Norwin/Stories

General Stories Misc

Quotes

On Sortied

On Entering a Room

When Quest Begins

Response to Beginning of a Quest

When Controlling Character in Quest

When Receiving a Heal

When Entering a Boss’ Room

Response to Entering a Boss’ Room

Upon Getting to Low Health

Upon Opening A Chest

Boss on Low Health

Boss Enters Break State

Rare Enemy Spawns

Upon Death

Player Uses Damaging Skill

When Shape Shifting is Ready

Shape Shifting into Dragon

Idle During Quest

Quest Clear

Quest Failure

Home Screen Walking

Home Screen Inside

Home Screen Portrait

Collection Portrait

At The Halidom

Adventurer Story Episodes

Episode 1

Unhappy Endings

Waaaah! Waaaah! Huh? Was that a child crying? It came from over there. C'mon, let's check it out! Come now, child! Don't cry! *sniffle* *sob* Hey! What's the big idea making a bunch of kids cry like that, jerk?! I meant no harm, madam, I assure you. I was merely reading them a picture book. Ooo, I LOVE picture books! ...Hey, wait. If you were reading them a picture book, why were they crying? Er, well... Let me see this book. "However, no hero came to save the imperiled princess. Nay, not a one." "And with a terrible cry, she was gobbled up for dinner by a many-eyed fiend. Thus was all right in the world once more." Um...did I just read what I think I read? Dude, that ending SUCKS! No wonder the kids turned on the waterworks! Yes, well, perhaps that ending did need a little work. If you allow me to read you one of these other stories, I'm certain— NOOOOOO! Yeah, we're outta here. Oh dear. It happened again. Okay, freakstore, what's your damage?! Why are you reading some weirdo story to a bunch of little kids?! If that is how you already feel, I doubt my explanation will assuage your concerns one way or the other. Try us. I am Norwin, a picture-book artist. The tale you just read is one of my works. Wait. YOU wrote this?! That's...um... Well, this is rather awkward. Oh, it's all right. I'm well aware that my tales tend to fall a bit outside the norm. Okay, but if you know you're writing horrible stories, why keep doing it? Because I find myself unable to pen a happy ending. Despite knowing even in my own mind that such sad tales are not appreciated, I somehow find myself unable to write anything else. So it's like writer's block, except...weird? I thought perhaps the problem was in the writing, and so attempted to tell my story in oral form hoping a happy ending would somehow force itself out. However... Yeah, we all saw how that worked out. Indeed. The tale was... Well, let us just say I hope I have not permanently scarred any of the children. Wow. You're a real piece of work. I don't know if I've ever heard of a problem quite like this before. Hey, I've got an idea! The prince here loves to write stories, so why don't the two of you form a writing group?! Notte, I just write silly stories as a hobby. Norwin is a professional. Hold a moment. You are a prince? Not Prince Euden?! Can it really be you? The seventh scion of the royal Alberian family?! That's me all right. Er, have we met? The rumors of your deeds are legion! You help the weak fend off powerful foes, and your heart is filled with bravery and love for all of your fellows! Yeah, he's a big-shot all right. Now make with the bowing! However, I fear I've also heard an equally abundant number of...not-so-pleasant tales about you. Ah, those stories are hogwash. Hogwash, I tells ya! Yes, that seems all but certain now. For if there's one thing I've learned in my line of work, it is how to tell the cold truth of fact from the fancy of fiction. Okay, I think we can move on now... And on that note, I've a request for you, Your Highness: You must allow me to play a part in your tale! Run that by me again? You're a character right out of a story. If I spend time with you, I might be able to finally find my elusive happy ending! I beg this of you, let me join your ranks! I shall do anything! I don't think I'm as impressive as all that, but new friends are always welcome. Thank you so much, Your Highness! I await your first command! Well, how about you start by not calling me "Your Highness." From now on, we're friends of equal standing. Oh! I, um... Yes, of course. (It's just as the rumors said—he really IS a prince from a children's faerie tale!)

Episode 2

A Tale of Despair

...... You look serious, Norwin. What's wrong? Greetings, prince. I was simply attempting to draw a picture. ...Whoa, look at that! It's like I'm staring at this in real-life! I knew you wrote picture books, but I had no idea you were also such a talented artist. Just a little diversion, I assure you. Er, Norwin? Why are you— GRAAAAAGH! You just ripped your picture apart! Why?! Because I do so enjoy making a mess of such realistic pictures. I often think how nice it would be to do the same to reality itself. That's a bit of an odd thought. Ah, but this is the true me. I've been like this ever since I came to realize how truly cruel reality is. Well, I don't want to force you to talk about it, but maybe you could tell me why you feel that way? I suppose there's no harm in doing so. This was a few years ago now... In northern Grastaea, there was a small nation called the Duchy of Anasonne. I lived there as the personal artist for the nation's young royals. Anasonne was a small land, but good, and all the people there were happy. But nearby nations were not so kind, and soon the fires of war had spread to Anasonne. As the days passed and the war worsened, I busied myself crafting tales for the frightened young lord and lady. Their smiling faces were a source of great delight for me, and I came up with one joyful tale after another for them. But in the end, Anasonne lost the war, and the country fell to ruin. Fortune left me with my life, but the rest of the country was naught but corpses and death...including the young royals. Ever since, whenever I try to write an ending, visions of that time float into my mind, and I find myself unable to produce anything save cruel and bitter finales. That's terrible. The sight of the burning town is seared on my eyes, and the sound of the people's screams rings eternally in my ears. No matter how much I might wish to create a tale of happiness, cruel reality cares not a whit for my desires! If reality held even a fraction of the beauty to be found in picture books, the young nobles would never have suffered so! Now you understand why I wish to create reality and then spit in its eye. I can't deny that reality has more than its fair share of cruelties. But I also believe there is good in it, which is the dream that I strive for. Do you think that's wrong? Heh. If everyone in the world were like you, reality would be wonderful indeed. Perhaps a day will come when my spirit becomes like yours.

Episode 3

The Power of Fantasy

Gah, not again! This is absurd! That sounded like Norwin... Norwin, what's going... Er, why is your floor covered in a blizzard of crumpled paper? Just my usual process, I fear. No matter how many times I try, I end up producing a story like...this. Why don't you let me take a look? "...And so, the children were scattered to the winds and devoured alive by a fearsome pack of wolves. The end." Huh. Okay then. I am rapidly losing my sense of humor about this situation. You went through a terrible trauma; it's going to take some time. You just need to give your wounded heart time to heal itself. I wonder if that is truly the issue. What do you mean? I mean that rather than being wounded, perhaps my heart simply craves revenge. Revenge on who? On picture books—or perhaps on fantasy itself! No matter how many fantasies I put to the page, I could not save Anasonne. In the end, fantasy is just that—it has no power to actually help anyone! You don't really believe that. If you did, you wouldn't be spending all your time trying to regain the ability to write happy endings. I want to believe that. But in the depths of my heart, I feel naught but an utter loathing for fantasy and escapism. Perhaps writing these ugly tales is my way of unconsciously taking revenge on the very notion of such things. That's my thinking, at any rate. I don't know what to say. ...Norwin? You have guests. Hmm? Who is it? Please come in. Are you Mister Norwin? I am indeed. How can I help you? Um, we...read this book. "The Ugly Prince," is it? Mmm, yes, this book appears to be very well loved. It's about a prince who turns ugly because a bad wizard curses him. But the prince stays pretty inside and keeps fighting for good stuff! Then a princess falls in love with him, and when she kisses him, she breaks the evil ugly curse! That sounds like quite the tale. Er, but why did you bring it here? ...Because I wrote it. You did?! But the story had a... It is from my time back in Anasonne, when I was still able to write such things. I thought all the copies had been lost during the war... It came from our grandpa. That's why it's so worn out. Our mom and dad are both gone now, which makes stuff real hard... But this book always cheers us up! Yep! Every time we read it, we wanna be good and strong just like the prince! That's why we came all the way here from Hosse Village—we wanted to meet the person who wrote our favorite story! Hosse Village?! But that's so far away! You really came all that way on your own? "Even if I become afraid and my body quails, the courage to take a single step is enough to cross the sky itself!" I'm sorry? The prince said that. In the story. Did you hear that, Norwin? Hmm? Your story gave them the strength to come on a grand adventure all the way to the Halidom! How can you say fantasy has no power when you see that happen? You can't give up on fantasy and imagination. Not yet. Perhaps you're right. And yet...

Episode 4

Besting Battle

...So then. It has begun. I'm scared... Don't you worry. Our army is mighty, and will never be defeated. I promise. (Even so, the enemy is the Imperial Army. I pray everyone is careful...) ...The Empire is coming for your village?! I'm afraid so. They've demanded an exorbitant tax from our village, as well as those in the surrounding area. We are all poor and simple people; we can't possibly afford to pay. Yet they have decreed that any who fail to pay will meet a swift and terrible end. It is a warning. By destroying one village, they show all the others that the Empire is not to be trifled with. What a horrible thing to do! Please save us, Your Highness! I'd never let the Empire get away with something so cruel. ...How terrible to think that village was your hometown of Hosse. ...... My apologies that you have ended up watching over the children, Norwin. It is our duty to ease the worries of all villagers—including the children. Well, still you have my gratitude. Waaah! I'm scaaaared! (This is just like when Anasonne was destroyed... Back then, I read a book to the young lord and lady to soothe them. But now I'd only be able to tell the poor children a tale of horror and woe. How powerless I have become!) ...so do what you must. Ah! Euden, let me fight. Or at least let me provide healing if I can do nothing else. I appreciate that, Norwin, but we need you for something else—a specific task that ONLY you can do. And what is that? Norwiiiin! You're the only one who can give courage to these children—so do what you must. (Something only I can do... That's right! Did I not write it myself in one of my books? No matter how scared I get, the courage to take a single step will open the way forward!) Gather round, children; I'm going to read you a picture book! It will be full of thrills and chills and maybe even a scare of two, but in the end, all will be happy! But I'm scared nooooow! Your fear is just what the Empire wants! You must learn to be brave instead. Now, let us begin. The title of this tale is "The Princess in the Wall." Long ago, in a far away land, there was a small house that was surrounded on all sides by a wall that stretched to the sky. ...And after the witch cast her spell, the princess found herself trapped within a frightful patch of brambles! "Ungrateful girl!" cried the nasty witch. "I shall rip you to pieces!" Eeeek! (Now the prince will come to save the day. If only reality could be so kind! I remember how Anasonne's young nobles sought to gain courage and strength from the brave prince I wrote about.) Waaah! Help, Norwin! Norwin?! What about the prince?! Isn't he gonna come save the princess?! (Ah! The young nobles! N-no...I can't possibly be hearing them. They're gone. They died!) "No one is coming to save you!" cackled the witch. And so she trapped the princess and...and... Somebody saaave her! It's okay! The prince is gonna come! Oh yeah! That's right! ...... (They're completely absorbed in the tale, even as the Empire knocks at their door. By Ilia... THIS is the power of fantasy! The young nobles of Anasonne were happy and brave even as their land was consumed by war, and all because they became engrossed in my stories. What is left for me if I do not believe in that power?!) Suddenly, there was a mighty explosion that tore a hole in the wall! And standing there amidst the dust and rubble, was... The prince! That's right! The prince appeared and cut the bramble patch into little pieces, freeing the princess in the process! Then they lived happily ever after. And all was right in the world. Yaaaaay! That was fun! I confess I was unsure of how reading a picture book could help, but it somehow helped me to to forget our dire situation. And speaking of that situation, it seems the noises outside have stopped. The battle is over. But who won...? Shhh! Someone is coming. *gulp* Okay, everyone! You can come out! Then the Empire has been defeated?! For now, yes. And everyone's okay. HUZZAH! HUZZAH! It seems reality is not all suffering; there can also be great joy in it. How did I forget that?

Episode 5

A New Goal

"And so, the prince lived happily ever after, and all was right in the world." Yaaaay! Is Norwin reading a picture book to those children? Yep! And they're actually liking it instead of...ya know. Running away in terror? I guess this means he's finally able to write happy endings again. Thank heck for that! Huh? There's something on the ground. Is this Norwin's new picture book? Oh man, I hope it's not all sad and depressing like the ones before. ...Let's crack it open and see! Heh. All right, let's do that... Oh my. What? Whaaaat?! Lemme... Oooooo! "And so, Prince Euden defeated the villainous Empire's soldiers." Whoa, man! You're famous! ...I mean, more so. I'm worried this is going to make me seem more heroic than I am. My description of you is based wholly on how all the villagers felt as you defended them. Heya, Norwin! Every single member of Hosse Village would agree to this heroic portrayal. Well, I suppose that's something. But more importantly, I'm glad you're finally able to write happy endings again. All thanks to you, Euden. When I think back on it, I have always despaired of both reality and fantasy; fantasy has no strength, and reality has only cruel endings. And yet, you were able to bring about an utterly fantastical ending in reality. Thanks to you, I can once again embrace hope in both of those realms. That's wonderful to hear. However, if you don't mind, I'd like you to stop telling my story. It's really starting to get rather embarrassing. Ah, but I fear I cannot do that. It's part of my new goal, after all. What goal is that? You are seeing that peace is brought about in the world, and I shall document your progress in picture-book form! Those tales of heroism and valor will set hearts racing the world over! I really don't know about this... HARD AGREE! GIMME THAT BOOK! It will be done. I swear it. And never again will I despair of the folly of fantasy. Now, gather 'round, everyone! I will read a picture book to you. Yaaay! The title of this book is, "The Prince Who Brought Happiness to the World."