ladyabaxa ◾ ◾ Beyond the Beyond: Update 24.7: Even More Simone Village

Beyond the Beyond: Update 24.7: Even More Simone Village

Once again continuing from where we left off...

As was previously mentioned there's a big tree just north of the village. We also find more bird-eye motif statues (to remind us that Big Bird is watching us) and a rickety ladder leading to a hole in the tree.

Inside the tree the team finds themselves immediately facing a 3-way choice. Door #1, Door #2, or a staircase up? Naturally Finn immediately turns and jogs up the stairs.

The second floor is rather spartan but it is as high as the tree goes.

Uh, hi there.
This is the elder's home?
(1) Yes but he is downstairs.
(2) Why have you come all this way? Just to see the elder?
Yes. We have a... er, problem of a magical nature that we were told could be solved here.
(2) Hmm, I thought something was off about your group.
*trying to indiscreetly look at the books on the table* Is the elder available?
(1) Yes. You must be an apprentice. The library is also downstairs.
*blushes, looks down* Sorry. I didn't mean to snoop.
Prrr. Some sort of research?
(1) You could say that.
Of what?
(both) Right now, our magicians are researching what the legendary evil might be. We were just going over some old references before meeting with the elder this afternoon.
That sounds rather important. We'll leave you to it.
(2) Thank you. Good day to you.

Wandering into the small room to the southwest the team discovers books and these actually have something of interest to read in them, unlike those down in the village.

Hmm, there are books here.
We don't really have time to sit and read.
I am curious to know what they have.
Oh?
Well, everyone keeps talking about some great and horrible evil. It just seems like a good idea to get some idea what that might be.
But nobody here seems to have any idea what it is despite all the books.
Well, I'd still like a chance to read some of them.
You mean like this one here? *grabs book off western shelf* "Simone Law". It says, "No one from Simone is allowed to leave without the leader's permission."
Prr. So it really is the law. How cold.
*frowns and puts the book back* I could have gone without reading that.
What about this one? *grabs book off eastern shelf* "The Origins of Arawn". It says, "Long ago, a wandering spirit known as Arawn found our world. As the spirit explored our world, he fell in love with its nature and the peaceful, primitive inhabitants."
WHAT?!
Don't look at me! I didn't write it!
Since when are we primitive?
Or peaceful?
Ya know what? Forget I ever opened that book. It's way too early for an argument.

Having no where else to go the team wanders back to the first floor. Entering the western room they immediately find more books.

Another library. Are we checking out all the books in here too?
You sound kind of defeated, Finn.
Nah. I am curious to know what these books are about. I'm just kind of tired, that's all.
Hmm, this is interesting. *pulls book off of southern shelf* Listen to this: "The Master Magician, Merlin". A biography about the great Master Magician, Merlin. It says his magic could cheat death itself, but was lost when he disappeared in the fjords north of Marion. Wow! Now that's the way to introduce a book.
Merlin? He's famous?
Why yes, Finn. Master Myrrdin spoke highly of him many times. Merlin was one of the greatest mages to ever live.
Emphasis on the 'was' there since he apparently couldn't cheat his way out of vanishing.

Merlin's in this game? Great. I guess then I'll have to issue my standard response to anything mentioning Merlin which is to angrily shake my fist and shout MEEEEERRRLIIIIN! If he teleports in front of us to send us on a fetch quest I'll stop this LP so fast well... I don't know what will happen but it will probably be bad for Finn and company. (Some people worry about degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon. I worry about degrees of separation from Knights of Justice. Simone is not helping that right now.)

Well with someone like Merlin you can never be sure a vanishing act wasn't intentional.
*shrugs*
Hey here's something else you'd probably like, Edward. *points to book on eastern shelf* "Arawn's Palace".
Hmm. Let me see that. *opens book* It says, "This labyrinth, created by Arawn, tests one's wisdom and bravery." That doesn't actually tell us much, does it? If I had the time I'd love to read the whole thing. Alas.
Prrr. Don't think you can leave me out of this game, humans. I've found a book on that floating tower. *yanks book off center shelf and lets it fall to the floor opening on a random page* "The Legend of Arawn's Tower". It says, "When worldly peace is threatened by evil, the legendary Tower of Arawn shall appear again."
Well we already knew that.
Fiddlesticks!
*points to western bookshelf* And to round out this expedition of finding out things we already knew here's a copy of "The Elders' Great Powers".
Do you kids have to make such a racket?
Oh, uh, sorry.
Shhh. I'm trying to see if the old texts have any clues as to what is going to happen.
Happen? Like, that disaster of evil thingee everyone keeps talking about?
Yes, that. The tower mentioned in this book is probably Arawn's Tower, but what's the, "evil disaster"?
Say, Tont, do you know anything about this disaster?

*shakes head* No. This is actually the first I've heard anything about such a thing.
HELLO?! Can I get some piece and quiet?
Yes. We were just leaving. Weren't we, Finn?

Well I guess we had seen everything that library had to offer anyway. *grumbles under his breath*
Kyrraa. Here's more books for you humans to poke through.
*looking at western shelf* "White Magic". It says, "White Magic is commonly known as healing magic." Thank you Captain Obvious.
*giggling as he reads from the eastern shelf* "Black Magic". It says, "Black Magic is mainly used in battle."
You sure you don't use it for gardening, Edward?
Yes. I'm pretty sure, unless you want your garden set on fire.
*excited yelp*
Well at least someone's happy.
Yes! Here it is. I finally found the "Magic Encyclopedia"! Now I can complete the legendary resurrection magic.
But... priests can already revive people. I? What?
Let's just go downstairs, Finn.

Down on B1 the team finds more stairs down, doors, and pottery.

Prrr. POTS! There might be treasure, Finn.
He's going to rob the village isn't he?
I think he's already done that, Tont.
Hey I told you. I don't steal things. I just reclaim stuff other people have thrown away.
Thrown away... in cooking pots.
*flustered blushing* ...I don't know what you're talking about!
I don't see anything in any of these pots anyway. What a bore.

Heading down the central staircase Finn finds something far more agreeable to his Treasure Hunter sensibilities.

See? Now who left this just sitting here? It's shiny!
It's also magical.
It's shiny and magical and you're going to steal it?
So does that invisibility cloak of yours still work or what?
Err, of course it does! It just has to recharge for a bit. ...I don't really have a leg to stand on here, do I?
Nope.
Well at least traveling with you folks will be interesting.
Hey, you wanted out of the village.
I'm not complaining.

Back up to B1 and down the other set of stairs the team finds a passage that winds around B2 and continues their descent.

I wonder who goes around carving out all these trees. Maybe we should ask the elder while we're here.

This brings them to B3 and an abrupt end to Finn's treasure hunt as a locked door bars the path.

For the last time, Finn, the lock is obviously magical. No amount of brute force will open this door.
Shucks!
You sure know a lot about magic for someone who didn't grow up here in Simone.
I had a good teacher.

B4 is the lowest floor of the tree and the team finds a room adorned in more creepy eye iconography.

(lower right) Welcome to Simone. What brings you to our village?
We're here to see the elder.
(lower right) Oh. He's back there.
And what are you doing?
(lower right) I can feel a darkness, even now, engulfing the land. I was meditating on what it might be but I can't seem to calm my mind enough to get a clear picture.
Aww, yes more of that ominous, evily stuff we keep hearing about.
A darkness? Bandore, maybe?
Possibly, Finn.
Bandore? What's that?
A country from across the sea.
That's why we're here. Sir Samson was cursed by someone in Bandore and we have to get it removed.
Oh. Oh my. _{What have I gotten myself into?}
(upper right) If you have a wish regarding magic, you should talk to the leader of Simone.
That's the guy back there, right?
(upper right) Yes.
Good. We'll get to him in a moment.
*snorts* Never change, Finn.

upper left) "The Great Light is about to be released..." What could that be...
It sounds like a caged animal, if you ask me.
Okay, Annie, that's just creepy.
Well it is what it sounds like to me.
(lower left) Umm, umm, umm...
Well it looks like they're lost in thought or meditation or whatever. Are you all ready to speak to the elder?
Yup.
Uh, I'll just stand back... over there.
Ok, have fun.

True to his word, as soon as we approach the leader of Simone Village Tont darts away from the rest of the group and tries to make himself inconspicuous. Screenshots can't convey this but during the entire scene that follows his sprite goes through his walk cycle faster then normal and constantly makes the "shudder in fear" animation.

Greetings. I have been expecting you. Do you want me to break that nasty curse?
You've been... expecting us?
Indeed. *steps forward towards Samson* Your very presence disrupts the subtle harmony of magic in the village.
*takes a deep breath* That is why we have come all this way. Yes, I wish to be free of this plague.
This curse is bad! I'm surprised you were able to make it this far.
Kryrra. That sounds bad.
Since you've been fighting it so hard, this will be tough. I'll do my best.
What do you mean? That Sir Samson shouldn't have been fighting the curse all this time?
Well, no, but it will be difficult to extract it without hurting him.