Part 88: Sidequesting before Zaude, Part 2

Next stop: Capua Nor!





Oh hey there Duke.

Watch the cutscene!





You allowed that to rise again. You cannot be trusted with Dein Nomos.
Do you know what that thing is?
The legacy of the ancients... A giant blastia that could save the world from impending doom.



All things must be returned to their proper places. Begin by returning that sword to me.
Wait. If this should be returned to its proper place, wouldn't that mean giving it to Estelle?
...Nothing would be more fruitless than giving it to one who cannot use it properly.
For us, Dein Nomos was never anything more than proof of imperial lineage. So, perhaps you are better suited to wield it.
...
...So, if you don't mind, could you let me keep it a little longer?





...I will come again to claim the sword.
Okay. ...Let's go.

You'd think after like seven optional scenes with him we'd have some idea of what his agenda is, but the game's not really giving us much information to go on. Oh well.

Next stop: Capua Torim!





Ciaaao!
Th-that voice...!



This is all you, old man.
Why does it always hafta be me?



That barca that's tied up in the port... Is she yours?
Oh, the...boat? Yes, it's ours. It used to belong to Miss Kaufman, but...
I was wondering... Is okay I upgrade it?
You want to upgrade it...?
N-no way! What if you mess it up and it stops working?
Upgrade it, ya say... What do ya wanna do to it, anyway?



I won't do anything bad to it! You have my word.
You think we're just going to let you do who-knows-what to our ship...?
...Hey, Yuri. Ya think we might just let 'im do it and see what happens?
...Do you know something I don't, old man?
Mmmm... Nah, not really. Jus' thought we might give 'im a chance.
...Okay. ...Go ahead and do it. But if it doesn't work when you're through... We're going to tie you to the hull and give you a paddle.
Sure! Okay! Grazie!








There's...something attached to the ship...
What did ya do?





With this, you can collect treasures in the sea!
What do you think, Rita?
...It's been placed very well. The weight distribution and hull balance have been taken into account, too... This is just too perfect...



W-wow...
Hey, how'd ya do all this?
Oh, I've just been interested in le barche lately, is all.
Wow, what a strange guy...







Huh? You know that guy?
Man: Of course! They call him the Shining Star of Core Engineering! There's no one in the world who's better at manipulating blastia cores!
Wow, that's amazing.
Rita, you haven't heard of him?
No, I haven't. Blastia research has many subfields. I always researched how to use blastia to produce magical effects. But some blastia engineers develop new applications for cores and their effects. That's a totally different area of research.
Wow... Blastia engineers, eh? I'll bet the architects' guild would love to get their hands on someone like him.
Man: That's right! The architects' guild is working frantically to find Professor Sicily and get his help!
This sounds like information Kaufman would be interested in...



That sounds about right...
Ha ha. Let's go see just how useful that professor's eccentricity can be.
Yeah! Let's see what that salvage arm can do!

Sadly, it can't do a whole lot. All you can get is a couple synthesizing materials that are hard or impossible to get otherwise. And I don't think the other ability is ever actually useful for anything.



I mean, sure, you could go around in darker water now, but what's the point? We can fly!

As for the crane, there's two kinds of search points:




These whirlpool-y things with seagulls flying above them, they're pretty easy to spot and usually don't have interesting items.




And these impossible to spot tiny things, which usually have some worthwhile stuff. Honestly, I'd ignore both until the postgame, and then just look them up in a guide or something.

Next stop: Nordopolica!



To be specific, we want to be back near the Duce's chambers, because there's a warehouse there.





Yes, we are! That Brave Vesperia is who we are!
Man: Our warehouse is flooded with new shipments, and we haven't been able to tidy it up. We heard tidying up warehouses is your specialty. Can you help us out?
Umm...
Sure! We'll take care of it!
Man: All right, then. I'm counting on you.







...Yeah, these are annoying as always. Let's just skip over that.

x3
x3




2000 Gald!

Thank you! Brave Vesperia is at your service!
Hey, you did say, "that" Brave Vesperia just now, did you not? Just what is, "that" supposed to mean?
Well, it's whatever ya like for it to mean?
I thought so... I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing...

I don't quite get that dialogue, to be honest. It also seems like they changed this somewhere along the line for the European version, as it's slightly different in my text rip from the US version. And yet it still doesn't really make sense.

On my way out, I noticed a conversation with Natz I apparently missed earlier. Thankfully it was still available!



Whenever I see your faces, I can't help but remember Belius.
Yeah, I still feel bad about that...
No, don't. I've got more good memories than bad ones. Like when I first met her, or when I joined Palestralle. I remember it like it was yesterday...



I shivered with anticipation. It was a monster I've never seen before! If I beat it, I'd be famous!
Y-you're saying that you challenged Belius?
Well, I was pretty foolhardy back then. And much to my surprise, I got my butt handed to me. When I came to, I was in the Coliseum, lying on a bed.
You fought Belius and lived...that's pretty impressive in and of itself.



Ahh, so she let you live?
When I asked her why she spared my life, she told me this: "There's nothing to be gained by making a short life even shorter."
...That sounds like something only an age-old Entelexeia could say.
I'm sure she's seen thousands of humans come and go in her lifetime. Even if they became her friends, or her subordinates, she'd eventually outlive all of them. I can't even imagine how lonely that must be. But when she passed away, she was finally freed from that terrible loneliness. That's why I think...that what happened wasn't such a bad thing at all.
Hmmm...maybe you're right.



No, I don't mind at all. I feel like I understand Belius a little better now.


And that's all in Nordopolica for now. Well, technically there's still the coliseum, but I'm saving that until we can actually do the 100 man melee.

Next stop: Heliord!





Oh, Pauly! How are you doing?
I'm good! How's your doggy?
Wooo...
Wow, Repede's being nice to someone...
Repede loves playing with kids who like dogs.
Really?! What about me, then? Look, Repede! I like you thiiiiis much!
Woof!





Hey. I thought you left this place for good.
My kid likes this place. We come back from time to time.
I see. That's great.
All right Pauly, it's time to say bye bye now. Everyone, good seeing you all again.
Bye bye!



It was nice to see them so happy.
Woo...woof!



What is it?!



Repede...!
Pauly was kidnapped by a monster...!
A monster inside the barrier...?
Repede ran after them! We should go too...!




Bandit: Now, I wonder how much I'll be able to get for this little brat...



Woo...woof woof woof woof woof!



Grrrr...



I thought it was strange that a monster would be inside the barrier. A companion of yours, I see. Give back the kid.
Bandit: You think I'll hand him over that easily?
Grrrr... Woof woof woof!



This fight is incredibly easy as those are local world map enemies, which means they pose no threat whatsoever at this point in the game.



Woooo, woof woof!
Good job, Repede!
Bandit: D-damn it... I won't forget this...



Leave him. For now, the important thing is to get Pauly back to his parents.




You helped us so many times... I don't know how I could possibly thank you enough.
Think nothin' of it. It's all in a day's work!
I don't remember you doing all that much to help them, old man.
Your doggy saved me!
Woof!
Repede's not the sort of pooch who'd ignore a dog-loving kid in distress!
Thanks, Mr. Dog.
Woof!
I still wonder...why would anyone want to take Pauly?
Woof woof woof!
It looks like he was just trying to make a quick buck.
Ugh... I guess we have to be on our guard, even inside the barrier...



...What do you have there, Pauly?
That guy dropped something, so I picked it up!
The bandit did?



Not that a dumb monster could ever learn to use a technique like this.
Woof woof woof!
What? Is this what you want?
Woof!
There's nothing Repede can't use... ...Oh, alright, I'll read it to you.
Woof!



Woof woof!
The doggy got stronger again!
Woof!


This gives us Repede's Special skill, which means we now have Repede's Mystic Arte! Only one left is Estelle. Let's check that out.



Over here seems like a good place. This is in the northwest of the world map, on the continent west of Dahngrest, and also our next sidequesting location. It's pretty visible from the sky too with that pattern in the forest.




Watch the mystic arte!























Pretty nice, but no name? Hm.

Skit: The Christening
*Arooooo*



Did you see that arte he did? It was like a Whooooosh Attack!
Uh, Karol? No.
It's actually more of a...Mercurial Laceration!
Lame! Sounds like an old man thought it up.
An old man did, and it sounds damn good!
Will you two shut up?! It was a cut, right, so just call it "Slash!"
*WOOF!*
All right. Done.

And with that, it's now actually called Slash!. I kinda liked Raven's suggestion better, but oh well.



Anyway, let's enter this place.



Well this is a weird building in the middle of nowhere. Seems pretty nice though.



It's a Hot Spring!



Hey, what is this place?
Owner: Sir, you have arrived at Yumanju Hot Spring Spa, home of the finest open-air baths that Terca Lumireis has to offer! The Yumanju springs are famous the world over.
What's an open-air bath?
It's a hot spring where you go outside to take a bath and relax.
Take a bath outside? I've never heard of anything like it.
Owner: I think you'll find that it feels quite nice, and liberating, too!
I just get in the bathtub and hop right out as soon as I'm clean. Who cares how "nice" it is?
Yuri, it's best for your body if you soak for a while and relax.
Open-air baths, huh? Sounds like quite a sight to see. I wonder what it feels like to sit in them.
Oh wow, this sounds great! I want to go in! ♪
I think it sounds like quite a sight to see, too! If you know what I mean. *Wink*
...



Owner: Unfortunately, you cannot! You cannot!
Whaaaat!! Why can't we go in? You big meanie!
Owner: I assure you, I am not a "meanie." The baths are simply being cleaned right now.
Seriously? What a tease!
Let's come back the next time we get a chance.
Owner: I am terribly sorry! We look forward to your next visit!

Aw, that's too bad.

There's another reason to come here though. This place has what is probably the best shop for consumable items in the entire game.





It stocks all buyable gel types, including the incredibly cheap Lottery Gels. These things are random. I don't think they can actually hurt you, but the amount of HP and/or TP they restore is randomized. Which is kinda risky, but for 10 Gald, they're pretty nice. They also stock a nice sortiment of cooking ingredients.

I also use this opportunity to synth a shitload of stuff.



Combo Plus 2: Adds 2 more hits to a regular attack combo.
Combo Force: Mitigates damage from a basic combo attack.
Evade 3: Increases agility by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


FS Bonus: Recovers HP every time a Fatal Strike hits an enemy.
FS Bonus 2: Recovers TP every time a Fatal Strike hits an enemy.
Defend 2: Increases physical defense by 10%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


Alembic: Altered Arte Skill.
Status Guard: Reduces the effect of magical ailments.
Defend 3: Increases physical defense by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


Gale: Altered Arte Skill.
Condition Guard: Reduces the effects of certain physical ailments.
Resist 3: Increases magic defense by 15%. Increase due to equipment not affected.


Dispersion: Altered Arte Skill.
Great Deluge: Altered Arte Skill.
Mental Up: Occasionally increases Max TP after a battle.


Super Chain 5: Able to link altered to arcane artes.
OVL Bonus: Occasionally fully restores HP during Over Limit.
Void Attack: Occasionally prevents staggering when receiving a physical attack.


Super Chain 5: Able to link altered to arcane artes.
OVL Bonus 2: Occasionally fully restores TP during Over Limit.
Void Magic: Occasionally prevents staggering when receiving a magic attack.


Medical Boost: Strength of cure spell proportional to remaining HP. Strength increases by 1.5 times with Max HP.
Healing Artes:
Elemental: Occasionally increases effect of a physical attack with elemental attributes.


Medical Boost: Strength of cure spell proportional to remaining HP. Strength increases by 1.5 times with Max HP.
Lovely Dog: All stats increase with Repede in the active party.
Anti Element: Occasionally decreases damage from an elemental attack by half.


Athenor: Altered Arte Skill.
Condition Guard: Reduces the effects of certain physical ailments.
Extend Guard: Gradually recovers HP during guard.


Over Cast 2: Hold the arte button after casting to increase the effect of an intermediate spell while consuming TP.
Guard Artes: Cancel guard motion and perform an arte. Invincible to attacks for a short period of time.
Spirit Absorb: Occasionally recovers the same amount of TP used to cast a spell when hit by a spell attack.


Special: Mystic Arte Skill.
Spirits 2: Increases Max TP by 50.
Spell End: Able to move immediately after casting a spell.


Magic Combo: No casting time required when casting an altered arte immediately following the base spell.
Chain: Altered Arte Skill.
Elemental: Occasionally increases effect of a physical attack with elemental attributes.


Magic Combo: No casting time required when casting an altered arte immediately following the base spell.
Hell Fire: Altered Arte Skill.
Anti Element: Occasionally decreases damage from an elemental attack by half.


Quick Arrow: Shortens the amount of time needed to fire an arrow for normal attacks, but decreases power.
Cross Counter: Damage increases when an attack hits an attacking enemy.
Revenge Arrow: Release an arrow as the attack button is pressed while staggering.


Steal Plus: Increase the success rate of Thievery.
Rebirth: Gradually recover HP equal to half the amount of the last damage received.
Status Guard: Reduces the effect of magical ailments.


Lucky Soul: Occasionally recover TP when knocked to the ground.
Spirits 2: Increases Max TP by 50.


Elemental: Occasionally increases effect of a physical attack with elemental attributes.
Encounter Bonus: Encounter an enemy symbol from the rear to occasionally recover the entire party's TP upon entering a battle.


Happiness: Occasionally increase EXP earned.
Happiness 2: Occasionally increase LP earned.
Happiness 3: Occasionally increase Gald earned.


Spell Charge 3: Hold the Arte button after casting an advanced spell to move freely while delaying the spell.
Elemental Effect: Weather and climate will have a greater effect on spells.


Status Guard: Reduces the effect of magical ailments.
Condition Guard: Reduces the effects of certain physical ailments.
Technical Half: Receive extra TP by not taking damage in a battle. However, all stats are reduced to half.


Sheesh, that's a lot. Some of these have really nice skills, too.

And that's it for the sidequests! ...Well, for the 360 ones, anyway. Next time we'll do the PS3 exclusive ones, and after that we'll go to Zaude!