Part 21: A Hero Is Motivated

Alright, it's time to bring it all together.



"The villagers lived quietly. They never left the village or let outsiders enter."

"Only the villagers were supposed to know of the village's existence, but..."



"He's always fishing. I think that's about all there is to do here."

"None of your sass, it's what puts food on the table.. especially since he's a lousy gardener."

"Greet everyone you pass, OK?"



The Hero is every bit of what you'd expect a hero to be. It's been a long time, but that's only a couple less HP than Ragnar had at level 1. The Hero is just as strong, faster, and has more intelligence and luck. Hell, the Hero even starts with a hat.



"Fine, fine, I'm going."



"It'd be more beautiful if I had my lunch."

"That's ni.. what? Don't you have a lunch?"

"It's for my dad. My lunch is being held hostage until I deliver it."



"Sure, go ahead and rub it in while I'm on an errand."

"Lamarck, I hope we can stay friends forever."



"Oww!

You must always guard yourself. Mastery of swordsmanship is harder than it appears. Understand?

"I understand that you're a psychopath who just randomly hit a teenage girl while she was taking her father lunch. That's what I understand."



"C'mon dad, not 'the talk' again. It's not like there's any boys in this village anyway, just a bunch of old men, that weird psycho guard you keep making me take lessons with, and Celia."

"Don't forget that minstrel who just wandered in, the one you are not under any circumstances to go anywhere with. But that's not where I was going with this."

"Listen, Lamarck, you must always be righteous and strong, whatever happens."

"Dad, for the last time you don't have to talk like you're going to kick the bucket any minute. You're not that old."

"Can't you just let an old man ramble a bit when he wants to?"



"That's probably a good idea, although the spell sounds really interesting."



"I didn't know there was a village deep in these mountains."

"And now they won't let me leave. What kind of crazy place is this?"

"Yeah, I know. They won't let me leave either, and I was born here. I'm also not supposed to go anywhere with you."



"I think I'll just hang on to this for the next time I get randomly beaten walking through the village."



"Yes it is. And you shouldn't be playing here, so move along."

"I don't know if mom meant to include the village idiot when she said to talk to everyone, but it can't hurt.."



"Great job with that minstrel."

"Hey, he's sneakier than he looks."

"You also forgot to mention that you guard the entrance so people can't leave either."

"Lamarck, do you want to go outside? That's good. You must me much stronger to go out."



"Hell yes I want my lunch. Lay it on me."

"OK, sit there. I'll make it."

"What were you doing the entire time I was out taking lunch to dad?"

Not pictured: Screen shakes and some indication of trouble occurring.



"What's going on? Flee from what, to where, and why aren't you coming with me?"

"There's no time for that, just go!"



"What monsters? And why can't I fight them with you?"

"Because we're probably not going to win, that's why."



"Can anybody explain anything to me today? Is that too much to ask?"



"The WHAT!?"

"This way, Lamarck! Come!



"I did kind of wonder why I have green hair and neither of you do. You told me it came from one of my grand parents, but you seemed to forget which one."

"We want to explain, but we have no time... You must hide now."



"About that..



"Can you go into a bit more detail about that?"

"But you're still weak. Escape and survive! Understand?

"No, I don't understand. Haven't you been listening to me at all?



"Lamarck, you're so cute I've always thought of you as my little sister..."

"Don't worry. I won't let them take your life."



"...Celia?"



Necrosaro: "Well done!" Everyone return to our base!"



"Everyone's gone.. how could they have destroyed this place so completely in just a few moments?"



"Necrosaro. The monsters talked to Necrosaro and he answered.. so that's who's responsible for this."



"I never even knew this was here... and it's near the only way into the village. Could they have seen something?"



"My entire village was just.."

"I had a kid once, gloomiest kid you ever saw. Anyway.."

"Get off this mountain right away! You can go to the Castle."

"Wait, what castle?"

"THE castle. What are you kid, blind and gloomy? Walk outside, look sound, and you'll see it."



"Th.. thanks."



"Come to think of it, if they wanted me to be a hero, why didn't I get armor?"




"He did say the stuff in the jars, so I'm counting the gold in that."



"He wasn't kidding about having a kid once.."



"Or about the castle being literally right there."



"Has someone named Necrosaro come through here lately? Maybe with a band of monsters?"

"No, nobody like that."



"Really? That'd be great!"

"Oh, sorry! Our party is full. You should find your own allies."

"Not only is your party full, you're a jackass."



"I'd heard that they only thought they did.. but you go out and do your best."



"But.. can you actually fight?"



"From the look of things, I'd want more money before I talked to you again."



"Everything. I'd like to buy everything... I'll be back."



"I don't suppose the legends actually spell out what the hero is supposed to do once they emerge?"

"You'd think so, but it turns out they're just incredibly vague."



"Hmm.. I take it Endor's somewhere that might be worth going to if someone made an entire cave to get there."



"I can sympathize with that."



"It's just a trick so the Ruler of Evil won't see the hero coming."



"She's probably going to tell you to watch out for shivs."



"I'd say that you might want to aim for a better career."

"She told me she was searching for the Hero with her little sister."

"Reallly now.."



"I kind of wanted to be, but they're a bunch of jerks."

"Many people, claiming they can defeat the monsters, come to see the King."



"Eh, it's probably not all it's cracked up to be."



"Thank you, your Majesty."



"Could you tell me a bit more about him, your Majesty?"



"A.. girl like me? What is that supposed to mean?"

"Oh, you know... girly. Adventuring is hard, you know."

"I think I'll be okay, your Majesty."