Part 76: Taking Command at Eternia Central

Entry 73: Taking Command at Eternia Central

The party's got a fortress to storm. Let's stock up before we get started.



The heroes of Wa often traveled around the world, far from their home island. Presumably some of their descendants settled down and survived whatever happened to Wa itself. That would explain Konoe the Ninja and Kamiizumi being the lone Japanese residents in a world otherwise dominated by fantasy Europeans and Middle Easterners.



This weapon would be potentially deadly if used in a surprise attack against the party. Luckily the Eternians haven't thought of that and only use their assassins in complex whodunit plots.



The bow has a bat motif, perhaps modeled after the local legendary vampire.



Likely a standard piece of Eternian military gear.



It's unspecified whether the relief is made of adamantium or some other material, or whether the rash is caused by the magic used to increase HP.




After a quick trip back at Eternia Central Command, Edea leads the party to the elevator to the higher floors.



Strange way for her to phrase it since we're already in the building.

So that's where we'll find your father, Edea?

Yes, along with the dark knight Alternis Dim and that strange man who put us to sleep.

Well, we need the key Edea's father has. That's the only way we'll make it to the Earth Crystal.

If we can just get the key, maybe we can avoid fighting a lot of people!

I'm afraid that's one big "if."

Meanwhile, a few dozen stories above the party...



But why would Yulyana assist in the wind vestal's escape?

The capricious old fool... I cannot fathom his thoughts, but that the two appear now after fifteen years... It's as though they have come to gloat over my demise.

Lord Marshal, I'm afraid I don't understand. It is unlike you to utter such bleak words.

Victor and Victoria are defeated, and we no longer receive word from our squads deployed abroad.

Heh heh heh... Those two grandsires said their piece ere going into hiding again. All that remains now of the Council of Six are you and I, Alternis.

I shall not concede defeat! Were we but to slay the wind vestal...!

And what of my daughter? Could you slay her, too?



Edea has two guys with a crush on her, but both are completely inept about it in nearly opposite ways. At least it'll be helpful if it stops Alternis from killing the party. Again.

Hear me, Dark Knight Alternis Dim. I would have you escape while you still may.

Your Lordship, I must protest! Am I such a burden, to be sent away so!?

*shakes head* It is my faith in you that makes me bid you leave, for I've a task I would entrust to no one else.

You need merely speak the word.

The time has come for me to share my true aim in restoring the Duchy of Eternia, and reveal the secret borne by its predecessor. Until now, only I and those two grandsires were privy to such knowledge.

A plot-shattering reveal? You know what this means?

If you guessed ending the scene and cutting back to the party, you guessed correctly. It's the Bravely Default way. Nevermind that if Braev has information, he should share it with his daughter. That is, unless Eternia's deep dark secret is their love of overthrowing foreign powers with no regard for human life.

If that's the case, it's not much of a secret anymore.



Braev's time to explain himself is over. And really, what could he say that would excuse Eternia's actions?




The express elevator takes the party up to 47, but the last few floors will have to be taken on foot. Another sign of villainy: Eternia shares elevator manufacturers with Shinra.



Unbeknowst to Braev Lee, the party's already uncovered a lot of Eternia's past. Even Agnès will now admit that the Crystalists did terrible things. The ideals of religion and the messy reality of politics often end up bound together. But the overthrow of one corrupted power does not exempt its replacement from corruption.




Hey, now the party can literally punch/stab the evil out of things!



On the northeast side of the 48th floor, Edea takes notice of one room in particular.



So this was your room...

Hey, Ringabel, let a girl keep some privacy!

Where's the fun in that? This place must be full of memories. I can almost taste them.

I don't have any memories, least any I can recall. So forgive me if I wax a little sentimental here.



Thank you.

Hey, isn't that a picture of you, Edea? You look so young.

Oh, how embarrassing. Let's pretend you didn't see that.

Here's one with your entire family.

Oh, I'd forgotten about that.

Seeing this picture leaves no doubt of the depth of your father's love for his daughter.

This game's attempts to mix saving the world with family drama have gotten really awkward. At this point, Edea's done what she can to reconcile the two, but she's still getting guilt-tripped by the person her father wants dead.



It was a little irritating that Braev sent all his minions out to kill us, ha ha.

Are you truly prepared to battle your own father?

......That would seem to be my destiny. You could say I truly am my father's daughter. We are both of a mind that shan't ever waver once we've decided upon something.

To go against one willing to die for his beliefs calls for steely resolve. That is why I... I...

It doesn't have to be this way.

How so?

It serves no purpose to abandon dialogue from the start. Not while you are both here to talk...

I will consider it.

Instead, the game treats the battle with Braev as a choice, as though it would be an acceptable option to sacrifice the entire world just so Edea can try one last time to make up with her father.



Checking Edea's bed lets the party rest in her room.

Later, as the four are making their way up to the 49th floor...



Braev has finished talking about his plot-shattering revelation, so we're free to check back in.

It's not for us to question the truth. I will see that the vestal and her followers are stopped here. And you... I would have you prepared for the worst.

The pillar of light will appear somewhere in this world. You must find it, Alternis, and you must be victorious!

Alternis bows.



And walks off. We missed the bulk of what happened, but one thing's clear: Alternis will be waiting for the party, eventually.

Back to the party.




Another confiscated Crystalist relic. The light effect is, in fact, more than cosmetic.



We're almost to the top.




The complete 48th floor map, with Edea's room in the upper right corner.




The elevator to the Council of Six's chamber is in the center of floor 49.



Time to face Braev once and for all.



On exiting the elevator, the party immediately finds the back of Braev's cape. He won't even acknowledge the party.

Father.

Braev finally turns around.



He shakes his head.

How could I have not known about that secret passage to your room? What am I to do with you now, Edea?

Well, I've been using it almost as long as I could walk. It's come in handy more than once.

I see.



I wanted to help you fulfill your ideals, I truly did. I think I was lonely. I mean, no matter how I tried to get through to you, you never paid me any mind.

It's as though you always had your back turned towards me until I left Eternia.

It's not that I never accepted you. Rather, you were ever my pride and joy.

My assigning you to the Sky Knights was an acknowledgement that you had become the woman I knew you could be.

The underling of a deranged, misogynistic arsonist?



Edea did bring them to order, in a fashion. They aren't causing a ruckus anymore.

If Braev's intent was to have Edea lead, he did a terrible job setting her up. Keep in mind that when Edea reprimanded Ominas for almost setting a town on fire, he insulted her because she was a woman and then responded with this:



He later proceeded to immolate his soldiers because yay, fire.

Thank you, Father. I never knew you felt that way.

Do not thank me, for I, too, shall do whatever it takes. I cannot allow you to lay hands upon the crystal. Mine is a cause that I shall not willingly abandon!

Yes, Mother told me. It was when she first fell ill that you began to rush the pursuit of your ideals, was it not?

I will not stand by and watch you ruin all I've made. You and your band shall not pass.

Why, Father!? Why must you always refuse to listen to me? Are we really that different!?

Edea probably would've been better served being allowed to listen in on the Council of Six. Nepotism? Yes, but if Braev were prepping his daughter to be his successor, clueing her in on stuff would've been a good first step.



Just shut up and tell us what's going on, you self-important dingus.

Protect the world? But it's you, Father, who endangers it! Is this battle between us all but inevitable!?

I came here knowing mere words would never bend your will, and yet...!

You've come this far only to spout such sickly sweet sentiments? You disappoint me.





If Braev trusted Edea like he trusts Alternis, perhaps things would have worked out differently. But instead, Braev shows his true opinion: he treats his daughter like a spoiled princess rather than his successor, even after she's trounced his armies and backed him into a corner.

Perhaps Braev, like many fathers of daughters, let himself become so overprotective he never gave his child an opportunity to stop being 'his little girl' and prove herself on her own merits. The moment he did realize his mistake and sent her out, he did so in such a haphazard way that she was doomed to fail. He's probably regretted giving her that chance at freedom ever since.



Rather than own up to his mistakes, Braev will fight his daughter to the death.

Anything but admit he was wrong.

Anything but admit he failed not only his country, not only the world, but Edea as well.



...Grand Marshal of Eternia! Prepare for battle!

So Braev Lee's battle gimmick is...

Wait for it...



He Defaults. A lot. Templars have the ability to cap out at 4 BP rather than 3.



When he finally gets up to 4 BP, he unleashes a string of attacks all in a row.



Because stealing generates aggro, Agnès ends up tanking for most of the battle. Using Utsusemi made her more than suitable for the job.



Braev can be a pain to take down through physical attacks. As an alternative, I poisoned him then used Ringabel to Spiritmaster buff Tiz's elemental damage. Braev is weak to dark damage.

A few rounds of Exterminate, and...



I love this shot. Braev's defeat animation has his giant two-hander sword get flung comically into the air.

Also note that he took down Edea just before. What a Dad!



Unfortunately...



He's not done yet.



No matter. After Tiz reapplies poison, the party's right back in business.







Again, he refuses to concede. Pride is terrible beast to defeat.



His final attempt to take out the wind vestal is in vain.



Our heroes, using the power of darkness...



...Finally take down the holier-than-thou templar. Via passive poison damage (350 per turn).

You have grown strong, my daughter.

You're a little late to notice that, buddy.


Next: An unexpected intervention? Also, some alternate cutscenes!

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Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Into Central Command
The Duchy's Secret
Black and White
Braev the Templar

Sub-Scenario:
Edea's Room