Beyond the Beyond: Update 72: Make Like a Tree (Leaf Village)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 72: Make Like a Tree (Leaf Village)

So the kids got to visit the Island of Discipline last time and see the big shrine but they declined to undergo the trial. They're still trying to find any trace of Shutat or the battleship but so far Shutat and company have disappeared into the ether.

The team has to hike back across the island from the Shrine of Discipline. Even more shoals are visible now! I wouldn't be surprised if the entire island was surrounded at one point in development and they had to remove some because there's no way to reach the island by boat if that's the case.

Traveling by air? If you remember how Pity Island was cut off by shoals then that should be obvious. How else would we get there?

Back on the boat the team somehow manages to ambush a pair of ghosts and a super bat who jumped on board. Don't ask how that works. I'm mystified.

Some things never change. Thunder 1 is one of them. Here I was thinking I'd be able to get through one update with random encounters without being hit by a group nuke.

Maybe we should have bought one of those Thunder Vases back in Luna.
And let Steiner get his paws on it? No way!

As the battle ends a little quirk with the boat becomes visible. I was sailing west around the northern coast of the Isle of Discipline. After every battle the boat is set to its default orientation which means it points east. As I said this is a little quirk but it is a bit annoying and disorienting at times.

The team continues to sail west until they reach Aridia. Once there they turn south. What they want is something not marked on the map from the game's manual. There are a lot of places like that in game but here I've made an edit to mark the village's location.

Also of note: the Island of Discipline (here: Discipline Island) is shaped nothing like what it is in game. The general location relative to Aridia and Greenheim is the same and it does show shoal coverage but that's about it.

After some more sailing something just barely comes into view. Don't let the big map fool you. Things aren't quite what they seem around here. The in-game World Map doesn't have any sits of interest marked on it. It just shows the geographical layout of the game's landmasses so it won't help much in finding out of the way spots like this either.

You're sure about this village?
Absolutely.
What about all the monsters?
Yeah not everyplace can be like Barbaros.
Magic.
Heck yeah! Too bad Edward's gonna miss this!
I bet he's plenty busy as it is.
There's a thick forest over there.
That's what we want. The enchantments are bound to the forest.

So there's the little village-is-here graphic sitting on what looks like an open plain. Flat, boring, open terrain.

Then after a quick map transition the team is suddenly in a village completely surrounded by a thick wall of trees and vegetation. Like I said things don't match up. I'm going to side with the village on this one.

Travelers? Oh, it's Domino!
They know you around here?
I've been here a few times.
What brings you to our village this time?
Looking for a missing battleship from Bandore.
A battleship? No ships have come by here in months.
Figures!
What's with all the kids?
It's... complicated. I'm helping them out with this job.
Searching for a battleship? Bandore must really be desperate if they've sent out such a young search party.
We are perfectly capable of defending ourselves, thanks.
Uh...
Is there anyone else in this part of the world?
On the other side of the northwest mountains is the warrior kingdom of Barbaros. Never seen anyone from there though. They leave us alone and we do the same in return.
Hey that's that nation full of honorable savages we heard about!
I still think that's probably a load of baloney.
So how often do people leave Barbaros? That Kanaar guy's the first one we've met so far.
There are some pirates from there. Buried deep in rugged wilderness, they said, and apparently the people of Barbaros like it that way. Just some tiny villages on their coast and a lot of jungle.
So if anyone wants to get to Barbaros they're in for a lot of trouble?
You bet.

Just outside the inn is a pool of water. I rather like the tileset and layout of this village. It's peaceful and calm. The houses could use a bit more detailing but overall it reminds me of the Fairy Woods village in Shining Force 2.

Turning to the north Finn begins rummaging through the shrubbery.

Finn's acting weird again.
Did you think you saw something in that bush too?
...yes?
Travelers? Oh thank Arawn. Maybe things are starting to get back to normal.
What's wrong, human?
Everything.
Eh, there have been swarms of monsters trying to take over our boat.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! What's happening to this continent? There are monsters everywhere! And look at Quamdar! It looks like the whole continent is upset. What strange weather!
The north is pretty calm these days.
What's going on with the weather?
A storm settled over the mountains to our west and has been going strong for weeks now.
And Quamdar?
That is the direction of Quamdar.
I thought Quamdar was sealed off or at least hard to reach. How can you be sure something's wrong with it?
Monsters keep coming down off the mountains. The village is safe for now but there's no telling for how long.
Monsters? Now we HAVE to go to Quamdar!
Let's hope it doesn't come to that.

The village has its own equipment shop which has a decent array of items for sale. There's a mix of thing available on the Isle of Discipline like the Tempest Axe (which I still didn't buy) and the Darts (which Domino started with and has already ugraded from). I don't spend any money.

Next door is the item shop which is one of the larger selections in the game. We've got herbs, guiding branches, illusion potions, and mage potions all in one spot. I still don't spend any money since I don't need any of these items.

Just outside the shops is another villager hanging around the bushes.

Aaaand Finn's scrounging through the brush again. I give up. Whatever has gotten into your brain, brother, is clearly not going away any time soon.
At least these plants smell nice.
No matter what happens Steiner's always looking on the bright side.
He certainly has a unique way of seeing things.
That's my inner cuteness shining through!
Something's shining through but I'm not sure if I'd call it cuteness.
Why do you kids have a dragon with you?
Team mascot?
Hey I help out now and then!
When you feel like it.
I'm not the one with the sword.
He's got ya there, Finn.
Well he could breath fire or something. Isn't that what dragons do? Breath fire over their enemies?
Well I can't so there!
You don't seem shocked to see a dragon, mister. Why is that?
Oh, dragons live in the mountains to the west. They're vicious and wild though.
Can any of them breath fire?
I think so.
See!
To be fair Steiner is pretty tiny.
Maybe what we need to do is have Steiner go up into the mountains so he can attend dragon school. When he comes back he'll be all RAWR! and ready to unleash fiery death on our enemies.
For all my gripes about Steiner I'd prefer he stay the way he is.
Awww, thanks Finn!
You don't want to head that way anyway. The mountains to the north have had very bad weather. I hope it's not an omen of something to come.
But that's all the more reason to try! I bet those evil dragons are up to something cool up there!
Let's not do any of the stuff you suggested and keep looking for that battleship.
Aww. If we don't find the ship I'm still voting on that dragon school.

In a house nearby the kids find a child and a woman.

Travelers? That's something we don't see very often.
Our pirate friend lead us here!
Pirate friend? Oh, Domino! Good to see you again!
Likewise. These folks are from Marion.
Wow, you've come a long way. My mommy won't let me leave the village.
You're pretty young to go out on your own.
This used to be such a peaceful land. Now monsters are all over the place.
We noticed.
Do your monsters attack all the ships who come by or just ours?
I... have no idea.
It's been getting worse over the last year.
So it's not just us?
Somehow I doubt Shutat has to worry about monsters.

The bookshelf has nothing to really poke fun at. If searched it just says "Children's books!".

Searching the table updates our running joke with a new Monster Bait the team will sell. Conducting said search is a little tricky though since there's a trigger on the table to speak to the woman if the player is standing across from her.

To the south of the previous house is one of several exits from town. The team instead heads north to find this fellow hanging about.

Hey there, Domino! Any news?
Just some trouble up north between Marion and Bandore.
Again? You'd think they'd get tired of it.
Hey Marion didn't start anything. Bandore attacked us!
And now we're defending our country's honor over a whole lot of nothing.
You're from Marion, eh? Long ago, there was a huge continent next to Marion, but it sank into the sea. I wonder what the nations would look like if that hadn't happened?
Right by Marion? Are we talking north or south of it?
I don't really know. The old stories don't specify.
It must have been north because I doubt a huge independent continent could fit between Greenheim and Aridia.
And even if it did the stories would say so. Marion's just like a quarter of Greenheim.
How does an entire continent sink into the sea anyway?
Maybe the continent decided it wanted a nap. Under the water.
I... kind of doubt that.

In the northeastern corner of the village is a larger house with a fire going.

What brings visitors to our village?
We're looking for a battleship!
You won't find it in here.
We were just wondering if anyone might have seen it out at sea.
I haven't seen any ships in weeks. Dad? What about you?
The seas have been quiet. Not even the pirates who used to come around often have stopped by. Speaking of which, Domino have you finally found some honest work to get you by?
If you're asking if I'm planning on giving up the pirate's life the answer is "not yet."
You take far too many risks! They're going to catch up to you one day.
Wow Domino really is known around here.
I'll be fine. You don't need to worry about me.
Say how is that people around here know you on sight?
He's used our village as a place to hide from Bandore.
He's not the only pirate to do that. It brings in trade for the town.
And chances for you to sneak away on some rascal's boat to see more of the world.
That's the way to do it!
Do you really think I'm going to stay in this village my whole life? There's too much to see and do out there!
I didn't mean to start an argument. It's just that we've only known Domino for a short while.
He was once an honorable captain with an honest crew but that all changed the day his town burned.
You think my soul died that day with my family.
Well you are rather obsessed with revenge. You've even got it written down in your journal.
*raises an eyebrow*
Um, not that we went through your cabin or anything.
I would be upset if we didn't have common cause. As it is my life is an open book.
Domino...
The old days are dead and gone. They're not coming back.
And these children? You said you have common cause with them. What cause would that be?
We're searching for a man named Shutat.
Hard to miss. Huge horns on his head. Loves magic and killing people who cross him.
Shutat convinced the emperor of Bandore to invade Marion. When things went bad for Bandore he then betrayed the emperor and fled with the flower of Bandore's navy. Think of me what you will but I'm not going to let Shutat just roam the world causing more destruction.
I've never heard of him before. You think he might come by here?
I doubt he knows this village exists. I've got a couple of ideas of where he might strike next but I'm guessing he'll want to use that battleship's firepower.
Soooo... Luna?
Luna's not exactly a threat to him but I guess it depends on how much he hates pirates.
But can't he just blow up their ships out at sea like he did with Bandore's navy?
Pirate's outfit for speed. Move in fast, hit hard, sail away before anyone else spots them. They're not going to mess with that battleship unless they've got some trick up their sleeve.
You want to stop him before he can strike? Hmm... There's a small island to the west! There are no villages there, but it's a good place to swim. There's an old shrine there too. If someone wants to hide it would be a good spot.
I know the island you're talking about. Maybe.
Now that I think about it not a lot of people live on the coasts.
I will admit that pirates have had a strong hand in deciding that. Marion is no different.
I guess that pirates don't see a whole lot of Marion unless they're willing to get off their boats and go hiking.
Marion's shores saw a lot of raiding a decade ago. Before my time in the business although I bet our silent giant over there could tell you more about it than I could.
Hrmph!
Wait, are you people from Marion?
I'm not! I'm from Simone. The others are though.
Ahh... travelers from Marion. When I was young, I visited Marion. The sight I saw from the bridge is something that I'll never forget.
I know exactly what you're talking about. If I ever get my own lair I am so putting in some awesome bridges!
This search would go a lot faster if we had some idea of what Shutat actually wants.
Other than Finn dead?
Yes, other than that.
I wold say he just wants to cause mayhem but he seemed really, really eager to make Finn dead.
Jeez guys just rub it in why don't you?
I doubt we'll find him anywhere near Marion. He clearly didn't like that dragon who appeared over Bandore. Marion's got its share of dragons who could do some serious damage to him.
Wasn't a dragon causing trouble for Bandore when they were in Marion?
I've heard that people in Marion used to worship dragons.
They did? And they don't now? What happened?
Arawn was already exalted throughout Bandore and Zalagoon. It was only a matter of time before Marion joined the fold.
Dragons would have been way more useful when Bandore invaded.
But you have me! Am I not enough?
We needed more than cuteness.
I wonder why that dragon in Bandore didn't attack.
Worried about getting one of Shutat's horns lodged in its mouth?
Back when Marion worshiped dragons did those dragons do anything for Marion?
I don't know. Those were stories I heard years ago on my trip to your country.
Regardless we should keep moving. Shutat's not going to wait for us.
I will pray that Arawn grants you some peace, Domino.
I'll make my own peace.

In the vase is a suit of leather that just screams EVIL, EVIL! The team will sell this as soon as possible. Just don't ask what Demon's Leather was doing in that vase in the first place. I doubt anyone in town has any idea.

Over in the northeastern corner of town Finn's rummaging through the underbrush turns up a Reviving Herb. It does exactly what it sounds like: brings one character back to life if they've been killed. Chances are the team won't need this. I'm extremely careful not to let team members get killed and by the time we run across enemies that have death attacks we should have something better.

I'll probably still carry one or two of these around in the late game just in case.

To the south is another villager with some interest in the Island of Discipline.

Have you ever been to the Island of Discipline?
You're just gonna ask us out of the blue?
I'm thinking of taking a trip there next year.
We were there a few days ago. I really like the hydras wandering around!
Did you visit the shrine?
Yup! Managed to annoy the keeper of the labyrinth while we were there.
Oh... don't be sad. There are many who aren't strong enough to change their class.
Actually we annoyed her because we turned down her offer to test ourselves against the labyrinth.
One day, maybe.
Yeah, we can get ourselves thoroughly lost then unlost then lost all over again. It'll be fun!
You didn't take the trial? Good! It's just a waste of time going there!
Have you ever tried it?
No but given how many people who fail the test it's probably just a tourist attraction anyway.

The last building in town is the local church although it doesn't look very much like a church. They're big believers in minimalism in this village!

Good afternoon children. Is there something I can help you with?
I want to know why the people of Marion stopped worshiping dragons!
That old tale? Hmm, that faith faded away a long time ago.
But why?
Dragons probably didn't build churches or become priests for one thing.
Our order does have visibility all throughout the world.
But if you want someone to protect your country a dragon is going to do more than Arawn.
You doubt the power of Arawn?
We met him face to face. And he's talked to us through magic. He outright said he can't interfere.
Knowing our luck he's spying on us through our Light Orbs.
*awkward laugh* I, uh, I hope not.

Tucked into a bush next to the church is a Guiding Branch. Finn extricates it and hands it to Sir Samson.

So does this count as robbing the village?
Nobody seems to care that we're taking this stuff.
Nobody ever seems to care when we make off with stuff. It's kind of weird.
Maybe they just don't want it?
We don't want half this stuff.
Yeah but the other half are useful things. That's good enough for me!

Having finished their walk through the town the team prepares to exit through a northern path.

So if you hid out here when Bandore was looking for you where did you put your ship?
There are some spots along the coasts to hide it. It's not as... solid as it looks from a distance. We shouldn't have to worry about that though.
Where are we going now? Barbaros?
There's one more village I want to check before we attempt the journey to Barbaros. It won't be easy though. It is a bit out of the way. I'll have to think about the best course from here.

The team returns to their ship.

When Domino says he has to think about the best course to take I worry.
Worried? You? How did that happen?
I can't build my evil lair if I've been eaten by monsters.

--SUMMARY OF EVENTS--

Edward left to teleport back to Marion giving his spot over to our newest member, Domino. The team left Bandore and sailed east along the southern coast of Greenheim seeing the shoal-protected shores of Pity Island before turning south. After fighting off a veritable onslaught of monsters they reached the port of Luna where they stopped to rest. The shady business man searching for the Vase of Life folded up shop while they were gone and sold all of his remaining inventory to a new owner. (Meaning it is no longer possible to pay money for Vase Lottery on the chance of getting a magical vase.)

The next day they sailed to Discipline Island where they disembarked and hiked until they reached the town. Inside they found someone from Zalagoon, two people from Bandore, several others who seemed to be civilians, and a fellow named Kanaar from Barbaros. All expressed the desire to test their skill in the Shrine of Discipline but either didn't have the skill to pass and had failed or were too scared to make an attempt.

After another day of sailing west and south the team were directed by Domino to a small village. It was a quaint little place whose residents spoke of ominous weather over Quamdar to the northwest.

Beyond the Beyond - we continue to sail around the world but I've got a different direction in mind this time!

Update Seventy-one | Index | Update Seventy-three