Vera and the Dragon

>Buy some diving gear before you go. To be prepared.

Not without your fishing rod!

Be sure to take some beef jerky. You can use it to distract the dragon.

>Don't take a bath for a couple of days. Dragons don't like eating dirty people.

>To the lake village!



You secure some supplies (mostly food) and help a few townsfolk before you go.





Huh. Doesn't look like the dragon hit this place!

That's a relief.

Go accost that staff chick!

"Hey, where do I go for the water trial thing? Also: Dragons. Seen any?"

Demand that the staff chick join your party. If she objects, point out you'll be getting her new equipment and stuff, and she should be happy she's basically getting a free ride.

>Weird. Didn't your judge-pal say the dragon was headed this way? Did it get lost?

>Dragon: Just freaking appear.

Maybe That Lady knows what's going on. And/or can point you towards the Trial of Water.

>Weird. Didn't your judge-pal say the dragon was headed this way? Did it get lost?



Maybe it's...

A STEALTH DRAGON!!

>Maybe That Lady knows what's going on. And/or can point you towards the Trial of Water.



"Hi!"

"Oh...hello!"

"Have you seen a dragon around here recently? Like, just now recently? I'm worried there's going to be an attack--"

"Err...not really..."



"Well I was wondering if you could...um..."

She seems very...distracted.

"Do you need help with something?"

"You're the dragon, aren't you? AREN'T YOU? ADMIT IT!"

> Interrogate her violently.

>Party member get!

>"Do you need help with something?"



"O-oh, it's, um, well, you don't have to..."

"'Course I don't have to, but I want to! Helping is what I'm here for!"



"Okay...if you say so...
My sister has been missing since this morning. She never said anything about going anywhere, so I'm really worried...No one in this city has seen her at all today."

"Do you have any leads?"

"No...it's like she vanished. I woke up and she was gone."

"Any defining features?"

"Uh...she's...very pretty? She's always wearing something fancy."



"Maybe the dragon stole her!"

"What."

"Dragons like fair maidens! I've read all about it! Maybe if I get to face the dragon, I'll save your sister too!"

My, the dragon IS a sneaky one! You'll have to prepare extra hard now.



"I'm Vera! If you point me toward the Trial of Water, I can kickstart this journey!"

"I guess it's better than nothing. I'm kind of at the end of my rope here."

>Party member get!



"The name is Grace, by the way."

Grace: Be amazing

>Onward, to the Trial of Water!

> Grace: Have some fun demonstrating what you can do with that magic-lookin' staff of yours.

> Vera: Stay on the lookout for the Sneaky Dragon; he could be anywhere!

You should probably make sure you have all the preparations you'll need.

> Vera: Sell excess equipment to get cash for a better weapon for Grace.

... I keep treating this like a video game RPG when it doesn't look it at all, derp.

>Onward, to the Trial of Water!



"Do you go there often?"

"Sorta. I've never been inside, though. There's never been a reason to!"

>Grace: Have some fun demonstrating what you can do with that magic-lookin' staff of yours.



"Some of the guards would help me practice magic!"

"Woah! I didn't think you could do that!"

"What do you think I have this staff for, silly?"
"But...it's not much...mostly basics."



"Well, this is the temple. Good luck."

You never expected it to be an actual building. Then again, it is in front of the lake...

>Grace: Start explaining something important about the Trial of Water.

Vera: Just rush in before hearing the explanation. You have to stop the dragon!

Woah woah hey wait

Is she not coming with you? Didn't the Judge mention something about doing shit by yourself?

SpoilerShow

"There are three Trials: the Trial of Water, the Trial of Air, and the Trial of Dust.
Completing these Trials gives one the ability to slay a dragon and proves that one is worthy of such a feat.
It's basically a security measure to make sure no one's stupid enough to charge headlong and get oneself killed. No one can take a dragon on one's own."

Y'might want to apply that logic to the tests that are supposed to prepare you for killing the dragon, yeah?

Besides, it never hurts to have backup, even if only for moral support.

>Vera: Seductively charge in.

>Vera: Seductively charge in.

Chargedly seduce in.

Vera: "So do you know anything about the trial? I don't want to go in unprepared."