Part 18: If Only Death Mountain Were This Easy
Chapter 15 - If Only Death Mountain Were This Easy
Last time we all reached out with our hearts... and touched together in one single consciousness. Last time... we saw the end of a true hero.
Snowman! Your sacrifice will not be in vain!
Snowman! This one is for you, buddy.
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Actually, last time I just went in and rolled Aunas in a few long range attacks and rounds that took way too long because he was being a cunt about status effects and instant death. This of course unlocked Reviver, one of the most ridiculous spells in the game and totally has the potential to break it all.
What we have left is the last of the main four Abyss gates of the game: The Abyss Gate of Air. I have only one way of going about it for now, but there is also another path which I will be able to enlighten you all about sometime after this update. It's not a matter of laziness or whatnot on my part, it's just how the sequence of events went. I'd totally forgotten that the optional battle path for Byunei relied on Vanguard not being able to move yet, and well... here you are!
Enough of that, though. It's time to settle things. Go and get your Masquerade (it's a terrible weapon) out of the storage. You'll need it otherwise Katrina won't be able to step foot in where we are going.
That's right, baby. We're going right back to Loanne now and we can because we've got the goods that were stolen from us. Let's see what some of the people have to say, then.
Looks like our faithful Marquis has been busy trying to prepare at least. Of course, considering this is an RPG most preparations for anything don't fulfill themselves until you interact. I don't even see anyone that he's been gathering to be honest: All of it looks like the same bunch of soldiers that he has always had in his castle. Well, Julian is hanging around too but he's been here.
In either case, the first little objective we need to finish up is actually going to Mikhail and talking to him.
Mikhail: Really? You are going? Byunei's nest is beyond the mist of Mount Taftan.
Mikhail has more to say considering we are playing as Katrina, and we have the Masquerade with us. It's something you should get out of the way right now so you can do things later on too.
Mikhail: I see that you currently have a big mission to complete. When it is done, please return to Loanne.
You can also see what Monica's up to. (
Jesus Christ, game. I don't really have to put forth any effort in my own innuendo jokes, do I? Well, better tag this one with a
too!Now you're not done yet. Mount Taftan isn't accessible until you find some other people to talk to. Find one of the houses that looks like this...
Old Lady: He takes pride in nothing but to climb mountains here and there.
He's a weirdo that's for sure, but he's not as weird as that motherfucker from Treasure Hunter G who ate a goddamn clock to impress his wife. Here's looking at you, you spinkicking daredevil Grandpa.
Since we are not trying to climb the fucking mist, we're looking to just go through it, I think we should be fine. In either case, this will open up Mount Taftan.
See? Aren't I a genius?
This place is extremely easy to not get lost inside its pathways. All you have to do is run around to climb. It's fairly one way too and there are almost no spots where you can fuck up and go the wrong way. Since you're always running, it gets things over pretty quick-like.
But goddamn, it does have a nice view on occasion, don't it? Somewhere along the line the game will ask you if you want to proceed. Choose yes, and you will get to a misty area.
THIS spot is extremely hard to navigate, if you are unable to press the up direction for an extended amount of time.
This is another extremely hazardous zone to navigate. What will you ever do if you cannot go to the right for a long, long time?
Welcome to the... not-so-air oriented dungeon here. The place is alive and pulsing in areas.
These sexual holes in the ground will drag you in if you get too close and you'll be forced to fight a recurring miniboss that happens for all times you get sucked in.
This fuckface drains your LP like none other, and does all sorts of annoying area status shit too. If you have a lot of pidon jewels like me you can just spam techs on him and get him out of the picture.
In either case, this spot is a one way area with no splits, just head down into the next room.
To the left is an annoying life trap infested spot with shitty treasure, but if you want a sorcerer armor then go right ahead!
The path to the right is the path to continue onward, my friends.
Not pictured here is the skeleton carrying the barrier stone. If you see skeletons, go up and try to talk to them (the ones on the ground, not the enemy sprite for skeletons). That's what the treasure chests in this dungeon are. It's a neat touch compared to the other dungeons with, well, obvious chest graphics.
What IS pictured is the number of life trap orifice things. It sucks.
Fuck this room. I lost a lot of LP here because of fighting those goddamn life traps. Make your way up though to nab treasures from the skeletons, and you will find this book.
Galaxy!
This is the game's best multitech. It will hurt every enemy on-screen and it will hurt them quite a bit. The formation for it kind of sucks because it slows you down, but you get double regen ticks while in this form so I guess it is good.
Genbu really slows you down, much like Tiger's Cave. The benefit of the formation is that you get a regen though, as I said before. You'll regain health after every turn if you're still alive. In either case, continue on to the left now and you'll get to this area.
This is the Byunei Dragon, Baby and Dog. Note the mistranslation.
This will bring up a fixed fight that is not really hard. I had enough time to fuck around and do this.
(it hit for 9999)
You'll get the Black Dragon armor afterwards which is... an okay armor I guess..
You're at the home stretch! Try not to lose anymore LP and you'll get up to this spot, here...
What the snap? What is this treachery and what are they doing here?!
Byunei - The Abyss Gate Guardian of Air ( Youtube / Vimeo )
As you can see I did something different in this video! I was using Commander Mode instead. You can access this mode only when you have more than two party members I believe. You can set your leader out of the formation. You gain indirect control over your party members (which means that they won't buff each other or heal, I think. They just use random skills) but you can the ability to do Group Techs and Magic.
The other bonus is that you regenerate 10% of your max HP each round, or 1 HP if you were knocked out. You can administer items to your party members without having any equipped, and most status effects are cursed after the round is over. I figured that it wasn't worth an entirely different update just to showcase this and well, I put it here.
All is certainly not well after the battle...
That's right, folks. Sara and Shonen here both survived the Death Eclipse and are considered the destined children. Now, as far as who will become what sort of king and who will not, that's not really explained in this. However, what IS known is that they have some power over the Abyss Gates
Sara: Get the fuck out.
and...
Sara is gone. What is going to happen next? You'll see when I do an update next, you bastards! Also, the magic review will happen with the next update!
Okay, okay. I'll tease you with this at least.
