Lunar: Dragon Song Part #12 - I Love the Thieves' Woods

Part 12: I Love the Thieves' Woods

Chapter 12: I Love the Thieves' Woods

I was counting it awhile back, and as far as I can tell, the mandatory amount of times you have to pass through the Thieves' Woods in some fashion is... eight or so. Not counting how many times you will go through them to deliver items and such.

Believe it or not, I kind of forgot where the White Dragon Cave was. I had an idea that it was in the top right part somewhere. It's not hard, you just go like you're traveling to Perit, and then go directly east of the town.

Eh, honestly though, I'm kind of bitching over nothing. We're already here! Wow, that was painless.

Huh, what's that?

...I swear I'm not leaving anything out. You examine this floating cube, and Jian brings this up.

I dunno, maybe he's going somewhere with it.

'What can I do to make this world my own, Goddess?' he demanded. The Goddess replied, 'In a single night, build a temple with one hundred stone steps in front.

Whoa! That's a pretty tall order!

You'd think so. But, for such a terrible giant, it was a simple task. It took him only half the night to carve one hundred steps and a fabulous temple.

Surely that means our world...?

You'd think so. However, being ruled by the giant would be terrible. Fearing this, humans crept up while he slept and removed one of the stone steps.

You have to admit, that's a more pragmatic solution than Loki's. Although this does mean that Althena could have had a kickass eight legged horse.

Morning came and the giant proudly showed the temple to the Goddess. However, due to there now only being ninety-nine steps, rather than becoming ruler of the world the giant was packed off to the Frontier. That's the legend, anyway.

...and everyone around here believes this legend?

I guess so. That sacred stone is the step that was removed. It's become something of an object of worship.

Okay, so probably a lot of you are thinking "where the fuck did this come from?" and I was too. (No, none of this is in a prior Lunar game.) Turns out, a giant was mentioned by the citizens of Perit earlier.

A couple of other Perit NPCs confuse the sasquatches with this giant. And if you come to the White Dragon Cave earlier and examine this stone, Jian will warn everyone not to anger the giant. The thing is, the game gives you no context for these references, so I was confused and didn't know what to make of it.

So that's where 'never complete the hundred steps of Delrich Temple comes from?

Wait, why are we talking about Delrich Temple?

Oh... Oh no.

That's right.

That glint in your eye, Jian! You're going to complete the hundred steps, aren't you!?

What?!

Come on, Gabi, don't tell me you're actually buying into this superstitious nonsense?

I'm not.

...But are you sure about this?

I don't know about you, but I'm not seeing the White Dragon Cave anywhere around here. I doubt we're going to stumble on it tracking blind circles around this forest, either.

You've got to be kidding me, game.

You know what it's time for? Time to go back through the Thieves' Woods, and back to the first dungeon of the game. Yeap.

This sure is a good addition, meaningful addition to gameplay.

This is my bad, but there are a ton of steps right outside the temple. I didn't think anything of it at the time, since I just figured this was another way for the game to waste your time.

I also have to admit I was confused one what to do here, and really for no reason. You can probably guess what to do based on this screenshot, but I was of the mindset that the game was expecting something really obscure. I actually went through the dungeon again, and I found out some odd stuff.

To get to the bottom part of the temple, you have to press all the statues again.

And you can fight the four Sasquatch again if you wanted to.

But, uh, yeah let's go back to what you're supposed to do.

There we go, then! The sacred stone fits perfectly in place, so now there should be 100 steps.

Are you sure about this...? I can't help feeling something bad is going to happen!

Yeah, I guess we had better be ready for anything... Kinda exciting!

Maybe we'll get attacked by that legendary giant?! We've broken its seal! It's free! It's coming!

No, no, Flora, that would actually be interesting. Let's not kid ourselves.

Jian! Flora! Cut that out!

Hold on, though...

Yeah... Nothing's happening! No entrance to the White Dragon Cave, no monsters, and no White Dragon. All that build up for nothing!

...So now what?

Hey! I think I've got it!

You worked it out, Gabi?

Yeah... yeah, I have!

Well don't just keep it to yourself!

The sacred stone!

What about it? Jian put it in the wrong place?

No, nothing like that! The real meaning behind 'never complete the 100 stone steps'... Could it mean that the sacred stone itself should not be moved?

I see... And that would mean...!

Yes! If something is going to happen, it's going to happen back at that pedestal!

Alright then! Let's get back there!

Hey, hold on a moment... I don't understand! Explain it again, OK? Hey, you two! Wait for me, will you?

I'm kind of impressed how the game took that many words to say "a door opened elsewhere."

All right, back through the Thieves' Woods. That would bring us up to about 10 mandatory trips.

Yup. And it's not like there's aren't NPCs in Perit who will tell you this is the White Dragon Cave, or a fucking sign telling you where the cave is.

It's so dark... But I guess the dragon is in there!

Let's hope so.

Well, there's only one way to find out!

Yay we're finally in.

I guess all the Dragon caves have to have stupid gimmicks. This one is falling icicles. Unlike the Red Dragon Cave, there isn't any precedence for that. Not to say the White Dragon Cave doesn't have a gimmick in a prior Lunar games; in Lunar SSSC you had to trick these yeti-type enemies into running into ice pillars.

There won't be anything nearly as interesting here.

Seriously, there's nothing to say about this dungeon. There's a blue chest in the first room, with a good piece of arm-wear for Gabryel, and that's about it for this screen. It's not a large or difficult room to clear, and I think maybe there's one new enemy but I couldn't really tell. It doesn't cast magic, steal, or break, so I can't really note it.

The second room is a little more complex, and it also has a blue chest. Apparently the blue chest only has a Mental Drop, an MP restoring item. You can't buy those, but I never use them, so I decided to pass. Also, I didn't get the chest pictured; it's an Evasion Ring. I assume it increases evasion. I doubt I would have used it if I got it.

I guess one thing to note is that the enemies' HP are getting higher. Two Gale Cuts couldn't take down all the enemies. Jian's Inferno at least does make a good "fuck this" button, but I'd like to get some use out of my other party members. Foolish thought, I know.

But yeah, that's it. Again, two rooms and we're done. The White Dragon Cave in the original Lunar 1 was more interesting. And keep in mind, the White Dragon Cave is the first dungeon of Lunar 1.

Now, if I were the naive sort, I would be excited about seeing the White Dragon. You see, in Lunar 1, meeting the White Dragon was really memorable. When you finally make it to the White Dragon's chamber, it's dark. You hear growling and see pair of eyes staring at you. And when you're about ready to shit your pants, the room lights up and you see... a kind, sage, almost grandfatherly creature. He introduces himself as Quark (for Fidy, as he's known in Japanese... WD made the right call) give him a ring/quest (depends on the version), and ultimately spurs Alex on his quest.

I don't know what the fuck that is, but it ain't Quark.

Hey... look...

...The White Dragon?

...Looks that way...

Child of man. Are you the one called Jian?

I am. And you are... the White Dragon?

But of course... Unless you see something else, perhaps?

I was thinking about just using Quark's picture or the White Dragon from Lunar 2, but... no this game does not deserve that.

Not at all... Tell me, how do you know my name?

You undertook the Red Dragon's Trial... And thus we dragons now know of you. Now, have you come to defeat me, too?

Please, if there is another way...

That really makes no sense. And yeah, in Lunar 1 the Dragon's don't have to disappear to give you their power. Why is this in the game? You already had an excuse why the Dragons can't kick Iggy's ass!

...But still...!

Think no more of it. Rather, you should be worrying about Ignatius. He can already feel your presence, and it is only getting stronger. It is only natural, of course. For you are rapidly becoming a threat to him and his plans.

I hope so!

Jian is here for the Dragon's Trial! Please, let him take it! Quickly!

When I was playing this, I was actually kind of confused whether or Iggy actually did the Dragon trials. The game doesn't even bother to confirm that he did until now. I guess I should have assumed that, but with as much stupid bullshit this game is piling on, I couldn't be sure the game wasn't gonna pull some shit by saying that Iggy somehow became a Dragonmaster through some alternate method.

Thus, what proof can you offer me that you will not follow the same path of rebellion that he has?

I don't know what to say...

I fear you'll never convince me. No matter how you try to explain it, there is no way for me to know the truth. The only truth I can know is that which I have seen or experienced.

But that's so... hard-headed! Jian is nothing like Ignatius! I promise! Please, believe me! Let him take the Dragon's Trial!

Ah, well... That, at least, you need not worry about. For, by being here, you have already passed my Trial.

What? It's over already?!

You moved the sacred stone, did you not?

Yes... but...?

How long has it been said that the stone must not be moved? People have learned to obey just because it is the simplest thing to do. So long as it does no harm, people tend to believe and follow such superstitions. But therein can lie danger. A Dragonmaster must be able to both perceive truth and be willing to put those perceptions to the test. You have already admirably displayed these skills. Which means, you have passed.

That was the trial...?! Well, if you say so... Good news, eh, Jian?

No... not at all! I don't believe it!

You don't?

You said it yourself, White Dragon! That I must prove I am different from Ignatius!

You are right, I did. What of it?

I'll prove it to you, then, here and now! That I'm nothing like Ignatius!

"I'm going to prove that I'm better than the bad guy by resorting to violence!"

I'm going to save Lucia! That's why I'm different from Ignatius!

What difference does that prove...?

Unlike him, I have someone to protect... Someone I love!

You don't actually know that. Or a damn thing about him.

Hey, Jian... You really pick your moment, don't you.

Now fight me!

All right, next Dragon fight. What can he do?

Oh dear. This is going to be a challenging fight. We're going to need to be care-

Nah I'm just kidding you can stagger him too.

I really want to know why the boss fights in this game are starting to be easier than the regular fights.

And that is not all! I saw through to the truth inside you! Your pure heart, so different from Ignatius!

White Dragon... thank you!

So tell me, Jian... You need only look down and you can see your feet. But it is impossible to look at your own back.

...My back...?

The truth, Jian, is there whether you can see it or not. It exists regardless of what people think. Do you understand? In order to become a Dragonmaster, you must have the ability to tell truth from lies. You must walk the correct path, as an example to all who follow behind.

Yes, White Dragon.

Even if you cannot see it yourself... you must always remember that many others will be watching, and following, your back!

Well, that was another dragon. Yup. So... I guess we just roll onto the next with the same joyless, mechanical efficiency.

Actually, before we move on, I'd like to mentioned that in Lunar 1 the White Dragon doesn't give you a piece of armor, he gives you something called the White Dragon Wings.

They give you a small amount of magic defense when you equip them. More importantly than that, however, they can instantly warp you to any town you've been to before. Why, that would be super useful here, wouldn't it?

...yeah, that would be nice.

OK... So, remember what Titus said. There are Four Dragons to the north, south, east and west of Cathedral of Althena. We've already passed the Trials of the Red in the west, and the White in the north. So that leaves us with the Black in the east and the Blue in the south.

OK, I'm following you so far... Which means we have to cross to the Ghulian continent, right?

Right. And that means passing through the Meryod Cave!

Huh? Never heard of it!

I have... Comprised of the West Meryod Cave and East Meryod Cave, it's about as dangerous a place as there is in these parts.

As dangerous a place... as there is?!

Nah, Jian just saw Deliverance and he thought it was a documentary.

I guess that means we need to be absolutely sure about this trip to the Ghulian continent.

Let's do it!

So, uh, you care to tell me where the Meryod Cave is? No. All right then.

Oh! Before I forget, we got a new spell! It's called Wind Cutter.

And yeah, you gotta equip the ring we got from the White Dragon to use it, and no you can't have both Inferno and Wind Cutter accessible at the same time.

Best part?

It's the same animation as Jian's fire spell, just the graphic overlay on top is a recolored version of Gab's Gale Cut effects. The original Lunar game didn't have the best spell graphics, but at least the Dragon Spells have interesting and special animations.

Well, for the lack of concrete direction, let's go back to Port Searis. And that's mandatory Thieves' Woods trip number 11.