ROOK: I hired Reneé again and put her on a floor with Pinky and Beebee. I made up for their lack of Smarts and minimal Nature with items, including a stereo system that played "Nerdy Chicks Rule". I then sent the three on a mission to help Watanabe make... The Finest Blade. I then headed back to the temple jungle to review what I had done. I had three of the items, but hadn't activated any pedestals yet. I headed back in the direction of the tree and ascended the makeshift stairs. I crossed some boughs to get to another part, then balanced my way up a branch to another bough.
CHEF WATANABE: Rook, your agents have arrived at my restaurant and are ready to get started. They seem to know their sushi, as well — they absolutely demolished the maki I prepared for them.
ROOK: More vines and boughs led me to a nature soundtrack more potent in its Nature-giving properties than "Sparkling Snow".
BEEBEE: I'm always trying to get Prezzie-wezzie to take me out to sushi. He just calls it "overpaying for raw fish".
ROOK: Shows what he knows; fish and other seafood, while common in sushi, are not necessarily even part of it. Anyway, more jumping around revealed a chest with paints.
CHEF WATANABE: Rook, your agents are unsure where to direct their search for the finest of blades. Should they investigate the old ways, folding steel into a laminated blade, or turn to the modern techniques, using high-carbon steel?
ROOK: I decided to have them try newer techniques, and went back to tree-climbing.
ROOK: Wow, I'm so high in the air! This tree is huge! What's up here?
ROOK: I found myself in the presence of a few lemurs. One looked like he might be the one for the job.
????????: Chitter-chitter!
ROOK: You must be Magellan. You're adorable; what a little cootiekin! Please help me.
MAGELLAN: Chitter. Chitter chitter!
ROOK: Thanks friend. I need you and your medallion to activate the Earth Pedestal. Can you help me, Magellan? ... HEY! WAKE UP!
ROOK: The three lemurs, including Magellan, scampered down. I followed.
CHEF WATANABE: Ah, thank you, Rook. Your agents are most enthusiastic about this approach. I must admit I was somewhat skeptical, but I am now convinced that it can produce a fine blade.
ROOK: Back in front of the temple, I talked to Evelyn.
ROOK: That man in front of the shrine is named Skullfinder.
EVELYN: Not the infamous explorer, Sir Vincent Skullfinder?!
ROOK: That's him. You've heard of him?
EVELYN: He claims credit for every archaeological find that makes the news—even if he had nothing to do with their discovery!
ROOK: So he's only interested in fortune and glory, huh? I know the type. Anyway, I found the torch!
EVELYN: Great! I'll take it to the pedestal!
ROOK: Great. I recrossed the bridge to find Buddy.
ROOK: Buddy, do you know how to play the horn?
BUDDY: Do I ever! I used to play horn in a marching band. That's where I learned to salute!
ROOK: Great. Then I need you to help. Can you take this horn and play it on that pedestal?
ROOK: I gave it to him.
BUDDY: I'd love to! Here I go!
ROOK: You don't actually have to play it until I get over there. Buddy? ...Oh, dear.
ROOK: I then talked to Lyndsay.
ROOK: I need your help! Lyndsay, can you hold this cup and stand on that pedestal? And don't spill it!
LYNDSAY: You got it, Rook!
ROOK: Back at the pedestals, I started activating them: Earth, Fire, Wind, and Water. Upon doing so, a large ramp ascended to the door of the temple! I guess even the ancient peoples had handicap-accessibility in mind.
And you got aztec clothing and new dispatch missions!
ROOK: Once inside the temple grotto, we looked around... and found a man in dirtied explorer gear.
ROOK: Excuse me...
The dude looked around, then looked at nothing and spoke.
????: Oh, Mr. TV repairman, I'm so glad you arrived.
ROOK: He arm-hugged the air.
????: Now, let me show you to the- what the...who stole all the squirrels? They were almost ripe!
ROOK: More squirrels?
????: I've got to get to the periscope right away. The crabs must have infiltrated the temple using stealth submarines!
ROOK: He started pushing on air.
ROOK: (ahem)
????: Intruders?! I am King Mike, guardian of this temple, and you'll never have the treasure!!
ROOK: Treasure? Do you mean the Crown—
MIKE: Oh, you're just a figment of my imagination. That's nice. But you'll still never get my treasure! Bwah hah!!
ROOK: He ran off.
BUDDY: What the...? Who was that old guy?!
ROOK: I think he's got the crown! You guys keep searching around here — I'm going after him!
Oh, by the way, the ramp's gone. Looks like you're going to have to see this thing through to get out!
ROOK: So I can't even start any new dispatch missions until this is over. Fantastic.
PINKY: I don't eat much sushi, but I guess I have a few favorite kinds of fish... like bluefin tuna and bluenose bass!
ROOK: Big surprise there. Anyway, I checked out a hole it the floor. Examining some skulls got me some wall decs in the form of planets: Jupiter, Mercury, Pluto—
Dwarf planet, anyway...
ROOK: Hush, you. And finally, Saturn. I left the hole, exited the room, and found myself in the Fire Room. Fire Room is right: lots of lava and flame jets. Hmm, no sign of that "Mike" guy, though... He must have escaped through that door up there... that guy's nimble!! I used some blocks to make steps. Farther along, I found my way barred by a flame jet. I found another light/receiver puzzle... okay, in this case, "puzzle" is perhaps a little strong. All I did was move a block out of the way. Whatever. It worked.
CHEF WATANABE: Hmph. The first sample blades your agents have provided aren't suitable for spreading rice, let alone slicing fish. Sometimes I wonder if I should just give in and open a fish 'n chips shop...
ROOK: My next trick was to get by a flame jet that had no lights or receivers to turn it off! There were, however, blocks in a hole in the floor, so I moved enough out of the way to make it through. Another puzzle was more complicated: I moved the mirror out of the way to allow me access to the left side...
RENEÉ: Oh, ick, Rook. It's not that I'm snobbish about sushi, it's just... well... some fish are cute! You should've seen this one koi I met the other day...
ROOK: ...then went there and moved a light to hit the receiver, thus deactivating another flame, then moved the mirror to hit the left receiver, allowing me to use the right fork. I bypassed a pair of torches and climbed onto a ledge with a chest containing a lemur outfit and a spacesuit! I went back and passed between the torches, and found another puzzle with four receivers.
CHEF WATANABE: You've done it! This beautiful knife cuts maki, nigiri, and sashimi with the greatest of ease. My restaurant is saved! Domo arigato, Rook! I will never be able to repay this kindness.
ROOK: I tried one of the receivers. No good; it didn't deactivate the first jet. Neither did the second one I tried. The third one, however, deactivated both jets, allowing me to pass! I made for the door. It led into the Wind Room.
The music reminds me of Metroid Prime 2...
ROOK: Oh man. I guess I'll have to climb up there to track down that strange man...
ROOK: I would have to negotiate many platforms and vines. Yikes! A...bottomless pit?! I didn't know there were real bottomless pits!!
Don't worry, you won't actually fall into it.
ROOK: Good to know. I climbed a ladder and balanced my way across some platforms. I eventually came to a structure that had two chests and a ladder on it. I opened the chests for an alien sculpture, a carnivorous plant, a sarcophagus, and a Magellan figurine, then used the ladder to get to another vine for balancing on. When I finally got to the end of it, I found myself having to jump across platforms. At least a fall is merely a setback. More balancing, more jumping.
From my perspective, at least, the last jumps are easiest because they're not diagonal jumps.
ROOK: I don't know what that means, but if it makes it easier for you, it makes it easier for me. I climbed another ladder, then balanced across another long vine. The wind seemed more determined than before. When I got to the end, I opened a chest for a figurine of our elusive friend. I balanced back, and read the sign at the end.
Leap of FaithROOK: Am I supposed to jump from here? Only one— YIKES!
Yes.
ROOK: HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEY!! Oof! Well, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but still!
Well? That was part of the main path!
ROOK: I wasn't ready!
Okay, sorry about that. Anyway, you don't have to worry about me making you fall like that again.
ROOK: ...Really?
Really. The end of the active part of the story is nigh. I'll take you around to the various places you can get to by train and see what people are saying, but after that, you'll be hanging out at HQ, dealing with dispatch missions.
ROOK: After all this, that'll be enough. Anyway, I examined the door and found it locked. I picked it and entered the Water Room, where Mike was. The Water Room wasn't nearly as big and complicated as the others. It was really more like a small cavern. There were some coconut trees — no coconuts on them, though — near some rocks, beyond which was a waterfall. There were some alcoves and ledges, and a suspicious area of stones in the floor. There was even... a séance circle? Mike was hanging around a wheel-based mechanism of some sort. I checked the mechanism... no gears.
ROOK: Mike, I'm going to need your help finding what's hidden in this temple.
KING MIKE: Hello, my fake friend! You're here for the secret treasure, then?
ROOK: A secret treasure? Yes, that's exactly what I'm here for.
KING MIKE: I took all the gears from Mr. Wheelman over there. You can't get to the treasure without those!
ROOK: I contemplated snapping at him, but figured I'd be better off appealing nicely.
ROOK: King Mike, can't you please help me? I really need to get the wheel working.
KING MIKE: Hmm...maybe if you found me more friends! You're pretty great, but I could always use more! It's lonely here, you know...
ROOK: I knew I had made the right decision. However, I'd have to figure out what might work for friends. While Lyndsay, Buddy, and Evelyn were in the temple, since they hadn't come down here, too, I couldn't get to them. However, considering his behavior in the grotto, I figured I should find something. Indeed, in the two alcoves, I found one coconut each. They almost looked like they had faces; would they work on Mike?
ROOK: I found you some new friends, Mike!
KING MIKE: What? New friends?
ROOK: I gave him the coconuts. After looking them over...
MIKE: I ask you for friends and you bring me these?!
ROOK: Uh-oh.
ROOK: Well, I—
MIKE: They're more like family!
ROOK: He had a conversation with them.
MIKE: I don't know how to thank you enough, figment!
ROOK: Can I get the parts to that water wheel now?
MIKE: Oh, well, I don't know if Eloise would like that very much...
ROOK: Eloise...?
MIKE: I'd better ask Reynaldo instead.
ROOK: He apparently did.
MIKE: We've decided you can have the parts.
ROOK: We walked over to the wheel.
MIKE: What's that?! No, Eloise, don't lose your temper! We were just—
ROOK: I got the parts, and proceeded to repair "Mr. Wheelman". When I turned the wheel, a platform rose, allowing me to reach the ledges! On one side was a nice little grotto, but nothing more. On the other, however, was a promising-looking box! I picked the lock, and found... a rock?! What?!
ROOK: That's strange. There's no crown in here...just this small stone object.
MIKE: Bravo, figment! You have passed all of my tests! That object you hold in the key to the Nightmare Crown. It fits into the statue in the temple grotto!
ROOK: Ah, so the Nightmare Crown was back in the grotto all along?
MIKE: Well...yes, figment, But you wouldn't be interested in that because you're just imaginary...
ROOK: I must return to the grotto immediately!
MIKE: Okay. Games are over now, figment. I command you to return to my imagination. Even illusions should not disturb the crown. Please...
ROOK: Sorry, Mike. I know this is hard for you to understand, but I'm getting that crown.
ROOK: Back at the grotto... wait... how did I get there? The final stretch to the door out of the Wind Room only goes so far...
...A Wizard Did It?
ROOK: I guess. Anyway, I fit the stone into the statue, and it moved aside, revealing a pedestal with the crown on it!
MIKE: Careful, figment. There's nothing good that will ever come from possessing the Crown of Nightmares.
ROOK: I have to keep the crown safe. C'mon, Buddy, let's go tell Evelyn that we finally have it.
ROOK: I took the crown, and the pedestal descended.
MIKE: Did you say...Evelyn?
ROOK: Just then, she came in.
EVELYN: Rook! Are you in here? I thought I heard your voice from outside.
ROOK: I'm right here. Evelyn, We found it.
EVELYN: You got the crown?!
ROOK: Yes. We finally beat Morcubus.
Oh, you're not out of the jungle yet...
ROOK: ...That sounds foreboding. Anyway, I inserted the fortunite crystal into the Crown of Nightmares.
Always the wise thing to do with artifacts that are particularly powerful and dangerous when put together.
ROOK: Shush.
ROOK: Now, where can we put the crown so it's truly safe...?
I don't know, Gino's safe?
ROOK: You're not helping.
Not that it matters...
MIKE: Evie? Is that you?
EVELYN: What?
MIKE: Evie? Little Evie? Is it really you?
EVELYN: What? Who are— Dad?! You're alive?
MIKE: Ha ha! It is you, Evie. Oh, look at you. This is the best hallucination I've had in years!
EVELYN: Dad, you're not hallucinating. This is real... and you're in danger!
ROOK: Morcubus is after the crown, Mike. We've managed to stay one step ahead of him so far, but Evelyn's right. We need to get the crown out of his reach.
ROOK: He started looking woozy at this point.
EVELYN: Dad...are you okay? ... Daddy?
MIKE: Oh, Evie...this is really happening? YOU'RE REAL!
ROOK: The two hugged. Awww.
MIKE: Evie, sweetie, it's been so long since I've seen real people. I...I got confused! I'm sorry...
EVELYN: Dad, I've missed you so much...
MIKE: Oh, Evie, I'm so, sorry. I was just trying to protect you from all of this.
ROOK: Mike, Evelyn, I don't want to interrupt, but we really do need to leave.
BUDDY: Lyndsay, do you need a ride back to our headquarters?
LYNDSAY: Are you kidding?! There's still so much to explore here! I'm going to stay until I've mapped out every room of this temple.
ROOK: Good luck, then, Lyndsay! Thanks for your help. Let's go, everyone.
ROOK: Back outside, however, who should we run into but...
ROOK: No!
MORCUBUS: Agent Rook. Perfect timing. Esma, collect my crown, please.
ROOK: I was forced to hand it over. Esma gave it to Morcubus, and he put it on his head.
MORCUBUS: How about that. A perfect fit! Again we see there is nothing you can possess which I cannot take away.
ROOK: What's this "again" business?
MORCUBUS: Um... the dog?
ROOK: That was Poppy. This is the first time I'm aware of that you've taken something from me.
MORCUBUS: Okay, well.. would you perhaps prefer 'what was briefly yours is now mine'?
ROOK: Not particularly, but good job trimming the quote to make it accurate this time. Anyway, how did you find us, Morcubus?!
MORCUBUS: Oh, i got a little help from Evelyn Gray.
EVELYN: What?! That's not true!
MORCUBUS: Oh, my naive little girl...all those hours spent studying your father's journal...all those little clues you dug up...and you never found the tracking device we put in it!
ROOK: You don't mean—
MORCUBUS: Yes, we've been following you all along. I'll admit it, you were doing a better job tracking down the Nightmare Crown than we were! Finally, we decided it would be easier just to let '''you''' do the work. I mean, "MUBA"? I can't believe you guys fell for that one!''
ROOK: You weren't really trying to salvage the map? You wanted us to do it?
BRANDI: Please, do you really think Yuki knows how to drive a mini-sub? I'm amazed she didn't destroy the whole beach!
EVELYN: I'm such a fool! I've led Morcubus straight to the crown.
ROOK: There was no way we could have known, Evelyn. Don't be so hard on yourself.
MIKE: This isn't your fault, sweetheart. It's his! Morcubus! You cad! How dare you drag my daughter into this!
MORCUBUS: Oh my goodness. Michael?! Is that you? The years have not been kind, old friend.
MIKE: Give me the crown, Morcubus.
MORCUBUS: What is this, my birthday?! You've really been squatting in this disgusting temple all these years? You threw away a life with your family, only to see the crown wind up on my head?! (Evil Laugh) And it never would have happened if you weren't so determined to find the Nightmare Crown.
EVELYN: I never wanted the crown, I just wanted to find my father.
MORCUBUS: Well you can't have him either! I'm going to activate the crown, and there's nothing you can do about it!!!
ROOK: Esma and Brandi relocated themselves, and Morcubus started concentrating. A red glow came from his head, forming a swirling vortex.
MORCUBUS: Mwa ha ha ha!
EVELYN: Rook, Buddy, I shouldn't have dragged you into this. Forgive me.
ROOK: She made for Morcubus.
BUDDY: Evelyn! What are you doing?!
ROOK: She dove for him...
EVELYN: MORCUBUUUUUUUS!!
MORUCUBUS: OOF!!
ROOK: ...knocking them both into the vortex. All that was left was the crown.
ROOK: EVELYN!
BUDDY: Where did she go?!
MIKE: She and Morcubus are now trapped in the Realm of Nightmares.
ROOK: I took the crown.
ROOK: How do we get her back?
MIKE: I don't think we can. Morcubus activated the crown; he's the only one who could open the portal again. And he's trapped on the other side.
ESMA: Morcubus is gone? Then the universe at last blongs to me, Queen Esma!
BRANDI: What shall we do, my queen?
ESMA: RETREAT!!
ROOK: They fled. Good riddance.
MIKE: Evelyn... my little Evie...I only wanted to protect you, and look what happened. I should have been there for you.
BUDDY: Why'd she do that, pal?!
ROOK: I guess it was the only way to stop Morcubus, Buddy.
BUDDY: So what are we supposed to do?
MIKE: There's nothing we can do! She's gone! I should have destroyed that infernal crown years ago!
ROOK: He started crying.
ROOK: I'm not giving up on Evelyn yet. We don't know exactly how the Nightmare Crown works, but now that it's safe from Morcubus, we can take the time to study it. We still have a lot of agents to dispatch and a lot of people who need our help. If our guys keep their eyes open during their missions, maybe they can find something to help us.
BUDDY: Hey, yeah! Maybe!
ROOK: Mike, as long as there's even a tiny chance we can save Evelyn, we should look for it. I can't promise anything, but maybe someday we'll figure out a way to bring her home... if you can help us.
MIKE: You're right, Rook. I can't just sit around feeling sorry for myself. I'm with you, even if it takes the rest of my life.
BUDDY: Me too, pal!
ROOK: Alright, then. Let's get back to headquarters!
ROOK: We got in the jet and left the jungle behind. On the way back, I took the opportunity to do some stunt flying. I may have gotten carried away...
(As they fly, the credits roll. Scenes cut between the jet flying around and collages with pictures from throughout the story.)
BUDDY: Wow, that was some fancy flying, pal!
ROOK: ...as when I landed, Buddy was upside-down. Eheh... anyway, upon disembarking, Buddy was presented with a trophy of the horn he blew, and I got a replica of the Nightmare Crown. I also learned that Mike, Lyndsay, Skullfinder, and Magellan were are willing to be my agents. I checked in with Jenny...
JENNY: Wanatabe seemed pretty pleased with the fine blade the team brought him. He wants the team for an even tougher mission now.
ROOK: ...and she let me know I got some new haircuts. My new missions:
Penguin Style
MASTER ARAN: As you know, Sim Fu takes its inspiration from many animals. But there is one animal whose characteristic I haven't been able to incorporate into my arts: the penguin. Maybe you could spare a few students to help me develop this new style.
5 stars. 15 minutes. Athletic/Nature. New Object and New Recruit.
Snake on the Loose!
LIBERTY: Oh no, oh no! I was carrying my pet snake Mr. Venom to his favorite picnic spot, but I must have left my backpack open because he's gone! Please help me find him!
4 stars. 15 minutes. Nature/Smarts. New Object and New Recruit.
Train Jimmy
CHEF WATANABE: My restaurant is successful and brings me much honor, but there is one problem: my son, Jimmy. His rolls are messy and his sashimi is sloppy! Help me turn my son ingto a sushi chef so I don't have to disown him!
4 stars. 15 minutes. Charismatic/Nature. New Objects and Trophy.
ROOK: Yeesh, what period are you living in? I know the "Father practically requires son to be in the same line of work" attitude is still alive in some Sims, but when the son isn't getting good at it, has no interest in it, or worse, has a health problem with it, let the guy find his own career path! Seriously...
Trouble With Truffles
IKARA: This is a disaster of epic proportions! A phyloxera epidemic has destroyed most of this year's truffle crop. How can we make new episodes of Hyperchef Battle 9000 without truffles? They are our most pretentious ingredient!
4 stars. 20 minutes. Nature/Smarts. New Object and New Mission.
ROOK: I checked the specs on my newly available.
LYNDSAY: There's always new lands to explore and adventures to find. I can be your personal guide through the wilderness! (Oh, but can I get directions there, please?)
1 Nature, 2 Athletic, 1 Charismatic, and 1 Smarts.
MAGELLAN: Chitter-chitter. Chit-chirp chirp, Chirp chitter chitter chit? Chitter. Chip chip chitter chirp chitter chitter chip chip chitter chirp. Squeak.
ROOK: "Magellan here. Ancient lemur wisdom, do- you -want on your-side? It-is-well. Recruit-me to whatever purpose I-may-be of-assistance to you." Signing-off noise.
1 Paranormal, 3 Natural, 1 Athletic.
MIKE: Alright, Rook, I'm here, Just as I promised. Anything I can do to help, you just say the word I am at your disposal.
1 Paranormal, 2 Athletic, 2 Smarts.
SKULLFINDER: ''I am a man of many talents: archaeologist, hero, adventurer. But there is no "special agent" on my resumé. Perhaps you and I can correct that little oversight, hmm?
2 Paranormal, 3 Smarts.
- Missions
- Blade of Destiny: *****; A/C; Object, Recruit
- The Bushido Code: ***; A/C; Outfits, Object
- Episode X: **; S/P; Object, Trophy
- Equipment Recovery: **; A/S; Outfits, Mission
- The Extremest Case: ****; A/C; Outfits, Object
- F, Robot: ***; S/C; Outfits, Mission
- Failing Forest: ***; N/P; Object, Paint, Recruit
- Gonk Need Food, Badly: ****; N/A; Object, Recruit
- H 4 XXOR 3 D!: ****; S/C; Object, Recruit
- High School Yearbook: ***; C/P; Object, Mission
- Justice for Justice: *****; A/C; Outfits, Trophy
- Legendary Cheese: *; A/N; Outfits, Trophy
- Magical Assistant: ***; C/P; Object, Mission
- Missing Bugs: **; N/A; Objects
- Music That Moves You: ***; P/S; Outfits, Trophy
- Ol' Gabby's Mine: **; S/N; Objects
- Penguin Style: *****; A/N; Object, Recruit (NEW!)
- The Prominence: ***; P/S; Outfits
- Reagent Run: **; P/N; Outfits, Recruit
- Red Buddy: ***; P/A; Outfits, Object, Trophy
- Roadie Despair: *; C/S; Objects, Recruit
- The Sadness Parade: **; C/P; Outfits
- Sewer Search: ***; S/N; Object, Trophy
- Snack Thief: ***; S/C; Outfits, Object, Trophy
- Snake on the Loose!: ****; N/S; Object, Recruit (NEW!)
- Suckers Sabotage!; *****; C/P; Outfits, Trophy
- Surf's Up!: ***; A/C; Outfits
- Tainted Broth: ***; P/N; Object, Paint, Recruit
- Tobor's Destiny: ****; S/C; Outfits, Object
- Train Jimmy: ****; C/N; Objects, Trophy (NEW!)
- Trouble With Truffles: ****; N/S; Object, Mission (NEW!)
- Writer's Block: ****; S/P; Outfits, Object
- Yeti Begins: **; P/N; Objects, Paint
- Recruits and Recruitables
- Beebee: N,A,3C
- Carl: 3P,N,S
- Elmira: P,N,3S
- Gordon: 5S
- Leaf: 3N,2C
- Lyndsay: N,2A,C,S
- Magellan: P,3N,A
- Mike: P,2A,2S
- Ms. Nicole: 4C,S
- Nova: 2P,N,2S
- Pinky: P,4C
- Preston: A,3C,S
- Renée: 3N,2C
- Roger: 5A
- Agent Rosalyn: 2P,3S
- Skullfinder: 2P,3S
- Travis: 3C,2S
- Trevor: 5C
- Agent Vic: 3P,C,S
- Violet: 3P,N,S
- Wolfah: 3N,2A
- Zoe: 4P,S
(Okay, new plan. Between now and when I reach this point in the cycle again, I'll still accept mission suggestions. But if I don't have four missions suggested, I'll make up the difference with my own idea of who to send on what. This will repeat until only the final mission remains. While I'm waiting for texts from the next mission, though, I'll be exploring the world without Morcubus. Well, the rail-accessible parts. Trying to use my jet only shows the credits again.)
Next time: When Morcubus is away...
