Beyond the Gate Part I Transcript[]
Wildwoods[]
Grim: So where do those stodgy, old mages on the council have us going now?
Mage: Of all the – The Mages Council orders me to join Archmage Emila near... Weatherly.
G: Weatherly, eh? Isn't that your hometown?
M: …
M: ...Why would the Mages Council send me to Weatherly?
G: How should I know?
M: You're supposed to know everything.
G: I'm supposed to know important things.
G: Did the orders say why we're meeting Archmage Emila?
M: No... just to report to her for training near Weatherly.
G: Sounds dull. At least we have this Kulking to entertain us!
Into the Trees[]
G: Aren't you excited to visit home? What do people do in Weatherly?
M: Most of them farm Fang Shrimp.
G: I can understand why you left.
G: Whoa! Speaking of Fang Shrimp!
M: Ahh! I hate these things!
G: I thought Fang Shrimp were ...smaller.
M: They get enormous in the wild. Ehh, I can't believe I had to come back to this place.
G: Ah, come on. "Home sweet home," right?
M: Not for me.
Fang Shrimp Fun[]
M: What's this... ah.
G: What did you find?
M: A Warden Statue. People in Weatherly have been carving them for hundreds of years to protect against evil.
G: Stop being so glum. This assignment will be a breeze.
M: Don't jinx it, Grim...
G: You're a Mage. You can't counter a simple jinx?
G: Yes, indeed. Nothing could possibly go wrong in a pretty forest like this.
M: Shut up, Grim.
Savage Grove[]
M: So who is this Archmage Emila we're meeting?
G: She's... well. She's been on the Mages Council for ages. Some admire her longevity, others curse it.
M: What is Archmage Emila like?
G: I believe her nickname is "Old Baduhenna". As in the avenging angel.
M: Great.
G: Is that a -?
M: It's a Priomor. They live all other the forests around Weatherly and are a nuisance. They eat Fang Shrimp.
Priomor's Den[]
G: Huh. You grew up around here? I'm starting to understand your bleak sense of humor.
M: I was considered the village clown.
G: … I hate to break it to you, but that was probably more about your nose than your wit.
Emila: You're late, Mage. Did the Priomors bother you?
M: I apologize for my -
E: Like that's of use to anyone. Let's see what you're made of.
G: She means a duel, Mage. Prepare yourself!
E: You could be worse, I suppose. Let's get going.
M: Why are we traveling to Weatherly, Archmage?
E: You are going to learn about Pocket Dimension Magic.
G: Oh! My favorite!
Grim Thicket[]
M: Umm... Pocket Dimension Magic?
E: <sigh> When the Third Dawn began, the world had a lot of excess magic.
G: So the gods tucked the extra magic into extra-dimensional pockets: Pocket Dimension Magic.
E: At least someone bothered to educate the book.
M: So why are we checking on this... Pocket Magic?
E: We aren't. We're checking on the Gate that seals the Pocket Dimensions.
M: Why?
E: Impatient aren't you? Be a good little Mage and take care of those Priomors for me and then I'll explain.
Treacherous Paths[]
E: Your fighting isn't terrible. We check on the Gate because Pocket Dimensions are useful prisons.
M: Something is imprisoned in the Weatherly Pocket Dimension?
E: Several things, actually. Not least of which is a Manakros.
M: So, what exactly is a Manakros?
E: Book! Educate the child.
G: It's from a family of magical parasites. It latches onto a host and controls it utterly. A Manakros is powerful enough to control a demi-god or a demon.
E: Huh. Amazing that creatures that disgusting can make such excellent dinners.
M: …
E: I love a nice Fang Shrimp Curry over crispy seaweed noodles. Don't you?
Primeval Trail[]
G: Wait... the Weatherly Gate... isn't that where the Abatene are imprisoned too?
E: Why, yes. It is.
G: Wow...
M: Okay, one of you tell me what an Abatene is.
E: "The" Abatene were an order of evil mages.
M: Is there a chance they could escape?
E: If there were, three or four archmages would be checking the Gate, not me an a pup like you.
M: So what are we-
E: Hush! Listen!
Cultist: Sir Halleal says the ceremony-
M: Cultists!
Old Enemies[]
M: The Cult of the Fourth Dawn! What are they doing here?
E: We might know more if you hadn't attacked attacked him right away.
M: … You don't... these cultists are... there will be more of them. There's always more of them.
C: Hurry – we must get to the Gate, Sir Halleal awaits.
C: Whenever the Fourth Dawn comes, we will be there for it.
E: Bleh. Fanatics. Get 'em, mage.
E: Blasted Cultist! Weren't you supposed to have destroyed them?
M: I've defeated many of them.
E: Well, do a better job, child! Send this lot to the Abyss!
Dim Roads[]
E: So you think these cultists might be able to meddle with the Gate?
M: Yeah... They have a habit of destroying things. Sometimes by accident.
M: What is that thing?
G: Oh, no...
E: A Marigatt! Attack it, Mage!
E: Mage, the Gate is compromised.
M: You're sure?
G: A Marigatt is a weak form of magical parasite, but it could only have come from the Pocket Dimension.
E: If we can't reseal the Gate properly, the Manakros could escape.
Unlit Path[]
E: More Marigatts! Don't let them get near you, mage.
M: They haven't been difficult to defeat...
E: I didn't say they were. But you're no use to me if one possesses you.
M: Do the Marigatts mean the Gate is open?
E: No. If the Gate were completely open, we would be drowning in Ethereal magic. Right now, the magic will only be dripping out.
M: If the Gate did open, what would happen to Weatherly?
E: Child, let's nopt think about that until we have to. One Marigatt at a time.
Tenebrous Route[]
C: Sir Halleal has opened the Gate!
C: Excellent! Let's hurry to be part of those who ascend!
E: More cultists! Yeck! I'll take the ones on the left. You take the right.
M: The Cultists said the Gate was open...
E: Those cultists were fools.
G: If it was open, we would see giant holes torn in the fabric of reality.
M: "Giant holes in the fabric of reality"... great.
Ethereal Evils[]
E: So who is this "Sir Halleal" the cultists mentioned?
M: I don't know.
E: You're supposed to be the expert on these cultists, aren't you?
E: Blast it! A Mantle!
M: A what?
G: It's someone possessed by a Marigatt! Watch out!
M: That must have been a villager from Weatherly...
E: It wasn't anymore. Once you become a Mantle, you're as good as dead.
Dismal Hills[]
E: I believe Archmage Ridley found you at Weatherly, right?
M: ...Yes.
E: I seem to recall an "incident."
M: …
C: Get out of my way, Mages! You will not deprive me of eternity.
E: What drivel is this?
C: I shall join with the Ethereal beings! They will make me immortal!
E: Angels preserve us. The idiot wants to be possessed by a Marigatt!
Haunted Grove[]
M: You think the Cultists are trying to become hosts for Marigatts?
E: It sounds like. It will extend their lives, but they won't have any control over it. Idiot children!
M: Oh Stormsblood... a Marigatt just attached to that cultist.
C: Ahh... yes! I will be immortal! Blessed Marigatts! Praise Sir Halleal!
M: That's revolting...
E: Destroy him before the Mantle has time to adjust... Oh no! Too late!
G: Well done, Mage!
E: Passable performance...
Old "Friends"[]
M: It's easier to take the cultists out before they become Mantles.
E: Agreed. We'll destroy as many as we can on the way to the Gate!
M: You? Don't I know you two?
Cultist Eustace: Us?! We know no Mages!
Cultist Alexi: Wait, I remember this one, Eustace! Didn't we-
CE: Shut up, Alexi! Prepare to meet your doom, Mage!
CA: We surrender!
CE: We do!
M: Uhh... Okay.
Tangled Trees[]
Alexi: Oh, thank you for sparing us, kind Mage!
Eustace: Shut up! We don't know why the Mage spared us!
E: Yes, Mage, why did you spare these two?
E: You haven't explained your mercy to those cultists.
M: They might have useful information. Cultists, I will give you to Archmage Emilia if you don't answer my questions.
CE: I'll never betray the Fourth Dawn.
CA: What are you talking about? After what Sir Halleal did – umph!
CE: Shut up!
Soaring Dream[]
E: Huh. What did this Halleal do to the Cult of the Fancy Robes?
CE: The Cult of the Fourth Dawn.
E: Whatever.
CA: He betrayed us! That's what!
M: What exactly did this Sir Halleal do?
CA: He said that the creatures trapped by the Gate would make us immortal.
E: The Marigatts! Haha! It's true, sort of. But you lose your soul, of course.
Creeping Roots[]
G: Watch out! More Marigatts!
CE: The book talks! What witchery is this?!
CA: So, does the book hear what we say, too?
G: Yup. And the more I listen to you, the easier it will be to suck your soul into my pages! Bwahaha!
Cursed Foes[]
CE: Okay, Alexi – first chance we get, we run away.
CA: Awww... but I'm starting to like them.
CE: You're what?! You fool! They'll happily fed us to the –
M: Fang Shrimp? Or maybe we'll save you for the Manakros, if it escapes the Gate.
CA: A foe! What are you waiting for Mage? Attack!
M: She's blind. I can't fight a-
E: Blast it, Mage! That's an Abatene! Fight!
M: The Abatene have escaped the Gate too?
E: It seems so. Your little Cultist pets have run off.
M: What? They're gone?
G: What did you expect? Those two haven't survived this long by sticking around for heroics.
Dark Trees[]
E: We need to find this Halleal character.
M: Agreed. And reseal the gate.
E: I'll deal with the Gate. You deal with Halleal.
G: Yes, ma'am...
E: You neraly let that Marigatt beat you. Do you want to be a Mantle?
M: No, Archmage.
G: Ah, the advantages of being a book: no brains to be eaten.
M: You can say that again.
Ethereal Bleed[]
M: Wait. What happened to the forest?
E: It's the first signs of the Gate opening.
G: The Dimensional Pocket is leaking Ethereal Magic into our world from beyond the Gate...
M: Will the forest stay like this, after you reseal the Gate?
E: Hopefully not. Don't let the pretty Ethereal power trick you – it would be dangerous to leave parts of the world like this.
Infernal Thicket[]
M: It shifted...
E: The Gate isn't fully opened yet. The Ethereal magic is seeping out instead of rushing. It'll still cause trouble.
M: What do you mean?
E: Ethereal magic accelerates growth and it tries to revert things to their natural form.
E: This Sir Halleal... you need a lot of power to open up a gate.
M: I've handled powerful mages before.
E: Of course you have sweetie. What could possibly go wrong?
Unworldly Forest[]
E: If only we had time to cook these Fang Shrimp properly. It's such a waste.
M: Grim, you've gotten quiet. Are you... well?
G: It's nothing. I'm fine.
Demonic Trials[]
M: Grim, are you sure you're alright? You look... pale? Is that even possible?
G: No. It isn't. And i'm fine.
E: If I can seal the Gate soon, the damage will be minimal.
M: Right. Seal the Gate, thwart the Cult, make sure the Nankros doesn't possess anyone and hunt down every Fang Shrimp. Sounds like a plan.
C: Do you prefer to be blasted with magic or stabbed in your last moments?
M: I'm not planning on letting you do either.
M: A demon? Sir Halleal is a demon?
Sir Halleal: Of course! And a rather handsome one at that.
M: I knew the Cultists were foolish, but trusting a demon?
E: Stop muttering and attack, Mage!
SH: Hold a moment, Mage! We might be on the same side.
M: Aren't you the one who opened the Gate?
SH: Yes. But that was a misjudgment on my part. I should like to seal it again.
M: We aren't going to take help from -
E: Quiet, Mage. Magical emergencies make for strange companions.