Part 112: The Essence of the RPG

Entry 103: The Essence of the RPG

~But I would wreck 5000 worlds and I would wreck 5000 more~

~just to be the bug who wrecks ten thousand worlds for the Lord I adore~



Hmm... I knew humans were stupid, but I never expected this batch to follow me so far.

They barely even complain anymore. And despite all that fuss earlier, the filthy pompadoured one doesn't seem to remember my true form at all.

It couldn't be... They aren't planning anything, are they...?

Aw, I'm getting myself all worked up over nothing. How could those insignificant insects begin to fathom what's really going on?

Just a little longer, Lord Ouroboros. A little longer...




...ood morning.



...

...!?

Luxendarc isn't the only thing repeating itself.



The party is repeating the same scene as last world, just one number higher.



Even new conversations are largely treading the same territory as earlier scenes.

I mean, the Great Chasm is still open and the sea is back to the way it was before.

How else would you explain it if it weren't a dream?

But you don't normally know you're dreaming while you're in the middle of a dream, right?

At least, when I dream, I don't realize it until I wake up.

Do you mean a dream-like state, like a trance or such, or do you mean an actual dream?

Edea, would you mind kissing me on the cheek?

Why!? Don't think you can have your way just because this is a dream!

No, don't take it the wrong way. I want to check whether this really is a dream or not.

Now, I'll just close my eyes while you pucker up and plant one right here!

Yeeeouuuch!

The pinch test is how you check whether you're dreaming or not!

Alright, alright! This isn't a dream!

On one hand, it makes sense they don't have much new to say since they've been through the same events five times now.



On the other hand, this is a story supposedly made to entertain.

It's a close relative to Final Fantasy, taking its inspiration from the classic 'heroes saving the world from great evil' formula but with a premise of giving more complexity than black vs. white. It then presents the Eternians, bad guys who are just complex enough to eventually, with a few notable exceptions, transcend that binary successfully.



And that's the first half of the game.

Midway through, it's already proven its 'black vs. white is oversimplifying' point. The characters have also all basically completed their story arcs: Edea learning to appreciate her family while finding her own path, Agnès learning to keep an open mind about what is and isn't right, Ringabel coming to terms with his past and toning down his insecurities, Tiz getting over the trauma of losing his home and family and finding new hope with Agnès's cause.

With the plot's theme complete and the character arcs covered, what's left?



That's where the second half barges in and overturns the game. The original villains who supported the plot's point turn out to be a red herring and the secret true villain not only appears to subvert the game's lesson by being as evil as they first appear, but has a scene dedicated to lampooning the game's moral of the story ("Agnès, help! I'm actually good after all! Ha ha just kidding you stupid simpleton"). On top of that, we get an even more true super secret evil villain out of nowhere, clearly presented as the standard black vs. the party's white.

The first half of the plot is spent in support of a point: black vs. white oversimplifies things. The second half is spent essentially in subversion of that point. How is the game going to tie its central contradiction together? How will it compensate for sticking around so long after the characters (both the party and the Eternians) have completed their stories?

There's only one way to find out, and it involves the player sinking in their time and skill to...repeat events over and over. And over. And over.

Whatever the game's conclusion is, it'd better be damn good.



Looks like Owen has an admirer among his forces.



Before setting out for another round of Eternian punching and crystal awakening, the party takes in the local cuisine.

Each one is a festival of freshness! So juicy and full of flavor!

Ooh, my mouth won't stop watering just thinking about it. It must be so nice to live in a port town!

Edea, your appetite is beyond impressive. It's downright scary.

Grilled Caldislan mackerel, buccaneer marlin saute, tricolor crab steamed right in its shell...

...stewed buckler flounder, sweet salmon sashimi, roast king tuna--

Not only that, she said the gold cod stew I ordered looked delicious, then ended up eating over half of it!

She even ate the fried broad cutlassfish I was unable to finish.

How could you possibly eat that much and live? How does your stomach feel right now?

Just a bit uncomfortable, ha ha...

I'm more worried about how far my belly is sticking out.

Well, you're a growing girl. You'll work it off as long as you stay active.

Ah!!!

What!? What!?

I forgot about the grilled squid!

I bet it's positively divine! Come on, let's go. Hurry!

...... ...I think she really means it.

...Heh heh...

Speaking of typical RPG conventions, now that the characters have all their pesky story development out of the way, there's more time for Tales-esque chats about food!




Eventually, the others drag Edea outside to assess the state of the world. Given the side quest layout, you might guess we're fighting one branch of Eternia at a time, and you'd be mostly correct.



This round, the party's going to beat the Eternians at their own game.

As the party approaches Lontano Villa, the group within prepares:



Similar to the world of Chapter 6, Heinkel has orders not to kill the vestal. Will this version manage to not goof those orders in the name of fightfightfight knight's honor?

"Upon capture, she's to be treated with utmost respect and care."

Hmm... Those were really the grand marshal's words?

They were. Based upon the unanimous decision of the council, no less.

Aww, where's the sport in that!?

Can't be helped, Barras.

I'm with the big ox. That sounds dreadfully dull. I'm sure our little firebug agrees?

Watch your t-t-tt...tongue, Whyte! I'll have the respect I'm due as your elder!

What did you just say?

Despite Ominas's issues, he isn't treated as the same level of evil as Profiteur, Derosa, and Qada.



He does kill people, including his own troops, but it appears to only be a problem when his paranoid delusions take over. It says a lot that, unlike the three worst Eternians, he does get along with the rest of his team, somewhat.

Enough. This is an order from the Lord Marshal. The vestal's to be given the royal treatment!

...In our own fashion, of course!

Now, just a...! I clearly told you--!

You did. We have our orders, and your role as messenger is done. Not your fault if we take a little creative license in following them, now is it?

Unless you'd care to join us? I'm certain we can make room for one more.

After the rest of the game's villains, the Caldisla team ends up coming across as the relatively sane, cute bunch.





Not that they were always that way -- in the beginning they terrorized civilians and killed innocent people just trying to defend their home.

I don't... Look, I have other orders to relay! That is my job. I ask that you do yours.

Stop your worrying, Dim. The vestal and Edea will be received in grand fashion, as ordered.

But they've been slowly softened over the worlds into a motley crew who just want to have fun and party, man.



Keep them away from actual military stuff like violent invasions and kidnapping, and they're fine!

......

Alternis is not amused, but leaves them to their business.



Airy's even more impatient in this world, hardly acknowledging anything except the crystals.



After months (years?) together, the party barely notices the tiny fairy's pleas.



Heinkel's team is assembled in the same spot he held the kidnapped Caldislan king, long, long ago.



I, Knight Argent Heinkel, and my Sky Knights challenge you to battle!

Heinkel! If you'd only listen a--

Edea.

He's right, Edea. One look at his eyes tells you diplomacy will get us nowhere.

Seems the great vestal's as wise as they say.

Geez, why's everyone so bloodthirsty? What a pain...

...... That's what I'm saying!

Ha ha ha ha! Alright, let's begin!

The party's learned so much about the Eternians over the course of worlds.



Unfortunately, almost none of it makes a difference and we always end up fighting with them anyway.



Unlike the last fight in Caldisla, Holly is here (you can just see her leg sticking out behind Barras). Otherwise things aren't too different.



Although they're using the same primary jobs, the party has a secret advantage: secondary jobs and abilities. Ninja's kairai guarantees Barras and Heinkel attack Tiz the tank.



Edea uses Fairy Ward to protect against Ominas's poison while Agnès prepares to do Ominas one better:



The Victoria way. Holly refused to be poisoned, but three out of four isn't bad.



Anyway, you know how almost every scene in the main story is repeat at this point? Well, the Eternian battles this chapter not only have all new scenes, but contain many, many lines of battle dialogue.

To start, each Eternian has a line if they're the first in their battle to drop to about 90% health. The above, for example, is only seen if Barras is first to hit the 90% HP mark. The other lines:

Heh, is that all you have? All I feel is a slight breeze.

Oh, come now! It'll take more than that to stop me!

Eep! Yowch! Y-you'll pay for that!

Again, only the first one to drop below 90% gives this line. This means if you want to see all of the ones here in your own game, you'd have to restart the battle three times.

Next, every Eternian who DID NOT give the 90% line will instead give a line at critical health. For example, here's Barras's critical health line:



So in each battle, you can only see one 90% line and the rest will give the critical health line. Both lines are different, both are exclusive. The other critical health lines:

Raaaaaah!

Hmph! Off come the kid gloves!

Heh hee hee! Now you'll burn...BURN!

Finally, we come to the KO lines. There are many of them, depending on the order in which the Eternians are downed.





Most of the Eternians have at least one response to another member of the team getting KO'd, as shown here. Get rid of Heinkel with Ominas around:

Arrrgh!



And we see Ominas taking charge.

Many of these exchanges are exclusive to each other. For example, in this fight, Ominas responds to Heinkel, Heinkel responds to Barras, Barras responds to Holly, and Holly responds to Ominas:

Aaaaaagh!



Also, some have a different line if they're KO'd without a responder or last. Holly, for example:

...Uppity little things, aren't they?



Versus:



At this point, you may be thinking: "This is neat but what the hell, Bravely Default?"



Maybe you want an explanation for the developer's choice to put far more effort into optional boss fight dialogue than main story cutscenes.



Even in the most favorable light, it's a strange and risky use of the developer's time. In most cases it could be seen as a hint of a team that's lost sight of how the game is structured and why players will play their game. I have a theory for what they may have intended, but it'll have to wait until we're closer to the end.

Seems the battle is ours.

By a hair... I can hardly move.

No kidding... I'm absolutely ragged.

Ha ha ha ha, come now! The swordmaster's training sessions are worse than this!

Fighting one-on-one and fighting with a group are completely different animals.

Anyway, in this world the party's feeling pretty casual with the Eternians, and for whatever reason the Eternians are reciprocating.



Maybe our problem in early chapters is that we -- the party and the player -- took the game too seriously.

Ominas is already on board, and Holly's asking if she can bring her bed with her.

Well, Lady Vestal. Edea.

If we'd gone into the game like it was...you know, a video game, instead of a mission of life or death, would we have made more progress against the Eternians?



Or have the worlds and their inhabitants shifted just the right amount to match the tone of the game itself from straightforward RPG adventure to surreal fightfest/wait-a-thon?

But the grand marshal seems to have some inkling.

......

It's time we returned to the duchy. May we meet again sometime, somewhere. I'll be ready to give you another working-over then. Come ready for a real challenge!

Yes, sir.

Until then!

I mean, it's nice that the party's developed a cordial fighting-based relationship with the Eternians. These are amusing scenes and I like them.



But from a logistics perspective, none of it makes much sense anymore.



There is an excuse for this all we'll find out soon, but whether it's enough to satisfy is up for interpretation.



We switch to another Eternian meeting as the party enters Ancheim.

That a problem? Personally, I'm more shocked to see you here. It's a wonder you get invited anywhere with that attitude. Arrogant toad.

Feeble insults aside, I agree zere is no call for me to be bothered wiz all zis.

And who decorates their house like this!? All this clatter's fit to make my eyes bleed!

...You have never seen ze royal palace before?

Khint strides in alongside Khamer.



Bearer of the thief's asterisk.

A thief? Well, so be it!

Oy, who's the walking timepiece here and why'd you call him Your Majesty?

Hold your tongue!

Ah, Erutus! How long has it been since last we met? You never seek my presence of late, though I had sought to be so very accommodating.

Heh, I ask zat you forgive your humble servant, Majesty. I fear work has me running zis way and zat. All for His Majesty and Ancheim, of course.

Mmm, I'm certain. Very well.

Khint just received word from Central Command in Eternia. It seems they've decided to meet the vestal in a final showdown within the duchy proper.

Oh? And what of Ancheim? Are we to pick up and leave? What of ze wealth, ze factories, ze influence I have here? Am I to abandon it all?

No! I will not stand for zis lunacy!

Mm, a valid claim, to be certain. However...

I sympathize with the duchy's Anticrystalism beliefs and have devoted my rule to them.



Khamer's character evolution has gone at a pace similar to Ominas's, going from a sadistic king obsessed with control to merely being a diehard athiest.

I must heed this call. Even if it means ceding my throne to another.

You are free to your own opinion! I am not sharing one ounce of such sentiments! Isn't zat right, Jackal? Come now, speak up!

Eh, any street's the same to a thief. What about you, chief?

...I will defer to His Majesty's command.

Jackal and Khint's relationship has stayed fairly stable throughout worlds. Khint is the only one Jackal respects, and Jackal treats him like a combination boss/father-figure. Khint is his usual obscure self.



Khamer and Profiteur's relationship is easier to figure out.

Now, if you will excuse me. I bid you a refreshing day.

...So be it. Khint, read my decree so that all may hear.

As you wish.



...chairman of Khamer & Profiteur Merchantry, are hereby frozen from this day hence.

F-frozen!? No. No, no no no! Wiz everything frozen, I'll be... What will I do!?

You will cooperate. Else I'll have this draft enacted as an official fiat. Your choice.

Khamer is a passionate, if naive, individual. Profiteur loves money.



Khamer's drive makes the perfect vehicle for Profiteur to profit, by latching his capitalist endeavors onto Khamer's plans to modernize Ancheim and take it away from the Orthodoxy.

Do so, and you shall be rewarded with all my assets--an amount easily double what you have now!

Oh ho ho... First ze stick, now ze carrot. Your Majesty is most persuasive.

The result of the two collaborating brings out the worst in Khamer, as his motives are twisted beyond paternal help for the people into progress at any cost, even the well-being of the people.



Lucky for this world, here Profiteur doesn't have nearly as much of a hold over Khamer, so Ancheim's citizens seems to be doing all right.



The party decides to continue their world-spanning foodie adventure before visiting the local bosses.

It's good to know that Ancheim's super spicy cuisine is going strong here in this world, too!

It sure is! I mean, I'm covered in sweat! I feel like I've been in a sauna.

I can't believe you both could handle "extra spicy." I wouldn't dare to try.

Nor I. But I have figured out one thing of late.

Ice cream is simply wonderful after a spicy meal.

You know, you're right. But even without that, I feel as if I cool down just a bit after a spicy meal.

Oh, it's more than a feeling. As the sweat evaporates, it actually does cool the body.

That makes it perfect for Ancheim, the land blessed by a constant zephyr from the Temple of Wind.

So that must be why spicy cuisine took root here in this hot desert land.

Exactly. Now, on to the next place!

Alright, bring it on!

What!? Spicy restaurant hopping!? I don't know if I can handle this...

We'll leave the party to their fun for now.



They could use the break. No doubt they have hard times ahead.



We'll get back to the Eternians late--



AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHI AIRY




Next: A simple, straightforward world.

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Morning All Over Again: Circle

Sub-Scenario:
The Sky Knights Muster
The Battle of Caldisla
The Retreat from Caldisla
The Merchantry Meets

Party Chat:
Are We Dreaming?
Long Live the Glutton Queen
Ancheim's Super Spicy Cuisine