Bygone Days

Campaign: Resurgent Despair

Chapter 10 / 2-1

Bygone Days

Previous Quest

The Miasmic Ruins

Next Quest

Following the Darkness

Summary

The party proceeds into the depths of Clave Loy'elune, where they encounter Zethia and her parasite, the Other—also known as Morsayati. Seeking the final fragment for his complete resurrection, the creature heads deeper into the Binding Ruin, and the party gives chase.

Dialogue

Binding Ruin The deeper we go, the heavier the miasma becomes. We've done a fair job avoidin' it so far, but who knows how long that'll hold? I fear it may soon prove impossible to continue on as we have been. And yet, it seems like there aren't any alternate routes. Soooo...what now? Uh, guys? ...Guys? ...HEY! LISTEN! WHAT'S THIS THING RIGHT HERE?! Do you mean this beat-up old rock? Why, I believe it is a beat-up old rock. Hold, Mym. This is no mere stone. Do you see the writing beneath it? I think it is a monument of some kind. The writing's pretty worn, but let's see what it says... Here are the Deeds Preserved of the Great King Alberius. Alberius?! Is this a monument to the War of Binding? And if so, does that mean these ruins— Huh?! The heck is going on?! The time grows nigh. What are you talking about, Zodiark?! The blood of dragons within you resonates with the monument. It flows to times long past... To the great king himself... ROOOOOOAR! ROOOOOOAR! ROOOOOOAR! ROOOOOOAR! ROOOOOOAR!

At last! I have you now, Morsayati! Upon this ground shall you be sealed away once more! Pitiful. You think to trap me? What fantasy. And sealing me away is naught but a fool's delusion! The only delusions here are your own. Now sleep ever more in the depths of this land! That was... The mana infused in the monument reacted to your dragonblood, granting you a vision of the past. Dude, whoa. I saw it, too. Me three. Er, so that was...? Yes. That was His Majesty, King Alberius. The legendary Founder King himself, eh? So I guess that thing what he was fightin' there was the Other? The same vile being from the legends of both the Goddess and the Founder King. Even after 300 years, he's still as gross and horrid as ever. King Alberius called the Other by a name. Morsayati, was it? That must be the Other's true name. I've heard rumors the name contains a fearsome power, which is why people attempted to forget it. So I guess this ruin is where Alberius and the Other had their final battle? Well, hell. If that's true, it means the miasma comin' from this place— ...Comes from the portion of my being that sleeps here as we speak, yes. Sleeps, yet yearns for awakening. Ah! How clever of you to make your way here ahead of me, my dear brother. Zethia! ...Or should I say, Morsayati?! Ah, how rare it is to hear that name uttered by mortal lips. We've not come face-to-face like this since I first claimed your sister's body for my own. How odd that we meet once again within a Binding Ruin. Can't believe Zethia's possessed by some legendary monster. Feels like I walked right into a damn faerie tale. But the Other is said to have been sealed away by His Majesty King Alberius. How could he be here now? Heh heh heh... Such miserable ignorance. What did you say?! Enough! We'll deal with the details later! Right now, I'm getting Zethia back. Ahhhh, but I fear that is impossible. She is a most precious gift, you see. A gift?! Indeed. A precious one, bequeathed unto me from a time and place long in the past. What are you talking about?! Aaaah ha ha! Do not fret, dear brother! You will soon see your dear sister become a great emperor with your own eyes—once I regain all that I am! Come, Harle! As you wish, Highness. Oh, and I have dispatched writs of invitation to the other siblings as well. Sit tight, my foolish friends! Sit tight and watch as Empress Zethia gains the power to rule the entire world! Ha ha ha ha! Wait! Stop! Dammit! The miasma's thicker than before! No! Not when we are so close! Oh, but this is TERRIFICALLY annoying! Zodiark! This kind of thing seems right up your creepy alley. Is there nothing you can do to help us right now? What, ya think he's been holdin' out on us or somethin'? Very well. I shall act. Wait, you CAN do something?! Good thing I thought to ask! I was once enslaved by that foul being. And to some limited extent, I acquired the power to resist him. I will attempt to banish the miasma. Grraaaargh! Dude, that's WAY better! Now we can chase those punks down! Thank you, Zodiark. Come on, everyone! We're going to go in there and save Zethia!