Part 93: Old Info, New Info

Entry 85: Old Info, New Info

Agnès and her chosen partner Tiz have ventured alone to meet the Sage, who promises secrets and repaired vestal garb.



What did you mean by that?

Your only memory of me is when you were brought here by the previous vestal, correct, Agnès?

That's right. I came with the mother vestal and Olivia when I was but a young girl...

However, I have met another who looked exactly as you do now.

What?

It was a long time ago... More than one thousand eight hundred years, in fact.

One thousand eight hundred years!?

Just how old are you, Sage?

We're off to a great start! Yes, the game is going to continue to largely ignore whether the party's chatted with DeRosso or not.



Nineteen hundred years...!?

No cause for surprise. Lord DeRosso is five hundred years my senior.

We were once mortal enemies, he and I. I was High Inquisitor of the Crystal Orthodoxy. He was an immortal who led those seeking to thwart us.



So far, this all matches DeRosso's account.

In our final battle, the fighting went on for over a hundred days. A true struggle to the death... With both forces decimated, the two of us met in combat, each determined to land the killing blow or die trying.

At that moment, an angel appeared before us...



Pirate hat, cutie eyepatch and all?

Both DeRosso and I were mesmerized, and before we knew it, we cast our swords aside and went to her aid. She had lost her light, and her wings were broken and severed. We knew she was beyond saving...

We were only with the angel a short time.



But this moment changed both of our lives dramatically. With the last of her fading strength, she spoke to us. Of the crystals' secrets, and of their dangers.

Dangers...

I was a man of the cloth, and Lord DeRosso was one who opposed my religion... The truths we learned that day shook the very foundations of all we had both believed in.

What did the angel tell you?

The crystals have existed since well before both the Orthodoxy and the Old Faith. The vestals do not draw the favor of the crystals by right. This title was merely given by those of the faith to ones who had this gift.



Now this is new. It runs counter to a part of Crystalism we had taken as fact so far: that vestals are necessary intermediaries between the crystals and humankind.

Instead, it sounds like the crystals are fine without vestals? Then how...?

Attitudes towards the crystals only changed among the people after the teachings of Crystalism spread.

What do you mean that we should not come in contact with them?

Unleashing the power of the crystals without due care can destroy the borders, opening the door to the Harrowing.

There have been warnings about this since before recorded history. The angel confirmed there was truth to these warnings.

What is this...Harrowing?

I have spent the last eighteen hundred years trying to find out, but as yet I am still in the dark... The true nature of the Harrowing is shrouded in mystery.

Is the Great Chasm that opened in Caldisla not the Harrowing?



DeRosso, for whatever reason, avoided mentioning the Harrowing by name, but did mention the Great Chasm was the 'last of the omens' the angel warned about.

I cannot say if the Harrowing results from the Great Chasm opening up, drawing in darkness, then spewing it forth... Or it may point to the tainting of the seas, the wind stopping, the volcanoes erupting...

In the previous world, we awakened the four crystals, and calmed the fury of nature. Then we summoned the Holy Pillar to close the Great Chasm.

Hrm... You may have acted in the belief that what you did would help. However--

However?

The path you have taken to this point aligns perfectly with the path to the Harrowing prophesied by the angel.

The path to the Harrowing...

Do you plan to awaken the crystals again? If so, you would do well to heed what I have said.



That's difficult to do when your entire problem is having no idea how the actions you're taking effect the world around you, and everyone you ask just gives the most vague answers possible.

We will...

Thank you for hearing me out.

It is a remarkable resemblance, Agnès. You, and the angel... Speaking with you has brought the memories of eighteen hundred years ago back as vividly as if they were yesterday.

Sage...

Ha ha ha... At this rate, I shall be compelled to clasp you to my breast, and plant a kiss upon your lips.



That sounds like a better outlet.

Uhh...

Why do you look upon me with such a piteous gaze? I may have lived nineteen hundred years, but I am not ready to lay down and die yet!

You two youngsters should go back to your friends. Here, I have repaired your vestal garb.



Thank you, sage... Thank you very much!

Of course. I wish you good health, Agnès.

The sage teleports away, leaving Agnès and Tiz to head back to the surface.



Partway there, Agnès halts, deep in thought.

What do you think of the sage's story, Tiz?

To be honest... I'm even more confused than before.

I have to agree. I get the feeling he has not told us the full story...

But why would he leave us in the dark?



Well the plot has to be dragged out somehow. We've got to make double-sure this game is proper JRPG length.

......(Hmm...)

Either way, he sure is an old lech, huh?

You are not wrong there.

Anyway, let's go meet up with the others.

Finally, Agnès and Tiz exit the cave.



Sorry for the wait!

That old fart hasn't filled your head with strange thoughts, has he, Agnès?

No need to worry, Airy.

Agnès had Tiz to look after her, after all.



The hints are piling up and up that what we think is right may be more complicated than it first appeared.

Heh heh. You two are quite the pair. I envy you.

That's what the sage said.

Did he now? I am not surprised. He and I did have a few things in common, to be sure.

That's enough out of you, Ringabel.

The question is, what now? For all the hints we have, there's still only one real path to take. Try again. Awaken the crystals.



Just as they're packed up and ready to move on, Edea turns back to notice:



Here? I wonder why.

Zzzzzz... *mumble mumble* I don't much care for it, but with the spiritism job command... Support abilities... Magic Critical, Gloom, and M-Attack 10% up... Adrenaline might also come in handy... *mumble mumble*

Brave three times... Then, Fairy's Aid followed by Black Bane three times... Brave once, then Rage followed by Minus Strike... I better practice some more. Self-Restore would definitely be a good move. *mumble mumble*

The Council of Six...combined strength... Nothing to fear... Wouldn't you agree, Vic...?

Ha ha ha, what a bunch of gibberish. Wake up, already, Ringabel! You'll catch cold sleeping there!

Something the matter?

Perhaps we ought to let him sleep.

Look, Tiz, Ringabel is... He's crying.

What?

Zzzzzz...

The further we go, the closer Ringabel seems to come to regaining his memories. Whatever happened to him, it probably wasn't pretty. What'll happen if he finally remembers?



With the vestal garb repaired, the party can get back on track.



We're already over on the eastern continent, so let's do Water next and see how Florem's holding up.



Well, have you seen this? A spirit hairpin! My coin purse is empty, but come on! Worth it!

As soon as they enter the city, they pass by a couple of dolled-up women. No surprise DeRosa and his cronies are at work here.



Ringabel reaches down and grabs a flier off the ground.



Even if we hadn't already killed Victoria, she had no reason to come to Florem in this timeline. With Victoria gone, the Flower Festival proceeded as planned. Yay?

It looks like the Sacred Flower Festival is over.

I wonder what Olivia is doing. Let us go and visit the Matriarch.



Florem is creepy as ever, with most of the female residents, even young girls, unnaturally obsessed with their physical appearance.

Vibrant face, vibrant hair, vibrant clothes... This is my power, mwa ha ha ha!

...Though at least some of the women are having fun with it.



The guy here who was leering at all the girls has been replaced by a star-struck country boy.

The party overhears several residents as they stroll through town:

Hey, does my hair look amazing today? I'm almost worried it might be TOO amazing.

I'm way cuter than all the older girls!

Eegh.



Last but not least, the happiest resident in Florem. She's still having a grand old time.



There's something depressing about having to start introductions over again for every person we meet.

I am the Vestal of Wind, Agnès Oblige.

Ahh! I see it now! My, but you've grown, dear. Florem is more beautiful for your visit.



Well dang, you'd think we could've prevented one death this time around...

What!? You mean Olivia is...

About six months ago, I am afraid. There was a great earthquake at the hidden village, and she perished protecting her Crystalists...

It cannot be...

Her successor was rejected by the Orthodoxy due to her illness, and there is no other.



One guess who this referring to. No wonder Victoria hated the vestals so much.

And what of the Water Crystal?

The shield put in place by Olivia disappeared with her demise. Now I fear that not a soul can get near it.

Then we must act! Leave this to me.

Of course. I pray you are able to bring the light back to the Water Crystal, Wind Vestal.

To think Olivia was spared Victoria, only to be killed by falling rocks or something. The vestals just can't catch a break.



So, this kid here is Victoria's hopeful replacement. At least we won't need to worry about Victoria hunting her down. Watch out for falling rocks, kid.

Some of you might be wondering whether the earthquake that killed Olivia had any correlation with the forming of the Great Chasm. The Great Chasm occurred on October 3rd and the Flower Festival is around January 31st. That puts Olivia's death around last August if we assume we just missed the Flower Festival.



Florem's weapon shop has a new item. Elves, much like dwarves and Yggdrasil, are mentioned but never seen or elaborated on.



But the embossing work is quite nice.



On the way to the Water Temple, the party meets and greets several new enemies.



These are fantastic for JP farming. They're prolific and drop 70 JP a pop, which isn't much until you account for them appearing often, and in easily roastable packs of six.



Last entry in the bird category of the bestiary.



These are the deadliest of the local mobs, as they can easily spam sleep alongside heavy damage to kill the party without a fight.



The final enemy has a nice glow at night.



It often appears alongside the hamadryad to help stunlock the party.



Finally we make it to the temple, where Airy diligently reminds us crystals exist.



And as you might guess...



Another fight.



Rusalka's gimmick is easier to manage now that the party has more damage options.



Rusalka soon regretted sticking her head outside whatever hell dimension she came from.



The way's clear for lucky crystal number seven.



Got the rhythm down this time, barely have to think about it.



Looking good, looking good... XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX



XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX... Huh?

......!!

Oops.



Forgot to stop Xing when Airy said stop. Good thing she caught our attention when she did.

... ...Nngh... ...*huff huff*

... ... ... ...*huff huff*

Wh-what's gotten into you, Agnès? Why... Why did you...?



Well, the crystal was this close to being destroyed!

Please, Airy, you must forgive me.



...Enough about that.

At least the crystal is still intact.



It really set my pulse to pounding.

Seems it took its toll.

Forgive me for worrying everyone like that.

......



Yes, Airy.

Phew, that could have gone horribly wrong, ha ha! Luckily everything's fine.


Next: Let's go punch out Red Mage DeRosa!

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
Events 1,800 Years Past
The Angel's Words
The Path to the Harrowing
The Full Story?
A Warm Welcome
Airy's Relief

Sub-Scenario:
The Same Old Florem
Olivia is Gone - A

Party Chat:
Ringabel's Tears