Part 37: Fornax Clean Up

Prayer



Grus used to straight up be my least-favourite Sector, but given that Fornax managed to absolutely plummet in my opinion (and that started REALLY low to begin with)...

Anyway, time t'speak with the crew again!

But when you think about it, isn't it not far off to say that this is a "central" area?
Might be a sign we're getting close to the core.
Let's stay focused and keep making progress.



He's become a demon... he's outside the boundaries of humanity now.
He doesn't have a human's self-control anymore.
How are we supposed to come to terms with each other...? I'm just not comfortable around him.
...I shouldn't let it get to me. Let's go on with the mission.



With the equipment here, we can treat nearly any physical problem, but mental ones? They're harder.
Of course, that brainwashing equipment is out of the question.
...Anyway, for now we can only wait for a resolution to this prolonged situation.



Man, that new body of his is something else. Is that what all demon bodies are like?
They're so out of our league... Humans don't stand a chance.



So, what did Tiamat's Rare Forma drop give us, I wonder? Probably not gonna be super great, but we'll see I suppose.



Laplace, uh, does not do what it says. Like, it DOES but it doesn't. The only thing that has a chance to happen are Fusion Accidents and Fracastoro turns them off entirely so...

Laplace just changes the formula used for calculating fusion results. Normally, it's:

code:

((Demon1BaseLvl + Demon2BaseLvl)/2) + 1

(round up for x.5)

If that number matches a demon's level exactly, you get that demon. If not, even if its just over it by 1, then it looks upwards towards the next demon of the relevant race if there is one. Laplace does not change that aspect, but it makes the calculation formula:

code:

((Demon1BaseLvl + Demon2BaseLvl)/2) + 4

That's it. That's all it does. It's only really useful when combined with Paracelsus (the SubApp to use the CURRENT level rather than base). Even then, that one does by far more work. Laplace does change a few combination results but they are so few and far between that it's not worth it.



Long Birthday is probably good, because you can get some Really Good Rare Items via gifts from higher level demons. Sadly, it's not that good because it takes 40% of your SubApp space and it's not worth that much at all.



Tea Amity is, uh.... I've never used this. When negotiating with a demon, it can sometimes just take your money or whatever and run, right? I can only presume that this gives you a chance to make that not happen.



Maybe I'll be more fired up if I think of this sector as a treasure chest with new forma in it.
Don'tcha think we can expect to find rare and unique forma in a place like this?
But I'm puttin' the cart before the horse. There's investigatin' to be done... The forma'll keep.



Maybe I'm jut worn down by this prolonged crisis.
*sigh* This is bad...






As you no doubt expected by this point, this is as much of Blue Antlia Grus we're going to be seeing today.



...It changes its form and nature from one floor to the next, to welcome us.
Let's go. Don't let it get you down. This whole mission scarcely has any hope of ending, anyway.

Alright, so we have a couple of sidequests that are in a progress limbo. Let's see if we can't get them finished up before we move on.

The Land Where The Seed's Memories Lie Buried



You may or may not remember, but in Eridanus an Ame-no-Uzume wanted us to go talk to a Futotama. He's just hanging out here near the entrace of Fornax for... some reason.

I am Futotama.
Some do not give me the proper shrift, but I am in truth quite a high-ranking god.
Hm? What is the matter? Is there something on my face?

> You explained the situation.



Son of man, I thank thee for thine aid.
I, too, have come here in search of the Lady Amaterasu, but...
Even my divinations cannot locate her.



Not a real thing, sorry. Not a real world mythology thing, either.

'Twill make her quite difficult to find...
Ah, but of course. I shall lend thee the Tamashiro Mirror, human.



...Also not a real thing or referencing any real thing. Not even that mirror what Futotama is holding in his design right here.

The mirror reflecteth only the truth. Even the Marebito Robe cannot hide from it.
Use it in thy search for the Lady Amaterasu.
Now then, I shall return to Ame no Uzume.
I feel that area to be the most suspicious, in the end...

> Futotama left...

Something suspicious in the area near Ame-no-Uzume, huh...? Let's think...

A Land Controlling Roads


Ah, that'll do it.



> A beatiful woman was visible in the mirror...



So, I am found out.





I followed the Tamashiro Mirror's light and have found you, Lady Amaterasu!
Futotama. Had you joined the search for me, then?



It was Ame no Uzume who enlisted the human's help.
He and I then met, and I granted him the Tamashiro Mirror.
I see now... I have worried all of you.



I cannot give an accounting of myself. It was as if a part of me simply had to do it.



This does make sense, but the reason why it could be justified is... not necessarily clear right now.

...I am sorry. I was being selfish.
I can't bear to worry you all any longer. Let us return to Takamagahara.

> As Amaterasu was leaving, you heard a voice...

Silence

I-I have found you at last, Lady Amaterasu!



I thought you were close at hand, and so I started searching...
Have you any notion of how worried we were!?
I feared you were going someplace far away...
I was... so worried...

Sorrow

My sincerest apologies. Truly, I can offer no excuse.



My intention was never to leave you all behind. Please believe me.
...I believe you. This land is unsettling to we demons.
Now, do let's go home. Oh, but first... I must express my gratitude to this human.
Thank you for finding her. You may have this.



We will return to Takamagahara now.





This is the only way to get Amaterasu unlocked, but Kinmamon is a weird one for this. He can be obtained in Fornax by just capping one there, of course. He's only unlocked here because of Amaterasu's... disguise that wasn't intentional except it was but she didn't know and

Y'know what? Let's just take this Sound Jewel to Irving.



It's a very special Rare Forma and one which is semi-important and useful but you can easily miss it and have it not matter too much right.



Note that we don't have Gate Search D yet. This does matter; the letter for the MainApps are not direct upgrades or anything. They just affect things directly tied to them.

We'll put this to use soon, but first let's go find a deathseamstress of destiny for a monkey.

Encounter



Woooooow... it's just like Grandpa Thoth said...!
Oh yeah... I'm supposed to give you this.
Here you go! It's the Book of Thoth, volume three!
This is what you're looking for, right?
I heard that if a human talks to me, I should give him this!



Although it made me kinda nervous to carry this book around...
I mean... what if I accidentally sliced it with scissors!? Brrr!
But it's okay! I was careful!
Well, say hi to Grandpa for me! Ahahahahaha!

> The demon left.

A Land Controlling Roads



Hoh hohhh... Well done. I knew you could do it.



Thor/Jupiter are where the name for Thursday comes from. That's 3 down...

I can prepare another riddle for you if you want...
I'm sure it would lead you to more wisdom.
Come again, my boy.

Absolutely no reason to not pick it up at least. We ARE here right now and all...



So here's my riddle that'll point you to the demon who holds the Book of Thoth...
The fourth volume is part of the treasurer's collection.



Who is this treasurer who keeps my book?
And I thought you might get bored with the same old, same old, so it's a bit different this time.
How's it different, you may ask? Ahh, look again to the riddle.
If you need a hint... keep the flow of a demon negotiation in mind.
Now, let's see if you can manage to crack this one.

The treasurer, huh... Only one demon comes to mind easily for this one.

Encounter



Hey Melchom! So, this one IS different because you need a successful negotiation first. Yep, being able to complete this EX Mission is entirely at the mercy of the RNG. For both getting a conversation path you CAN complete, for not pissing him off AND for him letting you get the option and not just giving you a thing with no prompt.



It's real dumb, so thankfully it's with a semi-common very low level demon otherwise this would be way more annoying. Just gotta request nothing at all.

Heheheh... Selflessness is a virtue... so you say.
Very good. I believe this is yours.
It is proof of the wisdom that this god Thoth bestows on you.



This is what the god said to me:
The human would desire the book, but I was to pretend I didn't know what he was talking about...
I was to give it to him only when he demonstrated selflessness in negotiation.
A rather interesting hobby, don't you think?
Here you are, preaching the virtue of selflessness in a world of unerringly selfish humans...
Yet... I... cannot help but dream.
If humans could understand this idea and put it into practice...



Well, no use dreaming, not when we've come this far down the road.

> The demon left...

Aside from that potentially annoying bit of random chance to even succeed, this one isn't too big of a deal at least. Let's give Thoth this volume as well, then.

A Land Controlling Roads



Hoh hohhhh... So you got it, eh? I thought this one might be too much for you.
What you reach for, you will lose. The emptiness of attainment and the joy of an unearned gift...
You've done well in showing that to me.



...No, we didn't? I mean, yes, we did but Friday is not Frey. This one is just flatout wrong. Every romance language, that doesn't just go First Day/Second Day/etc., uses Venus for Friday. This should be either Freyja or Frigg, depending on who you ask... and they might even be interchangable, also depending on who you ask!

I can prepare another riddle for you if you want...
I'm sure it would lead you to more wisdom.
Come again, my boy.

Once again, we're already here so...



This is... the fifth time, no? I'm running out of ideas.
I think this'll have to be the last riddle.
Care to give it a try?
Yes.



One thing, though. I've changed the way this last riddle works again.
It'd be boring for the finale to be just another riddle, right?
So, here's the riddle hinting at the demons who hold the last of the Books of Thoth...







Now let's see if you can pass my final test...

Well, one of these we can do right away so let's go and meet a lady on a floating lake.

Encounter



Wow... you really came. Maybe the god of knowledge is a prophet, too?
Oh, right. Here, I'm supposed to give this to you.
It's half of some book...



But how did you know it was me just by hearing about Excalibur?
Sure, the legends say it was me King Arthur gave the sword to.
But there are lots of other theories out there. How can you be sure I'm the one?
What do you think...?
It's you for sure.
Hmm... interesting. Well, I don't care which it is.



It's really interesting, though...
Humans tell whatever stories they want and get themselves confused.
Well... maybe if I'm ever in the mood some day, I'll tell you.
Will it be in ten years, or a hundred? I dunno.
Well, good luck.

> The demon left...

That's half of the final book done, but I dunno about this Laevateinn thing. I guess we'll see if we can find that thing in the future somewhere.

Next up is, uh.... I really don't want to do this one but... alright, fine.

A Frivolous Nation



...There goes a thing we can't get easily for a while.

Hrm... yes... yes, they're all accounted for. Here's your pay.



Not worth it! But wait, there's more...

Every job I had for you is done.
And as a special bonus from me... Here, have this.



Really not worth it!

You served me well, for a human.



Oh goody. The Melchom Ring is +20 MP and immunity to Strain. The least threatening ailment of them all. What joy!

Just ignore Melchom entirely, or only do them if you really want a bunch of easy macca and can't be bothered farming Forma off of enemy searches.

Hrmm... now what? Everything left outstanding can't be finished yet, so I guess we need to find something new. Oh!

A Scorched Nation



The King and Queen of the faeries have said they want to see the place for themselves.
It's a tremendous honor!



Yes.
Thank you so much...!
I wonder if the King and Queen will like it here.
I'm counting on you!

...Oh. We can't do this one either!



We can get Oberon easy but Titania is level 60. Umm... Umm....

There's nothing else in Fornax, since the Alice sidequest is the only side content in there. Umm...

Oh we just got Gate Search E and there's a place to use it right here. Let's do that next!



It's that hidden door right by the entrance of the Fairy Village, conveniently enough.



It's only used to let you get a fixed AT X though.

Great. So, where else can we use this? Nowhere in Bootes, nowhere in Carina, nowhere in Delphinus, nowhere in Fornax...

A Land Controlling Roads



But there is this one spot in Eridanus we can pop open with it, at least.



RAR...! RARRRR...! NOT HERE, IT NOT HERE!
YOU NO KNOW? YOU NO KNOW WHERE ME MEAT IS!?
Meat?
GRRRRR...! NICE QUESTION...!
THIS IS A STORY OF ME MEAT...! STORY VERY JUICY...!
ME PUT MEAT HERE! TOP CLASS SPECIAL DINNER!



RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!
...ME KNOW WHO EAT MEAT.



HE SAID HE WANTED MEAT...
ME HAVE FAVOR! GIVE YOU MISSION!



ME CAN'T... ME NOT GOOD AT TALKING...
BUT YOU CAN DO IT! YOU GOOD AT DEMON TALKING!
ME COUNTING ON YOU!

Well, that's pretty easy and convenient. We can actually do this one! Orthrus isn't too far away at all. Don't even have to leave Eridanus.



> Hitonari told Orthrus about Cerberus.

GRRRRRRR...! THAT SERIOUS ACCUSATION!
ME NO EAT IT! WHATEVER HE SAY, ME NO EAT IT!
ME MIGHT EAT OTHER PEOPLE'S MEAT, BUT NOT FAMILY'S!
HMM... WAIT!
I KNOW! I KNOW STUPID DEMON WHO EAT THE MEAT...



OTHER DAY, ME GO TO BROTHER'S. THERE, ME SEE ONI!
HE WALKING AROUND, EATING MEAT. ME NOT THINK, BITE INTO IT... ALMOST.
BUT ME NOT EAT THE MEAT!
YOU TELL BROTHER!

> The demon left...

Well, that was convenient and easy. Back to Cerberus, I guess. 'Snot too far to travel.



IT NOT ORTHRUS...? ONI ATE THE MEATY MEAT...?
HMMMMM... ME TRY REMEMBER...
HRMM... THINKING ABOUT IT... THERE WAS AN ONI...
HMMMMMMMM... THIS IS...



I guess we're off right back to Antlia, then...



> Hitonari told Oni about Cerberus's meat...

Meat...? Oh, yeah, I ate it!
I got seriously lost, and on top of that, I was really hungry.



...I completely forgot that Oni just randomly references Shiren the Wanderer. Sure, why not.

That's what I was thinkin' when I saw this delicious-lookin' hunk of meat... I didn't hesitate, man!
They say hunger makes everything taste good, but that stuff woulda been amazing anyway!
So what do you care, anyway?



Like I coulda known that!
And besides, think about how this world works! It ain't strange to see any crazy thing dropped on the ground!
I know for a fact YOU'VE been pickin' stuff up left and right!
So why're ya so on my case about pickin' up the meat, man?
It's natural! Completely, 100% natural!
...Anyway, that's what happened! I ate it 'cause I was hungry, and I ain't sorry at all! You tell Cerberus that!

> The demon left...

Well, mystery solved! Back to Cerberus we go to see what neat reward we get for this.



HRM... SO ONI EAT ME MEAT...
IT OKAY. SAME AS WILD.
ME FAULT FOR NOT GUARDING MEAT...



NO POINT GET ANGRY... ME NOT MAD..
HMM... ME BLAMED ORTHRUS...
ME HAVE NO BEEF WITH ORTHRUS. HE NOT EAT MEAT.
OKAY! YOU DEMON TALKING AGAIN! APOLOGIZE ORTHRUS FOR ME!
ME CAN'T DO IT... ME NO GOOD WITH TALKING...
BUT YOU CAN DO IT! ME KNOW!
ME COUNTING ON YOU!

Ughhh alright fine, back to find another Orthrus we go...



> Hitonari told Orthrus about Cerberus.

HMMM... ME SEE. BUT ME NOT CARE...
IN WILD, FIGHTING OVER MEAT HAPPEN ALL THE TIME.



...TELL CERBERUS.
ME NO REMEMBER TIME WHEN CERBERUS APOLOGIZE FOR ANYTHING...
CERBERUS SHOULD BE CERBERUS. ACT BIG ALL THE TIME.

> The demon left...

Okay NOW we should be done. After talking to Cerberus one last time.



ME SEE. HE GOOD BROTHER...
HMMM... IT IN PAST. ME FORGET IT NOW.
YOU DO GOOD JOB. HELPED ME.
BUT... IT LIKE BROTHER SAID... ME CERBERUS!
NEXT TIME ME MIGHT BE ENEMY AND EAT YOU WHOLE!
ME SEE YOU AGAIN!

> Cerberus left...



...Holy fuck. That is a TERRIBLE reward! What a goddamn waste of time. Definitely worth gating this quest behind both the 100% optional and easily missed Gate Search E AND what is essentially a tedious back-and-forth fetch quest.



Fortunately, this area is much bigger than this. There's a teleporter over in the top-right corner that brings us to a whole new area!



That Sanctum in the bottom of this area is completely empty, but that means that we'll need to return the Phase Shifter to the Original Space and come back later.



After that, we get an area with Lots Of Poison Tiles but you can just not touch them and use that safe tile next to them all. That warps you to the end.



But then you can't get these 5 AC II in a fixed forma. Gotta take your chances with at least 2 poison tiles if you want that...



Regardless of which path you take, it'll bring you to this guy by a one-way door leading to... where we found Amaterasu. Huh. I wonder if that Gate Search C door can be opened from the inside as well then. It'd have to be, surely...

It takes after its presenter in its love for pranks.
Hm...? A human warrior?
Oho... you seem a seasoned soldier. You'd make a fine prize for the valkyries.
I am the Allfather Odin.
Though you stand in my presence, there is no need for humility. Be at ease.
In truth, this works out perfectly. Could you help find my steed Sleipnir?
That horse loves pranks and runs off at any opportunity.



Will you accept my request?
Yes.
I thank you.
Use whatever method you see fit to make Sleipnir your ally and return it to me.
I have high expectations of you.

Translation: fuse or password in a Sleipnir. We can't do either right now, since he's level 56. I guess we'll be back later, then...

Oh and before we leave for other stuff, let's flip that phase shifter around.



The Vitality Incense is nice, but the real prize is the Megidola Stone! Especially if you have a very high Magic stat.

And that's all we can do here, so... time to grind a bunch of forma off-screen and go pay a visit to Irving.

And thanks to getting Forma Search C, we can't even remove all ???s any more!

Prayer



Semi-high attack, 1 hit, no bonus. Yawn. Except, this is meant to be a later-in-Fornax weapon. Yes, really! It requires AT Forite II x2, Wood Face x3 (Zaccoum) and Jirae Magma x1 (Tlaltecuhtli).



The Headhunter is basically the same but an actual upgrade over the Cursed Sarai I guess? Stronger, random target, 1 hit... but no add, so the Sarai wins. It's also less tedious to get than the Headhunter since you need to be past Jack's Squad HQ to even begin and try for this one; AT Forite II x2, Genma Helmet x6 (Hanuman) and Femme Shears x3 (Atropos).



The Buffalo Gun is... the fucking Abba Dingo but for Electricity. Goddammit, stop doing that! They're never even good or anything! AT Forite x1, Beast Talons x3 (Gryphon) and Wilder Eye x2 (Manticore/Catoblepas), so at least it's easy to get I guess.



If you want to get rid of a demon... The Man with the Golden Gun...

Ahem, anyway. It's Bufula and Zionga. That's it. That's what it lets you do. This might not seem too bad if you could get it in, oh I don't know, Bootes or Carina? Except, uhh... whoops it's a goddamn pain and a half to get!

AT Forite II x3, Wood Thorn x6 (Alraune) and Judgement Scale x3 (Black Rider) are what you need for a thing that has piss-poor skills and is banking on its semi-high...ish inate power to be useful. So not worth the hassle at all.

...Still gonna use it for something, though. You'll see.



The Life Vest is pretty thoroughly "eh" and a really bad idea to use in Fornax. Lots of Ice in there, especially when dealing with Tiamat. Also it's just kind of not very good anyway; aside from like Da Peng there's nothing around right now that uses Wind and is worth worrying over. It does make up for that by being very easy to make: DF Forite x2, Jaki Hide x1 (Grendel) and Night Mustache x2 (Kaiwan).



So, what if you don't want to use the Hardwired but you want an upgrade over the Belobog Vest at last anyway? The Metal Vest is what you want. Keeps the Phys resist, ups Defense and the Elec weakness isn't too big of a deal and easily work-aroundable for the most part. DF Forite II x2, Vile Wool x1 (Taotie) and Divine Wheel x1 (Throne) so it's nice and easy to make as well.



The accessories here are, well, they're very simple.



But, hey, if you have a high Strength (for Guns)...


(why is this the Force ring you dropped that element here game!)

Or a high Magic (for items) then they're probably worth sticking in that there one accessory slot you have.



Especially this one.

They all give Hitonari the Boost for their respective element, of course.

Flame: AC Forite II x2, Enigma Sphere x2 (Kinmamon), Divine Wheel x2
Frost: AC Forite II x2, Genma Helmet x2, Reaper Rime x2 (Hel)
Thunder: AC Forite II x2, Enigma Sphere x2, Wilder Eye x5
Force: AC Forite II x2, Genma Helmet x2, Flight Scale x4 (Da Peng)

I like how they knew that Thunder was the best at the immediate moment and so it's technically the hardest to make.

...No, I'm being sincere. That show some degree of actual though.



Last item we can grab is a Mahama Stone or two. Expel elemental instant death, 30% base chance etc. etc. same as the Mamudo Stone but way harder to get for some reason. AC Forite II x1, Genma Helmet x2 for each one you want.

Oh and we CAN get Luck Incenses from Black Rider's Forma. I think I mentioned that already, though. Don't think I mentioned White Rider's, but that's Agility so fuck that noise.

Speaking of which, nothing left out here for us, so into Grus we go...