Arlia

"'This small, rural village is an unlikely place to start a quest, but its proximity to Shingo Forest puts it right in the line of supernatural happenings.' ~ PRIMA's Official Strategy Guide"Arlia is a small village within the Kingdom of Cross and the hometown of both Rena Lanford and Dias Flac. It is located in the south of the continent, on the edge of the Shingo Forest, and is only accessible through a narrow riven between mountains. Arlia is a subsistence community based on farming and fishing, and people trade for essentials through the mining town of Salva to the north.

General
Arlia is a small agriculture and fishing village in the continent of Cross, with a non-playable character "population" of 18. As a village, Arlia does not sustain a central market area. Buildings are spread against a small river in the south, beyond which is the Shingo Forest. Nearly all of the town is bookended between a church to the west and the mayor's house to the east. As Arlia is the most remote village in all of Cross continent, and possibly all of Expel, the inhabitants are mostly unaffected by the cataclysm of the Sorcery Globe (save for a rogue monster or two). News of the disaster arrives by word-of-mouth from Salva.

Arlia's government operates through a popularly-elected mayor, Regis. The village maintains close relations with Salva, and Salvan elite hold power over Arlia. The reason is as much geographic as political. Because Salva sits at the nadir of a mountain riven, through which is the only pass between Arlia and the rest of the world, Arlia relies on Salva for trading essentials and news. Thus, it comes as no surprise that the son of Salva's mayor, Alen, holds enormous influence over Arlia townspeople.

Arlia is largely self-sufficient, supplying its own foods and services - although metal is imported into Alria from Salva. Local Arlians farms in the grasslands, while fishing (and possibly some travel) is conducted by riverboat. It seems that villagers do not hunt in the large Shingo Forest, probably due to taboo against defiling a holy site. Special hunting taboos were cross-culturally common in northern European tribes (Germanic, Slavic, Baltic, and Finnic) during the Roman Empire, and similar tabooistic traditions have existed throughout northern Eurasia at different times.

Bandits operate beyond Arlia's boundaries and have raided the village at least once, killing many villagers and indirectly causing young Dias Flac to grow into a cold, wandering mercenary. Dias, his family, and other captured townsfolk were taken from the village into the Shingo Forest and butchered; Dias, however wounded, managed to survive. Rena was not yet in Arlia during the years of raiders: Dias is eight years Rena's senior and Rena did not arrive in Arlia until the age of three or so.

Shortly before the start of the game, Arlia experienced the shockwaves of a distant, massive earthquake, which upsets the villagers. Arlians now realize that the disasters experienced elsewhere in Expel will one day reach them. When approached by the player, locals of Arlia echo the words of Man in the eastern section, "The recent swarm of earthquakes just might be due to the effects of the Sorcery Globe. I wish the Warrior would appear and take care of business."

Virtual Arlia
Arlia is one of the few locations to undergo material changes during the restoration of the party's memories. Inside a small animal pig in the eastern section is housed Vern Vern, a small, programmed creature that functions as the effective link between Virtual Expel and the real world. As Arlia is re-created as if time had normally progressed were it not destroyed, the newlywed couple in House have now had their first child.

Story
"Arlia begins the main storyline. For the next location, see Salva: Story."Depending upon whether the player chose Claude Kenni or Rena Lanford, the story progression in Arlia will be slightly different. In both playthroughs, Rena introduces Claude to the people of Arlia and spreads news that Claude may be the prophesied Hero of Light. Claude rebuffs their beliefs and actively seeks a way home. His plans are interrupted when Rena is kidnapped by Alen-Tax, a childhood friend of Rena's from Salva.

After rescuing Rena, Claude and Rena speak with Mayor Regis who tells them of the impending peril of the Sorcery Globe. Claude maintains that he is no legendary warrior, but agrees with Rena and the Mayor that they must investigate the meteor crash. The following morning, the pair bid farewell to Regis and the village of Arlia and set off on their quest.

Quest Items

 * Introduction, a formal letter written by the mayor to the King of Cross in order to secure an audience for Claude and Rena.
 * Long Sword, given to Claude by Mayor Regis to protect him. That particular sword is recognized by the blacksmith Gamgee as the work of his late son, and named Colma.

Private Action Items

 * Salamander Helm, purchasable as Rena from Hearn's of Arlia for Ashton Anchors's dragons.
 * ?JEWELRY (Talisman), gifted by Celine to Claude. Only available to Claude.

Treasure

 * Blueberry
 * Rose Hips
 * Leather Armor
 * 200 Fol
 * Resurrection Bottle
 * Strawberry Jam

Notable Pickpockets
For a complete list, see Pickpocketing: Arlia.
 * Rainbow Diamond, from Woman in House.
 * Santa's Boots, from Boy in House as Virtual Expel.

Private Actions
See Private Actions: Arlia.

People

 * Westa, adoptive mother of Rena.
 * Mayor Regis, community leader of Arlia. Regis writes Claude and Rena a formal letter to the King of Cross, enabling them to secure a Passport to investigate the Sorcery Globe.
 * Vern Vern, a bizarre penguin that functions as a liaison between Energy Nede and Virtual Expel.
 * Bowman, a local carpenter and father, hired by Alen to renovate key passages of the Salva Drift.
 * Priest, the village religious elder. It is implied that the Priest is the one who repeats the legends of the Hero of Light as a salvific narrative, bringing the community together during the chaos and uncertainty of the Sorcery Globe.