Part 12: Delivering the Letter

Part 11: Delivering the Letter


: Majesty, Wein Cruz reporting back!
: So, what have you discovered as to the identity of the real criminal or criminals?
: We have, Majesty. All of this was planned by Wolfgang.
: Wolfgang? Are you certain?!
: Absolutely. I knew how important this information was, so I hurried back here to report it.
: Yes, that is a troubling development that complicates an already difficult situation. In regard to this development, I have a favor to ask of you.
: Anything, Majesty!
: I would like you to deliver this important missive to the front line in Rolandia.


: Wait! You're...
: Yes. Our meeting was not chance coincidence. Because of Wolfgang's declaration of independence, war with Rolandia has become the least of our worries. It has become clear over the course of this investigation that Wolfgang planned this war. Now, we have no choice but to stop him before he does any more damage.
: However, we will need a strong force to accomplish that. Therefore, I need you to assist me.
: As a unit under your direct command?
: Wow! We'll be under the king's direct command?!
: But, Majesty, I am just...
: Yes, I want you to come as well. You can reveal your true identity now...
: True identity?
: Ummm...


: I'm sorry it was necessary to mislead you. I had to discover who the true criminal was...
: So, you maneuvered things so we would meet? And wait! Didn't Xenos say he knew Riviera?!
: The truth is that one year ago, I too...
: All right, now that that's out of the way, let's continue. You will act as a unit under King Eliotte's direct command. I will join you as well.
: Hey! That's great! How can we lose?!
: There are a thousand ways to die. This team is by no means guaranteed success.


( )
: Even though success isn't guaranteed, this is at least a start.
: With Rolandia, Burnstein, and Ranzack cooperating, we have a good chance of sealing Wolfgang's land routes. Rolandia's navy has also pledged to seal off any chance of a sea trade or escape.
: So blockade is the plan?
: That's the plan. If we can seal off his new nation economically, we may prevail without war. However, the only way it will work is if all three nations continue to cooperate. Nothing is guaranteed.
: So we will act as emissaries, then?
: For all practical purposes, yes. Your first task is to deliver this letter to the front lines. It contains instructions for Burnstein Army's commander. As you may know, Minister Schneider has taken that position temporarily.
: Max is commanding the army now?
: Yes, he's directing the formation of battle lines in North Grandshill.
: Understood. We should leave at once, then.




(For being the Growlanser and all, Carmaine isn't anything special. He's like Wein 2.0, able to learn both magic and attack skills, but overall is more on the physical side of the scale.)
(Now, we can just go straight to the front lines and deliver this letter, but there's a little more sidequesting to do.)


(Wein asks if Riviera's sister is also a Shadow Knight. Riviera says she is, but she sets up the scenarios while Riviera completes them.)


(Talking to the Pink-haired Girl in Burnstein gives some relationship points for Carmaine because the girl is Louise, his sister. She's so special, she can even teleport places.)


: All right. We have limited time to rest and upgrade our armor and ring gems, so we need to make the most of our time until we are summoned again. Meet back here in four hours.



: Yes, in a little bit...Shouldn't you be resting up?
: ...am I bothering you?
: No, but...
: I just realized that you and I haven't had much time to talk since you joined us.
: Y...yes... ...
: ...
: ...
: You've been somewhat...cold towards me. Don't you like me?
: Oh, no! It's not like that at all! But...
: Hmmm...It just seems as if there's an invisible wall between you and everyone else. Does that make sense?
: N...no...you're right. I just can't allow myself to get involved too deeply with others...it could weaken me.
: Weaken?
: Yes. You know about my work...close personal contact weakens my ability to carry out my work efficiently.
: But...aren't you...lonely?
: ...not really...I need to get ready for our next mission...goodbye...
: Hmmm...


(Yet another person who knew the last chief of this village.)



(Sidequesting means it's cat girl quest time!)



: What are you doing here?
Storm#3: Uh...n...nothing. I just wanted to get something for my friend.


Storm#3: Um...no, but what does that matter?
: If it's not yours, you can't take it...that's stealing!
Storm#3: My friend said I could take whatever I wanted from humans because they're stupid.
: Your friend is misleading you. All humans are not stupid, and most are not mean. Besides, stupid humans or not, stealing is wrong.
Storm#3: That's a lie! Humans are stupid and cruel! They put my mother in a cage and turned her into a show!
: Oh...I'm sorry to hear that. What happened to your mother?
Storm#3: I...I don't know. I heard that story from our tribal leaders. They told me about my mother's capture and my father's murder when I was very young. I've been looking for my mother ever since, hoping she's still alive...


Storm#3: I...I don't really know. I was raised by relatives, but they treated me like a burden. I grew up without a proper name.
: Maybe parents alone are allowed to give names in your tribe?
Storm#3: I don't know...I don't know! Stop asking so many questions! Ha! I see what you're doing! You're trying to gain my trust! It won't work! It WON'T work!


: You're the Litch that made her steal!
Litch: A little entertainment, nothing more. I need blood to live...making her steal was just a tool to blacken her heart.
: I won't allow you to turn her evil!
Litch: Brave words alone will not a victory make. The power of all humanity is not enough to defeat me! If you date to challenge me, it will be your last, desperate act!


(Talking to the Student gets you another story.)


(Heh heh...this gem is the updated version of the Lv2 Indirect Range. Giving it to Hans is the next step in making him broken.)



(Wein tells Storm#3 to be careful around the Litch, and she says she'll believe him...for now.)



: Oh! Captain!
: Isn't this...?
: Yes, this is my brother Pietro's room. He's away having surgery right now. Even though I can tell myself he's not here, I have such a habit of coming to his room, I can't break it. That's...weird, isn't it?
: Not at all. Your deeply ingrained love and care for your brother shows in your actions. They carry on even though he isn't here. Okay, now that I've said it, it does sound weird, but I understand, if that makes any difference.
: Thank you for understanding. I bet you have a brother who is proud of you!
: I...I don't have any brothers, and my father was scarcely ever at home...
: Oh...that's surprising! You must have learned your compassion somewhere...
: Yeah...somewhere. Anyway, enough about me. I just hope your brother's surgery is a success!
: Thanks, Captain.


: It was as if I was back in my childhood, a boy again...In the grasslands, painted with blue chickweed blooms, we played...carefree.


: Heh, thanks, Wein. It's getting late. You'd better get home before the darkness comes.
Young Wein: Okay, but we're going to meet here again tomorrow, right?
: ...
Young Wein: That...is right...uh, right?
: I...I can't come tomorrow. This was our last day to play together.
Young Wein: What?! Why didn't you tell me before?! That's not fair!
: I know...it's completely unfair, but true.
Young Wein: I won't believe it! You will come tomorrow!
: Please...oh, Wein!
Young Wein: You have to come!
: The best I can promise is to try. But I won't be able to stay long. What time?
Young Wein: Same as usual!
: Okay. You do have to go now, Wein! It's getting dark, and your father will be worried!
Young Wein: Right, okay. See you tomorrow!



: The next day, I had to help my father all morning, and couldn't get away to the grasslands. We didn't finish working until dusk...I ran all the way to the grasslands as night fell, hoping she would still be there.


Young Wein: Arieta...Her ocarina...Arieta...I'm...I'm so sorry!


: But, why hasn't she changed? She doesn't seem to have aged at all...
( ! )


: Remember when I crashed your battle here, Wein? It was that fight that made me want to serve at your side. Yeah, I know, it's sappy, but true!
: These ruins should never have existed in the first place.
: Why do you say that? I...I don't...
: Oh, no!
: What's the matter, Captain?
: The mask! The mask that was suspended here in light...is gone!
: A mask?
: Yes. When we came here before, I tried to take the mask, but it was protected by the light. I had to leave it, believing that no one else could take it, either. Since there are no marks or signs of demolition, someone must have removed the mask with the correct spell or key...but who?
: Whoever did this must have had knowledge of the ancient sacred writings. Since they pursued the mask, it must have some value, but what is it?
: I don't know what the secret of the mask is, but we should investigate where it went if there is time. Right now, we need to put our mission objective ahead of anything else, though. Let's get out of here.
(It's another mystery...let's keep heading north)


: This looks like a good place to make camp. Let's set up camp here, then.
: Heh...


: What's so funny? Is something the matter?
: No, nothing's wrong. I was just thinking about something else. I was thinking back a year ago...
: And?
: Back then, I was in the position you are in now...leader of a party. And now, one year later, I have a sense of deja vu, but from another perspective. I had to laugh.
: Oh, right. I understand. The veteran is now taking orders from a green knight.
: Exactly the position I found myself in a year ago, only then I was the novice. At that time, a man named Wallace was the veteran under my command.
: You mean...General Wallace?!
: They very same. I remember being nervous wondering what he thought of me.
: You were...nervous?
: Of course! But enough about that. Suffice to say that I know what you're going through, perhaps better than anyone.


: I'm sorry, did I startle you?
: No...Was it too noisy for you to sleep well?
: No, I was thinking about something and I decided to talk to you about it.
: Well then, speak your mind.
: Captain, do you know why I'm trying to become an Imperial Knight?
: Yes...you wanted to motivate your brother to have surgery.
: If you don't mind me asking, what's your reason?
: I swore to my father that I would. Well, that and the ocarina...
: Huh?
: Do you remember when I told you about the promise I broke? The one about meeting someone at the grasslands.
: Yes.
: That day, I left very depressed. When I got to camp, I asked my father what I should do. He told me to remember the pain in my heart because it would make me more compassionate later. I didn't know what that meant until much later.
: He sounds nice. Do you miss him?
: Yeah, I do. What he said next is what gave me the drive to do all this.


: So, my father's wish and the pain I caused that stranger made me what I am today. Working to become an Imperial Knight was a way to feel good again. And, in some small way, it redeemed the promise broken. Pretty pathetic, huh?
: No, I think it's very moving. Such a small thing that many people would have forgotten has become the motivating factor in your life! I'm impressed.
: I don't know about "impressive", but thanks. We should at least try to get some rest. The sun will be up soon.
(Rest is important, because as soon as we go north to the Ruins...)


Litch: They were...noisy.
Storm#3: What?! You can't kill birds for singing! Swear to me you won't do it again!
Litch: You're testing my goodwill, little one! Are you looking to join your winged friends?
Storm#3: W...what? You aren't saying that...
Litch: I'm saying that you've outlived your usefulness. I can't turn you to evil, so I might as well have you for lunch.
Storm#3: Ahhhh! No!


: She's being attacked by the Litch!
: We have to help her at once!


Dailymotion | Viddler
(Mission Complete is to destroy all the enemies, but to keep the cat girl quest going, she has to get hit at least once in the battle, be healed by a party member, and also drop around half HP so a dialogue box appears so you can give her directions. This is all to "build trust" with her.)
(The battle itself is pretty simple. The Gargoyles are best taken out with physical attacks, and the other enemies are weak to magic. The Litch just has to be pounded on for a bit to die.)



Storm#3: I don't know how to thank you enough for what you did.
: You were in trouble, it was my duty to help you. Friends usually call each other by name, but you don't really have one. Is it okay if I give you one?
Storm#3: Well...I...I was saving that for my mother. So when I find her, she can give me a name.
: Fair enough. I'll help you find her, if that's all right.
Storm#3: Thank you, but I can't go with you, because I attract too much attention. I'll just search by myself.
: All right. If we see anything that might help you, we'll let you know.
Storm#3: Wein...you're not like the other humans...you're so...nice! Here...I want you to have this!


: Are you sure you want to give me something so valuable?!
Storm#3: Yes...it's one of my mother's. If you find her, she'll recognize it. It will help you gain her trust so you can bring her to me. And I'm sure it will come in handy for you even if you don't find her.
(Oh yes. Yes it will.)
: Well, thank you...I'll treasure it always.
Storm#3: I'll go search for my mother in the south. Thank you again for everything, Wein. Goodbye!
: I know how much you must miss your mother. Know that I will keep my word to find her. But...Her mother's memory must be strong to have kept her going for so long...


(And THIS gem is a step up from Lv6 New Horizons. Both give infinite range, but New Horizons is blocked by obstacles like buildings and trees. This one isn't. Hans doesn't even have to move to attack now.)


Good-natured Aunt: You want to know what happened? Of course you do! Well...the previous lord was said to have been forced to run away! Can you believe that? Scandalous!


(Here well tell Irene that she can return to Rachel now, and she also seems to know Carmaine from the last war.)


: Ummm...
: What's on your mind? Do you wish to bathe in the hot springs together?


: Hehe...<3 you're cute when you turn all red!
: Oh, dear...


(This opens up after talking to the Innkeeper's Daughter here. Wein remarks that the girl is a fan of Carmaine's, but Carmaine says she likes someone else...)


(When we hit the Magic Academy, Carmaine talks to us how he's grateful for everything they've done for him. He also hopes that Misha hasn't caused too much trouble for them, giving this dialogue choice. This wouldn't appear if we haven't been talking to Misha throughout the game. Finally, we reach North Grandshill, the location of the front lines.)


Burnstein Soldier: Excuse me, sir! A messenger has arrived from His Majesty Eliotte.
: Show him in at once.
Burnstein Soldier: Yes, sir!
: Wein!
: It's been a long time, hasn't it, Max?
: You're the messenger from King Eliotte?
: Yes. Once the false accusations were cleared, the king asked us to deliver a message to you.
: Though I found it difficult to accept, I must admit that I, too, assumed you were guilty.
: I certainly can't blame you; it was a very convincing conspiracy. But that's all in the past now...I've come to deliver this for the King. Here...
: Hmmm...all right. Wein, it appears you have another duty to fulfill.
: I am ready to serve the kingdom in any capacity. What is the assignment?
: Fort Rargin in Rolandia has had its supply chain cut. You are to breach the enemy lines and deliver goods to the fort.
: Is it completely surrounded?
: Our intelligence reports that it is. Breaking through will be dangerous.
: I can do it. I just need to know what I'm up against. The king is counting on my success. I cannot disappoint him.
: I knew you would rise to the occasion. I shall have the supplies prepared at once. Feel free to do as you wish until they are ready.
: That's good. We can use the time to upgrade our equipment.


: Yes, Max?
: Doesn't it frustrate you that people are so easily swayed by emotion and greed?
: Yes, but that's always been the case. Why does it bother you so now?
: It has always bothered me that nations wait until war is upon them to actively seek peace. Yet at a personal level, we all have the responsibility to protect peace, but choose to defer such responsibility to another. It's deplorable...
: Max...Is that any more puzzling than the fact that you despise war, and yet you are commanding soldiers on the front lines of a bloody conflict?
: Sometimes I feel that the only way to resolve the conundrum is to allow all of humanity to be destroyed.


(There has to be another way, because your way is really freaking extreme.)
: Max, there is always another way...a better way. Yes, there are those motivated by greed and self-interest at the expense of the masses, but not everyone is like that. To make all of humanity suffer for the wrongs of a handful is immoral. In your heart, you know that...I know you do.
: But those in power have corrupted the very structure of humanity to the point that it is rotten to the core!
: That may be...but I don't intend to let that sway me from fighting to change that for the good of all!
(Hopefully Max will listen to Wein's words of wisdom and justice.)


(Xenos is worried about Grandshill and Karene, even though Wallace is commanding there. Max just tells us to let him know when we're ready to leave. And when we are ready, we'll choose to Join the Campaign.)

Next Update: Joining said campaign! Also, cheap chocobo knockoffs!

Current Relationship Status
Everyone but Carmaine: 10
: He started at 6, and is now at 9.