It had been a few days now maybe even a few weeks, Inka wasn’t quite sure. She had come and gone from the encampment in a more spiritual sense many times since she first arrived so her timeline sort of blended together lately. Inka had taken to having a safe place to return too and she silently kicked herself for being so wary of having not found something like this sooner.   Inka had managed to settle into her small house that had been so generously provided to her. Albeit it small it was perfect, she had managed to make herself a small living space as well as a herbal brewing station. One of the smaller walls was lined with shelves and spaces in which she had already filled with jars of various random items she had collected over time for her brews.  She had made many bottled remedies and offered them to the healers and medical folk of the encampment. She made simple juices that eased stomachs, dulled pain and cured common problems. This was how she gave back or tried to at least.  
Today Inka could be found leaning against the doorway of her small home, observing those outside of it. She had just returned from a foraging mission a day or so before. Her appearance was somewhat different now – she had managed to acquire a new set of clothing. A light weight tunic which length ended just above her knees and was cinched at the waist by a hand made leather belt. Her wild auburn mane was more kept, braided and yet still littered with bobbles and other small runic relics. Her neck adorned a necklace of ivory that had been carved into small round squares and various symbols had been etched into them. Her feet however were still bare, she hadn’t gotten used to shoes yet. Her overall appearance was cleaner, more kept and she no longer carried her mask of bone; rather it hung within her home above her brewing table until she needed it.  
At her feet was a square bundle wrapped in burlap and tied up by a strand or two of string. She had forgotten to give Silanus something; so today she leaned, watching and waiting. She figured she may just see him by chance today, if he was even here. If he was not Inka had decided that she would go and seek him out. 

In such a small settlement like this one, word and rumors spread out quickly. Especially rumors about newcomers… Luckily for Inka, her good deeds and recent activity have given her nothing but good fame, despite being an outsider. Soon, people spoke about an ancestral "shaman" who has guidance from the gods to cure people. Of course, it's simply talk from the supersticious folk. 

Conveniently, Tacitus Silanus and two of his bodyguards were nearby, mounting their horses and wearing their usual shiny armor. However, the commander now had a more light-weight, decorative armor, instead of his combat gear. It was clear that they were heading towards Inka's house, and not simply passing by. Silanus dismounted his horse and ordered his bodyguards to leave, so he could speak in private to the witch doctor. "Ah, evening Inka!" He said, with a friendly attitude, unusual of him. "I have heard quite a lot about you usually. People no longer travel to the distant city of Sviet anymore just to buy healing potions and cures… Not with you around. And I'm pleased to hear that." He said. As Silanus spoke, he walked away, expecting Inka to follow him, obviously.

Finally, Silanus arrived to a very big marble fountain, infront of Silanus' large manor. It was considered to be the "heart" of the settlement. "I am sure you have seen this fountain. I assume people consider it to be the most important building there is… Because infact, all our town was build around it. People use it in their everyday life, because it has unlimited, clean water." The fountain was heavily decorated with statues of nymphs and even silver pieces. "But you see… The water from this fountain comes from an underground stream channel, originated in the nearbiest mountain." Silanus walked away once again, of course, hoping Inka would follow him. 

When they got to the gate, Silanus spoke to Inka once again, this time with a slightly dissapointed expression. "However, there is some strange activity happening in the mountain, and it seems the water has been plagued! The heart of our city, is contaminated! I sent some sentries to inspect the mountain, but nothing strange has been reported. Perhaps you could come with us, and help us identify the source of the plague, and then destroy it? We could… Give you a recompense for it." When he finished speaking, Silanus stared at Inka, awaiting her answer.

Golden eyes took sight of Silanus; one of the first things she would notice was the change in their armor. From battle worn to a more shiny set; especially Silanus' his seemed to be much more intricate compared to his guards. She figured it was suiting giving his standing here. She was glad to know that she was accepted for the most part even if rumors spoke of her as being some ancestral shaman who had guidance from the gods to cure people. And though it was not gods who aided her in her healing arts or brew making it was close enough to her a spirit is a spirit - the only difference was how powerful each may be.

Inka nodded her head in greeting, golden eyes blinked a few times as he spoke and before she followed him she bent at the waist and grasped the burlap bundle that was near her feet. She had been wanting to see him and she was thankful he had come calling on her this day, this would make her task of returning what was his easier and she didn't mind seeing him either he was the one she trusted most here because he had extended her the offer of living in this encampment. "I am glad you hear good things, Silanus". 

Inka was sure to follow Silanus, not to closely but close enough she was sure to make sure she did not invade his personal space. Inka was familiar with the "heart" of the settlement she had found herself there a few times borrowing some of the clean clear liquid to brew into her potions and cures. She had always found the fountain to be beautiful she had not seen many things like it during her travels, seeing as she stayed away from large towns and cities. Again when he moved on she would follow, almost obediently.

"That is not..good" Inka stood near the gate as she listened to Silanus. Her eyes had dropped down to her hands which she was now holding out before herself, that square burlap package resting on her upward facing palms. "I will aide you…nothing required in return." Inka pushed the burlap pack towards Silanus. "This is your cape…from before". Though you could not see it there was some stress in her eyes; what on earth could cause a plague to contaminate a source so pure. Inka had vast knowledge so she hoped she would be useful and if she could not identify it she would call upon the spirits to guide her.  "If I cannot find the source…the spirits shall". Inka nodded her head firmly. She was confident she could figure it out; she must return to her home before they parted however, she was In need of a few of her spiritual instruments to help them when they arrived at the mountain. 

Tacitus Silanus was relieved after hearing Inka's words; having her as an ally was one of the best decisions he had made. Silanus refused the cape and answered to her: "I've got enough cloaks in my wardrobe, keep that one… It's quite worn out, after all." after having spoken, he gave his cloak back to the witch-doctor, so when winter arrived she could have some warm cloth to keep her warm… Winter in the Steppes was indeed cold. Silanus accompained Inka to her house and waited outside while she searched for her "instruments". When she was done, he simply said: "Follow me, we'll go alone. Our top-tier researchers are already there… Let's hope they have figured something out huh…" Then he guided her outside of the city and to the hill where the water emerged… They would go by feet this time.

The trip towards the mountain was quite long… and quiet. Sometimes Silanus commented on some ordinary, trivial things to bring conversation, but nothing too important. The path was not complex, it was mostly a straight line, following the river uphill. The variety of birds and small animals made the trip more interesting, though. "Here we are. Atleast the nice view is worth it." The heart of the river was a medium-sized waterfall… Nothing too impressive as most waterfalls, as the river was not really that big, but it still had it's might. Three men dressed in garbs were already there, studying the water and the rocky terrain, without success in finding any useful information. "I assume you have not made any advances?" Interrupted Silanus, with an unhappy voice tone. The researchers bowed in respect and one of them answered: "Pardon us, master Tacitus. There is no sign of a plague here… Perhaps it's originated in another part of the river?" 

But it couldn't be that… It was not that. The plague was in the source of the river, nowhere else. But it couldn't be seen, and everything seemed to be in order. Plants and flowers bloomed around it… However, no animals or even insects were nearby, they refused to drink it's water for some reason. Silanus sighted deeply, then spoke directly to Inka: "Well, here we are. You might ask for some information to them, but I doubt they know anything useful..! If you don't find the cause of the plague, I think the best would be to demolish the fountain of our city… What a pity." He said, his latter words filled with sorrow and despondency.

Inka made haste back to her small house; where she would take only several minutes to gather everything she thought she might need into her small travelers pack. Once she was sure she had all of which may be useful the last thing she grabbed was her mask of bone and an ancient looking gourd rattle. She had returned the cloak Silanus refused to her home, leaving it nearest where she slept upon a small wooden stool. Inka followed him as he directed her - traveling by foot did not bother her, considering that's how she typically got around in general when she went on her own walk-a-bouts. 

Inka followed, listened and observed the things in which Silanus pointed out. Once and a while she would pause for a brief moment and pick this or that - things she thought might be useful if she needed to conjure something up in an attempt to locate or even cure whatever was plaguing the water system. Bare feet dug lightly into the trail below as she kept her pace rather even with Silanus'. He wasn't wrong the view was rather enchanting but she had yet to comment; Inka was busy lost in a train of thoughts on what could possibly be going on in a place like this one. Her thoughts were only broken when they had arrived and Silanus began to speak to the researchers who had already been here working on try to find the source of infection. 

Golden eyes seemed hopeful as she listened and waited news of what they had discovered; yet they only were filled with disappointment when she heard them report…nothing. A fire lightly burned within the pit of her stomach; aggravation was it. Had he not said these were top tier researchers? whatever that meant. Inka also did not like how they answered Silanus with yet another question, as if Silanus knew! they had just arrived. 
"Why or how would he know?" Words parted her lips before she could contain herself. Her tone was nothing more than its regular style so it did not sound aggressive nor sarcastic she had literally just thought out loud. 
"What methods have you used?" After Silanus had informed her to question them all she'd like she did not waste a moment. She moved towards the one researcher who had been speaking, looked him up and down and even sniffed the air around him. Weird, but she was trying to read his soul. What precisely was he? Mage? Enchanter? Scientist? After a moment Inka moved away and walked towards the river itself. Once near the edge of it she dropped down into a squat of sorts - golden eyes looked blankly into the pure water and she reached out a hand and touched the surface with one of her fingers very lightly. 

It was something that could not be seen, could not be felt but it was definitely there. Did it have a taste? Inka dipped her hand into the water before cupping a bit of the cool clean liquid to her lips - a sip. To her it tasted cool, pure. This was going to be complex she could feel it deep within her ancient old bones. 
"If you crush the fountain what will become of the encampment?" Inka was speaking now at Silanus as she remained in her squat like position near the rivers edge. As she spoke she rustled around within her travelers pack - three vials were produced, cork toppers removed and one by one Inka dripped them into the river until they were nearly half full with water. Once she had her samples of water she secured them shut with their cork toppers - standing she dropped them into an outer pocket on her travelers pack and then drug around inside until she found a bundle of what appeared to look like joss sticks, or incents along with another vile which held some sort of insect within its glass walls. 

Inka removed two of the incents from the bundle, put the rest in her bag and then uncorked the vial which contained that strange looking bug. She tumbled the bug out onto the palm of her hand which held the incents before discarding the vial. Fingers grabbed the odd bug, which she now held near the tips of the two incents - a squeeze, a muttering and a spark! The bug burst into white lightening and the incents burst into flame at the ends. The flame grew hot and Inka blew it out so a fresh white smoke emitted from the tips of the incents. 

She placed them near the edge of the river, sticking from the sand. "I need information."