Unlocked 8.5 (Keeper of the Lost Cities)

by Shannon Messenger

  SWIZZLESPICE

  Long blue stalks that taste like sweet cinnamon—swizzlespice can be eaten by anyone, but it’s particularly popular with animals. Especially the alicorns.

  TANGOURDS

  These melon-size purple fruits grow on thick, thorny vines and are best known for their raw, meaty flavor. Most elves consider the taste to be too gamey, but animals being rehabilitated for the Sanctuary love them (except for the gorgodon, which has not seemed impressed).

  THE WANDERLINGS

  Grown in a special forest that serves as the elves’ only cemetery, Wanderling seeds are wrapped with the DNA of someone deceased before they’re planted. This allows these incredible trees to take on characteristics of the life that was lost, mirroring elements of the person’s appearance and personality as they grow. As a result, no two Wanderlings are alike, and the life they commemorate gets to carry on in a different form.

  FASHION

  I know Sophie thinks wearing capes is super weird. (I guess humans don’t really wear them?) But capes are more than gorgeous accessories that help keep you warm in the Lost Cities—they’re a sign of status! (Though they also help keep you warm—unless someone shares their cape with you…)

  Some people wear gloves to keep their hands nice and toasty. Some wear them to make a fashion statement. And some wear them to hide a secret enhancing ability. Either way, once you put the gloves on, you can’t even feel they’re there—and they can be so pretty!

  I *love* heels! But they may not be for everyone—especially people who have a hard time walking without tripping!

  Biana’s Style File

  Personally, I say, “The fancier, the better!” But what’s most important is wearing whatever makes you feel fabulous! (Though I still think sparkles make everything better!)

  Gowns aren’t worn for everything—but they aren’t just for parties, either. Pretty much anytime you want to look important or be taken seriously, bring on the ruffles and frills! (And when you really want to impress someone, make sure to add a jeweled circlet or hair comb!)

  Of course these are real jewels! Why wouldn’t they be?

  If sparkles or jewels aren’t your thing, there’s always embroidery to add stylish detail! (Or a fun slogan! My next tunic is going to say: “You should stare—I’m letting you see me right now!”)

  Everyone wears tunics here. And why wouldn’t they? Tunics come in every shape and style—every fit and fabric—and they always look awesome, whether they’re the whole “look” or something worn under a vest or jerkin.

  Pants don’t always have pockets at the ankles—it depends on what kind of shoes they’ll be paired with. (And a lot of the taller boots have pockets at the top. Pockets are important, after all!)

  The best part about wearing capes is the pin (well… unless someone puts a tracker in the pin).

  Most of the time, this is where we wear our family crest—but the Foxfire uniform uses the grade level’s mascot.

  And Team Valiant has special pins to represent the Prime Sources (because we’re fancy like that!).

  Okay, this might not look as comfortable as a tunic (and it isn’t!). But some things are so stunning, they’re worth that little extra discomfort—and jerkins definitely fall into that category. I mean, look at all that incredible detail!

  HOBBIES, SPORTS, AND GAMES

  WHILE THE MAJORITY OF ELVIN culture primarily focuses on education (and general world-betterment), life in the Lost Cities of course still includes a healthy measure of entertainment—particularly in the form of hobbies, sports, and games.

  Elvin hobbies include activities like swimming, hiking, drawing, dancing, baking, and animal care—as well as the incredibly popular pastime of trading Prattles pins. Thus far, no one has ever managed to obtain a complete collection of Prattles pins. In fact, the closest anyone has ever come is still lacking three key pins—and the owner of the collection (who prefers to remain nameless) has developed a strong dislike of both the taste and smell of the candy after opening so many packages.

  Elvin sports are equally varied. Children grow up playing base quest and bramble—and elves of every age enjoy the Bramble Championship held every three years (though the recent turmoil with the Neverseen led the Council to indefinitely postpone the most recently scheduled game). Foxfire is also known for its Ultimate Splotching Championship, as well as numerous other team-oriented games played during the physical education session.

  For a unique glimpse at two of the popular elvin sports, included on the next page are the additional rules for both bramble and base quest, created by Fitz Vacker for the well-known matches that he and his friends regularly hold at Everglen.

  BRAMBLE RULES

  No time-outs.

  Abilities are allowed.

  Tackling is also allowed—but no knocking anyone into the lake!

  (That one’s for you, Biana!)

  Covering the ball in anything from Slurps and Burps is definitely cheating!

  (Looking at you, Keefe!)

  Pretending to be injured and then tackling someone who tries to help you is also cheating.

  (Another one for you, Keefe.)

  Losers owe the winners a dare.

  Winners get to eat all the mallowmelt in the kitchen.

  (And no, Keefe—I’m not scared. Get ready to lose!)

  BASE QUEST RULES

  Both teams’ bases have to be within the main gate.

  The team that chooses their base first has to quest first.

  No hiding muskogs in someone’s base!

  (We all know that wasn’t a “random muskog encounter,” Keefe!)

  Abilities are allowed.

  (But staying invisible the whole time makes playing with you super boring, Alvar!)

  There’s no prize for winning.

  (Because you guys get way too competitive!)

  Prattles Pins

  ONE PIN IS MADE FOR EVERY LIVING CREATURE UNDER ELVIN PROTECTION, SO SOME ARE RARER THAN OTHERS.

  Prattles Kraken (AKA Krakie)

  #32 of 709

  Prattles Alicorn

  #2 of 4

  Prattles Sasquatch (AKA The Stink)

  #467 of 982

  Prattles Flareadon

  #55 of 329

  Prattles Moonlark

  #10 out of #91

  GADGETS

  THANKS TO THE HARD WORK and creativity of numerous talented Technopaths, the elves have an abundance of gadgets at their disposal to facilitate life in the Lost Cities, or to provide a measure of privacy or protection.

  Some of the most well-known gadgets are:

  ADDLER

  A necklace-style gadget worn when someone wants to remain private or anonymous. Addlers make it impossible for anyone to focus on the wearer’s face, effectively keeping them from being recognized or remembered.

  ATMOSPHERIC STABILIZER

  A triangular gadget that allows the user to breathe at extremely high altitudes—though only in small, contained spaces.

  COGNATE RING

  Special rings made of ruminel (a rare metal that reacts to mental energy and has a magnetic draw) that Cognates wear, both to symbolize their telepathic relationship and to keep their hands connected when working telepathically.

  DEDUCTER

  Vendors use these gadgets—which come in several forms (sometimes pendants or rings—but most commonly as cuffs worn on the arm)—to access their customers’ birth funds and process any payment due.

  DNA SENSOR

  Anything meant to remain “secure” in the Lost Cities can only be accessed by providing the necessary DNA (generally through saliva) on these small, subtly placed sensors. Some sensors—like those on the lockers at Foxfire—even change flavor.

  EFFLUXER

  These silver forklike gadgets are stuck into the ground in order to provide a measure of protection from ogres. When triggered, effluxers release a cloud of scent that damages ogres’ sinuses (and isn’t particularly pleasant for any nearby elves).

/>   ENHANCING BLOCKER

  These tiny, clever gadgets are technically one of a kind and were designed by Tinker in order to give Sophie Foster control over her enhancing ability. The small curves of silver fit over her fingernails and create an undetectable force field around her hands—kind of like invisible gloves. Tapping the fingers five times activates or deactivates the blockers.

  HOME CRYSTAL

  It’s hard to decide if a home crystal is an accessory or a gadget, but whichever category someone places them in won’t affect how vital these pendants are, providing a safe path home for those without access to Leapmasters or pathfinders.

  IMPARTER

  A handheld communication device that allows someone to speak with a projection of anyone they “hail” (though there are certain restrictions on which elves are “reachable”—the Councillors, for instance, can only be hailed with Imparters that have been granted special permission). Imparters are thin, palm-size crystal squares with a silver sheen—and users should be careful, since it’s now known that Imparters can be tampered with.

  LEAPMASTER

  Since pathfinders are limited to those with the Council’s approval, most residences in the Lost Cities are equipped with some form of Leapmaster—a ceiling-mounted device comprising numerous dangling crystals, which raise or lower on command and create a path to the requested location. Leapmasters are often named for the number of locations they include. (For instance, the Leapmaster 500 has 500 locations.)

  LUFTERATOR

  A T-shaped mouthpiece that allows the user to safely breathe underwater for an unlimited amount of time.

  MELDER

  As one of the rare weapons used in the Lost Cities, melders are meant to incapacitate—not cause permanent harm (though repeated blasts, particularly at close range, can be highly dangerous). Melders have a sleek curved handle that connects to a triangle of silver with a single button in the center, and they can cause instant, painful paralysis.

  NEXUS

  These bracelet-style gadgets put a force field around the wearer during light leaps as an extra layer of safety. Nexuses cannot be removed unless the meter on the underside (which measures the strength of the wearer’s concentration) becomes full, proving their mind is now strong enough to leap unassisted. Their signal can also be tracked.

  NULL

  A device designed to block the signals from any technology near the wearer—but nulls can also be adjusted to block only certain frequencies.

  OBSCURER

  A small black orb that bends light and sound around whoever holds it, making them undetectable to anyone outside the obscurer’s range.

  PATHFINDER

  This wand-shaped gadget has a small round crystal at the end, cut with facets to create specific paths to important locations within the Lost Cities (and, for those with special approval, to locations connected with the other species as well). Note: Given the freedom that pathfinders allow, they are restricted to those who meet the Council’s approval.

  REGISTRY PENDANT

  All elves in the Lost Cities are assigned one of these choker-style necklaces to wear at all times, which allows the registry to track their location (as well as numerous other details). The design occasionally varies, but most registry pendants consist of a simple band along with an etched silver loop with a small clear crystal set in the center.

  RIDDLER

  A pen programmed to only write the words of a riddle—until the person using it writes the correct answer. Given their cleverness and small size, riddlers are one of the most common midterms or finals gifts for prodigies at Foxfire.

  SHADOWPAINTER

  These softly glowing orbs reflect shadows of animals on the walls and are often used by parents to soothe children who are afraid of the dark.

  SPECTRAL MIRROR

  These specialty gadgets come in every size, shape, and style and appear to be normal mirrors—until someone steps within range. Then a tiny face appears in one of the corners and offers fashion and beauty advice with a surprisingly lifelike personality. No two spectral personas are the same, but they do share one common trait: unflinching honesty—which is likely why spectral mirrors fell out of popularity. Most elves weren’t fans of being insulted by their mirrors while they tried to get dressed.

  SPYBALL

  These small silver orbs can project someone’s location and activity without their knowledge, allowing the user (within certain limits) to view anyone, anytime, anywhere. Given the serious privacy violations that could result from such a gadget, Spyballs are severely restricted and closely monitored.

  STELLARSCOPE

  A device shaped like a bent, upside-down spyglass, which can be used to bottle starlight as well as to simply observe the stars.

  THINKING CAP

  These long, white floppy hats may not be a very fashionable accessory, but they’re made from an amalgam of metals and designed to dull telepathic abilities (and other abilities as well). Prodigies wear them during the Foxfire midterm exams and final exams to preserve the integrity of the tests—and then hang them upside down from their lockers afterward to be filled with gifts during the corresponding celebrations.

  TRACKER

  Tiny, disk-shaped gadgets most commonly sewn into clothing as an added safety precaution. The use of trackers is relatively new to the Lost Cities, previously used only on the Councillors (at the insistence of their goblin bodyguards). But recent challenges with the Neverseen have caused many others to begin utilizing them.

  TREASURY CUBE

  Every elf is assigned one of these small green cubes at birth to allow them access to the monies assigned to their birth fund.

  VORTINATOR

  A mechanized staircase that spins at rapid speed to quickly allow access to the upper floors of the taller buildings in the Lost Cities. Warning: Vortinators can cause dizziness and queasiness the first few times someone uses them.

  DEX DIZZNEE’S GREATEST INVENTIONS

  WHO DOESN’T WANT TO BE ABLE TO PUNCH EXTRA HARD—AND I’M REALLY HOPING THAT SOMEDAY I’LL GET TO WATCH SOPHIE USE THE SUCKER PUNCH ON LADY GISELA AND VESPERA!

  IT MAY LOOK FUNKY, BUT THE TWIGGLER HACKED THROUGH LUMENARIA’S SECURITY AND HELPED SAVE THE GNOMES!

  FIRST: THIS IS A PANIC SWITCH—NOT A BORING COGNATE RING. IT ALSO SAVED SOPHIE’S LIFE TWICE. AND IT WORKS SO WELL THAT I’VE BEEN MAKING THEM FOR EVERYONE I CARE ABOUT!

  THE EVADER MAKES IT SUPER EASY TO HACK INTO THINGS LIKE THE REGISTRY—AND IT LEAVES NO TRACE THAT I WAS THERE! (WELL, UNLESS I CHANGE STUFF…) NOW I JUST NEED TO MAKE A FEW TWEAKS SO I CAN BYPASS THE SECURITY ON CERTAIN FILES.

  … AND A FEW THAT WEREN’T THE BEST IDEA.

  NO ONE THOUGHT THE ABILITY RESTRICTOR WOULD WORK—BUT IT DID. EXCEPT THE COUNCIL RUINED IT BY ORDERING SOPHIE TO WEAR IT AND… YEAH. I WISH I’D NEVER MADE IT. I DESTROYED IT, THOUGH—AND I’LL NEVER MAKE ANOTHER!

  I MADE THESE BLOCKER BANDS TO HELP SOPHIE WITH HER ENHANCING—AND THEY DEFINITELY DID THEIR JOB. BUT USING CRUSH CUFFS KINDA GOT ME STUCK IN THE MOST AWKWARD CONVERSATION EVER.…

  THE WARDEN ALSO WORKED PERFECTLY AND MONITORED ALVAR’S EVERY MOVE. BUT I WISH I’D MADE SURE IT WAS RESISTANT TO NULLS…

  FOR THE RECORD, THESE SENSE BLASTERS WERE ACTUALLY WORKING REALLY WELL UNTIL COUNCILLOR ZARINA FRIED ONE WITH LIGHTNING. STILL, I SHOULD’VE PUT AN OVERRIDE BECAUSE FITZ ALMOST GOT KILLED.

  ALCHEMY AND ELIXIRS

  Alchemy isn’t considered a special ability in the Lost Cities—a fact that some disagree with, since certain elves are far more talented at it than others (and a few are woefully disastrous, like poor Sophie Foster).

  The study of alchemy has two primary focuses:

  METAL PURIFICATION AND TRANSMUTATION: Using a variety of techniques, alchemists are able to remove impurities from metals, and turn one metal into another (ideally into gold). Particularly gifted alchemists can even turn nonmetallic substances into metal.

  ELIXIR-MAKING: Every elixir is different, and some are much sim
pler to make than others. So elixir mastery varies widely (and even experienced alchemists occasionally explode things). But only the most talented alchemists are able to invent their own formulas.

  Elves who work in the Treasury regularly use metal purification for their jobs. Elvin physicians spend a great deal of time creating (or modifying) medicines. And alchemy Mentors of course focus on the subject extensively.

  Beyond that, most elves treat alchemy as a hobby—or abandon the practice entirely once it’s no longer a school requirement. Still, a handful of alchemists focus on gathering alchemy ingredients, or creating (and selling) a variety of useful elixirs.

  The most well-known example is Kesler Dizznee’s store in Mysterium (Slurps and Burps), which sells both elixirs and alchemy supplies. The store is frequented by nearly everyone in the Lost Cities—and for good reason. The elixirs available for sale range from essential medicines to pranks and everything in between—with new formulas being created all the time.

  Some of the most popular elixirs and ingredients for sale at Slurps and Burps are:

  ABRASION PERSUASION

  Quickly seals and heals small scrapes to the skin

  ACHEY-BREAK

  A handy, all-purpose painkiller

  ALKAHEST

  The universal solvent, which can dissolve any material. Must be stored in a bubble of itself.

  (This is the second hardest substance for an alchemist to make.)

  AMARALLITINE

  A highly combustible substance used in numerous elixirs

  BLISTER BLAST

  Shrinks and numbs blisters within minutes—and gets rid of them completely within a few hours