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(The opening narration starts on a black screen)
Leon (voice-over): It's been almost a month since the humans and monsters of Endorilly.....after returning from the demon realm, we had all gone our own way. Fam returned to Barth in order to rebuild her country; Ralph and Marcia, as well as Brian and Karin, went back to Barth together. Ophelia returned to her hot springs hotel, and T. T. went off to somewhere. I, not knowing what to do, wandered the frontiers of Youku...there, I reunited with Lee-Ann.
Leon: Right now we happen to be living at Drago's place under his care. Lee-Ann had used Terrorhook, the spell that destroys monsters; though she looked fine, I was still quite worried about her, so we went to Drago to check on her.
Leon: According to Drago's inspection, Lee-Ann is now now different than a normal human being. It seems that because she was the child of a human and monster, she was able to avoid a grim fate. Though the monster portion of her has disappeared, her soul has remained the same; under Drago's tutelage, she has retained the use of her magic.
(Back in the present)
Lee-Ann: I'll bring in the laundry.
(She walks out)
Drago: Lee-Ann is quite diligent. How wonderful she is. And she's your sister, all right. Looking at you [two] up close like this, you resemble each other quite a bit. Perhaps it's because she takes after your father more!
Leon (voice-over): It's kind of embarrassing; after meeting up with Lee-Ann again, I hadn't notice that her eyes had changed colors to the same as mine and fathers, a green deeper than the ocean.
(Once again, a dark screen)
Leon (voice-over): We lived there peacefully for some time; you can even say we were happy. But I recently noticed that Lee-Ann still calls me "Leon". Maybe it's because we just got to know each other and she's [still] too shy to change. But still, it makes me a bit sad. [Then] one day, I got some unexpected visitors...well, I shouldn't be surprised, because these mountains were their home.
Leon: Ophelia! And T. T.!
T. T.: Yo! Spent any time hitting up chicks lately?
Leon: We just met up again and you're already making crude jokes...
(Ophelia walks forward)
Ophelia: Welcome back, Lee-Ann! Glad to see you're doing well.
Lee-Ann: Thanks for your concern.
Leon: I didn't think T. T. would be here as well. What's going on?
T. T.: Don't ask stupid questions. It's the same old same old.
Ophelia: It's work! W-o-r-k!
Leon: Going on guide duty again?
Ophelia: Indeed. But the roads haven't been very safe lately.
Lee-Ann: Are creatures up to no good again?
Ophelia: They are. I'll explain shortly...
(Beat)
Ophelia: Today, we celebrate meeting being able to meet with Leon and Lee-Ann again with drinks!
T. T.: Oh dear...old habits die hard...
Drago: Hey! This isn't a liquor store. Besides, don't you have as much as you'd want to drink once you go back to your hotel?
Ophelia: What are you talking about? It's other people's wine that's tasty!
Drago: Oh, you...
Leon: Still can't sleep?
Ophelia: Yeah...I guess. Everyone [else] is completely wasted, but I didn't expect Leon to have such a capacity for drink.
Leon: Let me off the hook already! You even made Lee-Ann drink.
Ophelia: Sorry, I guess it's a bit too early to make a kid like her have alcohol.
(Beat)
Leon: So why did you come here at this time?
Ophelia: Actually, there's some things I'd like your help with. I've been harrassed by more and more creatures lately, and the ones I see are quite dangerous.
Leon: How dangerous?
Ophelia: They're not beings of this word. They couldn't possibly appear unless someone summoned them from the demonic realm.
Leon: What!? Does that mean Baruk is still alive?
Ophelia: That's not possible. Though we've investigated where these creatures are emerging, the next portion is too great a burden for us [alone].
Leon: I take it you're planning to see who's calling those creatures to this world?
Ophelia: Ophelia: Looks like it. But it's inevitable that we must fight, so it's going to be dangerous. I've been hesitant on whether I should ask you.
Leon: Don't talk like we're strangers. I'd be more than glad to help if you need it.
Ophelia: Thanks! I owe you one!
Leon: May I ask you something?
Ophelia: Sure! What is it?
Leon: Why are you so willing to put yourself in danger's way like that? Sorry if it seems sudden...
(Beat)
Ophelia: I probably got it from my mother...my family has always had a [large] influence on me.
Leon: I see...
Ophelia: What about you, Leon? Are you planning to inherit your father's duty?
Leon: Honestly, I still have trouble believing that he's my father. I didn't have a change to get to know him while he was still alive.
Ophelia: Nevermind the inheritance, then. What will you do?
Leon: It's quite the task for me to bridge the gap between men and monsters...all I want to do is live together with Lee-Ann, Ophelia, and everyone [else].
Ophelia: Thats fine. That was the main goal from the start, and more practical than those high-minded ideals.
Leon: D-do you think so?
Ophelia: It's getting late. I've got things to ask Drago, so if you still want to talk wait until tomorrow!
(The next morning)
Drago: ...I see, so that's how things have been. Where are these creatures [now]?
Ophelia: They're near the other end of the Urukanos mountains.
Drago: What? That close [already]?
Ophelia: Don't worry. It's quite safe here. Even winged creatures can't cross these peaks, so they have to circle around from Barth.
Drago: Oh...Now that you mention it, there used to be some ruins over there. I remember it was some sort of old tower.
Ophelia: I see...that must be the suspicious area. Thank you, Drago.
Drago: Though I feel quite safe here, I'm still not at ease. Hurry up and take care of this!
(Black screen)
Leon (voice over): Thus, we once again started a journey. Though I was worried about creatures [attacking], I was so happy that I could be with my friends [again]. The journey was completed in safety, and we arrived near Barth castle...
Leon: Are those...the creatures [that have been attacking]?
Ophelia: Didn't think they'd be showing up here!
T. T.: Hey, isn't that...
(The camera pans over to the rest of the party)
Fam: Leon? Lee-Ann?
Leon: Everyone!
Ralph: Took you long enough, Leon! Hurry up and get rid of these guys!
Stage 26: Reuniting with Friends
Link to full battle
I almost TPK'd on this battle (and, if memory serves correctly, I did wipe at least once somewhere in the process of recording one of these encounters). The party starts at two ends of the battlefield facing a slew of casters with both AOE damage and status ailments and hard-hitting melee tanks. What made the battle exceptionally tough was being charmed--and I found out, much to my dismay, that while I couldn't cast any spells while charmed, those spells sure as heck can be turned against me during the enemy turn.
T. T. picks up one of the on-field treasures, an item that raises max MP by 5. I feed it to Lee-Ann because she doesn't yet have enough MP to cast her ultimate spell.
Marcia picks up the other on-field treasure, the best weapon for Fam. In retrospect, I should have tested out Fam's magic with this and her other weapon, one that boosts light magic instead of dark magic, but I got lazy and decided to sell this one.
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Karen: Welcome back, Lee-Ann!
Lee-Ann: Thanks.
Ralph: Heh, what a touching scene.
Marcia: It's so good to see that you're all right, Lee-Ann.
Lee-Ann: Thank you for worrying about me.
Fam: Now that I've heard all the details, I get what's going on. As you can see, things have gotten quite dangerous around here already.
Ophelia: We've got no time to waste...can you lend a hand?
Ralph: We were planning to; that's why we're here. Don't worry about it.
Brian: At any rate, let's return to the castle and then head out once we've made our preparations.
Store clerk: Welcome!
Fam: Hm? Is this a weapons supplier?
Store clerk: No, far from it! We're a weapons chain store in the business of making money!
Fam: So what are you doing in my castle?
Store clerk: Erk!
Fam: I don't remember granting permission for a business.
Store clerk: Ah, well, it's like this. We heard that Barth's [national] icon Fam was about to go on a long journey, so we wanted to help out in any way.
Fam: Is that so? I'm glad. But I don't have a single penny to my name right now.
(Beat; the store clerk sweatdrops)
Store clerk: What?!
Fam: Hehe, just kidding! But seriously, I don't have that much money on me right now, so can you send the bill later?
Store clerk: Sure, no problem! (Phew!)
(Before shopping commenses, we get another whopping 20,000 gold. Since I have more than enough money to burn, I buy everything--weapons, armor, supplies--that I think I'll need for the future.)
Fam: Is it all right to buy this? Oh! Everyone's waiting, I'd better hurry!
Store clerk: Thanks for your patronage!
Marcia: There they are!
Fam: What on earth are these creatures doing in this place!?
Stage 27: Return of the Strange
Link to full battle (the video is a bit choppy due to having to cut out a reload in the middle so animations would play properly.)
This battle was much like the last one, except I start out split into three groups trather than 2, and with my healers exclusively on the right hand side of the screen. This proves disastrous for the left flank, but with my healers keeping each other topped off I'm able to very slowly cut down the enemy.
[img]https://lpix.org/3419646/farland1_0287.png[img]
Fam picks up the on-field treasure, an item that boosts strength. I have Brian use it.
What T. T.'s ultimate spell, "Earthquake", looks like.
After I finally finish off the last enemy, Ophelia says: "Hey! Now we've got to go mountain-climbing again!" and we move onto the next cutscene.
Video link
Leon: This is where we first met, Lee-Ann...
Lee-Ann: Yeah...
Leon: Though a lot of things have happened since then, it still feels like it was only yesterday.
(Beat)
Leon: I've been wanting to ask you...did you (already) know about me from the start?
Lee-Ann (turning to look at Leon): I heard about you from Father. At first I was skeptical, but once I actually saw you, I understood everything. I guess it's that feeling of blood being thicker than water.
Leon: Oh...
Ralph (walking in from off-screen): Yo! It's time to go!
Lee-Ann: Let's go...big brother.
(Ralph and Leon watch as Lee-Ann leaves)
Ralph (turning back around to face Leon): Leon, if you don't hurry up, we'll think you're a statue and leave you here! What's the matter?
(Ralph walks closer)
Ralph (teasing): Tears, huh? Got dust in your eyes?
Stage 28: Seeking the Tower
Link to full battle
With the entire party in range to support one another, I steadily march across the frozen river and deal with the enemy one by one.
What Lee-Ann's ultimate spell, "Moonlight", looks like.
Video link
Store clerk: Welcome!
Leon: What am I doing here?
Store clerk: Because you want to buy something.
Leon: Oh! Uh...I don't actually want to get anything in particular....
Store clerk: BE QUIET! If you don't get it now, you'll regret it later!
Leon: Y-yes!
Store clerk: Let me warn you, there won't be any shops after this, so it's fine to invest all of your savings.
Leon: R-really...?
(I probably should have taken the shop clerk's advice and blown all of my savings on restorative items. Instead I just upgrade armor and get a few things. If this bites me in the butt down the road, well, too bad.)
Leon: Then, I'm heading out.
(Heroic music begins to swell)
Store clerk: Oh! Hold on a bit. You'll be facing a lot of difficulty ahead of you, but don't be discouraged! The future awaits!
Leon: Thanks...though I don't quite get what you're talking about, I will do my best.
Store clerk: That's the spirit. Good luck! Thanks for your patronage!
Brian: Will the tower be there once we climb up?
Marcia: The sun is setting.
Ophelia: This is bad...the weather is turning for the worse.
Fam: How's that possible? The sunset's so pretty...
Ophelia: This isn't the time to take it easy. We have to hurry!
Stage 29: And Then...
Link to full battle
This is, in my opinion, the easiest of the pre-bonus dungeon battles. The winged demons on the plateau don't attack the starting position, and though they can cast AOE magic it doesn't hurt badly enough to really be an issue.
Marcia picks up the on-field treasure, a ring that boosts all stats (except HP and MP) by 15 points and the light elemental by 15 points. I have her wear it, swapping out an early game ring she's been carrying.
At the end of the battle, Ophelia says: "I can finally see the tower. Let's hurry in there before the sun sets!"
Next time: It's all upstairs from here.