Scenario:Lennah - The Tithe for Magic

The Tithe for Magic

During their travels, (Captain) and the others arrive at a town and find the same flowers as the ones created by Lennah's magic. Strangely, the flowers are feared by the townspeople. The group investigates in an attempt to undo the spell that was cast on Lennah.

---

The crew makes a stop in a town and witnesses something most strange.

Vyrn: Hm? What're these flowers?

Lyria: Oh my gosh! These are your flowers, Lennah! You're not wasting any time in planting flowers here, are you?

Lennah: Dear me... I didn't do anything!

Lennah: How strange! These are the same flowers as mine.

Vyrn: Are flowers made with magic different from normal ones?

Lennah: As far as I know, magically-grown flowers don't naturally occur in the wild.

Townsperson: Hey, you lot. Stay away from those flowers!

Lennah: Oh dear. I don't suppose you know something about these flowers, do you? Would you mind telling us more about it?

Townsperson: All sorta nasty creatures have been coming in to town to eat these flowers, y'see. They're like monster magnets.

Townsperson: But no matter how many times we pull the weeds out, they just keep growing back. The little things are cursed I tell ya.

Lyria: Cursed? I don't believe it...

Lennah: Oh dear. These flowers look the same as the ones I create, but here they're bringing people misfortune...

Townsperson: It's about time for those monsters to show up again. You should head inside. Trust me.

Lennah: Interesting... Actually, I think I'll take a look at those monsters, if it's all the same to you.

Townsperson: What? You thinkin' straight, miss?

Vyrn: Just leave it to us! You don't need to worry about monsters with (Captain) and Lennah here!

Lennah: (Captain) is a skilled skyfarer. There's no need to worry!

Townsperson: Hm... If you insist, I won't stop you, but...

Townsperson: You need to run if things get dangerous. Don't say I didn't warn you!

Some time passes after the man leaves.

(Captain) and company await the monsters' arrival on the now-deserted road.

Lennah: Maybe the monsters attracted to the flowers have something to do with... you-know-who?

Lennah: Perhaps they can provide clues to
you-know-who's whereabouts.

Lyria: It sure would be nice if we can find clues on how to cure your condition!

Lennah: Hee hee... How lucky would that be? I'm feeling ever so happy just thinking about it.

Monster: Grrr...

Lennah: Oh! Why hello there!

Lennah: Say, mister monster, could you answer a few questions for me?

Monster: Groooar!

Vyrn: He doesn't look like the chatty type! Let's go, (Captain)!

The Tithe for Magic: Scene 2

(Captain)'s crew ventures into the mountains in search of the flower-eating monsters. Lyria expresses concern that Lennah may leave the airship once the spell is broken. However, Lennah assures Lyria she has no intention of leaving.

---

The crew decides to head up to the mountains after hearing from the townspeople that the monsters live there.

The mountain path is perilous, and Lyria's footsteps grow heavier as they ascend.

Lyria: Hngh...

Lennah: Oh my. What's wrong, Lyria?

Vyrn: Was it something you ate?

Lyria: No, it wasn't! And don't nod to that, (Captain)!

Lyria: I'm just thinking back to the time we met Lennah...

Lennah: Oh? That's rather sudden. Is something wrong?

Lyria: When Lennah came to the Grandcypher,
she—

Vyrn: I remember! Lyria asked her for some decorations, so she filled the whole airship with flowers!

Vyrn: Bwahaha! The look on Rackam's face was priceless!

Lennah: Hehehe! Those were good times!

Vyrn: So why did that suddenly bum you out, Lyria?

Lyria: Well... what are you going to do if you find a cure, Lennah?

Lennah: Hmm... Good question.

Lyria: Will you leave our crew?

Lennah: What?

Vyrn: Is that what's bothering you, Lyria?

Lyria: Yeah... The thought of you leaving makes me sad...

Vyrn: Now that you mention it, no one's ever left the crew before.

Lennah: You're right. When I leave, likely it'll make everyone quite sad.

Lyria: Oh my gosh! So you really are leaving us?

Lennah: It's been fun! Going around different islands, helping people and making them happy...

Lyria: Sniff... Lennah...

Vyrn: H-hey! Don't cry, Lyria!

Lennah: Oh my! I'm sorry.

Lennah: It was awful of me to make you cry, Lyria. I'm so sorry.

Lennah: I don't think I'm going to leave the crew, anyway.

Lyria: Really?

Lennah: I've made so many happy memories here. Instead, I'll—

Lennah: Hm? What's that smell?

Monster: Grooar!

Lyria: Eek!

Vyrn: Doesn't look like the same ones we fought in town! Take 'em down, (Captain)!

The Tithe for Magic: Scene 3

(Captain) and company follow the monster trail into a cave, where they find a man with the same curse cast on him as Lennah. He explains that those who eat the fruit they received from the mysterious stranger are doomed to eventually become food for monsters themselves.

---

Following the monsters' trail, (Captain) and company arrive at a cave in the mountains.

With great effort, the party pries open the reinforced door and steps inside.

Vyrn: Gulp... This sure looks shady all right.

Lennah: It really does... The atmosphere of this place feels... strangely familiar.

Lyria: Look! Your flowers are all over the cave!

???: Who's there?

Lyria: Eep!

Vyrn: Don't try to frighten us! Who are you?

Man: It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is whether you know anything about those flowers.

Lennah: They're spirit blossoms. Flowers created by magic. They possess no nectar, and a thin magical film covers the flower, preventing it from wilting.

Man: Who are you really?

Lennah: I'm someone with the power to create spirit blossoms. Just like you, it seems...

Man: Then you've run into you-know-who too...

Lennah: The one who gave us the fruit?

Man: Indeed!

Lennah: Do you know anything about them? I've been searching for their whereabouts for so long...

Man: Looking for a way to cure this, aren't you?

The man lifts up his shirt, revealing his stomach.

Nearly half his torso is turned to tree bark, and it seems to be spreading.

Vyrn: Wh-whoa! Are you okay?

Man: Of course I'm not okay! Those who eat that fruit gain magical powers...

Man: But if one doesn't continue to use those powers, the fruit's seed grows.

Man: You begin turning into a tree. And when the metamorphosis is complete...

Man: You're nothing more than monster food!

Lennah: Prey for the same beasts that feed on the flowers.

Man: That's right. Hilarious, isn't it? Doomed to a life of spreading monster food and trying desperately not to get eaten!

Lennah: Oh my, hold on there. I never ran into flower-eating monsters until I came to this island...

Vyrn: Why don't you come with us and leave the island, chief?

Man: Are you mad! I can't leave this place! Not after it took me so long to find somewhere safe! I—

Monster: Grooooar!

Man: How did monsters get in here?

Lennah: Oh my! Did it follow me inside?

Lennah: Sorry, dear. I know you must be hungry, but we're a little busy right now!

The Tithe for Magic: Scene 4

The man completely turns into a tree, and (Captain) and company leave the mountain. Lennah accepts that she will meet her end one day and has resolved to make as many people happy as she can in the meantime.

---

Lennah: I'm sorry, mister monster. It's not your fault.

Vyrn: H-hey guys! He's getting worse!

The man's transformation quickly accelerates, turning his entire body into tree bark. Only his head remains intact.

Man: Dammit... Am I gonna be monster food too?

Lennah: Why did you-know-who do this to us?

Man: I don't know, but remember this.

Man: When the mood strikes him... you'll be next.

Vyrn: Say what?

Man: When I finish turning into a tree... burn me. I don't want... to be eaten...

These are his last words.

The petrification spreads from his chin to his nose. Eventually his pleading eyes turn to wood as well.

The party leaves the cave in a grim mood, sealing the door behind them tightly before heading back down the mountain.

Vyrn: He asked us to burn him, but there's no way we could do something like that.

Lennah: I'll end up like him too, one day...

Lyria: Lennah...

Vyrn: You're super good with magic, so you'll be okay, right?

Lennah: Oh, well, you know... I'm sure I'll be fine for a while!

The party makes its way down the rest of the mountain in silence.

Seemingly unable to take it much longer, Vyrn asks Lennah a question.

Vyrn: Hey, you okay?

Lennah: Just peachy. I do feel bad about that man, though.

Lennah: I'm still okay, and that's worth being thankful for. Another one of my many blessings.

Vyrn: Glad to see you're back to your cheery self!

Lennah: And I just remembered what I was thinking about when I first started this journey.

Lennah: I knew I would end up like him one day...

Lennah: That's why I want to bring happiness to as many people as I can!

With that, Lennah straightens her back and strides on with renewed purpose.

Lennah will create even more beautiful flowers, bringing joy to countless people across the skies.