Part 84: Kingdom Chapter #20: Darkness and Light, Bad Ending
The White Dragon posted:
Milquetoast also happens to raise all characters' morale very slightly before the final mission. Bloodthirsty I think makes them start Angry.
True enough, although if it ends up making a difference, you're doing something very wrong.
The Mind-Shattering Conclusion of the Adventures of Alternate Bastion in the World that Doesn't Much Care for Him!
Alternate Chapter #20: Darkness and Light
As we last left our adventuresome alternate hero, he had bested Duke Radcot and taken back Gratia, but that was not the end of his journey! No, he too gained mastery over Ultragunner, re-took the royal capital and prepared to make the final push against the villainous Faulkner. However, things did not go as well in this parallel world, and Bastion has become...disenchanted with his companions, and they with him...
Hot cracker! That morale is reminiscent of the French army in 1916. Let's hope Bastion doesn't have to resort to executions to maintain order!
On a more serious note, the game calculates one final morale check as soon as you start the mission. You need for morale to be slightly above-average to get to the good ending. We...don't have that hear. You can tell whether or not things are about to go to hell based on Faulkner's first line. "And here they are" means things are going to get....interesting.
: Faulkner!
: What have you done with Franco and Halak, you scum?!
: Princess Sadira. I am glad to see that you have finally revealed who holds your loyalty, even if it happens to be the boy.: Loyalty?! I'm amazed you know the meaning of the word, you fiend! Now tell me what happened to my friends, and tell me NOW!: It's so touching the see your concern, Sadira. If I had a heart, I'm sure it would be warmed. I have an idea. Why don't you ask your friends how they're feeling? Franco! Halak! We have company! Don't be shy! Say hello!Franco, Halak, Claire and Shion (in Sharkings), Duyere and Logan come out.
: What?!: I don't understand!
: Unfortunately, I do.
: The Crimson ATAC? Duke Logan?!: Franco! Halak! You're alright!
Eh...not so much.
: ... ... ...: Logan, you swore on your pride as a warrior that you would never fight for the Empire again!
: ... ... ...: Listen to me, Franco! Faulkner has sacrificed the people of the Imperial Capital! The man is insane! He--
: Save your breath, Sadira. Something is very, very wrong here!: Ha, ha, ha! From my vantage point, it is very, very right! All those dear people are under the control of the Zulwarn. They are my puppets to control. And how I shall make them dance!: Unbelievable!: Don't worry, Sadira! I'm confident that we will break the spell when we destroy the Zulwarn!: Confidence is one of your most endearing traits, Bastion--and one of your greatest flaws. The Zulwarn cannot be destroyed, and I cannot be stopped!!
: Not again--!
: Damn it!: Aargh!!: What's wrong, Bastion?!: Aahhh!! Ah...ungh...
: Bastion!: ... ... ...: Bastion? Talk to us!: Well, well! Your mind is unexpectedly fragile, Prince Bastion!
: Bastion! No!: Now then, my...friend. Do you see your enemies? The ATACs behind you? Good. I command you to destroy them all, Bastion. You will not rest until they are dead!
Now, you may wondering, 'How the hell am I supposed to kill the Zulwarn AND the Ultragunner?' Good news! You're on Faulkner's side in this mission, and the only ATAC you control is Bastion. And don't try to find a loophole by letting Bastion die, because that just gives you a normal game over. The only way to get an ending at this point is to murder every single one of Bastion's erstwhile allies.
: No!!: This can't be happening!: Bastion, don't let him do this to you! We are your friends, not him!
Now, this battle isn't quite a walk-over. Faulkner's allies kind of suck, and even under AI control, your old team can probably ice them all without many casualties. Besides, it wouldn't be a bad ending without Bastion and Faulkner standing back-to-back as they slaughter all of Bastion's friends, so I just move Bastion to the top of the ziggurat-type thing.
TWO Sharkings? Faulkner, you've gone soft...
Andrew's the first to die, he didn't even make it to Faulkner...
Still, that's all Faulkner's Flunkies manage to get accomplished. Looks like it's time for the Bastion-Faulkner powerhouse to bring the pain!
: Don't do this, Bastion! Don't forget everything we've fought for!: ... ... ...Will Barlow's heartfelt words break Faulkner's mighty spell and save them all?
No, they do not! Barlow is mercilessly destroyed by the combined efforts of Bastion and Faulkner! It'll be a closed-casket funeral for any of Barlow's family members that survive the Purge!
: Have you forgotten why we're here? Have you forgotten the face of your father?! Come ON, Bastion! Fight the spell! Come back to us!!: ... ... ...But, wait, surely Reyna's heartfelt words will save Bastion from damnation!
Apparently not! Reyna is ripped asunder by the Ultragunner! Her final pleas for mercy ignored!
Oh, and Devlin dies too, but there's nothing evil about killing Devlin...
: ... ... ...: This should not have happened, Bastion. Your relationships with your comrades have grown weak. Your fate is unavoidable...
Lamentably for Dionne, this unavoidable fate apparently included him being disemboweled by Bastion. Shame that.
: I applaud you, Bastion! Everyone in this cruel world who cared for you now lies dead at your feet! All the obstacles in my path have been removed. The Continent will soon be mine to control. This sense of triumph is even greater than I imagined...as is the knowledge that I can do anything I want! How shall I wield my omnipotence first? So many choices, and so much time! Ha, ha, ha!
I guess it's mildly disappointing that Faulkner's first act was to hold a small victory celebration, but I suppose you have to work up to turning the Continent into a nightmarish hellscape.
: The rule of Emperor Faulkner has begun, and I shall write my legacy with the blood of the helpless! The more souls I send into darkness, the happier I become...and I will be a most joyous leader indeed!: (... ... ...Wh...What am I doing here? What's going on? Where are all my friends? What is Faulkner...Wait...I remember now! I remember it all! I helped to kill them! This...this is all my fault! Oh, God! Oh, NO!!): And the best news of all, my pathetic subjects? Zulwarn's power has given me...immortality! Ha, ha, HA, HA!!Well, I guess this means that Bastion and Faulkner are now BFFs in the truest sense possible! The End!