The Mysterious Youth

**The Mysterious Youth** is the 21st chapter of the game. In the previous chapter, Chabo, Brown, and Sepia ventured through Castle Ferdan in hopes of finding treasures left by the Niebel; instead, they returned home with a green-haired boy of an unknown race. While he is in Kotomio's care, the group is tasked with finding eels for a feast.

## Transcript

### Snatch Them Eels

*[Chabo, Sepia, Brown, Robin, Marigold, Alovara, and Harushiro are gathered outside Chabo's house.]*

**Sepia:** How's his condition, Harushiro?

**Harushiro:** He's still out. No change. That's not good, isn't it?

**Sepia:** Hmm...

*[As they discuss the boy's recovery, Puck and Jazoo show up.]*

**Alovara:** It's Puck and Jazoo!

**Puck:** Hey, Brown. So, was there any treasure at Castle Ferdan?

**Brown:** Oh, that. It would be a fantastic conversation piece, had we found anything at all.

**Puck:** Well that's a shame, then.

**Sepia:** We did find something even better than treasure though!

**Puck:** Something better than treasure?

**Sepia:** A new friend!

**Jazoo:** A new friend?!

**Brown:** Sepia, any idea if he's going to join us and become a resident?

**Sepia:** Sure, why not? He can help me with some building work and the like.

**Puck:** So is this new friend a gecko? A goblin?

**Brown:** We......don't actually know.

**Jazoo:** You've met him, Robin?

**Robin:** I... I've met him.

**Jazoo:** Okay. Ooh, I smell something in the air, and it's going to keep me busy. Off we go, handsome.

**Puck:** Huh? What? Where are we going?

**Jazoo:** If I say we go, do be quiet and follow. That's what handsome boys like you do.

**Puck:** Okay, okay, I'll follow. Bye, everyone.

*[Puck and Jazoo leave.]*

**Harushiro:** Ah, I forgots! I haves a message from Kotomio!

**Marigold:** Message?

**Harushiro:** She requesteds a meal fit for the spirits when he wakes up.

**Sepia:** A meal fit for the spirits... What would be good?

**Brown:** Ahh, we have the most appropriate leaves for such a patient right here...

**Alovara:** Sorry, hon. These leaves are too strong for someone in a weak condition.

**Robin:** What about those eels from the Spirit Lake? The ones that live right inside that area?

**Brown:** Sounds nutritious.

*[Alovara stomps her feet angrily.]*

**Alovara:** I reckon that's a good idea!

**Sepia:** Do you think we'll be able to catch one of those shifty things?

**Brown:** Not a problem. We'll be fine with the right people. Let's go, Sepia!

### Idling Hero

*[Chabo, Brown, Speia, and Alovara enter Spirit Lake. They are also accompanied by Craggie.]*

**Craggie:** For crying out loud, why have you brought me here?

**Brown:** Craggie, as long as our beautiful relationship has been, it's truly now that we need your skills!

**Craggie:** You what?

**Alovara:** Our task will be heckuva lot easier with you on board.

**Sepia:** Exactly! Now's the time we can spread the word of how great and amazing Craggie really is! Your time has come!

**Craggie:** ...You know, all I'm hearing is insults and false compliments.

**>**[It's just your imagination.]

**Craggie:** Well howzabout that? Maybe I should go see a shrink or something. Okay, what should I do?

**Brown:** We need you to grab us some eels. Have you ever grabbed eels from Spirit Lake before?

**Craggie:** Have you ever breathed?

**Sepia:** Seriously? I thought eels were difficult to catch.

**Craggie:** Who do you think I am? I'm a proud sahuagin. You shouldn't underestimate me.

**Brown:** Well said, Craggie! Anyway, details later. Without delay, you are to catch us some eels, understood?

**Craggie:** I have no idea what's going on, but okay! As long as you call me "Hero".

**Alovara:** Of course, hon! I mean, Hero!

**Sepia:** We're right behind you. Good luck, Craggie!

**Craggie:** Wow, it feels good to be a hero.

**Brown:** Doesn't it? We're counting on you.

**Craggie:** Okay! Just you wait!

*[In typical Craggie fashion, he bounces off several things before darting into the lake.]*

### Where's That One From?

*[The group watches Craggie hunt eels from a distance. His way of doing things is rather obnoxious.]*

**Craggie:** Eels!!! Here, eely eely eely!

**Brown:** Does he have to be so gaudy about it? He's going to scare the eels off at this rate.

*[The reckless sahuagin returns.]*

**Alovara:** Craggie, did ya get one, hon?

**Craggie:** ...There aren't any in this area.

**Brown:** Seriously? You didn't miss any?

*[Craggie turns around in embarassment.]*

**Craggie:** ......

**Alovara:** Craggie, did you...

**Craggie:** I said there aren't any here. I'm going further in.

**Brown:** Hold on, Craggie! ...Nope, he's gone.

**Sepia:** I'll go check it out too!

**Alovara:** Well, ain't he just the most enthusiastic eel catcher ever?

**Brown:** If we can't catch any, it'll be a shame. We'll just have to go for some Alovara steak.

**Alovara:** ......?!?! Craggie is getting us some eels, and I think I'll give him a hand. Y'all ain't getting any steak, never never never!

*[She runs off after Craggie.]*

**Sepia:** Stop teasing people, brother.

**Brown:** What? It'll be a pity if we can't snag an eel.

**Sepia:** We can catch other fish too, you know!

**Brown:** Very kind of you, Sepia. And you're thinking about that new kid a lot. Who do you think he belongs to?

**Sepia:** It doesn't matter. He's in trouble, and we can help.

**Brown:** Fair point. Let's follow the others then.

### Expectations

*[Along the shallow river, the group finds Craggie still on the hunt for eels.]*

**Brown:** Ah, there he is. Hey, Craggie!

**Craggie:** The water is really clear this far in. I can smell them!

**Sepia:** We're counting on you, Craggie!

**Alovara:** You can do it, hon! I mean, if you don't...

**Craggie:** ......If I don't......

**Alovara:** It'll be a real heartbreaker for me.

**Craggie:** Okay, howzabout not giving Craggie all the pressure? Don't you worry your pretty little leaves. I won't be leaving with diddly squat.

**Brown:** Hmm. There's a different air to you today, Craggie.

**Craggie:** What? I plan to be the hero today.

**Brown:** Fair play to you!

*[Craggie takes off once again.]*

**Brown:** Considering how he was moaning before, he's really taken a liking to this.

**Sepia:** Let's believe in him.

**Alovara:** Craggie is one heckuva hero. I'll believe in him too.

### Craggie's Fishing Style

*[For some reason, Craggie stops hunting and stands still.]*

**Brown:** ...What's wrong?

**Craggie:** I can't find any!!

**Brown:** Craggie... This might not be my area of expertise, but I imagine going at them with a big noise will scare them away.

**Craggie:** ...Really?

**Alovara:** How do you not know that?!

**Brown:** Try a quieter approach.

**Craggie:** Hold on, is my fishing technique all wrong?

**Brown:** I wouldn't say that, exactly... Different fish require different tactics, that's all.

**Craggie:** This technique was passed down to me from my ancestors to my parents...

**Alovara:** Craggie, is it a mite possible you don't know any other techniques?

*[The sahuagin gets nervous.]*

**Craggie:** I can do it. I can catch those eels with the family technique!

**Sepia:** Craggie?!

*[He darts off.]*

**Brown:** He's a stubborn one, that Craggie.

**Alovara:** ...I reckon I'll get my leaves ready.

**Alovara:** It'll be fine, Alovara. Let's go catch some eels!

**Brown:** I'm going to catch some eels myself!

*[Chabo nods, and the group walks down the river.]*

### Climbing Eels

*[At long last, Craggie finds a pool full of eels. Their splashing causes the water to ripple aggressively.]*

**Craggie:** Ooooooooooh!!

**Brown:** What happened?

**Craggie:** Look over there! There's a whole bunch of eels right there!

*[Everyone looks around in awe.]*

**Brown:** There's a swarm of them!

**Sepia:** These are the eels?

**Craggie:** Yep. This is their nest.

**Alovara:** Craggie, this is stupendous! Yessir, we can have a town feast with this many eels!

**Brown:** We're going to get us some eels! I'll help you, Craggie!

**Craggie:** Oi, this haul is mine!

**Brown:** You think you're going to get all the fun alone? No chance!

*[Brown and Craggie run into the lake while the others watch.]*

**Craggie:** Who's the hero? That would be me!

**Brown:** You can't defeat me, Craggie!

**Sepia:** Great! Looks like I'll be making a feast, and not just for when that kid wakes up.

**Alovara:** For a hot minute there, I thought I was gonna lose my leaves!

**Sepia:** Let's help get some eels, Chabo!

**>**[Okay!]

**Sepia:** How good a catcher are you? Come on then, let's go!

**Alovara:** Maybe I'll catch a small'un!

### The Real Hero

**Sepia:** Brown? What's wrong?

**Brown:** They all disappeared...

**Alovara:** They disappeared? What happened??

**Brown:** Craggie used his family technique again and they all burrowed away into their dens.

**Alovara:** HUH?!

**Craggie:** I know what I'm doing.

**Sepia:** There's not one eel remaining...

**Brown:** And apparently, when they burrow away into their dens, they don't come out for the rest of the day.

**Craggie:** Why so glum? We'll come back tomorrow and try again. We'll get the hang of it. We'll get a stonking haul tomorrow, with my family technique and all!

**Brown:** HEY! We can't keep coming back here day after day!

*[Suddenly, Iagan arrives.]*

**Iagan:** Well well, what are you lot going here, then?

**Alovara:** Iagan!

**Brown:** Same question to you, old-timer!

**Iagan:** I'm catching dinner, yes? What else would I be doing?

**Brown:** Dinner?

**Iagan:** See here.

*[The cheery gnome holds out a hand full of eels.]*

**Alovara:** The eels!!

**Sepia:** A load of them!

**Brown:** How did you get that many?!

**Iagan:** It's not that difficult. I do this every day. Set a trap, get a load of eels, yes?

**Brown:** Vegetarian gnomes eat eels?

**Iagan:** Eating these eels gives one an enormous power boost, yes? What's wrong if a vegetarian eats eels? Have you never heard of a pescatarian?! That, and it's how I get rid of stress, yes?

**Alovara:** We lost those eels to the good-natured gnome, huh?

**Brown:** Hey, Iagan. Would you mind giving us one of those eels?

**Iagan:** Yergan and I couldn't eat this much. Take as many as you want, yes?

**Sepia:** Really? Oh, thank you, Iagan!

**Alovara:** Iagan is the hero!

*[Craggie shamefully turns around.]*

**Brown:** Right, now that we have the eel, let's go back to town!

*[Everyone except Craggie nods and begins to walk away.]*

**Iagan:** What's wrong, Craggie? Are you dragging everyone down again?

**Craggie:** Dragging everyone down?

**Alovara:** Iagan, if you say that, you'll be in for a lot of rotten soil!

**Craggie:** I was meant to be the hero! Instead, some stubby gnome stole my hero title.

**Alovara:** But- But Craggie! You were working ya fins off!

**Brown:** Craggie, you'll have plenty of chances to prove yourself.

**Craggie:** I'm staying put until I get an eel. I've decided!

**Brown:** Okay. Then do your best, Craggie!

**Craggie:** Huh?

**Brown:** We're going to head back first.

**Sepia:** We're looking forward to your catch, Craggie!

**Craggie:** ...You're all going back?

**>**[Don't give up!]

**Alovara:** Us chickens are going home first. See ya!

*[The group leaves, and Craggie is now alone.]*

**Craggie:** ..........Why did I come here in the first place?

### Expanding Warmth

*[Back in town, the group presents the eels to Robin.]*

**Robin:** Welcome back, everyone. I see you've caught yourselves some eels.

**Alovara:** Thanks to Iagan. We have a new hero today!

**Iagan:** That boy from Castle Ferdan is still asleep, yes? Then here's some health for him. I can do the same again tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after that, yes?

**Alovara:** Ooooh, Iagan can be a hero every day!

**Brown:** With that, we'lll wait for that guy to wake up.

**Sepia:** ...Right.

**Alovara:** Nothing to worry about. He'll be tottering around the town in no time.

**Robin:** That's right, Sepia. Have faith.

**Harushiro:** Ooooooooi!

*[Harushiro comes by.]*

**Alovara:** Where's the fire, Harushiro?

**Harushiro:** He wokes up!

**Brown:** Seriously?!

**Harushiro:** He's even speakings properly! Kotomio is talkings to him now.

**Sepia:** Great!

**Robin:** See, Sepia? It just takes a little faith. Let's get him something to eat then.

**Sepia:** Right! A scrumptious meal at that!

**Alovara:** Umm, if you want, I can give y'all one of my leaves for your cooking...

**Sepia:** That's sweet of you, Alovara, but it's not necessary. After all, we have a ton of eels!

**Iagan:** If there's enough, I can go trap some more, yes?

**Sepia:** Thank you, Iagan!

**Brown:** Looks like we're all going to be busy.

**Marigold:** What do you mean "we"? I haven't seen you lift a finger.

**Brown:** Well, I've got more people to look after. Right, Chabo?

**>**[Right!]

**Brown:** See, this guy gets it. Seems I've taught you well. Maybe one day, you'll have your own fellows to look after.

**Sepia:** We need to get started with this welcome party!

**Alovara:** On it, on it!

## See also

* Next: Faraway Memories
* Previous: Heavenly People

## Trivia

* In this quest, Iagan is mistakenly referred to as Yergan multiple times. This was fixed in the above transcript.