Pinon

Pinon: Apostle Pinon reporting. What are your orders?
Sandalphon: Listen well.

Sandalphon: Recently, we've received multiple reports of an informer in our ranks who has been leaking classified information.
Pinon: I have heard similar rumors. The dissident, right?
Sandalphon: Indeed. Our intelligence network has tracked this individual to a town called Muskov in the Osborne Principality.
Sandalphon: I want you to track them down and deal with the situation.
Pinon: And who will I be reporting to?
Sandalphon: This mission is yours alone, Apostle Pinon. You also need not await Gabriel's return.
Pinon: You mean you're...giving me a solo assignment?
Sandalphon: I did not stutter. Now hurry to the site and see that Her will is done.
Sandalphon: I expect great things from you.
Pinon: By the Goddess... By the Goddess!
Pinon: No more am I merely a burden on my seniors. I finally have a mission of my own!
Pinon: This must mean my hard work has finally been recognized. I must ensure I live up to Sandalphon's expectations!
Pinon: Your young apostle is ready for whatever challenges may await her, Gabriel. I will make you proud!
Nevin: If I knew we were doing soliloquies today, I would have prepared something.
Pinon: Blargh! N-Nevin?!
Nevin: Yep! Papa Bear is here in all his strong and handsome glory.

Pinon: Don't use your nonsense to hide the fact you snuck up on me! Such behavior is exceedingly rude.
Nevin: Pretty standard practice on the battlefield though—and your enemies won't give two rips if you think they're rude or not.
Nevin: You've still got a long way to go if I need to teach you that.
Nevin: If you don't shape up, Gabriel's never going to think she can let go of her cute little bunny wabbit, eh?
Pinon: I'll thank you to keep your opinions of my parental relations out of your mouth! You, a man who is laziness incarnate, has no right to judge me so.
Nevin: See? Cute.
Nevin: But listen, forget all that. I hear the big cheese is sending you out to Osborne?
Pinon: And what of it?
Nevin: Well, that just happens to be right in the neck of the woods where I'm headed.
Nevin: Yeah, I just got a mission myself: Some state-of-the-art magical weapon managed to walk away from a base.
Pinon: And what of THAT?
Nevin: You know, for a big smarty, you're awfully slow on the uptake sometimes. This is your first solo mission, yeah? So this is just me offering up a little welcome assistance.
Pinon: Eeep! Er, I mean... That is to say...
Pinon: Wh-while I appreciate your gesture, I simply couldn't ask that of you when I was ordered to pursue the mission alone.
Nevin: Listen, I get it. You've worked hard for this, and the last thing I wanna do is dump a bucket of ice water on your big moment.
Nevin: But if things sound like they're gonna get rough, make sure you call me right away. Don't go getting all reckless on your first flight outta the nest, dig?
Nevin: Oh, and I'd love to avoid having to deal with any four-alarm fires, so try to keep everything on the up-and-up.
Pinon: Your lethargy would have you avoid one-alarm fires if you could—but I shall still take your words to heart.
Pinon: I will not permit you to think of me as a "cute bunny" for the rest of your days.
Nevin: Tsk! Bold words and a brave front for sure.
Nevin: But she has a habit of not being able to do her best when she tries too hard. I hope that need to succeed doesn't trip her up...

Pinon: Well, this is Muskov, which means the dissident should be here somewhere...
Pinon: It's a large town with an imposing cathedral, just as our intel suggested.
Pinon: But it's the middle of the day, and I don't see any children or elderly people about.
Pinon: There's something odd about this place...

Resident: Sorry to make you help out with the cleaning, traveler.
Pinon: I do not mind; I am the outsider who lost her way, after all.
Resident: Indeed, indeed. I certainly know what it's like to be lost in unusual environs.
Pinon: Are you also a stranger to this town?
Resident: I came here some six months ago, though that's not an unusual tale in these parts; nearly all the townspeople moved here within the past year.
Pinon: That seems odd for a town of this size.
Resident: Yes, Bishop Roalta has attracted a great number of new residents.
Resident: He allows the people here to live far better lives than they have ever known.
Pinon: He sounds like a fine man.
Resident: He is wonderful. So long as he is here, we can leave all our cares behind.
Resident: A roof over our heads, bread on our plate, an honest day's work... All is provided for here in Muskov. It's a true paradise!
Pinon: And it is the bishop who arranges for you to have all of these things?
Resident: That's right. Oh, we're grateful to him, so we are—he's nothing like those fools who oversee the principality itself!
Pinon: Really...
Resident: Speaking of which, it's time for Bishop Roalta to bless us with his daily sermon. You should come lend your ear!
Bishop Roalta: O children of Ilia, let us offer up a prayer to our beloved Goddess in the heavens.
Townspeople: WE LOVE YOU, BISHOP ROALTA!
Pinon: (These people are near to a state of frenzy...)
Bishop Roalta: She shall protect our paradise from all outside enemies. All Her lost children will be saved in equal measure.
Bishop Roalta: Now, all of you...
 ???: Help meeee!
Pinon: What was that?!
Fiend?: Graaagh!
Pinon: Oh no! It's coming this way! Everyone, get back! I'll handle it!
Pinon: Haaah!
Bishop Roalta: She struck it down with a single blow! Clearly, this is no ordinary traveler. Could she be...?
Bishop Roalta: You there! Bring the black-garbed lady to me, that I might bandy words with her.
Priest: Yes, Bishop!

Sentry: Hey, we're working here! We don't have time to deal with the likes of you!
Nevin: You didn't need to LITERALLY kick me out! Sheesh...
Nevin: (They're a more disciplined bunch than I expected. Guilty consciences, maybe? Looks like there's something more to this disappearing weapon after all...)
Nevin: (Be that as it may, I can't force them to talk when I'm not confident it'll lead to actual evidence.)
Nevin: Hmm... What to do...?
Child: Hey! What're you doing?!
Nevin: ...Huh?
Child: I was just trying to go to the mountain for an adventure! Lemme gooooo!
Sentry: Residents are not allowed to travel to neighboring towns without permission. Now do as you're told and go back home!
Child: Whoooooa!
Nevin: Must be my lucky day... You okay, kid? All your bits and pieces in place?
Child: Yeah. Thanks for catching me!
Nevin: Sure thing. But what's going on here? I heard some business about permission to visit a neighboring town?
Child: Yeah, all the dumb soldiers started sayin' stuff like that a little while ago.
Child: They say we can't go to the town across the mountain because the dead are summoning monsters or something.
Nevin: Monsters, eh? Tell me more.
Child: I dunno anything. But all the adults keep talking about how monsters are coming.
Nevin: Huh...

Bishop Roalta: First, please permit me to thank you for protecting the people of this town earlier.
Pinon: I am honored you thought enough of it to permit me this audience, Bishop Roalta. Was there anything else you wished to speak with me about?
Bishop Roalta: Indeed, I have a request pertaining to the monster you repelled earlier.
Pinon: The...monster?
Bishop Roalta: It is what we call the unknown creatures that began appearing in our humble town a short while ago.
Bishop Roalta: We are at an utter loss as to what to do about it; even the strongest among us seem powerless against them.
Bishop Roalta: We were on the verge of surrender when you appeared and felled it with but a single blow.
Bishop Roalta: Clearly, you are a warrior of most prodigious skill and talent!
Pinon: W-well, it's true I've trained in the bow since I was little.
Bishop Roalta: Would you use your skill to aid us and defeat these monsters?
Pinon: Oh!
Bishop Roalta: Surely it is the providence of heaven that you have found your way to us.
Bishop Roalta: Your good work will be appreciated more than you can know.
Townspeople: Please help us!
Pinon: (Though I didn't come here to fight monsters, it could prove a useful chance to look into the bishop's movements...)
Pinon: Very well. I accept your request.
Bishop Roalta: We are grateful beyond measure!
Pinon: Rest easy! I will give my all to the cause of peace in this town!

Pinon: Well, I've now visited every place these monsters were supposedly spotted.
Pinon: From what I've gathered, there are a great many of them, and they appear at random intervals from multiple directions.
Pinon: That's more or less the same thing the bishop told me, though I'm still not certain of his end game in all of this.
Resident: You seem to be working hard, traveler. How goes your progress?
Pinon: Little yet to report, I fear. It is a shame, for I would like to free the townspeople from this threat as quickly as possible.
Resident: You certainly are keen to help a bunch of strangers, aren't you?
Pinon: I seek to aid all people in trouble, as my seniors would do.
Resident: Well now!
Pinon: But my hopes mean little without firm action to back them up. If only I had something better to go on...
Pinon: Have you heard anything, sir? Any rumor, no matter how seemingly meaningless, might prove a vital clue.
Resident: Well, I have heard one thing...
Pinon: Tell me!
Resident: Some folks say the monsters all go to a certain place after they attack us.
Pinon: Why did no one mention this to me before now?
Resident: Fear stills their tongues—fear that an outsider might upset the paradise Bishop Roalta has built here.
Resident: Still, it's not right for hesitation to cause a kind soul like yourself such trouble.
Resident: If you can keep my involvement secret, I'll show you where they gather. Come.
Pinon: Huh? W-wait!

Pinon: *pant* *pant* I'd expected this gathering place to be further outside of town.
Resident: It's definitely here. I saw them entering their lair myself. I watched from a cave, right over yonder...
Fiend: Graaaaagh!
Pinon: One really showed up! Get behind me!
Resident: R-right!
Fiend: Graaaaaarrrg!
Pinon: What?! How... It repelled my attack!
Pinon: And my second as well! This one's stronger than the other one I fought...
Pinon: But it's my first real clue—I must capture it!
Fiend: Graaaaagh!
Resident: Augh!
Pinon: It deflected my attacks back at us! Eeek!
Fiend: Grrrrraaagh!
Pinon: (Trying to capture this foe is folly; I must prioritize driving it off!)
Pinon: O Gabriel, lend me your strength! Sigil, unleash!
Pinon: I shall see Her will done!
Fiend: Graaaaagh!
Resident: You scared it off...
Pinon: *pant* *pant* We should be safe for now. Are you well, sir? Were you hurt?
Resident: I think I'm fi—urgh!
Pinon: You're wounded! Hold as still as you can; I will see you back to town.

Pinon: *sigh* Well, I've done it this time.
Pinon: Not only did I lose my chance to bring down the monster, I got someone hurt. What am I even doing here...?
Pinon: I'm certain any of my seniors would have handled the whole situation magnificently. Perhaps this is just too much for me...
Nevin: Well, someone's looking low.
Pinon: N-Nevin! But...how can this be?! Are you a hallucination?!
Nevin: A hallucination? I'm insulted.
Pinon: My apologies. Still, why are you here? Were you not investigating an incident in another town?
Nevin: Yeah, that didn't exactly go so hot, so I figured I'd pop by and see you to switch things up a little bit.
Pinon: So even you run into difficulties from time to time...
Nevin: Spoiler alert: EVERYONE does. But hey, let's talk shop for a hot sec: You've heard about the monsters, yeah?
Pinon: Yes, and they're causing me no end of trouble! I took on a request to get rid of them, but I'm not making progress.
Pinon: The ones I encountered are not unlike the fiends we have in the south... But I am at as loss as to why these things are appearing here in the north.
Nevin: So you've already run into them, eh? Oh, and did you hear anything about the monsters being "summoned by the dead"?
Pinon: Nothing like that, no. But there HAVE been other points of interest I've uncovered during my investigation.
Nevin: The floor is yours.
Pinon: All the residents I spoke to in the course of my investigation have been in the prime of their years.
Pinon: I didn't speak to a single elderly person or child—and in fact, I suspect there may not be any in the entire town.
Pinon: The majority of the citizens migrated here because of an arrangement with the bishop, but that shouldn't account for such an unbalance in age.
Pinon: That, combined with the monsters, makes me believe we are dealing with more here than the simple dissident I was tasked with rooting out.
Nevin: Yeah, that's a weird one, all right. Still, it doesn't seem to have anything to do with my case, so I guess...
Nevin: Wait, hang on. No old people or kids, monsters, a missing weapon, and "the dead"...
Nevin: Oh, no way.
Nevin: Pinon, I need you to wait here for a bit and...wait. Just stand there. Cool?
Pinon: What? Why?!
Nevin: I've got something I need to look into over in the neighboring town.
Nevin: If it goes well, I think we can wrap our missions up at the same time—so just trust Papa Bear on this one, okay?
Pinon: At least tell me what is going ON! ...Bah!
Pinon: I think he owes me an explanation if this has something to do with MY mission!
Pinon: But he did not offer one—nor did he offer to bring me with him. It seems I'm more of a burden than I thought...
Pinon: *sigh* I suppose I'll just sit here like a good little bunny and... Hmm?
Pinon: Wait. I know that voice.

Bishop Roalta: ...So you failed to take care of her.
Resident: F-forgive me, Bishop Roalta. I will accept any punishment.
Bishop Roalta: Your punishment comes later. If even the one in the nest has failed, we'll need to take different measures. Come.

Pinon: It's the bishop and the man I was speaking with earlier. What could they be up to at this late hour?
Pinon: I'm sorry, Nevin, but I am an apostle— and I will not simply loiter about and wait for you to save the day!
Pinon: This time, I will live up to the expectations placed on me and see my mission through!

Resident: Everything is in place, Father.
Bishop Roalta: Then we begin at once.

Pinon: They both disappeared into that rock. Clearly, any paradise preached by a shady character like him is... No. Right now, I've other matters to deal with.
Pinon: Finally, a chance to put my training for opening secret doors to use! In I go...

Pinon: What is THIS?
Bishop Roalta: There are no delays in preparation, I trust?
Resident: None, Father. The monster maintenance has been completed as you commanded.
Bishop Roalta: We must eliminate all outsiders who would threaten us. This is for the sake of our paradise. Understand?
Resident: All shall be as you will it, Father.
Fiends: Grrrgh...
Pinon: So many monsters! And those townspeople there must all be...
Pinon: No. Whatever the situation may be, my duty is clear. After all...
Sandalphon: I expect great things from you.
Pinon: She's the first to expect great things from me, and I will not let her down. Sigil, unleash!
Pinon: All of you, surrender immediately and put your hands in the air!
Bishop Roalta: Of all the— Argh!
Pinon: I'm sorry it had to come to this, Bishop Roalta. I heard a great many compliments about you from the people of your town.
Pinon: But is what I see here the truth of you? These monsters are all under your control, yes?
Bishop Roalta: Grrr...
Pinon: There can be no dissembling your way out of this; a normal bishop would never be in such a place at this hour.
Bishop Roalta: A Sigil? Then you ARE an apostle! Bah! Your kind is no better than a dog that comes running whenever your angel master calls!
Pinon: And what if I am?
Bishop Roalta: If you are truly such, it is all the more reason I cannot permit you to live. I fear the time for subtlety is past.
Bishop Roalta: Time to hunt, Alpha!
Pinon: What?!
Monster: GRAAAAGH!
Pinon: Eeeek!
Bishop Roalta: You took an attack from my strongest, yet still draw breath? You are an apostle indeed—a fact I should have known after you drove my monsters hence twice!
Pinon: Then that means the monsters in town and the cave were BOTH your doing?!
Bishop Roalta: Yes. All who come to ferret out the secrets of Muskov are to be eaten by monsters— for no sacrifice is too dear if it permits our paradise to continue!
Pinon: Augh!
Bishop Roalta: As an apostle, even your corpse carries significant value; the armed forces of the Osborne Principality have already sworn to meet any price in exchange for it!
Bishop Roalta: Compared to the pittance I earn selling small bits of information on the Church, it will be an incomparable amount!
Pinon: So you ARE the informant! Aaaugh!
Monster King: Graaargh!
Pinon: No! It knocked my bow away!
Bishop Roalta: Aaah ha ha ha! It seems that the army's technological prowess has surpassed the sacramental powers of the Church!
Bishop Roalta: And apostle or no, without your weapon, you are as good as dead.
Bishop Roalta: Ah, but this monster is wondrous! The day of my rise to papal status is close at hand indeed—I shall certainly have to thank the military.
Pinon: The Goddess will never stand for such a thing...
Bishop Roalta: Oh, but she shall—for only you have gleaned my secrets, and your pitiful life ends here. ...Destroy her, Alpha!
Monster King: Graaargh!
Bishop Roalta: But do it quickly, that she may go peacefully into the arms of the Goddess.
Monster King: GRAAAAGH!

Pinon: (Though these may be my final moments, I will still fight... For there is someone who expects greatness from me!)
Pinon: I'm sorry, Mama, but I am an apostle... Please forgive me for doing this without your permission...
Pinon: Grant me strength, O Sigil!
Monster King: Graaargh?!
Bishop Roalta: What are you doing, you fool creature?! You foe is unarmed! KILL HER!
Pinon: Unfortunately for you, so long as life beats in my breast, my arrow shall strike true!
Pinon: Now feel my resolve! Haaaaah!
Nevin: Hey! Don't get all hot and bothered risking your life against a scrub like this!
Monster King: Graaaargh!
Pinon: N-Nevin?!
Nevin: Looks like Papa Bear showed up just in time once again.
Nevin: You really should try rolling with the flow instead of this whole "staking my life on one last desperate gambit" thing.
Nevin: You know that'll make your mama Gabriel do more than just cry.
Pinon: B-but I...
Nevin: Still, I can see how determined you are. If I let a good one like you die without stepping in, it would haunt me for the rest of my days.
Bishop Roalta: You! Are you an associate of the apostle?!
Nevin: Nice to meet you, pops! I'm the bigger, more grown-up model of apostle. So, uh, what're you planning to do with my little bunny junior here?
Nevin: Oh, and that's not actually a question, because I've already figured out your entire scheme—so maybe just spare us the trouble and come quietly, okay?
Bishop Roalta: WHAT?!
Nevin: See, I was looking for a missing magical weapon, and I keep hearing rumors about dead people summoning monsters.
Nevin: And why, I wondered, were those rumors spreading so far? So being a curious fellow, I hoofed it over here to Muskov.
Nevin: That's when I learned some juicy tidbits from my junior who was looking into this town's secrets—tidbits about the kind of folks who live here.
Pinon: You mean about how there were no children or elderly?
Nevin: Yep. Turns out there's a whole bunch of people in the prime of their life who've "died" in nearby towns of late.
Pinon: So all the people who moved here...
Nevin: Are dead—or at least the paperwork says they are. The majority of 'em are actually criminals who were imprisoned on military bases throughout the region.
Nevin: The bishop used his authority to commute their sentences and guarantee them a new life in return for absolute obedience, then had 'em recorded as dead. Pretty slick.
Pinon: ...It would be no easy feat to fill an entire city of this size with residents. But with the backing of the principality, it would be possible.
Pinon: And in return for said backing, you sold them Church secrets. Your behavior is unworthy of an adherent to the Goddess!
Nevin: And that's not all. He's ALSO involved in the theft of the magical weapon. It was part of the process he used to create these monsters.
Nevin: They're a fusion of fiend and magical weapon.
Pinon: How did you learn all of that?!
Nevin: I had a hunch I'd get what I wanted, so I employed a little "persuasion" with some soldiers in the neighboring town.
Pinon: Please say you didn't harm them!
Nevin: No! ...Well, not enough to make the big lady upstairs angry, anyway.
Nevin: Anyway, they told me everything I wanted to know about Bishop Scuzzbag here. So how'd I do, Father? Close?
Bishop Roalta: And if you HAVE stumbled on the truth? What of it? Surely you're well aware that I still have plenty of weapons with which to silence your ever-flapping gums!
Bishop Roalta: If this girl is anything to go by, the power of apostles is trivial at best; You're no match for my monsters!
Bishop Roalta: Both of you are bound for death, and all you have accomplished is that I will be twice the richer for it! Aaah ha ha ha!
Bishop Roalta: Rise, Alpha!
Monster King: Graaargh!
Nevin: Pinon, look out!
Pinon: Eek!
Pinon: Nevin!
Bishop Roalta: Aaah ha ha! And with that, your brave partner has fallen. But do not mourn overmuch; you will join him before long!
Pinon: Wh-why? Why would you protect a pathetic bungler like me?
Nevin: Because taking that thing down ain't my job today—it's yours.
Pinon: Wh-what?!
Nevin: Papa Bear was so tired from gathering all that evidence, he decided to take a rest and leave this to you. Now go get 'em.
Nevin: You can do ANYTHING if you try, so get out there and believe in yourself. I expect great things from you.
Pinon: Nevin, I...
Pinon: Right, then. I WILL do this!
Pinon: I beech you, O Goddess...
Bishop Roalta: Alpha! Separate her head from her shoulders and stop her pathetic mumbling!
Monster King: Graaaaargh!
Pinon: Grant unto me the power of Gabriel, the angel of Your divine majesty!
Pinon: I am Pinon, the Wing of Purity! I am one hand of the Goddess, and I shall see Her will done!
Monster King: Graaaargh!
Bishop Roalta: Noooooo!

Pinon: ...This concludes my report on my mission. Bishop Roalta was put to trial for heresy, and a new priest dispatched to Muskov.
Pinon: Further, if you do not mind my saying so, I feel the Church should send a stern warning to the Osborne Principality.
Sandalphon: You have done well, Pinon. Dismissed.
Pinon: Ma'am.

Nevin: Hey, Pinon. Finished with the reports?
Pinon: Just now, yes—and thank you again for what you did before. Are you better?
Nevin: Eh, it wasn't even that bad to begin with. Plus, you did a hell of a job protecting me.
Pinon: You had the situation firmly in hand, yet gave me all the credit...
Nevin: Did I? Yeah, I dunno. Details. Anyhoo, how's it feel to be done with the whole "first mission" thing? You believe in yourself more now?
Pinon: I do, thanks to your teachings.
Pinon: That is why I will continue to believe in myself—and also why I want to continue investigating this matter personally.
Pinon: Even if the bishop is sent to face trial, I suspect the collusion may be bigger than just him. Where there is one traitorous snake, there may well be others.
Pinon: I possess the power to find those answers, and plan to see it done. So...
Nevin: Yeees?
Pinon: Don't go dying on me just yet.
Nevin: Ha! I'm actually impressed right now. Still, I'm sure my over-serious junior will gallantly ride to my rescue if I ever get in hot water.
Pinon: Ha ha. Then I shall work hard to ensure I am always ready for that moment.
Pinon: Next time, it will be I who saves the day and explains all to you! Just you wait!