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Welcome to the first update of this run that actually starts in World 2!
Mozart's #9 Dance Tune
Last time we got to Regole (which I, for one, can never remember the name of since it holds no story relevance, existing solely to let the player stock up for Early World 2). Let's see how much farther I can get here!
Despite appearances, this guy's nowhere near as intimidating as he looks to a party packing !Sing; he, like many random encounters, can be Stopped, thus making the sole difficulty in killing it be its massive 5000 HP. Now that I've discovered !Sing, I feel a majority of random encounters will generally follow the routine of Romeo's Ballad, then stab things, with a possibility of Mighty March to keep my HP up (I can take my time and let Regen do its work when the enemies can't retaliate). It certainly takes the resource management out of the run.
Here's the Sealed Castle. I will not be going here for a while.
: This looks like the kind of dilapidated castle that people would've already picked clean centuries ago. Let's not bother.
Return of the suspicious chokepoint!
I hear moogles. I'd recognize that theme anywhere. (The fact that there's a moogle half-on the screen has nothing to do with it; I honestly hadn't noticed it before I heard the music.)
: Excuse me...
: 
: Congratulations, Mozart. You just scared a moogle into falling down a hole.
: I was just gonna ask it for directions...
: Why did you have your hand on your knife? It probably thought you were about to stab it.
: I don't know what a moogle is. For all I know it could've decided to attack us. I wanted to be ready.
: Moogles are harmless, Mozart. You're being paranoid.
: Yeah, well, Nutkins look harmless too, and look at what happens if you let your guard down around them.
: They seemed pretty weak, actually.
: They grow up into Skull Eaters, though. Lot stronger, though surprisingly timid since they had to spend their lives running away to live that long.
: How much stronger? I mean, we've seen a few, but we never fought any...
: "Bite your face off in one go, and take a bit of your spine with it" stronger.
: Well, I suppose you guys want to go help it, right?
: Of course.
: Yup.
: Think of it as an apology.
: OW! Lot deeper than it looked!
: Where's the moogle?
: Probably got carried away by this river.
I find this about halfway down the river, and a Phoenix Down a bit later. I have no issues with the random encounters due to my newfound strategy of "spam Romeo's Ballad."
: Hmm... Being attacked by an animated skeleton. Think I'll try something I read about once.
This is Tyrannosaur. He's a nightmare if fought "properly" with this team, but otherwise a pushover.
I use the Phoenix Down I just got... on HIM.
The end. (That was literally the entire fight.) It drops an Elixir for me.
: Worked just like the book said- all forms of healing magic, including those stored in items, have an inverted effect on the undead, so Phoenix Down, which restores people near death to health, would naturally annihilate them.
Boss Deaths: ...that was a boss?
Total Boss Deaths: 5
Other Deaths: 1
Undead Bosses Cheesed: 1
: You okay?
:
: Hey, relax, we're not gonna hurt you.
: Let me try. I've got a bit of a knack with animals.
: I feel like this guy would be offended by what you just implied...
: If you're worried about the knife, well, you scared me too. I've never seen a moogle before, so I didn't know how you'd react. I promise I won't use it on you.
: I'm not very good at this "calming speech" business, am I?
: No, not really.
: Right, I'll just shut up and back off. Maybe it'll calm down if I'm farther away.
: That sounded more like "friendly" than "warning."
: I think it's starting to trust us a little.
: Maybe I should stay back though- it might get scared of me since I killed that thing in one shot.
: Might be a good idea- you can't do that to it, but it doesn't know that.
: Uhhh... translation, please?
: Hey Galuf, assuming you can get moogles to calm down, they're friendly, right?
: Yeah. Like I said, they're harmless.
: Why's it shaking its head?
: I think it doesn't want us going into the desert. Probably got particularly nasty monsters there.
: I think it's guiding us to its home.
: ...I lost track of it.
: I'm terrible at taking advice.
: Good thing your songs still work.
I don't plan to fight any more; it's not worthwhile to gradually chip away at their insane HP for a mere 1000 Gil.
: I think it was about here...
: Huh. A whole village of moogles.
: Which one did we help, though? I can't tell them apart.
: Only way I can think of is "look for the one that doesn't run away." I feel like Lenna would get mad at me for that approach, though.
: Excuse me...
:
: Why're they so scared...? I didn't do anything threatening...
: It's probably just that they're not used to humans. Here, let's see if we can find the one we helped.
: Hello.
: It stopped...
: Guess that's the one we helped back in the cave.
: Think it's inviting us in.
: Apparently moogles can give surprisingly large rewards for helping them.
: Who knew?
Nice. The moogle's reward also includes an Ether, a Phoenix Down, 10,001 Gil (bit of an odd number), and a Cottage. Quite the windfall.
I debate whether to actually equip it, since the primary enemies I use the Attack command on are undead, and it has a chance to execute the !Dance command instead of a normal attack, but then I remember that I'll get a solution to that problem shortly. On it goes.
: ...Is this one sick?
: No, I think it's just a costume. I can see seams at the shoulders if I look close enough.
: Hm? Maybe this is where Krile runs off to...
: Looks a little tight, but if it'll help keep the moogles calm it's worth a shot.
: Ahem... "kupo, kupo, kupo." Did I do it right?
:
: (Er, is this like with humans- gifts to woo a potential mate?)
This goes on Galuf.
: (...Damn nice gift, though. I feel bad about taking it, but it's too useful not to.)
: Hey Mozart, what's with that look on your face?
: Don't ask.
: It's muttering into its paw or something, I think...
Elsewhere, in a castle, Krile exits a room only to be chased down and tackled by a moogle.
Okay, he is, but how the hell did you find out?
DEUS EX MACHINA!
Krile almost gives up since the wind drake shouldn't be flying right now, but it volunteers anyway.
: That's... ominous, actually. Are you sure he can make it back?
: (Dammit, watch where you're swinging those things- you almost knocked me off the edge!)
: Some sort of ritualized dance or something?
...The moogles have been busy, haven't they?
: Err, so they were running around in a frenzy to prepare a landing spot for this guy?
: Seems that way.
: A question for the ages.
: 
: Err, why's this one hugging my leg?
: He likes you.
: You sure this guy can make it? His scales don't look too good...
: Well, he DID say he could only make one trip...
: "One trip" could mean "he'll only live long enough for one trip," you know.
: Aren't you worrying too much?
: Actually, I agree with Mozart. I'm afraid he might be pushing himself too hard.
: ...No helping it. If he's that determined to carry us, it's not like we've got a right to refuse.
: Plus, it's not like we'll accomplish anything around here.
: Its voice is WAY too weak... and its scales are a bit clammy.
: ...which is why you should REALLY bring a vet to see this guy.
: Alright already, you've been lecturing ever since we took off!
: Sorry, but after the times my chocobo got sick I've been a bit of a health nut, especially for... well, mounts, to be frank.
: You've made your point, you know.
: Plus it helped me keep my mind off the fact that we were flying.
: Oh... acrophobia?
: Yup.
: That must've been traumatic...
: Falling off a house at age five will do that.
: Ummm...
: Gotta say, you're being a lot more understanding about it than these three were- when I told them they laughed about it until I mentioned that I broke my arm.
: Grandpa... 
: Uh-oh. Why'd you have to tell her?
: After I'm done with that... We need to talk, Grandpa.
: ...I'm doomed.
: Wait, what?
: Since when were YOU, of all people, a king?
: All along, as it turns out. I don't like formal stuff, though, so I didn't tell you even when I remembered it.
: FUBAR, I bet.
: I don't like that. What's he up to?
: What about our army?
: Maybe you should've invested in musicians or something...
: I wanted to, but the generals didn't think they'd be a good investment.
: With all due respect, sir, musicians are ineffective warriors. Improving morale, while admirable, is better accomplished by-
: You've never met one who knows magical songs, have you?
: Well... no. What kinds are there, though? How would they help?
: My favorite lately is the one that freezes monsters in place. The one that confuses them has its uses, though.
: ...I had no idea that was a thing.
: I won't claim they would've fixed all your problems, but I CAN say that you'd have reduced casualties while inflicting more. On top of improved morale from the music itself, of course.
: I wish you could have someone try to figure out what Exdeath's up to, but with that barrier in the way it's not like you can spy on him all that well...
: More like the nadir... Your Royal Kinginess.
: Whatever you say, Your Royal Kinginess.
: You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?
: Gee, what gave you that idea?
So! Bal Castle. Unlike the last couple towns we've been to (defined as "places with shops"), there's actually stuff to loot here.
This, and the Teleport spell in the false wall nearby, are useless to me. I grab them anyway, though, because hey, free stuff.
While I'm wandering around looting, I hit up the shops to stock up on Holy Water, since you can never have enough healing items when you lack magic.
There is a staircase hidden behind this tower.
It leads to more useless stuff (this is only usable by Chemists and Mimes).
And a hidden door lets us troll the shopkeepers for a harp which I will most likely never use because harps suck.
This pool leads to the moat.
Here's why you'd want to go into said moat: This sword's pretty good for this point. Only problem is, it's a sword (and thus unusable to me).
As for how you get back out of the moat: Just pull this switch to get sucked back into the pool that took you here. This seems like a major security risk...
Now that we're done looting, time to actually do something Plot-related!
: Honestly, I'm not surprised, considering the shape he was in when you picked us up.
: By which she means "how'd you let him get into such a bad shape in the first place."
: Let me guess: He got too close to the barrier, right?
: Err, actually, it may have been my fault- I rode him to Exdeath's castle to rescue you three.
: Ah. Get attacked any?
: I thought we dodged everything, but it looks like I was wrong.
: Same as last time, maybe? Do you have dragon grass in this world?
: Dragon grass is apparently a powerful medicine for wind drakes- I've seen a wounded one eat some and be perfectly fine in seconds. If this guy has any chance at all, that's it.
: Galuf?
: What's the catch?
: In other words, you've got no idea what we'll run into there, right?
: Pretty much.
: C'mon, what're you gettin' all emo for? There's no time for that! Let's go already!
: The wind drake hasn't got much time left, right? We'll go get the grass. You stay here and make sure he hangs on long enough to take it, okay, Krile?
: Okay!
: Lead on, old man.
: Right, got it. Note to self: No concerts for the foreseeable future.
: I have a song or two for them. They'll never know what hit 'em.
Time to leave.
: Do it anyway- we can handle 'em.
: Don't worry about us- just make sure the castle's still here when we get back.
: You know, you act more like a king than I do sometimes.
: (I can see this backfiring, but I'm sure we can get back in through the moat if we have to.)
: It never does take long for trouble to find us.
: You again?
Romeo's Ballad plus shanking. Hasn't failed me yet (unless you count Soul Cannon).
Too easy. I won't even dignify that with the post-boss death summary- damn the boss music, that was a trash mob!
And with that, we're outside of Bal! As Galuf mentioned, our destination is to the north.
: This must be Quelb.
: That it is.
: Surprisingly agricultural. Shepherding community?
: Don't let them hear you say that.
: Odds are, no. I bet we'll have to jump through hoops to get it open.
: Who?
: Quelb's leader, and one of my old comrades. He's a bit hot-headed, though.
Note that, until you actually talk to Kelger, there are no werewolves in sight, and all the shops are locked.
: Oh, what NOW?
: You sure 'bout that? Because they seem pretty intent on clawing my eyes out.
: Enemies are fine- I can just use that stopping song on them.
: Is that your answer to EVERYTHING?
: Hey, it works.
: So this is Kelger?
: Yes, he is.
: Been a long time, Galuf!
: The who?
: The guys who sealed Exdeath.
: A bunch of irreverent pests.
: That too.
: Where the hell did you get that idea? I mean, I was under the impression that Exdeath didn't have ANY friends. Minions, maybe, but not friends.
: More relevantly, we came here to PURSUE Exdeath, since he destroyed the Crystals.
: Oh? And how did he accomplish that?
: He was apparently able to slip a bit of magic past the seal to influence people into overloading them.
: You expect me to believe that?!
Galuf tries to defuse the situation...
...but Kelger refuses to be defused, and smacks Galuf aside.
And challenges Mozart to a duel.
: I'm not the duelist type, but somehow I doubt you'll let me back down...
: How would you be able to tell that by fighting, anyway?
: (Pretty fast for such an old guy...)
: Wha- where'd he go?!
: (Lessee, what did Dad say about this sort of thing...?)
: ...Found you.
: GACK!?
The Dancing Dagger must've proc'd Sword Dance.
: I didn't think I hit him THAT hard...
: No, it was my fault for taking it too far. Again.
: Think I'll have to- I feel like I broke something there.
: I didn't think anyone besides the Dawn Warriors could do that.
: Took me a bit to remember it, since I wasn't interested in learning to fight, but I managed to pull it off.
: Dorgann. Why?
: ...Did I say something weird?
: Been a long time since I heard THAT name...
: ...I never thought I'd take after Dad THIS much...
So yeah, turns out Mozart's dad was the same guy who called the other three out on how stupid it was to seal Exdeath on the spot instead of bringing him somewhere more secure first.
: I'm REALLY wishing we'd taken some of his advice by now... I won't make that mistake again with you- you say the same sort of things he always did.
: Dead.
: I didn't seem to take after him much, but he was still my Dad, so...
: We're planning to head to Drakenvale to try to find some dragon grass for Krile's wind drake, but the gate's locked.
: Thanks. Sorry to be abrupt now, but we've gotta go. Every second counts, you know how it goes.
: Indeed. Farewell!
: 
: What's he mean, Mozart?
:
: Here, lemme see.
:
: What does it say?
:
: This song's used as a form of exorcism, apparently.
:
: What, so it's part of a ritual to dispel undead?
:
: No, the song itself IS the ritual.
: ...
And now I'll probably switch Mozart back to Bard full-time. I buy a Wizard's Hat and some Gaia Gear for him, since he can't use the stuff he was as a Dancer anymore.
I'll leave off here, right outside of Drakenvale.
Next time: 
: 