Obstinate Obstacles

Onslaught Event: Twinkling Twilight

Prologue

Obstinate Obstacles

Next Quest

Merchant Rescue

Summary

As Curran and Cassandra take in a festival together, they receive a report stating that the imperial army is engaging in odd behavior, which results in the cancellation of the special nighttime lantern ceremony. Upon hearing this, Cassandra quickly formulates a plan.

Dialogue

Hail there, shopkeep! One hard candy, if you would. You betcha, missy! The biggest one I got for the prettiest little lady in town! Thank you, dearie—though you're likely to be disappointed when you find out my actual age. ...Hmm? What's this? Say there, shopkeep. What's with the big group of people yonder? Word is, that inquisitor there just bagged himself a black marketeer selling dragon horns and bones and such. Apparently he was using a festival stall as a front. Goodness, a proper crackdown! Still, that's quite the ruckus coming from the throng. Surely they've seen someone tossed in the slammer before? Ha ha! What you're hearin' is the voices of the folks what had their stalls smashed up in the raid. They've been arguin' with the inquisitor for a spell now. An argument, is it? Hmm...

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I already told you, I didn't mean any harm! The smuggler ran through a gap in the stalls when I was trying to chase him! I don't care WHAT you meant! You came crashing in here like a boar in a crockery shop and wrecked all my merchandise! Yeah, that's right! Maybe you unmasked your troublemaker, but now I can't do business no more! How're you gonna make this right, huh? Er, unfortunately, I don't exactly have any ready money on hand... Curran? Cassandra! What brings you here, my lady? I heard all the hubbub and hullabaloo. Do you need money? Oh, um... I mean, I couldn't... Yes.

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*sigh* Sorry about making you cover my debts. This is a real low moment for me. Oh, I'm quite unbothered by it, dearie. You can pay me back when we return to the Halidom. That's kind, but I still feel like I need to thank you for this somehow. In that case, perhaps you would be my gentleman caller and squire me about the festival grounds, mmm? Wait, really? That's all you want? Oh, I've had my eyes on today's festival for a while. Now take my arm and show an old lady a good time! If that's what you want, my lady, I am happy to escort you.

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...Or so I thought. I never imagined that escorting a lady around a festival would be this demanding! Yoo hoo, Curran! I just bought these Hinomotoan sweets called "dango." Er, but you already bought the hard candy, the roasted corn, and the grilled chicken. Aren't you maybe overdoing it? Surely it's okay for a pair of folks like us to indulge a little on this night? Here, you can have some of the dango. (Hrk...so full... She's been taking one bite of everything and then handing it to me.) Goodness, don't be modest now, dearie! A growing boy like you must be strong. All right, all right. (Sort of impossible to refuse when one of your elders wants to spoil you...) Oh! Curran! Hello, Lathna. You look like you're having fun. Is there someone chaperoning you? You, sir, claimed you were going out to do inquisitorial work, yet here you stand. It would appear this "work" entailed stuffing your face with food from the stalls! Ease up on the sarcasm, old friend; I've got my reasons. ...Say, now that I think of it, why don't you two join us? Aren't you working? Mostly I'm just being bossed around by Cassandra—which, mind you, IS work, but not a hugely big deal. If you'd prefer, you're more than welcome to repay the money I loaned you right now. She loaned you money? Well, not so much loaned as...covered me until I get back to the Halidom. Besides, people get too tied up with the idea of money. It's there to be used, not to use YOU. ...... That's all well and good, Curran, but it wouldn't do to not repay your debts. You're an adult, which means you need to be responsible. Oh, come on, you've got it all wrong. Don't judge me with those judgey eyes! Heh heh. Our little Lathna is correct: You should repay your debts properly, like a grown up. And with that, we are off. Dammit, Heinwald... He knows full well what the deal is, but he's enjoying himself way too much to stop.

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Well, I think that about covers everything, dearie. Still, it's a shame there were so many closed-up stalls. Yeah, I thought that was curious. Maybe there was some kind of problem? ...Huh? Someone's coming over. Hey there, guys! Luca and Ranzal? Where are the two of you going in such a hurry? Got a bit'a trouble brewing, so we're roundin' up whatever allies are in the area. What kind of trouble? We got reports of an imperial army force gettin' up to no good somewhere near the northern border.  ?! Goodness, how tactless to do something like that on the day of a festival. However, that doesn't mean they're planning to attack this town necessarily, does it? Yeah, I doubt they have much to gain from attacking a rural burg like this. Still, them crossing the border willy-nilly ain't a problem we can ignore, which is why we're gonna keep a close watch. But the festival can continue? For now, yeah—although looks like the news already had an effect on business. What effect are you referring to? Highway's been cut off near the border, which means no one can get through— including the merchant what supplies everybody else. That's why ya got so many closed stalls— folks got nothin' to sell but air. Well, that certainly does explain it. Yeah, but the stalls aren't the biggest problem—they don't have any candles for the lantern ceremony tonight. Oh! I...I see. That was the main event for the evening, yes? If memory serves, it involves lighting Hinomoto-style lanterns floating them off down the river. Ha! You sure know your stuff, Cassandra! But without candles, the lanterns are just dark little paper floats. And since that's really depressing, they put the whole ceremony on hold. Oh dear... Anyways, we're takin' up a defensive position up on the northern highway. If yer itchin' for a fight, yer welcome to come join us. 'Course, I reckon it'll be tough to brawl while yer in those getups. Maybe stickin' around town is better. You can provide intel and junk, yeah? ...Wait. What is it, Cassandra? I refuse to stand about like a bump on a log when I might be of greater use. I know a special task we can do. Something tasty and important. Uh, did you say "tasty"? You also said "we," as in the two of us. What are you planning here, my lady? Heh. Well, you see...