Part 55: Bed Desert

We gotta cross the desert to get to Beltha Garrison. Why can't we go through Zirekile Falls?

Probably because we'd run into all the Hokuten.


Before that I buy a third Ice Shield. The next boss loves Ice damage.


I have a few gil to spare so I buy the Chantage for later.


I also get Reef the Barette Alma had.


And Norma learns how to hurt someone's self-esteem.


Anyway, I know I'm coming close to another speed tier, so I want my dudes to get to 8 speed before the enemy. You see, the only time level really matters, besides gigantic gaps, is when gaining one or two levels gets another point of speed.

It turns out, I'm a bit short. It's level 36 that 100 mutliplier, 100 growth like the girls hits 8 base.


But, we're here at scenic Lenalia Plateau. You may remember this place as the spot where I got the dragon who would eventually lead to Dirk Hardpec.


Hey, it's that encounter again! the Plateau's rare battle is from the south, just like the dragon encounter.


We also run into a vampire.


Blaster is an asshole move. I don't like Vampires.


After a while, we hit the Plateau's rare battle, 5 Calculators.


They're as horribly slow as you'd expect.


Agrias pummels them some.


Then I engage in wanton acts of cruelty and use Slow Dance.


Exactly.


AI controlled Calculators are actually really damn good at what they do.


But that was the only turn they got. Their speed was quickly reduced to 1 so it too 100 clockticks for them to get a turn, compared 15 it took my 7-speed characters, 12 for Beowulf as he has 8 speed, and even less since I abuse haste like a motherfucker.


I guess torturing guys with 1 speed counts.


Agiras is close to Holy Explosion, the Holy Sword skill with the coolest name.


Beowulf learns Break, which is his main weapon against random enemies. He could make a living off of making ornate statues. They're so lifelike!


Beowulf goes into Knight to get Equip Sword so he can still use Magic Sword as a Chemist or Time Mage. This really makes me appreciate the Temple Knight's MP multiplier.


Oh shit I haven't been using the top slot have I?


Limberry is a really big province for Elmdor being a vassal of Goltana. I guess since he's kinda legally dead Goltana's using it for now.


Formation really doesn't matter too much, I don't think.


A Shrine Knight is discussing something... Unpleasant.

: Nice wind. Should be enough to float them around in the air for most of the day.

Then Ramza and friends arrive!



: What are the Shrine Knights doing here? You said, "spread"... What the hell did you spread?
: Wanna know...? I guess I can tell you because there's nothing you can do now.
: Spill it! What did you spread?
: This!


Balk throws a ball of the substance at Ramza!


It explodes, quickly spreading its contents!

It's...



: That's right. I spread this to the Hokuten Province. Any soldier who inhales this will be too sick to fight!
: The High Priest doesn't want Goltana to win the war!
: That's correct. If the Hokuten can't fight their best, the Nanten will open the fortress... Totally annihilating it. Making it a good chance to kill Goltana and Orlandu. Of course, plans are set to kill Larg in the confusion. It'll probably be easier to kill him in the confusion over the poisoning.
: What?!
: You should be happy! The war will end! From now on, we'll be the center of authority! The people want that! No more of you aristocrats ruling the kingdom.




Balk is different than the other Shrine Knights.


First off, he's fast. 11 speed fast. Second, he's got a Blaze Gun. Third, Ramza, Agrias, and Beowulf are rockin' Ice Shields and Eldena has a White Robe so Norma's his main target. He fucking hates Norma.


It doesn't help that I keep my mages faithful. Luckily, they're brave too, so Auto Potion triggers a lot.


He's an Engineer like Mustadio. You can't dual-wield guns so I'm not going to bother stealing a second Blaze Gun.


The Flash Hat is a much bigger deal. Hot damn, look at that thing!


The Light Robe is the second strongest robe, and some classes may like the big batch of MP it gives.


So, yeah, your entire team starts out poisoned. It's a more a minor annoyance than a debilitating issue.


But Esuna won't fire off in time.


Balk himself can be easy or hard to kill depending on if he hides or not. He's got no shield or mantle so he's reliant on his class evasion to not die. It doesn't work out that well.


Putting his minions to sleep. It effectively knocks them out of the fight.


The game script I've been referencing doesn't even have this conversation. Dang.

: How are you going to clean up rotten Ivalice? You should know, unless you cut out the rot, the same thing is going to happen over and over.
: Cutting's your only solution? Not everyone's rotten! There're many people who aren't! There should be other solutions besides war!
: There are no other solutions! As long as you are aristocrats, we'll be exploited! There's no such thing as equality! One side is going to be exploited! Then I wanna be on the 'exploiting' side! After I overthrow you!
: Then the same thing will repeat itself! You're only thinking of yourself! Someday, you'll be overthrown by someone else!


Now that exploit doesn't even sound like a word anymore, let's just wrap this up.


Even with Shell he hates Norma. Dang.


Oh come on, do you know how much Carabini Mails cost?


Uh...


He really hates Norma.


One of Balk's archers is turned into a fine statue.


Then Balk himself gets an electrical sword shoved up his ass. That happens to be fatal to humans.


He dies in a place like this.


And his subordinates disappear into the luminiferous aether.


And hurry Ramza does. The climatic battle at Beltha Garrison is about to begin! Shocking betrayals! daring heroics!

And, you monsters made me do this to my own character!