Beyond the Beyond: Update 67: The Empty Throne (Bandore redux)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 67: The Empty Throne (Bandore redux)

The emperor of Bandore is dead and Bandore itself is at peace following a hasty surrender to Marion. That still doesn't take care of Shutat but at least one problem has been dealt with.

As the kids are just about to leave Bandore Castle the precarious hand of the plot reaches out to say hello. The game doesn't do much to provide direction at this point other than some vague and at times contradictory suggestions. Don't worry though. I've got this all under control.

Finn! Wait!

Praarr. It's just Galahad again.
Well let's go find out what he wants.

Sir Galahad has something he wants to add to his earlier conversation.

Dad is something wrong?
I needed to make sure you kids didn't take off just yet. Things are still a little precarious around here so I would appreciate it if you could hang around for at least another day or two.
What? Us just take off on you?
Finn isn't the only human who's known you for years, Steiner.
There's nothing really going on right now so I don't see a problem, Sir Galahad.
Good. I have no idea what Shutat's planning so we should proceed with caution.
But you said you don't expect Shutat to return any time soon. What's the problem?
We shouldn't squander our victory on foolish risks. Just because Shutat is unlikely to return right away doesn't mean he isn't planning something.
Sir Galahad is there anything we can help you with right now?
I don't think so. I'm waiting to see how things shake out before I make any decisions.
So who is going to be running Bandore? I know that guy said they'd be forming a new government but what happens in the meantime?
That is part of the reason I want you all to stick around. Keep your eyes and ears open for any sign of trouble, will you?
I think we can manage that.
Good. If you're heading back to Marion when you do leave then I can send my report to the king with you.
Oooooh! We get to be royal messengers? All right!
Not exactly a glamorous job, kid.

Just because the day has been filled with serious stuff doesn't mean Finn's lost all focus or his core priorities.

Finn no matter how much I fiddle with this the key isn't going to work.
It will drive him right up the wall though.
I just want to know what's in there! It's annoying me!
So I gathered.
You're just mad because the castle doesn't have a treasury to raid aren't you?
Shutat never should have touched my treasure in Marion!
At least you're not sulking around anymore.
Is anger really better than sulking though?
For Steiner it is.

There's also the matter of offloading equipment that the team not only can't use but wouldn't want to if they could. As a general rule of thumb any piece of equipment with an evil sounding name is probably cursed. We've already had more than enough of that nonsense for one game! I end up selling the Death Hood and the Robe of Darkness (which was worth a nice 7,125 gold).

Just outside the shop the team pauses to consider how they're going to spend their day.

So what are we going to do while we wait for something bad to happen?
And before Finn says anything the answer is not 'obsess over how to get treasure.'
I wasn't going to say that... out loud.
Well I for one am going to relax and enjoy a little peace and quiet. I think we've all earned it.
I guess it's up to me to find a new hobby for Finn.
Who said I needed a new hobby? I don't need a new hobby.
I'm going to have to agree with Tont on this one.
Well it's my hobbies we're talking about and I don't agree so there!
I can see this is going to be a long night for all of us.
It doesn't have to be a long night, sis.
I know how this goes, Finn. The moment we settle in something will go horribly wrong.
Now you're just being paranoid.
I think I've earned my paranoia.

Hmm...
What is it?
Well I was just thinking that if we are leaving in a day or two I'd better hurry up and meet with those discussing what Bandore is going to become. It's not like I'll ever get a second chance.
See? I'm not the only one who's paranoid!
It's not paranoia so much as genuine concern for how the new government is going to function. It is a delicate question. Whatever the answer it will have lasting consequences for everyone.
Whoa... that's deep, Edward.
Uh, listen to me getting all carried away in the moment.
I guess someone should tell Domino what's going on.
And what would that be?
We're going to be in Bandore for awhile.
That doesn't surprise me at all.
It doesn't?
Why would it?
Uh, you know that's a good question.
Sir Galahad asked us to stick around.
So he's been roped back into service. Hell of a way to spend one's retirement.
You know Sir Galahad?
I know of Sir Galahad. Hard not to in my line of work. Marion's shores aren't particularly friendly to us.
Hrmph!
Speak of the devil...
The only reason I'm tolerating your presence is because you've been helpful to us.
Well then I guess I'll have to stay helpful.
So are you still out for vengeance or is that all settled now?
Hard to say. That depends on if Shutat had a hand in all the monsters running around.

Well I'm heading back to the castle. Samson are you coming with me?
Right behind you.
If something happens you all know where to find me.
Don't worry. We'll make sure to keep Steiner on a short leash.
As if!

Edward and Sir Samson depart leaving the kids to their no doubt nefarious schemes.

And what are you kids going to do now that your babysitter has left?
Babysitter... would that be Sir Samson or Edward?
Could be either of them, really. Or both.
And all for Finn!
Ugh. To answer the question though I don't know what I'm going to do. I didn't expect to be spending any more time in Bandore to be honest. If I were smart I'd say something like "go be a kid while I still can" but the brains of our group just walked away.
Does Edward actually run the show?
Nah. We just kind of go wherever by consensus.
I see. So what is the consensus converging on right now?
We really have no idea where Shutat went. Unless Shutat returns I doubt we're going to find out any time soon.
Hmm, yes I've been wondering that myself. There are plenty of boltholes but none that I can imagine a man like Shutat would lower himself to use.
After what that battleship did to the Bandore navy we really don't want to run into it out at sea.
Aye. That would be a short fight before we were sent to the depths.
Didn't we find a map on the ship?
Yeah but Sir Samson has it.
Clever devil!
Well now that I think about it there is a chest in the inn...
Don't bother. It's magically sealed.
What? Are you sure?
Sure I'm sure. I know my locks.
You tried to open it didn't you?
I might have.
Heck yeah! You're a pirate! Stealing is what pirates do!
I only take things that are actually useful to me. The rest is just dead weight I don't need.

Hours pass with nothing to satisfy anyone's paranoia. Bandore watches as the sun sinks into the horizon. After a tumultuous day all is quiet.

What happened to Steiner?
He's... wherever. Probably stuffing his face if I know him.
Yeah that sounds like Steiner.

So how are you holding up?
Well I've only had the man I thought was my biological father tell me my life was a complete lie before watching as he got himself killed trying to save all of us. But other than that and seeing the emperor get blown up I'm fine.
So in other words you're not doing all that well.
Not really. That is all way too much for one day.
What are you going to do now?
Probably just stare at the sky and watch the clouds roll on by until I'm finally too tired to think any more.
And tomorrow?
I haven't gotten that far. What about you?
*shrugs*
Are we really gonna do this, sis? I mean, go after Shutat.
I guess. Why do you ask?
We've only ever succeeded in driving them off and that was with a lot of help. What are we supposed to do if we find them?
I don't know. I guess we'd find out how well they can fight.
That's what I was afraid you were going to say.
I doubt Shutat or his followers are just going to give up and go home.
Hmm...

Sis have you ever wondered what things would be like if all this stuff hadn't happened? Like if the emperor told Shutat to get lost or if they hadn't been able to cross the Abyss?
Yeah. Sometimes I wonder. We'd probably be back in Isla complaining that Mom has too many chores for us.
Or that nothing exciting ever happens and we're bored out of our skulls.
Or that Sir Kevins was going to show up any day and send Dad back into a bottle.
Yeah. *pause* Sis do you think Sir Galahad really meant it when he said he was going to take me to see the castle?
I suppose he meant it but that would have raised some questions in the court wouldn't it?
I wonder if my dad actually had a plan. Was he going to pull me aside and explain that he'd been lying to me? Was he just going to look the king in the eye and lie right to his face.
I doubt it would be the first time for either of our fathers.
Not exactly an encouraging legacy.
I have no idea what Edward's going to tell the king. Hopefully nothing.
You really want this charade to continue?
I don't know. Can you really imagine yourself living in the castle as a pampered noble?
Sounds boring.
Then I guess we tell the king nothing and hope Edward does the same.
Does that make us co-conspirators?
I suppose it does. Not a bad conspiracy to be a part of. I mean, we're not hurting anyone. We're just going about our lives.
I really don't know what I'm going to do if Edward tells his father. Or if Sir Samson spills the beans.
If Dad still doesn't want it getting out he'll order Sir Samson to keep quiet. I doubt Sir Samson would say anything to begin with. He's not exactly the talky type to begin with.
For once that's in our favor.
Maybe we should work this out with Edward.
I don't know. That's a rather awkward thing to ask of him. "Hey, Edward you don't mind deceiving your own father for a while do you? Thanks!" Ugh, how would I even approach that?
Stumble into it like everything else?

Sir Samson didn't say anything when Kevins confessed.
Like I said he's not the talky type.
Didn't seem upset or surprised or anything.
Not that you were paying much attention to him at the time. I wasn't either.
It's still not a comforting thought, sis. He would have been around back when all that stuff went down, right? Like was he even a soldier at that time?
I... think so. I vaguely remember Mom and Dad talking about how long Sir Samson's been in. That goes back to when we were little at least.

Down below the gates of Bandore Castle see guests arrive in what has been a busy night.

And up above a pair of kids just watch having no further part in the business within the castle.

You know I'm pretty sure Edward won't mind if we sit in on the negotiations.
We've already done enough damage to Bandore. It would just be awkward.
Well we'd better figure out what we're going to say to Edward and soon.
"We?"
What? You don't honestly think I'm going to leave you to the wolves on this, do you? Come on now! We've got each other's backs, right?
Yeah we do. Just... don't die on me again, okay?
I've already had my fill of dying for one lifetime.
It sounds so weird when you put it like that.
*shrugs* It's still true.
And you're not carrying any grudges from that are you?
Why would I?

Annie what was it like? To be dead, I mean.
Now there's a morbid question.
You don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just wondering...
No it's okay. I've had some time to come to terms with it.
And?
It wasn't something I was prepared for that's for sure. It hurt. A lot. I was scared. Then all of that just ended.
There was just nothing? Or do you not remember it at all?
There was something and I remember it. They asked me to look after you.
What?
Forget I said anything, Finn.
No I want to hear this.
I'm just mentioning what I remember but that doesn't mean any of it is actually true. I could have just imagined the whole thing.
You think you imagined someone asking you to look after me?
No I'm saying I could have imagined it given the fact that I was dead at the time.
But have you been doing as you were asked?
How could I not?
Mrow.
Hi there kitty.
It's not exactly a great thing to realize the people around you have been watching your every move for reasons they refuse to clue you in on.
Finn I never agreed to anything. I've just tried to do what was right.
It's not exactly that. I'm not stupid. I know Sir Samson's been keeping an eye on me to judge whether or not I'm knight material. Who knows what he and Sir Galahad are planning. Hell Sir Samson alone is just impossible to understand. Does it deliberately I bet. I'm just trying to do the best I can to keep Marion safe.
I know. That's what we're all doing... except maybe Tont.
I keep coming back to the thought that me living with you guys means that Sir Galahad wasn't just okay with Dad's plan. He was helping it along. Was I just a weapon they've been preparing?
I don't think my father's that kind of man. I wish I could say the same about Kevins but you and I both know I haven't been particularly fond of him.
...so who asked you to look after me?
Mrow.
I... don't know who they were.

One recap later...

So that's what happened. Just when I think things can't get any weirder someone has to go and prove me wrong.
It's not a race.
When we go back to Marion are you going to be a priest full time?
No way. There's not even a guarantee that I'll keep these powers once things die down. I'm struggling to keep my head screwed on and all I've got is you, Tont, and Steiner to look after. I think if I had an entire town under my wing I'd run screaming into the night. If things get peaceful and my magic dries up I don't think I'll shed any tears.
You don't look after Edward or Sir Samson?
Well... I do but I try not to fuss about it. Remember Ophera? Sir Samson was so humiliated to have kids tend to him.
Now that I think about it he was lucky to collapse when he did. If that had happened when we were out of town I don't think he would have pulled through.
And then he got super defensive with me.
At least you know what to do. I just kind of follow along and hope things work themselves out. Anyone could do my job. I take point and hit things with a sword.
Oh please. As if anyone could put up with Steiner in your stead.
Ha, ha, yeah. He's been a real pest lately. I know things seem funnier to him because he's a dragon and he doesn't have the same attachments we do but his jabs hurt sometimes. I don't need to be reminded for the umpteenth time that I'm at least partially to blame for my father's death. *pauses* Both of them.
And we're back to Kevins...
I'm finding it hard not to hate him right now. Maybe by falling into the volcano he got exactly what was coming to him. Then I hate myself for thinking that. He saved our lives. He... tried to be a father to me.
Is that why you've been mopey today?
Yeah. Just overthinking everything.
Eh, I think we can all afford a day or two like that in our lives. Especially on days like today. The world's not gonna end because of it.

To continue...

Update Sixty-six | Index | Update Sixty-seven point five