Previous posts in this series:
Last time: we had met the Night's Blessed in the Rak'tika Greatwood, where Y'shtola has been residing under the name Master Matoya. You're about to discuss a plan to get into Yx'Maja, a place further in the forest where you believe the Lightwarden may be hiding.
Once the party has gathered in Y’shtola's chambers, she explains her plan.
Y'shtola: "Let me begin by first explaining the origins of this tablet. I initially believed it might detail the history of the Church of the First Light. Much to my surprise, it dates back to the end of the Ronkan Empire, and was likely written under the direction of the reigning ruler. It was a time of strife and unceasing war with neighboring nations. With each passing day they yielded more and more territory to their enemies. In their desperation, petitions for aid were sent out to their allies. This was one such petition."
Minfilia: "And you think this ancient petition will somehow help us get into Yx'Maja?"
Urianger: "Indeed we do. For etched into this tablet is a method by which one may prove themself an ally of the Ronkan Empire. Provided we are able to decipher said instructions, we may entreat the ruin's protectors to grant us safe passage."
Y'shtola: "The problem, however, is I presently lack the resources to decipher them in their entirety. We have but one recourse: there exists a stone monument inscribed with ancient Ronkan text and translations into a more modern dialect which came into use after the fall of the empire. I am confident it will suit our purposes."
Minfilia: "Where can we find this monument?"
Y'shtola: "Here in Citia, quite close to Slitherbough, in fact. The good news ends there, however, for it is in the possession of a rather radical faction of Dark worshipers─the Children of the Everlasting Dark. If I am to study the monument, I must infiltrate their encampment. I have no intention of taking longer than absolutely necessary, but I will nevertheless require time to transcribe the text I need. To ensure that I will have enough, I am afraid I must ask you and Thancred to assist me."
The plan to invade the Children's camp is thus: the party will gather beehives and toss them into the camp, thereby causing alarm and panic amongst the Children.
The plan works. Once inside the cave, Y'shtola asks you to describe what you see.
As you look at the paintings, the ghostly Ardbert appears next to you.
Ardbert: "These paintings...they seem familiar. Depictions of heroes throughout history. The age of gods… The empire of Ronka… And this…"
The camera focuses zoomed in on the paintings. Ardbert continues: "There was a man. A researcher who pored over these pieces… He offered us work when we needed it. Slaying beasts, delivering provisions… A funny old bugger, he was, but he had a good heart."
The scene turns sepia as Ardbert remembers, and we see the researcher he has been speaking about.
Ardbert: "He believed this first painting dated back to a time of myth and legends. A tribute to the heroes of a long-forgotten era. The story went that is was rediscovered by an explorer from Ronka, who was so struck by its majesty that a second painting was commissioned, commemorating the heroes of their day. ‘One day, you will all be here too,' he said. ‘Heroes immortalized forever. Maybe I'll paint you myself!' I had a good laugh at that. We were only trying to make our way, after all. Being heroes couldn't have been further from out minds."
The scene returns to color now. Ardbert continues: "But it seems… he actually went and did it. Before of after the Flood, I wonder… Rather faded, isn't it, compared to the others. Or did someone try to scrape it off the wall? Maybe the man himself, once he came to his senses…"
Ardbert turns and looks at you directly. "Do you suppose your deeds will warrant an addition to this collection? Or some other kind of monument?"
You're looking at Ardbert when Y'shtola walks up. She speaks: "There you are. I have everything I need. Let us quit this place."
You look again where Ardbert had been standing, but he's gone now.
Y'shtola: "Is something the matter? We should go. The others are waiting."
She walks off, and you look one last time at the painting of Ardbert and his friends, then leave.
Y'shtola thanks you and Thancred for your help in infiltrating Woven Oath, bidding you rest when you return to Slithernough.
You arrive back at Slitherbough and speak with Runar, who has been beside himself with worry over Y'shtola's absence from the village. Relieved to know you are all safe and sound, he suggests taking a seat by the fire to relax while he finishes preparations for your meal.
You're sitting by the fire as Runar attends to his stew. The birds overheard cry out, and both you and Runar look to the sky. "Strange…", Runar says. "The others on patrol should have returned by now. Our food will be overcooked if we wait any longer. We will just have to start without them. Would you call Master Motoya and the others?"
You give one of your stoic nods and stand. You're just about to knock on Y'shtola's door when the sound of voices within makes you pause.
Y'shtola: "I tire of these games, Urianger. Why do you pretend you cannot see it!?"
The scene shifts to the interior of Y'shtola's chambers. Urianger is seated at her table, eyes downcast.
Y'shtola continues: "The blessing may spare her the fate of becoming a Lightwarden… But you cannot be blind to the nascent corruption! She is not as she was in the Source."
Urianger remains silent, still not meeting Y'shtola's eyes. Y'shtola gives him a look, crosses her arms, and says, "Though I have no proof, I fear that the light which poured forth from the Wardens was not negated at all. I fear it was absorbed—that she has been suffused with their light."
Urianger remains silent another moment, then lifts his head and speaks: "Though I have given thought to this possibility, I dare not speak until more is known."
Y'shtola gives a disgruntled sound and shakes her head. "By the time you deign to enlighten us, it may be too late—if it is not already." She uncrosses her arms, speaking to him directly. "Urianger—I know full well, after all these years, that you have only the best of intentions. But that does not make it any easier to put my faith in a man so infatuated with secrecy. I have had my suspicions ever since the Exarch bade you speak that day, but now I must ask. The eighth Umbral Calamity and all that followed; everything you claimed to have seen—did you?"
Urianger is staring at the table again. He lifts his head, about to speak, when the scene suddenly shifts to the courtyard. A Blessed Man comes running in, screaming, "Help! Someone help!" You turn in alarm and the Blessed Man continues: "The Eulmorans have come for us! We're under attack!"
The scene ends. Another cutsecne begins, with a subtitle: "Meanwhile, in Eulmore..."
The scene opens on Vauthry's throne. The doors to his throne room open, and the Crystal Exarch walks in, flanked by Vauthry's jongluers. The jongleurs introduce the Exarch with a bow, and take their places to either side. The Exarch speaks: "Lord Vauthry, how good it is to see you. How long has it been? Not since your inauguration, unless I am mistaken? Too long, at any rate. May I say how humbled I am to be invited not only into your city, but your home. You are as generous as ever."
Vauthry lifts a hand dismissively, saying, "And you as disingenuous. Let us dispense with the pleasantries. This merry band of dissidents people are calling ‘Warriors of Darkness'...They have slain sin eaters, and by all accounts the Crystarium is complicit in their villainy. And now I hear reports of your people obstructing my soldiers. So I must ask: what exactly do you think you are doing?"
Exarch: "I might ask you the same thing. It should be clear even to you that defeating the Lightwardens represents the world's only hope of survival. Even now, the people of Lakeland and Il Mheg rejoice in the return of night. For a hundred years, they yearned for a means to fight back against the sin eaters and at last they have found one. Yet you choose to stand idly by and do nothing. Why?"
Vauthry: "Why? Because this ‘hope' you cling to is nothing more than a fever dream. An exercise in futility. Even should you slay the sin eaters, the world as we know it is beyond salvation. With what little land and resources remain, the people would be free only to starve. Before long they would turn to violence, then to war, and ultimately usher themselves unto oblivion. They require a firm hand to shepherd them from the edge. The hand of a king—nay, a god! I will see their dreams fulfilled, their wishes granted. I will give them peace, order—and they shall never want for bliss. Men are fickle creatures who entertain vague ideals without he faintest notion what they cost. But a little fear can go a long way towards helping them realize what it is they truly need. Sanctuary. And they shall find none in this world, save that which I afford them. That is why the sin eaters exist. To unite the world under my dominion!"
The Exarch speaks low: "A paradise fit to grace the Eighth Umbral Era."
Vauthry: "What was that?"
Exarch, shaking his head: "A minor epiphany, nothing more." He raps his staff on the floor. "You have always held sway over those around you. Those who defy you must submit or die. What sits before me is the inevitable result of bloated privilege and unchecked power. But man is more resilient than you think. His achievements are not the product of violence and bloodshed but compassion and understanding. This calamity is but another crisis to be overcome. And we will—once we eliminate the sin eaters."
Vauthry: "You poor, deluded fool. These people care not for the morrow. They care only for the now, and the contentment the lack. What good is a paradise to them if it is a thousand years in the making? Or even a hundred!?"
The Exarch drops his head, from Vauthry's gaze. "You underestimate them, Lord Vauthry. They see further than you think. I have beheld it in the blood and sweat and tears of those who would sacrifice everything for a future they may never know. That their children may never know. I have beheld it in the hopes and reams of those who came before, which we bequeath to those who come after, that they might in turn build upon the foundations laid by our forebears. These are the bonds which hold man and his world together, not your gilded chains—and I will resist your every effort to shackle him."
Vauthry: "In summary, you will continue to support the villains hunting my sin eaters?"
The Exarch lifts his head, smiling, again meeting Vauthry's eyes: "With tremendous enthusiasm, for I have faith in the future they would build."
Vaythry grumbles. "Why do I even bother?" He sits forward. "Fools, the lot of you! So naive! So painfully predictable! Did you imagine I did not know your mind? That I would wait until after this meeting to dispatch my forces!? Even as we speak, they march to the sin eaters' defense! Insurrection will not be tolerated!" A ring on his right hand begins to glow. "The people of this world are mine to rule, mind to command…" He lifts his hand: "And you are no exception!" He flings a ball of light to the Exarch, who disappears in a flash.
Vauthry: "What? How did he…!? Insolent swine! I will not stand for this! Do you hear me?!?"
The scene ends to Vauthry throwing a temper tantrum on his dais.
Back in Rak'tika, the Eulmoran army standa outside Slitherbough, led by Ran'jit. A Blessed Man lies prone on the ground in front of them. Runar and Y'shotola approach.
Ran'jit: "You speak for the Night's Blessed?"
Y'shtola: "I do." She looks down at the man, agony on his face. "I presume that is your doing. If you have come to parley, I must insist that you first return him to us."
Ran'jit: "You are in no position to make demands."
A quick camera cut shows you and the rest of the Scions watching from a hidden area nearby.
Ran'jit: "By Lord Vauthry's decree, Rak'tika no falls under the governance of Eulmore. You will henceforth answer to us."
Y'shtola crosses her arms. "Is that so…" Her gaze shifts to Ran'jit's left, where a trio of Children in black robes are standing. "And the Children of the Everlasting Dark have acquiesced to this madness?"
Ran'jit: "We have reached an accord, yes. Too many times have the Night's Blessed shunned Eulmore's overtures of friendship. The risk that you harbor hostile intentions has grown too great to ignore. Therefore his lordship has claimed dominion over this forest, and bestowed executive authority upon the Children of the Everlasting Dark."
One of the Children steps forth and speaks. "In his wisdom, Lord Vauthry has agreed to recognize ours as the only permissible expression of Dark worship—its one true faith. You and your false creed are a blight on these woods! A foul, unholy corruption that must be cleansed. Little wonder the Warrior of Darkness visits both Lakeland and Il Mheg, yet shuns Rak'tika. Your perverted teachings hold blessed shadow at bay!"
Runar is taken aback by this. Y'shtola averts her eyes from the man's gaze. "You have accepted the yoke of Eulmore to spite us, then? Fools. Darkness will never return to these skies while they hold sway."
Ran'jit: "Those of you minded to obey his lordship are to make for Woven Oath with all haste. We will leave you, that you may have time to prepare."
Runar starts forward. "Woven Oath!? Are you suggesting we abandon our faith to join those zealots!?"
The Voice of the Everlasting Dark speaks again: "What has your ‘faith' afforded you thus far? Nothing! We will guide you along the righteous path."
Y'shtola looks up, directly into Ran'jit's eyes. "And should we refuse?"
Ran'jit: "Anyone found here upon our return will be considered a traitor to Eulmore, and dealt with as such." He looks down on the wounded man, then turns and leaves with his retinue.
Runar hurries to the wounded man's side, and you and the rest of the Scions emerge from your hiding place.
Y'shtola: "We will discuss these developments after I have tended to our casualty."
The four of you nod, and head back into Slitherbough.
The Scions must move quickly if they are to save the Night's Blessed and deny Vauthry his foothold in the Rak;tika Greatwood. The plan is to enter Yx'Maja, and thus seek out the Lightwarden of Rak'tika. With the seal of Ronka in hand, weapons at the ready, you and the Scions set out into Yx'Maja in search of the Ronkan ruins and their protectors.
As you wend your way through the forests of Yx'Maja, you are suddenly assailed by arrows from the trees. Y'shtola's in lead of your party but stops as the arrows fall near her feet. She glances up to the trees. "'Twould seem we have found them," she says. The camera pans up to show a trio of sentinels standing on a large tree branch.
Bow-Wielding Sentinel: "You trespass upon sacred ground. Begone!" She lets aim with her bow. The Scions take cover, Thancred swinging his gunblade. One of the sentinels, bearing a spear, jumps down. "Wait! We didn't come to--" Y'shtola starts, but is attacked by the sentinel. The sentinel swings her spear at Y'shtola, who bends backwards to avoid it. Urianger unleashes his cards at the Sentinel, who jumps backwards, avoiding them. The sentinel is ready for another pass of attack, when Y'shtola cries, "Stop! We mean you no harm!" and thrusts out the seal of Ronka in her hand. The spear-bearing sentinel stops suddenly, and the bow-wielding sentinel, still in the tree, freezes.
Staff-wielding Sentinel: "Sister. Is that---?"
The bow-wielding sentinel slowly drops her weapon, staring in wonder.
Y'Shtola still is holding the seal forward. She speaks: "We are allies of the empire of Ronka. As is customary, we come bearing the seal of the emperor."
The spear-wielding sentinel examines the seal curiously, from several different angles, then smiles and spreads her hands. "It appears to be genuine!" she says
Staff-wielding Sentinel turns to her sister and says: "Then perhaps there is yet hope!"
Bow-wielding Sentinel: "Perhaps.." She doesn't sound too sure, and crosses her arms. "We acknowledge your seal, but we must be certain of its authenticity." she says. "Follow the azure flowers to our village. There we will judge if you are friend or foe."
Spear-wielding Sentinel jogs off. "Try not to stray on the path, all right?"
Y'shtola: "'Follow the flowers…' Would it kill them to escort us?" She turns to the four of you. "But if it affords us an opportunity to investigate Yx'Maja… fine." You nod, and the party continues onward.
Upon closer examination, their leader, Almet, recognizes the authenticity of your seal and welcomes you as allies of Ronka. It appears your arrival is long awaited, but to what end remains yet to be seen.
(If I recall correctly, there's a solo duty here with some puzzles to infiltrate a pyramid…)
Al'met explains to you and Y'shtola the possible dangers that await within the final chamber of the pyramid, offering you whisperweed to use in the event you find yourselves separated. With her words in mind, you enter the chamber prepared for the worst.
Once inside, you soon realize the chamber is a labyrinth, filled with magicked sentinels and perilous traps at every turn. The end is nearly in sight…
You activate a glowing orb on a pedestal, which causes the golems attempt Y'shtola to crumble. Y'shtola puts away her staff. "It seems to be working!" she says. She turns to you, but then suddenly there is sound and movement: Ran'jit kicks out at the three sisters, causing them to be knocked over. He then readies an attack at you, but Y'shtola steps in front of you, spreading her arms wide. "I think not," she says, and puts up a protective bubble around the two of you.
There is the sound of running, and one of Ran'jit's adjutants appears. "General, hold on!" he says, running into the chamber… only to step on a flowing stone. The chamber then starts to shake. A hole appears in the floor, and the adjutant has just enough time to jump over the expanding chasm. Now he's caught on the far side, with you, Y'shtola… and Ran'jit.
Y'shtola crosses her arms and glares at the adjutant. "Expertly done." she says.
Eulmoran Adjutant: "How was I to know that that would happen!? It looked like any other part of the floor!" He turns and peers down into the chasm, which is VERY deep, then turns to Y'shtola, pleading. ",,,Might now be an opportune time to strike a bargain? We poisoned a number of villagers in Slitherbough with a toxin brewed for us by the Children."
Y'shtola looks dismayed as the Adjutant reaches into his pocket, pulling out a flask. "This is the antidote." he says. "I daresay you know how potent their concoctions are—and the futility of trying to counteract their effects."
Y'shtola uncrosses her arms and starts forward, but the Adjutant stops her with a hand out. "Now, now," he says, holding the flask over the chasm. "Try anything here and we're all likely to fall. Eventually someone will come to our rescue. Or yours. Promise us safe passage and we'll give you the antidote! Do we have a deal?"
Y'shtola looks every bit the disgruntled cat, but the camera pans to Ran'jit. "We do not negotiate with the enemy," he says. "The villagers' lives are forfeit. As is yours…" He kicks out at the Adjutant, who says, "General...?" As he falls, Y'Shtola gasps, and jumps after him. She snatches the flask out of the air, hurtling it towards you. You catch it. "Do not fail," she says quietly, then falls into the chasm. A burst of wind flies upward.
You silently cry her name, and kneel next to the chasm, bereft. Ran'jit takes a step closer. "How noble. And pointless," he says.
You get your grr-face on, standing and taking a step towards Ran'jit. Before you can do anything, Minfilia comes running into the chamber. "Is everyone all right?" she asks. She stops suddenly before the chasm. "What in the--?" she says.
Thancred and Urianger follow her into the chamber. "Urianger!" Thancred cries. Urianger unleashes a golden rope, lassoing Ran'jit, pulling the General across the chasm. Thancred leaps at him, swinging his gunblade, but misses. The lasso dissipates and Ran'jit falls into the chasm. Thancred stabs his gunblade into the far side of the chasm, hanging there, looking angry at the situation.
Minfilia looks around. "Where… where is Y'shtola?" she asks. The chasm looms large. You get a sad look on your face, then bring the antidote up to stare at it.
The scene ends.