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Part XXII: The Creed We Honored
Welcome to our newest dungeon, The Calix. It's a pretty nice looking area with good music, but, well, I don't see why I should hold back revealing now, but this place does reappear in Zestiria...kind of. There's a particular gimmick with Zestiria's version of this place, but as you might guess, we can save it for another time. Despite how expansive this place looks, it's almost entirely linear. There's not even any cutscenes between now and leaving this place.
But we do have lots of skits, count on that. Velvet's never been in a better mood, and she's even playing around with Magilou's jokes. Rokurou had a lot of nerve in this one, gonna be real. At the bottom of thes stairs, take a guess what's in the two bronze chests...Peach Gels and Life Bottles. Seriously, what is with all of those lately?
As far as enemies around here, the Gale Witches are probably the most dangerous, with interlocking fields of fire if they all start casting spells at the same time, like this. But, as long as you're not running Phi and Magilou at the same time, it's pretty easy to overwhelm them, and once you interrupt them all in a quick sequence like this, it's very hard for them to pose any real threat to you again.
Elixirs are serious business in JRPGs. The curse of not using them is as real as ever.
Oh, I dunno, Zaveid...
So these, Macrotian Wraiths, have...an interesting etymology, as near as I can tell. They're named after an abnormality named Macrotia, which is when an ear grows larger than normal, which seems entirely relevant here. Hey, I wasn't gonna say anything. Game brought it up. Anyway, they're harmless but cute.
Near the end of the first area, a skit about giving The Malak Formerly Known as Number One (Zaveid's words, not mine) a new name. Turns out the party is not great at it, particularly Velvet and Eleanor (Magilou doesn't even bother), but Eizen has a good idea, basing the name on the kid's silver hair and pendant. Silva is actually a Portuguese surname meaning "forest" or "woodland", nothing to do with a color, but everyone seems fine with it. Works for me.
There's another skit right afterwards about Magilou putting in some effort for once. Needless to say, she's not thrilled with being given any credit for helping, even if entirely deserved for once.
In the next area, a fascinating bit of lore, discussed in a couple skits. First, that's straight-up a dragon, very strange thing to find at an Abbey facility.
So this does raise a good point: what IS the endgame for Innominat here? Well, according to the party's well-founded speculation here, the dragon may be leashed here to constantly feed Innominat malevolence so he'll never have to go back to sleep, and humanity's emotions are shackled forever. It's just that, speculation, but I can't think of many other reasons a dragon would be here, that's for sure.
Even Zaveid knows when to cool his morality jets. There is another skit, of course, this one about this dragon's history, in particular. The Abbey certainly has uh...its methods, that's for sure.
On the way to the exit, I managed to make The Calix's Dire Foe spawn, the Queen Bee. I, uh, cannot say it was particularly worthy of my time, but from what I've learned recently, Dire Foes actually gain in strength every time you fight them, so you can't grind them for money or equipment mastery without consequence. Well, the Queen Bee certainly has a steep hill ahead of it to be considered anything but a waste of a few minutes. Guess I can't be too picky over 32k gald.
Phi's still a little antsy over that whole "reborn" thing, but I would certainly agree. Phi's prior existence as Artorius' unborn child is mere history now. Nothing to do with the kid we see before us.
In the next, the usually chatty Eizen completely clams up about that horned daemon we met back in Aball and again here. Well, I'm sure he has SOME idea, but let's wait until the man himself decides to talk.
Well, guess Zaveid did some good work here if this is the best security they got. Upon taking the teleport...
We make landfall on Hexen Isle. Despite this area looking pretty extensive, and there being a Code Red hunt on the radar, we won't be here very long. For right now, at least. As for being "wiped from existence", it just means the Abbey apparently very strictly controls information about this place. It's certainly pretty good cover for The Calix; this place looks entirely ignorable at first glance. Before you go into the center area of the island, you can find Red Saffron behind where you spawn in and a Red Rosemary behind a large monolith.
Anyway, before the Abbey catches up, let's just get the hell out of here, eh? Battle on Hexen Isle
What happened?!
??? Heheheh... We used to play tag all the time.
I won't let you get away, Velvet.
Innominat!
Stop it! You're turning him into a dragon!
That was the whole reason I took him from Teresa. It's just another necessary sacrifice for peace.
Innominat, you monster!
Innominat to the front of us, a dragon to the back of us... Reaper's Curse doesn't begin to describe it.
What a shame... Is that "despair" I sense?
Not on your life.
It'll take more than this to make your big sister break.
...The more you resist, the more you'll suffer.
Velvet. Let me punish this rotten little delinquent.
You're just a malak. You don't stand a chance.
*points Siegfried at his head* I'm not "just" any malak. (every line is punctuated by him shooting himself in the head again) And I'm sick of murdering scum like you! I know no limits! FOR I AM ZAVEID!
Zaveid!
Feh... This is officially too damn much!
We'll be fine! Take them out one by one!
So as you might guess, Silva!Dragon has a bunch of very dragon-y attacks, such as fire breath and flapping its wings to cause damage. It also has Neigh, where it'll rear its head back and roar, stunning anyone close to it. You can actually sidestep this move, which is a little strange, considering you're sidestepping a roar. Strange, but true. Overall not too hard, and it'll end once Silva hits 75% HP.
Stop that, dummy!
We need to bring him down in one push.
I told you you would suffer.
Zaveid...
I'll hold off Innominat. Everyone else, take out that dragon.
There's no way you can face him alone! At least let me assist you!
This isn't an order. It's strategy. *walks toward Innominat*
...I'm counting on you, Phi.
*nods*
*summons magic* I am the malak Laphicet. *fires at Innominat* I am my own master!
...I miscalculated before. I won't hold back this time.
And we have round 2 against Silva. He'll add in a few new attacks on top of all the ones he used previously. The most normal one is stopping and sweeping about 270 degrees around him with his tail, which means it's not as safe to be away from the front, just mostly. Once he falls below 50%, I'm pretty sure, he'll also throw in a near-instant cast of Calamity Flare, which we saw previously in the Melchior/Number One fight. Do yourself a favor, if you're anywhere close to the center of that fire wave, don't sidestep it. You'll either take a lot of damage or just straight-up get KO'd. He'lll also add in Slamdown Breath, which is a combined claw / fire breath attack. Again, it is super dangerous to be anywhere near the mouth when he uses attacks like this.
Yet again, we're denied an outright victory against a dragon, because once Silva drops to 25%, he calls it. Hey, this, combined with the previous ones, I guess technically means we beat a dragon. That's something.
It's healing again!
Oh no, it's not! *everyone charges the dragon*
You talk big, but you're struggling even to protect yourself. *fires again, Phi is knocked back* Heheh... If you apologize now, I'll make sure it doesn't hurt when I devour you.
No way I'm apologizing... Not to some jerk who doesn't understand how Velvet feels!
...And you're saying that you do? She's MY sister. *both look over at the other fight*
I know everything. But I won't tell you!
*summons magic again* So be it.
The compass?!
She isn't... Yours! *shoves Innominat away*
*gets knocked to the ground*
Velvet is Velvet!
And you're just a fragment of me! *fires toward the party*
Guys, look out!
No...!
Ouch... I don't care who you are, that had to hurt.
Hey! Give us more warning! You almost roasted us alive!
You've really...done it now... *gets up* I'll turn YOU into a dragon! See who's laughing then! *blasts Phi with that malevolence magic*
Laphicet!
What's going on?!
The malevolence burned away?!
*passes out*
*grabs him* We're leaving! Hurry! *everyone leaves, fade to black*
They got away.
A silver flame... A strange arte that malak used.
Did you forget that you have the power to digest malevolence? That thing may be a fragment, but it's still part of you.
But the dragon attacked me. If it hadn't disrupted my concentration like that, I never would have let my fragment lay a finger on me.
So long as you learn from your mistake, such a ruse won't work a second time. After all, malakhim are mere servants of the Empyreans. As long as we stay wary, they pose no threat to our ideal world.
Your awakening is nearly complete. None within your domain can stand against you without the power of the four elemental Empyreans. And THEY are fast asleep, far beneath the earthpulses.
...I'm going after them.
No. Not now. We need to make preparations for the Ceremony of Suppression.
*looks over at his daemon* We'll send this one after them instead.
A daemon? Will he be reliable?
True, he can be hard to control. Even after his succumbed to daemonhood, he withstood my illusions for seven days and nights. Even now he resists on an instinctual level. However, he used to be known as the most fearsome pirate in all the seas. His strength is equal to any legate's. You. Capture the therion Velvet. Do whatever you have to, as long as you keep her alive.
Wait... First...
First, kill him... Kill Laphicet. Before my sister's eyes. He's the only thing keeping her from falling to despair.
*daemon roars and shakes its head*
It's true. Daemon or not, he still possesses an odd sort of pride. I'll have to relieve him of such a meaningless burden.
Nothing good, that.
And some perspective for where we were. Definitely would not be a well-traveled area of the seas, certainly.
Indeed, that was quite the misadventure, but upon docking here, we're definitely in need of some rest, particularly Phi. But of course, R&R is only the first priority; we still need a way to deal with Innominat for good. Let's just hope us finding our own version of Artorius' book on Innominat wasn't a complete waste of time, but first, we'll need to rendezvous with the Van Eltia. Where the hell did they go, anyway?
Also, I found it a funny kind of afterthought that, as we were escaping Hexen Isle, we also grabbed Zaveid. Hey, would be rude to leave him for dead.
So this name, the Barbatos Archipelago, is definitely a name Tales vets should be familiar with. Tales of Destiny 2 had a villain named Barbatos Goetia who had a very particular trait: he absolutely hated you, the player, using items, and would go apeshit if you did, launching a super attack if you used an item at any point in the several fights with him over the course of the game. Or if you played on the easiest difficulty against him.
He also very notably showed up in Vesperia's cameo battles alongside Kratos Aurion (Symphonia), Shizel (Eternia), and Dhaos (Phantasia). And in the PS3 / Definitive Edition, you could fight all members of this Rogues' Gallery at the same time. Good times. Of course, he would launch his Mystic Arte if you ever used an item while he was on the field...most of the time. It turns out that if he doesn't have freedom of movement at the time you use an item (i.e. he was being juggled by a spell or something), he wouldn't do it. I saw through your tricks. As far as this game's description of the archipelago goes, the warriors who live here fight in a crude but overwhelming fashion, which also certainly describes Mr. Goetia. He just uses a big-ass one-handed axe and he is unconcerned about the finer points of technique. Definitely a force to be reckoned with.
In a skit on the way to the inn, Eizen and Rokurou's betting instincts actually got Magilou to blush for once. Glad to know she's lightening up, too.
This chest with a Shell Shredder in it? Of course we've been through Port Cadnix before, and there's certainly no reason I wouldn't have opened this chest on a prior visit, so I am forced to conclude this restocked at some point. Once you finish your business, time for a nap. A long night's story
So... Should I think of you as my sister?
*shakes head* I'm a malak named Seres. I've inherited Celica's memories, that's all.
And that doesn't make you the same person?
What exactly defines a person's identity? I may have her body and her memories, but...
You're right. If your soul has changed, you're not the same person anymore...
Even if I were Celica, I don't have the right to be called your sister. I followed Artorius' orders without question, sacrificing my own flesh and blood.
What about me? I devoured you. I have no right to condemn you for what you've done...
There's a difference, Velvet. I wanted you to do it. Even had I survived, I would have given myself to you before long. I wanted you to have my power. No matter the cost.
But why...?
Right after the Advent... Celica's memories returned to me. *transforms into Celica*
It was then I understood what exactly it was I had done. Arthur, kind and caring...
Transformed into the cruel Artorius he is now.
Why did your memories return?
I don't know. I've heard that very rarely, malakhim can regain the memories of their previous lives.
Or perhaps... This is my punishment for the pain I brought to you all. The stronger I feel my love for Arthur, the less I can forgive Artorius...
My hatred of him has grown so deep, I'm not Celica anymore. As Seres, I can never bring back the Arthur that I loved. Neither do I have the power to defeat Artorius. But you can! You're a therion! You've fully absorbed my power. You can face the Shepherd. *nods*
*nods* I know. I will stop him.
Forgive me, Velvet. I've pushed everything onto you... My hatred, my determination...
I wanted to apologize one last time. At the end...
*shakes head* I'm glad I had a chance to know you. I'm glad that once I could be Laphi's sister... And Celica and Arthur's sister, as well...
Later that night...
Velvet.
Should you be up so soon?
Yeah, but...
Stay back.
*gasp*
It's finally come to this. But of course it did. After all, I chose my revenge over a world of peace. I can't complain if people call me the "Lord of Calamity".
Velvet, whether you're human, daemon, or Lord of Calamity... *takes comb out* It doesn't change that you have beautiful hair.
*takes comb* Laphi said the same thing to me, a long time ago. He gave me this comb.
Your heart... I can tell it aches...
Yes... But even still... No, because of that... I've made up my mind. I'm going to settle things with Artorius and Innominat. Once and for all. It must be done. For my sake... And for the sake of those I loved.
I will too. Even without my compass... I'll place my hand on the wheel and chart my own course.
(But... If I kill Innominat, and me and the other therions... They'll all)
A compass... Hmm.
The next morning...
Prior to this screenshot, Zaveid recovered, freaked out at Eizen again, and ran off. Apparently this was the reason. We also learn that's where the Van Eltia is currently located. Kind of a dick move, leaving their acting captain in the lurch like this, gonna be real. Well, obviously we're going to Endgand next, whether or not that horned daemon is Aifread or not. Eizen certainly seems to think that's the case, but there's no way we'll find out the truth here. As for how we're getting there? We're boosting a ship...again.
But not before we gab with the locals again. Man, last time we did this, it was just before entering the Baird Marsh, wasn't it? The conversation closer to the docks is about Hexen Isle. Apparently nothing good happens to those who get close to there, but luckily, we can steer clear for now.
Eleanor has a good eye for stealing ships. Maybe we better keep a closer eye on her... But it has Eizen's badge of approval, so that's good enough for me.
Off the coast of Endgand, Eizen definitely seems to know what's up. If he says it's Aifread, it has to be. No way he'd make a mistake like that. Let's just get to land and see what's happening.
Eleanor!
What's going on?! What happened?!
A horned daemon attacked us out of nowhere...
They're breathing, barely.
Zaveid rushed here to save us. Had he not come when he did, we'd all be dead...
...This is all because I hesitated.
Where'd they go?
Zaveid lured the beast away, towards the interior.
Let's go.
Before we do anything, we need much more fitting garb for our Reaper.
Along the way, there's nothing to comment on in Baird as long as you opened up the shortcut on our last visit here, but there is a skit. Apparently Melchior has been whipping up a nasty brew on Aifread, which, if Eizen's account of the man is even close to being the truth, definitely seems like the case. And hey, we've seen the coot turn malakhim into dragons before; nothing seems to be off-limits for this guy.
In a skit right aftewards, Rourou mentions a "white-horned dragon", which I'll forgive you if you don't recall. He's obviously referring to the first dragon we fought, Sheng Long, but its horns didn't look like horns nor were white. All we know is Zaveid was in the area, and as far as we know, still is. Better be on the lookout, but you'd think even he would know not to get in-between Eizen and Aifread.
In case you've forgotten, the place Aifread is hanging out is past this save point, in a large clearing. The code of pirates
Zaveid! You all right?
Stop! I know these fists... This is Aifread.
Why didn't you fight back?
Aifread... He pulled me back from the brink. I owe him. This time, it's my turn to bring him back.
...A daemon can never be human again.
So, what? That supposed to make me change my creed? What do you think, Aifread?
Zaveid!
Benwick and your crew risked their lives by your side. Zaveid's an idiot, but he stands by his beliefs. *begins pushing Aifread back* I won't let anyone trample their creeds. Even you!
I owe you everything, Aifread. And now...it's time to pay it back!
Aifread is a pretty fun, but fairly simple, fight. As you might guess, he almost entirely relies upon martial artes to fight you. He can also throw out fireballs and Tremor, which involves him slamming his fist into the ground and throwing up some fissures in front of him that can damage your buddies. Nothing too serious, but it makes for a good fistfight if you play as Eizen, if you ask me. Only acceptable choice.
Unfortunately, it didn't quite work out that way, for a vain reason. See, I know he has a Mystic Arte, but he was very shy about using it. Normally I'd be all about continuing to punch his lights out, but for a large percentage of this fight I was just waiting and hoping my buddies didn't KO him before that happened.
Finally I got him to use it. Congrats on defeating Eleanor. Let's wrap this up.
That's more like it...Captain.
End of the road.
Phi!
Taking hostages, now?
I'm sorry... Just forget about me! I'm... I'm prepared for whatever happens!
Family, friends... Everything I ever tried to hold onto... All of it trickled away, fell from my grasp. But a certain idiot once told me, "If you can't hold something in your hand, then make a fist and take it by force!"
Just like you told me to!
Aaah... I know this fist... It's you... Sorry... Caused you a lot of trouble, didn't I...
...Don't worry about it. We're friends, right?
Aifread!
A daemon changed back into a human?!
*tries to heal*
Forget it. It's too late.
I'm sorry... If I only knew...how to use my power... *tries to heal again*
Stop crying. Didn't you say you were prepared for anything?
But... Eizen, you were searching for Aifread for so long.
Hmph... You're still as soft as you ever were. Boy, I'll let you in on a little secret... Your power comes from being part of Innominat.
*gasp*
Which means... If you can seal off his domain, you actually got a chance of puttin' up a good fight.
Seal off his domain?
The four elemental Empyreans, sleeping in the earthpulses... If you can rouse them from their slumber... Hurry... While Artorius and Innominat are occupied. They're getting ready for some "Ceremony of Suppression"...
Thank you, Aifread.
Heh... I'm just sad I can't go with you... It sounds like a goddamn blast...
I won't apologize.
*lightly punches him* You shouldn't. I'm grateful. You always kept things from gettin' dull. If we ever meet again... Let's raise some hell... Eizen.
I owe you one, Zaveid.
We had a chance to bring him back. But you went and killed him... Next time I see you, we'll settle the score. Between me and your "creed".
