Specially-Shaped Saurian Search/Story

EventStory

Search Chronicle: Burning Up!

Main article: Search Chronicle: Burning Up!

Quest Description

You receive a very strange commission. Go to the area around the Pyro Regisvine to learn more from the client.

(Talk to Ranjit)

Ranjit: Ah, you're finally here. You're the "protagonist," yes?

That's me, your protagonist.

Paimon: Uh, Paimon's not sure what you mean by that question...

I don't understand what you're talking about...

Ranjit: Ah, would you look at that? Too eager for my own good again — and they even told me to be concise when I was posting the commission, too.

Ranjit: Here's the low-down. I'm Ranjit, a chef of cuisines creative. I've been looking to get along nicely with a Pyro Regisvine, but it seems uninterested in my company...

Ranjit: Spitting fireballs and slamming the ground... Nothing I could do about that, so I'm hiring some adventurer help — of the protagonist kind, to be exact.

No problem! Just leave it to me.

Paimon: Hey, hey! Don't go around agreeing to take on such ridiculous commissions!

Concise, but clear as mud.

Paimon: Wait, are you for real? A creative cuisine chef, making friends with a Pyro Regisvine... Nothing about this makes any sense!

Ranjit: Really? I mean, it is a very grumpy plant, but you never know till you try, right?

Ranjit: And after the Regisvine, I'd also like to give the Primo Geovishap, Jadeplume Terrorshroom, and Millennial Pearl Seahorse a go!

Paimon: ...This is getting crazier by the minute. Where did you even get these ideas from?

Ranjit: Actually, it's because of my trip to Natlan not long ago...

Ranjit: It's a truly amazing place. If I had to describe its marvelous novelty, it would be like the first time I ate curry spicy enough to make me rain sweat.

Ranjit: My tongue had taken all the stimulation it could bear, but I shoveled spoonful after spoonful into my mouth. I couldn't help myself!

Ranjit: ...Speaking of which, I met a whole bunch of friends in Natlan. They're all good folks. Some taught me rock climbing, and others introduced me to the hot springs.

Ranjit: Bet you didn't know this, but the people of Natlan, especially their warriors, dress in imitation of their Saurians — and when in full panoply, they look every bit as brave!

Ranjit: I made myself a hat based on those of my Natlan friends. Pretty awesome, eh?

Paimon: Um... Sure, it is pretty unique, but Paimon can't quite tell what you're talking about just from that.

Ranjit: True, true! I mean, I haven't got a Saurian buddy with me, do I?

Ranjit: *sigh* It sure would be nice if I did, though. But I'm not a local, and to be honest, I'd get restless staying there for too long.

Ranjit: That's why I thought to get myself a companion outside Natlan that could take the spot of a Saurian. Even if that doesn't work, it'll make a great story to tell my Natlan friends!

Paimon: Uh, if that's your goal, you could've picked more suitable targets to make friends with, right?

Ranjit: Huh? Don't you find them suitable? I mean, they're even like the Natlan Saurians — and they're also strong, to boot!

Ranjit: A Sumpter Beast companion's really nothing to brag about. I'll need a more demanding trial if I want a tale worth telling!

Ranjit: The real pity is that I can't be the "protagonist" myself... Calming these beasts that rage day and night is no easy task, let me tell you!

Ranjit: But I suppose that's your field of expertise as an experienced adventurer, right? Of course, I'll provide support from the sidelines. Nets, food... You name it, you can leave it to me!

Ranjit: But as our "negotiations" [sic] with our prospective partners... The spotlight's going to be on you, dear "protagonist"!

Paimon: Why are you foisting the dangerous stuff onto your protagonist?

The pay had better be worth the work...

Ranjit: Of course, of course! Sure thing.

I'm sure we can come to an agreement — if you convince me.

Ranjit: Of course, that's how these things work.

Ranjit: Well, since we're agreed, shall we head out now? My pots are ready, and my equipment's all checked. We should be good to go!

Let's go.

I've got other things to handle. See you in a bit.

Ranjit: No worries. I'll wait for you here.

Search Chronicle: Cold, Round Belly!

Main article: Search Chronicle: Cold, Round Belly!

Quest Description

After the Pyro Regisvine, Ranjit's next target is a Primo Geovishap...

(Talk to Ranjit)

Ranjit: Ah, it's you two! I've been waiting for ages!

Befriended the Pyro Regisvine yet?

Ranjit: Agh, don't even talk about it. You "negotiated" a period of calm... a very, very brief one.

Ranjit: The moment it recovered, it started trying to bump me off again! ... You know what? You were right. It's not possible to make friends with this creature.

Ranjit: Still, its fruit does taste pretty good — like Pyro, in fact. Reckon my Natlan friends will like it!

Paimon: What does that even taste like...?

Ranjit: Wanna give it a try? If you want, I could...

Paimon: E—Err, yeah, no, it's fine! Anyway, are you gonna move on to a Primo Geovishap next?

Ranjit: That's right. I think this one's a winner, to be honest. Primo Geovishaps are quite like the Tepetlisauri, after all.

Ranjit: If you travel to Natlan from Sumeru like I did, I reckon they'll be one of the first things you'll meet.

Paimon: Sure, whatever you say. Paimon doesn't have high hopes for this one either, though... Why couldn't you have gone with the Hatchlings?

Ranjit: ...They don't have round tummies.

Paimon: What?

Ranjit: Geovishap Hatchlings don't have round tummies. I imagine it's all that incredibly quick rolling they do. That can't leave you much of a chance to store up fat...

Ranjit: *sigh* But the main reason's still the lack of... impact. What's a Hatchling to those friends of mine who live alongside Saurians?

Ranjit: But a Primo Geovishap, now that's a different story. Even as a tale, it'll be worth the time of day. And anyway, a strong protagonist's gotta have strong opponents, you dig?

Ranjit: Alright. Let's not tarry, shall we? The Primo Geovishap awaits!

Let's away, good sir.

I've got other things to handle. See you in a bit.

Ranjit: No worries. I'll wait for you here.

Search Chronicle: For Childhood Dreams!

Main article: Search Chronicle: For Childhood Dreams!

Quest Description

Despite two failures, Ranjit has no intention of backing down. Will he turn things around in Sumeru?

(Use Nahida's All Schemes to Know on Ranjit, optional): Ranjit: (A childhood dream come true... That would make for a good story, wouldn't it?)

(Talk to Ranjit)

Ranjit: Haha, and isn't today another day filled with new hope! Ready to head out, friends?

Paimon: New hope, eh... We can take that to mean your Primo Geovishap communications broke down, then?

Ranjit: Come now, how could you call it a failure? Mortal combat is also communication of a kind.

Ranjit: From that perspective, you could even say that we had an honest, profound exchange, and gained much knowledge about our respective stances in the process.

Ranjit: What do they say again? "No friends without a fight?"

I knew this would happen...

Ranjit: Well, you can't know unless you try!

Well, I was doing the actual fighting...

Ranjit: And what fighting it was! Even I could tell that you're an experienced adventurer even amongst adventurers!

Paimon: Not giving up yet, then?

Ranjit: Well, I'll be honest with you — it's always been my dream to ride a Jadeplume Terrorshroom all through Sumeru...

Ranjit: But the adults would all tell me to not be silly. When I'd ask the Forest Watchers, they'd make troubled faces, tell me not to snoop in risky places.

Ranjit: So I gave up on those unrealistic dreams and grew up normal like the other kids. My only adventures were with my choices for ingredients when cooking...

Ranjit: But I'd get to thinking sometimes, and then I'd remember that I did once have such distant, strange dreams, just like the Aranara of legend.

Ranjit: But they truly exist, and I once saw them. When did I stop being able to do so? When did I start forgetting them?

Ranjit: I heard this tale about an unlucky fellow named Kuntur while in Natlan. He became the target of the sun's hatred due to a mistake his father made.

Ranjit: "Kuntur, Unloved of the Sun" was also ostracized in his tribe, and of course, no Saurian would buddy up with him.

Ranjit: But he didn't give up, nor did he blame his father, or fate! Instead, he proved that he was the equal of any valiant warrior in the tribe through hard work and grit!

Ranjit: In the end, he accomplished something great, not only earning the recognition of an Iktomisaurus comrade, but also becoming a hero to his tribe.

Ranjit: When I heard that tale, I, too, gained the courage to pick my childhood dream off the ground where I'd left it.

Paimon: Huh, so that's the story...

Ranjit: So yes, please do help me with the upcoming Jadeplume Terrorshroom "negotiations"!

Paimon: ...And there you go, dumping it all on us again!

Ranjit: I mean, I'm no match for it as I am now... but I will help support you, so call me whenever you need me!

Ranjit: No need for too much talk. Shall we?

Let's go, then.

I've got other things to handle. See you in a bit.

Ranjit: No worries. I'll wait for you here.

Search Chronicle: Audience with the Solitary King!

Main article: Search Chronicle: Audience with the Solitary King!

Quest Description

Although his plan to make new buddies is not going well, Ranjit seems unconcerned. Indeed, he is already preparing for the next challenge...

(Talk to Ranjit)

Ranjit: So we're here in the end...

What about your childhood dream?

Ranjit: When I became an adult, I finally understood why the Forest Watchers had made those faces they did...

Ranjit: *cough* But anyway, I gave it my best shot.

Ranjit: I also learned that you should never bring unprocessed Pyro Regisvine fruit near a Jadeplume Terrorshroom...

Ranjit: By the time I smelled something burning, it was already too late. Barely avoided drowning in the spores it poured forth.

Ranjit: It's easy to forget, sometimes, that Fungi are a completely different species from Shroomboars.

Paimon: Anyway, speaking of which, they actually are a type of fungus, right?

Ranjit: That's right, and they taste especially delicious in soups.

Paimon: But anyway, let's get back to today's challenge.

Ranjit: Well, I haven't figured out what to cook ye... Oh! Right, uh, you mean the "negotiations." Sorry.

Ranjit: Perhaps you've heard the story of the two Fontemer Aberrant overlords? It speaks of how the Millennial Pearl Seahorse is described as being "proud" and "noble."

Ranjit: By contrast, the Emperor of Fire and Iron seems to be a fierce, cruel being, strong but brutal.

Paimon: And here Paimon thought you'd pick the tougher opponent. After all, wouldn't a stronger opponent make for a cooler story?

Ranjit: That is true, but the Emperor is a heavily-armored crab... While the other party's a seahorse that flies!

I wonder, would you call a flying seahorse a Pegasus instead?

Paimon: Wait, is that the question we should be asking right now?

Makes no difference to me...

Ranjit: Still, if I could only ride it, even once...

Paimon: Well, sure then. Looks like you're sticking this one out to the end.

Ranjit: Well, we are here, aren't we? Surely we can't leave empty-handed? Anyway, let's head out once you're ready.

I'm ready.

I've got other things to handle. See you in a bit.

Ranjit: No worries. I'll wait for you here.

Search Chronicle: Afterword

Main article: Search Chronicle: Afterword

Quest Description

Ranjit was unable to forge a bond with any of his candidates, but he seems to still have something to say...

(Talk to Ranjit)

Ranjit: Thanks for your hard work over the last few days. We did deviate from our original goal, sure, but I for one have gained much from these experiences.

It was quite the series of battles, yes.

I feel like the opponents you picked were especially tough...

Paimon: Gained much... Don't you mean you learned a lot of lessons?

Ranjit: That too, yes. Cultivating friendships is a long-term process, and you need to spend more time after making your pick, not like what we did this time...

Ranjit: Just like Natlan was once the land of ancient dragons, and is now a land where humans and Saurians put mutual trust in one another, becoming comrades who live side by side... I wonder how long that must've taken.

Ranjit: *sigh* I suppose I was too overeager. I thought we could gain their respect by beating them, which is why I picked such blunt methods.

Ranjit: If we had taken our time from the start... Perhaps feeding them every day and trying to get closer to them might have boosted our chances!

Paimon: That sounds reasonable enough until you remember that the targets you picked aren't your everyday dogs or cats.

Ranjit: True, true. They're more like the Saurians of Natlan — that is why I picked them, after all.

Ranjit: I imagine that my friends there would understand what an extraordinary thing I've done when I relate these experiences to them.

Paimon: Paimon still doesn't see the similarities — the Primo Geovishap aside — but you do you.

Ranjit: Hmm? The others were quite similar too. The colors, for example...

Paimon: If that's where you're headed, then Slimes would also be similar enough, no?

Ranjit: I see where you're coming from. They are both elemental creatures... Perhaps Slimes do have the potential to become Saurians...

Ranjit: Does that mean that I should try making friends with Slimes first?

This plan's suddenly looking very scaled down.

Paimon: It feels much more doable now, too.

Slimes would be a safer option, if nothing else.

Paimon: It's all relative, though. We often see newbie adventurers and ordinary passers-by rendered immobile by Slimes who've surrounded them.

Ranjit: Haha, still, I won't know till I try!

Ranjit: Thank you two so much for your help. With any luck, I'll have gained a comrade or two for my adventures, enough to qualify as the "protagonist" of my very own tale.

Ranjit: Have a pleasant journey!