Part 65: The Don's Resolve

Watch the cutscene!





It's so heavily guarded...
Shh. They're arguing about something.





Leviathan's Claw Member: Don't you have anything to prove who you say you are?
You know what? Actually, we don't. Let us through. The Don is here. We don't have time to sit and chat.
So the old man did come here...



I told you, we received word that the Don was headed here before we could arrive at Mt. Temza.
We couldn't very well ignore news like that, could we?
The Hunting Blades are out to get Judy?
What are you waiting for?! You won't be any use to Yeager if we have to give you a beating.
Leviathan's Claw Member: Humph... We'll let you through, but not without an escort. You don't mind, I hope?
Whatever, just let us in.



Guess we'd better strike while the iron's hot.
Leviathan's Claw Member: Wh-who the hell are you?!





Leviathan's Claw Member: Hey!
Nice, Repede!



It's just a fight against the local random enemies. They can be a bit annoying but aren't anything special.





So let's make with the gettin' inside.



If they're looking for apatheia, maybe they want the dragon she was riding. If he's an Entelexeia, he might become an apatheia like Belius.
...I mean...when he dies.
Which means Harry's request wasn't the only reason they wanted ta take Belius down. They want those apatheia somethin' bad.



Especially with those two charming young ladies in there.
Sure. We should be on our way.
...I'm just worried about Judith.
So you'll be going to Mt. Temza?
But the Don...
We're practicing deciding for ourselves. Remember?
Let's move.
I'm coming too!
She'd be upset if I left the Don like this to go looking for her. I can just hear her saying, "My, what did you think you were doing?"



All right, let's get the old Don out of this place.
Looks like we've found one more thing we can't ignore.
Okay!





Skit: Judith in Trouble
I never woulda guessed we'd have to chase down the Don and then go make Judith talk. It looks like the Hunting Blades're on the move, too.
I want know how Leviathan's Claw managed to get that information.
I'm sure there's something they're after.
...Judith.
I know you're worried, but let's just deal with what's right in front of us for now.
Right. Let's look for the Don.


Apart from another guard that you can just avoid, there's nothing interesting out here. Let's enter.




Watch the cutscene!



Whitehorse!

The party attempts to run up the stairs, but gets cut off.





Didn't you say Leviathan's Claw would never try something like this, old man?
The Don's the one that started all this.
What? Then, that means the old man's...



Bravo! I really should thank you for such a heart-rending performance!
What the hell's he talking about?!





More local enemies.





He's gone after Yeager!
Let's go!




But before we chase after them, let's loot this manor a bit. There's a lot of optional side rooms that may or may not have good stuff hidden in them, a bunch of it not even in chests but just lying around.






Skit: Leviathan's Claw HQ
I wonder what they were thinking,
building a big manor out in the middle of nowhere like this.
Isn't it obvious? Crooked plots and intrigue!
We should hurry and finish what we need to do before we get caught up in anything.
It's not so bad here, Estelle.
Why not take our time and get the full tour?
Are you thinking of exposing some "crooked plots and intrigue" while we're here?
Nah,
I wasn't thinkin' about any of that.
Being in someone's home is just so relaxin', is all.
I can't believe you...
We don't have time for this. We're going on ahead, old man.
No, no, wait fer meee...




There's also a lot of enemies around, and the battles I get into give me some new Artes!





Here we have Nightingale for Estelle, which results from Nurse with Crucible. Pretty good heal-all spell.






She also learns Marche Waltz, a one-two physical hit combo with a music motif. Eh, Estelle should stay in the back and cast if you ask me.






Yuri gets Brutal Fang, I didn't get a good shot of it, but it's several punches. The more you use it, the more punches you can get from a single arte use by mashing the attack button. Supposedly the maximum is over 100 hits, but I haven't been able to confirm that.







Repede gets Hell Hound, a dog-themed Hell Pyre.





And I forgot to include this last time, Repede also got Shining Dog, where he creates a tornado in front of him.


Anyway.





The room we want is the one in the far back.





Watch the cutscene!



I never dreamed you'd try anything this risky...
Finally made up my mind that this mudball'd be a much prettier place without you on it.



And I'll face the consequences. But it's daybreak now. Looks like I've underestimated ya a touch. I'm outta time.



H-heh. I think it's a bit late to prevent that little accident from happening.
A couple eggs might have ta be broken. But I'm prepared to pay a price.
A price...
You've still got us to deal with, Yeager.
Well, it looks like the tide's taken a turn, ja indeed. Bye bye!
Hey, wait!



The two girls also jump out.

Damn, that guy's a regular vanishing act.
Now what's with all of you? Just how'd ya figure comin' down here'd be the smart thing ta do?



In the PS3 version, Patty gets to talk to the Don a bit here.



I'm not little. I'm Patty.
Sorry about that. Patty, was it? Come 'ere and let me take a closer look at yer. ...This's a surprise...
...?



Eh... So then... Patty really is Aifread's granddaughter?
A granddaughter? Hmm... I'd never heard of Aifread having grandchildren.
I see. So Patty's "probably" wasn't wrong at all.
After what happened, I'm sure yer were were barred from doin' lots of things for being family.
I'm following after Aifread for my own reasons.. I came here to ask if you might know anything, since you used to be friends.
Hm, calling us friends is pretty exaggerated.



Course, that means I got no idea where Aifread is now.
I see... Have we... met somewhere in the past?
Eh...? With me? No clue.



This is where we rejoin the 360 scene.





This is a keepsake left by an ally of yours. We were asked to bring it to you.
...Looks like I caused you all some trouble.



Just what is an apatheia, anyway?
Well, ya see... Hm... 'Fraid I don't have time ta explain it now. Hate ta cut and run, but I'll leave the rest of these guys ta you.



Hell yeah!

Wait.



Hey, let me try and buy the old man some time.
Raven?
Come on.





Yawn.





I agree.
...You don't mean...from up here?



I got a bad feeling about this. We should get back to Dahngrest.








Skit: Spitting Image
I'm the spitting image of Aifread...
That's quite different from what I imagined.
You're right. I thought Aifread would be an intense person, like the Don.
It's confusing. I'll have to ask the Don for more details.







-----------------------------------------

Notable loot from the Manor of the Wicked:


Crucible
Athenor


Chain
Hell Fire
Spirits


Revenge Spell: No casting time if a novice spell is used while staggering.
Endure: Decreases amount of time needed to recover from a stagger hit.


Quick Turn: Able to turn around instantly even when dashing.
Combo Force: Mitigates damage from a basic combo attack.





-----------------------------------------





Short treck back to Dahngrest, and...




Watch the cutscene!



Yuri! It's terrible!
The Union and Palestralle are squaring off against each other with hoplon blastia! The Don is back, but something's not right.



What do you mean, "your hunch?"
He's been planning for this ta end in his death all along.
What?! Why would he want to do something like that?
Belius died because of Harry's rash behavior. She's the Duce of Nordopolica. Ya can't just say, "Sorry, I got some bad information." Which means there's gotta be compensation ta make up for losin' Belius.
So the price Don mentioned back at the Manor of the Wicked was...



Once he'd made up his mind to sacrifice himself, taking down Yeager wasn't a problem, even if it meant going against the laws.
No! He can't do that!



There has to be some other way!



And if it starts, it'll mean all-out war between the Union and Palestralle. There might be another way, but there isn't time ta look for it.
...
...I'm going with Karol.





Watch the cutscene!



But it's like there's nothing I can do on my own...
So then ask fer help. That's what friends're for, right?
Don...!
Take good care of them, and they'll be there whenever ya need 'em.
...









Raven, you better nail Yeager for me.
Hah hah. That's a heavy load for somebody like me.
Yer the only one I can ask.
...Whitehorse.



The boy has made a mess of things. He may be my idiot grandson, but he's also a full member of the Union. And it falls on any leader ta take responsibility for the mistakes of their people. So say the laws.





Idiot. These guilds... They're all filled with nutcases...



If anyone's confused here -- I know I was -- Seppuku involves the person performing the suicide slicing himself in the gut, while someone else, the second, decapitates him. That's what he's asking.




...It would be my honor.





You too.
Heh. No kidding. Yuri. I was lookin' forward to watchin' ya go places. I'll make sure to save you a spot in hell.
I don't think they'd let me in to the hell you're going to.
Hah. I won't forget that attitude, boy.
And I won't forget your resolve, Don Whitehorse.



Listen up! You all gotta stand on yer own two feet from here on! There's a new age coming, so get out there and make it for yourselves!