Part 11: Winged Terrors

: Winged Terrors – Gameplay
: Music: Sky Dance



: Although he had a hefty amount of Inspiration banked, Hedwyn is still only around halfway to his next level up. He’s got a way to go!



: Rukey, on the other hand….




: Like I had explained before, the two second-level perks in the right-hand tree currently available to us are Explosive Temper (when Rukey banishes adversaries by casting his Aura, the detonation can take out other nearby adversaries) and Keen Eye (Rukey’s Aura goes 50% further when cast).

: Our range has never really been an issue with Rukey’s Aura. He’s very fast and his Aura lingers three times longer than anyone else’s, thanks to Jomeur’s Fang. He’s very much a run-and-gunner, capable of getting into position easily and getting a snipe before repositioning. So, I’m not interested in Keen Eye.

: Explosive Temper, on the other hand, will basically allow Rukey to shoot tiny, Ti’zo-like explosions whenever he gets a kill. Explosive Temper seems like the better of the two options to me, so gimme that.




: And finally, Pamitha is just shy of a level-up herself. The next time she participates, she’ll definitely be getting something.



: …Don’t worry, I won’t be staying any longer than it takes. I like my air fresh so I can sleep up on the roof. I trust the Rites will cause my path and Tamitha’s to cross again before long.

: You’re welcome with us for now, Pamitha. Trust is what got us here. Isn’t that right, Rukey?

: But Rukey does not seem to hear the question. He has been rather quiet since first encountering your new guest.

: Pamitha shoots him one of her smiles.



: Is that what they call it nowadays?

: He runs off. During this discussion, the minstrel pulls you aside.

: Reader…? I ask a moment of your time outside.





Gfy

: If you can get past the dragons made out of briar patches holy fuck that looks like quite the pleasant place to have a Rite.

: The Glade of Lu, directly due west… then, it is just as my client indicated.

: This client of yours… our informant… Sandalwood. He entrusted us with this wagon. This quest. Why? What does he want from us?

: You may ask him yourself. He awaits us, somewhere in Wakingwood, due west.

: How do we find him?

: He shall find us.

: It seems you are soon to finally meet Sandalwood… at dawn, you shall have to cross a single narrow path leading west, where he supposedly awaits.



: Somebody’s a bit of a night owl, it seems. Couldn’t hurt to give them the good word.



: I’m still a bit cautious around Pamitha, but conversation is a good start to building some trust between us. Let’s see what’s on her mind.

: Also, if the character portraits in the blackwagon are supposed to be to scale, Pamitha is much shorter than her other portraits and gameplay model suggests.



: You approach Pamitha, who has kept to herself since she joined your small band. You sense she is unaware of you as she preens her flight feathers. But then, she speaks up before you can do the same.

: Come to check up on me, Reader darling?

: This is the first time that my ‘sensing’ someone’s thoughts or motives has failed me, meaning that Pamitha may have the ability to hide herself from my all-seeing eye. To be fair, this doesn’t mean that I should trust her less, because doing so would mean that I’d be a paranoid control freak – Pamitha is entitled to the privacy of her own thoughts. But still, it does mean that she’s more of a wildcard than I thought.

: In those first moments when we met, the misgivings you relayed to that nice Hedwyn boy. I wouldn’t have trusted in me, either. One of your kind’s ancient enemies just happens to insert herself into your group, and you just go with it…?

: However, I assure you that my motives here are plain. You’ll see. I’ve business with my blood-sister Tamitha, and nothing more. You briefly met, I think. She’s quite a catch.

: As to the little quibble between us, well… it’s a long story, all in all. One that’s frankly no one’s business but hers and mine.

: Surely we’re run into her again, maybe not soon, but in time, and we have the rest of our long lives to wait.



: Until then, stay vigilant, darling. You needn’t concern yourself with making small talk with someone like me, and besides, we Harps have a saying: ‘Liars abound.’

: She swoops away before you can respond.

: It’s reassuring that the Harp, blood-sister of another Harp that wants to kill and burn my home, who inserted herself into my group, and continually insists that she isn’t lying and that she’s laid her motives out in plain view, basically just said that all Harps are liars. I’ve got my eye on you, Pamitha.




: Whoa, that’s a handful of places to go coming up next.



Gfy

: The wagon has hit a snag, descending the black crags. Its wheel is stuck. Jodariel is not pleased.

: First, that blasted little bird. Now, this.

: Though you lack Jodariel’s raw strength, you join in as she attempts to dislodge the wagon.



: In case you misread it, Jodariel is pissed off enough to chuck a wagonboat.

: …May this Sandalwood be worth all of the hassle.

: Thank you, Jodi. I’m guessing Sandalwood doesn’t like to be kept waiting.

: He is very patient, on the contrary.

: Not I. Let us move on.

: Soon, the wagon is prepared to press onward, down the jagged slopes, toward Wakingwood. Your companions who explored ahead advise on which of the forked paths is best.



: Man, the area ahead is even busier than that! Wakingwood is a very dense place, apparently. Let’s see what our current options are.




: Vendor trash, or a Talisman. It’s actually kind of a difficult call.

: On the one hand, we could always use more money. Things cost a lot of it in the Downside, and we should take opportunities to get cash more often than I honestly have been through this Let’s Play. On top of that, we have no idea what this ‘Talisman’ could be.

: On the other hand, we went dumpster diving for vendor trash not too long ago, and our coffers are… well, they could be better, but they could also be worse. Like all things, and while we do need as much cash as we can get, opting to constantly get vendor trash is opting to forgo other bonuses that we could make use of.

: On top of both of those, the thread hasn’t had the opportunity to vote for either Gilman or Pamitha, so I can’t use their bias to choose for me.

: … you know what? Prove to me you’re on our side, Pamitha. Get us one helluva Talisman.



Gfy

: Having gone the route Pamitha recommended, she directs you toward a particular crag, no more conspicuous than any other.

: They clip our wings before they cast us down, you know. But, just the same, we learn to flit around a little bit. Just watch.

: Pamitha swoops up to a nearby peak, and disappears behind it.



: For you, Reader darling. We Highwing Remnants stash away such things for such occasions.




: Holy shit, that’s a huge number. This sort of speed could mean the difference between a score and an interception, as has happened multiple times already, and we generally want shots from half-court as opposed to slam dunks because then we get to keep our player.

: And I’m planning on giving Jodariel the third-level perk Celestial Spike, which will allow her to banish anyone she throws the Orb at. She’s already incredibly imposing and overpowering on defense; giving her this with Celestial Spike would provide her with two fistfuls of utility on offense as well. If we can find a way to buff her Quickness a bit, she’d be our star forward.

: … good work, Pamitha.



Gfy

: Having passed beyond the black crags, your wagon arrives at the edge of Wakingwood. It is here that Sandalwood is to be expecting you. However…

: …Most puzzling. He ought have met us here.

: You said he would find us himself.

: Aye… he was to find us at the edge of these woods.

: We supposed to keep waiting for him?

: He would desire for the stars to be your guide, as always. The Rites beckon, and the Rites take precedence above all else. Surely he shall find us, yet.

: Then, let’s keep moving. How do we get through these woods?

: The Lone Minstrel notes two possible paths forward from this point, though cautions that the woods are difficult to navigate, and Sandalwood would have known the most expedient path.





: Based on the name “Needlefield,” I think there might be a little bit more to this ‘small clearing’ than the game might be telling me. Besides that, though, the goal we’re trying to achieve is to find Sandalwood as we approach the Glade of Lu. Where could he be?

: Well, in order to come to my decision, I ask myself another question: if I were Sandalwood, where would I be? Would I be at my house, or would I be at school?



Gfy

: Sandalwood has led a long life, compared with any of you at least. In the latest years of his exile, he became rather reclusive for a variety of reasons he shall no doubt explain. He found some solace here, in these woods. Though I fear I cannot locate his residence without him.

: Unfortunately, you find no trace of Sandalwood, and without him there to guide you, you remain quite lost.

: The woods seem to have encroached. There is no path forward, while neither of the paths leading backward appear to match the route you took to this point.



: Jeez, we’re just going in a bunch of circles here. I suppose it’s ultimately better to try and backtrack to familiar territory than try to press forward.




: Currently, Mae is one of the only characters in our troupe that has not led us astray: every time we chose a path she recommends, something great has happened for us. Unfortunately, I’m not playing by those rules.

: The last time we used Ti’zo and Mae were against the Pyrehearts in the Sea of Solis. They were both in the Rite – but Ti’zo was voted as the forward and Mae as the support. So, since we’re slightly more biased in Ti’zo’s favour, we’re going with him this time.

: Also, if you remember way back against Barker and the Dissidents, Tariq implies that Ti’zo has some history with the Nightwings. Maybe he knows where to find Sandalwood?


Gfy

: The woods are so disorienting, at this point, that you decide to break for camp and survey the surroundings for any clues. Perhaps, later, there shall be time to pursue your Vocations.



: Oooooh, that’s an interesting one. Let’s not keep Sandra waiting.



: Well, first, we’re in a brand new biome. May as well chat up Sandra a bit before we get down to brass tacks.

: Let me ask you something, lovely Reader. Have you any idea for how long I have been imprisoned here?



: Uh… well, we know that it was so long that she hates her fellow inmates. She was imprisoned in the Beyonder Crystal during, or roughly around, the time of Soliam Murr and the start of the Rites and the lives of the Scribes – her punishment came directly from them, after all.

: A hundred years is too short, but a thousand years seems a bit too long to me. Maybe I’ll humour her and ballpark a lower number?



: You guess that Sandra could have been in her current state of exile for the span of an entire century.

: She smirks at this.

: A reasonable guess. But you are off by a wide margin.

: I have been imprisoned thus for 837 years.

: … looking good!

: According to my count, at least. It is possible I have lost track, although, given my state I can assure you that I have had ample time to verify my arithmetic.

: She goes silent for a time.



: If you decide to kill the Emperor, make sure you achieve what you set out to do. I expected my own death, regardless of the outcome of my task. I was not expecting this… certainly not to be telling you about it 837 years later. Or however long that it has been.

: …Although, enough of that for now. Let us get back to business.



: I heard that you’re looking to slap around one of my companions to see if they’re worthy of a boon.

: Certainly, my Reader. You need but indicate who is to be my subject for this round.



: You ask Sandra to administer one of her special trials for Jodariel.

: That surly demon, is it? She could stand to lighten up, though I fear that is not a secret I can teach. But, let us bring her forth, regardless.



: What is the meaning of this, Reader?


Gfy



: What is the meaning of this…. Reader! Where are the others?

: The apparition Sandra appears, and loosens her mask.

: Welcome to my humble home, Demon. You are good at taking orders, no?

: State your purpose quickly, wraith.

: My purpose is to put you to the test.

: You may be fearsome to behold, but you are old and slow. Your weaknesses perhaps outweigh your strengths. Though, I sorely wish to see you and your lovely Reader prove me wrong.

: Old, she says. Very well, then, Reader. Let us show her whether she is right.


: To The Test – Gameplay



: Hm. What do you have there, Reader?




: I’m kind of on the fence about this Talisman. Sure, it sounds pretty brutal on paper, but, like with Rukey, Jodariel’s long-distance range was never really an issue. Also, her Power Cast is pretty easy to hit, so the speed with which her Aura travels was never a particularly damning weakness for me. I dunno, I’ll give it a shot, but I’ll probably swap in the Star Splinter once I get Celestial Spike.



: Now, on to more pressing matters.