Summary
Sagetoad welcomes Mario, explains the crisis facing the forest and the trapped research team, and recounts his own debilitating run-in with the Umbral Deluge. He directs Mario to the checkpoint on the forest's western edge, where Dimbo and Ahna are stationed, and suggests visiting a settlement local who's been tinkering with something that could help him on the road ahead.
Scene 1 - INT. Sagetoad's House
Mario has just entered Sagetoad's residence. It is cluttered with a mess of various items of arcane origin, stacks of paper, and books. Sagetoad is stooped over a desk when Mario enters and doesn't even seem to notice him. Mario raises his hand to get Sagetoad's attention. Sagetoad is startled and quickly turns around.
SAGETOAD: "BAH! My deepest apologies, Mario! As you can probably tell, my focus gets the best of me sometimes. It's good to finally have you here. Please, come stay a while!"
Mario steps away from the door and further into the room. Sagetoad also steps away from his desk, speaking again as he walks.
SAGETOAD: "First off, I'd like to thank you for traveling all this way to help us. At this point, I think we've nearly run out of ideas, unfortunately…"
There is another short pause as Sagetoad shuts his eyes for a moment.
SAGETOAD: "I apologize. My thoughts are quite scattered right now. Admittedly, morale across the entire forest has been a bit low as of late. As you've very well already heard, a team dispatched from E. Gadd's research center is currently trapped in Valley's End. Among the members of that team are a few of our own, and a few of Gadd's own. He seemed particularly worried about that Cachely, almost to a weird degree. Do you know anything about that?"
Mario tries to explain E. Gadd's love for Cachely's coffee blend.
SAGETOAD: "You'll have to excuse me, Mario. I really can't understand you with that thick accent."
Mario seems a little frustrated at Sagetoad's response.
SAGETOAD: "No matter, she's a life that needs to be saved just like everyone else. I assume you've also heard of the Umbral Deluge before arriving here?"
Mario strikes a thumbs-up.
SAGETOAD: "Clearly you haven't heard enough, because there is nothing about this that would warrant pointing our thumbs upward. I've witnessed many anomalies in my day, but the Deluge is... simply incomparable. Unwavering, indifferent, seemingly without motive... In all honesty, I don't know where to start."
Sagetoad pauses once again to gather his thoughts. During this, Mario notices a damaged staff sitting nearby. He approaches it with curiosity.
SAGETOAD: "Ah, I see you've noticed my old staff... served me well for many years. That was until that fateful day. My own personal run-in with the Deluge. I don't make a habit of bringing it up, but-"
Sagetoad raises his staff and attempts to cast the spell, quickly dropping it shortly after the orb on the end begins to glow. A small speech bubble reading "Urgh!" appears above him.
SAGETOAD: "-it's the reason I'm in such bad shape right now. The simplest of spells take a major toll on my body."
Sagetoad picks up the staff, staring at it longingly.
SAGETOAD: "I don't recall much of my time under its influence. I even have doubts about the parts I do remember. I stopped trusting my own eyes, stopped trusting much of anything really. If Dimbo hadn't found me when he did..."
At this point, Sagetoad's speech trails off. Mario takes a step towards him in concern, but he quickly snaps back into focus.
SAGETOAD: "Enough about that. We've no time for stories. The Deluge is extremely dangerous, and that's all you need to know for now. Let's focus on getting you to Valley's End. Recently, we constructed a checkpoint on the western edge of the forest to deter others from wandering into the valley. Two of our own, Dimbo & Ahna, are stationed there. I recommend you find them. You won't want to enter the forest any other way!"
Mario throws another enthusiastic thumbs-up.
SAGETOAD: "Another amazing thumb gesture from the famous Mario! Excellent! Let's not waste any time. Your journey won't be a simple stroll. Before you set off, you'll want to pay a visit to someone here in the settlement. They've been tinkering with something that might help you cover ground you couldn't otherwise. Ask around. I'm certain they'd be glad to lend it to you."
After obtaining the Roll Dash and leaving the settlement, transitions back to: Vegetable Vale