[Questing Country]

[mysunnydisposition]

So... I think we've all figured out by now that we're probably here to get this valence, right? Big powerful magic wish-granting whatsit... It's all anyone talks about around here. Can't blame them.

But I've been wondering, if one of us wins it... What do we even use it for? Like... I can think of a few things I want, but somehow I don't feel like 'there's no place like home' is going to work here.

Should we have a plan or something?

Comments

[willyousee]

My apologies, my lady, I don't believe that it is well-known as of yet. I met Naoto-kun earlier and explained what I knew about the situation, but perhaps I ought to have offered it to the Travelers at large. The fault is mine. Information is proving difficult to tease out of what I have gathered, but if I may, let me relate what I have heard thus far?

The Champion of Twilight, called Mina, was the successful questor for the last Valence some four years ago or so, and achieved the honor within Kingfisher Castle. At the time, she was Bonded to the Champion of Void and the Champion of Midnight, and contested with the Adversary of Rebirth. She did successfully make her wish. The Valence vanished. All was well until earlier this year. Mina died under mysterious circumstances, while the Adversary of Rebirth was Dreamcatching elsewhere. Approximately at the same time that she died, his dreamcatcher filled with power. Many of the inhabitants of this country see that as reason enough to condemn him for her death. One other thing of especial note occurred as a result of Mina's death - The Champion of Midnight, Perry, became the Pillar of Mourning. Shortly thereafter, though not in the same day, the new Valence appeared.

I myself have made the acquaintance of both Zed, the Adversary, and Perry - should you so wish, I can show you images of them - but I have not met the Champion of Void. I believe that he simply goes by "Beyond". [There's a slight upward lilt to the sentence that almost makes it a question.]

Many of these events are ambiguously defined at best. I was fortunate enough to spend some time at the Castle Dreamcatching for information, though I have not managed to assemble it all as of yet. I should like to find the place of Mina's death and try to gather more information there, and I believe the lighthouse may be of some use as well, if the rumors about it are true. Does it truly show you anything you wish to see?

[mysunnydisposition]

Thank you. That helps a lot, actually. ...has anyone, you know, done anything to the Adversary of Rebirth since the last Valence Quest? Manhunts, forced to go into hiding, something? Four years is a long time for a suspected murderer to go free...

Lighthouse sounds like it might be worth a try, though. I was out there earlier, and I didn't see much useful... but I can try again now that I know what I might be looking for.

[willyousee]

Mina was killed only a few weeks before the appearance of the current Valence, but the Adversary of Rebirth has endured a number of attacks and has been shunned by much of the dreaming community. The Oracle of Arrows, Zoe, has been sheltering him in the meantime. He seems to be hoping that obtaining the Valence will allow him to prove his innocence.

I am en route to the Lighthouse now-- and it appears that they have reached it before me. If this works, we may not need the Valence after all, which again puts its use into question if one of the Travelers obtains it.