AEHU/Plot/Chapter 6
From Chrono Compendium
Event Geography
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Event Complex 1
- Wittel and Raqh are stopped by Guardian border agents at Zenan Bridge; North Zenan has been sealed off entirely in an effort to keep the plague from spreading to Guardia. Raqh produces his token of Guardian citizenship and it is deemed legitimate, but the border agents still won't let them through -- instead, they place Wittel and Raqh in a quarantined holding cell in San Dorino for a planned period of five days. If they don't show signs of plague by that time, they will be allowed through.
Event Complex 2
- Raqh proselytizes to some prison guards, who confide their various woes and are easily swayed to his way of thinking. Raqh persuades them to release him and his traveling companion, instructing the guards to await his return in Porre, which is to occur on such-and-such a date. If the guards bring their families with them to Raqh's lieutenant in Porre, they are assured protection from the plague as well as the aforementioned salvation.
- While free in San Dorino, Raqh consults some freewandering spirits, giving Wittel time to explore and shop. Townspeople recount various aspects of the town's complex history (including its shift from Porrean to Guardian protectorship), as well as the fact that Queen Leene hails from this locale. It is noted that Leene's father (now deceased at the hands of the Magus' army) was a wealthy and well-connected tradesman, and that she seemed crestfallen upon learning of her arranged marriage to the man who was to become Guardia XXI. Some middle-aged female NPCs still wonder whatever happened to the most intelligent and handsome bookkeeper Leene's father kept while war raged in South Zenan decades ago... Meanwhile, Dalton also wanders through town, wondering at the fact that he keeps running into Wittel seemingly everywhere. Dalton seems extremely interested in the town's history -- how strange that Guardia's most beloved queen was technically of Porrean blood.
- FW Note: Dalton will later corrupt the complex medieval interplay between Guardia and Porre for his own purposes when he arrives in 1005AG.
- After Wittel has explored San Dorino for awhile, he returns to Raqh, who in turn reports that the time is ripe to approach Zenan bridge once again. Wittel notes that only a single day out of their quarantine period has passed, but Raqh assures him they will pass unhindered. And it just so happens that a loyal cultist is conducting his shift at the bridge guard today. Raqh and Wittel thus cross the Zenan.
Event Complex 3
- Raqh's destination is Truce, where a sizable portion of his cult has gathered at the Guildstern estate. In an extremely weird turn of events Wittel learns that Raqh keeps his wife and infant son locked inside -- he "loves" them so much that he can't bear the thought of them escaping and thus missing out on salvation. Lady Guildstern is an extremely nervous individual, clutching her child at all times to keep him out of the hands of the cultists guarding the compound. Raqh reports to his Guardian lieutenants that he's found an especially old and knowledgeable spirit, and she has directed him to an island between Medina and Choras in his search for a path to the Power that can free them of suffering.
- Wittel's awe at the beauty of Truce and Guardia's landscape sort of dispels the tension in the Guildstern household, and Raqh encourages him to explore while he deals with various administrative matters. Wittel explores everywhere he can, learning more about the hero Cyrus and inquiring about the uncle who brought him to Sensei's monastery so long ago. Apparently fulfilling Wittel's wildest dreams, some NPCs recognize the name "Glenn" as Cyrus' squire, but report that he met an unfortunate end in the Denadoro Mountains alongside Cyrus during the battle that finally pushed the Magus from South Zenan in 590. Wittel wonders if self-sacrifice is the mark of a true hero.
- Despite Guardia's wealth and security, it is the anniversary of Guardia's entrance into the Mystic War and a sense of dreariness pervades Truce as NPCs reflect on the meaning of this day and the ten-year war that followed. Wittel discovers that Queen Leene has not borne a child since 590AG, and that ended in miscarriage. NPCs wonder at Leene's fortitude seeing as she lost her father to the Magus' troops once Guardia entered the Mystic War and she lost her child in the same year.
- Wandering into Manoria Cathedral, Wittel probably reflects on the people he's left behind at Sensei's monastery and Choras in general. He wonders if he'll ever succeed in finding the meaning of heroism.
- Growing extremely adventurous now, Wittel sneaks into Truce Canyon. Leene's Bell now adorns the area and the canyon has been largely leveled, Leene Square already partially constructed. Wittel sneaks past some guards and witnesses a private moment between King Guardia XXI and Queen Leene, now on the verge of middle age and discussing the course of their marriage. Guardia XXI professes his love for Leene but apologizes for his inadequacy, noting that his decision to renew the Mystic War led to her father's retaliatory death and the subsequent miscarriage of their child. Guardia XXI announces he has tasked the Chancellor with creating a Parliament to carry the country on after they have both passed; he refuses to divorce her because she remained devoid of child for the past sixteen years, as has been encouraged in some quarters. Generally very heavy emotional stuff; Wittel ponders the awesome responsibilities that accompany adulthood.
- Wittel returns to Truce, now satisfied that he has beheld Guardia, possibly learned what it really takes to be a "hero," and discovered the fate of the Guardian native who left him in Choras. However, he longs for the upbeat mood of the Frog Festival and wants to see Brione again. He looks for Raqh, hoping that he can get a ticket out of Guardia. Along the way he sees Dalton, who similarly has arrived just to take in the sights; though Dalton wears a disgusted look on his face as he wanders the streets of Truce.
- Wittel is stopped by Artemis, who inquires where Raqh is. He tells her, and when he sees her stomping toward the Guildstern complex scythe in hand, he questions what new trouble he's just inadvertently caused and follows her. Artemis demands entry into the Guildstern estate, explaining that Raqh harbors an extremely dangerous spirit. She annihilates the guards with impunity and is about to storm in when Wittel stops her. Our protagonist notes the general chaos Artemis' actions are causing on an extremely heavy date on the Guardian calendar and pleads with her to stop, at which point he confronts her in an unwinnable boss battle. Artemis spares him and storms into the compound.
- Wittel follows Artemis into the Guildstern estate, which Artemis is tearing through like a crazy ninja. Raqh emerges, enraged that she's killing people who could be "saved." Artemis argues that the repercussions of Raqh's harboring Gladus outweigh the damage she's causing right now, and they take their fight outside. Lady Guildstern takes advantage of the situation, trying to pass off her child to a really confused Wittel, who just tenses up emotionally and freezes. One of Raqh's lieutenants leads Lady Guildstern away, causing her to despair at the prospect that her son should have no escape from this cult.
- Outside, Raqh smashes Artemis with power borrowed from Gladus. Guardian citizens are generally flipping out, and knights keep the bewildered King and Queen away from the scene. Raqh announces that he's finished here, telling his lieutenants that he's off to determine the veracity of information he has learned from Gladus and that they should await his return. Guardian citizens crowd around the injured Artemis. Dalton steps forward from amongst the NPCs, and Artemis acquiesces to helping him uncover the mystery behind Levantine because she feels a need for the blade now.
- Wittel follows Raqh to Truce's marina, where a group of fellow cultists waits to take Raqh to his destination. Raqh turns to Wittel and asks if he's divined the meaning of "heroism" yet, and Wittel responds that he believes the true hero is a selfless individual willing to sacrifice everything for the sake of others. Raqh consults the "spiritual winds" for a moment and learns that an event of the kind to which Wittel refers is about to happen in Medina. He orders his loyal cultists to plot a course directly to Medina: it's on the way to their destination, and the experience will prove beneficial to his "protege" -- it is thus revealed in stark terms that Raqh has been setting up for Wittel's "conversion" this whole time.
