A Bond to Unite the Land

Campaign: Trek to the Aquapolis

Chapter 7 / 5-6

A Bond to Unite the Land

Previous Quest

Defeat the Ancient Weapon

Next Quest

To Valkaheim

Summary

Having defeated the ancient weapon, the prince and his party return to Saint Lotier. Both Ranzal and Euden earn the trust of Zacharias, and the Aquapolis agrees to forge an alliance with New Alberia.

Dialogue

Truly impressive, Euden. You dispatched that lost wonder with ease! It was a most elucidating fight indeed. You really never know what riches these ruins hold until you get them up and moving again. What exactly are you after here, Phares? I've told you: research. The quest for knowledge, of the civilization that rose and fell before our time. Knowledge of our very world itself! This has nothing to do with Dyrenell, by the way. I'm merely a scholar at play. Then...you aren't our enemy? If he claims he did not act in malice, I will lower my spear for now. I claim neutrality. Nothing more or less. But know that a storm is brewing, my brother—one fit to take the entire world. This storm began the day you awoke to the dragon's power. What bearing do my actions have on the fate of the world? I'll spare you the lecture for now. Just know that not all storms are unwelcome. Strong winds have a way of exposing secrets long buried in the ground. For now, I bid you farewell. Until next time, my dear Euden. I pray our next meeting will not be as foes. Aaah! Phares, wait! Guess that's the end of it. Saint Lotier should be safe for now, yeah? Sadly, I doubt that'll do much to goad my old man into signin' an alliance. But if I agree to return...

You've done well, and fought bravely. But it is not enough to accept New Alberia as a peer. You are welcome to toil further to inspire greater trust... Or you could return Ranzal to me. Perhaps then we could speak of alliance. You can drop the act, Pops. I'll come home. Just hurry up and sign an alliance with— I'm afraid you can't have him. Not even if it is a necessary condition of our alliance. And why not? Your son is an irreplaceable part of our kingdom, Zacharias. I know he may have been...impulsive when he was younger, but those days are gone. He is brave and wise in equal measure, and willing to dirty his hands in order to protect others. A New Alberia without Ranzal would be an unfitting alliance partner with a city as great as Saint Lotier. I simply can't afford to lose him. He is an integral asset of New Alberia. We are a kingdom made by our people. Well, hell, Euden... I don't know what to say. If you would defy me in this matter, we have nothing further to speak of. Your paltry kingdom will be a colony. It certainly merits no better! I will dispatch a lieutenant of Saint Lotier immediately to oversee your actions there. Then you would annex us by force? I'd not thought the great Aquapolis would stoop to base tyranny! Silence! I will not be questioned. Enjoy languishing under the oppressive eye of a lieutenant backed with the full authority of Saint Lotier! ...Ranzal? The job is yours. Wait, I'M the lieutenant of Saint Lotier? Indeed, you will keep watch over New Alberia. And should you judge its actions to be wicked, you will strike it down. As long its actions are just... Well, then it can do whatever it pleases. I leave that judgment entirely to you. Pops... Then, Zacharias... You... Ha ha ha! Oh my, yes. That bit about colonizing you was my little joke. But you should have seen your faces! There was no other retort to your speech. You rendered a man of the sea speechless, and have the makings of a true hero. Oh, I'm nothing so special. Oh? I suspect it's your influence that turned my idiot of a son into the man who stands before me now. Only a fool would separate him from you, and so I place him in the care of Saint Lotier's newest allies. Together with the mana of water, born of mother sea. We can have that, too?! Yesss! Now we can build a dracolith! Indeed. As the Waterwyrm's power grows, the threat posed by the empire wanes. Thank you, Zacharias. We are in your debt. I give you my oath here and now that New Alberia will be an ally worthy of your trust!

Ya know, Euden? I think I was just runnin' away from what I didn't like this whole time. Mmm? How so? Well, just...politics and all that. I probably coulda hacked it if I'd actually tried. I just never gave it a chance. Bein' with you has made me see that. Yeah, Euden will do anything! You could do to learn from his example. Guys, I'm just...well, a guy. Anyway, does this mean you intend to inherit your father's post one day, Ranzal? Will you rule over Saint Lotier? Pfft! Please. A city that size will run just fine on its own. I'm a...whatchacallit? An integral asset of New Alberia! And I'm ready to get back to whatever that is, so let's head home. Rulin' stuff still ain't my thing, but buildin' a kingdom with you don't sound half bad.

Imperial Capital

—(Former Alberia)—

I have an update from the west, Empress. The Aquapolis, I take it? What is it? They refuse to submit to imperial rule, and have instead chosen to make an alliance with the traitorous prince. So my brother is now capturing the hearts of leaders as well as dragons? Impressive. But the days of the Aquapolis are numbered...and his along with them. The great crimson flame that burns to the north can reduce even the heavens to ash, and soon it will devour them all...