Part 15: The Party, Take Two

Entry 13: The Party, Take Two

Alone on a grim night, in territory hostile to her mere hours ago, Edea wanders into a graveyard.





The camera pans to the left.



Edea walks over, interrupting Karl's reverie.



What? Oh. Yes, of course.



But he loved this land more than anyone. He wanted more than anything to defend it, so he trained and trained... Even after he'd joined the royal guard, even after winning half the honors the king can bestow, he trained.

And everyone knew it. In a few years, his efforts had made him captain. The boy was something else. My pride and joy.

...But I'd rather he lived.



It's terrible, sir.

If the boy had stayed home... taken over the inn. He's still be...



What other lies have I been told? The only thing for it...

We switch back to the inn.



The suspicions of a beautiful lady are dire poison to a gentleman such as myself.

Our paths part with Edea's here. What reason have you to come with us?

Will the two of you be enough to storm the enemy's hold, though? This knight is supposed to be terribly strong...

Still, we've no choice. Let's go, Agnès.





...I had thought I spoke it clear before. This is farewell.

Yes, it was all very well put, but I'm coming along anyway. I'll get no sleep till I've seen these scoundrels squished!



Go with me, however, and you'll have VIP access. Use me. I welcome it. So, please...

I'm all for it! The more allies the better, I say!

Well, I do not. Even before the matter of trust, I cannot involve anyone more. The fault for all of this is mine, and no one else's.

You've no cause for worry, Agnès. I guarantee it.



Its pages are prophecy, infallible and true.

And what of you?

Me? An apt question. It seems I did not merit mention-- a grave oversight, I'm sure.

Or am I to miss out on the adventure? A crueler fate than I could bear!

Ringabel shrugs.



......

I'm in favor of taking them with us, too. I think they'll be a help to you, Agnès.



Done! Excellent! Let's be off!

But first, they sleep.

Agnès and Tiz seem to have fallen comfortably into the roles of leader and bodyguard/advisor, respectively. Unbeknownst to them, Edea's main motivation has been revealed as justice, especially when other people are being victimized. Ringabel, meanwhile, is just a ditz.

Next morning:



The band's back together, but how is the town doing?



Those Sky Knight rats invaded. I'm ashamed to say we couldn't keep them out of the city...



They were...too fast... We couldn't... Nngh.

The remaining soldiers are taking it hard. Notably, the palace is under heavier guard than before.



A little late, though. The throne is empty. Would more soldiers have helped against Heinkel? Unless it was an entire army, probably not.

Last I heard, the Eternian airship made north for the Lontano Villa.





By the looks of it, it's up to the party to get marshmallow king back again.



At least the Adventurer is rooting for us.

The party heads out into the field and immediately triggers a tutorial.



The Special Moves function is now open. It's accessible via 'Special' in the battle menu or party menu.

Special moves are essentially limit breaks you can pull off after fulfilling certain requirements. Which requirement varies based on weapon. In addition to a big attack, the whole party gets a significant buff for a period of time. This period is marked by special music -- once the music stops, the buff ends as well.



You can customize special moves using commands obtained from Norende. You can also change the phrases the characters state during their attacks. So yes, if you wanted to make Agnès shout out strings of obscenities, there's probably nothing stopping you. I won't be doing that.



Speaking of Norende, here's an example of receiving free items when you look in on the village. This happens fairly often once the relevant shops are upgraded.



Yes, not too bad, I suppose.

I trust you have a draw planned out to bring in the crowds, Tiz?

A draw?

Sure. An attraction. A selling point. You need people to come here, right?

Well, think of that the other way around. Norende needs to be a place people want to go.

Ahh, good point! Hmm, a draw... Someplace lots of people will want to go...

Ooh! What about a special move shop? That sounds exciting, right? Anybody?

Hmm, but is there really much consumer demand for special moves?

Well, sure! They're fun, and flashy, and...fun? I bet warriors the world over would flock there to shop!

Enough to fill a village? You think this shop would have broad enough appeal?

Uh...sure? Maybe? I mean, special attacks! You have to meet special conditions before using them!

And they're extra powerful!

Hmm, you make a strong case. Perhaps I'll plan to take my next date to this shop of yours...

D-date!? (Just what kind of brawler is he planning to go out with?)

The game never explains how the party is interacting with Norende. Tiz is probably exchanging letters with the town while he travels. Best not to think about it too much.

The group has one more significant chat on the way to Centro Keep.



Mind if I ask what?

Hm? Oh, yes. I'm not sure. I'll open it now.

Ooh, he packed us lunch! The basket's near bursting.

It looks amazing. And he made enough for all of us...

Mmm, looks like emperor trout sandwiches. Caldisla's finest! What a treat!

He made one special for you, Agnès. "For the young lady who doesn't eat meat," it says.

Grilled leaf buds and spring mushrooms...and apricot jelly for dessert!

What did you get, Edea?

Looks like I got what you did, plus the same dessert as Agnès. And...

And a letter.

Yeah...

Hm? Let's have a look. "Your words were a great comfort, my dear. Best of luck in battle, and best of health!"

...Alright. Let's eat, then it's off to save the king!

Right!

Detailed descriptions of food alongside cheery talk of single-handedly saving kingdoms. See, the game doesn't just take from Final Fantasy, it also takes from Tales games.

They enter Centro Keep and go to the closed north exit.





Let me make this very clear, though. If you've any thoughts of storming the place head-on, be rid of them now.

I'll say I've taken you prisoner. That will buy us entry. Once we're inside, the battle's all but won. I even know where the king is likely held.

......



No. I thank you for your assistance. I have my doubts, but I see no alternative.





Before moving on, Tiz hesitates.



Isn't there a chance they'll know you've defected?

I don't think there's any worry of that yet. If word had reached them, the road to the villa would have been swarming with guards.

That's how Heinkel operates. Thorough and merciless.

I see. So, what of after we reach the villa, then? Any bright ideas?

If the man running the place is as careful as she says, we can't expect to--

Heh heh, I may not look it, but I'm actually a fairly respected figure.

I can talk our way past a couple of rank-and-file sentries no problem.

A respected figure, eh? I smell a story here. Care to elaborate?

Er, yes, well... You know. I just have a...a way about me, I suppose.

In that you're a terror when you're mad, or that you rush in blind, or that you ignore authority?

Excuse me! Isn't that a little harsh, Ringabel? ...And all of the above.

......

Hey, at least she's on our side and can come up with a plan other than 'frontal assault'. The party moves out and into the fields of the northern half of the continent.





The road between Centro Keep and Lontano Villa is packed with new monsters.



With a black mage on the team, knowing elemental weaknesses now comes in handy. Orcs are weak to fire.





It's a generic anime companion critter.





At night, the party faces ghosts and strange glowy magic balls.





Lanterns will come in a variety of elemental flavors.




Eventually, the party reaches Lontano Villa. This is the road to Norende mentioned earlier as being the main path to the village. It was inaccessible due to the destroyed bridge at the time of the Great Chasm's appearance.

In the upper right there's also some sort of obelisk on the peninsula. Can't do anything with it.





Time to give it a try.



Wait, that... That woman! The vestal of wind!



But what of Crowe?

He... I'm afraid he fell before the wicked vestal's cruel magic.

But it was his sacrifice that allowed for her capture.

I see... Well, I am glad milady is safe. I should expect no less from the grand marshal's daughter. I'll have the gate open straight away. Just a moment!

The soldier walks off.





......



The single line dot-dot-dots in this game are always exactly six dots. Also, let's hope Agnès and Squall never meet.

Er, Agnès? Look, I didn't...

......

Try to understand, Agnès. Edea didn't mean anything by it. She had to say that.

Right, exactly. It was just a ploy to get us inside. And it worked, didn't it?

But still, I didn't have to be so... I'm sorry!

No, it's not that... I am not upset with you, Edea.

But the way they felt about the vestal...about the Orthodoxy. It frightens me.

You spoke in horrific terms, and they accepted it without question.

Which means it was in line with their expectations of the vestal...

Just what has happened in the duchy to cause this hatred? Eternia was once the seat of the Crystalist Orthodoxy...

Can people's hearts really change so dramatically?

Still, I'm sorry. I didn't have to say as much as I did.

You said enough, and I thank you for it. Do not feel bad, please.

Alright. Time we all focused on the task at hand!

Right!


Next: A vestal, a shepherd, a traitor, and a playboy walk into a villa...

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Father and Child
A Long, Long Journey's Start
Infiltrating Lontano Villa
Lontano Villa

Party Chat:
Norende's Draw
A Father's Care
But You're a Traitor
A Hard Discovery