I had not originally intended to do one of these summary things for Final Fantasy 12 since it was released after I had started my Final Fantasy series replay project. However, after replaying Tactics, I figured "why not?", plus I like the game so it seemed like a good excuse to replay it.
Final Fantasy 12 seems to be one of the more love it or hate it games in the series - not much middle ground - though that could maybe be said for some of the more recent entries in the series (and probably some older ones as well). As already stated, I rather like the game, and if I were to rank the entries in the series, FF12 would probably be somewhere near the top.
That's not to say that the game doesn't have its flaws. There are certainly some boneheaded design decisions (Zodiac Spear I'm looking at you!) and one could probably make the argument that some areas are a little too big - and this coming from someone who likes big areas! Still, overall, I enjoyed the game despite its flaws.
Even though I've already said that some areas were probably a little too big, one of the things that I did like about FF12 was that it has large areas to explore which, for the most part, the player is relatively free to wander around in. Also, while the plot is still a linear affair, aside from a few sections, the player is relatively free to go off and do side-quest things (which are mostly the hunts in FF12) pretty much any time (not just at/near the end of the game), provided they're high enough to handle the monsters they come across, which is something that seems to have been missing from some of the more recent games in the series.
The setting and plot are also somewhat different from other FFs. The game is set in the world of Ivalice, which is the setting of the FF Tactics games. While the connection between FF12's Ivalice and FF Tactics' Ivalice is not made clear within the game, some investigation on the weeb suggests that FF12 is set several hundred years before Tactics, though I don't know how canonical that is.
The plot, like that of Tactics, also has more of a focus on political intrigue and things of that nature. There are of course magic and things happening in the background, but it's the political struggles that give people their motivations and forms more of the core of the story. And I liked that.
The game's music is also quite obviously from the Tactics composer. There are a number of pieces that have a similar style or feel to them, and many places where the ornamentation also evokes that Tactics-ish feel to it.
For this playthrough, I took some time to do a bunch of the hunts that I didn't do the first time and also to hunt down a few more of the optional Espers. (Which, incidentally, where based on the Zodiac beasts from Tactics, the Totemas from Tactics Advanced and a few bosses from past games rather than the traditional FF summons which were instead used as airship names.) I didn't do all of the hunts (not insane enough to go after Yiazmat, for example) but I ended up doing most of them. I generally enjoyed most of the hunt and boss fights.
Anyway, that's my thoughts on FF12 in a nutshell. With that replay finished, I suppose I will at some point in the near future look into getting a PS3 so I can play FF13. Whether or not I'll do a write-up for it remains to be seen.
Freak Out,
-TFitC
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label games. Show all posts
Friday, May 27, 2011
A Not So Short Summary of Final Fantasy 12
Final Fantasy 12
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- Welcome to the Royal City of Rabanastre, heart of the Kingdom of Dalmasca. Today is Princess Ashe's wedding day and an elaborate parade is being held in her honour with Moogles and everything! Ashe and her groom - prince what's-his-name, Humperdink? no, it starts with R or something, well, he's really not important in the grand scheme of things - are paraded through the streets before they tie the knot.
- Shortly after (presumably) King Raminas is in a war council with his generals where he receives word that the fortress of Nabudis has fallen to the advancing Arcadian Empire and sends troops to reinfoce Nalbina fortress on Dalmasca's borders.
- Reinforcements are led by some knight-guy, and Ashe's princeling decides to tag along as well. Something about avenging his father or some such.
- Nalbina comes under attack in a battle that's something like a cross between Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings: airships fighting each other in the sky whilst everyone one on the ground bludgeons each other with swords. How quaint.
- Anyway, Dalmasca's forces are totally outmatched by Arcadia. Kight-guy tries to retreat, but the princeling decides to halucinate that he's Aragorn or something and tries taking on the Arcadian forces single handedly only to get shot by a lone bowman.
- Just then, an airship crashes into the ground giving knight-guy a chance to escape with princeling's corpse which he brings back to Rabanastre.
- Then, a narration by Marquis Ondore fills us in on some relevant political details: two empires, Arcadia in the east and Rozzaria in the west are currently vieing for control of Ivalice with Dalmasca caught in the middle. The invasion of Dalmasca is Arcadia's first move in its westward expansion.
- Dalmasca tries to launch a counter attack against Arcadia, but is utterly defeated and forced to accept unconditional surrender. The King travels to Nalbina to sign the treaty but some of Dalmasca's knight-types catch wind that an assassination is in the air.
- Knight-guy, who is now known as Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg, arrives at Nalbina and finds Reks, a young, wounded soldier. He sends Vossler, another of his knights, on into the fortress while he teaches Reks the ropes in a tutorial level.
- Basch, Reks and a few nameless knights easily plow through Arcadia's troops (must be the second string on guard duty or something) and just before arriving in the main hall, Reks tells Basch to go on ahead while he mops up a few more of the flies.
- Reks then quickly heads to rejoin Basch but finds an aweful sight in the main hall: everyone's dead (except for me)! Including the King. Basch then swiftly appears behind Reks and stabs him.
- Some Arcadian soldiers run in as Basch loudly proclaims this was all his doing and the King was a traitor. Some Arcadian pretty boy enters and says this shows that Arcadia should take over Dalmasca completely.
- Just before Reks dies, he whispers one last thing: Vaan, the name of his younger brother.
- Marquis Ondore then narrates that Basch was executed and that Ashe, having lost both her husband and her kingdom has committed suicide. He further advises the people of Dalmasca to roll over and take it, presumably some sort of peaceful resistance or something. Guess he's having delusions of Ghandi.
- Two years later, Vaan is hunting rats in a sewer (typical RPG hero stuff, that), egged on by the youngster Kytes.
- When he is finished mercilessly slaughtering defenceless rodents, Vaan and Kytes leave the sewers, Kytes going to one Migelo for work and Vaan leaving to pursue his own line of work as a thief. (At least he doesn't insist on being called a "Treasure Hunter" like certain other thieves, though Vaan probably doesn't have much of an education...)
- Vaan bumps into a couple of Arcadian soldiers who are making asses of themselves and make off with their money pouch. He escapes into the crowd and runs into Penelo, another orphan like him. She doesn't approve of his line of work but that doesn't stop her from helping herself to a couple of his ill-gotten coins.
- In a brief moment of respite, an airship passes overhead and Vaan proclaims he will, some day, be a Sky Pirate. Yeah, you tell us how that ends up working out for you, kid. Anyway, the moment passes and Penelo goes off to do some work for Migelo and suggests Vaan do the same. Man, she's kind of bossy.
- With nothing better to do, Vaan heads to Migelo's, a Bangaa (a lizard-like humanoid) shop keeper. Migelo sends Vaan to look for Kytes at the Sand Sea Tavern. Kytes was supposed to be running errands for him but hasn't returned.
- At the Sand Sea, Vaan finds Kytes oogling some wanted poster. It's for a mean beastie that's been roaming the desert, harassing the couriers who have supposed to be bringing in goods (Kytes was supposed to find a replacement courier or somesuch).
- The tavern keeper then wanders over and teaches Vaan about marks and hunts and some other game mechanics that are worth knowing about then sends him off to hunt the mark on the poster (the dreaded Rogue Tomato) and gives him some papers that will get him safely out of the city. (The city's in lock down mode right now since a new consul is coming later today and the Arcadians don't want anything unexpected to happen.)
- So, Vaan heads to the east gate of Rabanastre and out into the Dalmasca Estersands - it's Tomato hunting time! (Careful, it's deadly to comedians.) The thing is just a short distance out of town and goes down without much trouble.
- Heading back, Vaan runs into trouble at the gate as it's been closed until after the parade. Just then, some purebred Chocobos are brought in and Vaan exchanges "words" with the guards. Things look to turn ugly until Migelo and Penelo show up (having come looking for Vaan) and Migelo bribes the guards with some wine, then they all scurry inside.
- The new consul's parade and installation ceremony begin. Turns out the new consul is some Arcadian pretty boy named Vayne Solidor who's the guy who mopped up the situation with Basch and the King at Nalbina. He's also the Emperor's son but apparently emperor is an elected position.
- Vayne gives a speech where he says some words, babbling about honouring King Raminas by pursuing peace. The crowd seems to eat it up, or maybe they've just been lulled into a stupour. Vaan, however, is not amused.
- As Migelo is basically the provisioner for the Imperials' banquet tonight, he scurries off to see to things. Vaan, not being one to be left out, decides he wants to play Robin Hood and gate crash the party so he heads to Lowtown to speak to Old Man Dalan to find out how to sneak into the palace.
- It turns out that the old man is remarkably well informed and knows of a secret passage into the palace, but it needs a special magicked stone which the old man also just happens to have, except that it needs to be recharged with a sunstone.
- The old man, however, does not actually have a sunstone so he sends Vaan to the Nomad People in the Giza Plain, south of the city, who do know of such things.
- The nomads make sunstones as part of their livelihood and they know a sucker when they see one so they send Vaan out to make some for them. Before heading out, Vaan bumps into Penelo who's here on a lark, basically, since she's got the day off whilst Migelo slaves away for the Imperials. She tags along after Vaan since she suspects he's up to no good - which is, of course, exactly the case.
- Vaan manages to make a sunstone without incident and the villagers decide to let him keep one for himself. Time to head back to Rabanastre and proceed to get up to no good.
- Back at the city, Penelo runs off to mind the shop and Vaan heads back to Old Dalan who happily infuses the magic thingambob that Vaan needs with power from the sunstone. Dalan then fills the young ne'er-do-well in on how to sneak into the palace.
- The Gamarsythe Waterway connects into the basement of the Palace, so basically Vaan gets to go swimming in the sewers. In a little "meanwhile" sequence, we see some suspicious characters who appear to have the same idea as Vaan, including a strangely familiar soldier (looks like that Vossler fellow from the tutorial - looks like he's been wearing the same clothes for two years) and a woman of some sort.
- Anyway, Vaan swims in raw sewage, eventually emerging in the servants' area of the Royal Palace. Fortunately for Vaan, the servants weren't hired for their smarts and they think he's just one of the temp workers to help out with tonight's party.
- Oh, just as Vaan is sneaking into the servants' area, another meanwhile shows a bunny-girl and some guy in a poofy shirt ride into the palace grounds on some sort of flashy hover bike. Seems like the party is attracting all sorts of gate crashers.
- Back to business, the servants are being sequestered downstairs until the party is over (they're the clean-up crew) though with the help of one servant, Vaan is able to sneak past the guards (apparently, the guards weren't hired for their smarts either).
- Upstairs, Vaan sneaks around the not-so-bright guards until he finds the entrance to the treasure room with the help of the magic rock Dalan gave him.
- Inside the treasury, Vaan manages to find another glowing magic rock hidden inside a goddess statue. This is when bunny-girl and her escort (who calls himself the leading man - go figure) show up and try steal from Vaan what Vaan has already stolen. They also call the rock "magicite", so Final Fantasy fans will know this isn't just your run-of-the-mill magic rock.
- Vaan decides he doesn't like these two that much and runs away, but just then there's a commotion outside in the gardens as a full scale pitched battle is raging - these are the real gate crashers, it seems.
- The airship "Ifrit" shows up and starts blasting things and Mr. Leading Man thinks it a little suspect that it showed up so fast. He and bunny-girl decide to make their getaway and, since Vaan still isn't parting with the magicite, they decide to go ahead and steal Vaan instead (kind of like a two-for-one deal, I guess).
- The duo's hoverbike, however, suffers a catastrophic failure and crash lands back into the sewers. The two finally introduce themselves as Balthier (Mr. Leading Man) and Fran (bunny-girl, who also seems to be the mechanic), a pair of Sky Pirates and they make it clear to Vaan that if he wants to get out of this with his skin intact, he'll do as they say. He still acts like a stubborn little kid and refuses to turn over the magicite, however.
- There are some dead rebels nearby and Balthier speculates they had planned on taking advantage of lower security during the party to attack the Palace, except that Vayne seems to have anticipated that and set a trap using the airforce.
- Back to swimming in raw sewage. Vaan and crew come upon a woman who's being attacked by imperial soldiers so Vaan, ever reckless, jumps in to the rescue. She introduces herself as Amalia, a member of the resistance, and joins as a guest.
- A little later, the party is ambushed by some flans, kind of a boss battle, but not quite.
- A little later still, just as they're about to leave the sewers, the party encounters their first real boss battle - a flaming horse? In this watery place? I guess it's various sewer gasses that have ignited and attained sentience or are possessed by something or other. It's actually a kind of tough-ish fight, but fortunately the party seems to have some sort of perma-reraise and Amalia comes with seemingly unlimited potions so it's more of a training battle before the game takes the gloves off.
- The sewer gas is vanquished and the party is all puffed up with their own brilliance just when the imperials (including Vayne) show up and haul everyone off to the dungeons (though they are kindly paraded through the streets infront of the jeering crowds and a distraught Penelo first). Also, a Bangaa bounty hunter seems upset that the Imperials got Balthier before he could.
- Vaan halucinates about his brother Reks who is slumped in a chair in a sterile room and then evaporates before waking up in the Nalbina Dungeons (I take this to be all in Vaan's head, proof that he's got issues, rather than implying that Reks is actually alive somewhere - I don't think we ever see Reks again).
- It seems that the Arcadians are actually not entirely stupid since they've gone and confiscated all our equipment rather than leave us armed like some villains. Balthier is rather cavalier about the whole situation whilst Fran is nosing around for a way out and Amalia is totally AWOL.
- Vaan seem incapable of sitting still and goes off to poke around. This gains the attention of an ill-tempered Seeq (pig-like thing) and his goons, forcing Balthier to come to Vaan's rescue. There's a short bout of fisticuffs and it's a good thing the goons aren't used to roughing up people with access to cure spells.
- Just then, some imperial soldiers enter, accompanied by a Judge, one of the elite guard of House Solidor (current ruling family) and those anti-Balthier bounty Bangaa. The Judge is off to interogate someone and the Bangaa are looking for Balthier (of course)
- Fran also chooses this moment to reappear - her bunny senses are tingling. Seems she senses a way out through the Obliette, though it's apparently misty down there - who's scared of a little mist? Anyway, a way out is a way out and our heroes seem to know when they've worn out their welcome.
- The party follows the Judge into the next section of the dungeons. Balthier seems to imply that we should try sneaking around all the guards, but there's no penalty for fighting them and that's much easier anyway. Who needs brains? Vaan SMASH!
- The Judge arrives at the oubliette where a prisoner is kept in solitary confinement. It's our old friend Captain Basch. He's been here for around two years so either the Empire has forgotten about him until now or this is just part of the regular routine.
- The Judge mentions they've captured Amalia, but Basch is playing dumb. The Judge then mocks Basch's loyalty to a defeated kingdom and leaves him hanging - quite literally.
- Balthier and crew then have a moment to ponder things. Vaan goes a little berserk, what with Basch being a traitor and all that and the whole thing with his brother getting killed under his commmand and all that.
- For the sake of expedience, the party uses Basch's cage as an impromptu elevator down to the bottom of the whole that it was dangling over. The crash landing breaks the cage open and everybody seems no worse for the wear.
- Balthier takes a more pragmatic view of Basch than Vaan does, seeing as the whole point at the moment is to get out of here alive. The party then starts to make their way through Barheim Passage, seemingly some sort of old, abandoned mining tunnels.
- On the way, Basch tries to convince the party that he didn't kill the King - it was really his evil twin brother. (Riiiight. Well, I suppose Basch has been caged up by himself for a while and probably tortured, so it's only natural his sanity's taken a bit of a hit.)
- The boss in this area is a nest of mimics (including their Queen), and after beating them the party emerges into the Estersands as the tunnel entrance collapses behind them.
- Basch decides to return to Dalmasca despite the fact that most of the city probably still hates him as a traitor (this may not go down in history as the Best Idea Evar) and Vaan wants to make sure Penelo's not too worried about him (awwww...)
- Arriving back in the city, everyone parts ways leaving Vaan to wander over to Migelo's in search of Penelo. He also wants to gloat about that magicite shard he found (which he's still not giving to Fran and Balthier)
- But the raspy-voiced Bangaa is not there, instead Kytes informs Vaan that everyone is busy elsewhere (where he doesn't know) and that he was supposed to go bug Old Dalan about something but is too busy with work. Vaan, always looking for a way to avoid doing real work, goes to see Dalan in Kytes' place.
- Old Dalan is still, well, old, and he decides Vaan's a much better errand boy than Kytes. So he gives Vaan a sword of the "Old Order" to deliver to some guy names Azelas in a house nearby. I guess Dalan is decrepit as well as old.
- Vaan dutifully takes the sword and does as he is told. Except at the place in question, Basch is trying to rally members of the resistance. They are understandably wary after their previous attempt failed and they are not too quick to believe Basch's wild story of an evil twin. There are also some rumblings against Marquis Ondore who is viewed as collaborating with the Empire.
- Basch storms off with Vaan in tow, the sword delivery errand conveniently forgotten. (No Azelas was mentioned, though it is not impossible that Dalan is also a touch senile.) Vaan also seems to have gotten past some of his earlier dislike of Basch.
- Basch currently has a mind to pay Marquis Ondore a visit (for reasons he does not yet reveal). It seems the Marquis lives in some sort of floating city so we head off to enlist the local Sky Pirates. (Hmm... evil Empire, floating city with an apparently Empire-friendly ruler, where have I seen that before? I sense a trap.)
- Balthier and Fran are kicking back at the Sandsea tavern where Migelo is giving them an earful. Seems Penelo has been kidnapped by those Banga bounty hunters (Ba'gammon, or backgammon or something) thinking she has some connection to Balthier (probably due to when she was watching them being dragged off to the dungeons).
- Balthier claims its not his problem, but he is cajoled into helping by Vaan and Migelo. Basch tags along with the group because Penelo just happens to have been taken to the Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba, which is that floating city thing.
- Anyway, we take off! Though one has to wonder if Balthier is such a notorious Sky Pirate, wouldn't the Empire apprehend him as soon as he landed at any sort of well known city? Anywho, the whole thing has Vaan excited like a little kid at Christmas, even though they probably don't celebrate Christmas in Ivalice. Still...
- Balthier's airhsip, The Strahl, lands in Bhujerba without incident and everyone disembarks. Balthier impresses on everyone the importance of not using real names, seeing as we've just busted out of prison and are accompanied by a supposed traitor who is supposed to be dead (seems Ondore's the one who's responsible for that little rumour).
- No sooner does the party leave the aerodrome than they're set upon by some kid by the name of Lamont who overhears us talking about going to the mines and decides he wants to tag along. And of course Vaan goes and uses Basch's real name without a second thought. Smooth there.
- Anyway, there's an Imperial inspection of the mines underway and a Judge and Marquis Ondore and other minor officials exit just after we enter. Lamont also comes with an infinite supply of hi-potions so he's not too bad to have around.
- Some way into the mine we come upon a deposit that Lamont wanted to check out. He uses something he calls Nethicite, a sort of magic absorbing crystal. He seems to be investigating something to do with the Draklor laboratories. The name means something to Balthier but just what he doesn't say.
- Shortly thereafter we find the Bangaa bounty hunters who kidnapped Penelo (or they find us), but they've already cut her loose since they don't need her any more. Ba'Gammon pulls out a big circular saw thingy and the party decides to RUN AWAY!
- We manage to lose the bounty hunters and return to the entrance to the mines. The Imperials have apprehended Penelo as she wandered out of the mines, thinking her to be a trespasser. Lamont is also revealed to really be Larsa, one of Vayne's younger brothers, and he whisks Penelo off to relative safety (at least preventing her from being tossed into prison).
- Now Vaan and crew are left hanging. Basch still wants to see the Marquis and presumably Vaan still wants to rescue Penelo (honestly, more trouble than it's worth)
- It is believed that Ondore is secretly funnelling money/etc. to the Dalmascan resistance whilst at the same time playing nice with the Empire (hmmm, Lando Calrissian anyone?) so it is decided to try to make a scene to force the Marquis to pay attention to us. How? By having Vaan proclaim he is Captain Basch von Ronsenberg since Ondore is going around and saying the good captain is actually dead. Wouldn't going in guns blazing be faster and easier?
- Ok, so once Vaan is done making an ass of himself, some shadey looking types come and escort him to the back of the local tavern. Things aren't going well until the real Basch walks in, then everyone is rather amicable. They agree to arrange an audience with the Marquis at nightfall.
- Meeting the Marquis, Basch tells him that that he wants to rescue Amalia, but the Marquis declines to help. He's got his position to think about, you know? Basch draws his sword and the guards are summoned. Stay away from the carbonite, Basch!
- Also, Larsa's detachment has already left, with Penelo on board, so Vaan is being strung along some more.
- Meanwhile, back at Rabanastre, Vayne is talking to Judge Gabranth about the meddlesome Marquis. Gabranth believes the Marquis to be funding the insurgents, but a message has just arrived stating the Marquis has recaptured the runaway (presumably Basch) and Gabranth says he'll kill the escapee himself.
- Then Dr. Cid enters to have a little chat with Vayne about something or other. He comes in muttering to himself which is probably an indicator of some sort of mad genious or something.
- Anyway, Vaan and crew are now on the Dreadnought Leviathan and are being brought before Darth Ghis - I mean, Judge Ghis. Also present is Amalia who is now revealed to be Princess Leia, or rather, Princess Ashe, another of the living dead. The princess is not pleased to see Basch.
- Ghis is skeptical that Ashe is who she says she is, but Basch says a mystical knickknack called the Dusk Shard can prove her identity. And, surprise, surprise, the piece of magicite which Vaan has been doggedly holding on to is the Dusk Shard.
- Despite having refused to give it to Balthier multiple times, Vaan now hands it over to Ghis in an attempt to bargain with him so that everyone gets out with their lives in tact, but we all know it's really due to Ghis' force powers.
- Handing over the Shard doesn't prevent Ghis from sending everyone to be locked up, with Ashe in solitary confinement. However, while being dragged off, Basch and Balthier manage to overthrow their guards. This is helped when one of the guards turns out to be Vossler who had been planted there by Marquis Ondore, apparently. Oh, and the guards failed to disarm us.
- Now we run amok through the bowels of the ship to rescue Ashe, who we find eventually, and release from her cell. It should be noted that the game suggested sneaking around the soldiers to be a valid tactic, but its far easier (and results in better loot and experience) to just attack everything in sight. (Though why this doesn't attract the attention of the ship's commanders, I don't know.)
- It seems that *after* rescuing Ashe, we trip the alarm and Vossler gives up any pretense of sneaking around and decides we should just fight our way to the exit.
- On the way, we come across Larsa and Penelo. Even with the entire ship's guards on our tails, Vaan stops to have a touching reunion (priorities people!) Larsa seems to be intrigued that both Basche and Ashe are mysteriously not dead like they were supposed to be and lets us go so we can figure out why (lazy git letting us do all the dirty work...) He also gives Penelo his chunk of nethecite for luck.
- Incidentally, it turns out that Vossler is this mysterious Azelas that Dalan was talking about earlier, so I guess the old man isn't entirely senile.
- Vossler takes this opportunity to split and go find a shuttle of some sort. Conveniently, Judge Ghis then tries us to get in our way but we stab him until he falls down. Only then does Vossler reappear (yes, he's lazy too) to say he found an Atomos class ship which we fly back to Bhujerba.
- Dissembarking, Vossler suggests we go talk to Marquis Ondore to determine his true intentions.
- Confronting the Marquis, it's revealed that Vossler spirited Ashe away when her father was killed and Vayne had Ondore declare Ashe had committed suicide to make it appear Ondore was siding with the Empire.
- Ashe now wants Ondore to help her free Dalmasca but the Marquis points out that since the Empire has absconded with the Dusk Shard she no longer has proof of her heritage and advises her to wait until the time is right.
- But Ashe doesn't feel like waiting (does she look like a waiter?) and cooks up a plan to go Tomb Raiding and steal the Dawn Shard from King Raithwall's tomb (one of her ancestors - apparently royal lineage proving baubbles are a dime a dozen). She was going to abscond with Balthier's ship on her own, only Vaan catches her in the act and everyone else shows up to tag along for the ride. It's a merry ship of fools.
- Meanwhile, in Archades, Judge Gabranth reports to the Emperor who asks him to watch over and protect Larsa, since he doesn't want his sons warring again as has happened in the past (with other, older sons, it seems).
- We fly to the far edge of the Dalmasca Westersands where Balthier leaves the ship (he's got a handy cloaking device - everyone remember where we parked!) To get to the tomb, we now have to cross the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, which is filled with Jagd, some mystical substance that prevents skysontes, or whatever they are that powers airships, from functioning so we have to walk.
- The Ogir-Yensa Sandsea contains a sprawling, interlinked series of oil platforms, originally constructed by the Rozzarian Empire to the west, now abandoned. The sandsea is also no home to Jawas... er, the Urutan-Yensa, an unfriendly though diminutive race.
- Before going far, Vossler catches up to us to help escort Ashe. He knows how to hit things with a large sword so he's kind of handy to have around.
- After a long trek to the west, we finally arrive at King Raithwall's Tomb. Ashe then proceeds to give us a bit of a history lesson.
- Raithwall was called the Dynast-King and ruled over a large area. As he was of the wise and benevolent type, there was an era of peace and prosperity and this allowed the fledgling states of Arcadia and Rozzaria to flourish.
- Raithwall left behind three magicite shards. The midlight shard went to Landis, now part of the Arcadian Empire. The Dusk Shard went to what became House Nabudis and I guess ended up in Dalmasca after Ashe married Rossler who was prince of Nabudis.
- The final shard, the Dawn Shard, was left hidden in the Tomb and is known only to those of royal lineage and that's what we're here to steal. Time to go Tomb Raiding!
- It turns out the Dawn Shard is guarded by an Esper - Belias, the Gigas. Legend has it, that King Raithwall defeated a Gigas and bound it to his service and this is it. After defeating it, it works for us.
- The Dawn Shard has hallucinogenic properties, causing Ashe to see her dead husband. Be that as it may, our team absconds with it though no sooner do we leave than Archadia's 8th fleet shows up. But how did they fly through the Jagd? Is their airship technology unaffected? Or maybe the truth is just that Balthier's ship sucks. Who knows?
- Anyway, our old pal, Darth (Judge) Ghis brings us aboard the Leviathan and demands the deifacted nethicite (ie, the Dawn Shard). Ashe at first refuses, but it then turns out that Vossler is in league with the Empire! He has apparently bargained Dalsmasca's freedom in exchange for the shard and also apparently believes the Empire. He hasn't been watching enough Star Wars.
- That, combined with some sword-based persuasion forces Ashe to hand over the shard which Ghis stuffs in the engines to test its power and ensure its authenticity. Ashe and company are carted away in chains.
- However, the engines start to go haywire (well, stick some mystical rock in 'em, and what do you expect?) spewing Mist which Vierra's are seemingly rather sensitive to. This causes Fran to go berserk. On the bright side, this provides a convenient distraction for busting out of our chains and beating up Vossler for his treachery.
- The party then escapes the ship just as it explodes, taking most of the fleet with it. Somehow, the Dawn Shard manages to survive and we fly back into the burning wreckage for it before making our final getaway.
- These events prompt Marquis Ondore (who moonlights as the narrator) to go underground and start pulling together various anti-Empire resistance groups. Ashe returns to Dalmasca, though she keeps a low profile while deciding what to do next.
- Meanwhile, in Archades, the Imperial Senate discusses the loss of the 8th fleet and Rozarrian military excersises which are believed to be a prelude to invasion. The senate wants Vayne recalled to answer for his decision to deploy the 8th fleet to the Tomb and also think that Larsa is shaping up to be a good potential future (puppet) Emperor, despite the current one's objections.
- Back in Dalmasca, Ashe has decided to use the Dawn Shard as her weapon against the Empire, but she needs to learn more about it so she decides to consult with Yoda in Dagobah, or rather, the Garif people who live far south and east of Rabanastre.
- We travel to the southwest across the Giza Plains (now in its rainy season) and the Ozmone Plains and arrive at the Garif Village and start asking about the nethicite but the elders are pretty useless on the subject and can only tell us that some Hume kid has been asking around the Village about the stuff too.
- The Grand Chief or whatever he's called is slightly less useless. He tells us that the nethicite was originally a gift from the gods to the Garif, but the Garif were too dumb to figure out how to use it so the gods took it back and gave it to Raithwall instead who put it too good use.
- Admitedly, the Grand Chief does know enough to tell us that the nethicite is currently drained of its power - a useless stone, but he doesn't know how to recharge it (or if that is possible), so Ashe's quest for a weapon seems to be stopping abruptly.
- Fate does not leave us without direction, however, as Larsa shows up (he's the one whose been asking about the nethicite). He's concerned about potential war between Rozzaria and Archadia. He fears that Rozzaria will use Ondore's resistance as some sort of pretense for invasion.
- Larsa wants the Gran Kiltias (or was that Quilter?) Anastasis (or something) of Bur-Omisase to declare Ashe Queen of Dalmasca so that she can hit everyone over the head with a big stick and try to bring everyone to their senses before things get out of control. He proposes an alliance between Dalmasca and Archadia to this effect.
- Ashe is, naturally, reluctant at first but Larsa points out that Dalmasca is conveniently located between the two empires and that his brother Vayne is kind of ruthless, it seems that Ashe has little choice if Dalmasca is to surive.
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia, some of the Judges discuss politics and wonder about Vayne's future. Gabranth and one of the others reaffirm their vow to protect Larsa from the senate once they discover he's not the puppet they think he will be. Dance!
- Anyway, it's off to Mount Bur-Omisase which is east of the Ozmone Plains, somewhere beyond the Golmore Jungle with Larsa as a guest - yay, free unlimited Hi-Potions!
- The first roadblock we encounter is in the form of some glowy magic barriers blocking key paths in the Jungle. Fran seems to be suffering from the paranoid delusion that this is a result of the fact that the jungle somehow hates her.
- She does some wavey thing in the air and reveals a hidden path to Eyrut Village, home to the Viera. She tells Vaan to go find Mjrn for her, but doesn't seem to want to enter the village herself.
- The Viera are a stand-offish sort who don't take kindly to outsiders, nor do they look kindly upon those who leave the village (such as Fran). As it turns out, Mjrn seems to have left the village and the elder, Jote, says some vague things about where she may have wandered off to.
- Larsa interprets her words to be referring to the Henne magicite mines which is in an area under Imperial control, south of the Ozmone planes so it's backtracking time! Just outside the entrance to the mines are some bodies including scientists from the Draklor Laboratories.
- In the mines, it seems Larsa was correct and we do find Mjrn, though she is not in her right mind (not unlike Fran back on the airship, actually) and she just runs off deeper into the mines. Oy!
- Chasing after Mjrn, leads us directly into Tiamat who seems to live in the mines and thinks we look tasty. After defeating it, we find the wayward Viera who falls unconscious and drops a piece of nethicite, which shatters, and some spirit thing appears briefly behind Mjrn and then vanishes.
- Back in Eyrut Village, we learn that Mjrn is Fran's sister. Some Humes had been through earlier, piquing her curiosity, so she went to investigate but got trapped in the mines after being given the nethicite as a sort of experiment (absorbing Mist or somesuch). Fran then forbids her from leaving the village again.
- For returning Mjrn safely, Jote gives us a magical knickknack that will allow us to pass through the barriers in the jungle, though it seems like the woods are still restless. It also turns out that Jote is also Fran's sister.
- On the way out of the forest, we are attacked by an Elder Wyrm, so perhaps Fran's paranoid delusions about the forest hating her might not have been entirely off-base.
- We exit the jungle into the Paramina Rift, a snowy mountain area. (Right next to a jungle? Ivalice has some weird geography, though perhaps the jungle goes up to the foothills and we are now up in the mountains above the jungle or something.)
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia... Vayne is entreating his father to shut down the senate because he thinks they have it out for house Solidor.
- Anyway, a short trip to the north east through the mountains brings us to Bur-Omisace and we run up to the temple thing to talk to this kilt-wearer guy, Anastasis. Turns out he doesn't wear kilts, or quilt anything, he's just got a funny title. He also dreams his life away, being some sort of dreamseer or somesuch.
- Ashe is about to request the Gran Kiltias confirm her as Queen of Dalmasca when she is rudely interrupted by some guy (who's obviously into fashion) and his retinue.
- Enter Al-Cid Margrace, a member of the royal house of the Rozzarian Empire. It was he and Larsa who had cooked up this scheme for peace, but there has been an unfortunate wrinkle in the plan: Emperor Gramis of Archadia is dead. (Cue flashback...)
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia, the Emperor lies dead, the blame for it placed on the senate (the leader of which is now also convenietly dead) with Vayne declaring himself Emperor and dissolving the senate.
- The Judges are gathered, and one, Drace, accuses Vayne of being behind all this and tries to arrest him. Unfortunately for her, the rest of the Judges seem to be in Vayne's pocket (not literally).
- Vayne orders one of the Judges to take the Alexander to go and retrieve Larsa. This is when Gabranth pipes up that protecting Larsa was his job. This doesn't earn him any points, however, and Vayne basically questions is loyalties and orders him to execute Drace whom Vayne has judged guilty of treason.
- Drace seems to accept the futility of the situation and tells Gabranth to go ahead and also urges him to continue to protect Larsa.
- We now return to Bur-Omisace. While the late Emperor would have at least listened to peace overtures, with Vayne's journey to the Dark Side now complete, there is no hope of that, he'd just declare Ashe an imposter.
- Vayne is gunning for war. Archadia's forces are massing and the nethicite is the secret weapon behind it all.
- Ashe decides she must fight fire with fire. The Gran Kiltias tells her that her last, best hope (for peace) is to find another of Raithwall's relics, the Sword of Kings, that was given to the Gran Kiltias back in the day. The Sword currently rests in the Stilshrine of Miriam at the southern end of the Paramina Rift - time for Tomb Raiding Part 2!
- The Shrine is large, but mostly uneventful (or as uneventful as a Shrine full of hordes of undead can be). The Esper Mateus, the Corrupt, guards the innermost chamber but is nothing our seasoned team of Tomb Raiders cannot overcome.
- Ashe claims the Sword of Kings and Vaan has the uncharacteristically brilliant idea of testing it on the Dusk Shard to see if it actually works. Ashe raises the sword to strike, but the stone spews out some Mist in an apparent attempt at self defense which makes Ashe hallucinate about her dead husband again, causing the strike to miss.
- However, it seems that the nethicite's attempt at self preservation has convinced the group of the Sword's authenticity.
- Once outside of the temple we see an Imperial fleet fly by heading north (presumably the Alexander gone to fetch Larsa) and, shortly later, an ominous plume of smoke, also to the north. Rather than use the teleport crystal we take a liesurely stroll back to Mount Bur-Omisace because I want more loot to sell!
- Back at Bur-Omisace, the Imperial army has been running rampant and have even entered the temple. The Gran Kiltias is now dead, slain by Judge Bergan who has the gall to demand we hand of the Sword of Kings.
- Fran senses some nethicite on the Judge and we see another apparition hovering behind him momentarily, like with Mjrn in the Henne Mines. Bergan blathers on about how Vayne will become a true Dynast King, wresting the control of history back into the hands of Man, unlike Raithwall who was a puppet of the gods - the man is clearly touched.
- Naturally, a fight ensues and Bergan is bested. He is, err, roasted inside his armour by the nethecite. Who wants barbeque?
- After the battle, Al-Cid comes out of hiding. He says that Larsa went off with Gabranth to avoid trouble, but Bergan begat trouble anyway. Al-Cid then tries to persuade Ashe to come back to Rozzaria to help convince them not to go to war. Ashe, however, has a Big Sword and wants to take her fight to the Empire and destroy all their magic rocks. Al-Cid acquieces and limps off to do what he can on his own.
- Balthier suggests going to the Draklor Laboratories, home of Archadia's weapons research program. But with the heighted state of military alert against possible Rozzarian invasion, the obvious routes (air and sea) will be guarded so the wiley Sky Pirate suggests sneaking in on foot via the Salikawoods - there's a hunter's camp on the border that may provide some cover.
- The long walk to the Empire starts from Nalbina Fortress, which is still being repaired as a result of the Archadian invasion two years ago. From there we head in a generally north-easterly direction through the Mosphoran Highwaste (a mountainous area) which eventually leads to the Salikawoods.
- There is a gate of unknown origin or purpose separating the far end of the Salikawoods from the Archadian lands beyond (my guess is they're trying to keep out the riff-raff). It's currently inopperable and is undergoing repair by some Moogles, or would be if most of them weren't slacking off in the woods. The foreman asks us to round them up.
- After running around the forest and telling the Moogles to get back to work, we are able to pass through the newly repaired gate (Moogles sure do work fast) and enter the Phon Coast, upon which we witness an Imperial airship patrol fly overhead.
- The Phon Coast is pretty huge, but we eventually find the Hunter's Camp. While the kids (Vaan and Penelo) go play in the water, Balthier asks Ashe if she really intends to destroy the nethicite or use it to restore Dalmasca. Ashe seems torn on this, and the Sky Pirate tells her a cautionary tale of woe.
- Cidolfus Demen Bunansa, the legendary Dr. Cid, head of Draklor Laboratories, became obsessed with nethicite, eventually alienating his family, including his son, who just happens to be Balthier. It also turns out that Baltheir was a Judge for a short period of time, but he ran away from all that, in part because he couldn't stand to see his father obsessed the way he was.
- Of course, now, Balthier is getting drawn back into things. Anywho, Archadia is still a ways to go. The locals helpfully tell us about some ruins that extend beneath Archadia, so that seems like a good way to go.
- After doing some hunting, we continue towards Archadia across the rest of the Phon Coast and the Tchita Uplands. At the north end of the Uplands is the entrance to the Sochen Cave Palace, those ruins that the people at the Hunter's Camp mentioned.
- The plan is to sneak up into Archadia via the ruins and hope nobody notices us. Great plan! What could possibly go wrong?
- The group spelunks through the ruins and comes up in Old Archades, basically the slums on the outskirts of the main city and the guards aren't letting the riff-raff into Archades proper. Balthier bumps into someone of his acquantance, Jules, a man of shady character. In exchange for some gil, he basically has us start a riot by spreading some rumours which draws the attention of the guards and allows us to slip into the city.
- In Archades, Balthier runs off to take care of some things and later sends a message by way of Jules to come meet him in Central. This leaves Vaan to run around the city playing matchmaker in order to earn the necessary cab fare.
- With cab fare earned, Vaan makes it to the upper-class area where Balthier lays out the plan: he's requisitioned a small Draklor airship which they can use to get in the supply docks. However, just then some Imperial Soldiers run by, having just finished putting down the Senate and some of them are reassigned to the labs.
- Seems Jules has been spreading rumours about Balthier's return (recall: Cid's his father) to create a bit of a hubub. He does, however, want an inside scoop on the lab's doings (they've been suspiciously silent since Vayne took over the Empire) and has arranged a cabbie to take Balthier and his groupies directly to the lab.
- The lab is quiet... too quiet. The bodies of soldiers are strewn about, it's so mysterious! Cid's bound to be on the top floor so that's where we're headed. On the way, we find one of Cid's offices which has been ransacked, but there's still a key card that's been left carelessly strewn about.
- Anyway, up to the top floor! We are attacked by a bald man with an odd fashion sense (pink pants? really? or maybe he's just a mathie...) who momentarily mistakes us for Cid's lackies. He realizes his mistake and runs off before we can find out who he is, so we follow to the roof where Cid waits.
- It's a happy father-son reunion betwixt Cid and Balthier. The scientist appears to talk to himself and seems to know who Ashe is and decides to test her: a good, old fashion, trial by combat!
- So we jab Cid with sharp objects until he falls down. Cid is cocky, even in defeat, and taunts us with the nethicite that we had come to steal. We also catch a momentary glimpse of an apparation behind Cid (similar to the one with Mjrn and Bergan) that the crazed Doctor refers to as Venat. He babbles something about history back in the hands of man and flies off in a personal airship, telling us that he's going to Giruvegan, suggesting Ashe might find her own piece of nethicite there, and dares us to follow. Balthier is not amused.
- The bald man then finally gets around to introducing himself as Reddas and suggests we get out of there.
- Meanwhile, the Imperial Senate has fallen. War between Archades and Rozzaria seems inevitable. Marquis Ondore has been gathering the rebel fleet (flagship: Garland) to meet Archades in battle.
- It turns out the Marquis had hired Reddas to infiltrate Archades and steal the nethicite (except Cid made off with it, foiling both his plans and Ashe's attempt to destroy it). Failing that, the Marquis is prepared to ally with Rozzaria, even if doing so would allow Vayne to potentially destroy both the resistance and Rozzaria in one swoop.
- Reddas brings the party to the Port at Balfonheim, a wretched hive of scum and villainy, at least until Reddas cleaned things up. The party decides to chase Cid to Giruvegan, rumoured to be in the Feywood, south of Golmore jungle. Meanwhile, Reddas has some other leads he's going to check on.
- After another hunting trip, we finally head to the Feywood, south of Golomore Jungle. Here, we come across a thick wall of Mist which dissipates after we stare at it for a while (presumably, the Dawn Shard that we've been totting around had something to do with that), though not before Ashe has another Mist induced halucination of Rassler (at least Vaan seems to have stopped his halucinations).
- Shortly thereafter we are set upon by a Rafflesia, an overgrown vegetable. It is kind enough to sap our MP, but not before we cast the important buffs and proceed to bash its face in.
- Continuing south, we play with some glyph thingies and come to a gate which requires Belias to be summoned to open (up until this point I had not assigned any Espers or Quickenings to my characters, but now that the plot demands a summon I just went ahead and had them learn all their Quickenings).
- This brings us to the Ancient City of Giruvegan. There's no sign of Cid yet so Balthier suggests waiting outside until he shows up, but Ashe starts to halucinate again and wanders off, so we give chase. She's going to be the death of us yet!
- A guardian statue provides only a minor speed bump in getting into the city. The interior of Giruvegan is somewhat odd looking - kind of spacey and stuff - with a giant crystal in the middle (itself guarded by another, not terribly threatening (for us) guardian monster - guess they don't make 'em like they used to)
- Towards the bottom of the crystal there seems to be large quantities of nethicite, harbouring untold powers. At the lowest level, Shamhazai the Whisperer (an esper and also not a threat) guards a waystone that teleports Ashe up onto some floating platform things.
- Here, Ashe meets a group of those strange apparitions things that call themselves the Occuria and claim to be undieing (and like unto gods). They proclaim to be the ones who gave King Raithwall his (magic) stones and to have shepherded Ivalice throughout the ages.
- The Occuria tell Ashe that Venat - that other Occuria who is working with Doctor Cid - is a traitor and that the manufacted nethicite he is teaching Cid to produce is an affront to nature. They have, therefore, chosen Ashe, being a descendant of Raithwall, to be their instrument in delivering judgement upon Venat and his (its?) cohorts.
- To that end, the Occuria give Ashe a fancy sword so that she can cut her own nethicite shards out of the Sun-Cryst, the source of all nethicite, which is located in some tower "on distant shore", the exact location of which the Ocurria are a bit vague on. With this, Ashe could destroy the Empire and, thus, reclaim her throne.
- It is also seems to be implied here that the Occuria may have been responsible for Ashe's hallucinations of Rassler, presumably so that she would be more receptive to their manipulation (though this is my interpretation)
- The rest of the party heard the exchange, though did not see it, and Basche counsels Ashe to ignore the Occuria as he thinks they go too far. Ashe seems undecided, but as the location of the tower is unknown at this point, it seems moot for the moment. Then Vaan of all people suggests checking in with Reddas, wondering if he might have discovered something useful whilst he's off doing whatever it is he's doing.
- Also, Cid is nowhere to be found and Balthier realizes that they've been used, tricked into this little side adventure to further Cid's nefarious schemes.
- Meanwhile, back at Archadia, Larsa is imploring Vayne to make peace with Ashe, saying that she doesn't want war. Vayne disagrees, but sends Gabranth off with Larsa to find Ashe and pass judgement on her intentions, killing her if necessary.
- When they have left, Cid receives word from Venat that Ashe and the others have taken the bait. The three discuss taking control of history back from the Occuria and giving Vayne what is his due (setting up Vayne as some sort of dynast-king himself)
- Back on Balfonheim, Ashe and crew reconoiter to find out what Reddas was up to whilst they were galavanting in Giruvegan.
- Turns out the ruddy sky pirate was following some other leads he turned up whilst nosing about in Draklor, leading him to the Cataract at Ridorana and the Pharos Lighthouse. However, the combinatation of cataracts and dense mist turned him back.
- The group speculates that the Pharos might be the "tower on distant shore" that the Occuria were babbling about and decide to investigate. Reddas gives Balthier a special sky stone that will allow the Strahl (Balthier's airship, if you recall) to travel in Jagd (another bauble he pinched from Draklor - say what you will, the man takes his pirating seriously).
- So it's off to Ridorana Cataract with Reddas in tow as a guest. The lighthouse is big - very big - with its very own guardian beast at the door (which we poke until it falls down). It also seems that good ol' Raithwall left a message for any who should come after him, though the message doesn't really say anything important other than an "I was here" sort of thing. At least we know that we're on the right track.
- However, it seems that Ashe is still undecided as to what she plans to do once she's got her hands on the Sun-Cryst - take revenge on the Empire, or destroy the nethicite, once and for all. But she's got a lot of time to think since it's a big tower.
- We climb up inside the Pharos doing some puzzle-y things and stabbing a lot of other things until they stop moving.
- Continuing to climb up this stupidly large tower, near the top we fight the Esper Hashmal, the Wroth, who tries to r0xx0r us but through the repeated application of pointy objects, it's us who do the r0xx0r1n9.
- The last section of the tower is, mercifully, free of monsters so the party takes a bit of time to reflect on the past. Ashe still seems undecided on her course of action.
- At the top, we find the Sun-Cryst, shrouded in swirling Mist. Ashe halucinates again about Rossler who seems to be egging her on to take revenge on the Empire. Still, Ashe hesitates.
- This is when Gabranth shows up (how'd he get here? did he follow us up the tower? maybe he flew? if so, why didn't we?). He admits that he was responsible, disguised as his brother, for killing King Raminas, and tries to provoke Ashe. This also inadvertently also provokes Vaan since that means Gabranth was responsible for killing Reks.
- Ashe chooses to forgo revenge - that is not the vision of the Dalmasca she wants and she does not believe her Rossler to be the sort to seek revenge. She slices the apparition of her dead Prince with her sword and before it vanishes it speaks with the voice of one of the Occuria, imploring her to do its bidding (thus seeming to confirm my earlier supposition regarding the nature of Ashe's hallucinations).
- Gabranth attempts to attack Ashe, to force her hand, but Reddas steps in. He reveals that he used to be a judge - Judge Zecht - and was responsible for using one of the nethicite shards at Nabudis at Doctor Cid's orders (he wanted to see what would happen), but after that Reddas renounced his place as a Judge and changed his name.
- Fight ensues with Gabranth, we make him fall down.
- Then Doctor Cid appears, to gloat and rave like a madman. He's come to observe the activation of the Sun-Cryst which is needed to activate the "Bahamut".
- Fight ensues with Doctor Cid. He summons the Esper Famfrit, the Darkening Cloud. Neither are immune to pointy objects.
- After the fight, Cid is consumed by the Mist and the Sun-Cryst is overloading - there seems to be no escape! But Reddas takes it upon himself to destroy the Sun-Cryst with the Occurian sword whilst the others flee. The top of the tower gets blowed up real good, Reddas along with it.
- The party returns to Balfonheim where they are met by Al-Cid Margrave. Al-Cid bears bad news: he was unable to prevent the Rozzarian Empire from seeking war. It seems that Rozzarian soldiers, under the guise of Marquis Ondore's resistance, made incursions into Archadian territory which prompted a response from Archadia. The Marquis was also forced to mobilize his fleets as a result (can't turn his back on his allies or some such).
- What this means is that the Rozzarian and Archanian Empires are now poised for a major clash, with Dalmasca caught in the middle. The Archadians also have the Sky Fortress Bahamut which was activated by syphoning off Mist from the Sun-Cryst before it was destroyed, thanks to good old Doctor Cid (everything's his fault - way to go Cid!)
- The only course of action seems to storm the Bahamut and put a stop to Vayne's schemes once and for all.
- After putzing around for a little bit (a few more hunts, tracking down some rogue Espers) it's time to join the fight.
- A menacing tornado is bearing down on Rabanastre - but wait, that's no tornado, it's the Sky Fortress Bahamut, kicking up a huge sandstorm.
- The Imperial fleet engages Ondore's Resistance. On the Bahamut, Larsa begs Vayne to show mercy, but Vayne intends to crush the Resistance permanently to prevent them from getting uppity in the future. Fighters are launched, the battle starts in ernest.
[Note: one of the Resistance ships that gets destroyed is the "Galuf-Val" which is a reference to one of the heroes from FF5.]
- The Strahl arrives on the scene and get Ondore's fleet to cover them, they're going in there. After some fancy flying by Balthier, the Strahl manages to dock with the Bahamut and its intrepid crew storm the Sky Fortress.
- After cutting their way through some paltry guards, the party comes to the main lift. Gabranth decides to show up and has some personal grudges to settle with his brother. The Judge talks a good fight, but is quickly introduced to the pointy end of several large sticks.
- That distraction taken care of, we take the lift up to the control room where Vayne and Larsa await. We exchange pleasantries and some rhetoric, but naturally there can be only one (course of action): fight! Larsa pulls his sword on Vayne, intent on stopping this madness.
- Vayne fights like a monk who likes to punch and kick. His fists are no match for our various sharp objects. Naturally, however, defeat is no obstacle as Vayne is transformed by Mist, courtesy of Cid's manufacted nethicite, and he conjures up some glowing, floating sword-things.
- Gabranth also drags himself to the scene, having decided that protecting Larsa is more important than sibling rivalries. He pulls his sword on Vayne and assists in the fight.
- Vayne Novus is not much more difficult than his first form and is dispatched with relative ease.
- Still hopped up on nethicite, Vayne manages to nearly kill Gabranth (though Larsa protects him) and Vaan takes the opportunity to stab Vayne with a sword. Venat intercedes before Vaan can finish the job, allowing Vayne some time to run away.
- On the deck of the Bahamut, Vayne tells Venat that he has failed and Venat needs to find someone else. The Occuria replies that he/it has succeeded: the Sun-Cryst is destroyed and the Occuria as a whole no longer have a hold on Ivalice's future.
- Venat then either merges with or imbues Vayne with moar power and Vayne starts merging with bits of the ship, transforming into some sort of cybernetic god-thing ('cause this is, you know, a Final Fantasy after all).
- The party catches up and, of course, can't let this go on. The new Vayne ("The Undying") actually puts up a bit of a fight, but not so much that we still can't bash him until he falls down.
- Vayne dissovles spectacularly. There is a moment of respite and then, oh hey, there's still this war thing going on. Not only that, but Vayne's death-throes have destabilized the Bahamut.
- The party makes it back to the Strahl. There is a minor technical glitch which Balthier and Fran go check out, leaving the Strahl in the hands of Vaan and Penelo - wait, is that a good idea? Also, the Bahamut's engines are failing.
- The Strahl stirs to life and takes off. Basch (posing as Gabranth), Ashe and Larsa all broadcast messages stating that Vayne is dead and that there is a cease-fire with Dalmasca. (You know they're serious 'cause they use their full names.) The fighting stops. However, the Bahamut looks like it's going to crash into Rabanastre, destroying the city.
- As the Alexander prepares to ram the Bahamut, Balthier cuts in: he and Fran are doing the handyman fix-it thing in the Bahamut (need more duct tape) and would really rather not be blown up just yet, thank you very much.
- Balthier and Fran manage to get the Bahamut's engines running again, enough to redirect it to crash (relatively) harmlessly out in the desert, though the fate of the two Sky Pirates is left a bit up-in-the-air.
- One year later, Dalmasca is more or less back to normal, though the ruins of the Bahamut are still visible from the city. Ashe's coronation will be taking place in a month and Basch has taken over Gabranth's job of protecting Larsa (Gabranth's final wish) to help keep the Empire stable and avoid civil war.
- Vaan and Penelo have been taking care of the Strahl, at least until it mysteriously disappears one day. A note has been left in its place, which seems to be from Balthier: he's going after the cache of Glabados and needs the ship. A similar note has been left with Ashe.
- Things end with Vaan and Penelo flying off to meet Balthier (and presumably Fran).
============
- Welcome to the Royal City of Rabanastre, heart of the Kingdom of Dalmasca. Today is Princess Ashe's wedding day and an elaborate parade is being held in her honour with Moogles and everything! Ashe and her groom - prince what's-his-name, Humperdink? no, it starts with R or something, well, he's really not important in the grand scheme of things - are paraded through the streets before they tie the knot.
- Shortly after (presumably) King Raminas is in a war council with his generals where he receives word that the fortress of Nabudis has fallen to the advancing Arcadian Empire and sends troops to reinfoce Nalbina fortress on Dalmasca's borders.
- Reinforcements are led by some knight-guy, and Ashe's princeling decides to tag along as well. Something about avenging his father or some such.
- Nalbina comes under attack in a battle that's something like a cross between Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings: airships fighting each other in the sky whilst everyone one on the ground bludgeons each other with swords. How quaint.
- Anyway, Dalmasca's forces are totally outmatched by Arcadia. Kight-guy tries to retreat, but the princeling decides to halucinate that he's Aragorn or something and tries taking on the Arcadian forces single handedly only to get shot by a lone bowman.
- Just then, an airship crashes into the ground giving knight-guy a chance to escape with princeling's corpse which he brings back to Rabanastre.
- Then, a narration by Marquis Ondore fills us in on some relevant political details: two empires, Arcadia in the east and Rozzaria in the west are currently vieing for control of Ivalice with Dalmasca caught in the middle. The invasion of Dalmasca is Arcadia's first move in its westward expansion.
- Dalmasca tries to launch a counter attack against Arcadia, but is utterly defeated and forced to accept unconditional surrender. The King travels to Nalbina to sign the treaty but some of Dalmasca's knight-types catch wind that an assassination is in the air.
- Knight-guy, who is now known as Captain Basch fon Ronsenburg, arrives at Nalbina and finds Reks, a young, wounded soldier. He sends Vossler, another of his knights, on into the fortress while he teaches Reks the ropes in a tutorial level.
- Basch, Reks and a few nameless knights easily plow through Arcadia's troops (must be the second string on guard duty or something) and just before arriving in the main hall, Reks tells Basch to go on ahead while he mops up a few more of the flies.
- Reks then quickly heads to rejoin Basch but finds an aweful sight in the main hall: everyone's dead (except for me)! Including the King. Basch then swiftly appears behind Reks and stabs him.
- Some Arcadian soldiers run in as Basch loudly proclaims this was all his doing and the King was a traitor. Some Arcadian pretty boy enters and says this shows that Arcadia should take over Dalmasca completely.
- Just before Reks dies, he whispers one last thing: Vaan, the name of his younger brother.
- Marquis Ondore then narrates that Basch was executed and that Ashe, having lost both her husband and her kingdom has committed suicide. He further advises the people of Dalmasca to roll over and take it, presumably some sort of peaceful resistance or something. Guess he's having delusions of Ghandi.
- Two years later, Vaan is hunting rats in a sewer (typical RPG hero stuff, that), egged on by the youngster Kytes.
- When he is finished mercilessly slaughtering defenceless rodents, Vaan and Kytes leave the sewers, Kytes going to one Migelo for work and Vaan leaving to pursue his own line of work as a thief. (At least he doesn't insist on being called a "Treasure Hunter" like certain other thieves, though Vaan probably doesn't have much of an education...)
- Vaan bumps into a couple of Arcadian soldiers who are making asses of themselves and make off with their money pouch. He escapes into the crowd and runs into Penelo, another orphan like him. She doesn't approve of his line of work but that doesn't stop her from helping herself to a couple of his ill-gotten coins.
- In a brief moment of respite, an airship passes overhead and Vaan proclaims he will, some day, be a Sky Pirate. Yeah, you tell us how that ends up working out for you, kid. Anyway, the moment passes and Penelo goes off to do some work for Migelo and suggests Vaan do the same. Man, she's kind of bossy.
- With nothing better to do, Vaan heads to Migelo's, a Bangaa (a lizard-like humanoid) shop keeper. Migelo sends Vaan to look for Kytes at the Sand Sea Tavern. Kytes was supposed to be running errands for him but hasn't returned.
- At the Sand Sea, Vaan finds Kytes oogling some wanted poster. It's for a mean beastie that's been roaming the desert, harassing the couriers who have supposed to be bringing in goods (Kytes was supposed to find a replacement courier or somesuch).
- The tavern keeper then wanders over and teaches Vaan about marks and hunts and some other game mechanics that are worth knowing about then sends him off to hunt the mark on the poster (the dreaded Rogue Tomato) and gives him some papers that will get him safely out of the city. (The city's in lock down mode right now since a new consul is coming later today and the Arcadians don't want anything unexpected to happen.)
- So, Vaan heads to the east gate of Rabanastre and out into the Dalmasca Estersands - it's Tomato hunting time! (Careful, it's deadly to comedians.) The thing is just a short distance out of town and goes down without much trouble.
- Heading back, Vaan runs into trouble at the gate as it's been closed until after the parade. Just then, some purebred Chocobos are brought in and Vaan exchanges "words" with the guards. Things look to turn ugly until Migelo and Penelo show up (having come looking for Vaan) and Migelo bribes the guards with some wine, then they all scurry inside.
- The new consul's parade and installation ceremony begin. Turns out the new consul is some Arcadian pretty boy named Vayne Solidor who's the guy who mopped up the situation with Basch and the King at Nalbina. He's also the Emperor's son but apparently emperor is an elected position.
- Vayne gives a speech where he says some words, babbling about honouring King Raminas by pursuing peace. The crowd seems to eat it up, or maybe they've just been lulled into a stupour. Vaan, however, is not amused.
- As Migelo is basically the provisioner for the Imperials' banquet tonight, he scurries off to see to things. Vaan, not being one to be left out, decides he wants to play Robin Hood and gate crash the party so he heads to Lowtown to speak to Old Man Dalan to find out how to sneak into the palace.
- It turns out that the old man is remarkably well informed and knows of a secret passage into the palace, but it needs a special magicked stone which the old man also just happens to have, except that it needs to be recharged with a sunstone.
- The old man, however, does not actually have a sunstone so he sends Vaan to the Nomad People in the Giza Plain, south of the city, who do know of such things.
- The nomads make sunstones as part of their livelihood and they know a sucker when they see one so they send Vaan out to make some for them. Before heading out, Vaan bumps into Penelo who's here on a lark, basically, since she's got the day off whilst Migelo slaves away for the Imperials. She tags along after Vaan since she suspects he's up to no good - which is, of course, exactly the case.
- Vaan manages to make a sunstone without incident and the villagers decide to let him keep one for himself. Time to head back to Rabanastre and proceed to get up to no good.
- Back at the city, Penelo runs off to mind the shop and Vaan heads back to Old Dalan who happily infuses the magic thingambob that Vaan needs with power from the sunstone. Dalan then fills the young ne'er-do-well in on how to sneak into the palace.
- The Gamarsythe Waterway connects into the basement of the Palace, so basically Vaan gets to go swimming in the sewers. In a little "meanwhile" sequence, we see some suspicious characters who appear to have the same idea as Vaan, including a strangely familiar soldier (looks like that Vossler fellow from the tutorial - looks like he's been wearing the same clothes for two years) and a woman of some sort.
- Anyway, Vaan swims in raw sewage, eventually emerging in the servants' area of the Royal Palace. Fortunately for Vaan, the servants weren't hired for their smarts and they think he's just one of the temp workers to help out with tonight's party.
- Oh, just as Vaan is sneaking into the servants' area, another meanwhile shows a bunny-girl and some guy in a poofy shirt ride into the palace grounds on some sort of flashy hover bike. Seems like the party is attracting all sorts of gate crashers.
- Back to business, the servants are being sequestered downstairs until the party is over (they're the clean-up crew) though with the help of one servant, Vaan is able to sneak past the guards (apparently, the guards weren't hired for their smarts either).
- Upstairs, Vaan sneaks around the not-so-bright guards until he finds the entrance to the treasure room with the help of the magic rock Dalan gave him.
- Inside the treasury, Vaan manages to find another glowing magic rock hidden inside a goddess statue. This is when bunny-girl and her escort (who calls himself the leading man - go figure) show up and try steal from Vaan what Vaan has already stolen. They also call the rock "magicite", so Final Fantasy fans will know this isn't just your run-of-the-mill magic rock.
- Vaan decides he doesn't like these two that much and runs away, but just then there's a commotion outside in the gardens as a full scale pitched battle is raging - these are the real gate crashers, it seems.
- The airship "Ifrit" shows up and starts blasting things and Mr. Leading Man thinks it a little suspect that it showed up so fast. He and bunny-girl decide to make their getaway and, since Vaan still isn't parting with the magicite, they decide to go ahead and steal Vaan instead (kind of like a two-for-one deal, I guess).
- The duo's hoverbike, however, suffers a catastrophic failure and crash lands back into the sewers. The two finally introduce themselves as Balthier (Mr. Leading Man) and Fran (bunny-girl, who also seems to be the mechanic), a pair of Sky Pirates and they make it clear to Vaan that if he wants to get out of this with his skin intact, he'll do as they say. He still acts like a stubborn little kid and refuses to turn over the magicite, however.
- There are some dead rebels nearby and Balthier speculates they had planned on taking advantage of lower security during the party to attack the Palace, except that Vayne seems to have anticipated that and set a trap using the airforce.
- Back to swimming in raw sewage. Vaan and crew come upon a woman who's being attacked by imperial soldiers so Vaan, ever reckless, jumps in to the rescue. She introduces herself as Amalia, a member of the resistance, and joins as a guest.
- A little later, the party is ambushed by some flans, kind of a boss battle, but not quite.
- A little later still, just as they're about to leave the sewers, the party encounters their first real boss battle - a flaming horse? In this watery place? I guess it's various sewer gasses that have ignited and attained sentience or are possessed by something or other. It's actually a kind of tough-ish fight, but fortunately the party seems to have some sort of perma-reraise and Amalia comes with seemingly unlimited potions so it's more of a training battle before the game takes the gloves off.
- The sewer gas is vanquished and the party is all puffed up with their own brilliance just when the imperials (including Vayne) show up and haul everyone off to the dungeons (though they are kindly paraded through the streets infront of the jeering crowds and a distraught Penelo first). Also, a Bangaa bounty hunter seems upset that the Imperials got Balthier before he could.
- Vaan halucinates about his brother Reks who is slumped in a chair in a sterile room and then evaporates before waking up in the Nalbina Dungeons (I take this to be all in Vaan's head, proof that he's got issues, rather than implying that Reks is actually alive somewhere - I don't think we ever see Reks again).
- It seems that the Arcadians are actually not entirely stupid since they've gone and confiscated all our equipment rather than leave us armed like some villains. Balthier is rather cavalier about the whole situation whilst Fran is nosing around for a way out and Amalia is totally AWOL.
- Vaan seem incapable of sitting still and goes off to poke around. This gains the attention of an ill-tempered Seeq (pig-like thing) and his goons, forcing Balthier to come to Vaan's rescue. There's a short bout of fisticuffs and it's a good thing the goons aren't used to roughing up people with access to cure spells.
- Just then, some imperial soldiers enter, accompanied by a Judge, one of the elite guard of House Solidor (current ruling family) and those anti-Balthier bounty Bangaa. The Judge is off to interogate someone and the Bangaa are looking for Balthier (of course)
- Fran also chooses this moment to reappear - her bunny senses are tingling. Seems she senses a way out through the Obliette, though it's apparently misty down there - who's scared of a little mist? Anyway, a way out is a way out and our heroes seem to know when they've worn out their welcome.
- The party follows the Judge into the next section of the dungeons. Balthier seems to imply that we should try sneaking around all the guards, but there's no penalty for fighting them and that's much easier anyway. Who needs brains? Vaan SMASH!
- The Judge arrives at the oubliette where a prisoner is kept in solitary confinement. It's our old friend Captain Basch. He's been here for around two years so either the Empire has forgotten about him until now or this is just part of the regular routine.
- The Judge mentions they've captured Amalia, but Basch is playing dumb. The Judge then mocks Basch's loyalty to a defeated kingdom and leaves him hanging - quite literally.
- Balthier and crew then have a moment to ponder things. Vaan goes a little berserk, what with Basch being a traitor and all that and the whole thing with his brother getting killed under his commmand and all that.
- For the sake of expedience, the party uses Basch's cage as an impromptu elevator down to the bottom of the whole that it was dangling over. The crash landing breaks the cage open and everybody seems no worse for the wear.
- Balthier takes a more pragmatic view of Basch than Vaan does, seeing as the whole point at the moment is to get out of here alive. The party then starts to make their way through Barheim Passage, seemingly some sort of old, abandoned mining tunnels.
- On the way, Basch tries to convince the party that he didn't kill the King - it was really his evil twin brother. (Riiiight. Well, I suppose Basch has been caged up by himself for a while and probably tortured, so it's only natural his sanity's taken a bit of a hit.)
- The boss in this area is a nest of mimics (including their Queen), and after beating them the party emerges into the Estersands as the tunnel entrance collapses behind them.
- Basch decides to return to Dalmasca despite the fact that most of the city probably still hates him as a traitor (this may not go down in history as the Best Idea Evar) and Vaan wants to make sure Penelo's not too worried about him (awwww...)
- Arriving back in the city, everyone parts ways leaving Vaan to wander over to Migelo's in search of Penelo. He also wants to gloat about that magicite shard he found (which he's still not giving to Fran and Balthier)
- But the raspy-voiced Bangaa is not there, instead Kytes informs Vaan that everyone is busy elsewhere (where he doesn't know) and that he was supposed to go bug Old Dalan about something but is too busy with work. Vaan, always looking for a way to avoid doing real work, goes to see Dalan in Kytes' place.
- Old Dalan is still, well, old, and he decides Vaan's a much better errand boy than Kytes. So he gives Vaan a sword of the "Old Order" to deliver to some guy names Azelas in a house nearby. I guess Dalan is decrepit as well as old.
- Vaan dutifully takes the sword and does as he is told. Except at the place in question, Basch is trying to rally members of the resistance. They are understandably wary after their previous attempt failed and they are not too quick to believe Basch's wild story of an evil twin. There are also some rumblings against Marquis Ondore who is viewed as collaborating with the Empire.
- Basch storms off with Vaan in tow, the sword delivery errand conveniently forgotten. (No Azelas was mentioned, though it is not impossible that Dalan is also a touch senile.) Vaan also seems to have gotten past some of his earlier dislike of Basch.
- Basch currently has a mind to pay Marquis Ondore a visit (for reasons he does not yet reveal). It seems the Marquis lives in some sort of floating city so we head off to enlist the local Sky Pirates. (Hmm... evil Empire, floating city with an apparently Empire-friendly ruler, where have I seen that before? I sense a trap.)
- Balthier and Fran are kicking back at the Sandsea tavern where Migelo is giving them an earful. Seems Penelo has been kidnapped by those Banga bounty hunters (Ba'gammon, or backgammon or something) thinking she has some connection to Balthier (probably due to when she was watching them being dragged off to the dungeons).
- Balthier claims its not his problem, but he is cajoled into helping by Vaan and Migelo. Basch tags along with the group because Penelo just happens to have been taken to the Lhusu Mines in Bhujerba, which is that floating city thing.
- Anyway, we take off! Though one has to wonder if Balthier is such a notorious Sky Pirate, wouldn't the Empire apprehend him as soon as he landed at any sort of well known city? Anywho, the whole thing has Vaan excited like a little kid at Christmas, even though they probably don't celebrate Christmas in Ivalice. Still...
- Balthier's airhsip, The Strahl, lands in Bhujerba without incident and everyone disembarks. Balthier impresses on everyone the importance of not using real names, seeing as we've just busted out of prison and are accompanied by a supposed traitor who is supposed to be dead (seems Ondore's the one who's responsible for that little rumour).
- No sooner does the party leave the aerodrome than they're set upon by some kid by the name of Lamont who overhears us talking about going to the mines and decides he wants to tag along. And of course Vaan goes and uses Basch's real name without a second thought. Smooth there.
- Anyway, there's an Imperial inspection of the mines underway and a Judge and Marquis Ondore and other minor officials exit just after we enter. Lamont also comes with an infinite supply of hi-potions so he's not too bad to have around.
- Some way into the mine we come upon a deposit that Lamont wanted to check out. He uses something he calls Nethicite, a sort of magic absorbing crystal. He seems to be investigating something to do with the Draklor laboratories. The name means something to Balthier but just what he doesn't say.
- Shortly thereafter we find the Bangaa bounty hunters who kidnapped Penelo (or they find us), but they've already cut her loose since they don't need her any more. Ba'Gammon pulls out a big circular saw thingy and the party decides to RUN AWAY!
- We manage to lose the bounty hunters and return to the entrance to the mines. The Imperials have apprehended Penelo as she wandered out of the mines, thinking her to be a trespasser. Lamont is also revealed to really be Larsa, one of Vayne's younger brothers, and he whisks Penelo off to relative safety (at least preventing her from being tossed into prison).
- Now Vaan and crew are left hanging. Basch still wants to see the Marquis and presumably Vaan still wants to rescue Penelo (honestly, more trouble than it's worth)
- It is believed that Ondore is secretly funnelling money/etc. to the Dalmascan resistance whilst at the same time playing nice with the Empire (hmmm, Lando Calrissian anyone?) so it is decided to try to make a scene to force the Marquis to pay attention to us. How? By having Vaan proclaim he is Captain Basch von Ronsenberg since Ondore is going around and saying the good captain is actually dead. Wouldn't going in guns blazing be faster and easier?
- Ok, so once Vaan is done making an ass of himself, some shadey looking types come and escort him to the back of the local tavern. Things aren't going well until the real Basch walks in, then everyone is rather amicable. They agree to arrange an audience with the Marquis at nightfall.
- Meeting the Marquis, Basch tells him that that he wants to rescue Amalia, but the Marquis declines to help. He's got his position to think about, you know? Basch draws his sword and the guards are summoned. Stay away from the carbonite, Basch!
- Also, Larsa's detachment has already left, with Penelo on board, so Vaan is being strung along some more.
- Meanwhile, back at Rabanastre, Vayne is talking to Judge Gabranth about the meddlesome Marquis. Gabranth believes the Marquis to be funding the insurgents, but a message has just arrived stating the Marquis has recaptured the runaway (presumably Basch) and Gabranth says he'll kill the escapee himself.
- Then Dr. Cid enters to have a little chat with Vayne about something or other. He comes in muttering to himself which is probably an indicator of some sort of mad genious or something.
- Anyway, Vaan and crew are now on the Dreadnought Leviathan and are being brought before Darth Ghis - I mean, Judge Ghis. Also present is Amalia who is now revealed to be Princess Leia, or rather, Princess Ashe, another of the living dead. The princess is not pleased to see Basch.
- Ghis is skeptical that Ashe is who she says she is, but Basch says a mystical knickknack called the Dusk Shard can prove her identity. And, surprise, surprise, the piece of magicite which Vaan has been doggedly holding on to is the Dusk Shard.
- Despite having refused to give it to Balthier multiple times, Vaan now hands it over to Ghis in an attempt to bargain with him so that everyone gets out with their lives in tact, but we all know it's really due to Ghis' force powers.
- Handing over the Shard doesn't prevent Ghis from sending everyone to be locked up, with Ashe in solitary confinement. However, while being dragged off, Basch and Balthier manage to overthrow their guards. This is helped when one of the guards turns out to be Vossler who had been planted there by Marquis Ondore, apparently. Oh, and the guards failed to disarm us.
- Now we run amok through the bowels of the ship to rescue Ashe, who we find eventually, and release from her cell. It should be noted that the game suggested sneaking around the soldiers to be a valid tactic, but its far easier (and results in better loot and experience) to just attack everything in sight. (Though why this doesn't attract the attention of the ship's commanders, I don't know.)
- It seems that *after* rescuing Ashe, we trip the alarm and Vossler gives up any pretense of sneaking around and decides we should just fight our way to the exit.
- On the way, we come across Larsa and Penelo. Even with the entire ship's guards on our tails, Vaan stops to have a touching reunion (priorities people!) Larsa seems to be intrigued that both Basche and Ashe are mysteriously not dead like they were supposed to be and lets us go so we can figure out why (lazy git letting us do all the dirty work...) He also gives Penelo his chunk of nethecite for luck.
- Incidentally, it turns out that Vossler is this mysterious Azelas that Dalan was talking about earlier, so I guess the old man isn't entirely senile.
- Vossler takes this opportunity to split and go find a shuttle of some sort. Conveniently, Judge Ghis then tries us to get in our way but we stab him until he falls down. Only then does Vossler reappear (yes, he's lazy too) to say he found an Atomos class ship which we fly back to Bhujerba.
- Dissembarking, Vossler suggests we go talk to Marquis Ondore to determine his true intentions.
- Confronting the Marquis, it's revealed that Vossler spirited Ashe away when her father was killed and Vayne had Ondore declare Ashe had committed suicide to make it appear Ondore was siding with the Empire.
- Ashe now wants Ondore to help her free Dalmasca but the Marquis points out that since the Empire has absconded with the Dusk Shard she no longer has proof of her heritage and advises her to wait until the time is right.
- But Ashe doesn't feel like waiting (does she look like a waiter?) and cooks up a plan to go Tomb Raiding and steal the Dawn Shard from King Raithwall's tomb (one of her ancestors - apparently royal lineage proving baubbles are a dime a dozen). She was going to abscond with Balthier's ship on her own, only Vaan catches her in the act and everyone else shows up to tag along for the ride. It's a merry ship of fools.
- Meanwhile, in Archades, Judge Gabranth reports to the Emperor who asks him to watch over and protect Larsa, since he doesn't want his sons warring again as has happened in the past (with other, older sons, it seems).
- We fly to the far edge of the Dalmasca Westersands where Balthier leaves the ship (he's got a handy cloaking device - everyone remember where we parked!) To get to the tomb, we now have to cross the Ogir-Yensa Sandsea, which is filled with Jagd, some mystical substance that prevents skysontes, or whatever they are that powers airships, from functioning so we have to walk.
- The Ogir-Yensa Sandsea contains a sprawling, interlinked series of oil platforms, originally constructed by the Rozzarian Empire to the west, now abandoned. The sandsea is also no home to Jawas... er, the Urutan-Yensa, an unfriendly though diminutive race.
- Before going far, Vossler catches up to us to help escort Ashe. He knows how to hit things with a large sword so he's kind of handy to have around.
- After a long trek to the west, we finally arrive at King Raithwall's Tomb. Ashe then proceeds to give us a bit of a history lesson.
- Raithwall was called the Dynast-King and ruled over a large area. As he was of the wise and benevolent type, there was an era of peace and prosperity and this allowed the fledgling states of Arcadia and Rozzaria to flourish.
- Raithwall left behind three magicite shards. The midlight shard went to Landis, now part of the Arcadian Empire. The Dusk Shard went to what became House Nabudis and I guess ended up in Dalmasca after Ashe married Rossler who was prince of Nabudis.
- The final shard, the Dawn Shard, was left hidden in the Tomb and is known only to those of royal lineage and that's what we're here to steal. Time to go Tomb Raiding!
- It turns out the Dawn Shard is guarded by an Esper - Belias, the Gigas. Legend has it, that King Raithwall defeated a Gigas and bound it to his service and this is it. After defeating it, it works for us.
- The Dawn Shard has hallucinogenic properties, causing Ashe to see her dead husband. Be that as it may, our team absconds with it though no sooner do we leave than Archadia's 8th fleet shows up. But how did they fly through the Jagd? Is their airship technology unaffected? Or maybe the truth is just that Balthier's ship sucks. Who knows?
- Anyway, our old pal, Darth (Judge) Ghis brings us aboard the Leviathan and demands the deifacted nethicite (ie, the Dawn Shard). Ashe at first refuses, but it then turns out that Vossler is in league with the Empire! He has apparently bargained Dalsmasca's freedom in exchange for the shard and also apparently believes the Empire. He hasn't been watching enough Star Wars.
- That, combined with some sword-based persuasion forces Ashe to hand over the shard which Ghis stuffs in the engines to test its power and ensure its authenticity. Ashe and company are carted away in chains.
- However, the engines start to go haywire (well, stick some mystical rock in 'em, and what do you expect?) spewing Mist which Vierra's are seemingly rather sensitive to. This causes Fran to go berserk. On the bright side, this provides a convenient distraction for busting out of our chains and beating up Vossler for his treachery.
- The party then escapes the ship just as it explodes, taking most of the fleet with it. Somehow, the Dawn Shard manages to survive and we fly back into the burning wreckage for it before making our final getaway.
- These events prompt Marquis Ondore (who moonlights as the narrator) to go underground and start pulling together various anti-Empire resistance groups. Ashe returns to Dalmasca, though she keeps a low profile while deciding what to do next.
- Meanwhile, in Archades, the Imperial Senate discusses the loss of the 8th fleet and Rozarrian military excersises which are believed to be a prelude to invasion. The senate wants Vayne recalled to answer for his decision to deploy the 8th fleet to the Tomb and also think that Larsa is shaping up to be a good potential future (puppet) Emperor, despite the current one's objections.
- Back in Dalmasca, Ashe has decided to use the Dawn Shard as her weapon against the Empire, but she needs to learn more about it so she decides to consult with Yoda in Dagobah, or rather, the Garif people who live far south and east of Rabanastre.
- We travel to the southwest across the Giza Plains (now in its rainy season) and the Ozmone Plains and arrive at the Garif Village and start asking about the nethicite but the elders are pretty useless on the subject and can only tell us that some Hume kid has been asking around the Village about the stuff too.
- The Grand Chief or whatever he's called is slightly less useless. He tells us that the nethicite was originally a gift from the gods to the Garif, but the Garif were too dumb to figure out how to use it so the gods took it back and gave it to Raithwall instead who put it too good use.
- Admitedly, the Grand Chief does know enough to tell us that the nethicite is currently drained of its power - a useless stone, but he doesn't know how to recharge it (or if that is possible), so Ashe's quest for a weapon seems to be stopping abruptly.
- Fate does not leave us without direction, however, as Larsa shows up (he's the one whose been asking about the nethicite). He's concerned about potential war between Rozzaria and Archadia. He fears that Rozzaria will use Ondore's resistance as some sort of pretense for invasion.
- Larsa wants the Gran Kiltias (or was that Quilter?) Anastasis (or something) of Bur-Omisase to declare Ashe Queen of Dalmasca so that she can hit everyone over the head with a big stick and try to bring everyone to their senses before things get out of control. He proposes an alliance between Dalmasca and Archadia to this effect.
- Ashe is, naturally, reluctant at first but Larsa points out that Dalmasca is conveniently located between the two empires and that his brother Vayne is kind of ruthless, it seems that Ashe has little choice if Dalmasca is to surive.
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia, some of the Judges discuss politics and wonder about Vayne's future. Gabranth and one of the others reaffirm their vow to protect Larsa from the senate once they discover he's not the puppet they think he will be. Dance!
- Anyway, it's off to Mount Bur-Omisase which is east of the Ozmone Plains, somewhere beyond the Golmore Jungle with Larsa as a guest - yay, free unlimited Hi-Potions!
- The first roadblock we encounter is in the form of some glowy magic barriers blocking key paths in the Jungle. Fran seems to be suffering from the paranoid delusion that this is a result of the fact that the jungle somehow hates her.
- She does some wavey thing in the air and reveals a hidden path to Eyrut Village, home to the Viera. She tells Vaan to go find Mjrn for her, but doesn't seem to want to enter the village herself.
- The Viera are a stand-offish sort who don't take kindly to outsiders, nor do they look kindly upon those who leave the village (such as Fran). As it turns out, Mjrn seems to have left the village and the elder, Jote, says some vague things about where she may have wandered off to.
- Larsa interprets her words to be referring to the Henne magicite mines which is in an area under Imperial control, south of the Ozmone planes so it's backtracking time! Just outside the entrance to the mines are some bodies including scientists from the Draklor Laboratories.
- In the mines, it seems Larsa was correct and we do find Mjrn, though she is not in her right mind (not unlike Fran back on the airship, actually) and she just runs off deeper into the mines. Oy!
- Chasing after Mjrn, leads us directly into Tiamat who seems to live in the mines and thinks we look tasty. After defeating it, we find the wayward Viera who falls unconscious and drops a piece of nethicite, which shatters, and some spirit thing appears briefly behind Mjrn and then vanishes.
- Back in Eyrut Village, we learn that Mjrn is Fran's sister. Some Humes had been through earlier, piquing her curiosity, so she went to investigate but got trapped in the mines after being given the nethicite as a sort of experiment (absorbing Mist or somesuch). Fran then forbids her from leaving the village again.
- For returning Mjrn safely, Jote gives us a magical knickknack that will allow us to pass through the barriers in the jungle, though it seems like the woods are still restless. It also turns out that Jote is also Fran's sister.
- On the way out of the forest, we are attacked by an Elder Wyrm, so perhaps Fran's paranoid delusions about the forest hating her might not have been entirely off-base.
- We exit the jungle into the Paramina Rift, a snowy mountain area. (Right next to a jungle? Ivalice has some weird geography, though perhaps the jungle goes up to the foothills and we are now up in the mountains above the jungle or something.)
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia... Vayne is entreating his father to shut down the senate because he thinks they have it out for house Solidor.
- Anyway, a short trip to the north east through the mountains brings us to Bur-Omisace and we run up to the temple thing to talk to this kilt-wearer guy, Anastasis. Turns out he doesn't wear kilts, or quilt anything, he's just got a funny title. He also dreams his life away, being some sort of dreamseer or somesuch.
- Ashe is about to request the Gran Kiltias confirm her as Queen of Dalmasca when she is rudely interrupted by some guy (who's obviously into fashion) and his retinue.
- Enter Al-Cid Margrace, a member of the royal house of the Rozzarian Empire. It was he and Larsa who had cooked up this scheme for peace, but there has been an unfortunate wrinkle in the plan: Emperor Gramis of Archadia is dead. (Cue flashback...)
- Meanwhile, back in Archadia, the Emperor lies dead, the blame for it placed on the senate (the leader of which is now also convenietly dead) with Vayne declaring himself Emperor and dissolving the senate.
- The Judges are gathered, and one, Drace, accuses Vayne of being behind all this and tries to arrest him. Unfortunately for her, the rest of the Judges seem to be in Vayne's pocket (not literally).
- Vayne orders one of the Judges to take the Alexander to go and retrieve Larsa. This is when Gabranth pipes up that protecting Larsa was his job. This doesn't earn him any points, however, and Vayne basically questions is loyalties and orders him to execute Drace whom Vayne has judged guilty of treason.
- Drace seems to accept the futility of the situation and tells Gabranth to go ahead and also urges him to continue to protect Larsa.
- We now return to Bur-Omisace. While the late Emperor would have at least listened to peace overtures, with Vayne's journey to the Dark Side now complete, there is no hope of that, he'd just declare Ashe an imposter.
- Vayne is gunning for war. Archadia's forces are massing and the nethicite is the secret weapon behind it all.
- Ashe decides she must fight fire with fire. The Gran Kiltias tells her that her last, best hope (for peace) is to find another of Raithwall's relics, the Sword of Kings, that was given to the Gran Kiltias back in the day. The Sword currently rests in the Stilshrine of Miriam at the southern end of the Paramina Rift - time for Tomb Raiding Part 2!
- The Shrine is large, but mostly uneventful (or as uneventful as a Shrine full of hordes of undead can be). The Esper Mateus, the Corrupt, guards the innermost chamber but is nothing our seasoned team of Tomb Raiders cannot overcome.
- Ashe claims the Sword of Kings and Vaan has the uncharacteristically brilliant idea of testing it on the Dusk Shard to see if it actually works. Ashe raises the sword to strike, but the stone spews out some Mist in an apparent attempt at self defense which makes Ashe hallucinate about her dead husband again, causing the strike to miss.
- However, it seems that the nethicite's attempt at self preservation has convinced the group of the Sword's authenticity.
- Once outside of the temple we see an Imperial fleet fly by heading north (presumably the Alexander gone to fetch Larsa) and, shortly later, an ominous plume of smoke, also to the north. Rather than use the teleport crystal we take a liesurely stroll back to Mount Bur-Omisace because I want more loot to sell!
- Back at Bur-Omisace, the Imperial army has been running rampant and have even entered the temple. The Gran Kiltias is now dead, slain by Judge Bergan who has the gall to demand we hand of the Sword of Kings.
- Fran senses some nethicite on the Judge and we see another apparition hovering behind him momentarily, like with Mjrn in the Henne Mines. Bergan blathers on about how Vayne will become a true Dynast King, wresting the control of history back into the hands of Man, unlike Raithwall who was a puppet of the gods - the man is clearly touched.
- Naturally, a fight ensues and Bergan is bested. He is, err, roasted inside his armour by the nethecite. Who wants barbeque?
- After the battle, Al-Cid comes out of hiding. He says that Larsa went off with Gabranth to avoid trouble, but Bergan begat trouble anyway. Al-Cid then tries to persuade Ashe to come back to Rozzaria to help convince them not to go to war. Ashe, however, has a Big Sword and wants to take her fight to the Empire and destroy all their magic rocks. Al-Cid acquieces and limps off to do what he can on his own.
- Balthier suggests going to the Draklor Laboratories, home of Archadia's weapons research program. But with the heighted state of military alert against possible Rozzarian invasion, the obvious routes (air and sea) will be guarded so the wiley Sky Pirate suggests sneaking in on foot via the Salikawoods - there's a hunter's camp on the border that may provide some cover.
- The long walk to the Empire starts from Nalbina Fortress, which is still being repaired as a result of the Archadian invasion two years ago. From there we head in a generally north-easterly direction through the Mosphoran Highwaste (a mountainous area) which eventually leads to the Salikawoods.
- There is a gate of unknown origin or purpose separating the far end of the Salikawoods from the Archadian lands beyond (my guess is they're trying to keep out the riff-raff). It's currently inopperable and is undergoing repair by some Moogles, or would be if most of them weren't slacking off in the woods. The foreman asks us to round them up.
- After running around the forest and telling the Moogles to get back to work, we are able to pass through the newly repaired gate (Moogles sure do work fast) and enter the Phon Coast, upon which we witness an Imperial airship patrol fly overhead.
- The Phon Coast is pretty huge, but we eventually find the Hunter's Camp. While the kids (Vaan and Penelo) go play in the water, Balthier asks Ashe if she really intends to destroy the nethicite or use it to restore Dalmasca. Ashe seems torn on this, and the Sky Pirate tells her a cautionary tale of woe.
- Cidolfus Demen Bunansa, the legendary Dr. Cid, head of Draklor Laboratories, became obsessed with nethicite, eventually alienating his family, including his son, who just happens to be Balthier. It also turns out that Baltheir was a Judge for a short period of time, but he ran away from all that, in part because he couldn't stand to see his father obsessed the way he was.
- Of course, now, Balthier is getting drawn back into things. Anywho, Archadia is still a ways to go. The locals helpfully tell us about some ruins that extend beneath Archadia, so that seems like a good way to go.
- After doing some hunting, we continue towards Archadia across the rest of the Phon Coast and the Tchita Uplands. At the north end of the Uplands is the entrance to the Sochen Cave Palace, those ruins that the people at the Hunter's Camp mentioned.
- The plan is to sneak up into Archadia via the ruins and hope nobody notices us. Great plan! What could possibly go wrong?
- The group spelunks through the ruins and comes up in Old Archades, basically the slums on the outskirts of the main city and the guards aren't letting the riff-raff into Archades proper. Balthier bumps into someone of his acquantance, Jules, a man of shady character. In exchange for some gil, he basically has us start a riot by spreading some rumours which draws the attention of the guards and allows us to slip into the city.
- In Archades, Balthier runs off to take care of some things and later sends a message by way of Jules to come meet him in Central. This leaves Vaan to run around the city playing matchmaker in order to earn the necessary cab fare.
- With cab fare earned, Vaan makes it to the upper-class area where Balthier lays out the plan: he's requisitioned a small Draklor airship which they can use to get in the supply docks. However, just then some Imperial Soldiers run by, having just finished putting down the Senate and some of them are reassigned to the labs.
- Seems Jules has been spreading rumours about Balthier's return (recall: Cid's his father) to create a bit of a hubub. He does, however, want an inside scoop on the lab's doings (they've been suspiciously silent since Vayne took over the Empire) and has arranged a cabbie to take Balthier and his groupies directly to the lab.
- The lab is quiet... too quiet. The bodies of soldiers are strewn about, it's so mysterious! Cid's bound to be on the top floor so that's where we're headed. On the way, we find one of Cid's offices which has been ransacked, but there's still a key card that's been left carelessly strewn about.
- Anyway, up to the top floor! We are attacked by a bald man with an odd fashion sense (pink pants? really? or maybe he's just a mathie...) who momentarily mistakes us for Cid's lackies. He realizes his mistake and runs off before we can find out who he is, so we follow to the roof where Cid waits.
- It's a happy father-son reunion betwixt Cid and Balthier. The scientist appears to talk to himself and seems to know who Ashe is and decides to test her: a good, old fashion, trial by combat!
- So we jab Cid with sharp objects until he falls down. Cid is cocky, even in defeat, and taunts us with the nethicite that we had come to steal. We also catch a momentary glimpse of an apparation behind Cid (similar to the one with Mjrn and Bergan) that the crazed Doctor refers to as Venat. He babbles something about history back in the hands of man and flies off in a personal airship, telling us that he's going to Giruvegan, suggesting Ashe might find her own piece of nethicite there, and dares us to follow. Balthier is not amused.
- The bald man then finally gets around to introducing himself as Reddas and suggests we get out of there.
- Meanwhile, the Imperial Senate has fallen. War between Archades and Rozzaria seems inevitable. Marquis Ondore has been gathering the rebel fleet (flagship: Garland) to meet Archades in battle.
- It turns out the Marquis had hired Reddas to infiltrate Archades and steal the nethicite (except Cid made off with it, foiling both his plans and Ashe's attempt to destroy it). Failing that, the Marquis is prepared to ally with Rozzaria, even if doing so would allow Vayne to potentially destroy both the resistance and Rozzaria in one swoop.
- Reddas brings the party to the Port at Balfonheim, a wretched hive of scum and villainy, at least until Reddas cleaned things up. The party decides to chase Cid to Giruvegan, rumoured to be in the Feywood, south of Golmore jungle. Meanwhile, Reddas has some other leads he's going to check on.
- After another hunting trip, we finally head to the Feywood, south of Golomore Jungle. Here, we come across a thick wall of Mist which dissipates after we stare at it for a while (presumably, the Dawn Shard that we've been totting around had something to do with that), though not before Ashe has another Mist induced halucination of Rassler (at least Vaan seems to have stopped his halucinations).
- Shortly thereafter we are set upon by a Rafflesia, an overgrown vegetable. It is kind enough to sap our MP, but not before we cast the important buffs and proceed to bash its face in.
- Continuing south, we play with some glyph thingies and come to a gate which requires Belias to be summoned to open (up until this point I had not assigned any Espers or Quickenings to my characters, but now that the plot demands a summon I just went ahead and had them learn all their Quickenings).
- This brings us to the Ancient City of Giruvegan. There's no sign of Cid yet so Balthier suggests waiting outside until he shows up, but Ashe starts to halucinate again and wanders off, so we give chase. She's going to be the death of us yet!
- A guardian statue provides only a minor speed bump in getting into the city. The interior of Giruvegan is somewhat odd looking - kind of spacey and stuff - with a giant crystal in the middle (itself guarded by another, not terribly threatening (for us) guardian monster - guess they don't make 'em like they used to)
- Towards the bottom of the crystal there seems to be large quantities of nethicite, harbouring untold powers. At the lowest level, Shamhazai the Whisperer (an esper and also not a threat) guards a waystone that teleports Ashe up onto some floating platform things.
- Here, Ashe meets a group of those strange apparitions things that call themselves the Occuria and claim to be undieing (and like unto gods). They proclaim to be the ones who gave King Raithwall his (magic) stones and to have shepherded Ivalice throughout the ages.
- The Occuria tell Ashe that Venat - that other Occuria who is working with Doctor Cid - is a traitor and that the manufacted nethicite he is teaching Cid to produce is an affront to nature. They have, therefore, chosen Ashe, being a descendant of Raithwall, to be their instrument in delivering judgement upon Venat and his (its?) cohorts.
- To that end, the Occuria give Ashe a fancy sword so that she can cut her own nethicite shards out of the Sun-Cryst, the source of all nethicite, which is located in some tower "on distant shore", the exact location of which the Ocurria are a bit vague on. With this, Ashe could destroy the Empire and, thus, reclaim her throne.
- It is also seems to be implied here that the Occuria may have been responsible for Ashe's hallucinations of Rassler, presumably so that she would be more receptive to their manipulation (though this is my interpretation)
- The rest of the party heard the exchange, though did not see it, and Basche counsels Ashe to ignore the Occuria as he thinks they go too far. Ashe seems undecided, but as the location of the tower is unknown at this point, it seems moot for the moment. Then Vaan of all people suggests checking in with Reddas, wondering if he might have discovered something useful whilst he's off doing whatever it is he's doing.
- Also, Cid is nowhere to be found and Balthier realizes that they've been used, tricked into this little side adventure to further Cid's nefarious schemes.
- Meanwhile, back at Archadia, Larsa is imploring Vayne to make peace with Ashe, saying that she doesn't want war. Vayne disagrees, but sends Gabranth off with Larsa to find Ashe and pass judgement on her intentions, killing her if necessary.
- When they have left, Cid receives word from Venat that Ashe and the others have taken the bait. The three discuss taking control of history back from the Occuria and giving Vayne what is his due (setting up Vayne as some sort of dynast-king himself)
- Back on Balfonheim, Ashe and crew reconoiter to find out what Reddas was up to whilst they were galavanting in Giruvegan.
- Turns out the ruddy sky pirate was following some other leads he turned up whilst nosing about in Draklor, leading him to the Cataract at Ridorana and the Pharos Lighthouse. However, the combinatation of cataracts and dense mist turned him back.
- The group speculates that the Pharos might be the "tower on distant shore" that the Occuria were babbling about and decide to investigate. Reddas gives Balthier a special sky stone that will allow the Strahl (Balthier's airship, if you recall) to travel in Jagd (another bauble he pinched from Draklor - say what you will, the man takes his pirating seriously).
- So it's off to Ridorana Cataract with Reddas in tow as a guest. The lighthouse is big - very big - with its very own guardian beast at the door (which we poke until it falls down). It also seems that good ol' Raithwall left a message for any who should come after him, though the message doesn't really say anything important other than an "I was here" sort of thing. At least we know that we're on the right track.
- However, it seems that Ashe is still undecided as to what she plans to do once she's got her hands on the Sun-Cryst - take revenge on the Empire, or destroy the nethicite, once and for all. But she's got a lot of time to think since it's a big tower.
- We climb up inside the Pharos doing some puzzle-y things and stabbing a lot of other things until they stop moving.
- Continuing to climb up this stupidly large tower, near the top we fight the Esper Hashmal, the Wroth, who tries to r0xx0r us but through the repeated application of pointy objects, it's us who do the r0xx0r1n9.
- The last section of the tower is, mercifully, free of monsters so the party takes a bit of time to reflect on the past. Ashe still seems undecided on her course of action.
- At the top, we find the Sun-Cryst, shrouded in swirling Mist. Ashe halucinates again about Rossler who seems to be egging her on to take revenge on the Empire. Still, Ashe hesitates.
- This is when Gabranth shows up (how'd he get here? did he follow us up the tower? maybe he flew? if so, why didn't we?). He admits that he was responsible, disguised as his brother, for killing King Raminas, and tries to provoke Ashe. This also inadvertently also provokes Vaan since that means Gabranth was responsible for killing Reks.
- Ashe chooses to forgo revenge - that is not the vision of the Dalmasca she wants and she does not believe her Rossler to be the sort to seek revenge. She slices the apparition of her dead Prince with her sword and before it vanishes it speaks with the voice of one of the Occuria, imploring her to do its bidding (thus seeming to confirm my earlier supposition regarding the nature of Ashe's hallucinations).
- Gabranth attempts to attack Ashe, to force her hand, but Reddas steps in. He reveals that he used to be a judge - Judge Zecht - and was responsible for using one of the nethicite shards at Nabudis at Doctor Cid's orders (he wanted to see what would happen), but after that Reddas renounced his place as a Judge and changed his name.
- Fight ensues with Gabranth, we make him fall down.
- Then Doctor Cid appears, to gloat and rave like a madman. He's come to observe the activation of the Sun-Cryst which is needed to activate the "Bahamut".
- Fight ensues with Doctor Cid. He summons the Esper Famfrit, the Darkening Cloud. Neither are immune to pointy objects.
- After the fight, Cid is consumed by the Mist and the Sun-Cryst is overloading - there seems to be no escape! But Reddas takes it upon himself to destroy the Sun-Cryst with the Occurian sword whilst the others flee. The top of the tower gets blowed up real good, Reddas along with it.
- The party returns to Balfonheim where they are met by Al-Cid Margrave. Al-Cid bears bad news: he was unable to prevent the Rozzarian Empire from seeking war. It seems that Rozzarian soldiers, under the guise of Marquis Ondore's resistance, made incursions into Archadian territory which prompted a response from Archadia. The Marquis was also forced to mobilize his fleets as a result (can't turn his back on his allies or some such).
- What this means is that the Rozzarian and Archanian Empires are now poised for a major clash, with Dalmasca caught in the middle. The Archadians also have the Sky Fortress Bahamut which was activated by syphoning off Mist from the Sun-Cryst before it was destroyed, thanks to good old Doctor Cid (everything's his fault - way to go Cid!)
- The only course of action seems to storm the Bahamut and put a stop to Vayne's schemes once and for all.
- After putzing around for a little bit (a few more hunts, tracking down some rogue Espers) it's time to join the fight.
- A menacing tornado is bearing down on Rabanastre - but wait, that's no tornado, it's the Sky Fortress Bahamut, kicking up a huge sandstorm.
- The Imperial fleet engages Ondore's Resistance. On the Bahamut, Larsa begs Vayne to show mercy, but Vayne intends to crush the Resistance permanently to prevent them from getting uppity in the future. Fighters are launched, the battle starts in ernest.
[Note: one of the Resistance ships that gets destroyed is the "Galuf-Val" which is a reference to one of the heroes from FF5.]
- The Strahl arrives on the scene and get Ondore's fleet to cover them, they're going in there. After some fancy flying by Balthier, the Strahl manages to dock with the Bahamut and its intrepid crew storm the Sky Fortress.
- After cutting their way through some paltry guards, the party comes to the main lift. Gabranth decides to show up and has some personal grudges to settle with his brother. The Judge talks a good fight, but is quickly introduced to the pointy end of several large sticks.
- That distraction taken care of, we take the lift up to the control room where Vayne and Larsa await. We exchange pleasantries and some rhetoric, but naturally there can be only one (course of action): fight! Larsa pulls his sword on Vayne, intent on stopping this madness.
- Vayne fights like a monk who likes to punch and kick. His fists are no match for our various sharp objects. Naturally, however, defeat is no obstacle as Vayne is transformed by Mist, courtesy of Cid's manufacted nethicite, and he conjures up some glowing, floating sword-things.
- Gabranth also drags himself to the scene, having decided that protecting Larsa is more important than sibling rivalries. He pulls his sword on Vayne and assists in the fight.
- Vayne Novus is not much more difficult than his first form and is dispatched with relative ease.
- Still hopped up on nethicite, Vayne manages to nearly kill Gabranth (though Larsa protects him) and Vaan takes the opportunity to stab Vayne with a sword. Venat intercedes before Vaan can finish the job, allowing Vayne some time to run away.
- On the deck of the Bahamut, Vayne tells Venat that he has failed and Venat needs to find someone else. The Occuria replies that he/it has succeeded: the Sun-Cryst is destroyed and the Occuria as a whole no longer have a hold on Ivalice's future.
- Venat then either merges with or imbues Vayne with moar power and Vayne starts merging with bits of the ship, transforming into some sort of cybernetic god-thing ('cause this is, you know, a Final Fantasy after all).
- The party catches up and, of course, can't let this go on. The new Vayne ("The Undying") actually puts up a bit of a fight, but not so much that we still can't bash him until he falls down.
- Vayne dissovles spectacularly. There is a moment of respite and then, oh hey, there's still this war thing going on. Not only that, but Vayne's death-throes have destabilized the Bahamut.
- The party makes it back to the Strahl. There is a minor technical glitch which Balthier and Fran go check out, leaving the Strahl in the hands of Vaan and Penelo - wait, is that a good idea? Also, the Bahamut's engines are failing.
- The Strahl stirs to life and takes off. Basch (posing as Gabranth), Ashe and Larsa all broadcast messages stating that Vayne is dead and that there is a cease-fire with Dalmasca. (You know they're serious 'cause they use their full names.) The fighting stops. However, the Bahamut looks like it's going to crash into Rabanastre, destroying the city.
- As the Alexander prepares to ram the Bahamut, Balthier cuts in: he and Fran are doing the handyman fix-it thing in the Bahamut (need more duct tape) and would really rather not be blown up just yet, thank you very much.
- Balthier and Fran manage to get the Bahamut's engines running again, enough to redirect it to crash (relatively) harmlessly out in the desert, though the fate of the two Sky Pirates is left a bit up-in-the-air.
- One year later, Dalmasca is more or less back to normal, though the ruins of the Bahamut are still visible from the city. Ashe's coronation will be taking place in a month and Basch has taken over Gabranth's job of protecting Larsa (Gabranth's final wish) to help keep the Empire stable and avoid civil war.
- Vaan and Penelo have been taking care of the Strahl, at least until it mysteriously disappears one day. A note has been left in its place, which seems to be from Balthier: he's going after the cache of Glabados and needs the ship. A similar note has been left with Ashe.
- Things end with Vaan and Penelo flying off to meet Balthier (and presumably Fran).
Friday, December 31, 2010
Final Fantasy Tactics: A War With Lions And Stuff
I first played Final Fantasy Tactics on the PlayStation, shortly after Playing FF7. I bought it used whilst I was in undergrad, not really knowing anything about it, mostly on the Final Fantasy name. As it turned out, I ended up liking Tactics a lot. The plot was a lot heavier on political intrigue than most Final Fantasies, though there was of course some fantasy-esque stuff going on in the background. I ended up sinking quite a bit of time into the game, especially exploring the "Deep Dungeon".
I really liked the battle system which was more involved than most FFs and based on the job system used by several of the other games in the series, though it alsa was more detailed bringing a wider array of abilities (for the most part) and greater degree of flexibility in character customization.
So, when a PSP port was released (subtitled The War of the Lions) I knew I would eventually end up getting a copy. It was, in fact, my main motivation for getting a PSP in the first place. Had Square done nothing other than a straight port of the PlayStation version, I'd still have gotten it because, hey, it's a portable FF Tactics, which in itself is awesome. However, the PSP version saw several improvements and addtions.
For one, it received an all-new translation since the original one was, to put it kindly, less than stellar. This also fixed some naming issues with some of the jobs. For example, in the original, White Mages were called Priests, despite the fact that they were clearly the White Mages of Final Fantasy tradition. The PSP version also added a couple of new extra characters and a couple of new classes. There was some rebalancing of existing characters and classes, such as the Arithmetician (formerly Calculator) which was slightly harder to unlock, but not by too much. Math Skills are still overpowered though, and as always quite fun and potentially self-destructive to use :) There are also a couple of new multi-player modes which I have not had the opportunity to make use of yet.
Overall, I've quite enjoyed playing through The War of the Lions, just as much as I did the original. In some ways, the new translation makes it seem like a new game, while at the same time having a familiar, nostalgic feel to it.
Anyway, my "not so short" plot summary is in the post below this one. Perhaps I shall do a summary for FF 12 next, despite not originally planning on doing one since it was released after I started my FF series replay.
Freak Out
-TFitC
I really liked the battle system which was more involved than most FFs and based on the job system used by several of the other games in the series, though it alsa was more detailed bringing a wider array of abilities (for the most part) and greater degree of flexibility in character customization.
So, when a PSP port was released (subtitled The War of the Lions) I knew I would eventually end up getting a copy. It was, in fact, my main motivation for getting a PSP in the first place. Had Square done nothing other than a straight port of the PlayStation version, I'd still have gotten it because, hey, it's a portable FF Tactics, which in itself is awesome. However, the PSP version saw several improvements and addtions.
For one, it received an all-new translation since the original one was, to put it kindly, less than stellar. This also fixed some naming issues with some of the jobs. For example, in the original, White Mages were called Priests, despite the fact that they were clearly the White Mages of Final Fantasy tradition. The PSP version also added a couple of new extra characters and a couple of new classes. There was some rebalancing of existing characters and classes, such as the Arithmetician (formerly Calculator) which was slightly harder to unlock, but not by too much. Math Skills are still overpowered though, and as always quite fun and potentially self-destructive to use :) There are also a couple of new multi-player modes which I have not had the opportunity to make use of yet.
Overall, I've quite enjoyed playing through The War of the Lions, just as much as I did the original. In some ways, the new translation makes it seem like a new game, while at the same time having a familiar, nostalgic feel to it.
Anyway, my "not so short" plot summary is in the post below this one. Perhaps I shall do a summary for FF 12 next, despite not originally planning on doing one since it was released after I started my FF series replay.
Freak Out
-TFitC
A (not so short) Plot Summary of Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tactics
===============
- Some crusty old historian, a scholar of medieval Ivalice history, going by the outlandish moniker "Arazlam" gives us an introductory lecture on the War of the Lions, a war of succession.
- He talks about Delita Heiral, known as a hero who helped end the war, but he claims that not all was as it seems, claiming that another overlooked young man was the true hero - one Ramza Beoulve - his role having hitherto been concealed by the church, now revealed in the Durai papers and we are invited to discover the truth.
- Then we get a new version of the opening cutscene with some guy in gold armour (hi Delita) riding a chocobo through a forest along with some other brigands.
- The scene changes to the interior of Orbonne Monastery where princess Ovelia is praying under the watchful eye of Simon the priest and Knight Agrias.
- The princess' escort is here, Gaffgarion and his band of mercenaries (including Ramza) employed by the Order of the Northern Sky.
- Suddenly, a wounded knight stumbles in with word that the enemy's forces, Duke Goltanna's men, have arrived. They rush off to do battle.
- The battle is one, but whilst we were out playing with sharp objects, Delita snuck into the monastery and kidnapped the princess. Agrias and Ramza can't get to them quick enough and can only watch as Delita escapes with his quarry, though Ramza does recognize him.
- This leads us into a flashback...
Chapter 1: The Meager
- The scene is the Royal Military Academy in Gariland City. After losing the 50 years war, soldiers returning from the frontlines have become disenfrachised and have lost their livelihoods, many turning to theivery and plotting against the crown. Some apprentices discuss the situation.
- The Corspe Brigade has been attacking wains in the vicinity of Eagrose Castle, some say Duke Larg is coming to Gariland along with Marquis Elmdore of Limberry.
- A Knight of the Order of the Northern Sky comes in with an assignment for the apprentices. The order is planning on eliminating the Corpse Brigade with the help of Duke Larg, which will leave Eagrose undermanned so the cadets are to bolster its defenses.
- Another knight comes in with news that some thieves are fleeing to Gariland, so the apprentices get to do some warm-ups. A battle in town ensues with the cadets emerging victorious.
- Afterwards, Ramza has a short flashback to his father's death - Barbaneth Beoulve was a hero of the 50 years' war. Also in attendance were Ramza's older brothers, Dycedarg and Zalbaag, and his sister, Alma. Barbaneth has made arrangements for Ramza's friend, Delita (a commoner) to enter the Academy and tells Ramza he'll need someone he can trust, like Delita.
- Then its off to Eagrose Castle, but in Mandalia Plain we encounter a young hot head by the name of Argath whose gone and gotten himself captured by members of the Corpse Brigade, so we intervene on his behalf. Turns out Argath is an apprentice of Marquis Elmdore and the Marquis was just abducted by the Brigade so Argath wants our help to rescue him. Well, I guess he gets to tag along for now...
- We arrive at Eagrose Castle and go talk to Ramza's brother Dycedarg. Argath tried to get Dycedarg to send troops to rescue the Maquis immediately, but Dycedarg basically told us to mind our own business and garrison the castle
- Whilst cooling our heels we run into Ramza's other brother, Zalbaag and his sister Alma. Zalbaag lets out a few not so subtle hints about a spy that's disappeared near the merchent city of Dorter and muses that investigating that would probably be more interesting that guarding a stuffy old castle.
- We also meet Delita's sister, Tietra and Argath whines about how his family used to be more respectable until his father (or was it an uncle?) sold out to the enemy during the 50 Years War and got himself stabbed in the back. With Argath's bellyaching over with (for now - you just that boy's gonna be trouble) I guess we'll wander on over to Dorter to see what's going on.
- Arriving in Dorter, we witness an exchange between two knights. One is using his skills of persuasion (that being the tip of a sword) to find out the location of one Gustav, but he flees when he catches wind of us (guess we'd better go bathe)
- As the knight retreats and the other one calls in his lackies, Delita thinks he recognizes him from somewhere. Turns out the one doing the "persuading" is Weigraf, leader of the Dead Men, a volunteer group in the 50 Year's War, now head of the Corpse Brigade
- After a brief battle, Ramza, Delita and Argath question the hapless knight that was bullied by Weigraf with Argath applying his own brand of persuasion. Seems that kidnapping Marquis Elmdore wasn't Weigraf's idea, but rather Gustav's, the Brigade's second in command. It is presumed that Gustav is no hiding in Zeklaus Desert to the north, so off we go to play in the sand.
- We arrive in the desert at the "Sand Rats Seitch" and overhere some disgruntled members of the Corpse Brigade discussing management. Sounds like they don't like the way Weigraf is running things and think that Gustav's approach of ransoming off Marquis Elmdore is more likely to lead them to an early (live) retirement.
- Of course, know that we've overheard them nobody can leave without a fight, so we mop up the sand rats and then head into their hideout.
- We find Wiegraf and Gustav having a somewhat pointed discussion concerning their differing management styles, to the point where Wiegraf runs Gustav through. Guess that's the end of that. Wiegraf tells us that kidnapping's not his thing (too lowbrow) and tries to bargain the marquis release for us sparring his life.
- At first, Argath doesn't want to let Wiegraf go, but he sneaks out regarless whilst we argue amongst ourselves. As for the Marquis, he's weak but otherwise live so it's back to Eagrose for him.
- Back at Eagrose, Ramza's brother Dycedarg chews everyone out for abandoning their post and going off to chase the Marquis, but then Duke Larg enters and congratulates us anyway. Then, Dycedarg lets us join in on the final offensive against the Corpse Brigade and we wander off like good little soldiers.
- With our group out of earshot, Dycedarg and Larg comment that Gustav was apparently not the right person for the job, implying that they were behind the kidnapping of the Marquis. The old King is rather ill and the two nobles seem to be scheming...
- Our next destination is the Brigands' Den, just south of Mandalia Plain. There we encounter a group of the Corpse Brigade, led by Milleuda, younger sister of Wiegraf. She seems like a rather anti-establishment sort, so we beat up her and her lackies. After the fight, Ramza offers her mercy (though Argath makes it well known what he thinks of her sort and further illustrates that he is an ass) though she doesn't appreciate us for it and limps off the battle field.
- Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Death Corpse stages a daring raid on the Beoulve Manse, kidnapping Tietra and almost absconding with Alma as well if not for Zalbaag's timely intervention. Dycedarg is injured in the process.
- We learn of the incident when we return to Eagrose Castle. Dycedarg says that they're poised to deal the death blow to the Corpse Bridage and tells Delita that they'll do whatever it takes to rescue his sister first.
- Outside, Argath insists that Dycedarg is lieing as there's no point to save a common girl. Delita decks him, but Ramza tries to calm everyone down. Argath continues to demonstrate that he is an elitist ass and Ramza tells him to get lost. As a parting gift, Argath says that he overheard that the last of the Bridage is holed up inside Ziekden Fortress.
- As we get under way, we decide to make a pit stop at the Mandalia Plains where Ramza and Delita reminice about bygone days and squander precious time playing the reed flute.
- The fort is well guarded, so we take the roundabout scenic route, starting at Lenalian Plateau north of Dorter. Here we encounter Milleuda again with a group from the Brigade as they try to find a way out of the highlands. One of the Brigade suggests surrender but Milleuda will have none of that. She's adamantly opposed to any and all nobles, just for them being nobles and decides that today would actually be a rather good day to die. A fight ensues with, perhaps, predictable results. (Hint: we win.)
- Next stop is the scenic Fovoham Windflats, complete with windmill. Quite the tourist spot. But this is no tourist photo-op today. Inside, Weigraf and Gragoroth (the guy who led the raid against the Beoulve manner) are discussing the prisoner (Tietra) with Weigraf once again acting all noble-like about not taking hostages, ordering Gragoroth to release the girl.
- A monk enters who tells Wiegraf that the enemy (that's us) approaches and that Milleuda, his sister, is dead. This leads to an angry confrontation with Wiegraf. We force him to retreat but after the battle we discover that Gragoroth has disobeyed Wiegraf's orders and has fled with Tietra, presumably to Ziekden Fortress as that's the last place left to go.
- At the fort, we find Gragoroth facing off against Argath, Zalbaag and a couple of knights using Tietra as a human shield. He is kind enough to inform the knights that there's a whackload of gunpowder stockpiled in the fort which would make a lovely explosion. When Zalbaag tires of the conversation he orders Argath to shoot the hostage, which the bastard does, following up with a bolt in Gragoroth.
- Wounded, Gragoroth withdraws into the fort. Zalbaag withdraws to deal with approaching enemies leaving the rest to Argath. Delita flies into a rage and Argath brings in some back up. All to no avail, however, as we deliver a sound beating to Mr. "I'm better than thou."
- As Delita cradles his dead sister, the fort starts to explode, forcing Ramza to retreat, though Delita stays to enjoy the bonfire.
- Ramza muses that he rain away from his crumbling life as things got rough which brings us back to the present, back outside Orbonne Monastery. Agrias intents to pursue the princess' kidnapper and Ramza decides to tag along to find out if it realy was Delita.
Chapter 2: The Manipulated and the Subservient
- We depart the Monastery for Dorter and no sooner do we arrive there then we are beset by a group of thieves, hired by some as yet unknown man for the purposes of killing us. The leader of the thieves seems dismayed to see Gaffgarion with us, but they still give it their all. They don't last long, however. Agrias seems convinced the kidnappers are heading to Fort Besselat so off we go!
- Aside: rumours in the pub reveal that the old king has, at long last, kicked the proverbial bucket and now the Dukes Larg and Goltanna are vieing to become the regent. The Queen favours Larg (her brother) while many nobles/the council favour Goltanna (the late king's cousin) which means there's a power struggle brewing in Ivalice. Also, the peasants are revolting.
- Enroute to the fort we encounter a chocobo beset by goblins in Araguay Woods. We help it, but turn it loose 'cause we don't want to have to clean up chocobo droppings for the rest of our adventure (though perhaps we should have turned it into a tasty meal...)
- We arrive in Zeirchele Falls to find Delita and the Princess on a bridge, surrounded by Northern Sky Knights. The knights claim to be rescuing the Princess, but Delita claims the kidnapping was a scheme by Duke Larg in order to frame Duke Goltanna in killing Ovelia to remove her as a claimant to the thorne (in favour of the young Prince Orinus).
- Turns out Gaffgarion was in cahoots all along so he turns traitor. Naturally we manage to beat them all back (though Gaffy turns and runs when things start getting dicey).
- Our cheery reunion with Delita turns a bit sour as he postulates that Dycedarg had his hand in this scheme as well. Delita also doesn't think we can protect Ovelia forever, but he leaves her with us for the time being, for some reason of his own no doubt. Agrias is still determined though and seems to think Cardinal Delacroix of Lionel Castle might be able to help our cause. (Hint: he's a Cardinal.)
- On our way to Lionel Castle, we come across a group of possibly shadey characters in the Castled City of Zaland, led by one Ludovich, who are chasing a young machinist named Mustadio. Without assertaining the nature of the incident we jump into the fray in support of Mustadio.
- After the battle, we find out that Mustadio is being chased by the Baert Trading Company (well known for various black market dealings) though he refuses to say way (hmmm, suspicious much?) However, the Baert Company holds Mustadio's father prisoner and Mustadio think that Cardinal Delacroix can help save him and wants to tag along. Agrias doesn't trust him and refuses, but she's overridden by Ovelia. Guess it's good to be the, er, princess.
- Before leaving the city, Agrias and Ovelia take a few moments to kick back their heels and relax. Ovelia recalls her life in varous monasteries. She has apparantly met Ramza's sister, Alma. Also, according to Agrias, the Cardinal has, thus far, been neutral in the succession squabbles so she has high hopes that the Cardinal (and thereby the Glabados Church) will protect Ovelia.
- At our next stop, Balias Tor, a group of Baert thugs attempts to capture Mustadio again but we deal with them easily enough. Mustadio still isn't willing to say why they're after him so I guess we just keep trudging along for now.
- Meanwhile, back at Eagrose Castle, Gaffgarion is reporting to Dycedarg. Their conversation basically confirms that, yes, kidnapping Ovelia was Dycedarg's plan, though his men were found dead not far from the Monastery which means someone else has gotten wind of their plan (ie, Delita and whoever he's working with) and is trying to thwart them. He tells Gaffgarion to recapture the princess and kill off the rest of her entourage, including Ramza if he won't step aside. Nice brother you've got there, Ramza.
- We arrive in Lionel Castle and plead our case to Cardinal Delacroix who seems surprisingly accomodating to the Princess. He also seems to have an idea why Mustadio is here, displaying a red crystal - some auracite. It is supposedly one of the legendary "Zodiac Stones" and we get a quick lesson about the Zodiac Braves who have previously saved Ivalice from the demonic Lucavi.
- Anyway, it seems that the Baert Company are after some auracite that Mustadio's father found beneath the Clockwork City of Goug. It seems to be able to activate some of the ancient machines under the city, but Ludovich wants to use it to make weapons. The Cardinal offers to send some soldiers to Goug to route the Baert Company and Ramza and Mustadio decide to help out.
- On our way to Goug, we have a brief encounter with some undead in Tchigolith Fenlands, but they don't live long.
- We arrive in Goug only to find that it's quiet... too quiet. No sign of the Cardinal's men or Baert Company. Ramza and Mustadio decide to canvas the town and meet later in Goug's Lowtown.
- Ramza arrives in the Lowtown on time but Mustadio is nowhere to be seen. Then a man, presumably Ludovich, and his Baert lackies show up demanding the auracite. Mustadio went and got himself captured. How thoughtful of him. They also bring along Mustadio's father as incentive to get Mustadio to cooperate which he appears to do, having Ramza turn over a hidden Zodiac stone. And, surprise, surprise, it turns out that Ludovich was working for Cardinal Delacroix all along.
- Our merry band of fools is deemed to troublesome to let live so we end up having to fight off the Baert goons which isn't too troublesome. Afterwards we find out that what we gave to Ludovich was a fake stone. I guess Mustadio is at least somewhat clever after all.
- As the Cardinal has turned out to be tricksy and false, that means Ovelia and Agrias are in danger. Additionally, Mustadio and his father believe that the Cardinal is trying to use the Zodiac Brave legend to alleviate the pain and suffering of the tumultous times and, naturally, seize power and are unlikely to let go once he has it. He must be stopped!
- However, we're unlikely to be able to storm Lionel Castle from the front, so we're going to sail around to the Port City of Warjilis and try to sneak in the back route. Good luck with that.
- Arriving at port we have another run in with Delita who's still his cherry old self. He insists that Ramza is unable to rescue the princess but, of course, he's the one to do it (delusions of grandeur maybe?) He also talks enigmatically about how everyone else is swept up in the flow of events be he, alone, is swimming against it.
- Meanwhile, in Lionel Castle, Cardinal Delacroix is meeting with Gaffgarion and Ludovich. The crux of the conversation is that Gaffgarion is sent to use the Princess as bait to recapture the stone and Ludovich, who has apparently been a very disappointing minion, has failed the Cardinal for the last time. We don't get to see what happens, but Ludo is presumed dead, likely messily so.
- That delightful interlude over, Ramza and company arrive in Balias Swale and find Agrias fleeing some of the Gryffon Knights of Lionel. As it turns out, she and the princess had attempted (or been allowed?) escape, but the princess was recaptured and Agrias was heading back to re-rescue her so good timing on our part, I guess. Agrias also claims that Ovelia is to be executed so we have to make a change of course to Golgollada Gallows.
- At the execution site, the whole thing turns out to be a trap, using an imposter Ovelia to lure Ramza and company there. Gaffgarion tries to get Ramza to turn to the Dark Side, to return to his brothers and help them but Ivalice to rights, but Ramza refuses and says his brothers are justing using war for their own personal gain. He also starts getting all emo, blaming Tietra's death on his own inaction.
- Due to some luck at being able to break Gaffgarion's weapon early on in the battle, he turns into a total push over and before long he's running away with his tail between his leg. But now we've got to go to Lionel Castle to save the real Princess, for real!
- Meanwhile, in the dungeons of Lionel, Delita is trying to talk to Ovelia when the Cardinal and some other guy come in (so that's where Delita's loyalties are, for the moment, anyway). The other guy ends up telling the Princess that she's a fake, that the real Ovelia died years ago and she was set up as a replacement to eventually wrest power from the Queen since it was thought the King was to feeble to breed further. However, a prince was eventually produced (and it is implied that the King is probably not his real father) which creates the current predicament around succession.
- The Cardinal and his posse claim to want to put Ovelia in her rightful place on the throne and leave her to chew on things for a bit.
- Also meanwhile, waaay back an the Lenalian Plateau, good old Weigraf is visiting his sister's grave and vows revenge. Just then, another mysterious figure approaches (naming himself Loffrey), offering Weigraf help, and of course power, to achieve both his vengence and his goals of ousting the corrupt aristocracy.
- Back to Lionel as we storm the castle! Ramza somehow manages to get up on the ramparts (using no doubt as yet unrevealed dark arts) but before he can sprink the gate, Gaffgarion appears and triggers an ambush! This time the Fell Knight doesn't run and we defeat him once and for all. Now to save the princess!
- Meanwhile, at Zeirchele Falls, Delita has already fled Lionel with Ovelia in tow - doh! They are ambushed by a few members of the Order of the North Sky, but Delita makes short work of them. Ovelia now seems to have little choice but to follow Delita, regardless of his intentions.
- We then return to our castle invasion already in progress. Ramza and crew have entered Cardinal Delacroix's inner sanctum. After Ramza refuses to give the Cardinal the auracite and demands to know where Princess Ovelia is, the Cardinal tells Ramza what we already know through the magic of cutscenes: that Ovelia has already been taken to Zeltennia, having apparently accepted their offer to put her on the throne.
- The Cardinal attempts to turn Ramza to the dark side, tempting him with the ability to change the worlds and get even with his brothers (ah, sibling rivalry) but Ramza has no interest in changing anything, especially if it means innocents get harmed in the cross fire.
- That tact foiled, the Cardinal decides to try the direct approach, pulling out his own Zodiac Stone and transforms into the Lucavi Cuchulainn the Impure. Battle ensues and, after a few attempts, we manage to defeat him, by the skin of our teeth. Cuchulainn explodes, leaving his Zodiac Stone behind.
- In the mean time, Delita arrives at Zeltennia and comes before Duke Goltanna. In addition to telling how he "rescued" the Princess, he has brought a prisoner who claims that the kidnapping was masterminded by one of Goltanna's own advisors to gain favour with Larg and keep Goltanna out of power. The prisoner points out the supposed traiter (who claims to know nothing) and Delita sumarily executes him then and there. So much for fair trials it seems.
- Delita goads Goltanna into leading the Order of the Southern Sky against Lesalia, forcing Larg to mobilize the Northern Sky. This whole incident prompts Goltanna to get the Queen banished and crown Ovelia as Queen. In retaliation, Larg also crowns Prince Orinus, naming himself regent. The two sides go to war, instigating the War of the Lions.
Chapter 3: The Valiant
- Three Months later, Duke Goltanna confers with various advisers and generals as to the state of the war. Crops are not doing well on either side and famine is a real danger. Cidolfus Orlandeau (aka, Thunder God Cid) proposes peace talks, but Goltanna's having none of that and decides to raise taxes instead in order to fund the continuing war.
- Ramza and co. are on their way to Lesalia so that Ramza can tell his brothers about the shadowy underpinnings of the war and to try his hand at "swimming against the tide" as it were.
- Enroute, they encounter a young astrologer named Orran in The Mining Town of Gollund who has run afowl of a den of thieves. Once again, without assertaining the nature of the conflict we jump in on the side of Orran. The thieves do not prove too troublesome and they are soon dispatched.
- Orran is headed in the opposite direction of us so he turns down the offer to tag along, though he does seem to find the fact that Ramza is a Beoulve interesting for some reason. Oh well, we'll just keep heading on our merry way.
- We arrive in Lesalia with no further incidents and Ramza goes and visits his brother Zalbaag and reveals his suspicions that Dycedarg and Larg were plotting together to kidnap the princess and fuel the war for their own personal gain. Zalbaag doesn't take too kindly to this, insults Ramza's mother (they're only half-brothers, after all) and basically tells him to get out of his sight.
- Ramza takes the hint, but before he can make a clean get away, his sister Alma comes and tries to talk to him to find out what's going on. She hints that she's previously seen a piece of auracite (implied to be the Virgo stone) at Orbonne Monastery and wants to tag along as one of Ramza's groupies.
- This conversation goes on just long enough for Confessor Zalmour, of the Glabados Church to show up and accuse Ramza of murdering Cardinal Delacroix. Ramza tries to explain what really happened but of course the Inquisitor won't have any of it.
- Ramza's choices are to surrender, which will probably result in an eventual declaration of guilt and, thus, death; flee, thereby admitting guilt; or fight. Ramza chooses to fight. The Confessor ends up fleeing and Ramza now sets off to Orbonne to hunt for the Virgo stone with Alma in tow.
- We arrive in the Monastery to find that somebody's already gotten there before us and is riffling through the vaults looking for Virgo (one of the crown jewels of Ivalice). Elder Simon has been injured and tries to disuade Ramza from persuing the intruders but Ramza is headstrong and foolhardy and so persists.
- According to Simon, High Confessor Marcel and his group want to restore the Church to prominence so they instigate civil war to weaken potential opponents and use the Zodiac Brave story to win the trust of the common folk.
- Simon also thinks Ramza is more like his father than his brothers and might be able to put a stop to all this. Way to go and inflate his ego there. So Ramza heads into the vaults to stop them, leaving Alma to look after Simon. He also gives his auracite to her for safe keeping.
- A bunch of Temple Knights, lead by one Isilud, are searching for Virgo in the vaults. We drive them off, but not before they find the blasted thing. Chasing them on the way out, we are delayed by our dear old friend, Wiegraf, who we zerg rush because, boy, is he nasty! (Wiegraf has joined this group for the prospect of power, it seems.)
- Despite our efforts, the thugs manage to escape with the stone, and they take Alma with them! The nerve! Also, the injured and dieing Wiegraf seems to hold the Aries stone and he forms a pact with it as Ramza looks on, becoming one with Belias the Gigas.
- Simon limps out of the Monastery and confesses his negligence in turning a blind eye and hands over the Scriptures of Germonique that he has recently uncovered which purport to reveal the truth of the Zodiac Braves.
- We head north to Dorter and are accosted by a strange mage-type (hello Marach) who demands that Ramza turn over the book. Ramza admits to not having read the thing, but figures it must be important considering hitmen are being sent to waylay him over it. The mage does not really illuminate things but only says that if Ramza wants to see Alma again then he'll bring the book to Riovannes Castle.
- Meanwhile, Delita and Ovelia are off in some ruins somewhere as they head for destinations unknown. Ovelia gets all whiney about how she's not really the "real" Ovelia and Delita takes a moment to rail against the establishment. Then they share a rare tender moment when Delita promises to create an Ivalice worthy of Ovelia and swears to do so by his dead sister Tietra. That's either sweet or kinda morbid.
- Back at the ranch, Ramza decides he may as well check out this book thing that people seem like they're willing to kill over.
- The Germonique Scriptures were written by a disciple of St. Ajora (the titular Germonique) and records details of Ajora's life. Ramza recalls the legends surrounding Ajora - his sainthood and supposedly being a child of god and something about defeating a demon summoned by an overly ambitious king - but Germonique records something quite different.
- According to Germonique, Ajora was simply a rabble rouser who had made himself a nuissance to the governments of the day and Germonique was a spy sent to investigate the details. Of course the growing Glabados Church made Ajora into a saint and has suppressed the truth, claiming that Ajora had assembled the legendary Zodiac Braves to defeat the supposed demon.
- And now this book has fallen into Ramza, who has been branded a heretic and has no reason to look favourably upon the Glabados Church which makes for an interesting recipe. Anyway, on to Riovanes!
- Our journey north is rudely interrupted whilst crossing the Zeklaus Desert when we come across an odd young man being chased by a heard of behemoths. Ramza once again shows his proclivity for jumping to conclusions and enters the fray on behalf of the young fellow without adequately assessing the situation. I mean, what if this guy's some super villain or the behemoths have some ligitmate grievance against him? We'll just never know their side of the story.
- The behemoths are defeated and the odd fellow turns out to be Luso, a game hunter (aha! it would seem the behemoths may have been justified after all) who has become separated from his friends and is looking for them. He also has some diary, er, "journal" that he writes in. Even though only pansies write in diaries, that is, "journals", Ramza decides to let him tag along anyway.
[NOTE: Luso is the main character of Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Grimoire of the Rift and is one of the new special characters in the PSP port of FFT. The journal thing is a reference to the magic journal he carries around in A2.]
- Continuing on, we come to Grogh Heights where we encounter some deserters from the Order of the Southern Sky. They recognize Ramza as a wanted Heretic and think that if they capture him (dead or alive) they might be able to get an honourable discharge. Unfortunately for them, Ramza's not going to go quietly.
- After the battle, Orran, that astrologer from the start of the chapter, rides in with some knights in tow and thanks us for mopping up their deserters. As his orders don't include catching heretics, he and Ramza chat amicably.
- Ramza asks Orran to pass a message to Orlandeau that there are others behind the scenes pulling the strings of this war. Orran agrees (he's Orlandu's adopted son) and tells Ramza that they have their own suspicions about the conspiracies at work but have no proof. He also tells Ramza that he has allies which, I suppose, is good to know.
- We then come to the Walled City of Yardrow and continue Ramza's habit of taking sides by rescuing a girl named Rapha from a group we decide looks less than savory. She fills us in on some regional politics: Grand Duke Barrington, lord of Fovoham, is plotting to use the chaos of war to take over Ivalice for himself! The horror!
- Rapha's less than appologetic brother, Marach (the mage who demanded the Germonique Scriptures from us earlier), however, seems to support the Grand Duke and went so far to make threats against Alma's life if Ramza didn't hurry up and get his ass to Riovanes, and now Rapha's presence is demanded as well. Then Marach's messenger frog explodes. How nifty is that?
- As a side note, Rapha and Marach were orphans from the Fifty Years War, brought up by the Grand Duke, though his intentions weren't entirely honourable. He wanted to make use of the powers that the siblings' family possessed and while Marach is still in his pocket, as it were, it seems Rapha has wisened up to his schemes.
- Next, passing through the Yuguewood, Ramza's crew is beset by ghosts of some of those who perished during the 50 years war. They do the Ghostbusters proud by sending them to their eternal rest. There is now nothing standing between Ramza and the grueling gauntlet known as Riovanes Castle.
- As Ramza marches on Riovanes, Duke Barrington has a nice fire side chat with Formav and Wiegraf of the Templar Knights. He says that those with power will control Ivalice and asks the Templar Knights to join with him as he insinuates that he knows about the Zodiac Stones despite Formav playing dumb and comments that he has two for safe keeping. He further blackmails them with threats of using the Germonique scriptures to reveal the Church's schemes.
- Formav doesn't take too kindly to blackmail and goes all Zodiac Beast on Barrington's ass.
- Meanwhile, Marach is sent to the castle gates to get the scriptures from Ramza, offering Alma's saftey in return, but Rapha tells Ramza not to believe him. So instead, Ramza jumps on Marach with the pointy end of a spear and Marach flees, with Rapha giving chase. Ramza's troops mop up the rest of the riff-raff with no trouble.
- While this is going on, inside the castle, Alma hears the sounds of bloody carnage from her cell. A wounded soldier stumbles in and tells her to run while she has the chance. Well, Alma's not stupid so she takes the chance and runs.
- Ramza then wanders into Riovanes' Keep where Weigraf stands amidst several dead soldiers. He tells Ramza to draw his sword, but Ramza just stands there and says that he pities Weigraf, and wonders what Milleuda must think of all this.
- Weigraf retorts that this is no longer about avenging his sister's death, nor is it about anything noble or righteous at all. He's now all about creating as much chaos as possible. Well, I suppose it's nice to have a goal, but still...
- This leads to a one-on-one duel between Ramza and Weigraf, during which Ramza tries to convince Weigraf that the stones are evil, tools of the Lucavi, but Weigraf just goes on about how it's all about controlling people's perceptions. The winner gets to write history, essentially. Anyway, Ramza was a Dragoon for this battle so it's all just a matter of jumping on Weigraf with the pointy end of a spear a couple of times in order to take him out.
- Weigraf tries to run away, but Ramza tells him to show himself. Obediently, Weigraf returns but now he transforms into Belias, the Gigas. Since Ramza's troops are now backing him up, Belias summons a trio of archdemons for support. This is kind of a tough battle (though auto-potion is brokenly awesome for it) but Ramza and troops manage to pull out a win.
- The defeated Belias drops his zodiac stone and we then switch to the council chambers which is notably bloodier than when we left it. Temple Knight Isilude is looking to be in pretty rough shape. Alma wanders in and tries to help Isilude, but the wounded knight tells her that, having seen his father Formav turn into a lucavi, he now things Ramza is correct and gives Alma a stone he was holding to give to Ramza, then Isilude dies.
- Before Alma can go anywhere, Formav enters and prepares to kill her, but his stone seems to react to her in a strange way and he now thinks he "found" someone, though he's maddenly vague about it. So, he simply chooses to render her unconscious and kidnap her. Fortunately, Alma drops the stone Isilude gave her without Formav noticing.
- Meanwhile, on the roof of the castle, Rapha confronts Duke Barrington (who has somehow escaped the carnage in the castle) and more-or-less mocks her. Marach hears the conversation and finally realizes that Barrington is really a rat bastard. The Duke attempts to shoot Rapha, but Marach takes the bullet for her.
- Barrington demands the Rapha hand over the stone, but then a mysterious figure appears and unceremoniously tosses the duke off the roof. Well, that was easy. But wait! It's Marquis Elmdore! According to the tavern rumours, he was supposed to be dead...
- The Marquis is, naturally, not human any more, but he just sics a couple of assassins on us for now, who we dispatch.
- After the fight, Rapha mourns for Marach, causing the Scorpio stone to react. Ramza fears the worst (naturally, after the Wiegraf incident) but the stone simply revives Marach, without turning him into some horrible ravening beast creature.
- Ramza takes a moment to search the castle for Alma but only finds the Pisces stone that she dropped. Marach waxes philosophical (I suppose death will do that to a person) and supposes that the stones' power reflects the intent of the wielder.
- Anyway, the War of the Lions rages on and events at Riovannes suggest that Folmarv may be at the centre of things, manipulating even the High Confessor Marcel. Ramza suspects that Delita may know more so we set course for Zeltennia.
Chapter 4: In the Name of Love
- Elsewhere, Orran (that astrologer guy we saved earlier) welcomes Orlandeau back to Zeltennia and reports on recent events, seemingly connected to the Zodiac stones and suspicions surrounding the Church and the Templar Knights. Orlandeau then pulls out the Libra stone, reflecting it cannot remain hidden for long. Dun, dun, dun.
- And before we go chasing after Delita, Ramza makes a detour down to Goug to talk to Mustadio's father who found some strange metalic sphere thing that reacts to the Zodiac stones and has an Aquarius symbol inscribed in it. What could it mean?
- Passing through the Mining Town of Gollund, Ramza hears rumours of strange beasts in the area and teams up with one Beowulf who is looking for a dragon. Fighting through several areas of the city, we eventually come to a store room or some such where a dragon is surrounded by a bunch of monsters, including a demon type.
- After a brief fight, the dragon is saved. This is Reis and is apparently the dragon Beowulf was looking for. Out of thanks, Beowulf gives Ramza the Aquarius stone and he and Reis join up with his travelling circus.
- Ramza then goes back to Goug and uses the Aquarius stone to activate that sphere thing which transforms into a might morphin' robot thing which, as a joke, Ramza commands to pound Mustadio into the ground. Good thing Phoenix Downs are plentiful, right? Anyway, the robot (aka Construct 8) joins up 'cause we know it's got some wicked dance moves.
- We now return to our regularly scheduled quest and head east to Dugeura Pass where some local mooks attempt to ambush us and say that we won't get through the pass whilst they are alive. Well, I think we all know the solution to this problem. A short skirmish later, Ramza and co. are moseying along, putting this minor speed bump behind them.
- Continuing east towards Zeltennia, we arrive in the Free City of Bervenia where Knight Templar Meliadoul attempts to seek revenge on Ramza for killing her brother, Isilud. Ramza tries to tell her that it was really a Lucavi that killed Isilud, but she just scoffs at Ramza in an "oh, yeah, I've heard that one before!" kind of way. So we steal all of her stuff before defeating her soundly. Miliadoul just shakes her fist and says "Next time, Ramza - next time!"
- Meanwhile, off in a castle somewhere, Delita still mourns the death of his sister, Tietra, and overhears Ovelia making fart noises, which turns out to be her actually trying (and failing) to blow a reed whistle. Delita shows her how it's actually done and then promises not to let Ovelia get used and discarded the way his sister was.
- Back to the journey east, we are accosted by a flock of chocobos whilst trying to cross Finnath Creek, including the most evil of chocobos: the notorious red chocobo (we hates them and their Choco Meteor). For some reason, the chocobos are accompanied by a pig. Anyway, after quickly dispatching the reds, we play with the rest for a bit for some job points and continue on our way.
- We finally arrive in Zeltennia Castle and Ramza goes to the cathedral, which is where Delita finds him. Ramza decides to take the direct approach and asks Delita why the church has planted him in Goltana's troops. Delita sees no harm in spilling the beans (isn't this one of those evil overlord do-not-dos?) and says its his job to assassinate Goltanna and Orlandeau.
- Further, the peasants are tired of war and are getting kind of revolting but the aristocrats lack the troops to repress them so all sides are converging on Fort Besselat to end things in one swift stroke. The church will take this opportunity to assassinate the leaders (Goltanna, Orlandeau, Larg, Dycedarg, etc.) and, with the help of the Zodiac Brave story and the auracite, the church will gain the favour of the people, setting up Ivalice as a puppet state under their rule.
- Of course, Ramza's been making a nuisance of himself by hindering the Church's auracite collection plans. Delita declares that he will kill Ramza if he needs to, but for now since they both have the same short term goals (ending the war), they are not yet enemies.
- Ramza asks Delita to join him, but Delita refuses, since he intends to protect Ovelia.
- Just then, Confessor Zalmour, along with his merry band of henchmen, surrounds the Cathedral and demands Ramza to turn himself over. Naturally, Ramza's having none of this. The Confessor spots Delita who decides that he can't let Zalmo see him and live so Delita temporarily joins up with Ramza for the ensuing battle.
- After dispatching the Confessor, one Valmafra, a mage working with Delita, informed him that the Order of the Northern Sky had started its advance on Fort Besselat. Ramza heads out to try to get to Orlandu first and avoid a major clash.
- Before wandering off to Besselat, Ramza and crew pick up on some rumours (Bervenia and Dorter) concerning a rash of thefts. Before leaving Dorter, a group of thugs ambush Ramza only to find he's not the droid they were looking for, but since he's been branded a heretic and has a price on his head they'll try to catch him anyway.
- However, that's when the real target, the Sky Pirate Balthier, shows up and the thugs think they get two bounties for the price of one, but alas, it is not to be as Ramza and Baltheir team up to beat them senseless.
- It turns out that Balthier is searching for the "Cache of Glabados" for reasons of his own and decides to tag along with Ramza for a bit as they both seem to be in the Church's bad books right now. As a bonus, Balthier has experience babysitting children (as he puts it, to Ramza's chagrin).
[Note: Balthier is originally from Final Fantasy XII (also set in Ivalice) and is one of the new secret characters for the PSP port.]
- Then it's off to play in the sand - the Beddha Sandwaste, that is. However, someone's already there, ruining our sandbox. Knight Templar Barich is releasing airborn poison which he intends to use to draw out the defenders by weaking their enemies, thus making it easier to assassinate all the leaders at once. Ramza just goes and beats him up because who wants to play in a poisoned sandbox?
- Meanwhile, in Fort Besselat, Duke Goltanna accuses Orlandeau of being a traitor (despite twenty years of loyal service and continued denials) and has him imprisoned. This is because, back in Zeltennia, Ramza foolishly told Delita he was heading there to deliver evidence to expose the church's schemes (the Germonique scriptures) and Delita arrived first while Ramza was playing in the sand.
- Goltanna then goes on to promote Delita and gives him the command of the Order of the Southern Sky. Bad move, there.
- Anyway, now Ramza arrives at Fort Besselat and is given the option to approach from the north or the south. Ramza chooses south and is beset by a bunch of Southern Sky flunkies who try to stop us from talking to Orlandeau despite us being, you know, the good guys. That's what Ramza gets for blabbing his plans to Delita. However, this obstacle is quickly removed.
- Meanwhile, on the north side of the fort, the poison that had been released has successfully incapacitated the Northern Sky. Zalbaag enters the battlefield (or what's left), and finds Dycedarg who is limping along, apparently having been affected by the poison himself.
- Ramza's two older brothers find Duke Larg nearby, also weak from the poison, and Dycedarg takes the opportunity to stab the Duke. Seem's everyone's a traitor these days. Dycedarg has apparently been plotting to have house Beoulve rise to the top and sees this as his opportunity. He then intimidates Zalbaag into planting the dagger on one of the soldiers (thereby shifting the blame) before he collapses himself.
- In the mean time, Ramza has arrived at the Fort Besselat Sluice. Ramza gets the brilliant idea to open the sluice and flood the battlefield, thus preventing any fighting. What does he think this is, Orthanc? And won't he just drown everyone?
- Not one to dwell on such consequences, Ramza and his lackies dive head first into battle, disposing all who stand in their way, until they are able to release the river. Water goes crashing down stream and, presumably, everything becomes wet and soggy.
- In the subsequent chaos, Ramza and Orran, plus Valmafra, one of Delita's flunkies (what's she doing here?) release Orlandeau from captivity and he decides now would be a good time to make himself scarce and tags along with Ramza's growing menagerie. Meanwhile, Orran is sent to Zeltennia to keep an eye on Princess Ovelia.
- As Ramza makes his getaway, Delita checks in on Duke Goltanna. Goltanna wants Delita to pursue the Northern Sky despite the flood, but Delita decides he'd much rather run the Duke through. He then sacrifices a Glabados fanatic disguised as a fake Orlandeau and Valmafra reports that the real Thunder God has escaped with Ramza. Delita seems to be counting on Ramza to do something...
- High Confessor Marcel offers to broker peace between the sides but they don't feel like sharing the playground just yet. Ramza decides he'd rather head to Limberry Castle to rescue Alma.
- In the Trade City of Sal Ghidos, Ramza encounters a strangely familiar flower girl who sells him a flower for 1 gil. (This is Aeris - or Aerith - a crossover from FF7.)
- This encounter unlocks an event back at Goug where Mustadio's father has dug up some wild contraption that has the Cancer Zodiac symbol on which means it's stone huntin' time. This takes us back to Nelveska Temple which is waaaay up north of Zeltennia. Here we fight Construct 7 who is guarding the temple or something. He, along with a pack of other nasty things, packs a punch but then so does Ramza and crew. Defeating Worker 7 earns the Cancer stone.
- While at Nelveska, Beowulf "borrows" the Cancer stone (he'll give it back, promise!) and sends the Holy Dragon Reis with it into the temple. This just so happens to uncurse the dragon, and out walks the human female, Reis, who seems to be acquanted with Mr. Beowulf.
- Back in Goug, the Cancer stone is used to activate the contraption and much to Mustadio's relief, this time it does not come alive and KO him. Instead, it summons a strangely familiar, and grouchy, SOLDIER. Hello Cloud! Seems he's still suffering from chronic migranes and goes running off, presumably in search of a doctor or a good shrink.
- A bit confused, Ramza decides to get back to the matter at hand and heads to Limberry. But the journey is interrupted in Sal Ghidos (again!) by a group of theives who are trying to extort money from the flower girl, whom they call Aerith. Cloud stumbles in, still suffering from headaches (or maybe a hangover) and it's up to Ramza to mop things up since Cloud turns out to be useless in a fight, always running off to a corner to hide.
- Afterwards, Cloud mumbles something about having to get to the Promised Land and Ramza decides to let him tag along out of pity.
- That out of the way, Ramza continues south towards Limberry, encountering a couple of minor speed bumps in the form of some bandits on Mount Germinas who try (and fail) to collect the bounty on Ramza's head and the restless dead at Lake Poescas who try (and fail) to steal our auracite.
- Meanwhilst, Knight Templar Loffrey pays a visit to Ramza's dear eldest brother Dycedarg and casually accuses him of assassinating Duke Larg which, naturally, Dycedarg denies. Loffrey then discusses the poison used at Fort Besselat and uses that to imply that Dycedarg poisoned his father. This leaves Dycedarg somewhat flabergasted but he still swims in denial. Not to be detered, Loffrey leaves a gift from High Confessor Marcel in the form of a Zodiac stone. It also happens that the middle brother, Zalbaag, was listening to the whoe thing outside the door.
- Anyway, Ramza goes stumbling headlong into Limberry Castle to find the door wide open. He gets a bad feeling just as a pair of assassins (Celia and Lettie) who work for Marquis Elmdore appear. it's a trap! They say Alma is inside, so we've got to fight them. They're annoying as heck (though Ramza does learn Ultima from them), but despite the stated mission objectives, you actually only have to take down one of them to win.
- When one assassin is defeated, they both flee to Elmdore who is talking to Lord Folmarv who are discussing that a host as recently been chosen for Adrammelech and that "that girl" will be the host for the High Seraph. Elmdore then goes to attend to the matter of Ramza.
- Ramza faces off against Elmdore who, like his lackies, is annoying but manageable. He flees to the necroholl when critically wounded and Ramza pursues, of course. (Though on the way, Ramza encounters and defeats Argath again, just as arrogant as before but notably more undead. Much easier fight than the other two.)
- In the necroholl, Elmdore summons some undead and transforms into Zalera, the Death Seraph. Meliadoul chooses this moment to wander onto the scene and seeing the Lucavi in the flesh she decides that Ramza was probably telling the truth about events at Riovannes and the death of her brother Isilud. After the battle, she decides to join our rag-tag band and tells Ramza that a Zodiac stone was given to his brother Dycedarg, so we're probably going to be paying him a visit next (or soon).
- Elsewhere, presumably in Zeltennia, Orran fights his way to Ovelia's chambers to tell her that Orlandeau didn't really kill Goltanna (ah, so Delita was framing T.G. Cid) but before he can reveal the truth, Delita catches up, along with his flunky Valmafra. Delita doesn't seem to want to kill Orran as he has some sort of plan for him as he builds a legend for himself.
- Delita now plans to take down the Order of the Northern Sky and rebuild Ivalice for Ovelia and those who oppose him, including the Church, will be dealt with. Valmafra, being an agent of the Church, moves to assassinate Delita but she hesitates and Delita, who was expecting this, finishes her off first.
- Meanwhile, Zalbaag takes a herbalist to visit his father's grave. He pays the herbalist to confirm the presense of mossfungus on the grave. This does not seem to bode well.
- On the way to Eagrose Castle to slap around his brother, Ramza is stopped in Dorter by Knight Templar Cletienne. Meliadoul attempts to learn more from him about the truth about her father, Folmarv, and what his plans are but Cletienne basically just mocks her and claimes he's in the right. Anyway, the Knight Templar proves just to be a minor speed bump. He seems to be buying time for something... but what?
- Ramza arrives at Eagrose with his own personal army in tow. However, there are no guards in sight so Ramza walks in without a fight.
- Inside, Ramza finds Zalbaag confronting Dycedarg about their father. Dycedarg calls in the mooks, just as Ramza and crew arrive to lend Zalbaag a hand and help clean up.
- When defeated, Dycedarg transforms into Adrammelech and says he poisoned their father because he was letting House Beoulve's chance to rule Ivalice (due to an increasingly weak and divided royal house, not to mention an increasingly disaffected populace) pass by. He then zaps Zalbaag, appearing to vapourize him. However, Ramza's crew makes short work of Adrammelech as the overmatched Lucavi barely gets to do anything thanks to the fight starting with Ramza's team being pre-buffed with haste.
- Ramza then heads to Mullonde, seat of the Church, to rescue Alma. However, Folmarv has decided that High Confessor Marcel is no longer necessary due to Ramza having obtained most of the auracite already. He forces the location of the Necrohol out of him (under Orbonnne Monastery) and the means to break its seal (the Germonique scripture) which, conveniently, Ramza also has. With no further need of the High Confessor, Folmarv has him impaled and left for dead.
- Ramza arrives at the cathedral in Mullonde and foolishly walks up to the front door demanding Alma's release. The temple guards are only too happy to attempt to execute him, only they don't count on the power of Math and are quickly taken down.
- Ramza enters the cathedral and finds the High Confessor who is still twitching. He manages to make himself mildly useful before dieing by telling Ramza about Orbonne.
- Folmarv and his remaining flunkies (Cletienne and Loffrey) try to barter Alma's life for the Scriptures and the auracite, but Ramza's not entirely stupid and only gives them the Scriptures and keeps the Zodiac Stones upon confirmation that Alma is safe.
- When the contents of the Scriptures are confirmed, Folmarv tries to take the auracite by force, but he and his flunkies run away when one of them becomes critically wounded, the cowards.
- Ramza enters the crypts, thinking to pursue them, but instead finds a much undeader looking Zalbaag and some demons. Zalbaag is unable to fight the control of the Lucavi and begs Ramza for release. Ramza's company defeats him and Zalbaag sort of explodes. Messy. I guess being undead will do that to you.
- House Beoulve is now at an end, but the only thing left to do is pursue Folmarv, put a stop to his dastardly plans, and rescue Alma. Of course that means one thing: go do some side quests!
- Actually, most of the side quests are already complete. In wandering around, at Lionel Castle, Beowulf and Reis enjoy a peaceful moment only to have Reis kidnapped by one Ser Aliste on behalf of Bremondt, new lord of Lionel (succeeding Delacroix) who is apparently the one responsible for Reis' curse.
- Ramza, Beowulf and company return to Lionel to lay the smack down. It turns out Aliste was dieing and wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. After that, we fight Bremondt and his lackies who, interestingly, are all female. Seems Bremondt had a thing for Reis and tried to curse Beowulf to take him out of the picture, but Reis took the curse for Beowulf instead.
- Beowulf and Bremandt debate about the nature of love a bit but we otherwise pound him into the ground. Before being defeated, he transforms into a Dark Dragon. After that, Beowulf and Reis are happily reunited and we continue on our merry way.
- Up in Zeltennia, Agrias (who has somehow managed to sneak past guards or whatever) finds Ovelia and appologises for not being around to protect her since she's been off galavanting with Ramza fighting demons and stuff. Agrias gives Ovelia a dagger for protection and leaves her in Delita's protection, though Agrias doesn't really seem to trust him.
- Then, a rumour in Gariland suggests some Northern Sky deserters are making themselves annoying in the Brigands' Den so we go and clear them out.
- Finally, a trip down to Warjilis opens up the Midlight's Deep for later exploration, but I'll worry about that some other time.
- Now it's time to go hit up Orbonne Monastery. Folmarv, Loffrey and their associates are up to their dastardly misdeads but we first have to dispatch a group of peons to get to them. Yawn.
- Loffrey is the first challenger. He doesn't pose a serious challenge though can be slightly annoying (don't break my Genji armour, gah! well, at least I'm not saving this). When defeated, Loffrey opens a portal which teleports everyone down to the Mullonde Necrohol and then destroys the exit, thinking to trap Ramza there forever. Then he dies.
- Next up is Cletienne in the ruins of some dead city. Since the goal of this sequence of battles is just to defeat the main guy (Loffrey, Cletinne and so on) I decide to go for the jugular vein since there's really not much point in collecting crystals or anything at this point. Cletienne goes down like a rag doll, plus Math Skills are way overpowered :)
- Next is Barich who was the guy with the poison at the Beddha Sandwaste. As with the others before him, he falls swiftly.
- This brings Ramza, at long last, to the Airship Graveyard where Formav is attempting to resurrect Saint Ajora into the body of Alma using the Virgo stone. When this does not appear to be working, he decides a blood sacrifice is required and transforms into Hashmal, Bringer of Order, and attacks Ramza's party.
- Hashmal is defeated without too much difficulty. However, Saint Ajora has still not revived, so Hashmal decides rather than suffer an epic fail, he'll sacrifice himself to revive her (hey, he's pretty much already dead so nothing to lose, I suppose).
- Alma finally awakes but is then possessed by Saint Ajora, aka the Bloody Angel. Alma's got some fight in her, however, and the two somehow separate. Saint Ajora then transforms into Ultima, the High Seraph and summons some demons to aid her.
- Reiterating that Math Skills are overpowered, I take out the helper demons in pretty much one shot, even at the cost of damaging a couple of my own units (totally worth it). Then we're free to keep hitting Ultima until she falls down.
- Except in Final Fantasy tradition, Ultima then transforms into her true, much deader looking form. At this point, however, we just continue the "hit it until it falls down" strategy which goes smoothly, despite one of my units being turned into a frog near the end. Then Ultima blows up for good. Somewhere in there, she also implies that Ramza is ultimately descended from the person who originally defeated/sealed/whatevered Saint Ajora in the first place.
- Cut to the end of a funeral in a graveyard. The mourners are mourning the loss of Alma and of the entire Beoulve house, though Ramza was apparently denied a funeral or proper burial as a heretic.
- The mourners leave and Orran arrives, with Valmafra in tow. Seems Delita didn't actually kill her after all. Seems Orran has been watched, or he'd have come sooner. Musing on recent events, he can't seem to accept that Ramza is actually dead.
- Delita is now King, having married Ovelia. With the various pretenders for the throne dead and the demon summoning conspiracy ended by Ramza's efforts, Ivalice is now in relative peace.
- Then, as Orran turns to go, Ramza and Alma ride by on Chocobo and off into the sunset.
- As Ramza and Alma are riding off, we are then told how Orran wrote up the Durai papers, recording the truth of the events that he witnessed. However, the Church didn't much care for them so had Orran burned at the stake as a heretic. Ultimately, though, the truth will out and the papers were eventually uncovered by one "Arazlam Durai" who is the one who has been recounting this whole history.
- After the credits, there is one final scene between Ovelia and Delita in the ruins of the Zeltennia Chapel. Delita brings Ovelia flowers, but Ovelia is angry at the way Delita uses everyone and, afraid that he'll just toss her aside some day when she's no longer useful, she stabs him and Delita stabs her back. So, everyone dies and it's a happy, cheerful ending.
===============
- Some crusty old historian, a scholar of medieval Ivalice history, going by the outlandish moniker "Arazlam" gives us an introductory lecture on the War of the Lions, a war of succession.
- He talks about Delita Heiral, known as a hero who helped end the war, but he claims that not all was as it seems, claiming that another overlooked young man was the true hero - one Ramza Beoulve - his role having hitherto been concealed by the church, now revealed in the Durai papers and we are invited to discover the truth.
- Then we get a new version of the opening cutscene with some guy in gold armour (hi Delita) riding a chocobo through a forest along with some other brigands.
- The scene changes to the interior of Orbonne Monastery where princess Ovelia is praying under the watchful eye of Simon the priest and Knight Agrias.
- The princess' escort is here, Gaffgarion and his band of mercenaries (including Ramza) employed by the Order of the Northern Sky.
- Suddenly, a wounded knight stumbles in with word that the enemy's forces, Duke Goltanna's men, have arrived. They rush off to do battle.
- The battle is one, but whilst we were out playing with sharp objects, Delita snuck into the monastery and kidnapped the princess. Agrias and Ramza can't get to them quick enough and can only watch as Delita escapes with his quarry, though Ramza does recognize him.
- This leads us into a flashback...
Chapter 1: The Meager
- The scene is the Royal Military Academy in Gariland City. After losing the 50 years war, soldiers returning from the frontlines have become disenfrachised and have lost their livelihoods, many turning to theivery and plotting against the crown. Some apprentices discuss the situation.
- The Corspe Brigade has been attacking wains in the vicinity of Eagrose Castle, some say Duke Larg is coming to Gariland along with Marquis Elmdore of Limberry.
- A Knight of the Order of the Northern Sky comes in with an assignment for the apprentices. The order is planning on eliminating the Corpse Brigade with the help of Duke Larg, which will leave Eagrose undermanned so the cadets are to bolster its defenses.
- Another knight comes in with news that some thieves are fleeing to Gariland, so the apprentices get to do some warm-ups. A battle in town ensues with the cadets emerging victorious.
- Afterwards, Ramza has a short flashback to his father's death - Barbaneth Beoulve was a hero of the 50 years' war. Also in attendance were Ramza's older brothers, Dycedarg and Zalbaag, and his sister, Alma. Barbaneth has made arrangements for Ramza's friend, Delita (a commoner) to enter the Academy and tells Ramza he'll need someone he can trust, like Delita.
- Then its off to Eagrose Castle, but in Mandalia Plain we encounter a young hot head by the name of Argath whose gone and gotten himself captured by members of the Corpse Brigade, so we intervene on his behalf. Turns out Argath is an apprentice of Marquis Elmdore and the Marquis was just abducted by the Brigade so Argath wants our help to rescue him. Well, I guess he gets to tag along for now...
- We arrive at Eagrose Castle and go talk to Ramza's brother Dycedarg. Argath tried to get Dycedarg to send troops to rescue the Maquis immediately, but Dycedarg basically told us to mind our own business and garrison the castle
- Whilst cooling our heels we run into Ramza's other brother, Zalbaag and his sister Alma. Zalbaag lets out a few not so subtle hints about a spy that's disappeared near the merchent city of Dorter and muses that investigating that would probably be more interesting that guarding a stuffy old castle.
- We also meet Delita's sister, Tietra and Argath whines about how his family used to be more respectable until his father (or was it an uncle?) sold out to the enemy during the 50 Years War and got himself stabbed in the back. With Argath's bellyaching over with (for now - you just that boy's gonna be trouble) I guess we'll wander on over to Dorter to see what's going on.
- Arriving in Dorter, we witness an exchange between two knights. One is using his skills of persuasion (that being the tip of a sword) to find out the location of one Gustav, but he flees when he catches wind of us (guess we'd better go bathe)
- As the knight retreats and the other one calls in his lackies, Delita thinks he recognizes him from somewhere. Turns out the one doing the "persuading" is Weigraf, leader of the Dead Men, a volunteer group in the 50 Year's War, now head of the Corpse Brigade
- After a brief battle, Ramza, Delita and Argath question the hapless knight that was bullied by Weigraf with Argath applying his own brand of persuasion. Seems that kidnapping Marquis Elmdore wasn't Weigraf's idea, but rather Gustav's, the Brigade's second in command. It is presumed that Gustav is no hiding in Zeklaus Desert to the north, so off we go to play in the sand.
- We arrive in the desert at the "Sand Rats Seitch" and overhere some disgruntled members of the Corpse Brigade discussing management. Sounds like they don't like the way Weigraf is running things and think that Gustav's approach of ransoming off Marquis Elmdore is more likely to lead them to an early (live) retirement.
- Of course, know that we've overheard them nobody can leave without a fight, so we mop up the sand rats and then head into their hideout.
- We find Wiegraf and Gustav having a somewhat pointed discussion concerning their differing management styles, to the point where Wiegraf runs Gustav through. Guess that's the end of that. Wiegraf tells us that kidnapping's not his thing (too lowbrow) and tries to bargain the marquis release for us sparring his life.
- At first, Argath doesn't want to let Wiegraf go, but he sneaks out regarless whilst we argue amongst ourselves. As for the Marquis, he's weak but otherwise live so it's back to Eagrose for him.
- Back at Eagrose, Ramza's brother Dycedarg chews everyone out for abandoning their post and going off to chase the Marquis, but then Duke Larg enters and congratulates us anyway. Then, Dycedarg lets us join in on the final offensive against the Corpse Brigade and we wander off like good little soldiers.
- With our group out of earshot, Dycedarg and Larg comment that Gustav was apparently not the right person for the job, implying that they were behind the kidnapping of the Marquis. The old King is rather ill and the two nobles seem to be scheming...
- Our next destination is the Brigands' Den, just south of Mandalia Plain. There we encounter a group of the Corpse Brigade, led by Milleuda, younger sister of Wiegraf. She seems like a rather anti-establishment sort, so we beat up her and her lackies. After the fight, Ramza offers her mercy (though Argath makes it well known what he thinks of her sort and further illustrates that he is an ass) though she doesn't appreciate us for it and limps off the battle field.
- Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the Death Corpse stages a daring raid on the Beoulve Manse, kidnapping Tietra and almost absconding with Alma as well if not for Zalbaag's timely intervention. Dycedarg is injured in the process.
- We learn of the incident when we return to Eagrose Castle. Dycedarg says that they're poised to deal the death blow to the Corpse Bridage and tells Delita that they'll do whatever it takes to rescue his sister first.
- Outside, Argath insists that Dycedarg is lieing as there's no point to save a common girl. Delita decks him, but Ramza tries to calm everyone down. Argath continues to demonstrate that he is an elitist ass and Ramza tells him to get lost. As a parting gift, Argath says that he overheard that the last of the Bridage is holed up inside Ziekden Fortress.
- As we get under way, we decide to make a pit stop at the Mandalia Plains where Ramza and Delita reminice about bygone days and squander precious time playing the reed flute.
- The fort is well guarded, so we take the roundabout scenic route, starting at Lenalian Plateau north of Dorter. Here we encounter Milleuda again with a group from the Brigade as they try to find a way out of the highlands. One of the Brigade suggests surrender but Milleuda will have none of that. She's adamantly opposed to any and all nobles, just for them being nobles and decides that today would actually be a rather good day to die. A fight ensues with, perhaps, predictable results. (Hint: we win.)
- Next stop is the scenic Fovoham Windflats, complete with windmill. Quite the tourist spot. But this is no tourist photo-op today. Inside, Weigraf and Gragoroth (the guy who led the raid against the Beoulve manner) are discussing the prisoner (Tietra) with Weigraf once again acting all noble-like about not taking hostages, ordering Gragoroth to release the girl.
- A monk enters who tells Wiegraf that the enemy (that's us) approaches and that Milleuda, his sister, is dead. This leads to an angry confrontation with Wiegraf. We force him to retreat but after the battle we discover that Gragoroth has disobeyed Wiegraf's orders and has fled with Tietra, presumably to Ziekden Fortress as that's the last place left to go.
- At the fort, we find Gragoroth facing off against Argath, Zalbaag and a couple of knights using Tietra as a human shield. He is kind enough to inform the knights that there's a whackload of gunpowder stockpiled in the fort which would make a lovely explosion. When Zalbaag tires of the conversation he orders Argath to shoot the hostage, which the bastard does, following up with a bolt in Gragoroth.
- Wounded, Gragoroth withdraws into the fort. Zalbaag withdraws to deal with approaching enemies leaving the rest to Argath. Delita flies into a rage and Argath brings in some back up. All to no avail, however, as we deliver a sound beating to Mr. "I'm better than thou."
- As Delita cradles his dead sister, the fort starts to explode, forcing Ramza to retreat, though Delita stays to enjoy the bonfire.
- Ramza muses that he rain away from his crumbling life as things got rough which brings us back to the present, back outside Orbonne Monastery. Agrias intents to pursue the princess' kidnapper and Ramza decides to tag along to find out if it realy was Delita.
Chapter 2: The Manipulated and the Subservient
- We depart the Monastery for Dorter and no sooner do we arrive there then we are beset by a group of thieves, hired by some as yet unknown man for the purposes of killing us. The leader of the thieves seems dismayed to see Gaffgarion with us, but they still give it their all. They don't last long, however. Agrias seems convinced the kidnappers are heading to Fort Besselat so off we go!
- Aside: rumours in the pub reveal that the old king has, at long last, kicked the proverbial bucket and now the Dukes Larg and Goltanna are vieing to become the regent. The Queen favours Larg (her brother) while many nobles/the council favour Goltanna (the late king's cousin) which means there's a power struggle brewing in Ivalice. Also, the peasants are revolting.
- Enroute to the fort we encounter a chocobo beset by goblins in Araguay Woods. We help it, but turn it loose 'cause we don't want to have to clean up chocobo droppings for the rest of our adventure (though perhaps we should have turned it into a tasty meal...)
- We arrive in Zeirchele Falls to find Delita and the Princess on a bridge, surrounded by Northern Sky Knights. The knights claim to be rescuing the Princess, but Delita claims the kidnapping was a scheme by Duke Larg in order to frame Duke Goltanna in killing Ovelia to remove her as a claimant to the thorne (in favour of the young Prince Orinus).
- Turns out Gaffgarion was in cahoots all along so he turns traitor. Naturally we manage to beat them all back (though Gaffy turns and runs when things start getting dicey).
- Our cheery reunion with Delita turns a bit sour as he postulates that Dycedarg had his hand in this scheme as well. Delita also doesn't think we can protect Ovelia forever, but he leaves her with us for the time being, for some reason of his own no doubt. Agrias is still determined though and seems to think Cardinal Delacroix of Lionel Castle might be able to help our cause. (Hint: he's a Cardinal.)
- On our way to Lionel Castle, we come across a group of possibly shadey characters in the Castled City of Zaland, led by one Ludovich, who are chasing a young machinist named Mustadio. Without assertaining the nature of the incident we jump into the fray in support of Mustadio.
- After the battle, we find out that Mustadio is being chased by the Baert Trading Company (well known for various black market dealings) though he refuses to say way (hmmm, suspicious much?) However, the Baert Company holds Mustadio's father prisoner and Mustadio think that Cardinal Delacroix can help save him and wants to tag along. Agrias doesn't trust him and refuses, but she's overridden by Ovelia. Guess it's good to be the, er, princess.
- Before leaving the city, Agrias and Ovelia take a few moments to kick back their heels and relax. Ovelia recalls her life in varous monasteries. She has apparantly met Ramza's sister, Alma. Also, according to Agrias, the Cardinal has, thus far, been neutral in the succession squabbles so she has high hopes that the Cardinal (and thereby the Glabados Church) will protect Ovelia.
- At our next stop, Balias Tor, a group of Baert thugs attempts to capture Mustadio again but we deal with them easily enough. Mustadio still isn't willing to say why they're after him so I guess we just keep trudging along for now.
- Meanwhile, back at Eagrose Castle, Gaffgarion is reporting to Dycedarg. Their conversation basically confirms that, yes, kidnapping Ovelia was Dycedarg's plan, though his men were found dead not far from the Monastery which means someone else has gotten wind of their plan (ie, Delita and whoever he's working with) and is trying to thwart them. He tells Gaffgarion to recapture the princess and kill off the rest of her entourage, including Ramza if he won't step aside. Nice brother you've got there, Ramza.
- We arrive in Lionel Castle and plead our case to Cardinal Delacroix who seems surprisingly accomodating to the Princess. He also seems to have an idea why Mustadio is here, displaying a red crystal - some auracite. It is supposedly one of the legendary "Zodiac Stones" and we get a quick lesson about the Zodiac Braves who have previously saved Ivalice from the demonic Lucavi.
- Anyway, it seems that the Baert Company are after some auracite that Mustadio's father found beneath the Clockwork City of Goug. It seems to be able to activate some of the ancient machines under the city, but Ludovich wants to use it to make weapons. The Cardinal offers to send some soldiers to Goug to route the Baert Company and Ramza and Mustadio decide to help out.
- On our way to Goug, we have a brief encounter with some undead in Tchigolith Fenlands, but they don't live long.
- We arrive in Goug only to find that it's quiet... too quiet. No sign of the Cardinal's men or Baert Company. Ramza and Mustadio decide to canvas the town and meet later in Goug's Lowtown.
- Ramza arrives in the Lowtown on time but Mustadio is nowhere to be seen. Then a man, presumably Ludovich, and his Baert lackies show up demanding the auracite. Mustadio went and got himself captured. How thoughtful of him. They also bring along Mustadio's father as incentive to get Mustadio to cooperate which he appears to do, having Ramza turn over a hidden Zodiac stone. And, surprise, surprise, it turns out that Ludovich was working for Cardinal Delacroix all along.
- Our merry band of fools is deemed to troublesome to let live so we end up having to fight off the Baert goons which isn't too troublesome. Afterwards we find out that what we gave to Ludovich was a fake stone. I guess Mustadio is at least somewhat clever after all.
- As the Cardinal has turned out to be tricksy and false, that means Ovelia and Agrias are in danger. Additionally, Mustadio and his father believe that the Cardinal is trying to use the Zodiac Brave legend to alleviate the pain and suffering of the tumultous times and, naturally, seize power and are unlikely to let go once he has it. He must be stopped!
- However, we're unlikely to be able to storm Lionel Castle from the front, so we're going to sail around to the Port City of Warjilis and try to sneak in the back route. Good luck with that.
- Arriving at port we have another run in with Delita who's still his cherry old self. He insists that Ramza is unable to rescue the princess but, of course, he's the one to do it (delusions of grandeur maybe?) He also talks enigmatically about how everyone else is swept up in the flow of events be he, alone, is swimming against it.
- Meanwhile, in Lionel Castle, Cardinal Delacroix is meeting with Gaffgarion and Ludovich. The crux of the conversation is that Gaffgarion is sent to use the Princess as bait to recapture the stone and Ludovich, who has apparently been a very disappointing minion, has failed the Cardinal for the last time. We don't get to see what happens, but Ludo is presumed dead, likely messily so.
- That delightful interlude over, Ramza and company arrive in Balias Swale and find Agrias fleeing some of the Gryffon Knights of Lionel. As it turns out, she and the princess had attempted (or been allowed?) escape, but the princess was recaptured and Agrias was heading back to re-rescue her so good timing on our part, I guess. Agrias also claims that Ovelia is to be executed so we have to make a change of course to Golgollada Gallows.
- At the execution site, the whole thing turns out to be a trap, using an imposter Ovelia to lure Ramza and company there. Gaffgarion tries to get Ramza to turn to the Dark Side, to return to his brothers and help them but Ivalice to rights, but Ramza refuses and says his brothers are justing using war for their own personal gain. He also starts getting all emo, blaming Tietra's death on his own inaction.
- Due to some luck at being able to break Gaffgarion's weapon early on in the battle, he turns into a total push over and before long he's running away with his tail between his leg. But now we've got to go to Lionel Castle to save the real Princess, for real!
- Meanwhile, in the dungeons of Lionel, Delita is trying to talk to Ovelia when the Cardinal and some other guy come in (so that's where Delita's loyalties are, for the moment, anyway). The other guy ends up telling the Princess that she's a fake, that the real Ovelia died years ago and she was set up as a replacement to eventually wrest power from the Queen since it was thought the King was to feeble to breed further. However, a prince was eventually produced (and it is implied that the King is probably not his real father) which creates the current predicament around succession.
- The Cardinal and his posse claim to want to put Ovelia in her rightful place on the throne and leave her to chew on things for a bit.
- Also meanwhile, waaay back an the Lenalian Plateau, good old Weigraf is visiting his sister's grave and vows revenge. Just then, another mysterious figure approaches (naming himself Loffrey), offering Weigraf help, and of course power, to achieve both his vengence and his goals of ousting the corrupt aristocracy.
- Back to Lionel as we storm the castle! Ramza somehow manages to get up on the ramparts (using no doubt as yet unrevealed dark arts) but before he can sprink the gate, Gaffgarion appears and triggers an ambush! This time the Fell Knight doesn't run and we defeat him once and for all. Now to save the princess!
- Meanwhile, at Zeirchele Falls, Delita has already fled Lionel with Ovelia in tow - doh! They are ambushed by a few members of the Order of the North Sky, but Delita makes short work of them. Ovelia now seems to have little choice but to follow Delita, regardless of his intentions.
- We then return to our castle invasion already in progress. Ramza and crew have entered Cardinal Delacroix's inner sanctum. After Ramza refuses to give the Cardinal the auracite and demands to know where Princess Ovelia is, the Cardinal tells Ramza what we already know through the magic of cutscenes: that Ovelia has already been taken to Zeltennia, having apparently accepted their offer to put her on the throne.
- The Cardinal attempts to turn Ramza to the dark side, tempting him with the ability to change the worlds and get even with his brothers (ah, sibling rivalry) but Ramza has no interest in changing anything, especially if it means innocents get harmed in the cross fire.
- That tact foiled, the Cardinal decides to try the direct approach, pulling out his own Zodiac Stone and transforms into the Lucavi Cuchulainn the Impure. Battle ensues and, after a few attempts, we manage to defeat him, by the skin of our teeth. Cuchulainn explodes, leaving his Zodiac Stone behind.
- In the mean time, Delita arrives at Zeltennia and comes before Duke Goltanna. In addition to telling how he "rescued" the Princess, he has brought a prisoner who claims that the kidnapping was masterminded by one of Goltanna's own advisors to gain favour with Larg and keep Goltanna out of power. The prisoner points out the supposed traiter (who claims to know nothing) and Delita sumarily executes him then and there. So much for fair trials it seems.
- Delita goads Goltanna into leading the Order of the Southern Sky against Lesalia, forcing Larg to mobilize the Northern Sky. This whole incident prompts Goltanna to get the Queen banished and crown Ovelia as Queen. In retaliation, Larg also crowns Prince Orinus, naming himself regent. The two sides go to war, instigating the War of the Lions.
Chapter 3: The Valiant
- Three Months later, Duke Goltanna confers with various advisers and generals as to the state of the war. Crops are not doing well on either side and famine is a real danger. Cidolfus Orlandeau (aka, Thunder God Cid) proposes peace talks, but Goltanna's having none of that and decides to raise taxes instead in order to fund the continuing war.
- Ramza and co. are on their way to Lesalia so that Ramza can tell his brothers about the shadowy underpinnings of the war and to try his hand at "swimming against the tide" as it were.
- Enroute, they encounter a young astrologer named Orran in The Mining Town of Gollund who has run afowl of a den of thieves. Once again, without assertaining the nature of the conflict we jump in on the side of Orran. The thieves do not prove too troublesome and they are soon dispatched.
- Orran is headed in the opposite direction of us so he turns down the offer to tag along, though he does seem to find the fact that Ramza is a Beoulve interesting for some reason. Oh well, we'll just keep heading on our merry way.
- We arrive in Lesalia with no further incidents and Ramza goes and visits his brother Zalbaag and reveals his suspicions that Dycedarg and Larg were plotting together to kidnap the princess and fuel the war for their own personal gain. Zalbaag doesn't take too kindly to this, insults Ramza's mother (they're only half-brothers, after all) and basically tells him to get out of his sight.
- Ramza takes the hint, but before he can make a clean get away, his sister Alma comes and tries to talk to him to find out what's going on. She hints that she's previously seen a piece of auracite (implied to be the Virgo stone) at Orbonne Monastery and wants to tag along as one of Ramza's groupies.
- This conversation goes on just long enough for Confessor Zalmour, of the Glabados Church to show up and accuse Ramza of murdering Cardinal Delacroix. Ramza tries to explain what really happened but of course the Inquisitor won't have any of it.
- Ramza's choices are to surrender, which will probably result in an eventual declaration of guilt and, thus, death; flee, thereby admitting guilt; or fight. Ramza chooses to fight. The Confessor ends up fleeing and Ramza now sets off to Orbonne to hunt for the Virgo stone with Alma in tow.
- We arrive in the Monastery to find that somebody's already gotten there before us and is riffling through the vaults looking for Virgo (one of the crown jewels of Ivalice). Elder Simon has been injured and tries to disuade Ramza from persuing the intruders but Ramza is headstrong and foolhardy and so persists.
- According to Simon, High Confessor Marcel and his group want to restore the Church to prominence so they instigate civil war to weaken potential opponents and use the Zodiac Brave story to win the trust of the common folk.
- Simon also thinks Ramza is more like his father than his brothers and might be able to put a stop to all this. Way to go and inflate his ego there. So Ramza heads into the vaults to stop them, leaving Alma to look after Simon. He also gives his auracite to her for safe keeping.
- A bunch of Temple Knights, lead by one Isilud, are searching for Virgo in the vaults. We drive them off, but not before they find the blasted thing. Chasing them on the way out, we are delayed by our dear old friend, Wiegraf, who we zerg rush because, boy, is he nasty! (Wiegraf has joined this group for the prospect of power, it seems.)
- Despite our efforts, the thugs manage to escape with the stone, and they take Alma with them! The nerve! Also, the injured and dieing Wiegraf seems to hold the Aries stone and he forms a pact with it as Ramza looks on, becoming one with Belias the Gigas.
- Simon limps out of the Monastery and confesses his negligence in turning a blind eye and hands over the Scriptures of Germonique that he has recently uncovered which purport to reveal the truth of the Zodiac Braves.
- We head north to Dorter and are accosted by a strange mage-type (hello Marach) who demands that Ramza turn over the book. Ramza admits to not having read the thing, but figures it must be important considering hitmen are being sent to waylay him over it. The mage does not really illuminate things but only says that if Ramza wants to see Alma again then he'll bring the book to Riovannes Castle.
- Meanwhile, Delita and Ovelia are off in some ruins somewhere as they head for destinations unknown. Ovelia gets all whiney about how she's not really the "real" Ovelia and Delita takes a moment to rail against the establishment. Then they share a rare tender moment when Delita promises to create an Ivalice worthy of Ovelia and swears to do so by his dead sister Tietra. That's either sweet or kinda morbid.
- Back at the ranch, Ramza decides he may as well check out this book thing that people seem like they're willing to kill over.
- The Germonique Scriptures were written by a disciple of St. Ajora (the titular Germonique) and records details of Ajora's life. Ramza recalls the legends surrounding Ajora - his sainthood and supposedly being a child of god and something about defeating a demon summoned by an overly ambitious king - but Germonique records something quite different.
- According to Germonique, Ajora was simply a rabble rouser who had made himself a nuissance to the governments of the day and Germonique was a spy sent to investigate the details. Of course the growing Glabados Church made Ajora into a saint and has suppressed the truth, claiming that Ajora had assembled the legendary Zodiac Braves to defeat the supposed demon.
- And now this book has fallen into Ramza, who has been branded a heretic and has no reason to look favourably upon the Glabados Church which makes for an interesting recipe. Anyway, on to Riovanes!
- Our journey north is rudely interrupted whilst crossing the Zeklaus Desert when we come across an odd young man being chased by a heard of behemoths. Ramza once again shows his proclivity for jumping to conclusions and enters the fray on behalf of the young fellow without adequately assessing the situation. I mean, what if this guy's some super villain or the behemoths have some ligitmate grievance against him? We'll just never know their side of the story.
- The behemoths are defeated and the odd fellow turns out to be Luso, a game hunter (aha! it would seem the behemoths may have been justified after all) who has become separated from his friends and is looking for them. He also has some diary, er, "journal" that he writes in. Even though only pansies write in diaries, that is, "journals", Ramza decides to let him tag along anyway.
[NOTE: Luso is the main character of Final Fantasy Tactics A2: The Grimoire of the Rift and is one of the new special characters in the PSP port of FFT. The journal thing is a reference to the magic journal he carries around in A2.]
- Continuing on, we come to Grogh Heights where we encounter some deserters from the Order of the Southern Sky. They recognize Ramza as a wanted Heretic and think that if they capture him (dead or alive) they might be able to get an honourable discharge. Unfortunately for them, Ramza's not going to go quietly.
- After the battle, Orran, that astrologer from the start of the chapter, rides in with some knights in tow and thanks us for mopping up their deserters. As his orders don't include catching heretics, he and Ramza chat amicably.
- Ramza asks Orran to pass a message to Orlandeau that there are others behind the scenes pulling the strings of this war. Orran agrees (he's Orlandu's adopted son) and tells Ramza that they have their own suspicions about the conspiracies at work but have no proof. He also tells Ramza that he has allies which, I suppose, is good to know.
- We then come to the Walled City of Yardrow and continue Ramza's habit of taking sides by rescuing a girl named Rapha from a group we decide looks less than savory. She fills us in on some regional politics: Grand Duke Barrington, lord of Fovoham, is plotting to use the chaos of war to take over Ivalice for himself! The horror!
- Rapha's less than appologetic brother, Marach (the mage who demanded the Germonique Scriptures from us earlier), however, seems to support the Grand Duke and went so far to make threats against Alma's life if Ramza didn't hurry up and get his ass to Riovanes, and now Rapha's presence is demanded as well. Then Marach's messenger frog explodes. How nifty is that?
- As a side note, Rapha and Marach were orphans from the Fifty Years War, brought up by the Grand Duke, though his intentions weren't entirely honourable. He wanted to make use of the powers that the siblings' family possessed and while Marach is still in his pocket, as it were, it seems Rapha has wisened up to his schemes.
- Next, passing through the Yuguewood, Ramza's crew is beset by ghosts of some of those who perished during the 50 years war. They do the Ghostbusters proud by sending them to their eternal rest. There is now nothing standing between Ramza and the grueling gauntlet known as Riovanes Castle.
- As Ramza marches on Riovanes, Duke Barrington has a nice fire side chat with Formav and Wiegraf of the Templar Knights. He says that those with power will control Ivalice and asks the Templar Knights to join with him as he insinuates that he knows about the Zodiac Stones despite Formav playing dumb and comments that he has two for safe keeping. He further blackmails them with threats of using the Germonique scriptures to reveal the Church's schemes.
- Formav doesn't take too kindly to blackmail and goes all Zodiac Beast on Barrington's ass.
- Meanwhile, Marach is sent to the castle gates to get the scriptures from Ramza, offering Alma's saftey in return, but Rapha tells Ramza not to believe him. So instead, Ramza jumps on Marach with the pointy end of a spear and Marach flees, with Rapha giving chase. Ramza's troops mop up the rest of the riff-raff with no trouble.
- While this is going on, inside the castle, Alma hears the sounds of bloody carnage from her cell. A wounded soldier stumbles in and tells her to run while she has the chance. Well, Alma's not stupid so she takes the chance and runs.
- Ramza then wanders into Riovanes' Keep where Weigraf stands amidst several dead soldiers. He tells Ramza to draw his sword, but Ramza just stands there and says that he pities Weigraf, and wonders what Milleuda must think of all this.
- Weigraf retorts that this is no longer about avenging his sister's death, nor is it about anything noble or righteous at all. He's now all about creating as much chaos as possible. Well, I suppose it's nice to have a goal, but still...
- This leads to a one-on-one duel between Ramza and Weigraf, during which Ramza tries to convince Weigraf that the stones are evil, tools of the Lucavi, but Weigraf just goes on about how it's all about controlling people's perceptions. The winner gets to write history, essentially. Anyway, Ramza was a Dragoon for this battle so it's all just a matter of jumping on Weigraf with the pointy end of a spear a couple of times in order to take him out.
- Weigraf tries to run away, but Ramza tells him to show himself. Obediently, Weigraf returns but now he transforms into Belias, the Gigas. Since Ramza's troops are now backing him up, Belias summons a trio of archdemons for support. This is kind of a tough battle (though auto-potion is brokenly awesome for it) but Ramza and troops manage to pull out a win.
- The defeated Belias drops his zodiac stone and we then switch to the council chambers which is notably bloodier than when we left it. Temple Knight Isilude is looking to be in pretty rough shape. Alma wanders in and tries to help Isilude, but the wounded knight tells her that, having seen his father Formav turn into a lucavi, he now things Ramza is correct and gives Alma a stone he was holding to give to Ramza, then Isilude dies.
- Before Alma can go anywhere, Formav enters and prepares to kill her, but his stone seems to react to her in a strange way and he now thinks he "found" someone, though he's maddenly vague about it. So, he simply chooses to render her unconscious and kidnap her. Fortunately, Alma drops the stone Isilude gave her without Formav noticing.
- Meanwhile, on the roof of the castle, Rapha confronts Duke Barrington (who has somehow escaped the carnage in the castle) and more-or-less mocks her. Marach hears the conversation and finally realizes that Barrington is really a rat bastard. The Duke attempts to shoot Rapha, but Marach takes the bullet for her.
- Barrington demands the Rapha hand over the stone, but then a mysterious figure appears and unceremoniously tosses the duke off the roof. Well, that was easy. But wait! It's Marquis Elmdore! According to the tavern rumours, he was supposed to be dead...
- The Marquis is, naturally, not human any more, but he just sics a couple of assassins on us for now, who we dispatch.
- After the fight, Rapha mourns for Marach, causing the Scorpio stone to react. Ramza fears the worst (naturally, after the Wiegraf incident) but the stone simply revives Marach, without turning him into some horrible ravening beast creature.
- Ramza takes a moment to search the castle for Alma but only finds the Pisces stone that she dropped. Marach waxes philosophical (I suppose death will do that to a person) and supposes that the stones' power reflects the intent of the wielder.
- Anyway, the War of the Lions rages on and events at Riovannes suggest that Folmarv may be at the centre of things, manipulating even the High Confessor Marcel. Ramza suspects that Delita may know more so we set course for Zeltennia.
Chapter 4: In the Name of Love
- Elsewhere, Orran (that astrologer guy we saved earlier) welcomes Orlandeau back to Zeltennia and reports on recent events, seemingly connected to the Zodiac stones and suspicions surrounding the Church and the Templar Knights. Orlandeau then pulls out the Libra stone, reflecting it cannot remain hidden for long. Dun, dun, dun.
- And before we go chasing after Delita, Ramza makes a detour down to Goug to talk to Mustadio's father who found some strange metalic sphere thing that reacts to the Zodiac stones and has an Aquarius symbol inscribed in it. What could it mean?
- Passing through the Mining Town of Gollund, Ramza hears rumours of strange beasts in the area and teams up with one Beowulf who is looking for a dragon. Fighting through several areas of the city, we eventually come to a store room or some such where a dragon is surrounded by a bunch of monsters, including a demon type.
- After a brief fight, the dragon is saved. This is Reis and is apparently the dragon Beowulf was looking for. Out of thanks, Beowulf gives Ramza the Aquarius stone and he and Reis join up with his travelling circus.
- Ramza then goes back to Goug and uses the Aquarius stone to activate that sphere thing which transforms into a might morphin' robot thing which, as a joke, Ramza commands to pound Mustadio into the ground. Good thing Phoenix Downs are plentiful, right? Anyway, the robot (aka Construct 8) joins up 'cause we know it's got some wicked dance moves.
- We now return to our regularly scheduled quest and head east to Dugeura Pass where some local mooks attempt to ambush us and say that we won't get through the pass whilst they are alive. Well, I think we all know the solution to this problem. A short skirmish later, Ramza and co. are moseying along, putting this minor speed bump behind them.
- Continuing east towards Zeltennia, we arrive in the Free City of Bervenia where Knight Templar Meliadoul attempts to seek revenge on Ramza for killing her brother, Isilud. Ramza tries to tell her that it was really a Lucavi that killed Isilud, but she just scoffs at Ramza in an "oh, yeah, I've heard that one before!" kind of way. So we steal all of her stuff before defeating her soundly. Miliadoul just shakes her fist and says "Next time, Ramza - next time!"
- Meanwhile, off in a castle somewhere, Delita still mourns the death of his sister, Tietra, and overhears Ovelia making fart noises, which turns out to be her actually trying (and failing) to blow a reed whistle. Delita shows her how it's actually done and then promises not to let Ovelia get used and discarded the way his sister was.
- Back to the journey east, we are accosted by a flock of chocobos whilst trying to cross Finnath Creek, including the most evil of chocobos: the notorious red chocobo (we hates them and their Choco Meteor). For some reason, the chocobos are accompanied by a pig. Anyway, after quickly dispatching the reds, we play with the rest for a bit for some job points and continue on our way.
- We finally arrive in Zeltennia Castle and Ramza goes to the cathedral, which is where Delita finds him. Ramza decides to take the direct approach and asks Delita why the church has planted him in Goltana's troops. Delita sees no harm in spilling the beans (isn't this one of those evil overlord do-not-dos?) and says its his job to assassinate Goltanna and Orlandeau.
- Further, the peasants are tired of war and are getting kind of revolting but the aristocrats lack the troops to repress them so all sides are converging on Fort Besselat to end things in one swift stroke. The church will take this opportunity to assassinate the leaders (Goltanna, Orlandeau, Larg, Dycedarg, etc.) and, with the help of the Zodiac Brave story and the auracite, the church will gain the favour of the people, setting up Ivalice as a puppet state under their rule.
- Of course, Ramza's been making a nuisance of himself by hindering the Church's auracite collection plans. Delita declares that he will kill Ramza if he needs to, but for now since they both have the same short term goals (ending the war), they are not yet enemies.
- Ramza asks Delita to join him, but Delita refuses, since he intends to protect Ovelia.
- Just then, Confessor Zalmour, along with his merry band of henchmen, surrounds the Cathedral and demands Ramza to turn himself over. Naturally, Ramza's having none of this. The Confessor spots Delita who decides that he can't let Zalmo see him and live so Delita temporarily joins up with Ramza for the ensuing battle.
- After dispatching the Confessor, one Valmafra, a mage working with Delita, informed him that the Order of the Northern Sky had started its advance on Fort Besselat. Ramza heads out to try to get to Orlandu first and avoid a major clash.
- Before wandering off to Besselat, Ramza and crew pick up on some rumours (Bervenia and Dorter) concerning a rash of thefts. Before leaving Dorter, a group of thugs ambush Ramza only to find he's not the droid they were looking for, but since he's been branded a heretic and has a price on his head they'll try to catch him anyway.
- However, that's when the real target, the Sky Pirate Balthier, shows up and the thugs think they get two bounties for the price of one, but alas, it is not to be as Ramza and Baltheir team up to beat them senseless.
- It turns out that Balthier is searching for the "Cache of Glabados" for reasons of his own and decides to tag along with Ramza for a bit as they both seem to be in the Church's bad books right now. As a bonus, Balthier has experience babysitting children (as he puts it, to Ramza's chagrin).
[Note: Balthier is originally from Final Fantasy XII (also set in Ivalice) and is one of the new secret characters for the PSP port.]
- Then it's off to play in the sand - the Beddha Sandwaste, that is. However, someone's already there, ruining our sandbox. Knight Templar Barich is releasing airborn poison which he intends to use to draw out the defenders by weaking their enemies, thus making it easier to assassinate all the leaders at once. Ramza just goes and beats him up because who wants to play in a poisoned sandbox?
- Meanwhile, in Fort Besselat, Duke Goltanna accuses Orlandeau of being a traitor (despite twenty years of loyal service and continued denials) and has him imprisoned. This is because, back in Zeltennia, Ramza foolishly told Delita he was heading there to deliver evidence to expose the church's schemes (the Germonique scriptures) and Delita arrived first while Ramza was playing in the sand.
- Goltanna then goes on to promote Delita and gives him the command of the Order of the Southern Sky. Bad move, there.
- Anyway, now Ramza arrives at Fort Besselat and is given the option to approach from the north or the south. Ramza chooses south and is beset by a bunch of Southern Sky flunkies who try to stop us from talking to Orlandeau despite us being, you know, the good guys. That's what Ramza gets for blabbing his plans to Delita. However, this obstacle is quickly removed.
- Meanwhile, on the north side of the fort, the poison that had been released has successfully incapacitated the Northern Sky. Zalbaag enters the battlefield (or what's left), and finds Dycedarg who is limping along, apparently having been affected by the poison himself.
- Ramza's two older brothers find Duke Larg nearby, also weak from the poison, and Dycedarg takes the opportunity to stab the Duke. Seem's everyone's a traitor these days. Dycedarg has apparently been plotting to have house Beoulve rise to the top and sees this as his opportunity. He then intimidates Zalbaag into planting the dagger on one of the soldiers (thereby shifting the blame) before he collapses himself.
- In the mean time, Ramza has arrived at the Fort Besselat Sluice. Ramza gets the brilliant idea to open the sluice and flood the battlefield, thus preventing any fighting. What does he think this is, Orthanc? And won't he just drown everyone?
- Not one to dwell on such consequences, Ramza and his lackies dive head first into battle, disposing all who stand in their way, until they are able to release the river. Water goes crashing down stream and, presumably, everything becomes wet and soggy.
- In the subsequent chaos, Ramza and Orran, plus Valmafra, one of Delita's flunkies (what's she doing here?) release Orlandeau from captivity and he decides now would be a good time to make himself scarce and tags along with Ramza's growing menagerie. Meanwhile, Orran is sent to Zeltennia to keep an eye on Princess Ovelia.
- As Ramza makes his getaway, Delita checks in on Duke Goltanna. Goltanna wants Delita to pursue the Northern Sky despite the flood, but Delita decides he'd much rather run the Duke through. He then sacrifices a Glabados fanatic disguised as a fake Orlandeau and Valmafra reports that the real Thunder God has escaped with Ramza. Delita seems to be counting on Ramza to do something...
- High Confessor Marcel offers to broker peace between the sides but they don't feel like sharing the playground just yet. Ramza decides he'd rather head to Limberry Castle to rescue Alma.
- In the Trade City of Sal Ghidos, Ramza encounters a strangely familiar flower girl who sells him a flower for 1 gil. (This is Aeris - or Aerith - a crossover from FF7.)
- This encounter unlocks an event back at Goug where Mustadio's father has dug up some wild contraption that has the Cancer Zodiac symbol on which means it's stone huntin' time. This takes us back to Nelveska Temple which is waaaay up north of Zeltennia. Here we fight Construct 7 who is guarding the temple or something. He, along with a pack of other nasty things, packs a punch but then so does Ramza and crew. Defeating Worker 7 earns the Cancer stone.
- While at Nelveska, Beowulf "borrows" the Cancer stone (he'll give it back, promise!) and sends the Holy Dragon Reis with it into the temple. This just so happens to uncurse the dragon, and out walks the human female, Reis, who seems to be acquanted with Mr. Beowulf.
- Back in Goug, the Cancer stone is used to activate the contraption and much to Mustadio's relief, this time it does not come alive and KO him. Instead, it summons a strangely familiar, and grouchy, SOLDIER. Hello Cloud! Seems he's still suffering from chronic migranes and goes running off, presumably in search of a doctor or a good shrink.
- A bit confused, Ramza decides to get back to the matter at hand and heads to Limberry. But the journey is interrupted in Sal Ghidos (again!) by a group of theives who are trying to extort money from the flower girl, whom they call Aerith. Cloud stumbles in, still suffering from headaches (or maybe a hangover) and it's up to Ramza to mop things up since Cloud turns out to be useless in a fight, always running off to a corner to hide.
- Afterwards, Cloud mumbles something about having to get to the Promised Land and Ramza decides to let him tag along out of pity.
- That out of the way, Ramza continues south towards Limberry, encountering a couple of minor speed bumps in the form of some bandits on Mount Germinas who try (and fail) to collect the bounty on Ramza's head and the restless dead at Lake Poescas who try (and fail) to steal our auracite.
- Meanwhilst, Knight Templar Loffrey pays a visit to Ramza's dear eldest brother Dycedarg and casually accuses him of assassinating Duke Larg which, naturally, Dycedarg denies. Loffrey then discusses the poison used at Fort Besselat and uses that to imply that Dycedarg poisoned his father. This leaves Dycedarg somewhat flabergasted but he still swims in denial. Not to be detered, Loffrey leaves a gift from High Confessor Marcel in the form of a Zodiac stone. It also happens that the middle brother, Zalbaag, was listening to the whoe thing outside the door.
- Anyway, Ramza goes stumbling headlong into Limberry Castle to find the door wide open. He gets a bad feeling just as a pair of assassins (Celia and Lettie) who work for Marquis Elmdore appear. it's a trap! They say Alma is inside, so we've got to fight them. They're annoying as heck (though Ramza does learn Ultima from them), but despite the stated mission objectives, you actually only have to take down one of them to win.
- When one assassin is defeated, they both flee to Elmdore who is talking to Lord Folmarv who are discussing that a host as recently been chosen for Adrammelech and that "that girl" will be the host for the High Seraph. Elmdore then goes to attend to the matter of Ramza.
- Ramza faces off against Elmdore who, like his lackies, is annoying but manageable. He flees to the necroholl when critically wounded and Ramza pursues, of course. (Though on the way, Ramza encounters and defeats Argath again, just as arrogant as before but notably more undead. Much easier fight than the other two.)
- In the necroholl, Elmdore summons some undead and transforms into Zalera, the Death Seraph. Meliadoul chooses this moment to wander onto the scene and seeing the Lucavi in the flesh she decides that Ramza was probably telling the truth about events at Riovannes and the death of her brother Isilud. After the battle, she decides to join our rag-tag band and tells Ramza that a Zodiac stone was given to his brother Dycedarg, so we're probably going to be paying him a visit next (or soon).
- Elsewhere, presumably in Zeltennia, Orran fights his way to Ovelia's chambers to tell her that Orlandeau didn't really kill Goltanna (ah, so Delita was framing T.G. Cid) but before he can reveal the truth, Delita catches up, along with his flunky Valmafra. Delita doesn't seem to want to kill Orran as he has some sort of plan for him as he builds a legend for himself.
- Delita now plans to take down the Order of the Northern Sky and rebuild Ivalice for Ovelia and those who oppose him, including the Church, will be dealt with. Valmafra, being an agent of the Church, moves to assassinate Delita but she hesitates and Delita, who was expecting this, finishes her off first.
- Meanwhile, Zalbaag takes a herbalist to visit his father's grave. He pays the herbalist to confirm the presense of mossfungus on the grave. This does not seem to bode well.
- On the way to Eagrose Castle to slap around his brother, Ramza is stopped in Dorter by Knight Templar Cletienne. Meliadoul attempts to learn more from him about the truth about her father, Folmarv, and what his plans are but Cletienne basically just mocks her and claimes he's in the right. Anyway, the Knight Templar proves just to be a minor speed bump. He seems to be buying time for something... but what?
- Ramza arrives at Eagrose with his own personal army in tow. However, there are no guards in sight so Ramza walks in without a fight.
- Inside, Ramza finds Zalbaag confronting Dycedarg about their father. Dycedarg calls in the mooks, just as Ramza and crew arrive to lend Zalbaag a hand and help clean up.
- When defeated, Dycedarg transforms into Adrammelech and says he poisoned their father because he was letting House Beoulve's chance to rule Ivalice (due to an increasingly weak and divided royal house, not to mention an increasingly disaffected populace) pass by. He then zaps Zalbaag, appearing to vapourize him. However, Ramza's crew makes short work of Adrammelech as the overmatched Lucavi barely gets to do anything thanks to the fight starting with Ramza's team being pre-buffed with haste.
- Ramza then heads to Mullonde, seat of the Church, to rescue Alma. However, Folmarv has decided that High Confessor Marcel is no longer necessary due to Ramza having obtained most of the auracite already. He forces the location of the Necrohol out of him (under Orbonnne Monastery) and the means to break its seal (the Germonique scripture) which, conveniently, Ramza also has. With no further need of the High Confessor, Folmarv has him impaled and left for dead.
- Ramza arrives at the cathedral in Mullonde and foolishly walks up to the front door demanding Alma's release. The temple guards are only too happy to attempt to execute him, only they don't count on the power of Math and are quickly taken down.
- Ramza enters the cathedral and finds the High Confessor who is still twitching. He manages to make himself mildly useful before dieing by telling Ramza about Orbonne.
- Folmarv and his remaining flunkies (Cletienne and Loffrey) try to barter Alma's life for the Scriptures and the auracite, but Ramza's not entirely stupid and only gives them the Scriptures and keeps the Zodiac Stones upon confirmation that Alma is safe.
- When the contents of the Scriptures are confirmed, Folmarv tries to take the auracite by force, but he and his flunkies run away when one of them becomes critically wounded, the cowards.
- Ramza enters the crypts, thinking to pursue them, but instead finds a much undeader looking Zalbaag and some demons. Zalbaag is unable to fight the control of the Lucavi and begs Ramza for release. Ramza's company defeats him and Zalbaag sort of explodes. Messy. I guess being undead will do that to you.
- House Beoulve is now at an end, but the only thing left to do is pursue Folmarv, put a stop to his dastardly plans, and rescue Alma. Of course that means one thing: go do some side quests!
- Actually, most of the side quests are already complete. In wandering around, at Lionel Castle, Beowulf and Reis enjoy a peaceful moment only to have Reis kidnapped by one Ser Aliste on behalf of Bremondt, new lord of Lionel (succeeding Delacroix) who is apparently the one responsible for Reis' curse.
- Ramza, Beowulf and company return to Lionel to lay the smack down. It turns out Aliste was dieing and wanted to go out in a blaze of glory. After that, we fight Bremondt and his lackies who, interestingly, are all female. Seems Bremondt had a thing for Reis and tried to curse Beowulf to take him out of the picture, but Reis took the curse for Beowulf instead.
- Beowulf and Bremandt debate about the nature of love a bit but we otherwise pound him into the ground. Before being defeated, he transforms into a Dark Dragon. After that, Beowulf and Reis are happily reunited and we continue on our merry way.
- Up in Zeltennia, Agrias (who has somehow managed to sneak past guards or whatever) finds Ovelia and appologises for not being around to protect her since she's been off galavanting with Ramza fighting demons and stuff. Agrias gives Ovelia a dagger for protection and leaves her in Delita's protection, though Agrias doesn't really seem to trust him.
- Then, a rumour in Gariland suggests some Northern Sky deserters are making themselves annoying in the Brigands' Den so we go and clear them out.
- Finally, a trip down to Warjilis opens up the Midlight's Deep for later exploration, but I'll worry about that some other time.
- Now it's time to go hit up Orbonne Monastery. Folmarv, Loffrey and their associates are up to their dastardly misdeads but we first have to dispatch a group of peons to get to them. Yawn.
- Loffrey is the first challenger. He doesn't pose a serious challenge though can be slightly annoying (don't break my Genji armour, gah! well, at least I'm not saving this). When defeated, Loffrey opens a portal which teleports everyone down to the Mullonde Necrohol and then destroys the exit, thinking to trap Ramza there forever. Then he dies.
- Next up is Cletienne in the ruins of some dead city. Since the goal of this sequence of battles is just to defeat the main guy (Loffrey, Cletinne and so on) I decide to go for the jugular vein since there's really not much point in collecting crystals or anything at this point. Cletienne goes down like a rag doll, plus Math Skills are way overpowered :)
- Next is Barich who was the guy with the poison at the Beddha Sandwaste. As with the others before him, he falls swiftly.
- This brings Ramza, at long last, to the Airship Graveyard where Formav is attempting to resurrect Saint Ajora into the body of Alma using the Virgo stone. When this does not appear to be working, he decides a blood sacrifice is required and transforms into Hashmal, Bringer of Order, and attacks Ramza's party.
- Hashmal is defeated without too much difficulty. However, Saint Ajora has still not revived, so Hashmal decides rather than suffer an epic fail, he'll sacrifice himself to revive her (hey, he's pretty much already dead so nothing to lose, I suppose).
- Alma finally awakes but is then possessed by Saint Ajora, aka the Bloody Angel. Alma's got some fight in her, however, and the two somehow separate. Saint Ajora then transforms into Ultima, the High Seraph and summons some demons to aid her.
- Reiterating that Math Skills are overpowered, I take out the helper demons in pretty much one shot, even at the cost of damaging a couple of my own units (totally worth it). Then we're free to keep hitting Ultima until she falls down.
- Except in Final Fantasy tradition, Ultima then transforms into her true, much deader looking form. At this point, however, we just continue the "hit it until it falls down" strategy which goes smoothly, despite one of my units being turned into a frog near the end. Then Ultima blows up for good. Somewhere in there, she also implies that Ramza is ultimately descended from the person who originally defeated/sealed/whatevered Saint Ajora in the first place.
- Cut to the end of a funeral in a graveyard. The mourners are mourning the loss of Alma and of the entire Beoulve house, though Ramza was apparently denied a funeral or proper burial as a heretic.
- The mourners leave and Orran arrives, with Valmafra in tow. Seems Delita didn't actually kill her after all. Seems Orran has been watched, or he'd have come sooner. Musing on recent events, he can't seem to accept that Ramza is actually dead.
- Delita is now King, having married Ovelia. With the various pretenders for the throne dead and the demon summoning conspiracy ended by Ramza's efforts, Ivalice is now in relative peace.
- Then, as Orran turns to go, Ramza and Alma ride by on Chocobo and off into the sunset.
- As Ramza and Alma are riding off, we are then told how Orran wrote up the Durai papers, recording the truth of the events that he witnessed. However, the Church didn't much care for them so had Orran burned at the stake as a heretic. Ultimately, though, the truth will out and the papers were eventually uncovered by one "Arazlam Durai" who is the one who has been recounting this whole history.
- After the credits, there is one final scene between Ovelia and Delita in the ruins of the Zeltennia Chapel. Delita brings Ovelia flowers, but Ovelia is angry at the way Delita uses everyone and, afraid that he'll just toss her aside some day when she's no longer useful, she stabs him and Delita stabs her back. So, everyone dies and it's a happy, cheerful ending.
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