Scenario:Io - Magic, Lost and Found

Magic, Lost and Found

Gambanteinn in hand, Io continues on her assignment to the government office, where she's unexpectedly reunited with Tomar, a childhood friend now working as an apprentice. After catching up, Io confides her recent magic-related worries to the boy, who does his best to encourage her. The two of them find renewed determination in their reunion and together vow never to abandon their dreams.

---

Io wanders into the library of a government building and finds herself holding the mysterious golden staff called Gambanteinn.

She attempts to put it back in its brackets on the wall, but isn't tall enough to reach them.

Io: Hmm... Doesn't feel right to leave it here on the floor. Guess I'll just bring it to Master when I see him.

Gambanteinn: ...

Staff in hand, Io returns to her original errand.

She heads toward the official's office to deliver the document from Archduke Tzaka.

Valtz Official: You twit!

Io: Whuh?

Startled by the sudden outburst from further down the hall, Io jumps behind a pillar. Hesitantly, she peeks around the side.

Io: ...

Io: Huh?

Valtz Official: Why can't you just do as you're told? Who asked you to figure things out on your own?

Apprentice: ...

Valtz Official: For crying out loud... Sort out those papers and then go home. You hear me?

Apprentice: Yes, sir...

Io can't repress a snort of laughter at the apprentice's sullen reaction.

Apprentice: All right, who laughed?

Apprentice: Whoa! Io?

Io: He really gave you an earful, huh, Tomar?

Tomar: Geez, I can't believe you saw that... Why'd you pick today to visit, of all days?

Io: It's been a while, Braga.

Braga: I didn't know you were back.

Io: We just happened to have business in Valtz. Glad you're still putting Tomar through his paces!

Braga: Oh, he has years of this to come.

Tomar: Urgh...

Io: Oh, by the way! Master told me to bring you this, so here you go!

Braga: Excellent, that's a big help.
All right, Tomar, you're off the hook for today. You and Io probably have some catching up to do.

Io: Thanks, Braga! C'mon, Tomar!

Tomar: Huh? Oh, yeah, okay!

Io and her old friend Tomar get themselves some tea at a nearby restaurant.

They sit down to trade news of what they've each been up to since they last met.

Io: It's a relief to see you working so hard at your job.

Tomar: Working hard at getting my ear chewed off, you mean.

Io: Pfft, I was trying to be tactful.

Tomar: Iiit's fine. I guess getting bawled out is just part of the learning process.

Io: That's what I like about you, Tomar. Always looking on the bright side.

Tomar: So? What about you, Io? You always dreamed of using magic to fly. Can you?

Io: ...

Io's sudden silence and downcast eyes tell Tomar he's touched on a sore subject.

Tomar: Well, I mean, you're halfway there, at least! Flying aboard an airship is pretty close! Haha...

Io: Sigh...

Tomar: Hey... Don't look so down. Whatever I said, I'm sorry.

Io: No, it's not you. I'm depressed about a whole 'nother thing.

Tomar: Do you wanna talk about it? We've known each other a long time, Io. You can tell me anything.

Tomar's grin brings a hesitant smile back to Io's face.

Io: Well... Yesterday when I was out hunting monsters with my crew, I suddenly couldn't use my magic anymore.

Tomar: ...

Io: And so everyone had to protect me and cover for me... I just felt like a big burden.

Tomar: You're usually so upbeat. If you're this down about something, it must be serious.

Io: I didn't become a skyfarer just to rely on other people. It's frustrating not being able to protect myself.

Io: And I'm disappointed in myself.

Io: I thought I'd grown so much on my travels, but then all of a sudden I was back to square one. It's enough to make you wanna quit altogether...

Tomar: You're really growing up on this journey, aren't you?

Io: Hey, I'm being serious here!

Tomar: So am I.

Io: ...

Tomar: If you're agonizing over it this much, I'm sure you'll grow from it too.

Io: What?

Tomar: Well, think about it. You messed up, your friends had to save you, and you felt lousy about it.

Tomar: You almost felt like giving up, but you didn't. Instead, you're looking for a solution, right?

Io: Yeah...

Tomar: You hit a wall. But I'm sure you'll find a way over it.

Tomar: Of course, I don't know the first thing about magic! Haha!

Io manages to open up to her old friend, who has no stake in whether or not she can do magic.

Even if Tomar has no real basis for his confidence in her, his encouragement comforts her.

Io: I don't know why, but that actually helped. Maybe I just needed to say it out loud.

Tomar: Speaking as someone who keeps plugging even though his boss gives him the business on the daily, I know what I'm talking about!

Io: Haha, are you sure you should be bragging about that?

Tomar: You shush. I'll be running this place one day, you'll see! So you'd better not slack off either!

Io: Okay! Don't worry—I'll be the best mage there ever was!

Smiling, the two old friends vow to continue chasing their dreams no matter what.

Magic, Lost and Found: Scene 2

A cry of distress from outside interrupts Io and Tomar. When they investigate they discover a man collapsed in the street, presenting symptoms of pain and petrifaction that resemble the fatal disease to which Io's mother succumbed. Io notifies Archduke Tzaka, who puts immediate measures in place to slow the outbreak. While visiting a clinic, however, the archduke is infected by an evil spirit that emerges from a patient. Io is enraged to learn that this spirit was also responsible for her mother's death, but the spirit only taunts her as it flees the clinic.

---

Io catches up with her old friend Tomar over a hot cup of tea.

But that tranquility is soon shattered.

Woman's Voice: Aaaahhh!

Io: Huh?

Tomar: What was that?

Io and Tomar run outside to see where the scream came from.

Man: ...

Young Woman: Darling, please, wake up!

Io and her friend spot a woman bent over her husband, who appears to have collapsed in the street. They run over to see what's happened.

Io: Hey, are you okay? What happened?

Young Woman: All of a sudden, he just... convulsed... and started writhing in pain...

Io frowns down at the man, a wrinkle forming between her brows as she catalogs his symptoms.

Io: ...!

Io: (Pain intense enough to lose consciousness... Petrifaction moving from the fingertips toward the elbow...)

Tomar: The same symptoms...

Io: What?

Tomar: My father and mother are suffering from the same symptoms. Cases have been popping up lately around the duchy.

Io: No way... It can't be!

Panic slowly closing its fist around her heart, Io points her staff at the fallen man.

Io: (Maybe I can ease his suffering, at least a little bit...)

Io: ...!

Io's healing spell fails entirely.

Io: Urgh...

Io brings the butt of her staff down hard against the ground and shakes off her self-pity.

Io: Listen, get this man to a doctor. Your parents, too! I'm going to go let Master know what's happening!

Tomar: Uh... Okay!

Io takes off running for Archduke Tzaka's home.

Io: Huff... Huff...

Io: (Why would that... disease be back... after all these years!)

Io: Pant, wheeze... Master! Come quick!

Tzaka the Great: What is it, Io?

Vyrn: Yeesh, you look like you just ran a marathon. Mop yourself off first.

Io: No time for that! Master, people are starting to turn to stone! It's that old disease!

Tzaka the Great: What... did you say?

Io: I saw someone collapsed in the street. Only his arm had petrified, but soon it'll spread to his whole body, and then...

Io: He'll end up just like my parents! Tomar said there've already been lots of cases!

Tzaka the Great: We have to take action immediately. You did the right thing reporting it to me, Io.

Io: Thanks...

Archduke Tzaka immediately contacts the local organizations of medical, spiritual, and magical healers in order to take measures to combat the outbreak.

Doctor: Archduke! We've transported all the patients to the clinic!

Tzaka the Great: Thank you.
(Captain), I may need your crew's help.

Katalina: What can we do?

Katalina: Of course, we'll be happy to lend whatever aid we can, but when it comes to medical treatment, I'm afraid we'd be more hindrance than help.

Tzaka the Great: It's not the treatment so much as the root cause that I'd like your help with. If it's the same scourge we dealt with before, Valtz's military alone won't be enough.

The crew exchanges a solemn look. They follow Tzaka to the clinic to see whether his misgivings are founded.

Tzaka the Great: What can you tell me about the disease's spread?

Doctor: The outbreak seems to have followed a path from somewhere on the outskirts of the city toward the port, and then other cases have fanned out from there.

Tzaka the Great: I see...

Io: Master... Is there a reason this disease is spreading again?

Tzaka the Great: I'd rather not speculate until I have more data.

As they make their way to the clinic, Tzaka consults a map to get a better idea of the current progression of the contagion. He does not look optimistic when he enters the clinic.

Tzaka the Great: I need everyone's attention, please! Has anyone visited the sanctuary on the outskirts of the city?

No sooner has Tzaka entered than his voice resounds throughout the clinic.

Tzaka the Great: Why you went there is not important! There are countless lives at stake, including your own, so speak now!

A certain group of sufferers looks guiltily toward the archduke.

Tomb Robber Terry: Ah... Urgh...

Their leader gathers himself and speaks up.

He relates how his band of thieves entered the sanctuary and were accosted by a strange creature.

When they were hit by the mold-like substance it flung at them, they immediately began presenting symptoms of the disease, and fled back to the city.

Tzaka the Great: You fools. Of all the places you could have chosen to rob...

Tomb Robber Terry: We... We didn't know...

Tzaka the Great: Punishment for that crime can wait. We have to stop that thing...

Io: So the creature in the sanctuary is the one who brought that disease to Valtz?

Io: He's the one who killed my parents?

Tzaka gently strokes Io's hair, then begins his tale.

Tzaka the Great: The evil spirit responsible for spreading this disease in the past was sealed into that sanctuary, by myself and a group of other mages.

Io: ...

Tzaka the Great: At the time, we weren't strong enough for the task, and we had to make certain sacrifices... But this time we know our enemy. This time...

???: Heee heeheehee! This time what, old man?

Io: ...!

Tzaka the Great: That voice! Where are you hiding?

???: Right here, beardy!

Tomb Robber Terry: Ah... Ngh... Blaagh!

Terry writhes in pain. Suddenly his jaw drops and black mist spews forth.

Evil Spirit: Long time no see, you moth-eaten old coot! You've got some payback coming!

Tzaka the Great: No! Everyone out!

Evil Spirit: Ah-ah-ah! Not so fast, pops!

The creature wraps itself around Tzaka and showers him in mold.

Tzaka the Great: Ungh... Cough! Hack!

Eugen: You bastard!

Eugen whips out his gun and fires at the spirit.

Evil Spirit: Whoops! Missed me, dipstick!

Io: Master!

Tzaka the Great: Hrgh... Hnk! Hhhck...

Evil Spirit: Lookin' sharp, y'old goat! Got a big ol' lungful, didn'tcha!

Evil Spirit: Should take you about three days to petrify and turn to dust, and I want you to suffer for every single second of it!

Rackam: (Captain)! We gotta stop him!

Evil Spirit: Don't move, you little turds! If I start chucking mold in a closed room like this, you're all finished!

Rackam: You son of a—

Io: What do you think you're doing!

Evil Spirit: Wait. Wait. Wait just one minute! Where'd you get that staff, you little squit! It's hers, isn't it?

Evil Spirit: Hee heee! And that hair of yours! You're her daughter, aren't you!

Io: What?

Evil Spirit: Before I was sealed away, I managed to send this old fart's magical companion to hell.

Evil Spirit: So that was your mother, huh, short stuff? Heeeheeheehee!

Io: What... You...

Evil Spirit: Oh, she suffered before she died. It did brighten my spirits a little. Hee.

Io: Why, you!

Katalina: Don't let him get to you, Io!

Io: I'll never forgive you!

Io: (This slimebag! I'll never—never—Let him get away with it!)

Io: Haahhh!

Io: Ugh...

Evil Spirit: ...

Evil Spirit: Gyaaahahaha! That woman gave her life to protect this little waste of space?

Evil Spirit: She must be spinnin' in her grave!

Io: N-no...

Evil Spirit: Oh well. Hey, old man! I'm in such a good mood right now, I think I'll give you a sporting chance.

Evil Spirit: Why don't you try and seal me away again before you kick the archducal bucket? I'll even hold off spreading any more mold until you come visit—that's how good of a sport I am!

Evil Spirit: Eeeeheeheeheeee!

Io: Get back here!

Io: I said get back here!

Magic, Lost and Found: Scene 3

Io learns that her mother was a talented mage, and that she intended the Gambanteinn staff to be passed on to her daughter. (Captain) and the crew set off for the evil spirit's sanctuary, leaving Io behind to look after Tzaka. But once there, each of them succumbs in turn to the infectious mold dispersed by the spirit. Io arrives with Gambanteinn, determined to protect her friends, and retraces the magic sealing circle originally drawn by her mother on the sanctuary floor. Now guided by her mother's voice, Io is once again able to wield magic.

---

Io: Master...

Tzaka the Great: That cane... Where did you...

Io: Oh... I'm sorry. I found it in the library. I was going to bring it to you.

Tzaka the Great: Ah.

Tzaka the Great: In that case, it may be time you took possession of it. I was asked to give it to you when you grew up...

Io: By my mother?

Tzaka the Great: Yes.

Io: I never knew my mother was a mage...

Tzaka the Great: I was supposed to tell you the whole story when I gave it to you. Forgive me, Io...

Io: It's okay...

Tzaka the Great: Your mother was a very talented magic user working here in Valtz.

Tzaka the Great: Your father was an engineer, and after they married, your mother decided to retire from sorcery and focus on her family.

Tzaka the Great: But when that disease threatened Valtz, she took up her staff once more. Thanks to her, we avoided the worst, but...

Io: ...

Tzaka the Great: Now, I have to get to the sanctuary.

Eugen: Okay, hold it right there, Archduke! You're in no shape to do that!

Tzaka the Great: But it's me he's—

Rosetta: Leave that evil spirit to us. You just get some rest.

Rackam: Yeah, we're not gonna let you push yourself in your condition. Io, you stay with him.

Io: ...

Io: Okay. Without my magic, I'd only get in the way anyhow.

Tzaka the Great: ...

(Captain) and the crew find the sanctuary on Fremel Island that seems to be the epicenter of the outbreak.

The humidity inside is so high it condenses against their skin as they enter. Patches of mold are splashed across the walls like green blood.

Vyrn: Wow, it stinks in here. That cackling weirdo has lousy taste in decor.

Katalina: Keep your guard up, everyone. No telling what kind of traps that thing may have set for us.

The deeper they press into the sanctuary, the less they can see of the stone walls through the dense mold. A sour stench fills their nostrils.

Rosetta: I'm not sure he needs to bother with actual traps.

Rosetta: This damp environment is a mold spore's paradise.

Eugen: Yeah, I guess the trap is coming inside at all. Good grief. I don't see this day getting better quickly.

Evil Spirit: Heeee! Heeheehee! You got that right, Patchy! You lost this fight the moment you set foot in here!

Rackam: I've had it up to here with your squawkin'. How 'bout I shut that yap for ya?

Rackam takes aim and fires off a round at the evil spirit.

But his bullet sails straight through the spirit without seeming to so much as tickle it.

Evil Spirit: Heeheehee... Now do you see why those meddlesome mages sealed me away instead of killing me?

Rackam: Tch!

Katalina: Try this on for size!

Katalina: Blades of Frost!

Evil Spirit: Heeeheehee! The old fart pinned his hopes on you, eh? He's gonna be sooo disappointed!

With a mocking glance at the dismayed skyfarers, the spirit begins to vibrate violently, spewing mold in every direction.

Evil Spirit: Order up, scumbuckets! Eat hearty!

Vyrn & Lyria: Aagh!

No sooner has the wave of mold covered them than (Captain) and the others begin to display the symptoms of the disease.This line is untranslated when playing as Djeeta.

The progression of the symptoms is lightning quick, and the crew members drop to the floor one after the next, crying out in pain.

Rosetta: ...

Even Rosetta finds her vines and thorns turning to stone, her primal beast powers sealed by the disease.

Tzaka the Great: Urgghh...

Io: Master... are you all right?

Tzaka the Great: It doesn't matter what happens to me, but...

Tzaka looks at the half-petrified citizens suffering all around him. He grits his teeth.

Tzaka the Great: I feel so powerless. How could I fail them this way?

Io: I'm sorry... Without my magic, I can't do anything either.

Tzaka the Great: ...

Tzaka the Great: Don't blame yourself. Everyone has times like this.

Io: But—

Tzaka the Great: I hate to see you so upset, Io. I really am useless.

Io: No you're not! I promised that I would use the magic you taught me to make everyone smile!

Io: I'm the one who's useless...

Tzaka the Great: Io...

Io stares at her feet, squinting to hold back her tears. Her fingers clench around her mother's staff as she grapples with her feelings of powerlessness.

The staff begins faintly to glow.

Io: Gambanteinn...

Tzaka the Great: I think it's trying to tell you that you aren't powerless.

Io: ...

Tzaka the Great: It may have found its way into your hands precisely because you are now worthy to wield it.

Io: Then you think I can help, if I follow them to the sanctuary?

Tzaka the Great: That seems to be what your mother's staff is saying.

Io: ...!

Tightly grasping Gambanteinn, Io turns and takes off running.

Tzaka the Great: Please, protect her. Protect Io and the people she holds dear.

Katalina: Rgh!

Rackam: Aagh, dammit!

Evil Spirit: Heeeheehee! Time to put you out of your misery!

Just as the gleeful spirit is about to unleash a deadly volley of mold, Io charges in, winded and panting.

Io: Hold it right there!

Evil Spirit: Hah! What do you want, you little lackwit?

Io: I'm gonna make you pay for what you did to my family! And my friends!

Evil Spirit: Heeheehee! You're just in time!

Evil Spirit: I've got a heaping helping of mold with your name on it! Open wide!

Io: ...!

The spores have no effect on Io.

Io: ...

Evil Spirit: Wait just one minute! What's goin' on here?

Gambanteinn: ...

Io: (Mom?)

Io: Your powers don't work on me, you raggedy dirtbag!

Evil Spirit: Tch! Don't get cocky, magelet! I've got more than one trick up my sleeve! Eat this!

Io looks worriedly at (Captain) and the others, who are writhing in the throes of the disease. Io slowly lifts Gambanteinn.

Io: (I'm the only one standing. It's up to me!)

Io: I'm done running away!

Io: I decided a long time ago I would use my magic to make people happy!

Gambanteinn gleams as if in sympathy with Io's resolve.

Its light seems to fuel the magic circle on the floor which the thieves had disturbed. The ghost of its original lines fades into view.

Io: ...!

Evil Spirit: What? No! Stop that! Stop shining! You were broken, you stupid circle!

Seeing how flustered the spirit is, Io casts her mind back to her magical education.

Io: (I have to believe that I can win. No, I know I can win!)

Io: (Ah, I know! I just have to redraw that magic circle!)

Io's gaze sharpens as she takes in every detail of the magic circle faintly visible on the floor. She quickly forms a repair plan.

Io: (That circle was drawn using magic. So I should be able to feed my own magic into it!)

Io: So what if I can't cast spells! Ain't nothin' to it but to do it!

Evil Spirit: H... Hah! I ain't afraid of no magic circle!

Ignoring the bluffing spirit, Io gets straight to her repairs.

Evil Spirit: Argh! You meddling little brat!

Io: Ngh! You can't take me out that easy!

Io runs around the circle, infusing it with magic even as she endures a barrage of attacks from the frightened spirit.

Io: Nnh...

Evil Spirit: Hee... Heeheee! I'll never let you finish that!

Incapacitated though they are, (Captain) and the others do their best to drag themselves between Io and the evil spirit's attacks so that she can finish her work.

Evil Spirit: Damn you all! Get out of the way!

Rackam: Heh... Not sure you understand the point of this li'l exercise, pal.

Katalina: You won't find us the easiest obstacles to remove either!

Evil Spirit: Ngyaaah!

Io struggles with her emotions as her suffering friends throw themselves into the line of fire for her.

Io: Hang on... I'm nearly done!

With their help, Io finishes her circuit of the sanctuary.

At last the magic circle is restored.

Io: (Concentrate, Io... Concentrate!)

Io closes her eyes and with every shred of her concentration, she visualizes herself once again using her magic at full capacity.

???: Water and vessel.

Io: ...!

???: You've grown, Io. You had more magic than you were quite ready to use.

Io: That voice. It's coming from... the staff?

???: Power wells up inside you like water. Your magic is the vessel waiting to receive it.

???: The stream has become a river. You need a much larger vessel to handle it. That's what I want you to visualize.

Io: Okay... Okay! I understand, Mom!

Evil Spirit: What's wrong with you dipsticks!

Eugen: Urgh... Io, you're up...

Rosetta: I know you can do it, Io...

Evil Spirit: Heeee! Heeheehee! Now that those buttinskies have gone night-night, you've had it, pigtails!

Io: ...!

Evil Spirit: Huh? No! It can't be! Did you—

Io: Phew...

Io: I believe in myself! And this is for all the people who believe in me too!

Io begins to chant a spell. The magic circle's light pulses in time with her words.

The very air rings with the power throbbing through it until a golden light envelops the entire shrine.

Evil Spirit: Glaah! Guwaaahhh!

Io: I. Don't ever.

Io: Wanna see your face again!

Evil Spirit: You... can't... kill... meee! Eeyaaagh!

Even as the magic circle begins to bind it, the evil spirit makes one last attempt to destroy Io.

Magic, Lost and Found: Scene 4

Io defeats the spirit in brilliant fashion and, with the power of the staff left behind by her dying mother, expands the magic circle until it encompasses the entire island, ridding Valtz of mold and disease and reviving all who had been afflicted. With peace restored to the duchy, Archduke Tzaka officially confers to Io the Gambanteinn staff, from which emanates a warmth now reminiscent of the young mage's loving mother.

---

Io: A loser like you could never take me out!

Io: Yaaahh!

Evil Spirit: Glk... Gyurgh...

Evil Spirit: Gyaaaagh!

Io: Huff... Puff...

Io slumps to the ground to catch her breath.

Io: I did it...

Lyria's Voice: Io, you saved the day!

Io: Huh?

Io turns her head to see (Captain) and the others, back on their feet and seemingly in perfect health.

Io: You guys... You're okay?

Vyrn: I don't know what happened, but when that sparkly light washed over me, I suddenly felt fine!

Io: Oh...

Vyrn: You took a pretty big dose of that mold too, but it didn't seem to even tickle you. How come?

Io: My mother gave me the power to ward it off.

Io: She risked her life to figure out how to beat it, and right at the end... she sealed it into this staff.

Io: I poured that power into the magic circle, which should have spread it around the whole island. I think everyone's gonna be okay.

Io smiles tenderly as she hugs Gambanteinn to her chest.

The dense fog of mold spores hanging over the island melts away as if it had never existed, leaving the air fresh and clean.

The people afflicted with the mold-borne disease all begin to recover.

Tzaka the Great: You've saved Valtz yet again. As the archduke and as a citizen, I can't thank you enough.

Tzaka the Great: I'd like to hold a celebration to honor all of you. What do you say?

Vyrn: Hehe. I'd say yes! Right, (Captain)?

Tzaka the Great: Haha...

Archduke Tzaka turns to Io.

Tzaka the Great: The staff guided you, didn't it?

Io: ...

Io: Not just that. It protected me. And it taught me a really important lesson...

Tzaka the Great: I see...

(Captain) and the crew cluster supportively around Io as memories of her mother bring tears to her eyes.

Tzaka the Great: This is coming earlier than I expected, but I want you to take that staff with you. I'm sure it's what your mother would want.

Io: Okay!

Io clasps her mother's staff, Gambanteinn, tightly to her chest.

When she closes her eyes, the heat emanating from its surface fills her with a warmth reminiscent of her mother's loving embrace.