Part 37: Fall of the House of Gardios

At any rate, last time Luke vowed to find Spinoza before Asch for... some reason. I said we weren't going to be doing this, but both upon further reflection and user request, we will.

The Chasing Spinoza Sidequest spans multiple branches and has multiple paths, each of which result in slightly different dialogue. It takes you all over the map, though luckily every path only has four locations, max. I'll be showing off the “main” path, however I'll also provide a link later on to a video (not mine!) containing all the alternate paths and their dialogue as well. It's all voiced, so why not?

Skit: I Won't Lose to Asch!

: “That Asch... he really gets on my nerves!”

: “What do you mean? He's helping us.”

: “Then why didn't he come with us?! I invited him!”

: “Well...”

: “There's no way I'm going to let him find Spinoza before me! Come on, Natalia!”

: “It seems they both share a certain... stubbornness.”

Indeed.

So interestingly enough, I end up taking the “go directly to Daath” option anyway, because this sidequest opens up just outside it, on Fourth Monument Hill.

Chasing Spinoza



: “It looks like he boarded a boat for Keterburg.”

: “Okay. You return to Belkend and check on the researchers.”

: “My, you're so demanding.”



: “Wh-what?!”

: “Hee hee hee hee. Don't get jealous.”



: “We came straight here! How did you get here?!”

: “I took a ship, stupid. How else?”



: “Forget about Spinoza and go get Ion.”

Yeah, Asch seems to have this covered. Let's do our part and-





: “...Don't say you're going to chase Spinoza after we've come all the way here.”

: “I think we SHOULD chase him... that Asch, I can't believe he's with a woman like that...”

: *sigh* “Fine...”

Right, off to Keterburg, I suppose.



It's worth noting that despite having the hover drive stolen, the Albiore can still travel over land, as well as water. It just can't fly.



: “A letter? To whom?”

: “I don't know. It's already on the freighter.”

: “Tch. Fine. Join up with Noir in Belkend.”

: “You got it.”



: “Natalia! That means you, too! Go to Daath! Now!”



: “...Yes. I'm the one who feels like shouting.”

: “...Yeah. Sorry...”

: “He says he's sorry, but he's really headed for Grand Chokmah.”

: “I think you might be right.”

: “When are we going to get to see Ion?!”

I don't get how Luke is managing to drag all of these guys around if they don't want to go! Jade even sounds annoyed, and I imagine that at that point he'd just slip something into Luke's drink and then carry on to Daath.



: “Good. Then we'll capture him.”

: “Aww... after all that, I still lost...”

: “This wasn't a contest, you inferior replica!”

: “...Stop calling me inferior!”

: “He's right, Asch. You don't need to speak like that.”

: “...Humph. Even you're siding with him?”

: “I didn't say that!”

: “Perhaps you could continue this terribly entertaining lovers' quarrel on our way to Daath?”

: “...This what?!”

: “Colonel!”

: “Fine. Call it whatever you like. Spinoza's been found. Let's leave the rest to Asch.”

You may be noticing the lack of sarcasm on the part of Jade's voice and face. That would be because he's done with this shit, and his VA sells it. Remember that the Albiore has no flight power, so this detour all over the world probably lasted days, if not weeks. All that time wasted because Luke is an immature brat. Even Jade's infinite patience is at a dead end.

: “I agree.”

: ...

: “Hah hah. Are you still mad you didn't find Spinoza?”





: “What's this?”

: “Our crew will help you as long as you have this. Give it a try sometime.”

This is a big fat lie, it's just a collector's book item.

: “Oh. Okay. Thanks.”

: “Can we finally head to Daath? I'm dead from getting dragged around everywhere.”



: “To Daath it is, then.”

To Daath it is.



: “It took a while to get here.”

: “Well, a certain someone decided to take the scenic route.”

: “Okay, okay, enough already!”

: “But it's true.”

: “Yeah, I can't back you up on this one.”

: “I can't defend you, Master.”

: “Don't you start in on me, too!”



Finally.

The State of Daath



: “Mohs should still be in Baticul.”

: “Yes. But the Six God-Generals could still be here.”

: “We should be careful.”



: “What? Did you say Papa?”

: “Oh, uh... I just thought if we ask my parents, we might find out about the Six God-Generals.”

: “Oh, that's right, your parents live here.”

: “So let's go visit them.”



: “Papa, Mama, do you know what those Six God-General fools are up to?”

: “Now, now, Anise. That's not very polite.”

: “Booo.”

: “Hah hah hah. Pouting won't get you anywhere, Anise.”

: “Anyway, so, what are the Six God-Generals and Grand Maestro Mohs doing?”

: “Mohs, Largo, and Dist went to Baticul.”

: “Legretta is currently inspecting Belkend.”

: “Sync headed to the Radiation Gate.”

: “We heard that Arietta will be returning from the Absorbtion Gate.”



: “Let's go get Ion while that's still the case.”

: “Yes.”

: “Where is Fon Master Ion?”

: “He was in the library, but he should be returning to his room about now.”

: “Okay, let's go see Ion.”

Teleport!



: “It's because you sent Asch to help us.”

: “No, Asch deserves the credit for acting so quickly. By the way, what brings you back here?”

: “We need your help, Ion!”

: “Guy will explain.”

: “...Me again?”



: “The Sephiroth I know of are the Absorption Gate and the Radiation Gate. They already made me remove the Daathic seals from both.”

: “Those are the start and end points of the Planet Storm. I doubt they'll be good for measurement.”

: “So what do we do? If we're going to ask in Yulia City we'll have to use the Yulia Road or get the flightstone back.”

: “Unfortunately, Dist took the flightstone.”

: “That's a problem. And you don't know the location of any other Spehiroth?”

: “I can't be certain, but there's something Legretta said onboard the Tartarus. 'With the bridge out, we'll have to leave the Tataroo Valley Sephiroth for later.'”

: “Oh yeah. I remember learning that the Ispanian Peninsula had a Sephiroth.”

: “Tataroo Valley also had selenia flowers in bloom. They tend to cluster around fon slots.”

: “It's worth taking a look, but the Daathic seal hasn't been unlocked. I've finished what I need to do here, so I'll assist you.”

: “Thanks, then let's all go.”

And with that, Ion has rejoined us. He's been missing for quite a bit! At any rate, let's get the hell out of Daath before something bad happens.

Spinoza Taken



...Who am I kidding, that's impossible.

: “Luke! Are you okay?!”

: ...It's about time you heard me, reject!

: Asch...

: I have bad news. Spinoza sent Van word of the plan to stop the core. The God-Generals got in my way and took Spinoza.

: What?!

: Spinoza barely knew anything, and they still told him. Stopping the core may interfere with their plans.

: What about Hencken and Cathy?! If Van knows...

: Relax. I put them on a freighter to Sheridan. Pick up the frequency counter there.

: What are you going to do?

: I'm going to keep looking for Spinoza and investigating the meaning of the core vibration. This is the last time I'll communicate with you.



: “Luke! What did Asch say?!”

: “...Spinoza informed Van of our plan. Hencken and Cathy have fled to Sheridan.”



: “It's not your fault.”

: “I was careless to have allowed him to eavesdrop.”

: “What about Asch?”

: “He won't contact us anymore. I guess he intends to work alone again.”

: “Oh... I see...”

: “If the God-Generals know about our plan, we shouldn't stay here long... okay, Nataia?”

: “...Oh. Right. I'm fine.”

: “Then let's go to Sheridan.”

...So does that count as the bad thing that always happens when we visit Daath?


Arietta's Attack



NOPE.

: “Oh great...”

: “You were looking for here, weren't you? I went ahead and told her you were here.”



: “Argh! Mama! Are you nuts?!”



: “Wait, Gloomietta, this isn't the place to start-”

: “I hate you! I'm going to avenge Mommy! Go!”



: “Right!”

: “I'm not giving Ion to you!”







: “Pamela!”

: “Mama?!”



: “Ah...! But...”

: “Arietta! You know you shouldn't involve Pamela!”

: “Ion... stop! Come back.”



: “Natalia, take care of Pamela!”

: “Right!”



: “I'm fine. Thank you, Pamela.”









Hmm?

Anyway, crisis averted I guess.



: “I'm happy I made it in time.”

: “Pamela, thank you. I'm so sorry.”

: “You are too kind, Fon Master. Don't worry about me. What about Guy? He looked unwell.”

: “Honestly, Mama! You're the one who almost died!”

: “Mama will be fine. You should go check on Guy. He's your friend, isn't he?”

: “...Okay, but make sure you stay in bed until you're better.”

: “Guy's in the chapel, let's go.”

: “...Yeah. Take care, Pamela.”

: “Thank you.”

Skit: Arietta's Changed

: “Thank you all for saving Mama.”

: “I'm glad her injuries weren't worse.”

: “Thanks...”

: “Allow me to thank you as well.”

: “Not at all. It is because you convinced Arietta to leave that we were able to get to Pamela in time.”

: “It's our fault for getting her caught up in it in the first place. Sorry, Anise.”

: “But Arietta was never one to hurt others so recklessly...”

: “Ever since she lost her place as Fon Master Guardian... she's changed.”

: “Yes, she has...”



Let's check on Guy.



: “She's okay now.”

: “What happened to Arietta?”

: “I turned her over to Maestro Tritheim as Ion advised. Though I imagine she'll be set free as soon as any of the God-Generals return.”

: “That little whiny, gloomy brat...”


Fall of the House of Gardios



: “...Yeah. Sorry for startling you.”

: “May we ask what you remembered?”





: “Hide here, don't make a sound.”



: “Shh! The Kimlascan army is here. Stay quiet.”

: “Any fonis is a threat! Women, children, anyone! Show no mercy!”

God is Duke Fabre an asshole!

: “Move!”

: “No! Leave this place at once, serf!”

: “Then I'll make you move!”

: “Aaaaaaah!”







: “Guy! Look out!”







: “My sister shielded me when I was about to be killed. And not just her. All of the maids protected me too... I was buried under their bodies, unconscious and covered in blood.”



: “So, your female phobia is the result of emotional scarring from that incident.”

: “How pathetic. They gave their lives to protect me, and I just remember them as 'scary'...”

: “Don't beat yourself up like that. You were just a kid, Guy. An army invaded your home and killed people right in front of you. Anyone would be scared.”



: “I'm sorry.”

: “...I'm sorry.”

: “I must apologize as well. I'm truly sorry.”



: “Don't worry about it.”

: “Guy, how do you feel? All right to move?”

: “Of course.”

: “Then let's get away from Daath. We're not in any shape to face the God-Generals again.”

: “Yes, you were headed for Sheridan were you not?”

: “Yeah. I'm fine, but I'm worried about Hencken and Cathy.”

: “Don't push yourself too hard, Guy.”

: “I'm not! Let's go.”



See you there!

Next Time: Old faces, old places, and new powers!

Synopsis:

Everyone got angry with me, but I ended up checking around various towns
to try and find Spinoza. Just wait, I'll get to him before Asch!

That was the plan, anyway, but it turns out that Asch had hired the Dark
Wings, and he worked with them to find Spinoza. Damn...I keep on losing to
Asch. Oh well, let's get going to Daath.

Well, we finally made it to Daath. We'd better be careful this time not to
get caught by Mohs.

The first thing we did was to check with Anise's parents on what the
Oracle Knights were doing.

According to them, Mohs and the God-Generals were all out of Daath at the
moment. They said Arietta might return soon, so now's our chance. Let's get
Ion out while we can.

We met Ion and explained everything that had happened, and Ion agreed to
come with us. He says that there's a passage ring in Tataroo Valley. Let's go
report to Hencken.

As we were leaving the church, Asch used his channel to contact me.
He said that Spinoza got away from him, and Master Van has found us out.

Give me a break! What was all that about "I'll go find him"?! Some job you
did!

Well, at least Asch finally sounded concerned. He said he got Hencken and
Cathy out of Belkend on a ship of Sheridan, so I guess we'll be heading for
Sheridan now.
Just as we were about to leave Daath, we ran into Arietta, who had just
returned. Things got ugly pretty quick, but then Anise's mother, Pamela, got
badly injured protecting Ion. We managed to stop Arietta, but Pamela was in
bad condition. And it looks like the scene triggered something in Guy's
memories.

Things finally settled down, and we managed to get Pamela to safety and
see to her injuries. Once her condition was stable, I headed for the chapel
to talk to Guy.

Guy had remembered the time during the Hod War when his family had been
killed. In order to protect him, the heir to the house of Gardios, his sister
and servants gave their lives, throwing themselves between him and the
attacking soldiers. He lost consciousness then, but when he woke, he was
buried beneath the bloody bodies of his sister and the maids. Ever since
then, the touch of a woman unconsciously brought up the terror of that
instant. ...It's my father that caused Guy such painful memories.
I can't apologize enough to Guy...

But Guy laughed and said he was fine. I feel bad for him, but it's
dangerous to stay here any longer than we have to, so we'd better hurry to
Sheridan.