Beyond the Beyond: Update 74: Silvered Steel (Mistrall)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 74: Silvered Steel (Mistrall)

At the end of our last episode the team found another village whose map and layout doesn't match what's on the overworld map at all. On another note, just like with Leaf Village, no one in this settlement ever bothers to mention its name in game. Fortunately all the names are listed in the destination list for the Light Orb.

Just across the entrance bridge is someone who does not appear to be human. In fact the pointy ears suggests an elf.

Humans? With a baby dragon? Are you kids part of a pirate crew or are you traders?
Neither actually.
Domino here's a pirate!
As much as Sir Samson wishes we'd all stop reminding him.
Wait a minute. You're surprised to see humans? What are you then?
You're in Mistrall, a village of elves.
How many elven villages are there?
I don't really know.
Maybe we'll run into some more during our journey. That would be fun!
But we've been running into elves all the time. You even summon them on a regular basis.
Those elves want us dead.
Ahh but you see we've only been seeing individual or little groups of elves. A whole village might be friendly.
Might be friendly. The 'might' in that sentence is pretty important.
We're friendly.
Yeah, Domino said this village is pretty neat. So far I'd have to agree.
Oh, I want to see a town. If I only had a ship, I could leave this village. Ahh... I wonder what Marion looks like.
Lots of forest.
Visitors seem to love the bridges.
Are you folks from Marion?
Some of us are.
Does it really count though if we've spent our whole lives out in the sticks?
That's still part of Marion.
Yeah but when people talk about visiting our country do you really think they're talking about places like Isla?
No and you know what? I'm perfectly fine with that. Isla was weird enough with you and Steiner there.
But Finn and Steiner aren't in Isla any longer. Does that mean it's not weird any more?
I'm sure if we bothered to look we'd find plenty.

The village church is right by the entrance instead of an inn. It's also got an elven priest.

Greetings humans. Is there something I can do for you?
Do people around here worship Arawn?
Of course they do. I am a member of Arawn's order. Ahh, Domino's with you. Are you back with new business, Domino?
I'm not sure yet. I'm showing the kids some interesting things in the world.
And we might even manage to run across Shutat while we're at it.
Speaking of Shutat have there been any visitors in the last few weeks?
No. No one. Is this Shutat person dangerous?
He started a war between Bandore and Marion that Bandore lost.

Mistrall is a series of mini-islands with a winding stream that makes its way through the village. Getting anywhere means crossing lots of bridges. I bet flood years are terrible. Outside a house just to the west of the entrance is another elf. Inside is an update to our Monster Bait tally underneath a table.

Hello Domino. You don't have your regular crew with you today?
They abandoned him to die on an island!
How awful!
Fortunately we happened to wander by around the same time.
Did they go back to Luna?
Where else would pirates go?
I'd love to visit Luna some day. I've heard so much about it!
From whom?
Ships from Luna constantly stop here to buy weapons! ...The sailors are so handsome!
Was handsomeness really a requirement for your crew, Domino?
Other than my cuteness we kind of fail if it is!
It didn't worry me. I'll leave it at that.
So pirates come here to buy weapons? What kind of weapons are pirates interested in?
You'd have to ask the blacksmith.
There's a blacksmith in this village? Where?
*points to the distance* Over there. He takes custom orders from travelers and makes most of the equipment for sale here. Been a family business for generations.
Sounds like something right up your alley, Finn.
Aye but his prices are steep. Comes with being able to charge whatever you want.
Well we'll go see. Thanks!

Inside the house is another thing: a bookcase to look over! Sure the kids don't have time to sit around reading the books but they can stand around gawking at them.

Hmm, what do we have here? "A Sailor Picture Collection". It's a bunch of manly sailor pictures.
Dare I ask what constitutes "manly" pictures to a baby dragon?
Praayar! But you just did!
I suppose that's true.
I guess this book must belong to the lady outside.
All the more reason for us to put it back and forget we ever found it.

Just like Leaf Village Mistrall has consumable items just wedged into bushes for no apparent reason. Who goes around sticking this stuff in there in the first place? In this case Finn turns up a Dragon Scroll.

How do you notice all this stuff, Finn?
Finely honed treasure sense?
Something flapping in the wind caught my eye actually.

To the south is the village inn. That means Mistrall's inn makes an exception to the rule and isn't next to the entrance. Technically it is next to an exit which means it is by the edge of the village - just not the edge that the player team is warped to when coming from the overworld.

Travelers? You humans must be very brave.
Or just lacking in all good sense.
What makes you think we're brave?
Terrifying sounds of monsters are coming from atop the east mountains. I wonder what kind of monsters they are?
You can hear monsters on the mountain all the way from here?
I was out hunting the other day and I heard a racket coming from the slope to my south. Those roars were terrifying. I haven't dared go out again.
Maybe it's just some monsters having a fight.
How come we never run across monsters fighting each other?
We're not that lucky.
What kind of monsters live on the mountain?
I don't usually stick around to see. There are creatures of many heads and giants. This is terrible! How long until those things attack the village?
I wouldn't worry about it. Monsters don't usually bother with towns.
Until they destroy everything and kill everyone.
Well, uh, yeah... I guess that happens.
I wonder what convinces monsters to do that. If they would work together they'd run this place over.
But they don't work together all that well. That's kind of the difference between them and civilization.
Yeah not even Shutat can seem to keep them focused.

Just across the bridge to the east there's another house and piles of wood stacked outside. In one Finn fishes out a Cursed Bandanna. Three guesses what equipping it will do.

Bright colors!
Be careful with that, kid.
Why?
I remember that bandanna. Let's just say its last owner had a good reason to ditch it.
The treasure bites back!
Who makes this stuff?
A mage with a grudge?

Inside the small house is an old elf relaxing.

Hello, children. You look awful young to be pirates.
We're not. Most of us are from Marion. Domino's just letting us borrow his boat for awhile.
From Marion? We don't see many people from there.
We're risk takers.
I heard long ago there was a big island south of Marion... But due to some unexplained phenomena, the island was swallowed up by the ocean. Now, all that's left is a small island. I think it's called... Pity?
We've seen Pity. It's surrounded by shoals. Boats can't get near it.
Hmm, yes that's what I've heard. It's probably completely wild now.
I'm kind of surprised no one has figured out a way pass through the shoals. It's basically unclaimed land.
It's just not worth the effort. As far as I know there's nothing of value on Pity.
Oh well now we have to find a way to get on that island! If there is treasure it's sure to still be there.
Hmm, you do make a good point, Tont.

To the north is the local shop which, curiously enough, has gear that the team can't use. For example Finn can't equip the Guardian Blade that's for sale. I still don't bother buying a Tempest Axe. Anyone with a passing familiarity with Camelot games can probably guess what needs to happen before this stuff becomes usable. That's the reason I'm holding onto a pile of money. We'll be back here later.

While the team isn't buying at the moment it is selling. I sell the Demon's Leather (for a nice 7500 gold), the Cursed Bandanna, and a Monster Bait (because I didn't realize I had two because I wasn't paying much attention to the team's inventory). Also in the shop is an elf hidden by the open shop menu.

Welcome to our village, humans. This shop has fine products for a store in such a small village. You won't be disappointed in coming here.
Is all this stuff made locally?
High quality iron is abundant around here, and we have a skillful blacksmith. [sic] We export a great number of weapons. In fact, most weapons are made right here.
Except for all that stuff made in Ophera
. Opheran steel can't compare to our mithril silver! There's no other place in the world to get it.
Isn't silver way softer than steel? How can it be better for making weapons?
Prraa? Finn?
What? Just because I grew up in a remote village doesn't mean I don't know anything.
Especially when its related to swords.
Exactly!
Mithril silver, kid. Not conventional silver. When worked properly mithril silver is strong, flexible, and light weight. It's just the thing for high quality weapons and armor.
That stuff does look nice but I don't think we're buying anything today.
Really?
Finn's got his eye on that sword.
The balance on it's all wrong for you, Finn.
*sighs* I know. Believe me, I know.

To the east is a small child playing all by their lonesome. Sometimes I think this game's got a one-child-per-town quota just to meet some minimum standard of reminding players that children exist.

Hello teeny tiny elf. What are you doing?
I'm fishing!
Any good fish in these streams?
Not the best but still good eatin'!
This is a sleepy little village. Where are the other kids?
They're out on a hunting trip with some of the elders. I'm the baby of the village but in a few years I'll get my chance to go too.
Sounds like fun!
What are they hunting? Monsters?
I wish! There are monsters on top of the east mountains. That's why no one goes there. The adults are all chicken... [sic]
There are monsters all over the forests and hills and plains around here too. Trust me. We had to fight our way here from our ship.
And you should trust him on this. Finn's got a keen memory for the monsters he's faced.
Out of necessity...
I wish the adults here would show such bravery. Monsters stay away from the village because of magic but what are we gonna do if we can't leave the village? Our fields aren't even protected.
Someone's put a lot of thought into this!
Do monsters really worry you so much? Why? Do you see them off in the distance or something?
Sometimes, yeah. They've gotta know we're here. It bugs me!

In the bush next to the child is an Ice Ring. This goes into Annie's inventory where I promptly forget about it.

There's something shiny in here!
In the bush?
As my brother loves to remind me he has a finely tuned sense for hidden treasure.
You know I'm starting to suspect that Domino's letting us use his ship just to take advantage of it.
Ha! If I were interested in treasure I'd consider it but all the riches of the world can't give me what I want.

Getting one ring reminds me that I have another in the party's inventory. Seeing as how Domino's our resident revenge-themed party member he gets the Ring of Revenge. What does the Ring of Revenge do? I have no idea! It produces no visible change in stats but might provide a boost to the wearer's counter attack rate if the name is at all honest.

Yet the Ice Ring does produce an easily-seen stat change. Yes I am sometimes slow at inventory management when wandering around visiting towns. It usually isn't until the team has to tackle something challenging that I stop and take stock. Or the inventory fills up and I have to address the lack of space before looting can resume.

Over one last bridge to the northwest corner of the village the team finally finds what can only be the blacksmith. In typical fashion the team just barges right in and starts looking at things.

Hey! Be careful! I'm trying to work here!
Are you the blacksmith we've been hearing about?
Yes. Is there something I can do for you?
You're not an elf!
I see your eyes work little dragon. No I'm not an elf.
So does that mean you're the only human in the village? Where's the rest of your family?
Living in a little village like this gets cramped. Most of my family takes to the sea for years before settling down back here.
I bet Domino knows some of them then!
Hmm, maybe.
We heard that you make all the weapons and armor sold here in the village. We were just curious if that's true.
Of course it's true! I've only got iron to work with right now though. Shame.
Awww, so you're saying we can't spend a ridiculous amount of money having Finn's new sword specially made?
What?! You want me to forge you some custom equipment? Don't be silly. My hands are full right now, and I need more silver! Hold on! Wait... To the east of this village there is a mine with Mithril Silver. If you bring it here, I'll make you some custom equipment.
Would that mine be up in the mountains that's currently overrun with deadly monsters?
Possibly. You kids look like you can defend yourselves. How badly do you want to place a custom order?
We're kind of busy searching for someone right now but we'll keep your mine in mind.
Ha! I like you kids. You bring me some Mithril Silver and I'll see what I can do.

Mistrall is a small village. As such it doesn't take long for the kids to see all there is to see and pilfer all there is to pilfer. They retrace their steps and prepare to depart.

Still no sign of Shutat.
Hmm, there's an old bolthole not too far to the west. Someone might be holed up there.
Oooh, a bolthole! I wonder what it'll look like!
Not much. We mostly just use it to get the crew out a storm.
*shrugs* I guess it couldn't hurt to check.

Back out in the forest the random encounters bring more monsters the team's way. They're barely even a speedbump at this point although Samson took a double attack from one of the Purple Worms for half his VP.

Oh hey Purple Worms can paralyze on critical. Good to know I suppose.

You okay, sis?
Blargh!
Um, I'll take that as a yes.

When the team boards their boat they consult their World Map again. I Xed Mistrall's location while the boat itself is circled. There was a bit of a walk involved.

So where is this bolthole you were talking about?
Riiight... there.
That's just past Marion's borders...
Aye that it is.

The team sails east along Marion's coast until they hit a line of peaks jutting out into the ocean.

Turn south into the mouth of those mountains, Finn.
What are we looking for?
I don't get it. These are sheer slopes.
Not all of them.
So have pirates tried to climb these mountains?
Some of them, yes. This place is usually pretty safe from bad storms. You can sail in here, drop anchor for a day or two while one passes, and let the crew have some fun. Fishing's not too bad either.
We should try it while we're here!

Although it may not look like it there are two tiles at the bottom of the V mountain formation where the team can disembark. One of them, which is the tile Finn's standing on in the above screenshot, is also a warp point.

What the team finds is a deserted little cave. In the center are two lit torches flanking a heavily engraved vase. The right/east torch has a Tempest Orb.

Does someone live here? Who lit these?
There's no oil or wood or anything. These must be magical.
Odd...
What? Is this stuff new?
Yeah. This place was empty the last time I was here.

In the left/west torch is a Tornado Scroll. We didn't need either of these items but yay anyway?

Whoever was here must have been a mage.
They're gonna be mad when they find out we raided their lair.
Ah, ha, ha, ha, yeah that might be true.

The vase itself can be searched for a free full recovery of the team's health and mana. Not bad!

Is that an eye carved in there?
It is! Wait, did this come from Simone?
That is where most of the world's great mages are trained is it not?
Now I am worried.
This vase eye thingee isn't going to start spying on us is it? We've already got our Light Orbs doing that.
Why bother on something that's in the middle of nowhere?
*shrugs*

You know what? Let's just get out of here before whoever owns that stuff comes back.
Sounds good to me!

Next time on Beyond the Beyond - the team's trip around the world is about to come full circle.

Update Seventy-three | Index | Update Seventy-five