Eetl

Explorer’s Association

[Story, start of game]

Kabbu: ...Or at least, those were the stories I was told in my land.

Kabbu: Despite many unfortunate incidents, tales of your people helped me keep my adventuring spirit alive.

Maki: Rest assured, Kabbu. They are not mere legends, but real history.

Maki: This Explorers' Association, and all the explorers who risk their wings for glory, are proof of that.

Kabbu: Then, Sir Maki, would you consider my earlier offer?

Maki: Kabbu, I respect your passion. But I take missions of the highest danger. An unproven warrior is not fit to accompany my team.

Kabbu: Unproven!? Maki, I've bested many hardships in the north!

Maki: Or so you say. Your knowledge of our culture, and your passion for exploring are as true as my blade's edge, Kabbu.

Maki: But, I would ask you to not press the issue - this is not the place to cause a scene.

(minibubble) Kabbu: Ngh...

Vi: WHAT? Care to say that AGAIN!?

Eetl: As I said, we cannot allow children to explore! Much less Snakemouth Den!

Vi: I'M NOT A KID!

Maki: ...So much for that. Would you accompany me, Kabbu? It is my duty to investigate.

Kabbu: Hm? Well, if you insist.

[Story, ch1, approach]

Maki: Eetl, bee, lower your voices! What is the matter?

Vi: This guy's calling me a kid, says I can't explore!

Eetl: Shouting isn't going to change the rules, you child!

Vi: Shut it. It's not about age, it's about skill!

Vi: I'm Vi, the best explorer the Hive has ever seen! I'm not some random bee!

Kabbu: An explorer bee?

Vi: Yeah. Got a problem? Saying bees can't explore? Expected honey and paint?

Kabbu: I didn't say that, but…

Maki: Silence, please. This guild of ours is no place for petty squabbles.

Eetl: Look. I can't just give a permit to some bee. Much less without a partner. Teams should be a duo of explorers, you know?

Vi: I'm worth like four bees, okay!?

Kabbu: ...Hey. Vi.

Vi: What do you want?

Kabbu: Why don't we join forces? We both wish for a permit, yet lack a companion.

(minibubble) Maki:...

Vi: What, do I look that desperate? I don't even know you!

Kabbu: I have a promise I must keep, and for that I must explore. How bad could it be?

Vi: Well... It can't be worse than having to stay put. Deal.

Eetl: Wait, you two are just crazy! You won't last a second at Snakemouth!

Vi: I'll prove you wrong!

Maki: No.

Maki: You are both, most likely, mere novices, ruled by your strong emotions…

Maki: I have no doubt that if you left today, you would return inside a bag.

Kabbu: Sir Maki. Although you outrank me in spades, you shouldn't underestimate me.

Kabbu: I...went through quite a bit to get here.

Vi: Yeah. Bugs like you that look down on others are really annoying!

Maki: Hmm. Very well. I shall test your resolve.

Vi: Test us, huh? Who named you king of this joint?

Maki: The Ant Queen herself, for she has knighted me as her Royal Blade!

(minibubble) Eetl: Not again...

Kabbu: I accept your challenge! Vi, get ready!

Vi: Watch your own horn, I was born ready!

[post-fight]

Kabbu: S-such skill with the blade!

Maki: ...You pass.

Vi: What!?

Maki: You performed well enough. I could feel your desire to see the world through your attacks.

Maki: I am no one to keep you from your Explorer Permit. Eetl, you may grant it to them.

Eetl: I get no say in this, huh?

Eetl: ...But Maki IS the Queen's Blade. Here, you can have it.

Vi: I did it! Snakemouth Den is going to be all mine! All the riches, all the glory!

(minibubble) Kabbu: Er, we did it.

Maki: Snakemouth Den, it lies to the west of the association. A simple path, although filled with danger.

Maki: There is much treasure to be found, but its jaws have claimed many.

(minibubble) Kabbu: Treasure, huh...

Kina: MAKI!!!

Kina: Seriously, brother! How long are you going to keep me waiting!?

Maki: My apologies, Kina.

Maki: Vi, Kabbu, I must be going now. As you can see, duty calls me. May you succeed in your mission.

Vi: What a weird bunch.

Kabbu: He ended up causing quite the scene himself. That fighting prowess... How many years must he have trained?

Vi: ...So uh. I'm Vi, I guess. From the Hive near the big tree.

Kabbu: Oh! I am Kabbu. I moved in just one moon ago, from the north.

Vi: Cool.

Kabbu: Indeed.

Kabbu: Um, Sir Maki said Snakemouth was to the west, right? Should we get moving?

Vi: Right! Yeah! Let's go right away! Don't fall behind, okay?

(minibubble) Eetl: ...…

Eetl: Hey, wait you two!

Vi: Something wrong?

Eetl: You know what the goal of the Snakemouth expedition is, right?

Textbox: Of course!

Nope.

Textbox: Of course!

Nope.

Textbox: Chapter 1: A Dysfunctional Trio

Textbox: Change the party leader by pressing |button,6|!

Textbox: You can check your inventory, stats and other things by pressing |button,8|!

Vi: Heh. Couldn't stop me from exploring, could you?

Eetl: You can be sassy at me if you want, but I was just worrying about you.

Kabbu: Give him some credit, Vi.

Kabbu: Exploring isn't a game. Many...have been lost while searching for treasure.

Vi: I know that! But we're not going to be one of those.

Vi: Even Maki thinks we're decent.

Eetl: I hope his intuition is right.

Kabbu: As do I. Let's not be careless, Vi.

Vi: We'll make it back, don't worry.

[returning from Snakemouth]

Eetl: Oh! It's you guys!

Eetl: Oh Goddesses! You're alright! I couldn't stop worrying, ever since you left!

Kabbu: It was a...rocky journey. What with the flood.

Vi: No kidding! I don't wanna see rivers for a while!

Leif: We're glad to finally be out of there, at least.

Eetl: Rivers!? You're some lucky bugs!!!

Eetl: But uh...Vi, Kabbu, who's this?

Kabbu: Oh! Eetl, this is Leif. We found him trapped in Snakemouth.

Eetl: So you DID make it into Snakemouth!?

Eri: Honestly, we thought you'd bail. Going to Snakemouth is crazy!

Leif: Bailing would've been a good idea, really…

Vi: Well, we did! And we got the artifact!

Eetl: Ah haha! Nice one, Vi. The river must have shaken up your hea-

Eetl: I-Impossible! You actually made it into Snakemouth's depths!?

Vi: Yeah! We did it! In your face, Eetl!

Leif: How sportsbuglike.

Kabbu: Vi, it is folly to boast.

Vi: It's folly to tell me I can't do something!

Gen: Um, so is it like, the real deal?

Eetl: Yeah. It's quite like another artifact we've been looking into. That must be the genuine deal.

Eetl: (...It's just like Neolith was saying…)

Kabbu: Hmm?

Eetl: I was just thinking that you should go see the Queen right away! She will be beyond ecstatic!

Leif: It has been some time since we last saw the Queen…

Leif: ...Wait. Actually, looking around, we don't recognize that structure over there. Was it built recently?

Eetl: What, you mean the association? It has been there for many moons!

(minibubble) Leif: ...?

Eetl: You are not from around here, are you?

Leif: We are. We recognize this place. But something feels off…

Vi: You're just fuzzy from the cave! I bet it'll come back to you!

(minibubble) Leif: (…)

Kabbu: Eetl, what about Leif? I heard that exploration teams can only have two members.

Eetl: Oh, that! Well, it's unusual. But you did conquer Snakemouth. It's been a goal for ages…

(minibubble) Leif: (...Ages?)

Eetl: I suppose that... Alright. With my authority as the association's caretaker, in honor of your feat…

Eetl: I grant you, Team Snakemouth, the perk of being able to have three members!

Kabbu: Team Snakemouth?

Vi: A proper explorer team name!

Leif: Uh, yay.

Eetl: Well, that's that! Let's go see the Queen! She must know that the artifact was found!

Gen: Oh, I'm so jealous! I hope the reward is good!

Vi: Heheh. It better be!

Kabbu: Let us go, then.

Leif: Yes, a walk through the plaza should help.

Leif: (We need more information...)

[trying to go anywhere but towards the Queen]

Eetl: Hey! Where are you going?! The city is through the north!

Vi: We know! We know!

Ant Kingdom, Main Plaza

[Story first time walking in]

Eetl: Alright, everyone. The palace is through that gate ahead.

(minibubble) Leif: (It's… the same… ...but different… Even the walls look older...)

Vi: Let's hurry it up, then! It's big reward time!

Kabbu: Ready to go, Leif? You seem a bit pale.

Leif: You don't need to worry. Let's go...

[Overworld Spy with Eetl/Maki]

Kabbu: Ah, the Ant Kingdom's main pla-

Eetl/Maki: We mustn't keep the Queen waiting.

Kabbu: …

[trying to walk to either side district with Eetl]

Eetl: No time for that! We have to head to the castle!

[talk to the innkeeper with Maki/Eetl]

Eetl/Maki: We mustn't keep the Queen waiting.

M.M.: Oooh! Visitors! Are you interested in the plays at the theater?

Eetl: No time. Let's head to the castle for now!

Ant Palace, Bridge

[Story, first entrance]

Maki: Oh, if it isn't Eetl. Vi and Kabbu too.

Eetl: Maki! Perfect timing!

Maki: The news spread quickly. So, you two succeeded? You conquered Snakemouth?

Maki: You've made a friend, even…

(minibubble) Leif:...

Vi: You bet we did! You were all worried for nothing!

Maki: It seems my intuition was correct. I'm quite relieved…

Maki: I have arranged a meeting with the Queen for you. She is expecting us right now.

Eetl: Well, since Maki is going with you, I guess it's back to work for me.

Kabbu: Thank you for accompanying us, Eetl.

Maki: No problem. Stay out of trouble, alright?

Maki: Well then, let us go. Lead the way!

Explorer’s Association

[starting ch2]

Eetl: Hey there, Team Snakemouth! Came here looking for some jobs?

Eetl: Just check this board. It's always up to date!

[Quest: Parts Delivery]

Eetl: T-Team Snakemouth! You picked up my quest!?

Kabbu: Is...that bad? We'd just like to help…

Eetl: No, um, I just figured you were busy with more important stuff.

Vi: Don't sweat it! If it pays we'll do it!

Eetl: A-Alright. Thanks a lot. Your team is more reliable than I expected.

Eetl: It's a pretty simple job, really. Take this package.

Textbox: You got a Package!

Textbox: A package from Eetl. You shouldn’t see what’s inside.

Leif: What's in this?

Eetl: Don't open it, okay? Just deliver it!

Eetl: My friend's a diver ant in the Bugaria Pier east from the Association. To reach it, just keep walking!

Vi: Do you wanna pay us now, or is your friend gonna?

(minibubble) Kabbu: Vi!

Eetl: She'll be waiting with a little something. No worries.

(minibubble) Vi: Cool.

Leif: We'll get going then. Good luck with the paperwork.

[after accepting quest]

Eetl: Thanks for the help. Guess your team's just gonna get more and more known, huh?

Eetl: If you need me to process some quest paperwork, just check out the board!

[Ruigee file, first talk to Eetl after completing Parts Delivery]

Eetl: Woah! Hold up! Something crazy's going on!

Vi: Uh, what?

Eetl: How're you still Rank 1!?

Kabbu: Is that...not normal?

Eetl: It's not! You're not gaining EXP from battles! Maybe some mysterious force is preventing it…

Leif: Probably magic. But eh, we're doing fine…

Eetl: You're doing fine NOW! Without ranking up you won't learn skills or expand your item pouch!

Vi: We're missing a bunch of rewards! How do we fix it!?

Eetl: I can't lift the curse, but I CAN rank you up through the power of paperwork! ...And berries.

Vi: Uh, can't you do it for free?

Eetl: Sorry. Keeping the association running has its own costs. You get it, right?

Eetl: So don't be cheap! Come to me for ranking up, we'll discuss what happens from then on!

[subsequent talks]

Eetl: Welcome back, Team Snakemouth! Interested in ranking up?

Eetl: To advance to the next rank, it will cost you |currency,var,1|.

Textbox: Yes

No

[talk again after getting max rank]

Eetl: I can't help you anymore, from now on, you're on your own!

Eetl: Unless you want to take a new quest, then just check that board over there.

[select quest from board]

Eetl: That's the quest you want to take on?

Textbox: Yes

No

[first wasp invasion]

Eetl: Team Snakemouth! You're safe… I wish you could stay out of danger with us, but…

Vi: We'll be back! Stop worrying!

[after accepting every quest]

Eetl: Hey, Team Snakemouth! Working hard, eh?

Leif: Have you noticed anything lately?

Eetl: Hmm? Well...there ain't any quests coming in, really.

Vi: Yup! All us!

Eetl: Seriously!?

Kabbu: It is not proper to boast...but yes. We've helped many.

Eetl: Ooooh, you guys are the best!

Leif: Yep.

Eetl: " RUIGEE"!

Vi: "Ruigee" who?

Eetl: Artis told me to hand out this "menu code" to the explorers of the month!

Eetl: That's gotta be you, eh?

Kabbu: T-Thank you! Although...this "menu code"...what could it mean?

Ant Kingdom, Main Plaza

[Ending celebration]

Eetl: I...I'm so glad you're fine!

Vi: You worry way too much!

Questgiver

A friend of mine's in need of these parts to repair their trinket.

I'm a bit swamped with administration work, though. Could someone meet me at the association and deliver them?

Thanks.

Npc Spy

Kabbu: Eetl watches over the quest board and helps teams with their tasks, correct?

Leif: So it seems. We can't imagine him questing, though.

Vi: He's gotta relax more, too!

Kabbu: Vi, please don't cause him any trouble.

Vi: I won't! ...As long as he doesn't cause ME trouble.