Part 38: From The Ashes

Welcome back. Last time on Exit Fate, Ryan resigned as chancellor of the State Union and joined us, and we made our final assault on the city of Matrech, managing to wrest it from Zelmony control. However, even as we took over the city, Erin and Jasper were nowhere to be found. Ryan told us that they had escaped into the catacombs underneath the State Hall, and since we don't know where the exit of the passage is, we're just going to have to chase after them. So let's get to it.



Music: Catacombs - Final Fantasy Tactics, "Back Fire"

There's nowhere we can go at this point except into the catacombs, as the soldiers on the right won't let us go up the stairs. We can talk to Carson to change our team, though, and the mage-looking person on the right will give us a full heal if we're hurting.



Now then, it's time for every gamer's favorite area: the obligatory sewer level.




Almost immediately, we're set upon by--oh god.



oh god they've learned to walk on land fuck FUCK RUN




Actually, Land Sharks aren't that hard to deal with. They're very fast and hit hard, but they don't have any abilities beyond their basic bite.




The Sahagins accompanying the Land Shark are a little more worrying in the offense department. They have a powerful magic attack in Waterfall...




... and they also have the special ability Bubble, which can hit anyone on the field for heavy damage.




Their physical attack isn't anything to write home about, though.




And even with their powerful attacks, Sahagins are an afterthought because their HP is absolutely pitiful. A couple of attacks or a strong magic spell will often drop them before they can even get their first turn.



Like Gaia's Heart, the Matrech catacombs are made up of several 4-way junctions like the one shown here. Even though we have full visibility, though, the catacombs are arguably more annoying than Gaia's Heart because it turns out that Daniel is absolutely unwilling to get his feet wet. The puddles in this area are impassable.




This turns the area into a maze of sorts as we try to figure out the correct junctions to go through.



There are also several treasure chests scattered around in easily-visible but not easily-reachable places.



This particular one contains a Warm Parka, continuing the trend of light armors getting higher PDFs as the materials they are made from become less suitable for defense. The Warm Parka grants +14 PDF for 7 weight. I hand it over to Reod.



Along the way, we also run into some Zelmony soldiers, like the ones we saw back at the courthouse.






But it seems as though their stats haven't changed, since with our newfound levels, the majority of them are unable to even hit us. The few attacks that do land do 20 damage or less.




The Matrech Elite in the center is also capable of using Column Strike, but as with their regular attacks, we dodge it more often than not.




Eventually we make our way through the maze and come to this room, where there are a few treasures free for the taking.



You know, I said when we found our first Restore that I'd be buying more copies at our first opportunity, but I've honestly gotten enough just from treasure chests so far. I think this is our fourth.



There's also a Velvet Scarf lying around, which grants +4 SPD. I give this one to Jovian, since Ayara's already wearing one.



The next room is another puddle maze.




This one has two exits, with the first leading to this treasure room.






It's a decent haul. The Marid Tear is the attack item that casts Waterfall, since I'm not sure we've actually seen one yet.




A little while later we come to a save point...



... and as we continue through the next room, Daniel stops.



It's definitely them, but... they're not talking, they're yelling about something. Did they hear us coming? Let's hurry!

Fade to black...



It... It looks like some kind of ghost, Captain!





Music: None



Vinyard! ... And you too, Ryan...? So, now we're surrounded too.
Step aside, Captain. We'll take care of this.
What are you talking about?
Do you think you can handle this by yourselves?
...




I am a Knight of Matrech. Protecting the captain is my first priority. I can't do what you ask of me.
... Step aside, Jasper. There's no need to sacrifice yourself. I'm the one who led the State Union to ruin. It's my fault that we're in this hopeless situation. Save yourself.
I won't step aside unless you do the same, Captain. There's no choice. Either we perish here, or we surrender to the Elysium army. I will follow either decision, but I will not stand aside for you. I can't let you sacrifice yourself either.
...





BOSS FIGHT: Ghost Magus

Music: Boss Battle - Wild Arms 2, "Battle vs. Solid"




The first thing you'll likely notice about the Ghost Magus is that his PDF is abysmal. Even our "weaker" physical characters, Klaus and Angel, can easily do over 200 damage to him if they get lucky.




On the other hand, his MDF is quite high, so we'll need to rely on those physical attacks to get anywhere.




The Ghost Magus specializes in status-inflicting spells, specifically of the water-aligned variety. His favorite spell is Good Night, which, perhaps unsurprisingly, deals heavy damage to a target while also putting it to sleep.




He's also quite fond of casting Silence, which does what it says on the tin, though thankfully it doesn't do any damage.




Finally, the Ghost Magus has a special ability called Life Tap, which I presume is another one of those life-drain spells that doesn't actually show the caster being healed. I didn't get a capture of it, but the Magus will also occasionally cast Waterfall, but that's his entire repetoire.




klaus noooooo




Jovian gets him back on his feet. Getting one-shotted like that is quite common for Klaus, actually.







In any case, the statuses the Ghost Magus can inflict are annoying, but the fight itself isn't too difficult. Keep using physical attacks on him and he'll go down pretty fast.

Music: Boss Battle Won - Chrono Cross, "Victory (A Cry In Summer)"



Our reward for the battle is a Silver Ring, which grants +8 MAG. I was also a moron and didn't screenshot it, but Reod also stole a Fine Silk Robe from the boss, an armor which grants +9 PDF and +6 MDF for 5 weight.

Music: Sadness 2 - Suikoden V, "Despair and Hope"




What will happen now?
That's up to you. Will you decide to help us now?
You still want me to...?
We'll need all the help we can get, Erin. We must set aside our differences and work together.



Kirgard is no different from Zelmony now. Both countries have ceased to exist. We represent a new nation now, one that isn't tied down by past disputes. I'm not asking you to betray your people. I want you to help them. I know that you understand, Captain. You want the best for Zelmony too, don't you?



But Ryan...
If you hadn't accepted our help, you could've died here. This is the state that Zelmony is in. You can't survive without our help.
Ryan has already chosen to follow me, as did Colonel Merrick, and many Kirgard officers. All of them believe that the Elysium army is their only hope. This may be our only chance to put an end to this centuries-old feud. Do you want to be a part of that, or do you want to keep it alive?










Erin is another pretty great warrior. She's slightly weaker than Jovian and Ayara, but she's also faster and more accurate than them, and she has an incredible SKL, even higher than Shiro's. With a high PDF to top it off, you can't go wrong putting her in the front row.





Erin puts a flourish into her attacks with McLeod, her sword. With her high SKL she'll be landing criticals all the damn time, so she can easily make up for her lower STR.











Jasper is a returning character, so he's still stuck at level 14, but to recap, Jasper is basically another Shiro. Lower STR for a warrior, but high SPD, ACC and SKL. However, there is one glaring difference between the two, and that is the fact that Jasper's PDF is actually pretty bad. He's usable, but he's best in the middle row with another warrior in front of him.



I'm just glad we're on the same side now.
Yes... so am I.



Fade to black...

Music: None




What's the status outside? Is there a lot of unrest?
No, sir! It's the opposite! There's someone outside the state hall talking to the townspeople to calm them down.



Fade to black...

Music: Matrech - Suikoden V, "Military Fortress"



Listen to me! A new age will arrive, but we will not be left out. We have not been conquered. I just ask one thing from you: to trust me, and trust the chancellor.




General Vinyard!



Forgive you? What are you talking about?
We've found evidence that it was Governor Vosch who was ultimately responsible for the... irregularities at your trial. But Governor Miller was also involved in the conspiracy. Even though he has agreed to cooperate with our investigation, he is still guilty as well.
It was a foolish mistake, that's all I can say. I was blinded by my prejudice and let Vosch talk me into helping him. Vosch truly believed that you were a danger to the State Union. I won't say I disagreed with him at the time, but we still had no right to abuse the law. You, Chancellor, the one who has invested the most in the State Union... you were the only one who realized that the survival of the State Union is not our ultimate goal. A government is just the means to an end.



... but I guess that'll no longer be necessary.
No, I want you to continue. I could overturn my sentence myself if I wanted, but I have no intention of doing that. I don't want it to be taken as an admission of guilt. I'm relying on you to clear my name. It's the only way I can ensure harmony between Zelmony and the Elysium army. Personally, I forgive you. The rest is up to the court.



The battle is not over yet. We have a greater enemy to fight now. We have a hard time ahead of us, but together, I believe we can make it.



Next time: At long last, we return to our homeland.