Part 66: God's Resolution - Jeanne d'Arc - Part 3

Jeanne 3



So this is the costume you get for completing all of Jeanne's stages. It's uh...it's alright, I guess. I'm a big fan of blazers, but something about this just isn't working for me. Instead...



Instead, let's have this completely bizarre one, based off an April Fool's illustration from back in 2013. She's otherwise known, in this costume, as Kamikaze Magical Girl Jeanne. It's completely absurd, which is why I like it.


Jeanne stage 3

The reason she has the...ear flaps, is because 1) her zodiac sign from that 2013 story is The Dog, and 2) she's the gold heroine of dog. Yes, it's not supposed to make sense.

I don't believe you seek destruction on your own. You are only carrying out the orders you receive from the Umbral Star. I had a sense of that from the start. As I've fought alongside you, I've become more and more convinced.

Is my free will...so important to you? I am an instrument of destruction. I am only a construct to end stars and civilizations. I look like you, but I am not like you.

You may not be so different as you think. In truth, you are the Cyber Frame of a Servant. And that makes you more like us than you know.

You're wrong. You are a Hero who was born of human history. As Gilgamesh would say, I'm just a counterfeit. Even if the Throne of Heroes does hold memories of "my" existence, what I am in the end is the Umbral Star's chosen puppet. So I... I can't give you the answer you're hoping for. I'm sorry.

...No, I am sorry. Perhaps I only saw what I wanted to see. Forgive my impertinence.

No. Think nothing of it. It's no surprise that you would question me. Though I am a monster, I have been given the shape of a human. It's only natural for a human to assume I must be misunderstood. Even in the past, when "I" roamed the grass fields as Attila the Hun, I felt much the same. And even more so now that I am the vanguard of the Umbral Star. I only exist to carry out its orders. At any moment, at its slightest whim, I could turn into a monstrous giant and crush your civilization.

... (Is that really the truth, Altera? Somehow, my heart still doubts that. There surely exists some place for you in the world. I stay by your side because I believe that. And even if I could simply destroy you, as the vanguard of the Umbral Star, my heart knows that would not solve the problem either. Could it be true that you hate destruction? Could it be that you care deeply about your Master? Altera. Could it be that you are only...a single maiden, burdened with the singular weight of the Umbral Star?)






Jeanne's speechifying aside, here we are in Dawn Arc stage 4. Pretty typical setup, what with Tamamo having two Plants and two Servants on the field at the start. As before with this stage (when we're not playing as a Tamamo Servant), the Servant Sectors are trapped. Note that you don't have to take over the Sector to disarm the Servant Slammer. You just need to take out the gatekeeper, but while you're in the area, you might as well take the place over.



Since I always try to change up how I do these stages, I decided to first handle the two easternmost-Sectors (one being invaded from the start, the other controlled by the enemy), before dealing with the juicier targets. It'll make a nice warmup before the important business.



Well, and there's also no harm in helping Elizabeth out. Unreliable, no matter who her master is.



Nope, it's not me locked in here with you. It's you're locked in here with me.

There's no escape until I've been defeated. Prepare yourself!

My opponent doesn't matter! I will continue forward!

That's the Jeanne I know: always rushing into danger.



That was fast. It's Karna's turn next. Oh, and if you don't immediately go after Karna, Gilgamesh will eventually call in, bitching at you for falling for Tamamo's trap. I say, if he has such a problem with how I'm running things, he's free to come down here and do it himself. Not holding my breath, though.

This is a battlefield. Caster's plans have merit here. I too, shall fulfill my purpose. ...If you want to get out, then you'll have to defeat me.

Such powerful mana... But I will not be defeated.



And that's basically it. As always, remember to acquire both of the Phantasm Circuits in this stage, and finish up taking over all the remaining Sectors. Bailing out Elizabeth is best left to one's own discretion, I think. Once you've made what decisions you will...



Queen of beauty, fairy of trickery. I shall defeat you.

Well, thanks to her not being perma-powered up, she can use the Regalia in this stage. Tamamo's Regalia is as dangerous as always, and of course, best stayed clear of in the air. Jeanne has an above-average charge attack, so you can harass Regalia Tamamo a bit if you're feeling confident in your ability to get out of danger.



But now, and of course I would not forget, Jeanne's Noble Phantasm. Normally she uses Luminosité Eternelle, which calls upon her god's divine protection. For an offensive Noble Phantasm, she has...











I said her final special attack was a mini version of her Noble Phantasm in this game, La Pucelle. With her sword, she can recreate her final moments of burning at the stake to burn away her foes. In return, though, recreation of her final moments ends the same way it did in her life: with the death of Jeanne d'Arc. In terms of gameplay, using Jeanne's NP will instantly KO her regardless of her remaining HP.



How awkward... I believe if you're out of Command Spells, you and your enemy mutually dying ends with your failure, but if you do have a Command Spell remaining (or some combination of Install Skills. Don't ask me what they are, because I have no clue), you can just revive Jeanne and be on your way.



It should be noted, however, using her NP does NOT count toward "Damage Taken".






[img]https://lpix.org/3067499/extella_2035.jpg]/img]
Jeanne ending

What will you do next? Altera...

...Don't come any closer, Ruler. Leave, now!

Altera?!

Back so soon? I had thought to finish this undisturbed, but... Well, no matter. What's the worth of one holy maiden?

Who...are you?! What are you doing to Altera?! (No, what... What could a single Servant, one without a Regalia, do to Altera in the first place?)

If Jeanne were a bit more collected at the moment, she could find out Archimedes' entire schtick with her Ruler-specific ability True Name Discernment, which allows her to read the specs of all Servants who don't otherwise hide their abilities, along with the details of their Noble Phantasm.

Ruler, wasn't it? You are a powerful force, within the rules and confines of the Holy Grail War. Too bad this isn't one. The Servants of SE.RA.PH will never bother fighting for possession of the Moon Cell now. Not as long as they know of the Umbral Star. Not as long as Altera lives. No matter... Vanguard of the Umbral Star. White Titan of Tassili n'Ajjer. Anti-Cell. The Giant God of Destruction! Shed the shell of a Heroic Spirit! I'll make you into a Giant God in this world as well! Destroy everything! Destroy SE.RA.PH!



No. I will not let you destroy anything. I still have questions for her. Talks to have with her. I will obey my heart and stand against you. Begone, stranger! I can see the evil aura all around you!

What...? One of Altera's flunkies would dare oppose me?

Unfortunately for you, I have no qualms about talking back, not to the King of Heroes, and not to you, no matter where you come from! I will stand my ground, and I WILL protect Altera.

Run...! I can't... I'm...going to...become...the Giant God...!! That man has a high-ranking command chain!

I will not let him use it. Don't worry. If he summons that thing, I will be here. Umbral Star! Listen to me! In the name of my flag, I, Jeanne D'Arc, deny you! I will not let you...do as you please!