Part 113: Side Story Memories
Entry 104: Side Story MemoriesThere's a woman in Ancheim who talks about her son traveling.
Her son's been on this trip in several world iterations. Every time, the mother's dialogue changes slightly, from mentioning he's just left to his visiting Caldisla.
This guy below her is always obsessed with the crystals. In the first world, he chatted about the crystal of wind. In later worlds, he worries about each of the other crystals in turn.
The people change slightly from world to world, but their basic personalities remain the same.
The party, at this point several worlds removed, acts as though they know the Eternians, but in reality they can only guess at how these versions of characters will behave.
Gah! The vestal and her minions are upon us! 
The details of their histories and values are unknown to us, altered by events from before our arrival.
How very convenient. We capture ze vestal here and all my problems disappear. I ask zat Your Majesty keep his promise fresh in mind, hmm?
Well, here we go again... Ciggma, support Erutus!
As you wish. ...Coming, Jackal?
I'm with you, chief! Come on, Old Man Tick-Tock, let's go!Khamer in this world is emphasizing his history with Profiteur and Khint, using their more personal, rarely heard first names.
Looking at them now, it's hard to believe the Merchantry group started out with such a special brand of underhanded evil back in the first world.
What a motley crew.
...Ah, and here they come!Profiteur used his business as a legal cover for bleeding the city's occupants dry and denying them an essential resource: water. Jackal and Khint were unwitting pawns in his scheme, their lives destroyed by Profiteur so they could become his servants. Meanwhile, Khamer, under the pretense of making Ancheim great and with Profiteur's guidance, reduced the citizenry to nothing more than cogs in Ancheim's machine, their humanity disposable in pursuit of Anticrystalist perfection.
Profiteur is the main cause of trouble here. Jackal follows Khint's lead and Khint follows Khamer's lead, so with Profiteur's lack of control over Khamer in this world, the whole group has become mostly harmless, comparatively.
Khamer & Profiteur Merchantry, to battle!One caveat: I did not get every line of dialogue in these fights, because I could feel my sanity slipping away with every iteration of battle, but I got most of them. I also supplemented with lines gotten by other players, which I'll talk about more next update.
Anyway, my gameplay strategy ended up not working out because the way evasion works in this game is unintuitive so let's talk about dialogue. Here's Khamer's 1/10 line:
The other 1/10 lines:
...Are we done yet? Hurry up and name your price. ...This blood-soaked body knows no regrets! ...This is thirsty work. My throat's all daggers...Next, the critical health lines, starting with Khint:
I'm not ready to be leaving all my money just yet! Onward! For Anticrystalism and Eternia! I'll teach you lot...some...respect!Finally, some of the KO lines. Khint KO with Khamer followup:
C-Ciggma!? I command you! Fall back!Profiteur KO with Jackal:
You just did! Now stand down and make room for us!Jackal KO with Khint:
Augh!
Khamer KO with Jackal:
I...I must...hasten to...the duchy... You're in my way, old man! Move!Other Khamer KO:
and lastly, Profiteur:
So, what happens to my assets now?After battle:
What is the matter with you, Erutus!? I have yet to enact that decree. Your money is fine! Now, run! To the airship dock, with all haste! What...? Zen I am still having ze second chance? Yes, yes, but only if you run, man!
Jackal continues to be great when he's not driven mad by guilt.
Stupid!? How dare you mock the very latest in royal fashion, you up-jumped urchin!?The scene moves away from the bickering about ten feet to the right.
Should we meet there on the field of battle, I shall greet you with blade newly honed! Until then, farewell!Khint solemnly strides after the other three as they flail towards their ship.
I knew the duchy's airships were being built here in Ancheim, but...
Didn't expect to see its king take off in one?
Best we spoke with the prime minister. Ancheim will have need of him now more than ever.As usual, Prime Minister Harena takes over in Khamer's absence, leaving us free to mosey on out.
Let's see, next is... Of course, Florem. Where else would we go on this side of the map? Ha ha.
At this point you can probably guess what happens as the party enters town.
This chapter has a theme going on.
All divisions have been ordered back to Eternia. You two will finally be free of this place and the bitter memories it holds.
Florem, a refuge of the Crystal Orthodoxy... A land as cruel as it is beautiful.
No prey here. No strong, proud warrior left here. I agree. I shall be eager to return home with the both of you at my side.So far this seems great. We should let them get out of here before DeRosa-- Ah shoot--
This is the first time we've seen DeRosa and Einheria interact face-to-face. Einheria already sounds like she's holding back from using her javelin.
Perhaps if the captain weren't out carousing when orders arrived from the duchy...
Heh... You never were one for humor... *tsk*............ So? What does the stale old templar say? He ordered all divisions to return to Eternia. We are to stop the vestal there. Ah, it's the old concentrate-your-forces tactic. A little late, though. Oh, here's an idea.
We move back to the party before we can see DeRosa's plan, which will definitely work out well for him.
In this version of Florem, fashion is treated as just a local popular hobby. Going by what's in style, DeRosa's mind-altering concoctions were never implemented.
A few anomalies aside, it's still good to see the worlds improving, even if our efforts have nothing to do with it.
But as disconnected from the main plot as this all is, could you imagine if we didn't have the side stuff in these chapters at all? If the Eternians remained the same one world after another?
(the people in the thread know what I'm getting at because this subject was just brought up, but play along)
If you play the original version of Bravely Default, you don't have to wonder. Much of the side content post-chapter 6 was not in the base game, but was added in a second Japanese version brought out a year later, called Bravely Default: For the Sequel (the English version was based off of this version).
This, combined with the other improvements like the previously mentioned encounter slider and overhauls on everything from the mechanics to the graphics makes it seem like the game may have been a tad incomplete on its initial release.
Speaking of haphazard projects, how's DeRosa getting along with the sisters?
As well as you'd expect.
Let's not be hasty, now. ....Artemia? No call to be nocking arrows. We're all friends here. And don't think I don't hear that incantation under your breath, Mephilia.DeRosa shifts his hand to his pocket as he's talking, but before he can get too far:
DeRosa and the sisters have never gotten along, but every world has Einheria improve at standing up to his abuse.
Alright, whatever you say. You don't miss a thing, do you? ...Save for the unexpected guests behind you. Perhaps this isn't the best time for our little spat.Although Einheria isn't blameless, DeRosa is the root of the Bloodrose Legion's greatest evils.
Throughout the worlds, DeRosa remains stagnant, the most likely implication being he lacks the capacity and will for positive change. He superficially has points similar to Ringabel, who in the first world nearly falls into the same trap but eventually decides to become a better person.
Just great. The Bloodrose Legion, all together in the same room?
Just what are you plotting this time? Well, my fair ladies? Shall we go at each other, or face the vestal and her minions?The story has instead focused on the sisters: each one with their own colorful history, each extreme in their own way and, as we saw in the first world, capable of being pushed to commit evils under duress.
Mephilia and Artemia have had some of the greatest improvements from world to world. We've gone from them being insanely homicidal to learning they're fine if eccentric when they aren't being drugged/manipulated.
Oh, your words wound me so. Three sisters enjoy battle till airship come. Not dirty old captain. Artemia, wait! This isn't--! *sigh* Heh. ...Family.The circumstances for Artemia in Eternia's military are still suspect, but at least in this world she's with her sisters, enjoying herself.
As Einheria finally concluded, getting out of Florem and away from DeRosa will probably be the best thing for the three of them.
As heartwarming as this is, however, so far, what value does this tacked on side content have?
Me? But...! ...Be my guest. But make it sound impressive. Oh, um... Eternian Forces, Third Division... Bloodrose Legion...! To battle!It comes across like fanfiction more than anything, with a focus on character relationships to the exclusion of everything else. That's not a negative, especially in a game like this with pretty fun writing, but it doesn't fit in with the tone of the game so far. Overall it gives an impression of a story that's more cobbled together than preplanned.
That said, the main game itself really doesn't spend time with these characters, so it's nice to have the option of learning more about them in side content. For instance, unlike last world, this world's Mephilia uses Girtablulu since she apparently hasn't gotten around to finding Susano-O.
In all, Bravely Default ends up feeling like an experimental piece. They tried stuff out, released the game, realized they messed up some stuff, and by the grace of Square had the opportunity to polish and improve things by focusing on two of the game's strongest points: the characters and the battle system.
In the end, this battle between the
Let's wrap things up. The dialogue, starting with Artemia:
Other 1/10 lines:
My spear was honed beneath the swordmaster. It shall not waver! I never let a little bad luck stand in my way! Woof, I'm getting too old for this.Followed by critical health:
You shall not lay a hand on my sisters! Not a finger! Suleiman...watch over me! ... ... ... Still...still fight more!Last, KO lines:
Artemia! Retreat!Mephilia and Artemia:
Eeeeeek!
Of course DeRosa gets a creepy quip in at Einheria:
Aaaaaah!
And to pair with that, DeRosa and Artemia:
Oh! That hurts!
Some other KOs:
Mephilia wears out by the end of battle.
Artemia, meanwhile, continues having the time of her life.
Artemia not wrong. Three fought battle, no regrets. Mephilia and Einheria both shine in legion's last battle. I agree, but what about that old lech? DeRosa useless fool. All bark, no bite. Zero charm. Hey, now. Isn't that a tad bit harsh? Owww...The three ignore him as they hear the sound of an airship engine over Florem.
The Bloodrose Legion retreats. The party leaves for the next destination in their world-saving adventure after lounging around at some restaurants.
According to the map, we're over halfway done with the sidequests. But what's waiting for us in Eternia? Braev's plan this time appears to have changed...
Next: The world tour continues.
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Event Viewer
Sub-Scenario:
The Battle of Ancheim
The Retreat from Ancheim
The Bloodrose Legion Musters
The Battle of Florem
The Retreat from Florem
D's Journal: Olivia Oblige posted:
In the fifth world, it appeared the water vestal Olivia had gone to ground somewhere in Florem, and had not been heard from.
D's Journal: Jackal the Thief posted:
At the palace in Ancheim in the fifth world, we encountered members of the merchantry, including the Jackal. Something seemed odd, as he seemed to respect his bodyguard more than the king, whom he referred to as "Old Man Tick-Tock." Before we knew it, they were upon us. We bested them in the struggle, and they abandoned Ancheim, heading to the duchy in an airship.
D's Journal: Profiteur, Merchant of Death posted:
In the fifth world, the king of Ancheim seemed willing to give up his kingdom for the sake of the duchy. He threatened to seize the assets of Profiteur, who disagreed with the order to fall back to Eternia. Seeing us, Profiteur launched a desperate attack, but we defeated him, and he lost all. The king talked him into boarding an airship, which promptly set out for Eternia.
D's Journal: Spell Fencer Khint posted:
In the fifth world, we found the members of the Merchantry gathered at the palace in Ancheim. Profiteur took up arms against us, but we fended off the attack. Before withdrawing to the duchy, Khint told us he was eager to meet us on the field of battle again, displaying the honor of a true warrior.
D's Journal: Time Mage Khamer posted:
In the fifth world, the members of the Merchantry had gathered in the palace at Ancheim. It seems the king and Profiteur could not agree on whether to obey the duchy's orders. Following a battle, the king eagerly boarded his airship. Believing in the Anticrystalism cause espoused by the duchy, he was willing to abandon his kingdom in order to defend Eternia.
D's Journal: Artemia the Ranger posted:
In the fifth world, we found members of the Bloodrose Legion gathered at the secret lab in Florem. The valkyrie Einheria seemed exasperated with the red mage DeRosa, who commands the legion. Before we knew it, her younger sister Artemia had slowly nocked an arrow and loosed it at us. A battle ensued, after which they all headed back to the duchy, the air cleared.
D's Journal: Mephilia the Summoner posted:
In the fifth world, we found members of the Bloodrose Legion gathered at the secret lab in Florem. The battle-hungry ranger Artemia took up arms against us, while the summoner Mephilia kept an eye on her sisters, and seemed to enjoy the fight greatly. When the battle was over, the sisters joined hands, while the other one scurried away.
D's Journal: Einheria the Valkyrie posted:
In the fifth world, we found members of the Bloodrose Legion gathered at the secret lab in Florem. The valkyrie Einheria seemed exasperated with her commander DeRosa, and confiscated a smal vial from him. Artemia then took up arms against us, triggering a heated battle led by the swordmaster's beloved disciple Einheria.
D's Journal: Fiore the Red Mage posted:
In the fifth world, we found members of the Bloodrose Legion gathered at the secret lab in Florem. Their leader DeRosa was quarreling with the Venus sisters for some reason, but he turned their wrath upon us instead. they fled after the battle, and we were left nauseated by the acrid smell of perfume and liquor that permeated the air of the lab.
