Verdant Castle

Observer: While no rumors of new Stewy have reached your fins, your feet still wind up taking you to Verdant Castle. It always surprises you how easily you can just enter the castle…

Observer: You find Queen Iola where you first met her. She’s curled up on a teal chaise lounge near the window, holding a Stewy in her lap and staring wistfully at a photo. She startles as you enter, dropping it.

Observer: Trying to be helpful, you pick it up. You notice its age - it’s been treated to be preserved, but even so, the dextroluma in the photo give it away. Iola and Nero are children, Deja is in it - and Morgana and Muramasa have the brilliant white eyes of the pure.

Iola: “Sorry- I…”

Observer: She takes the photo back from you, displacing the Stewy so she can carefully tuck it into the album at the foot of the chaise.

Iola: “…it was a long time ago, but with the eclipse coming up, I just…”

Observer: Her sigh is soft as she closes the album and runs her hands over it, eyes downcast.

Iola: “I hope everything will be alright. It just… makes me nervous I guess. I’d like the rest of my reign to be really uneventful, I guess. Nice and quiet and peaceful…”

Observer: You don’t think you need to point out the unlikeliness of that, with the threat posed by the Blighted Wilds. Instead, you gently nudge her pet to cuddle up to her and comfort her, which it does.

Iola: “…oh, you’re so sweet. I’ll be fine, I will.”

Observer: You’d never had the sense that Iola wears a mask around others before, but now, you can see it slipping into place as she cheers herself up. Her spine straightens, she becomes more regal… Who would think she had just been missing the past?

Observer: Whatever moment there was has passed quickly. You spend the visit acting as though you didn’t see it or the photo, but- As you leave, you can’t help but hope she’ll really be alright, and not just pretending for the sake of others. It leaves you strangely uneasy…

Crystal Casino

Observer: The Crystal Hold’em table you were at has now closed for the host to take their break, and so you have decided to take a break out on a balcony with a drink before trying to join a new game. You can hear low voices from a balcony above you, and of course, decide to listen in on them, curious.


Diana: “Sorry for abandoning you at the table, Iola needed reassuring about the Gala again.”

Ashe: “She and Anja must be in sync, I had to tell her it would be fine again while you were gone.”

Diana: “They’d hate it if they knew they were doing the same thing.”

Observer: You can hear the two Queens laugh softly together. Your eyes are wide as you listen in about this royal business - you’ve heard plenty of other dextroluma and even some lockettes and auratails being nervous, but actual royalty…

Diana: “I don’t understand what there is to be nervous about. Moon covers sun for a bit, things get weird, then the sun and moon separate again. We’ve understood what causes it for… millennia now.”

Ashe: “I understand for Anja. Her mother was like this and drilled all of it into her. I don’t really know for Iola…”

Diana: “Nero is probably the only one who does. Maybe Kebechet..?”

Ashe: “Kebechet is even more superstitious than she is, so she wouldn’t be much help.”

Observer: Belatedly remembering your drink, you go to take a sip of it and wince as the ice clinks against the glass, immediately silencing the conversation above you. Well… Best to take your glass with you and say nothing about what you overheard.

Abella's Boutique

Observer: You’re quite certain that Abella’s Boutique will have the perfect outfit for you to wear to the Eclipse Gala, so it’s the first destination you seek out.

Observer: As usual, the bell rings as you enter the shop - and you watch as a dextroluma in the middle whirls on her foot. You blink in surprise as you recognize Queen Syndra - and of course, Queen Anja beside her, currently speaking to Abella who stands behind the counter.

Anja: “-well yeah, Queen Diana and Queen Ashe have said it’s safe, of course. I just… can’t help but be nervous, you know? Mom always talked about what eclipses meant and…”

Observer: She trails off, but you notice the way her fins shudder, and how quickly Queen Syndra dismisses you and turns back to focus on the conversation.

Abella: “That’s… understandable, I guess. I think it’ll be fine, though - and besides, I’m sure the Crystal Guard and your wife will be on alert enough for it that it’s unlikely anything could really get going.”

Observer: You see Queen Syndra rest a comforting hand on Queen Anja’s back, while Abella continues working on packing up what seem to be a pair of elegant gowns - probably for the Eclipse Gala.

Syndra: “Abella’s right, love. The most dangerous times are when nobody is on their guard - for something like this, with so many Royals in one place… It’ll be safer than just a normal day.”

Anja: “I know, I just…”

Observer: Seeing Queen Syndra pointedly glancing at you, you decide it’s best to focus on shopping for clothes and avoid listening too much longer to their conversation…

Aerius Archives

Observer:  The Royal Archives are strangely active as you head inside, with a number of dextroluma and lockettes seeming to be working on differing things.

Observer:  Nepra stands in the center of it all, looking tired. You watch her directing them for a little bit before approaching the counter.

Nepra:  “Oh, apologies - do you need a new registration scroll? Things are a bit busy right now, we’re moving the Passport Office into here.”

Observer:  You’re taken aback to hear that and inquire why it’s happening.

Nepra:  “The building they were working in is in need of major maintenance that cannot be put off any longer. Once they’re settled in, they’ll be able to resume issuing passports to applicants from Maquette and other places.”

Observer:  That definitely sounds interesting, and you’re curious if she’ll be handling all of that as well. It seems like a lot…

Nepra:  “Oh, Symphony is in charge of the passports. She’s over there.”

Observer:  You follow where she points to see a white haired Lockette in the process of setting up a workstation.

Observer:  Curious, and since it’s clear she cannot do much work like this, you ask her about the upcoming eclipse.

Nepra:  “Oh, that… It’s just a normal celestial event, it’s not that exciting, especially when most of us will be asleep. I don’t know what about it has so many people all excited…”

Observer:  Not a very thrilling answer, that…

Observer:  Things seem rather busy, so if you need to fill out any paperwork, it might be best to fill it out elsewhere where things will be calmer, at least for now.

Enchanted Elixirs

Observer:  As you pass by the elixir shop, you spot a sign on the outside of the windows.

Sign:  “SEEKING ASSISTANTS AND/OR APPRENTICES. INQUIRE WITHIN.”

Observer:  Curious, you head inside. On the counter is the same sign, but no sign of that mysterious, veiled shopkeeper…

Observer:  You can hear some voices in the back, however. One seems a bit higher pitched and nervous, while the other sounds more mature and collected.

Observer:  Then you hear a voice that is definitely the one you recall from last time.

Mysterious Shopkeep:  “Do make sure to pay if you decide to take anything. I’ll know if you don’t.”

Observer:  It sounded like they spoke right next to you - but they are nowhere in sight now. How-?

Observer:  …maybe best not to question it. You hadn’t even thought yet about whether or not anyone would notice a bottle going missing or not…

Observer:  Sure it would have crossed your mind in a moment, but still. How did they know?

Observer:  Unnerved, you leave the shop.

Rodeo Ruff Pets

Observer: As you step into Rodeo Ruff Pets, a few things immediately catch your notice. The disarray you saw last time has been cleaned, and a wall of water filled tanks now house aqueous pets. A pink dextro stands in front of one of them, petting a cephulu.

Observer: There is a large amount of brass decoration now - there had been some before, but the number has multiplied, and symbols for good luck now cover the shop.

Observer: Of course, the strangest thing is the way Boone is pacing and holding a phone, tension and anger evident.

Boone: “Well with your priorities there, I don’t reckon I’ll be keeping you as a supplier. I ordered before that shop in the Isles, but you divert my damn order to them?”

Boone: “Our contract is finished. I’ll find a supplier for the Nephian nations who’s more reliable than your ass!”

Observer: You watch as he takes the phone away from his fins and tries to hang it up… and tries again.

Boone: “Charlotte- how in the hell do I hang this thing up?”

Observer: You watch the pink dextro hurry over to help him, the cephulu trailing her. Soon the phone is hung up.


Boone: “Knew that eclipse was a bad sign, I just thought it would only affect the Isles, not anything down here.”


Observer: He seems to do his best to shake off his bad mood so you can shop and buy what you wanted - as long as you weren’t hoping to get the nephian pets that are all the rage in the Crystal Isles right now.

Strawberry Gardens

Observer: New scents greet your nose as you enter Strawberry Gardens, and a look confirms new plots growing near the door. The mushrooms in them appear to be empyrean cultivars, which excites you.

Observer: To your surprise, Blossom is not among the growing fungi and plants, but at the counter looking agitated.

Observer: The reason for her agitation is quite obvious, however - Petal, her jelluxi, is trying to pry a grumpy ryuudle off of her shoulders and squeaking in anger.

Blossom: “Petal, come on, Sakura being here doesn’t mean you can’t get attention too…”

Observer: She spots you and waves, grimacing slightly as Sakura slaps their tail at Petal.


Blossom: “Sorry about the pets - they’re both in moods. You know how Petal is… Anyways, what can I help you with?”

Observer: You ask her about the new mushrooms, and she claps her hands together, clearly pleased.

Blossom: “I just got back a few nights ago from picking them up! Took a little trip to the Isles, Artifice, and Galactica, swung back down through Lunaris, which is where I got this little baby, and then back home to get these all growing and prep the empyrean spores for sale, since they’ll probably be in demand for eclipse parties down here.”

Observer: You express your surprise she doesn’t seem at all perturbed by the eclipse, and she laughs a little.

Blossom: “I guess you must know a lot of superstitious sorts? I’m not like that. An eclipse is just an eclipse, it’s just another movement of the sun and a moon. It’s interesting and cool, but nothing to get scared over. The worst things in the world aren’t from nature, but from others.”

Observer: Her gaze is distant for a moment, before she moves on to helping you with your shopping and trying to keep her pets from bickering too much over her.

Decore Galore

Observer: Decore Galore smells like the ocean as you step in - and you can easily see why immediately. Serena is arranging a beautiful display of sand and shells underneath a wall that she has decorated with a large framed photograph of the Eternal Palace.

Serena: “Oh, hello! Just give me a moment and then I can shell-p you out!”

Observer: No visit to Serena would be complete without a new pun, and she laughs at your groan.

Serena: “Seriously, look at all these pretty shells! I collected a ton, including ones people left after the Scavenger Hunt was over. I figured that anyone who missed the Soirée might like to be able to get their hands on them.”

Observer: You nod your understanding, but ask about the sand.

Serena: “Oh, well, it just seemed like… appropriate I guess? I thought it would look cool and fit with the photograph I got of the Palace. I have some other photographs too, but… those are a little sadder I guess.”

Observer: You follow her eyes to pictures of strange scenery, lit in purple and red, and inquire.

Serena: “Well, I got the opportunity to tag along with a scientific group that was doing some… sampling in the Blighted Wilds. A pretty quick in and out thing, ventilator masks the whole time you know. Safest place to do that is Endville, and the moon was just right for me to get those.”

Observer: Endville… You’ve heard a few rumors that it’s where corrupted dextroluma go when their necrosis hits the final stage. No wonder she calls it sad.

Serena: “I wonder what the eclipse will look like there…”

Observer: You see her fins shudder a little as she mentions the eclipse, and watch her touch the ornament on her horn.

Serena: “I mean, it’s… Logically nothing will happen, but the idea of the moon covering the sun is well… It’s scary and all, makes me a little nervous. I’ll be up in the Isles photographing it of course, but…”

Observer: Clearly, she’s more nervous about it than she wants to admit, because she hasn’t made a pun since the subject came up. You decide it might be best to drop it for now, and instead redirect to petting her hoppopper, Sir Bubbles, who has been sleeping peacefully on the counter.

Trash Kingdom

Observer: You aren’t sure how you wound up returning to this network of alleyways, but the further you get into it, the more perturbed you are. Why did you come back?

Observer: It seems unlikely a sanitation worker has ever been back here, between the hundreds of trash bags, precariously stacked boxes of all kinds, and…

Observer: …is that a papier-mâché castle built around a dumpster?

Observer: A sign has been pasted onto the wall above the dumpster, with an arrow pointing towards a different exit than the one you took last time.

Sign on the Wall: “TRASH KINGDOM WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS SOON.”

Observer: As you follow the arrow, you spot a pair of boots and a fluffy tail with a skull attached to it sticking out of a large trash can.

Observer: The tail is wiggling and you can hear giggling from inside, so you decide to just… exit while you can and not find out more just yet…

Nevermore Bookstore

Observer: The bookstore you spotted previously seems to have more activity now.

Observer: As you draw near to it, you see a lockette, who you assume runs the place, busily trying to clean up what look like stains on the windows.

Observer: A moment later, you spot a dexette exiting the door to hang up a sign on it.

Sign: “NO SHOWER, NO SERVICE”

Observer: Curious, you ask what happened. The two exchange a deep sigh, looking at each other.

Vincent: “We were both called away right after opening the store, and some… ‘interesting’ individuals saw fit to… utilize our stock for their own… activities.”

Observer: There’s quite a few questions raised by that string of words, but the dexette speaks again before you can ask.

Vincent: “I hope they will be deterred from further misadventures by this.”

Keir: “We can only hope to be so fortunate…”

Vincent: “Indeed. Still, despite the unfortunate circumstances, we hope you will enjoy the store and our offerings.”

Keir: “We hope to have a shipment of books arriving from Maquette soon on various topics.”

Observer: Since it’s the hot topic everywhere you go, you ask them if they have anything on the eclipse.

Keir: “Not presently, though it has, of course, featured quite heavily in Aerius mythology and religious beliefs for millennia, and additionally features heavily in the mythology of Maquette as well.”

Vincent: “There were some books in the back we had not been able to unpack yet, however…”

Observer: The two of them sigh deeply again.

Keir: “Let’s not think of that, for now… The storeroom has a lock now, and we shall not make those mistakes again.”

Observer: You’re left even more curious about what might have happened, and resolve to come back often in hopes of learning more…

Eclipse Gala (Shop)

Observer: You’ve heard there will be a commemorative shop near the Crystal Palace to celebrate the eclipse, and of course, it’s imperative to see what it might have.

Observer: The shop is already packed when you arrive, and it’s easy to see why. There are a number of ryuudles and suldras all over the shop, clearly recently imported from Lunaris and Solaris, as well as a display of cute tophat cookies.

Observer: In the loud atmosphere, you almost don’t recognize Queen Ashe when you wind up next to her - well, not till a guard gently scoots you back to give her space.

Queen Ashe: “Oh dear, I suppose we should have allotted a larger space for the store…”

Observer: The ryuudle draped around her neck yawns and stretches in response, although it seems quite unbothered by the loud and crowded atmosphere.

Queen Diana: “It’ll calm down soon enough, but we should allot some of the city guard to make sure patrons don’t trample each other trying to get their hands on these little guys…”

Observer: You watch as the queen issues a sharp whistle and begins giving orders - and the crowd obeys her. The guards don’t even have to help her.

Observer: Soon, the shop is- well, not quiet, exactly, but calm and orderly. You’re taken aback when Queen Diana winks at you.

Queen Diana: “Not that hard to get a crowd to listen if you know what to say.”

Queen Ashe: “Well, you do have a certain talent with your… words.”

Observer: Somehow, you don’t think ‘words’ was what she wanted to say… You watch as Queen Diana taps one of her guards, however.

Queen Diana: “Could you go to the city guard and fetch a few to keep order here? We can leave and get on with work once they do.”

Observer: You watch the guard nod and head off, and decide you’d best enjoy the time in proximity to the Crystal Queens while you can.

Eclipse Gala (Daily)

Observer: The interior of the Crystal Palace is beautiful and sumptuous. The teleporter room is lined with rich wooden panels, likely imported from the Verdant Kingdom, and abuzz with attendees of the event.

Observer: Guards stand at the only exit from the room, along with servants. The servants assist attendees by directing them where to go, and taking coats from some attendees into a valet room.

Observer: You soon find yourself in a large ballroom. Crystalline skylights scatter purple and blue lights across the floors, and you can hear the sounds of an orchestra tuning their instruments.

Queen Ashe: “Oh goodness, this ballroom is so wonderful isn’t it?”

Observer: You’re a bit startled to be spoken to directly by the Queen - but you’re one of the few not currently crowding the refreshment tables or the servers. You politely agree and compliment the skylights.

Queen Ashe: “Yes, they’re one of my favorite pieces! This ballroom was being redesigned when Diana and I married, so I had them designed to complement her horns.”

Queen Diana: “You were already going to do purple…”

Observer: You jump, not having heard the other Queen approach. She grins at you.

Queen Diana: “You should try some of the cocktails when the frenzy around the refreshments dies down. Which should be soon - the orchestra just finished tuning.”

Observer: The music is beginning in earnest now as she bows to her wife.

Queen Diana: “May I have this dance?”

Observer: Queen Ashe flutters her fan in front of her face before shutting it and accepting her wife’s hand.

Queen Ashe: “You may~”

Observer: With them heading to the dance floor, others flock to it as well, and you find yourself moving to the side, finally snagging a cocktail for yourself.

Observer: To your astonishment, you also find some of the servers are handing out crystals, not just cocktails. Quite a show of the Isles’ wealth - though you’re certainly not going to complain.

Observer: It’s a nice present for coming to see the Eclipse and the Isles in all their glittering glory.