Scenario:Naoise - Fear and Benevolence

Fear and Benevolence

Naoise takes time away from the restoration of Alster Island to respond to a distress call from nearby Entre Island, which has reported the appearance of a dangerous monster. What he finds instead is Chulainn, a girl with a dragon's scales, wings, and tail, and her adoptive older brother, Ferdia. They have been traveling from island to island seeking a cure for the sudden appearance of her draconic features. Naoise brings them back to Alster to consult with Scathacha.

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True Dragon Deirdre—known to some as Scathacha—has sworn to defend her beloved Alster Island, a place where monsters and people coexist peacefully.

True Dragon Medb, however, considers Deirdre's kindness a stain on the honor of all true dragons—a stain she attacked Alster Island to wipe clean.

(Captain) and the crew helped repel the attack, and now all the residents of Alster are working together to restore their home.

Naoise: Our trade agreement with the Knickknack Shack has gone smoothly thanks to (Captain) handling transportation.

Heles: Not only were we given temporary leave from the crew—now they're helping us with the distribution of supplies. Words of gratitude simply aren't enough.

Heles: We must find some way to thank them properly.

Seruel: I'm afraid that will have to wait until Alster Island is back on its feet. Any extravagant gestures now would cause (Captain) more guilt than pleasure.

Seruel: Honestly, the captain's good nature is a liability—we should be there to make sure no one takes advantage of it. Hopefully we can get things in hand here soon enough.

Naoise: Seruel, I want to speak to you about sending relief to Entre Island.

Naoise: The parliament received a request for assistance with some recent monster attacks there.

Seruel: It appears the time has come to repay the humanitarian aid they rendered us when the Irestill Kingdom fell.

Heles: It may be a stroke of luck that (Captain) and the others aren't here at the moment.

Seruel: Indeed. I doubt we could have stopped them from rushing to Entre Island's aid.

Seruel: But this gesture should come from Alster Island, given how much we owe them.

Seruel: We will send our strongest knight. Naoise, show them that Alster always honors its debts.

Naoise: Understood! I will take a troop of knights and eliminate the monster threat plaguing Entre Island.

And so, while the Grandcypher is away from Alster on another request, Naoise heads to Entre.

Sir Quill: Oof! Finally here. The rocking of an airship is no good for my old back.

Naoise: I know your village's farmlands were badly damaged when True Dragon Medb attacked, Sir Quill. I'm thankful you could spare the time to help me.

Sir Quill: Oh, please. Thanks to Lady Deirdre, we don't have to worry about monster attacks, so the restoration of our fields is well underway.

Sir Quill: There's not a lot an ancient archer like me could do to help there anyhow. The least I can do is offer you my services.

Sir Quill: Although I'm certain you could handle this monster single-handed, so all I'll be doing is riding your coattails to borrowed glory.

Naoise: You're far too modest. It's well-known there is no better commander of archers on Alster Island than you.

Naoise: I'll be counting on you to shore up the deficiencies in my own leadership.

Sir Quill: Pfft. Hahaha!

Naoise: Did I say something odd?

Sir Quill: Forgive me. It's just that you look so much like Miss Eli—that is, it's uncanny how much you resemble your lady mother.

Sir Quill: And yet you sound just like your father, Sir Uisneach. It does my old heart good to speak with you.

Naoise: That's right. You had been serving in the castle guard for some time when my father joined, hadn't you?

Sir Quill: That's right. Sir Uisneach was such a good soldier, he was trusted to guard the rear gates.

Sir Quill: But that didn't stop then-Princess Mugain—gods rest her soul—and her handmaiden, Miss Elisheba, from making merciless sport of him.

Naoise: I'd heard that my mother was such a handful when she was younger that my grandfather sent her to the palace to learn better manners.

Sir Quill: So he did! But Princess Mugain had just lost her younger sister, and Miss Elisheba became a great source of comfort to her.

Sir Quill: Ah, there I go, prattling about the past. We mustn't keep our young companions waiting.

Naoise: I hope you'll share more of your memories with me later.

Naoise: Everyone, follow me! We'll rendezvous with the local guard at their headquarters.

After a briefing from the local guard, Naoise and his knights retire to their lodgings to discuss strategy.

Naoise: They claim this monster appeared out of nowhere, knocked some vendors' stands flying, injured citizens, and then fled to the mountains, attacking the guards who attempted to follow.

Sir Quill: Sounds plausible enough, but there was something about their story that didn't sit quite right. Felt like they were holding something back.

Naoise: If they went so far as to request help from another island, I don't doubt their account of the damage, but...

Sir Quill: I think we'd best take only our own knights into the mountains, and keep our wits about us as far as the local guards' actions are concerned.

Naoise: Yes... I believe you're right. Besides, coordinating with new allies while tackling an unknown foe is a dangerous proposition.

Naoise: There's only one entrance to the caves. What if we surround the mouth, have our archers at the ready, and smoke the monster out?

Sir Quill: That sounds fine to me. I'll head back to the ship to fetch torches and oil.

Naoise: Thank you. We'll march for the mountain at first light.

Splitting the tasks between them, Naoise and Quill prepare the younger knights for the next morning's monster hunt.

Young Knight: Sirs! I've returned from my scouting mission!

Naoise: At ease. What can you tell me about the caves?

Young Knight: Well... Judging by the footprints, it looked like kids had been playing there recently. There were no signs of monsters that we could find.

Sir Quill: Mm... The birds are singing just as usual, and the smaller woodland animals haven't cleared the area. Something definitely doesn't add up.

Naoise: Indeed. If there were a powerful monster in the area, I'd expect the wildlife to be frightened and acting accordingly.

Young Knight: I can't think of any species of monster that would be a threat to people but not animals. When monsters are hungry, they're just as happy to hunt the local wildlife.

Naoise: The monster could have moved to a different part of the mountain, but the smoke will help us determine whether it has.

Naoise: We'll proceed with our initial plan. Start fanning the smoke into the caves, and have the archers standing by.

Young Knight: Yes, sir!

Sir Quill: We'll pen the monster in and leave it to you to pick it off with your longbow, Sir Naoise.

Naoise: I'll do my best not to let it reach you. If necessary, however, I want you to leave me behind and retreat.

Sir Quill: Understood. Please do your utmost to ensure it doesn't come to that.

Naoise: Don't worry. I have no intention of throwing my life away.

The knights gauge the direction of the wind before lighting their fires and funneling the smoke toward the cave mouth.

Naoise: ...

Naoise: ...!

???: Cough... Hack!

Sir Quill: Fire!

???: !

The shadowy figure leaps clear of the arrows loosed at Quill's command. The archers let fly volley after volley.

???: Whimper...

Naoise: Wait...

???: Haaaaah!

The figure hazily visible through the smoke strikes arrows out of the air with a swing of its arm. It spots Naoise and barrels toward him.

Naoise: ...!

Naoise: A... child?

???: Waaaah!

Naoise blocks the mysterious figure's blow, but as he is reeling from the shock of their appearance, what turns out to be a child winds up to strike again.

Young Knight: That's no monster!

Sir Quill: Don't be fooled! Many monsters can shift their appearances to beguile attackers! We have to protect Sir Naoise!

Naoise: Sir Quill! Hold your fire!

Sir Quill: ...!

Naoise: Forgive me, child! We were misinformed. Please calm down...

???: Shut up! Get away from me! If you don't, I'm really, really gonna wallop you this time!

Youth's Voice: Cu, stop!

Naoise: ...?

The voice which reined in the furious child belongs to a young man.

???: Stay back, Ferd! They're here to bully us again!

???: I told you... t'stop... Urgh...

???: Ferd!

The young man staggers a few steps before collapsing, and the child leaves Naoise to run to his side.

Naoise: I...

Sir Quill: Sir Naoise! Are you all right?

Naoise: Yes, no need to worry on my account. But...

Crouched by the fallen youth, the child, sensing the confused knights' scrutiny, growls at them like a feral beast.

Sir Quill: Leaving those horns aside... that tail... and the ability to land a blow on you, tell me that's no ordinary child.

Naoise: Sir Quill... Will you hold my weapons?

Naoise makes a show of handing over his weapons so the children can see before he slowly approaches them.

Naoise: Once again, please forgive me. We were told a monster attacked the town below, and took you for that monster.

Naoise: Attacking you without confirming your identity was disgraceful, and mere apology cannot possibly suffice.

???: ...

???: Ngh... Cu...

???: Ferd! I'm right here, Ferd!

Naoise: He seems awfully weak. Would you allow us to treat him?

???: ...

Naoise: Please. I could not live with myself if we allowed either of you to come to harm.

???: You'll... save him? You promise?

Naoise: I swear it on the name of Alster Island.

???: The name of what? I don't know what you're talking about, but just... just save Ferd, okay?

???: I'm the one who broke those stands... I didn't mean to, but I broke them...

???: The townspeople got mad and chased me away... And Ferd was the one who got hurt.

Naoise: I see... Once we've treated your friend's wounds, why don't you tell me the whole story?

???: All right...

Naoise: Thank you. Follow me, then.

Naoise: Sir Quill!

Sir Quill: I heard everything. First, let's take the lad back to the airship. Best not to risk running into our hosts in town just yet.

Naoise: Just as you say. I'll carry him.

Naoise: And you... Cu, was it? Do you feel strong enough to travel on foot?

Chulainn: Uh... My name's Chulainn. Cu is the nickname my grandpa gave me.

Naoise: Pleased to meet you, Chulainn. Will you walk alongside me then? We have a little ways to go.

Chulainn: Yeah!

Chulainn: Ferd! Ferdia's awake! Oh, thank goodness...

Ferdia: Sorry I worried you, Cu.
And please forgive us for the trouble we've caused, sirs.

Naoise: We're the ones who must apologize. Attacking you without knowing the full story was shameful.

Ferdia: Well, it's our fault for scaring the townspeople in the first place. Cu's strength can get a little out of control.

Naoise: Yes, she said she destroyed some shop stalls.

Ferdia: Yes. Cu... Chulainn looks a little different from most people, so she usually wears a cloak to avoid startling anyone...

Ferdia: It caught on the stand when she broke it though, and came off. And her appearance only scared the townspeople more.

Chulainn: I didn't ask for wings and a tail... They grew on their own...

Naoise: They... grew? Your tail and your wings?

Ferdia: My grandfather found Chulainn when she was a baby. Back then, we just thought she was a Draph.

Ferdia: But one day she started complaining that she was itchy, and all of a sudden, she started growing scales all over one arm... and then she sprouted the tail... and the wings.

Chulainn: My tail just moves on its own. It's kind of a problem...

Ferdia: We've taken her to doctors all over the place, but no one even knows what caused the changes, much less how to cure them.

Naoise: So you came to this island seeking treatment. It must have been a harrowing journey for the two of you to undertake alone.

Chulainn: I don't mind, as long as I've got Ferd with me!

Ferdia: I'm glad you're so blase about it.

Naoise: Haha...

Sir Quill: Sir Naoise, I just returned from speaking with the local guard.

Naoise: Thank you for handling that. What did they have to say?

Sir Quill: It seems there were quite a few among them who had reservations about treating Miss Chulainn like a monster.

Sir Quill: They were the ones who seemed so awkward when we spoke to them earlier. Thanks to their support, the guard has agreed to let us take custody of our two young friends here.

Naoise: What a relief. Please tell the townspeople—

Sir Quill: We decided to put it out that the "monster" who'd caused the damage in town was defeated by the Alster knights.

Sir Quill: Seemed best to settle the affair that way, rather than invite any unfortunate speculation on Miss Chulainn's subject.

Naoise: I can't thank you enough, Sir Quill. Thank goodness you agreed to accompany me. I never could have handled negotiations as adroitly.

Sir Quill: Haha. You needn't excel in every field. You and your father really are two perfectly straight arrows from the same quiver.

Sir Quill: And if your honesty means an old prevaricator like me still has his uses, all the better.

Naoise: I don't know about that... I feel like all I've done on this expedition is reveal the depths of my inadequacy.

Sir Quill: Come now—no man is an island. Learning to depend on others is one way you could even improve on your father's legacy.

Sir Quill: When the kingdom fell, Sir Uisneach had to watch his comrades fall to injury one after the next in a never-ending series of battles.

Sir Quill: I was one of them. In the end, your father ended up marching into battle alone. I'll regret that to the end of my days.

Naoise: I have to believe my father was happy to die fulfilling his duty as a knight.

Sir Quill: I'm sure he was. That's why he lives on as a hero to all of Alster. Forgive an old man for waxing maudlin.

Sir Quill: Here I am talking the young people's ears off again. Sorry to keep you waiting so long, Miss Chulainn. And your brother too.

Chulainn: Uuum... Sure, okay! Thanks, Gramps! Thanks Naoise!

Ferdia: Sir Naoise, Cu! He's a knight!

Chulainn: Ohh. Okay. Thank you for saving us, Sir Naoise and Sir Gramps!

Naoise: Please think nothing of it. And there's someone I believe could advise you on your "condition," Chulainn. Would you be willing to accompany us back to Alster Island?

Ferdia: Wait, you really know someone like that?

Naoise: Indeed. Chulainn's scales and tail greatly resemble those of a dragon. Who better to consult than a true dragon?

Naoise: I'm certain the proud guardian of Alster Island, True Dragon Deirdre, can be of assistance.

Hope kindles in Ferdia's eyes, and he squeezes Chulainn's hand.

Naoise, the knight sworn to serve and protect, turns his eyes homeward, determined to help these children whose futures he almost helped to extinguish.