Wizardry: Tale of the Forsaken Land Part #20 - Chapter 6-1: Orphe and Aoba

Part 20: Chapter 6-1: Orphe and Aoba

Chapter 6-1: Orphe and Aoba

Welcome to chapter six, everyone! Get comfortable, because this is going to be a huge update.

For storyline purposes, Warren is taking a temporary break from the fighting. He'll be an invaluable ally once the difficulty goes even higher, but for now the story is our main focus. He'll be back soon.

As the name implies, B6 takes us through the ruins of an old fortress.

It's got a couple different levels, both above and below the main floor.

Since I don't think I've done this yet, here's the result of a Maps spell. If you're lost, it can be useful in helping you get your bearings. Solid portions are areas we've explored, faded are unexplored. Green areas are safe from monsters, and pink usually implies a trap. In this case, however, that pink zone to the south disables both Maps and the minimap while the party is in that area. Not exactly debilitating on this floor, since it's pretty straightforward despite appearances.

The Fort's also got a couple of... decorations. Much fresher bodies than we've seen so far.

The Reaper can appear here as well. Actually, it's not a bad idea to let him possess someone.

If you remember from chapter 2, Reaper Doors only appear if someone in the party is possessed. This is the second, and possibly final, Reaper Door in the game.

Inside is a solitary locked/trapped treasure chest, inside of which...

Is a shuriken! Unlike the previous cursed shurikens, these are actually pretty good. Kyo can become a back row attacker now if necessary. Specifics on the shuriken will appear later with the other new equipment updates.

Anyway, getting a bit ahead of myself. Since, as soon as we even enter B6...

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...6-intro-5199311

Fog covered the ground like a cloth. Somewhere in the distance, yoc ould smell the stench of bodies.

Something is going on in the Labyrinth.

- You've been completely subdued.

- I heard that it was a plan to catch teh Queen's abductor, Sir Eugene. But why would he do it? Do you think it has to do with Demons? I only ask this because there is a rumor that he has a contract with a Demon. I must meet him and find out his true intentions.

- If you see Eugene... No... never mind... I shouldn't involve you in this...

Grace bowed slightly and went on her way.

- It's like a ghost town... as if a war or plague just wiped out everyone in town.

Ricardo frowned and looked around.

- Plus, this humidity and the smell of mold... It's gonna drive me crazy.

- Since I came down here, I've been feeling sick. Like my head is all cloudy or something. I just feel countless, malicious and evil forces following me. It's kinda like when the Reaper came out on the 2nd Floor. It seems to make everything I see turn grayish.

In the distance you heard explosions and the screams of soldiers in battle.

The ground beneath you trembled.

- ...Sir Eugene fighting. We still don't know why he would kidnap the Queen, but... This air is not natural. Something must have happened here. That girl talked about a contract with a Demon and all... If things get any worse I think Eugene might even call out the Demon. We don't know what's up ahead, so we've gotta be careful from now on.

Michele's face looked strange.

She stepped away and looked around. Her expression was a mixture of sadness and nervousness.

- Cast away by Time and Man, the cursed country of the Elves that was to be forever sealed? It was so long ago even I have never seen the real place, but it's like the Elders said. It was destroyed by God because the people had become corrupt and engaged in the Black Arts. But, why is such a place here in the deep recesses of the Labyrinth? Let's keep moving. I get a bad feeling from here.

If you recall, we met Grace on B2 and helped her kill some undead. It's been a while since we've seen her though. Wonder what her interest in Eugene is.

As for Michele's shpiel, this may all sound like flavor text, but there's a lot of things to watch out for on B6.

Mages have seen considerable upgrades...

...And we have Master Thieves now. Not much tougher than their previous versions, but much faster.

Oh, and the thing in the middle? That's a Chimera. They have pretty high defense, very high resistance to magic, decent attack power, and a breath weapon that hits like a jackhammer. Best to destroy them as quickly as possible.

Wyverns are a new creature as well. They have pretty good evade and agility, and they hit fairly hard with their attacks. Fortunately, Restrict Shot is usually enough to fend them off. They have around 150 to 200 HP, so it's also possible to kill them in one round if you're lucky enough to land a few hits.

Yum.

Remember Slimes? They're back. They aren't much stronger, but they will often spend their turns calling for help with a high success rate. This means that if you're not careful you could exhaust yourself on numerous Red Slimes in one combat.

Good experience, at least.

Plus they drop a good material that heals more HP than Slime Goo.

Now, THIS guy...

Hits...

...Like a steamroller. (Sorry, couldn't get a good screencap of the next hit. Just look at Ricardo's HP!)

Fire Giants are pure attack power, so Restrict Shot is effective at keeping them at bay.

And for doing a lot of damage quickly, ice magic is always a good choice.

Okay, enough monsters. Back to the story. A small ways north of the entrance, we run into a couple more old friends.

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...d-taiga-5199888

The samurai soldier of Duhan cut down 4 Ogres, one after the other.

Will you help them?

Help
Don't help

Naturally, we don't have much choice here.

Sagoon's attitude gave a good impression to comrades with a good or neutral attribute.

You drew your weapon and confronted the Ogres!

Ogres. Old news.

As the party defeated the Ogres, the Samurai's party finished off their Ogres as well.

- Saved by you guys again, huh? I'm sorry, and I'm grateful. I expect you already know the Queen has been abducted. The culprit seems to be the one who summoned the Demon. According to the Orc we caught, he's trying to start a war. It seems that is why he's waking up the strongest Demons, one by one. This floor is crackling with evil energy. If you are planning on going on, you better be careful. Arabella.

Arabella nodded in acknowledgment at Taiga's voice.

- Let me at least heal you in appreciation for helping us.

Arabella cast a healing spell.

HP was recovered!

Abnormal Status was recovered!

- Here, take this.

Arabella took out something that looked like a piece of a silver crystal.

You got the Mana Quartz!

- I feel a gentle, almost sad power when I give this to you. Like it doesn't want to go. It may be of use to you sometime in the future.

- Well, we'll be on our way. Let us pray for each other's victory in battle!

We're seeing a lot of B2 people here. Those were the missing scouts we found near the end of chapter 2. And, a second quartz. Matsuri gave us a Crimson Quartz way back in B4, which you probably don't recall. Their purpose will be explained later.

Speaking of old friends, how about one more set?

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...s-anger-5199747

Orphe appeared in front of you. Her blue eyes burned with anger.

She spoke with an intense voice, ready to destroy everything in her path.

- Where is my father!!!

- I saw him coming back from the graveyard but I can't find him anywhere now!! When I asked the Bartender at the Tavern, he said that you scum were the last ones to have seen him! Where did he go!? You bastards know something don't you!? Say something!

- Maybe they don't know anything.

- Aoba! Where the hell were you?! Father is like a master to you, isn't he? What have you been doing while he's been missing?

- I figured if I told you, you'd just want my head on a silver platter, so I was quiet.

- What do you mean?

- I went to the Graveyard to check that place... I was bothered about that corpse by the shield...

- That corpse...?

- Orphe, did you not notice that? The body has a scar on its face.

Orphe's face grew pale. She realized what he was about to say.

- D-don't be stupid... It's not uncommon for an adventurer to have a scar.

- However, all the other bodies were those of the Imperial Knights. I know all of the faces of the Imperial Knights, but the only one with a scar on the face was...

- Shut up! What are you trying to say?! Father is already dead, and he appeared before us in the form of a ghost, right? That's not enough proof to think that it's Father! How stupid... My father must be working on the latest expedition! Any Duhan soldier would say so if you asked them!

Orphe glared at Aoba and then walked off.

- An expedition, huh...? How could he join when he was so injured he could barely walk? Don't you feel something is strange? People talking cheerfully at the Tavern one day, and then disappearing the next... Nobody knows where the people went. It's as if we're already in Hades... I get that creepy feeling. Maybe it's just me. Well, for now I have to catch Orphe. I hope she has cooled off and hasn't been caught by any monsters.

I know a lot of you have been echoing Aoba's thoughts before now. Things will become clearer fairly soon.

Just past where we meet up with the scouts and the Brights, we meet some more ninjas.

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...-demons-5199515

The Ninja soldiers and a Demon were fighting. They seemed to be holding their own against it without help.

Despite the situation, the Demon began laughing.

- The fate awaiting you is an eternal nightmare.

- Your precious one is already in His hands. There's no hope left!

- Dieeeeeee!

With a final blow, the Demon was defeated by the Ninja. However, the Ninja Soldiers did not seem to savor their victory.

Sighing deeply, you could see they were worried.

- There's no reason to believe what it said was true.

(R) - But who is this person that it spoke of?

(L) - Quiet. An adventurer.

It seems that the Ninja Soldiers have finally noticed you.

- Let's go!

The Ninjas slipped off into the darkness like the wind.

Sounds like things are heating up down here. In just a few more steps, we see why.

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...-ninjas-5199479

Kulgan was fighting with the Demons alongside the Ninja Soldiers. What stood out was the stench of a giant.

Kulgan's voice echoed.

- Be careful! He's got Poison Breath!

As Kulgan warned the men, the Giant let loose his Poison Breath upon the people.

The power of the Breath was too much. Even your party was affected.

Countless numbers of Ninja soldiers fell before the attack.

Kulgan clicked his tongue in disdain.

- Call the Queens' Guards leader, Chief LeDua at once! We'll need his powers if we're to stand a chance.

- Sir, yes sir!

- The rest of you, we're going after that Giant!

Kulgan and the Ninjas advanced on the Poison Giant.

In an instant, the chaos of battle ensued, and soon a herd of Ogres was able to break off. Your party drew their weapons and confronted the Ogres.

More Ogres, but this time we're poisoned. Since the only difference is that the party takes 1 HP of damage at the end of every turn, this fight will be skipped.

As you defeated the Ogres, the battle seemed to quiet down. Kulgan's troops seemed to have gained the upper hand.

A Ninja took notice of you and ran towards you.

The Ninja used an Antidote.

You've been cured of poison!

- This is a battlezone! This is no place for adventurers to be wandering around so just stay out of it!

- Get back to your positions! There's no time to waste on adventurers!

- I have warned you.

The Ninja returned to Kulgan's side.

It seems the Demons can only be beaten with all their might.

For an instant, you thought about helping Kulgan.

Then you remembered how he acted back on the 4th Floor.

Kulgan will be fine. For some strange reason, you just thought that way.

Well, he didn't try to murder us on sight this time. That's progress.

There's a lot of people running around down here. Do you suppose anyone else needs their asses pulled out of the proverbial fire?

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...g-orphe-5199416

It was the voice of Orphe.

Orphe was attacking a crowd of Fairies who were flying above her head.

The Samurai Aoba called out.

- O-Orphe! Watch out for their magic spells!

Protecting her from the attack, Aoba shot out a spell.

- Damn, there's no end to them!

It looks like they noticed you. Aoba screamed out.

- H-help us please!

Will you help Orphe?

Help
Don't help

(Dammit...)

Sagoon's kind attitude gave a good impression to comrades with a good or neutral attribute.

Fairies are pretty tough. They're like Pixies, but with greater attack power and potent spells as well.

In the thick air, a spirit's shadow seemed to have appeared in front of you.

Even the euphoria of battle could not erase her agony.

Standing there, her eyes filled with tears.

- Orphe, are you okay?

- What you did was like committing suicide.

- I asked the soldiers, but... nobody knows anything... What's going on? where could Father have gone?!

- Who knows...? Could he have left town like they said at the Tavern?

- Don't be stupid! Where would Father go, leaving me?! We're... we're... all the family he has in this world.

- Orphe, please listen and don't get angry. I think it's pointless to look for your Father anymore... After all, he is no longer in this world.

- Aoba, you...!!

- J-just calm down and listen to me please. You know about the rumor that the Undead have been heading toward town, right? Then after they get to town they just up and vanish. There are a lot of stories but no one knows where they go. But after a few days, people who were missing would just appear in town. I'm sure it has something to do with the Undead who are vanishing.

- Aoba, what are you trying to say?... That Father is dead? There must be something wrong with you!

- W-wait. Don't be mad. Please just listen to me.

- How stupid. I can't even express how mad I am.

Orphe glared coldly at Aoba as she walked away.

- I think it's stupid too. But some strange things HAVE been happening in this place. Undead becoming townspeople... Does that mean... we're Undead as well? Ha ha ha, come to think of it, that really does sound stupid.

- We'll thank you for helping us at a later date. I must look for Orphe now. A monster may attack her at any moment.

That's enough B6 for now, but we're not done with the Labyrinth quite yet. At this point, if we return to B4...

http://blip.tv/michael-h/let-s-play...e-joins-5199642

In the rows of ramshackled graves, a shadow appeared.

A samurai named Aoba was standing there, looking desolate and forlorn.

His voice lacked energy.

He seemed very tired, and had dark circles under his eyes.

- I don't know what to do... I know that Orphe came to this Graveyard, but... I can't find her anywhere.

Aoba faked a smile.

- I don't want to believe that her father is dead, either... I mean, he's the one who adopted me and raised me as if I were his own son. He was a strict, stern man... But he was always the kindest to us. I doubt that he would leave us without saying a word to us. Of course, I'd like to think that he's still alive somewhere, but... Ha ha, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tell you my life story... Well, I have to go look for Orphe again! I'll be on my way now.

(Five minutes of wandering later)

You heard a woman weeping.

It was the female warrior Orphe, whose shadow appeared hazily like a ghost in the darkness.

Orphe's eyes were dim with tears.

It seemed that she had found a corpse that looked to be her father's.

- Orphe! I'm so glad I've finally found you!

It was Aoba's voice.

- Please try not to make me worry so much...

- Forgive me... Aoba...

Aoba could not say anything to Orphe, who broke down crying.

He had known her since childhood, but he had never seen her like this before.

- I doubted you, and didn't realize that Father died...

- W-what are you saying...? Please don't apologize. It's not like you, Orphe.

- What wretched kind of daughter am I... I am a disgrace! How could I not realize that my father was dead...! And why... why did he leave me... without saying a word...

- Here's what I think. Your father said nothing because he was worried about you, Orphe. I think... there's something going on, hidden behind this chain of events. I haven't been able to help thinking that way. Because, I mean... Have you ever heard before that the Dead could come back to life and pretend to be townspeople? And there's that rumor that says the Queen is really a Homunculus... There must be something insane going on that none of us know about. If I were your father, I wouldn't want to get you involved in anything like that.

With teary eyes, Orphe stared at Aoba.

She glowered at him, as if she was angry.

- Come on, let's go back to town and hold a service for your father.

- ...No!

- What are you saying?

- I will hold the service. But if, as you say, there is a hideous scheme causing all this... It is an obligation as a child for me to resolve the issue.

Aoba shrugged.

- I knew it. I knew you'd say something like that, Orphe.

Aoba sighed deeply, and gave a smile of resignation.

- Yes, Orphe. I will go with you wherever you go. But it would be impossible for just the two of us to go below the 6th Floor. We would have to hire some skillful adventurers...

Saying that, Aoba looked your way.

- You there, may I ask you to lend us a hand? You will be rewarded to the best of my ablity.

- Hmm, yes... They would be fit to do it. I ask of you, also. I must return to town and hold my father's service now... Can you stop by the Tavern when you get a chance?

- We shall see you then.

Aoba has been registered!

Orphe has been registered!

They can be added to your party at the Tavern.

You learned Orphe's Allied Action, Warp Attack.

Phew. That took a while, eh? Now we've got the Brights available for the party.

Although Warp Attack cannot be used now (It's one of the final tier AAs in the game) it will be invaluable later. However, we did learn a couple new AAs along the way.

I haven't really used Spell Shell yet, so I can't say whether or not it's any good. Converge Attack, however, is pretty disappointing. There's a video of it at the bottom of this update. In short, Double Slash is still better.

Here's some new stuff: