Part 45: Chapter 3 Sidequests (1): Estelle's favorite day.

Welcome back. Last time, we continued our investigation of the Black Orbment. So far? Zilch, nada, nothing. So we're going to leave the Professor to his research, while we go and run some errands in Elmo Village.

We're also going to leave Elmo Village to it's own devices, and do some sidequests instead.





There's a hot spring there, right?
Right. It's a real nice place. My grandpa's taken me there a few times.
So which way do we go?
Hmmm... There's a big field outside the south entrance of town. You just follow that road due south to get there.
Got it. Due south from the south entrance.
Well, let's go, then!



Sidequest time!

Also what the fuck Ben, you are the worst client.



Ben can go eat a bag of a potent ingredients dicks, we're helping someone else first.

Terry: If you're looking for Ray, he's out to lunch.

No, no... We checked out the bulletin board, and...

Terry: Oh, I see. Well, thank you. I'm glad you're here. My name's Terry. I'm a researcher here at the Central Factory.

I'm Estelle, bracer-in-training.
I'm Joshua. It's nice to meet you.

Terry: Likewise. Getting straight to business... I have a task for you. Do your schedules allow for it?

No, but we'll do it anyway.

Sure. I don't see a problem with it.
The request said you needed help with testing a new style of sneaker? Could you give us a little more detail?

Terry: Oh, certainly. But first, here.

Received (Alpha) Strega.

Is this your new kind of sneaker?

Terry: Yes. The Strega Corporation is conducting research on new projects to bring to market. This particular test requires you to wear these prototypes around to various places. Upon the successful completion of this test, all that will remain is to put them into production.

Hmmm... I see...



...HEEEEEYY. Just a second there, buddy! Did you just say...the Strega Corporation?!

This sidequest is best summed up as Estelle's favorite day. (Hence the title, which came after this comment)



Terry: Y-yes...?

So then, this new line of sneakers...

Terry: Yes, it's the Strega Corporation's newest product... Didn't I just say all this?

...!!!



Thank you for bestowing upon me...er, US, this magnificent job...



Terry: Uhh... Are you all right? Why the sudden prayer...?

...Don't mind her.
Estelle's something of a sneaker collector. More to the point, she pretty much adores the Strega-brand ones.
Ohhh, I get it now.

Terry: Oh...so you might say she has sneaker-mania, then? I was just a little taken aback by her reaction...

...Estelle, would you snap out of it? I get that you're excited, but we do have work to do.
Uh... *ahem* Yes, you are correct.

Terry: Hmm... Well, you certainly have spirit. A scary amount, in fact. So will you do the test? Please don't pray at me again...

YES! ABSOLUTELY!



...See what I mean?

Terry: I-it's all right. Please, proceed.

So we'll take on the job...
...but you want us to wear these shoes everywhere we go?

Terry: Yes, that's correct. From the Elmo spa to the Wolf Fort, all the way to the Sanktheim Gate. And when you feel you've tested them out properly, bring them back to me. The layer between the sole and insole is my responsibility, so I have to see how it holds up.

Would you say it's your sole responsibility?

So you need us to report back when we have the chance.

Terry: That, at least. Now, see if you can wear them out.

Heh heh... Just leave it to me!
If you'll excuse us...

We can basically do this sidequest as we take care of other business, which is convenient.



We can also find an Acerbic Tomato in the same room.

I like how the sidequests are set-up in Chapter 3. It's possible to do a lot of dovetailing, meaning you don't really need to run back and forth all the time if you plan ahead.



Anyway, I don't like him, but we've got the potent ingredient he wants, so...

Do you have minute? We saw the posting on the bulletin board and brought some ingredients.

Ben: Please, let me see.
Ben: ...Hm? May I see that tomato for a moment?

Handed over Acerbic Tomato.

Ben: Let's have a taste...

Ben: ...AAACCCKKK!!! *pthbbttbtbttt* What IS this? It's terrible! My taste buds have been VIOLATED!

Serves you right.

See? It's just gross.

Ben: Hmmm... Well, it sure can't be eaten as is... But it certainly has an interesting flavor and scent. With the right preparation, it COULD be a useful ingredient for cooking...maybe.

Doesn't it worry you to eat something that nasty?

Ben: No... I've found that strongly bitter foods tend to be very good for one's health... when they don't kill you, anyway. And traditional Zeissian cooking calls for some VERY strong ingredients.

I'm not sure I'd want to try that... S-so does that mean we got what you needed?

Ben: Yes, but wait there for a moment.



Ben: Here. You can be the first to try out my newest dish. Consider it thanks for introducing me to such an amazing food.

Received Tomato Sandwich.

Um, ha ha ha... I think I'll, uh, save this for later...

Ben: All right. Be sure to eat it while it's still fresh or it won't flay your tongue properly! As for me, I need to get back to work. Thank you for your time and effort.

Okay. See you later.
Excuse us.

Quest [Potent Ingredient] completed!

The tomato sandwich heals, and more importantly, restores 40CP. Which is a lot of CP.

With that done, we take our sidequesting outside of the city limits.





You have found: zilch, nada, nothing...



You have found: The missing link.

The missing link is nothing? Do we have some creationist treasure chests on our hands? Admittedly, sentient treasure chests would be a half decent argument for creationism.



Off to the side of the road, we find the Haulage Vehicle from one of the sidequests.

Bruno: Yeah, looks like it. This WOULD have to happen in the middle of nowhere like this.

They're like a meter from the main road.

Hey, what happened? Looks like you're in a bit of a pickle here...

Wong: Hey, you're...wait... Estelle and Joshua, right?

Good afternoon.
It's good to see you again.

Bruno: You know these two?
Wong: Yeah, they're fellow bracers.

Well, we're still in training.

Wong: So what brings you here?

We're on an escort mission at the moment.
Ah... Hi. I have to go to Elmo... So I asked Estelle and Joshua if they'd come with me.

Bruno: Hey, now that I get a good look at you... You're Tita, right? You on another errand for the ol' prof? It must be tough, being that guy's gopher.

Hee hee...
So...what happened here? You guys seem to be in a bit of a jam...

Wong: I'm afraid so. I was escorting this transport vehicle to the Wolf Fort... but we only got this far before it broke down.
Bruno: I think the problem's in the orbal engine. It started rattling, and then before we knew it...well, here we were.

Oh, man. That stinks.
...Wait a second... There's a request up on the bulletin board about searching for a haulage vehicle. Do you think that might have been about Wong's transport job?
No doubt about it.

Wong: Well, at least the guild knows about us.

Hmmm... Yeah, but your orbal engine's a wreck. Unless I miss my guess, you're gonna have to replace all your internal motivator orbments.
Huh...? You can't fix it?
The core of an orbal engine is a super-delicate machine. You'd need a professional technician to give it that kind of complete overhaul. It just can't be done with simple tools.
I understand. So, there's no way we'll get it repaired outdoors.
...?!



Wh-what's wrong?
...See for yourself...



Bruno: M-Monsters?!





Bruno: Wh-whoa!
Wong: Stay back, Bruno!
Bruno: Okay!







Wong, you handle the ones back there. We'll take care of these.

Wong: A-all right!

All right! Let's show these things who's boss!





Use magic on the armor rabbits. That's really all there is to it.



Like so. Fire Bolt EX is the lowest tier AoE fire spell. It hits medium radius centered around an enemy.



It's always magical when Flicker lines up perfectly.



The Rabbits don't do much damage, but they have one obnoxious trick. They have a charged craft, Hoppity Bop, which has a chance of one-hit K.Oing.



Still, we have a much more obnoxious trick. White Gehanna destroys everything.





Yeah, we got them.
Whew... Thank goodness.

Wong: Indeed. And no casualties.
Bruno: Oh, man... My life flashed in front of my eyes.



Wong: Good question. I think our first priority should be to get our vehicle moving again.

But we can't repair it, can we?
It sure won't be easy...
Which means that our only option is to change out the parts.

Bruno: The manager of the transport vehicles is Prometheus from the Central Factory. He'd probably know where we can get the replacement parts we need. But we'd have to go all the way back to Zeiss for that...

Welp, good luck with that! We've got sneakers to walk in.

Wong: Ugh... I just don't know. What do you think, Bruno? Back to Zeiss, then?
Bruno: It probably won't do any good, but I want to try getting it to start for a little bit. If it starts, we're golden. If not, back to Zeiss we go.
Wong: That works... Gotta stick with it, huh?
Bruno: You know me...
Wong: So, I guess that means that we're going to try holding out here for a little bit.

That's fine... Just be careful, okay?

Wong: Don't worry about us. If things start to look too risky, we're heading straight back to town. And you watch yourself on the way to Elmo, okay, Tita?

I will.

Bruno: If you get a chance, let Prometheus know what's up, okay? I'm pretty sure he's in the Central Factory, third floor Design Room.

Okay... We'll see you later.
Take care.



Our next sidequest is literally a couple of seconds north-west.





The Cronociders seem tougher than they are. It's pretty easy to commit Cronocide.

...Have I already used that pun?



They use Golden Armor a whole lot, which buffs their Strength and Defense. Again, this makes them seem tougher than they are. Because their AI is pretty much terrible, and they tend to use Golden Armor even when they already have the buffs applied.



Even at 400 a pop, I've already done this much damage by the time they actually attack me once.



Now one's dead and two are fainted, and I've still only been attacked once. They're also not very fast.







The areas surrounding Zeiss are much more open than the normal overworld zones. There's a lot of plains offroad, which makes finding every chest a pain.



Just now, I remember that Joshua recently learned a new Craft. Cloak and Dagger attacks with a 20% chance of inflicting instant death. I've never used it much, since I was always under the impression it only did as much damage as a normal attack, meaning against most enemies Double Strike would be the better option mathematically. (Since the damage done by a second attack is generally more than 20% of an enemies remaining HP.)

In actuality, it turns out C&D does a decent bit more damage than a normal attack, meaning it has a definite niche against susceptible enemies (like the kinds you find in chests.)



Tita and Estelle team up, and turn the fight into an absolute shutout on our part. If they'd gotten a chance, these nice fellas would have fought exactly like the Crop Munchers from the prologue. This time, there was no mercy on our part.



The chest is oh so very empty.

The Long Barrel is a pretty neat accessory. It boosts the range of the standard attacks for any gun users (i.e Olivier and Tita), which is helpful, since it lets Tita and her paper-thin defenses stay further out of the way while she attacks.



If I don't include a chests bonus text, it's because it's the same as a previous chest in the area.



This chest is the exact same as the last. It's exactly as easy.



I feel so...empty inside...

Sorry about that! The Black Bangle grants immunity to sleep.



Third time's the charm! (So are the other two times, it seems.)



The chest is...you guessed it...empty.

One of these days it won't be.

One of these days.

Anyway, the Sapphire Talisman turns your attack and defense water-based, like the previous talismans. (Talismen?).





Eventually, we make our way to the first of our walking-related goals: The Wolf Gate. The Wolf Gate is the border with the occasionally mentioned Calvard Republic, meaning we never actually need to visit it.

Brahm: ...*sniff*...Nnnn...*hic*...
Brahm: ...*sniffle*...*SOOOOOOB*...



Brahm: Huh...?!
Brahm: Uh... Did I just say that out loud?

Uh, yeah. You were shouting at the top of your lungs. (And crying gently...pffft.)
[Faye! Forgive me!]

Brahm: Crap. I even said her name?!

Hm? Faye? Why does that name ring a bell?
Hmmm... Faye... Maybe it's the girl in the factory basement?
Oh, yeah... The girl who got the gas tank for us.
That was it. Blue-collar type.

Brahm: Wait... You know my Faye?

Yeah. She helped us finish up an assignment earlier.
We're bracers.

Brahm: Bracers? That's perfect.

Huh...?
Do you have a request for us?

Brahm: Yes. It's just a personal errand, but I want you to do a job for me. Would now be a good time?

No, but that hasn't been stopping us all day long.

Well, we'll help if we can...
...but first, I want to know what it is you want us to do.

Brahm: R-right... I, um...want you to deliver a letter to Faye for me. She and I are seeing each other... But we hit kind of a rough patch, and we didn't part on the best terms. But I want to make it up to her. That's why I wrote the letter. Could I persuade you to deliver the letter to her? Just whenever your work takes you to Zeiss.

Sounds easy enough! Deliver a letter, save a relationship, break in some sneakers. All in a day's work.

Shouldn't be a big deal. What do you think, Joshua?
Fine by me. We're not in any rush, so sure.

Brahm: Really?! That's great! I have it right here... Please take care of it.

Received Letter to Faye.

Of course we will.
But stirring a woman's emotions with a letter can be kinda tough.
Huh? Is that true?



I really don't think it's our place to offer advice on this, Estelle.

Brahm: N-no, don't worry about it. It's good to get a female perspective, sometimes. ...So, a letter alone won't do it, huh...?

Probably not...
Oh, I know. How about some kind of gift?

Brahm: Great idea...but I didn't get anything to give her. Damn it. I can't just go shopping while I'm on duty.

That's true...

Brahm: Uhhh... I hate to ask, but... Could I also get you to pick up something to go along with the letter?

Huh...? You want us to go gift-shopping for you?

Brahm: Right. You can buy something in Zeiss. Get the gift and deliver it to her along with the letter.

Alright, but there's like a 50% chance it'll be sneakers. You good with sneakers?

W-well, I don't have a problem with it...
...but this is kind of a big responsibility.
I'm sure you're up to the task.

Brahm: Faye's usually in her work clothes, working with all that loud machinery... But I really want to get her something cute, that'll speak to her feminine side.

Something cute...? Like a stuffed animal?

Brahm: I, uh... I think that'd be kinda babyish for her...

Okay...something cute...

Brahm: I'll go ahead and give you some money to cover the cost. It's not much, I know, but please get something for her.

Received 1000 mira.

Will do. So, we'll accept your request, but... But just buying a gift in Zeiss...? Are you sure you want to leave it up to us?

Brahm: Yes. I think it'll work out. Thank you for this...really.

You're kind of a mediocre boyfriend Brahm, but whatever. We were on the way back to Zeiss anyway.





The Wooly Knit-Hat is the right choice, as the description hints. Brahm actually shorted us 200 Mira (bad boyfriend), but we'll make up the difference in the name of love.



Faye: Hm? What is it?

I've got a letter for you. Here you go.

Handed over Letter to Faye.

Faye: What... Wait... Is this from Private Brahm at the Wolf Fort?

Yeah...
(Okay! Now's the perfect time to give her the gift!)
And this is a present to go with it.

Handed over Woolly Knit-Hat.

Faye: Oh, how cute. I see, now. Finally... I know he still thinks about me... But I just wish he'd come sooner... Oh, I'm sorry. Thank you for taking the time to deliver it to me.
Faye: Well... I should get back to work.

Sure. See you later.

Another day, another relationship saved. That puts us at one so far. Anyway, next quest.



Your name is Prometheus, right?

Prometheus: Aye, that's me... What can I do for you?

I just need a few minutes of your time. We're actually looking for a vehicular orbal engine. We were told that you were the man to ask.

Prometheus: Well, let me think... Sorry, but I haven't the foggiest notion.

Huh? Whaddya mean?
But we heard that you were in charge of vehicles.

Prometheus: Aye, but that was years long past. I did carry out that task, but I switch duties from time to time. So in other words... I don't know exactly who you'd need to talk to...but it's not me. I'm very sorry.

Well...crap...

Prometheus: Is that all? I have a lot to get done.

Sorry for taking up your time.

Prometheus: Excuse me, then.



It was supposed to be a nice, easy task... A good deed we could do with almost no trouble.

I hate when we need to work hard.

I-I'm sorry. I wish I could be more help...
Hey, it's no big deal. We'll just have to find some other means of getting what we need. Even if the trail has gone a little cold...
Another means...hmm... ...
...Oh, speaking of which.
You have an idea?
Well, maybe. What about that... you know...'Chapel' thing?
You mean the Capel?
That's the one.
Didn't that have some information in it about haulage vehicles?
That's a good thought... So if we take another look at the Capel, we could probably find some useful info.
Let's go ahead and check it out.
Okay!



Alright, factory entrance it is.



Rudi: I really am just no good.

??? Okay, what's with the long face?

Rudi: Hmm? Oh... It's just that my superior is kinda peeved at me. My...very beautiful superior...

She's not single buddy, we just made sure of that. If you'd wet our beaks earlier, we might have been able to fix that, but well...

Rudi: ...So, did you want something?

Yeah, I just needed to ask a question. We're looking for a small orbal engine, the kind that fits into a haulage vehicle. This looks like the right place to find one... but do you know specifically where we should look?

Rudi: An orbment for a haulage vehicle, eh? And what are you planning to do with it?

There's a vehicle up the road that's broken down. It looks like the orbal engine is the source of the problem.

Rudi: Ahh, okay. No problem. You're just looking to swap it out, then. That shouldn't be too difficult.





Rudi: It's the only one I've got, so make sure you don't lose it along the way!

Received Drive Orbment.

Thank you.
Okay, let's take this over to Wong. They're probably still on the Tratt Plains Road.
Yeah, probably.

Rudi: You folks be careful, too.

We will. Thank you so much.
If you'll excuse us, then...

Alright, let's go help Wong and Bruno!

...

...Eh, maybe later.

Next time: More sidequests, and an old friend. (It's not Nial this time!)