Grandia Part #28 - Merrill Road

Part 28: Merrill Road

Welcome back! Last time, we dealt with the clown that runs the Adventurers Society, and decided to go blow him off and hang out with Feena instead.

We'll get back to real adventures soon, I swear.

Merrill Road here is... well, almost, but not entirely, quite unlike Marna Road from the beginning. It's the same sort of monster-filled pathway between two locations with some hidden treasures, but that's where the similarities end.

But we'll be getting to that in due time. As of right now, we pick up some money. This is helpful, as I blew 1700 gold on a new axe for Justin, some shiny new earrings for him and Sue, and a couple of antidotes in case the earrings didn't do their job.

Not on that shopping list: new armor.

So, Merrill Road has these snake monsters.

If you're at all familiar with RPG cliches, or even basic biology, you can probably guess what these guys' gimmick is.

THAT'S RIGHT THEY DIE INSTANTLY TO BUFFING SPELLS.

Anyway, Diggin' has a pretty elaborate animation for a basic spell. The caster shoots up a column of light...

Causing a crystal to appear.

The camera even holds steady during that last part, making it gif-able.

So. Stat levels. I don't remember if I've mentioned them before, but if I did, I probably did a bad job.

Each of the four applied stats (attack, defense, action, and movement) can be temporarily modified in battle with certain skills or items. The stat changes go in levels, from base to +/- 7. Each stat level increases the stat by about 1/14. The math is a bit more complicated, as the earlier levels give more of a bonus, and the later ones less, but it works out to a 50% bonus at level 7 either way. I haven't spaded out the values for negative stat levels yet, but I'd assume it's similar, halving the stat at level -7.

Granted, getting hit by MOV debuffs seems to reduce it all the way to 0, so that could be wrong.

In addition to the four base stats, Max HP can also be modified in this way, though it is much rarer. Justin's Spirit Stone is the most reliable way to buff it until the end of the game. In theory, it's a great way to increase survivability.

In practice, it grants just under 5 HP per use, on average. Sure, it adds up, but so does the damage you could be doing.

The rest of the fight passes without incident. A Diggin' from Sue to start off, and combo attacks from both of them thereafter. Lather, rinse, repeat.

A little ways down the path, there is this spider, posed to ambush you. If you know anything about RPG cliches or biology, you can guess these guys' gimmick, too.

Remember the comment I made above about how negative move levels are really noticeable? Yeah. These guys will make you feel it.

For completion's sake, here's a Spitting Cobra doing what Spitting Cobras do.

The damage on Justin was from him having been bitten by the other one. Their poison attack isn't AoE, thankfully.

Sue gains a Mace level this battle.

And Justin follows up with an Axe one next battle.

And then this happens.

Justin got hit twice by the same Gummy Fluid, bringing his movement level down to -5.

Past those spiders, we find another bag of gold.

Back along the path, we run into the third inhabitant of Merrill Road.

The Glug Bird.

Their attacks hurt, they come in groups of four, and have enough health to occasionally shrug off a combo. They almost made me wish I had put some actual armor on.

Back Kick does twice the damage of a normal attack, with half as much again added due to the counter. That was more than a third of Justin's max HP, in one attack. If I hadn't been using Diggin', Justin would have died there.

An important thing about items is that they take time to charge up. Not terribly long, but it can screw you over if you were expecting it to be instant.

And that 40 HP keeps Justin in the game. The rest of the fight goes smoothly.

This cave here is a shortcut to the end of the area. Given this game's strong themes of exploration and adventure, cutting short the trip is almost never worth it.

See? By taking the long way, we found more gold! And another monster!

The Roadcrawlers. Green worms. Can cast a more powerful version of Diggin', buffing their defense by two instead of one.

Naturally, with their upgraded defense, killing them takes longer, allowing more time for another Diggin' to go off. It's like using Tackle on a Geodude.

Fortunately, killing them off before they can cast it isn't too difficult.

Justin gains a level next battle. Note that it's taking almost as much XP for Sue to go from level 5 to 6 as it is for Justin to go from 7 to 8. Another reason why I like to give her a lot of magic early: it helps to compensate for her slow levels.

This DungeonScope is... less helpful.

This is where the cave from earlier leads to. Also, that item is another Earrings, bringing our total to 3.

Back down the other path, we find more Glug Birds, more gold, and the exit.

We'll be ignoring that last for a little bit.

Look, I need to amuse myself somehow while writing these updates.

Anyway, this fight is worth noting.

Axe, Mace, and Earth levels all in one fight. Incidentally, this brings both Justin and Sue to 27 strength.

Sue also gained +2 MP from the Earth level. In this case, it was split between levels 1 and 3. In my test run, she got 2 level 2 MP. It's possible to save and reset for "optimal" MP growths, but that's boring.

Continuing on...

Roadcralwers can drop Antidotes. Not often enough that you can rely entirely on the drops, but often enough to help in a pinch. Earrings, while they do resist poison, don't prevent it.

And soon enough, we find this curious object.

Yep. Took us the entire game up until now to get our first, and they dump another in our laps for just poking around. We will be finding the vast majority of Mana Eggs from exploring. I think that the one we got from the Squid King was the only non-field item one in the game.

There's a snake hidden on the other side of these rocks.

And, in our next encounter here, Justin gains another Axe level, boosting his strength back above Sue's.

Justin gives her the Chocolate to bring her HP up in preparation for the final battle.

With another Mace level, the Glug Birds are dealt with and we are ready to proceed.

Living way out in the wilderness. Sounds like an adventurer all right.

It's a fence, Justin. That fence, oddly enough, is the only examinable object on the entire map. So, let's head into the hut.

: Cool! This furniture looks like it was hand-made by Feena. I'd like her to show me around here! ♥

Okay, I lied. You can also examine the stove, but there's no text.

Funny enough, you all voted to cover my weaknesses for the segment where the hint is "If you never change your weapons, you'll only boost, like, two stats".

Anyway, to proceed, we examine the pink shorts up on the line there. They actually sway slightly if you stand still.

Oh, and a warning, this is where the game starts to get really anime.

: Sue, don't go around touching stuff. Feena might get mad at you.

Don't say I didn't warn you.

Anyway, predictably...

Too bad I've already done the "Phrasing!" reference.

: Huh?! Wha.. uh... I mean... it's just that... well... Sue?!

: Hi, Feena!

: Justin? What've you got in your hand?

: Oh! Justin! What are you doing?! Those are mine!

: Oh, dear! I usually don't leave this place in such a mess.

It's a little hard to tell, but Justin is blushing here, too.

... And yes, his face is as red as his hair, and it's hard to tell. Mainly because his face is the same color as his hair.

: N-no, I uh... it's fine, Feena. Really....

: What's wrong with you two? You're both blushing!

: I was just showing him something... that's all....

Remember, just yesterday she called him a pervert and slapped him across the face for bumping into her in the dark.

: Well, hey! Are either of you hungry? Let's have something to eat!

: I hadn't expected you to be such an accomplished cook.

: This mint tea is really good!

: Seems like Feena can do everything.

: Yeah, but Feena, you're living here all by yourself, right? Don't you get lonely sometimes?

: Oh, I guess so.

Feena is about as subtle as a king-fu bodyguard with boxing gloves delivering a tornado punch to the face.

: Who? Me? But I've got adventures.

: A ha ha ha! I was just kidding!

: Justin, you thought I was serious?

: Yeah, well, of course!

: But I was just joking! Ah ha ha ha ha!

Let's try option two.

: Still, um... OK, I guess so.

: A ha ha! Just kidding! Just kidding!

: Justin, you thought I was serious?

: Naw, I mean, heck... I thought you were probably joking.

: Hee hee... Still, I liked your answer.

Either way, both conversation paths lead here.

: Well, anyway, Justin, was there something else you wanted to talk about? So, what is it you wanted to talk about, Justin?

Unlike the previous choice, all three of these options are required to advance the plot.

Also, if you're looking for something funny... I dunno. Replace every instance of "adventurer" with "Dracula"?

: I wanna go to the Dom Ruins. Would it be OK if I borrowed your map of the New World?

: Didn't you join the Adventurers Society? They should give you an adventurer's map when you join.

: Join the Adventurers Society? Never!

: That dude is no adventurer! He's just a lousy tour guide!

: That President is a blabbering idiot! How'd a fool like him get to be President of the Adventurers Society?

: Feena, you're different, right? You're a real adventurer!

: Still, I'm at a loss.

: The Adventurers Society rules say I'm not supposed to lend the adventurer's map to non-members. Also... if I lend my map to you, Justin, I can't continue with my own work.

: That reminds, me, President Pakon said something really weird. He said you and he are engaged.

: No, really? Engaged, hmph! That's Pakon for you, spreading nonsense like that.

: No matter what I said, Pakon just wouldn't listen to me. What a nuisance!

: That's why I came here right away. I didn't want to run into Pakon.

: I really wanted to show you around.

: Aha! Now I understand. I thought that was kinda strange. Now we get it, huh Justin?

: Anyway, I'm sure some secrets of Angelou are hidden in the Dom Ruins! So come with us to find them, Feena!

: Feena, why don't you come adventuring with us? To search for the legendary Angelou!

: You said it was the Sult Ruins, on the Continent of Messina, right?

: It would be incredible if the ancient ruins really did work.

: They do work! They do, Feena! A girl named Liete told me so! She told us to head for Alent!

: Really? Is it true? Then the Spirit Stone is real?! I thought Justin was dreaming.

: But that's great! That is quite a discovery! Thank you for inviting me, Justin.

Again, sprite changes to match portrait.

: Really now, Feena! All I hear from you is rules, rules! Should there be any places, anywhere, where adventurers can't go?

: Justin... don't confuse pros with amateurs. Pros must follow the rules. That's the way it is for us pros.

: If an adventurer breaks the rules, his pass gets taken away and he's out.

: Justin, you must understand how hard it would be for an adventurer to be unable to go on any adventures!

: So, I need to hold onto this pass.

: That's where you're wrong.

: What kind of adventure is that?!

: No one decides where the wind blows. Only the wind can determine that. A true adventurer is like the wind!

: ......

: Why are you so quiet now, Feena?

: You're not like those nerds in the Adventurers Society, are you Feena?

I'd gif these animations if they were actually animations and not just "suddenly sprite is in a new pose".

: My dearest Feeeeeeeeenaaaa! I've come for you, uh-yup uh-yup!

: I heard someone say "uh-yup".

: Justin! That voice...!

: Wait here, Justin. I'll take a look outside.

: Justin! That was Feena!

: Justin! Look, over there!

Justin and Sue run onto the scene, hidden behind Feena's portrait. If you look carefully, you can still see Puffy.

: Ah, but tonight is the night when our hearts will be united, uh-yup yup! Once you and I are married, Feena, we can wash our underwear together as a couple, uh-yup yup yup!

: Go wash your own underwear, Pakon. I've no intention of marrying you. How many times must I tell you?!

: Oh, don't be so shy, uh-yup yup. I know that you're really crazy about me, Feena uh-yup! Anyway, if you don't marry me, I'm gonna take away your adventurer's pass, so there! Uh-yup!

: And if I do that, you can't go on any more adventures, uh-yup yup!

: Pakon...! Pakon...! That should have nothing to do with whether or not we get married!

: Pakon, you're such a sleazebag! Feena just plain hates your guts. Can't you get that into your head?!

: What are YOU doing here at Feena's house, uh-yup? Are you her boyfriend or what?

: Me? I'm just uh....

: Well.... I'm her friend, I suppose.

: No, wait a minute! Actually, Justin is my...

: WHAT!?!?!

The camera shakes here, too.

: Huh? Oh, uh... Feena?!

Because muttering to each other is totally inconspicuous.

: I'm in love with him, Pakon. He proposed to me a year ago.

: So I'm afraid I can't marry you.

: Yeah, she's right! Keep your paws off my girl!

: Sorry I never mentioned it to you, Pakon, but I'm sure you'll find someone else and you'll be very happy.

: That's too bad, my dear Feena. You've been claimed by that silly boy.

: Ya know what? I'll help you, uh-yup! This is the kind of thing I have my bodyguard along for, uh-yup!

: Master Chang! Come on!

Everyone turns to face in the direction the camera pans. They're on-screen for exactly half a second, and they still turn to face the proper direction.