Scenario:Drang - Orbs of Legend

Orbs of Legend

While Drang celebrates another job well done at the bar he frequents, Sturm drops by with a letter that arrived at the guild. When it becomes apparent he won't read it, Sturm directly delivers the news: his father has passed away. The next day, Drang pays his grandmother's grave a visit before making his way toward his old home. On the way, a sudden rift in space opens up, revealing an eyeball-shaped monster that enthralls Drang and knocks him out.

---

Drang: Gulp, gulp...

Drang: Ahhh, that hits the spot!

Barkeep: You chugged that like a champ! Here, have another!

Drang breaks out into a grin as the barkeep slides a full beer mug over to replace his empty one.

Drang: Aw, sheesh. You trying to get me drunk tonight?

Barkeep: Just showing my appreciation. You did good on that job I introduced you to, which gives my rep a boost too!

Drang: Is that right? Guess I can't say no to a proper reward!

Barkeep: By the by, do you know where Sturm is? I was hoping to thank her too.

Drang: She said she was gonna drop by the guild first, but I bet she'll be here soon.

Sturm: ...

Drang: Sturm! You're late to the party!

Drang: Everything's on the house today, so you better eat and drink your fill!

Barkeep: Hey, I never said that!

Drang: Whaaat? C'mon, why not go all out tonight? You can even join us—

Sturm: Drang.

Drang: All right, all right. Let's get you a drink and kick things off with a toast! Barkeep!

Barkeep: Coming right up!

Sturm: Your uncle sent you a letter.

Drang: ...!
Did he mail it to the guild?

Sturm: Yeah.

Drang: I see, I see. Thanks for picking it up.

Taking the letter from Sturm's outstretched hand, Drang tucks it away without sparing it another glance.

Sturm: You're not going to read it?

Drang: Oh, I'll get to it later. For now, we've got drinking to do!

Barkeep: He's got a point. What do you say?

Sturm: ...

Sturm: I guess... we can drink first.

Drang: That's the spirit!
Here's to a job well done! Cheers!

Sturm: So, when's later?

Drang: Huh? Are you talking about the letter? I'm thinking I'll read it before bed, if I remember.

Sturm: Sigh... Guess I've got to do this.

Sturm: Your uncle actually sent another letter, but it was addressed to the guild.

Sturm: He figured someone who'd actually read his message could tell you the news...

Drang: See, what'd I tell you?

Drang: The seed from that island grew up big and strong. Even spread out a little too.

With a proud smile, Drang takes in the flower patch that has grown around his grandmother's headstone.

Drang: Nice to see you again, Granny.

Drang: Sorry it's been so long since my last visit. Lost track of time with how much work I've been doing.

Drang: So many people asking for us by name these days. I get so giddy about all the attention, I end up taking jobs on my off days.

Drang: Not like we can refuse anyone when they ask for our help. Me and Sturm are just too kind for our own good.

Drang: Hehehe, you won't hear Sturm say as much though. I can already hear her going, "That's not true."

Drang: But her actions always speak louder than her words.

Drang chuckles to himself before looking at the fresh headstone next to his grandmother's.

His smile fades as the reality of his father's passing hits him.

Drang: In all the months and years since I left home, not once did I write to my parents.

Drang: Instead, my mother somehow found out where I was and wrote to me.

Drang: ...

Drang: I don't know if she hired an investigator, or just kept an ear on the ground... Either way, she'd only be writing if something had happened to my father.

Drang: I knew that, and still, I kept the letter sealed.

Drang: That's probably why my uncle tried contacting me through the guild.

Drang: Even predicted I wouldn't read his letter, so he sent a second one asking the guild to deliver the message directly.

Sturm: Your father passed away.

Drang: ...

Drang: Huh... Thanks for telling me. And sorry for making you be the bearer of bad news.

Sturm: It's... fine.

Drang: I didn't feel a thing when Sturm let me know last night.

Drang: I guess the distance between myself and my parents was bigger than I realized.

Emerging from the forest, Drang arrives at the edge of a remote, dreary town.

Drang: Never thought I'd see this place again...

Drang: (Sturm would really let me have it if I ran away, so here I am.)

Drang: Hooome, sweet home.

Drang: Pretty foggy today though, huh... Almost feels like the town itself is telling me to go away.

Drang: ...!

Drang: (Speaking of which, someone's glaring holes into the back of my head. Do I really look that much like a tourist?)

Just as Drang moves to look around, a sudden rift in space opens up to reveal an enormous eye.

???: ...

Drang: ...

Drang: Um... Are you a monster? Or a primal beast? If you need something from me—

???: ...

Drang: Ah... Always one thing after another...

Enthralled by the curious eye, Drang falls unconscious before he can drop another quip.

Orbs of Legend: Scene 2

Drang has a nightmare of his rocky past. When he wakes, he finds himself in his old house. He hears from his haggard mother and tearful uncle that his father was caught under a collapsing shrine and fell ill, and that they were waiting for Drang to return all this time. Feeling compelled to investigate, Drang discovers an azure orb in the shrine's ruins before the same eyeball monster reappears. A disembodied voice tells him to run, which he obeys.

---

???: Why... would you choose to leave?

???: I raised you to inherit our role from the day you were born. You should know better.

Drang: There you go again, Father. It's always about what you want, isn't it.

Drang: But say what you will, I'm leaving this town. There's a whole world out there I wanna see—

A new rift opens as the rest of Drang's words are drowned out.

???: ...

Drang: Would it kill you to leave me be!

Drang attempts to run, but no matter how many new rifts he jumps through, the enormous eye follows.

Drang: Pant, wheeze...

???: ...

???: You need to look people in the eyes when you speak to them.

Drang: Uh-huh, sure. Rich advice, coming from the guy who won't see me for who I am—

Drang: Ahhhh!

Drang: Gasp... Wheeze...

Shooting upright, Drang catches his breath while attempting to piece together what happened to him.

Drang: (A crazy fog swept into town, and then...)

Drang: (That weird eye came out of nowhere, glared at me... and I conked out?)

Drang: (Where did it even come from? Was it actually here... or did I imagine it all?)

Drang: Hmm-hmm.

Drang: Wait a sec. I recognize these walls... and this furniture...

A heavy feeling of discomfort settles on Drang's chest as he takes in the familiar sights.

Drang: This is my room...

Despite the many years away from home, the space is completely unchanged and maintained in pristine condition—ready for his return at any moment.

Drang: (It's just like I remember... Were they waiting for me to come back?)

Mother: And where exactly have you been, young man?

Mother: I've told you not to go wandering off on your own! I need you to stop causing trouble for me.

Mother: ——, you're just like your father...

Drang: (Not like they actually missed me though. I bet they just wanted to save face in front of the neighbors.)

Pushing down his feelings of discomfort, Drang mentally steels himself to face his mother.

Drang: Erm, hello?

Mother: ...

Silence hangs thick in the air as his gaunt mother comes into view, so different from the way he remembers her.

Drang: ...

Mother: You're back...

Drang: I, uh, sure am... Thanks for letting me in.

Mother: How are you feeling? Okay?

Drang: Yeah...
Listen, about Father...

Mother: Sniffle... Sob...

Drang: ...

The distance between them has never felt more evident as Drang hesitates to comfort his mother.

Drang: Are you... doing all right?

Mother: Things haven't been the same since your father passed.

Mother: But I'm doing better, now that you're home.

Drang: I see...

???: Is that his voice I hear? He finally up?

Drang: Uncle?

Mother: That's right. He's the one who found you unconscious and carried you here.

Uncle: It's been a while.

Drang: It really has. You haven't changed a bit.

Uncle: Haha, spare me the pleasantries. I know full well age has done its number on me.

Uncle: Have to say, I didn't expect to find you collapsed at the foot of the village. Was coming back that much of a shock?

Drang: Huh? Er, not exactly. I was more tired than I thought, I guess, haha...

Uncle: Work been busy, then? Sorry to pull you away when you've got so much on your plate.

Drang: It's fine... No need to worry about that.
Thanks for carrying me back. I know I'm not exactly the lightest burden.

His uncle takes one hard look at him before his eyes begin to well up with tears.

Uncle: Everything was my fault... All my fault...

Drang: What are you talking about?

Uncle: All the pests and bad weather this year was killing our crops. So I asked your father for a favor.

Uncle: If only he hadn't set out to complete the rite of harvest, he'd still... Sob...

Mother: The shrine collapsing wasn't your fault. I don't blame you, and neither does anyone else.

Uncle: I'm sorry... I'm so, so sorry...

Drang: ...

Drang's discomfort grows as he watches his uncle break down into tortured sobbing.

Upon returning to his room, Drang finally musters up the courage to open the letter from his mother.

Drang: ...

Its contents detail the collapse of the shrine and the mysterious illness that befell his father after.

It also states that his parents were still waiting for him to come home and inherit their ancestral role.

Drang: And what about what I want for myself?

Drang glances out the window and looks at the familiar forest outside.

He remembers that the shrine in question is located somewhere under that green canopy.

Drang: ...

Where once was a brilliant site of worship now lies a sad heap of rubble.

Drang: (I've lived my life forgetting I even had parents to complain about... But I can't just let this slide.)

Drang: Hm?

Detecting an unknown magical energy in the rubble, Drang uses his orb to feel out the source.

Drang: (There's a nonzero chance this has something to do with the mysterious illness that got Father.)

Drang: (I just hope I'm not biting off more than I can chew right now...)

Drang: And there it is. If the fog's involved, then that weird eye monster must be too...

He scans his surroundings in search of the aforementioned monster, but is instead greeted by a rift in space right in front of his face.

Drang: There goes my wishful thinking that the whole thing was a dream. Guess this is really happening, huh...

???: ...

Drang: Gah...

???: I had every bit of faith you'd come back one day.

Drang: Father?

Drang: What... is this...

???: Hey, get a grip!

Drang: ...!
That sounded like a little girl! Don't tell me she got caught under the rubble!

Another scan of his surroundings reveals a flashing light coming from inside the destroyed shrine.

Drang: What...

???: This is no time to be spacing out!

Drang: Whoa! Y-you talk?

???: Shut your trap and start running!

With the talking blue orb in one hand, Drang does as commanded and makes a break for it.

Orbs of Legend: Scene 3

The voice comes from the orb, which introduces herself as Bluey, the Blue Sphere. She explains that the monsters are known as visitants from another dimension, set on conquering the Sky Realm. With the shrine destroyed and herself separated from the Red Sphere, the seal keeping the visitants away was undone, and everyone in the area was enthralled and had their vitality drained. Bluey says that only Drang can deal with the visitants, but he begins to feel the effects of his enthrallment.

---

Drang: Whew... This has gotta be far enough, right?

???: Shut your trap and start running!

Drang: ...

Drang: Don't tell me... Was I just hearing things earlier?

???: No, you weren't! I'm as real as can be!

The blue orb in Drang's hand shines brightly as a voice echoes in his head.

Bluey: Hi, nice to meetcha. I'm the Blue Sphere, but you can just call me Bluey.

Drang: ...

Drang: I must be more tired than I thought.

Bluey: Don't ignore me!

Drang: Yeooow!

Just as Drang attempts to put the orb into his bag, Bluey smacks him hard in retaliation.

Bluey: Must I remind you that without me you'd be dead?

Drang: Er... S-sorry about that.

Bluey: As long as you've learned your lesson.

Bluey: So anyway, since you owe me your life, I figure you can do me a favor. Mind lending me your powers of magic?

Drang: Uhhh... Hold on a minute there.

Drang: Can I get some info first? From the sounds of it, you recognized that... weird eye thing.

Bluey: Oh, that? Yeah, it's a form of intelligent life from another dimension.

Drang: Another dimension?

Bluey: Yep. I dunno what they're actually named, but since they're visitors in our world, we call 'em visitants.

Bluey: They seem pretty keen on invading the Sky Realm and taking it over for themselves. It's kind of a calamity in the making.

Drang: Ahh... A world-ending type of unprecedented disaster, huh? Sounds like a big deal...

Bluey: It is, which is why we're the ones best equipped to handle it!

The blue orb emits a pulse of magical energy, which prompts a nervous gulp from Drang.

Drang: I'm gonna go out on a limb here... and guess you're the Blue Sphere they talk about in legends.

Bluey: Uh, duh? A guy with your abilities should've recognized me immediately! Or did you really just notice?

Drang: Now that you mention it...

Drang: What... is this...

Bluey: You use magical orbs, and I'm one of the magical orbs of all time.

Bluey: We resonated because our meeting was meant to be! It's fate, partner!

Drang: Ahahaha...

Drang: (You've gotta be yanking my chain! This is way above my pay grade!)

Drang: (Saving the world from otherworldly threats is (Captain)'s job, not mine!)

Drang: Weeell, y'see, I usually work requests with my pal Sturm, and she's not here today...

Drang: Don't think I can accept this one without her okay, even if it's for saving the world.

Bluey: Are you stupid? You're not allowed to say no! It's our destiny to protect the skies!

A bright light erupts from the Blue Sphere, momentarily blinding Drang.

Bluey: I am the azure crystal, keeper of knowledge. I have existed since time immemorial.

Bluey: Now that the eternal seal comes undone and calamity is on the horizon, I bequeath wisdom and a warning.

Inside Drang's mind, visions of an era long past surface.

He sees the visitants making their way through the Sky Realm, enthralling mortals and draining their vitality. Their victims grew weak, fell ill, and eventually perished.

But before all was lost, a single orb wielder, brave and powerful, rose up.

Ancient Orb Wielder: Creatures like you are a stain on our world. Begone!

[[Category:Scenario Character: Ancient Orb Wielder]]

With the Blue Sphere and Red Sphere in hand, he drove the visitants back.

Once the skies were clear, he used the spheres to erect a barrier between his dimension and theirs. The spheres were then enshrined to maintain the sanctity of the seal.

Drang: You're kidding... Does that mean our family was responsible for keeping that seal safe?

Drang: How come this is the first I'm hearing about it?

Bluey: Eh, happens.

Bluey: We created that seal a long, long time ago. I doubt anyone remembers that it existed.

Drang: Oh, is that all?

Drang: You're pretty lax about something that involves the fate of the entire world, y'know!

Drang: This should've been priority numero uno for passing down between generations!

Bluey: Tee-hee!

Drang: "Tee-hee" my ass!

Bluey: Listen, history aside... The shrine collapsing like that wasn't fate or destiny or whatever. It was pure bad luck.

Bluey: But thanks to that, me and Redster got separated, which, well...

Drang: Broke the seal, huh...

Bluey: The visitant slipped through and enthralled everyone at the scene...

Bluey: Absorbing their life forces and weakening them until they had nothing left to give.

Drang: ...

Bluey: But the visitants still remember how we kicked their butts a long time ago and sent them packing. They're not coming in full force yet.

Bluey: This is our chance to find Redster and get this mess sorted before anyone else gets hurt!

Drang: That'd... be nice...

Bluey: Hey, would it kill you to care a little more? You do realize it's only an orb wielder that can save the world, right?

Drang: Truth is... I've been ready to keel over for a bit now...

Drang: Pretty sure that visitant already enthralled me a while back...

Fighting to stay conscious, Drang gives Bluey a sheepish, apologetic grin.