Scenario:Medusa - The Stalking Shadow

The Stalking Shadow

Medusa and the crew deal with a monster problem near a small village, the primal earning herself the villagers' admiration and gratitude with her skill. Following a celebratory feast, she is awoken in her room and kidnapped by an intruder—one unaffected by her glare.

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(Captain), Lyria, Vyrn, and Medusa have received a request for aid from a quaint little village located by a forest.

The source of the villagers' concern is the horde of monsters that has started to prowl the confines of its neighboring woodland.

Monster: ...!

Medusa: Hehe, tell me when I'm gonna get to fight some actual competition!

Medusa: I thought there was supposed to be strength in numbers! I'm barely breaking a sweat here!

Vyrn: Watch out, there's more coming from further in! Look alive, Snake Girl!

Monster Horde: ...!

Medusa: I told you not to call me that already!

Medusa: And I also told you that these guys are total pushovers!

Medusa: Let's pick up the pace, Medusiana! We can't let (Captain) show us up!

Medusiana: ...!

Medusa and Medusiana's combined might leaves every one of their foes petrified or pulverized in a matter of seconds.

However, unbeknownst to either of them, a lone figure hides in the underbrush, keenly observing their fight.

???: (A curse-inflicting gaze that turns all it beholds to stone... There's no mistaking it—that has to be Medusa.)

Finally, as the sun begins to dip below the horizon, (Captain) and the others clear up the last of the beasts and return to the village, triumphant.

Medusa: Every last beastie was taken down by yours truly!

Medusa: Neither mortal nor monster can escape my petrifying gaze! Cower in fear before my might!

Reverent Villager: So the stories really were true! You vanquished those beasts with ample aplomb!

Reverent Villager: We watched you fight from the forest's edge, and you were as mighty as the Great Serpent itself!

Generous Villager: It even seemed like you skyfarers were fighting under its auspices! Praise be!

Medusa: The "Great Serpent"? What the heck does that even mean? Less blabbing, more cowering, okay!

Reverent Villager: The Great Serpent is the god that has protected our village since time immemorial.

Reverent Villager: It is said that, a very long time ago, when a great famine struck our village, a lone snake appeared unto us and brought us fruits and berries to eat.

Reverent Villager: Ever since then, we have revered that snake as the Great Serpent—the one who helped us in our time of need.

Lyria: Sounds like there used to be a snake living around here that was wonderfully kind! Just like you, Medusa!

Medusa: Y-you can't just compare me to some random viper we've never met!

Medusa: And besides, I don't care even half as much about what happens to some random mortals. I never wanted to help out to begin with!

Medusa: But, uh, I mean... I only did it this time 'cause those monsters were such an eyesore on your pretty woods!

Medusa: A-and what's more, it feels weird that you keep thanking me! These guys also did a bunch of work!

Medusa: Thank them properly, too! They didn't have to come save your tiny little village, y'know!

Generous Villager: Oh my, you're just as gracious of a snake goddess as your companion says!

Lyria: Yes! Medusa really is that nice and kind! Honest!

Vyrn: Well, she could be more honest sometimes, but she's a good apple, all the same!

Medusa: H-hey! I'm standing right here, y'know!

Medusa: Stop making fun of me! And wipe that dumb grin off your face already, (Captain)!

The gang and the villagers all end up smiling in spite of themselves at Medusa's pouty protests.

That night, the villagers treat the skyfarers to a lavish dinner spread as thanks for their hard work.

Lyria: So full... Can't eat another bite...

Vyrn: I feel bad eating all this grub and getting paid on top...

Reverent Villager: Please, think nothing of it! You have helped us out enormously—in fact, we don't feel like we've thanked you enough!

Generous Villager: Our little village is very out of the way, so we can't do that much for you beyond giving you food and a place to rest your heads...

Generous Villager: At the very least, you can rest easy here tonight before returning to your airship in the morning.

Medusa: Yeah, I think I'll do that—I can feel a food coma coming on...

Medusa: I think I'm gonna go crash. See you all in the morning. Good night (Captain), Lyria, Vyrn...

Lyria: You deserve it after all the fighting you did today. Have a good sleep, Medusa!

Vyrn: We'll come wake you up when it's time for breakfast tomorrow!

Medusa: See ya...

Medusa plods into her room, eyes drooping, and collapses into her bed. Scenes of her earlier victory fill her head as her eyes begin to flutter shut.

Reverent Villager: You vanquished those beasts with ample aplomb! You were as mighty as the Great Serpent itself!

Reverent Villager: You were as mighty as The Great Serpent itself!

Medusa: Hehe, I could get used to people calling me a goddess. What a way to be thanked, huh?

Medusa: I'm gonna sleep well tonight. Good night, Medusiana...

Medusa idly pets the giant snake as the pair fall sound asleep.

Medusa: ...

???: ...

Medusa: Huh?

Medusa: C'mon, it's like, midnight... 'Zat you, (Captain)? Lyria?

???: Dammit, I was hoping to do this quietly.

Medusa: (Wait... Who the heck is that!)

Medusa: (No one, and I mean no one, gets to just waltz into my room and get away with it!)

Medusa: (He's gonna learn that the hard way when I turn him into stone!)

???: Sorry, but that's not gonna work on me.

Medusa: (What! He's not turning!)

Medusa: (He's just some common mortal! How can he resist my glare?)

Medusa: What the heck are you?

???: Hm, looks like you have no backup plan, either.

???: I heard you were a cunning primal—one who uses your innocent guise to disarm us mortals, and then you stab us in the back. Seems like the stories exaggerated a few details.

???: But that also helps me. Makes this easier.

Completely ignoring Medusa's confused spluttering, her assailant deftly scoops her up and throws her over his shoulder.

In the blink of an eye, the man flees the room, taking the primal with him.

Medusa: Aieee!

Medusiana: ...!

Awakened by her mistress's scream, Medusiana bursts out of the room in pursuit mere moments later.

But it is already too late.

Medusa: Put me down right nooow!

Medusa is carried ever deeper into the forest, her shouts muffled by the trees, failing to reach the ears of her sleeping friends.