Thief and Queen

Thief and Queen

• Related Event: The Hunt for Harmony/March 2019
• Release Date: March 31, 2019
• Featured Characters: Nefaria, Vida, Renelle

Dialogue

Renelle is regaling Vida with tales of past adventures. ...And then the stone gate shut, and I was trapped in the ruins! Cursing my luck, I frantically surveyed my surroundings—and on the other side of the room, I saw this mysterious figure. *gulp* And then?! It crept toward me, and— Greetings. EEEEK! Hm? Dangit, Nefaria! Don't scare me like that! Apologies. You appeared rapt, and I yenned to know the cause. I fear I have disturbed your gaiety. I shall take my leave. Hold on! Now that you're here, we might as well listen to Renelle's story together. She was just telling me about one of her most harrowing adventures. Aye, treasure hunting? That's right! She travels all over the world to explore ruins and discover legendary treasures. Along the way, there's always traps, thrills, chills, and spills! And on this particular adventure, I brought in probably the second-biggest haul of my career. Heh! It was an ancient ruin, long-buried in the sandseas to the south. The traps were ingenious—and deadly—but the treasures inside were worth every bead of sweat. I don't want to brag, but this is probably the greatest story ever told. Ha ha! I would fain enjoy listening to you rousing tales of derring-do. Er...right then! C'mon, grab a seat! So where was I... Ah! Right... I was trapped within the ruin, and a mysterious figure was closing in. Was it a person? An animal? A GHOST? No, it was actually... A towering stone statue equipped with a razor-sharp spear! What?! How was a statue moving?! Hmm... Could it be...? Anyways, I'm sure you took care of it lickety-split, right? You bet! See, I figured out its secret the moment I saw it. It turns out... *gulp* ...that the statue... Moved through mana. ..... It sensed a foreign source of mana and sought to see it slain, yes? How did you know that...? I-I mean, yeah, you got it! Pretty sharp. So, I channeled mana into the tools I'd brought with me and scattered them all around—and that TOTALLY confused the statue. It stopped dead in its tracks, leaving me free to explore even deeper. Woooow... You're amazing! I can't believe you figured out how that statue worked so quickly—and even thought up such a perfect solution! Heh, it was nothing, really. Just another day in the life! And Nefaria, you figured out the trick just as fast—and you didn't even SEE the statue! (Yeah... She totally stole my thunder...) Your extolment is misguided. Those ruins were— AAANYWAY, I continued on, deeper into the depths. There were more traps, a big long hallway, and a hidden door. And beyond that door was— A mask of jade? What the?!

...

According to an antiquities dealer, the snow crystal was— A diplomatic gift given to commemorate trade relations with the north. Bwuh?!

...

As I drew closer to the treasure chest, I felt something eerie and dangerous in the air and— You had only to avoid stepping on the crest secluded in the floor, and then you wouldn't have been shot by the arrows. Rrrgh!

...

I had made it to the deepest depths of the ruin, and I took the final treasure in hand. It was— A golden crozier. Okay, what is your DEAL?! How do you know all these things?! You know the traps, the treasures, and even the appraisal I got from the dang antiquities expert! As it happens, I am intimately familiar with the ruins you speak of. But HOW?! Nobody had ever been that deep before! You know what I heard? I heard Nefaria was the queen of an ancient land. If that's really true, then the ruins you were in could have actually been... Indeed, I ordered their construction. Score one for Vida! So the rumors are true then? You're the queen of legend? But then... Oh jeez. I think I owe you an apology, Nefaria. Whyever for? I hunt treasure because whoever owned it bit the dust a long time ago; it's not doing them any good. But stealing from the living? That just makes me a thief. And I've got way too much pride for that. So here's a promise... I'll buy back every last piece of treasure I stole from you and return them all. Fie, but that is unnecessary! What, why? As you explained, those trinkets served no purpose imprisoned in the sands. They are for the better, returned to the world. Save your intervention, they would be mouldering in the darkness still—so I adjudge your actions good. Should you swell your purse with them, or delight Vida with tales of their procurement, then all the better. Wow—not just a queen, but a GENEROUS queen. Y-you're really giving me the okay to keep looting your old home? Well, I hope you know I don't do any job halfway! Word on the street is there are plenty of buried ruins left to find. So you better believe I'm gonna dig up each one, find all the treasures, and sell 'em to the highest bidder! If you don't want me dredging up your grandpa's favorite chamberpot or whatever, this is your last chance to back out! Such things are long swept from my memory. So in truth, you would do me a great kindness by unearthing them. Say what? My subjects who built those ruins would surely be pleased for them to see the light of day once more, and it will honor their memory besides. I await your expedition with alacrity, Renelle. Sure, keep up the calm act while you can. The next time we meet, I'm gonna surprise you so hard you'll— Say, Nefaria? Are there any knives in your ruins? Aye, they are legion. Well then I'm comin' too. Ancient ruins plus knives equals LEGENDARY KNIVES! I recall not their annals, but I pray you find joy. We totally will! All right, all that's left now is to let Renelle find those ruins for us! Indeed. I leave this in your hands, Renelle. Thanks, Renelle! DON'T I GET A SAY IN THIS?!