Qero is a land of eccentric alchemists, who enjoy many technological advancements that eventually make their way to the other Kingdoms.
During the Soul Wars, they were a far more chaotic people, with no cohesive identity, but when they were framed as thieves by Motus, many took it on as their role, leaving the rest to take up the positions of invention.
Since then, their machines have made them quite popular, despite their less-than-trustworthy reputation.
CHARACTERS
DUKE JOACHIM OF QERO
Profile:
Joachim is a kind-hearted tinkerer from Qero, who opposes the stereotypes imposed on his country.
He was an active merchant once, selling his devices. But he retired soon after his son vanished and was presumed dead, heart broken by grief.
He implores players to make amends with Lencoter merchants, but the tasks assigned to you can be achieved quicker by simply stealing instead.
Quest:
Joachim has no quest, but is a representative of Qero, and therefore encourages the player to swear loyalty to the Qero Kingdom and collect Lencoter Signets to signify goodwill.
Additionally, he is integral to Silvern's quest.
DIALOGUE
FIRST CONVERSATION
"..."
"Hmm."
"Hmmmmmm..."
"Hmmmm... oh! Excuse me! I was lost in thought."
"I am Duke Joachim. Of Qero. But I'm guessing you were probably expecting something along those lines."
"Others have already taken the best spots around here, so it's only natural that you'd meet them first. As always, we've been shunted to the side. And by we, of course, I mean me."
"(sighs) ...The others have already begun their explorations. But I'm not fit for such adventures... I prefer to ponder and tinker and craft, and all sorts of things unbefitting for an Explorer."
"Surely you understand?"
SECOND CONVERSATION
"You might have heard of the bad blood between Qero and Lencoter..."
"Thanks to the long-standing feud between us, trade has suffered and stereotypes have flourished in its place."
"What better time to come together than during a crisis?"
"If you join Qero, and help us patch things up with Lencoter, I will give you access to our special transportation network, which will you give you the power to quickly move between certain Beacons."
"Please, if you can, join us. We need all the help we can get."
>Yes
"Perfect! Here, take these."
>Given the Disguise Charm, and the Lighthouse Flare
"One of those is a special flare that can bring you back here, even if you are somehow disconnected from the network. The other, well..."
"There are Lencoter merchants in the Ruins, drifting between worlds to peddle their wares. But due to our thievish reputation, they may reject you if they know what Kingdom you are truly associated with."
"Wear that, and you needn't worry. Just calmly buy Lencoter Signets from them, and bring them back to me."
"Surely, that will be proof that we can put aside our differences, no?"
"But do not use it for nefarious purposes. The Disguise Charm has a great power, but it is meant only for peacemaking, not theft."
"I'm entrusting it to you, so don't let me down."
>No
"That's a pity..."
"But you seem nice enough. Stay that way, and I can still let you through the network."
"But... don't forget Qero's plight, alright?"
THIRD CONVERSATION
"Do you know why Lencoter and Qero hate each other so?"
"It began in the Soul Wars, like so many other woeful things."
"We needed materials, to create larger, more destructive war-machines. And Lencoter could deliver."
"But whenever their merchants came into Qero, assassins from Motus would ambush them. There were no survivors, and nothing left of the cargo."
"They framed us. And since then, a wedge has been driven between us. And the whole world thinks we're a band of thieves. Feh, as if being a country of murderers is any better..."
"No, the actions of Motus were unforgivable. Peace is fine. But associating with them? Never."
FOURTH CONVERSATION
"..."
"Oh! I'm sorry. I was just... reminiscing."
"My son, he... well, he disappeared, a long time ago."
"I just... wonder where he went. Maybe he was taken. Or died in the wilderness."
"I suppose I'll never know."
"..."
FIFTH CONVERSATION
"I can't help but stare at those five towers. They seem to surround the center lighthouse, like guards."
"Those are the Soullights, aren't they? What... what do you think they're for?"
"There are similar crests at each of their bases, but they don't seem to do anything."
"But they must have some significance. Otherwise, why would they be at the very center of this place?"
SIXTH CONVERSATION AND ONWARDS
"I've repaired more machines than you could probably imagine. And now, I have no doubt."
"Looking at this place is like looking into the back of an opened watch. This dock is the clockwork of a great machine."
"The Aeon Ruins itself... it's a living machine. But for now, it has ground to a halt."
"Maybe all that we need to do is wind it back up again."
SPECIAL DIALOGUE
GREETING
"...Hm? Oh, hello! Welcome back."
INTERRUPTED MENU
"Is that really necessary?"
FAREWELL
"Be careful out there."
POSITIVE TENDENCY GREETING
"Hello again! Are your explorations going well?"
POSITIVE TENDENCY FAREWELL
"Come by anytime!"
NEGATIVE TENDENCY GREETING
"...Silvern? Oh, no, it's just you."
NEGATIVE TENDENCY FAREWELL
"Go on, just go."
FIRST KINGDOM REWARD
"Ah, wonderful! That's five signets."
"But remember, you have to be alive to let merchants into your world. You're no use to anyone dead."
>Given 3 Phantasmic Eyes
"Don't worry, I've got plenty."
SECOND KINGDOM REWARD
"Your help has allowed us to continue work on the network. To the Explorers here, that's indispensable"
"I hate to burden you with more work, but could you go put this somewhere? It can serve as another teleportation point for the network."
>Given a Free Beacon
FINAL KINGDOM REWARD
"Wow... so many signets! You didn't... steal these, did you?"
"Ahaha, well of course not. Here, take this, and present it to an adherent of Lencoter. Maybe then, we will not be so divided."
>Given a Peace Treaty
QERO CHAMPION BONUS
"I've got some good news! I'm sure you'll be excited to hear it."
"Me and the others have expanded the network to every Beacon in the Ruins!"
"And because of your wonderful service, I will grant you access to Qero's Flawless Teleporation!"
>[Message Appears: Qero's teleportation now accesses every Beacon.]
ALL SOULLIGHTS LIT (AT THE ENTRANCE TO WUUHEIM'S ASCENT)
"...Do you truly intend to go up there? To face the descending Phantasm?"
"I thought you might. So I prepared this."
>Given the Signal Flare
"At this, our darkest hour, the boundaries between Kingdoms mean nothing. I have men from Qero, Lencoter, Tiolez, Yannia, and Addol stationed at each of the towers."
"We don't know what the Soullights will do when we release them... but if all hope is lost, if you can't defeat the Phantasm… they're our last chance."
"At every turn, you've been the one. You lit the Soullights, banished the shadows, brought us together just how Leocadius did. Our unity is rough, but we can't help but cling together."
"If you can't stop it, no one can. If you can't stop it, release the flare. We'll take it from there."
SILVERN THE BANDIT
Art by Krekian
Profile:
Silvern is a smug thief from Qero, and while she claims to be a woman, she is actually the disappeared son of Duke Joachim, who faked his own death to rise to a life of crime.
He expected the life of a thief to be filled with romance and danger, but found not too much romance and way too much danger.
By the time he regretted it, it was too late to return, and so he abandoned his previous identity and became who he is now.
Quest:
FOILING THE SILVER THIEF
There's a mysterious Qeran thief in the Ruins, out to steal from Lencoter Merchants and then quickly hide away in the shadows. Her name is Silvern, and she is a worthy foe indeed.
As a member of Lencoter, whenever you place a Silver Soul Sign on the ground, you have a chance to be summoned by Silvern, who will appear as a member of a random Kingdom each time.
She will browse your wares for a moment before stealing from you (netting a percentage of Souls and a Lencoter Signet) and fleeing.
If she manages to make it to the nearest Mist Veil, then you have failed, and must be summoned by her again later. Repeatedly placing a Silver Soul Sign will not help in this effort.
If you manage to cut her off and attack her, she will fight with powerful acrobatic moves and deadly strategy.
Manage to beat her, and she will move to Lighthouse Dock, becoming a valuable merchant and revealing her shameful past.
DIALOGUE
FIRST CONVERSATION
"Ah, it's you... I was hoping I could find you here."
"Are you surprised? No, I'm not really a woman. This is only a disguise."
"Listen. I came here to apologize. My name is Silvern, of Qero."
"I ran away from home, and became a thief... but it was not the life I truly craved."
"But I couldn't go back. Not ever. So I became the Silver Thief, and dressed as a woman to deter suspicion. Odd, I know. But it worked."
"Will you find it in your heart to forgive a fool like me? And keep my secret?"
>Yes
"Wonderful... thank you. I am in your debt."
"Now, I need a bit more of your help. Getting rid of these ill-gotten goods!"
>No
"Well, damn you then! I'll silence you myself!"
"No one can know!"
>Attacks you
SECOND CONVERSATION
"Life in Qero wasn't bad, but it wasn't good either."
"It may look festive and exciting from the outside, but if you have no true talents, you are left out in the cold."
"Even shunning would be better. Being ignored... it's the worst feeling in the world."
"It makes you want to stop existing. To stop being yourself and become someone worthy of being noticed."
THIRD CONVERSATION AND ONWARDS
"That man over there... he's been giving me weird looks."
"...He does know I'm not a woman, right?"
SPECIAL DIALOGUE
GREETING
"I owe you a debt, but I'm not giving these away for free!"
INTERRUPTED MENU
"Not so suddenly! You'll give away my position."
FAREWELL
"Remember... not a word!"
TERRY THE MUSKETEER
Profile:
Terry is a smooth-talking musketeer, and assigned to guard Joachim by the royal family.
He fought in the Soul Wars as one of many famed musketeers, but was quickly replaced by more advanced battalions. Still, he holds onto his old pride.
Quest:
TERRY THE MARAUDER
Terry may seem cordial, if a bit odd, but he has a guilty pleasure: invading the worlds of other Explorers, and plundering Souls from their corpses.
But he usually feels bad about it afterwards, and helps with the boss in the area in return.
Each time he invades, he fights with a different set of weapons. If the player's Qero Tendency is +5 or above, he will not invade, but his Sign will also not appear.
Invasion List:
The Flowing Bridges: Fights with a Musket, and attempts to fire at the player from a wide parallel bridge while they deal with Shades. Helps later against the Shadowgate.
Bloody Oasis: Fights with dual cutlasses, his Musket, and Poison darts. A one-on-one match on top of rickety battlements. Shades lurk down below, so leading him off the battlements is a bad idea. Helps later against the Bisected Emperor.
Monolith of Fate: Fights with a cutlass, his musket, and a buckler, and uses Mystic Weapon on his cutlass. He confronts the player on a precarious bridge of light. Helps later against the Lich.
Unending Woods: Wears the Thief's Ring, and stalks the player through the woods with an Origin Sickle and his Musket From a distance, he will throw Throwing Knives, Throwing Nets, and Shadow Solvent. Helps later with the Hollow Demon.
Prison of the Immortals: Fights using a cutlass and the Gravity Musket. The final battle with Terry, among the chains near the bottom of the Prison. He always invades here, no matter your Qero Tendency. Helps later with the Empty Kings.
DIALOGUE
FIRST CONVERSATION
"Were you an approaching adversary, you'd already be shot dead. Twice over."
"But of course, I have no reason to shoot you, do I? I am Terry, a royal Musketeer of Qero."
"Hmhmhm! This place is not one to be trifled with. You must keep your guard up at all times, lest the Shades overtake you."
"Keep a sturdy shield handy, or if you choose to go without one, stay nimble."
"If you are forced into a corner, not even the sturdiest armor will protect you."
SECOND CONVERSATION
"We of Qero have, after a fashion, gained a reputation for being thieves."
"A cruel prejudice, I admit, but there is some truth to it. In part, the fault of the stereotype."
"Some in Qero were unsatisfied with their lot in life, lacking an identity. Taking on the guise of a thief would be a suitable escape for them."
"But of course, I would rather hunt thieves down and shoot them dead than become one! They only propagate a wrongful reputation."
"However... there is one miscreant I will never slay..."
"The Silver Thief, said to be a vixen of a woman. I believe I have sometimes seen her from afar, but not for more than a second."
"The hunt for her will not end in violence, but romance!"
"Haha, as if she'd even give a second look to an old man like me."
THIRD CONVERSATION AND ONWARDS
"It's hard to tell who you can trust here. Invaders abound, thirsting for Souls."
"But I've found it slightly exhilarating, being hunted by those dark spirits."
"I wonder what it's like on the other side...?"
SPECIAL DIALOGUE
AFTER FIRST INVASION
"Oh? You're looking at me quite strangely... is there a problem?"
"Ah... that little spat we had... I'm sorry, I hardly recognized you. My mind... it must have been in a haze."
"Please understand. It's not always easy being a bodyguard. Sometimes… I get these urges. Hunting urges."
"So if I appear in your world, don't take it personally, hmm?"
"Just give me a good hunt, won't you? Hahahaha!"
AFTER THE INVASION IN THE PRISON OF THE IMMORTALS
"What's that? The Prison of the Immortals...?"
"Yes, I know of it... but I have never been that deep."
"Are you sure it was me?"
"If so... I cannot imagine what exactly you faced down there."
"I can only offer you this in apology for all the trouble I have given you."
>Given a Masterwork Musket
AFTER SILVERN ARRIVES
"Did you notice? That fetching thief has arrived in the Dock! She's even more ravishing in person!"
"I long to speak with her, but it seems that courage in battle does not translate to courage with women."
"Ahahaha! I am such a coward. I think I'll just wait for her to notice me. If she ever does, of course."
