Magic.
Don't scream.
Why? So you can finish the job? You know what? Go right ahead. My life is over anyway, I don't even care anymore.
I'm not here to kill you.
Why should I believe anything you say? The damage is done. I can't sleep. The dragon... haunts my dreams. It SCREAMS. It won't leave me alone, not now, not ever.
The dragon wants to be sent home.
Of course it does. It's trapped, it can't go anywhere. But I can't DO anything. Not from in here.
Have you ever heard of "Gaol of the Gauvinites"?
Not sure if serious You... mean the prison break quest from Trollgate? Are you serious? You're serious, aren't you? You put me IN here, and now you want to break me out?
That wasn't really me. I was possessed. Kind of.
Possessed? I'm not sure I understand. But... maybe I don't need to. Look, if you can get me out of here? Help me send the dragon back home? End these nightmares? Then fine. Do whatever you have to.
Is there a key to this cell anywhere?
The guard down the hall has a key to the cell. He's opened up a few times. But I couldn't tell you how to get it away from him.
Careful, Codexia. Time to introduce your lethal takedown.
What can you tell me about the guard?
Leland? He's an asshole. Whatever you do to him, he'll have it coming, believe me.
Can you tell me about the dragon?
My grandfather always said that the dragon was our family's blessing. It would help us through hard times if we needed it. We could call upon it only once every decade or so. Any more than that... if we were greedy... it would become a curse. But we were never greedy. We did everything we were supposed to. The dragon never cursed us.
No, we were cursed by YOU.
Oops?
For what it's worth... I didn't kill your family. Someone else did.
*Sigh* I saw you. You shot them. Like it was nothing. Then you looked right at me. Those eyes... they're the last thing I remember. Before everything went fuzzy. I honestly don't know what to believe, but your eyes? They aren't the same. So I'm going to trust you. For now.
My eyes were different?
Yeah. Cold, cruel, kind of distant. You looked at me like I was nothing. I've been... trying to forget about it.
Uh.
So DemonDexia's entire participation in this debacle was to randomly appear at the restaurant, shoot up the place and leave?
Talk about lame.
When I disappear again, I need you to call the guard over to your cell.
You mean... distract him? Sure, I can do that. I mean, I thnk I can. The guy doesn't need much of an excuse to be an asshole to me. I might as well give him one.
Bye, Kevin. I'll be back.
Okay.
Codexia hatches a masterplan. But first we must get back to the in-between.
Leaving the cell.
This is like retardolympics
Rauuuuuughhh!
Bauuuuughhh!
Fish is on the hook.
Let's see what's over hier.
A shoiny bucket, polished to perfection!
The janitor's closet, much like an armoury in other games, holds many things relevant to our interests. Including a dirty rag that rests on the sink, and a bottle of spray lubricant on the bawks by the door.
The rest of the
comprehensive collection of empty cardboard boxes is not as relevant.
If only Codexia had her blackjack.
Fortunately we've taken levels in alchemy.
Now to hide and watch.
A thud can be heard from around the bend.
Goodnight, sweet prince.
If your experience is anything to go by, this guard will be out for at least half an hour.
The cap fell off the guard's head. A rough iron key hangs from the guard's belt.
Codexia loots the key and hat.
[perception]
So what now?
We sneak out.
Um, no? I can't disappear like you can.
Lol pathetic normie.
Look at what I'm wearing! I can't just walk out of here dressed like this. Can you get me some new clothes? Anything will work. Anything but this ugly orange prison uniform.
What about that guard over there? Will his uniform do?
Leland? He's bigger than I am, I'd look like a clown. I need something smaller.
I'll find you a disguise. Sit tight.
I'm not going anywhere.
We already have a hat, but we need other pieces of the Disguise. Fortunately, we know where to get them.
Step 1 is to do the exact same thing we did in the intro. Clog the drain.
heh heh
Terrible sanitary conditions.
Exit guard.
Codexia the creepy fetishist can now steal his jeans.
Step 2 is to access the locker here.
Good that the off-duty guard can hear the creaking of the door, but not the wooshing or blubbing of the spray.
Splendid.
Codexia gives Kevin the entire patchwork uniform.
Okay, I think that's everything I need. Could you, um, turn around for a sec?
Okay, gimme a minute.
Quick fade out.
Nobody will suspect a thing!
And, uhm... thanks. I guess?
Exit Kevin.
Looks like some commotion.
Yeah, took it right off the bench. I was only gone for just a few minutes.
They took it right out of my locker! Who the hell does that?
Sup
Not that I know of.
Huh.
Yeah. Huh.
...
Extraction successful. Mission accomplished!
+15 skill points.
Codexia needs to evac too though.
Really? Making faces when I'm not looking?
What?
Brat.
Maybe appearing in plain sight is still not the best of ideas, so let's just try to leave and hope for the best.
huh
THE WARP TUNNEL IS DESTABILISING
THE GELLAR FIELD HAS FAILED
ABANDON SHIP!
Oh well, it's been fun.
See ya when you die!
@_@
Fortunately the warden's tunnel vision prevents her from seeing that Codexia has suddenly shifted repeatedly in and out of existence.
KayKay flies towards Logan.
Auh!
Jesus, KayKay, don't DO that. Everything go okay in there?
I drugged one cop and stole clothes from two more.
... well. You had to do what you had to do. Anyway, Mandana went with Kevin to the restaurant. We should meet 'em there.
Right, let's go. And tell KayKay I liked working with her.
She, um, just stuck her tongue out at you.
Autobots, roll out!
Hola.
Good. You have returned.
So is the dragon gone?
Um, not yet. I was hoping you could come with me? I don't want to face it alone.
You must gather your party before venturing forth.
Is there a problem?
I don't know. Maybe? In my dreams, they dragon is so ANGRY. In all my dad's stories, it was never angry. I'm... scared. Anyway, I'll meet you on the roof.
Don't you need a ribbon and tea first?
No. That's only to summon it. To send it away, I just need to be near the tree. On the roof. Good thing too, that thing is DISGUSTING.
convenient
Anyway, I'll meet you up there.
He goes up. The Unavowed follow suit.
Kevin? Something wrong?
What happens... after? Do I go back to jail? Go on the run?
That will not happen. We will put a veil on you. It... disguises your identity. You will be safe.
Oh, that's good... I guess.
following him up again
Kevin?
Yeah, sorry, I was just... remembering.
He's totally gonna jump off the roof, isn't he.
My mom was always making me study cookbooks. Making me memorize old family recipes. Then my dad would drill me in the kitchen.
what a deeply disturbed and dysfunctional family
You always hate that stuff as kid, but right now? I miss it. More than anything.
Up he goes again.
Yeah, well, I've barely slept for months thanks to you.
And I have not EATEN. I wish to go home.
Yeah, home.
I am waiting, Kevin Huang. Fulfill your family duty.
Not yet. I want something, another winning lottery number.
Oy vey. Now you've done it.
Dude, come ON.
You overstep yourself, Kevin Huang.
And none of the usual five-figure stuff either. I'm talking the mega million jackpot.
What are you DOING, Kevin?
Making things RIGHT.
We possess your original lottery ticket, Kevin. Your WINNING lottery ticket.
It's not enough. It's not nearly enough.
Fifty thousand dollars is plenty.
Yeah, man, that's more than enough to start a new life.
I don't WANT a new life! This restaurant belongs to my family! It should stay IN MY FAMILY. The bank repossessed this place. I need to buy it back before someone else does. Fifty thousand won't cut it. Do this for me, dragon. Do this and I will burn the banana tree. Nobody will ever summon you again.
Can you do it, dragon?
Can I? Yes. Will I? No. The effort involved... the mental strain... it might kill me.
It might, but might not?
Please, Kevin Huang, let me GO.
You can find another way, Kevin.
Oh, I'm sorry. Am I hearing ethical advice from the person who MURDERED MY FAMILY? You're the one who took it all away. You can help me get it back. You OWE this to me.
We've been over this, I didn't kill your family.
Doesn't matter, it still happened. They're still dead. I'm still accused of killing them. You said the Unavowed helps people. So maybe help me now and back me up on this?
Why is this restaurant so important?
Because it's been in my family for four generations! It's stood for almost a century! I'm not gonna let that end. Not while I can still do something about it. So how about it, dragon? Give me a winning set of numbers, and I'll send you home. Forever.
Forget restaurants, Kevin. Join the Unavowed instead.
Indeed, the Unavowed could use another incompetent normie imbecile.
What? Join you guys?
You have experienced the supernatural. You seek a new purpose. It is an... ideal match for you.
And I'd have to work with HER? The one who shot my parents.
sigh
She did not...
Yeah, yeah, I know. POSSESSION. But I'd still have to look at her all day. Every day. I don't think I could do that. Sorry.
We won't let you do this, Kevin.
And how are you going to do THAT? It's not like you can stop me. Only I have the power to send the dragon back.
And only WE have the power to veil you.
Wait, what? You'd just let the cops throw me back in jail? You can't! That's not RIGHT! I didn't DO anything!
Not YET you haven't.
Please. PLEASE. Some corporate chain is going to buy this place. They'll DESTROY it. Turn it into a plastic boutique or a condo. My family would have died for NOTHING. You can't let that happen. Please. Don't do this!
Mandana? What do you think?
I have centuries of artifacts of my father's life at home. I would fight tooth and nail to keep them safe. Can I fault Kevin for doing the same? I know his pain all too well. It is an ethical dilemma for certain.
Truly gets the noggin joggin'.
Regardless, I will support whatever choice you make.
Any thoughts on this, Logan?
I think the Huang family has been relying on this magic dragon for long enough.
Whichever way this goes, that needs to end.
Party members as useless as ever.
What shall it be then?
or