Ode to the Serpents/Plot Details

Shaeema: And then what happened?

Fari-Wari: Well, my dear...

Fari-Wari: I ducked and weaved a deadly dance among those hulking brutes, and when my flashing blade finally stilled, I was standing before a small mountain of stinking Troll corpses.

Shaeema: Wow! You're amazing, Mister Fari-Wari!

Rhub Wusthamoi: Not only do you compose stirring ballads, but you yourself could play the part of the hero!

Fari-Wari: Now, now, you'll make me blush...

Rhub Wusthamoi: Tell us more!
Did you brave the terrors of Halvung all alone?

Fari-Wari: Why of course.
Well, my attendant <Player's Name> was there...

Fari-Wari: But I may as well have been alone.

Fari-Wari: That bubbling attendant of mine was constantly losing her way, and even tried walking up to a Troll to ask directions!
Such an adorable fool.

Shaeema: Ahahaha!

Fari-Wari: But with my extensive combat training from the Order of Militant Bards, a score or more smelly beastmen is nothing I can't handle.

Fari-Wari:And <Player's Name> was most contrite and apologetic once I'd save her skin from an unfortunate flaying.
Her expression was realyy quite priceless...

Fari-Wari: Allow me to recreate the scene...

Player has had enough and walks up to him.

Fari-Wari: Hm...? Oh!

Fari-Wari: When did you get here!?

Shaeema: Mister Fari-Wari, who is this person?

Fari-Wari: Um...well...yes...
This is the attendant I mentioned...

Shaeema: Oh! The one who brought the Trolls down on you...

Rhub Wusthamoi: The adorable fool who you saved from an unfortunate flaying?

Fari-Wari: Ah! Let it not be so...!

Shaeema: ?

Fari-War: I...that is to say...

Fari-Wari looks at you with pleading eyes.

Fari-Wari: I...hehe...oh dear...

Fari-Wari: My most humble apologies, my dears, but it seems Fari-Wari the Eloquent must return to his quill and parchment.
I shall regale you with heroic tales another time...

Shaeema: Awww...

Rhub Wusthamoi: No more stories?

Fari-Wari: Ahem.
Please excuse an entertainer's proclivity for embellishment.

Fari-Wari:Who were those ladies, you ask?

Fari-Wari: Ah, do you recall my recent penned epic "Saga of the Skyserpent"?
It's been rather well received by the locals...

Fari-Wari: Wherever I go, I'm surrounded by legions of Fari-Wari fans.

Fari-Wari: I've even had one enthusiastic Mithran child peeking into my room at night... from the third-floor window, no less!

Fari-Wari: And there's also a Hume lady whose aim, it seems, is to keep my mailbox full to bursting with an endless stream of love letters.

Fari-Wari: But a bard's life is more than just basking in the accolades of countless admires.

Fari-Wari: No, a minstrel may not rest on his laurels when there are sequels to be scribbled.

Fari-Wari: That's right, Fari-Wari is once again dipping his quill into the ink of inspiration!

Fari-Wari: I have already begun laying the groundwork for the next chapter in my saga.

Fari-Wari: Do you remember the lovely Biyaada,
senior adjutant to Skyserpent General Rughadjeen?

Fari-Wari: She has promised to be my muse, and relate the continuation of her Serpent Generals story.

Fari-Wari: Is it not perfect?

Fari-Wari: That small gathering of fans was nothing more than a coincidence.

Fari-Wari: In truth, I am here to meet Biyaada as soon as her shirt on the wall is over.

Fari-Wari: I'm sure you would love to hear the rest of the tale, yes?

Fari-Wari: Oh, that piercing gaze!
Not to worry, I'll not be sending you off to fight fiends in foul fortresses this time around.

Fari-Wari: And speaking of the lady herself...

Fari-Wari: Come now, <Player's Name>.
Feel free to join me in this moment of literary history.
And by "free," I mean your presence won't be paid for.

Fari-Wari: Ah, the breathtaking Biyaada!
It seemsa thousand winters have frozen my heart since last I gazed pon the warmth of your smile!

Biyaada: Ah...I'm sorry to keep you waiting.

Biyaada: Hello, aren't you the mercenary I met last time?
<Player's Name>, wasn't it?

Biyaada: General Rughadjeen commends you on your bravery.

Fari-Wari: Why, that was but a trifle!

Biyaada: Fari-Wari here has not stopped hounding me for information about the other Serpent Generals.

Biyaada: I am not disinclined to cooperate...

Biyaada: Especially if such a work would spread the fame and glory of the Skyserpent General.

Fari-Wari: Exactly, exactly!

Biyaada: Now, where would you like me to start?

Fari-Wari: Why, where you left off, my dear!

Biyaada: And where was that again?

Fari-Wari: Such insensitivity!
General Rughadjeen had just encountered Gadalar on the eastern front...

Biyaada: Ah, now I remember.
I think I can pick up the tale.

Biyaada: The Skyserpent General had found his first recruit...

Scene shifts to Rughadjeen and Gadalar standing back to back surrounded by Yagudo.

Gadalar: Damn you, Rughadjeen!
I thought I told you to stay out of my way!

Gadalar: I can handle these pawns!

Rughadjeen: Perhaps.

Rughadjeen: General Gadalar. Too often you place yourself in danger to shield your troops from harm...

Gadalar: Shield my...!?

Rughadjeen: You should place more trust in your men.
They will fight all the more ferociously when allowed to stand alongside their general.

Gadalar: Hmph.
A nice theory!

Rughadjeen: And you could unleash the full fury of your fiery incantations if I held the enemy at a distance with my blade.

Gadalar: Bah, do as you wish.

Gadalar: Don't blame me when your eyebrows are singed off by my Salamander Flame.

Rughadjeen: Ha, I'll take my chances.

Rughadjeen swings his great sword, then the screen if filled with Gadalar's flames.

Scene shift to the royal palace and the five generals standing in a semi-circle. They raise their weapons into the air touching each other,

Biyaada: In this way, General Rughadjeen sought put the nation's mightiest heroes and brought them here to serve in the capital.

Biyaada: Including the Skyserpent himself, these heroes are five in number.

Biyaada: The same number of serpents said to serve Zahak, the symbol of Aht Urhgan...

Biyaada: The legend of these servants gave rise to their collective title:

Biyaada: The Serpent Generals.

Scene shifts back to the restaurant.

Biyaada: And that's how the story ends.

Fari-Wari: Wh-what!?
That's the end!?

Fari-Wari: That's all?

Biyaada: Is there a problem?

Fari-Wari: A problem? This is a travesty!
You've skipped over all the vital elements in the tale!

Biyaada: Vital elements?

Fari-Wari: Hm? You know, the friendships and the falling out, the anger and the passion...
everything that makes a story worth hearing!

Biyaada: I don't know that it was all that dramatic...

Fari-Wari: You see what I'm getting at, don't you, <Player's Name>?

Biyaada: You want to hear more?
I'm afraid I don't know much about any other of the generals beside General Rughadjeen.

Biyaada: Well, I am an adjutant to Skyserpent General Rughadjeen.
I can't be expected to have intimate knowledge of...

Biyaada: Of course!

Biyaada: Why don't you speak with the generals themselves?

Fari-Wari: Speak to the generals!?

Biyaada: I'd be happy to make the introductions.

Fari-Wari: I really don't think that will help...

Scene shift to Al Zabi. Fari-Wari is talking to Gadalar, who has his back to him.

Fari-Wari: Flameserpent General!
What can you tell me about the formation of the Serpent Generals?

Gadalar: Don't call me that...

Fari-Wari: Hm? If I could just here the Flameserpent General's...

Gadalar: I told you not to call me that!

Gadalar begins casting a fire spell. Fari-Wari runs for his life. He doesn't make it far...

Fari-Wari: Ow-ow-ow-ow-ow-ow...

Fari-Wari collapses unconscious in a ball of flames.

Scene shifts back to the restaurant.

Fari-Wari: And so, I barely lived past my initial greetings...

Fari-Wari: I seems, my dear Biyaada, you are my only safe source of inspiration.

Biyaada: ...

Fari-Wari: But a bard must risk life and limb to craft a believable tale!

Biyaada: Oho...

Fari-Wari: Now whose life and limbs do I risk...?

Fari-Wari: My loyal attendant!

Fari-Wari: You shall loosen the forked tognues of the Serpent Generals, and gather those vital elements in my place!

Fari-Wari: I beg of you!

(Agree to help)

Fari-Wari: Excellent!
A fitting response from the attendant of Fari-Wari the Courageous (and seldom Cowardly)!

Biyaada: Just a moment.

Biyaada: No matter how famous (or infamous) our bard friend is, <Player's Name> is only recognized as a simple mercenary.

Biyaada: I doubt the generals will make time for idle chit-chat over chai and sutlac...

Fari-Wari: But my saga...

Fari-Wari: There must be something we can do.

Biyaada: You ask for much...

Fari-Wari: So all is lost?

Fari-Wari: My masterpiece...melting away before me like morning mist...

Biyaada: I did not say that is was impossible.

Biyaada: I have it!
If we cannot reach the generals, perhaps their aides would be more accessible?

Biyaada: As luck would have it, I'm well acquainted with Gaweesh and Talhaal, the adjutants for the Galeserpent and Stoneserpent Generals.

Biyaada: Shall I write you a letter of introduction?

Fari-Wari: !!!

Fari-Wari: My sweet savior!
Your fine favor has my spirits soaring in joyous rapture!

Biyaada: Y-you're welcome...?

Fari-Wari: Did you hear, my stalwart attendant?

Fari-Wari: You have free reign to interview the generals; subordinates!

Fari-Wari: Once again, the success of the ballad of the century rests on your steady shoulders!

Obtained key item: Biyaada's Letter.