Part 53: Axeing Around

Entry 50: Axeing Around




Unlike other Eternians met so far, Barbarossa is chill enough to let us poke around. Then again, it's not like we've got much of anywhere to hide.



For whatever reason Agnès is compelled to stay onboard. If the alternative were to go find a chemical weapon knee-deep in enemy territory, I guess I'd be hesitant to leave, too.



Pirate treasure! Crew won't be needing this anymore.



Another axe. We'll be using this soon enough.



Pirates in this world sure are viking fanboys.



Once the party's done looting, it's time to say hello to Barbarossa and find out why such a genial guy keeps company with ghosts.



Close! I am actually the acting captain!



S-so this is a g-ghost ship...!

Welcome to our pirate ship, the SS Funky Francisca! I am Captain Barbarossa, leader of the Black Blades' naval force!

The Black Blades!?

You must be the wind vestal and her companions. A pleasure to meet you!

What!?

How do you know of us?

I am a ranking member of the Black Blades! Of course I am kept abreast of your comings and goings, vestal.

You have made quite a name for yourselves, in fact! Were you not aware!? Hah har har! I have looked forward to meeting you in battle one day! Heh heh hah!

!!

I leave the helm to you, me matey! We'll make this a fair fight! Yar!!

Barbarossa jumps into the air...



*CLUNK*



No ghost is that clumsy. He must be alive!

I am indeed the genuine article! A man in the flesh! Though the only one among my crew... Heh har har!

Why the ghost ship?

I sail this ship in search of a certain something, prized by the commander and myself!

A certain something?



I know what you speak of! A man's soul craves nothing more than the romance of adventure!

Well, aren't you two getting on famously, Ringabel!?



Ah yes, children, so rational. The 'women lack imagination/creativity/passion' and 'women=children, men=adults' arguments really aren't meant to be used together.

But absurd or not, it is adventure I seek. And the years I have spent wandering the seas in folly have shown me many truths!

That's it! The truth!



Barbarossa jumps out of the hole.



He may have been friendly, but this is an RPG, damn it.



If you don't punch people to death, where's the gameplay?



True to his personality, Barbarossa is a straightforward opponent.



He hits hard with physical attacks and couldn't do magic if his life depended on it. Case about to be in point.



Some of his attacks include debuffing his target. It can make things tricky if you get lazy with healing. As a man(!) of the sea(!), he's weak to lightning.



Edea decides to take her spear on an adventure into Barbarossa's insides.



Forgive me, Suleiman... Commander... It seems my time is up...

Suleiman? We've heard that name before.





Too bad. He may have had strange ideas about masculinity, but he was a fun guy.

Tiz immediately dashes forward.



The boy has his priorities.



Barbarossa's axe was also taken in good condition. If the axe was created before the Bloodrose Legion stepped in, it implies the Florem populace wasn't as stuffy as the record books showed. That would better explain the transition to the Florem of today.





One more sidequest done. Next, moving on to--



Oh. Hey, ghost-Barbarossa.



Even in death, he's having a good time.



Now that things have calmed down, some of the other ghosts are sticking around to chat.



Got chased off by her sister, he did. Terrifying woman, from the sound of it.

A terrifying sister...?

Before we get further, there's one last item we obtained from the Barbarossa fight: a captain's log.


So, Captain Suleiman, aka Mephilia's fiance/lover who set out to help her find the ultimate summon, Susano-o. Grim conclusion this turned out to be.

As for Barbarossa, how was he splitting his time? Searching the open seas and heading a naval attack/blockade on a continent are two extremely different jobs. Did Kamiizumi know or care?

Hell, it's Kamiizumi, if he knew he probably would've recited a poem about flowers and death and stalked off.

One last ghost to talk with:



Suleiman himself.

Now that we've found the captain's log, we've unlocked a certain something... which will be saved for later. For now, we're moving back to the main story. The pirate ship, now with 100% certified dead crew, will continue floating around in the nightly fog and we can revisit as we please.



First, a quick stop by Hartschild to pick up a couple pieces.



Including rare orichalcum gear. The party has become a bunch of rich fancy-pants.



Into enemy territory! Agnès, already pushed out of her comfort zone by recent events, decides to give piracy and oversized axes a try.



The gate to the east of Eisen Bridge was opened to us after the talk with Goodman.




From there, it's easy to curve back and around to the Bridge from the northern, Swordbearer-held side. Hi guys!



Oh no... They've seen us! We must flee!

Right, looks like sabotage from the inside won't be quite that easy.




Further north and east, Grapp Keep comes into sight. To the northwest is yet another mysterious obelisk. If the party goes down the road to the west:



Agnès is already nervous enough without strolling all over Swordbearer/Eternian land. The party turns back towards their main destination.



There are no soldiers guarding Grapp Keep. The party enters without incident.



Despite that, Airy's skittish.



C'mon, Airy, what are you afraid of, gh--




Next: More ghost stories, grimmer than the last!

Also, no update next week, as I'll be busy investigating small towns in the Pacific Northwest. Provided all goes well, posting should resume in a couple weeks.

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Event Viewer
Sub-Scenario:
Captain Barbarossa
Pirate Skirmish - A