Tales of Vesperia Part #105 - Spirit Conversion: Phaeroh

Part 105: Spirit Conversion: Phaeroh

Hey there! Today, we're gonna do some side stuff, then go visit Phaeroh.

While I was gathering synth materials, Raven learned a new Arte:

It's not bad!

First thing on our list today, we're gonna return to Egothor Forest to gather some treasure chests I missed the last time. I think all of them were technically available, but at the time a real annoying background music was playing due to events, so I didn't grab them. Anyway.

Nothing new until we get to the save point, so let's skip over there. On the way, I trigger a skit though:

Skit: Poor, Little, Helpless Men

Judith, we're always making you do the cooking for us... You don't mind?

Would you like us to help out every now and then?

No, that's okay. Cooking's fun.

Of course, we can switch if you don't like my cooking...

No, we love your cooking!

I could never get tired of it!

Indeed. It brings back memories of long ago... It's the sorta cookin' I could eat every day.

Heh heh, that makes me so happy! That's the sort of cooking I've been trying for.

It be nice if someday you thought to yourself, "Gee, I sure would like some of Judith's cooking."

Yeah, I wouldn't mind having this again.

...Careful, boys. Just in case you haven't caught on, she's taming you.

What?!

Oh my, looks like I've been found out.

Heh, heh... Bein' tamed, huh?

I'm not sure I can resist...

Alright, over here, there's a path to the right into the forest that we ignored last time.

It's mostly uneventful except for this guy, who I decide to save for later.

While gathering treasure, Rita and Judith learn stuff:

Rita alteres Spiral Flare (with Crucible and Alembic) into Flame Dragon, a long-range fire spell.

And Judith learns Luna Havoc, which is kinda like Rising Falcon: A jump into the air, then a diagonal downwards kick.

Treasure:

With that done, let's do some actual sidequests.

First is in Dahngrest, when resting at the inn.

Do I really look that depressed?

You look like...you've been worried about the blastia in your heart.

Looks like I can't keep anything from ya, kid... Sorry I tried. ...Damn it. Why do I have to let somethin' like this get me all torn up after so long...

You want to keep on living, don't you? It's only natural.

...Oh yeah... I guess that would be only natural, wouldn't it...

Did you just now remember? You should go talk with Rita as soon as possible, then.

Yeah... I don't much fancy bein' indebted to that girl... Well, I'll think about it.

Hah hah. My life belongs ta Brave Vesperia. I won't go dyin' an' leavin' ya all high and dry. I promised the boy, too. Now, isn't it past yer bedtime, kid?

Okay. I'll leave you be, old man.

We can find more in Myorzo.

There's this kid to the right of the town entrance.

He's my friend! His name is Ba'ul.

Cool... He's pretty big, but he's still a small fry compared to Krones!

Krones? Who's that? Where?

He's right here, silly! Krones is the Entelexeia who protects our city!

Ya mean this big ol' jellyfish?

He's not a jellyfish, Mister! Show some respect!

Krones is so big! I can't believe an entire city could fit inside an Entelexeia.

Yeah, cool, huh? Even your Ball can fit inside!

His name is Ba'ul...

You know, you've got a pretty smart mouth, kid. Just who do you think you are?

Whaddaya mean? I'm just telling the truth.

Judith, say something to him!

All Entelexeia have their roles to play. There's no such thing as one of them being better than another.

Ha! You're just saying that because you don't wanna admit that your Entelexeia's already lost!

Ba'ul hasn't lost anything! If you're so eager, let's settle this right now!

My pleasure! You'd better not cry once you get beaten!

Judith! Let's do it!

Oh, so I have to back up your challenges? What a pain in the rear...

Give it your best shot!

Oh boy, another minigame!

The goal of this game is to collect all rings within the time limit. You use the normal world map controls.

Three rings are red: Collect them to decrease your time.

You get additional time reduction by collecting multiple red rings in a row: 1 second for one, 2 seconds for two, 3.5 seconds for three.

The placement of the rings is set per level. Which three rings are red is random, however.

The rings are marked on the map, but are kind of hard to see most of the time! If you're playing on a SDTV, you're more or less fucked, because they're more or less impossible to make out. Otherwise, this game is fine, but nothing special.

After clearing course one:

Whaddaya think? Cool, huh? That's not all there is, either! I've got even better courses to show you!

Stage 2:

Stage 3:

After clearing that:

What now, kid? Admit defeat!

No way! I've still got more for you!

Geez, this kid doesn't know when ta give up!

That reminds me of someone...

But I admit, you did well to come this far.

Hey, you said something nice for once!

What's this?

It's condensed dew from Krones's bodily fluids. You can give it to Ball to drink.

It's Ba'ul.

What'll happen when he drinks it?

If your dragon is weak against the cold, drinking that will make him strong against it! He'll be able to land on top of ice drifts, too.

Wow! You don't mind giving us something so useful?

Just don't go off running away because you got a nice prize! Cause I'm going to make you an even harder course!

Hah! Do your worst!

Why's Rita actin' as the go-between, again?

Krones' Dew is actually more useful than the description suggests; you can not only land on ice, but also on other areas you previously couldn't as well. Some of these areas contain monsters and materials that can't be found anywhere else, so it pays off to check around.

Skit: A Long, Long Time Ago

A book in the warehouse said this city rose into the air at the end of the Geraios civilization.

Hmm, so that would mean it was on land before that happened?

That part wasn't clear, but I think the city was probably floating on the ocean until then.

Oh, so that's why it got eaten by a giant jellyfish...

I don't think that's quite what happened...

There's two more courses to go, though!

Stage 4:

Stage 5:

After beating all five:

Give up already! We're just going to beat anything you throw at us!

Not that you had anythin' ta do with it, Rita...

Darn it...

Are you convinced yet? Both Krones and Ba'ul have their strong points.

That's right. There's no need for them to compete with each other.

You should've stuck to that argument in the first place...

All right. I admit defeat.

Really? You finally get it!

Actually...

What?

How childish of ya... But I guess yer a child, after all...

I mean, it's, it's so cool! Soaring up high through the air!

Ahh, I know how you feel...

Hey, come back and play again soon! I want to see Ball again!

It's Ba'ul.

All right. After things settle down a bit, I'll let you fly around on top of Ba'ul.

Really truly? Awesome! I'll be waiting! Don't forget! I'll be waiting here, "Super Dragon Rider!"

Doing this gets us a title for Judith and an accessory:

Skit: Ba'ul's Still Young

...

*Howl*

Heh heh!

So what's Ba'ul saying?

It seems that even he can tell he's bursting with power.

Awesome... Even Entelexeia grow up, huh?

Ba'ul's still very young, so he probably has a lot of growing left in him.

So young and already this big? Ol' Raven sure is jealous!

I think it'd be better if you grew up in a different way, old man.

Huh?

While we're in Myorzo, we can also talk to the elder again:

Y-you make it sound so bad...

We've been getting Entelexeia to change into a different form, called elemental spirits. This lets us borrow their power, which will help us to break up the Adephagos.

Oh ho, I see...it is as I thought. Indeed, I suspected that you would be working to defeat the Adephagos.

Again with the impressive claims...

I am correct, am I not?

Going down to the surface...?

The time may soon come for Krones, the Entelexeia who carries Myorzo through the air, to turn into an elemental spirit and help your cause. Do you not think that likely?

I'll admit it's certainly a possibility.

The less patient among us have already gone down to the surface.

...? Where did they go?

I do not know. Though I would imagine they'd be hard to miss.

I wonder where they went.

You can already find Krityans in just about any city in the world.

Krityans can live anywhere. They're a very practical people.

Mmph.

And that's it for sidequesting. Now, let's check with Phaeroh and ask him about this spirit conversion stuff.

Watch the cutscene!

Phaeroh!

He's hurt! Why's he flying?!

Any idiot could come along and take him out. He couldn't put up a fight like this.

It's probably so humans won't get his apatheia.

Phaeroh...

Hey, he's landing!

It looks like he's...calling us.

Let's go.

I'm sorry. It was all for us...

What do you mean?

Phaeroh was a decoy for us at Zaude.

You give up pretty fast for someone who fought for so long. Sorry, but things aren't over yet.

Zaude is lost. The Adephagos has returned. Neither humans nor we possess the power of old. What more can be done?

We would like you to become a spirit...a being that can control aer even more.

But to do that...we need your apatheia.

...You ask me to hand over my life. ... Your heart alone cannot save the world, but you must have the heart to save it...

Shall we?

But the aer krene here is all dried up.

If I follow the flow of the aer back, I should be able to pull it from within the world.

Can you really do that?

Undine is...telling me that.

Okay.

Hey hey hey hey! Hot! Hot! Hot!

...The spirit of fire.

It has been a long time, hasn't it, my leader. I congratulate you on your conversion.

...Such consideration...Belius? So you too have...

I am now called Undine, the ruler of the waters.

I have changed form, so I, too, require a new name. You who have reincarnated me. Give me a name.

The Fearsome Fiery Fireball Ki--

I am now connected strongly to the world, and all seems new again. Even this wasteland is filled with power. Hah hah hah hah! Wonderful!

Hey, he flew away!

Fear not. We are bound to you. Wherever you go, we are with you. The Entelexeia and the Child of the Full Moon bear spirits. ...Nature's providence is great indeed.

They have totally different points of view! It's like... Imagine if a fish became a bird!

This is better for them than being some sage, always worrying about the world.

Skit: The Light at the End of the Tunnel

Y'know, we're up to our eyeballs in problems.

Savin' the world sure keeps a guy busy.

Well, the problems we're dealing with are a lot bigger than they used to be...

What... Why's everybody looking at me...? I got something on my face?

Problems like you, Yuri. A lot.

I hear that.

Fate is definitely out to get you.

Hmm... After everything that's happened, I'm starting to wonder myself.

But hey, I've done a pretty good job of getting us out of whatever mess we're in, right?

You gotta at least give me some credit there.

See, for Yuri, the end of the world's just one more problem that needs solvin'.

Maybe that attitude's what's kept us seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Gotta love the power of positive thinkin'...

Well that worked out nicely. Next stop are the Erealumen Crystallands, but not before heading over to a shop and synthesizing/buying tons of equipment:

TP Condition: Increases physical defense slightly when TP is more than 75% of the max amount.
TP Condition 3: Increases magic defense slightly when TP is more than 75% of the max amount.

Ability Plus: Follow a base arte with a second base arte once per combo.
OVL Bonus: Occasionally fully restores HP during Over Limit.
OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.

O.L. Boost: Increases the duration of Over Limit.

Taunt: Taunt with the right stick to fill the Over Limit gauge. Action differs from Taunt 2.
Taunt 2: Taunt with the right stick to fill the Over Limit gauge. Action differs from Taunt.
Lucky End: Occasionally allow character movement right after casting a spell.

Combo Plus: Adds 1 more hit to a regular attack combo.
Chain: Altered Arte Skill.
Hell Fire: Altered Arte Skill.

Gale: Altered Arte Skill.
Spirits 3: Increases Max TP by 100.
OVL Taunt 2: Taunt during Over Limit to recover TP.

Crucible: Altered Arte Skill.
Status Guard: Reduces the effect of magical ailments.
Guard All: Occasionally auto-guard against attacks from the rear.

Vitality 2: Increases Max HP by 400.
Life Up: Occasionally increase Max HP after a battle.
OVL Bonus: Occasionally fully restores HP during Over Limit.

Spirits 2: Increases Max TP by 50.
Mental Up: Occasionally increase Max TP after a battle.
OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.

Super Chain 4: Able to link base to altered artes.
Stat Boost: Increases the effect of magical stat boosts.

Super Chain 4: Able to link base to altered artes.
Stat Boost: Increases the effect of magical stat boosts.
O.L. Boost: Increases the duration of Over Limit.

Break Down: Hit a stunned enemy to extend Stun once.
Strength 3: Increases physical attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.
Magic 3: Increases spell attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.

Item Thrower: Able to use items on an ally.
Mental Up: Occasionally increase Max TP after a battle.
Taunt 2: Taunt with the right stick to fill the Over Limit gauge. Action differs from Taunt.

Super Chain 4: Able to link base to altered artes.
Immunity: Reduces the chance of receiving status effects.

Spirit Healer: Increases TP recovered after battle.
TP Condition 4: Increases magic defense when TP is less than 25% of the max amount.
Gale: Altered Arte Skill.

OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.
Evade 2: Increases agility by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.

Revenge Spell: No casting time if a novice spell is used while staggering.
Crucible: Altered Arte Skill.
Status Guard: Reduces the effect of magical ailments.

Light Magic: Decreases TP consumption and cast time, but also decreases power of spells.
Dispersion: Altered Arte Skill.
HP Recover: Increases the amount of HP recovered.

Light Magic: Decreases TP consumption and cast time, but also decreases power of spells.
Great Deluge: Altered Arte Skill.
TP Recover: Increases the amount of TP recovered.

Convert Absorption: When finishing off an enemy with a spell, occasionally absorb the enemy's remaining HP as TP.
Rebirth 2: Gradually recover HP equal to 1/4 of the amount of the last combo damage received.

Combo Plus: Adds 1 more hit to a regular attack combo.
FS Bonus: Recover HP every time a Fatal Strike hits an enemy.
Combo Force: Mitigates damage from a basic combo attack.

Item Pro: Decreases the amount of time a character is unable to move after using items.
Strength 2: Increases physical attack by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.
TP Condition 4: Increases magic defense when TP is less than 25% of the max amount.

In Step: Increases the advancing distance during a Critical Guard.
Alembic: Altered Arte Skill.
Gale: Altered Arte Skill.

Aerial OVL: Able to use Over Limits in mid-air.
Endure: Decreases amount of time needed to recover from a stagger hit.

Aerial Combo 2: Adds 2 more hits to an aerial attack.
Strength 3: Increases physical attack by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.

Super Chain 5: Able to link altered to arcane artes.

Super Chain 5: Able to link altered to arcane artes.
Resurrect: Occasionally revive from KO automatically.

Steal Plus: Increase the success rate of Thievery.
Rebirth 2: Gradually recover HP equal to 1/4 of the amount of the last combo damage received.
Condition Guard: Reduces the effects of certain physical ailments.

OVL Bonus: Occasionally fully restores HP during Over Limit.
OVL Taunt: Taunt during Over Limit to recover HP.
TP Condition 3: Increases magic defense slightly when TP is more than 75% of the max amount.

OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.
OVL Taunt 2: Taunt during Over Limit to recover TP.
TP Condition 4: Increases magic defense when TP is less than 25% of the max amount.

High Tension: Enter Over Limit Lv. 1 with a 28-hit combo. Duration of the Over Limit only lasts half the normal time.
Hyper Tension: Enter Over Limit Lv. 2 with a 50-hit combo. Duration of the Over Limit only lasts half the normal time.
Ultimate Tension: Enter Over Limit Lv. 3 with a 72-hit combo. Duration of the Over Limit only lasts half the normal time.

Strength 2: Increases physical attack by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.
Magic 2: Increases spell attack by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.
Reflect: Reflect a certain amount of damage from an attack.

Void Attack: Occasionally prevents staggering when receiving a physical attack.
Void Magic: Occasionally prevents staggering when receiving a magic attack.

Skit: It All Comes Back One Day

Hey... That change we got for what we bought, it had Rita's name written on it...

What...? ...Rita! Rita!!

What's all the commotion?

Our money came back to us with that last purchase we made! Look!

...! Didn't I tell you? Our money comes back, and it brings its friends!

Huh? You mean that wasn't just a fairy tale?

"Rita Mordio." It has your full name... How embarrassing...

I thought Estelle was spending more money than usual... So that was your doing.

Money is one thing, but what were ya thinkin', writin' yer name on all the tools?

Say someone buys one of our tools and likes it. Maybe they'll give us a little something in return!

...Talk about greedy...

All right, but would you at least quit writing your name on all the gels?

Rita... We have to eat those...

But...but...!

Sheesh, that was a lot! And as it turns out, some of this stuff I didn't even have to synth, because it shows up in chests in one of the next two dungeons. Oh well!