Part 6: Tiz Finds the Plot

Entry 6: Tiz Finds the Plot



Yes, lovely. Though I'll grant the boy does handle himself well. I'm less bored than I was a moment ago.



On my way, ma'am!



After another quick fight, Tiz and Agnès keep running.





Whaaat!? We're spent? Already?

Hmph. Isn't that always the way when you're all passion and no finesse...? The great Barras Lehr, quickest cannon in Eternia.

The writers/translators must've done this entire segment with a permanent eyebrow waggle.

Ha ha ha ha! The two deadliest guns ever made are still right here! Where steel fails, muscle never falters!



Yessir!



Third time is not the charm for these fellows.



The second type of Sky Knight fought here. Poison doesn't wear off after combat, so having an antidote or two is handy.



Like our airship? You're the only one who can steer this boat, you dumb ox.

Holly Whyte! Must you dash all of my dreams!? ...Fine, you go get her, then.

Me? Go crawling down in the dirt like a filthy henchman? In these white robes? Please.



All of my dreams, Holly Whyte.



As soon as the duo leave, a new feature is introduced. For those familiar with Tales games, these are basically skits. For non-Tales players, these are short optional cutscenes between party members using minimal animations. I'll show these off as soon as they pop up.



......

Are you alright? Are you hurt?

They were clearly after me. Why did you not run?

Er, it didn't cross my mind I guess... I was a little distracted. But more importantly, are you hurt?

...I am fine.

You...you have my thanks. But they will be back for me. I'm certain of it. For your own sake, it is best our paths diverged here.

But...there's only one road back to town.

......

Agnès zips offscreen.



Technically, she's still in our party. But for plot's sake she ran off towards the ravine entrance. Tiz runs after her.



Agnès... Agnès Oblige.





Ahh! A miniature monster!

Augh, rude! I am not a miniature monster! I am a cryst-fairy!

Fire, water, wind, earth. Four crystals. Four pillars of the world.



Vestal of wind?

Priestess, bride, and servant to the crystals. A weaver of prayers who ensures their eternal glow. The vestals' rites purify the crystals, warding the world from natural disaster.

The crystals reveal the way to the vestals, and the vestals pass that on to the people. They guide the world.



And what purpose should bring a vestal here?



A week prior, at the same time the ground parted here, the Crystal of Wind was consumed by an unnatural darkness.

The crystals are the source of all life and all energy in the world. Our lands, our seas, and all that inhabit them exist through the crystals' bounty. They sustain us. But a foul corruption has overtaken them. The wind lies still, and the oceans rot. Fire runs wild, and the earth, well...



I had to see the chasm for myself.

What is it? What caused the ground to fall?

...I do not know. But I do know how to unmake it and stop the coming dark. I must hurry back to Ancheim.





Pause.





Maybe Tiz was taking a minute to soak all that in. But we aren't done yet.



......

Hear me out. This isn't the place to go charging on alone. The crags are dark even by day. It's always been a nest for monsters.

Airy, are you truly certain this boy is the miracle bringer?

Absolutely! Right time, right place; he's your miracle man. I'd bet my wings on it!

He saved your life, didn't he? Just like my prediction said he would!

I'd call that pretty darn miraculous.

Yes, but... Er...Mr. Tiz, was it?

Just Tiz is fine.

Tiz, then. Was it you that my prayer reached?

I don't know about "reached," but I heard you say it, anyway.

He's the sole survivor of a village swallowed up whole. How much more miracle do you need?

That was no miracle... There was nothing miraculous about it...!

My family is gone. All my friends. Everyone... That was no miracle...

......

A short ways further down the ravine:



I will do what only I am able: purify the crystals and release them from the darkness. Once this blight has been purged from all four of the world's crystals, order will be restored.



Vestals have been pouring their prayers into the crystals for generations. Agnès is going to release all that at once!





Agnès, please. Let me help you.

...My task is not your concern.

It is my concern. The chasm, it just swallowed up my village. My family. My friends. I lived the same routine all my life, and that was just stolen from me in an instant.



Please. You're... You're a light. My ray of hope! And I want to help.



...I cannot accept. This burden is mine alone, and alone is how I'll see it done.

But why? Please!

I shall see you back to the city, and there our paths will part. You are not meant to carry this load.





(if a party chat screenshot has that plain papery background, I'm pulling it from the event viewer, not mid-game)

......I truly appreciate your desire to help. But...

......

Do you intend to just leave your village like this?

No! Of course not.

I'll rebuild it, someday.

......

I am wanted by the duchy.

Eternian assassins may lurk in any shadow, at any time. What's more, I must leave this place at once to purify the crystals. If something were to befall you, who would be left to put your village to rights again?

I'll rebuild it... I will. You don't have to tell me I'm the only one who can.

Then surely it's best you stayed and--

But Norende will never be whole again until that chasm is gone. And here I meet you, the one person who knows how to make that happen. It seems the obvious thing to do is help you, keep you safe, and solve this thing together.

Yes, but how do you propose--

I don't know yet. First, the king needs to know what's happened.

......

After hashing all that out, the party exits the cave.





Ah, this? It was given to me by someone...special. It's something of a lucky charm.



......

That pendant's shown up quite prominently before.



Now that we have the fairy Airy with us, she occupies the lower half of the menu screen, letting us know about the next story objective.

The four-gem contraption in the center is connected to Airy as well, though there's no explanation for it yet.



Airy's on the touchscreen, so a nice addition is that she turns to look towards your touch.



Let's head into Caldisla during nighttime.



There are no townspeople out, but the city does look very warm and welcoming.

But let's check back during daytime.



The ladykiller from the opening movie is stranger than ever. He obviously knows more than he's letting on, but for now he doesn't have much interest in us.





If we were stronger, the captain would be free to go fight the Eternians off...



There's only one competent soldier in the entire kingdom. This doesn't seem safe.


Next: Agnès makes a tough decision and Norende is a realm reborn.

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
The Sky Knights: Second Wave
The Sky Knights: Third Wave
The Sky Knights Withdraw
The Vestal's Quest
Unmaking the Chasm
A Lovely Pendant

Party Chat:
A Common Destination
The Miracle Man
Rebuilding a Village