Crossing Paths/Story

Crossing Paths - Opening

Lara	Wow! We ran for quite a while, and we still haven't managed to shake those bandits, have we?
Indeed we have not. I can still hear them hollering and making a dreadful commotion in the distance.		Safy
Lara	It looks like there might be a place to hide if we go a little farther. Can you two make it?
I can push on, though I am wearing down. Thank you for your concern.		Safy
Tina	What?! We have to run more? I feel as if we're OK now. We've come a long way.
You can't let your guard down. This is bandit territory. They know the area, so they have the advantage.		Lara
Tina	Argh! They should leave us alone. We're just trying to deliver medicine to a village!
Don't yell like that! Do you want them to find us? Focus on outrunning them for now. Think of nothing else.		Lara
Safy	She is right, Tina. I hate to...think of what they might...do to us if they were to catch...us...
Hey, Lara, I think Safy has about hit her limit. If we try to keep running, I'm not sure she'll make it.		Tina
Lara	You may have a point. If we keep trying to drag her along, they're going to catch up. Why don't we hide in those bushes and catch our breath before we move on?
I am sorry, Lara...		Safy
Lara	Shhh! Did you hear that? Is there something moving in the grass?
Does that mean the bandits are here?		Tina
Safy	Breathe as quietly as you can and do not move. Tina, you can manage that, right?
Oh yeah, of course, I can— Ahhh!		Tina
Lara	Huh?!
Tina!		Safy
Tina	A ca-ca...
Tina, calm down!		Lara
Tina	Ahhh! It's a caterpillar! Get it away! The awful thing came down right in front of me!
Ugh! Now the bandits know where we are!		Lara
Tina	I-I'm sorry!
I'll be a decoy. You two run as far as you can.		Lara
Safy	No! We will not flee and leave you to face them alone!
I'm so sorry! This is all my fault...		Tina
Lara	There are so many bandits. We can't handle them by ourselves...
Lara	Huh?
Haaa!		Reinhardt

Crossing Paths - C

Reinhardt	Hmph!
Reinhardt	Yaaah!
Look! Someone from the Order of Heroes is here to save us!		Tina
Safy	Thunder magic... If I recall correctly, he must be...
What is it, Safy? Aren’t you happy? We’re saved!		Tina
Safy	Yes, of course I am happy, however—
Whatever the problem, at least we can finally catch our beath.		Lara
Reinhardt	I fought the bandits off. Has anyone been hurt?
We are all unharmed thanks to you. You have our deepest gratitude.		Safy
Reinhardt	That is good to hear. I am Reinhardt, a knight of Friege. I heard rumors that the bandits were growing bolder and decided to patrol the area.
A knight of Friege? That means you really are—		Safy
Tina	That thunder magic was incredible! And you...single-handedly defeating those scoundrels! So dashing!
Oh my. Come now, Tina. I apologize for her rudeness.		Safy
Reinhardt	No need to apologize.
My name is Safy. I serve the duchess of Tarrah. This is my younger sister, Tina.		Safy
Lara	And I’m Lara—I’m a dancer. Thank you for coming to our rescue. We were taking medicine to a village that’s been stricken by disease when we ran into those bandits.
A noble cause. There may still be more bandits nearby. If it pleases you, I will escort you to this village.		Reinhardt
Tina	You will? Really?! Hey, we’re going to say yes, right?
Your accompaniment would be very reassuring, but it would be something of a hassle for you, would it not?		Lara
Reinhardt	Of course not. I shall guide you there safely, upon my honor as a knight.
Yay! Now we have nothing to worry about, huh, Safy?		Tina
Safy	Y-yes...nothing to worry about...

Crossing Paths - B

Reinhardt	You must be getting tired. Let us rest here for a time.
Yes, please! Let’s do that! I’m just exhausted after all that running.		Tina
Safy	Indeed. We can rest for a while, then.
Relax and recover your strength. We don’t know what lies ahead. I’ll keep watch for treats. I was part of a band of thieves once, so I have experience as a lookout.		Lara
Reinhardt	That is not necessary. I shall keep watch. You need rest as well, Lara.
Huh? Are you sure?		Lara
Reinhardt	Leave it to me. I will stand guard.
And he’s off... Hey! Reinhardt was really impressive, wasn’t he? He’s handsome too, but not as handsome as Prince Leif!		Tina
Lara	I’ve heard rumors about him, but to see him in action... Wow, he really is amazing.
Oh? Do you know Reinhardt?		Tina
Lara	Reinhardt of Friege has been lauded as the crusader Thrud reborn, known even among the Magi.
He’s so powerful, and he talks like a knight in a fairy tale! I’m not at all surprised that he would be likened to a legendary crusader!		Tina
Safy	I suppose not. I agree that he seems to be a man worthy of respect. But...the house of Friege that he serves is a noble house of the Grannvale Empire. That makes him a knight of the empire, which is responsible for unspeakable acts across the land.
You’re right. In normal circumstances he would be an enemy to the Magi, and Prince Leif as well.		Lara
Tina	But...he seems like such a noble man. Don’t you think he would understand our position? He must see that the child hunts the empire is doing are wrong.
I hear that Reinhardt is the right hand of Princess Ishtar of Friege. I fear convincing him may be difficult...		Lara
Tina	We won’t know unless we try! Let’s ask him to stop working for the Grannvale Empire when we return to Thracia from Askr!
If only he would listen to us. I cannot put into words how wonderful that would be.		Safy
Lara	Shhh! Both of you! I hear someone... It’s the bandits again!

Crossing Paths - A

Lara	No! We’re completely surrounded. It looks like our luck has run out.
Wh-what can we do! Reinhardt!		Tina
Reinhardt	Haaah!
Sir Reinhardt!		Safy
Reinhardt	I will not allow you to lay a finger on them. Ha!
W-wow... Look how he’s scattering all those bandits with such ease...		Tina
Safy	So this is the power of the knight known as the second coming of the crusader Thrud.
I took too long to return. You have my sincere apologies for any distress I may have caused you.		Reinhardt
Tina	Not at all! You were right on time!
Thank you for saving us again.		Lara
Reinhardt	I sense no more of that rabble about. They should leave us in peace for some time now, I imagine.
...		Safy
Reinhardt	Are you injured, Sister Safy?
Sir Reinhardt...you may have already realized by now... We are deeply involved with Prince Leif of Leonster, an enemy of the Grannvale Empire. You have saved us now not once, but twice. Your actions are those of a true knight. We do not have the words to adequately express our gratitude.		Safy
Reinhardt	I...
We have a request, though we know it an impossible one. Would you stop giving aid to the Grannvale Empire?		Safy
Lara	I-I would ask the same! You must know of the heinous crimes the Grannvale Empire is committing! Fight with us, for the sake of all the people suffering in Thracia?
I see... I know that you do not make this request lightly. However, I cannot lend an ear to this thing that you ask of me.		Reinhardt
Tina	Why?! You must know that what the empire is doing is wrong!
This is not a choice I make out of consideration for which side is just, but because of my loyalty as a knight.		Reinhardt
Safy	...
I have sworn my allegiance not to the Grannvale Empire, but to the house of Friege. Lady Ishtar has chosen to stand with the empire. It is my sworn duty to follow her. My loyalty will never waver. It matters not what happens.		Reinhardt
Safy	I see... Then please forgive us for making such a request of you.
Do not bow your head, priestess. You have nothing to apologize for. I may not be able to lend you my aid when one day I return to Thracia. My sister, Olwen, is a different story. I entrusted my sentiments and the path I could not walk to her. I believe she would aid you and Prince Leif.		Reinhardt
Tina	I...I would have liked it if we could have become friends.
I appreciate your words. But know that, as long as we are in Askr, we will not be foes. Here we are comrades bringing our strength and will to bear to save Askr from that which threatens it.		Reinhardt
Lara	That’s why you saved us then.
I promise you that I shall devote all my strength to Askr, as a member of the Order of Heroes. I hope that you believe me, and that you, too, will lend me your aid.		Reinhardt
Safy	The paths we have chosen in Thracia may be different... However, that does not change the fact that you have earned our trust here. We will stand with you.
I am honored by your faith in me. I shall wield this blade and this thunder for my comrades.		Reinhardt
Tina	Well then, let’s deliver this medicine to the village together, with the help of our new companion!
That’s right! The bandits have been dealt with, so let’s hurry and finish up this delivery!		Lara
Reinhardt	I said I would escort you to the village earlier. If you allow it, I shall protect you until you return to Askr’s castle.
Thank you. We will count on your protection, Sir Reinhardt.		Safy

Scenario
Hope Held High ←		Crossing Paths		Thaw of Knowledge →
Lara	Tina		Safy		Reinhardt

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