Part 43: The Return of Sidequest Hell

Last time, Yulia City's peace conference was concluded. But before we move forward with that, we have a half dozen sidequests to knock out real quick. Let's get to it.

Oh and I'm going to give the warning straight up that this update has no videos. This block of footage also has a reset in it, so the entire thing is desynced to hell. 95% of this wasn't voiced anyway, but the two that were have been lost. So sorry about that.



First off, we give this guy the money we bummed of Suzanne to get another of Luke's skills, Lightning Blade. It's a fairly nice skill that generates a ¼ wind FoF, but it's hard to combo with since it knocks the enemy back. I don't use it that often, if at all.



Another of Guy's arcane arte teachers is here, so we knock him off the list.

: “But why do you pass on your arcane artes in such a long and cumbersome manner?”

: “Yeah, you use Albert-style sword techniques, right? You could just learn from the arcane artes text that Master Van left...”

: “Our sword is not of the main trunk of the Albert style.”

: “The sword technique I use is Sigmund-style, which branched off from Albert-style.”

: “Sigmund learned the sword from Fleil Albert. To protect Yulia and Albert and act as their advance guard, he improved upon what he learned, creating the Sigmund style. Fearing that, if it became well known, it would publicize the weaknesses of the Albert style, he decreed the style's techniques be passed down orally.”

: “Also, the only users of the Sigmund style are members of the House of Gardios and those connected with it. We didn't know what the Kimlasca royalty or Duke Fabre would do if our existence was discovered.”

: “...I won't say anything to Father.”

: “Me neither.”

: “...Thanks.”

: “So did you learn the arte?”

: “I'm the third teacher. He'll need to listen to two more.”

: “This sure takes awhile...”

: “Where can I find the fourth?”

: “He should be in front of a machine that turns.”

: “Okay, I'll see if I can find him.”

We find him.



: “I've been waiting for you. I'll teach you our arcane arte at once.”



Helpful. Can you guess?



I mean obviously, right?



That's it for Guy's skills!

...So, how about some Jade skills?



: “Is s something troubling you, sir?”

: “It's you! You always show up at the perfect time, as if you'd calculated it.”

: “I don't quite understand, but I'll take it as a compliment.”

: “Hah. At any rate, I want to borrow your brain for a bit, if you don't mind.”

: “Certainly.”

: “This sort of thing is really McGovern's specialty, but I'm sure you can handle it. Take a look at this...”



: “And this is...?”

: “The impact of the Outer Lands' descent into the Qliphoth exposed land strata north of Grand Chokmah. This was found there.”

: “It's in Ancient Ispanian. It appears to be a sonnet, but... it's meaningless and poorly written.”

: “What's it say?”

: “I'll read it aloud: “ The paradise is disturbed, and despair doth enshroud the world. Why doth the people become as beasts and bathe in blood? This power is naught but a weapon. To one of wisdom I entrust my three powers and declare them forbidden verses.”









Fuck you if you think I'm transcribing that.

: “I don't understand a word of that...”

: “But fonons are radiating from the scroll. If we are able to break the code or whatever it is, I suspect we'll uncover some sort of sealed power.”

: “I see. Yes, this is definitely Field Marshal McGovern's area of expertise.”

: “Do you think you could take on the task of deciphering this for me?”

: “Understood. Just in case, I'll leave a copy in my room.”

This is the first step to a very long quest that gets Jade some pretty ballin' artes. We'll have to wait on it for now, though. Also amazingly, this quest does not have a cutoff, I just wanted to start it while we were here.

Back to Chesedonia.



: “Actually, I was wondering... about that pendant we gave you as payment for the coach fare – where in Grand Chokmah did you sell it?”

: “Ah, that. There was a craftsman in the armor shop by the name of Raiz. He bought it from me.”

: “Thanks.”

: “Do you mean my pendant...? Why are you asking about that?”

: “Ah, just curious. Next time we're in Grand Chokmah, let's look for this Raiz person.”

: “? Okay...”

So clueless.

Now then, Grand Chokmah they said?



: “Did you once buy a pendant from a stagecoach driver? With a three carat or so star sapphire in it...”

: “Ah, yeah, I sure did.”

: “Could you let us buy it back? It was originally hers.”

: “Luke...”

: “That's fine with me, but I am running a business. I'm going to have to profit of it. It'll be 100,000 gald.”



: “Luke! Don't worry about it.”

: “It's okay, I'm sure I can get 100,000 gald from father.”

: “I don't want you to do that. Besides, your father's money belongs to your father and mother.”

: “Well yeah, I'm not their real son, but...”

: “That's not what I'm saying. Regardless of whether it was you or Asch, the assets of the House of Fabre belong to the Duke, not to the two of you.”

: “But it's important to you, right?”

: “Yes, but...”

: “So, do you want it or not?”

: “...Sell it to me!”

100,000 gald sounds like a lot, but I've got 2x gald on, and Luke's been equipped with a Sepheria Doll, which doubles gald earned in battle. So I actually have around 300,000 right now. It's a dent, but nothing we can't pay.

: “W-wait! Luke!”

: “Pleasure doing business with you!”





: “This pendant means a lot to you, doesn't it?”

: “But...”

: “...Okay. Thank you, Luke.”

: “Well then, I'll be going now.”

: “I'm so happy to have it back...”



: “It's a memento... of my mother...”

: “...I had no idea. I was really thoughtless with what I said at the time. I'm sorry...”

: “It's okay. I mean... you got it back for me.”



: “I-I didn't do any... y-you don't have to thank me. Anyway, come on, let's go!”

: “Master's embarrassed. I knew Master was really a nice person!”

: “...Yes, he is. He doesn't always think things through very well, but... he's a kind human being.”



Aww...



Tear get's the unique equipment item Tear's Pendant which gives her a quite sizable boost to fonic attack. This makes her offensive hymns much more destructive.

Okay, now let's go talk to somebody I really don't want to talk to!



: “Yeah. Now you don't have any reason to refuse Frings.”

: “But...”

: “Jozette. My name is Gailardia Galan Gardios. I am Eugenie Cecille's son.”

: “Aunt Eugenie's son...! You're my cousin, Gailardia?! You're alive?!”



Nobody else in the party had put that together. Well except for Jade, as evidenced by the lack of “!” above his head. Something tells me that everything I point out in my “Things you Missed” bonus updates, Jade has already worked out.

: “It's out of respect for my mother that you are unable to be with General Frings, correct?”

: “If I cast aside the military and marry into Malkuth, Cecille will once again be vilified as a house of traitors...”

: “That's not true. It's only natural that a Malkuthian wife protect Malkuth.”

: “Your Highness is a rational human being. But society will not think that way.”

: “...Then how about you become a real symbol of peace between Kimlasca and Malkuth this time?”

: “You mean make General Cecille and General Frings' engagement into a symbol?”

: “It would be good publicity. The peace treaty was just signed. This could become a symbol of hope to the people.”

: “Indeed! If you do love General Frings, I'll inform Father of this matter and make the arrangements.”

: “But...!”

: “Jozette. My mother Eugenie and my sister Marybelle Radan both died. I want at least you to be happy. You bear a close resemblance to my sister.”

Guy's sister was named Marybelle Radan Gardios? What the fuck is wrong with Hod and their naming conventions?

: “...All right. I'll accept the ring. But please wait to tell His Majesty about this until the world has settled down.”



: “...Thank you.”

So there you go. In two minutes we move the love story forward more than the hour it took to do the first part of this quest.

Okay, let's head to Baticul. On the way up to the lift...



: “...I thought I'd fulfilled my duty as royalty.”



: “But who's to say those weren't merely for my own self-satisfaction?”

: “The people of Baticul feel honestly grateful to you. Isn't that proof enough?”

: “Even so...”

: “All actions begin with a desire for self-satisfaction.”

: “Really?”

: “For example, suppose Natalia felt she wanted to work for the kingdom, ignoring personal gain. By acting on that thought, Natalia still satisfies her own desires.”

: “Well, yeah. But Jade, that's missing the point.”

: “Indeed it is! I'm quibbling.”

: “But once something gains others' support, it grows beyond mere self-satisfaction.”

: “If that's the case, you've got the support everyone here in Baticul. That's proof you're not being selfish.”

: “No, there must be more that I can do. As a commoner in this position, I have a duty to think of the people's happiness. The people of this city have accepted me. I must fulfill their expectations.”

: “Natalia... you're amazing.”

: “Yes... but you can do things little by little. Do what you can. Slowly, but surely.”

: “I guess royalty can't just sit around in pretty clothes, eating yummy food all the time.”

: “Well, countries with royalty like that wind up falling apart.”



: “Did you say something?”

: “No, nothing at all.”

I absolutely love this little quip from Jade. It just doesn't feel like it belongs in a Tales game. It's too politically introspective, too forward looking. It is an interesting paradox inherent enlightened despotism, though. How enlightened can a monarch become before they turn against monarchy itself?

Anyway, that's all we were here for. Back to Grand Chokmah.



: “The Black Dream is here!”

: “The circus, huh. It's been a long time since I've been to one. Let's go, Luke!”

: “...Ow, hey, don't pull my arm.”

: “The Black Dream, isn't that...”

: “I think we'll find out if we go take a look.”



: “Silence. We have permission to advertise here.”

: “What did you say?! How dare you!”





: “Who the hell are you? Fine, I'll just hit you instead!”



: “If you're going to stir things up, count me in!”

Luke and Guy proceed to beat the shit out of the group of random evil thugs. Seriously, who are these people? What do they have against the circus?



: “My, they're so aggressive...”

: “Wow, you're both very strong.”

: “Ion! Don't encourage them!”

: “...I'm not going to thank you. I didn't ask you to do that.”

: “What?! Guy was trying to-!”

: “It's okay, Luke. It's not like I did it to try to earn favors or something. More importantly than that...”

: “Wh-what?”

: “Your lip is bleeding. I'd like to wipe it for you, but you know my condition.”

: “...O-oh...”

: “I saw you all perform once long ago. Hang in there. I think this suits you better than thievery.”

: “Shut up, kid.”

: “We'll do what we like-”

: “Silence, you two! ...Heh heh, you really are a cute one, boy.”

: “Noir?!”

: “I'll take your handkerchief. In exchange, you can have this.”



_{KINGDOM HEARTS! FILL ME WITH THE POWER OF DARKESS!}

: “What's this?”

: “The key to my heart, dear. Take good care of it. Time to go, boys!”



It's funny because Anise stands the most to gain from this item. But more on that later. MUCH later.

: “Well, it's not like having it is going to hurt anything. Let's just keep it, okay?”

: “The police will arrive soon. I don't think we should be here when they do.”

: “Yes, let's make a strategic retreat.”

Yes, let's retreat... into Peony's throne room.



: “The water falling from that high is amazing. And in the light, it's like a mirror.”

: “Some ask for an audience with the Emperor just to get a view of the waterfall.”

: “The water really is beautiful. I could watch it forever...”



Oh, hey there Peony.

: “My rappigs are much more fun to watch, isn't that right, Jade?”

: “...Your Majesty, perhaps that stems from the names you've given them?”

You have no idea.

: “Oh, that doesn't matter. Don't worry about it.”

: “Your Majesty, this palace is great! It's huge, it's got the waterfall, it's got tons of rooms...”

: “Hmm? Oh, well, yeah. But it's not like I built it. My ancestors did everything. I'm not that attached to it, personally.”

: “Is that so? I'm quite fond of my own castle.”

: “Remember, I didn't grow up here. In any case, the city, the palace, Keterburg, all of them were completed generations ago.”

: “Keterburg, too?”

: “The bronze statue in Keterburg is one of the Emperor's ancestors.”

: “Oh yeah, now that you mention it...”

: “If you want to know more, just ask anybody in Keterburg, or Jade. His head's about the only thing he's useful for, after all.”





That's more or less it for this sidequest update, but that feels like such a boring ending, so what can I do to...

Ah, I know.

So remember how I dropped a manga chapter to give you Asch's backstory? Well now I'll give you Peony's. I might as well: none of this is ever revealed in the game, it's only hinted at. We've been talking to Peony a lot, so we might as well clear up his history.

You can view it here.

So there you have it.

You may have gathered from this that Peony isn't the biggest fan of the Score. I think this is a lot of the recipe for success that Malkuth seems to have, and why everybody around Grand Chokmah loves Peony so much. He does what's best for the people, not what the Score tells him to do. This is probably also why Mohs chose Ingobert as a better target to manipulate than Peony, and why Peony raised absolutely no concern over Luke and company's plans, despite the fact that they contradict the Score.

That's all for now, then.

Next Time: Shit. Hits. The. Fan.

No Synopsis