Beyond the Beyond: Update 24: Land of the Elders (Simone Village)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 24: Land of the Elders (Simone Village)

After what was a lot of walking and climbing and coughing the team can finally say hello to a small village tucked away in the mountains. It seems the information they picked up in Zalagoon turned out to be worth listening to. That also means we have a whole new town of people of talk to and given that this place has been touted as home to some knowledgeable people they probably have some important things to say. That also means there is going to be a lot of talking in this update, which will take some time. These town updates have to cover a lot of dialogue and there's no getting around it.

First and foremost we find the village entrance flanked by statues topped by birds. It took me a couple playthroughs to notice the eyes carved into the bases. That's not creepy at all, nope.

Do you think this is the village we were told about, Sir Samson?
Undoubtedly.
Oh, visitors. Good morning to you!
Prrr. Hi!
A baby dragon? With humans? How remarkable.
Do you get many dragons around here?
Not any that are friendly, I'm afraid.
Say, where is here, anyway?
This is the ancient elders' village of Simone... Forgive me. We haven't had visitors in many years.
That's quite all right. We have a magical problem and were told someone here might be able to help us.
Hmm, if anyone can help you it would be the elder.
And where are they?
Up north in the great tree. You'll want to wait awhile, though. Mornings are busy.
All right. Thank you.

Unlike Luna, the inn available in Simone charges a modest 10 gold per person. Considering how remote the village is I have no idea how the inn manages to stay in business but I'm thankful it's here.

Upstairs we find a character sprite we haven't seen in a long time.

Welcome to my supply shop! What can I do for you?
Oh, a traveling salesman.
Prr. Do you know a guy named Michael?
Why yes I do. Why do you ask?
Michael, Michael... Oh, now I remember. He visited Isla just before we left.
Isla... That's in Marion Kingdom, isn't it?
Yup.
I haven't heard from him in a long time. Is he still in Marion?
He kinda disappeared around the same time Bandore invaded.
Hmm. Well I hope he's doing fine. Michael's not one to let a little something like war slow him down. Now is there anything I can do for you kids?
What are you doing all the way out here, anyway?
Being the only game in town, that's what! Hahaha! Seriously, though, I move goods up and down the coast and since no one else has the spine to do it I make a good living.
What can you tell us about the village?
Not much, I'm afraid. The people here keep to themselves and aren't all that chatty.
Great.

This traveling salesman is the only shop in town and he offers a small defense upgrade for Annie and Edward. More importantly he sells Mage's Potions giving me a second spot to buy them when I'll inevitably need to stockpile. We don't buy anything just yet, though, but I'm sure we'll be back soon enough.

Should we just go straight to the elder?
Kyraa... and rob Finn of his chance to talk to anyone and everyone he sees?
You know I'm ok with that. We don't have to stop every time we see someone new.
The man outside said the elder will probably be busy so don't feel like you have to hurry on my part.
What about the curse?
I've lasted this long. I'll hold up another hour.

Per Standard Operating Procedures the team begins a systematic search of the village for stuff to grab and discreetly shove into their backpacks. It doesn't take long for the pilfering to commence.

Prince Edward you've been very quiet. Is something wrong?
No. I've just been thinking about this and that. That's all.
Oh hello there. Visitors? Well I suppose it was inevitable given what's going on.
And what is that?
The Tower of Arawn has appeared once again. Its appearance foretells of an upcoming disaster. I wonder what's going to happen?
What kind of disaster is supposedly foretold?
If I knew that I wouldn't be wondering, now would I?
*chuckles* I guess not.

Here we go barging into people's houses again.
Nobody's seemed to mind so far. It's not like we ransack the place or anything.
You could at least knock first.
Oh, haha, uh, hi there.
Such rude children.
Please forgive the intrusion. My friend here means no harm.
Everyone seems so on edge.
Yes. A great evil is engulfing the Common World. The Master Magicians are using their magic to gain information. So far they haven't come up with anything but all the same we must be vigilant since no one knows what form the evil has taken.
Well that's not ominous or anything.
If it's information you're looking for I'm afraid I cannot help you. Now if you'll please leave I have things to do.
Oh, er, yes, of course. Good day to you.

Why yes we did indeed find a Source of Agility in someone's cooking pot. The implications of where it was are rather disturbing. Do people around here actually eat these things? I wonder if it retains its magic after cooking. Once again, I ask only the important questions! The bookshelf just says "No unusual books."

The team wanders over to the next building in their path, which just so happens to be the village church for all our saving and reviving needs.

A terrible evil in the common world? It sounds rather dramatic doesn't it?
Yes, well don't take it too seriously. It...
Hey, Edward, what's with this common world stuff? What does that even mean?
The common world is this world, Finn.
So that means there are other worlds?
I suppose so. It wouldn't surprise me.
You don't know?
It's not exactly something that Master Myrrdin talked about often.
Oh my, strangers! Welcome to our village.
Prrr. Hi!
Well aren't you just the cutest little dragon. Do you like ear scritches?
What are those?
This. *gently scratches Steiner behind his ears*
OOOHHH! Oh that's the spot. *starts purring like a kitten*
Finn I do believe we've discovered Steiner's only weakness.
It is so nice to have some visitors. Many of us never leave Simone. Only the Master Magicians are allowed to go down the mountain. That's why many people here dream of visiting the Common World.
Isn't this village part of the common world?
Well, I guess...
*contented purring* Why can't anyone leave?
Our laws forbid it.
Maybe you should get some new laws.
Annie!
What?
*stifled laughter* Oh don't worry. I'm sure the law is the way it is for a good reason.
All the same I apologize for my friend's rudeness.
Well if you ever want to visit the rest of the world all you have to do is survive the hordes of monsters roaming just outside of town. That's all.
There... are really monsters out there?
Yup.
Not going to freak out again are you, Finn?
I've largely made my peace with the fact we're attacked all the time.
It has been an alarming number, hasn't it? Sir Samson was the wilderness always so dangerous?
Yes. Most travelers just didn't see it for what it really was.
I guess that's why only the Master Magicians ever leave.
I'm sure the laws were written with the village's well-being in mind.
Hmm. You have given me something to think about. I should get back to my meditation. Good day to you strangers.

Now our well-gazing quota has been met. Fortunately it seems there's no dungeon underneath Simone Village.

Is there a particular reason you're kissing up to the people here, Edward?
Yes. I want to walk out of here with Sir Samson's curse gone.
A curse?
Yup. We're here to see the village elder.
Hmm, yes that does seem prudent. ... Huh?
Is something wrong?
I just... suddenly feel very cold.
What's wrong, Marcus?
I'm fine. I just had the strangest sensation. *pause* Was someone just standing there?
*looks around* No. There's no one here but us.
I could have sworn...
You haven't been up all night training have you? You know what happens to you when the shrine is in use.
No, I haven't.
What's this about a shrine?
Master Zeon, the continent's greatest magician, is at the Mystic Shrine, training.
That ruin up on the hill there?
Yes. The eastern path in this village leads to the Mystic Shrine. It is said great magical forces gather there.
Now that you mention it I can feel magic faintly radiating from there.
So who is Master Zeon? I know you said they're a great magician but are they from Simone too?
Yes.
I hear mumbling from inside the house, Finn.
I... what is this?
What are they saying?
I can't tell. It's too noisy out here.

Well then let's go check.
Hmm... how strange. I thought I had more of this transformation powder...
Leave it to Finn to follow whimsical curiosity.
It's you. The air around you is so cold.
I don't feel anything.
Hmmm... well, I don't think anyone would wanna steal it.
Excuse me, sir, but what is transformation powder?
Oh my! You startled me!
Such emptiness... How can you be so calm?
...
The powder is a tool used to change form.
Really? Wow that must be awesome!
It doesn't sound so impressive to me.
Some seems to be missing. *shakes head* If transformation powder is mishandled, you can never get back the original form. You must be careful when handling it. If you kids run across any strange powder while in the village don't touch it, ok?
No problem.
Sir Samson are you sure you're ok? It is very disconcerting when you get like this.
*smiles weakly* I will be fine.

Come, let's be on our way.

Just as Samson shooes the inquisitive siblings out of the old man's house the team hears a man call out from the west. The screen scrolls to focus on someone we haven't met yet.

Tont! Tont!

Then control returns and the camera centers the team again.

Hey mister what's wrong?
I can't find my son, Tont, anywhere. He took our magic cape. I wonder what kind of prank he's pulling this time?
Sounds like he'd get along with you, Finn.
Ha, ha, very funny.
I know I'll probably regret asking this but since we'll probably run into this kid at the worst possible time I'll go ahead. What does this magic cape your son took do?

Just then, hearing the conversation just outside, a woman pokes her head out of the house.

The magic cape that Tont took makes people invisible. It's one of the few treasures from the Age of the Elders.
It makes people invisible? Oh goodie.
Prrr. Yep, he'd get along with Finn.
Hey I've never run off with priceless magical artifacts.
Just the bait people leave out to attract and trap vermin, and swords found in chests, and bottles of dubious magical liquid, and...
I don't know what you're talking about, Steiner.
Tont's a good boy, really. He's just always had more curiosity then good sense. If you do run into him please tell him to come home.

Yup we've found our running gag once more and pocket another Monster Bait to sell for the war chest. We've also found another bookshelf with "No unusual books." This is a village that's supposedly home to ancient magic and populated by people who never see the world outside their little valley and there are "no unusual books" to be found in its homes? Really?

Annie do you really think we'll run into this Tont kid?
Absolutely. It is exactly the kind of luck we've been having.
You say that like you expect it to be a bad thing.
You're already a handful.
I can see the great tree mentioned earlier up north. Should we head that way?
VISITORS! HURRAY!
Prrr. Well someone's all excited.
You must be here to see Master Zeon.
What makes you say that?
No one comes all the way out here unless they've got serious business and you guys are armed to the teeth. The monsters outside the village must be quite ferocious.
Master Zeon was mentioned before. What can you tell us about him?
Master Zeon is amazing. He's the only magician who has been able to master both white and black magic.
Quite a feat. I'd really like to have a word with him before we leave.
He's still up at that shrine, though.
Well it won't hurt to check once we're done looking around the village, right?
*shrugs*

Since this was another long update (lots of NPCs to talk to!) I once again had to break things up.

Update Twenty-Three | Index | Update Twenty-Four point four