Part 5: b: New Recruits, Mysterious Enemies (2/2)

Part 4b: New Recruits, Mysterious Enemies (2/2)


(Freedom from the plot dumping at last. Let's check out Charlone's stats.)


(Balanced stats...except for speed and ATW. Charlone is the slowest character in the game, and she can't even learn Dash to make up for that. It's best to use her as a mage because of this. She comes with Attack Up and Cure, further sticking her in our mage slot. Unlike most mages, her attack strength isn't at rock bottom, so having her pop off a few shots when there's nothing else for her to do is good, because her range is higher than Hans'.)


( After suiting up with some new equipment, we head out.)


: If we're traveling to Rottenbaum Village, we have a decision to make here. From this point, we can travel south through Clain Village, or turn towards Starkberg, then head southwest to Rottenbaum.
: I'm voting for the short route!
: Actually, I'm not certain which is the shorter distance.
: If there is no clear way that's better, I'd like to travel via Starkberg, if you don't mind.
: I have no reason to deny that request. Is there any special purpose for it?
: I just wanted to stop by my home. I hadn't expected to receive such a large assignment so soon. I wanted to tell me family that I wouldn't be seeing them for some time.



( )
: Uh...but, it's easier than saying Charlone. You have such a long name...
(When with one-syllable "Hans" and "Wein", yeah, she does.)
: Then I shall just begin referring to you as Runt. It's much easier, don't you think.


(This is the only time I'll be mean to Hans, I promise. His relationship is easy to max out. Charlone's is the hardest.)
: Hans, she doesn't like it any more than you like being called "Runt". So, please stop.
: But it's just a little...
: No excuses! Just stop using it.
: But...but...
: (Uh! This runt is impossible!)


: Ugh?!
: I mean, it's not like CC, and sounds kinda cute!
: Hans, just let me tell you something...
: ...I know what you're going to say, and it was really no bother. I like the new name even better!
: No, I was going to say to just use her full name, she doesn't...
: No, it's fine. He can call me Charlo if he wants to.
: What?
: If we debate it, we'll be here all day. Charlo is fine. I'm certain it's better than whatever else has run through that little rat trap of his.
: You're probably right...
: Based on what I know of him, I'm sure of it.
: Then it's settled.
: You're something else!


: Fine. A new start. Now then, can we please stop by my home in Starkberg on the way to Rottenbaum Village?
: Of course!


(As long as you don't go to Clain itself, going south is fine.)
Minstrel: Do you know the one from Rolandia they call Salvation Knight?
: Isn't that...
Minstrel: Ah, so you do know of him, after all. Well, did you also know that Carmaine is likened to the Light Savior of legend called Growlanser?
: Growlanser? The Light Savior legend is...


Minstrel: Very few people today know of the process to combine two space-times. It basically links distant worlds.
: So, all our ancestors lived in a different place and time originally?
Minstrel: Precisely right. Unfortunately, there were those that disturbed the space-time fusion plans. When that happened, a hero appeared who remained behind on our original planet that was doomed to destruction. We were sent ahead and he stayed behind until everyone escaped. That hero came to be called Growlanser, which means "Light Savior".
: We all owe our lives to that brave hero.
Minstrel: Not hero...Growlanser. It's much more than simply a hero.
: Right...Growlanser...
(But...the minstrel just called him a hero )


(Wait, mansion?)


(...Well now!)
: This will only take a moment. Please wait here.
: Well, um...
: What is it?
: I was actually hoping to use the washroom. It's been a long trek.
: Oh, yes! Go down the hall and turn right, then straight to the back and it's on your left.
: Thank you...


: Actually, I'm a bit surprised as well. I had no idea her family was wealthy.
: Now I get why she didn't like the shortened name. I don't think that's cool in these hoity-toity kinda families.
: Possibly...Hans, I'd love to debate the merits of short names in wealthy families, but I have...urgent business to attend to


: (Why'd she tell me the long way to get to the washroom? This way would've been shorter...Hmmm? What's that? I hear...voices...It sounds like Charlone...)


: Pietro, what are you talking about. Young boys should be able to get into all sorts of wonderful trouble without their big sisters around!
Pietro: But...
: You must understand that for me to receive an assignment like this so early is a great honor. If I work hard and prove myself worthy, I'm sure I can become an Imperial Knight.
Pietro: But...you're a girl! Imperial Knights have always been men!
: Well, that used to be the case, until Julia Douglas became an Imperial Knight. It is possible now. I'm certain that it will not be easy, but I am prepared to try. No goal worth achieving is ever easy.
(Well, Julia also posed as a man to become an IK. Charlone is clearly doing it wrong.)
Pietro: Yeah...I guess you're right.


: Don't get discouraged. You won't be ill forever, Pietro.


: Um...ah...I was looking for the way back from the washroom.
Butler: Charlone's younger brother Pietro became ill when he was very young and has difficulty walking by himself. When the illness came, the doctors said he would not live past 10. We lost all home in any future for him. However, Charlone never abandoned hope. Every day she came and told Pietro of the happenings in the outside world. And, every day, she gave him the hope he needed. I believe that the only reason Pietro lives today is because of his sister Charlone.
: I see...
Butler: Recently we've heard about an operation that can cure Pietro.
: So he'll be all right, then?
Butler: Perhaps. If he will submit. You see, the operation is said to be quite painful. Thus far, he has refused to do it. So, Charlone made a promise to him. She told him that if she became an Imperial Knight, he would have the operation.
: Oh...
Butler: I trust that you shall keep this disclosure between us, however.


: Lord Claudius does not even know?
Butler: Not yet, though I believe Charlone will approach him to ask for his assistance. We should go. Please remember our agreement.
: Certainly.


: Don't worry, I will. Please take care of Pietro while I'm away.
Butler: Of course, m'lady. I trust that you are in good company and wish you the best! Farewell!
: Goodbye.


: I still can't believe that Charlone is from such a wealthy family.
: Hans, you're from this area, too, aren't you?
: Yeah. I was raised around here, but not like Charlone. I was raised in an orphanage not too far from here. If you don't mind, I'd like to see my orphanage brothers while we're near.


: Hey, thanks! I didn't think you'd say yes! Oh, yeah! I just remembered I owe a person in Clain Village some money. It's not too far from here. Can we go?
: Yes...once this assignment is complete.
: Great! I can wait...


: ...
: What's the matter, Charlone?
: ...Oh...nothing...I was just...remembering...Imperial Knight Julia was so cool...so composed. One day, I will be just like her.
: An Imperial Knight, huh? (She's definitely ambitious...)
: Yes, Imperial Knight. Don't tell me what the odds are against that happening. I will achieve it.


(Talking to the Student here starts the Story Manuscript sidequest. His story pages were scattered about by the wind, and he asks us to find it. The story actually tells about some events that happened in GL1 from the views of the characters. Every three stories or so, I'll make a post transcribing them. We get the first page here. On with the mission!)


(OH SHI--)


(They're more annoying than anything else, since the monsters you fight are usually weaker than you. There is no need to grind with random battles in this game. The missions give out enough exp to keep you leveled, and harder missions depend on strategy more than strength. If you want to run away, just move Wein to the edge of the map.)


Narrator: Marauders that were heavily armored have attacked this village, ruining the fields and destroying livestock. At first, the villages organized groups of volunteers to patrol the areas around their home, but they were repeatedly overpowered by the marauders. Soon, they hired mercenaries to take up the task of guarding the village. As soon as he arrived, Wein began interviewing the villages trying to obtain information on the marauders.


: This is Rottenbaum Village, right?
: I'm certain it is. However, it doesn't seem to be under attack.
: Let's talk to some of the villagers...


: Hey, great, thanks!
: The marauders seem to be coming mainly from the northwest. That means...
: It means that they must not be associated with Ranzack...northwest is the opposite direction from Ranzack's border.
: Or, it could be a clever misdirection aimed at making it seem as if Ranzack is not behind the attacks.
: This is getting wayyy too complicated. My head hurts.
: One thing's for certain...there's not enough information to decide anything yet. We need to know more.


: What?
Mercenary 2: Are you the ones who were sent to investigate the attacks here?
: Yes. Do you know anything that might help our investigation?
Mercenary: No.


Mercenary: Yes, if the invaders return, they'll have a rude welcome this time.
Mercenary 2: In fact, since we arrived, there hasn't even been a sighting of the marauders.
: What you are saying sounds quite impressive, and I have no doubt of your skill... ... however, we were sent here by the king to investigate the situation and make sure these deadly events cease to happen.
Mercenary: So, what? Now you're taking food out of our mouths by doing the job we were hired to do?
Mercenary 3: C'mon...there's nothing more to say. I'm not helpin' them! Let's go.


: He's right. There's nothing more we can do here under these conditions. What should we do?


: If we can't make any progress inside the village, we'll just investigate outside the village. We know that the marauders are coming from the northwest. I think we should start by searching there.
: But, really all we know is that they're coming from the northwest. That's still pretty ambiguous...
: So you wish to stay and fight with the mercenaries, then?
: ...Um...no. I shall comply with your direction.
: I'm willing to give it my best. Let's GO!
: (Brownnose...)


Villager 4: S...stop!
Villager 6: Gyahhh!
Villager 4: Father, nooooo!
Armored Soldier: So, who will volunteer to die next?!
Villager 4: You'll pay for what you did!!
Villager: Chief, w..w...what should we do?
Village Chief: Calm down! Just...stay calm!
Armored Soldier 2: Yeah! Listen to him! Hand over your valuables, or you die like the rest!



( )
Armored Soldier: Who the hell are you?
: Me? I am Wolfgang, leader of the Grandzenschtraum Mercenaries!
Armored Soldier 2: Wolfgang?!
Armored Soldier 3: Uh...didn't we forget that...thing in the...
Armored Soldier 2: ...yeah! We have to take care of something else...but don't think we're done with you!


: Are you all right?
Villager: We're fine now, thank you.
Village Chief: If it weren't for you, the outcome would have been terrible indeed. Bless you.
: We heard the yells, and came to investigate.
Villager 4: Are you the mercenaries that were hired to protect Rottenbaum Village?
Mercenary: He is well informed.
Villager 4: Chief...
Village Chief: Hmmm...


(Let's see if we can get information from this place. The Inn Maid and Village Chief tell Wein that they were attacked, but we the players already know that. Seems to be a bit of a roadblock here...maybe going back towards Rottenbaum will do something.)



: Oh come on! What happened to your "this is an assignment from the king" enthusiasm? Suck it up!
: Yeah, but...look there's nobody here...we don't need to walk so fast searching.
: What? Did you expect that these marauders would just jump out and shake our hands? If they were easy to find, they would have been found by now.
: Can't we just go an Inn for the night? I'm cold, and...and tired, and...


: If you're going to let a little water stop you, you're more of a girl than I am!
( )
: Hey! That's not very...
: Quiet!
: What is it?


: I think we found what we're looking for, and they even came to us.
: ...they're...they're giants! Oh, why'd they have to be so, so...big?!
Armored Soldier: You'll soon regret the hour that you decided to come looking for us.
Armored Soldier 2: And no one will hear your screams....


Dailymotion | Viddler
(Oh, I love when the listed conditions match the actual Mission Complete condition. Charlone alerts us to some high ground behind us, and everyone knows that when you get the high ground, you're harder to kill. Hans and Charlone go in the back because they're long range, and Wein blocks the front. I was lucky and the first armor guy got in the second guy's way, so I only had one attacking me. They have crazy high defense, even with a Thunder Gem (their weakness) and three Attack Up spells, Hans was doing crud damage. Wein and his Hyper Attack were faring much better. When you kill one...)




(Saving your Dashes and System Shocks for this part makes the second soldier go down easily. Charlone snipes for extra damage.)



(For skills this level, Wein got Critical Hit, Hans finished Dash and started System Shock, and Charlone started Cycle Up. Cycle Up speeds up the rate the action bar drops after making an attack or casting a spell. It is an important part in making broken characters)


: Hey! Uh...I don't know about you...but I wanna see what kinda freak is in this thing!


: It's just...sand?!
: There's nothing in the armor but sand?! How's that possible?
: Hmmm...Perhaps it was a Sand Golem?


: I don't think that's it. They moved and communicated like humans.
: Now that you mention it...
: Perhaps there is an ancient race of Golems with human properties we don't' know about yet!
: Well, what'll we do now?
: Well, I assume these are the marauders, and we've stopped them for the time being. Our next stop should be the Magic Academy. We have to go there anyway for Minister Schneider, so we should take some of this sand for them to analyze.


( Let's hope that people over at the Magic Academy are smart enough to solve this one.)

Next update: Crossing the border into Rolandia!

Current Relationship Status
: He started at 8, but took a big hit when Wein agreed with Charlone. But doing everything else right with him has brought him back to 8.
: Answering everything to make her happy so far has brought her from 5 to 7.