*****NPCs***** (The party heads for the Village of the Dwarves. If you go to Pannu Yakuta first...) Guard: You're that fugitive! (You have to run away.) *****PLOT***** (The party crosses the hills to the dwarf village, but are halted partway there by the approach of Kuromimi.) Kuromimi: Dwarf stingy. Keep sickness cure secret. But Kuromimi never give up. Gremio: That kobold... (Kuromimi seems to recognize them.) Kuromimi: You! I don't forgive...grrrrr. But Kuromimi busy now. (He runs off past them, down the hills, and the party continues on, eventually reaching...) [Village of the Dwarves] *****NPCs***** Dwarf by inn: Oh my, it's amazing for humans to get here safely. Kid by windmill: This windmill generates the power of thunder and lightning. It's said to be one of the dwarves' secret teachings. Dwarf in front of item shop: Did you come here to learn from us, like that blacksmith? Kid by item shop: Hey, are you one of those so-called "humans"? Dwarf by houses: Hey there, have you been sharpening your weapons? If you haven't, you'll be sorry. (Inside inn...) Dwarf: Are you going to sleep here? Don't break the bed. Innkeeper: Ho ho. 200 bits per person. (Inside armor/appraisal shop...) Dwarf at table: We dwarves are proud of our Great Vault! You can see it just north of here. Dwarf: How will our wonderful armor look on humans? Dwarf upstairs: Why are the Kobolds such lackeys of the Empire? The attack us indiscriminately. (Inside house...) Kid: I'm going to study hard and be smarter than elves or humans. Kid: I'm going to be strong. Strong enough to beat both elves and humans. Dwarf: We hate the elves, and the elves look down on us. It's always been that way. Nobody even remembers the original reason for this hatred. (In house...) Dwarf: According to my research, runes contain the elemental powers of the world. (Inside house...) Dwarf: Apparently an Imperial general named Kwanda is attacking the Village of the Elves. I really couldn't care less. They're always making fun of us anyway. *****RECRUIT***** (Inside blacksmith's...) Meese: Hmmm, Maas, eh? Okay, if Maas thinks you guys are OK, then you're OK. I'll help you out. Put me in charge of your weapons. Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Meese: All right. I'll go tell the Chief of the Dwarves that I'll be gone for awhile. After that, we'll go to Toran Castle. [Meese joins!] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Meese: You Fools. If I don't join, neither will the other blacksmiths. /----- *****NPCs***** (If you go north to the vault first...) Dwarf: Who the hell are you? Dirty humans and elves aren't allowed here! *****PLOT***** (In the village Chief's house...) Dwarven Chief: Well, what unusual visitors. Human and elf, hand in hand. What brings you to the Dwarf Mines? Kirkis: Chief of the Dwarves, we come to ask you for a favor. (The Chief turns away.) Dwarven Chief: A proud elf asking a lowly dwarf for a favor? Valeria: Chief, have you ever heard of a Burning Mirror? (The chief jumps in alarm.) Dwarven Chief: Of course I have. It's one of our treasures. Valeria: Kwanda Rosman has gotten hold of the blueprint, and is planning to burn down the forest. (The chief laughs.) Dwarven Chief: Ho ho! That's very funny! I hope all the elves are killed. Ho ho! Kirkis: What a thing to say! Dwarven Chief: Besides, do you expect me to believe that one of you sluggish humans really succeeded in stealing a blueprint from us? Valeria: It's true. A fellow called Kage stole the blueprint. Dwarven Chief: Ho ho! You'll have to prove such human competance. You're saying a human can break into our vault? Try it, then. Tir: *Let's give it a try. *Better not try. /----- Tir: Better not try. Dwarven Chief: Ho ho, you're smart. You'll never succeed anyway. (If you talk to him again...) Dwarven Chief: Ho ho, what's the matter? Up for a challenge? /----- Tir: Let's give it a try. Dwarven Chief: Ho ho, what fun! Then try to steal the Running Water Root from our vault. If you can do that, I'll believe your story. Our vault is due north of this village. It was way too big to build here, ho ho. *****NPCs***** (If you talk to him again...) Dwarven Chief: Ho ho, give up? *****PLOT***** (The party leaves the village and heads north to the vault. Inside, a dwarf is standing guard.) Dwarf: The Chief has filled us in. This vault can't be opened by a stupid elf. (He steps aside to allow them entrance.) *****NPCs***** (If you talk to him again...) Dwarf: Good luck. You'll need it. (They make their way through, solving various puzzles as they go deeper.) (Stone slab...) Fiddle dee diddle dee piddle dee doo. *****PLOT***** (Upon reaching the bottom of the dungeon, they encounter a strange dual monster, and attack. Once it is beaten, they move on and...) [Obtained Running Water Root!] (They leave, and return to the village to see the chief.) Dwarven Chief: Grrrrrrrr... you succeeded in breaking into our vault. All right, I'll believe your story. As you said, the Burning Mirror is a terrible weapon. But it can be blown to pieces using another of our treasures, the Firewind Cannon. I'll have one built for you right away. Valeria: We are grateful, Chief. (Kirkis turns to Tir.) Kirkis: Master Tir, let's return to the village and deliver the news. The Chief of the Elves should believe us now. *****NPCs***** (If you talk to him again...) Dwarven Chief: Good luck to you, young man. *****PLOT***** (They leave the village, and head back towards the Village of the Elves, but pause in alarm at a cliff overlooking a huge fire in the distance.) Kirkis: After returning from Dwarves' Village Gremio: W-what's that? Valeria: I don't know. (He turns to her.) Gremio: That direction is... (She turns to look at him.) Valeria: It couldn't be... Kirkis: Too late! (They hurry on, until they reach a blackened tree stump - all that is left of the elven village.) [Burnt Village of the Elves] (Valeria turns away.) Valeria: This is awful. (Gremio steps forward.) Gremio: How horrible. Valeria: Our efforts were... (Kirkis steps forward to address them all.) Kirkis: That's right. In vain. All of our efforts were in vain. But why? Why? Please tell me, Master Tir. What good were our efforts? Why did this happen? We did our best! I was insulted and abused, but I fought on. And yet... yet... Gremio: Kirkis... (Kirkis stands before the stump.) Kirkis: Nothing... nothing remains! Everything I tried to protect. (He holds something in his hand, looking down at it.) Kirkis: When everything was over, I planned to give this ring to Sylvina. Poor Sylvina. Now this ring has no hand to adorn. It's useless now. (He lets it fall to the ground and turns away.) Kirkis: There's nothing... (After a moment, Gremio steps forward, and kneels to pick up the ring. Standing beside Kirkis, he holds it out.) Gremio: Kirkis, this ring is your hope. And you must never give up hope. With just a little bit of hope, you can survive, live on. And that goes for humans as well as elves. (Kirkis turns to him.) Kirkis: Gremio... (They turn to the rest of the party.) Gremio: Young Master, let's return to the castle. We must never let this tragedy repeat itself. Let's defeat Kwanda Rosman's army, and destroy the Burning Mirror. That is our only deliverance. (Kirkis comes to stand before Tir.) Kirkis: ......... Let's go. For the sake of Sylvina. *****RECRUIT***** (If you enter the burnt village again, a young boy is there.) Templeton: My god, this is terrible! I wish they wouldn't do such things! Now I'll have to change the maps. Say, who are you? Liberation Army? I see. I just heard that the Ancient Castle of Toran was taken over by the Liberation Army. Won't you let me join you? I'm an expert mapmaker. Of course, you'll have to let me map the Castle of Toran. Tir: *Recruit *Don't recruit /----- Tir: Recruit Templeton: OK, OK. I'll head for ToranCastle as soon as I've finished surveying this area. [Templeton joins!] Templeton: Oh yeah! Let me give you this. This map is really helpful. Don't lose it! [Obtained "Suiko Map"] ----- Tir: Don't recruit Templeton: Too bad. I guess I'll head somewhere else, then. /----- *****PLOT***** (The party heads back towards the castle by way of the Great Forest. Upon reaching the kobolds' village, Kuromimi approaches from within the forest, looking back.) Kuromimi: Kuromimi cannot caught here. Must help everyone. (The party approaches him, but they are all suddenly surrounded by Imperial soldiers.) Soldier: Who are you guys? Hey, you're that traitor Valeria. Fancy meeting you here. There's a price on your head. Better turn yourself in. (Gremio turns to Tir.) Gremio: Young Master, we're surrounded. This is a bit dangerous. Kirkis: What are you talking about? This is extremely dangerous. (Valeria addresses the soldier.) Valeria: Hey, you there. If I turn myself in, will you promise not to hurt the others? Soldier: Ha ha! A deal, eh? All right. I swear to god I won't hurt them. Gremio: V-Valeria, by law traitors are put to death. Valeria: I know. Gremio: Then... Valeria: The Burning Mirror must be destroyed. That can't be done if we all die here. The Liberation Army can't afford to lose its leader. A leader must stay alive. That's why... Tir: *Stop it, Valeria. *I'm sorry, Valeria. /----- Tir: Stop it, Valeria. Valeria: Come now, Tir, you mustn't lose sight of your bigger goals. ----- Tir: I'm sorry, Valeria. Valeria: No big deal. But I hope you'll rescue me before I get my head cut off. /----- [Valeria leaves party!] (She steps forward and submits herself to the soldiers.) Soldiers: That's a good girl. Behave yourself. Men, kill the elf, kobold and the rest of the traitors. Valeria: What? You just swore to god. Soldier: God? There is no god in these modern times. (He leads Valeria away, and the other soldiers jump forward to attack.) Gremio: Whoooaaa! Here they come! Kuromimi: Kuromimi fight. No can die now. [Kuromimi joins party!] (The soldiers attack, and are dispatched. However, more are waiting to attack.) Gremio: We're losing... Kirkis: Is this it? Kuromimi: You all weak. Kuromimi no give up. Soldier: Big talk, eh? Get them, men! (But then, from within the forest...) Mathiu: Commander Tir, I'll help you. (Another Imperial soldier runs in from the forest and speaks to the one in front.) Soldier: W-what's going on? Soldier: Sir, some fellows calling themselves the Liberation Army arrived. Soldier: What? Retreat! Get out of here! (The Imperial soldiers run away, as Mathiu, Humphrey, and several fighters approach.) Gremio: Master Mathiu, how did you get here? Not through the forest? Mathiu: Somebody warned me about the Burning Mirror. (Sylvina runs past him and practically tackles Kirkis in a hug.) Sylvina: Kirkis! Kirkis, Kirkis, I missed you! Kirkis: Sylvina... how? Why? (Stallion runs in also.) Stallion: Ha ha ha. Credit that to me. Sylvina: It was incredible. There was a flash, and Stallion charged forward at an unbelievable speed. Stallion: I wish you could have seen how fast I can run. (Kirkis hugs Sylvina.) Kirkis: Sylvina! Sylvina! Stallion: Hey, don't you want to hear about my speed? (Gremio steps forward and hands something to Kirkis.) Gremio: Yes, the ring. Now I understand that hope should never be abandoned. Kirkis: Gremio... Sylvina: What is it? A ring? What is it, Kirkis? Kirkis: This? I, when everything is over... Mathiu: After Commander Tir left the castle, Humphrey and Sanchez arrived with survivors of the old Liberation Army. We now have the manpower to fight Kwanda Rosman's army. Commander Tir, please give us the signal to move forward. Tir: *All right, all troops forward. *It's not the time yet. /----- Tir: All right, all troops forward. ----- Tir: It's not the time yet. Mathiu: Commander Tir, war is timing. And now is the time. /-----