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Chapter 26x: Hunter's Hollow II

Opening

(Oriana's party arrives to find Hunter's Hollow strewn with bodies.)
oriana
I should've known the Green Tide would not hit a single location!
So many casualties... I see faces I recognise from our visit days ago.
tower
This is the ideal outcome, Oriana.
Lives may have been tragically lost, but the Sect and the adventurers were able to hold Hunter's Hollow without us.
The same cannot be said for Eylenhurst.
disciple
Master Tower speaks truth. I mourn for the fallen, but our victory is magnificent.
oriana
A magnificent victory, you say? I do have another thing I want to ask.
disciple
Ask away, Captain Oriana.
oriana
These bodies may have been cut up with blades, but why was the true cause of death dark magic?
tower
What? This can't be.
oriana
See for yourself. I have enough experience with magic to recognise the difference.
disciple
I can explain, Captain! During the siege, we discovered many of this settlement were heretical god worshippers!
We had to put them down, for their foul rituals would empower our foes!
oriana
I see two problems. The first is that you did try to cover up the fact you killed them.
Why go out of your way to do this, unless there was the express need to hide guilt?
The second is that this worship was purely traditional and held no magical power.
Can you say that is not true, Tower? You were always sensitive to these matters.
disciple
Master Tower, you understand, do you not?
tower
... I sensed no divine energy. But, Orian-
oriana
This killing is motivated by malice. This is all that I need to know.
offscreen
Senior brother, go!
(Another disciple warps the senior brother out. Oriana steps forward and kills him.)
oriana
I understand why Archsage Nerysa made her deal with the Sect, but the Sect do not need to be empowered by warp technology.
tower
Oriana, what are you doing! Think before you act!
oriana
I am thinking that we should deliver coastal justice!
I shall hunt down the escapee. Shearwaters, kill the rest!
(Oriana runs off.)

Later...

(The Shearwaters stand victorious over the Sect.)
tower
You... Did you-
oriana
I know how warps work. There were only so many directions to drop. He did not get far.
tower
Oriana, their lives were not for you to so callously take!
You are an adventurer, not some vigilante!
oriana
You saw what they did! The elder, the priestess, the people we talked to, all slain!
tower
It was not cruelty which gave rise to such bloodshed!
The Disciples were always taught to fear and loathe the Faithful.
Given the stress of the invasion and possible imminent doom, it is not unexpected they were driven to such actions out of fear.
oriana
I am not here to undertake an exact analysis of their train of thought.
All I care about is what I see before me.
tower
They still put their lives on the line for this town.
oriana
And then they turned on those they were supposed to save.
Tower, I understand your reaction, your connection with the Sect and its members cannot be severed.
But they were undeserving of mercy.
tower
You were driven to action by emotion, as a leader should never be.
oriana
Even as my rage cools, I still would have done the same.
Let us bury all these bodies before the sun sets.

Conversations

Maurice & Unari

unari
I saw Dune send you running faster than a rat up a drainpipe.
maurice
Some nonsense about loyalty to Irinde and Ironsmith bloodline, but enough about that fool.
I know you are not content to fall under Ellerie's shadow, thus I offer a partnership, as an agent of the King.
unari
As I see it, you're little more than a puppet with the strings cut.
The hands of your King have had little influence upon the Crescent.
maurice
I may be temporarily down in resources, but none are as familiar with Ellerie's weaknesses as I am.
unari
And yet, Ellerie has beaten you time and time again.
Why should I trust that you are competent enough?
maurice
This is not my finest hour, I admit. But no doubt, his highness-
unari
I have a counteroffer.
You see, Oriana and her merry band may have promised you safe departure, but I'm bound by no such promise.
Now, I have no reason to see Ellerie get her way, but I might, if you don't give me an incentive.
maurice
You mean to extort me, when I have nothing?
unari
There's little chance someone as slippery as you doesn't have stashes hidden away.
More of those explosives of yours is valid payment as well. Take your time to answer.
maurice
...

Quilan & Mince

quilan
It has been a very long time since our first meeting, Mince. Have you forgotten?
mince
Am I missing something? We aren't familiar with each other.
quilan
That's not very polite, to forget the generous woman who gave you that ring.
mince
That was you? You were covered from head to toe! I didn't know what you looked like.
quilan
Was I? I tend to miss minor details like that.
mince
Why are we having this conversation now instead of a few months back?
quilan
This tale nears its end. It would be a shame if I didn't close off this thread.
You were quite disappointing, Mince.
You almost never used your newfound powers of teleportation, until now.
mince
Why would I need to draw attention to myself when my life was already so good?
quilan
No ambition at all. Don't you want to know why I gifted you that ring?
mince
Not really. I'm happy not knowing these things. You can have the ring back.
quilan
... Keep the ring. It is but a drop of water in the ocean.

Telon & Dune

dune
It's not like you to seek me out, Telon. You've always tended to avoid me.
telon
That's... Not... fully the truth.
dune
I did pressure you too much, trying too hard to imitate our absent father.
But that is in the past. Do not be afraid to speak to your sister.
telon
It's not about me, sister. I wanted to ask how you were.
dune
Why would you ask about me?
telon
There's all that business with the Chief. She's been giving you a hard time.
dune
She has proven to be more difficult to deal with than Oren, much to my frustration.
telon
You don't have to follow her orders!
Now that the Green Tide is beaten, you can go straight back to Irinde.
dune
Telon, if I could, I would've already. But her orders are not so easily defied.
telon
Are we not the proud and mighty Ironsmith bloodline?
She can't simply order you around like this!
dune
We are merely one of Irinde's prominent families, while the Chieftain's recent victories sees her support be at an impossible height.
telon
If we have to challenge her, we can! I've grown stronger, far stronger. We can-
dune
We both fought in the Seahawks. Do you think our lances can match all of them?
telon
I wanted to be the strongest, but it's not been able to help.
All that's done is cause problems for you and everyone else.
dune
Don't be ridiculous. The Chieftain is currently riding her renown in battle, but her reputation will not always be so stellar in times of peace.
You have to give it time, Telon.
Strength is important, but knowing when to use it is key.
telon
I wanted to help you and now it's all back to being about me.
dune
Keep on looking forward, Telon.
No doubt I'll need that strength you've cultivated, but not now.
telon
Understood, sister. I will be ready.

Empress & Joyful Jo

joyful jo
What came out of the gate? Was it merely something wearing his shape?
If you had not tempted him, this would not have happened!
empress
How can you declare this ascension a failure when your own was nothing like it?
It's been thousands of years since the last, there are no reliable accounts of the event.
joyful jo
That cannot be true ascension!
The ancient scratchings always referred to ascension as transcendence, not erasure.
empress
You were the one who preaches about overcoming the self, old thing.
Perhaps the shadow is merely part of the process, what must be discarded.
joyful jo
That shadow granted us each a powerful boon, Empress.
If that was the part that was discarded, I fear what ascended.
empress
You are merely envious that your disciple walked further than you did in mere months.
joyful jo
Why did you not join him, if you were so ready to ascend?
empress
It would've been a breach of honour to take an opportunity from a junior and a guest.
joyful jo
A lie, you would never care about honour if your own cultivation was at stake.
You're no different to me. I lost the spirit to ascend upon my past failure.
You do not try because you fear failure.
You insist that Young Red succeeded, as you fear there is no chance of success.
empress
Cease wagging your tongue, or lose it!
Do not claim you know me in the present, merely because you were my master.
joyful jo
Your indignation does you little benefit. But where does this leave us?
Still condemned to a slow, inevitable end in the lower realms.
empress
...

Tasel

oriana
Us adventurers are usually desperados with little else to occupy our time with.
It's rare for someone with a successful occupation such as you to join our crowd.
tasel
I have become so embroiled by failure these harsh few years, that even small affirmations continue to raise my spirits.
oriana
The good word of your tonics that relieve common aches and illnesses has spread.
It's a far cry from your early days of debt and desperation. A sizeable shift.
tasel
I realised that it was not the world that should change to suit me, but me.
I once thought of Irinde as a barbaric place who could not understand my ventures.
forgetting that while many misjudge me me for failure, I am prone to the same.
I needed to understand Irinde, not rely on perceived innovations which none needed.
oriana
Not many take to Irinde, especially not those from the Mainland. It's a harsh place.
tasel
Indeed, but while the people are full of drink and fury, they are open and welcoming folk.
I shan't let my newfound success be ruined, especially not by this Green Tide!
oriana
Is that the reason why you're here, even though you owe the Crescent nothing?
With your current reputation, no ship will deny you passage back to the Mainland.
tasel
My excursions with the red-haired scourge has realised my potential.
So, I say, why not put my vitality and my marksmanship to good use?
oriana
If there were more people who thought like you did, we'd have nothing to fear from the Crescent.
tasel
I do not pretend to be a selfless soul, Captain.
I only want what's best for me, and if that best involves me taking up my bow for the Crescent, then I shall.

Bloble

If you are playing on Misery Mode

bloble
Heh, I love the abject despair on the Crescent. It makes me feel alive.
I can tell you're of a similar sort, delighting in the taste of misery. Take this gift from me, from one flagellant to another.
I can see it in your eyes. You don't want me to give you something amazing; it'd just harsh your vibe.

(Oriana receives a Broken Sword.)

If not

bloble
You think you know suffering? Heh. Life is far too easy around here.
Only talk to me once you've gotten a taste of true misery.

Anna

anna
Why even look at those inferior wares? Buy from me! I have all that you need!

Frostfires

frostfire 1
Should we charge her half price? You just saw what she did to those disciples.
frostfire 2
Just follow my lead and act natural.
(Oriana approaches.)
oriana
What's all this?
frostfire 2
Hello, Captain! Welcome to our shop.
frostfire 1
We looted all the corpses whi-
frostfire 2
We've imported quality goods to assist in the efforts of adventurers.
Our normal price is 50% mark-up, but just for you, we can get rid of that.
oriana
Are these quality goods supposed to be covered in blood and grime?
frostfire 2
Uh, yes? There was a minor incident while transpo-
frostfire 1
Yeah, we just looted these from dead adventurers and monsters,
but Commander Unari would have our hides if we just gave you these,
even though you're fighting the good fight. So please, uh, pay for them?
oriana
I'm not particularly enthused about this, but there's no armouries for miles away.
Let's see what you have.
frostfire 2
(Nice one.)
frostfire 1
(Yeah.)

Helisent

helisent
Hello, my name is Helisent.
I am applying for the position of strategist within the Shearwaters.
oriana
I wasn't under the impression we were looking for one.
helisent
Do you have one?
oriana
Well, no, but also I'm running a crew of barely more than a dozen.
helisent
Thinking you don't need a strategist is a clear sign you need a strategist.
Here's a list of all my qualifications.
oriana
... Graduated with top honours from university at the Capital?
helisent
The very best of my class. I'm even wearing the medals I won.
oriana
And worked for two years as... a town crier? Then another two at a pawn shop.
helisent
I made a few enemies with family in important places during my outstanding performance.
I was denied entry into the Imperial military as well as any important job in the Capital.
However, the skills and experience I picked up in all those years are very transferable.
oriana
Interesting. How about your combat skills? What are your favoured weapon types?
helisent
The only weapon I need is my mind, for it is sharper than any blade.
oriana
Hmm. You may have experience theorising about large-scale battles at your school, but I am uncertain if that's applicable to the Crescent,
where skirmishes are short, bloody and very up close and personal.
helisent
There is no circumstance where you don't need a strategist, whether your army is big or small.
I need to get my name out there so people can take me seriously, and you can afford a genius strategist at a bargain price.
It is what we both need. Just 2000 gold for the next journey.
oriana
(Hire Helisent for 2000 gold?)

If you have less than 2000 gold

oriana
We appear to be short on even that amount.
helisent
If you cannot afford such spectacularly low wages, then this is not the job I need.

Yes

oriana
I am willing to take you into my crew, but do you know what you are signing up for?
helisent
I have extensively reviewed information about your crew and current operations.
oriana
Then you should know we're heading into the centre of the Devouring Woods, where we'll be fighting mostly mindless monsters, though exceedingly deadly.
helisent
I am unused to the prospect of planning around enemies which don't think, but most of my adversaries seem to be guilty of the same, so it is no issue.
oriana
If you understand the risks, then I have little else to say but “welcome to the crew.”
helisent
Please hand over all of your relevant information for me to examine.

No

oriana
While I appreciate your application, I don't believe a non-combatant will be suitable for the Shearwaters.
helisent
I may have to look into signing up to third-rate adventuring bands.

Locations

Thicket

oriana
Incredible. Who keeps dropping swords here?

(Oriana receives a Wind Sword.)

Ending

If Vermillion is a Pseudo-Deity

vermillion
You... hoard... judgement. Blades... arrows.... find... you.
(Mince wakes up.)
mince
What woke me up? I had an odd feeling. Must be still digesting that leg of lamb.
(Mince learns Provoke.)

tower
The Sectmaster and I set out for the Crescent with a clear dream.
In the years that have followed, it's been compromise after compromise.
I am now old and decrepit, with my lifelong work and reputation all undone.
I can do naught but watch as the Sect crumbles from within, as my daughter-in-law slaughters my former brethren for her own justice.
I may have my granddaughter, but am I really content with just this?
There must be something more, some other way I can influence the world before my time runs short...
oriana
We came to this town as heroes, and now we leave naught but destruction.
I can only hope a successful venture into the great unknown will make up for this.
Why do I feel this expedition might be our very last on the Crescent?
Merely a bad dream, or something more?

Character Descriptions

Helisent
A self-proclaimed strategist wanting to make gold off violence without doing the dirty work. Uncomfortable to be around.

Tactician
Masters of the battlefield. Their peerless minds brings armies to ruin. That's what they claim on their resume, at least.

Anna
A respected trader who tends to show up in some really odd places.

Adventurer
Another adventurer like myself. Most of them are quite wary of us, as we have wiped out a lot of adventuring bands.

Frostfires
A lot less of them now after that failed campaign, but still big enough to stay in it. What a load of pointless deaths.

Bloble
Just another common soldier driven to madness by the Crescent's wrath.

Villager
Not so harmless now, huh?

Civilian
We can't forget that the common civilian is the backbone of our little society. It is our duty to defend them from danger.

Loot
Boxes and boxes of ill-gotten gains. If I was to fall one day, I do not wish to be a mere corpse to loot.