Coraveda stops in front of the angry hellion stamping down the path. 'How now, furry little Rosier wielder, wherefore stormst you so?'

Turning her attention toward the dancer, Rachel glares at her. "Some god damned bounty hunter ran off with my rosier. I'm trying to find her."

Coraveda's mouth scrapes the ground. 'You let someone get away with the BLOOD ROSE? That's an evil artifact, and part of a set!'

Rachel says 'It's not my bloody fault, some idiot kicked me!'

Coraveda rolls her eyes. 'If I lost something every time someone KICKED me, I'd have nothing to my name in the world.'

Coraveda says 'Come on, furbag, and I will show you the Rosier sanctuary.'

Rachel says 'Hn. I have a name, and I've told you it already, though you haven't introduced yourself yet.'

Coraveda says 'Swaying Lotus.'

Coraveda says '... Pardon me, I cast off that alias. I am Coraveda.'

Rachel says 'Nice to meet you then, Coreveda. I believe you mentioned something about a Rosier sanctuary?'

Coraveda says '... Yes, there used to be a place called Moonreading Tower ... it housed the Rosiers once upon a time in a complete set, as long as several other artifacts.'

Coraveda begins to beckon to Rachel to follow her along the path.

Coraveda says 'The tower was ransacked and burned, the Rosiers scattered to the wind, and the tower fell...'

Nodding her head, Rachel follows Coraveda.

Coraveda leads Rachel along until they reach the peaks of Mt. Rolante.

Coraveda gently runs her hands along the rosebuds studding the stranglevine growing here. 'This is the entrance.'

Rachel raises an eyebrow. "Well, it's not as obvious as a statue, though it's kinda out of place here. How do you get in?"

Coraveda says 'Speak the password...'

Blinking at the simplicity of it, Rachel says the passwords. "Burezo"

The Stranglevine suddenly bursts into bloom, covered by luscious red roses.
The tendrils of the plants reach out, pulling you in!
The passage in the mountainside is once again covered by the moving plants.

This natural cave extends deep into the side of the mountain. All
kinds of glowing lichen illuminate the darkness, and a huge crack in the
ceiling reveals the night sky. Smooth, round dips have been cut into the
rock, forming comfortable chairs right in the wall. Massive tree stumps sit
along the walls as well, providing convenient tables to accompany the seats.
To the west, the floor is actually carpeted, and music is softly floating
in. A set of tangled vines hangs above you, easy enough to grab and climb
up to the floor above. To the north, a set of stairs leads upwards into a
higher cave.

Coraveda is gently dropped in the room by the Stranglevine.

Coraveda says 'No one else has found this place. No one but you and me.'

Coraveda says 'It's very well protected. I've spent quite a long time here, solitary...'

Rachel says 'Having a place that's quiet is always good.'

Coraveda says 'Let me get to the point. I've receeded from Truce Militia to follow my own interests, and right now, the Rosiers interest me. I want to recollect the set.'

Rachel says 'And what will you do once you have them?'

Coraveda smiles. 'Preserve them in their entirety, of course. The set belongs together.'

Coraveda says 'You may be a young demonling, but I know just as well as you do that powerful presents come in unusual gift wrap. And if you managed to get your hands on Blood Rose, you've also been charged with reuniting the set.'

Coraveda says 'The weapon will call you, and the pieces will draw themselves together.'

Rachel says 'Interesting. I'll certaintly keep a closer watch on my Blood Rose once I hunt down that damn ninja.'

Coraveda heads north, Rachel follows behind her.

     Inside the Gypsy Rose Retreat - Moonreading Tower
This is the topmost and only surviving portion of an ancient tower
which fell long ago. Jagged, crumbling walls jut up around the lonely
interior and the roof has been torn away, revealing the night sky. A table
and several shelves are placed in one corner, overflowing with scrolls and
old-fashioned feather quills. A large golden bowl has been laid out next to
a crystal, presumably for scrying, but it is devoid of water. The only
fully intact wall is bare except for a particularly large map, which is
carefully protected in a glass frame.

Coraveda says 'This is the last remaining portion of Moonreading Tower.'

Coraveda opens a dull, padded chest in the corner, producing the Blood Rose.

Gasping in shock, Rachel stares at Coraveda. "How did you..."

Coraveda says 'The second whip of the set has already been disturbed from its proper place to be wielded by you. Whether or not I have your cooperation in making sure it returns to this place is entirely up to you.'

Coraveda says 'But I had to prove a point - whether or not you're on board, I WILL have the Rosiers.'

You say 'If I agree to help, will I be allowed to use the Blood Rose and carry it with me after they're all collected?'

Coraveda says 'I can't stop the whip from wielding who it wants. If it will stay in your hand, like it has, you can use it.'

Rachel says 'Then I'll help you.'

Coraveda says 'I cannot, however, promise that Blood Rose will still desire your company when it has been reunited with the complete set.'

Coraveda says 'I take the same risk with Rapture Rose. But perhaps ... something greater will come of it.'

Rachel says 'If it does not, there are other whips, though not as powerful or rare.'

Coraveda nods in agreement with you.

Coraveda says 'Glad to see you agree! I'm usually not so melodramatic!'

Coraveda giggles, putting her hands on her hips.

'One more thing though! You can't tell ANYBODY where this place is. If you do... I'll strangle you to death with my bare hands.' Coraveda is completely serious. Oh, shit.

Rachel says 'I understand.'

Coraveda hands the Blood Rose over to Rachel.

Rachel says 'If I didn't have a reputation to uphold, and you wouldn't kill me, I'd probably hug you in gratitude. Instead, Thank you.'

Coraveda says 'Yeah yeah. You know I'm just curious to see what kind of demon you turn into.'

Coraveda shoves you out of the tower.

A small, brambly patch of roses has sprung up here.

Coraveda says 'Now get outta here, before you draw attention to the spot.'

Rachel says 'Right-o..'

Rachel heads down the mountain.