Kebab & Prophecy

Chilchuck, we'll draw their attention while you scout them out.

Got it.

Alright, let's go!

Phew... it's finally over.

I was having such a wonderful dream too. What a waste.

Considering how carelessly you spread out when you sleep, you must have wonderful dreams every day.

I don't... Wait, I don't do that, do I?

No, I was just making an educated guess.

You know, we've been walking through this forest for a few days now.

Are there really Sami tribes living here?

The Sami locals like to live in odd locations, and most aren't exactly welcoming of outsiders.

So it won't be easy to find them.

True... *sigh* I didn't think they'd live in such a remote place.

Weren't you the one who wanted to look for a snowpriest, Marcille? Are you giving up already?

Well, I didn't know this place would be so scary!

When we had just arrived in Sami, it looked so pleasant...

I heard all kinds of interesting stories, too. There was a small 'Basque Astrology' tent where they were telling fortunes.

I mean, I did later find out she was a fraud controlling the crystal ball directly, but her story about the 'thousand-headed monster of Minoan myth' was still fascinating.

I wonder if we could actually find it in Minos.

I've also heard tales of a powerful monster that gains the abilities of whatever it eats.

I wish I had that ability...

Of course that's the part that gets your blood racing.

Let's see if we can find a snowpriest before my legs completely give up on me...

The strong adapt to their circumstances, Marcille.

Well, don't worry about me adapting to this environment, because I'm never coming back here. Ever.

Thinking like that will only hinder your growth.

I'd much rather trek through a place like this than stroll down a paved street.

Look, I'm not saying we should give up on the snowpriest.

But the fortune teller said we'd find them in the Myrkwood, and what have we found? Nothing!

It's dark, damp, there are just as many monsters as there are trees, and our supplies are nearly gone. And THAT means we're going to be eating monsters, again.

What do you think, Laios?

Hmm... the ones we've run into so far don't seem all that different from the ones we've seen before. I thought we'd get to see some rarer monsters in here.

Forests don't give up their secrets that easily. We just haven't discovered them yet.

Speaking of eating monsters, looks like the two of them are already carving one up. Isn't it great, Marcille? You're in for another treat.

NO WAY ABSOLUTELY NOT NO NO NO!!!

Another one?!

Wha?

Looks like I got here too late.

And you are...?

Laios, could you maybe not greet someone while wiping your face with the hand holding your bloody sword and holding monster meat with the other?

Oh, it's fine.

I've seen much worse. Trust me.

You can call me Oakcup. I'm an apprentice shaman.

A flock of fowlbeasts told me your location, so I hurried over.

Though, I'm sure you could have handled yourselves fine even without me.

...

Oh, please don't worry. I come with no ill intent. Seeing how well you're doing, I won't bother you any longer—

Wait, did you just call yourself an apprentice shaman?

I did.

We entered this forest hoping to find a Sami snowpriest to divine a way home for us. Or at least... to help us find Rhodes Island.

A way home?

Yeah. For whatever reason, we don't even know how to do that.

As for Rhodes Island, a while back someone told us to look for them for help, but we haven't been able to find them.

...

There are many in the south who are eager to 'guide' others.

Oh, we've been to one of those. 'Basque Astrology.'

Thanks to them, outsiders often come to the same misconception you have.

We rarely predict the futures or wishes of others. We look into the future to ensure our own survival.

We only request Samivilinn's guidance when absolutely necessary.

We pray for Sami to warn us of any dangers ahead so we can prepare for them, but beyond that we live by the laws of nature.

Laws of nature?

No different from how you've been living.

Hunt or be hunted; Live and eat, or die and be eaten.

Aye, I knew I liked this place.

...I have a question.

Go ahead.

Does your Sami show up in dreams?

Hmm... I haven't encountered it myself, but it's not entirely impossible to receive a revelation that way.

After all, who can say if our dreams are true or false?

Did you have a dream about the future?

...Nope.

Alright, Mister Mysterious.

So you won't be taking us to a snowpriest?

Hm... It's not that I'm unwilling to, but I'd find it quite troublesome.

Though, if you really do approach another tribe's shaman, they might just chase you off.

What would take the least time and effort...?

Hm?

Huh? Did the tree beside us just... drop two pieces of bark?

There are strange runes on them, too... Which I can't read, of course.

Oh? Can I take a look?

Here.

Sure enough, Sami has sent you a guide.

Thank you, Sami. You sure have saved me a lot of trouble.

What are these pieces of bark...?

Those are Foldartals. They represent Sami's will itself.

Shamans have many ways of glimpsing into the future, but sometimes, Sami will also proactively cast us a glance, just like this.

Sounds a bit too convenient to me.

I think so too, sometimes.

But on the other hand, wouldn't you have been even more frustrated if you couldn't find anyone to read these Fordartals for you?

...Why are you so casual about all this? Aren't you an apprentice shaman? Do you people not take your work seriously?

I asked my teacher that once, and he answered by drinking wine out of my horns for the next two days. Never dared to ask again.

...

So can you tell us what's on them?

Of course.

The first one... 'North'?

You mean we should head north?

You're already northward bound, but Sami still says 'north.'

Perhaps It wants you to go even further north.

Even further? What's up there, Chilchuck?

The map says that once you leave the Myrkwood, you'll be in the center of Sami's forest. Further north of that are the huge snow-covered mountains and the endless icefields.

Don't tell me Sami wants us to go to the icefields?

Samivilinn often only casts a vague image.

But if you were to ask me, I'd say so, yes.

Huh?

The endless icefields? I asked around about them, and that's not the kinda place you return from.

But you just said earlier that you don't know how to get home.

An undiscovered path hidden in a place from which none have returned. Perfect, no?

...

As for the other piece... 'Hermit.' Haha. Interesting.

And what does that mean?

It can mean many things... but if you're talking about a 'hermit' in the 'north,' then there's really only one thing it could be referring to.

The Cyclopes.

THE WHAT?!

You know of the Cyclopes?

I... heard about them when I was gathering information.

Is that a kind of monster?

Um... no, they're a special kind of Sarkaz.

They use a completely different way to tell the future than we Sami do.

And they just happen to live in seclusion, deep within the mountains to the north.

Put the two Foldartals together, and I think this is what Sami is trying to tell you:

Go northward to ask the Cyclopes for help on how to get home.

...

I think I'm willing to give it a shot. What about you guys?

If there's a chance, we might as well take it.

...If it really works out, I suppose I'll go along.

Chilchuck?

...

The three of you already agreed to go, so is there any point in asking me?

Of course there is, you're a member of our party too.

...I'll be honest then.

I'm against it.

Do you not trust Oakcup?

That's not it. I can tell he's not lying.

Then why not?

...

Prophecies, divination... you guys are way too willing to believe that stuff.

What if someone planned this all out? Dropped two pieces of bark here and is trying to cheat us? Again?

But—

He has a point. But I still think there's no harm in heading north a bit further.

If we run into another shaman, we just have to ask them to read the bark and we'll know if Oakcup was telling the truth or not.

We've been here for a while now, so I wouldn't want to miss even a chance of finding a way home.

...Fine.

Speaking of going north though, why do I feel like we've been wandering around in circles this whole time?

Haven't we already walked past here before?

...I made some markers. I'm sure we've been making progress.

...

What's wrong, Chilchuck?

Senshi's right. But the terrain here is making me feel uneasy.

Like the land itself has been shifting the whole time...

You mean like the dungeon?

Yeah, something like that. But while the dungeon is always changing on the inside, this place is... the entire forest seems to be changing.

Look, there's a cliff up ahead. I'll go scout the terrain.

What was that?

Well... this is a strange monster.

The void on its face doesn't seem to be part of its usual biology.

Fascinating. I really want to study it.

(Howls)

Sounds like it's angry!

There are wounds on its body, from weapons... Someone's riled it up, and now it thinks we're the enemy!

Eat my axe!

(Pained howl)

Wow does that girl have a ton of weapons...

Damn, the cliff's collapsing! Chilchuck!