Part 66: Off to Temza

Watch the cutscene!



It feels more like they're expecting the end of the world.
Karol's been...taking the Don's passing pretty hard, too.
And it looks like things are keeping the old man busy. I guess it comes with being a member of Altosk.



He gave up his own life to make amends for what happened... Guilds take their laws pretty seriously.
...The pride of living by the laws of the guild...taking responsibility...and accepting the choices he'd made... The Don practiced what he preached.
And he was willing to stake his life on those beliefs...
Responsibility...choices...
...I've got to get these things figured out myself. Best to start with our guild, with Brave Vesperia.



Just going for a walk.

He probably went looking for Karol.
Karol.


Skit: The Don's Passing
Now my hands have killed someone I never wanted to kill.
...Don, that feeling still hasn't left my hands...
You really were a piece of work, old man.




Karol isn't particularly hard to find, just go to the left at the town square.






Watch the cutscene!



I... There wasn't anything I could do... The Don...and all the rest of you, you'd all made up your minds and did what you could. Nobody in this town's gonna listen to anything I've got to say... So I was thinking I should try talking with Palestralle instead. But they might be done talking and just attack anyway... When I thought that, I... I was too scared to go alone... So I ended up not going at all.



What about Judy? Weren't you going to look for her?
...I can't. I can't go with you anymore, Yuri...





Just walking away from the dream like that?



He's been a role model for me... And now he's not around...
So you're just gonna pack it up and quit?
Just what was it the Don died for? You of all people should know the answer to that.
You can always do everything you want, Yuri! You'd never understand how I feel! I'm not tough like you! There's no way I can be like you or the Don!
It's over. Our guild is--



Don't you remember all the Don told you?! Did you forget his resolve?
...



Huh...?



This guild is more than just you now.



I don't want to run away... I don't want to, but...






He probably just needs some time to think. Let's check back on him later.





Watch the cutscene!



He'll be fine.
But...
Well now, if it isn't the darling boy and girl. How very nice to see you both.



You've got some nerve showing your face after planting the seeds of war.



Attacking Palestralle is a matter for the Union to decide.
Yup, that's right. We just helped inform their decision.☆
Exactly. Understand, my little friends?





It is the day of the Don's passing, after all. We're still in mourning, you see. The world lost a great man today, it most certainly did.
What is it you guys are after?



Oh no no no. Our little business will most surely be easier without the poor Don around, but...





You should leave before I change my mind.



Be seeing you, then.

Yeager and his girls leave.

Even Yeager is mourning the Don... ...I don't understand. Hadn't he been trying to get rid of Don Whitehorse himself...?
The old man was a nuisance to Leviathan's Claw, but...



You mean like the difference between guilds and individuals?
Yeah. To the Don, there was Yeager the boss, and Yeager the person.
The Don did break his own laws and take the fight into his own hands.



Ah, all right. I told Rita we would be meeting her at the town exit. But what about Karol...?
I said he'll be fine. Let's go.




Watch the cutscene!



Where's Karol?
What is the deal with everyone worrying so much?
What are both of your plans after this?



Like I said, I've decided to stick with you guys while I research the aer krene.
Right, right.
I want to go with you as well, Yuri.



We're not obligated to do anything for her.
...Judith shared in our travels. She's one of us...



But...
I'm not going out on any mercy mission. I told you I need to set things straight, right?
Yuri...
What does Judy know? What doesn't she know...?



Well, we might just end up saving her along the way.
You two are worried about her, I knew it.
Wh-what are you talking about?! We "might" is all I said!



It'll take more than this to keep him down. He'll come. Now, let's go.

What should we do about Raven?
He couldn't come now. He can't turn his back on this town. They lost the Don.
You're probably right. The old man has his own agenda to take care of.
...I'm going to miss him...
Think who you're talking about. That guy might just pop up when you least expect it.



My guess is that it's somewhere north of the Sands of Kogorh. She mentioned something about living with Ba'ul on a mountain to the north of a desert.
There certainly are plenty of mountains in the northern regions of Desier.
Well let's start there, and see where it takes us. First off we need to make our way to Desier.




Watch the cutscene!









...Wait! *Huff* *Wheeze* I'm...*Huff*... Coming with you...



But Brave Vesperia is my--no, our guild, so...so I've gotta come with you guys!
Karol.
I think if I ran away... If I abandoned my friends, that'd be the end! I couldn't come back...
That's why...that's why I've gotta go! Please let me come, too!



Yuri! Thanks!



Hmm?
I...I haven't done anything to earn that title yet... Until you really think I'm a boss... Until I don't feel embarrassed when someone calls me "boss"... I'll just do my part as a fellow member of Brave Vesperia.



Alright!





Aaah! H-hey old man...?!



What are you up to?
Huh? Somethin' wrong with my bein' here?
Well, don't you have your hands full, with the Don's passing and everything...?



But you owe a lot to the Don. Aren't you sad?
Sad? I cried and cried till my throat was hoarse and there wasn't a tear left in me.
Funny, it doesn't show on you at all.



Wh-what're you talkin' about? Ya heard me, didn't ya? That burden's too heavy for this beast. I'm sure they'll be able ta take care of that piece of business just fine without me.
All right, we'll leave it at that.
Oh man... These kids today, I tell ya.
So now we can depart for Desier, right?
Huh? Why are we going back there?



There's a Krityan city there, if memory serves.
And why would you know something like that?
Well I'm over twice your age, so of course I know twice as many things.
Right...
So are we goin' or aren't we?
Can we get to the north of Kogorh by boat?
Guess we'll have to see when we get there.

In the PS3 version, Patty rejoins in this scene as well.




Alright, and with that, we're off to...



Dahngrest! There's some sidequest stuff we can take care of, one of which will actually give us something really good!



The first thing is here in this bar.





Hmmm... ...Hey, Estelle...



Armored Man: ...Leave me alone!
...?!
Armored Man: You're going to heal me, and then I'll owe you tons of money, huh? That's quite a scam! Hmph!
No, that's not true at all!



Armored Man: You think I'm gonna die from a puny little wound like this?!
Even a little scratch can get infected. And then the infection can spread through your whole body...and then...you die. It happens a lot.
Armored Man: Y-you can't be serious...!
Let's go, Estelle.
Please hold still!



It shouldn't hurt anymore.



All right, let's go.




Master... I just wanted to make that person happy...
Every single one of a princess's actions is exceedingly meaningful. Countless people are affected by what you do, and if you're not careful, they can result in confusion.
Isn't it better than sitting around doing nothing at all?
Yuri...



What about all the people back in Halure that Estelle helped? They're grateful for what she did.
Are you aware that due to that action, a strange rumor of the appearance of a "princess of redemption" has taken shape?
What's so bad about that?
Once you get people's hopes up, they expect things from you. And these expectations grow and grow, until their hopes are finally dashed against reality. Once you fail to live up to their expectations, people become discontented, and this results in chaos.
B-but...
Luckily, none of the townspeople are aware that their princess of redemption is in fact the Princess herself.
I...
To rule an empire, you must think rationally, and not be swayed by fleeting emotion.



What should I do?!
Here, take this.





Look at that and put some thought into your actions.
...



I'm okay... Master Drake told me to put some thought into what I'm doing. So that's what I'm going to do. I'm going to think about whether my actions are really the right ones for a future empress.
I see. Good luck with that, Estelle.
Yes. Thank you.


All other scenes can be triggered by resting at the inn, so let's do that a bunch of times.





Phew... I can't sleep...




...Yeah... I had this...bad dream...
Bad dream...?
I was dreaming that everyone was about to die, and I was trying to run to save them...but no matter how hard I ran, I never got any closer.
That sounds like a pretty bad dream, yeah.
I got so scared that I woke up...



?
You don't know...? Well, maybe that makes sense. Karol, you talk in your sleep. A lot.
How would I know that? I'm asleep when it happens!
Ha ha...yeah, I guess you're right.

Karol... If you're still shaken up about the Don's death...
...It's not just what happened to the Don. I don't know what I should do for Brave Vesperia. I don't even know what I can do. I still have to figure that out.
I see.
And that's why I've been having some trouble sleeping. Do you have worries that are keeping you up, Yuri?
Nah, not me. I'm a man of action, heh. Thinking about things too much just makes my head hurt. I prefer moving my body, rather than those rusty gears in my head. It suits my personality better.
Your personality, huh...I wonder what suits my personality better...
Maybe if you went to sleep and had a good dream, it would help you figure things out a bit?
I can't keep running away to my dreams.
You wouldn't be running away. You'd be dreaming so that you can come back to us.
Yeah...

I'm sure once I go back to the inn and lie down I'll be able to sleep. Don't worry about me. You go on ahead.
Gotcha.





I guess that's just how he is...


And then there's this line of events which triggers with like 33% when you rest at the inn after the Don's death. I don't think the developers intended for you to go through all of them at this moment, but it's possible to do and gives a very nice reward, so...

First night...



I have to... I have to get stronger!



Second night...







Huh? Aren't you... H-harry...right?
Weren't you practicing here last time, too?
Oh...yeah... I always have trouble sleeping whenever I come back to this city...
...Because of the Don?
...Yeah. I want to be strong, like he was. Every time I think of what he did, I feel like I have to work harder...
...You can borrow this.
What's this...?



It's heavy... It feels heavier than it looks...



...Yeah.
I'll let you use it whenever you're practicing here. It should make for better training than what you've had in the past.
I can use this sword...?
I'm just lending it to you, though! You have to give it back in the morning. I still need to work on mastering it, myself...
I see... Thank you.







Third night...



Your stance is still too weak! You'll never be as good a fighter as the Don was like that!
...Urgh! Ryaaah! Yaaah!
That's it! Imagine your opponent in front of you and swing the sword just so!
R-right!



And fourth night...



Okay! One more attack, and then take a break!
Right! Dragon...Uppercuuuut!!





It looks like you've gotten pretty good at using his sword...
M-maybe... But...I still have a long way to go.



Hmmm...looks like you've surpassed me.
What do you mean?
You've learned the weapon arte that's stored in that weapon.
Oh, I see...but what's this arte...?
The Don used this weapon. It's gotta be a good one, right?
Yeah...seems like it.
You've surpassed me... You won't need to borrow this weapon anymore, I think.
Yeah...right. Thank you, Harry.



And what exactly did we get from that?



Hell yeah! Let's test that out!


Watch the Mystic Arte!



Over Limit 3...



Arcane Arte...



Here it goes, everything I got!








One!



Two!



Three!







Awesome!




Skit: Karol's Growing Up
D-did...
did you see what I just did?!
Yeah, Karol, that was so awesome!
*Woof!*
I've...I've gotten really strong...
Heh, Brave Vesperia is set if you keep doing things like that.
No, I can't just stop there!
I have to keep working! Get even stronger!

Looks like he's grown along with his artes. Good job, Karol.



Before we end, here's two PS3 exclusive skits relating to the Don's death:



Skit: Vows
Our swords serve our freedom. Our shields serve our friends. Our lives... serve everyone...
That's the pledge of the Union.
I wonder if Aifread lived by those vows as well.
Maybe something happened that caused...
Well, it's a fact that Aifread signed the pledge, at least.
Aye.
All right, in place of the Don and Aifread, I'll inherit their vows!

Patty leaves.

Don, it looks like the young'uns are goin' to carry on your and Aifread's will.

Skit: Raven's Thoughts
Don Whitehorse... What a noble way to go.
Yeah. I'm sure it was hard on you, being his second.
Sorry you had to carry that weight.
It's all right.

Yuri leaves.

I can't believe he took on such a grim task, I swear...
I wonder if he really is all right.
I'm sure he's not "all right". He's probably. working through things on his own. He was already prepared to walk this path.
By prepared, do you mean... Ragou and Cumore?
Yep. He's prepared himself for the worst, and intends to bear that burden until the bitter end, no matter how hard it is on him.
He's got a rough road ahead of him.
Don't think I could do it!
Hmph. That doesn't just go for you...
Guess all we can do is watch over him.




Next time: Mt. Temza.