets him off my back.
 
As conversation drifted from Harper, Chael looked over to me and inquired about my past and what I was melancholic about the previous night. He didn't want to let it go. Rather than speak of it at the table I left. I lied and said I needed to take a walk. I needed to cool my head. Every time I think about what happened back then my thoughts just start swimming and the guilt just piles on. It seems like Chael didn't want to take no for an answer and followed behind me. I eventually made made my way to a secluded part of town and played that song, only briefly interrupted briefly by Chael sitting next to me. When I finished I guess I let my emotion get the better of me, and against my better judgement I talked to Chael. I let him know that was all I remembered of my past.
 
"Well, almost everything..."
 
Chael kept inquiring further and I told him the song was all he had aside from memories of Rux and being taken in by Eamon. Chael did his best to try to make me feel better, which I appreciated. I have to admit, it did do me well to let a bit of the inner demons out. He recommended speaking with Harper about the song, as maybe him or his family may know more about it. For a time after that we sat, and I played a more of that song. After a time we returned back to the inn and I got my own room to sleep in.
 
As I write I realize I have a lot to think abut, and I feel a bit guilty for not saying everything. But it's better this way. After everything we've seen and heard I can't possibly tell everyone everything. It's too much. But it really did get me wistful. What am I not remembering? Where did I come from? And what about this cursed blood in my veins?