Part 19: 14.B: Wherewithal

Gfy

: The vote was a little tighter than usual, but we’ve decided that we’re going to tackle Dalbert and the Fate at the Ridge of Gol. It’s been a while since we’ve seen Dalbert; he’s one of the few truly good people in the Downside and I’m looking forward to meeting him again. I mean, it’s a shame we’re going to have to beat him into the dirt in a game of Sportsball, but, you know, that’s tertiary to the fact.

: So we’re to go against the Fate again… adversaries or no, I hope Dalbert and Almer have been holding up. Seems they’ve been through quite a lot.

: He then shares with you what detail he attained of your next adversaries.

: Dalbert Oldheart. An adversary who showed you respect and even generosity. Despite his advanced age, he also made for a formidable opponent. He, and his son.



: Dalbert taught his son everything he knew of his cultural heritage, as a descendant of one of the alpha-chiefs thought to be descended from Jomuer Many-Mane himself. However, his more-vocal attempts to preserve old cur traditions in the Commonwealth often fell on deaf ears, or even roused the anger of officials.

: One day, he insisted on celebrating Fang-Song, against the wishes of his family. His family’s caution was well-founded in this case, and he was taken into custody.

: … you know, I’m not sure what to feel here. On the one hand, Dalbert’s a good guy and he just wanted to celebrate a cur holiday. But on the other hand, that holiday is about celebrating a single pack of curs defeating an entire imperial brigade, and a verse in the Song of the Chief is about Jomuer soaking in the blood of his enemies. I could imagine that celebrating the defeat of the empire, in the empire, might not have been the best of ideas.

: As for Almer: As his Father was led away, he put up enough of a fight to where he wound up sharing his Father’s cell, and soon enough, his sentence. In the Downside, their faith brought them in contact with a pack of spiritual curs residing in Jomuer Valley.

: In time, they became acquainted with the Rites, and helped to revitalize the long-struggling triumvirate known as the Fate. They have since struggled on, at times flirting with freedom, though seldom getting within striking distance. Yet, still, they long to find a way to return to their ancestral home and family.

: Poor Dalbert. Seems like a decent-enough sort, same for his son. In any case, we’ll see them soon enough. Let’s get some rest for now.

: You bid Hedwyn a good evening. It is too late to take flight, so you make plans to rise at down to continue your travels.



: Might as well get some reading in and have a chat with a friend before turning in.




: Hey, good work out there today, Ti’zo. If it weren’t for me being a dingus, we would have shutout the Accusers. I bet that would have felt amazing.



: (Ti’zo seems unhappy about something Lendel said to him. Ti’zo understands full well why Lendel is angry with him.)

: (While Ti’zo does not like Lendel as a person, he recognizes nonetheless that he denied his freedom.)

: It sucks to hear, Ti’zo, but unfortunately, for someone like Jodariel to win their freedom, someone must also lose. And, let’s be honest with each other: would you really want to see Lendel return to whatever position he was in back at the Commonwealth? ‘Absolved of all misdeeds?’ That’s not an opportunity I’d like to see Lendel obtain.

: (It was a Liberation Rite. He did what he felt necessary. He wanted to help his friend go free.)

: (Nonetheless, he still feels a certain guilt, and regrets that the Rites force exiles into such situations.)

: The Rites and the Scribes ain’t forcing nobody to do shit. It’s the Commonwealth that are putting these people into these positions; the Rites are even offering them the chance to redeem themselves, where without them, everybody would be stuck in the Downside forever. All the more to hope that Volfred’s plan for a revolution succeeds.

: He falls silent for a while… whether the Eight Scribes ever intended for imps such as he to participate in the Rites first-hand is difficult to know for certain. Then…

: Remember: the first Scribe and the author of the damn Book was an imp. And, quite possibly, your ancestor, Ti’zo.



: (He promises to keep doing his best to live up to the legacy of the Scribes.)

: He bounds up into the rafters with some of the other drive-imps. Regardless of whether he truly is a descendant of Ha’ub the Swallow, surely the Scribes would have been proud of him.

: … that’s a lot of words I wrote where I’m holding a conversation about morals and ethics with a videogame character. Let’s read a book.


Gfy

: You know what? Have three pages this time, why not.






: Okay! We’ve done everything that’s for us here at the Nest of Triesta. Let’s begin our trek to the Ridge of Gol.



: Our movement south takes us to Deathless Tempest, where I make a couple passes over the place to find any points of interest… and we come across a friend.



: It’s Tamitha and the Essence! Let’s go say hi.



: Hold… no. We are merely being mocked.

: By none other than the Nightwings…. Mock us all you wish, then, wastrels of the Commonwealth.

: The sight of you, in that utterly outlandish wagon… your mere existence is an affront to the act of flight. Would that my Sisters and I could soar tireless and free as once we did, but nay… we must resort to such ignoble means of travel, such as you.

: Now, stay away from us, lest our vengeance should extend beyond your Commonwealth, and become much more personal in nature.

: You keep on keeping on, you ray of sunshine, you.



: While we’re here, there is indeed a point of interest on this little island nearby.



: Best to avert your gaze from the Isle of Khaylmer. Even the Scribes themselves thought to avoid the place…. Let us fly on.

: … okay, I guess I didn’t. The Ridge of Gol is as south as south can be in the Downside, so we got a ways to go yet.




: Our next landmark to visit is the Sea of Solis, where we actually run into another one of our friends here. It’s Sir Deluge and the Pyrehearts! If they’re anything like Sir Gilman, the very concept of flight has them terrified to their very cores.

: Let’s crash into them.



: You overhear Sir Deluge in a full-on panic as his fellow wyrm-knights attempt to calm him down.

: yussss

: Wh-wha, what do you mean, it was the Nightwings?! W-w-we are not to face them in our c-coming Rite, again, are we?!

: Luckily for you, we opted to focus our sights somewhere else this time. But your luck won’t last forever, Deluge.

: At some point, he realizes your wagon is aloft, beside his own.

: Y-y-you, Nightwings!! This knight shall not forgive you this t-t-transgression!! Once we p-prevail against whichever adversaries are d-d-DOOMED to face us next, then, we shall come for YOU!!

: I’ll be looking forward to it, Deluge.



: While we were chatting with Deluge, a third party actually came along and landed at Ragged Rock. And when we move to investigate…



: It’s the Tempers and the Chastity – Ignarius and Tinderstauf, here to face off in the Sea of Solis! This is really neat, and it answers the question I had earlier, where other triumvirates will continue to compete against each other regardless of what we, as the Nightwings, are doing in the meantime.

: I wish we could watch! Not only would I have loved to see Ignarius perform against someone other than us, I’d also love to see Manley get his shit pushed in. But, unfortunately, there’s no option to sit and watch – the stars have ordained that we make it to the Ridge of Gol by the time they next shine, and we can’t afford to miss our game.

: I mean… we can. We’re the Nightwings. The Rites don’t continue without us. But, you know.




: We can make a quick detour in the Wyrm Gulf to view another point of interest on our journey south.



: We are very, very, very, very high above the waters, if this knight is not mistaken. This knight’s brethren lurk beneath the surface there, in numbers untold! Fortunately!! If we were to come crashing to the surface now, then, this knight, why, he would receive a watery burial, in the custom of his kind!

: That’s… good? But let’s not do that, what do you say?




: Continuing south, we come to Flagging Hands, where we see Barker and the Dissidents have already set up shop. Seeing as we had the option to confront Deluge and the Pyrehearts here, that’s likely who their opponents are instead.

: That would also be a fun match to watch! Wyrms and curs are both very fast; where curs are stronger forwards, wyrms can be harder to maneuver around and could really give someone as ground-based as Barker a run for their money. But, unfortunately, we can’t.

: There is, however, a point of interest as Big Bertrude’s.



: I am certain that Big Bertrude must have left a strong impression on you all. She is not easy to forget. I’ve known her since before my exile, or hers. She’s been here a long time.

: I’ve sent my agents to re-pay her for assisting you, and to send her our regards. The old wagon must have been in need of some repairs.

: Well, like I said, she knows how to clean up.



: Our final biome before finally returning to the Downside Prairie and the Ridge of Gol is Jomuer Valley. And, we come across two more triumvirates gearing up for a showdown:



: It’s Lendel and the Accusers against Udmildhe and the Withdrawn. If I were a betting man, I think I’d put money on Udmildhe winning – not because I don’t like Lendel (I’m not exactly Udmildhe’s fan either), but because Lendel’s triumvirate consists entirely of nomads, where Udmildhe has a nomad, a savage, and herself. Lendel’s team is very well-rounded, but a jack of all trades is a master of none, and all.

: Interestingly, there are no points of interest here in Jomuer Valley. Which is weird; you’d think someone would have something to say about the giant skeleton or the giant scorpion carcass, but, nothing.

: Oh well. Just one more biome south, and we’ll be in the Downside Prairie. Also, fun to note that, excluding ourselves, the Fate, and the Beyonders, we’ve run into every single triumvirate since we’ve left the Nest of Triesta.



: We’re finally back, and we have our choice in landing spot as usual. But, before that, there’s a point of interest on the Ridge of Gol itself.



: The myths of the Downside hold that it is no mere ridge of stone, but the remains of Lord Gandroth, once slain by Gol Golathanian, himself.

: Though… perhaps such tales are of little import, now, when you stand to confront the Fate there in just a short while.

: Okay! Finally, we’re ready to land and make our way to the Fate. The only question is: where to?




: Man, the game is really insistent on putting Tamitha and Sir Gilman at odds when it comes to which direction to take. I think this is the third time, now?

: Well, the last time we saw either Sir Gilman or Pamitha was just one Rite ago, against the Accusers in the Nest of Triesta. The thread didn’t actually put one above the other – the vote was for Ti’zo, ‘and the two companions with the lowest Enlightenment.’ That happened to be Gilman and Pamitha.

: I happened to select Pamitha first, so normally, I guess that would mean that we’d go with her… but, fuck it, we’ve chosen her every single time so far. A Vocation would be nice and all, but I’m going to give Sir Gilman a chance to prove himself.

: Also… when last we were in the Downside Prairie, Jodariel wanted to go to the Bloomingpool and I turned her down.


Gfy



: You now should have some time in the vicinity before continuing onward toward the Ridge of Gol by land.



: A handful of things to do here, including… judging a sparring contest? Sure, I’m down for that.

: Before that, though, we have a handful of things to do in the blackwagon. Nobody’s in the mood to chat, which will give us plenty of time to read and to hang out with Sandra for a bit.

: Also, we got a new souvenir from the Prairie.




Gfy




: Let’s not keep Sandra waiting. She’s done plenty of that already.



: Dumb question, but, anything new with you?

: You know, my lovely Reader, I must admit that I did not expect your little followers to be quite so receptive to instruction as thus far they have proved. I know not whether they owe it all to you, or have somewhat more to them than I was first inclined to think. In any case, however, I am pleased that they are not entirely disgraceful.

: I like to keep my expectations well in check, seeing as I have been thus expelled until the end of time. So, it is pleasant when those expectations are exceeded, every now and then.

: Although, I cannot quite recall when last that was….

: But, the best part of all of this are these brief times in which you visit me in my domain. I know you cannot for long. This damned crystal in which I am enthralled shall see to that.

: What a genuinely sweet thing to say, that she looks forward to when we visit her.

: Though as you have perhaps surmised, whenever it decides that one of your little friends is worthwhile enough, why, I can offer them a Trial, and likewise, I can offer you a chat. Sometimes I think, as you achieve those Trials of mine, perhaps it does something to trim the length of my eternal banishment. Eternity being what it is, however… perhaps not.

: Sandra’s in an awfully affectionate mood today, saying that she anticipates our meetings and that our time with her is so worthwhile that it’s cutting down her eternal sentencing. That’s high praise, especially coming from her! Also, note, she’s been all smiles since we’ve started the discussion.

: Still, if the trophies of those blasted Scribes are worth something to you, then all you need is but to brave my Trials, and they can be yours. And, perhaps, there’s good in it for me, as well.



: …I’ve likely said too much. I am not to influence you in your use of the Beyonder Crystal. It is not there to be tampered with, by anyone, including me. Forget what I said.

: Oh. Well… I’ll be sure to keep that in mind, the next time I use the crystal entirely of my own volition. In the meantime, I heard you were looking to pick a fight?

: Just name the victim, and I shall be more than pleased to make him or her suffer for a bit.



: Knock her dead, Ti’zo.

: … wait.

: You ask Sandra to administer one of her special trials for Ti’zo.

: I dare think I remember something of that imp… he certainly stood out from all his ilk, although that really is not saying much. Well, let us bring him forth.

: Ti’zo soon appears, in heed of the summons.

: (Ti’zo seems to be prepared for whatever lies ahead.)



Gfy

: The apparition Sandra appears, and unfastens her mask.

: Listen well, Imp. You answer to me here.

: (Ti’zo indicates his understanding, and is prepared to being Sandra’s Trial.)

: You know the formalities, of course. Show me, then, what you have learned thus far about the Rites. Here, in this trial, it shall be just you, my Beyonders, and your lovely Reader. Let us see now how you fare.


: Formalities – Gameplay

: Luckily, nobody watches the Sandra matches, so nobody will ever know how poorly that just went.





: Thirty-five percent is a pretty huge number, and with this Talisman, Ti’zo will be annoying as hell for enemies to try and keep pace with. Him being able to fly is already a significant bonus, and with this, adversaries will be spending most of their time trying to bat him out of the sky – if they can keep pace with him to begin with.

: But you know what’s better than a thirty-five percent Stamina bonus? A forty-percent Stamina bonus.



: I’m sorely tempted to use another Pinch to put that forty-percent to a staggering fifty. But I’ll hold off for now; we’ll see what’s in store for the future, and we’ll browse Ron’s stuff first.



: Now, then, someone said something about a sparring–

: WHO AMONG YOU HAS THE WHEREWITHAL TO FACE THIS KNIGHT?

: Being in the wind-swept fields of Bloomingpool makes this the perfect time for a quick jousting competition, Sir Gilman says. He just needs a partner.



: Given how non-committal the phrase ‘one of your companions’ is, I wonder if Rukey being selected wasn’t random. A jousting session between Gilman and, I dunno, Mae would have been entertaining.

: I got your number, chum! Nobody’s quicker than old Rukey Greentail!

: At this, Sir Gilman launches into a litany of instruction, detailing the specific methods of Sea-Dominion ceremonial combat. At last, the two competitors take their positions and then rush toward one another. They collide, then flail away, trading blow for blow…. It all seems rather senseless.

: When at last they stop and catch their breath, Sir Gilman approaches you.

: This knight would have you choose the victory of this bout, Master-Reader! WHO PREVAILED?!

: You have no idea how to evaluate what you just say, but think it best to humor them.



: Well, it being a tie satisfies nobody, so that’s immediately out.

: Given that I saw nothing; I know nothing of the rules; the game did not describe what happened; and that Rukey was clearly just humoring Gilman by stepping forward when nobody else would; I think my safest option would be to choose Gilman. I really doubt Rukey would take it too seriously if I told him he lost Gilman’s spontaneous sparring match.



: You declare the winner is none other than Sir Gilman. He beams with pride.

: It seems this knight yet retains something of the ancient methods of his kind!

: Rukey congratulates him on an honorable fight.



: Well, that’s a lovely bonus. It makes me wonder what I would have gotten if I had chosen either of the other options; maybe Gilman would have gotten a big bonus to Hope or Glory?

: In any case, it’s time to move on. We’ve left the Fate waiting long enough.




Gfy



: Hedwyn will probably be relieved to hear this.

: You learn Jodariel’s past transgression have all been forgiven. She soon was to be reinstated on the Bloodborder, on the presumption that she wanted her old status back. In fact, she was offered an especially prestigious leadership position in the First Veil, for a demon such as she could not be seen in the streets.

: But, she refused the gesture… rather bluntly, the report suggests.

: Instead, she sought Volfred’s agents, as well as several of her former fostered sons and daughters. And so, the ranks of the revolution grow stronger.

: The last part of the messenger-imp’s news must have been damaged in transit, though appears to be in Jodariel’s own words. All you can tell is that it says “Await”.

: You thank the messenger-imp for relaying this information. Your companions are excited to discuss the news.

: That must not sit well with the Commonwealth – a demon was been forgiven of all transgressions and cannot be sent back to the Downside. They offered her a position in their most elite military corporation, but she turned it down specifically so she could join a rebel faction with the explicit endgoal of tearing the Commonwealth apart.

: Do you think she still has her horns, now that she’s back up there?

: (Ti’zo is fired up about the news of Jodariel’s return to the Commonwealth.)

: You give it to ‘em for us, Jodi!! I knew you had it in you!

: She is an inspiration to us all!! Or, to this knight, she is at least!

: Tsch. Wonder what the rest of her message said.

: There’s nothing she can’t handle. I miss her bad sometimes but I’m glad she’s all right.

: The news of Jodariel’s liberation fills you and your fellow exiles with newfound resolve.



: Old man Dalbert will have no idea what hit him.



Gfy

: Huh, nobody’s in a really talkative mood. That’s cool; less work for me. Let’s just check out those pages and see if Ron’s got anything new in store.


Gfy







: Ron’s actually got some interesting new wares. The first thing is another hit of Stardust, but if you notice, the blunt is actually much larger than the pinches we’ve been getting lately: from a ‘pinch’ to a full-blown ‘scoop.’



: And, excitingly, the other Talisman available is called the Burning Promise. Whoever holds it gets 5 Sol for every dunk they get on an enemy’s Pyre (up to three times per match).



: That’s huge. This basically renders the Lucrative Contract obsolete: not only does the Burning Promise pay more, but it’s far more consistent and requires less effort (insofar as getting a dunk is easier than getting a banishment, which is completely dependent on playstyle and character strengths). It also only costs 20 Sol. Hell yes I want that.



: I’m also pretty tempted on the Scoop of Stardust – I tend to not put a lot of money into Stardust, but that’s a huge boost to any Talisman, and considering that one pinch saved Ti’zo an extra 5% on his stamina, I can only imagine would a hit this big would do to any other unique Talisman, or even to the Burning Promise. You gotta spend money to make money, after all!

: But, I hold off on buying the scoop for now. After buying the Promise, I only have 117 Sol to my name, and the scoop would knock me down a huge peg. I’ll wait and see how my money is doing by the next Rite.




: We’ve flown across the entire Downside for the opportunity to face off against Dalbert and the Fate once more. It’s time we finally stop putting it off and play a kickass game of Sportsball against them once more.

: You and the others are busying yourself for the commencement of the Rite this evening when you notice Mae behaving strangely… more than usual.

: Maybe he is here, I mean, I think, he has to be, somewhere nearby?

: She notices you then.

: Oh! I’m sorry, Mister, I was just, I was just…! Oh, it’s just, I think maybe my friend is here?

: And, I was hoping to say hi to him. Before we have to do the ceremony with the star-ball.

: Wait, is that… that’s him, that’s him, my friend is here, he’s here!!

: Just then, your adversaries, the Fate, arrive on the other side of the Ridge of Gol. They begin making necessary preparations. Mae rushes over to them before anyone can stop her, even as the stars above start shining through the darkness.


Gfy



: Oh, hello again, hello!

: Why… hello, indeed, young one. We are the Fate, and once again, we hail you, and all the Nightwings.

: Thanks! Um, I was wondering, may I speak to your son?

: Why… I… I do not see why not, but, let me see here, Almer!! Almer, where are you?

: Begging your pardon, young one, but my son, he is not always punctual, you see. Hold, I shall go and fetch him.

: Oh… OK, I mean, my friend, I… hope that he remembers me.

: God, look at how excited she is



: Oh, hello, hello again! Your Father, he went looking for you, he… did you not see him?

: No, I did not see him…. This had best not be some Nightwings trick, or else, I’ll…!!

: Ah, there you are, Almer. Our cordial adversary wishes to salute you, I believe.

: Oh! That’s right, I mean… here, this is my salute! I am saluting you! It’s nice to see you, and… and, may the Scribes watch over you, OK?

: I want them to watch over us as well, but maybe, just this time, or… not just this time, but this and other times, maybe… they can watch over all of us, OK?



: …An unusual sort, that one.

: She is.

: …She is about your age?

: Father!!

: Dalbert’s just calling them as he sees them.





: It’s time for another vote on who we should bring into the Rite against the Fate!

: As usual, you can choose any three of our available options between Hedwyn, Rukey, Mae, Ti’zo, Sir Gilman, and Pamitha. Five votes gets them onto our roster against the Fate, and remember, the order you vote them in matters!