Final Fantasy Tactics Part #42 - Gate of Riovanes Castle

Part 42: Gate of Riovanes Castle

This is it, the beginning of the end for most players. The first battle is mildly tough, but the 2nd and 3rd are probably the two hardest in the game.

Before the fight, we're treated to a cutscene of Vormav and Wiegraf meeting with Barinten.

: It looks a little spartan compared to Lesalia Castle but I like it... This castle's built for war. It's far more beautiful than one built for government. Ivalice has always been ruled by men with 'power'. This war proved the royal family lost the 'power'.

: Get to the point.

: You're being impatient.

Barinten gets up and takes a few steps before resuming.

: What do you mean?

: As I said, men with 'power' rule Ivalice. So, who has the "power"? Prince Larg of Hokuten? Or, Prince Goltana of Nanten? Neither one of them.

: Holy Stones have great magical power. According to ancient legend, a natural disaster in Murond was caused by its power...

: Ha, ha, ha... Well, excuse me. I didn't expect a Grand Duke like yourself believed in such fairy tales.

: So you're saying you don't believe it? That's strange... They say Draclau of Lionel died from problems with the stone.

: I heard he died of illness.

: Then why are you after the youngest Beoulve? Why chase him as a 'heretic'?

: We don't question decisions by Heresy Examiners.

: Oh, my...You're saying you know nothing about it? But you may change your mind after seeing this... Call Malak!!

Malak walks in with... Izlude?

A detail not clearly explained is that Izlude, and by extension Alma, were captured by Malak shortly after leaving Orbonne.

: We have 'Scorpio' and 'Taurus'.

Vormav turns to Izlude.

: Moron!

Formav smacks Izlude so hard he collapses to the ground.

: Malak, I'll let you take care of him.

Malak leaves.

: What do you want?

: As I said before, we want to help you, too.

: What if I refuse?

: The Church's injustice will be exposed. That's all.

: You can't prove it just with the Holy Stones.

: Exactly. But, how about with the 'Germonik Scriptures'? Larg, Goltana, and the senate ought to be interested...

: Where is it?

: I can't tell you.

Vormav gestures to Wiegraf, who leave the room.

: Odds?

: Father?

: Don't underestimate us. Killing you is easy...

: Are you opposing me!?

More knights enter the room!

Barinten quickly escapes while Vormav releases a burst of energy! Five screams echo in the air!

Meanwhile, outside the castle, Ramza's group approaches the imposing castle.

This group kills almost everybody.

This group kills the rest.

He's on the roof. With archers. Of course the archers on the roof.

: You'll be chased by your ex-allies and killed. Even if you escape, you'll live your life frightened. I'd never want to live like that! But Grand Duke promised to free us after this job!

: Do you believe him? You know he's lying! If we don't escape now, we'll be his slaves for life!

: I trust him! We'll be free if we kill him and take the 'Germonik Scriptures'!

Once again, Malak dying doesn't end the fight. What a loser, he can't even be the boss.

: I can see you're worried about her. Just hand me the 'Germonik Scriptures' and I'll save you!

: Ramza, don't believe him! Barinten'll kill both of you once he gets what he wants! Whatever you do don't give the scriptures to him! Your sister'll be safe only as long as you have the book!

There are 7 enemies here. Give up?

Ah-hah!

This guy is hiding in a crevice, and he floats with his boots. Also, every knight here has a Crystal Helmet.

The archers aren't too bad, just annoying since they are all on the roof. Their range is incredible.

Malak himself can't seem to notice that sticks are MA based.

My goal is to get Norma up there so she can brutalize those guys with a Heaven's Cloud. Going all the way there at once would likely fail, so it takes her two Teleports.

Ramza, being a dumb shit who is 9 JP away from Teleport, has to jump.

Agrias is literally OHKOing heavily armored knights with Lightning Stab.

As that's happening below us, Norma gets between Malak and an archer.

Both get murdered.

NO.

He teleports away.

: Malak! Are you running away?

Rafa teleports away...? Yeah, if either Rafa or Malak fall, the other escapes too. It may be to your advantage to kill Rafa so Malak escapes, especially if you get caught on the staircase up to the archers and he can actually hit you with a few Heaven Bltbacks.

Eldena, who isn't very flashy, I know, still ends a fight with a well-placed Holy.

But, thunder rumbles, and a wounded man crawls out and collapses.

: Rafa... Alma... Please be safe...

Meanwhile, inside the castle, in a prison cell...

Suddenly a death scream is heard!

I know the sound quality is bad, but it's the only video of this scene I could find without someone talking over it or having the next Riovanes fight attached. The screams and sword clashing continues throughout the scene.