Previously on Butts and Balls
The group continues their travels north, and then east past a mountain pass, to the town of Pravoca. The locals greet them warmly.
Dejected, and muttering amongst themselves about the rude locals, they accidentally bump into a band of pirates.
Somehow, a fight breaks out. It isn't much of a fight.
Bikke, fearing a similar trouncing, offers them his ship.
Skeptically, the group heads out to the pier. Lo and behold, there was a ship waiting for them!
They run aboard to check out their new ride, and amid all the excited squealing, Gauche finds a strange puzzle game in the main quarters.
After what seemed like hours of playing, Gauche feels a rough shove on his shoulder from Droit.
"Hey man, what's wrong with you? You've been staring at that wall for like ten minutes man!"
Dazed, Gauche leans on the box in front of him to stagger to his feet, just as Gauche pushes him aside.
"Hey, where'd this chest come from?!"
They were 60,000 gil richer.
Shopping and a night in a nice, comfy bed ensued.
In the morning, they set sail due southwest, and find themselves docking near the town of Elfheim. Again, they are accosted by the locals.
Tired of this crap, they head straight for the blacksmith in town and demand his shiniest swords.
Afterwards, they find that the town is a depressing place filled with mopey elves talking about how their beloved prince won't get up from bed. They decide to head west and explore further.
Eventually, they stumble upon the Western Keep.
The place is in ruins and looks deserted. Just as the group discusses moving on, they hear a cough from the central throne room.
Feeling bad for the old minor king, they agree and head south to the Marsh Cave.
Inside, they barely manage to escape with their lives as they run past an unending tide of dangerous critters in their search for the crown. Finally, they find themselves in a room with a chest guarded by a pair of Piscodemons. Convinced they have no other choice, they engage the pair.
As luck would have it, therein lied the crown.
Victorious, they marched back north to the Western Keep and the old king.
For all the pomp and circumstance, Astos wasn't much of a threat.
Examining the crystal eye, Rechts recalls one of the Pravocan locals talking about an old blind witch who saw with a crystal eye.
So, they sail back north, dock at Cornelia and travel across the bridge again, but investigate to the west of the mountain pass. There, they find Matoya's Cave.
Inside, they find an assortment of gibberish-spouting walking brooms and the blind witch herself.
With the return of her precious Crystal Eye, Matoya is so happy she whips up a batch of her Jolt Tonic for them. Strangely, just as this happens, she proclaims that they're far too ugly to be in her presence, and promptly kicks them out.
Slightly dejected, they decide to travel back to Elfheim and see if the Jolt Tonic will wake the comatose Elf Prince.
It does, and as soon as he awakens, the prince proclaims them to be the legendary Warriors of Light, and bestows upon them the Mystic Key.
Realizing the Mystic Key opens up all those locked rooms they've found since visiting Cornelia, they go on a whirlwind tour of treasure hunting.
They end their search in Cornelia, where a wise old man approaches them before they can get to their precious treasure.
Not knowing what to do with the Nitro Powder. one of them recalls hearing about an industrious group of dwarves in Mount Duergar who may be able to help. They sail out towards Mt. Duergar.
Asking around, they find a dwarf working on a canal to allow them to travel outside of the Aldean Sea. The group eagerly offers the Nitro Powder to the dwarf to complete his task.
And with a loud bang...
Eager to explore, the crew sails west through the canal, and finds themselves at the town of Melmond. As usual, there's a problem.
Also as per usual, they decide to go shopping. However, this time, they find that the wares being offered are far too rich for their blood.
Regardless, they decide they have nothing better to do, and head west, and then south, to the Terra Cavern to find this vampire. They decide to camp out before heading into the cavern in the morning.
Next time on Butts and Balls