Silent Grove: The Beginning

WHOA!

I, uh... It's kinda embarrassing... Oh well... Heard about that man-eating grove to the south?

Man-eating grove?

Yeah. That grove with the moving bamboo. The new forest ranger assigned to that place disappeared a few days ago. The Tianshi dispatched to find the forest ranger went missing too...

Yep. We've dealt with grovenymphs before. Just stick with us. I don't think they're any worse than Aggeloi.

Oh! Thank you so much! You are the best!

Need a hand?

Thank Talos it's people...! And boy am I glad to see you!

The grovenymphs probably devoured them! And now they're gonna eat me too!

What?! REALLY? Grovenymphs actually eat people?

THEY DO! I know you find it hard to believe, but I am absolutely certain. It's the only explanation for why people go missing!

Endmin, I'm thinking if... Ugghhhh... Never mind. Shouldn't say it. A watchguard must uphold his duties... Ah, to hell with all this. I can't run away now...

My shift is around the corner. And so is death, probably. Everyone dies. I shall strengthen my resolve and face mine with dignity...

Maybe ... we can ... you know, tag along?

REALLY?!

REALLY?!

Farewell, my good people.

Don't worry, Qing. We're only here to ask a few questions.

The raft is down. I'm helping Dudu with the repairs. He can't reach the Stragglers Grove on a broken raft, you know.

What? He's going to the grove as well? Why?

Two days ago, Hong Ni told me he was headed there to dig for nymphsprouts. But Hong hasn't returned. I don't know if he's in trouble...

But I thought the people of the Stockade would know the grove really well...

We know it well enough to avoid doing stupid stuff. Big Bro kept warning us about the dangers of Stragglers Grove. No one likes to go there...

We should help. Let's fix this up quickly to get to the grove.

So, Lord Watchguard from Great Wuling. What brings you here to our humble little hamlet?

Oh. So the badge is with you?

Y-yeah, I... I'm not here to start trouble, no need to be nervous.

Heheh. Anyways, Qing, you seem to be busy with something.

Another one?! See! I told you I was right!

Why is this badge so loud? What's he even on about?

Well, no one except for Hong Ni the stubborn fool. And the raft broke right after he went. Ugh... I hope this isn't a bad omen...

I'll really appreciate that. The materials are over there. Thanks for helping out.

Did Qingwu ask you to come here? Did you bring the materials?

So, shall we set off?

Let me see... Yeah. Exactly what I need!

Li Zhui, you look super pale...

No, I'm fine. Ready as I can ever be! No backing out now!

Oh, thank you... Saved my life, you really did.

Thank Talos you're here... I was trying to get back to the trail when I stepped into a pit. Hardly anyone comes to this place and I was running out of supplies. Almost thought this was the end of me!

Aren't you Yan Lin the forest ranger?! I thought the grovenymphs ate you...

Ate me? Really? You spouting nonsense again, Li?

Man, don't tell me you actually believe in those stories. They're meant to scare kids! HAHAHAHA!

Heheh... Yeah, right...! Almost got me there for a second...!

Still ... these grovenymphs have been acting weird lately. Their movements used to be predictable, but now? Total chaos! I smell a conspiracy. By the river pirates!

River pirates...? You mean the people living in the Stockade. But they wouldn't...

Yeah. It must be the bloody pirates. They're why these bamboo buggers got all bothered and angry!

But someone from the Stockade went missing as well... Why would they make life that difficult for themselves?

Uh... Hey. What's that over there?

That ... looks like an old core. They're usually furnished with 3 hydrocubes. We got plenty of these underground at the Field Logistics Depot. No one uses them any more.

Well, the core was running properly when I last made my rounds... How did it get busted like this?

Besides, you said it yourself. An old core. That means they're prone to breakdown. I guess that must have triggered the entire grove.

Th-this... this has to be the grovenymphs' doing...!

Ugh. Stop scaring yourself! I know what this looks like. Sabotage. By the blighted river pirates!

Hmm. I wonder if this would get the bamboo bugs to simmer down.

So, you mentioned something about grovenymphs and their predictable movements. How does that work?

I ... I heard about grovenymphs moving like a swarm when they need to feed... And they prefer living prey...

Come on, we told you those were just stories! Honestly, it's gotta be the water. Wuling's got too many rivers, the soil's soaked. Plus the Blight Tide on top of that, you get bugs that ride the flow...

Ecological? I say it's based on the earth and bamboo. It's geo-planto-logical, okay.

Ah, whatever. It's not like I get it anyway. Flunked my basic science courses ages ago!

Look, if it seems like that's how it works, then let's just go with it! At least it makes more sense than those kids' scary stories!

Uhm. Okay. Why don't we set aside the hard sciences for now and ... look for the missing people?

Then follow me! Those river pirates really made a mess of this place, but I'm a forest ranger. And that means I know this place way better than any of you!

There are three lights on the control panel... And only one of them is on. Is it because we repaired one of the cores?

That's right. These are activity indicator lights for the three cores.

Oh man, what if ... they were left by victims?!

Can you please stop scaring yourself!

Endmin, let's scan the footprints. Maybe they're nearby.

So those that aren't on...

Means that we need to activate two more.

Okay... Well, thank goodness we found these instructions. Wonder who's kind enough to do that.

Yeah. Maybe Hong Ni did this. It could also be the missing Tianshi.

Heading to the Stragglers Grove? Good luck with that. The raft is busted!

Take my advice, don't even go. That grove ain't right lately. Even Hong Ni got lost in there. Don't push your luck.

Regardless, you'll need this raft to reach the Stragglers Grove.