11 - 20: Lucky Lucky! You seem to have struck gold...or something similar. Use the second roll to calculate your results...and add +5 to the number.

11 - 15: Golden Treasure! Gold, and a good amount! It's not a bar or anything, but you could use it to make some jewelry.

It wasn’t that uncommon to hear of travelers passing through the riverlands, but it was something of an oddity to hear of missing treasure. Talk spread of a trading group that had gone off the path because of a supposed short cut only to wind up buried in a swamp. A reward had been advertised for the return of their goods, but either those that had got their first had run off with the loot or it hadn’t yet been found. Either way a wave of curiosity swept through Kusa’s band of friends and the Kaha’iko had decided it was the perfect time to look for it themselves. She’d been so eager for a hunt that she’d drug her child along, even if U’ilani very clearly didn’t want to go.

The prospect of searching for something instead of practicing in social etiquette was admittedly far more appealing, but it still meant they had to interact with the same children they’d been avoiding since the legendary incident. Word had gotten around about U’ilani’s pessimistic attitude and offers to spend time with them had dwindled. In fact, despite Kusa’s attempt to invite others along, when they arrived at the swamp it was just the two of them.

Honestly U’ilani half expected to see a few Menehune out searching about and was keen to comment on it when one look at their mother calmed them. The ethereal beauty was knee deep in muck, clearly focusing on something they couldn’t decipher, so U’ilani decided to start in on the hunt themselves.

“…Do you truly hate it here that much?” U’ilani had barely begin to sift through the muck when Kusa’s question caught them off guard. When they looked up the woman was trying her best not to look, but on occasion she would toss them a sideways glance. “You haven’t visited since you were little and I thought it would be nice to spend some time together, but…if you really aren’t happy you don’t have to stay. I’ll understand.”

It took U’ilani a fair bit to figure out what words to say, but eventually they settled on, “….I don’t hate you. I just…everything is so different here, I’m different and I have a hard time adjusting.” The time they got to branch away for a hunt was some of U’ilani’s most treasured memories. As much as they loved their father it was their mother who taught them how to hunt with a spear and it was her tenacity that U’ilani admired most. If he could just have more of those days and less down time…

“Ah, I found something.” Sifting a little more, the hybrid lifted their pan and revealed some mucky gold. With a bit of cleaning it could be useful. When they looked over to Kusa she was smiling a little, which was an improvement and one that U’ilani happily took. “It’s not much, but I think we could have some jewelry made with it?”

“For you, maybe. Gold was never my color.” Kusa gave a little laugh and motioned to the multitude of silver jewelry that clung to her frame. “We could always pierce your ears while you’re here. You know I’ve always wanted to do it, but your father thinks it’s a bad idea.” Deepening her voice, Kusa said, “If you take one hit to the head them your whole ear is going to swell up!” And when she was done they were both laughing.

“Do you ever miss him?”

“Oh, all the time.” When Kusa rose to stand her arms from the elbow down were nearly black with muck. It dripped on her dress, no doubt staining it beyond repair, but she didn’t care. When it came to spending time with her child Kusa never hesitated. “We just…lived two separate lives. I love your father very much and one day I’d like to see him again, but I think it’s better like this, don’t you?”

It debatable, but U’ilani knew for Kusa this was better and perhaps that also meant it was best for Kakeo. Their father was still utterly besotted with Kusa and hadn’t taken another lover. Meanwhile Kusa had many and lived a polyamorous lifestyle with three others that shared her home. U’ilani had yet to tell their father about that. They didn’t feel it was their place and it was more of a ‘don’t ask don’t tell’ type of philosophy at this point.

“Oh, oh! I think I found some silver!”

Seeing the way she was practically glowing made U’ilani smile and soon enough they were getting closer to inspect Kusa’s find.

[766]