Part 48: Chapter 5, Part 13

We might as well finish all of our business up here so we don't have to come back.










I KEEP TRYING MY HARDEST BUT IT'S NEVER GOOD ENOUGH









Now we have the Mantra and the Glyph, meaning we just need the Sigil.




Perhaps this kind woman can help us find it!


: Hello, good lady. What is your name?
: I am Batista and I'm very charmed to meet you, Avatar.
: What makes you think I'm the Avatar?
: Oh, come now, Avatar. Don't pretend that you're someone else.
: Who else would be running around Britannia investigating things and trying to solve the world's problems?
: I know all about you, Avatar, you can't fool me.
: I am looking for some information.
: I'll help you out any way I can, Avatar.
: I'm looking for the Sigil of Honesty.
: Well, handsome, the sigil that you seek is the Writ of Honesty and I possess it. I will give it to you, if you do a small favor for me.

Hmm. I don't know.

: What is the mantra for the Shrine of Honesty?
: You don't know the mantra for the Shrine?
: Mmmm, I just adore saying the mantra; it's very sensual. You just pucker up your lips and say 'Ooooo'. Now, you try.

I'm not sure how reliable she is.

: What do you need?
: A dear friend of mine, a mage named Mariah, is very ill. I can heal her, but only if I have a powerful artifact that belongs to her.
: There is a magical shield in her house that would be the perfect thing. If you could bring me that shield, I will happily give you the writ.
: Very well, I'll find the shield for you.
: I'm so glad to hear that. Bring the shield back to me, and I will reward you in ways that you could never imagine!
: You'd better be on your way then. The sooner you get that shield, the sooner you can get back here.

Oh boy! I hope our reward is an XP bonus for staying in character!








Just like many places in real life, there is a trap door and a magical teleporter in the floor under Mariah's kitchen.




There are two magical barriers keeping us from collecting our prize.




There are hidden doors in both side walls of the basement. Inside is a pressure switch.




Putting a barrel on top of the pressure switch deactivates one of the magical barriers. Doing the same on the other side takes down the last one.




: Forgive me, Mariah. I was sent to retrieve this shield and was told that you had it.
: I looked for you, but didn't see you in your house.
: Sent to retrieve my shield? By who?
: By Batista; she said that you were very sick, and that she needed this shield to heal you.
: Really? What else did she tell you?
: Well, apparently the two of you are very close friends.
: Don't believe a word that woman says, Avatar. She lies as much as everyone else in this town.
: Wait... does that include you? Maybe you are sick and you two are friends, and you're lying about it.
: ....
: I need the shield because I need it to get the Sigil of Honesty.
: Well, she does have the Writ of Honesty.
: ...or does she?
: What? Shut up. Listen: Tydus gave it to her when they were lovers.
: ...or did....
: If you never finish that sentence I will give you the shield.
: Yay!
: Be careful; it's a powerful shield that absorbs magic.




: Speaking of magic, you still do a bit of magic, don't you?
: Oh yes, I'm not as good as you are, but I still know a few spells.
: Humility is a virtue Avatar, but don't forget truth. You can be as good a mage as anyone and you know it.
: It is the truth. When I got here all of the circles were sealed. I still have 6 to unseal before I can bathe the world in cleansing hellfire.
: ....




: I'll give you the Writ, and then we can get down to more enjoyable business.
: Before we go any further, tell me why you lied about Mariah.
: What do you mean? I never lied to you!
: I spoke to Mariah: she's quite healthy and you two are not friends.
: Alright fine, so I told a little lie. Who cares? Everybody tells a small lie now and then Avatar, and you know it, so don't pretend to be so shocked.
: Aren't you lying to the people of Britannia by making them believe that you can save the world?
: You have made them believe in you, made them believe that only you can help them for all these years.
: Yet the fact remains that even if you manage to defeat the Guardian, you cannot save them from themselves. There will be other 'Guardians,' other evils.



: You shouldn't lie about things Batista, it's just wrong.
: Look, don't lecture me alright? I don't need you telling me how to live. Now, we each have something that the other wants.
: Let's just do an even exchange and get this over with so you go on with whatever it is you're doing, and I can get back to my work, okay?
: Here is your shield, now give me the Writ.




: There, that wasn't so hard now was it? Now if you'll excuse me, I've got work to do. Goodbye.


That is not a nice lady.


We have an ethical dilemma. That actually is quite a powerful shield. I have... ways... of getting it back. It's not technically murder because we won't suffer a karma loss, but Batista will die and it is evil. Should we do it?