Side Quest 1
With their plans set and in motion countless paws and talons worked together to excavate the matriarch. The sound of metal striking stone echoed in an unending cacophony as the sound echoed and reverberated within everyone in the massive chamber. Candy Queen stood near the matriarchs eye socket trying to help sooth the massive haedian as the massive hoard of reoseans worked together to dig out the haedians leader. The matriarch was tolerating their efforts remarkably well and yet Candy new that wouldn't last long. The more the group dug and the more they shifted the earth from the matriarchs body the more pain she would feel. Sure enough a group of pullers on the matriarchs back managed to dislodge a large chunk of stone that had been pinning the matriarchs wing. The massive chunk of stone fell and collided with the stone beneath it which covered the matriarchs back and shoulder. The impact sent a jolt of pain through the massive haedian who cried out in pain. The deafening sound left everyone reeling as the Caregivers rapidly stepped in to care for their leader, ensuring that the excavation had not cause any additional damage.
The over eager pullers were thoroughly scolded as Cailu approached Candy Queen with another desperate request. The matriarch kept numerous pets, a delightful little species called the nyxthorns, and the activity and noise from the excavation had frightened the tiny dears off. Cailu suggested that the nyxthorns might be able to help keep the matriarch calm throughout the ordeal and so Candy Queen readily agreed to search for the little animals. After receiving a brief description of the animals she was looking for Candy Queen rallied a small group to search and directed them to search the nearby tunnels. The group quickly set off through the tunnels she had indicated before Candy Queen herself set off into one of the tunnels that led out from the Matriarchs chamber. As the runner thought about the description of the animal she was looking for, she realized it sounded remarkably similar to the creatures that had been spotted a few months ago and had caused the mutation of the local zataro population. She didn't have to speculate for long as she quickly came across a dropped quill in the middle of the tunnel path she was following. As she picked up the quill and examined it she realized it was exactly like the images she had seen from the reports about the incident. Remembering the adorable visage of the animal that had been depicted in the report from the last red flag hunt Candy Queen quickly picked up her pace.
As she progressed deeper and deeper through the crystal lined tunnels she suddenly realized the opalescent blue of the crystals around her shifted to a deep blood red. "oh no..." she muttered under her breath in dismay. Of course the little one had managed to wander off into The Order's territory of all places. She shuddered as she remembered her horrifying encounter with Shira the leader of the Order and sent out a silent prayer. 'Please oh please don't let me run into any of those occult psychos...' But of course, no sooner had she finished her prayer did she run nearly face first into the chest of a very unhappy looking haedian. Its body draped in long ceremonial robes and shackles clattering noisily around its wrists it held in its arms an adorable little nyxthorn. The Order haedian glared menacingly down at Candy Queen while the nyxthorn chewed adorably at the hem of the haedians cowl, making tiny guinea pig like noises as it chewed. "Outsider." It hissed menacingly, its intimidating aura completely ruined by the adorable, porcupine-like creature held lovingly in its arms. "Why are you here? Begone before I remove you by force." Candy Queen immediately cow-toed before the haedian, trying to appease it in the overly dramatic way the Order haedians seemed to love. "Wait! For give my trespass I was merely looking for that little one in your arms." She pointed to the nyxthorn which made the Order haedians eyes narrow even more. "What business do you have with the squire of the Matriarch?" the haedian demanded angrily which gave Candy Queen the opportunity to explain the situation and that the matriarchs pets had scattered during the excavation process.
Hearing of the surface dwellers shenanigans the Order haedians eyes went wide in horror. "You surface dwellers have not only entered the sacred sanctum of the Matriarch but are also defiling her body?" Candy Queen inwardly swore as she saw the haedian become more and more aghast by the runners explanation. Just as Candy Queen was getting ready to bolt, fearing the haedian would attack her for her impudence, a look or realization seemed to sweep across the haedians face. "Wait... perhaps this is part of his will as well." the haedian muttered while stroking the nyxthorns crystaline quills soothingly, earning a happy trill from the animal. The haedian suddenly jabbed a talon at Candy Queen threateningly, "You come with me." it demanded before turning to go deeper into the Orders territory. 'Oh gods....' Candy Queen inwardly groaned as she obediently followed, really not liking where this situation was going.
