Elysium: Long Journey

Operator Record Long Journey	Elysium
After leaving home, have you seen the different sights you wished to see?

Unlock conditions

• Raise Elysium to Elite 2 Level 1.
• Have at least 50% Trust with Elysium.

Characters

Elysium Hardware Shop Owner Masked Man Old Townsfolk Rhodes Island Operator Shopkeeper Strong Townsfolk "Silent Lady" Frightened Child Helpless Mother Injured Man Panicked Woman

Backgrounds

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

“

Elysium is in a town working to become a Messenger, but danger creeps near.

”

<Background 1>
[Elysium places a letter on the table.]
Elysium	Letter for you! I'll leave it right here. I'm going into town this afternoon. Write down anything you want me to buy you before I go. Don't be late, because I won't wait!
Shopkeeper	Wow, that was fast! Thanks, Elysium!
Strong Townsfolk	Going into town again? For that thing that you have... what's it called? A transmitter?
Elysium	A transmitter-receiver–or transceiver! It's second-hand and the range is limited, but look at the case and the paint job! Don't you think it goes well with my outfit?
Strong Townsfolk	I'll never understand your tastes...
Old Townsfolk	Bring me back some cigarettes. Same brand as last time.
Shopkeeper	I also want one of those hair curlers everyone's been talking about. Could you get me one?
Elysium	Sure. The latest model, right? I'm on it.
Old Townsfolk	Hey, sonny, what about my–
Elysium	Now, who was it who asked me for cigarettes, then got caught by his family and got his allowance cut? As if I've forgotten. Not for another forty or fifty years, at least.
Old Townsfolk	The memory on you! Kids these days just can't let anything go...
Shopkeeper	Ignore him. The doctor told him to stop smoking and he doesn't listen.
Shopkeeper	Here's the money for the hair curler. Thanks for that.
Elysium	I'll get you the best one there is. Now, off I go.
[Elysium leaves the shop.]
<Background bg_ltstreet1>
How many years has it been since he left home? Three? No, he was in Columbia that third year, then went north to Sami. The Snowpriests stopped him when he tried to go further north, so he changed course and continued on his way. A healthy man who knows some Arts can always find a job, as long as he's not too picky. When he ran out of money, he would find work wherever he was and save a bit before heading out again. He has seen many sights along the way. Some places were rich and prosperous, some poor and barren. He did not stop at this town because there was something special about it. He just wanted to rest.
[Elysium walks through the streets...]
Elysium	A new hair curler, and... well, I guess just a tiny little pack of cigarettes. Still missing one component for the transceiver... hard to find an amplifier around here.
[...and looked at the sky...]
Elysium	Hey, am I imagining things...? Or does the sky look a little ominous to me?
[...as a man in gas mask joins him.]
Masked Man	Oh, it's ominous all right.
Elysium	You think so too? Great minds think alike! There's something special about you, isn't there? I would've believed it if you said you just robbed the shop. I'm guessing you didn't manage to sell too much today.
Masked Man	It's none of your concern. We're not an ordinary shop.
Elysium	But you've got stuff to sell, don't you?
Masked Man	It's...
"Silent Lady"	It's a prophylactic that we're distributing.
Elysium	Prophylactic? Really? It's not for Oripathy, is it? They say the meds that really prevent Oripathy are so expensive that only the very rich can afford them, and the stuff you can get easily on the open market doesn't actually work. But I think I've got a good eye for people, and you don't look like hucksters to me. Are you legit?
"Silent Lady"	...... You heard? You talk a lot.
Elysium	Just being friendly. It's my secret to getting along. Especially when dealing with people who look dangerous, or when I see something that maybe I shouldn't have, like drugs of unknown provenance– Maybe if I'm talkative you'll take it easier on me when you beat me to a pulp. I'm sure the gentlemen over there will, at least.
Masked Man	No, I'll aim for the face.
Elysium	Come now, say what you're really thinking, don't be shy. But now I'm beginning to think you don't look like scammers or smugglers.
"Silent Lady"	We're not. We're a... pharmaceutical company. Our mission is to eliminate the Infected problem.
Elysium	Eliminate the Infected, or eliminate the problem? Well, I that's what I would've asked, if I didn't have what I assume to be a deep trust in you.
Masked Man	I suggest you watch your mouth if you don't want it punched.
Elysium	Oh, no violence, please! Alright, I've taken up enough of your time. I ought to be on my way. Might be a good idea to put someone else on the front desk though, friends!
Masked Man	Just get lost! Mind your own business.
"Silent Lady"	...... Catch.
Elysium	Whoa! What the... huh, medicine? For me? Oh, you're too kind.
"Silent Lady"	Three thaler.
Elysium	You're charging money? I mean, three thaler isn't that bad...
[Elysium walks away.]
Masked Man	Captain... He wasn't talking to himself, was he? Was he talking to you?
Silent Lady	......
Masked Man	But... how could that be?
Silent Lady	...... ............
<Background 3>
Hardware Shop Owner	Sorry, sir, but we're out of that particular amplifier.
Elysium	Seriously? But you're my last hope! Are you sure? You don't have one lying in a corner of a warehouse or something?
Hardware Shop Owner	I've looked everywhere. Plus, we keep good records of all our transactions.
Elysium	I know, I know. Sigh.
Hardware Shop Owner	You've been here before. Still working on that machine you were talking about last time?
Elysium	Yes, the transceiver. I've been doing all the modifications myself. I have very little experience with this stuff, but things have been going relatively smoothly, learning on the fly and doing it myself. I'm surprised that I'm learning so quickly! I'm just looking for the right amplifier to take its performance up another level. What do you think about me becoming a Messenger? My Arts would fit right in. I was born to be one, wasn't I?
Hardware Shop Owner	Ha, becoming a Messenger is about more than just putting together a transmitter.
Elysium	You've got to take exams, right? Don't worry, they used to call me Rey de los tests back home.
Hardware Shop Owner	What does that mean?
Elysium	It means I'm really good at tests.
Hardware Shop Owner	...... Let's get back on topic. It's not a common model, but I could try to get one for you, if you can wait.
Elysium	Sure, I'll be around. That's it, then, I'll be back later–
Radio Announcement	Attention. Attention. This is an emergency public service announcement.
Elysium	Hmm?
<Background 1>
Shopkeeper	......
Strong Townsfolk	Serious face there. Who's the letter from?
Shopkeeper	Quiet, give me a second... ...... Yes! Good news!
Strong Townsfolk	What's the good news?
Old Townsfolk	I bet it's got something to do with Elysium. The signature on the letter looks like the Messenger that was reassigned to the city a while back.
Shopkeeper	The Catastrophe Messenger! Elysium's been here a while. He can't stay in that little attic of ours forever. So I wrote a letter and the Catastrophe Messenger said Elysium could move into his house.
Old Townsfolk	Really? He'd be so gracious?
Strong Townsfolk	Who are you talking about? What Catastrophe Messenger? Did we ever have one? Wasn't Elysium saying he could be the town's regular Messenger?
Shopkeeper	Well... we used to have a Catastrophe Messenger. The town gave him a house, hoping to entice him to stay.
Old Townsfolk	But you know those types, they won't stay in a backwater like this for long. I'm getting grumpy just thinking about it. See you later.
[The old townsfolk leaves the shop.]
Shopkeeper	...Sigh. Can't blame them, though. The big cities pay much more than we can. No way for us to stop them.
Strong Townsfolk	Hmph! Who cares! We have Elysium. He's given himself a codename. He says the first step to becoming a professional Messenger is having a cool codename. He seems serious about it.
Shopkeeper	I hope so!
[Sounds of rock falling are heard outside...]
Shopkeeper	...... Say, I'm getting a bad feeling...
[...as the old townsfolk rushes back into the shop.]
Old Townsfolk	Hey! Everybody! Go outside! Look up at the sky!
<Background 3>
Our Catastrophe Messenger predicts that a localized Catastrophe will take place southwest of the city in a few hours. While the Catastrophe is not expected to present a threat to the city, citizens are advised to exercise caution when going outdoors for the next few days. In particular, we strongly advise against traveling to the southwest until further notice. Attention. Attention–
Elysium	......
Hardware Shop Owner	My supply routes don't come through the southwest. It shouldn't affect your thing–
Elysium	Here's the deposit! I'll be back; just get that item for me!
[Elysium runs out of the hardware shop.]
Hardware Shop Owner	Hey! Where are you going?!
Elysium	To race against a Catastrophe!
<Background 4>
Going back now means taking a massive risk. Elysium can't help but ask himself: Is he really that attached to the town? Hard to say. Probably not so much that he should risk his life for it. He's only been there a few months. But he also understands that he can't just stand by and watch, can't just wait for the storm to pass. And there's no point in thinking about what he can't do. He needs to focus on what he can do.
Frightened Child	Mom, I'm scared of that big cloud in the sky...
Helpless Mother	D-Don't be scared! We'll go and find dad!
Panicked Woman	Was that an earthquake?! What do we do?
Injured Man	Help! I'm trapped under this frame! I can't move my leg!
<Background 5>
Strong Townsfolk	I'm coming! Hang on! What's going on?
Old Townsfolk	Catastrophe! Catastrophe! It was like this the last time! We need to run! As far and as fast as we can!
Shopkeeper	Aah!
Strong Townsfolk	Look out!
[Before a falling rock could hit the shopkeeper, Elysium pushed her out of the way, but he is injured in the progress.]
Elysium	Whew... That was a perfect rescue, wasn't it? A judge would've given that ten out of ten. What do you think?
Shopkeeper	Elysium! Y-You're hurt!
Strong Townsfolk	What are you doing here? Didn't you go into town?
Elysium	That? Just a scratch. I heard through the grapevine that someone needed my help–alright, I came back because I heard on the radio that this area might get hit by a Catastrophe. How's that? Pretty selfless, if I do say so myself.
Strong Townsfolk	Y-You fool! Idiot! Why did you come back?!
Elysium	Wait, why are you yelling at me? Save the jokes, now's not the time. Tell everyone to get ready to move... this sort type of Catastrophe will be on top of you before you know it. We don't have much time!
Shopkeeper	But where do we go?
Elysium	Leave that to me. I'm an expert at surviving in the wilderness.
<Background 6>
Elysium	Stay close to me! Don't get separated! Originium levels in the atmosphere will increase sharply in the presence of a Catastrophe, and the wind might be carrying active Originium particles. Keep yourself covered, especially any wounds!
Shopkeeper	But you just got hurt...
Elysium	Don't worry, I have a secret weapon. (Well, how about that, those meds I got are gonna come in handy!) (Let's hope they're the real deal.) Just hold on! We're almost... there!
<Background 7>
[Elysium seals the door.]
Elysium	Lock and bolt the door... alright, we'll be safe for now.
Old Townsfolk	Is this an underground shelter?
Elysium	Yes, an abandoned one.
Old Townsfolk	I never knew about this place. How did you find it?
Elysium	I'm rather adept at pathfinding. Let me tell you, I mapped this entire area with my own two feet. There's nothing here I don't know about, including shelters that have been abandoned for years. Now, please, shower me in praise.
Shopkeeper	Huh? Oh... you're amazing, Elysium!
Elysium	Yup, keep going, I know you've got more in you!
Old Townsfolk	......
Strong Townsfolk	Ahem... well, we definitely owe you one. So we should just wait? We left in such a hurry that we didn't have time to bring a lot of supplies... how long will we be in here?
Elysium	Until the Catastrophe passes and things return to normal outside, at least. Sudden Catastrophes like this tend to go as quickly as they come.
<Background fades out and in>
Strong Townsfolk	I don't want to think about what might have happened if you didn't come back.
Elysium	You're welcome. But we should make a plan for future emergencies. This shelter is pretty old. It's taken a beating. I wouldn't have picked it if there were crystal clusters growing from the ground, but fortunately that's not the case this time.
Strong Townsfolk	There's just nothing we can do about Catastrophes... If we had some sort of advance warning, at least...
Elysium	Don't get too down on me, bro. That's exactly what I've been working on all this time.
Strong Townsfolk	That's good news. What are you fiddling with?
Elysium	Just some machines... imagine that I'm yelling out in a radius of a few klicks that "We need help here!" It might not be useful right now, but it never hurts to be prepared.
<Background fades out and in>
Shopkeeper	The earth's shaking... how long is this gonna last?
[A loud falling sound is heard outside.]
Shopkeeper	Eek! What was that noise? Sounds like something fell...
Elysium	I'll go take a look.
The Liberi passes through the crowd of townsfolk crammed into this dark shelter. A panicking mother holds her child tightly in her arms. The elderly sit in a corner, like a row of wrinkled statues. Elysium can hear the occasional sob. There seems to be fewer people here than he thought there would be. He tries not to think about it. He looks at the source of the sound. Above them is the door that they came in from. A little bit of dirt drops in with every vibration. He gets a bad feeling. The Liberi extends his hand. Then he stops, stunned. The door has been blocked by fallen rocks and can no longer be opened.
<Background fades out and in>
Strong Townsfolk	We can't get out?! How could this...
Old Townsfolk	Don't panic! Just a little hitch in the plan. We'll dig our way out.
Elysium	......
[Elysium reveals an active transceiver he kept all the time.]
Elysium	Relax, everyone. We still have my transceiver, and I've already sent out a distress signal. All we have to do is wait.
Shopkeeper	Really? That's great!
Elysium	(The range is limited without an amplifier, though...) (I need to think of a way.) (I didn't manage to take the medicine either. Now my injured shoulder is starting to feel numb.) (We were in the ashring for a while. I had wrapped it in cloth, but that's not exactly enough.) (Seriously? Just my luck...) (......) (Well, maybe that's not so bad, given the situation...)
<Background fades out and in>
Shopkeeper	Things seem to have calmed down.
Elysium	Good news. It looks like the Catastrophe has passed.
Old Townsfolk	Any news?
Elysium	Not yet, but I'm happy to report that I've achieved a breakthrough in the transmission range! Help should be here soon now that the Catastrophe is over.
Old Townsfolk	I hope so...
Shopkeeper	Your wound looks worse. What about the secret weapon of yours?
Elysium	Er... well, it's not time to use it yet. Don't worry, I'll use it when I have to. When I have to.
Old Townsfolk	......
<Background fades out and in>
[The townsfolk are digging through the blocked exit.]
Strong Townsfolk	How many layers of dirt are up there? We're not getting through! We can't hold out much longer without food and water. Are you hearing anything?
Elysium	Settle down. We should save our strength if there's no way through.
Strong Townsfolk	How are we supposed to settle down? You've been sending that signal for ages. With no response! No one's coming to help us! We're all gonna starve to death here!
Elysium	...... We might be able to get help if we can contact a nearby nomadic city.
Strong Townsfolk	That piece of junk doesn't have the range!
Elysium	Right, which is where I come in. Everybody, listen up. Keep your distance from me.
Strong Townsfolk	Keep our distance? What do you mean?
Elysium	Well... I mean what I said. Give me space. Don't come close.
<Background fades out and in>
Shopkeeper	How many days have we been here? I don't think I can hold on...
Elysium	Just a bit longer!
Strong Townsfolk	How long do we have to wait...?
Elysium	I've got this! I'm beaming a transmission out there!
<Background fades out and in>
Old Townsfolk	We're done for... We were always doomed, whether we stayed up there or came down here.
Elysium	Don't... *cough*... say that... (Almost... almost... we made it this far...) (Come on, don't disappoint me, "pharmaceutical company"...)
<Background fades out and in>
Elysium	*cough*, *cough* *cough*... (The wound's swollen, maybe festering, and I'm hurting all over, like that time I got run over by that contraption in Rim Billiton... worse, actually.) (My Arts are getting more powerful, though it aches when I use them.) (Is this how it feels to get Oripathy?) (Looks like I won't get to use those meds after all.)
[Elysium's transceiver beeps...]
Elysium	......
Shopkeeper	What's that... sound...?
[...which he quickly checks.]
Elysium	Hey! I got a response!
Strong Townsfolk	Response...
Elysium	Yes! A station heard me and responded! You hear me? Hold on! Someone's coming!
<Background 6>
[The gas masked man and silent lady from before blows up the sealed Catastrophe shelter's entrance with explosives.]
Masked Man	It's here, right? How the heck did that signal find us? Is Rhodes Island so well-known already? We've only just gotten started.
Silent Lady	......
Rhodes Island Operator	Captain, we're reading vital signs below. Ready to dig.
<Background 1>
[Elysium enters the shop.]
Shopkeeper	Welcome... oh, it's you, Elysium.
Elysium	Morning, folks. It's been a while! Nice to see that the rebuilding is going well.
Shopkeeper	Yeah... all thanks to you. We wouldn't have made it otherwise.
Elysium	...... That's great! I'm glad I worked so hard.
Strong Townsfolk	Just simple houses to protect us from the elements. Nothing complicated. Where have you been?
Elysium	Me? A bunch of nice people who don't look so nice dragged me away to treat my sickness. I've never seen a doctor so scary, I tell you.
Strong Townsfolk	Your sickness...
Shopkeeper	Well, have a seat, er, I'll pour you a drink.
Elysium	Oh, there's no need for that, I'll be going in a moment. I just wanted to come back and say goodbye, because I'm leaving.
Strong Townsfolk	Y-You're leaving? But you said...
Elysium	Oh, the Messenger thing? Well, er, sorry about that. I guess I just want to see the world, you know? Like they say, don't put a fowlbeast in a cage... well, however the saying goes.
Strong Townsfolk	......
Shopkeeper	...... But we haven't thanked you for saving our lives yet!
Strong Townsfolk	Yeah. It's just a little sickness... it's no big deal.
Shopkeeper	If you're leaving because you're Infected–
Elysium	It's okay, I hear you. But people will get scared if there's an Infected living in town. They won't want to talk.
Strong Townsfolk	We're not scared!
Elysium	I know, I know. There's always a risk, though.
Shopkeeper	But...
Elysium	Oh, don't give me that look. It's not so bad. You remember Rhodes Island? The people who dug us out of that hole? I'm going with them. They're going to keep treating me. Things don't get any better than that!
Shopkeeper	Can they cure your sickness?
Elysium	Well... I don't know.
Shopkeeper	Will you come back?
Elysium	Of course! I'll drop by when I get some free time.
Strong Townsfolk	Where are you going now?
Elysium	Well, I'm not sure. I guess I'll go with the Rhodes Islanders for a while. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful journey.