Part 27: Mini-Update: Stories Ten Through Twelve
FredMSloniker posted:
Are there any other games (besides, I assume, the other Growlanser games) that have a battle system like this? And by 'like this' I mean 'relatively free movement on the battle map, a real-time system that automatically pauses when someone needs new marching orders, useful tactical maneuvering, and sword-swinging at a pace that approaches realistic'?
Can't say that I have an answer to your question, sorry. I wish I know more games like this one because it's fun, but the only other RPGs with strategy battles I've played have been grid-based or based off of grid-based.
Sorry for being quiet, classes are ending this month and of course I ended up with a nice backlog of work to do. Here, have some more stories. The next update will be up this weekend.
Mini-Update: Stories Ten Through Twelve
Ariost - Smiling Face of the Sun posted:
Regrets won't serve the future, but I regret letting an unknown girl use my lab.
"Please to meet you. Actually, I've come to ask you a favor."
Her story sounded simple enough. There was a report to write, and she lacked the apparatus to do the experiment properly.
"You have the apparatus to reproduce the experiment, right?"
Even at my level, experiments were thrilling to me. I couldn't resist letting her use my equipment to do her experiment.
That enthusiasm quickly faded once she mixed up the chemicals, started a fire, and shattered much of my table equipment.
"Um...can I help?"
"No," she said with indifference, oblivious to my growing anxiety.
"If someone else does this for me, I still won't understand it. I have to do it myself. I'll repeat the experiment until I understand it."
I couldn't argue with the inherent logic of her statement. I simply sighed and watched her successive attempts carefully.
"I've done it! Look! I've done it!"
After taking five tries to conclude an experiment any first-year student could have done in one, she had indeed succeeded. And just then, something strange happened. Her excitement became mine.
"Well done, um..."
"Misha...my name is Misha."
Her smiling face was warm and radiant like the sun. From that day on, I follosed her progress carefully.
Julia - Incantation posted:
I closed the door of my assigned quarters, softening the noise of the celebration a little. I hadn't seen anyone on the way back to my room, so my flushed face was my secret alone.
"Phew..."
Resting on the closed door, I exhaled as though I had forgotten to breathe until just then. As I realized the sound of that sight was much louder than I intended, I felt the burning warmth of my face reddening further.
"Calm down, you can't let this get out of hand..."
Scolding myself, I left the door and crossed to the corner of the room where a full-length mirror hung. Imperial Knights are to pay close attention to their appearance, and so they are afforded the luxury of such a mirror.
Rather than straightening my clothing, I changed into the violet dress hanging there.
It wasn't the dress of a knight, but rather the battle dress of a girl. No matter how often I looked at myself, I remained ashamed of the look. However, if I backed out here, the courage it had taken to invite him would be waster.
"Calm yourself, Julia. He's waiting...You are Julia...a girl. You are Julia...a girl."
Crossing swords with 100 opponents alone was trivial compared to the battle I now faced in the mirror. This battle was for but one man.
He was a knight of Rolandia. The hero who had defeated the grotesque Gevel, and lead three nations to peace. But none of that mattered to Julia. To her, he was the man who had returned femininity to her.
When she suddenly appeared in a dress, how would he feel?
"If I'm adminred, I'll ask him to dance..."
Having made up her mind, Julia turned to the mirror once more and recited the incantation.
"You are Julia...a girl. You are Julia...a girl..."
And as she recited the words, she did indeed grow to believe them again...which, of course, made her all the more attractive.
Kenshin - Oath posted:
"Do you really think the rumors that Richard isn't the King are true?"
I asked this of my colleague Ernest Lyell as we walked the underground passage in the gloomy castle.
"All I know is that such accusations should not be spoken without proof. At the very least, see what his mother believes."
Lyell showed no sign of confusion. As usual, he was the portrait of calm amidst the storm. It was a bit irritating, actually.
"Well, what do you intend to do? Turn over Richard? I certainly don't want to. I want to protect him."
"Of course. And so, I suppose I'll cooperate with the other side."
The answer took me aback. Had Ernest admitted treason?
"What?"
"You protect Richard, Kenshin. I'll go to the other side. In that way, we should be able to learn who is truly for Burnstein Kingdom."
With that, Lyell turned and walked away. It was a bold plan, but I wasn't comfortable with it.
"Lyell, wait!"
His eyes narrowed with suspicion as he turned without a word.
"You protect Richard."
"Why? You can be at his side just as well as I."
"Well...you're not the best at deception...you know that."
"Point taken. Fine. We'll do that."
We silently returned to the hall together. I was convinced we had made the correct decision.
I wish I would match his sword skills...the strongest should protect Richard.
That night, I led the troops toward Shutsberg...