Part 100: Killing Spree!

Entry 92: Killing Spree!

Tiz is dead.



......

There is no sign of Til at the Great Chasm, but with the oceans rotted he can't be far away.

Tiz cracks his knuckles and gets to work, which means it's once again time for:



Long live Tiz.



Barras and Holly should've been Til's first targets.



What!? That pip-squeak just thrashed us by himself, and now he's back with three friends!?

She must be mistaking Tiz for Til. Hell, forget protecting Til -- we could use a ten year old like that on our team.



On a good day, Holly and Barras become slightly more competent than the villains from Home Alone.

From here the conversation repeats from chapter 5, so let's skip to the important part.



After a quick beatdown the party repeats their post-battle talk from chapter 5, then walks off.

But let's not follow them right away...



Barras sits up.

Are they gone?

Shhh! Quiet, you fool!

Holly sits up next to him.



It might! I've never tested it. That said, reraise sure comes in handy.

I said hush! Do you want them to find out we're still alive!?

Ha ha haaa! We'd get to fight another battle, wouldn't we!? Let's do it!

Don't tempt me to finish the job myself! We're hurting bad. I wouldn't last another battle. And besides...

Huh?



I wouldn't mind lounging around a bit longer, just the two of us.

Hm...



Right, well, that's our cue to leave. They probably won't be bothering Caldisla for a long while, so let's call it done.

Back to the party, who are taking their sweet time strolling back to the ship:



The passion of a mature love affair is something special.

The passion of what? What're you going on about?

I don't know about passion, but Barras is as lively and loud as ever, with that booming voice.

And Holly's the only one who can hold her own in a conversation with him. They can talk for days!

It's wonderful to have someone like that... If both are the talkative type, better they speak of love for each other than quarrel and hurl insults.

Oh, my! I didn't expect to hear anything like that from you, Agnès!

It seems people truly can change!

I did not mean it that way.

That way? And what exactly would "that way" be, hmm?

What I meant was the two of them are as two peas in a pod. They are both frank to a fault and put on no airs. And neither are they afraid to bare their souls.

Perhaps happiest of all are kindred spirits--alike in most ever way--who find each other.

Is that so? ...Hold on!

Who were you really referring to, Agnès? Who do you think is your kindred spirit!? Come on, out with it!

Oh, umm...I... *ahem* ......

Some might say living too long with someone like yourself might drive you crazy.

And a couple with two people like me? That would get old rather quick, don't you think?

Ha ha, would it really be that bad? What do you think, Agnès?

Who, me!? Err...well, ha ha. I suppose it wouldn't be all that bad.

What? Why're you staring at us like that?

Huh?

Next up, Ominas, who's milling around in his usual spot in Centro Keep. He's alone, same as last time.

As soon as the party approaches, Ominas turns to Edea.



...Huh? He actually sounds...sane.

I'm Black Mage Ominas C-C-C...Crowe, and I'm to be your superior officer, effective today. And don't expect special t-t-treatment just because you're the Lord M-Marshal's daughter!

What's he talking about?

First I'd like you to answer a question, Ominas. When did I leave the Knights of the Eternian Sky?

Last time, signs pointed to Edea being killed under Ominas's watch.



But in this world, it appears she never showed up for duty in the first place.

Plus I said there'd be no special treatment! Tell your valet or whoever to g-g-get out! And you! You... Ahh, it's you!



Oops.

I won't have it! I've looked forward to having her under my command. I won't let some vestal ruin it!

Oh, right. I think I remember this now.

...Maybe?

Anyway, listen, Ominas--

B-be quiet! Don't talk to me! You can't be real, so leave me alone! Hah! This is all some evil illusion brewed up by the vestal! Let's see how it stands up to my f-f-ff...FIRE! Hah hee hee!

Okay, that bout of comparative sanity was nice while it lasted.



Ominas does not drop Edea's sword Ise-no-Kami this time, so he probably wasn't lying about Edea not arriving. So where is she?



No matter how many times we meet him, Ominas remains an unstable wreck. Still, Edea doesn't feel great about killing him.

There should be no more fires in town now...

There's no sign of Til here, either, so the party moves on. Last is the leader of the Sky Knights.



Another blue chest in Lontano Villa contains this item once likely wielded by a certain impish, lecherous, magical former Archbishop.



No Til. Maybe we missed him somewhere on the road to the villa? Probably should've walked instead of taking the giant flying city-ship.

As the party approaches, Edea grabs Heinkel's attention.



Don't worry, we took care of that.

A soldier runs over to Heinkel.

A message from headquarters, Captain!

You intend to capture and kill Agnès again, don't you!? Well, I won't let that happen!

Heinkel stone-cold ignores Edea and turns to the soldier.



Yes, sir, but...!

No, let her hear it.

Sir! The message reads, "Find the vestal and keep her safe. Do not harm a hair on her head."

Wait, you're not to catch and kill her?

Oh, Ominas, that scamp. He'd get in major trouble if he weren't already dead.



Ha ha, that's a good question, Heinkel. Believe it or not the sanity of the Duchy's been discussed once or twice.

We're to protect the vestal from the Orthodoxy and its corrupting influence! How have you risen to this post without knowing that much?

Oh, uh...I was just a bit confused, that's all.

Ha ha...ha...

Your words make no sense!

Yeah, well--



Wait what



what



I mean, we're not going to let ourselves get killed, but



So, uh

That was

He didn't just really--



He did.

And with that shocking turnabout, the competition for stupidest Bravely Default death has a new winner!

Well, of course he wasn't. The ultimate quality of an Eternian knight is scorning fear in the face of death. That is part of the duchy's code of chivalry and proof of a knight's valor.

To fearlessly face death for a cause you believe in is a truly admirable personal creed.

But as a doctrine that forces others to prove their valor so? I am not sure I agree.

To say, "Do not fear death!" and encourage such a mindset...

...I believe it welcomes a cold, mindless disregard for life.

Maybe so, but they say knights thickly clad in courage and hardened against emotion make the most formidable force on any battlefield.

Well, I don't know about the other officers, but Heinkel at least is a different sort.

I still remember the code of chivalry he drilled into me from a young age. He used to always tell me...

"Valor is not fearing death. But when life becomes even more terrifying than death, survival becomes the truest valor there is."

I see. So his was the truest code of chivalry of all.

Mm-hm!

He attempted to kill a new soldier under his command, the vestal he was just ordered to keep safe, and two strangers because of a harmless misunderstanding that was cleared up within five seconds. Honor and chivalry are not the first words that come to mind.

I think he just wanted an excuse to have a cool knight combat to death or whatever. He was probably bored. And drunk. You do you, Heinkel.



May not have found Til, but we saved Caldisla in the process. The party grudgingly digs up some cash to spend the night at Karl's inn.

The next morning:



Here you go, Ringabel... Strong and black.

Thanks.

For you, Tiz, weak with milk and two lumps of sugar.

Thank you.

And for you, Agnès, tea. Still not used to coffee?

Thank you. Coffee makes my head go all fuzzy.

I hope you will forgive me, Edea, making you go through the extra trouble like this.

Ah ha ha, it's not your fault. After all, you never even tried coffee until you left your temple.

Blech... This isn't black. You sure this isn't Tiz's?

Really? Then whose is this? ...Augh, it's way too sweet! It must be yours, Edea!

Who puts this much sugar in their coffee, anyway!? It's a grainy slush at the bottom.

Then this must be Ringabel's... Ugh, that's awfully bitter.

Well, Agnès, at least you're not the only one making me go through extra trouble.

...Ha ha ha.

The characters being unable to tell the difference between black and milk coffee at a glance explains something about their powers of observation in other areas.

Once the party finishes breakfast, they make for the ship. There are crystals and other Eternians to take care of, and it appears Til can more than handle himself for now. We'll check around here again later.



The party heads to Eisenberg first to try and cut the war to a swift end.

Since the water's still rotten, nobody's out at the House by the Sea, so there's no way to get the breadcrumb to look for Barb's ghost ship.



The party slips north across enemy lines and steals into Grapp Keep on the hunt for another blue chest. Unfortunately, it's quickly apparent Qada's already used his chemical weapon to kill loads of soldiers.



Several of the blue chests contain Genji gear, which appears in most Final Fantasy games.

The Genji clan, also known as the Minamoto clan, was one of the great clans of ancient Japan. Its members are made up of descendants of the imperial family who were taken out of the line of succession. In the West, the name is probably best known due to The Tale of Genji, which follows the fictional bastard son of an emperor.



I don't think anyone in the party is feeling as eager to awaken crystals as they used to be. No, let's go cripple the Black Blades first.



The situation with Goodman is a repeat of Chapter 5.



Praline's event is also a repeat. The worlds change with every go-round we make, yet Love in the Crossfire never becomes bearable.



In Hartschild, the party meets Eleanor. Shortly after, they're invited to a mysterious dinner party. Right on schedule.



Konoe is the second Black Blade to go down. The Goodmans at this point are baffled by the godly powers of the Vestal's entourage.



With barely a pause to breathe, the party leaves Hartschild, taking their warpath back north.



They're dropped off outside of the opposing army's headquarters ahead of the enemy's messengers.



Airy, always the voice of compassion. We'll get to the crystal, but first we've got a very special friend to take care of.



If anyone deserves credit, it's you, Dr. Qada.

You treat not only your wounded allies, but the wounded Shieldbearers who fought against you. I have to admire you for that.

......Hyah hyah hyah... You are somewhat misguided. Can you not understand that I need as many live bodies as possible for my experiments!?

I cannot simply use wounded allies as specimens, can I?



At least this time Qada makes no pretense about being evil.

We heard what you had to say for yourself!



Now we can get to taking this guy down all the quicker.

My name is Edea Lee!

Edea Lee!? You can't mean... You're the grand marshal's daughter!?

We must put an end to him now!

Of course!



After the battle, Qada dies, supposedly. Unfortunately, the party still hasn't caught on to him faking his death, so they won't check to be sure.



On the way to the top of the fort is another blue chest.



In contrast to legendary swordsmith Masamune, Muramasa's blades had a reputation for bloodlust and driving their wielders to violent madness.

Going by this update alone, I'd say the sword will be happy with us.



Kamiizumi starts off with a conversation very similar to chapter 5, ending with this new line.



But this time, things don't have to end this way.



Let's rewind. We're going to go do something else before we face down Kamiizumi.



The party exits the fortress, leaving Qada to his fate.



In the Mythril Mines the party finds another blue chest.



Deeper, in the Underflow, a second blue chest.



You can probably guess where we're headed. There aren't too many sites to visit in an active volcano.



We've got to face the crystals some time. We'll take a shot at our third round and see whether Kamiizumi lightens up a bit.



And who knows? Maybe we can get a hint to end all this...for good.


Next: Alternate fates.

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Event Viewer
Sub-Scenario:
The Great Chasm Remains
Here We Go Again
Together a While Longer
Ominas's Quandary
Pyromania Averted, but...
The Sky Knights' Mission
Qada is Still Qada

Party Chat:
Two Peas in a Pod
The True Valor of a Knight
To Each His Own