Onboard the Ice Wanderer, Goredolf enjoys his commandeering of the ship. This ship is amazing! Maybe they underestimated it. Gareth acts as his navigator. Gareth spots something, and the ships starts slowing down with Goredolf doing anything. Seems they've arrived at the first area.
Goredolf will stay behind, as will Asclepios so he can create a med-bay. The rest of the team head down. Before you stands what looks like a flower garden; unbelievable considering they're in the arctic. Ortlinde acts as your bodyguard while the other Valkyries begin scouting the area with their flight. Thrud spots something ahead and opens fire, but only rose petals emerge. Mashu request they hold fire. No problem, it was just a warning shot. Even so, all bullets were repelled by the petal barrier.
Out of the shadows comes a female white-clad figure, urging them not to disturb the beautiful flowers. She welcomes them to her area. A long silence follows. Right, this is the first they meet. She introduces herself as Lady Avalon. You note she resembles Merlin.
At that moment, the distant Merlin felt as if something relating to him just occurred. Well, it was surely nothing. That said, he's got his image, and would rather not it be ruined further. What was he talking about? Well you know, it's about that whole MULTIVERSE thing everyone is talking about lately.
Anyway, Lady Avalon claims she does not know the name Merlin. Fou quickly attacks her: all Merlins must be kicked. Gareth helps her up, to which the Lady responds that she must this world's Gareth with that kindness. Gareth also recognizes the Lady's presence as similar to Merlin's. She must be one of Merlin's relatives! The Lady stammers in agreement. Gareth sure is sharp. indeed, she's, uh, the great Merlin's younger sister! Younger, got it? Wow, who would have thought Merlin had a sister! They really do look alike, almost as if she was a female Merlin or something! Wouldn't that be crazy.
In any case, she's not hostile, concludes Thrud, apologizing for her attack. The Lady is understanding: no problem, anyone would shoot their Noble Phantasm if someone who looked like Merlin popped out of nowhere! You guess... that's true? Fou starts shaking in your arms as you try to hold him back.
She bids you call her by "Lady", or perhaps even just "LA". She's the one in charge of this area: the Flower Park.
You tell her about how you want to go to the castle. The Lady explains you have to breach the seal on her area to do so. Normal customers can go as they please, but those who intend to resolve the Singularity must get through the barriers of all the area first. Those are the rules of this Singularity! Douman is pleased: just as he predicted.
Thrud keeps coming up with violent solutions to the problem, with Douman trying make her recall what he said about no forcing oneself through. The Lady says it might work, though she'd die. Right, she'd die from the violence. Don't worry it was just a joke. The Valkyries seem awfully belligerent in their new outfits...
Mashu asks about a different solution then. Of course, that's the point! No worries, she'll tell them the actual way to breach the seal: protect the person in charge of the area, and then reach a certain sales threshold! Wait, sales? Indeed, sales are what makes this Arctic Summer World go around! To who, exactly? Well, some are Servants, but there are many sorts, just look around.
There, polar bears and murres are walking around looking at the flowers and enjoying the view. Were they given intelligence by the Grail? Wonders Yan Qing. Hildr says she sees seals and walruses too. Anyway, if you want to resolve this Singularity, you have to get going with this area. Skadi pretty much let the Lady do whatever she wanted with it, but as a result, she's been slacking off on doing much of anything. Let's see how good you are at getting those sales going.
---
Thrud and Yan Qing comes back to you after their scouting. They were looking for places where they could get some sales going. Lady Avalon sure has left this to rot! Anyway, here's how things stand:
On the surface, this place looks like a beautiful flower garden, but actually, for some reason the bulbs of some plants have taken to attacking people instead! For the love of god, Lady Avalon, please take care of the place.
Gareth notes the hostile plants look like Gazers, maybe because they're bulbs? Mashu asks the Lady about it, and she doesn't quite know why that might've happened. All she has going on is the entrance and some food stands. Yan Qing finds it hard to believe but, whatever.
Douman asks for permission to take care of the plants. Gareth and the Valkyries joins in on the task. Fou threatens the Lady to make her help out as well. Oh well, sure, Cath Palug.
--- [Battle against <Various Plants> (99+ enemies)] ---
The waves of plants seem endless, they must be coming from somewhere! Douman divines, discovering the source of the bulbs. He relays the information to the Valkyries. It's some sort of hole. They fly off to take care of it.
After awhile, they return, having sealed off the hole by using runes to block it with ice. Right, so now they just need to get rid of the other type. Let's go exterminate the trees, says Gareth! Though she probably shouldn't put it like that.
---
Ortlinde returns from scouting, having discovered the general location of the trees, though not the exact source. She glimpses at Douman, who makes the counsel that heading over there is the best idea for now. Gareth is bounding with energy, wanting to run over there quick, but that'd leave you behind. Yan Qing offers to carry you, as does Douman.
Before you can get any further, hostiles are detected. Everyone gets ready... it's some weird flying fish!
--- [Battle against <Arctic Fish>] ---
So... what was that? Seemed like a flying fish or something. The Valkyries seem to recognize it but-
Suddenly, a transmission comes in from Skadi, who is wearing a dress and glasses. She's using a Chaldea-like way of communicating while she's in her Arctic Castle of Enchanted Frost. Yan Qing is uncertain whether the name is cool or lame. But enough about the communication system. Tell, what did you think of her surprise? What, the fish? Skadi cackles. Hildr remembers! Those fishes are from Skadi's new Saint Graph. Also, what's with that dress?
Skadi panics, and switches of the communications, before returning in her swimsuit. She hopes you'll enjoy the stay, and is about to close the line. You stop her, asking why she created the singularity. She reveals little, telling you to enjoy the eternal summer, before disappearing.
---
At the predicted source of the walking trees...
Cu, Diarmuid, Vlad, Karna and Bazett (the YARIO) are there. They've been earning their keep with honest work, doing agriculture, raising all these bulbs and trees. They only recently managed to make the bulbs spawn on their own, how convenient. Planting Phantasmal Species instead of normal ones sure is a different feeling. You couldn't do this with non-arcane plants. Still, for some reason these flowers aren't blooming...
You arrive on the scene, confronting the YARIO. Vlad gets done with another, and is jubilant. Yan Qing asks what the hell they think they're doing cultivating this stuff. Seems these people are the cause of the hostile plants. Bazett sees Lady Avalon, and begins to report that they've done just as she requested: they've probably cultivated about 100 now, soon it'll go on automatically, just as she said. This Avalon stuff sure is amazing! Still, the all-so important flowers still won't bloom...
You sneak a glance at the Lady, sussed up to the situation. Mashu summarizes: basically the Lady is the one who caused all these plants to appear. The Lady tries to sneak off, before being dragged back by Yan Qing. Seems she forgot, ahaha! Wow, this is weird, they were supposed to be flowers. Cu corrects her: she said she wanted monsters who'd attack people, not just flowers. It was hard, but fulfilling work for the YARIO!
Anyway, the trees are multiplying as they speak! Lady Avalon begs them to stop, but they are strict in their duties. They will see this job through, as any professional should! Guess it's time for a physical conversation.
--- [Battle against <YARIO + Walking Trees>] ---
Lady Avalon apologizes to the flowers as she attacks them, she'll replant them once they're back to normal plants! Yan Qing asks if she's sure they're not bloodsucking plants, to which the Lady quietly affirms. Wait, really?
The YARIO see the fruit of their labor taken away by the very person who hired them. Oh well, not much to do about it now. They're still expecting their pay though! Anyway, all well that ends well, right? The lady looks over apologetically. Seems most of the disturbances are gone. The Valkyries decide to scount around to be on the safe side.
Flower Park is a beautiful area, abounding with flowers of all kinds. As long as no danger persists, then surely it sales with flourish...
When you return to the center of the park, activity is at a high and customers have returned. Lady Avalon thanks you for the help.
You return to the ship and report the activities to Asclepius and Goredolf. Seems you'll be able to rest easy tonight. Still, it's about to turn night. They can hardly navigate in the darkness. Douman suggests they anchor here for the night and leave next morning. Everyone seems to be in agreement, and besides, you're tired from all the hustle and bustle of the day. Yan Qing feels its odd that Douman is acting to unusually helpful, but that's probably for the best.
For some reason, Lady Avalon is still sticking with you, sneaking around as to lower their presence. Hildr spots her, and pulls her out into the open. You ask what she wants, to which she says she'd like to come along on the journey. She's free to do whatever she wants once her sales quota been met. Much more fun to come along with you! You ask Goredolf, who seems receptive to the idea. The Lady quickly takes it practically decided, and bunks up.
At night, Dantes appears on deck, taking in the situation. A godly realm in the arctic, yet without cold, a massive sun in the sky. Is the Grail in the castle... or in the tower of ice that seems to almost hold up the sun? Suppose he'll have to find out himself.
Originally Posted by Petrikow
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