Gladstone

Where to find

The Crowned Champion's HouseStands here

Lines

— Tale of Lunares — 24

The question isn't what don't I, dear Granddaughter, but rather what DO I.

What is it do I, anyway? Can you remind me?

I'm sorry—did you say something, my little talkative, holometabolous insect friend?

You're lucky my granddaughter is with you. I got a glass case full o' your sassy kin!

I've lived every Life there is to live. I'll wear whatever I want to wear! Or NOT wear!

Your friends sound like your mother, sweet Laura.

Oh, it warms my heart to see a lust for adventure in those eyes, sweet, dear Granddaughter.

But it should be open. One of your father's men came by and just, very haughtily, demanded the key.

I was too busy weaving a basket out of Healweed and spit to argue with him. So I let him borrow it.

Hughes the Slimeball? Yeah, that sounds familiar.

He wouldn't stop babbling until I "accidentally" hawked a loogie on his boot. He finally left then.

Oh, you must forgive me. I am but an old fogy, and I know not what I do...

Oh, I don't even know if I can find that key now. Where is it? Oh, my memory is gone. Who are you?!

Well, good luck to you, dearest Laura. I'm sure you will. And if you don't, you won't.

I think I should tell you before you go, though. We are entering a time of great peril.

I have seen it foretold in the movements of Lunares.

So make sure you get back home before dark!

I can see that. One good, wise, and silent. The other chatty, thick headed, and very pretty, I must say.

There's a small cabin up a ways on the mountain. It's royal property. Feel free to rest there if you need to.

Dearest sweet child, you must remember my words...

Because I don't. What was I talking about?

No matter. It will come back to me, or if it doesn't, then it won't. Begone and come again!

Use that key if you need it. Don't stay outside too long—it's cold up there! Pack some warm underwear. If you're into that kind of thing...

So the Napdragon finally found someone to bestow that treasure upon... Huh? What do you mean? How do I know about it? Didn't Laura tell you my hearing is amazing? Now be nice to my granddaughter, ya hear?

— Tale of Lunares — 23

My dear granddaughter, I was saying that Hughes talks too much.

I'd forgotten all about those! Yeah, I was quite the geologist, botanist, and anthropologist for a bit.

Look, youngster. When you get to mastering every skill under the sun, you forget about some things. Like peanuts. I'd forgotten about those. Had one the other day. Delicious! Like tasting it for the first time!

I just came by to congratulate the new adventurers on their successful return from Terra Nimbus.

That's quite the feat. Wondering if you came back with any sort of knowledge to share with everyone.

Ha ha! I knew that old codger was nothing more than an overblown Peeping Tom!

Well...that's not quite how physics work, but the end result is sound fantasy science.

The point is, we have until the next eclipse before all hope for Reveria is destroyed. Along with Reveria.

Well, my dear, I would think the world will become lost in a state of permanent darkness.

Did you all rehearse that before I got here? Regardless, it's not the darkness that should concern us right now.

It's a... IT'S A...

A...ACHOO! Whew. Been waiting for that one to come out for days.

Better than throwin' one. Haw haw haw!

Look, you all here are overthinking this. A hole is a hole. Get it?

...Is a hole, right. Come on—say it all together if you need to.

Things can go into a hole, and things can come out of a hole.

Imagine your airship is a letter and Lunares is the mailbox. Take your letter and...

You always were a bit slow on the uptake, Erik. But yeah, that's the gist of it.

Haw haw haw. So you're the butterfly who has the low-self-esteem issues, eh? I see that now.

You don't have to try to take credit for everything, dearie. You'll learn that someday.

Anyway, I was just peeking in through some of the holes in the castle walls and figured I'd step in.

I love eavesdropping for good causes.

Our Napdragon seems to be doing fine recently, by the way. Just so you know.

— Tale of Lunares — 6

Who coulda predicted it?! It's the Tale of Lunares Part II: The Sequel: Lunares Longer!

Napdragon, my long-lived friend, have you witnessed something like this before?

It looks like...like Lunares is indeed closing. When was the last time you saw something like that?

A while ago, right? So are you as worried as I am?

We mustn't indulge our fears, though. We must be strong and believe in our young pioneers!

OK. I'll put some pants on.

Flutter 014 27

Well, it's about time! What took you two so long?

Your clumsy footsteps have been clogging up my cochleas for an eternity, it seems!

Sure did! You sound like an elephant tryin' to get airborne by flappin' his ears in a china shop!

So. Whaddya want? C'mon, I ain't got all day. Got crafts to craft and then sit on later.

Oho!

Aren't you a kind little butterfly! Coming to talk to a poor old man like me with no motive for yourself.

So generous to spend your time with me. Do you like games? How about Pin the Tail on the Butterfly?

Relax, little flapper. I'm joking! Can't you tell— Bah! Lepidopterans never had a good sense of humor.

If you wanna spend some time with me, I can show you a few of the projects I'm working on.

Yep, there is indeed much to be seen here.

What was that? Did you say something, butterfly?

I was about to impart some knowledge to you about one of my many areas of expertise...

But if you're already good at mining, cooking, needlework, carpentry, alchemy, and smithing... Well then, I guess I just may be boring you.

I suppose you wouldn't even be interested in my pilot's license or the fact that I can read the future!

Ah, so you do pay some attention to the world. Yes, the light of Lunares has served Reveria for eons.

It can be a bit of an oracle. If one knows how to read it, that is. The changes are oh-so slight.

Something very, very bad, my little friend.

I'm afraid not. The omen is not a fortuitous one.

It pains me to say it, but... Oh, how should I put this?

We are all in deep, deep doo-doo.

I saw something fall from Lunares. Something unlike anything I've seen in all of my years.

I can't describe it, because everything quickly went black...almost as if it were all a dream.

[Player], I feel you and your friend here are destined for something great. Please take this.

No, it's just a Cape. It's too big for me.

You really are kind of high strung for a butterfly.

Anyway, I run a small shop when I'm feeling the urge.

If you've got some Dosh to burn, go ahead and burn it here! Ha ha ha! Not literally, of course. I'd be very upset if anything happened to my cabin.

Flutter 040 31

Don't encourage her...

My troublesome daughter-in-law sometimes barges in here, pleasantly, to moan about her husband.

No, no, no, I didn't mean it like that. I was just making a comment, you know, in jest! In pie!

Anyhow, what can I do for you two youngsters?

Oh, hush. I'm not getting forgetful about anything. I'm just going senile!

What's the same thing?

Enough with the jibber jabber. [Player], tell me... what's your license situation these days?

Goodness, do I have to spell it out for you? What is your license s-i-t-u-a-t-i-o-n?

Have you achieved the Legend rank? Have you surpassed even that?

It's a mystery how you two made it even this far...

There's a rumor that floats around those who achieved the Legend rank.

Apparently it's possible to attain an even HIGHER rank.

Rarely have I seen such potential as I see before me now, so I thought maybe you'd heard about this.

Who's making who feel anything?! What can I do if these two don't want to fulfill their true potential?

I mean, hey, some people are just happy to think, "Oh, songs will be sung about me—I guess I'm done."

Here. Take a look at this.

Who knows? But look at the markings. That's some old stuff there...

I've got a sneaking suspicion it was used in the actual forging of Reveria!

It belongs to you now, [Player]. It is befitting one who has met with the gods.

I suspect this world seems just a teeny bit smaller to you now, does it not?

Don't get cocky, though! Reveria still holds a mysterious secret or two that might interest you.

Good question! This dagger was found by a friend of mine who just loves to travel.

I've put a lot of time into researching that thing, and it's one of the few things that has me stumped!

Meanwhile, my friend has sadly departed on a journey from which he shall not return.

There are few things more important than friends. I entrust you with the dagger my friend and I could never figure out.

You might still have one more friend waiting for you somewhere up there in the night sky...

Bite your tongue, lady!

Your cooking skills have the mountain's monsters quaking with fear!

Wait! No, don't leave!

Um...your mere presence and loveliness here sets flowers in bloom and makes birds burst into song!

Even the Black Panther and the Fanged Ape doze off peacefully at hearing the sweet song of your voice!