ellerie
Monsters out where they shouldn't be,
operating complex mechanisms,
and initiating an organised ambush.
Lindros, tell me what's going on here.
lindros
Why does everyone always
assume I know everything?
pomelo
What he means is that he
has absolutely no idea.
ellerie
Considering how much you go on
about the pursuit of knowledge, I naturally assumed you
would have more of it.
lindros
Cut me some slack here. I was sure
I had read every record available.
pomelo
Records on the mainland are
decades out of date by now.
When it comes to stuff like
this, a local knows best.
ellerie
I suppose you know a tad more than
our knowledgeable friend here.
lindros
Look who's talking.
pomelo
As settlers pushed inland, the Crescent
pushed back, in the form of Green Tides.
It's been a decade since the last, but
its brought development to a standstill.
ellerie
THIS is the seasonal natural
disaster Oriana mentioned?
I suppose it is natural, but monster
incursions do not come to mind!
pomelo
The arboreal monstrosities
are plenty natural.
They're also the only things
that can coordinate them.
lindros
This runs contrary to what we know.
They lack the capacity for thought.
They lack language. They lack souls.
pomelo
Just saying what I know. If the
Tide has hit as far out as here,
the settlements further inland
are in for a world of pain.
ellerie
I sure do appreciate Tower and
Oriana warning me beforehand!
pomelo
It's odd, cause this cycle shouldn't
have come so soon since the last.
lindros
Surely, we continue. We can't
let this chance be wasted.
pomelo
Lin, I don't think you quite
understand how bad it is.
ellerie
This is... unfortunate. I will need
to consult with our two experts.
(Ellerie walks over to Tower and Oriana, who are in the middle of an argument.)
tower
... thought we agreed
not to involve her!
oriana
I agreed to nothing!
We didn't know about
another Green Tide!
tower
What do you suggest, then?
Throw her ailing body at the
dangers of the Workshop?
The Green Tide has never
struck in that direction.
oriana
There's a lot of things that
have never happened, like this cycle of the Green
Tide coming this early!
tower
Regardless of-
oriana
You misunderstand, Tower.
This is not negotiable-
Hello, Captain. You must
be a little confused, yes?
ellerie
Confused isn't strong enough of
a word, but Pomelo caught me up.
tower
Are you surprised?
This is the Crescent.
ellerie
How does this affect
our current situation?
oriana
Docking anywhere along this stretch of
the river is now out of the question, but that aside, we should continue.
The Green Tide rises from the woods-
tower
They are the woods.
oriana
And as you know, our plan is
to sail to the end of the river, then march past Tuskur's Pass,
where the lands are barren.
Meanwhile, Green Tides advance
towards any major settlements.
the Workshop's opposite direction.
ellerie
I have to trust your appraisal. I've
put too much into this to back down.
tower
A bit of bravery from our
captain is always appreciated.
oriana
What's more, Captain, I request that we
stop by the bend to pick up my family.
My family has been staying in a secluded
location, potentially at risk from the Tide.
ellerie
I heard you telling Tower
that this was non-negotiable.
oriana
(smiles) You're right, Captain. This
is a non-negotiable request.
ellerie
I'm obviously not going to say
no. This daughter of yours, is she the reason you're so
eager to enter the Workshop?
tower
Put two and two
together, have you?
oriana
(serious) The Workshop was the shining jewel
of the old world's knowledge.
Of engineering, of sorcery, but
more importantly, of medicine.
We exhausted all our leads on
the Mainland when we met, so...
ellerie
(How do you expect me to trust
your appraisal with that in mind?)
I'm sure your efforts will come to
fruition. I'm eager to meet her.
oriana
My daughter's lovely.
You'll get along well.