Part 75: Chapter Fifty Five: Zero Escape
Music: 02 My Home Sweet Home: Excuse me. Is the Cathedral open right now?
: We dont have time for this. Cmon, lets just go in.
: Sorry Rand, but the doors are locked and bolted. It looks pretty damn tough I dont think well be getting in today.
: Argh, dammit! Were so close, and yet so far
: Do not lose hope, my friend! Perhaps if we ask around some more, we will find someone who knows some other way into this building.
: I guess weve nothing to lose by it
: Uh are you alright?
: Whats wrong? You look terrible!
: Something is very, very wrong here. We should leave. Immediately.
: What about my mother? We cant just leave her here!
: Well come back once weve figured something out. This place is giving me the creeps
: What? What the hell? We just passed through those gates, but suddenly were going the other way?
: Oh non non non non! This is terrible! We cannot get out!
: A powerful magic is preventing us from leaving. This is most definitely not good
: Damn! Lets get inside and think of something, quickly!
So yeah, a strange force stops you from leaving. Not only that, it stops the music and plays a scare chord every time you try to walk out. Its actually pretty creepy the first time it happens.
: Okay, were inside. What now?
: We have to find a way out of here. One that doesnt involve climbing the walls or walking out the front gate.
: That will be a big problem.
: Hey! You, over there!
: Huh? Damn, theyre onto us! Quickly, take her down before she tells the others!
: Dont panic! The names Claris! Im not one of those brainwashed drones either!
: Why should we believe you?
: Simple.
: The Cathedral of Eva every worshipper of the church dreams of praying there.
: No kidding. Theres something seriously wrong with this place.
: I that is, we suspect the Cathedral is nothing more than a front.
: A front? A front for what, precisely?
: Damn. So thats their game, huh?
: What is it, Ryu?
: Rand. Remember back when we fought Argus?
: I dont think Im ever gonna forget it, but go on
: Remember how he went on and on about how he was wringing the peoples souls of all the power he could via his incredibly twisted Battle Shows? Isnt this the same kind of thing?
:...I get it. Argus was small time compared to this, though.
Suddenly someone knocks on the door!
: Okay, whats the plan? I assume you have one.
: This toilet will take you outside.
: *Sigh*
: Good luck! I hope we will fight alongside one another in the future!
: Oh well. Here goes!
Music: 04 Dungeon
The party finds themselves in a series of caverns running beneath the city. Most of the enemies here are ones weve seen before, but there are two new enemies to take stock of. Note that the encounter rate here is very high and there is a genuine chance of getting destroyed by the enemies here if you get lost.
First we have the Titans. These guys are tough, with a high critical hit rate and the ability to cast Protect on themselves to raise their own defence.
Dynabehemoths are very bad news. They can cast Lightning and their physical attacks can deal around 50 damage. They love to spam the former, just to be extra annoying.
This cave has a number of long and winding paths and none of them really go anywhere. Its like someone forgot to code the treasure chests or something. Anyway, the first step is to enter the cave at the top and ignore everything else.
Now we have to drop down the pit. Dont have Nina in front or shell just fly the party back up.
The party falls through another hole
And wind up here. Ignoring the door at the bottom, the party heads northwards.
Here. The brown staircase is the one you want.
The party emerges in some kind of storage area.
Exiting it leads to the Inn outside Evrai. Freedom!
Freedom with free healing is the best kind of freedom.
Music: 19 Our Journey
I switch out Tapeta for Lin for reasons that will be revealed shortly.
: Claris said to go south of Farma, didnt she?
: Yeah, to Kotto. Dreary place. Not many people go there. Guess that makes it good to base a resistance out of, though.
The entrance to Kotto is blocked by three boulders, and Lin is the only one who can break them.
: Uh excuse us. Claris sent us here.
: Will do.
You can talk to the resistance members here before going to speak with the leader. Some have a personal beef with the church, like one guy whose girlfriend converted and left him without warning. Others approve of the churchs teachings but believe its followers do not practice what they preach. Some blame the entire organization and label them as religious zealots, whilst a few think High Priest Habalk is solely to blame. Its obvious that their reasons are rather disparate.
The headquarters is the building with the red flag flying over it.
Music: Find the Truth
: You see, we-
: Ahem excuse me. Im Tiga, the leader of the resistance. So, what are you guys here for?
: Claris sent us your way! So, are you guys for real? Youre really gonna take on the Church?
Tiga says nothing for a moment.
: Uh hello?
: Yeah, were gonna beat the crap outta that phony Church! Make the bastards pay for what theyve done to everybody!
: So I take it you guys arent on friendly terms with the Church, huh.
: Damn straight!
: On a side note ever hear of a little something called personal space?
: Er sorry. Ahem.
: Ya got that right! Cmon! Well do some redecoratin on that fancy Cathedral of theirs!
: Itd be good to have strong allies like you fighting by our side.
: Whats the problem?
: The ugly truth is, we need money to fight a war, and thats in short supply. The person whos funding our efforts went to the Thieves Tomb and hasnt returned yet.
: Hey, how about this? Well go to the Thieves Tomb ourselves and bring your source of money back, kicking and screaming if we have to!
: Okie dokie! Were all over it! Lets get movin! Were off to the Thieves Tomb to find the sponsor!
The other party members file out.
: Of course! By the way, I didnt catch your name
So, now were off to find the mysterious sponsor who is backing the rebels against the Church of St. Eva. Who could it be? Well soon be finding out.