Scenario:Hazen and Soriz - The Truth Behind the Truth

The Truth Behind the Truth

While (Captain) and company relax near some hot springs, they hear Soriz has been arrested for peeping. It turns out that the other large man in their party, Hazen, had unknowingly startled some bathers while trying to save some baby birds, framing Soriz for a crime he did not commit.

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(Captain) and company take some time off in a hot-spring town famous for its open-air baths.

But one afternoon it seems that trouble has bubbled up from the murky waters.

Vyrn: What! Soriz has been arrested?

Lyria: Oh dear... And they said he made quite a scene as they took him away.

Vyrn: Unbelievable. He wasn't caught peeping or something, was he?

Hazen: Hmm... In any case we would do well to speak with the local officials about it.

So (Captain) and the crew go off to the security post where Soriz is being held.

Soriz: Hold on, now! How many times have I gotta tell ya? You've got it all wrong!

The moment the crew arrives they can already hear Soriz's shouts filling the air.

Officer 1: How much longer are you gonna go runnin' your mouth? You think we're just gonna believe you or somethin'?

Officer 2: Hmm. If we're not going to take him for his word, then we should just leave him here to rot.

Soriz: You scumbags. What's it gonna take for you to get it? Oh good, the reinforcements have arrived!

Soriz: I'm in serious hot water here. These guys think I've been gawking at people while they're bathin'!

Vyrn: That's rough. But... you didn't do it, right?

Soriz: Lizard... If I said I did something, then I did it. But if I said I didn't do it, then I didn't do it!

Soriz: Heh! I'm an honest man. And you darn well know it!

Vyrn: Yeah... I guess you're right! You're not one to go makin' up stories!

Soriz: Heheh! It's like I've been tellin' ya, officers!

Officer 1: Look here, lizard. We can't exactly take your word for it. You weren't even there.

Vyrn: What'd you call me? I ain't no lizard!

Lyria: Oh no... Now what do we do?

With the conversation at a standstill, Hazen decides to step forward and try his hand at speaking with the officers.

Hazen: I believe Soriz's account to be true. He's a man of good nature and would never attempt to deceive anyone.

Hazen: In other words if he's saying he didn't do it, then that is surely the truth.

Hazen: I can vouch for the innocence of this man.

Soriz: Thanks, Hazen. I'm lucky to have such good friends!

Officer 2: But I'm afraid not even the word of a priest is enough to set this man free.

Soriz: Why, you! You just don't get it, do ya? And now you're not even gonna believe a priest?

Vyrn: Hey, Soriz, Hazen's puttin' himself on the line here. So just try to stay calm...

Hazen: Hmm. Where does that leave us now? I suppose that means we'll have to capture the real culprit ourselves.

Officer 1: What? What are you talkin' about? The culprit is right here!

Hazen: No. From what we've just heard, it seems you didn't even catch Soriz in the act.

Officer 2: Yes, that much is true. We received word of questionable activity in the area. When we arrived at the scene, this man was standing around suspiciously.

Officer 2: And that is why we brought him here.

Soriz: Tch! You arrested me just cuz you heard some big guy was standing around looking fishy? And you call yourselves officers...

Officer 1: You got some nerve, pal! Then why were you standing around like that?

Soriz: What? That's every man's dream, ain't it?

Vyrn: Quit it, you two! You're givin' me a headache!

Hazen: Very well, then. I hereby vow in the name of the gods that we will find the real culprit.

Officer 2: I see. In that case I suppose we could give you a chance.

Officer 1: B-but boss! That's a little too generous, don'tcha think?

Officer 2: Though I do think this man is guilty, if a priest is willing to go so far as to vow by the gods, I'd say we can at least give them a shot.

Hazen: We are in your debt.

Soriz: Now it's time to find the real bad guy! I'll go show them how to get to the bath, so you two sit and wait right here!

With that the crew heads out to the rocky-mountain hot spring to find the true culprit.

As they walk through the mountain pass, Soriz enthusiastically slaps Hazen on the back.

Soriz: Hah hah hah! You really saved my skin back there, Hazen! I owe ya one!

Hazen: Soriz... You're always doing such strange things, it's easy for people to misinterpret them.

Hazen: I will help you to change your old ways.

Lyria: Wow... You're really putting your heart into this!

Vyrn: I'm sure you can do it, Hazen!

Soriz: Heh heh. If you think you can change my passion for women, go ahead and try!

Vyrn: Hey! Don't act so proud of that!

Soriz: Hah hah hah! If I see somethin' good, I've just gotta check it out! I'm just livin' the dream!

Vyrn: I guess some things might never change... Haha...

But just then Hazen stops dead in his tracks, putting everyone on alert.

Lyria: Huh? Hazen, what's wrong?

Vyrn: Are there monsters?

Hazen: Hmm... Soriz, is the open-air bath you were talking about near here?

Soriz: Yeah. There are some stairs that head into the cliffside. The bath is just down below there, hehe.

Vyrn: You seem awfully relaxed about this whole thing...

Soriz: Gehehe. Just lean over the edge a little and you can get a nice look...

Soriz: Haha! Whaddya think? Isn't that the greatest?

Seeing the bliss in Soriz's face, Hazen turns ghastly pale.

Hazen: Oh...

Vyrn: What's wrong? Why're you goin' all quiet on us?

Hazen: Vyrn, just... trust me for a second.

Vyrn: Huh? Whaddya mean?

Hazen: Soriz, when exactly did those men catch you?

Soriz: Uh... Right before the sun went down! If you're gonna look, that's the best time after all!

Hazen: Ack.... Err... (What have I done?)

Lyria: What's the matter? If you're not feeling well, we can go back to the ship!

Hazen clutches his head tightly, unable to hear Lyria's kind words.

Hazen: (Aaahhh! Why me?)

That same sunny afternoon, Hazen had gone for a walk through the mountainside. However in the middle of his stroll he heard something unexpected.

It was the sound of crying baby birds.

Hazen: Hmm? What's going on?

Hazen lifted up his head to get a better listen. He realized the sound was coming from a spot by the cliffside.

Following the sound of the birds, Hazen soon spotted their nest.

Hazen: Hah hah hah. What manner of bird would nest in a place like this?
Hmm?

It was then that Hazen noticed the cracked rock face where the nest was resting. The massive fracture in the rock could send the nest tumbling down the cliffside at any time.

Hazen: Not to fear, my little friends. I'll move you to a safer location.

With a gentle voice and a steady grasp, Hazen reached out and carefully moved the nest.

Little did he realize that in doing so he had startled the women bathing in the hot spring below. He was so focused on his task that he hadn't heard a thing.

Soriz: Hah hah hah! I get it now... So when they said they spotted a large man, they were really talkin' about you, Hazen!

Hazen: What! I wasn't peeping! I was merely helping those poor little birds!

Soriz: Hah. There's nothin' to worry about! You should've just told us the truth from the beginning! You're a sly one, Hazen.

Hazen: Hold on now! I'm not that kind of person!

Soriz: Priest or not, a man's still a man! And every man just wants to enjoy his life!

Soriz: Hah hah hah! You're a stray little sheep, aren'tcha! To think it was you this whole time!

Hazen: Lyria, Vyrn. This is all just a big mix-up! You understand, don't you?

Lyria: Uh... Yeah!

Hazen: Oh no. You didn't sound too sure of that...

Vyrn: She's just tellin' ya to relax. We know what really happened. And while we're at it, we'd better go apologize.

Soriz: You're right. We found the real troublemaker. And that means I'm getting off scot-free!

Hazen: Hey! I said I didn't do anything! It's just a big misunderstanding!

Hazen's flustered outcry echoes across the mountainside. Soriz gives him a big smile and a pat on the back as they return to town together.

After arriving back at the security post, Soriz explains everything. Hanging his head in shame, Hazen apologizes for all the confusion and trouble he had inadvertently caused.