Together, you break through the net trap you're caught in. Something tells you it was never meant to hold this many of you! Maeka falls to the ground below after Haden had cut and loosened the ropes and the rest of you follow in an undignified pile.  "Those bandits were using magic but it was not strong. They must not have had much practise and I can't see how mages like that could be part of any school or have had any formal training. Their flawed character would be identified early and they would have been expelled." Maeka explained defensively while brushing dirt from her green tunic. 

"Maybe they already were?" You join in.

Talik brushes herself off. "I can't believe them— I've never seen Mages act that way." She looks flustered. Embarrassed. "I would like a second chance and meeting them in a dark forest."

"It's not your fault we were surprised," you tell her. "I mean, nobody was expecting to be ambushed by mages."

You gather together and Alster looks you all over and checks that no one is hurt. Haden had sheathed her blade but was still on high alert. After a few moments to calm yourselves you turn towards the ruins and follow the dark passage into them to see what remains. In a large room crystals that had been produced by the Yuka tree lie around you on the floor. Countless crystals are sprayed about the place as if someone were tossing them about in search of just one. Haden makes an observation, "The bandits must have been busy rummaging through these. Lucky that we ran into them and spoiled their little party!"

"Many of these crystals are broken." Drue's shoulders sag. "They picked this place clean. All these memory shards will have to be re-requested from the Yuka tree, it could take years.  This is an attack on the Vay and our history. Soera, our Warden sent me on this quest as she needed answers about some changes that are happening on Vay. Now she may never have answers about what is happening to the island and the imbalance may ruin us." 

You say to Talik, "Now books in the library of the Arcanum seem like a good idea, don't they?" 

Haden puts a hand on Drue's arm. "It's all right. These can be remade and the for the stolen ones, we'll find a way to get them back." Aslter had listened well and asked Drue about them imbalance that Drue had mentioned and sought clarification. "Sounds like this is happening all over Solea, this is bigger than we thought." he responded after hearing more details. 

"They didn't get all of them." You hold one unbroken crystal aloft. It sparkles in the dim light of the ruins.

You laugh. The bandits must have dropped it in their hurry to escape! Maybe your luck isn't so bad after all. You hand the crystal to Drue and ask if there is some way for him to check if it is useful to him saying, "Sorry, I don't read crystals."

Drue's griffon stayed quietly at the edge of the forest where he had landed. It was a griffon that was trained for one rider for speed. Some griffon's usually those with four legs, were built better for carrying a heavier load as the riders travelled with messages from island to island. Using the image of Drue's griffon below describe how you know his griffon is built for speed over shorter distances. 

Next: E4Q1 Old As The Island