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Part VIII: The Villa We Raided
We start today on a somewhat random note. The Red Jeweled Pendant is one of the unique treasures you can rarely find when sending out expeditions. There is one of the special treasures per area, and this is the one for the Leymon Sea.
You'll also randomly earn skills like this, which grant additional buffs to an adventure, such as bringing back more of a certain material (like food) or increasing the crew's EXP gain, like Rangetsu Basic Training will activate sometimes when you ship out. You'll know if a random skill triggers if it says it'll trigger in this menu after you complete an expedition. This adventure also uncovered the second area, the Diomell Islands.
But in spite of all that, we still haven't finished charting Leymon. Off you go again, boys.
And this is the treasure room where you'll put those unique treasures. Obviously a little sparse right now, but that will change. The dialogue for this treasure is...
Really? Sure, the pendant looks a little sinister, but jewel is a pretty shade of red. I actually think it would suit you nicely, Velvet.
I'm not sure if I should take that as an insult.
I didn't mean it in a bad way. It's like putting lipstick on a rappig, you know?
And he was never heard from again...
Anyhow, when you're ready to proceed with the story, speak to Tabatha again. You actually have a short conversation with her, then you have to speak with the tavernkeeper to sleep until night. For some reason you're charged 100 Gald for the privilege of continuing the plot. Mean... The night of
And it's true that Melchior took him away. However, I'm afraid that is where the trail grows cold.
In any case, we can be sure that the Abbey has him captive.
But what could they possibly want with him? If their aim is merely to fight piracy, they'd publicly execute him or try to lure you out, would they not?
And yet they've done neither. Total silence.
I wonder... Could it be they want to get their hands on the relic some say Aifread brought back from the far continent?
(The relic from across the sea? Have rumors of that strange thing been going around?) It's possible. There was a certain relic that the captain was curiously taken with. Kept it safe.
What was it?
That's our business. I'll speak no more of it. But if that's truly what they're after, I highly doubt the villa is where they're keeping him locked up. That's not where they keep their torture instruments.
...Quite true. At any rate, I thank you for sharing what secrets you could.
I wish you the best of luck on your search for more information.
A fade to black...
More... More...
*backs very far away* I'm sorry! I didn't mean to...! But I'm hungry... I'm so hungry...
If survival is at stake, an elder sister eating her brother before he inexorably wastes away is not outside the bounds of reason.
Eat Laphicet.
N-No... Noooooo!
The hell with you! You and disgusting words!
*lets go*
*gasping*
What...? Why...?
You were.. You were shouting...
Be more careful around me! You know full well I'm a daemon!
I'm...sorry... *runs off*
Ngh... Damn!
Awake or asleep, it's all one long nightmare. Smashing objects together is destruction. Smashing feelings together is life. But objects, tools... So much easier to abuse and toss aside.
What does that mean?
It means break time is over. Time to get to work, sweetie! *walks off*
That's why she's coming along this time, at least according to her fortune she told for herself. Let's just see if she's right. She does mention she's been there before, so maybe she can actually help out this time in pointing us around. Abbey headquarters. So maybe there is something to the theory she has some connection to them.
Anyway, we're looking for soldiers with red scarves, the symbol of the Bloodwing Butterflies, to show us the way. For unknown reasons, none of the real soldiers find it the least bit odd so many of their comrades are wearing these scarves, so maybe they're being pretty sloppy, after all.
Well, he wasn't lying. As you might guess, the star marks the way.
He says, upon proof Velvet and Co. are allied with the Bloodwings, that the path to the villa leads through Loegres' sewer system. Yep, it's a video game, so gotta have a sewer level. Luckily, since this game doesn't have random encounters, you won't have to deal with the usual bane of RPG sewer levels, and it's fairly straightforward, like most dungeons in this game, so you probably won't get lost.
*stumbles forward*
*catches him, marches off without a word*
Tha...
Watch your step, boy. There are giant crocodiles in those waters.
Crocodiles?!
A croc's favorite meal is witches.
All right, onward and inward! Everyone but Magilous, tread carefully!
Some assassins' crew we are.
The Bloodwings are just gonna have to take what they can get. Afterwards, we get a skit wherein Magilou reveals some of the dark history of both these sewers and Loegres in general...not really. But you never know...
So the main gimmick with this dungeon is to flip switches to lower...the water level. Hey, it's a sewer level. Be grateful it's not more complicated / repetitive.
One thing you should keep in mind is that slimes are frequently hanging out on the ceiling. If you get close, of course, they'll drop down. The only danger with this scenario is that if you're wanting to fight one of the armored dudes and a slime drops down right as you're about to make contact, you could easily begin a Dangerous Encounter you weren't planning on, and that can be quite dangerous.
Once you've made a little more progress, this skit will posit a rather obvious question: why are there daemons running around in the sewers beneath the capital, supposedly the safest place on the continent? Turns out there are theories, but no real answers. Whatever the case, Loegres definitely isn't as safe as it might appear on the surface. But that should have been obvious. Magilou's Menagerie is walking the streets.
Now then, the only actual objective here is just to make it to the end, but if you're on the hunt for Code Red Daemons, climb up a ladder in the second large area to find yourself here.
Then just crawl through that odd vent there to find yourself right in front of the next one. Pillbug
This ever-so-creatively named enemy is fairly simple, but it's a long fight since it's one of those annoying enemies that mostly likes to guard. As far as attacking, it jumps and spins from one side of the field to another with Super Spin. Both attacks are pretty powerful, but most of the time it's guarding. Rokurou actually handles himself pretty well here.
Mostly because Hurricane Thrust hits one of this thing's weaknesses, Wind, and it's both very fast and has a fairly low SG cost, which means you can use it a lot.
It dovetails nicely into something I had totally forgotten with Rokurou, that you can use Vengeful Stance as both a counterattack move and as a combo resetter. Use Stance at the end of a combo and you'll pause both Rokurou and the enemy long enough for Rokurou to keep the combo going without letting the enemy recover. If you stun the enemy fairly reliably, you can keep this up for quite a while, as long as Rokurou doesn't get interrupted. When you're constantly hitting an enemy's weak point, this can add up quickly.
Seriously, what is with Rokurou always ending these fights on this playthrough? The Glacite Pillbug drops is a bit strange: it can potentially trigger a skill that reduces elemental damage. Only 4%, so even if it does trigger, it's not *that* big a deal.
Anyway, more switch flipping, more water lowering. Best not to ask where that water is going, honestly.
Not too much further now. At that bottom landing, there's a skit for your approval.
She sure maintains high spirits no matter what the situation, when you think about it. Only reason why people keep her around at all, it would seem.
Another skit asks a good question: why Velvet seems so troubled about this job when we've fought plenty of human enemies in this game so far. I've always found RPGs are a little inconsistent about this, when a battle against an enemy actually results in their death or not. I've found it's always a good rule of thumb that if it's not *explicitly* stated that your player characters killed something, they didn't in actual gameplay. Cutscene kills, of course, are a different matter, but suffice to say in the context of this game, Velvet actually hasn't killed anyone, which is presumably why she's having a hard time with this job.
But as for the content of this skit, the party's discussion about Gideon is actually not what you might think. Turns out this Gideon guy WAS pretty alright for a while. During the dark days before the Advent, Gideon was the leader of the church and led it as best he could. But after the church became much more relevant, he survived the ensuing power struggle to become High Priest. Doesn't sound like it's been a good few years for him since, but that's why we're here.
Getting back to work, that Katz Box in the distance will run you 65 spirits and doesn't have anything, but anything's better than hanging out in a sewer for eternity, so help 'em out, why don't you?
And now, finally, we've fully charted the Leymon Sea. But this crew doesn't get breaks, so they're right back out at sea.
Anyway, the architecture around here is spectacular but I think that's enough sewers for one update. Pulling switches and following passages will eventually lead you to this ladder, which, as you'd guess, leads right into the Abbey's villa. Into the villa
Wow!
Ohoho, well, isn't THIS a rare collection of tomes! You royals sure have coffers to burn. *presses button to make the bookcase slide away, revealing another bookcase*
Oooh! Books in the ancient tongue!
Can you read it?
Well, no, but...I just...
This has nothing to do with our job.
Huh...?
If you want it, just take it. Don't pretend to be noble. You're consorting with daemons.
Good grief, Velvet. You can't lighten up for once in your life?
Lighten up? Did you forget we're here to kill someone?
You really want that ratty old thing? There's gotta be way pricier ones.
*shakes head*
Well, Rokurou does have a point. Probably not going to accomplish much but all that stress is gonna get to Velvet someday. Anyway, there's a bit to see here in the Abbey's library.
Books, of course, is what I refer to. Sounds like humans need the Empyreans' power to perceive a lot, but of course, these texts would be blanked out in crucial parts. Moving on...
This book is about incurable diseases, which includes daemonblight and twelve year sickness, which kills children at 12 years old.
Other books point out the name of this world is Desolation (yes, really), and it also talks a bit about the far continent, a place of mystery and where those who seek it never return. So they say, at least. Other curiosities include the fact that, after Midgand was unified, the population went as far north as 1.2 million, but in the past 10 years, that population has been reduced by half. Damn, no wonder Artorius is seen as a savior.
Finally, a book about those who can perceive malakhim, which was a very rare sight prior to the Advent but is much more common today. Finally, the Abbey has about 3100 members, the vast majority, 3000, are orderlies. Among the top-ranking legates (the highest-tier of Abbey leadership) are Artorius (of course), Melchior Mayvin, and Shigure Rangetsu, who is probably the guy Rokurou is looking for. But that's all for the light reading in the villa.
This scene prompts a skit between Magilou and Velvet about how Magilou doesn't actually know where to go. She's just been here before. This place is actually pretty small, so Magilou's trip to the garbage can will have to wait for another time.
Oh, and be careful about picking fights around here. This mob is pretty dangerous and there are a lot of them, so it wouldn't necessarily to be your advantage to get into too many scraps around here.
Aside from enemy groups, the door nearest to where you come in is blocked from the other side, leaving us to take the long way around. The first actual unlocked door has a Panacea Bottle in it, which is your standard Tales status-clearing item. However, negative status effects are actually much more harsh in this game. See, if you get hit with a status effect like Paralysis or Poison, it blocks all healing for the character, which is definitely not how the series usually does it (aside from status effects that prevent healing, of course). So keeping a full stock of Panacea Bottles on-hand is always good form. However, these Bottles are actually pretty cool because they insulate that character from further status effects for a while, something Bottles in this series don't usually do.
Just...make sure you have a lot of these on-hand, as I said. These and Life Bottles should always be fully stocked before an adventure.
Further on, Laphicet could really learn a lot from Magilou's magic.
I really shouldn't have to say this well-guarded door with a save point just outside of it is what we're looking for. This place is really just two hallways in a circle formation, so that far door is the other side of the blocked door from where we first came in here. The other door before then has a Wind Ring in a silver chest and some collectibles to gather, the usual. Let's get to the meat of this operation, shall we?
Let's just get this over with... Encounters at night
I am in prayer at the moment. Who are you?
I asked you first.
Such ill manners... But what else could I expect of a daemon?
!
Stop right there!
Another accurate augury!
"Augury is the practice from ancient Roman religion of interpreting omens from the observed behavior of birds." Magilou is so cultured.
An ambush.
I mean, you guys did wander into the Abbey's base of operations. Should have expected anything and everything to potentially happen.
Is this more of your reaper's curse? Or do you think the old lady sold us out?
You figured it out, didn't you? That he's running the Nectar operation.
Indeed. I followed up on each of the incidents you caused, and the trail led me all the way to the High Priest Gideon.
Yet you still defend him?
The punishment he deserves is for the Abbey to administer.
Punishment?! How dare you! Do you realize how much I've done for the good of the Abbey?
Mmm, make her nice and desperate, Velvet. I just know the result will be something wonderful!
Stay out of this, witch.
So this fight is actually pretty tough, because with two malakhim that are stronger than before, as well as two Abbey orderlies with fast swords, you can pretty quickly get overwhelmed.
Not to mention Eleanor herself, who seems to be fighting a lot more seriously now.
My advice would be to focus on the sword guys first. Normally I'd say focus on the mages, since they output a lot of damage for their relative small health pools, but with Eleanor running around, the last thing you need is to have more fast melee fighters nipping at your heels. Once she's by herself, the only thing you really have to watch out for is her Aerial Strike arte, which is one of those techniques you can't guard and can do a lot of damage. Luckily, once she's down to 50%, this fight is over.
Madam Eleanor!
Oh, we're sandwiched alright.
Damn. Reinforcements.
They have the advantage at range.
Crush her head!
*unsheathes arm* I'm on it!
*jumps out* Leave Madam Eleanor alone, you fiend!
:O
:O
M-M-Miss Magilou?!
*grabs Bienfu* I'm putting YOU back where you belong.
Remember this true name I bestow unto you... Fuschie Cass!
Heh-heh-heh... Oh, now it is OOOOON!
*jumps away after sparring with Eleanor*
That power... Are you an exorcist?!
*grins* Wrong! I am a witch, for whom the universe is a plaything, and the souls of men but motes!
"A mote is a small bit of substance, such as a fleck or particle." Again, a very cultured young woman.
Oh, but if it's a name you need... Call me Miss Magilou!
Grrr... A human consorting with daemons?! Have you no shame, girl?!
We have another rumble against Eleanor and her malaks and two sword orderlies. This battle, in addition to being another proper boss fight, introduces another mechanic: the Switch Blast. See how there's an arrow pointing toward Rokurou / Magilou's portraits? By one using one notch of the Blast Gauge, you can switch out an active party member for one in reserve. The character coming into the fight will also launch an attack to sort of clear the enemy in front of them.
Like your Marvel vs. Capcoms, the character in reserve will also recover HP (up to their full amount) while hanging out on the bench, so swap someone in when you need someone's unique talents or when your player-controlled character is about to be KO'd.
In all the fun, we forgot to talk about Magilou, right? Well, it's her debut fight, and she's a mage, as you'd guess. While she has some short-range attacks to keep enemies away from her, it's the duty of the fast melee fighters to keep enemies away from her so she can launch her spells. Granted, she doesn't have much right now, and she doesn't have her Mystic Arte, but she can certainly help in this fight.
After finishing this fight...
Stand aside.
Never! *orders malakhim forward*
*walks toward Eleanor, punches her in the gut*
W-Wait! All I did, I did for the sake of the Abbey. We needed money to build the temple. That's why I sold the Nectar... I know I was wrong to produce so much of it... B-But I was only trying to help the people as best I could! Let's talk this over. Who ordered you here? Was it the sick? Was it the doctors? Or---
*stumbles backwards against the altar* No... Was it Artorius? I knew it! Damn his eyes! So he wants to wipe me out of existence, does he?
That bastard! After all the work I did for him...
No!
Velvet!
You won't be rid of me so easily! *runs off*
Rgh! You can't die now! You think you can read books when you're dead?!
*tucks book away* Don't you die either, Velvet... *heals her*
Priesty's getting away.
He won't. I'll hunt him down.
Luckily, Magilou got her Mystic Arte right after this fight, so now there's definitely no excuse for her not to help out from now on.
So now we just have to proceed down some rather long stairs. Let's just hope there's a good explanation for them.
Sounds bad, but don't go so far you forget a Katz Box in the right alcove there. 65 Spirits, and I don't actually know if this place becomes available again later in the plot... It's been a while. This one rewards you with Left-Swept Bangs, just like Rokurou. The secret in the basement
What...What is that?!
*returns to human form*
The daemon...returned to human form? And... What is that beast?!
There's a barrier here.
So, what? The Abbey is holding this thing captive?!
This barrier... I know it well. *looks over at Gideon*
It seems our errand has met with success, at least technically speaking.
Right. Let's get out of here.
*points spear at Velvet* What did you do to the High Priest?! What is this daemon?!
I don't know, and I don't care.
Do not mock me!
You are the mockery. What do you hope to do to me without your exorcist powers?
*gasps, lowers spear*
Who are you? Who are you people?!
Trouble, that's for sure... After this, you return to the surface, skipping past the sewers. Once you return to the town square, a skit will ask about Magilou's relationship with Bienfu.
As we've surmised, Magilou apparently treated him poorly, he ran off, and then he ran into Eleanor. Once more, the mystery of how a non-exorcist has contracted with a malak goes unanswered, but Rokurou wisely suggests dropping it. We've got better things to worry about.
Hey, gotta save money somewhere. The Bloodwing Agent next to the tavern gives us 1950 Gald for the Pillbug, which is a pretty nice amount for a single enemy. No new hunts, though, so something tells me we're nearing the end of the first act. On the trail
Eeeehhh, I wouldn't quite say that. "Confronted him, got caught, got into a huge battle with a high-ranking exorcist, guy ran off and then got killed by some corrupted griffon thing" is not exactly by the book. But as long as she's happy, that's fine.
You heard quickly.
That's about all I'm good for. And with these old ears, sometimes it's hard to hear at all.
And did you learn anything about the "key" for passing through the barrier?
Yes. Only the high-ranking exorcists can enter through the barrier protecting Artorius and his temple. Exorcists are considered high-ranking if they are accompanied by at least four greater malakhim.
Hmm. So if we had four powerful malakhim with us, we could slip through.
But malakhim outside the Abbey's control are rare. They thought this through.
...
Well, I may not look like it, but I'M a greater malak!
Eizen, Laphicet, and Bienfu... So we just need one more.
The game never exactly says what a "greater malak" is from my recollection, but let's just say they're malakhim that have human intelligence and can speak. Unlike Eleanor's little flunkies, for example.
We'll have to steal it, then.
So I have to come too? Sounds like a pain.
Then stay. We don't need you. We'll keep Bienfu, though.
You have no courtesy. How about, "It would be an honor, Madam Magilou". More like that.
I do have to wonder how Magilou would react if someone did act like they would in one of her jokes. Unprompted, I mean.
Would you come if we asked? To attack the Shepherd?
Depends on how you ask. A battle between shepherd and daemon sounds like a real fine spectacle.
I'm afraid this is just how Miss Magilou is.
Miss Magilou, um... I... I would like it...if...if you came with us. Pl... Please.
Laphicet...
Well, what choice does that leave me? I suppose I could tag along a little while longer.
You can count on me.
Melchior will be there. You and I still share the same goal.
Our business is done. You can have this back. *places the Bloodwings ID on bar*
Keep it, dear. As long as you have that, we will count you as an ally worthy of aid.
Allies of the ones trying to kill the savior? You might regret that.
Hah-hah-hah! Such a considerate young lady. Listen, dear. All of us live on the fringes of their so-called "reason", do we not?
Don't say I didn't warn you.
Velvet, wait.
*asleep*
My, my...
I can't blame him. It's been a long night.
Some aid for your allies?
Of course, right away.
The next morning...
*awakens*
You're finally up.
I'm sorry.
Don't worry about it. Getting sleepy or hungry is a natural part of life. I won't eat you.
What about your wounds? Feeling pain... That's also natural, right?
I'm fine. It was nothing.
You're really tough, aren't you, Velvet.
You have to be tough, if what you seek is revenge.
Revenge?
*looks away for a second* We're leaving.
She mentions everyone else being in the plaza, and by that, she means a skit triggers as soon as you leave the tavern. Eizen seems a bit skeptical of Velvet's suggestion that a true Empyrean, like what the Abbey says Innominat is, might be able to do something about daemonblight, but he keeps such thoughts to himself... Well, we'll find out the truth soon enough. The road to Artorius' temple is north of Port Zekson, in another direction from Loegres. So, once more, we're heading back there.
Of course, there remains a question of where this fourth greater malak is coming from, but Eizen's scouts are keeping a watch on the road leading to the temple, and that's why we're meeting in Zekson. Speaking of Eizen's spies, we get a skit afterwards about the secrets of the Sylphjays, who are marvelous creatures, and maybe good to eat, though Eizen is gonna make damn sure that doesn't happen.
And a skit with Bienfu about malak ranks. Well, let's hope they do.
We do have a few more Conversations to get through. As for this lady, well...let's just say if you're *very* generous, this is still the truth...
This guy's a bit curious. He talks about that dove act in Loegres...while we're in Loegres. But later in this conversation, he talks about "performing here in Port Zekson". Seems like this guy is just all confused about where exactly he is...or this guy is supposed to be in Port Zekson and the devs just messed up. One of the two.
Next Conversation is goofing around with this guy again. This time, Magilou's turn.
Engraved chalices in honor of the new Empyrean. As always, a "Shrewd Merchant" will know how to make money from this opportunity.
And finally, for Loegres, a conversation about the recent difficulties with the Nectar market. I would dump my stock if I were you, friend.
Well, while we're traveling back to Zekson, we have enough time for a little pep talk with Laphicet. As long as we keep the kid happy, of course.
Zekson's pretty quiet, but I'd recommend resting at an inn to recover all your statuses / fill the BG to max before you set out again. Hey, it's only 100 Gald for a night. Practically a steal. As for now, the party is going to break up for the day to wait until Eizen's scouts are back.
So let's just enjoy the moment.
You might be able to see Dyle in this screenshot, but he and Rokurou are going to enjoy some good drink tonight. Well, as long as they're raring to go tomorrow, go nuts, guys.
Yeah, no kidding. Artorius and the leadership of the Abbey are likely to be there. We could be making a really bad decision here.
Unfortunately, Velvet's not interested enough in apples for this offer, but Magilou did give one of Laphicet, so let's talk with him next.
But not before taking in our newest haul. Nice find. The dialogue for this one is...
These clothes seem to have once belonged to master mimics.
What is a mimic, anyway?
A mimic can copy the abilities of a profession simply by wearing clothes used by that profession.
Wow! That's quite remarkable. All right, Laphicet. Try them on and see what happens.
...Maybe later. Boys and the sea
Is it good?
It's tart...and yet, sweet. *offers the other apple*
No thanks. I wouldn't be able to taste it anyway. *looks at the compass* You sure like the sea.
I-I'm afraid of the sea... The waves. Sharks. All the strange fish. But at the same time, it's huge and full and wonder. When I let myself think about what might be over the horizon... It's exciting.
My brother... He loved the sea, too.
Your brother? Really?
He'd sit on the cape, just staring at it. I told him he'd catch cold in that ocean wind, but he never listened to a word I said. Your way of looking at the world is so much like his. I wish... I wish I'd bought him that compass. I wish we could've traveled together. Like he wanted.
Laphicet. You know you don't have to do this if you don't want to.
*gasp* I... I'm going with you, Velvet.
I see.
Let's just hope this Laphicet has a long life ahead of him, hanging out with Velvet... But anyway, approaching this gate leads to a skit where we finally hear about someone using a pendulum, who took out a bunch of Abbey soldiers. Eizen mentioned a pendulum when we first fought him outside of Laban Tunnel, so it seems he's looking for a character like that. It seems a pendulum was found nearby from where Aifread was taken, so Eizen thinks there's a connection and runs off to investigate on his own.
But, like I said, the first act of the game is nearly over, so we're calling it there today. Quite a bit next time...