Just to experiment, today's images will remain their normal, unaltered size. I will still crop out blank screens though.
Part 2: The Guardian of Angel Falls Guards Angel FallsIt's time to meet this "Apus Major" folks are talking about!
Folks on the Observatory have been telling us that Apus is extremely old, even by Celestrian standards. He certainly looks the part!
: "My congratulations on successfully completing your first task as a Guardian, Azrael. You have performed your duties well thus far, albeit under Aquila's watchful gaze."
Well, of course we are! But even if we weren't, the game progresses anyway.
: "And so we come to the next of your duties. I believe you have acquired a crystal of benevolessence, have you not? The essence of mortal gratitude. You must offer it to the Great World Tree, Yggdrasil, who shelters us with Her nurturing boughs from atop the Observatory. She will soon bear fruit at last. Go now, and do as I have instructed."
Now, the only way to get to Yggdrasil is to go back outside and head upwards. As I said before, it is rather nice out here. You can tell that the place used to be much grander, though. The Observatory is slowly crumbling.
This guy would have refused to let us pass before speaking to Apus.
A bit of explanation of the Celestrians' goal.
A few sets of stairs later we finally arrive at the great tree Herself.
We make our offer of benevolessence.
It gets absorbed by Yggdrasil, which sparkles for a short time.
Aquila joins us after the offering is complete.
: "Behold, Azrael...Is Yggdrasil, unto whom we offer the benevolessence we gather, not truly beautiful? Gathering and offering up benevolessence is the most sacred duty with which we Guardians are charged. I trust you will perform your duties well, Azrael, Guardian of Angel Falls."
With that, the cutscene ends. Aquila hangs out though, and we can talk to him for a conversation both mildly amusing and mildly unsettling.
: "I have been thinking, Azrael, Guardian of Angel Falls...To address you as 'Guardian of Angel Falls' is both convoluted and inconvenient. You will henceforth allow me to use this form of address only when formality dictates, I take it?"
We're given another Yes/No option here, but here's the thing: Celestrians are forbidden to disobey the orders of their superiors. If we try to say "No", Aquila pointedly reminds us of this fact. Something to keep in mind.
Anyway, our next goal is to speak to Apus Major and report in. Nothing interesting happens on the way down, just some NPCs talking about how Yggdrasil will soon bear fruit.
: "Well done, Azrael. And how did mighty Yggdrasil appear to you? She was fiercely aglow? Ho ho ho. It seems the time may soon be upon us. As I am sure you are aware, it is we Celestrians' duty to tend mighty Yggdrasil until such a time as She bears fruit. It is to this end that Guardians watch over mortalkind and gather benevolessence. And now, Azrael, Guardian of Angel Falls, I believe you know what you must do next. You are to return to the Protectorate and continue to gather benevolessence. ...This time without Aquila to accompany you. Make ready, and then speak with the female Celestrian who stands guard over the great portal on the floor below. May all of the bodies of the heavens watch over you, Azrael, Guardian of Angel Falls."
There is only one interesting thing going on at the Observatory. This Celestrian tells us about one of ours who descended to the Protectorate and never returned. Many other Celestrians searched for him, to no avail.
Well, enough of that. It's time to resume our Protectorate duties!
We land in Angel Falls, next to a conversation already in progress.
Meet Ivor, the dude trying for a pompadour.
He also has an inkling that something is amiss.
: "Really? Well it's said 'Azrael' for as long as I can remember."
: "And how long is that, exactly? Do you remember reading it before?"
: "Er...I...That's funny...I, I can't say that I do."
: "You see! Everyone around here's weird. It's only just changed, and everyone thinks it's been like that forever."
: "Ah-ha! It must be the work of the village Guardian, then!"
: "Don't be such a wally! There's no such thing as Guardians. They're just made-up rubbish. It's only Erinn who believes in all that nonsense. She's such a dumb, er...brunette."
And with that, we get to do something kinda fun! As the village Guardian, we get to float around and help folks with their troubles. We're completely invisible, of course, but luckily the people of Angel Falls like to speak their thoughts out loud.
Like so. Ivor's tsundere, while Erinn's oblivious enough to make a romcom protagonist facepalm. It's all very interesting.
(Un)fortunately, we can't give Ivor a good kick to the shins, or even a harmless tap on the shoulder.
Unless, that is, we talk to this kid first.
Heh.
...oh. Right.
A ghost apparently wanders the village at night.
A dog points us to a lost ring.
We return it to its rightful owner, a grieving widow.
Her gratitude is such that it produces a crystal of benevolessence.
This guy...is too tired to clean the stable. Ugh.
Picking up all of the manure is enough to earn more benevolessence. And now Azrael needs to wash his hands...
Stepping outside reveals that night has fallen. It's actually rather peaceful at night, with slower music and many NPCs sleeping in their beds.
Also a somewhat bitter housewife.
Well look who decided to check in on us!
: "You are taking your new role very seriously. I am glad to see this, Azrael. What is it? You feel that your old master does not trust you to work alone? It is my duty now to patrol the entire Protectorate. Though you guard it well, I must sometimes revisit my old territory. And as I am here, Azrael...There is one last lesson I must teach you. As Guardians, it is our duty to tend to our mortal flock. But this means more than merely watching over the living. Sometimes we must help those who have passed away, but whose souls continue to roam the land."
We find this pale-looking fella just a short ways away. His accent is...something else.
Unlike all the rest of the villagers, he can see us just fine.
He asks if he's dead. We tell him the truth.
He thanks Azrael for setting him straight, dropping this rather depressing line in the process.
As he fades away, he leaves a piece of benevolessence behind.
: "You have done well, Azrael. Thanks to your intervention, a mortal soul has made its peace, and is now at rest. The benevolessence of a departed soul shines more brilliantly than any."
We've done good work today. It's time to return to the Observatory.
Forgive the somewhat shorter update. The next one is going to have a lot of stuff happening without much opportunity for a break, so this seems like a natural spot to stop.