Ultima: Quest of the Avatar (Urutima: Kuesuto obu Abataaru) manga translation story and art by Yuko Tanaka NOTES (Proceed to the line of asterisks to skip directly to the manga translation itself.) What follows is a translation of the Ultima IV/Ultima: Quest of the Avatar manga by Yuko Tanaka published by JICC/Takarajima Comics, ISBN #4-88063-576-6. The book is the second in a series of four Ultima book- form manga by three different artists. A translation of the first, Ultima: The Terror of Exodus (a very loose adaptation of Ultima III), is available at http://www.sceneryrecalled.com/trans/ultemang.txt. The latter two manga, Ultima: The Fall of Magincia (a side-story about the titular incident) and Ultima: Schwarzschild's Labyrinth (an apparent original story and the direct sequel to the U3 manga), remain to my knowledge untranslated as of this writing, November 2010. Save for Terror of Exodus and Schwarzchild's Labyrinth, I don't believe that the manga take place in the same continuity; significant portions of the U4 manga, for example, are set in a vibrant, unscathed Yew, whereas the city was leveled and rendered a charnel house in the U3 manga. The Ultima IV manga is a loose adaptation of the game in a traditional Japanese RPG (JRPG) mold. Though most of the Avatar's companions and many of the series' recurring characters appear, their roles in the story are often drastically changed, as are their ages and, in a few cases, their genders. Therefore, please find below a guide to the core cast of the manga. (Please note that the various professions for the most part no longer represent their corresponding virtues. You could make a drinking game, actually, out of how often the characters act completely contrary to type.) Dame Aila: A valiant paladin who appears for only a few pages yet whose natty uniform and hairstyle mark her as a frontrunner for the best character in the book. She's not our hero. Shiva: A kind and diligent druid who sets his sights on Avatarhood, seeking to better himself and overcome his weaknesses through study of the virtues. Is he our hero? Wait, are you a sword-wielding Caucasian or Asian boy in his late teens/ early twenties with a strong sense of justice of mysterious birth yet raised in the countryside? No? Get out, then. Deane: Are YOU a sword-wielding Caucasian or Asian boy in his late teens/ early twenties with a strong sense of justice of mysterious birth yet raised in the countryside? Gee, guess we have our hero. Sigh. A good kid, but he doesn't do remotely enough to prove himself worthy of Avatarhood. Io: Iolo's replacement, Io (pronounced "ee-oh") is a 14-year-old female bard who serves as the story's sort-of love interest. Capricious, selfish, and not particularly compassionate. Save for one negligible instance of cheering Deane up, contributes absolutely freaking nothing to the quest. Compares poorly not only to her namesake but to Aida from the Ultima: Exodus manga, who could not fight a bit but was still courageous and made vital contributions to the group. Kati: Katrina's replacement, a 10-year-old (male) street urchin. Generally unbearable, though not so much so as Io. Julia: Like his counterpart in the NES port, Julia is male. He retains, however, the feminine name of the original tinker. I've seen his name romanized as "Julio" or "Julius" in an attempt to resolve this, yet the katakana used to spell his name ("Juria" - see the pic page for a scan) won't support any reading but "Julia." The author doesn't make any jokes about the name (and she is not above low jokes, like the bartender incident in Trinsic), so I can only assume that the name selection was an honest point of confusion on her part. (To mix up matters further, Julia bears more than a passing resemblance to the Dupre of the games and is assigned by Lord British to Deane's protection in the manner of a knight or paladin.) Anyhow, Julia is a well-built older gentleman who fights with an axe, though he does so only infrequently, as he's most of the time assigned to babysitting detail on Io and Kati. Scoff not at his name, however, for his great deed during the party's sea voyage proves Julia to be the true savior of Britannia. Shamino: Shamino is a ninja. Oh, yes, he's nominally a ranger, but his throwing-dirk, katanaesque weaponry, penchant for acrobatics, and affinity for back-alley, black market deals mark him as an entirely different class. He and Mariah are doing the jokey, overconfident cocky blue-hued ninja and the mature, standoffish black mage romance two years before Final Fantasy IV's Edge and Rydia. Also falls into the "generally unbearable" crowd, but is at least useful, sporadically. Geoffrey: Probably the closest character to the original; a nice-guy fighter with a good head on his shoulders (and a flattop hairstyle). This is a one-volume manga with a crowded cast, though, and as such, Geoffrey doesn't get much to do. Mariah: With her bindi, sari-esque robes, and darker skin tone, our mage's manga incarnation seems to hail from India. No-nonsense and consistently competent, a relief after Io. (Note that Jaana and Dupre are completely absent, replaced by Shiva and Deane instead of being adapted like the other companions. Well, Jaana is; as argued above, Julia seems to incorporate elements of both the tinker and the paladin.) Do I recommend this manga? Well...no. At first glance, it seems to be an improvement over the Exodus manga, with a smooth, flowing shoujo style of artwork and a notable lack of illustrations that inspire you to recycle the contents of your stomach. As an adaptation of Ultima IV, though, it's a disappointment. The author was inspired to interpret the Messianic nature of the Avatar quite literally, leading to a hero who's Christ by way of Dragonball's Goku. While it's quite interesting to see a Japanese artist interpret the story through the lens of her take on a Western religion, making the Avatar a position to which one is born instead of one attained by good deeds and self-improvement obliterates the original point of Ultima IV. (The virtues as a whole are shuttled aside here; witness the fate of the one character who does aspire to Avatarhood through a virtuous life.) Instead, the manga trades in one of the most unique stories in RPGdom for a tale that hits every single branch on its way down the JRPG cliche tree. Granted, the manga was published in 1989, before many of these cliches were popularized, but it comes off as no more original. As off-model as the Exodus manga got, it had a few unique ideas that worked, such as making a robot the party's sage or how its hero, coming from a completely mechanized world, railed against what he saw as Sosaria deeming its wildlife expendable due to its abundance. There is a certain humanity in the manga's depiction of familial relationships - blood, adoptive, missed connections - that hints at a quieter, more personal and thoughtful manga that could have developed from this material. Otherwise, though, the U4 manga is largely devoid of these moments of inspiration. For those who object that it'd be difficult to portray a nonviolent and primarily mental journey in a videogame adaptation, I'd refer them not only, of course, to the Tales of Virtue short stories known to most every Ultima fan, but also to Vheen Hikuusen Monogatari, a side-story manga to the Lunar series of RPGs whose primary tale involved a teenager's attempts to understand his deceased older brother; it stands as its franchise's finest hour. It would've been work to do justice to Ultima 4's story in manga form, but far from impossible, and the title deserved better. If you'd like a copy of the manga for your very own, the ISBN is 4-88063-576-6, but - well, look at that publication date; it's 21 years old. Copies show up infrequently in the auctions on Yahoo Japan, but you'll need a deputy bidding service (not to mention some basic knowledge of Japanese) to place a bid. Please note that these services don't make bidding economical, just possible; be sure to inform yourself of the shipping/wire transfer fees/service fees beforehand. Bad customer service, I'm afraid, is endemic to these companies; I'd particularly warn you away from Celga and Rinkya and recommend the largely trouble-free Shopping Mall Japan - which also boasts a book-finding service should Yahoo Japan (or attempts to dragoon your Japanese-speaking friends into your search) fail you. Alternatively, you can try eBay, of course, though the manga seems a rare offering there. (Note for special-ordering: while the author's name is written in Roman letters as "Yuko," it would more accurately be transcribed as "Yuuko.") Images from this manga can be found at http://www.sceneryrecalled.com/trans/picpage.htm. Any text in the translation in parentheses is spoken by the characters sotto voce or as an aside; any text in brackets is stage direction, description of action, or commentary by me, the translator. Translation by R. Capowski, RACapowski@sceneryrecalled.com, November 20, 2010 [minor update on 2/19/11 concerning change of Daranoah/Daranor's character name]. Ultima is property of Richard Garriott, Origin, Electronic Arts, FCI, JICC, and probably others I'm forgetting; this document is not affiliated with any of the above. *************************************************************************** Preface The secret of the Avatar lies buried deep within in the hearts of the people - and deep beneath this kingdom's soil. - Lord British pg. 1 [Harp in lap, a bard sits beneath a tall tree.] Bard: This is by now an old tale-- a tale of the days when Britannia faced three Ages of Darkness... --ages of terror inflicted by Mondain, Minax, and Exodus. However... now the danger has passed, and we have been promised days of peace under the hand of Lord British. The circle of prosperity has by our efforts grown beyond the eight towns and three castles to spread among the people. --And yet...-- And now, a new tale begins-- pgs. 2-3 [The title splash page: a color image of a kind Deane holding his sword, ankh imprint on his hand and Silver Serpent pendant around his neck, superimposed upon a scene of Shiva standing on a cliff, his back to the camera and hair blowing in the wind, overlooking the desert.] ULTIMA QUEST OF THE AVATAR Quest of Avatar pg. 4 Caption: Castle Britannia - [...where a conference is taking place between two shadowed figures in the throne room - one kneeling, one standing and walking slowly away.] Standing Figure: And so you're the recipient of the Annunciation...is that what you're telling me!? [We see that the kneeling figure is a knight with long black curly hair, clad in a blue and gold collar outfit. Her eyes are closed, hand to her heart in salute.] Knight: ......Yes... [The standing figure is now revealed, a youngish, clean-shaven man with long silver hair in blue and silver robes.] Man [fearfully]: Pre...preposterous! That's impossible... It couldn't be - not _you_... [The knight opens her eyes in not-entirely-unexpected disappointment.] pg. 5 [The man has turned his back on the knight. She rises and begins to leave.] SFX of knight turning on her heel: ::clack:: Knight: --British... I... I wanted at least for _you_ to believe me...-- [The door slams on the throne room, leaving Lord British apparently alone.] SFX: ::slam:: [Lord British stares into the distance, still thinking. A bearded man in dark, hooded robes appears behind him.] Hooded Man: Sire... Lord British: ...Hawkwind?... Hawkwind: Dame Aila belongs to an honorable corps of paladins, you know... She most probably will not be allowed to return... --Is that acceptable to you? But then, I suppose, there is too great a difference in status between the two of you, after all... pg. 6 [Lord British continues to stare out his window, unresponsive.] Lord British: Leave me for a while. Hawkwind: Of course! [Hawkwind, smirking only in the way evil viziers can, leaves the room. But then he'd have to _be_ an evil vizier to do so, wouldn't he?] SFX of door: ::creeeak:: Lord British [thinking]: Aila... [Face bathed in moonlight, Lord British solemnly gazes out the window, presumably ignoring the far-off voice from the 21st century-Earth screaming, "Go after her, you fool! Pursue your unconventional tough girl/ willowy guy romance and spare us the cliched proceedings to come!".] pg. 7 [At an indeterminate time later -] SFX of Aila's sword: ::SLASH!!:: [- Dame Aila is in a fight for her life. She dispatches a foe in front of her - only for another to appear behind her.] Orc: UGYAHH!! SFX of orc appearing: ::BAM:: [Suddenly, a burst of blood sprays from Aila's neck.] SFX of impact: ::thwack:: Aila: !! pg. 8 [Not to be deterred, Aila musters her strength...] SFX of Aila's sword: ::SLICE:: [and rends her foe in two at the waist.] SFX of blood hitting: ::splat:: [It's too late for Aila, though...] Aila: ! ...uhh--... SFX: ::thud...:: [...she falls to her knees, then to her side, and her eyes close. She is still holding her sword - and the swaddled bundle that we see is in her hands.] pg. 9 CHAPTER ONE: BIRTH [There is then darkness, punctuated only by a few scattered pinpoints of light from above and the cry of a little voice.] Baby: Waah...uwaah... [A blinding light erupts from above the darkness revealed as treetops, and a little face - not quite as little as the owner of the voice, but still - appears.] Baby: Uwaah...waah... Boy: Father, over here! Come quickly!! pg. 10 [The boy's father does so; the two have discovered at the foot of a tree Aila's body, still clutching the baby.] Boy: Should I call somebody? Father: No, don't bother. There's nothing we can do now... But...to think that this female knight would lay down her life at the foot of our sacred Mother Tree... pg. 11 [A while later, and Aila's body has been arranged in a proper funereal pose, on her back with her sword between her hands, beneath the Mother Tree. The father and son, both robed as Druids, stand nearby.] Father: Arbors of the holy forest of Yew, I beseech thee-- until the day her spirit is called forth once again, please give this homeward-bound soul a peaceful rest... [The roots of the Mother Tree emerge from the ground, covering Aila's body and returning it to the earth.] SFX of roots emerging: ::pop:: ::pop pop:: ::pop:: SFX of roots smoothing over: ::shussh:: pg. 12 [The man's son has been watching, holding the baby. The baby happily reaches for the boy.] Baby: Ah... [The boy then notices a shining symbol on the back of the baby's left hand - an ankh. The boy takes the baby's hand and examines it.] Boy: Father, this child... He has a birthmark shaped like an ankh on his hand... Baby: Aa--... Aa-- Father: Oh, my... [The baby begins to laugh in the boy's arms.] Baby: Ahaha!-- kyaa-- Father: But isn't he a cute little fellow, though? I wonder if you'd make a good big brother for him, Shiva? [The boy, Shiva, is delighted.] Shiva: !! --Sure!! pg. 13 [Shiva turns the baby around to look at him; the baby reaches out to Shiva. Both are smiling.] Shiva [thinking]: My little brother... Baby: Ah--... Ah... [The setting turns to Castle Britannia.] Voice: An Avatar!? pg. 14 [Lord British is presiding over a council of nobles. He has aged slightly since we last saw him.] Lord British: Indeed. The terror of Exodus has passed, but our people are yet led astray by the evil within their hearts. Left unchecked, humanity will surely continue down the path to its own destruction. The people need someone to show them the way. Noble: But, sire...do we not have our _king_ for that?! Lord British: No, I will not do. I'm no holy man. King may I be, I have made my own mistakes. [Lord British's hands clench at his words.] Lord British: To establish an ironclad system of ethics, to put it into practice - we need someone whose heart is completely cleansed of evil. pg. 15 Lord British: _An Avatar!_ _Send a call throughout the kingdom - before it is too late!_ [Just to remind us, Hawkwind watches with unspecified yet unmistakable evil intent. In any case, the proclamation is made -] Town Crier: _...however, if one should indeed become the Avatar, no reward shall be bestowed!_ _The Avatar acts on virtue alone!_ Town Rhubarb 1: Have you heard? Town Rhubarb 2: Yeah, about the Avatar! Town Rhubarb 3: You have to master the eight Virtues, they say? Town Rhubarb 4: Hey, ya think maybe I should try out for it? Town Rhubarb 5: Yeah, right! Like _you're_ Avatar material! Town Rhubarb 4: _Whaddaya mean!?_ pg. 16 Caption: --10 YEARS LATER [A smiling little boy in the robes of Yew holds his hands out in front of him, focusing his energy to cast a spell. His hands glow with faint energy.] SFX of magic: ::pop pop pop...:: Boy: HYAA--!! SFX: ::BOOM:: [The spell fires, and the boy succeeds in destroying his target. He smiles, and his teacher, sitting nearby, happily applauds with pride. The teacher, by the way, looks near-exactly like the wizard/archaeologist Surlent from the Super Famicom title Rudra no Hihou, despite the fact that this manga was created in 1989 and Rudra wasn't published till seven years later. Anyhow.] Teacher: Splendid! All direct hits! SFX: ::clap clap:: Boy [smiling, proud]: (Heh heh!) Teacher: You're really getting good, Deane! You're making rapid progress in your study of magic, and your swordsmanship is unrivaled in the region! Perhaps you should think about becoming a Paladin instead of a Druid, hmm? pg. 17 [Little Deane is kiddishly enraged at the idea.] Deane: No way! I'm gonna become a great Druid like my big brother Shiva! SFX of trees: ::rustle...:: [A teenage Shiva, leaning on a tree in the background, looks on and smiles.] SFX of Shiva: ::heh heh:: Shiva: Ha ha...I'm no great man, Deane. [Deane turns and breaks out in a joyful smile.] Deane: Ah--Shiva!! [Deane runs to Shiva and gives his brother a big hug around the waist. Shiva is happy but, oddly, seems a little regretful.] SFX of Shiva: ::ah...:: Shiva: Dinner is ready. Let's go home. Deane: OK! See ya later, Calumny!! Calumny: Yes, see you later, Deane - Shiva! [Deane and Calumny the teacher wave goodbye to one another.] pg. 18 [Little Deane runs ahead of his brother through the trees.] Deane: Wow - the flowers are out!! [Deane happily stretches out his hands to cast a spell - or perhaps just to pick a flower. Shiva notices just in time -] Shiva: ! NO, DEANE!! You can't just hurt the flowers and trees for fun! Life dwells in everything! It is your duty to protect and love the forest - particularly as a resident of Yew! [Deane is genuinely regretful.] Deane: ...I'm...I'm sorry... pg. 19 [Shiva smiles and affectionately tousles his little brother's hair.] Shiva: C'mon. Let's go. [Night has fallen, and there is a family dinner at the brothers' stone home. Suddenly...] SFX of fallen spoon: ::clatter...:: Voice: _YOU WANT TO BECOME THE *AVATAR!?*_ Shiva: Yes, Father. pg. 20 [Shiva, Deane, and the father from Aila's burial scene are sitting around a table.] Father: Are you serious, Shiva? Shiva: It is the first and last indulgence I will ask of you. [There is a moment of silence as Shiva and his father stare at one another across the table. Deane looks on in nervous disbelief.] Father: Hmm...very well. SFX of Deane's own fallen spoon: ::clatter:: [Deane, shocked at all this, stares at his adoptive father in amazement.] Father: I had hoped you would succeed me as Judge, but... pg. 21 Father: Go and do your best for the people of Britannia - and come back to us. Shiva: I will... [Little Deane sits staring downward in troubled silence.] Deane: ......... Shiva: ...? Did you say something, Deane? Deane: Big brother, are you going away?...... No... Shiva: Deane. [Deane, still looking down, gets up and rushes away from the table.] SFX of furniture: ::CRASH:: Deane: YOU'RE HORRIBLE!! Shiva: Deane!! pg. 22 [Shiva chases after Deane and finds him outside, sitting on a grassy hill, head in his lap. Shiva gently comes over to Deane and sits down next to him.] Deane [still looking down]: ......... Shiva [looking up at the sky]: ......The moons are pretty, aren't they. pg. 23 [A breeze blows through the scenery, catching Shiva's hair.] SFX of breeze: ::whoosh:: Shiva: I promise I'll come back. It's because you're here that I can go, you know. [Deane dries his tears a little bit and looks up. Shiva smiles gently at him.] Shiva: So... ...look after Father for me! [The two sit quietly on the hilltop.] Deane: ...OK. pg. 24 [Morning comes. Shiva, dressed in Bedouin-type robes, is ready to depart on his journey. Deane and their father see him off.] Deane [waving happily]: COME BACK SOON--!! [Shiva softly smiles in return and waves back, then turns to the horizon. His family and Calumny then watch as our second chance to get a good story out of this manga departs its pages.] SFX of Deane frantically waving: ::wave wave:: Calumny: A wonderful thing Shiva's doing - not that I would expect any less. Both in daring to attempt to become the Avatar - and in getting your father's leave to depart in the first place... Deane: (If _I'd_ asked, I'd just get laughed at!) pg. 25 [Deane looks ahead, smiling.] Deane: But yeah! My big brother Shiva is awesome! [Deane whirls around to face his father.] SFX: ::whirl:: Deane: _But it'll be OK, Father! You don't have to worry about a THING!!_ _Leave it ALL to me!_ Father [sweatdropping]: ...ah. Umm...? [Deane dashes off.] SFX: ::whoosh:: Deane: (Yeah - getting the water! Going to the market! Let me at it!) [Calumny and the father watch, a bit sweatdroppy about all this. The father then begins to laugh.] Calumny: (Ummm... How should I put this? He has a bit of would you would call a "brother complex," doesn't he?) Father [laughing]: (Heh heh!) (Well, Shiva _was_ practically a mother to him.) [Time passes...] pg. 26 [...and we next open on a teenage Deane, his eyes closed, resting with his back against the Mother Tree on a sunny day.] Caption: Deane at 15 pg. 27 Deane [thinking]: For some reason, I always feel at peace when I come here... It's been five years since that day... but I haven't heard a word from you... ...Are you all right, big brother Shiva? SFX: ::snap:: [We see a foot snap a twig in a tree. Deane suddenly looks around...] Deane: _Who's there!?_ SFX: ::snap:: ::crack:: ::thwack:: Voice: _EEEEEEEEK!!_ SFX: ::BOOM:: pg. 28 [We see that a young girl has fallen from the tree above and landed in Deane's lap, thwacking him right in the breadbasket. The girl is a young teenager, brown hair worn in a braid, wearing a yellow minidress and white fur shoulder stole. (While we're at it, I should note that Deane has short blue or black (depending on the illustration) hair with a very short ponytail in back and wears a blue tunic with a white cape. Shiva had long sea-green hair down to his ankles, white druid's robes, and somewhat tanned/darker skin - I'd almost say he was meant to be Arab- or Hispanic- looking. (Yeah, you'd think Indian, given the name, but there's another character of definitive Indian "descent," and she's given a markedly different skin tone than Shiva. I don't think this manga is sophisticated enough to pick up on skin-tone variances within non-white ethnicities.))] Girl [holding head]: ...owowow...!-- Deane [staring at her, indignant]: .........-- "Look at all the branches I broke. ...Maybe I'm sorry?" Girl: Oh-- Excuse me... pg. 29 Deane [angrily]: _Apologize!!_ _The tree is crying!!_ Girl [shying away from the angry words]: (eep--) _What do you mean!? I DID apologize!!_ Deane: _Not to me! To the tree!!_ Girl: _Is this a JOKE!? A crying TREE!?_ (RIDICULOUS!) [Suddenly, a strong wind blows by. Deane eyes the girl angrily.] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: Girl: (gulp!) pg. 30 Girl: ...I'm sorry... Deane [smiling]: It's OK! SFX: ::smile:: Girl [thinking, possibly]: (Wha...what was that? It was so strong...) Deane: But what were you doing up in the tree? Girl: I got lost...so... and then...and _furthermore_...so...and when I went to climb down, there you were, asleep! I TRIED to get down, but I couldn't - not without waking you! Deane [smiling good-naturedly]: So it's _my_ fault! I'm sorry! But I wasn't sleeping - I was just lost in thought! pg. 31 Girl [holding her side/rear]: Well, whatever. (I hit my hips either way... What if I can't have children after this? What _then?!_) Deane: (Heh heh!) What's your name? Girl: Io. You? Deane: I'm... Voice: _DEANE!!_ [Calumny comes running out of the woods.] Calumny: _It's horrible!!_ _Lord Talfourd--_ _He's been attacked by some criminals he sentenced!!_ Deane [thinking]: My father!? pg. 32 [Deane starts running for home.] Calumny: _Hurry!!_ Deane [thinking]: Father!! [Calumny and Io run after/along with him. From the forest, though, a pair of eyes emerges...] pg. 33 [...and a monster ambushes Io.] SFX: ::Grah...:: Io: _AAAH!!_ [Deane's mind briefly flashes on Talfourd...] Deane [thinking]: Father... [but he then unsheathes his sword -] Deane: _UWAAAAHH--_ SFX: ::SLASH:: pg. 34 SFX: ::BANG:: [Monster dead, Deane has flung open the door to where Talfourd is being cared for.] Deane [out of breath]: (haa.. haa...) Woman: Deane... [Talfourd is lying on a sick bed, an older woman keeping watch over him. she turns toward Talfourd.] Woman: Lord Talfourd, it's Deane! He's come back! He's here! pg. 35 [Deane, quietly panicked, kneels next to his father. Talfourd does not open his eyes; he does not even turn his head.] Talfourd: ......Deane, is that you?... Deane: _Father...who DID this to you!?_ Talfourd: Who did this is immaterial. These incidents will continue so long as the evil in the hearts of our people remains uncleansed. [Talfourd is breathing with great difficulty now.] Talfourd: An Avatar must appear without a moment's more delay... [Deane begins to cry.] Talfourd: Find Shiva. You must work together and complete the quest of the Avatar... ......You're not like the others...you have a strange and unique power-- ............I've never told you this before, but... pg. 36 Talfourd: ...you are not my child. [Deane is shocked and even a little horrified at this.] Talfourd: Your mother was...ahh!--...... Deane: _Father!!_ [A panicked Deane tries to wake his father...] Deane: ......? Father!? [...but Talfourd does not respond.] Deane [collapsing]: _FATHERRRR!!_ pg. 37 [A funeral is held beneath the Mother Tree. Mourners place flowers upon the spot where the tree has absorbed Talfourd back into the earth. Service over, a solemn Deane turns to leave.] Calumny: Deane! ......when are you leaving? Deane [unexpressive]: Once I set the final details in order. Tomorrow morning, maybe... pg. 38 Calumny: That's awfully sudden...... Deane: I don't want to stay in the house long. Calumny: I suppose..... [Deane smiles, thinking of a happy memory of being together with Talfourd and Shiva as a child.] Deane: The sooner I leave - by however little - the sooner I find Shiva. There's so much I want to ask him. Calumny: Shall I see you off? Deane [with a slight, grim smile]: It's OK. It'll be hard enough as it is. ...See you... [Night falls at Deane's family home. Deane closes a book on a desk.] SFX of book: ::clap:: pg. 39 [Deane puts his hand on a bag on the table and looks out the window.] Deane [thinking]: There's so much I want to know - about the evil within people's hearts... about the Avatar... and......about myself - [Deane remembers his brother's face, kind and smiling.] Deane [thinking]: and I'll have all the answers once I find my big brother Shiva! pg. 40 [The next morning. Deane, shrouded in a light white hooded cloak, prepares to depart. Deane looks back on his house one more time.] Deane: I'll come back - to the town that raised me - to the forest that raised me. I just know it-- pg. 41 [Deane turns around and heads off. Down the road, we see another set of feet following just behind his.] SFX of feet: ::pad pad pad pad:: [Deane becomes aware of this...] Deane: ? SFX of Deane turning around: ::whirl!:: Deane: ......... [...but, after finding nothing behind him, strides back on path.] SFX of Deane: ::stride stride:: SFX: ::...pad pad pad pad pad:: [Deane, now angry, whirls around again -] Deane: _WHO'S THERE!?_ SFX: ::GLARE:: Io: Ahaha... pg. 42 Deane [genuinely surprised]: ......Io. What are you...? Io: Before - you stayed behind to help me... and you ended up being late for your father...... ......I was wondering if I might go with you. ...you know...to help some way!...... (Um...um...) I mean...... Deane: You were worried about that? [Deane smiles at her.] Deane: It's OK! Go on home! (I didn't think give it a second thought!) [Deane turns to leave.] Io: _YOU JERK!!_ pg. 43 Io [seething]: Then you leave me no choice! _I'M GOING WITH YOU WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT!!_ SFX of Deane's ears ringing: ::CLAANGG:: [Deane, a little sweatdroppy at all this, turns to Io and says...] Deane: Well, OK. [Io is overjoyed; she glomps onto Deane.] Io: (EEEEE!) Deane [blushing]: (Hey! Not so handsy, please!) pg. 44 [Our party increased to two, our heroes find themselves at:] Caption: Empath Abbey Io: What are we here for? Deane: To see my father's good friend, Brother Antos! My brother should've stopped by here, too! Io: Hmmm... [Deane asks a woman for information; she obliges, and he thanks her.] Deane: She says he's in the shrine! Io: The shrine? pg. 45 Deane: He's meditating! [Deane and Io enter a great cathedral, crosses within rather obviously morphed into ankhs. Within sits a figure in shadow, lost deep in thought.] pg. 46 Io: Whadda we do? Deane: Sh! We can't disturb him. [Deane quietly approaches Brother Antos. He sits down next to the man and begins to meditate himself.] Io [sweatdropping]: H...heyyy... pg. 47 [At a loss, Io sits down on a nearby wall, away from the other two.] Io [thinking]: Am I supposed to wait for you or what? (*Ohhh*--wahhh...) [Io huffs, head in her hands, and eventually does just that.] SFX of church bells: ::BONNNGGG BONNNGGG::: [Bored, Io's attention wanders to Deane - where she notices that he is engulfed, flame-like, with mystic energy.] pg. 48 Io [wide-eyed]: W-whoa... SFX of Io's feet on floor: ::tap:: [The entire hall is illuminated with the light of Deane's aura. Suddenly, Deane snaps out of his trance.] Deane: (*Ah--*) Antos: Who are you? Deane: Oh - yes; my name is Deane. I'm Talfourd's son. pg. 49 Antos: Ohhh!! Talfourd! Is he well? Deane [sadly]: Father... passed away. Antos: ...hm. Is that so-- We lost a good man... ...You have some business with me, then? Deane: My father... He told me to find my brother and with him complete the quest of the Avatar. Antos: ......... Shiva was a splendid boy... He had his weaknesses, however. pg. 50 [In flashback, we see Shiva studying in Empath Abbey's libraries and meditating.] Antos: He always strove to overcome that weakness...... The quest of the Avatar is a battle waged against oneself. You must see it with your own eyes, feel it with your own skin - study for yourself and attain your own enlightenment. No training is less forgiving. ......However... should _you_ attempt this... should you attempt this with Shiva, I think you would succeed. pg. 51 [From a stone parapet, Brother Antos watches Deane and Io leave.] Antos: ...Deane - is it? His aura far exceeds that of any ordinary man... [Antos looks closely at Deane's face from afar, smiling and surrounded by light, head wrapped in his traveling cloak not entirely unlike - well, the Virgin Mary.] Antos: ...if he _is_ the one... [On the ground...] Io: Hey, hey, Deane! We're going to Castle Britannia, aren't we? Like that old guy said?! To meet the king?! Deane [sweatdropping]: Hey, hey! He's a Brother! (Don't call him "that old guy"!) pg. 52 Io: You think I can meet him too, _huh_, _huh!?_ SFX: ::*smile*:: Deane: _We're not going for fun and games!_ (_C'mon!_) [A sudden strangling abruptly halts Deane's stride - a little hand from below has grabbed hold of his cape in back.] Voice: Hey, mister! Hey, mister! SFX: ::TUG TUG:: Deane: GACK! ...Huh? [He turns around to see a little blond boy with a short pigtail like his in a brown jacket and red skullcap.] Boy: Buy this from me? SFX: ::smile:: Io [leaning around to see]: Whatcha got? Boy: A silver serpent egg! Deane: A silver serpent!? Io: Where'd you score something like that!? pg. 53 [The boy ignores the questions.] Boy [smiling, bowing]: OK? OK? Please buy it! Just for me? Deane [smiling slightly]: I'm sorry, but I have to pass. Silver serpents have a temper that only Paladins can ride them! [Wait, so Paladins in this manga's world are like Final Fantasy IV Dragoons?] Boy: _FEH!! CHEAPSKATE!!_ [In his fit, the boy drops the egg...] Boy: AHH-- Deane: _!_ SFX of egg: ::CRACK:: pg. 54 Everyone: Ohhhhhh~~ [But then...] SFX: ::chip:: [...out of the cracked egg emerges...] Dragon: PEEP!! SFX of egg: ::SNAP:: [...a baby winged dragon. Upon hatching, the dragon immediately flies up to Deane's face.] SFX of wings: ::flap flap:: Silver Serpent: Peep! Peep! Deane: Wah--!! [The baby silver serpent settles on Deane's shoulder and hugs his face, as if Deane were its mother. Io and the boy watch on, smiling.] Io: --!! (Hee hee!) Boy: !! SFX of dragon: ::rub rub:: Deane [sweatdropping]: Uh, um... pg. 55 Boy: Hey, he's really taken a liking to you, mister! Deane: Guess I've got no choice. How much do you want? Boy: _100 G!!_ (Yeah!) Io: _You're ripping us off!!_ Boy: _I SAID 100 G, and I MEANT 100 G!! NO DISCOUNTS!!_ _How do you expect me to make a living!?_ Deane: It's OK. Here. Io: _HUH--!?!? THIS IS A *RIPOFF!!*_ _Hold on, Deane!_ Deane [showing Io purse]: We're fine! We have money! (See?) Boy [with pile of coins]: Yeah, money's no problem for *me!* (Heh heh!) pg. 56 [The boy starts to run off. Io fumes nearby.] Deane: Well, take care of yourself. Boy [waving]: Yeah, you too, mister! [The boy is gone.] Io: Well, aren't _you_ the humantarian! If *I* had 100 G, I could buy anything I wanted! [I'm getting the feeling that the various classes in the manga really don't represent the individual virtues like they did in the game.] Io [to Silver Serpent]: (100 G for _this?_) Silver Serpent: Peep? Voice: _AAAAAAAAAAHHH--!!_ [At the scream, Deane and Io turn back to find the boy fallen flat on his back, being menaced by a couple of headless monsters.] SFX: ::GRAAAGGHHH:: [Deane readies a spell.] Deane [thinking]: Am I too late--!? pg. 57 [Deane subsequently Kamehamehas the two monsters into nonexistence. (I suppose it's no coincidence that this manga was published the same year as the advent of Dragonball Z.)] SFX of spell generation: ::POW:: SFX of spell hitting: ::FOOM:: ::SPLAT:: Deane: --*whew*... [Io and the silver serpent are @_@ at this heretofore-unknown-to-them power.] pg. 58 [Suddenly, Deane senses something.] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: [...and a giant cyclops arises from behind an oblivious Io.] pg. 59 [She's not oblivious for long, though...] Io: _AAAAAAAAAHHH--!!_ SFX of Deane descending: ::SHOOM:: [...but Deane attacks from above (??) and slices it cleanly in half.] SFX of monster (halves) falling: ::THUMP:: SFX of Deane alighting: ::tap:: Deane [to Io]: Are you OK? Silver Serpent: Peep? pg. 60 Io: ...um. I guess... ...thank you. [Deane approaches the boy and attempts to help him up.] Deane: How about you? Boy: Yeah...thanks, mister. ---- ...You're strong, mister. (Wow......) Deane [smiling]: Be careful when you leave, now! Io: Yeah, kid. Quit wandering around a place like this and go home. (Your parents're probably worried about you.) Boy: _I don't have a home!!_ _Or parents or brothers or sisters, either!!_ Hey, mister, can I go with you? Deane: Huh? Io: What are you talking about?! Boy: C'mon! I won't get in your way!! pg. 61 Boy: _My name's Kati! I REALLY know my way around the roads!!_ [Deane regards him kindly...] Io [to Deane]: (No way! Not this brat!) Deane: Guess I've got no choice! Welcome aboard! Io: (Is that your catchphrase now?) Kati: _YAHOO!_ [The rapidly-expanding party makes its way to Castle Britannia.] pg. 62 [The party makes its way through Britain, marveling at the structures.] Kati: Whoaaaa-- Cool-- [At the castle -] Guard: Come. You have an audience with the king. [Through Castle Britannia's vaulted halls, the party is admitted to the royal chamber...] pg. 63 [...where Lord British sits upon his throne.] SFX of doors opening: ::creeaak:: [Deane and the rest bow before Lord British.] Lord British: Don't bow. Stand erect. I hear you have an introduction from Brother Antos. Let me see your face. pg. 64 Deane: Yes, sire! [Deane does so, and Lord British is gravely shocked.] Lord British [thinking]: Aila!!!! Lord British: ...w-what is your name? Lord British [thinking]: He looks just like her... Lord British: How old are you? Deane: My name is Deane, sire. I'm fifteen. ...Do you have any memory of a woman by the name of "Aila"? Lord British: What--...?... No... [Lord British's eyes alight on the pendant with the Silver Serpent emblem Deane habitually wears.] Lord British [still terrified]: He's the right age. And that's the pendant I gave Aila long ago. pg. 65 Lord British [thinking]: Then that means...that this boy--!! Hawkwind [sidling up from nowhere like a proper evil vizier]: Are you well, sire? Lord British: It's nothing... Deane: ? Lord British: You say you are searching for your brother? Deane: Yes. He set out on a journey to become the Avatar, but it's been five years now, and we haven't heard a word from him. Just before he passed away, our father, Talfourd, told me to work together with my brother and for the two of us to try to become the Avatar-- Also...... pg. 66 Deane [sadly]: ......I'm not actually Talfourd's son... and now that my father is gone, the only one who knows the circumstances of my birth is my brother. Lord British [regarding Deane sadly]: --Of course......... Lord British: Deane - you said your name was? To my understanding, we lose all communication from those who seek Avatarhood once they enter the Abyss... This might in no small way be connected to your brother's disappeareance. I will help you as best I can. Long have I waited for the Avatar to appear, but so far, my wait has been in vain...... Let me give you a companion. [From behind a curtain emerges an older, muscular man in a brown tabard with longish, greying black hair and a mustache. He bows before the group.] Lord British: Thus armed, head for the Abyss and complete the quest of the Avatar. Reunite with your brother and learn the secret of your heritage... this I pray. pg. 67 Deane [smiling]: Thank you, sire! [The party leaves Lord British's chambers.] SFX of doors: ::creeaak:: [The newest addition to the party introduces himself.] Man: --Pleased to meet you. I'm Julia. I work as a tinker. Deane: The pleasure is mine! [Note: yes, the Tinker is male here, as in the NES version, and yes, his name is "Julia" ("Juria" in the original Japanese katakana). I've seen his name romanized as "Julio" elsewhere, but the katakana doesn't support this romanization (it'd have to read "Furio" for that). "Julia" is the only name that can come from this, so we're just going to go with it. Drop me a line if I'm missing some arcane Latin variant or something here.] Io [smiling]: I'm Io! I'm a bard! (For now!) Kati [smiling, waving]: I'm Kati the shepherd!! (Heh heh!) Io: Hey, hey, Mr. Julia - Julia [smiling]: Julia is fine. Io: I didn't think the king would be so young-- Julia: His Majesty - well, he ages more slowly than normal folk. Io: Wow-- pg. 68 [The scene returns to Lord British's chambers.] Lord British [thinking]: --Is this all just hypocrisy at this point......? But if that boy is indeed Aila's son, I can only leave everything in his hands...... Aila - forgive me. Forgive me for not believing you... [Hawkwind watches with the one single expression he has in this manga. He's apparently in his own chambers, though, as a bobbit-like person comes to visit him. The bobbit bows.] Bobbit: You called--? Hawkwind: Daranor...... [Note: thanks the Blu3vib3 for the correct character name here.] pg. 69 Hawkwind: Those visitors were unlike those who have came before... We might finally have found someone to retrieve...*it*...for me... It seems that the day of which I have long dreamed is finally at hand! As soon as they find it, inform me - and steal it!! Leave the rest to me. Now...I have my own preparations to which to attend... _GO!!_ Daranor: _Yes, sir!_ pg. 70 [Sensing something, Genji turns an anxious glance back to the castle beyond.] Io: Something wrong? Genji: ... No... [Genji, though, continues to stare at the castle beyond in fear.] Genji [thinking]: What was that? ... Io: C'mon, what is it? Did something happen? pg. 71 [Still uneasy, Deane turns back and heads again down the road with his companions.] Deane [thinking]: That dark presence--!? Deane [sweatdropping]: It's nothing!...... Io: You're acting weeeiiird... Deane [smiling hesitantly]: Really, it's OK! Don't worry about it. Let's go. [Deane turns to Julia, smiling.] Deane: We've made a powerful new friend, after all! [Deane's thoughts once again turn to his brother.] Deane [thinking]: I'll find Shiva... pg. 72 Deane [thinking]: and complete this Quest of the Avatar... pg. 73 CHAPTER TWO: DEPARTURE SFX: ::slash:: Monster: GHIIII-- Voice: _Damn you--!!_ pg. 74 Kati: Mister Deane, look!! [In a field ahead, two warriors battle a squad of monsters that surrounds them.] Monster: GRAAAHHH-- pg. 75 Ninja: _Geoffrey, retreat! There's no end to them!!_ (I _told_ you I'm no good at close range!) SFX of ninja turning around: ::whoosh:: Geoffrey: _Don't be ridiculous!! A warrior never runs away from a fight!!_ [Something whizzes past the ninja's head, narrowly missing.] SFX: ::whoosh:: SFX of ninja: ::eep:: [The flustered ninja (gee, that's not a common phrase) turns around to notice...] Deane [readying sword]: Julia - Julia [readying axe]: Gotcha. Ninja [frantically]: _HEY!!_ _YOU GUYS!!_ _We could use a little..._ *huh?* [The ninja turns to see Julia already running toward them.] SFX of running: ::whoosh:: pg. 76 [The ninja watches in rather horrified amazement as Julia takes his axe...] SFX: ::THUMP:: [and knocks a monster's head clean off with a single blow. The ninja turns to see Deane descending from above...] SFX of magic: ::crackle crackle:: pg. 77 [...and, energy crackling around him, unleash a lightning spell that immolates the remaining monsters.] SFX of lightning loosed: ::FOOSH:: SFX of impact: ::WHAM:: ::WHAM:: SFX of monsters: ::OOOOOOOOHHHHH--:: SFX of smoking craters afterward: ::hiss:: ::hiss:: pg. 78 [The ninja stands in shock at all this.] SFX of Deane alighting: ::hop:: Ninja [sweatdropping]: Wh...Whoaaaa... Io: _Deane, Julia, are you OK?!_ Deane [smiling]: Yeah... Julia [smiling]: Their numbers were great! Using magic was the right call! Geoffrey: Thank you! Ninja: _You guys are awesome!_ _Thanks for saving us!_ pg. 79 Ninja: But seriously - I'm Shamino. Over there's Geoffrey, but... he's kinda got a stick up his rear. Guy doesn't know how to retreat. Geoffrey: _What!!_ [Shamino the ninja turns his back on Geoffrey, who begins to argue indignantly.] Geoffrey: (*I NEVER RUN AWAY FROM A FIGHT!*) Shamino [closing eyes, annoyed]: Yeah, yeah... *tuh* Stubborn old man... (*sigh*) Geoffrey: (_I'm *27*--!!_) Shamino: (_And that's old enough!! I'm only 19, you know!!_) [Shortly...] Shamino [sweatdropping]: Huh? You're 15? (Really? And you're that good?) Deane: ......yeah... Kati [in background]: (I'm 10!) [Note: Geoffrey's age is listed as 32 in the character profiles on the dust jacket; I choose to believe that he's lying about his age to cut down on Shamino's needling (though, truthfully, he looks closer to 27 than 32). I should also note costumes at this juncture. Geoffrey has dirty-blond hair in a flattop cut and wears blue-and-black armor with a red cape; he's quite broad-shouldered. Shamino is nominally still a ranger here, but he's lithe and willowy rather than rugged; he's dressed in light cloth clothing rather than leather; he uses a thin, katana-esque blade (the hilt not so much, but the blade yes) and acrobatics in battle; and, characterwise, he's rather unscrupulous and a trickster - he's a ninja in the RPG sense rather than in the historical, actually-functional sense, but "ninja" is far closer to his actual job description. Anyhow, Shamino has sky-blue short hair that's poofy on top and in front with a very long but very thin, almost negligible ponytail in back. He wears a green-and-blue silken cloth shirt, pants, cape, and gloves, a red tabard, and a yellow headband. He looks not unlike a more comedic and colorful version of Final Fantasy IV's Edge. Wait, there was a story going on here, right? A short while later...] Shamino: You're trying to become the Avatar? What a coincidence! So are we! Io: (*Huh?* _YOU?_) [They have a better chance than you, Io.] pg. 80 [Shamino glomps happily onto Deane's back.] Shamino: _Then let's go together!!_ Deane [puzzled]: (Huh?) Shamino: All right, then! It's settled!! [We pause a minute for Shamino to give Deane an aside...] Shamino [holding up finger]: (It's tough out there with just _Geoffrey_, you know. I mean, you _see_ the messes he gets himself into. Oh, and I'm not a bad guy to have on your side, either! *OK?*) Deane [sweatdropping]: (Um...) [Shamino heads to the edge of a nearby cliff and scans the horizon. Deane is nearby, still a little unsure about all this.] Shamino: OK, now, if we're gathering information, we need to go to Trinsic. We'll use a moongate. There's one close by! ["Information gathering." Oh, good. I'm glad we're not going to Trinsic to, you know, learn about the virtue of *Honor* or anything.] pg. 81 Deane: A _moongate!?_ Have you ever _used_ one of those before? Shamino: Of course! Way back, only the bigshots could use 'em, but nowadays, _lots_ of people do! (Merchants, you know...) I mean, most people stay away in _fear,_ but...... [The group is gathered on a platform in the Stonehenge-ish moongate.] Shamino: ...Won't be long now. pg. 82 [Shamino looks up.] shamino: ...OK. Kati: (Wow!) [The group begins to levitate slightly...] Kati: Uwaa--!! SFX of hover: ::whoosh:: pg. 83 [...and in a blinding flash of light, the group is transported to -] Caption: Trinsic [The scene opens at a busy local bar at night.] SFX: ::ahahahaha:: ::yay yay!:: ::bustle bustle:: pg. 84 Io [holding nose]: This place *stinks* of alcohol! Deane: (Well, it is a bar...) [Shamino begins happily chatting up the bartender.] Shamino: Hey! How're things? Bartender: Oh, myyy~~ My little Shamino; it's been a while!! Shamino: Business still strong? (Like always?) Bartender: Well, it has its ups and downs. You've brought a crowd with you again, I see. What's the occasion? Shamino [offering small bag of coins]: Wondering if you could give the gentleman over there a bit of your attention. [A tiny bit later...] Deane [happy]: So you _do_ know him - a Druid with black hair!? Really? [Note: Shiva's hair is indeed sea green in the color jacket flap and splash-page illustrations; I don't know if they're just fanciful and not meant to be taken seriously or what. Deane's hair is blue on the splash page but the apparently-correct black color on the flap.] Bartender [noticing Deane]: (Myyy, he's cute!) Mm, somewhat. He kinda stood out from the crowd, you know? (The quiet type, but a good man...) But that was a while back, you know. He was talking about going to the Lycaeum or something! Shamino [turning quickly]: Thank you! OK, guys, let's go! (Better not stay long with the kid!) pg. 85 [As Shamino turns to go, the bartender gives him a one-armed hug from behind. (The bartender is male, which will become pertinent shortly.)] Bartender: Ohhhh-wah - my little Shamino... (I know _that's_ not the case!) SFX: ::hug:: Shamino: GAH--!! Bartender: You're _always_ rushing off to Moonglow, and yet you *never* *stop* *by!* C'mon - promise me you'll come see me again. (OK?!?!) (Drinks on the house!) Shamino [sweating]: _OK OK OK!!_ [The party begins to leave.] Bartender [waving]: (We appreciate your business!) [The party is out of the tavern. Shamino is not in good health.] Shamino: Ahhh - all of a sudden, I'm _beat._ Man, that's why I _really_ didn't want to ask that guy anything, _but_... (As you can see, he knows a lot, so...) [Deane worriedly notices Shamino's distress.] Deane: ...I'm sorry. I put you through an unpleasant experience... [OK, now: it's not right for anyone to endure unwanted attention from another party, gender and sexuality aside. The bartender, though, is drawn and written as one big stereotype, into which making his touch on its face icky and unwanted and he himself uncontrollably, inappropriately man-hungry plays. Having Deane apologize for the incident, which would be shrugged off if the bartender were female, seems to countenance this homophobia. This manga was published in 1989, yet this apology gives the scene more than a little bit of "you have lost the virtue of pretty much frickin' everything," particularly since it's one of the few incidents used to establish Deane's supposed moral rectitude. Anyhow, back to the story. Shamino is a bit surprised at Deane's words.] pg. 86 [Then, though, he happily slaps Deane on the back.] Shamino: Hey, don't worry about it! We're friends, after all! SFX: ::SLAP:: Shamino: Besides, I already got my heart set on a girl. [While walking down the street, the party passes by an older knight.] Knight: ... [Something about Deane perks his interest, and he stops him with a hand on the shoulder.] SFX of hand: ::clap:: Knight: You-- are you a paladin? pg. 87 Deane: ...No... Knight: ......Hm. It's just that you have a silver serpent attached to you, so I was sure... [The silver serpent is riding on Deane's shoulder. Also, a bit of time probably passes between that panel and the next.] Knight: My name is Sentri. I'm captain of the Paladins. So...... The quest of the Avatar, hm?...... Do your best. [Sentri moves to leave.] Sentri: Forgive me for keeping you. Deane [a bit dazed]: Not at all... It was an honor to meet you... Sentri [leaving]: If you'll excuse me. pg. 88 Sentri [thinking]: He looks so much like her... like my daughter Aila...... [The next panel, we see the party fresh from another moongate hop.] pg. 89 Kati: Uhhh... They make me sick, those moongates!... [Suddenly, Deane notices something just out of range but has no time to react before -] SFX: ::BOOM:: Deane: _GET AWAY!!_ pg. 90 [- the moongate erupts in flame.] Deane: _IT'S A HYDRA!!_ [Deane, of course, has spent his time getting Io out of the way, who, as usual, can't do a thing for her damn self.] Geoffrey: _DEANE, KATI!!_ [Kati has been seriously wounded in the attack; he lies in Geoffrey's arms, unresponsive. Deane looks anxiously over his shoulder to the enemy...] Shamino: _YOU GOTTA HEAL HIM!!_ _WE DON'T HAVE ANY HERBS!!_ [The Hydra opens one of its mouths...] SFX: ::SNARL:: pg. 91 SFX: ::FWOOSH:: [...and looses a giant column of fire. Deane, however, manages to block it with a force field just in time.] SFX of force field: ::CRACKLE:: Deane [drawing sword]: _JULIA!! LOOK AFTER KATI AND IO!!_ _SHAMINO!! GEOFFREY!!_ pg. 92 [Geoffrey, Deane, and Shamino grab broadsword, sword, and...well, they're supposed to be throwing dirks, but they're shuriken in all but shape...and face the gigantic hydra (really just a three-headed dragon).] SFX of fire: ::FWAA:: SFX of heroes appearing: ::BAM:: [Geoffrey blocks the fire with his shield, while Deane and Shamino evade the blast.] pg. 93 Hydra: GRAAAAHHHH-- [Three strikes, and...] Hydra: GAAH-- pg. 94 SFX: ::SLASH:: [...three heads roll at once.] Hydra: AAAAAAAAAHH-- pg. 95 [But -] Deane: _KATI!!_ [Yeah, the kid's not in great shape. The next scene -] SFX of door: ::WHAM:: Shamino: _MARIAH!!_ [Shamino has barged into a stone house. A light comes on in an adjacent room at Shamino's call.] Shamino: _PLEASE! I NEED YOU TO HEAL SOMEONE!!_ pg. 96 [A not-very-happy Mariah enters the picture in her night robes, candle in hand. She's young - 18 - and looks to be of Indian descent, complete with bindi and (when she's dressed for daytime) sari-esque red-and-blue robes. She has very long, straight brown/black hair in a high ponytail.] Mariah [frowning]: Such a racket! And in the middle of the night! If you're injured, you'd be better off going to Celest's. You look just fine to me, anyhow; I don't know what your problem is! Shamino: _It's NOT ME, I told you! And Celest isn't home!_ Mariah [still not impressed]: While we're at it, you don't just barge into the home of a girl who lives alone with obvious motives. Shamino [sweatdropping]: Come oooon! I mean, that's _usually_ the case, but tonight's different! Mariah: What a laug-- Shamino: _HEY!_ [Shamino grabs Mariah's hand so the candle falls to the floor.] SFX: ::GRAB:: Shamino: _We have to hurry. Trust me._ pg. 97 [Shamino brings Mariah to Kati.] Mariah [shocked]: Not a _child!!_ Such horrible burns... We'll begin immediately. Shamino, get us ready! Shamino [holding chest of supplies]: Right. [Mariah chants over Kati...] pg. 98 [...and Kati's burns are healed.] Kati [sleeping peacefully]: ...zzz... Mariah: ......... He'll be all right now...... (whew...) Shamino [smiling]: You were a lifesaver, Mariah! Mariah [not impressed]: I couldn't take your word at face value. You're not usually a trustworthy character. And I didn't do it for you. I did it for the child. Shamino [sweatdropping]: (Tough crowd...) Deane: You really saved us. Thank you, Miss...Mariah? [Mariah is taken back at this, for some reason - perhaps at Shamino having a friend with manners? Nevertheless, I resist the idea that thanking somebody for saving a friend's life qualifies Deane as a special snowflake, much less Avatar material.] pg. 99 Mariah: ...um. I just did what anyone else would. SFX: ::blush:: Shamino: Hey, Mariah - wanna come with us? Io [looking on angrily]: *Hm?* Caption on Io: woman's intuition Geoffrey: Good idea! It'd be reassuring to have a strong magician like you with us, Ms. Mariah! Shamino [smiling, nodding]: (Isn't it?! Isn't it?!) [Shamino sidles up to Deane from behind, grabbing his shoulders - not unlike what the bartender did, _Shamino._] Shamino: C'mon, Deane! You ask her! Deane: ......um...OK. ......... Well... How about it? [Deane smiles softly.] pg. 100 [Mariah isn't really happy at this request.] Shamino: See, see, Mariah! Everyone says so! Mariah [turning about with evil glint in her eyes]: All right... but I have a condition. I want mandrake roots. Fifty of them. Bring them to me within thirty days. Shamino: _MANDRAKES?!?! WHAT THE *HELL*!?!?_ _AND YOU WANT *FIFTY*?!?!_ (That's *you* - always thinking of *yourself!*) Deane: ......OK...in that case, I can-- Shamino [aglow]: _Huh?! You're kiddin'!_ OK, just you wait, Mariah! (In thirty days, huh?) [Note: Deane's line above is "sore nara [in that case], ate ga--". Deane probably meant to complete his sentence as "ate ga hazureta," "I'm disappointed." Shamino, though, is thinking Deane meant to say "ate ga aru" - "I have a lead"/"I know someone" who can get mandrakes.] pg. 101 [The group has stopped for the night at an inn. Deane looks over the balcony anxiously.] Voice: Deane! pg. 102 [Deane turns to see...] Deane: Oh, Io! Io [smiling]: Can't sleep? Deane: ......No. Io: Thank goodness Kati got better, huh? [We see Kati is sleeping soundly next to Geoffrey.] Deane: ......... pg. 103 [Deane doesn't turn to face Io but instead simply stares out into the distance.] Deane: I think it'd be better if I continued my journey alone. Io: _What are you talking about!?_ Deane: If I hadn't brought Kati along, that would never have happened. Io [angrily]: _That wasn't your fault, Deane!_ _Everybody comes with you because they LIKE you, Deane!_ Deane: ...but Mariah... Io: That's different! It's not that she didn't want to come, in her case! (It's just that she's got a mind of her own!) _You can't think that way, Deane!_ _You have to have more faith in everyone!_ pg. 104 Io: _Everyone has faith in *YOU!*_ _I don't really understand it, but there's something SPECIAL about you, Deane!!_ Deane [smilng softly]: ......OK. Thank you, Io. [Io looks on with tears in her eyes. The two linger on the balcony. Meanwhile, Shamino, who has the bed on the opposite side of the wall, smugly listens in.] Shamino: Well, wasn't that a sweet conversation... (Gettin' cozy...) [Oh, shut up, Shamino.] pg. 105 [From the street below, however, the Bobbit Daranor also listens in. Eventually, morning breaks on the inn.] pg. 106 [On morning, Deane and Shamino find themselves at the local herb shop.] Deane: Now, let's stock up on herbs so that never happens again! Shamino: No kidding! [You guys went out on an epic quest without any healing items? Too bad there isn't a Virtue for Common Frickin' Sense. Wait, doesn't Spirituality cover that? Well, I guess we're not really paying attention to virtues in this manga in the first place. Anyhow, the boys make their order, and the shopkeeper tabulates their total.] Shamino: How much, old lady? Shopkeeper: 80 G. [Shamino puts his change on the table.] Shamino: Here you go - 80 G! Let's go, Deane. Deane: OK. [Then, though, Deane notices what Shamino left on the counter.] Deane [thinking]: Wait...... That's not enough...... That old woman - can - can she see?... What are you thinking, Shamino?... [Certainly not of becoming the Avatar, unlike his earlier claims - though, aside from a few, isolated incidents like this one, none of the main heroes are either, so what the hell. Anyhow, Deane turns back and gives the shopkeeper some more money.] Deane: There you go, old lady. 80 G, on the mark. [Another note: is it Avatarlike to address elderly shopkeepers as "old lady"?] pg. 107 [Anyhow (again), Deane turns to leave.] Deane: See you! Shopkeeper: ......Indeed! Take care, now, black-haired boy. [Deane is shocked, but walks out of the store laughing.] Deane: ::heh heh!:: Shamino: --Heyyyy. What's so funny!? [Suddenly -] Kati: _MISTER DEAN!!_ _IT'S HORRIBLE!!_ pg. 108 [We see that the silver serpent is curled up in a fetal position, eyes closed and seemingly unresponsive.] Kati: He won't move at all. ...Is he dead?...... Deane: I can hear his heart beating, though...... He's *alive*, at least. [Deane wraps the silver serpent up in a blanket.] Deane: --In any case, we'll take him with us. Are we all ready? Everyone Else: Anytime you are - _O.K.!!_ Deane: To Yew! pg. 109 [But....] SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: [...a stampede of monsters stands in the party's way.] Shamino: Don't waste time with the welcoming committee, do they? Deane: Guard the rear, Julia. Geoffrey: --Shall we go? pg. 110 Geoffrey, Deane, Shamino: _YEAH!!_ SFX: ::DASH:: [The trio rushes for and battles the monsters. I have limited patience in detailing random encounters, so I'll limit myself to wishing that the manga spent as much effort on building the other virtues as it did Valor.] SFX: ::SLICE:: ::SLASH:: pg. 111 SFX: ::SLASH:: ::GRRAAAHHHH--:: Deane: _SHAMINO!!_ SFX: ::THUD:: ::dash:: Shamino: --whoa... pg. 112 SFX: ::Gaaaahh..:: ::hurl:: ::hurl:: ::WHOOSH:: ::WHOOSH:: ::CRACK:: Shamino: OW! (Ah....) Deane: _Shamino!! Are you OK?!_ Geoffrey: (Uh oh...) Shamino [crazy, licking own blood off side of head]: _You sorry bastards -_ _the best you can do is throw ROCKS - and you spill MY blood!?!?_ pg. 113 Shamino: _THE &%^*ING NERVE!! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY!!_ SFX: ::WHOOSH!:: ::THWACK:: ::THWACK:: ::GAAH--:: ::SPLAT:: Deane [avoiding that last sound effect]: .........! Geoffrey: He's a different man once he sees his own blood. pg. 114 Deane [staring at smoking remains of monsters]: ......... Shamino [shaking with rage]: (Haa... Haa...) Geoffrey [sarcastically, almost facepalming]: *Good work.* [Shamino, still bleeding a bit from his temple, closes his eyes and puts his head back.] SFX: ::dizzy...:: Shamino: Oh...I've lost too much blood... (I feel faint...) Geoffrey [clonking Shamino on the head]: Cut it out! (Good grief.) SFX: ::CLONK:: Shamino: -gah! Owwwwww! Take it easy on me! Geoffrey: (Geez, you're OK with seeing everyone *else's* blood.) Just be glad we made short work of the mess. pg. 115 Deane: Now, let's hurry! [The party finally comes upon Yew, where they meet -] Calumny: _DEANE!!_ Deane: _CALUMNY!!_ Calumny [joyfully grabbing Deane's shoulders]: Are you well? Deane: Yeah! Calumny: Oh, it's been a while! Have you grown _already?!_ pg. 116 Calumny [still happily]: What about Shiva? Have you found him yet? Deane [sadly]: ...No. [Some time passes as Deane catches Calumny up with events. The scene reopens on Calumny's house.] Calumny: --- I see... So you need mandrakes? Deane: It's rather hopeless, isn't it? I mean, we need _fifty_... [Calumny gives Deane a cheerful wink and smile.] Calumny: Now, now! Don't sell me short! Magical compounds have been my life ever since I was a little boy! You just leave everything to Calumny! And what do you know? Tonight just *happens* to be a new moon! pg. 117 [Midnight.] SFX: ::poff:: [Igniting a small magical light in his hand, Calumny leads the party to a plot of apparently dormant earth.] Shamino [brattily]: There's nothing _here!_ Calumny: Shh! --Now, look! [The party watches as the earthy, humanoid halves of the mandrakes slowly emerge from the ground.] SFX: ::pop:: ::rumble:: ::pop pop:: ::shuffle:: pg. 118 Shamino: EWWWWWW~~~! They're _GROSS~~~!_ I didn't think they'd look like _THAT!_ Calumny: Now comes the tough part! [Completely ignoring Calumny, Shamino bends down to pluck a mandrake.] Shamino: All righty, here comes the first guy! (Or the first *one*, I should say...) Calumny [panicking]: No - don't pull it out! SFX: ::tug:: ::pop:: Mandrake: _AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!_ [Calumny reacts with a long-suffering but flatly unsurprised look.] Calumny [plugging ears]: Deane.........your friend's not one for patience, _is he._ Mandrake: _AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--_ SFX of Shamino's ears: _BONGGG--!_ Shamino: (That's it - you guys are _dead!_--) [Calumny throws some earth on the mandrake Shamino pulled up.] Calumny: ~~~Let's cover this noisy little fellow back up! [He then begins a lesson on how to harvest mandrakes properly, complete with slideshow.] Title Card: The Proper Way to Harvest Mandrakes Figure 1: Exhume the roots, surrounding earth intact. Figure 2: Turn the mandrake upside-down and bury the body. Figure 3: Chop off the roots. Calumny: Using this method, the mandrake will grow back, so there's no need to feel badly when you cut away its body! (And it won't scream, either!) (Author's Note: Attention: This is FICTION!) pg. 119 Calumny: Now, we have to get 50, right!? Let's work together, everyone! [Later, come morning...] Deane: Thanks for helping us, Calumny! Calumny: It was nothing! I'm happy to have been of help to you, Deane. Now, I've shown you my own private mandrake source, so remember - -- you have to come back to see me once you find Shiva, now. Deane [smiling]: -- I will. I promise! So long! Calumny [waving]: Do your best!!-- pg. 120 [The group leaves. Suddenly...] Kati: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH--!! Shamino: (What!? What!?) [We see Kati watching the silver serpent. The little dragon is beginning to stir.] Dragon [rising to feet]: (Mmmm....) Kati: I...I thought he was starting to move all of a sudden, and... ...... [Kati gets down on his knees. The dragon is almost as big as he is.] Kati: ...he'd gotten this big... Dragon: ? Io [charmed]: *Ohhhhhh*....! Deane: His wings got big, too! Looks like he might be able to fly already! [On cue, the silver serpent spreads his wings...] SFX: ::flap:: pg. 121 [...and takes off.] SFX: ::FLAP FLAP:: Kati: Oh!! He's flying away!! [Indeed, the dragon is circling higher and higher overhead.] Kati: Is that OK? [The party watches as the dragon fades into the distance.] Deane [smiling]: ...Yeah. [The party watches as the dragon disppears beyond its sight.] Kati: He... Shamino: (Whoa...) Deane: ...He looks happy, doesn't he...... pg. 122 [Some time passes, and the scene opens, improbably, on Shamino deep in thought.] Shamino: ...Hmmmm. Deane: What's wrong? Shamino: Nothing. I was just thinking that if we're going to the Abyss, we're gonna need a ship... --I got it!! Geoffrey, come with me for a little bit. Geoffrey: Huh? Shamino: Don't worry! [Shamino takes Geoffrey and starts to leave the party.] Shamino [calling over shoulder]: Deane! Wait here for a minute, OK?! We'll be right back! Deane: _Huh?!_ _Shamino!! Where're you going?!_ [Without a further word, Shamino leaves with his friend.] Io: _Wha-wha-wha-wha--OHHHHH--~~!!_ (You're ruining _everything_, splitting us up!!) pg. 123 [A while later...] Shamino: Thanks for waiting!! We're back, everyone! [...Shamino and Geoffrey return at the helm of a brand-new galleon.] Kati: Wowww - a ship!! pg. 124 [The rest of the party boards and marvels at its new transportation.] Deane: How'd you get this?! Kati: (Cooool!!) Geoffrey: Well, if you REALLY wanna know, there were these pirates that he--MMPH-- Shamino [quickly covering Geoffrey's mouth]: Well, you see, I have _friends_ among the pirates! [We cut away to see Shamino's pirate "friends" knocked out behind a rock.] Shamino: And they GAVE it to me, _right!?_ (--_*Geoffrey?!*_) Geoffrey: ~~~~~~~~ [sweatdrop] [Deane and Io walk away to explore the ship.] Geoffrey [to Shamino]: You know, I really don't like this side of you. Shamino [undeterred]: What're you talking about?! You went right along with me. Geoffrey: (gulp) SFX of Shamino's elbow in Geoffrey's side: ::needle needle:: Geoffrey [flatfaced]: (Only because they started *attacking* us...) Kati [playing on rope]: Wowww! pg. 125 Shamino: It'll take a while for us to get to a moongate - the ship's definitely the fastest way. LET'S SET SAIL! [A while later, since this is a JRPG-inspired work and someone therefore has to get seasick during the ocean voyage for allegedly comic effect, Kati and Io are lying on deck a bit green and unable to move.] Kati: ~~~~I don't feel so good...~~ (Urg...) Io: ...uck... pg. 126 Deane [smiling, like he has any other expression]: Seasick? Shamino: _What?!_ Man, you guys look like hell. *tuh* [Later...] Shamino [over side of ship]: BLECH!! Geoffrey: (Not again...) Deane: (Ha ha!) [Deane takes out a map.] Deane: I wonder where we are......right now, I mean. Shamino [back against railing, leaning far back]: (Ahhh, _that's_ better.) --Don't _worry_ about it. We're almost there. (The wind's with us, too, so...) [Suddenly, shadow falls upon Shamino's face. He looks up...] pg. 127 SFX: ::VOOOSHH:: [...to see a giant squid surface behind him.] Deane: _SHAMINO!!_ [The monster grabs Shamino. (Can it keep him?)] Shamino: AAAAHH-!! pg. 128 [Suddenly, light fills the scene. Shamino screams.] SFX: ::crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle crackle:: Shamino: UWAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaa--!! Deane: _An electrical attack!!_ Incidental SFX of squid wrecking the ship's railing: ::BAM:: [We see that the attack has gotten Deane a bit, too. Shaking, he looks up to see an unconscious and limp Shamino being dragged away by the monster.] Deane: _SHAMINO!!_ SFX: ::crackle crackle crackle:: pg. 129 Deane [looking up]: Blast... Voice: _EEEEEEEEEK--!_ [Deane turns quickly to find...well, I'd normally make a smart remark about Io being in distress as usual, but I have to note how the artist has drawn this panel in an unusually distasteful manner. One of the monster's tentacles is inching toward Io, with its tip rising to just between - and beyond - her knees. Io is protecting Kati, and so, along with her arms being outstretched to keep Kati behind her, Io's legs stand wide apart - in other words, a bit spread. Additionally, Io's short robe parts vertically in the middle, and here it, too, is spread to further emphasize the area between Io's thighs. That's right: there's a suggestion of tentacle hentai in an Ultima manga. It's mild, but really, any suggestion of such material is too much. Anyhow -] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: [Julia does not hold with this bull, and -] SFX: ::THUD:: [brings his axe down to sever the tentacle before any further uncomfortable panels can appear. Thank you, Julia; you're the true savior of Britannia, no matter how this hackneyed manga shakes out.] pg. 130 Deane: _IO, KATI, HIDE!!_ Deane [thinking]: We have to get Shamino away from that thing somehow. Deane: _DON'T GO NEAR THE WATER!!_ [The squid takes that as its cue to head back for the ocean, Shamino in tow.] SFX of squid moving: ::BOOM:: ::bam BOOM:: pg. 131 [Deane bounds toward the monster and slashes off the tentacle holding Shamino.] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: [Another tentacle, though, hits Deane right across the chest.] Deane: UGH-!! SFX: ::BAM:: [We see the squid struggling on the side of the ship, which begins to break under the pressure.] SFX of ship: ::crack creak:: SFX of monster falling: ::SPLASH:: pg. 132 [We see that Deane has fallen in the water as a result of the previous attack. He bobs to the surface...] SFX: ::SPLASH:: DEANE: _EVERYBODY DOWN!!_ [...and begins chanting for his Kamehameha attack.] SFX: ::SPARK:: ::crackle crackle crackle crackle:: pg. 133 Deane: _HAAAA!!_ SFX ::VOOOOOM:: ::RUMBLE:: ::CRUNCH:: Squid: KIIIIII-- pg. 134 [Still, though...] Squid: KIIII-- [...the squid manages to hold on to the ship. Deane continues to psychically or magically push it (there're sparking sound effects but nothing visual)...] Deane: UHH--!! SFX: ::crackle crackle crackle:: ::SLIP:: Squid: EEEEKKK! [...and the monster finally falls back into the sea.] SFX of deck: ::snap:: Io: _WHERE'S DEANE!?_ pg. 135 [Later. Io is worriedly looking over a wounded (but smiling) Shamino.] Shamino: Thank you, Io... I'm OK now. Go tend to Deane! [Io finds Julia already looking after Deane.] Julia: ...... Using Iceball in the middle of the ocean... Such a reckless disregard for his own safety... Io: Deane... [Deane, wounded, opens his eyes and comes to.] Deane: ...------ Io: _Deane!! Are you OK!?_ Deane [coughing]: -----? ...y...yeah...... pg. 136 Shamino [smiling]: You really saved us, Deane. Deane [smiling]: It was nothing. [Shamino surveys the damage to the ship, which is considerable.] Shamino: But he really went to town on us, that frickin' squid. (Even the mast is broken...) Whadda we do? [Suddenly, Kati notices something...] Kati: Huh? SFX: ::WHOOSH:: Kati: Whassat? Shamino: What? [Kati looks to the horizon to see...] Shamino: _IT--_ _IT'S A TWISTER!!_ (O...out of the frying pan...) pg. 137 Shamino: We...we can't move the ship... (gulp...) Caption: WE'RE SUNK. [Equally suddenly, a figure swoops overhead.] SFX: ::SWOOP:: Deane: _IT'S SILVER!!_ [Silver lands on deck - which is now just barely large enough to accommdate his grown form.] SFX of wings: ::flap flap:: Io: (Silver??) pg. 138 Kati [rushing to embrace Silver]: You got _big,_ didn't you! [Silver lowers his head and nuzzles Kati.] Silver [affectionately]: ::snort snort:: Geoffrey [approaching warily with the rest of the party]: Is that REALLY him--? Silver [raising head, looking at party inquiringly]: ::sniff... sniff...:: Kati: _Yeah!_ [Silver recognizes Deane and goes right up to him, licking his face.] Deane [laughing]: Yeah, it's him, all right. Silver: ::snort snort snort snort:: Shamino [hitting upon idea]: Hey, let's hitch a ride on _him!_ (What an escape!) SFX of Shamino's fist in hand: ::bam:: Kati [annoyed]: (His _name_ is Silver!) Shamino [smirking]: Yeah, yeah. Let's get out of here. (Wasn't that a *horse?* _"Hi-ho!"_ and all that?) Deane [nuzzling Silver]: Could you? SFX: ::pet pet:: [So, how _is_ the reception of _The Lone Ranger_ in Britannia? Or are they stuck in the real olden times and have just the radio broadcasts?] pg. 139 [The next shot is of the party escaping to safety aboard Silver as their ship is eaten by the twister.] SFX of twister: ::ROOOAAARRRR:: SFX of ship: ::CRACK CRUNCH:: Shamino [sweatdropping]: Whew... Just in the nick of time... [Beneath a clear blue sky, Silver continues to fly them to the mainland ahead.] pg. 140 [Later...] Mariah: _Impossible......_ _You *really* have them?!_ Shamino [arms crossed, smug]: Well, I _did_ make you a promise, Mariah. (Heh, heh.) [Mariah, trying to remain composed, turns from Shamino and walks to the back of the room.] Mariah: ...I, it's settled, then. Shamino [grinning, giving thumbs up]: (Yeah!) SFX of Shamino's teeth: ::grin:: [Deane, grateful (and now for some reason three feet taller), takes Mariah's hand, much to her surprise.] SFX of hand: ::grab:: Deane: Thank you! SFX of Mariah: ::blush:: Shamino: (--_Hey._) Io: (--_Hey._) [Mariah, stirred but not shaken, once again turns away with dignity.] Shamino [nervously]: Uh, Mariah, hon, he's a little young for you... (I mean, he's a good guy, but, um......) Mariah [mutedly angry]: Mind your own business. [I guess when Shamino is your main option, anyone who acts halfway decently looks appealing.] pg. 141 [That evening...] Io: Deane... Deane [smiling, of course]: Hm? Io: What...what do you think of Mariah...? [Deane gets serious and turns to look ahead.] Deane: I think we really need her on our side! Magic, particularly healing magic, is so important - but we especially need someone with us who can cast powerful magic flawlessly. (I mean, I'm good with attack magics, but...) There's just so much we can't do on our own. I...don't want to let any of us die. [Deane's last comment gives Io unprecedented pause.] Deane: What's wrong? Io [shaking head, smiling]: Oh, nothing! [Shamino approaches.] Shamino: Hey, sorry I'm late! Our next stop's the Lycaeum, right? pg. 142 Caption: The Lycaeum [And...] Caption: The Library [Deane meets with an older, bearded man dressed like a bishop. I don't know for certain if this is Father Antos - he's never given a name - though he has a resemblance to the Brother we met in Empath Abbey, and while it's a small thing, he is shown holding a book, and he does guide you to the Book of Truth in the game. I'm proceeding on the assumption that this is Father Antos, but realize that I might be wrong.] Father Antos [?]: Ahhhh! Shiva? Yes, I know him. Deane: Really?! Father Antos: He was a good boy, passionate about his studies. He stayed here for a time, but...... Deane: ...--But?! pg. 143 Father Antos: ...At the time, he had already attained Avatarhood in seven of the eight virtues. Shamino [with low whistle]: (_Whoa._) Father Antos: Humility was all that remained for him. It is said that one needs the skull of Mondain to enter the Abyss. You brother, too, went to search for the skull. All information points to its location as the dungeon of Deceit... Go forth with caution... [The party leaves for and arrives at Deceit.] pg. 144 [Before its gates...] Kati: _NO!! I WANNA GO TOO!!_ Deane: No, now. Julia will stay with you. Wait here. Kati: _No no NOOO!!_ _I won't get in the way, I promise! I know I can be some help!!_ No one has a better sense of direction than I do!! Julia: ...Let's take him along. I'll protect him. Kati is a comrade the same as any of us, after all...... [I think Julia's just getting tired of being this trip's unofficial babysitter.] Deane [smiling, of course]: -----All right. You have to be careful, understand? Kati: Yeah!! [Deane has lost the Virtue of Common Frickin' Sense - or would have, had he not lost it back as mentioned on pg. 106.] pg. 145 [Within the dungeon. Just ahead -] Gargoyles: KII KII KII-- Shamino: Already, huh? Gargoyles: KII-- Shamino [drawing sword]: All righty. [One gargoyle raises its hands to cast a spell.] SFX: ::poff:: [Mariah notices...] pg. 146 [...and charges in front of the group.] Mariah: _WATCH OUT!! GET BACK!!_ [She casts her own spell...] SFX: ::POW:: ::BAM:: [...which collides with and annihilates the opposing spell and its caster.] SFX: ::CRACKLE:: Gargoyle: _KIIIIIiiiiii..._ [Mariah calmly breathes a sigh of relief.] Shamino: Whoa - we would've been crispy critters... ::low whistle:: Deane: Leave the rest to us! pg. 147 [Geoffrey, Deane, and Shamino charge the group.] Shamino: Well, then - SFX: ::GYAAAAAHHHHH!!:: ::GYEEEHHHHhhh...:: ::SLASH:: pg. 148 SFX: ::THUD:: [Fight over, the group continues through the dungeon.] Deane: The halls are getting smaller and smaller. At this rate, we're not going to have the space to be able to fight. Shamino: Dammit. If we don't find that thing soon... (Mr. Skull, I mean...) Hey, hey, Kati, sweetie... [Shamino smugly sidles up to Kati and puts his hand on Kati's shoulder.] Shamino: Can't you put that famous sense of direction of yours to work for us? Sniff that skull out? Be of some *use*? (Hmmmm?) pg. 149 [Kati, angry, shoves Shamino away.] SFX: ::SHOVE:: Kati: _Shut up!! I'm not a DOG!!_ [Shamino staggers...] SFX: ::teeter teeter:: [and falls not against the nearby wall, but through it.] Shamino: --WAAAHHH! SFX: ::slip:: ::SMACK:: Shamino: _OW!!_ [Shamino has falled straight through the wall. Deane, panicked, goes right up to it in search of Shamino.] Deane: _Shamino!?_ Are you OK? Shamino: ~~~...owwwww....~~~ [Deane gingerly puts his hand up against the wall, only to find that it passes through.] SFX: ::slip:: Deane [thinking]: A fake wall?! pg. 150 [Deane and Kati go through to find Shamino on the floor. Spooked, he gestures wordlessly to the platform about him - which holds the skull of Mondain.] Shamino: Well, looks like we found it, one way or another. Deane: I've heard you boast, but... bravo, Kati. Kati: How about _that!!_ (HEH HEH!) [Let the record now show that the ten-year-old has been more useful to the quest than Io.] pg. 151 [Deane takes the skull and ponders it, alas-poor-Yorick-style. As he does so, he notices the arrival of some unwanted company - countless malevolent eyes watching around him.] SFX: ::rustle rustle:: Deane: --We seem to have woken up some of the locals. Their numbers are great...... Shamino [smiling]: Once more for old times' sake, then? Mariah: Wait! There are too many of them. We'll leave right away. Gather close to me, please, everyone. pg. 152 [The monsters close in...] Monsters: HISSSSS... GRRR... [...but Mariah is dauntless. She casts her spell, and the party disappears in a flash of bright light.] Monsters: GWAAAAAHHHH-- SFX: ::FLASH:: pg. 153 [The party teleports to outside the dungeon doors.] Mariah: Phew... Someone Unidentified; Kati or Shamino, I Think: ...The sky looks weird...... [Indeed, the sky is swept with dark, backlit clouds.] Someone Who Has to Be Io: Oh, who cares! That dungeon positively _reeked_ of mold! We need to get back right now and bathe bathe bathe!! pg. 154 [Back back back...] Deane: There's some sort of commotion over toward the Lycaeum! What's going on? [Later...] Deane [shocked]: A new moongate? Father Antos [again, ?]: Indeed! A new moongate has appeared - leading to the Abyss! Deane: Why? Father Antos: The entire Lycaeum is investigating, but we've reached no conclusions...... ...... It's as if the stage is being set for some unknown occurrence... Exactly what, I don't know, but... pg. 155 Deane [thinking]: ...something quite terrible, I'm sure... Shamino [noticing]: What's wrong!? Io: ---- Should we ask Lord Hawkwind for a prophecy? [Wait, did Io just contribute an idea? Lord in Heaven, stop the presses.] Shamino [I think]: All right! Let's head for Castle Britannia! [At a moongate...] Deane or possibly Geoffrey: Are you sure we should be using the moongates? pg. 156 [Overhead, Felucca phases into place.] Shamino: No time for that now! I _told_ you - it'll be OK!! _Look - it's already opening!_ [...But the moongate is not like the previous clean transport - it is instead dark, misty, and unstable.] SFX: ::WARP:: Shamino: --damn. No...this isn't ri-- pg. 157 CHAPTER THREE: IMMORTALITY [A tall, featureless crag, seemingly insurmountable, looms not-so- distantly.] pg. 158 [Deane opens his eyes.] Deane: ---- [Along with the rest of the party, he had been knocked on his back and unconscious from the transport. He rubs his head and begins to rise to his feet.] Deane: ...uh-- Shamino: What happened...? [Deane clears his eyes and looks ahead, finding his bearings.] Deane: ...this is... pg. 159 [We see Deane and Shamino have taken notice of the high crag that lies before them.] Deane: I've seen it before in books...... The Abyss. Shamino [frightened]: Did we go through the new moongate? [The party stares wordlessly for a moment at the challenge ahead.] Shamino: Guess we're going in... pg. 160 [Suddenly...] SFX: ::RUSTLE:: Monsters: GRAHHHH... Shamino: _DAMMIT!_ _WE'RE SURROUNDED!_ pg. 161 SFX of monsters breathing gas: ::FWOOSH:: Shamino [slashing sword]: No good!! They're--!! Get 'em before-- SFX of another monster breathing gas: ::FWOOSH: ::HISS...:: Mariah: ...Uwah!! Shamino: Too...late... [Shamino and Mariah collapse.] Deane: _SHAMINO! MARIAH!_ _It put them to sleep!! Geoffrey, get the Gazers first!!_ Geoffrey [sword drawn]: _Gotcha!!_ pg. 162 [Deane crosses swords with a tall monster.] SFX: ::CLANG:: Deane [thinking]: They're tough--!! [Deane wins his weapon clash and dispatches the demon.] SFX: ::SLASH:: ::WHAM:: ::GRAAAHHHH...:: [Suddenly, blood spurts from a new gash on Deane's face.] SFX: ::SLASH:: Deane: GAH-- pg. 163 SFX: ::whoosh:: ::THUMP:: [Deane collapses like a rag doll where he has been thrown. We see he is seriously injured and bleeding copiously, barely conscious. He struggles to get up...] Deane: _UGH..._ SFX of Deane's blood: ::drip drip:: [...but his body fails him. A demon looms over him, its arms drawn back before its blow. Deane realizes his fate...] Deane: _--I'M TOO--_ SFX ::WHAM:: pg. 164 [...but Julia just in time cleanly slices the beast's torso off its body.] SFX of torso: ::slip:: [Time passes. We see Mariah healing a weak and collapsed Deane, Io fretting in the background.] Shamino [seriously worried]: ...Deane. Are you OK? Deane [turning head weakly]: ---...yeah... Shamino: Y'know...maybe it'd be better if we came back later? Geoffrey: Yes...I think we rushed into this. pg. 165 Deane [rising a bit]: ...yeah. You're right... ...everyone, go back. I'll go on alo-- Shamino [angry]: _!!_ _What're you talking about!? You think we're just gonna LEAVE you here!?_ _If YOU insist on going ahead, then so do WE!!_ _No way in HELL we're gonna let you throw your life away by going in there all alone!_ _RIGHT, gang!?_ [Deane pauses and softly smiles.] Deane [closing eyes]: --I'm sorry. Thank you, everyone... [Deane, if your followers disagree with your course of action for rational reasons, you don't change their minds by guilt-tripping them into risking their lives against their better judgment. Contrary to what this manga argues, that's reckless and selfish, not Avatarlike.] pg. 166 Someone: ...but we're going. We want to go-- [Deane looks ahead to the Abyss...] pg. 167 [The party gathers before its doors. Deane leans a tentative hand on the entrance.] SFX of doors: ::CREEEAAAAK:: [The party pauses a moment before the light within, steeling itself. Then...] Deane: Let's go. SFX of determination, I guess: ::BAM:: pg. 168 [Seemingly alone, the party continues cautiously through the Abyss's halls. Suddenly, Deane stops short...] Deane [thinking]: _THEY'RE HERE...!_ [A burst of magic energy swells up and whirls around the party.] SFX: ::ROOOAAARR:: Deane: _An energy field!_ _Everybody get down!!_ pg. 169 [The energy starts to well up around Deane.] SFX: ::ROOOAAARRR:: Deane: _...UWAAHH!!_ Mariah: _DISPEL!!_ SFX: ::FWOOSH:: [The field is dissipated. Deane, weakened, sinks to his knees. Shamino catches him.] SFX of Deane: ::wobble...:: Shamino: _No time to rest now!!_ _We've got company!!_ pg. 170 [Shamino and a reinvigorated Deane race toward their company. They both draw swords; Deane also summons a one-handed beam of magical light.] SFX: ::dash dash dash:: ::POFF:: ::dash dash dash:: ::ROAR:: ::SLASH:: pg. 171 [The carnage they wreak is great, but the enemy's numbers are even greater.] Geoffrey: _DEANE, SHAMINO, WATCH OUT!!_ SFX of monster: ::SPEW:: [The monsters spews venom at the duo, but Shamino and Deane's capes are apparently venom-proof.] SFX of venom on capes: ::hisss:: ::hisss:: ::hisss:: pg. 172 SFX of Shamino throwing cape aside: ::flap:: Shamino: --Bastard. What'll he do if we... SFX: ::SLASH:: Shamino: _BREAK HIS FACE!!_ Monster: _GWAAAAHHH--!!_ [After his witty battle repartee, Shamino does so. The monsters are destroyed.] Io [to Deane]: (Are you OK?) Shamino: (Mariah, hon, could you heal me, please?) Mariah [unmoved]: (It's just a scratch.) Deane [I think, thinking]: _They're too strong--!!_ pg. 173 Deane [thinking]: Did my brother really come down here alone--? [Yeah, 'cause you're the only one who's awesome like that, Deane.] Shamino: But... I've got a bad feeling about up ahead. [We look to the hall ahead. An invisible force seems to waft from its depths.] Deane: ...... Shamino: ...Something's there-- pg. 174 [The party continues to stare into the darkness, nothing happening.] Deane: ...I sensed something - Shamino [nervously]: --but you can't _see_ anything, right? Which means... ...we're dealing with a phantom who grew a brain, are we?... [Suddenly, Deane is punched in the gut by an unseen force.] SFX: ::SOCK:: Deane: --_UHH!!_ Shamino: Dea-- SFX: ::POW:: Shamino: _NGH!?_ [Shamino is punched in the face, his attacker again unseen.] pg. 175 [Staggered, Deane draws his sword.] SFX: ::wobble:: Shamino: _AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH--~~!!_ _M-M-MY BLOOD--!! I'M BLEEDING!!_ Deane: They're *nasty*...... What should we do - Shamino [coughing up blood a little]: Damn them... They're not getting away with this!! (My blood~~) Deane: ...blood? That's it!! Shamino, lend me your flask! Shamino: ? _Now?_ Why? You need a drink? (Of *my* booze?) Deane: Trust me! pg. 176 [Deane takes the flask and throws its contents in a wide arc in front of them.] SFX: ::SPLASH:: Shamino: _WHAT!? MY BOOZE!!_ [The liquid splashes on the assailants ahead, revealing the shape of their invisible forms.] Attackers: _---!!_ Deane [casting]: _ENERGY FIELD!!_ SFX: ::WHOOSH:: pg. 177 SFX: ::FLARE:: Attackers: _GWOOOooohhh......_ _GYAAAaahhhh......_ [Geoffrey, Shamino, and Deane rush forth.] Deane: Now, Shamino, to get repaid for our blood and liquor! Shamino: _Yeah!_ [The trio slashes the assailants to pieces.] SFX: ::SLASH:: pg. 178 [Later...] SFX: ::FWOOSH:: Deane: _SHAMINO!!_ Shamino: Arrgghh... [Shamino has been badly blasted by...] Dragon: _GHIIIEEEEEEE..._ [...a dragon's breath. The dragon has a few slashes on its chest but is still going strong.] pg. 179 Shamino: We fight and fight and there's no freaking end... Geoffrey: Of course not... If it hasn't fallen by now, it's not going to give in to our puny attacks. Deane: _DON'T GIVE UP!!_ _It's_ weakening, _too!_ We just need to fight a little longer!! SFX: ::ROOOAAAARRRR:: [The dragon breathes fire yet again. Er, guys, have you forgotten to let your magicians handle the big, end-of-dungeon foes? Oh, right - this is the same party that forgot to pack any sort of healing for its trip. Forgive me for expecting too much.] pg. 180 [Deane gets the full brunt of the dragon's breath.] SFX: ::WHAM:: Deane: UWAAAAAHHH--! Shamino: _DEANE!!_ _DAMN YOU!!_ [Geoffrey and Shamino finish off the dragon.] SFX: ::SLASH:: Dragon: _GYYAAAAAAOOOOOOOHHHHH..._ pg. 181 [Shamino approaches a hurt but healing Deane.] Shamino: Sorry, Deane... Deane: No problem! Don't worry about it. [Deane, _they_ saved _you._ They have nothing for which to apologize. Anyhow...] SFX: ::CRREEEAAAAKKK...:: [...with the author finally out of fight scenes, the party opens a large set of double doors to a small chamber with a large Codex symbol carved into one wall. There are no other doors or any apparent way to proceed.] pg. 182 Shamino: Looks like we've finally reached the Codex chamber... But there's nothin' here. [Deane stares up at the Codex symbol, silent.] Shamino: But just getting here is a victory, right? I mean, we're falling apart here. [Deane, still, touches the symbol with his left hand.] SFX: ::FLASH!!:: [The ankh imprinted on his hand appears, lighting up.] pg. 183 Deane [touching hand in pain]: AAHHH--!! [The Codex symbol itself begins to light up, pulsing with power.] SFX: ::VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM:: [The symbol parts; the wall itself was a hidden doorway. A tableau reveals itself beyond - a vaulted chamber wrought in marble and bound with columns. At its center, beyond a veil of sheer curtains, lies a throne raised on a dais - upon which sits an indistinct figure.] pg. 184 Figure: My congratulations on coming this far, thou who dost aspire to become the Avatar. Answer my questions, and true Avatarhood is thine. pg. 185 Deane: _Mine!?_ I came here looking for my brother! Shamino [sweatdropping, nervous]: H, hey, Deane - I don't think that's the right answer-- Deane: A druid by the name of Shiva! Didn't - didn't he come here!? [The figure pauses.] Figure: ......... [Slowly, the figure rises from its throne.] Figure: Ambitionless as ever, I see... [The figure steps forward, emerging from the curtain...] pg. 186 Shiva: It's been a while... Deane. pg. 187 Deane [overjoyed]: _SHIVA!? BIG BROTHER!!_ Shiva [smiling slightly]: You've grown... Deane [still overjoyed]: _What're you doing here!?_ [A thrilled Deane runs to embrace his brother. But -] Shiva: _GET BACK!!_ pg. 188 Deane [joy fallen from face]: ! Shiva: --- ...I, myself, came here at first in search of Avatarhood... Along my journey, however, I came to a realization. That there was something wrong about...all this... [Deane stands listening, uncomprehending.] Shiva: The eight virtues of the Avatar - try as you might, they are impossible to master. Oh, you may make an effort - you may even succeed, in some respects. But many victims will follow in your wake. And virtues accomplished at such a cost are no virtues at all. pg. 189 Shiva [closing eyes, screaming]: IT'S _HYPOCRISY!!_ [Shiva opens his eyes and, half-smirking, sidles close to a stunned Deane.] Shiva: In the end... ...a mere whitewash. [Don't worry, Shiva. I can assure you that Deane didn't use the virtues as the pretext for his adventure *once* his entire trip.] Shiva: Many would-be Avatars appear... not one of them able to extinguish the evil lurking in their hearts. --It's all an utter farce! pg. 190 Shiva: Therefore... I now take orders from a new king - one who will replace Lord British. And I give the self-important hypocrites who come here their just desserts. Shamino: ::gulp:: [Shamino has just noticed a large pile of skulls and bones in the corner of the room, and...hold on, here. I know that the whole purpose of this sequence is to establish that Deane is so much better than Shiva, but - how did these would-be Avatars even get _in_ without Mondain's skull? And how were they able to get to Shiva, considering that Deane's ankh Messiah birthmark was needed to open the wall/door to his chamber?] Deane: _WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, BIG BROTHER?!?!_ _THAT'S NOT TRUE!!_ pg. 191 Deane: I've had the same doubts as you! But we _need_ a true Avatar to resolve these problems and stand as an example to the people so that everyone can lead a happy life! ...Weren't _you_ the one who told me that, big brother?!?! Shiva: _SHUT UP!!_ That was an ideal - a dream!! Deane: That's right - it is a dream... But there will always be someone, somewhere, working to make that dream a reality... wouldn't you call that person a true Avatar? Shiva: ......The facade persists to the very end, doesn't it... pg. 192 Shiva: Even you would point your sword at anyone if it meant saving your own hide... just like everyone else who has come here...so far. Their own selves above everyone - [In case we haven't yet grasped Shiva's transition to the Dark Side, Shiva unleashes some Force lightning upon his brother.] Shiva: _--IT'S JUST SO ADORABLE!!_ SFX of spell: ::BANG:: ::BOOM:: ::BAM:: [As an aside, while Deane gets electrocuted here: given Shiva's newfound attitude and his connection with the protagonist, is he the manga version of Lord Blackthorne, the Guardian, or simply the voice who asks you questions between levels of the Abyss? Your papers are due by Tuesday.] pg. 193 SFX of spell hitting Deane: ::CRACKLE CRACKLE CRACKLE:: Deane: _UWWAAAAAAHHH!!_ Shamino: _DEANE!!_ Deane: _STAY BACK!!_ SFX: ::cracklecrackle cracklecrackle:: pg. 194 Shiva: Yes, that's right - _leave! RUN AWAY!!_ Deane [weakly]: ...b...broth...er... Shiva [angrily]: What do _you_ know - _you,_ who has everything _handed_ to you without the slightest effort?! Do you realize how hard it was to suffer in silence all those years, toiling away in fruitless labor?! What do _you_ know of those who must endure such things just to keep themselves from crumbling? What do YOU know of their pain?!?! [Some impressive lampshade hanging there.] pg. 195 Shiva: _HOW *COULD* YOU KNOW?!_ _WE DON'T EVEN SHARE THE SAME BLOOD!!_ _DON'T CALL ME "BROTHER"!!_ _YOU'RE NOT EVEN RELATED TO TALFOURD - OR ME!!_ [Shiva's words shock Deane to the core - he is utterly horrified.] pg. 196 [Deane thinks back to his memories together with Talfourd and Shiva, of being taught and watched over by his brother.] Deane [thinking]: ...why... [Eyes dead, he falls to his knees.] SFX: ::sag:: Shamino [running forward]: _DEANE!!_ SFX: ::DASH:: pg. 197 [Shamino, though, runs headfirst into an invisible barrier. It's not like he could have helped the situation, anyhow.] SFX: ::SMACK:: Shamino: _--Ow!!_ It's a barrier!! Dammit!! [Io, to her credit for once in this dang manga, is right there up against the barrier.] Io: It's horrible! It's just too horrible!... [Tears in her eyes, Io stares at Deane, who stares lifeless and unresponsive.] Io: It's just too much!-- What could _Deane_ ever have done to him!?!? Deane [thinking, barely]: Why... ...why are you like this... pg. 198 [Shiva stands over the broken Deane, a look of affected calm on his face.] Shiva: Are you shocked? [Shiva reaches down and forcibly tilts Deane's chin up to look at him.] Shiva: Your mother was a Paladin, you know. She died beneath the Mother Tree - holding you. [Shiva takes the pendant Deane is wearing and brings it to Deane's eyes.] Shiva: This pendant was her keepsake. pg. 199 [Then, in a display of impressive bastardry, Shiva yanks the pendant from Deane's neck and crushes it in his hand, letting its pulverized remains fall to the ground before Deane's knees.] SFX: ::SNAP:: SFX: ::crunch crunch:: SFX: ::sift sift:: [Io and Shamino watch powerlessly. Well, their powerlessness is more obvious than it is usually.] Io: It's just too horrible... How can _he_ be the wonderful brother Deane talked about!? Shiva [smirking]: ...Now. Fight me, Deane. Take up your sword. pg. 200 Shiva: _GIVE IN!! HATE ME!!_ [Deane, however, can do nothing but stare woodenly before him. He reaches out a hand to sift absent-mindedly through the remnants of his pendant.] Deane: ...why are you doing this? ...Who did this to you, big brother?... SFX: ::sift:: [Shiva is angrily shocked at Deane's passivity. His fist shakes in rage.] Shiva: ..._why._ _Why won't you fight me!? Why won't you hate me!?_ [Shiva stretches his hand before him...] Shiva: _FIGHT!!_ [...and unleashes a beam of magic at Deane.] SFX: ::BAM:: pg. 201 SFX: ::POW:: [Deane does not defend one iota against the blow, and it knocks him flat against the invisible barrier.] Deane: UHH--!! Shamino: _DEANE!!_ SFX: ::BAM:: [The rest of the group watches from farther back, with Kati right against the open Codex door. From just beyond, Hawkwind's lackey Daranor appears...] SFX: ::SHOVE:: Kati: _UWAAHH--!!_ [...and steals the satchel Kati was carrying, then runs away.] Shamino: _What's HE doing!?_ Julia: Are you all right, Kati? Kati: Yeah...but Mondain's skull-- pg. 202 SFX: ::POP:: [Daranor suddenly appears behind Shiva (??? through a secret passage or something? Then again, I imagine this group wasn't checking for invisible walls) and speaks to a second Codex symbol adorning the wall behind Shiva.] Daranor: _I have it, your eminence, my newly-crowned king -_ _Lord Hawkwind!!_ [All the PCs are shocked by this pronouncement.] Shamino: _!?_ _HAWKWIND?!_ pg. 203 [The symbol illuminates further. A voice emanates from beyond.] Hawkwind: Well done, Daranor! What are you waiting for, Shiva!? Hurry up and kill him!! Why does that boy pose such trouble for you? [The symbol begins to pulse with power.] SFX: ::VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM VOOM:: Hawkwind: Very shortly, I will use the skull to summon Mondain's spirit. We will become one - I will absorb his power and become Britannia's new king. ...And you will have your own place at my side. You already know that we have no need of Avatars. NO NEED! pg. 204 Hawkwind: _KILL HIM!!_ [Hawkwind is also apparently aggravated by Shamino, as he hits the party, but especially the ninja, with an invisible force that knocks them to their knees.] SFX: ::FOOM:: Shamino: _UWAA--!_ SFX of Codex: ::FLASH:: ::VOOM VOOM VOOM:: [Something resembling resignation crosses Shiva's face. He turns to Deane.] Shiva: ... He...he's right. [Shiva raises his hands as Deane looks on in horror.] Shiva: _PREPARE YOURSELF -_ _DEANE!!_ pg. 205 [Deane is hit with another magical blast that knocks him farther across the room - er, in another direction, I guess, since his back was already up against a wall.] SFX: ::WHAM:: ::WHOOSH:: Deane: ...uhh.hhh......! [Deane, bleeding from his head and mouth, struggles to lift his eyes to Shiva's.] Deane: ... ...big...brother... Shiva: ......! [Shiva, shining with rage, is a bit taken aback/irritated at Deane's words.] pg. 206 [Wordlessly, he proceeds to batter Deane with a flame-like magic.] SFX: ::FWOOSH:: Io: _STOP!! STOP -_ _YOU'LL KILL HIM!!_ Shamino [grabbing Io away]: _WATCH OUT, IO!!_ SFX: ::CRACK CRACK CRACK:: [Shamino manhandles the little woman, ostensibly to get her away from a newly-opening crack in the floor. Look, guys, I don't like Io, either, but she's actually justified for once here. Anyhow, back to the one-sided fight.] pg. 207 SFX of flames: ::ROOOOAAARRRR:: [Deane arches in pain.] Deane: ---!! [Shiva, his face blank, continues to batter Deane with magic. Deane turns his eyes to Shiva.] SFX: ::ROOOAAARRR:: Deane: ...please... ...big...brother... SFX: ::ROOAARR:: Deane: ...please go back... ...to being...the...brother...I knew... pg. 208 [Something penetrates Shiva's consciousness. The flames stop. Shiva, a remorseful look upon his face, cannot raise his hands to cast his spells anymore.] Shiva: ---! Deane [happily]: ...Big brother!-- [Oh, and the cracking of the floor stops, too.] SFX: ::CRACK CRac...:: pg. 209 Hawkwind: _WHAT ARE YOU DOING!? Daranor, KILL HIM!!_ [Daranor happily readies his crossbow.] SFX of crossbow: ::whirr:: Daranor: Yes, sir! [He fires, though if Deane can withstand Shiva's Hell Waves, I doubt a little puncture wound's gonna do him in. Nevertheless, a shocked Shiva dives in front -] SFX of arrow: ::WHOOSH:: Shiva: _Dea--_ pg. 210 [- and takes the hit for his brother.] Shiva: --ne... pg. 211 [Deane looks on, initially frozen in horror.] Deane: ...no... _NOOOOOO!!_ _BIG BROTHERRRRR!!_ pg. 212 [Daranor readies another shot...] Daranor: Tuh-- SFX of crossbow: ::whirr whirr:: [...but Shamino and Mariah are on it. Shamino takes his sword from its scabbard, while Mariah readies a chant.] Shamino: _That last crack broke the barrier!_ _Mariah!!_ [She was already chanting, buddy. Anyhow, Shamino throws his sword -] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: ::THWACK:: Daranor: _GHEEEE~~!!_ [- and it lands in Daranor's chest. For good measure, Mariah's cast a spell that turns him to ash.] Daranor: _GYAAAHHHH~~!!_ SFX of ash: ::FWOOSH:: pg. 213 [That doesn't improve matters much, though, as the room once again begins to shake and fall apart.] SFX: ::CRAAAA-AAACK:: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Hawkwind: YOU FOOL...... But it's already too late! Mondain's spirit is already awakening - ready to become one with me!! _WAH HAH HAH HAH HAH!!_ SFX: ::CRAAA--AACK:: ::CRACK CRACK CRACK:: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE:: [The Codex symbol on the wall cracks apart, revealing light beyond. Deane, however, is concerned only with Shiva, who lies on the ground dying.] Deane: _Brother!!_ _Brother!!_ pg. 214 [Shiva opens his eyes and looks at Deane.] Shiva: --- ...Forgive me, Deane. On my quest to become the Avatar, I made pacts with demons...stole a great many lives... ......what foolish things I've done-- Deane: Don't talk, brother--!! [Shiva smiles a bit.] Shiva: ...you still call me that?... [Shiva reaches a hand up to Deane's face.] Shiva: --- ...these tears... are they for my sake?-- [Shiva begins to cry himself.] Shiva: You fool... I...I couldn't... could never bear to see you cry... pg. 215 Deane: _It'll be all right, big brother! We have magic -_ Shiva: No... I have no intention of living... I-- I wanted to kill you. I said horrible things - did horrible things--forgive me... The burden was too great for me...to become the Avatar-- ...but you... ..._you_ can, I know... you who was chosen by the Mother Tree... [Shiva begins to close his eyes.] Shiva: ......may the... blessings...of the forest... be...u...pon...you...-- pg. 216 Shiva [thinking]: I so wanted to live...... a pure life like yours!-- My little brother-- [The very last thing Shiva feels is the touch of Deane's tears upon his cheek.] pg. 217 [His brother dead, Deane's eyes snap open with determination. He rises to his feet.] Deane: Everyone escape. I'll defeat Hawkwind. Shamino: What are you saying?! We're coming with you! SFX of room continuing to crumble: ::CRACK CRACK CRACK:: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Deane [with uncharacteristic anger]: _NO!!_ pg. 218 Io: _No way!_ _--I mean, I still haven't done a thing!!_ [Deane wipes the anger from his face and approaches Io with kindness.] Deane: That's not true, Io. You helped me at the inn in Moonglow. You warmed my heart with your words. So escape. I want you to live... [The pillars of the room begin crashing to the ground.] SFX: ::CRASH BOOM CRASH:: ::CRAA--AACK:: pg. 219 Shamino: _THEN, HURRY UP AND GO, DEANE!!_ [Shamino frantically grabs Deane's arms.] SFX: ::CRASH CRASH:: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Shamino: _I'LL TAKE CARE OF--_ Deane [smiling]: ......Shamino....... ...I don't want anyone else to die. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself... So, please - leave. Take care of everyone else for me - please. pg. 220 [Deane breaks away from Shamino's grasp.] SFX: ::BAM:: Shamino: ...! What...... [Deane, sword drawn, strikes a heroic pose before the circle of light.] Deane: _NOW, GO!!_ _GO!!_ SFX: ::CRASH BOOM CRASH:: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE:: [The other party members, almost all of them crying, take a last look at Deane. Deane begins to leave...] pg. 221 [...but then turns back one more time, a kind look on his face.] Deane: -- We'll meet again. [Deane walks into the light.] Io: _DEANE!!_ pg. 222 [Floating in the light now, Deane closes in on a dark figure before a black hole.] SFX of black hole: ::rooaarrr...:: Hawkwind: Heh heh heh heh heh...... Just a little longer... Just a little longer, and Mondain will awaken!! [Non sequitir, but how did Mondain become the ne plus ultra of the Japanese Ultima universe? He has an inflated role in the Exodus manga as well. Back to the story -] Deane: _HOLD IT, HAWKWIND!!_ SFX of black hole of Mondain's spirit, I guess: ::RROOOOAAAARRRR:: pg. 223 [Deane angrily rushes to stab Hawkwind...] Hawkwind [smirking]: Good to see you, boy!! [...but as Deane's stroke falls, Hawkwind's form fades from where he stands.] SFX of Deane's sword swing: ::SLASH:: SFX of Hawkwind disappearing: ::fwoosh:: pg. 224 Hawkwind: _HAAAAAH HA HAAH!!_ _YOU WON'T DEFEAT ME WITH THOSE SKILLS, BOY!!_ _You overestimate your abilities, HUMAN!_ _ALLOW ME TO SEND YOU TO HELL!!_ SFX of Hawkwind's spell: ::FWOOSH:: ::RRROOOOAAAARRR:: pg. 225 SFX: ::RRROOOAAAARRRR:: [Hawkwind's fire spell races toward Deane and knocks him flat.] Deane: _UWAAH!!_ SFX of flare spell hitting Deane in several places: ::POP POP POP POP POP:: pg. 226 SFX: ::sizzle:: Deane [coughing up blood]: GWAAah--!! Hawkwind: (Heh heh...) [Deane, already battered before this fight, is quite broken and bleeding from the spell but still manages to struggle to his feet.] pg. 227 Hawkwind: Ohhh...are you still alive? It would be far less painful for you simply to die quickly rather than linger in agony. Your body must be a veritable sieve. Deane: ......I won't die... not until I defeat you-- Hawkwind: _FOOL!!_ [Hawkwind readies another spell.] SFX: ::crackle crackle crackle:: pg. 228 SFX: ::FWOOOSHH:: [Yet another gigantic spell hits Deane.] SFX: ::POW:: Hawkwind: It's over! Let me put you out of your misery. SFX: ::ROAAARRR:: pg. 229 SFX: ::FWOOOOOSHHH:: [The blast hits Deane from behind, distending his body into a crucified position. His then near-lifeless form sinks unmoving to the ground.] Deane [thinking]: ...i...s...it...over...am I...dead?... ......... pg. 230 [Deane is awakened by a light overhead.] Voice: Deane. Deane: ...! [Deane opens his eyes.] Deane: ...what...? Voice: --Deane! Listen well, Deane. Hatred is not the answer. Deane: Why... Voice: Purity is not borne of the blade of malice. Deane: ...this voice - ...it seems so familiar... Voice: Stand and face your enemy - with your sacred heart as your weapon!! pg. 231 Voice: For the sake of all! [Deane, newly healed and armed with messianic imagery, does so. A great light from above anoints him. In other news, I am sorely disappointed that my Catholic grade-school education omitted the part about the Sacred Heart's +10 attack bonus.] SFX: ::FLASH:: Hawkwind: _WHAT!?!?_ _You're STILL alive!?_ pg. 232 [Deane readies his sword, as a proper Lamb of God should.] Deane: _LIKE I SAID!_ _I WON'T DIE -_ [Deane hoists his sword, now glowing, in the air, and unleashes a torrent of lightning.] Deane: _NOT UNTIL I DEFEAT YOU!!_ SFX: ::VOOM:: pg. 233 Hawkwind [readying spell]: _DON'T MAKE ME LAUGH!!_ SFX: ::CRACKLE:: ::CRACKLE:: ::CRACKLE:: ::CRACKLE:: [Hawkwind's lightning spell lashes out at Deane, but Deane, speeding forth like a comet enveloped with the love of God, is protected by his divine aura.] Hawkwind: _IMPOSSIBLE!!_ _MY MAGIC IS BEING REPELLED...!?!?_ pg. 234 [Hawkwind continues casting spells.] SFX: ::POFF:: ::POFF:: Hawkwind: _D-DIE!_ _DIIIEEE!!_ SFX: ::FWOOOOOSSSSHHHHH:: pg. 235 SFX: ::BOOOOOOOOM:: [The twin heat-seeking jets of fire unleashed by Hawkwind explode upon their target.] Hawkwind: _BWAHAHAHA!! YOU SEE!?_ [Predictably, though...] SFX: ::POW:: Hawkwind: _!?_ [...Deane's holy comet explodes from the debris.] pg. 236 [The Deane-comet rushes straight for Hawkwind.] Hawkwind [thinking]: _Why!?_ _How--how can this be!?_ [Deane rushes on. His expression does not seem to be powered by the loving kindness of his sacred heart.] Hawkwind: _IMPOSSIBLE!!_ _Is this boy...is he REALLY--?!_ pg. 237 SFX: ::THUD:: [Deane's glowing sword hits Hawkwind straight in the gut.] Hawkwind: _God's--_ [Deane closes his eyes. Hawkwind's body dissipates into ash.] SFX: ::WHOOSH:: pg. 238 [Deane's eyes remain closed. He still is not in that great a shape.] Deane [thinking]: I...I did it... --- SFX: ::RUMBLE:: [Deane's eyes snap open. He looks ahead to see...] SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: Deane [thinking]: _What--!_ [...the well of evil Hawkwind was observing has continued its expansion unabated, undeterred by Hawkwind's death.] pg. 239 Deane: _It's still expanding!!_ SFX: ::FWOOOOOOAAA:: Deane: _Was I too late!?_ pg. 240 Deane: _No......that's not it!_ _An--an even greater force has awakened!_ Deane [thinking]: What... what is this dark energy...?! If it awakens... everyone...all of Britannia will-- pg. 241 [Deane stands for a moment, simply staring quietly at the sight before him. His eyes then soften with understanding and acceptance.] Deane [thinking]: Ahhh... So that's it... pg. 242 [Deane closes his eyes and smiles peacefully, thinking happily of the smiling faces of his friends and his brother.] Deane [thinking]: Yes... I have to do this...don't I. [Deane opens his eyes and looks up...] Deane [thinking]: For their sake - pg. 243 [...and dives into the endless darkness below.] Deane [thinking]: for everyone's... pgs. 244-245 [A flash of blinding light, and then...] pg. 246 [You know, I was going to complain here about how Deane didn't fulfill his duty as Avatar, as Lord British identified the threat to the kingdom as coming from the unchecked evil in the hearts of the people, which the Avatar is supposed to address through being a living symbol of the Eight Virtues and of what great heights a person could reach if he or she just put his or her mind to it. Deane experiences no struggle to live by the Eight Virtues - he was born to perfect Avatarhood and, save for a few token gestures, doesn't take the Virtues into consideration. He hasn't set an example for anyone beyond the party members, who haven't been inspired to actions much beyond that of which they were previously capable, and he hasn't lived to provide any further influence on Britannia. Then it hit me. That whirling ball of black beneath the Abyss that contained some growing power more heinous than Mondain's soul, that signals the start of true world peace when it's destroyed - it's a very literal RPG representation of the sins of the people of Britannia. So Deane died for the sins of the people of Britannia. ... I'm sure this rounds the corner between genius and stupidity, but I'm not sure in which direction. Anyhow, mission accomplished, the victorious protagonists stand on a clifftop overlooking the evil fortress and, backs to the camera, watch under a breaking dawn as it crumbles and sinks. (Wrong franchise, guys.)] SFX of Abyss collapsing: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE:: pg. 247 SFX: ::RUMBLE RUMBLE...:: Mariah: ...So he really was, wasn't he. Shamino: Yeah... looks like. He really was... pg. 248 Shamino: ...the Avatar... [We see here a figurative portrait of Deane, older, his eyes closed, bathed in divine He-is-risen radiance. Shamino smiles and turns his back to the fallen Abyss.] Shamino: Nothing _I_ could've pulled off, that's for sure. I'm walking the straight & narrow from now on. [Io's face is awash with tears.] Io: ......He said he'd come back - _He said he'd come back......_ pg. 249 [Io falls to her knees, sobbing.] Shamino: _Io!_ Io: ......! [Mariah gently approaches Io.] Mariah [smiling]: That's right! He will be back! Deane would never break a promise - right? Io: ......yeah. [Io remembers Deane's last words...] Deane's Voice: We'll meet again...... pg. 250 Deane's Voice: ...again... A Different Voice: And so - Britannia's fourth crisis was over. Thanks to the Eight Heroes... [We see that the new speaker is the bard from the story's first page - harp still in lap, still seated beneath her tree. A tear falls down her cheek.] pg. 251 A Third Voice: _MOTHERRR!!_ [The bard looks up, and we see she is -] Voice: _MAMA IO--!!_ [Io has aged a few years. Her child runs into frame, and he looks quite familiar...] Boy: What's wrong? [Io smiles at her son. The boy reaches a hand up to her face...] Boy: Are you crying? [...and we see an ankh birthmark on its back.] Io [smiling]: No. It's all right... pg. 252 Io: There's nothing wrong - Deane! [Io puts her forehead to her son's and smiles again; her son does likewise. I should note hear that little Deane isn't just named after our Avatar; he's an exact carbon copy of the young, original Deane. None of Io's genetic material appears present. So is this Deane reborn, indeed fulfilling his promise? Is this his son, named after his father? Is this a combination of both scenarios, with Deane siring his own reincarnation? (Perhaps during that night in Moonglow, with Shamino's obnoxious comments hinting at further activity beyond the frame?) Or is this a virgin birth, the result of another Anunciation? Aren't you putting your somewhat-girlfriend in a difficult position if you reincarnate as her son? I leave you, the reader, to ponder these brain-breaking questions as I daydream about Dame Aila & Lord British's Tokimeki Memorial or Shiva's Actual Quest of the Avatar, This Time with Actual Virtues and Everything. For we have reached the -] DEN 1989*6*30*F[riday] [Or "END," but perhaps "DEN" is more appropriate. Actually, "den" is the root of the Japanese word for "legend," and while it's not usually used on its own, it's perhaps more in the spirit of the Messiah to give the author the benefit of the doubt. In the name of our Deane, Amen.] *SPECIAL THANKS* Maki Hoshizaki * Sasami Torino Momomi Aoshima * Yuki Ohno Shiho Takahashi * Naoko Naito Shio Ohtsuki * Sanae Tokushima Mikiko Yoshida * Kaori Yaguchi Junko Teraoka * Mariko Kudo * Akiyo Hosoya Tatsuya Kishinami * Shuichi Matsumoto *************************************************************************** Lore Sjöberg on paladins: "Paladins are typically played in one of two styles: the 'completely overblown' style, in which the character is always going on about God and/or the gods, praying at the drop of a helm, and giving assassins the benefit of the doubt, or the 'completely indifferent' style, in which the character pretty much does whatever he wants, only his sword glows."