Astotheles

Defiant Root, Well

Astotheles: Tsk. Word spreads quick. You look for the ancient keys?

Astotheles: Maybe I can help you. For 30 berries, that is.

Textbox: Give Berries.

Ignore him.

[talk again]

Astotheles: I'll be seeing you.

Bandit Hideout, Entrance

[Story, walk to Astotheles’s Room]

Astotheles: ...So you're the ones causing all this ruckus. Team Snakemouth.

Kabbu: This imposing presence! Are you the leader of the bandits?

Astotheles: Hm. Quite sharp.

Astotheles: My name is Astotheles. As you say, I lead this pack.

Vi: You've got some nerve throwing us in a cell!

Leif: If you give us the key, we may even forgive it.

Astotheles: As if your feelings were of my slightest concern. You were trapped for what your heads could offer.

Astotheles: You are the Ant Witch's lackeys. My sworn enemies, and your capture could be a gold mine for my people.

Astotheles: The Wasps promised a handsome reward if we got rid of you. But I was blind to their slimy ways.

Kabbu: Astotheles, you seem reasonable. Surely this needs not come to blows?

Astotheles: You naive Queen's lapbug. Between us there can be no compromise.

Astotheles: But you shall have an honorable fight. Do your worst!

(minibubble) Kabbu: Curses...

Leif: Have it your way.

(minibubble) Vi: Let's do it!

[post-battle]

Astotheles: ...I yield. I can fight no longer. That wench's got good eyes for minions…

Astotheles: Do it, then. End me.

Kabbu: You got the fair fight you requested. That's enough.

Leif: A smackdown is good enough for us.

(minibubble) Astotheles: ...!

Vi: Yeah! Don't be so dramatic! We just want the key!

Bandit, offscreen: BOSS!!!

Thief: Y-You're hurt!

Bandit: Boss, why didn't you call us? We coulda handled these chumps!

Burglar: And we still can. Let's get 'em, boys!

Leif: Tch. After such a tough fight…

Astotheles: Enough!

Astotheles: We bet our honor in battle, and I lost. They're free to go.

Bandit: Seriously, boss? We can take 'em!

Astotheles: ...It's okay, friends. The gardens bloom, do they not? And we drove the wasps out.

Astotheles: There's no point in keeping them here any longer.

Vi: So you've come around? You could've just let us go, you know?

Burglar: I don't get ya sometimes, boss…

Astotheles: You three. You're against the Wasps, correct?

Kabbu: Indeed. They are a threat to all of Bugaria.

Astotheles: Then you may not be so bad. Maybe I can trust you with this.

Astotheles: We don't owe the Ant Kingdom even one blade of grass…

Astotheles: But those Wasps betrayed our covenant. They are lower than dirt.

Astotheles: I hope they'll meet justice at your hands. We don't have the time or resources to go after them.

Leif: If we do, don't think it's to do you a favor.

Astotheles: With that key, your mercy is repaid. Now, get out. If you come back, we'll throw you in that cell again.

(minibubble) Vi: We'd break out again!

Bandit: You heard the boss! Get out! Don't make us kick ya!

Leif: You bandits have got some swinging moods.

Vi: I don't get it... Are they good or bad?

Kabbu: Come, Vi. I don't think that's an answer we'll get today...

Astotheles: ...I have no more business with you. Get out.

[Astotheles’ Journal, leave and come back]

Textbox: "Day XXX. An unprepared moth was spotted near the sandpits. He carried quite a few berries."

Textbox: "Although I truly pitied him, the funds will let us get through this month smoothly."

Textbox: "Day YYZ. The flowers bloomed in our garden. Our hideout comes closer to becoming a home."

Textbox: "Day ZZZ. I was shown mercy today. Mercy I have not shown others…"

Textbox: "I need to think. I've left the hideout in charge of my trusted advisor. But I'll return."

Ant Kingdom, Main Plaza

[Ending celebration]

Astotheles: You can keep a secret, can't you?

Kabbu: ...Just this once.

Npc Spies

[Defiant Root, Well]

Leif: A curious place to set shop.

Kabbu: Well, anyone who can help will do. No matter where they fancy to sit!

[Bandit Hideout, Entrance]

Leif: He called Elizant the Ant Witch, huh.

Vi: He fights really well with one arm…

Kabbu: I wish I could know more of his history, but we must leave lest we get thrown out.

Enemy Spy

The leader of the Lost Sands' bandits, Astotheles lives by an ironic code of honor.

He vanishes and appears without notice, his every mission dedicated to improve life in his hideout.

It is said he wishes to establish his own country. But with the list of his crimes only increasing, this becomes unlikelier every day.

But at the end of the day, the love and loyalty of his bandit family is enough for him.

Vi: You crook! What if I'd never found my Beemerang!? And what's with ruining my items?

Vi: I don't care if you're the boss, you're gonna go down!

Kabbu: What mastery of the blade, even with just one arm! It reminds me of Maki's strength.

Kabbu: With lightning speed he crushes our items... We must make this a quick bout!

Leif: Honor... What a joke of a request, coming from one who leads thieves.

Leif: Break our items if you want. You're going to pay for imprisoning us all the same!