Part 8: Sweet-Talking Kirgard Dog

Music: Matrech - Suikoden V, "Military Fortress"



Welcome back. Last time on Exit Fate, we defected to Zelmony, spoke to the chancellor, and ended up with our own brand-new battalion, the Elysium Army. Now it's time to do a bit of sidequesting and build our numbers up a bit.



This update also marks the beginning of Chapter 3. It's at this point that I realize that the quotes at the beginnings of chapters are actually from characters in the game itself. Who are the Sigmund and Sigfried Jadengand that gave the quotes for chapters 1 and 2? We're not going to meet them until later.




Anyway, as Carson mentioned at the end of last update, part of our job as the commander of the Elysium Army is going to be convincing people who otherwise won't join the army to join up with us. Since she's right next door in Matrech, our first potential recruit is Francesca. Recruiting new party members is pretty simple: if you talk to someone who has a portrait, you'll generally be given the option to recruit them, as you can see above.



That said, just choosing "Recruit" won't always result in the character enthusiastically adding themselves to our ranks. In this case, Francesca won't join us because we're not "followers of darkness." In order to recruit her, we're going to need to bring along a dark-elemental character to convince her to come with us. Unfortunately, we don't have anyone yet who fits that bill.




There are also a few characters available in the areas we've been to before. So our first move this update is to head back to Madrigal.

Music: Madrigal - Final Fantasy VI, "Epitaph"




In the Madrigal inn, we find this guy sulking. If we ask him to join us...



I, the great bard Cid, was going to make my fame in this region as a musical and poetic genius! Alas, cruel fate. To my great anguish I found several sheets of my masterpieces missing! I must have forgotten them when I stayed in Blackwater, but now I can no longer return! Oh, whatever will I do!

That sounds suspiciously like a fetch quest to me. Well, we're headed that way anyway, so might as well swing by Blackwater and see if we can find that sheet music.



Of course, to get back to Blackwater and the eastern part of Zelmony, we need to head back through the forest. At this point very little in the forest is a threat, so we can just stroll through without much trouble.



We can also swing by Richard's house, but he's not at home. Guess we'll have to come back later if we want to investigate that whole mist monster thing.



Pretty quickly, we find ourselves back in Amen Corner.

Music: Amen Corner - Final Fantasy VI, "Gau's Theme"



If we search around a bit, we find Joe hidden in a corner.



Hmmm... Hey, can I borrow Col for a moment?



Sure, why not? It's not like you're a thieving asshole or anything. What could possibly be the harm?



You know that crazy guy Deke who lives all by himself in this big house?



The camera pans over at this point to show us that yes, the house is indeed rather large.

Wanna know what's going on in there? I found a way to sneak inside. He never lets anyone into his home, you know. He must be hiding something!
Are you insane? What if we're caught breaking into his house? Haven't you heard the rumors? People have heard weird noises coming from inside, even when he's not at home! It's dangerous!
We'll just have to make sure we aren't caught. It's not like we'll be stealing anything, we're just going to take a look.
No way. I have better things to do than get into trouble because of you.
Oh... that's a shame. Well, I guess I'll go on my own, then.




Sounds good to me. Have fun! We're going to head ou--



Goddamn it, Col.

Oh? Changed your mind?
We're only going to take a quick look, nothing more. All right?
Sure, just a quick look.




Music: Thieves - Final Fantasy IX, "Vivi's Theme"

I didn't say it was subtle. Anyway, we're inside now. I don't see anything interesting here, so let's move on.



Ugh, Joe, you dickhead. Anyway, we now have a mini-dungeon to get through with just Joe and Col.



Joe is a fairly mediocre character who would be completely forgettable if not for his special. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Joe has Steal, which can be used to potentially steal an item from an enemy. Most enemies don't have anything remarkable, but there are occasional enemies, usually bosses, that have very rare items that can't be acquired in any other way.



He and Col have B-rank relations with each other, as well.




Almost immediately after we start walking, we're set upon by some... hang on, what are those things exactly?



Wood Soldiers? What the hell is going on in this house?





Joe fights with a dirk he hides in his jacket, which is totally not a shady thing to do. His damage output is similar to Col's.




He also, as mentioned previously, can attempt to steal items, but if you're going to try, expect to see this message a lot. Stealing is generally tough to pull off.




The Wood Soldiers hit fairly hard, but they're also rather inaccurate and have low HP. We take them down without much trouble.





A little further in, we come across a treasure chest, but when we attempt to open it...



... it comes alive and tries to bite us. What the fuck is wrong with this Deke guy?




These Surprise Boxes love to cast Slow, which lowers a character's SPD. Joe and Col are already pretty fast to begin with, though, so being slowed simply means that Joe and Col get 1 turn for each of the enemies', as opposed to the 3:2 ratio they normally get.



Winning the battle nets us a Neutralize spell. Neutralize cures Poison, which generally isn't worth worrying about, but it's free, so I'm not complaining.





This short corridor/library is the last room in the mini-dungeon.





How should I know? There's only one way to find out.



Uh-oh.




Holy fuck that does not look like a guy we want to piss off.

Uhm, well... you see...
Enough! Hmmm... zis is perfect, ja. You vill do just fine for my experiment. I vas about to test my latest invention, and you vill make excellent subjects!




Music: Fuse - Xenogears, "Fuse"

This guy's nuts! We've gotta run!





Way ahead of you, Joe! We now need to get out the same way we came in, but I don't believe there's a time limit or anything.



Fade to black...



I'm -never- going to follow your stupid ideas ever again. In fact, I'm going to return to the Elysium army right now. I run less chance of getting myself killed there.
You know... Deke saw us. This is pretty bad. If I stay in Amen Corner, he'll find me for sure.
Are you going to leave? Where to?



Goddamn it. If it weren't for the fact that you're our only potential thief at the moment I'd toss you right back in there.

Uh, well, I don't know...
Oh come on, it'll be fun, right? More fun than becoming some mad scientist's test subject anyway. Come on, let's get out of here before he finds us.







That's all there is to do in Amen Corner, so let's check out the other towns.



I make it halfway to Mayfall City before I realize that I somehow managed to glitch out the game. Since I placed Col in the upper-right space during the mini-dungeon, where Ljusalf was in our full party, they occupy the same space when I get everyone together again.



I can't even fix it using the formation screen, since selecting that spot will move both Col and Ljusalf at the same time. So I move Ljusalf into the entourage and back, which fixes the issue.



Next stop, Mayfall City.

Music: Mayfall - Final Fantasy VI, "The Wedding Waltz ~ Duel"



If you'll recall, when we first visited the pub here, we were told that it was the place to be if we were looking to hire some soldiers. Now that we're looking to do just that, let's take another look.





I spent over a decade as a sergeant in the state army. I've fought everywhere from Helman Island to the deserts of Cayeska. I even led my own archer company for a while. Of course, this kind of experience don't come cheap, but your army looks like fun so I'll make you a good deal. For 1500 Arn I'll lend you my services until the end of the war.

Unfortunately, this is a little bit out of our price range, so we have to turn him down. He's actually not meant to be recruited yet, since he's level 18, though you could grind up the cash now if you really wanted.




Mike, on the other hand, is much more affordable.










When we recruit a new character from now on, we're treated to this screen, where we can place our new party member into our active party or entourage, or leave them out for now. We've got space, so Mike joins us.



Despite having literally no personality outside of "is a mercenary" and "knows Outsider," Mike is a fantastic character, and during my first run of the game he stayed in my party all the way to the end. He's roughly as strong as Ayara, but he also brings something else that very few other frontline characters have: speed. If that weren't enough, he even has decent MP+, so he makes an excellent candidate for throwing out utility spells while letting mages use their MP to deal more damage. His only real downside is that he's more frail than other frontline characters, with lower HP and defenses, but not low enough to be a huge problem.



To top it off, he comes with the best armor available at this point in the game. We could really use another big damage dealer, so Stromgaard gets the boot into the entourage for now and Mike takes his place.





Yeah, I think Mike will be sticking with us for awhile.




While we're in Mayfall, I stop by the magic shop and use the money from our trip through the forest to pick up a few more Mends, as well as an Icicle and Shadowcast to give us a full arsenal of magic.



I also stop by the army base and find that fucking cat again.




To no one's surprise, it runs away.



We can also talk to Wilona, but our magic rank is still the same. There isn't an option to recruit her.





Our last stop is Blackwater, so I use the short journey there to try out Icicle...





... and Shadowcast.




Music: Blackwater - Final Fantasy VIII, "Breezy"

We stop by the inn to pick up Cid's sheet music.

You want to deliver them back to him? Sure, I'll give them to you, then.






We can also try to recruit Griever.



To take one life to save another, to destroy those who destroy... it ultimately leads to nowhere. Only the quiet observer can retain his innocence.

I take it that's a "no," then.



That's all there is to do on this side of the forest, so we head back through it (again).



Music: Madrigal - Final Fantasy VI, "Epitaph"




E-everything is complete again! I can't believe it! I'm saved! How can I ever repay you? I'll do anything! Joining your army? A poet experiencing the tragedy of war? How temptingly romantic... Yes! I will accept your offer! I can already feel the siren's call of the battlefield! I see it now! It's my destiny!







Cid is... pretty bleh. He's certainly a mage, but Ljusalf (as well as most other mages we can recruit) has him beat in the MAG and MP+ departments. We're going to stick with our elven friend for now.



His equipment is fairly standard mage stuff.





He also fights using a harp. I have no idea how that works. Like Ljusalf, though, he can't hit for shit and what few hits he does land will do very little damage.




He does, however, give me a chance to show off how the experience system works for characters of different levels. Daniel is overleveled for this area and gained a grand total of 33 experience for the battle. Cid gained 1170, enough for a full level. This difference will only become more pronounced as the level differences get higher.




We've done all we can here, so I head back to Matrech. I've built up some money from our trips through the forest, so I touch up Ayara and Mike's weapons a bit.




Then it's off to the State Hall to get our first mission from Erin. But before we make it to her office, we run into someone new.

Music: Suspicion - Suikoden V, "Suspicion"



Daniel Vinyard. Have we met before? I'm still sort of new here.
As I thought... You're that Kirgard colonel. Hmph, I see the chancellor deemed it unnecessary to introduce you to me. I am Vosch, Governor of Matrech.
The governor?



This may be the seat of power for the Zelmony State Union, but the Matrech state itself still takes care of its own matters.
Oh, I see now. The governors are the heads of the individual states. Pleased to meet you, Governor Vosch.



Maybe the chancellor is getting old enough to fall for your sweet-talking, but I am not fooled so easily. I can see what you really are. You are a Kirgard dog sent here to destroy the State Union.
The chancellor has given me a chance. That's all. I'll prove to all of you that I'm not a liar.
A chance? Is that what you're calling it? It looks to me like you've been given much more than that. It's preposterous. You've just arrived, and you've already been given command over your own army regiment. How do you explain that?
It was the chancellor's decision. If you have a problem with it, he's the one you should turn to.

Vosch suddenly gets all up in our grill.



I'll keep an eye on you.



Asshole.



But at least the chancellor is on my side. I should focus on making a good impression for the captain. Speaking of which, I wonder if Captain Erin has a task for us yet...



Well, that is what we came here for.

Music: Matrech - Suikoden V, "Military Fortress"



They've seized control of a mining town not far from the capital of Bergstadt. It's not a serious threat, but it'll hurt the iron and coal trade that Highland relies on. They must've figured that we'd be too concerned about Kirgard to take action in Highland, but we can't tolerate any aggression towards the State Union, even at a time like this. I've arranged for you to be sent to Highland to take care of this matter. It's a strictly internal matter, so it would seem like a good test for you.
Yes, that's true. It'll be easier for me since Kirgard isn't involved. Don't worry. I'll take care of those rebels.
Good. I've sent one of my best knights to lead this operation. He will be waiting at the western pass to meet you. Take some time to equip your men properly, but leave as soon as possible. You'll reach the pass if you head straight west from Matrech. Is everything clear?
Yes, ma'am.



Daniel turns to leave, but then suddenly remembers something.

Something wrong?
Well... I ran into the governor of Matrech on the way here.
Governor Vosch?
Yes. He didn't sound very happy about me being here.



Kirgard is still our enemy. We can't forgive them for what they've done. The governor has every right to watch you with distrust.
Just because i'm from Kirgard doesn't mean I agree with everything they do. I was expecting to at least be treated with some degree of respect.
So you say, but we have only your word to go by. You think that's enough to gain our trust? We've been betrayed by your country many times before. If you want to prove your loyalty to us, then follow the orders you've been given.





Now, start by successfully completing the mission I've given you.
Yes. I won't waste any more of your time, Captain.

Next time: We go put down a rebel uprising.

PS: I hate having to keep asking for this, but I'm hoping that we can push the next update onto a new page, since it's going to have a lot of images. I don't know about all of you, but my browser is already having trouble with three updates on one page, so I'd appreciate the help.