Part 77: Alone at the Top, in the Dark
Entry 74: Alone at the Top, in the DarkThe game's villains have been defeated. Their armies have been decimated, their plots have been foiled, their leader has been crushed.
D's Journal: Bestiary/Bosses posted:
cont: a variety of attack skills to do serious damage.
Four young adults now stand triumphant against evil, with nothing left to keep them from saving the world.
I mean, there is Alternis, but let's be honest -- even if he challenges the party, it's not like he'll be able to stop them. Right?

As the party exits asterisk space along with the gravely wounded Braev, an unexpected visitor arrives.


Mahzer runs past the party to Braev, supporting him with all her strength.






Braev collapses, with Mahzer still holding on to him.

Derosso strolls up behind the party.

At DeRosso's direction, the party steps aside to let Braev be taken away by medics. Mahzer and DeRosso follow the procession, leaving the party alone.
A short time later, DeRosso and Mahzer return.


























DeRosso's lording over the fact he knows more than the party. Wonder if he'd be open to explaining things?


Before the party can grill DeRosso, however, he disappears in a poof of smoke.
Mahzer leaves shortly after to resume her treatments. The party, alone once again, returns to the locked door on the ground floor.

Where Edea uses Braev's key, finally unlocking the way.




Eternia Central Command is now completely open to the party.


The Council of Six's chamber are empty. Their leader was incapacitated, two were killed, two stood down, and the last was sent off to do who knows what.
Back at the door to Everlast Tower, Tiz and Agnès halt to check over the group's supplies. While they wait, Edea catches Ringabel staring at his journal.


























Poor Ringabel now has not only the journal mystery, but two mysterious rivals to deal with. Should've taken that hot date when it was offered, buddy.
But before moving on to Everlast Tower and the final crystal, there are things to cover.
First up are a couple of alternate scenes. Previously, Einheria the Valkyrie and Kamiizumi "Enigma-sensei" the Swordmaster both spent their dying moments asking Edea to speak to her father. But if the party had waited and defeated them after fighting Braev, they'd have had some different choice words.

First up, Kamiizumi.

This time, Kamiizumi does the same monologue to himself, then says this new line as soon as he turns to face the party.















This references some gossip we can't actually hear about yet, perhaps because this conversation was meant to be gotten later on. But surprise! There was once a love triangle between Kamiizumi, Braev, and Mahzer.
After the battle, Kamiizumi collapses as before, and Edea runs over to him.



Kamiizumi's vision fades to black.

And he passes away.


Kamiizumi knew a lot for not being on the Council of Six. He was likely offered a position and declined it, but still lent Braev an ear on sensitive matters. Anyway, he still chooses to use his time admonishing Edea for what she doesn't know rather than trying to tell her what's going on. Truly, Enigma-sensei to the end.
D's Journal: Swordmaster Kamiizumi posted:
We headed to the Swordbearers' lair at Starkfort, but their commander had already escaped by airship. The swordmaster spoke with Edea, but they could not see eye to eye, and they came to blows. After a harrowing battle, the swordmaster told Edea she must not awaken the Earth Crystal, then departed the mortal coil.
Kamiizumi's death journal entry is altered as well.
Next, let's check with Valkyrie Einheria. The lead-in to meeting her begins as before.





But after Edea insists on sticking up for Agnès, Einheria has a new response:














Einheria hesitates, then shakes her head.




After the battle:


Edea runs towards Einheria.

Einheria sounds afraid, the opposite of her normally stoic voice. Edea stops where she is.


Einheria slumps over. Her death this time isn't at all peaceful, as she's too distracted by Braev.

Again, no new information, except to show Braev's closest followers believe in his ideals so passionately they uphold them even after their leader's defeat.
Now that these two alternate paths're covered, let's get back to the party's current time and space in Eternia.

Before going through the door to Everlast Tower, the party decides to take one last stab at getting information.

C'mon, DeRosso, let us in so you can explain in detail how many millenia you've lived through!
After a pause, Derosso's disembodied voice echoes:




Edea turns around, looking for the voice's source.


DeRosso sounds slightly amused in that last line. Surely he's realized by now the party has a very, very difficult time taking 'no' for an answer.
The party leaves the area, but at Edea's insistence immediately go back and try the door again.

Edea pounds at the door, completely ignoring Tiz.


Six indentations in the door, six items the party needs to find. That isn't much of a lead, but we've already seen the answer. It's something we've seen six of altogether since nearly the beginning of the game, spread throughout the world.

Eventually, the other three manage to drag Edea away and get back to the ship.

Our first stop is back in the Caldisla area, near the Villa.

Unlike earlier, these obelisks can now be inspected. Doing so...

Triggers a battle.



This dragon is a simple mini-boss, but can easily kill you if you're not prepared.

Most of its attacks are dark elemental. With proper prepwork, the damage goes from this...

To this.

With a holy knight on our side...

The dragon eventually goes down.

From far off, DeRosso's voice echoes:


Agnès looks around.



Luckily Excalibur was a suitable substitute for a vorpal blade.

The party returns to the castle and tests the first keystone in the door. Sure enough, it fits in the indentation.
Edea looks pleased at first, then frowns once the door refuses to budge. She gives it a good shove.



Edea continues throwing her weight against the door.

Because the keystones can be gotten in any order, the cutscene will change slightly depending how many and which keystones you have. The bulk of the dialogue remains the same, though.

The second obelisk is in the Harena desert, north of the oasis, near the thieves den.

This dragon is wind elemental. Otherwise, it's very similar to the last fight.

It debuffs resistance to its element, then strikes with that element.

After its defeat, disembodied DeRosso acknowledges the party's success once again and throws another keystone at them.

Six keystones, six dragons, six elements. I'll be going through this quickly since it gets repetitive.

The third keystone is in Yulyana Woods, northeast of Sage Yulyana's cabin.

This is the holy dragon. Notably, it has feathery wings instead of bat wings.

Holy is white like a pearl.

Shinryu is the Japanese name for the dragon god Shenlong from Chinese myth. It's also a recurring boss in Final Fantasy.

Halfway there.

Next dragon is on the largest island northeast of the Florem area.

Water/Ice this time.

DeRosso's gonna have the prettiest front door in Eternia once we're done.

Mizuchi is a terrifying dragon or serpent, possibly also a god, connected to water in Japanese myth.

Fifth is in central northern Eisen.

As you might expect, Eisen's local dragon is fire.


In ancient times, salamanders were known in the West for their love of, or at least immunity to, fire. They were often assumed to have a magical nature, such as being born of flames.
In reality, salamanders are amphibians who love nesting in dark, damp places like old logs and prefer not to be set on fire.

The last dragon is on an island southwest of Eternia.

This dragon differs by using a ground pound instead of a breath attack. Look at those stubby little arms!

...And the earth keystone makes the sixth.

Ladon is a serpent/dragon from Greek myth who guarded a tree bearing golden apples. While it was minding its own business, it was defeated by Heracles (Hercules) during one of the latter's feats.
Next: What awaits within the vampire's lair? DeRosso's feeling chatty!
--
Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Braev's Love
The Final Crystal
Sub-Scenario:
Swordmaster Kamiizumi - B
The Swordmaster's Fate - B
Cheerless Reunion - C
Valkyrie Einheria - C
Einheria's End - D
The Quest for the Keystones
More than Brawn
A Stubborn Persistence
Party Chat:
Let's Press On
D's Journal: Edea Lee posted:
Edea followed through with her convictions and defeated her own father. She then faced cutting short the life of her mother. Lord DeRosso arrived in time to save the wounded Braev. He said the templar had advanced medicine by 100 years, and with a soft laugh told Edea her mother would not perish if the crystal were awakened.
D's Journal: Braev the Templar posted:
After several confrontations between Edea and her father, we fought him head on. When the templar slumped to his knees, it was Lord DeRosso who came to his aid. Edea agonized over whether to awaken the Earth Crystal and put her mother's life at risk as well. Lord DeRosso said she underestimated her father's accomplishments, and her mother would not perish.
D's Journal: Mahzer Lee posted:
The templar fell to his knees, and Edea's mother ran to his side after being brought in by Lord DeRosso. Edea despaired at the thought of putting her mother's life at risk. However, Lord DeRosso said the templar had advanced science and medicine in Eternia by a hundred years, and her mother would not die even if the Earth Crystal were awakened.
D's Journal: Lord DeRosso posted:
Lord DeRosso's swift treatment of the templar saved his life. He allayed Edea's concerns about now putting her mother's life at risk as she prepared to awaken the Earth Crystal, saying the templar's work had advanced medicine in Eternia by 100 years, so awakening the crystal would not endanger her mother. He also hinted at a secret surrounding the crystals.