Part 26: The Things I've Seen

Welcome back. Last time on Exit Fate, we successfully repelled the Kirgard assault on the Matrech state, but also allowed Rock to go ahead with his coup of Highland while the Zelmony State Army was occupied with the aforementioned attack. What consequences will Highland's independence and Kirgard's second major defeat have on the war? And what will we be doing while waiting for Kirgard to make its next move? It's time to find out.

Music: Elysium - Chrono Trigger, "Frog's Theme (Orchestral Version)"



We begin this update in Daniel's room, some time after the events of the previous update. There's nothing to do but head out.



Ayara is waiting for us as we exit our room.



Good morning. Were you waiting here for me?
Yes, sir. We've received a message for you from the captain. She wants to see you as soon as possible.
I see...



Anyway, I'd better not make her wait. I'll go see her right away.



One of the odd things about scenes outside Daniel's room, like this one, is that they will often end with the game giving us a message that the person we were talking to has joined our party. They do indeed become part of the active party (since Daniel was alone in the party at the beginning of this scene), but I'm not sure why the message is necessary. This happened the last time we had this sort of scene, with Ljusalf, and I just kind of skipped over it then.



Anyway, before we head over to Matrech, we have an aspiring reporter to speak to in Blackwater. You'll also notice that all of the Highland locations have disappeared from our list of places to teleport to.

Music: Blackwater - Final Fantasy VIII, "Breezy"



We've participated in another war battle, which means it's time to once again give our report to Meiko.

You've been in another battle recently, haven't you? You can't seem to get any rest. I know a little about what's been going on, but would you mind telling me in full detail?
Well...



... wish I hadn't left those two chucklefucks standing. Oh, sure, they ran off in the end, but I would've given anything to destroy...




Mr. Vinyard, you have no idea how much help you've been to me. I've tried to stay neutral, but it's hard when most of my big stories are coming from you.



Oh, don't worry. All your secrets will be safe with me, of course. I've always been more interested in down-to-earth stories. How about it? You might even discover things about the people you work with that you never knew before!







Meiko is another one of those characters who has no business being in the active party. As a combat character, she's just incredibly boring. While none of her stats are particularly bad, none of them are good, either. She's pretty much the most average character you can think of.





Meiko fights with her feet, but her damage is far outclassed by many of our characters.



But like Royston, Bartolli, and others, Meiko still has a use in that she provides a service for us at our castle. In this case, she's going to set up a newsroom. Let's head back to Elysium and check it out.




We can find Meiko off one of the first-floor corridors.



For a start, I was thinking of holding interviews with all people around here, so that everyone can get their unique story out. What do you think? It's a good idea, isn't it? Just let me know who I should start with. Is there anyone you'd like to know a little more about?




Just as she said, Meiko's role is to interview our characters. She can interview any character we've recruited (including herself) and find out a little bit about their backstory and personality. Some interviews are funny, and others are more informative, but all of them will shed some light on the chosen character that we wouldn't otherwise see just playing the game normally.



To give an example, let's try interviewing Daniel.



Interviews aren't immediate, though, so we can't just ask her for info on everyone right out of the gate. It's a little annoying, but I suppose it's a nice way to spread the information across the course of the game.



I don't know what the exact trigger is, but after awhile you can come back and the interview will be ready.



Then it'll show up in the interview list as text. Here's Daniel's full interview:

Today I am speaking to none other than the commander of the Elysium army himself, Daniel Vinyard. Mr. Vinyard, I'm very glad you could spare some time for me. It's a great honour. You must be a very busy man.
I certainly don't get bored around here, but on the other hand, there are many talented people here who take care of the day-to-day operation of the army. Without them, the whole structure would fall apart instantly. Compared to that, my efforts are only modest.
But it's you who inspired all these people to work together, isn't it? So you could say that everyone here is indispensible, including you.
That's a good way of putting it, yes. Everyone has their own role.
A statement that seems to match your views well... During my preparations for this interview, I found that few people had any specific questions they'd like to ask you, personal ones at least. It looks like everyone appreciates your openness in general.
I'm glad to hear that. There were no questions that showed up frequently?
Well... One that popped up a few times was, "are you single?"
Haha... I'll admit the answer to that is "yes," but I don't think this is the time or place to do something about that. I guess I'm currently engaged to my work.
Well, in that case, I won't take up any more of your valuable time. Thank you, Mr. Vinyard.
No problem.

That should give you a good general idea of what the interviews are like. I imagine that most of you have at least one character you'd like to see interviewed, so from now on I'm planning to post requested interviews as "in-between" updates. If there's anyone you want me to interview, just post and let me know, and I'll get around to it. Much like the game itself, I'd like to spread the interviews across the course of the LP, so I won't do everyone's requests immediately. But I will get all the interviews that people request eventually, and if there's a strong consensus on a particular character they'll definitely get priority. So let me know.



Music: Matrech - Suikoden V, "Military Fortress"

Now then, I believe we were going to see Erin.



Captain... I have to apologize. I assured you that there'd be no problem with Highland.
I see... but I'm to blame as well. I'm the one who sent you to Highland, and I took your deal with them for granted. In the end, they're the ones who deceived us. If anyone should pay for this, it's Rock.



What's going to happen with Highland now?
Nothing, for now. The chancellor has made it very clear he wants to avoid intervention in Highland. It's understandable, I guess. At least we know that Highland won't attack the rest of the country. The execution of Governor Banhk is a serious matter, but...



Anyway, we have no choice. As long as Kirgard remains a threat, we can't waste any effort on Highland.
I don't think Kirgard is done for yet. They were already anticipating losing the battle in exchange for us losing Highland.
Indeed, but there's little we can do as long as we have no clue about their next move. We don't have the numbers to organize a counter-attack. In any case, that's not why you are here.
There's something else?
It has nothing to do with Kirgard or Highland, but it's a task that your team has proven to excel at. There is an excavation site far west of the city. Archaeologists have recently found the ruins of a centuries-old structure there. However, the problems started once they'd opened the entrance.



Our scholars were forced to abandon their investigation, and now the surrounding area is being threatened by these creatures as well.



I wonder if this is what life is like for RPG protagonists after their games are over. They must have built up a reputation for clearing out old caves and ruins, and they've got to make money somehow, don't they?

Yes, there's a...



Who is it?




What's the problem?
There is a visitor for you at the castle, sir. She said she had to meet you, and it's urgent.
Hmmm... Captain?
You can go and take care of this first. There is no great hurry, but I'd like you to send some men to the excavation site on short term. If you're somehow unable to carry out this assignment, let me know.




A visitor, huh? And the soldier called the visitor a "she." Come to think of it, there aren't many women we've met so far who would feel the need to come visit us. I wonder who it could be? Maybe it's someone new?





Or maybe it's just Angel. Wait, what?

Music: None



Daniel...
But, how...? Why...? What are you doing here?



Yeah... All right...

Fade to black...




Music: Reflection - Chrono Trigger, "At the Bottom of the Night"



Yeah...
You've changed a lot in these past months...
I was... forced to change.
What happened...? Why did things turn out like this?
What happened?




Daniel... Who do you think betrayed you? Tell me what you think. I have to hear it from your own mouth, or I won't believe it.
People above me. No one else could've had the opportunity to do it. People who knew what I was trying to do, and felt threatened by it. It had to have been someone who believed strongly in the war, and wanted it to go through at any cost. You already know who I'm talking about, don't you?




But I wouldn't accept it. I... I kept believing that you'd never think that way.



The three of us grew up together! All those memories we shared, don't they mean anything to you!?
The memories, huh?



I guess you were fooled as well.
What's wrong with you, Daniel!? Why do you keep searching for things to blame!?
How is it any different from what all of you are doing by blaming me!? Do you have any idea what it's like, to wake up one day branded as a traitor!?




Music: None



Don't you have any idea how Jovian and I felt? We had no idea how to react to the news! We'd lost a good friend! But we believed in you, Daniel. Even after everything, we continued to believe that you were innocent. Why couldn't you believe in us?



It seemed so obvious to me that it had to be Jovian, I just couldn't think of any other explanation. Someone in Kirgard betrayed me, that's a fact. Someone of high enough rank to pull it off. If it wasn't you or Jovian, then it was someone else.
Are you really sure of that?
What else could've happened? Even General Keyser agreed with me.



What things? What are you talking about?




Music: ??? - Xenogears, "The One Who Is Torn Apart"






I just want to call attention to this line here, as it's one of those things that's really easy to skim over. It's already been well established that Daniel has some sort of trouble remembering things, but this line should make it clear that whatever is affecting his memory is more than just the simple cliche of amnesia. Angel and Jovian have not been stupid; they have tried to tell him about things that happened in the past. But it should be obvious now that some force has been actively blocking or deleting Daniel's memories of particular events.



Our patrol unit fell into an ambush, and we were greatly outnumbered. We really didn't stand a chance. Before we knew what was going on, we'd already lost half our men. Needless to say, we were surrounded. There was nothing we could do but try to fight our way through. Do you remember any of this, Daniel?
Yes, I remember. Thanks to quick reaction on Jovian's side, we could form at least some kind of formation and defend ourselves. Despite that, we continued to suffer casualties as we tried to break through. I remember... I was almost hit by a thrown spear, but you saved me just in time.
But as a result, I was hit myself. It wasn't bad, but the force of the impact still threw me to the ground. I remember shouting and crying from both sides. Mainly ours. I started to lose consciousness. The last thing I remember hearing... was Jovian calling out to you. Do you know what he said to you?




He called out to you because even to him, all hope seemed lost. He told you and the rest to make a run for it while he held them off. But... you didn't run. And when I regained consciousness... the scene I saw before me is one I'll never forget.




That... can't be true.
Jovian said that afterwards, you reacted as if you had just woken up, and it had all been nothing but a dream. He forbade any of the survivors to talk about it. As for the two of us... we didn't even want to.



I was unconscious, so I hadn't actually seen it happen, but Jovian did, and to this day, he refuses to talk about it. For a while, he was honestly afraid of you.
No... That can't be true...



Or can it? Daniel suddenly recalls the dream we saw a long time ago, way back in the very first update.



I'm sorry, Daniel. I don't know what happened that night at the pass, and I don't know if it's related to this at all, but I felt you had to know about it.
Are you saying... I could've caused the incident myself?
I don't know. All we can do is pray that it's not true. But you must know one thing: whether it was you or not, it definitely wasn't Jovian.

Music: None



I understand that, but... I didn't come here just to tell you this. You have to hear me out.
... Go ahead.



Jovian has a plan. Leonius's last attack was a double distraction. While you were busy dealing with the fourth legion and Highland, Jovian mobilized the whole third legion as well. Little by little, all of his troops were transported by ship, sailing in a wide circle around Mayfall, and landing on the undefended shores near Oischin.




Jovian is going to attack the State Capital!?
And he can get away with it. He's taken great care to hide his presence, and no one would expect an attack from the south. While Jovian lays siege on Matrech, Leonius will take back Mayfall and isolate the capital. After that, it'd only be a matter of time.



Yes, if you give this information to your superiors, Jovian's army will be destroyed. But if you cooperate with us, you can ensure victory for Jovian. You can help us end the war instantly.
If Jovian's legion is defeated there, it would mean the end of the invasion...



I don't want to destroy Jovian's dreams, but... I've grown tired of this war, tired of seeing my two closest friends fight each other. I've had enough of it.





Of course, I understand. You still have five days to think about it. Also... Now that I've come here, I can't return to the third legion anymore. I have no choice but to join your army.









For the curious, Angel is still exactly as we left her. Now that we've actually got other characters to compare her to, it turns out that she's a lot like Shiro. While not quite on his level, her ACC and SKL are very high, and she's also decently strong and fast. The main difference between the two is that Angel's PDF is much lower and her MDF much higher, so she's much more suited to the middle row than the front. She's still quite usable, though.

That night...



If it was really all my own doing, then... What have I done? What have I been doing? I must... Yes, I know what I must do. I have to concentrate on what I know is true.




I must talk to Angel right away!



We're actually given control here for this brief segment. We need to go find Angel, but the only problem is that we haven't been given any indication of where she's staying.



But in a completely plausible turn of events, Elysium men are guarding all of the doorways we don't have to walk through. We can find Angel's room by following the unguarded doors.



It turns out that she's actually staying on the west side of the castle, in a room above the armory. I must admit that that's not the first place I would have looked.



Angel, I have to apologize for what I said before. I shouldn't have let myself go like that.
It's... all right. I'm not that angry anymore.
But... that isn't the only reason I came to see you. Angel, there is something I must know. I feel like it's an important piece of this puzzle that I'm still missing, and you are one of the few who might know.





Eight years?
Yes. Eight years since you last mentioned her name to us.



I don't understand it myself, Angel. I can't remember anything about her. But I know she's important! I'm sure that I've known her in the past! Last month, she appeared before me. That's what triggered all of it. Since then, I've had bits and pieces of my memory come back to me.
She... She came to you? You've met her, Daniel?
I met her, but she told me nothing.



Music: Sadness - Final Fantasy VII, "On That Day, Five Years Ago"



These children were taken in by the orphanage, but I have no idea where they came from. I don't think they were even from the area.



Wait... you're not saying that...



It wasn't just the three of us back then. She was part of the group as well. She and I had always been good friends.
I... have a sister? But... why can't I remember any of it? And why did she leave?
To be honest, I don't know.



The day that Jovian and I finally returned to Levier, after the war had ended.
I remember... that I got home a little earlier than you two. What happened that day?

Fade to white...




Oh, don't be so melodramatic. When we left, you swore you'd return to this place, didn't you?
True, true, but there were still a few times when I wasn't sure we'd make it. Like when we were cornered at the Rien intersection, I really thought that only a miracle could save us.
That's true. We were lucky the Lieutenant's forces showed up in time. But still...
Huh... I wonder where Daniel is. He should've arrived here a couple of days ago, so I was expecting him to hold a big welcome back party for us.




Haha, that's something for you to say. I don't particularly remember you being the most optimistic out of us three.
It's good to see you two again. We've seen each other far too little lately...
But now that the war's over, we'll have plenty of time to catch up. It'll be just like the old days.




Before Daniel responds, the screen flashes briefly.



Gone? What do you mean, gone?




Fade to white...



We never asked. We didn't dare. There was something about you when you told us.





I wish I knew, Daniel. But the fact remains, that was the last time I ever heard about her from you. Since all her belongings were gone, it was generally assumed she left on her own accord, and you just had trouble accepting it. But it was more than just that. Like I said, you no longer acknowledged her in any way.



But... she didn't disappear forever. You must've known, right? That the same Brunhild is now supreme commander of the Almenga imperial army?
We knew, of course. I'm sure you've heard it before in passing too, but you probably ignored it like you'd done with all other mentions of her. We decided not to press the issue with you. Yes, we were confused too, but there was little contact between Kirgard and Almenga anymore. There wasn't much we could do.
But what does that mean? How could my sister have vanished suddenly only to resurface years later as leader of Almenga's army?



So I'd have to find her again... Something's going on, and I'm sure it's more than just a family matter. Her visit to me couldn't have been a coincidence. Angel, I intend to get to the bottom of this. Will you help me?
Of course. I want to know the truth too, and I'd like to see her again as well.



Next time: The fate of the war between Kirgard and Zelmony now rests in our hands. What will we do with the information we have?

As mentioned earlier, let me know if there are any characters you'd like Meiko to interview. I'll probably post interviews on days when I don't have an update to post.

Editor's Note: All interviews are located in an appendix on the main Table of Contents. NOTE: The appendix contains all interviews and so contains spoilers!