Edge of Death

Edge of Death is a limited time Odyssey Event, and the thirty second in the series. It was scheduled to start on January 16, 2015 at 12:00 AM (PST) and end on January 20, 2015 at 7:59 PM (PST).

First Episode of the Mother Arc Story.

Feature Changes

 * New Event UR Ophois, Finder of Paths on its final Stage gives 3.0x 4.0x increase.

Odyssey Skill Cards

 * Gato, Agent of Enmity (UR) Test of Strength Card. Gives 2x the Items regardless of Skill level. Gives 3x the Items when evolved with maxed out Skill.
 * Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) Boosts the number of Event Items acquired by up to 1.2x regardless of Skill Level.
 * (Worried) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.3x boost.
 * (New Deity) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.4x boost.
 * (Connected) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.5x boost.
 * (Bulwark) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.6x boost.
 * (Amenti) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.7x boost.
 * (Guiding) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.8x boost.
 * (Defier) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 1.9x boost.
 * (New Dawn) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR) 2.0x boost.
 * (Answering) Ophois, Finder of Paths (UR EX) 4.0x boost.

Story
My heart was accosted on all sides by countless cries for help. Covering my ears or shouting for silence was meaningless, as mournful voices of varying timbres and intensities poured into my soul.

At last, I managed to whisper, "Just wait a little longer..."

Whether my answer came at a fortunate time or happened to satisfy their requests, the noise subsided and quiet pervaded the air.

...

The metallic box sliced through the wind, rising higher and higher above the ground.

"This sure is handy..." Yvette could say nothing else in her overwhelmed state.

The structure of iron and resin had surrounded itself in a web-like covering before it began to glow brightly and levitate. Though you were amazed at the level of technology Silmaria's kind possessed, you found it difficult to retain your composure inside the craft as it was scarcely large enough to contain the three of you.

"Please forgive the cramped conditions."

As her alluring red lips flit about mere inches from your eyes, you struggled to give any reaction more articulate than a light shake of your head.

The sole reason you had climbed into the vehicle was to ascend to the skies and board the Mother Ark. (Silmaria explained that was its true name, excusing her error on the initial trauma of finding herself in an unfamiliar world.) Your purpose was noble and just, so you attempted to relax and accept the compromising proximity as an inevitable part of fulfilling it.

"Don't you be getting any funny ideas, you hear me?" Less accepting of the situation was Yvette, her words harsher than usual.

"And Silmaria, if you were supposed to bring back someone to save your little homeland, why didn't you do it in something a little roomier?"

"This was all that was available to us," Silmaria explained in an apologetic tone.

Her sincere answer made Yvette appear to feel guilty, as she looked downward at the sprawling world and muttered that she "wasn't THAT angry."

"We have some time before we reach our destination, so it would be wise to ask any remaining questions you may have at the moment."

Shaking off the charm of Silmaria's sweet scent, you refocused on the mission she had asked of you and recounted the facts.

From far beyond the ocean of stars, the great floating continent known as the Mother Ark had come to Neotellus. It was ruled by royalty who held absolute control and imposed a rigid caste system. They lived in grand prosperity, while the servants enjoyed what was left over, leaving the commoners to lead modest lives. Yet at the very bottom were the "criminals," treated like little more than slaves. Their kind formed the Insurgence, a rebellious organization which sought to overthrow the ruling class.

Your task was threefold: Fight alongside the Insurgence to topple the royalty, see to the abolishment of the caste system, then finally, escape with the abducted Neotellans. You doubted the crisis would resolve in any short period, as they had waged war against one who held a massive swath of land in an iron grip. There was also concern regarding the steel birds and their continued kidnapping, or any other troubles that may arise in your absence, but you could only leave that matter to your old comrades. You prayed that your fears would not come to pass.

...

"Whaddya mean we're lost?!" Yvette hovered before Silmaria's face as each disparaging syllable leapt from her mouth.

The mysterious box had landed upon the Mother Ark in a wooded area with gentle inclines, damp air, and fertile soil. In other words, you were in a forest.

"There must be a problem with the navigational device in our Mini-Tobu. It appears we have landed somewhere other than the rendezvous point."

"Grr, blasted piece of junk!" Yvette shouted as she kicked the shockingly lightweight device into the air, the metallic sound echoing off the trees.

You had been told that you would arrive within a short distance from the Insurgence's hideout to immediately aid in their efforts, but the turn of events appeared to delay those plans by a considerable degree. Regardless, your old habits were as strong as ever as you sharpened your senses to detect nearby threats. There were small creatures scurrying in the underbrush, but none seemed particularly dangerous. In fact, you were surprised at how familiar your surroundings felt, as if you were in any other forest on Neotellus. However, there was one slight problem: You felt as if some unspeakable force were slowly draining the strength from your body.

When you mentioned it to Silmaria, she could only express remorse. "My deepest apologies. I don't quite know what can be done about that..."

"Well, in that case, let's just set that aside and figure out what to do next."

Lost and lacking any other means of transportation, you began to walk through the forest. Visibility and footing was poor, yet Silmaria was understandably adept in navigating through the trees. She appeared rather like an elf indeed as you gazed at her elongated ears, which earned you a rap on the head from Yvette. After a time, you stepped into a clearing and the rich color of the sky filled your view.

"I didn't think we'd get out that easily," Yvette said with a relieved smile.

However, your feelings of relief were replaced by fright by what you witnessed. Having noticed herself, Yvette also froze in shock.

"You're.., kidding me..."

Off in the distance was an imposing, iron airship. You had seen similar aerial craft on Neotellus, but never before had you seen one of such scale not floating upon ocean waves. With its massive size and intimidating design, it appeared to be more beast than vessel.

"What could an Imperial battleship be doing here?"

Unlike you or Yvette, Silmaria appeared only mildly concerned. Perhaps such airships were far more common aboard the Mother Ark.

"Well, that makes me feel a little better..."

You soon realized how greatly you had underestimated your new foe. It should have been obvious that a society inhabiting an enormous continent capable of crossing through the stars would possess magic and technology far more advanced than Neotellus'. And if they utilized that for war, they could be more formidable than you could ever imagine.

"Look! There's black smoke coming from over there!"

You looked in the direction in which Yvette was pointing to see a thick plume of dark smoke rising from the ground directly under the metallic monstrosity. Assuming that something must have been attacked, you ran off towards it.

"Wh-where are you going? Please, wait!"

Yet you were unable to oblige Silmaria's request, for the smoke was a very clear signal that the airship had struck some unfortunate target. Though it might have already been too late for heroics, you ran with all haste.

...

Everything within the small town was either destroyed, burned, or perished. The intense odors of blood and singed flesh set you on the edge of nausea.

"This is terrible..." Yvette seethed in rage.

Silmaria, overwhelmed by the carnage, could only stare. The Imperial battleship had long since disappeared from the skies, leaving only the scorched ground as proof of its presence.

"Why would they just attack a town like this? I'd hope they have good reason to kill off their own kind!" Yvette angrily inquired to the distant Silmaria.

You shared in Yvette's rage as the two of you looked through the town. It seemed as if there were no survivors, yet you suspected there might be someone buried in the still-burning rubble.

"Oy! C-can anyone hear me out there?!"

Only shortly after the deep shout came from within a smoldering structure, a sturdy man burst through one of its crumbling walls. It appeared, however, that the maneuver had used the last of his strength, for he was only able to take a few more steps before falling backwards at your feet. This afforded you a chance to survey the survivor as short yet burly, with a thick, flowing beard.

"A dwarf? Here?" Yvette was surprised at his familiar-looking stature, yet Silmaria immediately brandished the dagger she kept at her hip.

"Are you of the Empire?!"

The frightened man sat up and began walking backwards on his knees. You, sympathetic for one who experienced such a harrowing ordeal to immediately be questioned at knifepoint, tried to assure him you meant no harm.

"I ain't of no Empire, I can tell you that much! I'm Gallegos of the Insurgence, see?"

For someone with such strength, he appeared quite fearful.

"How can we believe your claims?"

"D'you think they'd ever let anyone who's not a human in their ranks? And a dwarf, at that!"

"Okay, just calm down," said Yvette as she flew between Silmaria and the dwarf. "It doesn't look like he's lying to me, Silmaria. Besides, if Gallegos was part of the Insurgence here, he can help us out. Now, judging by what happened, I imagine the Insurgence's hideout was somewhere in this town, correct?"

Gallegos nodded vigorously. "T'be precise, it was just one of our hideouts, though..."

As if you needed further convincing, Gallegos' response affirmed the severity of the situation. You felt your heart burning with a desire to bring justice against the perpetrators.

"I wouldn't worry too much, since we were just a small outfit. No use trying to take them all on by yourselves, or you'll end up just like everyone else here..." his sad voice trailing off, clenching his fists as he attempted to contain his rage.

Yet sorrow soon gave way to tension as you sensed a hostile presence. You turned to see a soldier in strange armor, glaring at you with murderous intent. "The dogs survived!"

His shout alerted Yvette and Silmaria to the danger and they spun around in turn.

"Is that an Imperial soldier? I thought they all flew off!"

"It seems we must save our discussion for another time..."

Suddenly, ominous shapes stepped out from behind the piles of debris and silently began to close in around you...