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Beyond the Beyond: Update 20: The Ancient Relic (Arawn's Palace)
We return to Beyond the Beyond for another day in the lives of our protagonists living in exile from their homeland. Today they have some exploring to do.
(Also, let me just say I don't plan to do as much screenshot alteration in the future as I did with this segment because, while fun, this update took way too long for my liking to finish. So I won't do it again, that is unless the narrative needs it again in which case I certainly will.)
Two days have passed and the team assembles once again thanks to the set generator that Photoshop built. This doesn't actually happen in the game but sometimes you have to exert a little artistic license for the sake of a story.
You're doing better today but I still don't know if you're really ready for any sort of travel.
I can't just stay in bed. I have people waiting on me.
I don't want you to feel that you have to rush, Sir Samson.
Until Marion is free I will always feel rushed.
Pryraaa. I don't think Sir Samson will ever just sit around to heal. Go! Go! Go! That's his way of life.
You flatter me, Steiner.
So, what's it going to be? While dehydration is easily treated as long as you're here there's still the matter of your... affliction.
You know we could just leave Sir Samson here to recover and come back later.
HELL NO. I'll drop dead in the desert before I let that happen.
Ahem, as I was saying even if you decide to leave the village you should be careful not to strain yourself. Your heartbeat is still irregular and although the muscle spasms have calmed down they're not gone completely.
We are grateful for all your help.
I know. Sir Samson, don't push yourself. You won't recover if you don't give yourself enough time to heal. I wish there was more I could do but I don't even know where to start. All I can do is help manage some of your symptoms.
I understand the risks.
I have nothing more to add so unless you kids have questions I should get going. I still have to make my morning rounds.
After a moment of collective silence the doctor leaves.
Well, uh, so nice weather we've had the last few days, eh?
Hmph.
Finn, Edward, can I talk to you two downstairs?
Yeah.
Once everyone is downstairs the conversation continues.
Annie?
Keep your voice down, Finn.
Annie what's wrong?
You're worried, aren't you? We all are.
We really shouldn't drag Samson out of the village until he's had a chance to rest.
What about that pyramid thingee? Edward said he wanted to check it out.
Finn I don't think we really have time for sightseeing. That pyramid is several days from here through the desert.
Well...
Finn goes silent as the group hears Samson start down the stairs.
What's this about a pyramid?
... Out with it.
It's the ruins we heard about northwest of here.
With the tower?
Yes. We're already here so I don't see any reason not to investigate. If we get moving now we can make good progress before the heat of midday.
You're sure you're up for this, Sir Samson?
Absolutely.
Trudging for another four miserably hot summer days in the sand the team finds the pyramid they've heard about is closer to the desert's northern border then any of them had realized.
So there's that tower everyone's been talking about.
It's so eerie watching it just float there. I still don't understand how it could sit on top of the pyramid.
Krrr. Be careful you don't think too hard, Finn.
Eh, I'm not.
I doubt there's any way to get up there without magic.
Well we can't fly so I doubt we'll ever know what's inside.
On closer inspection it is immediately obvious that the pyramid's grounds are indeed protected from the blowing sands because a cobblestone path marks the entrance.
Columns, columns everywhere. Is anybody else sick of seeing these things?
*grumbles something inaudible*
The pyramid itself is of the step variety.
Well at least the front door's open. Does anybody understand the writing up there?
Not a clue.
Uh, no, sorry.
Ok then. I just wanted to know if it's a "Keep Out" sign or something important.
A short, direct walk inside the team finds a curious structure.
An altar?
I guess this used to be a shrine.
Looks a bit run down.
Prrr. Look at that shaft above. It goes so high!
To the top of the pyramid, maybe?
We'll see soon enough.
Kryaaa! It's another cloaked figure! I told you they're never up to any good!
So, yeah, this group ambushed us in here. We'll encounter the same monsters we can find out in the desert while we're on the first floor but only while we're inside. The plant creature is a Mantrap but we're so overleveled right now that neither of these enemies pose any threat despite the surprise round.
Our way is blocked because part of the wall collapsed. I don't see why the gang can't just climb over it or clear the rubble away but how else is the game going to force us to climb up to the top level?
So much for this pyramid being in good shape. There was a staircase heading up back by the entrance.
Steiner can you fly over the rubble and tell us what's on the other side?
Prrr. Sure can.
After a couple of minutes Steiner returns.
Well?
There's a staircase going down and something's growing on the back wall where the roof has partially collapsed.
Go up then? We might as well.
Upstairs we go. Now that we're back on the exterior map there are no enemy encounters. The other side of the first floor has nothing. It's just an empty room.
Holy cow you can see for miles from up here!
If you squint you can just barely make out a dot on the horizon that might be Ophera.
The last thing I want right now is to be reminded of how much walking it will take to get back to town.
At least this time we won't be dying of thirst when we get there.
Finn you have an odd sense of optimism.
Hey, I'm just trying to stay positive. On that note I think we found some pillars that old fuddy duddy back in Zalagoon might be able to move on his own. Yes, Finn, but how will we get them to Zalagoon?
Well you know we'll just ask Arawn if we ever run into him.
At the top of the stairs the team reaches the summit and finds a big hole.
That hole does lead to the top.
Seems like a waste to me.
There's a big vine growing here. Is it actually growing up the pyramid wall on the outside?
The team, ever curious, look over the pyramid's wall to answer Annie's question.
That appears to be a yes.
That's one hell of a vine to survive out here. It's sturdy. We can climb down from here.
See? I told you there was a staircase going down.
Should we keep going?
I'm not so sure about this. I can feel old magic radiating from below. There's... a barrier of some sort just below us.
Can you get us through it?
*concentrating* It's... it's not for keeping people out. The barrier is turned the other way. It's keeping something in.
I do not like the sound of that. Unless we need something from down there we should leave it alone.
I agree. We don't want to release something we can't handle.
See those stairs? We need to go down them... but not yet. Beyond the Beyond throws a nasty difficulty curve right here. There's an item on the bottom level we will be required to get to progress and there's really nothing stopping us except the monsters down below are several steps up in difficulty. It is a MASSIVE "screw you!" to any player going through this game without any prior knowledge who's just following general video game logic of town-dungeon-town-dungeon or just simply exploring. I could grind until we can survive the trip but that breaks any sense of difficulty for the next section of the game. That and grinding is boring... and tedious because we're already considerably stronger then any enemies in the desert and the amount of experience we require per level keeps growing.
Instead we're going back to the village. We're going to follow a bit of story which will leave us better prepared for our required pyramid robbing and come back to this later. Besides, from a narrative perspective right now there's no reason to go down there other then it happens to be there.
Whelp, more desert. Woohoo?
We should get back to the village.
No trying to go straight wherever it is we'll eventually be going? Definitely not.
...Ok, who are you and what did you do with Sir Samson?
Heh, good one kid.
Too bad, Annie, it looks like he's the real deal.
I'm now expecting the world to end at any moment. It just has to. The contradiction is too much.
Returning to Ophera once more the team makes it back in one piece and without any further cloaked figures ambushing them.
Nightfall in the village means peace and quiet as the team approaches the only inn in town.
Home sweet home?
Rest, that's what it is.
Well it's still too early for me to turn in.
Prraa. You just got out of the desert and you don't want to rest?
Being out there leaves me on edge... and all grimy. At a bare minimum I need a bath.
Well I guess I'll be on watch tonight then.
I don't need a babysitter.
I didn't say you did but you're shaky and stumbling a bit. Somebody needs to keep an eye on you in case there's another incident. *pause* This is not up for debate!
*grumbles under his breath* You know what, sis? I'll do it.
You sure?
Yeah. Ok then. I won't be gone long. I'll keep him company.
Samson settles in as Finn and Steiner prepare to pass the time on their own terms.
Finn you don't have to do this.
No, it's ok. I want to help out. Besides, I don't ever really get a chance to talk to you. You're not really the talky type, it seems.
I have my reasons. *pause* Why are you moving the table?
So Steiner and I can play cards.
You ready to lose more of your money, Finn?
No way! I'm going to beat you this time.
Well you two have fun with that. Less talking to me that way.
Some time passes as Finn and Steiner engage in a spirited game of Old Maid - with rules "modified" by the duo, of course.
*yawn* Ok, I think I've had enough of that for now. I'm going down to the spring for a water refill and to stretch my legs. You coming, Steiner?
Nah. These wings of mine are tuckered out.
Finn departs and Steiner flies over to where Samson has been quietly resting.
...
...
Prrr. I know you're still awake.
What do you want, Steiner?
I was just thinking that I don't know how you can live like that.
I'm afraid I'm not following you. Finn's clueless, you know. He doesn't notice at all.
Whatever, Steiner. It's late. Whatever it is you're on about, your imagination is getting to you.
At first I thought I well ya know I'm not human, and all that so maybe I just can't understand, but these last few days I've realized that something weird is going on. I don't mean the curse, either, although you could stand to be a little more honest about the fact that you keep waking up in the middle of the night with fresh wounds. Don't try to lie your way out of it either. I hear you wake up in the dead of night.
...alright, and?
When you watch one of the others its never the same for two of them. With Annie you seem certain about something. You don't spend much time studying her - like you already know, or understand. When it's Edward you turn into a mother hen defending her eggs - ready to peck anyone who gets too close. When it's Finn, though, you can't seem to settle on an attitude. You'll be aloof one minute letting him do whatever then get all angry or worried for no reason.
Steiner you're reading something out of nothing.
No! You were watching him while you pretended to sleep. What were you looking for?
Like I said, your imagination is getting to you. You've spent way too much time out in the heat.
Still denying it?
Good night, Steiner. Kryaar. You're hiding something and I don't like it.
...
You guard your secrets well. Good night, Samson.
Steiner blows out the candle and settles down on a bed to wait for Finn.
(Some things really are better off unsaid.) ...
(I haven't forgotten my promise, though.)
Meanwhile...
I thought I'd find you here. It's rather late for a trip to the beach, isn't it? I was going to read but I can't focus. Something on your mind?
It's nothing. Well, I ask because I was just thinking I don't get to spend much time listening to the sea and I don't have anything to do right now so if you've got something you want to say I suppose I could be convinced to stick around.
We're going to be stuck here, aren't we? Pardon?
The village, we're going to be stuck here in this village.
Why do you say that?
I had hopes, those first few days that we set out for the pyramid, I hoped that Samson was as good as new, but he's not. We're almost to the hottest part of summer and there's a lot of desert between us and Luna.
You don't think he can handle it?
I know he can't and I can't stand the thought that I might be the death of him.
Edward, he knows the risks he's taking.
I understand that but he's been pushing himself too hard for my sake. If I... if I hadn't screwed up we would already have Zalagoon's help and Samson wouldn't have hurt himself trying to lift that pillar.
I'm not following you.
The king wanted proof and I had it. I had it until I stupidly dropped it. Now it's sitting somewhere on a forest floor where, Arawn forbid, goblins or kobolds might find it.
Ahh, so that's why you were so upset back then. *thinks for a moment* That pendant?
*nods*
That was an accident. You didn't intend to drop it and you tried to find it. Besides, it's not as if you had any idea what would happen in Zalagoon.
*shakes head* No, I knew it could be a problem the moment I lost it. I can't just shrug off my responsibility for all of this. That's why I needed to think.
Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to particularly like what you're about to say?
I have decided to stay here in Ophera at least until the end of summer.
So... is that it then? You've made up your mind?
Yes. The risk is too great. *pause* Do you think this is a wise course of action?
I don't know. Sir Samson will be angry with me.
Let him be angry. It's not like he's going to leave without you.
I wracked my brain, I really did, but I just can't find any other way. We can't lose Sir Samson. Without him how could we prove ourselves? His reputation is the only thing they'd listen to and even that wasn't enough.
I don't blame the king for being cautious. Neither do I. I was thinking about what I could do if Sir Samson... doesn't make it. Even if we could gain the king's trust, and I doubt we could showing up without Sir Samson, I don't even want to think about what would happen if I returned to Marion in those circumstances. What would I say to my father, to Lord Kevins? They would never forgive me.
I never thought about that. I suppose if I lost Finn my parents would be upset but not in the same way as if Finn went home without me. It's the sort of hypothetical question I've never given any thought to.
It would just be your parents upset at you. Sir Samson is all too willing to throw his life away for me but I don't think he understands what that would do to me. No knight would ever trust me ever again. I'd be known as the prince who killed Samson, Marion's great hero. How's that for the history books?
So, is that it? You're doing this just to save your own ass?
No! Of course not!
Then what?
...
Well, Edward?
I... uh...
Tch! *looks away* I can't lose him! Maybe that's just selfish of me but I don't want to give him up. For four agonizing years he was gone - out being a hero in Zalagoon or wherever it was he went... and I hated every minute he wasn't there. Then my father brought him back to Marion to be my bodyguard and the world righted itself. So... that's it. You would be alone again.
Are you still angry with me?
No. I can understand how you feel right now.
I have to look out for him. No one else will, least of all Sir Samson himself.
And Marion? You've always been adamant about getting back as soon as possible.
That day Sir Samson collapsed, Steiner had a point. There's... there's nothing we can do for Marion right now. I can only wait and hope we won't be too late when we finally return.
So, that's it then.
*nods*
...
Annie, there's something I've been meaning to ask you.
What?
I got the impression that something happened to you and Finn. *pause* Oh, what am I saying? That's such a rude thing to ask about.
No, it's ok. I suppose you'd hear about it eventually and I'd prefer you heard it from me then third-hand from someone else.
What happened?
Do you know what Spirit Water is?
Yes.
Not far from my village is a cave with an ancient spring deep inside that flows with Spirit Water. My father promised he would take Finn to see the castle if Finn could get to that spring and return with some of the water. When I asked to go along my parents said I could not because I was just a silly little girl. I got angry and ran to the cave ahead of Finn. I figured if I got the water first my parents would have to eat their words.
You would be so reckless?
I am the daughter of Sir Galahad. I was prepared for the task, for the most part. The monsters living there were some trouble but my parents had taught me well. Yet I couldn't face Finn when he caught up to me. I needed to win and in that need I took the wrong path. You see, the people of Isla fear the cave of spirits because so many have died there. Down in the depths is another pool that is home to a kraken.
*frightened gasp*
I had no idea it was there until it grabbed me. Finn must have heard my screams because he and Steiner tried to save me. Yet there was nothing they could do. The next thing I knew I was underwater and I couldn't hold my breath any longer.
You... you died?
Yes. There is no denying that I was dead. Yet there was still hope. Finn and Steiner rescued me using Spirit Water. The water produced a reaction that made the beast throw me back on shore. Another dose healed me and restored me to life.
I had read that Spirit Water has potent magical abilities. The claims are obviously true.
I don't think it was just the water, though. There's something I've never told anyone about that day - not even Finn. I haven't been able to talk about what happened after I went under.
You don't have to tell me.
No, I need to tell someone.
But not Finn?
No, not Finn. I don't think he could handle it. I'm confused. *clears throat* When I was... gone... I found I was someplace else but I was not alone. Everywhere I looked there was darkness and I turned and there were two women standing there watching me. One was tall. She was imposing much like Samson is, with dark skin and heavy armor that covered her body. I couldn't see most of her face because she wore a helmet with a faceplate that came down over her nose. She was silent. The other woman was dressed in fine clothes. I couldn't see her face either because of the shadows of her cloak. She looked at the armored woman as if to ask something. The armored woman nodded. Then the cloaked woman spoke to me. What did she say?
That they were sorry things had to be the way they were. That they were sorry that this was the only way to ensure that what needed to happen for Marion to survive, would happen. That they were sorry for what they had done to me. She said I would come to understand why I had to be reborn. She said that it was still too soon, that we had to remain hidden. Now I'm even more confused.
I don't pretend to understand everything she told me but now I do understand the rebirth part. Prince Edward, I wasn't born with my healing powers. I didn't have a drop of magic in me before that day. Yet that very night the powers I have now awoke within me.
*eyes widen, draws sharp breath* I still can't tell Finn because I don't want him to worry about who they might be or what has happened to me. I don't think they acted out of malice. Maybe that's just a lie I keep telling myself as I struggle to make sense of my own death. Maybe none of it was real. Maybe my mind just took what is familiar to me and invented the whole thing. That was such a horrible day. I don't entirely trust my own memory of it. Do you think it was real?
It felt real. It still does. When I see Finn, when he's upset, I remember that woman's voice. "You have to be strong because they will need your support. Please, look after Finn."
Are you ever going to tell him? I don't know. He's already overwhelmed by all of this.
I don't understand how you could keep something like that from him.
You won't tell Finn about this, will you?
Of course not! It's not my tale to tell, to begin with.
Good.
What of the other woman you saw? I have no idea who she was. She stood there, watching, listening, without a word. I had so many questions but one look at her and my will to ask them melted.
She seemed threatening?
No, not really. She wasn't any more threatening then Sir Samson is when he's standing around doing nothing. It's just... I have no words to describe the feeling she evoked.
Huh, that is certainly intriguing. ... ... I should get back. I'm sure Finn is wondering where I went.
Yeah. It is late. I guess I should turn in for the night. Thank you, for listening.
Yeah, likewise.
With Edward's mind set the group settled down in Ophera to await the onset of fall and a break in the deadly heat. Six weeks passed. In the interim each member found some way to occupy the time.
Ever curious, Finn and Annie soon found themselves spending most of their time amongst the open-air workspaces in northern Ophera. They ended up putting their energy to work with the blacksmiths. Naturally, Steiner helped out as well as a mischievous baby dragon can. Amazingly nothing was accidentally set on fire.
Insisting that Sir Samson rest the young Prince Edward left the inn each morning to spend most of his time on the seawall east of Ophera. Caught between a desire to practice his magic and a restlessness that forced him to pace up and down the cliffs, he watched the tides come and go. Aside from the birds that graced the cliffs it was a lonely vigil.
Meanwhile, Samson recuperated, largely left to his own thoughts as the kids scattered across the village. As the days wore on he found himself spending more and more time at the village's western edge. Ever ready for danger he looked out into the desert with the same stern silence as always. For a time Ophera's borders were peaceful as even the most curious monster gave it a wide berth.
The group had rest but it could not last forever. One day a cool wind drifting in from the sea signaled the end of summer. They met once more at the village's southern entrance.
The weeks had come and gone but it was once again time to prepare themselves for the journey ahead.
Well, this is it. Has everyone said their goodbyes?
I'm no good with goodbyes but I managed anyway.
I actually think they're going to miss you here, Finn. Well, maybe just a little.
Steiner!
*chuckles*
And you, Sir Samson?
We can't wait any longer. I am ready to leave any time you are.
I'm sure we'll see this place again.
Before setting out, however, I stop by the equipment shop to pick up a Leather Garment for Edward. (Narrative flow for the conclusion of this update? What's that?) I also sell the two Monster Baits we were carrying around. The 300 gold isn't that much of a boost these days but we can use the two inventory slots. Then the group says goodbye to Ophera and heads back into the desert.
Next time on Beyond the Beyond - well we had a nice little side trip into the pyramid but the team unfortunately became stuck in Ophera. With the end of summer and a break in the dangerous, scorching heat that barred their way they can continue on to Luna. (No I'm not just randomly letting the clock run. We need to let some time pass so things happening in other parts of the world make more sense.)
