After acquiring their newly acquired boat the Grand Terry, Spirit Force and Partitio sailed across the vast seas of Solistia, continuing their search for Roque and to wherever the Scent of Commerce takes them. The scent has now brought them to the town of Winterbloom where they'll discover something interesting.
As the group explored Winterbloom, the group heard a mysterious voice.
"Please… Someone, help me…"
"Did you guys hear that?" Klonoa asked.
The voice repeated the same message as the group approached a house.
"It's comin' from inside this house? We should pop in and see what's goin' on." Partitio said as he and the group soon entered the house. "Pardon us, anyone home?"
They heard the voice once again and saw it coming from a device.
"That's a gramophone." Simon said.
"A grama-what now?" Partitio asked in confusion.
"Gramophone. It's a machine where in the old days around this time, people played music on it. You just needed vinyl records, one of these babies, and boom! Instant good times." Simon said.
"Well well, that's an interesting name for that machine." a voice said as everyone saw a merchant come into the room. "Up until now, I've called it a phonographic articulator. I purchased it from an inventor in the city."
"And you are?" Partitio asked.
"Oh, where are my manners? A pleasure to make your acquaintances. I am Audley." the merchant said.
"The name's Partitio, and these fellas with me are Spirit Force. A pleasure, right back atcha." Partitio introduced back.
"Are you a merchant too, Mr. Audley?" Klonoa asked.
"Why yes. I am a trader, a salesman specializing in curios and oddities. I see some of you are already familiar with this phonographic articulator… or, Gramophone, as you called it." Audley said to Simon.
"Oh, a friend of mine has one in a bar he owns, that's why I found it familiar." Simon said.
"But lemma tell ya, this thing'll sound a whole lot better if it could play some music on some records, not just your own voice." Balthus said.
"Well I'm in a pickle. I can't for the life of me figure out how to sell the blasted thing. I suppose that's why I recorded that soulful appeal." Audley said.
"This doohickey won't sell? Seems interestin' enough to fly off the shelves to me." Partitio said.
"Everyone oohs and ahhs at first, goggling at this strange marvel. But when they inquire as to what purpose a machine that merely repeats a voice can serve…" Audley said.
"I see… Like a one-trick pony, everyone gets bored right quick." Partitio said.
"Most unfortunately, yes. I proposed its use as an archive of sorts for ideas and memorandums…" Audley said.
"Lemme guess: everyone says paper's far faster, and cheaper to boot." Partitio said.
"Correct! That is it, in the proverbial nutshell!" Audley said.
"Heh. I am a merchant like you, fella!" Partitio said.
"Ah, so you pursue the path of commerce, too! No wonder you possess such clear insight! I have the unfortunate character flaw of excitedly purchasing every unusual doo and dad I find. Ahh, if only I possessed your discerning eye, Partitio! I envy your perspicacity!" Audley said.
Partitio thought about something before turning to balthus. "Hey, Balthus. Y'said that this doohickey would sound a lot better if music was playin' on it, right?"
"That's right. If we can get some more vinyl records, and you can hire some musicians, we'll be able to get this thing to sell. And once it's successful, more of 'em can be made, which leads to a better profit cycle." Balthus said.
"I think that's a great idea y'got there, partner! Let's stuff this thing full of music!" Partitio said.
"Stuff it full of music, you say… An interesting proposal! You're right! A cultured ear would delight at hearing beloved ballads time and time again!" Audley said.
"That's what I just said!" Partitio said.
"Ah… Wait, but… This town is a musical desert; I know no one skilled in the harp nor lyre." Audley said.
"Leave it to us! We'll go rustle up some troubadours and hire 'em on for ya!" Partitio said.
"You all would do that for me?" Audley asked.
"You bet. We travel around, so we're sure to run into someone." Partitio said.
"I am in your debt!" Audley said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'll prepare the device for recording at once!"
"Good luck, fella!" Partitio said as he and Spirit Force exited the house.
"So.. where are we gonna find some good musicians?" Hapi asked. "And how many do we need?"
"Just one tune won't be enough, thats' for sure. The more the merrier, as Pops used to say." Partitio said. "Hmm… Three's a lucky number, so that's how many we'll find!"
"Good thinking. Coincidentally, that's how many towns are rumored to have musicians in them. We can find them in Crackridge, Canalbrine and Flamechurch." Yuri said.
And so they journeyed around to help Audley complete his gramophone sale. While this job was the longest to complete, it was worth it in every sense.
Partitio used his Hiring talents to bring in a Piano playing nun in Flamechurch, a Violinist in Canalbrine, and finally a Guitarist in Crackridge. Each of them were brought to Audley, recording pieces of their music into the Gramophone as it was soon completed.
"Thank you all so much. Equipped with a marvelous selection of songs, this device is now a truly marketable product. Strategically…I think it would be wise to sell it to the wealthy nobles and elite, first." Audley said.
"Hold up there, fella. Why limit your consumer base? Let all sorts of folks enjoy your product. For example, hmm… A place where all sorts can experience this thing…" Partitio said.
"Why not the taverns across Solistia?" Simon asked.
"Taverns? Are you sure?" Audley asked. "Larger establishments could afford it, certainly, but it's too costly for your average local taproom."
"Then why not cut out the recording part and just sell the sound-maker doohickey on the cheap?" Partitio asked.
"That's a brilliant idea!" Audley said.
"Everyone'd leap at the prospect of easy access to song, whether it's a hometown ditty or a romantic croon. You bet your buttons customers'd pour into any tavern sportin' one of these contraptions." Partitio said.
"I can use that for my sales pitch, certainly." Audley said.
"Course, once one of these is in taverns 'round the world, individuals'll want one for themselves too, I reckon. If demand gets high enough, mass production and mass profit ain't just a dream! Picture this, fella: a world in which every household has their own personal music machine. That future may just be 'round the corner!" Partitio said.
"What a fantastic notion! Partitio, I am so very glad our paths crossed! In honor of everything you and your friends have done for me, may I please use the name 'gramophone' for this machine?" Audley asked.
"Knock yourself out. We basically helped make the thing popular." Balthus said.
"Thank you. Now off I go to sell it in every corner of the realm!" Audley said.
"Good luck, fella! I can't wait to hear it playin' in a tavern near us!" Partitio said.
With that, the group exited the house and prepared to set off.
"What a fun side journey this was! We discovered an archive of solistias history, procured a fine vessel, and helped produce the Gramophone in this world." E. Constance said.
"Dontcha just love takin' detours on the road?" Partitio asked. "Course, now that we got all that done, I think it's time we got t'finding where Mister Roque'd be."
"That won't be a problem." Yuri said. "While we were traveling around looking for musicians, I discovered that he has a company operation based in Clockbank."
"Then that's our next destination." Ace said.
"Clockbank's in the Brightlands, ain't it? Lucky fer us, were here in the east right now." Partitio said.
"And even more fortunate, the Brightland's just south of here." E. Constance said.
"Then let's git goin' partners." Partito said. "I do wanna have a word with Mister Roque, but I also wanna see with my own eyes just what kinda operation he's runnin'."
And so, the group headed down south to Clockbank, eager to see Roque's operations, and also have a word with him about his recent business endeavors, such as his revolutionary steam engine, and the heavy tax on Oresrush.
One thing's for sure, this journey for prosperity wasn't gonna be an ordinary one.
