We arrive back at the base, Boone is recuperating from their serious injuries. Thanks to Iehn’s insane healing abilities, Boone was able to walk again, but still struggles with some minor motor functions. Boone is trying to reload their gun but is having a bit of trouble getting their fingers steady.
Boone: Come on, go in
The bullet falls out of the magazine as Boone’s fingers shake and wiggle
Boone: I have got to be better than this
Two people see Boone struggling with this and walk over to them
Aiden: Having trouble with your weapon gun friend?
Boone: My back hit a tree, and now I can’t load my gun so I can’t find that son of bitch and put him in the dirt
Centus: If you can’t reload your gun how do you expect to do any damage to The Buzzard in a serious confrontation?
Boone: My hate will guide the way
Aiden: But he’s like, a dark mirror or whatever, you keep firing bullet after bullet into him he just launches you into a tree and destroys your spine again
Boone: I simply…must be ready for action…must be better
Centus: That’s simply not going to enough soldier
Boone: But I have t-
Centus: Boone, you should sit the next mission out
Boone: BUT-
Centus: That’s an order Boone, I’ll get Lilac to also agree to this, you need your rest
Boone: But why? I want to fight
Centus: I’ve been in situations like yours before, you need to prioritize your own well-being so you can live to fight another day
Boone: But I need to keep fighting, I need to
Centus: Rest. You need to rest Boone. Get some of your old skills back and come back without this strain of desperation on your tongue or in your heart.
Boone: You can’t go on and fight The Buzzard by yourselves, IT IS MY FIGHT, I NEED TO BE THE ONE TO KILL H-
Boone begins coughing uncontrollably
Aiden: Friend, you need to sit down
Centus: Boone, get better soon
Aiden and Centus leave Boone alone with their thoughts, as they sit dejected fiddling with their bullets.
At another part of the camp, Nest is deadeying the token of hers with the Soul Falcon looking at her with a forlorn expression
Nest: Well…we survived…I’m just…so terrified of him
Nest continues looking into deep space before someone places their hand on her shoulder
Uruo: Wallowing in your sorrow, mighty warrior?
Nest: Do you have anything to say, do you know how I feel, so dejected, so empty, so hopeless
Uruo: Well yes, I do know how you feel
Nest turns to look at Uruo, who’s normal demeanor of a forlorn expression of indifference has eroded into a small frown
Uruo: Life got pretty tough for me a while ago, so I decided to adopt this mask of ice to hide from the world, I had felt utterly helpless at times due to circumstances around me
Nest: What did you do to stop feeling that way?
Uruo: Eventually I realized that I could make a difference
Nest: How?
Uruo’s face began to twist into a soft smile
Uruo: Lilac took me aboard, The “Century Corps” were like another family to me and I discussed some things about my past, granted not the entire thing but enough to where I could forget about the bad things that happened and stop remembering all the time.
Nest: I can’t imagine forgetting, it’s the entire reason we’re here. That thing is a terror on my life, and he’ll continue haunting me even when he’s gone.
Uruo: I get it, if you want to talk about it more you can always talk about it with me, but I don’t exactly think I’m your first choice given that we barely know each other
Nest: I’ll certainly keep your name in mind, it’s good that you offered that, it shows you care about people, no matter how little you know them
Uruo: Thank you for your kind words
Nest looked at the Soul Falcon again, when someone else walks over to her
Hadane: Make a new friend?
Nest: He’s nice
Hadane: His soul is gentle I feel it
Despite her own problems, Nest notices something wrong with Hadane
Nest: Hey Hadane?
Hadane: Yes Nest?
Nest: Are you ok?
Hadane: Well Nest…this valley fills me with a strange energy, like I can, almost change?
Nest: Like the soul metamorphosis process?
Hadane: Something more, like I can fill the empty hole inside of me?
Nest: Huh?
Hadane: It doesn’t make sense, but I feel like I can become whole?
Nest: Wouldn’t you want to remain yourself?
Hadane: Maybe, but why wouldn’t I want to also become someone new?
Nest: Well because the “you”, you currently are is the best version of Hadane I know, have faith in yourself Hadane, you’ve been incredible already
Hadane: Ya know, for someone who doesn’t believe in themselves, you sure believe in others
Nest: Of course…I’m the crack in the chain…but you, you’re great Hadane…
Hadane: Ok, well, we will be leaving on a new mission soon, so, let’s get ready for that?
Nest: Alright, I’m ready to see some action again
Nest and Hadane move towards Lilac as she briefs them on the mission
Lilac: Alright everybody, Mygin and Oiyrr have told me that soul energy overflow can be felt in certain areas by some of the villagers who live inside Rahihi’s realm, we’re going to the rim of the canyon where we can see it, although keep in mind that Rahihi’s forces might be active in that area
Lilac looks towards the crowd, before they move to their mission
Begin mission: Canyonside Crawl
Select your party and unit reserve, Boone is not available for party selection.
Begin heading down the Canyonside Trail
When the party is 10% of the way down the trail, Oiyrr’s plant begins to react in a strange way
Oiyrr: It can sense a strange presence
Nest: What do you mean by that?
Oiyrr: Well I used to part of cult that used to worship this plant which called itself Enver, it had a glow similar to the one I feel now
Hadane: Do you think their energies might be one in the same?
Oiyrr: I don’t believe it is so, at least not yet
Hadane: If it is in fact of this valley, you would know a lot more than you do now about the Soul Tree
Resume Canyonside Trail
When the party is 20% of the way down the trail, a group of thugs in a strange uniform approach the party
Rahihi Henchman: HALT, You are not allowed any further, this is Rahihi’s territory!! Only those under his allegiance my enter his domain
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The various members of the Century Corps look at each other with blank stares and knowing looks
Uruo: Listen pall, I would appreciate it if you just moved out of the way
Rahihi Henchman: Wait…you’re the guy our boss wants alive!!
Uruo: Pardon me?
Rahihi Henchman: He wants you to be brought to him alive
Oseci: Uruo why does he want you alive?
Uruo: It’s a long story
Rahihi Henchman: Come with us, we don’t care about what transgressions you had before, Rahihi wants you
Uruo: No thank you
Hadane: I see, you may have a deeper history with this group
Uruo: You could say that
Fight against Rahihi’s Thugs
When you win, the thugs scatter into the distance, scampering off to avoid any further confrontation
Uruo: And, we should be in the clear to progress now
Mygin: Uruo, mind telling us what Rahihi wants with you
Uruo looks on forlornly, as if remembering something he would rather forget
Uruo: I’ll explain after the mission, you deserve to know
Mygin: I’ll add it to my records
Uruo looks onto the valley, wondering if there’s anymore he can do at this point
Continue the Canyonside Trail
When the party is 30% of the way through the trail
Ba-Bayost: I wonder why this passageway is of priority to that bothersome warlord, it seems like a fairly insignificant path
Uruo: It may seem that way, but if Rahihi values something he will station forces here to defend it. In this case it’s access, if you continue down the path a certain length, you can see Rahihi’s base and the areas around it. He doesn’t want anyone gaining significant knowledge on his territories.
Ba-Bayost: Hmn, you speak like you have wondered the same before
Uruo: I’ve had a lot of time for wondering
Oseci: We may be more kindred than you would think Uruo
Uruo: Maybe, I’ll let you be the judge of that
Continue the Canyonside Trail
When the party is 40% of the way through the trail, a small contingent of Sinners Sextant is keeping watch, they turn around and see the Century Corps behind them
Sinners Sextant Member: Agh, we have uh, uh, been, uh, uh…
Yoni: Uhm, speak up please?
Sinners Sextant Member: What’s that word, the one that would apply to our situation
Sinners Sextant Member II: Surprised
Sinners Sextant Member: Thank you and your linguistics expertise
Sinners Sextant Member II: I have one meltdown and the only thing anyone knows about me is I know languages, I have hobbies you know
Yoni: Oh I remember you, you were right in front of the treasure tower when my sister wanted to melt all that gold!
Sinners Sextant Member II: And of course that’s how I’m remembered, great…great…
Yoni: Hey it’s nothing to be ashamed of, you’re pretty funny nameless jobber
Sinners Sextant Member II: Why thank you, although I do have a name
Hoard: Gold hands, what is this method of enemy submission you are trying?
Yoni: I’m having a friendly conversation, is there something wrong with that?
Sinners Sextant Member: Wait the short woman who looks like a trick or treater is on to something…we’re supposed to be fighting
Hoard: What is a trick or treater?
Yoni: Good question
Sinners Sextant Member II: It’s someone who participates in the act of trick or treating, which is done for halloween
Sinners Sextant Member II: This doesn’t really help my case now does it
Yoni: What is your name you mentioned having fair linguist
Sinners Sextant Member II: That would be Farat
Sinners Sextant Member: If we’re introducing ourselves my name is Shane
Yoni: It’s really nice to get to know you better
Farat: Thank you
Hoard: My god she is a witch
Sinners Sextant Captain: STOP HAVING PLEASANT CONVERSATIONS AND BEGIN FIGHTING RIGHT NOW
Shane: Well captain’s orders, sorry?
Yoni: I’m sorry for any lasting injuries you might sustain
Shane: Likewise
Sinners Sextant Captain: SHUT UP SHANE
Shane: Meanie
Fight against the small Sinners Sextant Contingent
When you win, the small group begins to scatter, in an effort to retreat
Sinners Sextant Captain: Well we lost, everyone retreat
The Sinners Sextant contingent begins to trickle away
Hoard: I should get my dragons to come and burn them so we don’t have to fight them again!!
Yoni: That won’t be necessary
Hoard: Why not?
Yoni: People like being appreciated for who they are, they appreciate being seen
Hoard: Ok, and?
Yoni: Well Hoard, have you ever made a friend?
Resume Canyonside Trail
When you are 60% of the way down the trail, the party sees some machines and vehicles, operating some kind of lift along the canyonside
Hadane: Looks like some kind of platform for drilling?
Yoni: A warlord here doesn’t exactly strike me as the kind to make industrial developments like this, unless he has a great knowledge of ores and engineering and minerals and has like a shell corporation or something. I mean what minerals are even here to mine?
Oiyrr: It actually looks like some kind of energy is being extracted, it doesn’t look like a standard mining operation
Uruo: His house is right next to the soul tree, if Rahihi wanted to get soul energy why wouldn’t he just cut it down and take it all from the stump?
Oiyrr: Perhaps the tree has a purpose pivotal to the environment you do not understand yet
Oseci: It’s probably just too difficult for Rahihi to cut down, he doesn’t care about what happens to other people
Resume Canyonside Trail
When the party is 80% down the trail, another cluster of Rahihi’s forces appear, armed with some soul energy weaponry
Rahihi Henchman: Alright boys let’s disarm the intruders
Centus: I’ve disarmed so many thugs in my lifetime that I feel like I’m just going through the motions everytime I go to attack
Aiden: I can help expedite the process
Centus: That would be nice
Fight against the group of Rahihi’s Thugs
When you win, they once again scatter
Yoni: Well that was easy
Hoard: Yoni why weren't you trying to “befriend” these people?
Yoni: Well the thing about the Sinners Sextant group is that I knew them from earlier, I don’t know these people
Hoard: Explain?
Yoni: Well remember the things I was saying to uh, Geraldine
Mygin: Her name was Kiki
Yoni: Whatever her name was, well she wasn’t really biting because “she hates our guild for killing her friend”
Centus: That was me, sorry about that
Yoni: You’re forgiven
Hoard: Yoni?
Yoni: Ok, so, well Geraldine doesn’t like us at all, so I tried for a little to chip away at that hardened demeanor but it didn’t work. The same thing of it not working would have happened here, seems like these people are too blindly loyal to Rahihi, at least they are right now, for me to try swaying them.
Hoard: Ooh I get it now
Yoni: See?
Hoard: You can’t change people’s minds unless they are willing to change
Yoni: Bingo
Hoard: What’s that?
Larkin: It’s a game played by little children and old people
Resume Canyonside Trail
When the party is 90% complete the trail, they look out and can see the Soul Tree, with a strange glowing figure at the trunk below, that they can just barely see
Hadane: Can we get a better look at that figure?
Larkin: I don’t have my binoculars today
Lilac: I’ve got it, hey Ovcon
One the people from unit reserve steps out with a telescope
Ovcon: You need my telescope?
Lilac: Yeah, just stand over there and look down at the glowing figure
Ovcon stands on the cliff ledge and looks down at the warrior with the telescope
Ovcon (using their telescope): So this warrior down there is glowing green and seems to be some kind of weird extension of the tree
Lilac: Thank you Ovcon
Ovcon: No problem Lilac
Centus: The Soul Tree is a thing of beauty, it’s a shame that warlord wants to keep it locked up
Hadane: I feel an irreconcilable pull, like it’s wanting me to join it…
Nest: What do you mean by that?
Hadane: I feel like it’s beckoning me to come closer, like, like it can make me whole…
Uruo: Make you whole?
Hadane: Like I can become something greater than myself…
Acantha: Forces of greater power often have that effect on one, speaking from past experiences
Lilac: Wonder if that power drove you here into my body…
Continue down the Canyonside Trail
When you are complete, you can see the base of Rahihi resting right above the Soul Tree, also, a foggy soul mist can now be seen, emitting from the tree
Oseci: Building his home right above that sacred place, he’s got some nerve
Uruo: He did like doing bold things
Lilac: Alright, so we clearly see that tree is emitting a mist of some kind, we’re free to head back now
As the Century Corps move to head back, an icy dagger lands on the ground near Uruo as a smaller group of Rahihi’s forces appear with someone who looks like a greater commander
Lilac: Who are you in the front?
Vakakoya: My name is Vakakoya, I am the sword of Rahihi, who is my father and I humbly request that my brother comes with me
The party gives some looks to Uruo
Uruo: I abandoned that title long ago
Vakakoya: Are you just going to pretend that we were never family Uruo?!
Oseci: Uruo, I see know why you were so cagey about your knowledge source of Rahihi
Uruo: Thank you Oseci, I knew you’d understand why
Vakakoya: I don’t understand?? You leave us when I’m just a kid, leaving me without a brother and leaving our father without a son. We could have been a great family.
Uruo: It was a mistake, I should have taken you with me
Vakakoya: Whatever, you will stop opposing our father and see it again
Uruo: Your father
Vakakoya: We’re brothers dammit
Uruo: We haven’t been brothers for eight years
Vakakoya: End that now and come back to us dammit!!
Uruo: No
Oseci: Alright, let’s get in there and end the feud
Fight against Vakakoya and his forces
When he is at 75%
Vakakoya: Why do you refuse to accept who you are?
Uruo: It’s who I was, I’m someone else now
Hadane: Change happens over time, it’s only right that you’re someone new now
Uruo: Eight years is a lot of time
Resume against Vakakoya
When he is at 50%
Vakakoya: Why did you try to hide the fact you were once part of our family from the guild?
Uruo: I didn’t think it was relevant, who cares about how I know the inside knowledge I have
Mygin: I mean you could have been a mole?
Uruo: Do I look like someone who would be a good mole Mygin?
Mygin: No I think you would give it away via cryptic hints
Hoard: How would Uruo being a mole be relevant to his relations? I mean they live underground
Yoni: They mean that Uruo could have been a spy?
Vakakoya: I would like that
Uruo: I don’t care about your feelings
Resume against Vakakoya
When he is at 25%
Vakakoya: Why do you fight against our family-
Uruo: Your family
Vakakoya: Why do you fight against OUR fam-
Uruo: Your family
Vakakoya: STOP DENYING WE ARE BROTHERS
Uruo: Were brothers
Oseci: If you were family, who is your family now Uruo?
Uruo: I think you know the answer Oseci
Oseci: Hmm, you’re right, I believe I do
Vakakoya: What does that mean?
Uruo: Sorry, I guess you’ll never know, I guess you’ll have to go back to your father and tell him I’m not coming
Resume against Vakakoya
When you win against Vakakoya, he falls on the ground in defeat, cursing to himself before getting back up again
Vakaoya: Isn’t over brother-
Uruo: I have brothers but none of them are you
Vakakoya: You will join your true family again…you will
Vakakoya leaves angrily, leaving the Century Corps just to stand there
Mygin: So Uruo, was this what you were going to tell us after the mission?
Uruo: Yes, I don’t like thinking about that period of my life, but I believe you deserved to know since his forces were after me, but it looks like someone decided to out my secret first
Lilac: Well Uruo, you should tell and Mygin everything you know about Rahihi’s relationship with soul energy and other stuff
Uruo: I will let you know everything
Centus: The ghosts in our closet often are better let out then kept in
Acantha: Well said partner
Centus: We worked together out of convenience once
Acantha: Ok and?
Lilac: Let’s just get back to base
The Century Corps heads back to base.
End mission: Canyonside Crawl
Meanwhile, Vakakoya slinks off back to the citadel of his father
Rahihi’s Throne Room
Vakakoya enters the throne room his father resides, where Rahihi sits on a throne, with someone else next to him, wearing a mask. Vakakoya first bows down before his father, before standing up again.
Vakakoya: Father, I have made contact with Uruo again
Rahihi looks down at Vakakoya, before smiling darkly
Rahihi: And since I assume he is not here, that he refuses to come back
Vakakoya: Correct father, he in fact strangely denies his heritage
Rahihi: So we have all the pieces in play
Rahihi turns back to the person standing next to him
Rahihi: Witch
The person turns back to him
Witch: Yes Rahihi
Rahihi: I would like you to continue overseeing energy harvesting operations, if your plans to harvest the energy for a weapon continue, I need you there at one of our sites
Witch: It will be done lord
Rahihi: Perfect
Witch leaves Rahihi’s throne room as he continues smiling darkly
