Part 19: Wherein a Guy in a Funny Outfit Yammers On

Entry 17: Wherein a Guy in a Funny Outfit Yammers On

In the center of Ancheim, a crowd's gathered in front of a large building. Let's join in.



Your king, Khamer VIII, speaks!

My people, I thank you for your tireless efforts.



Without nature's former bounty, our turbines went completely still. They sit as silent as the desert night. In the wake of this crisis, you rose up and took matters literally in hand, operating the turbines manually.

I, your king, lack words to thank you for your hard work. However. I am much aggrieved to say that energy production is less than one-fifth its former total.

At this rate, our proud kingdom, renowned for its unparalleled industry, is doomed to ineluctable decline. I find myself without recourse but to revisit my prior fiat regarding the schedule of all able-bodied citizens.



His precision fits the Land of Time, but his sympathy act isn't going over well. The crowd goes wild, not in a positive manner.

Whaaat!?

We're flesh and blood! We need rest!

In so doing, turbine output is expected to rise to thirty percent of its former value, before the wind ceased output of--

A soldier runs in from offscreen, pushing past the crowd and up the stairs. Probably better for everyone the king's speech got cut off.



What? The vestal?



But I ask that you join me in remembering the cause of our woes. The Crystal Orthodoxy, and the vestal's indolence! Therein lies the true cause of the wind's absence!

And what has the greal vestal done since the air went still? What did she do in the face of your suffering?



Though it pains me deeply to tell you of these things, I cannot deny this simple truth!

He doesn't sound all that pained. Painfully gleeful, maybe.

What resolution can be brought about to this terrible crisis? The Crystal Orthodoxy is naught but a hollow creed!



Once more I say it! It is by our own hands that we shall push this glorious kingdom ever forward. Onward, to still greater glory!





Seems that little speech was for your benefit, Agnès.



......

Agnès...

The speech over, the crowd disperses. Seems the second king of the game isn't going to be nearly as likable as the marshmallow king of Caldisla.



......

You don't have to bottle it all in. I'm no expert, but I'm happy to listen.

I cannot deny that the people of Ancheim are dissatisfied with my work as vestal. I've no intention of making excuses.

But you didn't run away, either. Right?

...The king asked me directly. He said that terrible things were happening in Caldisla, and asked that I investigate.

Yet now he paints an entirely different picture. I cannot understand his need to lie. Does he bear me some grudge? Have I done him some slight?

Do you regret listening to him in the first place?

...No. I do not regret my time in Caldisla.

Seeing that chasm first-hand showed me precisely what it is I must do.



That's-- Airy, that's hardly...

I'm glad you came and saw the chasm, too. You've shown me a path forward.

...... ...Blessed is the person who is needed by someone else.



N-nothing! It's nothing.

Then why are you hiding it? Come on, don't leave me out. I want to know!

Unacceptable. To me, and to Tiz. Right, Tiz?

Er, yes, ma'am.

Now that Agnès and Tiz are more comfortable with each other, they are pretty cute together.



But despite the light-hearted moment, it's not good if the king's against us. Let's get the word on the street.



I fear we're like a ship becalmed without it. The Grand Mill? It's being turned by manual labor now.



Whatever is the Lady Vestal doing?

Today's probably wasn't the first speech where the king's blamed the vestals and Crystal Orthodoxy.

The crystal is kept safe in the Temple of Wind. It's through the crystal's bounty Ancheim rose to prosperity, but now... The wind just suddenly stopped.

The people here still hold reverence for the Crystal Orthodoxy, despite their king's obvious bias.



Unauthorized withdrawal of well water is a prosecutable offense. If you want a free drink, go to the oasis.

Who's ready for a story about privatization and proper distribution of natural resources? Not us, just yet.



If a weakling wields two weapons, they may actually wind up doing less damage than if they held only one.

Meanwhile, this guard's just going to stick to gameplay talk, thanks very much.

But hey, what's in that building behind him? Looks like we can enter--



The party gets forcefully escorted away. This guy will summon us shortly after watching the king's speech from wherever we are in Ancheim.




We're deposited at the palace.



Pretty sure the guards would also stop us if we tried to leave, anyway. But this is our chance to talk with the king and get entry to the Temple of Wind.



Lavish place. There's another giant timepiece above the throne.



Too busy shopping.

I was dreadfully worried, you know. I'd begun to think you'd fallen victim to some terrible accident. So, what of the Caldislan chasm?

...... I fear it was worse even than Your Majesty had imagined.

So tell me, was it worse than the state of your own nation? Are you even aware of the situation here?

The wind remains still.

And the Grand Mill becalmed. I'm pleased to see you're not totally ignorant. The turbines that form the heart of this kingdom--the greatest symbols of her wisdom--now turn by hand.

The hands of our citizens. Compulsory labor service. Our survival hinges now upon their sacrifice. And even that will not last forever. We need that mill turning again soon. Not by our citizens' hands, but by the wind.

And whose job is it to see that the wind blows if not the vestal's? I can think of no other value you provide, save that. Anyway...

I never realized how long-winded this guy was until I started transcribing this stuff.

Will you now end the suffering your negligence has caused to this land? To its people? Or is that beyond your abilities? Perhaps you would sooner run again? Turn away from the plight of your people?

......



I haven't the time to waste here.



Agnès bows and stone-cold walks out. The rest of the party follows her.



Just whose fault do you think this mess is, girl!?



Mad? I felt no anger. Only...fear. The king frightens me.

His tone was far from pleasant, but he didn't seem dangerous.



They see me only as the vestal, not a human being. I don't know how to speak to them. Just thinking on it sets my legs to trembling...

That explains the tense look you've worn since we've landed here.

Personally, I felt amazing after that little conversation. Did you see his face? It was purple! I nearly laughed out loud.

I tuned him out about halfway through his speech, myself. I never did have much attention span for listening to men go on. Now women...

In any case, we'd best hurry to the temple. It's all that I can do.

Tiz isn't stupid, but he often shows a lack of worldliness, sometimes even more so than Agnès. It's accurate to his background of country boy from an insulated community and helps explain oblivious decisions like 'sure, why not take on trained soldiers' which wouldn't have a chance of success if he weren't the designated JRPG protagonist.

He makes a good counterbalance with Ringabel, who is eccentric and generally less stable/reliable but capable of being surprisingly socially savvy. Sometimes.

After leaving in style, we march right back into the palace to chat with everyone.



That helps keep the enemy's sucessful hit count to a minimum, sparing you a hefty amount of damage.

Having tutorial men sprinkled in among townsfolk is somehow charmingly realistic. Why talk to strangers about politics or religion when you can merrily geek out about your favorite hobby, shields?



This guard, on the other hand, is all business.



Some days he's fine, others he's incredibly harsh... Er, forget I said anything.

Sounds like the king isn't the most stable sort. Maybe we just caught him on a bad day.



The man in blue at the king's right hand is nice to us, at least.

Things don't seem to be going well around here, and the king's no help. Without forced escorts to the palace, the rest of Ancheim can be explored in peace.



I barely get any sleep...I'm exhausted.



The gear around the clock is turning, but the clock itself is still. Details.



There are soldiers keeping close watch. You won't be able to get in until nightfall.

Odd thing to tell us.



Looks like this is the building the lady's talking about. There's no real reason to go in there, though, even if we could get past the guard.



Adventurer is happy for us.



Hm, looks like Agnès is getting missed. Probably because she's hiding behind Edea.



Agnès takes the lead and gives the king one more chance... Nope, he's still being a prick.



Before heading to the temple, we can check the map to see a new icon -- a blue exclamation point.

Blue exclamation points denote side quests. The confrontation in the palace triggered our first one. Side quests are important in this game, especially the ones in these early chapters, because they often offer exceptional rewards. Unlike main quest objectives, side quest objectives are flexible in when they can be completed. After they are unlocked by main quest progression, they can be completed at any time during that chapter, and sometimes beyond.

The openess of side quests allows for variable cutscenes (e.g. a side quest event changes depending whether it was done before a main quest boss or after), forcing multiple playthroughs of the game to see all events. I'll be doing every side quest, and any cutscenes not shown during the main route will be covered later.



As we head toward the east side of town, we run into a sad man near the guarded water pump.

Please hold on, sir. I'll bring water from the well. Wait just a moment longer.

N-no...don't... I'm fine. Just... Just leave me...

...What?



Strange. He seems afraid of something.



Airy wants us to move on to the temple, of course, but the people here are in need of immediate help.

That building next to the guarded pump looked like some official's place. We were stopped from entering earlier, but now the coast is clear.




The Merchantry that owns the water pump. It's almost as palatial as the palace. Looks like we can get answers here.



Though they don't seem very welcoming to visitors.


Next: Time to get sidetracked.

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Ancheim's King Speaks
The Vestal Vilified
An Audience in Ancheim Palace
King Khamer's Mandate
The Vestal's Fear

Party Chat:
Agnès's Angst