Part 28: Golgrand Execution Site

Y'know, Lionel using this site is something akin to someone using Calvary Hill for executions today. This site is where St. Ajora was executed by the Yudora Empire. But hanging the Child of God doesn't solve problems, it causes them. God, in his anger, destroyed the once thriving Murdon area, seat of the Yudora Empire, in a series of natural disasters, so the story goes. All that's left of the once mighty Murdon is a tiny island where the Glabados Church's cathedral, the residence of the High Priest, sits.


Anyway, the first group is face-to-face with the boss, and the second group starts out boxed in under an arch ready to be pestered by some Time Mages.


If you barely got past Dorter Trade City, this battle is likely to make you cry.


The execution is already underway. Maybe I shouldn't have spent so long grinding.

: No? I see.


Ramza's group arrives!



: Heh, heh, heh... You fell into a trap!
: ?!


The executioner takes off his cloak! It's... Gafgarion!


The "Princess" takes off her disguise, revealing herself to be an archer! More troops arrive, totaling 8 with Gafgarion.



: Where is the Princess?
: At Lionel Castle. Where is the stone?
: Stone?
: Stop playing dumb. The stone you stole from the Cardinal. You're with the one who stole it. Just hand it over!
: If you want it, you'll have to take it!
: Seems you've matured a bit. ...Then, I will!


Once again, beating Gafgarion doesn't end the battle.


Gafgarion has a very rare sword equipped. The Blood Sword drains HP when it hits.

...But since Gafgarion uses Night Sword it doesn't matter much. The only other place to get a Blood Sword is to poach a Hydra, a rare monster appearing first in chapter 4.


the difficulty in this fight is that the enemy, outnumbering you by 3, can just run you out of resources. Gafgarion's ability to drain HP demands constant attention if your damage output isn't that high, and that leaves openings for the knights and archers to hit you. Worse yet, the Time Mages are almost assured to have Haste and Slow, which only aggravates the problem.

Luckily, Ramza's crew here hits really hard, and three of them have Auto-Potion.



: Your brother, Dycedarg said he'd forgive you! Come on, wake up!!
: No, I won't be involved in anymore wrong doing!
: 'Wrong doing'? What do you mean by that? You are a Beoulve! You have a mission to accomplish. 'Wrong doing', indeed! It's your mission, don't be such a fool!
: My brothers are making war for personal reasons! What else can you call it other than 'evil'?
: You must make 'sacrifices' to accomplish anything! Without 'sacrifice' there's no progress, nor history! Look at Ivalice! Corrupt! Someone must change it!! Your brothers are trying to do that! Even if it means 'wrong doing'!


Night Sword has PA*WP, so it's hitting for 48 on neutral compatibility. Keep in mind Gafgarion is really fast, he already has 8 speed when others are barely hitting 7.

: But that doesn't mean I should leave her stranded!
: Forget about Ft. Zeakden! It couldn't be helped! You're a Beoulve. You have a given duty! It is your fate!
: It's fate that let Teta die? No, that's wrong! We killed her out of convenience... Yes, us! I've run from the truth long enough...I killed her...


Fist gets a 29% Weapon Break off and destroys the Blood Sword. Gaffy is a much smaller threat now.


This is one of the few times a character who's already joined gets any more screen time.

: Didn't you know, Agrias? His name is Ramza Beoulve. One of the Beoulve family.

(Remember, he has been using the name Ruglia to distance himself from his family)

: It's true I'm a Beoulve! But I'm not like my brothers! I never knew about kidnapping the princess! I swear it!
: No doubt in my mind! I believe you!


Lightning Stab's incantation.


Damn, that's a radical hit there.


Norma abuses Teleport's height ignoring properties and poofs right next to a Knight and Time Mage. In a single Kotetsu, both perish.


Gaffy gets pinned with a Holy. Eldena then teleports up the wall, too, to avoid physical attacks.


The Time Mage had a slow on her, so I take advantage of this and slow the Time Mage too.

: This is ridiculous! One girls had died, so what? We must first think about 'justice'!
: There's no 'justice' in using and deceiving people! I can't ignore people dying for 'justice'! I'll save Princess Ovelia!
: Stubborn Kid!
: What're you going to do with the Princess!?
: My contract's to take her back to Gallione. I have no idea what Larg will do after that.
: You're using her as a tool for battle! Same as you! Larg and Dycedarg are using you, too! Aren't you ashamed of yourself? Don't you have any pride?
: What's the use? I gave up mine long ago!


Maybe pride would've let you avoid the wrath of the heavens? Either way Gaffy's down.



: Retreat for now!


Yeah, I used the Rubber Shoes for something.


This battle is firmly in the hands or Ramza's crew. I guess that's what happens when Ramza's so full of punchitude.




Eldena and the last Time Mage engage in a cudgeling contest. Eldena has the best stick available and Auto-Potion.


I stick Norma on top of the gallows for the hell of it.


Eldena won the cudgeling contest.


Actually, I'm going to stop by Warjilis first to get some Defense Rings.

Meanwhile, within a cell in Lionel Castle...



: ...
: No one will mourn your death. In fact, it should make most people happy. You won't die. Just eat the food.
: I knew you were in with the Cardinal. If you aren't turning me over to Larg, what's your plan?
: Taking you somewhere you belong... that's all.
: So, you're using me, too. But you can't make me do whatever you want.
: You have no other choice if you want to live.
: What does that mean?
: It means...


Cardinal Draclau and a guest - the same purple-robed knight from Dorter who wanted Ramza's group dead - arrive.



: How are you Princess? If you'd behaved, you wouldn't be here now.


The music ends as Ovelia stares, wide-eyed, at what the knight said.



: What are you talking about?


This picture's a link to one of the best songs in the game. You should really click it. It perfects the mood. It starts playing when this text box of Vormav's appears.

: What...?
: The real princess died long ago. You're a substitute.
: No! That's a lie!
: It's not a lie. You are not Ovelia. Old Senators who didn't care for Princess Luveria, made you... So someday you'd succeed the throne, ousting the Princess.



: They all thought Omdolia was too weak to make another son so you took the throne. However, Orinas was born. Even now, no one's sure if the Prince is really his son.


That explains why the young prince isn't sickly like his father. Who the hell knows who Orinas's father is? Larg is putting his support behind the bastard son of the queen.

: In any case, the old men's plan was ruined.
: Liar! I don't believe it!
: Think what you will. Whether you're a Princess or not doesn't matter to us. What matters is that we have an ace up our sleeve called a 'Princess'...


And Goltana is wanting to put a fake princess on the throne...

: My ancestors were Atkaschas! No one can control me!
: Then what? If Larg catches you, he'll kill you... right? We just want to help you take the throne...



: Just 'collaborators'.
: Vormav, let her calm down. Once she comes to her senses she won't refuse our help.
: Yes, you're right.


Vormav, Draclau, and Delita leave Ovelia to ponder the revelation and her own fate. She stares silently at the wall, trying to wrap her mind around what she just heard...