Fulminating Sandstorm/Story

(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Shriya, optional)

Shriya: (Vinayak... Ugh, what an idiot!)

(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Fodil, optional)

Fodil: (I hope nothing goes wrong...)

(Talk to Shriya)

Shriya: That fool... running headfirst into the desert like that! Do something, Fodil, please! Give him a hand!

Fodil: Apologies. The garrison in the village is limited, and since we're tied up with keeping them from causing any trouble, we can't afford to spare any strength for now.

Shriya: But that fool has been bending over backwards to deal with them! At least, in the name of mutual interest...

Fodil: Well, it's not that we don't want to help. But the guards are now spread thinly across the desert on the lookout for them. Getting a team together is going to take time...

Shriya: How could this be... If we return to Caravan Ribat for help, it will most certainly be too late...

Is someone in danger?

Do you guys need help?

Shriya: Eh? You guys are...

Just another adventurer passing by.

Paimon: And (‍hisText for male Traveler‍/‍herText for female Traveler‍) best friend, Paimon!

Shriya: Adventurers? Really!? Thank the heavens! There's help for Vinayak, at last!

Shriya: (‍Mr.Text for male Traveler‍/‍Ms.Text for female Traveler‍) Adventurer! Please save Vinayak. We'll make sure to reward you handsomely!

First, tell me what's going on.

Fodil: Well, the desert has become more dangerous than before, thanks to those wretched vermin running amok. It's for the best that I fill you in on the situation before making plans.

Shriya: Eh... you guys are right. Sorry, I was a little anxious.

Paimon: Paimon's been hearing you talk about a certain "them" this whole time. What are they anyway?

Fodil: A swarm of Wenut. For some reason, they have recently become unusually violent, hiding in sandstorms to attack unsuspecting prey passing by.

They're just bugs.

I've dealt with way bigger enemies.

Fodil: When you put it that way, yes. But this time, there are far too many of them.

Fodil: It's hard to deal with them under the cover of a sandstorm, and they usually flee at the first sign of danger...

Paimon: Wow, that's quite the pickle you're in...

Shriya: It's not just Aaru Village. Other passing merchants have also been affected. That's why the Akademiya sent Vinayak and me to deal with these unruly Wenut.

Shriya: But the caravan we entrusted to deliver some components was attacked by Wenut on the way, and everything got swept up in sandstorms... I fear they've become the monsters' playthings by now...

Shriya: I wanted to return to Caravan Ribat for help, but Vinayak... Who knew that after all these years, he's still as rigid as a machine!

Shriya: He said something about getting his precious components back and just ran into the desert all by himself!

Shriya: Ahh!! Maybe I should just let the monsters take him!

Paimon: Whoa... what should we do, (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍)? If we leave this matter alone, not only will that researcher be in danger, but the Wenut problem won't be resolved...

This crisis in the desert can't be ignored.

Leave the rescuing to me.

Shriya: Thank you! Thank you so much! I'm sorry that I let my temper get the better of me... I'll mark the location of the attack on the map. Please find him as soon as possible!

Shriya: I hope he doesn't get the hare-brained idea to dive right into the horde of monsters and start picking up components...

(Talk to Shriya again)

Shriya: I hope he doesn't get the hare-brained idea to dive right into the horde of monsters and start picking up components...

(Talk to Fodil again)

Fodil: These Wenut have become very violent recently, so be extra careful.

(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Vinayak, optional)

Vinayak: (The Wenutslayer Cannon isn't just a pretty face!)

(Talk to Vinayak)

Vinayak: Getting in from this angle, and using the terrain for cover... As long as the angle of sunlight isn't higher than... And my speed is no lower than... Hmm, that still isn't it!

What are you trying to figure out?

Vinayak: A viable route to recover the components without having to face the monsters... Thanks to the Wenut, all my precious components got swept up by those monsters...

Vinayak: Whoa! Who are you? When did you show up!?

I've been listening to you talk to yourself for a while now...

Paimon: Relax. We're not bad guys. Your friend sent us!

Vinayak: Friend? Could it be Shriya? No, she clearly said she wouldn't care if I was taken by the monsters...

Vinayak: Ah, I see. She sent you to get the components, right?

Vinayak: It doesn't matter if I'm taken by the monsters, but it will definitely matter if the components aren't recovered... Yeah, that sounds like something she would say.

...You could put it that way.

Vinayak: Still, thanks all the same. I'm racking my brain trying to figure this out. I was this close to rushing out and just taking it one step at a time.

Vinayak: ...One wrong step, and I'll get caught by the monsters.

Vinayak: Eh... If I wasn't here, and with Shriya being such a klutz... who else would be going to take care of these machines!?

Paimon: No wonder Shriya was so worried... This guy thinks about nothing but his mechanical components...

Paimon: (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), let's go and get the components before he gets himself in trouble!

(After starting the challenge)

Paimon: Transcription missing

Vinayak: Oh... thank you, brave Traveler!

Vinayak: Oh, phew! It hasn't been too long and the parts are still in good condition... Just a few more adjustments...

Vinayak starts tinkering with the machinery...

Shriya: ...Vinayak?

Vinayak: Almost done... I'm almost done!

Shriya: Vi-na-yak!

Vinayak: Whoa! Shriya? When did you get here?

When you were fiddling with the components...

Vinayak: Didn't you say that this place was dangerous and full of monsters? Why are you even here?

Shriya: ...I'm just worried about our components. If we can't finish this assignment, even I can't return to the Akademiya!

Vinayak: Ha, I knew it. Look, I have everything here. Once we go back and make some more adjustments, we can finally start assembling.

Paimon: So, what are all these components for?

Vinayak: Ah, I forgot to tell you. They're for the Wenutslayer Cannon, our graduation project.

Paimon: Why such an obscure topic?

Vinayak: If you'd applied for graduation, you'd understand why... Well, not that any of this matters now.

Shriya: Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Shriya, an Amurta graduate with a specialization in desert biology and ecology.

Shriya: This machine-obsessed doofus over here is a Kshahrewar researcher with a specialization in applied mechanics.

Vinayak: ...I'm Vinayak. Thanks a lot for earlier.

Paimon: Can people with completely different fields of study... work together?

Shriya: Don't get me started... Working with him on our graduation proposal was definitely the biggest mistake I've ever made as a student...

Vinayak: You can't really say that. We both managed to graduate in the end anyway.

Shriya: We did, yes, but did you forget how many extra years it took?

Vinayak: Whatever the case, we graduated, right? I heard some of our classmates just completed their thesis proposal last year.

Shriya: Ugh... enough! We're not students anymore, so can we just move on from these pointless discussions?

Vinayak: You're the one who always starts it...

Shriya: Nonsense! When we were building the first prototype...

Hey, hey!

Arguing isn't gonna get you anywhere.

Paimon: Wow... you guys have it out for each other. How could the Akademiya even think of sending you two together to handle this...

Shriya: *sigh* Actually, the Akademiya didn't send us... A person named Kunar was supposed to take care of this matter.

Shriya: You could call him my mentor's mentor... He was there during our thesis defense.

Shriya: I guess that was how he got the impression that "some young students in the Akademiya had designed a Wenutslayer Cannon," or something like that.

Shriya: So this time, he simply kicked the two of us back here to deal with the problem, saying that "the Akademiya needs to give youngsters more opportunities to shine!"

Shriya: But he obviously didn't consider the fact that the two of us have barely talked to each other since graduation...

Vinayak: He even convinced my mentor... Ahem, anyway, this is an opportunity for me to get the Wenutslayer Cannon back out in the open!

Vinayak: Once it's assembled, we'll show those vermin what it can do!

Shriya: There that mechanical idiot goes again... From my point of view, I also want to investigate the cause of the Wenut rampage to maintain the ecological balance of the desert.

Shriya: (‍Mr.Text for male Traveler‍/‍Ms.Text for female Traveler‍) Adventurer, you look like someone of impressive skill. May I ask you to keep us safe while we're in the desert?

I'll do it for the right price.

It'll be a walk in a park for me.

Shriya: Rest assured. There isn't a lot of support from the Akademiya, but at least we're well-funded. ...Although someone here has spent most of it on upgrading the machinery.

Vinayak: Th—The improvements were necessary! ...And since you're capable of speaking politely, can't you be a little nicer to me?

Shriya: That depends on whether the person I'm talking to is worthy of my patience!

Paimon: Oh no... here they go again...

Maybe leave the arguing for later?

Can we start with the actual work?

Shriya: *sigh* Sorry... It's an old habit from my Akademiya days...

Shriya: This batch of components has to be brought back to Aaru Village for further adjustment. By all accounts, we can't start assembling until tomorrow.

Shriya: We had previously planned to install the Wenutslayer Cannon in nearby areas where Wenut have been spotted.

Shriya: When the time comes, there may be other creatures attracted by the noise we make. We'll be counting on you.

No problem.

See you tomorrow.

Vinayak: We can continue our debate now, right? I'm telling you, all my expenses are justified.

Shriya: You...! Fine, you asked for it. Let's go over the details and see where all that Mora went!

(Talk to Shriya or Vinayak after passing time)

Shriya: ...So why did you order customized rivets? They don't improve performance at all, do they?

Vinayak: ...Riveted armor is a symbol of romance for us Kshahrewar researchers!

You guys... have been at it since yesterday?

Vinayak: Ah, you're already here! Not exactly. We actually had the debate about funding yesterday.

Shriya: Hmph... We were actually arguing about something else. But before I knew it, we went right back to arguing about funding...

Something else?

Vinayak: I've polished the seams of the components until they are shiny and sparkly, but Shriya's trying to abandon the plan!

Shriya: Abandon!? I just want a temporary pause!

Shriya: Didn't you notice that there's something wrong with the environmental parameters? If we continue with the assembly, the charging efficiency of the device will be much lower than expected.

Shriya: We need to figure out what's going on in this area, eliminate all external influences, then proceed with assembly as planned.

Vinayak: There are plenty of situations where the ideal and actual circumstances don't match. There's no need to be so fussy.

Vinayak: I took the margin of error in consideration when I drafted the blueprint, so it's not a big deal at all.

Vinayak: Besides, sometimes you have to test things out before you can figure out what the problem is.

Shriya: ...Is that why you tested Experimental Device No. 2 until it exploded that other year?

Vinayak: That... that was different! I didn't realize the need to leave room for error back then...

...Is there a safer way to do this?

Vinayak: I'm thinking... Maybe we could first switch off the turret's firing function and just do a simulated experiment of its charging process?

Shriya: ...That won't do, I don't trust your judgment on this. Let's get rid of the turret ignition module, and I'll safeguard it for you. You can install the other components however you please.

Vinayak: Remove the ignition module!? Then the Wenutslayer Cannon will just be one big paperweight!

Shriya: Didn't you say we'd just do an experimental simulation of the charging process? At the end of the day, you're still thinking about firing that cannon!

Vinayak: Uhh...

Let's just disable the firing function.

Maybe start by building the framework?

Vinayak: Well, all right... Let's think of it as a "trial assembly."

Shriya: If only you'd have said this earlier... I expect a lot of monsters to be attracted during the installation process. When the moment comes, we'll be counting on you, adventurer.

(After starting the challenge)

Paimon: Ahh! This sandstorm came out of nowhere... We aren't in danger, are we?

(Before Wenut appears)

Paimon: Aaahhh! Wenut!

Shriya: That was close... Even the Wenut have come to mess up our plan...

Vinayak: Hey! If we hadn't deactivated the ignition, we could have killed it!

Vinayak: Now that the Wenut has escaped, it'll be at least one more day before it lets its guard down again.

Vinayak: You're not planning to argue over the tiniest detail and let it go again tomorrow, are you?

Shriya: Um, but what about the parameters...

Vinayak: I have tested them all, and although the charging speed is a little lower than the calculated value, it does not affect use, and there are no safety risks.

Vinayak: Shriya, I know you want to consider and analyze everything before acting, but you know, things don't always go according to plan.

Vinayak: If you keep getting hung up over the small details, you'll miss the best opportunity to act! Remember that time our mid-term thesis defense got delayed? Hesitating won't get us anywhere.

Shriya: *sigh* Okay. Here's your ignition module.

Vinayak: Alright! Tomorrow, we'll finally be able to put the Wenutslayer Cannon into action!

Vinayak: I'd like to bring them back to Aaru Village and tinker around with them a little more. We gotta make sure we're properly ready for the Wenutslayer Cannon's first ever official appearance!

Shriya: ...But why is there a deviation in the environmental parameters? What caused the Wenut to suddenly act out?

Shriya: You really can't just let these matters rest... (‍Mr.Text for male Traveler‍/‍Ms.Text for female Traveler‍) Adventurer, could you please come back tomorrow?

Shriya: By then, we should be facing the Wenut directly, and hopefully we'll have some sort of clue.

(Talk to Shriya and Vinayak after passing time)

Vinayak: You're here, adventurer. We were just about to make the necessary installations.

Vinayak: If all goes well, we'll be able to give that monster a good lesson to remember today!

Shriya: During the formal charging process, there may also be monsters who will try to disrupt the process. When that time comes, please keep an eye out for the charging progress and durability of the device.

Leave it to me.

No problem.

Shriya: Thank you very much, adventurer.

Vinayak: Ah, I've got an idea! You've been busy running around helping with the Wenutslayer Cannon. The honor of testing it for the first time... should be yours!

You don't want to do it yourself?

Vinayak: I'll be happy enough to watch the shots land! Besides, to let someone else light the fire, so that we can see the firing in all its glory... Ah! It speaks for itself!

I have no idea how this thing works...

Vinayak: Relax! Its design perfectly follows the principles of user-friendliness.

Vinayak: All you have to do is protect the charging device from the monsters and wait for the energy to fill up. Watch for the moment when the Wenut reveals its vulnerable spot and then fire at it with all you've got!

Vinayak: The ignition and auto-correcting mechanisms will take care of the rest!

Paimon: Sounds impressive. (‍TravelerThe player's chosen name for the Traveler‍), Paimon also wants to watch!

Okay, I'll handle it.

Vinayak: Alright, that's a deal, then! Let me tell you how it works...

(After starting the challenge)

Paimon: Transcription missing

Vinayak: Did you see that, Shriya? Our Wenutslayer Cannon is a game changer!

Vinayak: I wish all the supervisors who listened to our thesis defense could come and see this. This would cure them of their antiquated views!

Shriya: So it really did go off without a hitch... I thought it was going to end up like Experimental Device No. 3...

Vinayak: Ahem... Only from our failures do we learn to succeed. I'm no longer who I used to be.

Paimon: How many accidents happened that year...? Well, anyway, this experiment was a success, and that's all that matters!

Vinayak: Yeah, while the ball is rolling, maybe we should try it somewhere else!

Vinayak: Eyewitness reports say that there are Wenut in this area numbering in the double-digits at the very least!

Paimon: Whoa... double digits!? You're not gonna pick them off one by one, are you? That would take a really long time!

Vinayak: Huh? What's the matter? If it's the maintenance of the Wenutslayer Cannon you're concerned about, you don't have to worry...

Paimon: Wait, wait, wait! It would take a long time to repeat this process over and over again. Even if the machine doesn't break down, we will!

Shriya: Vinayak, not everyone can be jolted back to life after just smelling machine oil.

Vinayak: Really? Looks like wetware performance will have to be considered next time...

Shriya: Anyway, let's call it a day. With data from this full run and samples collected after the battle, I am one step closer to solving this puzzle.

What puzzle?

Shriya: Why the Wenut are behaving violently, abnormal environmental parameters... If we can figure that out, we might be able to get to the bottom of this mess.

Shriya: Please give me one more day to do some research. By this time tomorrow, we should have the results.

(Talk to Shriya and Vinayak after passing time)

Vinayak: ...So as far as the conclusion is concerned, we've made a convincing case for using the Wenutslayer Cannon to get rid of the Wenut, right?

Shriya: That's different! Don't give me that "told you so" look!

Here we go again...

What are you squabbling about this time?

Shriya: Ah, (‍Mr.Text for male Traveler‍/‍Ms.Text for female Traveler‍) Adventurer! Listen to me! I've found out what the cause is!

Shriya: The frequent activity of the Wenut underground had caused a disturbance in the Elemental Energy in this region.

Shriya: This Energy, in turn, affects the behavior of the Wenut, causing them to start running amok on the surface, further exacerbating the environmental imbalance.

Shriya: The abnormality in the charging device's efficiency was also due to the disturbance of Elemental Energy in the environment.

Vinayak: I knew the machine that I designed would never break down so easily!

Paimon: If you don't consider the surrounding environment, wouldn't that be a design problem?

And since the cause is overactive Wenut...

Is the solution to just keep fighting more Wenut?

Vinayak: So, after going around in several circles, we're back to where we started?

Shriya: Knowing what to do and knowing why you should do it are two different things. As a researcher, you couldn't even grasp that? And that isn't even the end of it.

Shriya: Normally, nature sets limits on the ecology and behavior of populations to keep the environment stable.

Shriya: The chaotic Elemental Energy disrupts this balance, which makes the Wenut extremely active...

Shriya: As long as we can find a way to return the elemental environment to its normal state, we can reduce Wenut activity. After a while, the balance should restore itself.

Paimon: Redirect the flow of Elemental Energy? But how do we do that?

Shriya: Well, as long as we figure out where the strongest concentration of Elemental Energy is, we'll be able to direct the flow of that energy with a device...

Shriya: ...We unclog the flow of energy, and nature should take care of the rest.

Shriya: I've already calculated the location of the node. It's somewhere around here. As for a device that can redirect the flow of the energy, we already have one...

You mean the Wenutslayer Cannon?

Shriya: Precisely. The Wenutslayer Cannon can channel the surrounding Elemental Energy before discharging it all in one go.

Shriya: Next, we just have to set up the Wenutslayer Cannon and go through the same process as yesterday.

Shriya: There may also be monsters and Wenut that will be drawn to the weapon during this time... Heh... perhaps a small reduction in their numbers would help expedite the natural balance.

Vinayak: ...So as far as the conclusion is concerned, we still have to use the Wenutslayer Cannon to shoot at monsters, right?

Shriya: Ugh! Don't give me that "told you so" look!

(After starting the challenge)

Paimon: Transcription missing

Vinayak: Sure enough, the charging unit is running more smoothly... As you said, the elemental environment in this area is returning to normal.

Vinayak: ...The activity of affected Wenut will calm down after some time, too.

Shriya: Yeah, yeah... Thanks to your precious Wenutslayer Cannon, we can report back our success and go home.

Vinayak: It's OUR precious Wenutslayer Cannon, Shriya. I never forgot that this assignment was a joint effort.

Vinayak: ...We definitely had our share of disagreements, but without you, the cannon wouldn't have been a success.

Shriya: What's... gotten into you? Is this about wanting me to put in a good word for you in my report?

Vinayak: Well, I just suddenly feel that what we went through just now is quite similar to our experience from that other year: it wasn't always smooth sailing, but we still made it in the end.

Vinayak: And let's face it. In the end, your solution proved more efficient.

Shriya: I... uh... I can't take all the credit...

Shriya: ...Because you were onto something, too. If you hadn't tested the Wenutslayer Cannon, I wouldn't have obtained the necessary data...

Vinayak: "To fix a machine you may only need to replace one gear, but the true challenge is finding that gear..." These words from my mentor are beginning to make sense to me.

Vinayak: I'm so glad you're here, Shriya.

Shriya: Uh... I'm glad you're here, too...

Paimon: Huh? The atmosphere between these two became so different all of a sudden...

Paimon...

Just leave it.

Shriya: Ahem! When we were cooperating on our graduation project, our relationship was rather rocky because we weren't very mature.

Vinayak: Yeah. Looking back on it, it wasn't anything too serious...

Shriya: Well... How about meeting at the café for a drink next time? We could discuss how to write the report.

(Pass time)

(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Vinayak, optional)

Vinayak: (If only Shriya's thoughts were as easy to understand as mechanisms...)

(Talk to Vinayak)

Vinayak: I don't understand... She was the one who mentioned the idea of going to the café to write the report...

Why are you here by yourself?

Where's Shriya?

Vinayak: *sigh* I don't want to talk about it. She's off to work on the report by herself.

Vinayak: We were supposed to meet at the café yesterday, but it took her a long time to show up. She didn't even bring any pen or paper for her report!

Vinayak: I criticized her for wasting time when we should be working on the report, and then she flew into a rage! She said she'd write the report herself and made me leave!

Vinayak: This is ridiculous, don't you think?

...

Vinayak: Still, I'm used to her fiery temper. She'll simmer down in a couple days.

Vinayak: If only controlling her emotions was as simple as flipping a switch.

Best of luck.

Good luck to you.

Vinayak: Huh? Even you're acting strange... Oh well, never mind. There are still a few affected Wenut around here, though I'm sure the situation will resolve itself if I just leave it alone.

Vinayak: But if you have time, please help prevent them from threatening passers-by.

Vinayak: By the way, the elemental environment and the charging device are now back to normal.

Vinayak: There's never been a better time to experience the Wenutslayer Cannon at full power!

Post-Quest Dialogue