Gaggle Rock

Miscellaneous Gaggle Rock
HD concept art Japanese 人魚の岩場 Romaji Ningyo no iwabo Game Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake Old localization None

Gaggle Rock is a crag-covered islet found south of Beran. It is a flat heap of rock that would be featureless if not for the westward-facing stones that have been worn down by the lapping tides, and the coral reefs that ensconce it just below the surface. Despite the water-level accommodations leaving much to be desired Gaggle Rock is nevertheless a popular basking spot for mermaids, particularly for Elaine and Melinda.

Appearances

Dragon Quest II HD-2D Remake

The Scions of Erdrick can sail to Gaggle Rock as soon as they are rewarded with a ship by the Mayor of Rippleport and the Port Manager after rescuing their daughter from the Children of Hargon, but no events will be triggered until they visit Zahan in the southeast seas first.

The party travels to the island village and are told that most of the menfolk have been lost at sea on a fishing expedition by the wife of Sylvester, one of the more important fishermen. the Scions learn from a superstitious man who stayed behind where the fishermen's destination was, marking Gaggle Rock on their world map. He also warns them against the mermaids, claiming them to be vicious man-eaters who will lure the Prince of Midenhall and Prince of Cannock with dulcet songs and devour them alive. The Princess of Moonbrooke doubts the superstitious man's claims and points out that she and her cousin will just slap the sense back into the boys if that comes to pass.

Voyaging to the rock, the Scions are attacked by a school of madder mermen. After dispatching the blood-red bottom-feeders they are greeted by the mermaids Elaine and Melinda, who happily thank the children for getting rid of the monsters. The duo explain that the fishermen from Zahan were attacked by the mermen and about to be killed before they intervened, saving their lives and escorting them back to their village around the same time the Scions sailed for Gaggle Rock. The mermen lingered and set their sights on the two mermaids when they returned to Gaggle Rock. During the explanation Melinda lets it slip that she is sweet on Sylvester, who absent-mindedly neglected to mention his wife and son to his rescuers. The Princess of Moonbrooke regretfully informs Melinda that her crush is a family man, but she on a brave face in front of her best friend and guests, insisting that Sylvester need not return with the reward he promised for saving his life.

After returning to Zahan to see that the fishermen have all made it home safe and sound, the party explain the situation to Sylvester and that he need not trouble himself with delivering a reward to Elaine and Melinda. The man insists on making good on his word, however, and asks the Scions to deliver the goods in his stead. He asks the party to retrieve the pearl earring from the Shipwright's Shrine west of Zahan and take to to Gaggle Rock, and uses his authority to issue the set of sacred claws also kept in the shrine as payment for the group's trouble. Making their way back to the islet the Scions bequeath the earring to Melinda, who notes it is identical to the one worn by the Queen of the Mermaids herself and Elaine suggests showing it to her majesty. The pair thank the heroes for all their trouble and are about to depart, but the Princess of Moonbrooke stops them to apologize for breaking the bad news to Melinda earlier. Melinda tries to play this off as simple misfortune, but breaks out into a wailing cry that causes Elaine, the Princess of Moonbrooke, and the Princess of Cannock to join in, with the Prince of Cannock noting the lads feel a tad left out.

The Scions of Erdrick return to gaggle Rock much later in the quest, having been sent by the Over-Seer of the Shrine of Rain to retrieve the faerie trumpet from the kingdom of mermaids, which is needed to access the Faerie Palace and insure the safety of the faeries living within. Knowing of only two mermaids, the children return to Gaggle Rock and explain their situation. Melinda retrieves the trumpet post-haste upon learning the faeries are in danger, saying the Queen was absent and that she just half-inched the sacred artefact.

The final time the player must visit Gaggle Rock is right after rescuing the faeries at the palace from Belial's forces. The quartet is informed it is the mermaids who are now under siege and are given Lorelei's harp to sail beneath the waves and come to their rescue. The only hitch is that they must first receive the blessing of the mermaids to activate the harp's magic, necessitating this fourth visit. The children arrive and find Elaine sobbing loudly, having fled from Mersea when Mariella's forces attacked the kingdom and lost Melinda in the chaos. Elaine delivers the mermaid's blessing to each Scion by kissing the back of their hand, much to the smooch-shy Prince of Cannock's relief, and the group departs to rescue the rest of the fish maidens. Gaggle Rock is also shown during the credits roll of the game's true ending, where the King of Midenhall holds a formal meeting with the Queen of the Mermaids to establish formal contact between the races.

Treasures

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