Part 68: A Sinking Feeling

Entry 65: A Sinking Feeling

Following the banquet, things are going better in the Goodman household.



If not for you all, I fear to think what would have become of me. My husband is out, but our home is yours. Please, make yourselves comfortable.

Presumably Eleanor and Daniel are going to have a long talk about trust issues.



Before leaving the continent, the party sneaks back to Starkfort one last time.



Perhaps as a final favor to Commander Goodman, they're gauging the status of the Swordbearer side.



Without leadership or Eternia's support, the Swordbearers have little left to do but fizzle out their war effort.



Maybe now, Eisenberg will be able to return to its former peace.



About time. That visit with the Goodmans took longer than expected.



The Proprietress greets the party soon after they exit the Eschalot.

Zatz told me all about it. He and his mate stop by for a drink when they're around. Stop by later, okay? I'll give you a special treat.

Let's look around before we head off to the pub.



Hm? There's someone shouting in the market district.



Uh... You see, we are still deliberating whether or not to begin an investigation.

Well, when will you finish deliberating!?

We shall have to discuss whether it is appropriate to bring deliberations to a close at this point...

Tiz approaches the relatively younger man.



The man turns to Tiz.

You've got to hear me out. Lately the whole town feels like it's tilting to one side. I've been trying to get the council to look into it...



The town's tilting?

I also get the feeling it's slowly sinking. I used to get two hours of sunlight in my room each day. Now I get none at all.

Grandship is sinking...? Is that even possible?

This cutscene is optional and only available at this specific point in the plot, between entering Grandship and going to the pub.



It's often missed, as probably most players tune out Airy by this point of the game.

Anyway, the elderly councilmember's already zipped away and back into the ship with surprising speed, so there's nothing left to do but go see the Proprietress.



Are you sure? That's very generous of you.

Make yourselves at home. I've taken a shine to you all.



The party looks over their menus...

I'll have the braised shanks and spicy seafood steak!

Fluffy cheese omelet, please! Oh, and a Palatial Parfait Deluxe!

Sauteed wild pheasant, and... the slow-cooked country-style stew.

Uh... Sweet herb and nut porridge, and some jam-slathered toast...

Sure thing, hang on a second...

*SHAKE SHAKE**

*sound of ship tilting, creaking and breaking glassware

What was that?

We've been having that a lot lately. Grandship might be finally coming apart.

*SHAKE SHAKE*

Yipes! That was a big shake...

How long ago was Grandship built?



Wow... It's that old?

Alright, it's all ready! Help yourself to seconds, of course! Here you go.





Worries temporarily forgotten, the party digs in to their meal. We rejoin them as they take a break.

That was a feast and a half!

Is that all you're having, Agnès? You eat like a sparrow.

I lived by modest means at the temple, and I still get full very easily.

Say, Proprietress. Do you have any plans tonight? Shall we take a stroll on the deck and listen to the waves?



*shake shake*

There we go again... That sound gives me the shivers.

We're all used to it here. The whole town floats on the sea, after all. It's nothing out of the ordinary for it to creak and sway a bit.

The celebrations continue. Later that evening...



Zatz and Datz sail their ship towards Grandship, going as quickly as they can muster. This always seemed like an odd scene to throw in, like someone drew the concept art and they loved it so much they had to stick it in the game somewhere.



You ate too much, Tiz. I can't believe you put all that away. Do men always eat such volume?

Well, I guess so. I haven't pigged out that much in a while, though.

I see. Quite an appetite...





Greeting. Ah, the wind vestal!

Rare to see you both here together. The usual, Datz?

No, I'm good today. I'm glad we ran into you guys here.

...?

You'd best flee the ship soon.

Flee?

*SHAKE SHAKE SHAKE*

Eek! The whole place moved!

Edea! Agnès! Proprietress! Hold on to me as tight as you can! I'll support you!

I'm good, thanks.

Then you, Airy!



Point: Airy.

Hmph. No need to be shy, girls.



They're in a panic up on deck.



Good, the party can walk off their meal.



Run? Where would I run? I'm past all that nonsense.

We've got our boat. If it comes time to run, we'll manage on our own.



First quick decision in council history, and it's to save their own hides... Feh!

If the council's gone, this must be pretty serious.

Everyone's in a panic, but just what is it that's happened?

I-I'm not worried! Uncle Datz will keep us safe, I know it!

Though really, there's no way of knowing when or if Grandship will really sink. 3,000-4,000 years of continued service is a pretty fantastic record.



Eeeeek! I want to go home to Caldisla, NOW!

Eeeeeek! Help! Somebody help!





Ha ha ha, wheee! The ground is really jumping around today! This is fun!

Some residents are handling this better than others.



I used to think the councilmen couldn't make a decision to save their lives. Shows me, I guess.

As the locals start to feel unnerved...



Whoa-wha...! What's that shaking!? No one said anything about shaking!

The tourists are questioning their vacationing choice.




This is ridiculous. If the council's gone, who's piloting or whatever managing a millenia-old vessel requires?




To the ship's now-open bridge/former council meeting room!



Say, didn't Ringabel's journal say something about an engine room?



I'll check the journal again.

Hmm...nothing's changed!

There must be a clue around here somewhere! Let's all look!



Hmm... What's this?

Found something?



Same here... It's all gibberish to me.

Can you read it, Agnès?

Wait... This is the ancient language of the Crystal Adventists. I can only make out a few words...



Engine room door... Heart of the ship... Requires orichalcum... Ship will rise...

Engine room door...

It must mean this door.

Ah, I remembered something!

Huh?

Egil! That orichalcum he picked up!

The rest of the party readily catches on and agrees.



That's right: Back to Caldisla! ...Again. Just when you think this chapter's about finished...

Edea wasn't the only one to find reading material in the former council hall. Ringabel adds a new entry into D's Journal around this point:


Just how large is Grandship's population? It's shown as about the size of a city, and if the rest of the ship's decks are as crowded as where the party can visit, it's fairly populated. Did the council actually manage to lower the percentage of residents on the council in the past 667 years? Or is most of the ship empty after massive population drop, so that 40% of the population fits on two lifeboats? Also, just how old are those lifeboats? When's the last time they were checked over for maintenance?

We aren't going to get any answers to that, so best to move on.



On the way back to the Eschalot, the party gets caught up in the evacuation shuffle.

I can't get a boat out of here! I may not get home for weeks...

Whew, don't scare an old woman like that... Still, perhaps that was my cue to leave.

Yeesh, if I stuck around here, my heart would give out before my house went under.



Poor fellow, he's no Tim Curry. Let's check on the Proprietress, Zatz, and Datz before we go.



You're killing me here, lady! If not for your own sake, do it for ours!

Yeesh, that proprietress's head is harder than orichalcum.

Right, we'll leave them to it.

One boat ride partway across the world later:



Heh, you're looking well.

I believe I have you to thank for that. I'm very grateful.

Egil goes to the training hall at the castle every day about this time. He should return soon...



After a small chat, Tiz gets to the point.

I have a favor to ask you, Egil. Can you let me have that orichalcum you found?

I know it's a lot to ask...

We would really appreciate it, Egil.

Oh, please. No need to ask so politely... Of course you can have it.

Are you sure?

I get eggs for dinner every day here anyway. I can train, and go to school as well...

All because you rescued me from the Swordbearers, and brought me here. You need it to help someone out, right? In that case, it's yours.



That's a decent chunk of ore Egil's been carrying around. Hopefully it will be enough for... whatever we're going to do with it.

Thank you, Egil.



Egil's settled in, and Karl's back to work.



Ever since that Egil child's arrival, the innkeep's been back to his old self. The inn finally feels lively again.

The others working/living in the inn seem to get along with him.



As do the knights at the castle.



I stand firmly by my promise to offer any aid I can in the village's rebuilding. Any at all.

One nice thing about Bravely Default is the sense of accomplishment you get. When you clear Eternians out of an area, you're able to see things get better afterwards. You feel like you've really made the world of Luxendarc a better place. But before we save any more lands, we've got a boat problem to plug.


Next: In lieu of ancient ship mechanics, call in your local vestal and her crew!

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Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
A Tempting Treat
The Proprietress's Treat
Grandship Sinking
The Council Hall Manuscript
Orichalcum

Sub-Scenario:
Petition to a Councilman