Part 24: Goug Machine City

Mustadio is naked now. I should stop doing that as it's a pretty blatant indication that the guy is about to leave.


Like I said last time, she's got Calculator.

If I so desired it, I could have Eldena end every battle instantly, in but a single spell.


But it'd be a fucking pain in the ass to do that as using Math Skill requires at least one attribute and one number, and Calculators have utterly abysmal Speed, often less than half of what other classes have. That's why I value propositions so much, they don't care that Eldena is slower than molasses, slower than Quinn even.

That is probably the most awkward throwback to a previous LP I've ever done. At least she's not eating floppy disks.

...Damn, I'm good at topping myself.


Norma goes back to Summoner while I wait for the moment I can buy more katanas.


Math Skill uses spells from White, Black, Time, and Yin-Yang magics. Yin-Yang offers a lot of statuses and with Eldena already knowing Holy it's best to go into statuses, she's already got damage covered.


Goug sits right on top of a bunch of mechanical wonders from the days of St. Ajora. The machinists strive every day to plug this piece into that slot and see if something works.


Ramza and Mustadio walk through Goug. Didn't Draclau say he was sending troops at the Bart Company?



: It doesn't even look like there was a fight... Something's strange... I'll check it out. See you later.
Where?



Alright. Be careful.
Right. Leave it to me.


Goug is the only town that sells guns. Halfway through chapter 3 they start selling the Mythril Gun, even though by that time you're on the other side of Ivalice.


I could scroll glitch Samurai and just stop caring, but that just isn't stylish.


Makes Blade Grasp harder to reach, though, so there's that if you still pretend this game has dignity.


To get in the battle, you have to step off of Goug.


Your team starts behind a fallen building, so just line 'em up closer to the enemy.


There we g-wait one damn second...


Still doesn't have Attack UP yet.


It begins to rain.


Lightning crashes in the sky. This battle deals with enemy summoners who love Ramuh.



: Who are you?


A sickly-looking man, caught up in dirty business and the pleasures of life, appears.


Some thieves bring out Mustadio!


Some gears click in Ramza's head.



: Give me the "Holy Stone". Then you can have him back.

He yells at Mustadio.

: C'mon! Where'd you hide it? Talk!
...
: Won't talk, huh? Even after seeing this?


Mustadio's dad Besrodio is pushed to the ground.



: Put him in there!


Besrodio is shoved in a room.

: Ready to confess now?
Inside the chimney... at Ramza's feet.
: Well then, you pick it up! If you want to save his life!


Ramza moves some bricks aside and finds the stone.


The stone, inscribed with Taurus, doesn't seem as glorious as Draclau's stone. Must be the dust and rubble.

: This?



: First give me the stone!
: Let them go, first!!
: Throw the stone! Then, we'll let them go!

Knowing that Rudvich has more chips on his side, Ramza concedes.



: The zodiac stone!


Wait, that means-

: Good job. I'm done now. You take care of the rest. Get rid of them!
: Draclau was in on it, too?


This battle is surprisingly easy.


These summoners just aren't as brutal as the ones in Bariaus Hill. I'm not quite sure how that happened. The thieves and archers don't hit very hard, and Mustadio can die all he wants.


Speaking of which, he's a naked Engineer with different abilities than when he was a naked Knight. This is, mechanically, a different Mustadio than the one who left.


Ramuh hits kinda hard. It's the only danger, and that's only if zodiac compatibilities aren't in your favor and the archers and thieves get several consecutive hits.


It tickles.


These summoners start out with their faces open to fists.


The enemy isn't very good with charging safely sometimes. This is one of those times.


Moogle (Or Mogri as it's called by the HUD) is a good healing spell despite it's low multiplier because it's cheap, fast, hits a big area, and doesn't heal enemies. Fairy, the Summoner's other healing spell, replaces "cheap and fast" with "Heals shittons of HP".


Eldena is a powerful mage, so Moogle still recovers significant HP.


The summoners are mopped up and the thieves get shot and jabbed to death. The archers are being a bit more tenacious, but they really can't do much with low PA and weak weapons. A Shiva later and the battle is over.


Probably. Goltana has all the guys that appear for one scene then never again. Five of them total, I think.


A free Thunder Rod now, of all times?

Later, inside a room in Dorter's slums Goug's slums...



: Don't worry about me... They got the stone. Rudvich'll try to revive the machines below Goug with its power. He may even try to use the divine power in the stones. Besides, the Cardinal is working with Bart Company. Not much we can do now...
Heh, heh... Good for them...

Mustadio reaches into his pocket and produces...


The Taurus stone?!

I made a fake in case something like this happened.
: You mean, they got a fake?
That's right. They must be going crazy now.

But then, a thought strikes Ramza.

: Princess Ovelia and Agrias are in danger....!
What do you mean?
: The Cardinal joined Bart to get the stone. He may take the Princess hostage.
Ridiculous! Making an enemy of the royal family!
: Why do you think the Cardinal wanted the stone? People are sick of long wars and political infighting. Draclau wants to use the 'Zodiac Brave Story'. Creating 'Zodiac Braves' by collecting holy stones, he can control the world.
: He is right. We can't give the stone to the Cardinal.
: Let's go save the princess and Agrias!
Right. But the way to Lionel is probably sealed. We'll use a ship to sneak in the back of the castle.


Mustadio joins without bothering to put pants on first.

Despite this, you should NEVER DISMISS MUSTADIO OR LET HIM DIE. Without him you miss four special characters in Chapter 4.