Part 138: The Sword Dancer

Hey there! Today, we'll do one of the longer sidequests added to the PS3 version.


To start this off, we need to go to Capua Nor and talk with this orange-haired knight:





Hey, aren't you...?
Huh?
Miss Hisca?!



Yuri? Flynn?

This is a character from Vesperia's prequel movie, The First Strike. It's just a cameo though, this quest doesn't actually have to do with anything in the movie.

Hey, Hisca!
Still informal as ever. You never change.
What? You know each other?
When Yuri and I first joined the knights, she was a senior member in our platoon.
Who would have thought we'd meet up again here of all places.
Haha, yeah. So, where's Chastel? You're usually inseparable.
You called?



She's also from that movie.



They look just like each other!
I guess they're twins.
I thought you two looked awfully familiar.



So, what're you doing in a place like this?
Oh, right! Hisca, I couldn't find any information at World's Cellar.
What information?
We've been looking for something...
...The Sword of Prayer.
I've never heard of it.
It's a treasure of the Knights. It was stolen some time ago, and no one's seen it since. It's kind of a strange sword. It's got a hilt in the shape of a goddess. Have you heard anything about it?
I feel like I've heard mention of it before, but I can't remember anything. My apologies.
Never heard of it. Sorry.
I see...
However, as a knight, I feel this concerns me as well. I'll be sure to let you know if I find any clues.
Thanks. We're counting on you. Let's get going, Hisca.
It was nice to see you two again. Good luck with everything.



What a surprise, running into them here.
Yeah, I'd completely forgotten about them until I saw their faces. It feels like there's more to the story than what they're telling us, though. Knights usually enforce the law... They don't hunt stolen treasure.
...Do you think the two of them are even still knights?
Why are you asking me? That's your area of expertise. They don't look any different than when they were knights.
It's been a long time since I've seen them myself. Besides, it's not like I keep a roster of every knight in service... Let's just keep that sword in mind for now.
Sure.


Now, remember the four random Aer Krenes on the world map, where we upgraded our Sorcerer's Ring? In the PS3 version, there's more stuff to do in there.





All of them now have a path leading further inside. I'm not sure if the order you go to them actually matters, but the sidequest guide I'm using instructs a specific order so I went with that.









Ugh, it's so hot!
We wouldn't stand a chance if we fell into the lava down there.
I never thought we'd find something like this down here...
It's news to me, too. It's been impossible to get reliable information about what's in here. But I always suspected there'd be something interesting, given how much aer the aer krene produces. I wonder what's further in?
Wonder all you want, but I don't think this is a great time for hands-on research.
Not even a little...?
Just...keep it short.




It's a new dungeon! Or something like that, anyway.



This is just one big, sprawling room. The gimmick is that some of the paths break away when we try to go towards them, forcing us to use a different one.





Apart from that, it's not very exciting.





I just ran around until I eventually found the center platform, where a scene triggers.








Hold on, I'll check it out.
It looks like it hasn't been used in a while, but it appears to be a variety of warp blastia.
Why is there a formula here...?
Well, we know someone had ta have made it. Formulas don't just appear on their own. They musta been tryin' to hide somethin'. Why else'd they stick one all the way down in an aer krene?
That's unusually bright, coming from you. You're right. Someone put a lock on this thing, and not one just anyone could break through.
Whaddaya mean, "unusually bright"?
Can you get through the lock?



We'll be okay, right? Nothing bad's going to come flying out, right?
Guess we'll find out.
I bet there's an amazing treasure inside!
Wouldn't that be lovely?







Come on, we're going too!




...I'm fine.
Where do you think are we?
Doesn't look all that different from the lava filled area we just came from.
This formula...
Yes, aer seems to be pouring into the center.
It's drawing in aer?
Whoa, look at that! There's something over there!
Is that... a sword?
Be careful. Who knows what's ahead.
Let's take a look!




This is a fairly small room with one big thing in the center and four warps placed around it, sort of like an X.



Once we go over to the center, we get another scene.




Look at all those swords! It reminds me of Zopheir.
I dunno...something's off about this. All these swords bunched up here...
Hey! That's...!



I see, so this was the sword...
What're you talking about?
This sword's name is Rag Querion, but it's also been called the Sword of Prayer.
The Sword of Prayer?! Isn't that...
Yeah, it's the sword Hisca and Chastel were looking for.
Oh yeah, I can see the goddess on the hilt...
I only saw the sword once, way back when I first joined the knights. I hate to admit it, but I completely forgot that I had seen the real thing.



But... what's it doing here?





Waaaaah!
Whoa!
What's going on?!
This is no time to be playing with dolls!
It's no time for jokes either!
What?! A... golem?! So that means, the formula that was drawing all the aer here... It can't be! It was all to power this blastia?
What's going on? Wasn't that sword stolen?
We'll talk later! Here it comes!


Watch the battle! / Baldurdash





So here it is, the Sword Dancer! This is a recurring boss in the series, it also shows up in Symphonia and Abyss, though it always looks different.







It's pretty fun to fight, it's got lots of fast attacks spinning and dashing all across the battlefield. Nothing particularly interesting to point out, though.














The sword is still absorbing aer. It must have some sort of self-defense system on it... That's why we can't touch it. Both the sword and that golem must be built into the system.



Rita, is there anything you can do to retrieve the sword?
Not right now. We'll have to activate the blastia before we can even begin to find a way to get it out.
And how are we gonna do that?
Why don't we try activating the other formulas? The aer flows to the blastia from the formulas. I think the blastia will activate if we divert enough aer to it through the remaining formulas.
Aye, I can see inactive formulas all over.
That sounds about right. Besides, we might find out why the formulas around this blastia are locked, too. Assuming the other formulas are the same as this one, we won't be able to unlock them from here.



Well then, I guess we'd better go find them...
Are you sure?
Don't you wanna get your precious knight sword back?
Thank you, Yuri.




Now we get to walk back out,



fly to a different Aer Krene,





go in there,





and... hold on a second. This looks just like the area we just were in.



Yup, the developers were exceptionally lazy when designing this sidequest. All four Aer Krenes contain a copy of the exact same dungeon, the only difference being which paths crumble and which stay up, and I guess the treasure chests are different too.



Anyway, this is pretty much a repeat of what we just did.




Chances are, this formula's connected to that cave with the sword.
So, there are formulas set up in similar aer krene, and they all connect back to the same place. That system must have been set up by the same person who made these formulas.
Man, that golem was such a pain, and these formulas ain't no better. Whoever did this better have a good reason!



If that golem starts moving again, are we gonna have to fight him again?
Probably.
This is the only way we can get the sword back.
Grumbling ain't gonna get us anywhere. Let's go in and take a look.




Now this actually is the same room as before, we just start on a different warp.






Look! The barrier-ish thing disappeared!



This is the same light as before!



I-it looks way different than last time!
Did it fortify itself by absorbing aer? Or maybe it has something to do with another formula being activated?
Watch out!
I cannot leave that sword in your hands. This time, I'll take it back!




Watch the battle! / Baldurdash





This is more or less the same thing as before, it gets a few new moves and better stats.































We can't leave the sword here as a part of that blastia! We have to get it back, quickly!
Calm down. I think what we saw here just proves that there are more formulas we need to activate. Once we do, aer will pour in and the golem will fight us again. That'll be your chance.
...You're right. Sorry. Let's search for the remaining formulas.



It looks like there's something on his mind... Maybe there's more to this than just helping those knights.
Perhaps the sword holds some sort of special meaning for Flynn himself?
...
You know guys, the golem we just fought was kind of different from the first time. He was way stronger. If we keep activating the formulas, won't he get even stronger?
We'll cross that bridge when we get there. Come on, let's get going. If we don't catch up to Flynn, he might just go on to the next formula without us.




You get the idea.














Please do.
Now that we know where the sword is, we have to do everything in our power to get it back. We can't just leave it where it is right now.



Thanks. Let's go!









Huh...?! What's going on?
It's still absorbing aer.
Maybe we won't get anywhere until we activate the last formula?
Aren't you a greedy sword.
Then let's go activate the final formula.



The second time we fought that golem, it was way strong, right?
What of it?
If it attacks us next time, it'll have power from two formulas at once! It could be even stronger! Aren't we better off calling it quits?
You... could be right.
...Why is that sword so important to you?
...It's not just any sword.
Well, that's obvious. I mean, just look at it. That's no ordinary weapon...it's a masterwork! Everything about it just screams "legendary".
I've certainly heard that it is an amazing sword, but that's not all there is to it. That sword is a kind of a secret treasure of the knights. It's always been hidden away somewhere. The only ones worthy of wielding this sword are those who are considered to be true knights.
A true knight...
It was last used in the Great War. Since then, this sword has been without a master. It's nearly fallen into obscurity.
Even though it's such a powerful weapon? What a waste.



You don't want people joining the knights who are just out to make a name for themselves.
That's right. If that sword was public knowledge, the knights would have to deal with the droves of people after it.
The sword is granted to an honorable few. However, one who would seek honor to gain a sword does not have their priorities straight. As-is, we can't allow the world to know about this sword.
...Why don't you take it?
I told you, this sword exists for a true knight! I don't even know what it means to really be a true knight.
This is just me talkin', but I think yer plenty qualified.
Aye. You're trying to get it back, even though you've nothing to gain from it.
I'm sure we'll find someone who is worthy of this sword some day. That's why I can't just leave it where it is. So...
Yeah, yeah, I get it. Let's do this, then.
Huh?
You were gonna say it's only important to you, so you'd do it alone, right? Don't get ahead of yourself.
Yuri...
Aye. We're all friends on board of the same ship. It's only natural we'd help each other out.
Woof!
Yeah! If we work together, I'm sure we'll get it back.
You sound pretty confident. Weren't you shaking in your boots just a little while ago?



...Yeah!


And a fourth time, because three wasn't enough!














I am.



Third time's the charm, huh?
Yes. It ends here. I'll get the sword back this time for sure.

















W-whoa! This is ridiculous!
Even its wings are made of swords!
This is it!


Watch the battle! / Baldurdash





Again, more stats and moves. I feel like the three Sword Dancer variations worked better when they were spread out over the course of the plot, rather than bunched together in a sidequest at the end.







I threw in a Celestial Torrent from Flynn's side, not very different from when activating it with Yuri but enjoy anyway.







Sorry for not being very enthusiastic about this. This is a fun fight, there's just not really anything to write about.














...Is it over?
Did we do it?!
Looks like the system's completely shut down. This blastia can absorb skills from weapons. It must have been giving those skills to the sword.
Then, the blastia absorbed skills from all the weapons here?
Gettin' loads of weapons with these kinda skills ain't easy. Whoever was tryin' to get all those skills inta one sword musta really wanted one hell of a sword.
You mean, kind of like Dein Nomos?
It sounds like something Alexei would do. He did end up making a kind of Dein Nomos imitation, after all. It's not beyond reason that this was also a part of that experiment.
Then...was Alexei the one who stole this sword?
Who knows? We'll never know for sure now.
Even if it wasn't Alexei, whoever made this was definitely up to no good.



I've removed all the skills it collected, too.







No way! That sword's creepin' me out! I mean, that's no ordinary sword even on its own, ya know?



Yes. I can feel how threatening it could be just by holding it.
Anyway, the sword is fine now, and it's in our possession. Are you sure you don't want it?
While fighting to get the sword back, I kept wondering. What exactly is a true knight? I haven't found the answer yet, but this sword gave me the chance to think about it. That's more than enough for me.



You're so generous, despite your age.
Perhaps... The sword's original creator and all its previous masters were testing you, Flynn.
Ooh, I like that. It's kind of romantic.
How can you believe such an unscientific theory?
...
But you know, if those twins did quit the knights, wouldn't it be bad to give the sword to them? It belongs to the knights, right?
As long as we know where the sword is, I don't think it's a problem if they keep it. Besides, I don't think you need to be a member of the knights to be a knight, in the truest sense of the word. I'm sure we can trust them.
Yeah. Let's hurry and give it to them.


Yeah sure, I'm sick of this place by now.






You called?



We heard talk that you guys were headed this way.
We thought maybe you had found something out about the Sword of Prayer.
You mean this?



Please take care of it until a suitable knight comes along.



You should take it.
Huh? Wait... No... This is...
This sword's strong. I'm sure it'll come in handy.
But it's for a true knight...
We've heard all sorts of stories about you while traveling. Everyone said the same thing. You do everything you can to help others.
That sword is no decoration. Hiding it like it has been up until now is just foolish.
You're more than fit to use the sword. Besides, I think someone who doesn't want it is most suited for it. You gave it to us without a moment's hesitation. I don't think we've got anything to worry about.
Miss Hisca... But I...



What's the problem with a captain of the knights using a sword that belongs to the knights? If it bothers you so much, give it back when you're done with it.
And you think too little.
I'm sure we can trust you. Or maybe I should say, we can trust both of you.
...Understood. I'll take custody of it.
But don't let your guard down. The instant you stray from the path of a knight, we'll take it right back!
You won't have to worry about him.
Hah... Oh, I don't doubt it.
Well then, looks like we should pull out for now. Make us proud, Flynn. For the sword's sake, too.
We'll be rooting for you.



I wonder if those two...
Huh?
Maybe they knew everything right from the start...
Dunno, could be. Well, it doesn't matter either way.
Yes, the real trial starts now. For mankind, for the world... I will make the world I dream of a reality. That's why I swore to lead the knights with all my strength, no matter what. And I swear upon this sword... I will never give up!


Revival Energy HP: When revived (by any method), character will have full HP.
Revival Energy TP: When revived (by any method), character will have full TP.

As you might have guessed, we get to keep the sword. It's very good! It's light-elemental and one of Flynn's best weapons stat-wise.


And that's it for the Sword Dancer sidequest!


---



Well, let's compare.



This is what we just got. Since this sidequest unlocks in the endgame, we should compare it to other endgame equipment.



This is what Flynn comes equipped with when he rejoins after Aurnion,



and this is what we can buy, and in turn synthesize. Slightly worse physical attack, noticeably worse magic attack. The Holy Avenger also got the Light attribute that may or may not be useful.



This can be found in a chest in the final dungeon. Still worse, but not by much, and doesn't have any elemental attribute.



This is from beating the 100 Man Melee with Flynn, which in what I think is a bizarre design decision is actually worse than the previous stuff. I suppose the skills are nice.



For completion's sake, this is the joke weapon from Sicily.



And this is from the new bonus dungeon, where we haven't been yet in this LP. This is flat out better, which is fair since that place is incredibly annoying.


So it's the second best weapon stat-wise, but not by a whole lot. Third best if you count the Fell Arms.