Scenario:Marquiares - Opening the Supernal Door
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Opening the Supernal Door
Tasked with finding an elusive golden aurora bird, the crew and Siero meet a strange old sorcerer by the name of Marquiares. After being toyed with by Marquiares and his explosive supernal magic, Siero surprisingly discovers the golden birds she's been looking for during one of Marquiares' supernal eruptions.
One day the crew receives a strange request from Sierokarte.
Sierokarte: Have you heard of Table Mountain, everyone?
Sierokarte: It's very unusual! The peak is flat, and it's chock full of rare plants and animals!
Sierokarte: Most famous of all are the majestic aurora birds. You don't see those very often!
Lyria: Oh my gosh! Aurora birds? What I wouldn't do to see one!
Sierokarte: These are no ordinary aurora birds we're talking about either! The request is asking you to find one of the legendary golden auroras... A bird no one's ever managed to catch before!
Vyrn: Heh heh! If you manage to get your hands on one, you'll be in the history books, (Captain)! Let's get goin'!
The crew follows Sierokarte to a village at the base of Table Mountain.
Chatty Chief: Welcome, travelers, welcome! We hope you have a pleasant stay here at the famous Table Village, located at the foot of the equally famous Table Mountain!
Chatty Chief: Care to have a slice of our spectacular Table Cakes? Our Table Cookies make for wonderful souvenirs!
Chatty Chief: Or perhaps an item from one of our Table Mountain rare stone and flower collections is what you're looking for?
Sierokarte: Sorry, but we're not here to sightsee. Let me explain...
Chatty Chief: E-excuse me? You want to climb Table Mountain? I wouldn't do that if I were you!
Sierokarte: Hmm? And why would that be?
Chatty Chief: There's an old man in that mountain. The Supernal Sorcerer, they call him.
Sierokarte: Hmm... And who might he be?
Chatty Chief: As a matter of fact, he's the only one who knows the way up the mountain. You'll need to have him guide you personally.
On the village chief's recommendation, the crew heads to a cave deep within the forest in search of the mysterious sage they've heard so much about.
When they draw near, a deep, loud, thunderous thudding can be heard from deep within the cave.
The crew rushes inside, only to find an old man staring at the wall with a look of pure contentment on his face.
Marquiares: Hoowee... Nothin' quite so nice as some after-dinner eruptions, I always say.
Lyria: Er... You wouldn't happen to be the one responsible for all that booming we heard a second ago, would you?
Marquiares: Indeed! Those were the majestic eruptions of I, Marquiares, originator of the supernal arts!
Vyrn: Super-what now?
Marquiares: Don't tell me you're unaware of the supernal plane, grand source of all wisdom!
Lyria: Um... Come again?
Marquiares: How tremendously sad! I suppose I have no choice but to instruct you in them myself!
Sierokarte: That's quite all right! We'd really appreciate it if you showed us the way to Table Mountain's peak first!
Marquiares: Hrm? You're not interested in the supernal arts?
Marquiares: But they're so tremendous! Stupendous! Brainy and beneficious!
Vyrn: Gramps! We don't care! We're looking for golden aurora birds, so show us the way to the peak already!
Marquiares: You're looking for golden auroras, you say? Golden auroras here? Today?
Vyrn: D-do you know something about 'em?
Marquiares: Before I answer that, how about a supernal lesson? It'd be just the thing for what ails you!
Vyrn: Enough already!
Marquiares: Once you learn to listen to the voices of the stars, infinite supernal magics will be yours to control!
Marquiares: And don't look down on me just because I'm old! I may be over two hundred, but I'm just as sprightly as I was at eighteen!
Lyria: Wow... You're two hundred years old? You really are lively for your age!
Vyrn: No kiddin'! Seems like you're still enjoying the little things in life at least!
Marquiares: Oh, not you too! Your eyes say it all! You think I'm a sad old geezer! Why won't anyone believe me?
Sierokarte: Time is running short, everyone! Sorry, sir, but we really must be going now—
Sierokarte: Huh? Where did he go?
Vyrn: Siero, check it out! He's over there!
Before (Captain) and the crew realize what's happening, Marquiares leaves the cave and walks away.
Except he's not so much walking per se, but rather levitating toward the peak of the mountain using mysterious powers.
Marquiares: Hoowee... You may not be able to see it, but the supernal is all around us.
Marquiares begins to ascend a treacherous cliff, almost as if to beckon the crew forward.
After no shortage of effort, the crew manages to reach the peak where Marquiares has camped out.
Marquiares sees that everyone is present, turns around, and proceeds to hit the crew with a shocking revelation.
Marquiares: It pains me to say this to you after seeing you come so far, but... golden aurora birds don't exist.
Vyrn: So we just hauled our way up here for nothing?
Lyria: Oh... That's a shame. I really wanted to see them, too...
Marquiares: Fweh heh heh... I'm afraid so. I can arrange a visitation with some regular auroras, however.
Marquiares splays his arms out wide as if in prayer to nature itself and imitates a bird call.
In the next instant, aurora birds of every color fly into view, land on Marquiares' shoulders and arms, and begin chirping up a storm.
Aurora Birds: Chirp, chirp, chirp...
Lyria: They're beautiful! I've never seen so many pretty birds in one place before!
Marquiares lovingly looks over his flock before quietly beginning his story.
Marquiares: I live on this mountain, and these feathered fellows are the only conversation partners I have to talk to.
Marquiares: Or try to talk to, anyway. I'm not so good with bird-speak, you see. Can't make heads or tails of what they're saying, really!
Marquiares: Oh! There is one thing I can make out. Some kind of terrible fear they have of me that the birds all share.
Lyria: Oh my gosh, really? But they seem like they're getting along with you great!
Marquiares: And I'm happy to have their company. If you would kindly opt not to steal them away from me, that would make me even happier.
Vyrn: Sniff... When you put it that way... There's no way we could take your friends away.
Sierokarte: Hmm... Indeed. We'll just have to give up on the aurora birds, everyone!
Marquiares: Oh ho. You're quite the reasonable bunch! I'm sure you have what it takes to comprehend the majesty of—
Marquiares: Hrrgh! Ngh!
Marquiares grips his chest in what seems to be great pain.
Vyrn: Are you okay? Hang in there, old man!
Lyria: Sir? Can you tell us where it hurts?
Marquiares: Rrrgh... I have erred...
Lyria: What do you mean?
Marquiares: My eruptions and levitations...
Lyria: Eruptions? Levitations?
Marquiares: I overused them...
Lyria: You can do that?
Marquiares: The supernal arts are harsh indeed...
Vyrn: What's harsh about them? We need details if we're going to help you!
Marquiares: Don't worry about me! Hurry up and get out of here! Now! To the bottom of the mountain! As far from here as you can!
Lyria: We're not going to just leave you here!
Marquiares: It's fine! Go! If you don't... I may just...
Aurora Birds: Screech!
Lyria: The birds! They're all flying away!
Marquiares: Rgh... I can't... hold it in... anymore... Ngh...
Marquiares: Whooohooo!
Marquiares: Time for an eeeruption! Ruption! Ruption! Ruption! That's what being a sorcerer is all about, baby!
Vyrn: Wha-huhhh? What's goin' on!
Lyria: Please calm down, sir!
A tempest of blasts erupt around the party in an instant, alerting everyone present of why the birds felt threatened just a moment before.
That's when Sierokarte realizes something.
Sierokarte: Oh my! Is that what I think it is in the center of those explosions?
Marquiares: Eeeeyooooow!
(Captain) and the crew manage to safely drag Marquiares off the mountain and back to the Grandcypher.
Marquiares: Terribly, terribly sorry, everyone. Should've kept the supernal demonstration to the bare minimum.
Marquiares: For whatever odd reason, I get a little crazy if I take in too much supernal energy.
Marquiares: And then you end up with a supernal eruption. Fweh heh heh...
Lyria: This is no fweh-ing matter, sir!
Vyrn: Seriously! You put your bird buddies in danger!
Marquiares realizes the severity of his mistake.
Marquiares: I didn't want to admit it, but that's probably the reason those birds feared me.
Marquiares: I don't know if I can ever return to that mountain. Oh, how can I... How should I continue living my life?
Sierokarte: Hee hee, that's simple! Just travel with us!
Vyrn: Siero! You don't get to decide that on your own! What do you think, (Captain)?
Choose: Just take it easy with the explosions.
Marquiares: Ah, but of course! Promise! Cross this old man's heart and hope not to explode!
Vyrn: For real? What if you end up exploding again anyway?
Marquiares: Fweh heh heh... I won't do any erupting. Not on the deck of the ship at least.
Vyrn: Waaait a sec! Does that mean everywhere else is fair game?
Choose: So what's this supernal stuff anyway?
Marquiares: Hrm... Finally worked up the courage to ask, I see! The supernal arts draw upon a bygone cosmic wisdom with depth deeper than the aether itself!
Marquiares: All things behave according to its laws. Magic uses that wisdom as a power source. Master it... and the recreation of infinity itself even becomes possible!
Vyrn: Based on that explanation, all I know for sure is that you can't really explain it!
Marquiares: Is that what you think? I'll skip the explanations and get straight to the explosions then.
Vyrn: Hey! Explosions are off-limits!
Continue 1
Marquiares: Fweh heh heh...
Lyria: It's kind of a shame, though. We couldn't get those birds you were looking for, Siero.
Sierokarte: Hee hee... To tell you the truth... I actually managed to spot a golden aurora while I was up there.
Lyria: Huh? You did? When? Where?
Marquiares: Fweh heh heh... You're a sharp one, managing to find my golden auroras!
Marquiares may be a strange old wizard, but the crew can't help but laugh along with him. What lurks within that laughter? Only time will tell.