Part 87: Tanya

Chapter 19: Tanya


There is a feeling of coldness about the child that fills you with sorrow…and a touch of fear.

Hello! Vana is so happy to be back with us now.
Oooohh sshhoooooorrd rrrreeeeeaaavvvv.
He’s our friend now, Toby. You shouldn’t tell friends to leave.
I see you’re still playing with Vana.
Toby gave her to me. Mommy didn’t like her. She kept trying to make me tell where I got Vana from. Mommy wouldn’t let me play with her. I was afraid Mommy wouldn’t let me play with Toby anymore. Toby was my only friend. I didn’t want Mommy to make Toby go away.
Eeeiii oooood aaavv iiissshh deeehhh iiissshh’rreeesshh.
I told Toby all about it, and Toby brought me here to Aunt Trina. She never takes my toys or friends away.
I’m sure your mommy thought she was helping you. Don’t you miss her?
Mommy and me always used to play and sing together, but then she said we don’t have time to do that anymore, and we had to work hard all the time to keep the inn nice and clean. When it got night, she made me go to bed all by myself in the dark. It was scary. I was afraid the Bad Things would get me. Nobody heard me when I cried. When I went out to the inn, Daddy would yell at me to get back to bed. I was scared. Daddy wouldn’t let me have a candle. he said it would bring the Bad Things. I didn’t like the dark.
Oooohh oohhnnn’ aaavv ‘oooo rrreeeeaaarrr eehh rrraaarrrck nnnnooooouuu, iiissshh’rreeesshh.
Then Toby came to my window at night. He would hold me and talk to me and tell me he would keep the Bad Things away from me all night. I didn’t have to be scared again. I had Toby. When Mommy took my doll away, I was afraid she’d make Toby go away. So I went away with Toby. Now I’m not afraid of the dark. I like the night. Aunt Trina says the Bad Things will never get me now. And I have Toby to take care of me.
Eeii rrriiivvv ‘oooo sshheeerrrruuh oooohh, iiissshh’rreeesshh.
But sometimes I still miss my mommy.
What about your daddy? Do you miss him?
I remember Daddy used to be happy. He would take me out walking around and talking to everyone in town. The inn was always busy with new people to talk to. I could stay up and dance while Mommy sang for people. Then the rains came and people didn’t come to the inn anymore. Daddy said there were too many Bad Things. He wouldn’t take me walking. He made me go to bed when it got dark. He said the Bad Things would try to get me. I can’t go home again. Aunt Trina says this is my home now. She says Mommy and Daddy will think I’m a Bad Thing now. They won’t love me anymore.
Oooouuurrr ooooonnn iiisshh eeeerrrr, iiissshh’rreeesshh. Eeeee ‘aaaaiiirrr vvvoooorrr oooohh, ‘oooo.
Toby says this is my home now and he loves me very much.
Do you think you could go home if you weren’t a Bad Thing?
Yeah! Then maybe Toby and I could visit them.
vvvvaaaaaad iiisshh aa nnaaa’eeerrr ooovvvv eeerrrsshhee’ssshhhoooonnnn.
Toby says I’m not a Bad Thing. It’s just Mommy and Daddy who think I’m a Bad Thing now. I’m not their child now.
Don’t say that! I’ve talked to your parents, and both of them miss you a lot. Your mommy keeps having dreams about you, did you know that?
Really? I miss my mommy, too. Sometimes I want to cry, but I can’t anymore. I just feel sad.
What if I told you there was a way you could stop being a Bad Thing and go see your mommy and daddy again?
Really? How’s that?
There is a very special spell in Erana’s Staff that returns full life to the person who goes to it. It can make you a normal girl again.
I like the Staff. It always made such pretty flowers in town. You say it will make me all better and I won’t be a Bad Thing anymore?
That’s right.
Oh, Toby! I can see Mommy and Daddy again!
Vvvaaaaahhhh’sshh deeehhh ckaaa’sshh?
Toby asks what else will the staff do?
Well, the Staff can’t exactly make life. There’s a sacrifice of one life for another, and it has to be willing.
Vvveeeerrrrrii vvveeerrr. ‘Aaaaeeck uuusshh ‘ooousshh.
Toby says he understands. He says you should take us to the Staff now, so I can be with Mommy and Daddy again!


It feels weird here. Kind of happy…and icky. I’m scared.
Eeii sshhaaarrr rrroo’eegg oooohh, iiissshh’rreeesshh.
I know you’ll protect me, Toby. But who will protect you?
Oooohh ‘aaaann, iiissshh’rreeesshh.
Okay, Toby. I’ll protect you.


There’s a bit of a bug where anyone with Magic skill will “cast the Ritual of Release.” Just ignore it.

“The Sacrifice of Life for Love.”


“Your love for the child is great.”

You see Toby silently nod his head.

“Will you trade your Life to give Life to the child?”

Uuhh huuhh.

“Will you die willingly for the one you love?”

Uuhh huuhh.
No, Toby! No!

“So shall the sacrifice be done!”




“So is the Sacrifice complete. I am again the Staff of Erana.”


Guess I’d better grab it.

I’m sorry, Toby. I didn’t protect you too good, did I?



You take the sobbing child in your arms and carry her to the inn. You awaken her parents and are overwhelmed by their gratitude and joy. It is long before you manage to escape to the peace of your own room for what is left of the night.


I must thank you for saving our Tanya. You have brought joy again into our lives. We are in your debt.


Not mine, really. Toby is the one who really gave everything to give you Tanya again.
Yes, I remember your story last night. He may have looked like a monster, but he obviously had a heart and mind of great kindness.
How’s Tanya doing?
She is her joyful self again. The sound of a child’s voice is the sweetest of music. We will do our best to show her our love, and never let her be afraid of the dark again. You know…I have always found it difficult to express emotion. Mordavian men are not supposed to show such things, as you know. Yet I cried freely when you brought Tanya back to us. I cannot remember ever being so…happy.
How do you feel, Tanya?
I’m happy to be home again. Everyone in town has come to see and talk to me. It’s fun to be important! …But I still miss Toby. He was my best friend in all the world. I wish he could come and live with us.


I don’t know how we can ever thank you enough. It is such a joy to have my little Tanya home again.
I’m just glad I could help.
I knew Tanya was alive somewhere. I never lost hope that she would return.
Bella, you heard his story. Tanya was dead…an undead, a nosferatu!
She is fine right now, isn’t she? As long as she is alive and well, what does it matter? I don’t understand what all this talk is about vampires and Tanya. She is returned healthy and happy, and that is what is important.
I don’t quite know what to make of the stories myself. Gladly would I go to the castle, though, and drive a stake through the heart of the one who stole our daughter from us.
Daddy, I liked Aunt Trina! She was kind to me and gave me lots of nice things. She even taught me to read and write. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to her, though. I want to stay with my mommy and daddy.
I will never forgive the woman who stole my baby from me. Still, I think I can understand her a little. I, too, have always wanted a child such as Tanya.
I’m glad you’re all happy, but I’ve finished eating, so I’ll leave you guys alone.
Oh yes, you should hear this. Since Tanya learned to read and write, she is going to teach me how to read. I have always wanted to learn how to read. Together, Tanya and I will teach all the women of the town to read and write!
Why would a woman need to read or write? That is like teaching a horse to dance!
…Yuri, you and I will have a talk later. Tonight, in fact.
Don’t let me get in the way.


You have brought real joy to Mordavia by bringing Tanya back. When she was stolen, it was as if all the laughter here had been taken as well. You gave us back our happiness.
You think the town likes me again?
If there was anyone left in town who was keeping score, you have paid off any debt you made last night. This is your town, paladin, and we are proud to have you home.
Rock on, Dmitri. Rock on.


This feels so strange now. The Staff has been there for so long, it’s weird to think it’s in my backpack instead.


In my dreams last night I heard Erana’s staff speak. It said the sacrifice had been made. The dead had risen, and the living had died. When I awoke, I feared it was you who made the sacrifice. I sent Gaston to discover the truth.
I climbed over the wall and started sniffing around where the Staff had been. I became scared when I caught your scent there, but then I scented you going with a child to the inn.
It is not our way to be concerned about outsiders. You have certainly become more than an outsider to us.
Thanks, guys. Say, any tips for killing vampires?
It is said that the only certain way to kill a vampire is to drive a wooden stake through its heart. This can only be done while the creature is helpless during the day. The nosferatu have great powers of enchantment, and those foolish enough to face a vampire by night usually wind up feeding its lust for blood.
Great, I’ll keep that in mind. See you later.
May your luck hold true. Be wary, for your enemies may soon act against you.

*Later That Evening*


Last one, guys. This time they mostly stick with the script, but it’s still worth hearing about the elephants.



Things go slightly differently for the wizard when the Staff activates. Namely, it finds his still-active Summon Staff spell and fills the old staff’s place. Damn spell’s still worthless, though.




The human has returned with the Staff. We shall finally gain what we have sought for so long. Staff of Erana, hear my command! I, Tatiana, Queen of the Faerie Folk, summon thee and claim thee for my own!


Staff, hear my command! Thou shalt hear and obey my words. I am thy master now!

You feel an incredible rush of magical energy filling you. It tickles.

“I am now the Staff of Nike von Slartibartfast. He is the hand of destiny, and shall restore the spirit of Erana.”


Ha!
So, the human has claimed the Staff of Erana? Then by his death, the Staff shall be mine!


Faerie Battle

Oh crap.

Sadly, the faerie fight isn’t that exciting, especially compared to the mage duel in 3. You can’t move around at all, and it won’t even let you get fancy with Dazzle or Calm. There is one particular thing, at least:


In order, the spells are Reversal, Juggling Lights, Summon Staff, Lighting Ball, Frostbite, Ritual of Release, Hide, Aura, Protection, Resistance, and Glide. You may have asked yourself just now when I got Resistance. The answer is: just now. Summoning the Staff for this battle and any time in the future gets you access to Resistance.
Thus, in order to survive this combat, you need to cast Summon Staff, Reversal, and then Resistance once they switch to area-based attacks.


You can kill the one of the left with any sort of attack spell.


Unfortunately, the one on the right can’t be hit because of some sort of bug, but the Queen herself can be taken down with Frostbite (she’s got her own Reversal spell on, after all).



“Hand of Destiny, you are now triumphant. She who would use me for her own glory is defeated. You shall now have the spell of Resistance.”

That weird orb that appeared when the Faerie Queen died? It’s the Heart ritual. Just a little insurance to make sure you do this encounter.




Hey, another note.

The note says “Meet me at the castle gates tonight. We have much to talk about. Katrina.”

I’ll say. I still don’t know what I’ll do when I see her again.

*Skipping to the Evening*


Piotyr? You’re still around?
There is yet one more thing you must do. You serve two Dark Masters. Their goal is greater Darkness. Yet by walking this Dark path, you may bring Light. The spirit of Erana is trapped within the Darkness. Unleash the Darkness, that Erana’s spirit might be free. Release the Darkness that it might be banished forever. But beware your own Dark Masters, for they will bring you sorrow.
Unleash the Darkness to banish it? How the hell does that even work? Piotyr? Hello? Damn it, someone tell me why I have to summon a Dark One!


Suddenly you have a terrible feeling of peril! You recognize Ad Avis, the evil wizard whom you thought you had killed in Raseir. Somehow, he has returned to life! Thinking back, you recall how Ad Avis once brought you under his control. You realize that you must avoid looking into his eyes at all costs!

Oh! Um, hi. Did you get a note too?
How nice of you to come. I’m afraid I accidentally signed the wrong name to your note. It’s been ages since we last met. Come here and let me look at you.


Apparently, meeting your arch villain after you thought you killed him means having a very strange set of dialogue options.

Sorry about pushing you off a tower and everything. It’s just that you were about to kill everyone, so…you know.
You destroyed my plans of world domination and ended my life, turning me into a mere vampire slave for Katrina. I will have my vengeance upon you both!
I have to admit, I didn’t expect you to survive that fall.
Survive? You think I SURVIVED? You simple-minded fool! I am greater now than I ever was in life, as you shall have a very short time to learn before your own death!
Oh yeah? I bet there’s something I can do that you can’t.
What’s that?
Watch the sunrise.
You play games with me. You know, I like games. How about a little game of Fox and Hounds? I have summoned the Hounds of Death. Now we shall see whether you’ve kept up with your running lessons!


Running from the Hounds

Uh oh.


It is actually possible to escape the necrotaurs and get into the town. However, the next time you leave the town at night you are automatically caught, so you might as well just get it over with.


Also, if you try to rush Ad Avis, he will simply mesmerize you and capture you anyway. Much less embarrassing to get run down by necrotaurs in my opinion.


Dungeon

You fool! Did you really believe you could get away from me?
It was worth a shot.
Well, I have you now, and you will pay for my death. It is you that caused me to become a vampire. If you had not killed me, I would never be forced to serve the Dark Master again.
What, because Iblis would make you immortal? Iblis wouldn’t have done jack. Iblis would have just killed everyone, and you twice.
I had things well under my control! The ritual would have held! But that doesn’t matter now. You probably blame me for all the problems around here too, don’t you? You understand nothing. The Dark Master is the cause of all the woe that is here.
I know. Katrina showed up four years ago, created the swamps, then kidnapped Tanya two years later. You only showed up around June.
Stop interrupting me! The Dark Master brought you here, against my better judgment. The Dark Master made me what I am now, a nosferatu, and seeks to do the same to you.
No she doesn’t. She doesn’t want a “puppet,” which is what you are.
Shut up shut up shut up! Aaarrggh! I shall spare you the fate of becoming a vampire slave, and mercifully end your miserable existence. Then the Dark Master and I will call forth eternal darkness, and we will no longer be limited to travel at night. Together, my Master and I will create an army of undead, and we will conquer the world. Pity you won’t be there to witness this. You cannot stop us now.
Oh come on, this is just like last time! The Dark One doesn’t care what you’re planning, he’s going to destroy us all!
NO HE WON’T! As for you, you will never find your way out of this dungeon, and only a stake through the heart or more magic than you will ever have can stop us. You will die knowing that you were destroyed by the Dark Master.
Does Katrina even know you’re here?
She doesn’t have to. The sun now rises, and I must go to my rest. You, too, shall rest. I will not allow you the chance to escape your fate, or to use that stake and hammer I torment you with here. Weapons of my destruction, so close at hand, and yet so far. Sleep now, great “hero.” Tomorrow, you die!



You find yourself falling asleep.


Oh man, what a nightmare. I dreamt I was…oh rats, I’m still here. Let me test these manacles.

With some effort, you break the rusty chains.


I see Ad’s security measures are the same as always. I had a harder time getting out of the EOF’s chains! And I still have all my stuff, too. I bet I could have Opened the lock, or even picked it if I knew how.


Better take the stake. Might come in handy.


Barred from the outside. Damn.

You hear the sound of voices on the other side of the door.

What’s going on in dere? De Master didn’t say nothing about guarding no prisoner.
It’s de Adda Bees guy’s orders. So what, it gives us somting ta do.
I don’t likes it. I think de Adda Bees guy is trying ta pull a fast one on de Master. She’s not going ta like dis.
You wants ta go down dere and tell her?
No way.
Den shut up!

_{These must be the two goons that were guarding the door. Wish I could take them, then I’d know my way out of here.}

What I don’t get is why de Adda Bees guy brings da stake down dere. Why give a weapon to de enemy, even if you gots him chained up?
Who knows? Maybe Adda’s gonna put a stake through da prisoner’s heart.
Ya know, dere is de secret passage to de Master’s room from de dungeon.
Yeah, so what?
I don’t know, but I sure tinks dere’s gonna be trouble.

_{Then there’s a way out of here? I just need to find it.}


There is something large under the water that is either lonely or hungry. You don’t want to find out which.

Not by water, then. No way I’m getting anywhere near there.


But this iron maiden looks off.

It’s an iron maiden, a popular torture and murder device. The inside bristles with sharp iron spikes. Unlike most things here, it is shiny and has no rust forming upon it. Now that you look closely, there does seem to be something a bit odd about the design of the iron maiden.

I sure hope this doesn’t lock shut on me. Here goes.



Katrina’s Bedroom

You are in a lady’s richly-decorated bedroom. The coffin where there should be a bed seems a bit out of place, but there’s no accounting for tastes. You sense deadly danger here…to your body and your soul.


<sub>And here she is, glass-covered coffin and all. I can just quietly open this…


…Katrina. What is wrong with your taste in outfits?


Damn it, what should I do?</sub>

Seriously, it’s up to you. And I promise, whatever you decide will determine what, if anything, they talk about in the next update.