Tales of Vesperia Part #36 - The Underpass of the Pact

Part 36: The Underpass of the Pact

When we last left off, we were about to enter Barbos' hideout. Walking towards Rita and Repede triggers a short cutscene.

Yes.

Let's go inside.

However, in the PS3 release, the bar is guarded by a couple of Blood Alliance members, which forces us to take a detour.

Watch the cutscene! (Japanese voices)

Rita...!

(In case you wonder about the glasses, the PS3 release has a lot more accessories, and many of them can be equipped by more than one party member.)

But if Barbos is in there...

I know. We can't just sit here twiddling our thumbs either.

What do we do...

...You again?

Hey, shouldn't you be over there with the rest?

I should be, but the Don told me to watch over ya so that ya don't botch the job. Wanna come relax with me at the bar and hear me out?

We don't really have time to lounge around like that...

It'll be fine. You sound like you expect me to trick you.

When you put it that way, it makes it sound like someone is here to trick us...!

I can deal with getting tricked a few times. But I'm sure you know even a saint's got limits, right, old man?

Don't make that scary face. I told you, I get it.

There's a tavern in the left part of town, which is our destination.

Watch the cutscene! (Japanese voices)

Where are we?

Are you telling us to just sit around and drink?

If yer' friend comes back with the real letter, we can settle the whole matter peacefully.

Sorry, but I can't let Flynn act cool all on his own.

We have to locate the person who started this commotion. If Barbos manages to...

Now, now. Haste makes waste.♪

What's this?

A complex underground canal stretches across this city. Way back, when the empire was occupying the city, guilds hid in this canal and waited for an opportunity to counterattack.

It can't be... You're not going to tell me... that this connects to that canal, are you?

That's exactly right.

So we'll sneak around and ambush them. It's a detour, but it seems sound enough.

That's what I'm saying. Aren't ya glad you trusted me?

I won't know that until we go and take a look.

You don't have any confidence in me, do ya?

Naturally, you're going to come along with us, aren't you?

Oh man, and here I was totally ready to back out.

We're gonna make you show off your cool side too, now. Let's go.

Watch the cutscene! (Japanese voices)

Dungeon video is available for this place, although it's really not all that interesting.

Just don't take a wrong turn and get lost down here forever.

Hey, Miss Genius Mage, why don'cha cast a fire spell and light the way with a bang?

Are you trying to treat me like a lamp? You have some nerve.

Rita, is there anything you can do?

Hm... Nope. My fire spells are purely offensive. I would need a continuous supply of aer in order to maintain the illumination. Something like a lux blastia.

Man... Really?

Looks like you missed the mark, old man.

Woof!

Hm...? Is this a blastia? It's pretty damaged, but I think I can use it.

Of course it won't. This is a lux blastia. It'll shine if you replenish its supplement shell with aer.

That's amazing, Rita!

It looks pretty worn out, so I doubt it will hold for very long, though.

All right, let's get out of here while this thing is all lit up.

Welcome to the Underpass of the Pact, a new dungeon in the PS3 release. The gimmick here is the Lux Blastia, which needs to be refilled ever so often by examining devices just like the one at the entrance. If it runs out...

Watch the cutscene! (Japanese voices)

...It's... not attacking.

There's no reason to worry.

We should refill it with aer before it goes out.

Wha...!

Damn!

This battle just has local random enemies, although I still manage to fuck up a bit because I didn't think of checking if everyone was actually set up correctly after loading the save I recorded this from. Whoops!

There's no way a monster could be that smart.

Is it possible it was just afraid of the light?

There are monsters like that?

"Among those creatures that live in dark places such as caves or deep underwater, there are those who's tolerance to light grows weak, and that becomes a strong stimulus to run away from it."

Ah, there's another one!

Oho, now I see.

Let's be careful not to let it run out and refill it as we go.

Woof!

If it runs out, monsters start attacking, and usually hit you in a Surprise Encounter. It's fairly annoying to be honest, as the time of a single charge is rather short.

Skit: The Old Man's Merry

Arf!

Repede runs off.

Hey, what's up, Rover? Something happen?

Raven follows.

It's quite dark. If you wander off, you'll get lost.

Thank'ya, dearie, but I'll be fine.

...It's so musty... I don't want to stay here for very long.

It might be musty, but the bustle above makes the silence down here in this underpass almost unbelievable. I think it's very relaxing.

Oh, really... I guess I can't always rely on your sensibilities.

Repede comes back.

...

Ah... Repede... What happened to Raven?

Hey! Doggy, where are you... ow... Gyah!

...It sounds like the silence you were talking about has been spoiled.

No, this is elegant in its own way...

...Don't sit there talkin' about elegance and save me!

Eventually, we reach this place.

Watch the cutscene! (Japanese voices)

(reading the text on the wall) "In the past, our ancestors discarded their countries that had forgotten their duty to protect their people and thus became their own, true protectors of freedom. That event was the origin of the guilds. However, now, once again, the iron shackles of suppression have been wrapped around our necks. We have forgotten the pledge of our ancestors and have become people who do naught but pursue our own self-interests and fight amongst ourselves. Therefore we once again return to the underlying principles behind guilds, and use not our strength for the individual. Our swords serve our freedom. Our shields serve our friends. Our lives serve everyone. Here we pledge the old oath anew."

What's that?

It looks like the motto that was created when the Don formed the Union.

Since you can't depend on the empire to protect you, you protect each other. For that reason, everyone unites and puts their lives on the line for each other. Or something like that.

The Union's origins come from when the guilds were compelled to oppose the Empire when it occupied the city. Up until that point, the guilds were entirely scattered and did whatever they liked. They only unified if there was a problem. And, once that problem was resolved, they would scatter again. So, when they were occupied by the Empire, they finally realized how bad that was.

And the one who was the leader in influencing the guilds was Don Whitehorse!?

Yeah. Back then, this canal must've been pretty useful.

So, at that time they made that pledge to unite here?

Seems like it. There's always been talk that the real thing's been written somewhere, but who'd a thought it'd be some scrawls on a wall like this?

A pledge written in the wall is somehow very lovely.

Ah, that legendary pirate who they say was an infamous scoundrel.

It seems he was once a sworn friend of the Don's. But, he was so quick-witted and shrewd, he must'a been tough even for the Don to deal with.

To still call someone like that a sworn friend, the Don must be a pretty capable guy.

...Our lives serve everyone...

Skit: Union's Pledge

"Our swords serve our freedom," huh?

The Pledge of the Union?

Not for the unaccommodating empire, but for their own freedom. Sounds nice.

If you can empathize, then you're probably suited for a guild, Yuri.

Hm? Well, I wasn't suited for the knights.

*Woof!*

Oh, Repede, you agree?

*Woof woof!*

A guild, huh...

The second half of the dungeon is more of the first. Honestly, if you ask me, they shouldn't have bothered making this place at all and made some interesting area somewhere else instead, but oh well.

Eventually, we reach the exit.

The town's east bar-room that Barbos is using as a hideout. The place you were tryin' to sneak into.

So that means Barbos is here somewhere...?

A little Easter Egg: If you examine the piano...

There's a name on this.

In case you don't know, Motoi Sakuraba is one of the composers of the music in this game, as well as most other Tales of games. He also does music for Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile, Baten Kaitos and a couple others.

Anyway, Barbos is on the upper floor.

Upon entering that door we trigger the cutscene that would have happened when entering the bar in the 360 version, so let's switch back to that.

Watch the (half-silent/half-voice acted) cutscene. This is probably the most important scene that's not voice acted, it's such a shame.

Alternatively, you can watch the Japanese PS3 version of this scene, which is completely voiced.

I haven't the slightest idea what you're talking about.

The tower and the blastia, of course! I have yet to receive any reports about them!

Why should I have to report to you about something like that?

You even went so far as to use Leviathan's Claw for help!

I'm not your lapdog, Ragou. I just gathered the cores together, like you requested. It's thanks to my efforts that you were able to make that weather-controlling blastia.

And just what made you think it was okay to carry off the extra cores?!

Our mutual non-interference was a condition of our agreement, was it not?

Wh-what...!

And did I ever interfere with what you were doing?

...Barbos, how dare you!

You will leave now, magistrate.

Remember this, Barbos! Black-hearted filth like you always get what they deserve in the end!

You're one to talk, Ragou.

It's the world series of villains and you had to take the best seat in the house?

What fool would dare to heckle my exquisite performance? Oh ho, if it isn't the little runts I met on the ship.

And what of it? You fools will never manage to capture me.

Oh yeah? What's your reasoning there?

If so, then that makes you quite a villain, Yuri.

Yep. I'm nefarious.

You've got a big mouth, brat.

You would dare to oppose me? I thought I told you before that next time you wouldn't get off so easy.

All the better for us to tear things up!

Haha, the fools have started to march!

He did this to destroy the Union and to eliminate the Don...!

If the Knights are destroyed, who will protect the empire? Ragou, why would you...oh!

Oh my...

The Knights and the Union going down together...it's just as Flynn said.

Hmm, we'll see.

And your existence comes to an end here!

Damn it, he's too late!

Flynn?!

Stop! All of you, sheathe your blades! Sheathe them!

And leave Yuri behind to take the fall for me? I wouldn't dream of it.

Voice acted dialoge starts here, direct link to this moment. Watching recommended.