Part 3: Investigating the Ruins

Part 3: Investigating the Ruins

(Well, first we explore, then we investigate. A few new locations have opened up in addition to the ruins.)


(The most interesting thing about gathering info in Starkberg is the Country Merchant who mentions a guy named Patrick from up north in Valmie that looks just like Max.)


Next stop is a visit to the Ring Shop to see what effects the rings we've won so far will give us. Each ring has a small equip fee to put it on. Wein gets the 3-2-0 ring from our inventory, and a Lv2 Blood Blade gem that was picked up back in Burnstein from reading the archives. This gem lets Wein recover HP equal to 10% of the physical damage given to an enemy.)
(Now, let's go down south and see what's going on there.)


: Ha, ha, ha...I suppose I'm not very good at hiding my identity. Yes, I am the king.
: You need to get back to the castle at once! The guards and attendants are frantic looking for you!
: You don't understand! I cannot sit in a fortified castle while this battle for our future rages out here! Can't you let me go?


(First choice!)
: But...
: Your Majesty, my priority as a knight in your service is to protect your life at all costs: You must return!
: You...you're right I suppose. I need to behave more like a monarch.
: Please allow us to escort you back to the castle.
: Thank you, but that is unnecessary. The soldiers of Starkberg can escort me. Your assistance will be put to much better use defending our kingdom and bringing an end to this war as soon as possible.
: Thank you, Majesty!
(Heading down to Schwarzfals, we get another scene...)


Butler: B...but, Miss...
: Father, Mother, and Pietro are still in the city! I can't stay here and just wait for news of their deaths in the attack! I have to do something...now!
Butler: But...Miss Charlone, you'll be in danger, too!
: This is Schwarzfals Village, isn't it?
: This isn't the place Commander Logan was speaking of. We should go back.
(I kinda read this as a jab at the player: "Stop poking around the world and get back to the mission!")
: Right. Still, for a peaceful village to be under attack, things must be really bad. We must stop the monsters from attacking!
: Agreed. I have to improve my skills so I can become an Imperial Knight quickly!


(Gather Information here is totally useless =D To the ruins!)


: Strange...who would have imagined ruins like this would have been here?
: I didn't know about them either. My father loves these kind of places...
: Your father?
: Yeah. He's a treasure hunter of sorts.
(You mean a thief?)


: Well then, once our duty ends, you'll have a fantastic story to tell him, for once! It appears as if we're the first ones to see this place in quite some time.
: Yeah...Father would loves this...I...I just...
: ?


: He's missing?
: Perhaps. Or maybe just far away. It's been more than half a year since I received a letter from him. He used to send them at least once a month, but now...
: I'm sorry...I...I don't know what to say...
: It's not your problem...don't worry about it. He'll turn up... This kind of thing isn't really too uncommon for treasure hunters. (Thieves?) In fact, my mother is used to it. Even if my father met an untimely end, I should be happy because he perished doing what he loved. We all should be so fortunate.
: ...Mmm...
: But enough of that...I didn't mean to paint the moment black.


: Right.


: Right on cue...
: There only seems to be two. This should be trivial.


Dailymotion | Viddler
(Mission Complete conditions: All enemies destroyed...plus some other things)
(I restarted this mission a few times to get a 9-1-0 ring. This is the earliest you can get a ring with a strong slot like that, and it will be handy for a gem we get soon. Everything seems like a normal until we get a party crasher )



(The battle conditions have changed! Now for Mission Complete we can't let Hans die, or let the now moving spiky wall hit anyone. Also, the wall can't hit enemies and kill them. And if the wall comes out too far, you lose the chance for Complete. So this mission is all about speed. Luckily the enemies aren't too tough, there's just a lot of them, and Hans is a speedy long-ranged attacker. He's a bit weak, but his extra damage helps.)


(Mmm, look at that tasty low ATW.)



(Wein leveled earlier in the battle and learned System Shock. Max and Hans both get points towards the all-important Dash.)


: Shyeah! Just look at me! I'm great!
: With your help, we were able to defeat the guardians in here.
: Heheh... Yeah, well I had a good teacher!
: Uh...teacher?


: Well, that may be, but this was a special circumstance. If you wish to fight for a profession, you need to get some formal training as a soldier, first.
(Thank you Max, for putting that idea in his head. Maybe he won't go for all that work...)
: Uh...well, okay! If that's what I gotta do to officially fight monsters! I better go and register right away! 'Cause the sooner I sign up, the sooner I can come back and fight along with you!
(Okay...maybe...he gets lost along the way!)
: Whew! For a minute there, I thought he was going to stay!
: Now that he's gone, we should continue exploring, beginning with this glowing area...


: It appears as if something is levitating beyond this force field.
: What is it? It looks somewhat like a mask...


: A key?
: Yes. It could be an actual key, or a spell that behaves like one. My father would know what to do. If only he were here...
: Well, without a key, there doesn't seem to be any more to do here. If we can't obtain the mask, no one else can either. Let's leave this as it is.


: Really? But...
: How do I know that? It's how all great civilizations meet their eventual end. Hopefully, I can make a small contribution towards changing that cycle...
: I believe you will, Max. All this serious talk in here has left me cold. Let's get out into the warm sunlight.


: We carried out the mission and have returned, sir.
: Ah, yes. Good work. Let's hear the report.
: Yes, sir. The area to the west hid an ancient ruin where the monsters were hiding. After a short battle, we destroyed them, eliminating the threat.
: I see. Consider your work here done, then. Return to the capital at once.
: But...but, sir?! Isn't this area too dangerous to leave unguarded?


: So the war is over?
: Yes. I was just about to dismiss the mercenaries.
: I'll take that as my cue to move on.


: But...
: No need for modesty. You have developed skills and abilities that would have made your father proud, had he lived to see this.
: Thank you, sir.
: If you'll excuse me now, I must check the other stations. And remember, I'm counting on you two to become our top knights!
: Yes, sir.
: Thank you, sir. So...is that all there is? We're knights now?


: What?
: It's from this point forward that we can work towards our ultimate goals. You, politics, and me, Imperial Knighthood!
: If we continue talking, we will never officially even be knights! Right now, we should return to the kingdom capital. Now that our exam is over, I shall travel with you as an associate rather than one under your command. In that capacity, I suggest we leave at once.
(In simpler terms, Max has left the party. I'm not sure if he gives back his stuff if you equip him, because I never do. Before heading back to the capital, let's see how other places are doing now that the war's over. At Schwarzfals...)



(Oh, hey, it's a female Imperial Knight. Julia's journey and problems are outlined in Growlanser I. In a nutshell, she posed as a guy named Julian and became an Imperial Knight. When Eliotte ascended to the throne, (at least to my knowledge) he repealed the rule that said that only men could be Imperial Knights.)
: He deserves the credit. If it were not for him, this world would have ended.
: But...surely you helped...a little? You're an inspiration to us all! I want to grow up to be just like you!
: Find strength within yourself to achieve your dreams. If you follow others, you're bound for disappointment.
: ...


: Their future rests with you, now. Become a strong statesman so the peace will last.
: It sounds like such a simple task when you say it...
: It won't be easy, but I know you can do it, Max. I believe in you.
: I shall do my best to meet your expectations. For now, we'd best return to the capital at once!


Burnstein Commander: Maximillian Schneider. Wein Cruz. Rise to address His Majesty.


( )
: Thank you, Majesty.
: Thank you, sir.
: From this day forward, you toil not for yourselves, but for the well-being and security of the Burnstein Kingdom!
: Certainly!
: Yes, your Majesty!

Next update: Let's go into the "now"!

POLL
Starting with the next section, we start getting permanent party members, so it's time for the topic of relationships and endings
1. Which characters should Wein be nice to? If it's too hard to choose since we've seen all of two people so far, should Wein be nice to everyone, or only the people/person we're aiming for the ending(s) of?
2. On the subject of endings: It is required to get the three female endings before getting any male endings. So then, out of the three girls shown in the OP post (Charlone, Riviera, Arieta), which one should we aim to end the game with?

I know we've barely met anyone yet, but relationship-affecting responses happen as soon as you meet each character, and I'd like to plan ahead. I'll restate here that it is possible to get all but two character endings by having everyone maxed out and making one save before you have to choose your ending. The first question is more important than the second one, so if you don't want to pick a lady yet, it's fine.