Part 16: Chapter 5-3: Quests, With a Side of Quests

Chapter 5-3: Quests, With a Side of Quests

Okay, everyone, we're going to spend this update wrapping up the three active jobs we have going on for Maria, Paul, and... ugh... Helga.



Before that, though, I just wanted to show off the bishop's appraisal ability. Just select one of the question-marked items that you want to identify, and...



Eh? Warren, I already know what you are. Why are you...?



Oh. Mistranslation. J-RPG. Right.

Just so you know, I had Warren identify five items at once. All but one of them were basic-level equipment, and the fifth was a pretty crappy axe. Sadly, none of them inflicted a ridiculous amount of fear like what we saw on B1 with Annmarie and the Betrayal Sword.



Anyway, just past where we encountered Virgo, we come to a new shortcut!



Now, most of the shortcuts we've had so far are fairly lackluster. Marginally convenient, I guess, but not all that much of a time saver.



This one, on the other hand...



...Leads from B5 to B1. In other words, we now have an instant passage to the Waterfall cave that allows us to skip everything in between!

Trust me, after you kill your 200th ninja, you'll be as excited as I am.





A merchant that consorts with Orcs? It couldn't be...

- Come on by, we've finally opened! It's the Material Shop! We're on the 1st Floor, directly in front of the Imperial Quarters! And we're open 24/7!

As you looked on, they noticed you and all of them approached you.



Here we go...

- I was just going around and advertising my new shop! You ask what kind of shop? That's for you to come by and find out for yourself!

But you just said...

- Anyway, come by! It's the room directly in front of the Imperial Quarters! Oh! And I almost forgot! These guys are working with me. The Orc is Francois, You've met before, right?!



- And the Rotting Corpse is Catherine.





- These guys are great workers!

I'll bet! You don't have to worry about working one of them to death!

- I think I'd better get back to the shop. Well, I'll be waiting!

Let's go check out that shop. Which, by the way, is in the same room as the skeleton of Ricardo's former merc captain.





Believe it or not, one of the crazy merchants milling about the Labyrinth finally got a good idea in his head.



The Material Shop is an incredibly useful asset if you want to make magic stones and would rather save some time. After selling a material to this guy once, he can duplicate that material ad infinitum and sell it to you. It's double the sell price, but still... what else are we going to do with our bags of loot aside from the occasional purification, revival, or night at the inn?

Oh, also, he mentions bumping into Helga, but I don't care. Let's go to the Imperial Quarters while we're here and see if the Queen really is missing.



LeDua is probably searching for the Queen as well.



As you pushed open the door, Merrick, an elderly sorcerer came into view.

Hey, dragon heart guy!



- That reminds me, the young one who usually guards the door wasn't even around. Hmm... Something must have happened.

Merrick looked down at the bag he was holding... And he started chuckling.

- It shall be interesting to see how long she will last without these...

The instant you decided to speak, Merrick suddenly looked at you.

- I cannot answer any questions you may have. So, do not waste your time. If I should leak any information carelessly, I may possibly be burned by my student...

Merrick grinned in a strange way and left the room.

O...kay...

We're going to make a brief pit stop in town, but the turning in of quests won't be coming up just yet.



A while back, we got a Resurrection Vellum, which creates the Carcass magic stone. This is the first revival spell of the game, and in the grand tradition of multi-tiered revival spells, will fail miserably about 95% of the time. Not only is this stone a necessary item back on B5 (For the door being guarded by the pixie), it is also integral to completing Maria's quest.



You see, as we learned way back in the first two chapters of the game, a character can be resurrected when their HP reaches zero. However, there are sometimes complications that will result in that character being turned to ashes instead of being revived. At that point, if resurrection fails again, that character is gone for good.



Like so.

Although this may seem rather roundabout, it's pretty much the only easy way to intentionally fulfill Maria's request.

Oh, you may have noticed that I was fighting on B3. Guess who I met along the way?!

http://blip.tv/file/4910634







- Umm... Oh, silly me. I don't even know your name yet.

Annmarie bashfully stuck out her tongue.



The guy who one-shotted your ass on B4, maybe?

Oscar shouted fiercely.

- Oscar, don't make me say it again... I don't like people who are vulgar.

Oscar apologetically bowed his head to Annmarie.

- I-I'm sorry Ann! I just can't control my mouth...

- What a bad little mouth you have...

Annmarie, the young bishop, sighed and looked away from Oscar.



- Rune.

- ...!!!

- Since when are you the leader of this party, may I ask...?

- S-sorry Ann! I was totally out of line!!

Rune apologetically bowed his head to Annmarie, much like the way Oscar did.

- Forget it. You know, you really shouldn't act so pathetic.

After saying that, Annmarie gazed at you.

- Okay, let me ask you officially. Can you tell me your name?



No matter what you pick, she insults you. I told her my name in the video, but not when I was doing screenshots.

When you shook your head, Annmarie's face turned a bit red.

- Oh, my... It must be such a pitiful name that you can't even say it! Okay. I won't ask you anymore. I know how people have issues that they don't want to discuss with anyone. Oh, but I'm curious. I wonder what kind of pitiful name it is... It might be something like #@&% or $%*#! (sic) Tee hee hee. I'll just call you whatever I want in my mind.

- Well, anyway... how would you like to play with us for a bitsy?

You gave a puzzled look, and Annmarie waved her right pointer finger.

- We're playing a game. Let's see who can defeat more groups of enemies before getting to the stairs to the 4th Floor. If you win, I'll give you a Magic Stone. But if my team wins, we'll take half of all the money you have. Sounds like fun, right?

Annmarie smiled and stared at you.



There's some merit to playing this game with Annmarie's group. You only need to kill about five groups of monsters to win; any fewer and they'll indeed take half your money. But, no matter how many you actually kill past that, you'll "tie" and she'll sell you magic stones instead of giving you any. Some suck, some don't. In fact, this is another decent way to get Carcass stones.

Of course, this means seeing Annmarie again, so fuck that.



Hahahaha... I like this game more.

- You're so mean... You rejected my invitation...

- You jerk! How dare you make Ann cry like that! Rune, let's get 'em!

- Right!

Oscar and Rune attacked!

...Really, guys? You want to do this again?

(Five seconds later)



- Why are you so strong...!

- D-does this mean we need to train harder?

- You two are so pitiful.

Annmarie had been watching from a distance, but she soon came over.

- At this rate, you'll never become a Ninja or a Queen's Guard. On the contrary... YOU are really strong! Oscar and Rune aren't even in the same league as you. You might even be able to become a Queen's Guard!

Oscar and Rune hung their heads in shame upon hearing those words.

- A-Ann... I promise I'll become strong, so please don't leave me...

- Yeah, Ann. Someday I'll be strong enough to beat this guy...

Annmarie glanced at the two, then chuckled sadly.

- That's alright. You don't have to be so hard on yourselves. After all, some people just can't do anything right.

After making her final remark, Annmarie ignored the two and looked at you.

- Well, you can come play with me if you ever feel like it. Take care. Goodbye.

Annmarie walked off on her own.

- Ann!! Wait up!!

You saw Oscar and Rune chase after Annmarie.

As pointless as that encounter was, humiliating those three is never a waste of time.

Anyway, with Warren turned into ashes, we now have all three quests completed. Let's return to town.



As you entered the Tavern, Maria began walking towards you with a big smile on her face.

- Those ashes... Someone has died, right?! I will cast a revival spell!

Maria softly touched the ashes and chanted a spell.

The ashes began floating and took form!

- Ah... Thank God... This was my first time... I heard that if you fail a resurrection, the person's soul ceases to exist... But now I have built confidence! Now I can finally work at the Temple! Thank you very much. I will go apply at the Temple one more time.

Maria bowed deeply and ran out of the Tavern.

You got a Bishop's Cloak!

You got 7000 Exp!



Next up is Paul.



- You threw the rock into the spring?

What will you say?

Yes
No

All of these weird choices make me wonder if I should go through the game again and be a total dick.

- Just as I thought, you're a trustworthy person. Now I can gamble in peace. Maybe I ran out of luck when I thought about doing something good. Lately, I haven't been able to win. Maybe it's time for me to give it up. Either way, I can leave town now without a care. Thanks!

You got a Parvenu Wrist.

You got 12000 Exp!



Last, and most definitely least, we come to Helga.



- I figured it was about time that you guys came back. I just got here too! You got it, didn't you? A Hound's Ear!

Before you can even take it out, Helga snatches the bag from you.

- This is it! A Hound's Ear! Waaaaah It's so fluffy! How cute!

- !!! Now's not the time for that! I feel sorry for it, but I can't sacrifice my plans to get rich. When I become rich, I'll make a grave for that poor Hound. I gotta get going! You can stop by my room if you want! Bye-Bye!

You got a Combo Mace.

You got 5000 Exp!



...What is it with all these freaky broads hitting on me?

Oh, here's a little of what happens if you decide you need more punishment and want to see Helga in her room.



Crazy bitch.

Let's look at the reward items.



Worthless.



Slightly better than a normal Gauntlet.



Might've been more useful last update.

Coming next update:







More annoying quests! See you next time!

Videos:

Annoying Freaks - http://blip.tv/file/4910634

Maria's Second Quest - http://blip.tv/file/4910681

Paul's Quest - http://blip.tv/file/4910751

For some reason, my footage of the first half of Helga's quest is missing. I consider this a blessing from the gods. Ciao!