Opening
narrator
The Cormorants are hiring!
Don't YOU want to be
fighting for freedom?
What we want:
-Can swim in more than a puddle
-Can beat a wight in a fight
-Likes eating fish
-Good culinary skill in demand!
We are fighting for freedom and
earning vast amounts of gold!
Addendum: Your spouse and
children will not be compensated
upon your untimely demise.
(The Seahawks approach a Sect meeting hall.)
ellerie
We should be halfway to Yalunzar by now,
but no, we have to entertain this affair.
oriana
We didn't “have to”. We could have
ignored the Sect's invitation.
ellerie
Except rumours have spread that we've
taken the Sect's help to rescue Oren.
Our troops are already spurred to action,
backing down now will damage credibility.
guard
I figured you'd have told me about
such a plan before the troops knew.
dune
Doesn't take a genius to figure out
who might have spread those rumours.
Will you entertain the Sect's demands?
You know this will make things difficult.
guard
Having allies to rescue former
Chief Oren is a good thing, right?
ellerie
If Nerysa thinks getting Oren
back is enough to dislodge me, she'll have another thing coming.
dune
I don't doubt the Archsage has
plenty to say about me to Oren, so it is definitely in my interests
to ensure you remain in position.
guard
I'm not sure what you mean,
but I will support you.
oriana
Even still, is it safe for
us to deal with the Sect?
They're not exactly friendly
towards Irinde or the Seahawks.
dune
The Sect have more of a reputation
to maintain than most of us do.
Given how there is widespread
knowledge of the fact we're meeting, I doubt they'd pull deadly tricks.
oriana
I'm still very uncomfortable
being in their territory.
At least we have a change in
negotiation tactics from last time.
guard
Truly that was some masterful
negotiation, my favourite kind!
ellerie
Yes, I've not gone mad. Let's see
what the Sect has to offer us,
I'm certainly expecting little.
(They enter.)
sect
Are you-
ellerie
Yes.
sect
R- Right this way.
mutterings
They're the people that
killed so many of us?
Why is the Sectmaster
seeing them?
(The Seahawks approach the Sectmaster.)
sectmaster
Welcome, esteemed guests, acting
Chieftain of Irinde, Ellerie,
captain of Irinde's militia, Dune,
the Archsage, Nerysa,
and Seahawk senior officer, Oriana.
ellerie
A pleasure.
(Acting Chief? Hmph.)
guard
Wait, did I
get missed?
sectmaster
... and Irinde's
vice-captain.
guard
Yes, that's me!
sectmaster
Did Kril not
come with you?
ellerie
I'm afraid I don't
know who that is.
sectmaster
I forget, he goes by
Tower these days?
oriana
Ah, he said he didn't
feel comfortable coming.
sectmaster
That's a shame, for Kril and I
are very old friends, you see.
Please tell him that I would
love to see him again, if possible.
oriana
I will pass it on.
sectmaster
Fantastic. Now, I'm sure you're all
eager to get right down to business.
The anti-Guild alliance has broken the
peace agreement, which the Sect has
maintained, and has arrested our arbiter.
Not only that, reports say that they're
producing monsters as troops through
whatever twisted means in the Sanctuary.
oriana
(Doesn't that sound
a little familiar?)
ellerie
How very curious.
What do you propose we do?
sectmaster
The Sanctuary is incredibly difficult
to conquer with a frontal assault.
However, the Archsage has been kind
enough to produce an alternative.
dune
Nerysa, did you sell out
Irinde's warp staves for this?
nerysa
I do believe they are my
secrets to sell, not Irinde's.
dune
That's not- You-
sectmaster
Now, now. Let's not get heated.
The Archsage has a right to compensate
us for some of Oren's infractions.
The Sect will provide warp users and
a distraction outside the Sanctuary.
You provide an elite team which can
enter and rescue the priority targets.
ellerie
This agreement seems a little lopsided.
It is us that will be taking all the risk.
nerysa
Shouldn't rescuing such an important figure
to Irinde be sufficient reward in itself, or do
you not have Irinde's best interests in mind?
ellerie
Former Chief Oren is an
incredibly important asset, but I'd rather be compensated
for putting lives at risk.
sectmaster
I could do whatever I can to smooth
over your incident with the Sect.
A tragic misunderstanding that was.
And I understand the Sect has had some
hasty assumptions about your daughter,
Miss Oriana. Ones which I can correct.
oriana
I think that is a very
good deal. Take it.
ellerie
It was unfortunate how a little bit
of miscommunication caused so much,
but I'd appreciate clearing our name.
sectmaster
Does that mean you are
satisfied with the plan?
ellerie
Tentatively. I'd have to discuss
this further with my forces.
nerysa
I would be rather concerned if you
didn't agree, given how favorable
this is to everyone involved.
sectmaster
Yes, I do expect this will
be a drawn-out matter.
We can discuss the
finer details in time.
(The Seahawks leave.)
ellerie
I'm quite surprised. I thought the
Sect's head would be more hostile,
or at least drive a harsher bargain.
oriana
I do wonder if being associated with
Tower might have done something for us.
Hopefully the Sectmaster keeps her
word and Krynia can be that much safer.
ellerie
Another thing to thank Tower for. It's still
on us to ensure this mission's success.
oriana
Although, about those monsters.
That seems quite similar to what
Lindros has been working on.
ellerie
Lindros has been with us the
entire time. I doubt it's related.
But it'll be interesting to see
what he has to say on the matter.
oriana
Military applications of produced
monsters, exactly Tower's worries when
he had that conflict with Lindros.
But it happened anyway.
ellerie
Lindros can't be the only person
in the world researching this.
Regardless of his interference,
it's bound to happen eventually.
oriana
I don't doubt that. People have ways
of weaponizing anything they can.
Dungeon
dune
Plans with the Sect are being finalized.
We are really committing to this.
ellerie
There is just the matter concerning warps.
Needs a spotter to be close to the target.
I am extremely concerned that the Sect has
warps, so I am glad to find any limitation.
dune
Damn that short-sighted fool, making a
serious threat even more well-armed.
Do you have someone in mind as the
spotter? Seems to be a risky role.
ellerie
I do have an idea.
Let's go meet him now.
(They approach Hagendire.)
hagendire
Ellerie! What do you want
with me! Let me out!
ellerie
That shouldn't be how you greet
the person who saved your life.
You think Sundown Bay would have handed
you over if I didn't keep you imprisoned?
hagendire
But you've kept me locked
up for days without a word!
ellerie
You have to understand that my forces
are rather touchy regarding pirates, given what the Corsair Coven did.
It was simply to give them time to cool.
But you're useful and I need your help.
hagendire
I don't trust a thing that
comes out of your mouth.
Why do you want me for this?
ellerie
I have big plans for the Crescent,
but you know how it is over here, that the people of this backwater
place are simply too incompetent.
What I need is a man of a great
bloodline and of serious talent.
hagendire
I knew my value could only be
recognised by those of the Mainland.
ellerie
But to truly have these coastal
barbarians recognise your talents,
we have to erase your stint as a pirate.
I can give you an opportunity to create
a victory so great that those same
townspeople will see you as a hero.
hagendire
And that is?
ellerie
It is simple. You fought against us
and seek refuge at the Sanctuary.
Perhaps you've found certain
information vital to our defeat.
Once they let you in, that's
most of what needs to be done.
hagendire
Sounds like an easy job for
someone as skilled as me.
(Dune and Ellerie leave.)
dune
Coastal barbarians is certainly
one way to describe us.
ellerie
You know it was an act. It sounded like
something our new spotter would say.
dune
He does seem like that sort.
Do you really think that will work?
And that he won't immediately spill?
ellerie
The man is a simpleton. An appeal to
his pride, and he'll forget any grudge.
In the worst case that he'd turn traitor
or die, we'd have lost nothing of value.
dune
If that is all in order, I have an
entirely unrelated suggestion.
Would it be convenient for Oren to
suffer an accident during the rescue?
ellerie
...
...
If Oren was to fall, people might
draw unfavourable conclusions.
No, I believe it is in our best
interest to pull the mission off.
You will keep your position in
Irinde, Dune. I assure you.
dune
I can only hope your
confidence is well placed.
Sanctuary
hardtack
Look who returned with
his tail between his legs.
Couldn't even trick
his own daughter.
sequoia
She arrived only for the purpose
of baiting me into cannonfire!
It was doomed from the beginning.
azure streak
Trying to kill the other side during
a negotiation must run in the family.
Though, given how she utterly crushed you,
she must take more from her mother's side.
hardtack
How disgraceful. To not only lose your
pathetic Cormorants against some miners, but also our men that you took with you!
sequoia
It was a surprise attack, damn it!
The Seahawks are just as formidable as
their reputation, don't take them lightly.
We must take the initiative before she has
time to plan an invasion of the Sanctuary!
azure streak
Perhaps the Seahawks can defeat
your second-rate Cormorants, but the Frostfires have little to fear.
If she dares assault the Sanctuary,
she'll have us to answer to.
sequoia
I'm telling you, we cannot give
her the opportunity to prepare!
Don't forget, both the Prince and Unari
put me in charge of operations here.
hardtack
That was when you were Captain Sequoia.
What is a captain without his ship?
No, I believe I am in charge of operations.
azure streak
I didn't agree to this. Sequoia may be
unworthy to lead, but the Frostfires
only take orders from the Boss, not you.
hardtack
You adventurers think you're too good to
be taking orders from just some knight?
azure streak
Of course. There is none among your soldiers
that can hold up to me, the Azure Streak.
hardtack
Using a ridiculous title like that instead of
your name only makes you look ridiculous.
azure streak
It was a title I earned through my feats!
You are merely jealous you lack your own.
(They leave.)
sequoia
They didn't even look twice at me.
The humiliation, and because of
my own daughter of all people.
Why did it have to be her?
I won't accept this, I won't!
(The Seahawks warp into the Sanctuary.)
ellerie
...
I'm glad I didn't eat much today.
Couldn't have made being warped
a more pleasant experience?
nerysa
I made a staff that can bend reality,
and that's what you complain about?
Let's get in there and break out Oren.
tower
And the Sect's representative as well.
I am far more concerned with how
they've managed what Lindros did.
ellerie
We're monster killing experts.
Doubt these are any more
immune to a lance to the head.
tower
Yes, but if the anti-Guild alliance
could put together such an army, I don't need to spell out how this
will shape warfare on the Crescent.
We must get to the bottom of this,
and ensure a more permanent solution.
nerysa
That's good and all, but we came here for
a different objective. Don't forget that.
frostfire 1
We're being invaded! How did
they get over the walls?
frostfire 2
No need for panic. We're the Frostfires,
the greatest adventurers on the Crescent.
frostfire 1
Maybe, but I'm not the greatest adventurer
on the Crescent, I'll just be fodder!
frostfire 2
I have a plan. I'll hide in this chest,
and if they somehow get this far, they'll open the chest and I'll get 'em
with this massive bow! Flawless plan.
frostfire 1
Okay? But-
(He does so.)
frostfire 2
Hey, this chest is massive!
There's room for you too.
frostfire 1
Probably safer than
risking it out there.
(The other Frostfire joins him.)
narrator
Lilac and Oren's death
will Game Over for
this chapter only.
Recruiting both is
required to open
up escape.
Ending
If Nate was defeated and Yvette and Chalice are alive
chalice
It appears the curse
was real after all.
ellerie
No it isn't. Just some
lunatic wielding an axe.
chalice
He appeared behind you without anyone seeing
him and is exactly how the folk describe him.
ellerie
Another imposter. Besides, the spirit is
supposed to pursue me forever. We killed it.
yvette
Technically, the legends never mention
whether the spirit can or cannot be killed.
ellerie
I'm not going down this route. It was some
insane man, got himself killed, end of story.
chalice
If it makes you
feel better.
yvette
On the bright side, looks like the
gold I spent wasn't totally wasted!
chalice
Because that was really
the important part.
Sectmaster's Abode
sectmaster
Arbiter Lilac, I'm glad to
see you safe and sound.
lilac
You can take off the arbiter part,
because I'm not doing that anymore.
sectmaster
Are you certain? It's quite
the prestigious position.
lilac
And it got me dealing with pompous
pricks and being locked in a cell.
I'd much rather be a common
disciple and stay in my room.
sectmaster
It's a wonder how you have so little drive.
But alas, I cannot allow you to return yet.
There is a job I need you to do for me.
lilac
What! No! Haven't I sacrificed enough
for the Sect? Don't I deserve rest?
sectmaster
One could say you've gotten a lot of rest.
You've done well, but this is important.
In fact, if you complete this task, I won't
call upon you again for future matters.
lilac
That is promising, but
what are the details?
sectmaster
You owe quite the debt to the Seahawks
and I doubt they'd turn down your aid.
Go with them, and see if you can listen in
on their plans and report back to me.
lilac
Aren't there other disciples
with them? Why do I need to go?
sectmaster
I fear their camaraderie could outweigh
their loyalty. Yours is never in question.
lilac
Fine, I'll do it. Shouldn't be hard,
I'll just sit around and pretend to help.
I'm off, but you better hold your end.
(Lilac leaves.)
sectmaster
Can you see my efforts, Clyde? I'm
trying to get your son into shape, but he's just refusing to cooperate.
Hopefully a tough time in a crew
can harden him a little.
(Tower approaches.)
sectmaster
It's good to see you again. Did you think
you wouldn't be welcome on my doorstep?
tower
Of course not, but it would have
been easier to not show my face
considering the circumstances.
sectmaster
I owe you an apology, Kril. If I had
been more aware of the going ons, Merzed wouldn't have the chance.
I knew he resented you for Rat Creek,
but not that he'd order an attack.
tower
Come off it. No one expects you to
micromanage every aspect of the Sect.
sectmaster
If it was just Merzed, it would
have been easy to overlook.
But a lot of disciples died,
and then there was Ozie too.
You must understand that I must
strike your name from the Sect.
tower
The correct punishment would
have been immediate execution.
I'm riding my privileges by just
being here and talking to you.
sectmaster
Your services were enough to have you
honoured alongside the Sect's heroes.
It shouldn't have come to this.
tower
Valen and Krynia were my choice.
I may be sorrowful about the consequences,
but I would not have changed my decision.
sectmaster
Tower, do you still remember well
why we came to the Crescent?
tower
We had hoped to leave behind the quarrels
within the Mainland Sect for a fresh start.
sectmaster
In the time you've been gone, those
same divides have grown worse.
There is much argument over how
to interpret Elis's teachings, over capital, over political capital,
over the right way to place a statue.
Yet they waste so much resources
on these pointless squabbles, that they have little time to
respect Elis' original intent, to protect those who need it!
If only she was still with us to
put the Sect on the right path.
tower
If she was to continue
interfering in worldly matters, then she'd be no different to
the deities she brought down.
sectmaster
Perhaps I am no different to
a worshipper of the old gods.
The Sect is going down a terrible
path, yet I feel powerless.
No longer filled with endless vigor
to shape the world to my liking.
I haven't had anyone to word my
frustrations to since you left.
Am I rambling too much?
tower
Yes, but I forgive you.
sectmaster
Ha!
tower
I've never been the management type.
Prefer the axe in the head solution myself.
sectmaster
That approach can't work
here, I'm afraid.
tower
But don't talk like you've got
little time with the Sect left.
You still have decades, plenty of
time to do what you need to do.
sectmaster
If you say so, it must be true. I'll
leave you to go your own way, Kril.
(smiles) But know that even if you are exiled, Elis won't forget your efforts.
Go forth, and know she is with you.
tower
(smiles) I'm sure she's not interested
in decrepit old men.
(Tower promotes.)
High Monk
Peacekeepers who back the message of
harmony with the threat of pain.
If the pegasus was rescued and Oriana is undefeated
krynia
Oooh! Another pegasus. Quite docile too.
Good thing you got it out of Uncle Mince's
sights or else she'd be in the pot.
oriana
Oh, he wouldn't. Probably. A pegasus is quite
the asset, how about you take care of her?
You're about the right build to ride.
krynia
People would think I'm getting
benefits because I'm your daughter.
I think you should get the pegasus,
you're a far more important figure.
oriana
I'm sure the crew wouldn't
think that. Besides, me?
krynia
You have to look out
for yourself too, Mother.
oriana
Aren't I past the age to
be learning how to fly?
krynia
It's not like I'd learn faster.
krynia
(smiles) Besides, we have an expert. Raylin!
Come here! Could you teach Mother?
(Raylin approaches.)
raylin
(smiles) Of course, I can teach Miss Oriana!
I don't mean to brag, but I've shoveled
pegasus poop for years. I'm an expert.
krynia
See? You've got
this, Mother.
oriana
(She may have been a stablehand for
years, but a pegasus rider for one!)
But still, I'm not sure I'm the
best fit to become a pegasus rider.
krynia
Your dances are so graceful.
I'm sure flying comes naturally.
oriana
I'm not sure how my
dancing is relev-
raylin
I'm sure you'll be great!
It's easy, trust me.
oriana
(smiles) I can't fault your enthusiasm.
We'll test the waters, and if
things don't work out, that's that.
krynia
(smiles) Besides, your dances are so graceful.
I'm sure flying comes naturally.
oriana
I'm not sure how my
dancing is relev-
krynia
Just give it a try!
oriana
(smiles) Alright, I'll give it try.
But only one.
Wind Dancer
Dancing on the back of a pegasus
is pretty hard, but rewarding?
If the pegasus was rescued but Oriana is crippled
ellerie
That smells good.
What is it?
mince
Nothing fancy. Just some of the
choice cuts roasted over a good fire.
Sometimes, what's simple is best.
ellerie
Is there any
extra for me?
mince
Of course! As long as you don't tell
anyone else. Chef's privilege and all.
ellerie
(smiles) Deal. ... ... That's good. Very good.
I don't know how I'm going
back to our hard, salted rations.
mince
I can't wait to restock. There's only so
much magic I can pull with our rations.
ellerie
First thing on my mind after we clear
up Yalunzar. Thank you for the meal.
(serious) That's right. Before I go, Oriana was asking
if anyone saw where that pegasus went.
mince
No idea.
I think it flew off.
ellerie
A shame.
(Ellerie and Mince gain 2 Speed.)
Camp
(Irinde soldiers gather to gawk at the reunion between Ellerie and Oren.)
mutterings
Do you think...
The Chief...
But Chief Oren...
If it was up to me...
(Ellerie confers with Dune and Johnny Spices.)
ellerie
I believe we are
all in agreement.
guard
Yeah!
johnny spices
I don't like this. Oren's a good
chief. But I owe you too much.
dune
Here they come now. Let's
see how this goes down.
ellerie
(Keep calm. You have
it all under control.)
(Oren and Nerysa approach.)
oren
Such a warm welcome for my return.
You have my gratitude, Ellerie.
To have saved poor defenseless me from
the clutches of those cackling villains.
ellerie
It was all within
my duties as Chief.
nerysa
After I pushed you
into doing so.
ellerie
Don't be ridiculous.
oren
I heard much about how you conquered
every threat to Irinde in my absence.
Are you willing to move above being
an adventurer, and dedicate your efforts
towards the prosperity of Irinde?
ellerie
Huh? Yes, of course.
oren
Then from the old chief to the new,
I entrust Irinde's future to you.
nerysa
Oren? What?
(Oren and Nerysa leave.)
guard
Err, was I supposed
to do something?
ellerie
That was so much easier
than I thought it would be.
You all heard Oren. There's no
need for concern, everyone!
Our plans have not changed.
We will beat back the Iron
Realm and show our worth!
nerysa
You're going to give up leadership
of Irinde without even a fight?
oren
There's little point. Dune, Spices
and that guard will support her bid, and even with those loyal to me,
fracturing Irinde will only bring harm.
nerysa
I suppose so, but to give it up despite how
much we did for Irinde, it still hurts.
Have the people forgotten that it was our
efforts that brought wealth into Irinde?
All Ellerie did was win a few battles recently!
oren
The people revere their ancestral roots,
to claim their territory with fire and steel.
And it is because of this that they'd choose
Ellerie over me, how can I not be bitter?
nerysa
If this is what Irinde wants, they'll
know the harshness of war very soon.
oren
Perhaps so, but it's beyond our control now.
With all that time spent in the cell alone, I had plenty of time to think about things.
nerysa
So imprisonment was all that was needed
to do what I couldn't make you do.
oren
I thought a lot about how stupid my decision
was. Do you know what got me imprisoned?
I helped the Guildmaster escape the trap laid,
for the sake of honouring the peace treaty.
nerysa
I always knew you were the honourable type,
but help a long-time adversary like that?
oren
It gave a justification for Irinde to
go to war and almost got me killed.
What a brilliant decision for a leader.
nerysa
I can't defend that.
That seems pretty stupid.
oren
It was. And I also thought about us.
That our marriage took you away
from your accolades at Oakhall.
That I expected you to put your efforts
into a town you cared little about.
That it was always about me.
nerysa
How can you say that?
I've always supported you
out of my own volition.
oren
It doesn't change the fact that I've always
been prioritizing my interests, never yours.
I want to change that, and that can start
with resigning from Irinde's leadership.
nerysa
I wouldn't want you to give
up your pursuits for mine either.
This isn't a relationship with
a calculated give and take.
oren
But if you'll allow me to be selfish again,
this is what I want, to make it up to you.
I do want to see this conflict to the end,
since it partially arose because of me.
But after that, I'll follow wherever you go.
nerysa
Oren...
Character Descriptions
Oren
A big man with an even bigger heart.
Has a lot of big goals, but doesn't
quite think through how to get there.
[Oren & Nerysa have A-rank support with each other.]
Lilac
An unmotivated man whose motives
appear to involve putting in as
little effort as possible into anything.
Personal Skill: Summon Self
Summons a spectre of
Lilac with lunge, Pass, Swarp and ignore
terrain. Useable once per chapter.
Lilac II
More of Lilac.
[Lilac has A-rank support with his clone.]
Fancy Horse
Looks like a horse, but fancier.
Wonder why they have it locked
in here, did it commit a crime?
Hardtack
The most feared man in the entirety
of the Iron Realm by his own troops.
No one else really knows or cares.
Azure Streak
A famous swordswoman often
the victim of identity theft due
to everyone forgetting her face.
Iron Infantry
The backbone of the Iron Realm's forces.
Most of them would rather be farming.
Frostfires
An adventuring band that made their
fortune pillaging artifacts in the White
Wastes. Not immune to fire or the cold.
War Golem
Artifical beings built for the war effort,
great as replaceable cannon fodder but
aren't very good at following orders.
The Circle
A tightly-knit organisation responsible
for many of the Crescent's rising stars.
Their members seem to follow conflict.
Nate
You called upon Nate,
you'll soon meet your fate.
???
It spooky.
Weapon: Gaozhao
Blessed by the screams of its
many victims. +4 Def/Res/Luck.
Dreadlich III
A perfectly average traveller on
the Crescent. They have a very
interesting choice of headwear.