Wednesday, August 11, 2010

RGR020 - The Silenced King

Well, the work-related stuff I mentioned in my last tweet has more or less worked itself out now. The good news is that I should have some extra time to work on new posts and get back into the game. I'll let you work the bad news out for yourself, not that it really concerns anyone but me. Okay, let's get back to Alena's adventure!

The southern desert that guy in Frenor mentioned was quite a bit smaller than we expected, so it wasn't hard to find the little bazaar going on. For all intents and purposes, it's a town. It's got an inn along with the normal set of shops, so I'm calling it a town. A few people here mentioned Endor, so I think we'll be making our way there soon. We found a strange item called a gum pod in a jar, which it turns out is actually supposed to be a clump of horse... output, so to speak. Nintendo's censors strike again!

We were actually having a pretty good time, but that all changed when we ran into a castle guard from Santeem, who begged us to return to the castle immediately. Of course, we don't listen, so we hung out near the bazaar for the remainder of the day leveling up, and then settled in for a good night's sleep before setting out for home.

Awesome, let's buy some sandy junk!
Awesome, let's buy some sandy junk!
What, you guys don't have maps out here?
What, you guys don't have maps out here?

What makes these jars so rare?
What makes these jars so rare?
Eww...
Eww...

This is your fault, isn't it?
This is your fault, isn't it?
We'd be happy to take some off your hands.
We'd be happy to take some off your hands.

Can't it wait until tomorrow?
Can't it wait until tomorrow?
They smell better than the Gum Pod, at least.
They smell better than the Gum Pod, at least.

Alena doesn't just WATCH tournaments.
Alena doesn't just WATCH tournaments.
And I'll be winning it.
And I'll be winning it.

Indigenous things we killed.
Indigenous things we killed.
That can't be comfortable.
That can't be comfortable.

So you came from the stars?
So you came from the stars?
But only in tiny deserts.
But only in tiny deserts.

You have to have a door to be closed.
You have to have a door to be closed.
But we want more delicious meals!
But we want more delicious meals!

Back at Santeem castle, we were shocked to learn the king had lost his voice. Well, maybe shocked isn't the term I'd use, but we certainly didn't expect him to suddenly shut up. We were pointed in the direction of the shed behind the castle, where old man Goz lives. I'm assuming he's a groundskeeper of some sort, but the chancellor didn't say, so he might just be some creepy old guy who lives in a shed.

Goz sent us over to Surene village to see Marone, who had once lost his voice, assuming he'd know what to do. Marone told us about the Birdsong Nectar, an elven medicine of some sort that helped him recover his voice. Of course, the Birdsong Nectar was only available at the desert bazaar; but when we tracked down the guy who sold it, we learned he had run out long ago, and now the only way we could possibly find any would be to climb a tower to the west, where elves are said to play.

NO SEGUE!
NO SEGUE!
How is that awful?
How is that awful?

How convenient, now that I have that key.
How convenient, now
that I have that key.
Yeah, ................... right back at ya.
Yeah, ................... right back at ya.


It's a secret to everyone.
It's a secret to everyone.
Welcome to out of the loop!
Welcome to out of the loop!

Ugh, I hate that guy.  His lyrics are terrible.
Ugh, I hate that guy.
His lyrics are terrible.
Walking in circles, tra la la...
Walking in circles, tra la la...


You could go back and check, you know.
You could go back and check, you know.
At some point in every quest, there is a tower.
At some point in every quest, there is a tower.

The tower was difficult, but relatively uneventful. As expected, the enemies were much stronger, and had a habit of attacking in large groups. We died several times along the way, but eventually reached the top of the tower, where we found a nice little garden of flowers, along with two elf girls. They weren't happy to see us, and ran away as soon as they could. Luckily, one of them dropped a small vial of Birdsong Nectar during the escape, and it wasn't important enough for them to double back for it.

We rushed back to the king with Birdsong Nectar in hand, and as soon as we gave it to him, his voice returned. He explained, in somewhat awkward English, that he'd had a terrible dream over and over again involving some kind of monster wreaking havoc on the world. As soon as he decided to tell someone about the dreams, his voice disappeared, no doubt the work of some evil curse.

Fine, I didn't want to go to Endor anyway.
Fine, I didn't want to
go to Endor anyway.
Let's capture some elves!
Let's capture some elves!


What welcoming decor.
What welcoming decor.
So you just wander around here?
So you just wander around here?

Indigenous things that kill us.
Indigenous things that kill us.
This tower...
This tower...

seems to...
seems to...
go on...
go on...

Oh, we're at the top.
Oh, we're at the top.
Elves are such snobs.
Elves are such snobs.

But their loss is our gain!
But their loss is our gain!
Oh no, not the Evil World!
Oh no, not the Evil World!

Yeah, I always forget my dreams too.
Yeah, I always forget my dreams too.
Oh, I'm sure they're nothing.
Oh, I'm sure they're nothing.

Now that the king has officially given us permission to go wherever we want, we'll be heading straight for the portal to the east that leads to Endor.

I've got a tournament to win.