Tracks Through the Wilderness

Tracks Through the Wilderness is the first part of .
==Start Location==
Start the quest by talking to Chasca near the trial arena west of the Quahuacan Cliff Statue of the Seven.
The Night Before the Trial Start Location.png|Tracks Through the Wilderness's start location
World Quest Tracks Through the Wilderness Start Location Context.png|Additional context
==Steps==
# Go to the trial site
# Go and rescue the caravan
# Talk to Chasca
# Return to the Flower-Feather Clan to discuss the situation
# Visit Chasca's "mother"
# Go to where Coya lives
# Defeat all opponents
# Talk to Chasca and company
==Gameplay Notes==
* During step 7, Chasca joins the party as a trial character.
==Trial Character==
==Dialogue==
;(Approach the quest area)
: Paimon: The Flower-Feather Clan should be about ready to hold the new flying trials by now. Let's go check it out!
;(Approach Chasca)
: Chasca: Hmm? Ah, and Paimon... You came...
: Paimon: Yup! And it looks like we made it just in time! Although... can't say the same for the qucusaurs. Bit of a low turnout, huh?
: Chasca: Yeah... You'll see why soon enough.
: Allpa: Alright, get ready! Three, two, one... fly!
:
: Coyllur: Whoa! We're really flying!
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 1.png
: Zhunan: I feel light as a feather... Haha, I'm flying without a qucusaur!
: Mukki: These Phlogiston Wings are awesome!
: Paimon: What the... What's going on!?
: Paimon: Paimon can barely believe her eyes... How did they fly all on their own?
: What happened while we were gone?
: Chasca: The merchants we ran into that day were selling a product called "Phlogiston Wings."
: Chasca: It's a flying machine worn on the back. To operate it, you just use a hand-held trackball that controls the flow of gaseous phlogiston.
: Paimon: That's incredible...
: Chasca: Yeah. If our tribe — well, if Natlan mass-adopted this technology, it would revolutionize our mobility and responsiveness in times of crisis...
: Chasca: ...Just think of the countless tragedies that could be averted.
: ...
: Zhunan: I... I feel like I'm dreaming... Did I really just... fly on my own? Without the help of a qucusaur?
: Coyllur: You'd better believe it! Plus, you just passed the flying trial! Right, Elder Allpa?
: Allpa: ...
: Zhunan: ...Elder Allpa?
: Mukki: Um... Should this really count as a pass, if we did the trial using Phlogiston Wings?
: Coyllur: Why not? The scoring rubric is about flying performance. It doesn't specifically say you have to ride a qucusaur, does it?
: Mukki: Maybe, but... I mean, even Chasca had to ride a qucusaur in her trial, right? And the whole point of the trial is to test both your flying technique, and your ability to work with a saurian companion.
: Coyllur: Well, if we can fly by ourselves... maybe we don't to test the latter anymore.
: Allpa: Chasca, , what are your thoughts on this new invention?
: It's a good innovation. The sooner it's widely adopted, the better.
:: Coyllur: You see! Even agrees!
: It's an unknown quantity. You should use it with caution.
:: Mukki: Right? That's what I think, too...
: Chasca: Hmm... I agree that they have strategic value. But I don't think it makes any sense to evaluate candidates by the current testing standards if they're using Phlogiston Wings.
: Zhunan: ...!
: Coyllur: Whyyy? Zhunan finally mustered the courage to go through with this, and now you're saying it doesn't count!?
: Chasca: We don't have any experience using these wings in battle, nor is it immediately obvious how to incorporate them into the existing systems in our tribe.
: Chasca: Taking a longer-term perspective, I think we need to start by getting thoroughly acquainted with how these things work. Then we can develop a new trial format with new assessment criteria, tailored to candidates using the Phlogiston Wings.
: Allpa: Mmm... You all raise valid points. But Chasca, while your proposal sounds perfectly reasonable, it would probably take years to put it into practice.
: Allpa: We lost so many people in that war... These Phlogiston Wings could be exactly what we need to strengthen our forces and boost morale in this trying time.
: Allpa: And as for real-world battle experience... There will be plenty of opportunities to gain that. I have high hopes for you, Zhunan.
: Zhunan: Huh...
: Coyllur: Hey... Stop staring into space! Say "thank you"!
: Zhunan: Oh, uh — thank you! Thank you, Elder Allpa!
: Allpa: You have nothing to thank me for. Remember... the way you got your wings back was by relying on yourself.
: Warmi: ...Elder Allpa! Bad news — qucusaurs are attacking the merchants again!
: Allpa: Again? Okay, everyone stay put while I— Hmm?
:
: Paimon: Huh? Chasca...
;(After the cutscene)
: Paimon: Why did Chasca rush off like that? And then Elder Allpa and the others, too... Anyway, let's go see what this is all about!
----
;(Approach the caravan)
: Young Merchant: It's back... It found us again!
: Elderly Merchant: Run! Get out of here!
: ???: Cheep...
: Isidore: Curses... She's really riled up this time!
: Isidore: Hey, stop running! We'll never outrun a creature with wings! Get back here and let's fight!
: ???: Cheep...
: Chasca: Stop, all of you!
: Elderly Merchant: ...Chasca! Wonderful! Quick, get rid of that thing...
: Chasca: ...
:???: ...
: Young Merchant: Uhh... What's going on? Why isn't she doing anything?
: Chasca: So it really is you...
: Chasca: ...Sister.
: Paimon: Wait, "sister"? That qucusaur is Chasca's sister?
:???: ...
: ???: Cheep...
: ???: Cheep!
:
: Chasca: Coya, wait!
;(After the cutscene)
: Paimon: Is Chasca gonna be okay? Should we go check on her?
;(Talk to Coyllur or Zhunan, optional)
: Coyllur: What was wrong with that qucusaur? Why was it so aggressive?
: Zhunan: If we just let it escape back into the wild, who's to say it won't attack again?
;(Talk to Allpa or Isidore, optional)
: Allpa: Is everyone alright?
: Isidore: We're okay, no serious injuries... Thank goodness you all got here just in time.
;(Talk to Chasca)
: Paimon: Chasca... A—Are you okay?
: Chasca: Phew... I'm fine, sorry for making you worry.
: You're not going to keep following her?
: Chasca: No point. She's an expert at hiding her tracks. Once she's shaken you off, you'll never catch up to her.
: Chasca: ...At least, I always used to lose to her at hide-and-seek when we were kids.
: When you were kids?
: Chasca: Well, yeah. You know I was raised by qucusaurs. Anyway, she and I grew up in the nest together... her name's Coya, and she's my "big sister."
: Chasca: We played together all the time, chasing each other through treetops, or mountaintops. It felt like it would go on that way forever... Until the day I was sent back to live with the humans.
: Chasca: Not all qucusaurs are friendly towards people. Coya, for instance — she's fine with me, because we grew up around each other, but she's not fond of other humans.
: Chasca: When "Mom" decided to send me away, Coya strongly protested, and after I left, she became more and more reluctant to interact with humans...
: Paimon: Maybe she thinks that... humans stole you away from her?
: Chasca: ...It's a possibility. But in any case, we still stayed best friends at first.
: Chasca: I had a hard time adjusting to life in the tribe, so whenever something went wrong, I'd run off into the wild and vent to Coya.
: Paimon: Ah, so that's what Uncle Cusco was talking about. He said you seemed to prefer hanging out with saurians to your own kind back then.
: Chasca: Yeah, I did... but then gradually, everything changed. With a new mom and dad, a new tribe, and Chuychu...
: Chasca: I started getting curious about these humans, and made an effort to understand their behavior. The more time I spent with them, the less I spent with Coya...
: Chasca: And then, one day... it was Coya's turn to leave the nest. She sought me out and asked if I was willing to leave the tribe and go live in the wilderness with her.
: Chasca: As far as I can remember... That was the first time she ever approached a human settlement on purpose.
: Paimon: So... how did you answer her?
: Chasca: Well, I wouldn't be standing here talking to you if I'd said yes.
: In other words, you turned her down?
: Chasca: No, I... I was torn. On the one hand, I'd already made up my mind to embrace my new family, and accept my human identity.
: Chasca: But I also knew that Coya wasn't a fan of humans, and I didn't want to disappoint her... *sigh* She took my hesitation as an answer.
: Chasca: She saw it as a personal betrayal, a huge fit, and then flew off. We hadn't seen each other since... until today.
: Chasca: Not for lack of trying, though. I tried asking Mom where Coya's new nest was so I could talk things out with her. But Coya had already asked Mom not to tell me where she'd moved to.
: Chasca: It must be hard for Mom, being stuck between her two daughters, so I didn't press the issue, and I didn't go looking for her.
: But after today's events...
: Chasca: Mm, if things carry on like this, I need to make sure I find her before anyone else... Even if she doesn't want to see me.
: Chasca: For now, let's bring the wounded back to the tribe, and see what Mutota and Elder Allpa have in mind.
----
;(Approach Mutota)
:
:;(Nearby, a group of people talk about the recent attacks)
: Pixica: ...So, I hear there's been another Qucusaur attack.
: Huascar: Hah, I knew it! They're wild animals, and they can't be trusted!
: Mukki: Hey! Show a little respect, the qucusaurs are our partners!
: Huascar: Hmph, maybe in the flying squad, but they don't give a hoot about the rest of us!
: Pixica: Well, now that we have the Phlogiston Wings... Do we even need the qucusaurs anymore?
: Mukki: Are you kidding? How are we supposed to protect our tribe without them?
: Pixica: ...I—I didn't mean it like that!
: Huascar: Huh! "Protect our tribe"? Or are you just scared that your precious flying squad will lose its prestigious position?
: Mukki: You take that back!
: Mutota: *sigh* ...Things are changing so quickly...
: Allpa: Chasca, there's a conflict emerging there... aren't you going to nip it in the bud?
: Chasca: The whole tribe's talking about this now — breaking up a single fight won't solve anything. The real source of conflict here is the Phlogiston Wings... and what happened with Coya.
: Mutota: On any other day, people would just brush this attack aside. After all, clashes between wild qucusaurs and humans are no more common than those between people.
: Allpa: But now that the Phlogiston Wings have entered the equation, it's sparked a debate over whether our tribe needs the qucusaurs at all...
: Mutota: I worry that we risk repeating the mistakes of the Cinder City... Back then, Lord Och-Kan's hatred of the saurians nearly destroyed the peace forged by the Pyro Archon...
: Mutota: Chasca, to prevent things from deteriorating further, I'd like to task you with restoring peace to the tribe.
: Chasca: I will.
: Mutota: , you've already done so much for Natlan, and the Flower-Feather Clan has no right to ask more of you, but...
: Say no more. I'm in.
:: Chasca is my friend.
::: Chasca: ...Thank you.
:: The Flower-Feather Tribe are my friends.
::: Mutota: Heh... Looks like I was making a mountain out of a mole-hill.
: Paimon: And don't forget about Paimon! Just leave this to us.
: Allpa: ...This whole situation has unfolded so quickly that it's put us on a back foot. To tell the truth, it makes me a little suspicious...
: Chasca: You think someone might have orchestrated all this?
: Allpa: It's possible... Leave it with me. I'll look into it.
: Allpa: Also, Chasca... Could you try to keep a low profile while you're out there digging around? We don't want to give our hand away.
: Chasca: I'll do my best.
:;(The Traveler, Paimon, and Chasca set off)
: Paimon: Okay... So where should we start?
: Chasca: This all began with Coya's attacks. If we can find out what led her to do it, that should give us something to work with.
: But will she even talk to us?
: Chasca: ...Unlikely. Given how she reacted when I showed up, I don't think she's forgiven me.
: Chasca: If you want to resolve a conflict through dialogue, sometimes you need a third-party facilitator... Let's go see my "mom."
----
;(Approach the marked area)
: Paimon: Wow, so this is where you used to live as a child?
: Chasca: Mm-hmm... When I was little, we used to do this thing where I'd jump from the top of this tree, and Coya would fly over from the platform and catch me in midair.
: Chasca: Or sometimes, we'd both fly from the treetop together, then after some aerial maneuvering, she'd throw me up onto that platform.
: Chasca: After we got a bit older, we went to the nearby shores looking for even greater heights...
: Paimon: Aah, stop! You're gonna give Paimon a heart attack...
: Chasca: Oh, really? I just thought it made a fun story...
: I liked it.
:: Chasca: Then I'll share some more with you when there's time. Anyway... back to the matter at hand.
: It's a bit scary...
:: Chasca: What, you too? Alright, fine... let's focus on the matter at hand.
:Chasca: ...♪
:
: ???: Cheep...
: ???: ...Cheep?
: Chasca: Hey, Momma Bird, I'm back. My last visit was only a week ago, wasn't it? See, I visit you more than I visit Papa Cusco.
: Chasca: I brought a couple of friends with me. These are and Paimon.
: Chasca: , Paimon, this is my Mom. Her name is... "Chimpu." In the human tongue, anyway.
: Chimpu: Cheep!
: Paimon: Uh... hi!
: So you understand saurian language?
: Chasca: No, not really... I don't speak it as such, but I can sort of get the gist — although, only with Mom and Coya, since I spent my formative years with them.
: Chasca: Even then, it's basically a best-guess based on their sounds, body language, and expressions. Seems to work about nine times out of ten, anyway.
: Chasca: As for whether Mom understands me, I can't always tell. But somehow, we still manage to communicate... Call it the family bond, I guess.
: Chimpu: Cheep?
: Chasca: Don't worry, I'm doing well. But... I think Coya might be in some trouble.
:
: Chasca: ...I know she's never been a fan of humans, but she's never deliberately attacked them before, either. What's behind this sudden change?
: Chimpu: Cheep...
: Paimon: Does, um... Auntie Chimpu know anything?
: Chasca: ...Doesn't look like it. Coya hasn't visited her in a long time.
: Chasca: ...Then, could you please tell me where she's living nowadays? I really need to talk to her.
: Chasca: If this animosity between her and the tribe continues, then... the next time there's an incident, I don't know if I'll make it there in time.
: Chimpu: ...
: Chimpu: ...Cheep.
: What did she say?
: Chasca: ...She said she'll take us there.
: Chasca: Thank you, Mom.
;(Approach the marked area)
: Paimon: This is a really remote location... Guess she was trying to get as far away from humans as possible.
: Chimpu: ...Cheep.
: Chasca: ...We stay here? Mm... Okay, got it.
: Chasca: , Paimon, Mom says we should stay out of sight for now. She'll talk to Coya first.
: Chasca: Coya is very hostile toward humans right now, so if we show up unannounced, it might just make things worse.
: Got it.
:;(Coya lands while the group remains out of sight)
:Coya: ...
: Chimpu: ...Cheep?
: Coya: ...Cheep!
: Chimpu: Cheep...
: Paimon: Uhhh... Any idea what they're saying?
: Chasca: Hmm... Sounds like things are more complicated than I imagined.
: Chasca: ...There's evidence in this area suggesting that Coya might have been the victim of a human attack.
: Paimon: What!?
: Coya: ...Cheep.
: Chimpu: Cheep!?
: Chasca: No...!
: What's wrong?
: Chasca: It's Chime, Coya's child... the attackers kidnapped her!
: Chasca: "They came over the sea... under the cover of night... and they took Chime."
: Paimon: What the heck? Who would do such a thing!?
: Chasca: "I searched day and night... and finally found them..."
: When she says "them"...
: Does she mean...
:
: Coya & Chimpu: ...Cheep!?
: Young Merchant: Oh, yeah! Tepal's contraption is working like a charm! Got 'er in one!
: Elderly Merchant: Hey, there's another one... Wait, is that the one that got away last time?
: Isidore: Who cares, just get 'em all! Tepal pays us per catch!
: Coya: Cheep...!
: Chasca: ...!
: Paimon: Chasca...!
;(While fighting)
: Isidore: Ch—Chasca!? How'd you get here... Quick! Stop her!
: Chasca: Don't you even think about running away!
;(After defeating the enemies)
: Isidore: D—Don't come any closer, or I'll... Uhh, go, Phlogiston Wings, take me outta here! ...Aah!
: Paimon: Uh-oh, looks like it malfunctioned!
: Chasca: (This is bad... Mom and Coya are already injured, and if that thing explodes right next to them...)
: Isidore: Help! Uh, Elemental Energy suppresses it! Please, someone—
: Chasca: Get back!
: Chasca: ...!
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 2.png
: Paimon: Uh... It's still going... And it's getting worse!
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 3.png
: Chasca: Guess we need a more permanent solution. Alright then...
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 4.png
: Chasca: Hurrrh!
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 5.png
:
: Isidore: ...*panting*...
: Isidore: That was too close... I thought I was gonna die...
: That can still be arranged...
: Isidore: Eek!
: Chasca: Answer us honestly. Were you the ones who attacked Coya before?
: Isidore: I, um... No, it was, it was...
: Coya: ...Cheep.
: Chasca: Well, she says it was you.
: If you still want to deny it...
: We have other ways of making you talk.
: Chasca: Just tell me. Who sent you here?
: Isidore: I—It was Tepal! He told us to catch all the wild qucusaurs we can find!
: Isidore: And... he also said that this qucusaur has become a thorn in his side... so it needs dealing with urgently...
: Chasca: "Tepal"? Huh, sounds familiar... But where from...?
: So, where is he now?
: Isidore: Um... He tends to send his orders in writing...
: Isidore: He pretty much never communicates with us in person. When he does, he wears a mask to hide his face...
:
Tracks Through the Wilderness Quest Still 6.png
: Isidore: And whenever we trade qucusaurs for Phlogiston Wings, we deal with his henchmen.
: Paimon: So you didn't even make those wings!
: Isidore: All we did was slap some labels on them and transport them over here, to make them look like they're imported...
: Chasca: ...To make it harder to trace their origins.
: Why does he want you to catch qucusaurs?
: Isidore: Uh... I don't know, honest!
: Chasca: Well, that's mighty convenient, huh? What about if I held a gun to your head, would that change your answer?
: Isidore: N—No need! I'm sorry, I'll tell you everything I know!
: Isidore: Tepal doesn't tell us much, but he's always stresses that he wants them alive... So that gives us some clues...
: Isidore: This is just a best guess, of course, but we suspect that the gaseous phlogiston stored in the trackballs... is drawn directly from the qucusaurs.
: Paimon: What!?
: Coya: Cheep!
: Chasca: Easy now, you're still injured... Hey, keep talking.
: Isidore: Yes Ma'am... So, the gaseous phlogiston has to be highly refined in order to power the Phlogiston Wings. The slightest imperfection can have disastrous consequences, as you just witnessed...
: Isidore: But the qucusaurs are have a natural ability to process gaseous phlogiston, so... if you use them as an intermediary, then...
: Coya: Cheep!
: Chasca: That's enough... So, the qucusaurs you took. Where are they now?
: Isidore: Uh... Tepal should have them... But no one knows where he's based apart from him and his henchmen.
: Isidore: We've tried looking for it ourselves. Even followed them a few times. But we always end up losing track of them...
: Paimon: Random thought: Maybe they're hiding up in the sky...?
: I guess this means we can't go after the ringleader yet.
: Chasca: Tepal... Tepal... I'm sure I've heard that name. Maybe it was...
: Allpa: Chasca! !
: Paimon: That voice! It's Allpa!
: Chasca: Elder Allpa? What brings you all the way out here?
: Allpa: Well, I was patrolling nearby when I heard the sound of an explosion... What's going on?
: Let me fill you in...
:
: Allpa: I don't believe it...
: Chasca: Elder Allpa, does the name "Tepal" ring a bell to you? I feel like I've seen it written down before... maybe in a list of candidates for the flying trials.
: Paimon: Huh? So he's a member of your tribe, then?
: Chasca: No... If he was a member of the Flower-Feather Clan, I'd definitely know him.
: Shall we head back to the tribe and do some investigating?
: Allpa: ...
: Allpa: ...Now that you mention it, I do remember a young man from outside our tribe who came to participate in our flying trials once.
: Allpa: You were away on a mission at the time, which is probably why you don't remember him.
: Allpa: He was a craftsman from the Children of Echoes, but he'd always dreamed of soaring the skies. So he wanted to join our flying squad.
: Chasca: The Children of Echoes? That's rare.
: Allpa: But despite his best efforts, he unfortunately failed to pass the trial and gain the qucusaurs' approval.
: Allpa: In the end, he went wingless, and returned dejected to the Children of Echoes.
: Paimon: Wingless, huh... Maybe he invented the Phlogiston Wings to get revenge on the qucusaurs?
: Allpa: Perhaps... or maybe it's simply his way of dealing with his regrets over his past flying endeavors.
: Chasca: ...Either way, it doesn't excuse his abuse of the qucusaurs. I'm gonna take these guys back and expose the truth to the tribe. It's time for this conflict to end.
: Isidore: Aah...!
: Allpa: Easy, Chasca. Remember what I said about keeping a low profile?
: Allpa: The ringleader still hasn't shown himself, and this man's allegation about powering the Phlogiston Wings with qucusaurs is only speculation.
: Allpa: Bringing these men to the tribe now won't win over any current supporters of the Phlogiston Wings. In fact, it may even escalate the conflict further.
: Allpa: ...After all, many are mistrustful of the qucusaurs after recent events.
: Chasca: ...Is that why Tepal waited until now to try to capture my sister?
: Isidore: I—I don't know! I mean, he did tell us to spread negative rumors about the qucusaurs, and slip some Mora to anyone opposed to them, but...
: Paimon: But Coya only attacked humans because they stole her child!
: Allpa: Nevertheless, we will be hard-pressed to change people's minds while emotions are running high — unless we have irrefutable evidence...
: ...You mean, we need to catch Tepal himself?
: Allpa: Bravo, my thoughts exactly. In the meantime, leave these men with me — I'll escort them back to the tribe.
: Allpa: I'll take the other members of their crew into custody, too. They won't get another chance to stir up trouble.
: Chasca: Fair enough... I guess finding Tepal is gonna be the key to resolving this conflict. Let's hope the Children of Echoes have some info on him.
: Coya: Cheep...
: Chasca: Sorry, whatever it is, it'll have to wait till this has all blown over. I have to fix this situation before it spirals out of control...
: Chimpu: Cheep...
: Chasca: Mom, Sis... rest up, and get well soon. I gotta fly.
:
: Coya: ...
: Chimpu: (...If you're worried, go ahead and follow her.)
: Chimpu: (Don't worry about me. Mom can take care of herself.)
: Coya: (...Got it.)
==Other Languages==
==Change History==