MONAD: Omen: Crimson Snow and Shadow

Chapter 2: Windsleep Forest

Chief Gurnardson led the refugees to a paddock for livestock, laughing that they would find it more comfortable than the frozen snowfields. Kan sadly noted that aside from the walls, their situation was the same as being in the ashes of Kaptafel. As everyone began preparing the beds, Butler ordered an Afinas soldier to provide their new location to headquarters, and to inquire once again if reinforcements were on their way.

Cayne noted that Butler would be reprimanded for his failure in securing a safe living space for the villagers once everything was over. However, the traveler reminded him that the situation was far from over, as they needed to look into why the monster attacks were escalating. Cayne noted that it seemed strange how Afinas headquarters were refusing to send in reinforcements, despite how many unknown factors the knights were facing.

When the traveler asked whether headquarters were short-staffed, Cayne explained that Afinas had thousands of troops at the ready, and so they had no shortage of people unless a war itself were to start. Cayne then left to prepare Alika’s tent, after which the traveler noticed a man from Svarti approaching. When the traveler asked him what had brought him to the paddock, the nervous man introduced himself as Thorson, a distant relative of Chief Gurnardson. Chie Kan then came over and asked Thorson if he had been watching them.

Thorson stuttered that he didn’t have any malicious intentions, but rather, he had merely wanted to meet people from the outside world. Kan furiously began asking if they were spectacles for him, just as the traveler diffused the situation and told Thorson that though they believed that he meant well, Chief Gurnardson hadn’t been kind to the caravanners, which was why they were skeptical of Svarti’s people.

Thorson explained that Gurnardson’s behavior was likely because Svarti itself was in dire straits, as the few who remained were starving after monsters had claimed their livestock, with the fish disappearing from the river as well. He added that Svarti had been suspicious of inviting Kaptafel villagers because of the stories of how Kaptafel had been stealing Svarti’s livestock, though Kan hotly denied the rumor.

The traveler then spoke with Thorson, who explained that because Svarti was a village of fishermen and harpooners, he had recognized that the toxic beast which had just attacked the village was an Actinops, one of the fish that their people used to catch. He explained that Actinops were transparent, down to their blood, and that their taste made them Abrup’s local specialty.

Thorson then wondered whether its pink appearance was because of it eating something pink, adding that Actinops had high regenerative capacities that allowed them to puff themselves up and maintain that form for as long as the wanted, pointing out how far the monster had been able to stretch its arm out. He also revealed that Actinops were poisonous, which lined up with his theory about the toxic beast’s poison. Based on what he knew about Actinops, he told the traveler that their best chance to attack was when it stood still to regenerate.

The traveler then noticed several guards speaking with each other conspicuously. When the traveler asked what was wrong, one of them jumped and began explaining that that they were on their way to take care of the monsters that they had seen on their way to Svarti. When the traveler offered to lend a hand, the guard told them that they could take care of it themselves.

Just then, Hawalu appeared and began singing a song to cheer the Afinas Knights on, which motivated them to do their duty. Suddenly, one of the soldiers collapsed, but got up immediately before explaining that he had felt strange for a moment, and so the other soldiers told him to rest while they went on ahead.

(A/N: Here, the player can either offer to help again, or they can wish the soldiers good luck and let them leave. Even if the player chooses the second option, the quest will reset and require the player to start the conversation all over again, essentially forcing them to choose the first option.)

The soldiers graciously accepted the traveler’s help and noted that the feeling which they had when the traveler had offered to help must be how the villagers had felt when the Afinas Knights had aided them, which made them feel even better about their work. The traveler then defeated the Raging Werebeasts around the area and returned to the soldiers, who thanked the traveler. They explained that though they didn’t have it easy as soldiers, the official Afinas Knights seemed like they never slept at all, noting that Gillie especially took on a lot of work to help the soldiers out.

(A/N: Just to clarify, these soldiers are more like apprentices training to become official Afinas Knights.)

Because of her dedication, the soldiers told the traveler that they were all working hard to become official knights one day. Just then, Butler came over and asked what was going on, furious to know that the soldiers had asked for help to do their job. The traveler attempted to defend them, explaining that they had insisted on taking the soldiers’ responsibilities, but Butler merely replied that there was no need to speak on their behalf, as they answered for their actions.

After the soldiers returned to their post, the traveler told Butler that the soldiers were exhausted, but Butler replied that in wartime, a lack of discipline meant certain defeat. He explained that in his younger days, he had fought for days without sleeping or eating, lambasting the soldiers for complaining about their jobs while having full meals and being able to sleep by warm fires. (A/N: Butler: “bAcK iN mAh dAy…”.)

He then fumed that on top of keeping the soldiers in line, he was dealing with rumors of a massive shadow during the battle at Kaptafel, adding that it was bad for morale. The traveler learned that Williams, one of the soldiers whom they had helped, had been the one who had started the rumor, and so they decided to ask him about it. The traveler met with Williams, who apologized if the traveler had gotten in trouble with Butler on his behalf. The traveler then asked about the massive shadow, but Williams insisted that he must have been hallucinating, afraid of getting in more trouble with Butler. The traveler then explained that they had seen the same thing, but Williams continued denying it.

Kan then arrived and noted that there were quite a few villagers talking about the shadow as well, calling it the ‘smoke shadow’, though no one knew whether it was just a strange cloud or an actual creature. He revealed that the villagers had seen it many times when there had been snowstorms, smoke, or even thick fog, with most assuming that it was the shadow of a mountain or an odd cloud. The traveler then went to the tent where the wounded were being treated, where they discovered Hawalu. Hawalu was glad to see them and offered to sing them a song.

(A/N: The player can choose between “Who Lives in Windsleep Forest”, “Yummy Meat”, “Abrup, Land of Snow”, or “The Wind Blows” when asking Hawalu to sing. We can also talk to Hawalu directly and ask him several different question.

We can ask him if Eyefuls stole his necklace, which he confirms and adds that they also took both Ullan’s and his mother’s hairpin. When we ask about the forest singing, he explains that the spirits of his departed ancestors still lived in the forest and had sent warm winds to Abrup until recently.

We can also ask him his favorite meat, to which he says that he can’t say when Pete is around, implying that it’s Shrelephant meat, though he adds that he likes bread.

We can also ask him about breath-wind, which he explains is the wind of his grandfather, adding that its breeze feels like spring. He adds that he’s heard of a special season called summer on the other side of the mountain and wonders what it's like for the weather to always be hot.

We can also ask him if he likes snow, to which he says that he does, though his mom doesn’t let him eat it. He adds that he doesn’t like snowstorms because he has to stay home all day when they come.)

The traveler then encountered Janyt and Alika taking care of the injured. The traveler asked Janyt whether they could help, but Janyt told them that the blessings of Afinas would suffice for the wounded. Confused, the traveler asked Alika if there was anything that they could do, to which she asked them to find supplies for treating injuries, as there was a limit to Janyt’s Devata healing powers.

She explained that the Abrup people had a traditional remedy made from melted Leatty Crystals, and so she asked them to meet Cayne at the snowfield near the river in order to collect the crystals. At the riverbank, the traveler met Cayne, who noted that they always seemed to come where he was and teasingly asked if they liked him, claiming that they had gone pink in the face.

While collecting the crystals from the Raging Leatty monsters, Cayne wondered whether Butler should have asked for more Devatas from Afinas, explaining that the Devatas were all healers, almost like saints of Afinas. He added that their abilities made them well-respected, especially since it drained their energy to use their special magic.

After collecting the crystals, Cayne and the traveler returned to Svarti and gave them to Alika, who thanked them profusely. The traveler then turned to Janyt and noted that it was amazing that she had been able to heal so many people, which Alika agreed with. However, Janyt claimed that she merely shared the blessings that she had received from Afinas.

Cayne laughed that no one adored Afinas as much as Janyt. Alika then told Cayne and the traveler to rest up while she finished treating the injured. The two then began walking around the area, noting that it was finally starting to look like a proper camp, with the sturdy walls giving people hope. The traveler realized that there seemed to be a sense of calm, noting how many villagers were singing the praises of the Afinas Knights.

Finally having gained some free time, the traveler decided to investigate whether the old woman had stopped by Svarti. They decided to speak with Thorson and asked him whether he knew about the old woman who lived in the cabin in the forest with her granddaughter. After thinking about it a bit, Thorson recognized the description of the old woman and her granddaughter, whom he called a witch.

The traveler was surprised to hear Thorson calling Sanaan’s granddaughter a witch and asked whether Sanaan had visited Svarti several months ago. Thorson explained that he wasn’t sure, as Chief Gurnardson typically dealt with visitors, though he offered to ask the chief on their behalf. As he headed off, Peytour appeared and asked whether they had learned more about Sanaan.

When the traveler told him that Thorson had gone to ask, Peytour noted that Thorson seemed to be quite friendly. The traveler then recalled how Thorson had called Sanaan’s granddaughter a witch, to which Peytour laughed and explained that she was merely different, adding that some people concerned themselves too much with such differences. When the traveler asked how she was different, Peytour clarified that it would be more appropriate to say that she was special, both in her natural abilities and her skin color.

Just then, Alika approached the traveler and gave them medicine, explanting that she had forgotten to give it to them earlier. She then asked Peytour what he meant about Sanaan’s granddaughter being special. Peytour explained that Sanaan and her granddaughter, Blanche, had once been villagers of Kaptafel, though it had been before he had settled in the town proper, and that it was said that Sanaan had raised Blanche since she had been a baby, with the girl’s differences becoming more and more obvious as she had grown.

He explained that while Blanche’s differences weren’t a problem, the villagers had begun to notice her strange characteristics: blue-gray skin, swift running, and incredible archery skills. Peyton told the traveler that though he had never met Blanche personally, the stories that he had heard about her made him imagine that people could very well have feared or even hated her, mainly out of ignorance.

Based on the description of her blue-grey skin, the traveler asked Peytour whether Blanche was a demon. Peytour clarified that she was a half-blood demon from what he had heard, and that Sanaan had taken her into the forest in order to keep her safe. Though that was all he knew, Peytour explained that he had always felt pity for them, as they had been forced to struggle on their own because of the ill treatment of others.

(A/N: Blanche being a half-demon suggests that she has demon ancestry from Tynerum, just like the Demon and Damien, which lines up with Tynerum being a region directly below Leafre in the overseas Dawnveil lore, which includes Tynerum, Arboren, and the Commerci Republic as three regions of the hidden Dawnveil continent. Just to clarify, however, Tynerum in KMS lore is a separate dimension entirely, just like how Grandis and Maple World are different dimensions.

It could be possible that the writers were trying to incorporate the overseas location of Tynerum by having Blanche as a half-demon, although putting the limbo state of Tynerum’s location aside, Blanche’s deep blue skin and white facial markings are quite unlike the typical ash-colored skin common to all the half-blood demons that we’ve seen in the game so far.

On the other hand, though, we’ve seen that the Krakians from Masteria have the same blue skin as Blanche, and even have similar white tribal markings on their faces. My personal headcanon is that Blanche is actually half-Krakian instead of half-demon, and that people’s ignorance about the Krakians - combined with the fact that the surviving Krakians had gone into hiding long ago, and therefore likely needed to be kept secret - means that people mistakenly believed Blanche to be a half-demon, since that’s the closest species they know that could match her description. Her being a swift runner and having great archery skills also adds to this theory, since it lines up with the Krakians’ skills as archers and hunters.)

Just then, Thorson returned with Gurnardson, who told the traveler that they would need to pay for his information about Sanaan, demanding half the Leatty Crystals that they had brought back. The traveler decided that they would collect more, but Alika stopped them and ordered the knights to collect the crystals so that the traveler could first hear the story from Gurnardson.

After being given the crystals, Gurnardson revealed that Sanaan had come twice to Svarti. He explained that the first time she had come, around four or five months ago, she had been looking for Blanche, but as Svarti had no outsiders at the time, Gurnardson had turned her away. Meanwhile, her second visit had been around two months ago, shortly before the monster attacks, though Gurnardson explained that he had turned her away again. He then revealed that he had overheard her mumbling about returning home, and so he believed that Svarti may have been the last place where she had looked for her granddaughter before going back into the forest.

The traveler and Alika immediately realized that if she had returned to her cabin, then she was in danger from the monster attacks. When Gurnardson asked the traveler why they were looking for Sanaan, the traveler explained that she had been the one who had called them to Abrup. Peytour noted that in a way, they had Sanaan to thank for their survival, as her letter had led the traveler to aiding Kaptafel. However, he told the traveler that it was too dangerous to venture into the woods, as there was no guarantee that Sanaan was still there.

The traveler acknowledged his concerns, but pointed out that every second counted if Sanaan was truly in danger. Peytour then had an idea and told them to give him a moment. While they waited, the traveler noted that Alika seemed to have something on her mind. After hesitating, Alika told the traveler to be careful and to come back safely. As Alika walked off, the traveler went to see Peytour, who gave them a map of Windsleep Forest.

He explained that Sanaan’s cabin was beyond the Grim Vale in Windsleep Forest and warned them not to enter the Grim Vale under the current circumstances, instead suggesting them to take the path around it. However, he added that they should make camp in the canyon of Grim Vale if they needed to spend the night in the forest, as they would be more secluded while they rested. He then prayed that the breath of Windsleep Forest be with them as they made their perilous journey.

(A/N: Throughout this story, the people of Abrup make a lot of references to the breath of Windsleep Forest, which our conversation with Hawalu reveals is the breath of their ancestors sending warm winds against the cold of Abrup. The way that they say “May the breath of Windsleep Forest be with you” is very reminiscent of how people in Star Wars say “May the Force be with you”.)

Just as the traveler decided to head out, they unexpectedly met Thorson on the path outside. Thorson warned the traveler that the forest was dangerous and gave them a special relic which had been passed down as an heirloom in Svarti for generations, though he asked them not to tell the chief that he had given it to them. He explained that he had been waiting for the day when he could do good for someone, to which the honored traveler promised to return it when they came back. They then set out and began fighting through the monsters, noting how eerily silent it was.

(A/N: The Svarti heirloom is actually a permanent badge that you obtain. Despite what we say, we don’t ever really give it back.)

Suddenly, they heard Alika screaming and rushed back to discover Alika and Pete, Ullan’s pet Shrelephant, surrounded by monsters. After defeating them, the concerned traveler asked Alika why she had followed them, to which she explained that she had been worried about them, and that she couldn’t let them go on their own. Though she knew that they could defend themselves, she told the traveler that she had packed medicine, a compass, blankets, and emergency rations for the journey ahead. The traveler then realized that the reason why she had rushed out earlier while talking with Peytour was because she had been packing.

The traveler attempted to convince Alika to return home to safety, but Alika reminded them that she had become the youngest Apprentice Scholar of Afinas because of her talents, and so she was confident that she would be able to help them, adding that she had come too far for the traveler to ask her to turn back without escorting her safety. The traveler, both amused and annoyed by her nerve, reluctantly allowed her to stay.

As they continued heading through the forest, Alika tied several red ribbons around the trees along the way, explaining that it would mark the path that they had taken in case they got lost. Soon after, they were surprised to encounter a flying Eyeful monster, which opened a portal and led them somewhere inside a canopy in the trees.

Inside the canopy, the pair noticed many treasures kept inside, including the brooch that Cayne had lost, causing them to realize that the flying Eyeful was the culprit behind the many thefts around Abrup. Realizing that there were many other treasures there, Alika suggested that they collect the items and return them back to their owners.

After exiting the portal, they continued deeper into the forest and noticed how beautiful it was, with the leaves of the trees frozen and sparkling. They then noticed a pink, jellyfish-like creature on the ground and wondered whether it was a type of mushroom. Between the flying Eyeful and the strange pink plant, Alika wondered what was happening in the forest. As the pink plant’s tentacles pulsed, Alika noted that it seemed pretty. As she continued touching it, the plant shivered and released pink pollen, which gathered a horde of monsters.

The pair began defending themselves from the onslaught, but as Alika began to get overwhelmed, she threw a large rock onto the pink plant and crushed it. To her surprise, the monsters around them froze in place, causing her to realize that the pink plant was controlling the monsters, with it sending out the pollen after interpreting her touch as a threat.

Though the traveler was intrigued, they reminded Alika to be careful, as there was much about the forest that they didn’t know. Alika apologized, but wondered what kind of a creature had the power to control other living things, as she had never seen anything like it in the field, or in her books. Though she considered whether the plant was the cause of the monster mutations, and whether it was native to Abrup, she realized that they didn’t have time to investigate, and so she instead decided to gather samples of the plant to bring back to Afinas headquarters for study.

Immediately upon taking the plant, however, the two were caught in a gust of wind that send them floating into the trees. As they soared into the air, they noticed a fortified town in the distance and realized that it could keep the people of Kaptafel safe. They continued soaring through the air until landing on the ground, though the traveler landed hard on a frozen lake that cracked its surface, causing them to fall into the icy waters. The traveler struggled to remain afloat, losing consciousness just as Alika rushed to save them.

Soon after, they regained consciousness and thanked Alika for saving them. Noticing that the sun was setting, Alika suggested that they make camp for the night. Recalling that Peytour had suggested sleeping in Grim Vale, they headed deeper into the vale and found a cave to camp in. The traveler also realized that Alika hadn’t yet eaten, and so they decided to gather food and told her to wait inside.

After gathering Shrelephant meat, they returned to find that Alika had set up a fire. As they prepared soup and began eating, Alika heard someone crying, though the traveler told her that it was the wind. After a moment of silence, Alika noted that it had been a long day, with the traveler agreeing and mentioning how they had been traveling non-stop since leaving Kaptafel.

Alika then revealed that she wondered whether she was doing enough for those who relied on her, or if she was a burden on those she meant to help. The traveler reassured her that she worked too hard for that to be true, though Alika apologized for burdening them by following them all the way out to the forest. However, the traveler waved away her apology, reminding her how she had saved them from drowning.

As they reminisced about how their campfire felt just like the night they had camped at the destroyed village during their expedition, Alika recalled how the traveler had asked her about her dreams. She revealed that she had never told anyone about her dreams before, as she feared that telling someone would make them come true. However, she told the traveler that just this once, she felt that she could safely tell them.

(A/N: The dream that she describes is the same animated cutscene of Julieta and Blanche that we see at the beginning of Act 1.)

She explained that in her dreams, it was always dark and cold, and that she always saw the same girl running through a black forest, chased by an unknown person or thing. Though her skin was bruised and battered from falling, she would continue going forward. The dream would then skip ahead to her lying still on the barren snowfield, though Alika affirmed that the girl was alive, adding that she would always feel as though she was that girl upon awakening, with the dream reoccurring every night for months.

(A/N: Alika’s description of what happens in the dream reveals that she mistakenly believes Blanche and Julieta to be the same person, although I don’t really see how that could happen when they look nothing alike.)

She explained that she wondered what the dream meant, and whether the girl was awaiting her somewhere or if she needed help, adding that she felt that having the same dream each night was significant, especially because her father was in her dream as well, wearing his usual Afinas Scholar robes, though she couldn’t say whether he was saving the girl or if he had more sinister motives.

She then revealed that the reason why she had followed the traveler was because she felt that there was something waiting for her in Windsleep Forest. Though she lamented that she had found nothing yet, the traveler assuaged her by saying that she had taken the first step towards resolution. Alika laughed and thanked the traveler, claiming that they were starting to remind her of her friend.

(A/N: Here, the player can either ask her if she’s talking about Cayne, or say that her friend must be quite thoughtful, just like themselves. If the player chooses the first option, she tells them that Cayne is a good friend, but that she’s talking about another, very important friend. If the player chooses the second option, she laughs and tells them that she thinks that her friend would get along with them quite well. Regardless of which option is chosen, the same follow-up dialogue choice is presented, in which the player can either ask her to tell them more, or say that they would like to meet her friend sometime, which both lead into the same dialogue.)

Alika explained that her friend’s name was Vivere, and that they were best friends and practically family. As they had been together for so long, Alika explained that it bothered her that they had never been apart for so long.

(A/N: There’s a very dynamic and involved dialogue tree here, and it was extremely difficult for me to format it in a good way, and so I’ll just summarize everything that we learn. It’s impossible to get all the possible information in any single playthrough, and so this requires quite a few replays in order to get the whole thing. Fortunately, I was able to cheat and close the game right at the very end of the conversation, which brought me back to the very start of the cutscene once I reopened it.

About Vivere: Alika tells us that Vivere isn’t a Scholar, but she assures us that Vivere is much smarter than her. She explains that learning comes naturally to Vivere, as opposed to herself, who had been expected to study from a young age. When we ask Alika whether she’s jealous of Vivere, Aliak denies it and tells us that she’s genuinely happy to have a friend like Vivere, who’s had a huge impact on her life.

She then asks us what she appears to us as, clarifying by saying that she wants to know what kind of person we think she is. We tell her that she’s kind and smart and cheerful, to which Alika laughs and tells us that she wishes that she could show us her true self - elegant and graceful. She then explains that Vivere is the reason why she can stay bright and cheerful, as she would have been a miserable shut-in with her books without Vivere’s influence, adding that Vivere is her only family.

Regarding how the two of them met, Alika explains that when she was five years old, her father had gone on a long observational study, and when he returned, he had brought back Vivere with him. At the time, she hadn’t cared where Vivere had come from or why she was there, only that she had a new friend to keep her company.

About her father: Alika tells us that it was difficult studying since a young age because she was hardly ever praised, as nothing she did was enough for her father, while everything she accomplished was credited to him by others. Because of this, she had tried harder than anyone to be perfect so that no one could possibly find fault with her, which she claimed was worth it, because that drive had led her to becoming the youngest Apprentice Scholar in the history of Afinas.

She also tells us that her favorite quote is, “If you can dream it, you can do it”, which has kept her going the whole time. Regarding her father, she tells us that he’s her biological family, but that she feels like Vivere is her real family. She explains that her father has always been more of a Scholar than a parent, to the point that it’s hard for her to remember that they’re related.

We point out that he’s still her father, to which she concedes that he’s provided a lot for her materially by paying for her studies, which had made it possible for her to meet Cayne and Vivere. She also notes that it’s hard for her to escape accusations that she’s only in her position because of her father, and that her father’s refusal to correct them has further created a rift between them.

About Cayne: Alika tells us that we likely already know how she first met Cayne since he talks about it so much. She explains that Cayne was assigned to be her bodyguard about three years ago. She notes that he was a rising star in the Afinas Knights, and that he had volunteered for the job, though at the time, she had suspected that he had only wanted to get into her father’s good graces.

She tells us that, at first, she had been intensely uncomfortable, as she had been worried that he would report her every move, or order her about on her father’s authority, though she had been surprised that he genuinely cared about her, for which she had soon grown to trust him. She tells us that she’s confident that Cayne is always looking out for her, and that he’ll be there to keep her safe.

About Afinas: Alika tells us that Afinas is a research organization centered on studies of the self, and that it was founded by philosophers hundreds of years ago in order to answer questions such as where people come from, who they are, and where they’re going. Though she notes that monster research could reveal new leads in the search for those answers, she believes that there’s no way that it could be a high priority, since an Apprentice Scholar like herself had been assigned to it. She then laughs that she’s just given us a textbook answer, explaining that such things are what Afinas would drum into our heads if we ever joined Afinas.

When we note how Cayne had mentioned that Afinas had thousands of soldiers at the ready, Alika confirms that’s true, thought she adds that she doesn’t know the exact number. She then adds that there are even more soldiers counting deployed teams and reserve soldiers. She explains that since Afinas is focused on studies of humanities, the organization takes a huge interest in the betterment of mankind and the protection of the less fortunate. She tells us that though Afinas had started as a group of scholars, it now has more knights and volunteers than researchers, which has allowed their people to expand to all sorts of remote places, giving them a greater sense of pride and confidence.

About her dreams: Alika tells us that it’s embarrassing to talk about her dreams, to which we tell her that she shouldn’t be embarrassed before asking why she should care if someone doesn’t like her dreams. Alika laughs and agrees, though she makes us promise not to tell Cayne. She then tells us that since she’s only left Afinas headquarters a few times in her life, she wants to travel to a new world, where no one knows about Afinas, and live amongst its people and share her knowledge for the good of all. We tell her that it’s a good dream, though we ask why she wants to hide it from Cayne. Alika explains that in a perfect world, she shouldn’t need to, as she would have both Cayne and Vivere to be there with her.

At the end of all dialogue paths, she tells us that she wants to ask as something, which has to be kept secret from everyone. She then asks us whether we want to join Afinas. We can either say yes or no, but it doesn’t really make a difference, since she asks us to seek her out if you change your mind in the case that we say no.)

Realizing that it was getting late, the traveler suggested that Alika head to bed. Alika wondered whether they would survive the night, to which the traveler reassured her that they would. Upon noting their hesitant expression, Alika promised them that they would find Sanaan, as the breath of Windsleep Forest was with her. She explained that she had always wondered what that greeting meant, and that she now finally understood it, adding that it felt as though the breath of Windsleep Forest was what had led them on their journey.

The two then went to sleep, though a few hours later, the traveler was awoken in the middle of the night by the sound of Alika having a nightmare. After the traveler went to sleep again, they woke up the next morning to find that Alika and Pete had gotten up early, eager to continue their mission. However, Alika suggested that they leave Pete back at the camp, as she was worried that he would be in danger from the monsters ahead.

After leaving Pete behind, the pair headed out and began fighting past the monsters on the way. Throughout the forest, they noticed that the pink plants, which Alika named Jellyrashes, were on the trees, spewing out pollen that controlled the monsters. As they proceeded onward, Alika fell into a deep hole in the ground, unable to climb out. As the traveler looked around for a rope, they cut a long piece of slime from a Jellyrash as a makeshift one in order to life Alika out.

Alika then noted that the hole must have been dug by someone, meaning that someone had to be living nearby. The pair then continued onward, noting more traps and monsters around them before finally reaching Sanaan’s cabin, which they were pleased to see had been untouched by monsters. Inside, they found the cabin empty, but with no signs of a struggle, they concluded that Sanaan had likely fled to a safer place.

As they looked through the cabin, the traveler discovered a journal, with its latest entry dated from last month, along with a cup of dried soup, a single slipper, a ball of yarn that had likely fallen out while Sanaan had been packing, as well as a photo of Sanaan and Blanche. Upon seeing Blanche’s face, Alika was shocked and began to tell the traveler something, just as she was interrupted by the screeching of monsters outside.

(A/N: Alika was about to tell us that she recognizes Blanche as the girl from her nightmare.)

Looking through the window, the pair were shaken to find an immense horde of powerful monsters being led by a massive tentacled creature, which the traveler immediately recognized as the giant shadow. Fearing that the army was heading for Svarti, the traveler and Alika decided to follow them. Upon leaving the cabin, the two encountered a Frostflail Yeti, which began attacking them.

The traveler began to fight the Frostflail Yeti, with their battle prolonging due to an incoming snowstorm. Alika noted that the monster army was getting away and suggested heading for the trees. The traveler apologized for not being able to finish the Yeti off, explaining that the snowstorm had forced them to keep a distance, and that its tough hide had made it difficult to kill.

Alika reassured them that it wasn’t their fault, explaining that the Fembris in Kaptafel, the Actinops in Svarti, and the Frostflail Yeti were all different from usual monsters, lamenting that there wasn’t time to research their mutations in order to determine the cause of their frenzy. The traveler decided that they would gather samples for Alika and give them to her later, after which the pair continued to follow the army.

As they continued jumping across the trees, they noticed that there were several red ribbons which they had placed on the branches during their expedition into the forest, which caused them to realize that the monsters were heading towards Svarti. As there were too many for them to fight, they resolved to find a way to draw the monsters away from the village.

Suddenly, Alika noticed the Jellyrashes on the trees and realized that the monsters being controlled by the Jellyrash pollen would stop moving if the Jellyrashes were destroyed. To their surprise, however, destroying one of the Jellyrashes in the trees caused the monsters to start clawing at the trees in an attempt to reach the traveler and Alika.

The traveler realized that the monsters were following them, and so Alika suggested that they make the monsters chase them away from Svarti. The pair then continued destroying Jellyrashes and leading the monsters away from Svarti before finding a frozen lake. Recalling how they had fallen in earlier, the traveler decided to set a trap by finding a weak point in the ice. Suddenly, however, the large tentacled monster appeared and prepared to attack. As they prepared to run, Pete the Shrelephant appeared to rescue them. Climbing aboard, the traveler and Alika fled from the monster, but found themselves on the edge of a cliff. (A/N: I failed this jump quest so many times. This was as bad as the airship minigame in Black Heaven.)

With no choice, Pete jumped off the edge and used his trunk as a propeller to ease their fall, though the tentacled monster continued to pursue by scaling down the cliff. The three eventually crashed through the icy surface of the lake and sank deep into its waters.