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Jay -> Grinding Gears (1/16/2021 15:31:00)
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Grinding Gears
Location: The Royal Resistance - Rose Faction / Golden Hand Faction / Vind Faction -> Doomwood Camp -> Quests! -> Grinding Gears
Level/Quest/Items required: Completion of Ambition's Crossroads
Release Date: January 15th, 2021
Objective: Meanwhile, in the Manufactory...
Objective completed: You found your allies as well as the way to the rift, thanks to Eulin's plans. Time to secure the rift and save Doomwood!
Scaled Yes/No: Yes
Monsters
(7) Lagohm Seeker
(9) Lagohm Stomper
(6) Thund
NPCs
???
Eulin Verriton IV
G. M. Hansa
Kara SuLema
Mritha
Ostromir
Raven
Thursday
Vseslava
Rewards
Lagohm Quick-Weld Wallpaste V.91662
Dialogue
Equips Baby Dragon / Toddler Dragon / Kid Dragon.
Raven joins you as Guest A.
*In complete darkness, a conversation between two unknown participants is observed.*
???: So.
???: An ungrown dragon and two humans.
???: This is all you have to show from your... unplanned expedition?
???: It seems your brother was right to send his forces to retrieve you.
???: We can only hope that you didn't share too much with the defenders during your infiltration.
???: They suspect nothing, although with my absence, I think–
???: You think?
???: Your thoughts have put the entire colonization effort in jeopardy.
???: Leave the thinking for your betters, for the sake of the Manufactory!
???: With all due respect, you underestimate their defenders. If we don't pursue a more diplomatic route, the Beyond may end up, well, beyond us.
???: Enough! As the hammer strikes the ingot, so too must we strike their paltry defenses.
???: All has gone well until now.
???: Until you could not contain your whims.
???: The static has been building long enough. The thunderbolt will fall.
???: Let your elder brother deal with this campaign, little Prince. You can dream your fantasies, but do not get in his way again!
Eulin Verriton IV: ...Understood, father.
???: The prisoners have been brought to the dungeon. Prince Eulin may do with them as he wishes- but only after we establish our foothold.
???: Is that clear, Prince Eulin?
Eulin Verriton IV: Yes, father.
*Elsewhere, Raven, your dragon, and Ostromir appear to be in some kind of containment chamber.*
Raven: How could Eulin do this to us?
Ostromir: I told you so.
Raven: I trusted him!
Ostromir: "Open the cage, Ostromir, it will be fine, Ostromir."
Raven: Unless...
Ostromir: "Look at how cute the invading enemy is, Ostromir."
Raven: You don't suppose he has some sort of a plan, do you?
Ostromir: Nobody ever listens to Ostromir.
Raven: There has to be some plan, there has to be something!
Ostromir: I would not expect so.
Raven: Well... can't we do something then? They left us with all of our gear... We're not bound...
Raven: Maybe they don't think we're a threat.
Raven: Can you get this door open, Magester?
Ostromir: And if I could?
Raven: We– <Dragon> and I could fight our way out!
Ostromir: Out? Do you even know where we are?
Raven: I'm not stupid. We must be in the Manufactory. Which means we're on the other side of the Proclamation rift.
Ostromir: Which means we don't know where the rift is on this side either.
Raven: We'll find it.
Raven: Nothing will stop us, right <Dragon>?
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: Right! My human is counting on me!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Confident roar!*
Ostromir: Save your energy.
Raven: You lazy Magester! All talk, no action! Come on <Dragon>, let's break our way out!
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: Yeah!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Preparatory grumble*
*Your dragon flies into the door headfirst, rebounding off it with a painful yelp; Raven grimaces, knowing it must have hurt.*
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: Well, I tried.
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Defeated chirp*
Ostromir: You too, <Dragon>?
Raven: At least they're trying! All you Magesters do is use others. Can't do anything for yourself.
Ostromir: What is it that you have against me? I am being reasonable, logical–
Raven: The Magesters- you- you made me and my parents flee!
Raven: From the empire!
Raven: From my home!!
Ostromir: Ah.
Ostromir: And seeing as you channel magic...
Raven: Yeah. Everyone knows the stories. Children who manifest magical abilities are taken from their families.
Raven: By the Magesters.
Ostromir: As the Shapeless wills.
Raven: Don't give me that! My father... my father was a scholar in the Enchanters' guild.
Raven: He heard the whispers of the Magesters, even if he was supposed to forget what he heard.
Raven: And my mother– she was an assassin. And since the assassins are in the employ of the Magesters, she knew...
*Your dragon turns its head around to look at Raven.*
Ostromir: An Enchanter scholar and an Assassin...
Ostromir: I remember that case. Caused some concern among the Magesterium when they vanished.
Ostromir: So, they thought they would lose a child.
Ostromir: That explains much.
Raven: We fled. Bought passage from some smuggler. Spent all we had.
Raven: If it weren't for the Magesterium... for you... we wouldn't have had to flee.
Raven: They'd still... they would...
Ostromir: Enough. Such painful memories are not for–
Raven: They'd still be alive!
Ostromir: ...
*A tense moment of silence between Raven and Ostromir follows, as your dragon naps on the floor between them.*
Ostromir: I understand why you blame the Magesterium
Ostromir: Although...
Ostromir: I am afraid your parents had nothing to fear.
Raven: What are you saying? Were they wrong, then? Was I not going to be taken?
Ostromir: Oh, you most certainly would have been conscripted.
Ostromir: And with your natural ability... yes, I imagine you would have succeeded.
Raven: Speak plainly. Would I have been able to stay with my family?
Ostromir: No. Your parents would have never knowingly seen you again, that much is true.
Ostromir: But you, you would have seen them. Protected them. Watched them grow old.
Ostromir: ...as a Magester.
Raven: ...
Ostromir: Surely, in their positions, they could have known, could have learned, even if they were not supposed to.
Raven: ...And that's the same to you, is it?
Ostromir: They could have been silently proud. It has been known to happen, though rarely.
Raven: And you? Do you remember your family? Do you protect them?
Raven: Is being a Magester really everything you claim it to be?
Ostromir: My parents are lumberers out in the countryside. As far as I know, they're well, and happy.
Ostromir: I have a younger sister now too, who owns a stall in the Forums. Sometimes I visit.
Ostromir: She has no idea who I am, of course. Nor should she.
Ostromir: The Magesterium is a second family to me, united by the will of the Shapeless.
Ostromir: And I do my duty. For the sake of the Shapeless, the Empire, and all who reside within it.
Raven: And that's supposed to make me feel better?
*Your dragon turns its head around to look at Raven once again.*
Ostromir: You asked.
Ostromir: I answered.
*Your dragon turns its head back to Ostromir; Raven glares at Ostromir with scorn.*
Ostromir: For what little it may be worth to you, I am sorry for what happened to your family.
Ostromir: Such tragedies are never our intentions.
Raven: Intentioned or not, they're caused by your actions.
Raven: You steal children from their families, raise them to be monsters, then do nothing when it matters.
Raven: I'm getting out of here, with or without you.
Raven: Preferably without.
*Your dragon turns its head around to look at Raven, a little more worriedly this time; Ostromir glances up at Raven; your dragon returns its worried expression to Ostromir.*
Ostromir: *Sigh*
*Ostromir faces the door and channels his magic with two fingers to unlock it.*
Ostromir: After you, then, Hladach Raven.
Raven: Hladach?
Ostromir: Your mother's title. From what I've seen of your skills and ferocity, you have more than earned it.
Ostromir: I cannot undo the past, but allow my actions in the present to prove my intent.
*Raven pauses before responding.*
Raven: Whatever.
Raven: Just... don't get in the way.
Raven: Ready, <Dragon>?
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: Let's go already!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Impatient growl!*
*Your dragon, Raven, and Ostromir make their way through the Manufactory, following Prince Eulin as he bounds from room to room; your dragon and Raven defeat various monsters in their path, while Ostromir trails behind; eventually they reach the rift, and Prince Eulin jumps through.*
Ostromir: Yup.
Ostromir: That's definitely the rift.
Ostromir: It seems Eulin was leading us to it.
Raven: I told you he had a plan!
Ostromir: So you did.
Ostromir: Well done, Hladach Raven, <Dragon>.
Ostromir: We should pass with haste. Before more lagohm show up.
Raven: They're bound to be on the other side too. Can I trust you to at least remember the way while <Dragon> and I fight our way through?
Ostromir: Remember the-?
Ostromir: Ah. Yes. I see. It will be done.
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: Charge!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Heroic roar!*
Equips player's saved class.
*On the other side of the rift, Hansa, Mritha, Vseslava, you, Thursday, and Kara continue the search.*
<Character>: I... think we're getting closer to the rift. The air feels... strange.
Vseslava: We are. This atmosphere...
G. M. Hansa: I can sense it as well. It's almost blinding.
<Character>: We don't know what we will stumble upon on the other side, so remember: this is strictly a recovery mission!
<Character>: Sightseeing will have to–
Kara SuLema: Wait, <Character>, someone is coming!
<Character>: Gah, more lagohms?
*Kara looks into the distance.*
Kara SuLema: No, it's–
*Prince Eulin appears with a bounce and a flash of light; soon after your dragon barges in, flying into Prince Eulin, causing him to squeak; your dragon continues flying directly into you, happily.*
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: <Character>!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Familiar roar!*
<Character>: <Dragon>!
<Character>: Ow...
*Scene fades out; back outside the Doomwood Ruins, Prince Eulin is telling the Resistance of his prowess.*
Eulin Verriton IV: And then, I deftly spun through the air, creating an opening for the dragon and Raven, while Ostromir cowered in the corner!
Ostromir: I did not cower!
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: He definitely cowered.
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Disagreeing chirp*
Thursday: I'm just glad you're all safe.
G. M. Hansa: Raven, report.
Raven: Yes ma'am!
Raven: During the surprise attacks on the camps, it seems Ostromir, <Dragon>, and I were...
Raven: ...herded by the flow of battle to be separated from everyone else.
Eulin Verriton IV: That was my doing! I told my soldiers to uh, capture you three.
Eulin Verriton IV: You were the ones who cared about me the most, so I knew if I got into trouble, you wouldn't hesitate to help!
Ostromir: I would not call it caring so much as unwavering suspicion.
Eulin Verriton IV: Sure, sure. You couldn't keep your eyes off me! The dragon too!
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: I think I was just hungry.
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Hungry grumbles*
Eulin Verriton IV: My plan was flawless!
Raven: Anyway, after we were captured, we were tossed and turned and dragged into the ruins and eventually through the rift.
Raven: Into the Manufactory!
Eulin Verriton IV: Wasn't it magnificent?
Ostromir: Sure.
Raven: After that, we were thrown into a prison cell. Ostromir helped break us free, and as we explored, trying to find a way out–
Eulin Verriton IV: You found a hero who led you to safety! It was I, Eulin Verriton the–
Raven: We followed Eulin, who sometimes seemed just as lost as we were–
Eulin Verriton IV: It was an intricate path to avoid the guards!
Raven: –the majority of who we still seemed to encounter–
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: I helped too!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Helpful growl!*
Raven: Eventually, we made it back to the rift, and fought our way back through the ruins.
Ostromir: So, thanks to Eulin's help, we now know the way to the rift.
Raven: They'll probably be prepared for an attack, but at least we're not going in blind.
G. M. Hansa: Thank you, Raven. Well done, all of you.
Kara SuLema: Eulin, was this really all a ploy just to find the path through the ruins? This seems like a rather... complicated plan.
Eulin Verriton IV: Er, well...
<Character>: Eulin?
Eulin Verriton IV: So, my father, ruler of the Manufactory may or may not be planning to invade the Beyond, that is, here, with a massive force in a colonization effort to extend our influence and power outside of our region.
Eulin Verriton IV: And I may or may not have brought him three unnamed prisoners in an attempt to gain favor to stop him from doing that but now that I've told you all this, I think I'm a traitor and I think that means my birthright is forfeit but that's okay because I mean...
Eulin Verriton IV: Who really needs to be a prince anyway? It's not like I had people counting on me or plans for the Manufactory or a twenty-part diplomatic process planned for establishing trade and dialogue between us and the Beyond and now those plans are probably all a mess and now the Beyond will be colonized and there's nothing I can do to stop it.
*Prince Eulin sinks as he reveals this information.*
Eulin Verriton IV: It's okay, I'm fine!
*Raven looks at Prince Eulin empathetically.*
Raven: Eulin, do you need a hug?
Eulin Verriton IV: Yes, please.
Ostromir: If it is any consolation...
Ostromir: I think your fellow lagohm were too preoccupied with Hladach Raven and <Dragon>'s rampage to notice your role in our escape.
Vseslava: Hladach? However did you manage to get on Ostromir's good side, Raven?
Ostromir: A long story. Not very interesting.
Raven: Make no mistake.
Raven: I still don't like you.
*The Resistance takes a moment to process the day's events.*
Mritha: Great. Now that we're all reunited, what's our plan?
G. M. Hansa: I think it's pretty clear. We secure the portal before the lagohm can strike.
<Character>: I agree, but it won't be easy, and I'm sure they'll be quick to re-fortify their position.
Kara SuLema: Then we must act with haste. If everyone is ready, Ostromir, please, lead the way.
Ostromir: As you say.
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: I'll keep an eye on Eulin.
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Suspicious growl*
Eulin Verriton IV: Oh, no, I'll be okay...
If you have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: If you try to betray us again, I'll eat you!
If you don't have a Dragon Amulet:
<Dragon>: *Hungry grumbles*
Eulin Verriton IV: I wouldn't dream of it!
<Character>: Let's do this! That rift won't know what hit it!
*Scene fades to black.*
Complete Quest
Other information
The Thunds' banquet acts as a one-time healing source during the quest. (Message: An amazing banquet of food set out for the Thunds. Devour to full heal HP/MP?)
Pop-up headlines during the quest:
quote:
Raven: "Hmm... Which way should we go?"
What a big pile of meat and food!
Raven and Ostromir watch on in awe (and maybe horror) as you eat every last bite. Delicious and excessive!
Ostromir: "Hold on, I think that is Eulin!"
Raven: "Eulin, wait! Where are you going?"
Ostromir: "Do you think he might be leading us out?"
Smells like trouble this way.
No way through.
This passageway seems to be too small for Raven and Ostromir. You'll have to find another way around.
This purple... stuff... probably isn't safe to touch.
Ostromir: "What a sight."
Raven: "We're almost there! Eulin, wait for us!"
Raven: 'Let me catch my breath. We're right behind you!' After completion of this quest, Raven, Ostromir, Eulin Verriton IV, and <Dragon> are returned to their respective Doomwood Camp(s), and all NPC dialogues are updated to reflect this.
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