Part 14: Orb

Update 14: Orb








Music: Octam in the Mist


That means Hari is here, right? He's the one who can tell me what my dreams mean!


Noa begins running all throughout the area.


Hari! So where is Hari! Come out, Hari! I want you to tell me what my dreams mean!





But...

Listen! Look around you! Octam is enveloped in the Mist! Could any ordinary humans survive here?

But I just -

Noa, forget about Hari for now! We can look for him when the Mist is gone.

You're so mean, Gala! Waa! Waa!...Wait, I know! The Genesis Tree! If we find it, we can drive out the Mist! Terra! Terra! Tell me, is the Genesis Tree nearby?

I am sorry, Noa. Unfortunately, I do not sense the presence of a Genesis Tree here.

No! It's not fair! Waaa!





Oh, Vahn, you're my favorite! SO there, Gala! You have to do whatever Vahn says.

Very well, then. But if we don't find anything, Noa, then you must forget about Octam and Hari.



But Vahn, there's something that troubles me. In Mist-covered towns there are always people possessed by Seru. But I detect none here. If we must search the town, let's be very careful.

Gala, you talk like such a big shot!


I like the dynamic that Noa and Gala have. It's not really groundbreaking in any particular way, but there's something about Noa's childish nature pitted against Gala's relative maturity that I think helps this duo stand out.





Anyway, we can explore the town, but Gala's right – it's abandoned and there's not really much to see. This guide mentions that the Gate of Shadows seems to have a link to Octam but nobody really understands what that might be. Hmm...





The enemies here are more trouble than they're worth, for the most part; they don't seem to have all that great an EXP of G yield and some of them are decently powerful/durable. Also note the Killer Bees; they're the weaker bees from the Honey fight back in Rim Elm.





Curry devils are assholes. They have loads of HP and decent defenses...









And are none too weak, either. Bear in mind this normally does way more damage (Noa was Spiriting)







There is one very important enemy here, though, and that's the new Seru and our new best friend, Orb.







Orb is not only a step up in healing from Vera, but it also affects the entire party. It's thrice as expensive, but 18 MP is still pretty cheap. It's delightful and will make future boss fights easier possible.





Eh?





Inside the large central building is this shrine, which has a stairway leading downward. Maybe this is the Temple of Rem?





These stones each equate an element to a cardinal direction.

Earth-North
East-Wind
South-Water
West-Fire

I remember seeing stones with these colors back at the Gate of Shadows, but the game wouldn't let me do anything with them. Maybe I need something to activate them.





Be warned! Take heed! The Mist is Death in disguise! The Mist is a cradle of madness! History warns us: The Mist stops time. The Mist brings chaos. When the evil Mist appears from the west horizon, leave everything and run for your lives! The god Rem awaits you all, in the hot depths of the earth. Until the heroes of Ra-Seru defeat the Mist...





When reality turns into a nightmare and nightmares bring despair, the god Rem is the last hope. Rem leads humans to the depths of the Earth, and in his bosom destroys the Mist nightmare. But hear this, heroes of Ra-Seru, those who walk through the Mist! Thou must show a sign of being the heroes of Ra-Seru! The path to Rem's bosom is ever steep and hidden in darkness. Gather at the Gate of Shadows! The path to Rem's bosom can be found only there.





The path to Rem's bosom is at the Gate of Shadows. However, the mouth of the Gate of Shadows is shut. The Gate of Shadows is a stone flower. Only words in the Four Faces make the flower bloom. Speak to the Four Faces. Find the words engraved in the Faces and engrave them in thine hearts.





The Gate of Shadows is a stone flower. The words of the Four Faces will cause a great flower to bloom. However, for the true Gate born in the flower, seek out the Key. That Key is the Star Pearl, a silent treasure that slumbers deep under the palace of Rem. The Star pearl will open the true Gate. Heroes, pass and take the ancient path to Rem's bosom.


The fourth pedestal moves, revealing a staircase.







This elevator lies at the deepest point of Octam. Unfortunately, it's locked, but investigating it triggers a cutscene...





Who are you?

What are you doing here?

??? Ha ha ha!





Music: Cara's Theme

Cara's Theme is a strong contender for my favorite song in the game. Give it a listen!


I should be asking you what you're doing here! But let me introduce myself. I am Cara, a two-bit thief!

I'm Noa! This is Vahn, and Gala!

Cara! I ask you again! What are you doing here?

Oh, you make me laugh! I'm doing what you are – sneak thieving!

Sneak thieving? What's that?

It's something bad! It's stealing from people!

That's wrong! Stealing is wrong! I hate bad people!

Ha! Give me a break! Stop talking like a goodie two-shoes! You mean you're going home empty handed, even though everyone ran away and the town is deserted?

What did you just say? Everyone ran away?





They knew the Mist was coming, and took the elevator to an underground shelter to hide.

Underground? Shelter? So he's still alive! Hari's still alive! Let's take the elevator and go find him!

Sorry, kid, but the elevator won't work. It's locked, probably as a safety precaution.

Oh, boo hoo!

Oh, brother. Uh, say...if it's valuables you're after, there are none here! The townspeople must have taken everything with them when they went underground. The only thing I found was some measly jewel called the Star Pearl of something.

Wait a minute, Cara! The Star Pearl! Where is it?

You mean that piece of junk? Ha ha ha! Well, then, I'll tell you where it is! I palmed the Star Pearl off on a jeweler in...Jeremi, I think. His name was Zalan or something.

Cara, wait! We still have much to ask you!





And so Cara vanishes, taking her excellent music with her.


I don't get it. How can she travel through the Mist at will – without a Ra-Seru?

The Star Pearl! Vahn, Zalan in Jeremi has the Star Pearl!


I think the game is assuming we've already been to Jeremi here – otherwise this means Cara pawned the Star Pearl to a Seru monster.

So...yeah. I think we've exhausted all of the things we can do. It's time to get back on the plot's intended course and go to Jeremi.