Part 8: The Food Was Terrible

: Although it looks like there’s nothing for us to do on this screen, there’s actually an interaction inside the blackwagon that we can access that the game isn’t telling us about.



: Can you guess where it is?

: If you guessed it’s in the common room, it’s… no, I’m afraid it’s… in the Beyonder Crystal.




: Sanda will usually have something new to say based on new locales and new developments in the plot. Since we’re shoulder-deep into Flagging Hands, she’s got something she’d like to say about it.

: Are you sloshing all the way across the Flagging Hands right now?

: You know, it’s not something that anyone would notice when playing the game normally or reading along with this LP, but up until now, everyone has called this place “Flagging Hands,” not “the Flagging Hands.” It always felt a little awkward to type out without the ‘the,’ and it immediately jumped out at me that Sandra called them that.

: A hideous place, or so I understand, for I can neither see it nor experience its wondrous aroma, as you surely can. Although, perhaps you are accustomed to it, now.



: We share a common misery! Now, please leave me to mine, unless there is a service you require me to render at this time.

: She isn’t exactly a chatterbox, but she provides a unique flavour to our locales and predicaments.




: Judging by the lit exterior and the parasol on the roof, Big Bertrude’s is as close to a ‘vacation spot’ Flagging Hands probably has.


Gfy

: This is the place. Let us go to see my client’s companion as soon as you are ready.



: Not much else to do here in this dank pit, so let’s give Bertrude a visit.



: Sandalwood sent us.

: Those words are enough to make the bog-dwellers snap to attention. They emerge from the mud and dark and begin inspecting your blackwagon with their strange tools.


: Music: Snake Soul

: It… looks like she has… creatures, in her left sleeve?

: Thou speakest the name Sandalwood…. We would know his whereabouts. Reveal them to us.

: Good day to you, Big Bertrude. It is a pleasure to meet you at last, for Sandalwood always spoke highly of you, and your handiwork.

: Nrrrgghh, he did, did he…? In turn, we know who thou must be. Yet, thou speakest of the past. Sandalwood, doth he yet live? Speak plain, and quickly.

: Uh, you first?



: Though, I have every faith that, aye, Sandalwood lives. As for his current whereabouts, I understand that he awaits us somewhere near Wakingwood, beyond the waters. We wish to seek him there. Though, as you can see, our wagon is ill-suited for the task.

: The one called Bertrude frowns at this, studying The Lone Minstrel all the while.

: Nrrrggghh… indeed…. Then, leave us. Return at dawn. That is all.

: By your grace, Big Bertrude.



: Hold on. Are you sure about this…? Leaving the wagon in their care?

: All should be in accordance with my client’s plan.

: You keep calling Sandalwood your client. He must reward you well.

: Aye, in a manner of speaking. He helped me find a sense of purpose I thought lost.

: Hedwyn nods at this, then turns to you.

: Well, my friend, I guess we’ll see what happens, right? I’m off to let the others know.

: You find yourself with time for your Vocations, while the bog-dwellers go about their business.



: If you had forgotten, our options with Vocations are that we can forage for resources (i.e. vendor trash, Talismans, or Stardust); we can tutor an individual among our ranks to increase their Enlightenment; or we can Study on our own and provide small global bonuses to our entire team.

: We’re not in terrible need of tutoring right now, so we can remove that. While I’m always on the lookout for some extra cash to keep us afloat, I think Flagging Hands as taught me a slightly more important lesson about stat upkeep. Also, it was requested a few times, so for now, I’ll do some Studying.


Gfy

: You find a relatively quiet clearing to study the Book of Rites with undivided attention. Through greater understanding comes the Reader’s Influence.



: Whichever one I choose, everyone in my party will receive a permanent buff to the stat of my choosing. We can only get to the Glory once I master all three of the other options, so Glory would be a long ways off.

: They’re all pretty important stats – I’d also argue that Glory is the least important stat of the four – but if Flagging Hands, and my match against Udmildhe, has taught me anything, it’s that having low Hope really, really sucks.

: You concentrate on the substance of the words and teaching of the Book of Rites, such as you understand them thus far.

: Inspiration comes to you in a flash; whether from the Book or from within, you cannot tell.




: The Lone Minstrel finds you early the next day.

: Reader… it is ready. Please, come have a look. The others are already there.



: Goddamn, Bertrude knows how to clean up.

: The blackwagon appears different now than it did even a day before. The hull is fully sealed and reinforced, and all manner of nautical equipment adorns the port side.

: I… wow.

: You people seeing this?! I’m gonna have a look around!

: The wagon should be fit for sea voyage. Let us depart at your earliest convenience.

: What about Big Bertrude?



: Tell that Sandalwood he owes us twice over.

: If I may, Big Bertrude…? You could tell him yourself, if you wish to accompany us in our voyage north. Our group would welcome someone of your vast experience.




: What?!

: What?!

: No, I…!

: Enough. But, should ye see that Sandalwood, tell him also to come and visit us again. Now, begone from here, and tell no-one that we were paid in favors.

: She slithers off without another word. Soon, The Lone Minstrel breaks the silence.

: We are fortunate that she assisted us. But we should go, just as she said. I know the navigational controls and shall explain.



: I mean, I guess excitement is an emotion to feel when you put it that way?

: (Ti’zo seems to share Mae’s enthusiasm for heading out to sea.)

: I am beginning to feel ill already.





Gfy

Music: Strange Voyage

: You and your companions watch the sea as your wagon rolls over the gentle waves.

: We have crossed into Wyrm Gulf. I hope that all of you are acclimating well.

: There is no acclimating to these wyrm-infested waters. We risk everything to sail here.

: As long as we follow the cold current Big Bertrude indicated, we shall be safe.

: If the next Rite is in the middle of this sea… how will our adversaries meet us there?

: They shall find their way, as we find ours. It is all part of the Scribes’ design. Now, Reader? Please confirm the next point on our sea-journey. We seek the Hulk of Ores.



: Uh, that way, I guess.


Gfy

: The wagon continues rolling gently across the waves, which seems to you a welcome change of pace, after having come from Flagging Hands not very long ago.

: You think? It seems to me like you’ve gone from one hell to the next ever since you left the Downside Prairie. After that, it was a dry, arid desert; then a graveyard that sucked the morale right out of you; and now this. But then, I suppose, the Sea of Solis does have to compete with Flagging Hands specifically, so….



: When she notices Rukey, she stops him for some questioning.

: Greentail. How is he doing.

: Who, Hedwyn? Oh, he’s pretty much the same. Been up all night, retching into the waters if I had to guess. His first time out at sea?

: His first.

: She turns to you.

: Reader. Please check on Hedwyn when you have the opportunity. He requires our support, and we require his swift recovery.

: You wish them a good afternoon as you go check up on the others in the group.



: Oh… hello, my friend, it’s just… the sea hasn’t been good for me, I guess. It’s funny… all this trouble… just to get back to the Commonwealth, of all places.

: Hey… tell me something… what do you miss, the most, about that place?



: An interesting question. Since we are the Reader, this is really just an opportunity to flesh out our character a little bit. We know that we were banished for the crime of being literate, and that while the Downside isn’t a comforting or accommodating place, the Commonwealth isn’t exactly peaches and cream itself.

: I suppose missing our book collection would be a pretty hefty loss, seeing as we were willing to risk safety and security for it. That said, it’s probably all been burnt by now.

: I don’t know about us having friends in the Commonwealth… if owning a book is enough to send a person here, then damn, I’d hate to know what the punishment is for grabbing a beer with the boys. Also, I don’t want it to seem like we’re suggesting to Hedwyn that I don’t consider the group we have to be friends.

: That leaves… the food? I mean, the last thing that we came across that might be edible was called a Noxshroom. Would you want to eat something called a Noxshroom? Surely the Commonwealth has something better than that?



: The food! That’s a surprise. I… always thought the food was terrible.

: Hah, I hope you’re not offended…! You just… I think maybe you haven’t tried real food. One day, if we luck out, and find ourselves decent enough ingredients… I’ll cook something for you, OK?

: Anyway, I… I’ll be fine, I think. Thank you for checking up on me.

: You sense he wishes to be alone. There is not much to be done for him for now.



: Well. Rather than a nerf to any of our stats, we’ve lost an entire player to a little bout of seasickness.

: Our next Rite at the Hulk of Ores is just a stone’s throw away! Now that we’ve established that one of our players cannot participate, I suppose now is as good a time as any to determine who will be on our roster for the coming game.

: Who do we bring into the next Rite? Excluding Hedwyn, our options are Rukey, Jodariel, Mae, or Ti’zo. Five votes gets them onto the team, and remember, the order you vote for them counts!