Part 54: Signs of Conflict

Skit: The Six God-Generals, Alive

: “It's hard to believe Legretta's alive...”

: “If she survived that avalanche, then Arietta and Largo-”

: “Probably survived as well.”

: “Hmm... and form what Asch was saying, Sync and the Commandant might be alive, too.”

: “And even if Van isn't, the God-Generals are probably already creating replicas. The decrease in Seventh Fonons would make sense, then...”

: “Asch was saying that Lorelei's imprisonment would cause that, too.”

: “We need to find out more from him.”

: “Yes, let's hurry after Asch.”

: “Luke, are you okay? Let's go.”

: “Oh, yeah...”

: “Luke... you're not thinking that you're inferior to Asch because you're a replica or anything stupid like that, are you?”

: “N-no! Of... of course not!”

: “Good. Okay.”

: …

Not much we can do for Luke right now, so let's head after Asch. To St. Binah!

Trouble at St. Binah



: “Hey, it's the Colonel!”



: “Perfect timing. Jade, have you seen Asch? He's injured.”

: “No, I haven't seen him. Even if he had come, I don't think he'd get any closer once he saw this.”

: “There sure is a big commotion. Did something happen?”



: “This city's still under reconstruction. We're carrying the wounded to the capital.”

: “Whaaaat?! Who would attack the Malkuth Imperial Forces?!”

: “Exactly. Until recently, it would have been Kimlasca, but...”

: “Natalia would bite your head off if she heard you say that.”

: “Then it will be our little secret.”

: “The Colonel looks scary, but he's a fun guy on the inside.”







: “Frings... General Frings?!”

: “They've already transported him to the capital.”

: “Understood.”

: “Jade! If you're going to Grand Chokmah, we'll take you.”

: “Oh? Why?”

: “We owe him one from before... I'm worried about him.”

We also sunk like 3 hours into his stupid romance subplot, so we need to protect our investment.

: “I see. I'll take you up on your offer. I need to have him explain the situation to me.”

The game mercifully teleports us to the next scene.

General Frings



: “Are you okay to sit up?”

: “If I lie down now... I won't ever open my eyes again.”

: “Don't say things like that!”

: “What about the military healers?”

: “I was under treatment until a short while ago... but they said it's too late.”

: “No...”

: “Colonel Curtiss. Please convey to His Majesty the identity of the attackers.”

: “...Understood. I'll hear your report here.”



: “That can't be right!”

: “They took our our flank with suicide bombers using Fifth Fonon-based fontech bombs.”

: “...That's not the sort of tactic a national military would use.”

: “Correct. The majority of them were poorly equipped. Only a few had military uniforms. Their flag and some equipment was Kimlascan, but I don't believe they were part of the... Royal military... ugh!”



: “No... if you can, please take me to the sanctuary...”

: “But...”

: “Let's take him. This is his final request.”







: “The world has left the path of Yulia's Score...”

: “A future not written in the Score... it's so frightening... and so free...”

: “Free...?”

: “Yes... I wish I could have lived in this world just a little longer.”



: “They all had empty eyes... like they were dead.”

: “...Right. Neither King Ingobert nor Natalia would ever break this treaty.”

: “Master Luke... please... don't allow war to start again...”

: “I won't.”









: “Maybe that's how you feel, Anise. But General Frings was trying to find a way to live in a world without the Score.”

: “...My brother was wrong. I'm sure of that now. There was at least one human being who was trying to escape the Score's shackles.”

: “But General Frings was killed and we don't even know who did it...”



: “Me? That's fine, but...”

: “Hmm? You don't sound very happy about it.”

: “...I don't really feel comfortable around him.”

: “Why? He's really rich!”



: “I have to report about Asch, myself. Let's go together.”

Frings' death is another one of those events that kind of relies on you having completed his associated sidequest. If you didn't, you've seen Frings maybe twice at best, and his death doesn't carry much emotional weight besides “Oh hey, that guy died.” If you actually go out of your way to start up the Frings/Cecile sidequest, then this becomes much more of a punch in the gut, at least in my opinion. Which begs the question, why did they go to such lengths to hide that fucking sidequest!?



I'm just posting this to reinforce the fact that Grand Chokmah has the best design. But really now, Peony.

The State of the World



: “Yes. I would like Luke to inquire within the Kimlascan court regarding the matter.”

: “Luke, could I get you to do that?”

: “I wonder if they'll listen to me...”

: “What are you talking about? You're King Ingobert's nephew.”



: “Your Majesty, please don't make inappropriate jokes.”

: “I was serious... oh, well. Luke, have confidence in yourself! You formed the peace treaty between Kimlasca and Malkuth. ”

: “...Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

: “Okay. I'm counting on you, Luke. Now, all that's left is Asch...”

: “Yes. Just as Your Majesty thought, he knew that the God-Generals were still alive. He also appears to be aware of the growing Planet Storm.”

: “If I may ask, Your Majesty, why are you searching for Asch?”



: “We think it may be possible to use it to suppress the Planet Storm.”

: “Oh yeah, Legretta was saying something about the Key of Lorelei, too.”

: “Yes. I wonder if they're looking for it as well.”

: “But according to Guy's information, the Planet Storm's heightened activity is the result of Lorelei being trapped somewhere. Perhaps we should understand that situation before concerning ourselves with the Key.”

: “You can hear Lorelei's voice too, right, Luke? Has it said anything?”

: “Yeah, I can... but I haven't heard it since we lowered the Outer Lands.”

: “What did it say then?”

: “Umm... 'I'll send you the key.' 'Save me.'”





: “Luke! Why didn't you say anything about it before now?!”

: “What? Well, I didn't get what it meant...”

: “How could you not?! If Lorelei said the word 'key', anybody would think of the Key of Lorelei!”

: “Yeah, and not to mention Van.”

: “Van?”

: “He couldn't have known. Luke doesn't know Ancient Ispanian.”



: “What are you talking about?”



They treat it like a big revelation here, but I'd bet good money half the thread already guessed this. Hell, I guessed it on my first playthrough right after the peace conference, when they talked about Van being forced to destroy Hod.

: “Van was absorbed by the Planet Storm. He'll have ended up in the core.”

: “Are you saying Master Van trapped Lorelei?!”

: “That's what Asch thinks. Or rather, that's what he heard from Lorelei.”

: “But Master Van's already...!”

: “No. We don't know that. If Asch is right, then Sync is still alive. And Van could be, too.”



: “No... never...”

: “That's strange. Lorelei said that it would send the Key, and apparently Asch has one. So where is the other Key supposedly sent to Luke?”

: “We have to find Asch... he knows more about this than we do.”

: “I've got a bad feeling about all this... we know something's happening, but we don't know what it is or who's doing it.”

: “Yes, but let's start with what we can confirm. Were the Malkuth Forces attacked by the real Kimlascan military? That should be easy to check.”

: “We'll investigate as well. Jade, pursue Asch once you confirm Kimlasca's activity. Gailardia-”

: “Could I continue to assist Jade?”

: “...Worried about your childhood friend?”

: “Something like that.”



: “Then we're off to Baticul, huh? I'll send a letter to Ion, so wait at the entrance of the city for me.”



: “A letter...? Now...? Oh well. Let's head to the entrance and wait.”

Skit: Van Alive?!

: “So Master Van's the one who trapped Lorelei...?”

: “Almost certainly, judging from Lorelei's last words to you.”

: “So Asch has been going after Van all this time...”

: “There's the Key, too... we'd better go find Asch and talk to-”

: “Didn't we just talk about this? Right now, let's confirm whether those who attacked the Malkuth army were indeed Kimlascan soldiers. It shouldn't take long to learn.”

: “Yeah, it'll be a lot easier to find Asch. We might even run into him in Baticul anyway.”

: “The mysterious attackers are a problem. I agree that we should check on them first.”

: “Okay... Baticul...”

: “Yes, let's go.”

Lanmentations



Though, we have to wait for Anise first.



: “Did you send the letter already?”

: “Yep! Now let's go to Baticul!”

: “...Hmm? Tear, you don't look well. Are you okay?”

: “I'm sorry. I was thinking about Van. I never thought he could be alive...”

: “Tear...”



: “But I'm scared. When I think about what he was trying to do...”

: “If Master Van is alive, then you can ask him about all of your doubts. Right?”



: “...Yeah, well, I'm sorry it still bothers me that I'm a replica.”

: “I have a feeling I know why you don't feel comfortable around His Majesty.”

: “Wh-what are you talking about?”

: “If you haven't realized it, then don't worry about it... and what are you grinning at?”



: “How so?”

: “Dist hated His Majesty, too.”



: “Don't you dare say I'm the same as Dist!”

I'm so glad you're back in the party, Jade.

Well, let's hit Baticul.

Skit: Education is Important

: “It's kind of late, but I guess I really should have taught you Ancient Ispanian.”

: “That's okay. I didn't bother trying to learn it, really. Besides, it was hard enough just learning the Fonic Language. I don't know if I could have done both.”

: “Ancient Ispanian uses the same characters and similar grammar, but the pronunciation is different. You might have ended up mixing them up and being unable to speak either correctly.”

: “What...? So how come we got to learn that crazy language, anyway? It's a pain, is all it is. Jeez.”

: “Of course, it's not as if your fluency in your own language is very commendable, either.”

: “E-excuse me?!”

Oh Jade.

One more.

Anise Confused

: “Anise, what did you report to Ion?”

: “Huh? Oh, just about General Frings and the attack on the Malkuth army and all that. I just thought he might want to know.”

: “Yes... Ion knew the General, so I imagine it must be hard on him.”

: “...Y-yeah...”

: “We must find out who's responsible... for his sake, too.”

: “...Um, Tear?”

: “What?”

: “...Um... what would you think if...”

: …?

: “...Never mind! Let's get going to Baticul!”

: “Anise?”

Oh hey look, Anise is being suspicious again. How original.

Teleport!

Kimlasca's Answer





: “Uwah! What are you doing here?”

: “I just returned from inspecting Chesedonia. Actually, I was just wanting to speak with you.”





: “As unconcerned as ever, I see! Perhaps you can explain just what's going on! The Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear has taken no military action against the Malkuth Imperial Forces.”

: “Ah, that's what I thought.”



: “'Ah that's what I thought!' Don't you have anything more to say?! Everyone in Chesedonia stared at me like I was the devil! It was insulting! Don't tell me this was all just some show of Malkuth force?”

: “That's what we've come to talk to you about, Natalia. Could you get us an unofficial audience with His Majesty?”

: “Certainly. Let's discuss the details in Father's room.”

Again, the game mercifully jumps us right there.



: “I have issued no orders to attack Malkuth.”

: “Indeed. My country is innocent.”

: “Then who WAS it that attacked General Frings?”

: “He said the eyes of the unidentified soldiers were like those of the dead. That concerns me.”

: “Does that mean something to you?”

: “Similar cases have appeared in connection with fomicry experiments. With the God-Generals involved, it's possible that they have created replica soldiers.”

: “Replicas... the same as me...”

: “This is an outrage! What could they gain by using replicas to impersonate my kingdom?”

: “Perhaps they're trying to cause a war between Kimlasca and Malkuth.”

: “That's no different than Mohs.”

: “That's right... Dist took Mohs away. If Mohs is involved, he might be trying to restore the Score by making Kimlasca and Malkuth fight.”

Talk about a one track mind.



: “Why Daath?”

: “After our journey, I spent a long time thinking about the Score. The world have veered from Yulia's Score, yet countless people still live bound by it.”

: “Yeah. It's scary not having it...”

: “I believe we need to hold a summit regarding what to do about the Score. Whether this incident was Mohs' work or not, we cannot allow any further foolish action in the name of the Score. And to do that, we need the cooperation of the Fon Master.”

: “Yes, that's not a bad idea.”

: “Yeah. We don't know where Asch went, and we don't know where Mohs is, either...”

: “Mmm. Then I shall permit your departure, Natalia.”

: “Thank you father!”

: “...So, we're going to Daath...”

: “I think we should. We need to inform them that my brother may still be alive as well.”



: “What, you don't want to go home?”

: “...No, it's not that.”

: “Okay, then we're off to Daath.”

: “Luke, take care of Natalia.”

: “Y-yes, Your Majesty.”

We'll end here for now. The reason is because we finally have the band back together, and once Natalia joins us it opens up a metric fuckton of sidequests for us to do.

Next Time: Sidequest Hell 3: Sidequest Harder

Synopsis:

When we returned to St. Binah, we found Malkuth soldiers gathered there,
with Jade in their midst. Apparently the Malkuth troops had been attacked
during training by a mysterious group, and General Frings, who had been
leading the exercises, was severely wounded. Jade said that Asch hadn't been
by St. Binah, but right now I'm worried about General Frings. We went with
Jade to Grand Chokmah, where General Frings had been carried, to learn more.
General Frings was already down to his last breath. With his remaining
strength, he told us about the attack. The attackers had carried the flag of
Kimlasca's army, and used fontech bombs to carry out suicide attacks. But he
said that they hadn't looked like the real Kimlascan army.
I'm sure it wasn't. I know Natalia wouldn't allow that to happen.

General Frings said that the mysterious soldiers all had eyes that looked
like they were dead. ...And those were his last words. We departed to inform
Emperor Peony of the incident.

Farewell, General Frings.

We told Emperor Peony about General Frings, and he asked me to quietly
check the Kimlascan court to confirm the situation. Well, I'll go if he asks
me to...but I don't really want to go to the castle. I'm scared to meet
Uncle--the King...

Guy reported that the God-Generals are alive, and that we saw Asch.
Apparently Emperor Peony is looking for the Key of Lorelei Asch has, because
it might be able to calm the Planet Storm down again.

Then I mentioned what Lorelei had told me when we lowered the Outer Lands,
and everybody was startled. It looks like I was the only one that didn't know
what it meant. From what everybody said, it sounds like Master Van is alive,
and has trapped Lorelei somewhere--and that Lorelei should have sent a key to
me as well as Asch.

But I haven't received any sort of Key. I don't know what's going on...

Jade then suggested that we start with what we can easily confirm--that
the army that attacked the Malkuth soldiers really wasn't Kimlasca's.

Anise said she wanted to write a letter to Ion to tell him what was
happening, so we headed to the entrance to Grand Chokmah to wait for her.

Anise sent off her letter and rejoined us. Tear seems worried about Master
Van possibly being alive. I can understand that... I'm sure she'd be happy to
see him alive, but if he's still thinking the same way, we'll probably end up
fighting again.

But that would also be a good chance to ask Master Van what he's really
trying to accomplish. And besides, like Jade said, right now we need to take
care of what we can. Let's head for Baticul and see what we can find out.

At the entrance to the castle in Baticul, we ran into Natalia, who had
just returned from inspections. It seems she's heard of the attack on the
Malkuth troops as well. She was infuriated at the rumors that Kimlasca was at
fault. Not only that, it sounded like Kimlasca has been attacked by the
mysterious army, too. At any rate, the King should know more.

His Majesty confirmed that he Kimlascan army wasn't attacking Malkuth. So
who are those mysterious soldiers...? Jade brought up General Frings' comment
on their eyes, and suggested that the God-Generals might be creating an army
of replicas. Since it looks like they're trying to increase tension between
Kimlasca and Malkuth, that would match up with the report that Dist had taken
Mohs back.

Then Natalia asked the King for permission to travel to Daath and arrange
a summit to discuss how the Score should be handled, to try and prevent any
more foolish actions in its name. She sure knows what she's talking about--I
guess that just goes to show that she's royalty and I'm a mere replica...

If the Score is going to be discussed, Ion will obviously need to be
involved as well.
We started out for Daath to ask his opinion.