Part 56: The Bard's Trail

Entry 53: The Bard's Trail

What can stand against the Swordbearer's most potent weapon yet?



Come to think of it, I heard about sirens once in a tavern on Grandship...

This is a pretty small breadcrumb to go off of, but the party'll take what they can get.



After a quick stop to buy more premium Eisenberg merch, it's off to Grandship.



What fortuitous timing!

I have. A strange voice you hear out at sea, right?

Sailors who hear the song become captivated by it, and throw themselves overboard. It's a common tale.

That's right. The siren's song causes all to cast themselves into the sea.

When I was even younger than you are now, there was a time it was heard throughout the whole ship...



It caused great panic among young and old. But a traveling bard who happened to be aboard said something that calmed everyone down.



He conducted us in song with his baton all night long, and the siren was defeated.

Wow, that's quite a story. Where did the bard go?

Who knows? He set off again soon after. One of the elders here might know.

There are a few older folk around the tavern.



We were so fearful for our lives, we couldn't sleep a wink. It was great fun.



We were blessed to learn songs from a person of such renown.

No go, but at least they remember him.



When I was young, he must have been about my age now... I doubt he still lives.

I remember him saying he was going to meet a pupil of his in Ancheim...

The hunt continues. To Ancheim!



Sadly, I fear he has crossed the Great Divide. When he knew he was not long for this world, he sought to visit three of his pupils one last time.

He passed on to me one of the secrets to his singing. His last words to me were, "Always sing with your mouth wide open."

The second pupil he visited? I believe they lived near the castle in Caldisla.

Off we go!

The nice thing about Caldisla is the free bed and breakfast.



Wait. Where's the innkeep?



The maid directs the party upstairs to the beds...



Ha ha. That's nice of you. My injury isn't that bad, though.

I'd been working non-stop, so I probably just overdid it. I'm not as young as I once was. If only my son were still alive...

Karl goes back to sleep, clearly exhausted. To us, Karl's son Owen may have been a side character, but for Karl, his son was everything.

The second pupil is outside.



Yes, I was his second pupil. When he came to see me, he looked fondly at my children, as if they were his own grandchildren.

Now they are all grown up, and I am an old woman...

Hm? You wish to know if I was given any instructions? I do remember him saying, "Sing from your belly."

He stayed with me a few weeks, then set off to visit his third pupil. They lived in Florem, the Land of Radiant Flowers.

Third time's the charm, maybe?

Before leaving, the party returns to the inn to get some sleep and check up on Karl.





We do still have access to the free inn.



Despite Karl's condition, he's still trying to help out as best he can.

On to Florem.



At the festival stage, we find this fellow.



Considering Florem's history, this is likely a subtle way of saying he is gay. Interesting detail, not that it matters to our mission.

In any case, my mentor visited two other pupils before coming to see me... He bestowed one of the secrets to his songs to each of us.

You wish to know what he told me? Well, this is embarrassing... He said, "Do not be shy when it comes to song." He always worried that I was too faint of heart.

I'll never forget the words he whispered to me when he left my side for the last time. "A singer has no need of finesse." He said he was heading to Hartschild as he left.

That's right -- all these weeks of travel, and we're heading right back to the continent where we started.



About half a year after he arrived here, he gathered us little ones up and taught us about music.

"Always sing with your mouth wide open"? "Sing from your belly"? "Do not be shy when it comes to song"? No, he never told us anything like that.



This is some wild goose chase we went on.

It's not just me. All the people of this town were his pupils, as were their children.

Even in the midst of this war, I bet you could convince the Shieldbearer soldiers to break into song.

When he died, we sent his belongings on to Grandship.

Hmm, an army of singing soldiers... sounds worth a trip back to Grandship.



The Proprietress holds out a stick.



I wonder if we could borrow it for a while.

Really? What for? I certainly don't mind, so take it. I doubt I'll ever get any use out of it.



Hey, there's something written on it. "The most important thing is to have fun," it says...

The amount of fun to be had remains to be seen, but a solution to our problem may be at hand. Time to fight fire with fire.



After explaining the situation to Goodman, the party once again walks out to the bridge...



We haven't come to hear you sing, if that's what you think.

Oh please, don't pretend you're not captivated by this voice of mine. Because we all know, when I sing...



Does her song use hypnotizing magic at all, or does she just have a garden-variety rabid idol fanbase?

Shut it! You won't get your way so easily!



My personal guard would gladly die for me. Isn't that right, darlings?



If there's anything the internet taught me, it's that the weaponization of a fandom is frighteningly potent. The Black Blades have just taken it a step more literal than usual.

Thank you all! Let's sing a little tune, then!



Oh, god, not agai--



Not so fast! Come on, Shieldbearers!

Edea swings around, whips out the bard's baton, and starts conducting the Shieldbearers. Praline's song is soon drowned out by an rousing rendition of Bravely Default's main theme (the regular instrumental version, unfortunately, not a bunch of soldiers singing).



I'll just have to sing louder!

Praline makes an attempt, but fails.



Time to blow you sky high!

Praline waves her hand, directing the Swordbearer cannons to fire.

*BOOM BOOM BOOM*

How's that?

No way! It's useless!

How did singing stop the cannonfire? Who knows, it's Bravely Default.



Note that her fans are still cheering for her. They're diehards, all right.

Grr! Kick the wind vestal and that other riff-raff out of here!



Looks like the Swordbearers are ready to get serious.





Praline comes with two Black Blade guards. Presumably her Swordbearer minions are cheering her on outside asterisk space.



Praline herself does not really attack.



Instead, she throws down buffs and gives extra turns to her teammates.



The Black Blades, in turn, harass the party.



Killing the Black Blades makes Praline summon more. It's good to be popular.



After taking down Praline, Agnès reduces the Black Blades to piles of red goo. Our vestal may still have some emotional issues to work through.



Oh look, Praline dropped her asterisk! Don't worry, Tiz will take good care of it.



Praline also dropped a few items, which share a common theme.



The last item, which was not new, was a star pendant.



Agnès also stole this during the fight. Strange item for Praline to have, but handy for us.







This fight was more odd than difficult. Anyway, good night, sweet Praline, rest in pea--



That does it... I'm going back to ordinary life...



I'm so sorry, everyone...



Remember way back, when it was surprising Tiz and co. killed their first asterisk bearers?

Surprise! Praline did not get violently murdered to death. How times have changed.

Who knows who else might survive?



We should suffer much less attrition on the Eisen Bridge from now on. You've done us a great service!





Wouldn't you know, Edea was a natural at conducting troops. And she did it without using psychopaths to commit genocide in foreign countries! Hear that, Edea's dad?


Next: Rescuing canaries in a coalmythril mine.

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Event Viewer
Sub-Scenario:
The Siren's Song
A Friendly Visit
The Baton of Legend
With Baton in Hand
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