Sepia and the Staff

**Sepia and the Staff** is the 6th chapter of the game. Encouraged to find a magical "squiggle stick", Chabo joins Brown and Sepia through a newly-unlocked realm. On their adventure, they cross paths with a familiar face, whose schemes and goals remain ever obscure.

## Transcript

### See You in Hell

*[As Chabo and Robin have a chat, Sepia and Brown join in with good news.]*

**Sepia:** Robin! Robin! I found one too!

**Robin:** What did you find, Sepia?

*[Suddenly, a Niebel Egg spawns next to the cheery brownie.]*

**Sepia:** It's so pretty, I thought about keeping it as my own little treasure, but then I heard you're looking for them, so...here!

**Robin:** Are you certain? This is quite the treasure indeed.

**Brown:** Of course she's sure!

**Sepia:** You granted my wish of being able to live with Brown again, so it's my turn to grant yours.

*[Upon hearing of Sepia's special treasure, Jazoo approaches the group.]*

**Jazoo:** Ah! A Niebel Egg! I hear such curiosities contain pieces of our world sealed within.

**Brown:** Oh great. The four-pawed fraud. What do you want now?

**Jazoo:** Such cruelty is vexing to one who has done you no harm! Especially as I am prepared to cast a most favorable spell upon said Egg...

*[The wolks spins around wildly.]*

**Jazoo:** BOW bow WOWWA bow wow WOW! Ruffa ruff ruff BORK BORK BORK! ...Ta-daaaaaaaaaah!

**Sepia:** Stop it! That's Robin's Egg, and I don't want you casting a spell on it that might turn it into an infernal nightmare!

*[Enter Marigold.]*

**Marigold:** Ugh! Not this mutt again! Whatever you're doing, you need to totally stop doing it.

*[She chases Jazoo around Chabo's cottage.]*

**Jazoo:** Such incredulity is sad to see in these times. ...Do enjoy the infernal nightmare, now!

**Marigold:** Get back heeeeere!

**Sepia:** Um...Brown? It's not REALLY going to hatch into an infernal nightmare, right?

**Robin:** Don't worry, Sepia–I'm sure this Egg has a wonderful place nestled away inside.

**Brown:** But we'll have to open it and find out. Have a crack at it, Chabo.

*[Chabo is given the Fineweave Egg, which he uses to release the Desolare Sands.]*

### Desolare Sands

*[Chabo, Brown, and Sepia set foot in the new land. For miles, there lies only dunes and animal skeletons.]*

**Sepia:** A...desert?

**Brown:** There, you see? Not a nightmare in sight! I mean, it's hot, true... And sandy... And the sand is rather itchy...

**Sepia:** Yeah, I dunno. I guess I was hoping for something a little more...pretty?

*[Jazoo shows up.]*

**Jazoo:** Banish all thoughts of nightmares from your minds, friends, for this locale is a dream itself!

**Sepia:** Ugh! Not that dog again!

**Brown:** Exactly what part of this place is a dream?

**Jazoo:** What does one find in the desert? ...Bones! What is the finest of treats? ...Bones! If you don't desire to end your dogs as chew toys for my kind, I suggest you suggest you stay well-hydrated.

**Sepia:** What a horrid thing to say!

**Jazoo:** Farewell!

*[He leaves.]*

**Sepia:** What is that dog's problem?

**Brown:** Eh, ignore him–we've got a desert to explore! So then, who wants to join the caravan?

**Sepia:** Do you think we'll find the squiggle sticks here?

**Brown:** Only one way to find out! ...Oh, and everyone make sure to drink plenty of water.

### The Woodkin Staff

**Sepia:** Yes! A SQUIGGLE STICK! ...Wait, TWO SQUIGGLE STICKS!

**Brown:** I hate to disappoint you, but I doubt any old sticks that happen to be squiggly are going to work. Life is simply not that con–

*[Contrary to what Brown says, Sepia pulls a mystical-looking staff out of the sand and holds it in the air.]*

**Sepia:** DONE!

**Brown:** ...venient. Or perhaps it is. But that still doesn't mean this mumbo jumbo about wish-granting is real.

**Sepia:** Keep that downer talk up and I'll make you change your tune! Do you want to croak like a frog from now on? 'Cause I'll wish it!

**Brown:** N-Now now, dear sister! Let's not be hasty! Er, but do you mind if I see your new staff for a moment?

**Sepia:** Hands off! It's mine! Well, we got what we came for, Chabo. Let's head back.

**Brown:** What are you talking about, Sepia? The adventure has only begun! Onward, squire! To the farthest reaches of the desert and beyond!

**Sepia:** What? No! What possible reason do we have for trudging through more hot sand?

**Brown:** Because it is there, my dear sister. Because it is there.

### A Shadow O'er the Sands

**Brown:** I must say, this desert is quite...sprawling.

**Sepia:** I think you mean "boring". And if we stick around much longer, we really ARE gonna turn into doggie chew toys!

**Brown:** You're the one with the fancy wishing staff. Why don't you wish us a little drink?

**Sepia:** No way! Wishes are for important things, not to give you an early happy hour. Huh?

*[Sepia sees a short gecko-like creature in her peripheral vision. When she turns, it runs behind a nearby rock.]*

**Brown:** What is it?

**Sepia:** Um... Well, I thought I saw something just now, but it's probably heatstroke. Or sand in my eye. Or something else lousy.

### The Staff Snatcher

**Brown:** Talk about your deserted deserts... There's absolutely nothing here. It's WONDERFUL!

**Sepia:** How are you so excited about nothing? It'd be different if an oasis appeared out of nowhere with a giant palace like they do in faerie tales.

**Brown:** Yes, but most of the time, such places are actually dens of cutthroats and thieves.

**Sepia:** You always have to go and ruin everything! Still, I'm glad I've got Chabo with me just in case we DO run into cutthroats. You'll keep me safe, right?

**>**[Leave 'em to me.]

**Sepia:** My hero!

**Brown:** When did you start putting your life in the hands of a big bad redcap?

**Sepia:** Quiet, you! Any fool can see he has a kind heart.

*[As they chat, the gecko from earlier shows up and politely bows. Sepia awkwardly bows back, but the gecko darts at her and runs away, knocking her face-down in the sand.]*

**Sepia:** Eeeeek!

**Brown:** Thieves! Is it thieves?! I knew it!

**Sepia:** No! It was some kind of lizard thingy that... AAAAAAAUGH!

*[Sepia looks around, panicked.]*

**Sepia:** It's gone! My staff is gone!

**Brown:** Oh no! ...Wait, so there IS a den of thieves around here? I was just trying to be melodramatic.

### A Serious Threat

**Brown:** Cheer up, Sepia. Chabo and I will get your staff back.

**Sepia:** You mean it?

**Brown:** Our larcenous lizard friend should be up ahead. Let's hurry after him.

**Jazoo:** Hold one moment, my good brownie! I beg you with all that I am not to underestimate that guileful grafter!

*[Jazoo waves at the trio from a short distance.]*

**Sepia:** Well, look what the sand blew in.

**Brown:** No one make eye contact. Just walk away.

**Jazoo:** That lizard is the very picture of avarice, caring for coin above all. And yet, he went straight for the staff, mmm? It is unlikely he would know of its worth... Methinks there is a greater mind pulling the strings from behind the grand proscenium!

*[By the time Jazoo finishes his monologue, Chabo and the others have already gone ahead.]*

**Jazoo:** ...They left? In the middle of my speech? What churls!

### The One Pulling the Strings

*[While chasing down the gecko, Chabo and Brown corner him near a shallow pool of water.]*

**Brown:** There's nowhere to run, you larcenous lizard!

*[He tries to leave in the adjacent direction, but Sepia prevents him from doing so.]*

**Sepia:** Give me back my staff!

*[The gecko looks around nervously as the trio close in around him.]*

**Brown:** You're surrounded, friend. Now hand over the staff before someone gets hurt...

*[Chabo, Brown, and Sepia charge at the gecko and quarrel over the staff. It is suddenly thrown in the air, to which it lands in the hands Shamo.]*

**Shamo:** Excellent. As for your reward, we shall discuss it if you manage to escape these foolsss.

**Brown:** Shamo?

**Sepia:** Wait, please! We worked really hard to put that staff back together!

**Shamo:** Do you really sssspeak to a redcap...?

*[Sepia shudders.]*

**Shamo:** Now, woodkin staff. Let ussss see if you can make my wish come true...

**Brown:** Wh-what are you planning?

**Jazoo:** Do my eyes deceive me? A redcap warrior, bravest of the brave, deigns to use MAGIC?

*[Jazoo observes the group from a nearby mound of sand.]*

**Shamo:** ...What do you want, wolks?

**Jazoo:** Return the staff to the girl before what remains of your pride is forfeit.

**Brown:** I think that dog wants to die.

**Shamo:** A wolks who cassst his fangs aside dares question me? I could snap you in two without a thought.

**Jazoo:** And I've no fear of an honorless redcap. If it's combat you desire, I am your man.

**Sepia:** Who IS this guy?!

*[The mysterious wolks begins to spin while reciting a magical chant.]*

**Jazoo:** BOW bow WOWWA bow wow WOW!

**Brown:** Wait, THAT'S your plan?!

**Jazoo:** Ruffa ruff ruff–

**Shamo:** Enough.

*[For some odd reason, Shamo tosses the staff back to Sepia.]*

**Jazoo:** A wise decision.

**Shamo:** Turning to spiritssss for magical favors would be...dishonorable. It seems you all live for another day.

*[He silently leaves.]*

**Brown:** Wow, Jazoo. I mean...wow.

**Sepia:** He actually chased off a redcap!

**Jazoo:** As for you, my young gecko friend... Choose your masters with greater caution.

*[The gecko, whose name turns out to be Nikkel, answers Jazoo's advice.]*

**Nikkel:** Y'okay.

*[Jazoo hops away.]*

**Sepia:** And here I thought he was just a petty con man. ...Er, con dog.

### Yep, That Too

*[The group returns to the town with Nikkel, telling Robin of their adventures through the desert and their encounter with Shamo.]*

**Brown:** ...And then that's the whole of it. Hard to swallow, I know, but it's the honest truth.

**Marigold:** Jazoo? Like, "bork bork" spell Jazoo? Are you sure this wasn't all another trick? Did you check your wallets and stuff?

**Sepia:** No trick! He drove the redcap away!

**Marigold:** Yeah, but be more bluffed him away, right? Which means Shamo may have been in on it!

**Sepia:** But...he didn't get anything out of it. In fact, he had to give BACK my staff.

**Marigold:** So maybe the real thing he stole was your trust! Oh, he's good...

**Sepia:** Do you really think that's it?

**Robin:** Whatever the case, I'm glad that you and the staff are safe.

**Brown:** Yep. All of us. ...Including this guy! So what should we do with him?

**Robin:** And who might you be?

**Nikkel:** Huh? Oh yeah. Hi. I'm Nikkel. A gecko.

**Brown:** And what can you do, Nikkel the gecko? What's your special talent?

**Nikkel:** Yeah. No. Sorry. I got nothing.

**Sepia:** Why did you follow us here?

**Nikkel:** Oh wait. That. Yeah. My talent. Got a nose for coin.

**Sepia:** And an ability to dodge my question, apparently.

**Nikkel:** Yep. That too.

## See also

* Next: Invisible Soul
* Previous: Twin Reunions