February 18th:

*Z turns to Snarg.*

"I've been observing him and watching for any magical causes all night. I'm not sure what to make of what I've learned. I'll tell you once I've had a chance to think on it, but I'll agree we should go check out the cave."

explaining the above:

"Hopefully this won't take all day to do this, I don't know if I can take another night without sleep."

Spoiler:

Snarg:
It would require a SIGNIFICANT blow of massive force to just below his rib-cage when in Tusker form. You do not know if incapacitating him in Mite form will affect Tusker form.

Z:
Whatever changed him isn't actually magical HOWEVER it does leave a similar effect AND makes him more mentally susceptible.

"Uh, I could hit him if we really need to put him out. That might work, but it also might mean I get gored too. I don't know if we can put him down as a Mite before that happens either."

*On the way to the ruins....

"Whatever is turning your Mite friend here into a Tusker is... not natural. It was bothering me because it feels similar to magic, but its not... I'm not really sure how to explain. Its not the same as the magical energy leaking out of the ruins... It feels almost like the energy used to keep an airship afloat... but different and ... wrong."

*They shakes their head clearly confused and somewhat annoyed. They stalk along with their brow furrowed and their arms crossed.*

"He's coming up like any magical beast I've ever seen, so it seems to be acting like magic. It's not similar to, well, you know ... the elemental injections we've been seeing?"

Spoiler:

Snarg:
No sign of the Elemental experiments, but as you're thinking back you do realize you've encountered this type of energy before; in Fierneceal's abilities.

"No, no, it's not the same as that experiment. But, wait, this is similar to something else, I can't quite put my finger on it." Snarg scratches his ear for a moment and ruffles Araiguna's head fur. "Yes ... yes, it's like that energy that Fierneceal has been using!"

Fierneceal blinks. "Psionic energy?" She frowns at Araiguna's half-unconscious form and concentrates on him. "Yes..... yes. He's definitely been transformed with Psionic power, though, uh, I'm not familiar with any Power that can do something like that."

"Psionic ... energy..."

*They say under their breath. Z is following behind the others as they near the campsite.*

Snarg cocks his head to the side. "Say what now? Is that another name for an element you've got?"

Zeiss hears people talking which wakes him up. Seeing the rest of the group next to him, he says in a tired voice :

"What are you doing here...? I..." He yawns. "Nothing too urgent?"

"We've got some ruin searching to do. Araiguna picked up his ailment there, so we'll be retracing his steps. I'd say it's urgent since it's keeping everyone from sleep and we don't know how else this is affecting him."

Fierneceal shakes her head. "It's complicated. Basically it's something my people used to use, though I don't know if anyone still does, I haven't encountered anything like it since except in the ruins of the Scions."

Snarg worriedly glances over to the ruins. "Looks like we've got some ruins of the Scions then. Uh, anything you can tell us about those?"

7AM:
When Rory wakes up, he takes the time to stretch, steadying himself to appease his nausea. He cradles his head and rubs his temples, squinting through his headache. After a light breakfast and a gummy beer, he looks for Snarg and Zeiss around town.

Zeiss yawns a little more, then gets out of his magical bedroll. He gets his gear ready, while Rainbow gets out of the bedroll, walking slowly, visibly tired.

"Uhhhh." Fierneceal thinks for a long time. "Scions can... do things with their minds... and, uh, unless I'm mistaken only two are still walking the planet at this time." She blinks. "Does that help?"

Zeiss did not really understand this discussion about "Scions", and he was too sleepy to care. When he finishes getting himself ready, he asks the others :

"So... are we going now? Rory is not even here. We could need his sword."

Snarg lets out a long breath, like steam slowly escaping from a kettle. "Uhhhhhhhh .... well, I suppose we can ... not really. I guess we're walking into this somewhat blind. Yeah, if you want to gather anyone who's not here, that'd be good."

It is probably you gather those who are not here at this point, even Rory despite his issues.

Snarg addresses the gathered group. "Right, we've got to find out what's causing this Mit-usker condition," he says, pounding his hands together, "it looks like these could be Scion ruins, which means ... I don't know what that means, but be on the lookout for anything weird like that." He points dramatically at Fiernaceal and pauses for a moment. "Oh, uh, that didn't sound exactly how I meant it, but you get what I mean I think. Araiguna is going to lead us to where he went when he was in the ruins." He bites his lip. "I hope this is going to be simple to reverse."

Rory shook his head. "Don't you know by now, Hyena? Nothing's ever simple," he replied glibly.

*Z standing in the back of the group rolls her eyes at Rory's 'Hyena' comment.*