Echoes of a Forsaken Song

(Approach Amsvartnir)

Paimon: Hey, (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), look! A bunch of Seelie are circling above the lake...

Paimon: Where there are Seelie... there's bound to be treasure!

(Solve the puzzle and play the harp)

...Why do you mourn what's lost and gone, and why lament by sorrow's song...

...The moon that breaks to pieces gone, or morning stars that flee the sun...

...Why should your sorrows know no peace, why should your tears refuse to cease...

Paimon: That's such a weird instrument... No matter how Paimon plucks it, there's not a single sound! Is it broken?

Let's follow those Seelie first.

Paimon: Yeah, forget the instrument for now. Just follow the Seelie up, and we'll probably find the treasure!

Huh? But I definitely heard music just now. And singing...

Paimon: R—Really? But Paimon only heard the wind... Wait, is it one of those situations where only the person strumming it gets to hear the music?

Paimon: Alright, let me give it a try too...

Paimon gives the strings a firm strum...

Once again, that desolate, mournful tune drifts upward, light as a breeze at dawn, carrying with it a soft song —

You understand every word of the song — every phrase, every note — even though you've never heard the language before.

Paimon: Waaah, still no sound at all! (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), are you really sure you heard something?

Paimon: Whatever, forget the instrument for now. Just follow the Seelie up, and we'll probably find the treasure!

(Ride the Moonlane)

Paimon: Uhm... Paimon's confused. Are we supposed to connect these glowing things somehow?

(After reconnecting the Lakeside Prism)

...Neither omniscient nor omnipotent, the usurper sits atop a throne of cruelty...

Paimon: Great! That did the trick! (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), let's keep going up!

(Ride the next Moonlane)

(After reconnecting the two Lakeside Prisms)

...A tower climbing to the sky, a golden city...

(Ride the next Moonlane)

(After reconnecting the Lakeside Prism)

...The grandest glory of the world, in the end, to fall just as this...

(Ride the next Moonlane)

(After reconnecting the three Lakeside Prisms)

...Yet that prolonged decline, such prolonged decline...

...Why must it yet afflict my unfortunate brethren...

(Approach the appearing Royal Court of the Seelie)

Paimon: Whoa, all those Seelie from before are gathered here... Huh? Wait, where are those ones going?

(Approach the harp around the corner)

Paimon: Huh? It's the same as that harp below... Is this one broken, too?

(Enter the ruins)

Paimon: How strange... Paimon can't hear a thing, but all those Seelie came flying over anyway...

Paimon: Uhm... Does this mean we need to connect the things on this wall — just like we did last time?

(Reconnect the Lakeside Prism and touch the mural)

...The chirping of insects on a long-gone autumn night, the chorus of exiles...

...Only melodies and memories linger in this foreign land...

...The last singers play their final tune, soft and waning...

...And the first Seelie wanders the hall of angels...

(The Seelies enter the mural)

(Quest ends)

Paimon: Wow! So many treasure chests!

Paimon: See? The Seelie never steer us wrong — they know where all the best goodies are hiding!

Post-Quest Dialogue

(Open the Luxurious Chest)

Paimon: Huh? This is...

(Investigate the note dropped by the Luxurious Chest)

Ancient Handwriting

---

...

...I have sat alone in this temple for many days. Those who passed by cannot see me. I've been desolate and faint all day, sighing over the afflictions and hardships of this land, but only the tiny spirits mourned with me.

...I still cannot reminisce about the past, but my heart is slightly comforted. My song falls like dew, descending like gentle rain upon tender grass, like a timely monsoon nourishing crops, making my words flow more smoothly.

...Those who pass by never enter this vast forest, and those who come from foreign lands never see this pale temple.

...

...When brambles and thorned plants sprouted from the ground, a wild beast invaded my dwelling.

...Storms came from the south, cold came from the north. That beast came from the north, bearing the chill of ice and snow.

...Its mouth uttered no human speech, but it gazed upon me as upon heavenly light, and longed for my song as a thirsty servant longed for spring rain.

...Since I had a beast to keep me company, serving as my emissary, how could I possibly mourn?

...Sing to it I shall. Just as I shall also mock and ridicule its foolish ways.

...Yet, it did not grow impatient or resentful. Instead, it listened carefully to my words and heeded my voice. It bowed low before me, obeying my commands and decrees.

...I called it a stupid dog, but it bore no grudge. I patted its fur, but it showed no anger.

...I found it pleasing to the eye and rather endearing, so I named it Boreas (meaning "North Wind") and let it, as well as its kin, share my dwelling.

...

...We sat in this temple for many days. Astonishingly, human words would come from its mouth. A beast that had been utterly foolish and ignorant would possess wisdom, intelligence, and knowledge. It could treat others with kindness and sincerity.

...It spoke to me and called me Mother. It said, "I will go to the South, where the people are poor and lowly, yet the cities are large and fortified. I will make them prosperous."

...I granted its request, and it departed with its kin. I called its name one last time, bidding it farewell.

...Boreas... Boreas... Borea...

...I remember...

...