Part 61: Flame-Forged

Entry 58: Flame-Forged



A large percentage of the floor is hot/cold magma. You can either be patient and wait for your safe crossings, use the Freelancer ability to stop environment damage, or turn off random battles and repeatedly set the party on fire.



Contrary to what you might think, the path onwards leads up.



A magical defibrillator! Explains why it'd only work against magically induced insta-death and not, say, death from a hundred sword cuts.



As the party makes their way further up...



Egil falls behind, gasping.

Are you getting tired, Egil?

Yeah, it's hot down here...

Let's take a little break, then. That okay with you, Agnès?

Oh, okay...

Hey, Egil. What will you do when the war ends?

Hmm... I don't know.

Isn't there anything you're passionate about?

I'd like to go to military academy. Then I want to be a guardsman for the Shieldbearers!

My mother and father died noble deaths protecting the top Shieldbearers.



Is that so...

But I guess I need to find a place to live before that. I have no home to go back to now...

After my mother and father died, my grandfather took me in. He was really kind, but he got sick and died soon after.

I had nowhere to go, and then I ran into some Swordbearers who were rounding up orphans. They took me to the mythril mine...

I see... You've done well to survive on your own.

Heh heh. I guess I have.



Egil's now recovered, so they move on.



Next floor has the same old paths. And look, treasure dead ahead!



Wait.



Okay, so much for that way. Several of the passages will sink just before Tiz sets foot on them.



As the party fumbles thier way through unstable magma pits, Egil slows down again, exhausted.

Are you thirsty, Egil? We should rest a bit.

Yeah, sorry...

I have to keep my promise to the fire vestal. I don't want to run out of steam before then.

You hold the fire vestal dear, don't you, Egil? Your faith in Crystalism is strong for such a young boy.

Well, my mother and father were followers. I'm not sure what I believe in yet...

The teachings of Crystalism are a bit over my head... I don't really know what to make of them.

Then why do you brave such perils?

Because I made the fire vestal a promise. That's all.

She always looked so sad in my dreams. I just want to see her smile for a change.





Airy rouses the party.





More fake pathways later...



The party reaches the other staircase. Once again, the dungeon's following the two floors up, cross to other side of map, two floors down layout.



In the latter half of the volcano area, new friends show up.



This demon looks like the owlmen who serve the summons.



Doom + other status effects make the two enemies pretty nasty when paired together.



I almost got killed by them. Luckily a holy compound thrown by Tiz saved the day.



Stronger monsters means better treasure.



Better treasure means more interesting weapon designs. As such I'm going to start showing off the worthwhile ones.



This was probably carried over from the Temple of Fire. Maybe it was used by a proto-Shieldbearer back in ancient times, or one of the vestal's attendants.



There've been no other signs of bird imagery, but this could be a reference to the infamous bird of fire which lives, dies, and lives again: the phoenix.



Also likely from the temple. This has the highest physical attack of all the staves. Staves are a highly effective melee weapon early on, but they top out early.




Neat thing about the pathways sinking:




The map changes to reflect their disappearance.



Down another floor, there's only one way for the party to go.



North and south are blocked by boulders.



As they continue onto the path ahead of them, Egil pauses.



Tiz looks across a lake of magma towards the north.

I wonder if that crevice leads into the temple.

*RUMBLE RUMBLE*

The earthquakes are getting stronger. Watch your step! If you die here, Agnès, the world's last hope will perish with you.

I know...

*RUMBLE RUMBLE*



The ground's collapsing under us! Run!

Ringabel runs off. Tiz follows. The ground near Egil shudders.

Ah!



Egil stumbles back, then trips. He's the spitting image of Til, all right.







Edea dashes forward, followed by Ringabel.

I'll get him!



Egil slips, begins to fall...



With Tiz catching him just in time.





Edea and Ringabel run over to help...



...but the ground is too unstable to pull Tiz up.



No! It's too dangerous!

Airy...



Your life belongs to more than just you now! I know it's hard, but stay focused on your mission!

I...

I...!



The earthquake continues,



the platforms around the party tipping and falling, one by one.



In the shaking, Tiz's handhold loosens.



In a glance, Agnès assesses the series of sinking platforms near Tiz and Egil...



And makes up her mind.















Tiz's grip breaks away. Despite his best efforts, he and Egil begin to fall.







Agnès catches him with not a moment to spare.



I'm not going to let go!

But we could both end up falling...!



Agnès slips forward, a cascade of rocks falling into the magma beneath them.

Just when it seems hopeless, she's pulled back.

Agnès!



Tiz!



As Edea and Ringabel pull the other three onto the platform...



The earthquake finally comes to an end.

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Egil's Family
A Promise to the Fire Vestal
Approaching the Temple of Fire
Egil's Plight