Difference between revisions of "The Faeries' Ruin"
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==Story== | ==Story== | ||
[[Image:Tfr_chapter_2_2.png| | [[Image:Tfr_chapter_2_2.png|thumb|left|300px|"It's a pretty good story, actually..."]] | ||
At the Faerie Festival, | At the Faerie Festival, all the Faeries had been turned to stone, and[[Hanso]] the [[Ixi]] was looking for things to steal. | ||
He was not the Festival's only visitor. Several [[Neopia]]n lands had sent representatives to investigate the crisis: from [[Altador]], [[King Altador]] and his guards, from [[Brightvale]], the knight [[Brynn]], and from [[Qasala]], King [[Jazan]]. | |||
Hanso explained that as he was on the way to the festival - "You mean you were going to steal from the faeries at their festival." - he saw [[Hubrid Nox]], who was holding a shiny artefact and chanting an incantation. After a blinding flash of light, Nox had vanished and all the faeries | Hanso tried to sell them information. Brynn and Hanso recognised each over from the time he had spent in Brightvale's dungeons, and neither she nor King Jazan were keen to trust him. He was, however, their own lead, so they agreed to hear him out. | ||
[[Image:nox.png|right|thumb|300px|Nox uses the stolen artefact.]] | |||
Hanso explained that as he was on the way to the festival - "You mean you were going to steal from the faeries at their festival." - he saw [[Hubrid Nox]], who was holding a shiny artefact and chanting an incantation. After a blinding flash of light, Nox had vanished and all the faeries had become stone. Although Jazan and Altador doubted Hubrid Nox would be powerful enough to curse all the faeries, Brynn vouched that he would have no reason to lie, and that the artefact Hanso claimed to have seen may have something to do with it. | |||
The group headed in to Faerie City to see [[Xandra]], a [[Xweetok]] who too was investigating the curse. On seeing Hanso, however, she became enraged - he had stolen several valuable artefacts from her hut earlier. | The group headed in to Faerie City to see [[Xandra]], a [[Xweetok]] who too was investigating the curse. On seeing Hanso, however, she became enraged - he had stolen several valuable artefacts from her hut earlier. | ||
[[ | [[File:Flashb.png|thumb|300px|left|Hanso looted Xandra's library.]] | ||
Hanso confessed that while he didn't lie about seeing Hubrid Nox, it wasn't the whole truth - he had broken into Xandra's hut, too. | Hanso confessed that while he didn't lie about seeing Hubrid Nox, it wasn't the whole truth - he had broken into Xandra's hut, too. | ||
Hanso explained that after he had stolen from Xandra, he put the word out that he had four magical artefacts to fence. He was contacted by a buyer who wanted to meet in Faerieland - Hubrid Nox. Nox was only interested in one of the artefacts, and Hanso tailed him to see what he would do with it: as Hanso had already explained, he chanted, there was a flash of light, and all the faeries turned to stone. Xandra still didn't trust Hanso's word, but Brynn and Altador were convinced, and went to recover the artefact from Nox before he could do any more damage with it. | Hanso explained that after he had stolen from Xandra, he put the word out that he had four magical artefacts to fence. He was contacted by a buyer who wanted to meet in Faerieland - Hubrid Nox. Nox was only interested in one of the artefacts, and Hanso tailed him to see what he would do with it: as Hanso had already explained, he chanted, there was a flash of light, and all the faeries turned to stone. Xandra still didn't trust Hanso's word, but Brynn and Altador were convinced, and went to recover the artefact from Nox before he could do any more damage with it. | ||
The group - Hanso under guard - arrived at [[Castle Nox]] in the [[Haunted Woods]]. As they formed their plan to storm the stronghold, Hanso slipped away. Brynn went after him - as Nox could appear any second, they couldn't afford to delay their plan. | The group - Hanso under guard - arrived at [[Castle Nox]] in the [[Haunted Woods]]. As they formed their plan to storm the stronghold, Hanso slipped away. Brynn went after him - as Nox could appear any second, they couldn't afford to delay their plan. | ||
Brynn found Hanso climbing over the wall away from the front gates - he said that he would find his own way in. | Brynn found Hanso climbing over the wall away from the front gates - he said that he would find his own way in. | ||
{{br}} | |||
{{cq|And how do I know you're not going in there to tip [[Hubrid Nox|him]] off?}} | {{cq|And how do I know you're not going in there to tip [[Hubrid Nox|him]] off?}} | ||
{{cq|Well, if you don't trust me, you could always stop me.}} | {{cq|Well, if you don't trust me, you could always stop me.}} | ||
[[Image:Tfr_chapter_5.png|right|thumb|300px|Nox has a close encounter with a familiar face.]] | |||
As soon as Hanso snuck in through one of the castle windows, he was spotted by Nox. Hanso asked Nox about the artefact - but Nox didn't seem to know what he was talking about. At that moment, an alarm went off, and Nox saw through his crystal ball Altador and the others storming the gates. Nox opened a secret passageway, threw the crystal ball at Hanso, and made good his escape. | As soon as Hanso snuck in through one of the castle windows, he was spotted by Nox. Hanso asked Nox about the artefact - but Nox didn't seem to know what he was talking about. At that moment, an alarm went off, and Nox saw through his crystal ball Altador and the others storming the gates. Nox opened a secret passageway, threw the crystal ball at Hanso, and made good his escape. | ||
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Meanwhile, out in the Haunted Woods, Hubrid Nox ran away from his castle, gloating over his escape - before running straight into another Hubrid Nox, who blasted him to the ground. | Meanwhile, out in the Haunted Woods, Hubrid Nox ran away from his castle, gloating over his escape - before running straight into another Hubrid Nox, who blasted him to the ground. | ||
After Brynn and Hanso used the control panel to help the rest of the heroes escape, Jazan accused Hanso of letting Nox escape and blamed him for getting trapped in the castle. Although Hanso protested that he helped them get out of the castle, they overruled him, and decided to proceed without him. They argued over where Nox could have gone, when [[Faerieland]], surrounded by sinister purple clouds and crackling lightning, appeared overhead. Altador suggested that the faerie's condition had adversely affected the city, when the group was attacked from all sides by shadowy monsters. | After Brynn and Hanso used the control panel to help the rest of the heroes escape, Jazan accused Hanso of letting Nox escape and blamed him for getting trapped in the castle. Although Hanso protested that he helped them get out of the castle, they overruled him, and decided to proceed without him. They argued over where Nox could have gone, when [[Faerieland]], surrounded by sinister purple clouds and crackling lightning, appeared overhead. Altador suggested that the faerie's condition had adversely affected the city, when the group was attacked from all sides by shadowy monsters. | ||
[[Image: | [[Image:shadows.png|left|thumb|300px|A new threat emerges from the shadows.]] | ||
Jazan reasoned that the monsters they were fighting could not belong to Nox, as his minions are ghosts. Hanso and Altador realised that the wraiths were distracting them from the sinking Faerieland, and between waves, they resolved to split up. Brynn would go to [[The Finneus J. Scrollbottom Auxiliary Surplus Archives|Brightvale's library]] to see if there was anything they could use, and take Hanso to the dungeons there. Xandra said she should research more on faerie artefacts as well. The rest of the team would remain to see if the wraiths led them to Nox. | Jazan reasoned that the monsters they were fighting could not belong to Nox, as his minions are ghosts. Hanso and Altador realised that the wraiths were distracting them from the sinking Faerieland, and between waves, they resolved to split up. Brynn would go to [[The Finneus J. Scrollbottom Auxiliary Surplus Archives|Brightvale's library]] to see if there was anything they could use, and take Hanso to the dungeons there. Xandra said she should research more on faerie artefacts as well. The rest of the team would remain to see if the wraiths led them to Nox. | ||
Brynn and Hanso reminisced as to the first time they met, and after a while Xandra excused herself to go to her own books. When they reached Brightvale, they noticed the colour seemed to have gone from it. Brynn dutifully locked Hanso up, but promised she would return after going to the library. | Brynn and Hanso reminisced as to the first time they met, and after a while Xandra excused herself to go to her own books. When they reached Brightvale, they noticed the colour seemed to have gone from it. Brynn dutifully locked Hanso up, but promised she would return after going to the library. | ||
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Brynn met Xandra in the cave, who said she had also been captured. The other people in the cave seemed ill: Xandra thought the Spectres were feeding off them somehow. She wanted to know if Brynn had found a solution, and suggested the writing in the book may have been a puzzle of some kind. With the help of Hanso, who had snuck into the cave by piggy-backing on one of the Spectres, the trio managed to escape. | Brynn met Xandra in the cave, who said she had also been captured. The other people in the cave seemed ill: Xandra thought the Spectres were feeding off them somehow. She wanted to know if Brynn had found a solution, and suggested the writing in the book may have been a puzzle of some kind. With the help of Hanso, who had snuck into the cave by piggy-backing on one of the Spectres, the trio managed to escape. | ||
[[Image:arte2.png|right|thumb|300px|The group finds the second artefact.]] | |||
On examining the book, Xandra stated that it did not contain a counter-spell, but a map to some ruins. Hanso recognized them - they were one of the safe houses when he was a member of the [[Thieves' Guild]]. As it was their only lead, the trio travelled to the ruins, hoping to find something they could use. Within the ruins, they ran into more ghouls and split up. Xandra and Hanso found another artefact that looked like it was connected to the one used against the Faeries. | |||
Hanso was wary of traps and [[Wikipedia:Raiders of the Lost Ark|asked Xandra if she had a bag of sand]], but she rolled her eyes and just grabbed the artefact, which didn't seem to be booby trapped after all. They met up with Brynn again and decided to head back to the Haunted Woods, hoping the second artefact could undo the spell the first one cast. | Hanso was wary of traps and [[Wikipedia:Raiders of the Lost Ark|asked Xandra if she had a bag of sand]], but she rolled her eyes and just grabbed the artefact, which didn't seem to be booby trapped after all. They met up with Brynn again and decided to head back to the Haunted Woods, hoping the second artefact could undo the spell the first one cast. | ||
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{{cq|It's worse than just Faerieland sinking. King Altador, I think all of Neopia is in terrible danger...}} | {{cq|It's worse than just Faerieland sinking. King Altador, I think all of Neopia is in terrible danger...}} | ||
Brynn explained that it seemed all of Neopia seemed drained, and everything was decaying or dying. Jazan wondered if the Faeries were more involved in the well-being of the planet than they had realised. With time running out, they needed to reverse the spell as soon as they could, and Xandra resolved to try. They moved out in to the open, and Brynn and Hanso held the artefact up for Xandra while the heroes defended them against the renewed forces of the wraiths. | Brynn explained that it seemed all of Neopia seemed drained, and everything was decaying or dying. Jazan wondered if the Faeries were more involved in the well-being of the planet than they had realised. With time running out, they needed to reverse the spell as soon as they could, and Xandra resolved to try. They moved out in to the open, and Brynn and Hanso held the artefact up for Xandra while the heroes defended them against the renewed forces of the wraiths. | ||
[[Image:Tfr_crash.jpg|left|thumb|400px|Xandra had no intention of ever saving Faerieland.]] | |||
As the ritual was completed, there was a shockwave from the artefact. Hanso picked himself up, and saw Brynn lying on the ground, while outside of Xandra's magical barrier, the heroes had been turned to stone. The Phantoms closed in on Xandra, who scoured them away with green flames. Hanso stared in shock as the Xweetok stood with an evil glint in her eye and Faerieland crashed behind them in a shower of fireballs. It was at this point that Hasno and Brynn had learned the horrible truth: Xandra ''wanted'' Faerieland to fall... | As the ritual was completed, there was a shockwave from the artefact. Hanso picked himself up, and saw Brynn lying on the ground, while outside of Xandra's magical barrier, the heroes had been turned to stone. The Phantoms closed in on Xandra, who scoured them away with green flames. Hanso stared in shock as the Xweetok stood with an evil glint in her eye and Faerieland crashed behind them in a shower of fireballs. It was at this point that Hasno and Brynn had learned the horrible truth: Xandra ''wanted'' Faerieland to fall... | ||
{{cq|It was a symbol, Brynn. That's all. Symbols have power, and getting rid of that symbol is something that Neopia has needed for a long, long time...}} | {{cq|It was a symbol, Brynn. That's all. Symbols have power, and getting rid of that symbol is something that Neopia has needed for a long, long time...}} | ||
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Hanso remembered the 'Nox' he saw cast the spell called Faeries "winged tyrants" - and realised 'Nox' must have been Xandra in disguise. Xandra said the world would be better off under a Neopet ruler: her. The artefact Hanso had stolen and the sibling they found in the ruin had both served to amplify her magic so she could overwhelm the Faeries. The shadowy wraiths, spectres, and phantoms, who had been plaguing Brightvale and the Haunted Woods, were a side-effect from the petrification spell unintended by Xandra. | Hanso remembered the 'Nox' he saw cast the spell called Faeries "winged tyrants" - and realised 'Nox' must have been Xandra in disguise. Xandra said the world would be better off under a Neopet ruler: her. The artefact Hanso had stolen and the sibling they found in the ruin had both served to amplify her magic so she could overwhelm the Faeries. The shadowy wraiths, spectres, and phantoms, who had been plaguing Brightvale and the Haunted Woods, were a side-effect from the petrification spell unintended by Xandra. | ||
Xandra hoped to rebuild Neopia with Neopets and their own strengths, not through the blessings of the faeries. Seeing their potential, she offered Brynn and Hanso a chance to join her: Brynn refused at once, but Hanso listened. Xandra said that if Hanso helped her rebuild, he would be remembered as a hero, not a thief. Recalling the distrust from his fellow heroes - including Brynn - and despite Brynn begging for his help, Hanso instead seemed to agree to Xandra's offer. | Xandra hoped to rebuild Neopia with Neopets and their own strengths, not through the blessings of the faeries. Seeing their potential, she offered Brynn and Hanso a chance to join her: Brynn refused at once, but Hanso listened. Xandra said that if Hanso helped her rebuild, he would be remembered as a hero, not a thief. Recalling the distrust from his fellow heroes - including Brynn - and despite Brynn begging for his help, Hanso instead seemed to agree to Xandra's offer. | ||
[[Image:chase.png|right|thumb|Hanso steals the | [[Image:chase.png|right|thumb|300px|Hanso steals one of the artefacts.]] | ||
However, it was a ruse! Hanso snatched the smaller artefact from Xandra and threw it to Brynn, telling her to destroy it. Brynn hesitated in the confusion, which gave the Xweetok witch enough time to summon it back. Hanso grabbed the artefact from the air as he and Brynn fled. | However, it was a ruse! Hanso snatched the smaller artefact from Xandra and threw it to Brynn, telling her to destroy it. Brynn hesitated in the confusion, which gave the Xweetok witch enough time to summon it back. Hanso grabbed the artefact from the air as he and Brynn fled. | ||
Enraged, Xandra summoned a giant Wraith called Oblivion to kill Brynn while she dealt with Hanso. The Ixi absorbed her attacks into the artefact while goading her with insults, and when it was full of energy, he shattered it with his dagger. There was a burst of green light, and the clouds parted. Brynn defeated Oblivion, and rushed over to Hanso - but both Hanso and Xandra had been turned to stone. | Enraged, Xandra summoned a giant Wraith called Oblivion to kill Brynn while she dealt with Hanso. The Ixi absorbed her attacks into the artefact while goading her with insults, and when it was full of energy, he shattered it with his dagger. There was a burst of green light, and the clouds parted. Brynn defeated Oblivion, and rushed over to Hanso - but both Hanso and Xandra had been turned to stone. | ||
[[Image:price2.png|left|thumb|300px|Hanso's plan comes at a price.]] | |||
Not long after, King Altador and his guardsmen, King Jazan, the Ogrin Master, and even Queen Fyora arrived as the dust settled; all free from Xandra's petrification spell. The Faerie Queen freed Hanso from the effects of the broken mirror. After everyone congratulated the thief for his heroism, Fyora explained that Xandra had underestimated the Faeries' involvement in Neopia, as their magic was needed to protect the world from the wraiths. She then disappeared with the petrified Xweetok, asking Hanso to meet up with her later. | Not long after, King Altador and his guardsmen, King Jazan, the Ogrin Master, and even Queen Fyora arrived as the dust settled; all free from Xandra's petrification spell. The Faerie Queen freed Hanso from the effects of the broken mirror. After everyone congratulated the thief for his heroism, Fyora explained that Xandra had underestimated the Faeries' involvement in Neopia, as their magic was needed to protect the world from the wraiths. She then disappeared with the petrified Xweetok, asking Hanso to meet up with her later. | ||
Hanso revealed to his allies that beforehand, he saw something in the book from Brightvale that helped him break the spell, freeing everyone from their stone predicament. He then confessed that he was lucky that Fyora freed him. The group began to go their separate ways: Altador and his men returned to [[Altador|their own kingdom]] to see if there was any damage done from the days past, while Jazan and Hanso discuss buying some of the jewellery Hanso had stolen for [[Nabile]] as a gift. | Hanso revealed to his allies that beforehand, he saw something in the book from Brightvale that helped him break the spell, freeing everyone from their stone predicament. He then confessed that he was lucky that Fyora freed him. The group began to go their separate ways: Altador and his men returned to [[Altador|their own kingdom]] to see if there was any damage done from the days past, while Jazan and Hanso discuss buying some of the jewellery Hanso had stolen for [[Nabile]] as a gift. | ||
===Epilogue=== | ===Epilogue=== | ||
Hanso told a young [[Wocky]] named Timmy about the events that followed Xandra's downfall. | Hanso told a young [[Wocky]] named Timmy about the events that followed Xandra's downfall. | ||