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| Sierra: "Sure thing, Mr. Phaeton!" :D |
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| (Yeah, this is not the screenshot - I just had the girls run Mt. Olympus again but the only good gear I got was Grace getting Senator shoes from her Sailor Saturn and Sailor Mars penpals. :( ) |
(Grace is inspired by Precious Ramotswe, the main character of his books called 'The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency', written by Alexander McCall Smith. I was introduced to these books a couple of years ago by my sister, who gave a CD of a later book to my dad to listen to. As such, the titles of all the Zafaria parts will be paraphrases of titles of the chapters in those books and I start with a quoted part of the books. I take no credit for these.)
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People always made the mistake of thinking that starting a business was simple and then found that there were all sorts of hidden problems and unforeseen demands. She had heard of people opening businesses that lasted four or five weeks before they ran out of money or stock, or both. It was always more difficult than you thought it would be. (The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency)
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"HEY!" I cried as I ran down the stairs, waving to my friends. A new world to explore with many new adventures. Morganthe's shadow hovered over us and she did terrible things to Grace, but I knew that this was her home, the place she was born and raised as a child. I don't talk about my home, but maybe someday I'll return home too. Who knows?
"Jambo, welcome to my home," said Grace, smiling. "Jambo means 'hello' in my language."
"You speak well with us," said Christina.
"I was tutored in the ways of Wizard City speak by a wizard who came to this world when I was young," said Grace. "I learned much from him and that made me desire to become a wizard second, and a private detective first. Come."
"Is that your new pet?" asked Christina.
"It is my friend," said Grace. "A wizard gave me this egg and it hatched into Rra Bentley. He has good talents but..." She sighed.
"I know you miss your secretary," I whispered.
"It is good, Mma," said Grace. "Let's go."
(Yep, this is a Sea Dragon. Grace got the egg from Astraeus while I was running her through Celestia. Sadly, it got bad talents - it gives a Tower Shield card and has Pip-O-Plenty, not what I really wanted, but oh well. :( )
She bowed to a zebra-man wearing a funky headdress. "Jambo, Rra Whitestripes. It has been years."
"Jambo, mvua mtoto," said the zebra man, bowing his head. He looked at us. "And these are your friends, no?"
"Yes, this is Sierra," Grace said, pointing to me and she pointed to Christina. "And this is Christina. They are my allies and friends, we have traveled the Spiral together."
"Ah, jambo young ones," said the zebra, smiling. "I am Inyanga Whitestripes, shaman of Baobab."
"Oh, you're the one Baxby told us to talk to about the missing students," Christina said.
"You seek the exchange group?" asked Inyaga.
"Yes, I was helping the program, Rra Whitestripes," said Grace.
He turned to her. "You did not say you had..."
"I know, I should have visited you first and you would have warned me of... the Umbra Queen's return." She shook her head.
Inyang touched her shoulder. "It is fine, Mma, you did not want to keep your father's cousin waiting... but... it is no good. Your family is now late. I saw the flames."
"Late? Late for what?" asked Christina. I saw Grace turn ill and pushed Christina a distance and lowered my voice.
"I think late in this world means pushing up posies." I slit my throat with my finger.
Christina gasped. "Oh my."
"I can hear you, Mma," said Grace. I turned.
"I am... so sorry," I whispered. "The village was burned?"
"Iie," said Inyanga, nodding. "I went to check and the place was in blazes. Even though it is a hot and dry place, it is not the season for wildfires... the burning was deliberate."
"Then I was attacked and captured," sighed Grace.
"Well, forgive me for rudeness," said the zebra. "Let me introduce your friends to our world."
"Zafaria can be a wonderful place," he said. "But we stand at the end of a day, when shadows grow long and the night becomes cold. Shadows lurk in every corner of this land, and dark things hide in the shade. The burning of Grace's village is only a sign of war to come."
"War? Oh no," I whispered. "This is not good. When did this start?"
"A few days ago," said Inyanga.
"Isn't that a coinkidink?" growled Christina. "We just ran into Morganthe about that time in Celestia! I have a feeling she's after something more than Astral spells."
"Ah, you saw the Umbra Queen and know of the spells of the sun, moon and stars?" said Inyanga. "In the earliest days of Zafaria, when Baobab was just a sapling, the Umbra Queen pulled down magic from the sun and stars. Mandisa Autumnrain in Zamunda can tell you more."
"Zamunda? Sounds exotic," I said.
"That is the home of the Zebras," said Grace. "Where Rra Whitestripes was born. But when I was here last, the gates were all locked."
"Then we have to open them," said Christina.
"Speak to the guard at the gate to the Savannah, Lethua Blunthoof," said Inyanga. "He is a good friend and will listen and tell you why the gates are locked."
"Good, but first," mumbled Christina, wiping her brow. "I gotta get home and shower. Ugh! I didn't realize that we're in a sauna!"
"Christina..." I said, but I was groping my side and grimacing. I was getting a bit sweaty too.
"Yes, this is a warm place, Mma," giggled Grace. "I had forgotten this place but now I realize it is hotter than usual. I must go to my house and get a suitable outfit for my homecoming."
"Good, we'll clean up, get new clothes, and meet back here in a few," I said. I walked to the gate.
(I had to get some transmogs to fit this place. Sadly, I couldn't find Zafaria clothes in purple save a skeleton one, so Grace is going white for now. I farmed the Waterworks and Aquila for good stuff because Zafaria doesn't screw around, you need as much resistance and attack power as you can. Grace got the Skyscream Boots from a Waterworks run and Christina got some much needed clothes to replace her outdated Illusive Longcoat and Boots!)
"Where did you get the wicked trident, Chris?" I asked.
Christina shrugged. "Found it in some junk I was looking through back home, it's pretty good but not as cool as my amethyst blade." (I got Christina through Atlantea - dear GAWD that was horrible - and managed to earn Poseidon's Staff of Tides, which loses block but is okay. It's a trident.)
"Let's go see the guard," I said.
"Oh come now, Rra Blunthoof, have you forgotten about me, the little rainchild?" giggled Grace.
"Ah, jambo, Grace," said Lethua. "I wish I had time for you but I have too many troubles as it is. That Ghostmane merchant keeps pestering me. Tell you what, if you go talk to him and hear his woes, I may have time for you."
"Did you say Ghostmane?" I asked in shock. I recalled Pierce Stanston telling me about a lion merchant by that name...
Sure enough, it was a lion-man. "Hambo," I said.
He laughed. "Jambo. I see you are not thieves."
"Are you the Legendary Crafter I heard of?" I asked. "Pierce Stanston told me about you!"
"Yes, I am," said the lion. "I am Koyate Ghostmane. Rra Stanston, I met him once, he was a kind man. So... you are interested in expanding your crafting skill, no? Sadly, I cannot help you. Thieves have stolen my goods. I was going to set up shop in the market, but..."
"We'll get the goods back," said Christina.
"Ah, good," said Koyate. "You can find the Inzinzebu bandits in the market, lurking like slugs. Defeat them and recover my goods and I will teach you all I know."
"Inzinzebus," growled Grace. "Those rogue fiends..." She turned and smiled at me. "Before we go, let's visit the Baobab's crown. There is something to show you."
The librarian was a giraffe-man, his neck reaching to the upper shelves. I was amazed.
"Rra Copperleaf, these are my companions, Sierra and Christina," said Grace.
"Ah jambo," said Kiliman. "I am pleased to make your acquaintance. If you are interested in any rare treasure cards, I can provide them."
"The history of your world?" I asked.
Grace nodded sadly. "My daddy told me this legend from his daddy. It is a legend of long ago..."
"Everything has been something before. Here I am, the only young lady private detective. But a few years before, there was no detective agency, and before my life, there was no Baobab, there was only the great land of Zafaria, which was called Kilin's Land, with lions with the dry wind in their manes. Back then, there was no other world in the Spiral which could hold its head up high and profess that they had no dark secrets. The land was green and lush and the sun shone brightly on the motherland."
Wow, that was deep. But what happened? Grace smiled.
"I will tell you more later. For now, let us cleanse the market of its foul vermin."
I grinned. We were going to get our wands honed in this beautiful land.
Zeke had arrived and asked us to find some monkeys. I was beginning to wonder if he was just a Star Collector. (Yep, I like how Zeke's collectible reference in my favorite Spiral world is my favorite 70's band, The Monkees, who had a musical sitcom. I loved Davey Jones... ^_^ The monkeys also look like the monkeys from the Ape Escape game series with red hats.)
The Inzinzebu were mean bandits and, worse, they were Myth, but Grace handled them just fine.
"I promise never to backtalk you about your element again, Chris," I groaned as I was hit again with another puke from the Humongofrog. The enemies were a bit harder than the Piscean Centurions but we took down the rogues and collected the bags of goods Koyate wanted. (I HATE MYTH ENEMIES - THE BANDITS HIT ME WITH QUAKE TWICE AND DESTROYED ALL MY BLADES TWICE. :( Also, Grace failed to get the goods and had to fight a third battle while the other girls got the goods in two. GAH! Luckily some friendly players were also fighting them.)
"Thank you," I said. "Now can you train me in crafting?"
"Come to my market later," he said, smiling toothily. "I will make you a Legendary Artisan. And tell Lethua Blunthoof that I will trouble him no more." With that, he walked off.
"What has happened to make the clans distrust each other?" said Grace sadly. "This was not how it was when I left home after my daddy turned late."
"We're looking for the exchange group from Ravenwood," I said.
"You are looking for the group which was lead by Rra Sunchaser, who went into the Savannah and never returned?" asked Lethu. I gasped in horror. "Well, you could go look for yourself, but I am forbidden to let anyone past the gate without the Council's approval. Talk to Inyanga."
"You two do that," I said. "I have to make a date with Koyate."
Returning to the market, I made a bow to Koyate. "Jambo, Rra!"
"Ah, it is you," said Koyate, grinning again. "You said you wanted to be trained as a Legendary Artisan, no? I can give you a decent test. Make for me two Spirit Caller Drums and I will award you the title of Legendary Artisan, able to craft magic of ancient lore. I will give you the recipe for the Spirit Caller Drum."
I looked it over. Oh BOTHER. I was suddenly GLAD I had blown my entire money on Sunstones...
[To be continued... in an interlude...]
This recipe was nerfed in recent updates. Spirit Caller Drums only require half of the rare stuff and crafted drum, but trust me, it's still a tedious task.
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