Part 36: Gotta Have Blue Hair

Entry 34: Gotta Have Blue Hair

In addition to the two sidequests opened earlier, one more opened after the Flower Festival. Starting in this chapter, there's a lot more cutscene variance depending on what side quests are done in what order. Alternate versions will be shown off when appropriate.



Maybe the woman who sells it will come today. Maybe today...

What caused the shift in Florem's populace from devout Crystalists to all-consuming obsession with physical beauty? Is there more to this town than a ham-handed attempt to critique modern feminism?



Earlier, the party found out there were two major trends in Florem: hairpins and hair dye. Neither is stocked by the normal traders. Maybe we should check out these mystery sellers, see just how good their products are.



The hunger-weakened lady was right. The merchant's shown up at the entrance of town.



Today only, make it yours for just one million pg!



But people are buying it. Have a look at that crowd.

How are these women affording that? Wasn't Florem supposed to be poor until recently? Judging by the giant naked bunny statue, the most likely answer would make this place even more screwed up.

Why not give it a try, Agnès? It's your chance to kick that plain-Jane image for good.



And that's even if the party could remotely afford it. Ringabel's been patron saint of not-helping-the-situation this chapter.

Hey, wait -- that starving lady from earlier was in the crowd at some point. Did she get her dye?



At least she's peppier now.

It brings color to the world around you, my dear. Perhaps you'll bring some to my world next...

Can't waste any time. Can't stop till I'm in fashion. Need a spirit hairpin... I need money...



Can't blame her for ignoring that tired pickup line, but something about her seemed... off.



Did she seem a little...crazed?

Seems fashionability is status here. We'll start our trend research at the trader's.

Why? What possible need have you to research the trends?

What sort of escort would I be to the ladies here if I were not abreast of their concerns?

......



The trader didn't know much about spirit hairpins when the party asked, but she might have a lead on petalhue.



The girls of Florem revere it as a part of the new holy trinity of fashion.

I'm guessing the third item is Yulyana's dresses.

Trouble is--and this is only a rumor--they say if you use it, it takes hold of you. Eats your soul!

Oh.



The traveling merchant? I hear they come in from the east.



When the petalhue vendors leave town later that day, the party follows.



They head east of Florem, north around the mountains, then east again through the forests...



Ringabel, Tiz, you guys might want to work on your stealth skills. At least take off the hat, or you'll get cau--



We're not following anyone. We're just headed east to the woods!

Liar! You're out to spy on how the dye's made. Planning to cut in on my margin!?

We were entranced, you see. The dye's beauty stole my breath away.



Despite his terrible pickup lines, Ringabel does have luck with some ladies. Evidence throughout the game points to him being a fairly handsome guy.

The name's Ringabel. If you've the time, I'd love to get to know you and your product...much...better.

Well, I...I really shouldn't. It's a secret. But maybe, if you promise not to tell... It's extracted from the marrow of giant snakes. Orochi, they're called. The girls of Florem worship them as gods, yet they're too busy playing dress-up to notice.

Orochi, by the way, was a multi-headed dragon from Japanese myth.

The vain little monsters... Still, my organization appreciates their cooperation. That's our plan, see. The extract's full of nidaphyx. It's an addictive hallucinogen.

And they're scratching and clawing to get their hands on it. Heh, Florem won't last a month. Oh, but I really must be going. Can't keep Artemia waiting!



So, the odd, self-destructive behavior in Florem isn't natural.



What? Who are you? Ringabel's girlfriend!? Oh, you cad! You led me on!

An Eternian soldier runs up alongside the dye seller.



One retching later:



In battle, the dye vendor is also revealed to be part of Eternia's Bloodrose Legion. Like the other common Eternian soldiers, they're not difficult to take out.





Ringabel: part-time fashion commentator.




The trail the Bloodrose Legion were taking leads back to a giant tree grove in the northeastern section of the continent. We were here earlier, before entering Florem.



These creatures are revered as Florem's guardians, and now... The forest stands at the edge of death. Who would do this?



The party looks up.



This kid (17 here, aged up from 14 in the original Japanese version) was seen in a cutscene at the start of the chapter, alongside the Eternians.



Edea traitor. Traitors die.

She does not sound sane.

Was it you who killed the orochi? To make the dye?

Artemia hunt. Hunt many orochi.

And now you're poisoning human bodies and minds with the results. Has the Bloodrose Legion's purpose always been so pathetically base?

Artemia obey. Only obey. Sister's orders only truth.

Sister...? You mean Einheria is complicit in this madness!?

That's not... She's a better woman than that! A noble woman!

Not for you to decide. Sister not your possession.

I never said she was!

I asked you whether Einheria truly ordered you to do this! And if she did, why did you just mindlessly obey!? If she came to me so obviously not herself, I'd have stopped her. By force, if needed!

You're her sister! You must have had the chance to dissuade her!



Artemia not tell Sister how to think. How Sister think tell how Artemia live. Only Sister tell how Artemia live!

That's no answer... You've just given up all thought! Become a puppet! Do you have any idea how many people are suffering for what you've done!?

Don't care. Edea still tell Sister how to live?

If what you've said is true, you and she and the whole legion are black as pitch.



......Artemia hunt. Hunt all prey... All in range Artemia's prey...

Don't change the subject!

Artemia jumps down, landing in front of the party.



She's sounding less sane by the second.

As long as prey has pulse... Keep firing... Never miss... ...Never...

Have you gone mad!?

If the nidaphyx was so effective on adults, what would it do to a child exposed over an extended period?



And who knew going super saiyan would be a byproduct?



Grrrrrrarar... You... Edea...prey...

What!?

Prey...chase...hunt... Artemia...run...catch... Thrill...hunger...rrrrar... Heart...racing...fire...burn...! Hands...! Trembling...! Hunt...is...on!



Congratulations, game. We've progressed to beating up mentally impaired children.



Granted, this girl's trying to kill us.



And doing a pretty good job of it. Her Multiburst attack hits the entire party for a generous amount.

She comes with a Legion Impaler and Mage which should be gotten out of the way first. Otherwise, there's not much strategy to this battle.



Ringabel's been leveling White Mage behind the scenes. Higher level spells from Florem make the fight easier.



After a brief but intense fight, Artemia's brought down.



Sister...



Morals aside -- we got a new job!



Agnès also stole these.



I know when I think feral, I think purple long-tailed bunny.

The party returns to Florem, none too happy, to alert the ethical item merchant.



I'll work to spread the word. With luck, this lunacy will cease soon...

With that sorted out, the party takes a look at the equipment used by the new job.



That's right. First time using one, Agnès?

Yes. I have heard about them, but never had a chance to actually lay hands upon one. Would it be alright if I gave it a try over there?

Agnès runs off.



Mm-hm, it has a major effect on your attack power, too.

The knight's weapon of choice is the sword! The white mage's, a staff! And the black mage's, a rod!

Ah! Agnès is back! What did you think of the bow?



It seems to me I could do better with my bare hands.

That doesn't make any sense. The bow is a powerful weapon, after all.

I know! Show her by loosing an arrow at that fence over there.

Alright, here goes!

......! Bull's-eye!

What was that stick-like object that flew from the bow?

And what is an arrow...?

Eh? You're kidding...right?

That cutscene would make much more sense if I hadn't had Agnès using a bow the entire chapter so far. Though it does make her pulverizing enemies in battle with it all the more impressive. Still, perhaps it'd be best if Ringabel took on the job.

And that wraps up one sidequest. There is a slight variation to this quest depending on whether Twisted Treetop was visited earlier or not. Here's the version if the party had not visited Twisted Treetop earlier:

Party walks in, area title displays.

Ugh, the whole forest reeks of death...



There are more that way, hung over tree branches. And over there... The sheer number of bodies is mind-boggling.

From there, Agnès says her line, Artemia speaks up, and things continue as before.

The mystery of petalhue has been solved, but Florem's problems are far from over. The party now knows Eternia's Bloodrose Legion is actively sabotaging the population, and Artemia was not likely working alone.


Next: A grim meeting between sisters.

--

Event Viewer
Sub-Scenario:
In Search of Petalhue
Lust for Beauty
A Devourer of Souls
The Merchant Unmasked
Fallen Guardians - B
Ranger Artemia
Petalhue's Secret
Fallen Guardians - A

Party Chat:
Her First Bow