Toggle Background Color
Part XXVII: The Scores We Settled
And we're back. I mentioned back a few updates ago that seeing that funeral party for Aifread was the end of Eizen's Sidequest as far as the trophy list is concerned, but this is kinda misleading, because this whole business with Zaveid and Theodora involves Eizen quite a bit and is pretty elaborate, and, uh...it's more important to Eizen than you might think, so as far as I'm concerned, that's his sidequest. We'll also finally be getting to Eleanor's sidequest, which you can't have started at all until you finish Mt. Killaraus.
But for now, we start in the sleepy port town of Reneed. The conversation I'm currently gliding toward mentions that an antique collector named Wanjin has just passed away, and his "stash" is being sold off. It's currently being held in the warehouse in Port Cadnix, so we'll see what claims we can take later on it. There's gotta be something there that interests Eizen. The other conversation is just about the Abbey starting to come apart now that they no longer all have malakhim in tow. Our doing, no doubt. And finally...
Magilou is much more of a calamity than Velvet is, I'd say. She also considers brooms completely unacceptable as a witch, so no doubt witchy fashion developed quite differently in this world.
But the real reason we're starting here is we finally have the next step of Laphicet's Sidequest, the Omega Elixir. Apparently Videl is now bedridden from his illness, but he still found the time to research the next ingredient (this is his mother, or so she says), a "World Tree Leaf" to be found in "Davahl Forest". Don't worry if you don't remember that one, because Davahl Forest was one of those dungeons near Stonebury that we had no reason to go to yet. Well, this was the reason for its existence in the first place. There was no reason you couldn't finish the dungeon and solve all of its puzzles, of course, just that there was no need to. We'll get to that next time, because there's still plenty of sidequesting to go.
There's another conversation near the entrance between that one farmer and his son we saw the first time we were here in Reneed, and Eleanor gets proposed to again. Still not interested, of course.
Damn. Velvet was in darker mood than usual for the skit just after Videl's Mom conversation.
But next up is the crucial "Some guy's pottery collection" thread for Eizen. I'm not being sarcastic, it's actually crucial.
These two aren't, though, but I like the imagery at work here. These two certainly have heard some stories, alright. For now, let's check out that warehouse.
So I'll just go ahead and say some of these endgame conversations / skits aren't translated as...diligently as much of the rest of the game. Like in this conversation, with Wanjin's buddy here, translates the ancient language we've heard about as "Avarost" a couple lines before this one, but as "Avalost" here. There will be a few more examples of this happening this update, where the text says something totally different from what the voice actors are (correctly) saying. It's strange. What's even stranger is the mistranslated bits *sound like* what the voice actors are saying, but they're clearly not the same. It's like whoever was translating the written script couldn't understand what the voice actors were saying and just wrote down what they thought they were saying, even if it was complete gibberish and/or had nothing to do with the conversation everyone was having. There's a skit with Rokurou in particular where I can show you what I mean.
Never doubt Magilou's powers of foresight, because she thought far enough ahead to bring Grimoirh along with her to translate this book we were given by this strangely Irish-accented guy. "Kresnik" is actually a name that first appeared in Xillia 1 as part of that game's background lore, but became much more important in the sequel, where you actually have a Kresnik as a main character.
The thrust of this skit is this book allegedly contains a way for a dragon to be turned back into a malak, and also remove a Reaper's Curse, but the process is none too pretty. Actually, an example of what I mean came up earlier than I thought. Magilou's second sentence here, according to the spoken dialogue, is "That's a little gruesome, even by my standards", which sounds like this "goose" line.
Zaveid decides to join the party, because the Bloodwings are apparently in the business of providing him information, too. Eizen vows he'll kill Theodora, and Zaveid's as stubborn about the situation as always. Whatever friendly rivalry they might have had is gone, because of this issue. When you leave the warehouse, you'll get another fun Magilou line. "The more you try to shoo it away, the more it sticks around" becomes "The more you try to sever a way it will more sticks around". I don't know why I find these so funny. I just do. Laphicet is still as flummoxed as always by Eizen's darker thoughts in this matter, but he doesn't particularly feel the need to justify himself to the kid.
Before you go, there's another conversation with a swordsmith in town. I'm sure Rokurou had fun gabbing, and Velvet had fun standing in front of a guy carrying a crate. Win-win. There's no particular indication of where to go next to continue this Eizen/Zaveid questline but...I hear Northgand, the Mierchio area in particular, is lovely this time of year.
Ah, what are the odds? It's somewhere around the Gaiburk Ice Field, so guess that's what's next.
Magilou has the best weapons.
So Laphicet's Legacy costume is Richard from Tales of Graces (yep, same game as Eizen's Legacy costume, for some reason). Most common battle theme is Restless Sword, and the rarer one, I'm fairly sure, is The Promised Battle. And of course...
No, not that, but I thought it was worthy of posting.
This. Language, Laphicet. Language. His and Magilou's unique victory quotes are like the only two I didn't intentionally go to low-level enemy areas and grind to get. I'm looking at you, Eleanor. Actually, while Rokurou was wearing his Ludger threads, I got his "Ludger" line a couple more times while grinding for Natalia's. The latter just did not want to show up, I swear.
While we're passing through, take note of that conversation icon near the inn. It's with Medissa, but be very wary of getting close to her. Eleanor's Sidequest is a bit peculiar in that you're basically locked into finishing it once you start it, and it starts by talking to Medissa there. It won't lock off sidequests we haven't done or anything silly like that, it's just we'll want to give that its own time to shine, y'know? Let's hurry on.
You might not recognize it from the lack of a blood red sky, but this is where we fought Spectral Crystal. A raging storm
She's hurt, just like they said.
Is this really how you mean to lift your curse?
*begins walking toward her* ...I'm not the cursed one.
Well, that, and you'd think the worldly Eizen would know better than to trust the ramblings of a dude from thousands of years ago without any proof his method works at all.
I'm game.
...Let's go.
I told you, that ain't happening on my watch!
And if you stop me?
What else? I'm going to figure out a way to save her! *hides Theodora with a tornado*
If that's what you want to try, then go ahead. But know that I'm not going to stop.
Y'know, I just don't get it... How could a guy like Aifread be friends with someone so hell-bent on senseless killing?
Sometimes, to kill someone is to save them.
Who the hell is going to be saved by being killed? There's not one damn person in the whole world! No matter what happens, you can't give up on living. That's my creed!
...Well then. *loosens up arm*
Guess we're doing this.
What? Why does it have to come to this?! You both want to save the same person!
Sometimes you just have to fight these things out.
Yeah.
So we have our real fight against Zaveid, huh? Full disclosure, I decided to bump up the difficulty to Intense while coming to this part of the world map, and it certainly shows against Zaveid. He's a tough enemy because his primary strategy, at least initially, is to use Dissembling Snag / Simony Pellet, followed by Regretful Thrust, or some combination thereof (even potentially all three right in a row), which hits a wide area in front of him and, even if you dodge the first attack, he can easily hit you with a second. So fighting him head-on is not advised, unless you're drawing his fire by blocking both, or sidestepping the second.
On the subject of that, we've seen Zaveid fight before with a weird pendulum thing, and the problem with that is that, because of the way he swings it around, particularly the flourish behind it, it can often be hard to tell when exactly an attack will hit you and you need to sidestep. His attacks hit a wide radius and he does a lot of damage, on Intense at least, so only sidestep if you're feeling confident.
Once he hits 75% HP, he'll also add in Crown Fire to his repertoire, which is a very effective AOE spell that he casts very quickly. Luckily, Crown Fire approaches you fairly slowly, so if you have room to run in the opposite direction, do so. In this situation, though, when you're right up against the side of the arena, just block. You are practically guaranteed to get KO'd by either the spell or Zaveid in a situation like this. Blocking at least gives you some chance of survival, but still not a great one.
He'll also add in Jealousy Cyclone, Heresy Strike, and Anathema Force, as well as...
Show-off. I don't know if this is a change on Intense, but Outlaw Barrage can definitely hit multiple targets if they're close to the primary target. Definitely something to be feared.
Overall, Zaveid is a tough enemy who doesn't have any glaring weakpoints, and you have no ability to open up Power Combos, because he's a ? enemy like almost all named humanoid malakhim and has no elemental vulnerabilities. Below 50% HP, he'll also add in his Break Soul, Deceiving Pommel, that cool move Eizen has where he throws up a bunch of chains from the ground to skewer anything in front of him. Unlike most of his artes, though, this is fairly punishable by just running in the opposite direction, and once his invulnerability from stagger ends, you can attack him to hopefully get a decent combo in. I found Eizen's Break Souls pretty effective at making him stagger and opening him up to serious combo damage, and the last 50% of his HP melted fairly quickly.
Laphicet!
She's still a threat!
*begins casting magic* You've got that right!
Don't even try it! *shoots Siegfried at Theodora*
*falls over*
Zaveid! Are you okay?
Yeah... I'm not dead yet, at least.
Thank you for saving me.
I should be thanking you. I'm just glad you're not hurt.
Me?
That's right, kid. Nothing would hurt Theodora more than to harm a child. *sits up*
I like how Zaveid just *knows* we know who the hell that dragon is and why he's so hell-bent on protecting her from us. Yeah, he used a feminine pronoun when referring to the dragon back in the Aldina Plains, but we didn't know what the hell he was talking about. Maybe the Bloodwings passed along that we know what's the backstory here. Who knows.
Theodora...
The thing is, even when a child's lost their parents, their family...even when despair fills their heart... If you hold their hand, they'll squeeze back. Those hands, frozen cold from fear and insecurity, will start to feel warmth again. That warmth, a tiny spark deep within, can rekindle their feeling of being alive. Because they possess the determination to keep on living. That's why Theodora never turned her back, or gave up on, a child. She was more passionate about life than anyone I've ever known.
And that's why you're protecting her...
Just how long do you plan on cleaning up after that dragon?
She's Theodora.
Once a malak becomes a dragon, there's no turning back.
*stands up* And you think that gives you the right to kill her? You talk like you have such noble intentions, but you're not fooling anyone! You just want to lift your Reaper's Curse!
I'm not the one who's cursed.
You telling me there's some other reaper out there?
Don't answer a question with another question.
Shut the hell up! You're all talk and no fight. You're a damn coward, that's all you are. In the future, if you try to lay even a finger on Theodora... Well, there's going to be hell to pay.
Give me hell if you like, but think about one thing first.
There's also a skit with Eleanor and Laphicet afterwards, but without Eizen being in attendance, kinda spinning our wheels here about what he means by a lot of what he's doing. But as long as Velvet is still on-board, guess we're still doing this. To continue this sidequest, go back to where we first found Theodora, but since we're still in the Meirchio area, why not start with Eleanor's Sidequest? Sound good? Good. Remember, just approach Medissa to initiate this scene. Girl in Trouble
What?!
I've been tending to her, but it just won't go away. She just keeps mumbling over and over about how she doesn't want to take her mom's medicine...
Kamoana...
We've heard her talk about her mom's medicine before, haven't we?
I gather that it's something her mom used to make her take whenever she came down with a cold.
It might be something specific. If there's any left, it would be back at her old house in Haria, right?
Probably. I don't know if it'll work now that she's a therion, but I'll go and try to find it.
You'll do no such thing. I'm sorry, but the Abbey's still looking for you and there's no way I'm about to hand you over.
...Don't try to stop me, Velvet.
Look, we'll go to Haria. You stay here and take care of Kamoana.
Eleanor.
Velvet, if you try to fight Medissa, it won't end well. And I would back her up, too.
Look, if we have time to argue about this, we have time to go find that medicine ourselves.
Yeah... I guess you're right.
Thank you.
Eleanor... Why are you going so far out of your way for Kamoana?
But on the night of the Advent, my inner resonance awakened. I honestly believed that I had been given the power to change the world for the better, you know? Less sorrow. Less suffering.
Not to interrupt her speech here, but the animators are still playing into that whole "if Magilou's not the center of attention, she'll do something". She actually yawns toward the end of Eleanor's line there, but of course, it's silent, she opens her mouth only slightly and pats her mouth, but I saw it.
But even after I'd donned the mantle of the exorcists. I was still pathetic. Full of ideals, but so ignorant of the way things really work. That ignorance is what drove me to go after Mahina...and take her away from Kamoana... I can't change the past. But at the very least, I can atone. I'd do anything to her a chance.
*chime, groans*
...All right, then. She's in your hands.
We'll be as quick as we can.
*looks at Eleanor* What...what was that I just felt...
And another post-cutscene skit, this time with Rokurou and Laphicet. If this line sounds like a complete non-sequitur (they were discussing why Laphicet felt that weird chime again), well, it's that line I was referring to earlier. He actually says "At least...that's what she projects". I usually listen to these videos with the sound off so I can watch TV and stuff while I work on these updates, but something tells me I'll have to suspend that policy for the rest of this post-game.
So this? I harvested this when we were initially going to Meirchio this update to deal with Zaveid's shit, and it's already regrown. I confess, I don't really know how / why herbs sometimes regrow this quickly. Maybe it's *because* we did all that stuff with him and Theodora and the game somehow flags that for some herbs regrowing? It shall remain a mystery until my dying day.
But herbs regrowing outside Beardsley? What are you, crazy? Strangely, you never have to go back to either there or Hadlow Hollow, in the Sidequest World, for anything. It's like the devs forgot those two places existed.
Yeah, this is what I mean by Eleanor's Sidequest locking off a bunch of stuff. "We gotta do this now!" stuff in JRPGs is always kind of a strange thing, because most of the time that means "We have enough time to do just about everything else we could possibly think of before that", but occasionally it does mean something like this. Never can tell.
Down in Southgand, this informant tells us some rather large brute has started treating Haria like it's their property. It's also wearing a large jewel, strangely, but that seems to mean quite a bit to Eleanor. I'm sure we'll hear more about that soon.
Like in a skit halfway through Maclir Beach. Seems even Eleanor is not above malevolence in exceptional cases, but her backstory with a giant troll daemon and a jewel goes like this. The people of her village protected a large jewel (called Eleanor, which is where she got her name) until a large group of troll daemons attacked them. Eleanor's mother ran off with the jewel and her child, but the daemons caught up with them. Her mom used herself and the jewel as a distraction to allow her child to escape, but she was not as fortunate.
I do say all that, but this is the craziest translated skit yet. I count no fewer than 5 instances of lines being different than what's said: two from Eleanor, and one from Rokurou, Velvet, and Laphicet apiece. You can watch it yourself to see what all of them are, but my favorite's is Velvet's line. "Knock yourselves out" somehow became "Not your sounds out".
I'm certainly not the one to talk to about how this game was localized, nor localization in general, but seriously, my only theory is what I talked about above. No matter what order the script / voice acting was done in, doesn't make a whole lot of sense how this happened. Though, if the script for the game was done first, they could have told the voice actors "Clean up these nonsensical lines" while they were recording, but then why not just clean up the written scripts while they were at it, too?
My only other theory is, given how voice acting is usually recorded, with the actors on different days because of scheduling and everything, it's possible all of them were given partial scripts, for all of their character(s) lines in cutscenes and skits and everything, that WERE correct, hence why they don't say the weird lines, but the translated script, including the weird lines, worked on by different people, was the one that was intended to actually be put into the game as the final product. Still a little weird but at least plausible to me. And, because the sidequests and such were of lower priority than the main story, that's where errors started seeping in.
Upon arriving in Haria... Release
Let's look for the medicine while we can. *brief fade to black*
*holds out a bag* Hey, this is what we're looking for?
I think so!
Hey, there's a note attached to it too.
A note? Is it instructions on how to prepare the medicine?
No, it's more like directions on how to administer it. "This medicine is extremely bitter. Kamoana hates taking it. If she develops a fever while I'm away, you need to do specific things to get her to take it. There are three wa--"
*gasps*
Look, it's wearing a jewel.
That's...it. That's "Eleanor".
Then this must be what killed Eleanor's--
Aah! Eleanor!
Go give her some help!
Well, it is certainly an appropriately named "Boss Troll". Shouldn't have to go into what kind of attacks this thing has, but I believe special mention should go to its Frenzy arte. Early on, you'll notice it's the tamest frenzy ever. Just a few smashes at the ground in front of it, but it gradually increases in speed and number of hits as it continues losing HP. Speaking of, Troll's main gimmick is that it has a passive ability that substantially reduces the amount of damage it takes if the damage of a hit is over 1000. Especially because this is Intense, it has a mountain of HP that needs to be chipped away that. Stun + Mystic Artes are practically a necessity.
The one good thing is that because it's so obvious the way this thing attacks and how slow most of its attacks are, it makes for good sidestepping practice. It's just...it'll hurt if you miss one and you're not blocking.
This attack actually isn't even a Break Soul, just a naturally very annoying attack that does a ton of damage if you're not blocking / out of the way of it entirely.
After cutting it down to size...
I did it... I finally did it, Mom. *gasps*
Eleanor?
I just...I don't know how to feel. I wanted this so badly... Vengeance... Closure...
It makes sense... This is what's been driving you.
I suppose you're right... But if this is truly a part of me... I can't help but empathize with Kamoana. If she ever found out the truth of what I did to her mother... I know exactly how she'd feel. She'd want to kill me.
I...I don't know about...
It's only natural, you said so yourself! I can't stand it. It's eating me up inside. I keep telling myself I did it for her own sake, but I... I've just been lying. I'm horrible... If Kamoana ever attacked me, aybe I'd end up killing her, too, just to save my own worthless skin!
That's not who you are!
*collapses* Kamoana's only alive because she ate her own mother. I have a hard time believing that any salvation awaits someone like her.
Ah, of course... I get it now...
You've been carrying this pain for a long time.
*malevolence shows up* My mother told me to stay strong and keep living. I'm only here right now because she sacrificed her life... And yet...I'm selfish. Pathetic. I'm so, so sorry, Kamoana... Mother...
This is bad! She's exuding malevolence!
No! Don't try to carry the burden all by yourse-- *fwoosh, screams*
If we don't do something, Laphicet's going to lose his vessel!
It's fine. Let her spill it all out.
Imbecile! WIthout a vessel, he'll turn into a dragon! All hell will break loose!
"Method 1: Wrap the medicine in sweet starch paper. This only works about half the time. Usually she just eats the paper and spits the medicine back at you. Method 2: Mix it in with her meals without telling her. It tends to make the food bitter. I think she's catching on. It's gotten harder to trick her, and she may refuse to eat. Method 3: Pinch her nose and force her to swallow it. But be very careful! She WILL struggle and try to bite. You don't want to lose a finger."
Is this really the time?!
Is that...the note you found?
Yes. It's the one Mahina left with her daughter's medicine. Her duties must have often taken her away. Someone else had to watch Kamoana.
"Her fevers are caused by mental distress, but for some reason she believes that these bitter berries are medicine. If she takes one, her mind will stop racing and she will calm down. I realize that this is an awful lot to ask, but please, I love her very much. Please make sure that she takes her medicine, no matter what you have to do. She can be awfully stubborn, but deep down, she's just a kindhearted girl who's very, very lonely. Please, please do what you can for her. I can't thank you enough for your help."
I didn't realize that her mother was...so...
Hahaha, yeah. It looks like her mom had a bit of a forceful streak with her, doesn't it?
*pulls Laphicet up* Nobody's a saint in this world, not even our own mothers. If they need to, they'll lie and use force. You do absolutely whatever it takes to protect your child.
The resolve...to protect your child...
Well, Eleanor? Have you calmed down now?
*stands up* Yes. I apologize for my behavior.
So, what are you going to do, now that you've been asked by both Medissa and Kamoana's mom?
I guess... No, I'll make sure she takes the medicine. I swear, she will get better!
Do whatever you feel you need to.
*nods*
All right, get a move on, guys! Let's hurry back to Kamoana.
A lot of these "post-event/battle" skits lately, eh? And another silly line, of course.
The next location after the Crystaliron Sea is the Centurion Islands, a reference to Tales of Symphonia (2): Knight of Ratatosk / Dawn of the New World, where Centurions were pretty crucial parts of the plot. This item in particular is a reference to Ratatosk's Centurion Core, which was one among many big plot tokens, you see. Personally, I'm with Velvet here. I wouldn't want anything to do with something like this, but let's see...
Wow! It's spectacular, Velvet!
Hmm?
That deep, deep red. It's like a sunset reflected in the ocean.
That's...what you see?
Huh? Did I say something funny?
No. Not at all. (But I hadn't noticed that's the same color of a sunset I once saw with Laphi. I guess the beauty in anything comes from what you bring to it.)
True enough. Speaking of beauty, let's see if we can find Eleanor. The jewel, that is.
Unfortunate, but Eleanor seems back to normal, even in spite of this. All the treasure chests in Haria have been restocked. Feel free to go around and open them, but there's nothing too valuable even if you don't. Going back to Yseult...
The world might have changed a lot since we were here initially, but that coconut is still rolling around in the waves. And so it shall be. What shall also be is heading right back to Meirchio, since you're still entirely on-rails until further notice.
Hmmm, doesn't sound good. He further mentions that Medissa lured the kid to Mt. Killaraus, to prevent Kamoana's rampage from involving any of the pirates. We're going right after them, of course. A volcano is no place for a child.
Very nice. Also picks up litter, apparently.
Thankfully, we won't need to hike allll the way back to where we fought Melchior to find them, as apparently Kamoana flipped out only recently. Let's defuse this situation, shall we? Bitter and sweet medicine
Kamoana, honey...you're hungry, right? It's okay! You can eat me if you need to, if it means you'll go back to your sweet, normal self...
Stop! *walks toward her*
*stops Laphicet from joining her*
Kamoana! I've got your mom's medicine right here!
You're lyinggggg!
It's true! Your mom heard you had a fever, so she sent us this medicine to give to you!
*thrashes more* Nooooo, I hate it! It tastes soooo bitter!
It's okay! It's not bitter!
*continues thrashing* I don't believe you! You're lying! Lyingggg!
It's true! Here, see? *takes some of the medicine herself*
See, normally I'd be more concerned about her taking medicine meant for a therion, but remember that she only became a therion after she and Mahina were separated, so it's still meant for the normal human Kamoana. So it's *probably* alright for Eleanor to take it.
*approaches Kamoana, kneels down, fade to white*
You lied to me...
I know, I know... I'm really sorry, Kamoana...but I had to.
*lightly nods*
*approaches the two*
Well, all's well that ends well. Technically, this skit wraps up Eleanor's Sidequest and, from what I remember, the last of Kamoana or Medissa's involvement in anything related to the story, but we've got a little more business left in this frozen land.
First up, might be small compensation for Eleanor, and my bank account in general, but the Bloodwings at least are showing what appreciation they can within their budget.
So at some point, possibly while we were messing around in Mt. Killaraus with the Abbey, Kamoana found the time to hide something in a treasure chest and, surprisingly enough, actually *lock* said chest. Of course, this sidequest is oriented around finding the key and finding out what no doubt awesome treasure she's hidden. We're not entirely left without a clue when it comes to the key, though. She says she put it in Dyle's pocket for safekeeping. As for the chest, Kamoana lept across a few small floating icebergs outside the inn which was...dangerous, but whatever. It's fine.
Eleanor wasting no time with the Lizard Man. Unfortunately, this shakedown did not go well and he says lost the key somewhere. He mentions something make a "clink" while he was at the inn last, though, so that sounds like a promising enough lead.
Ah, Orthie and Russ were its ACTUAL guardians. Interesting.
Jump jump jump. And at the end of the path is...
Well, she did say the treasure in there was important to her, and the recipe for mabo curry was passed down from Mahina. But this skit marks the end of this little sidequest. But believe it or not, we're STILL not done in Meirchio, but the triggers for this coming one are a little askew. First up, this is Velvet's Sidequest, but it's not triggered by finding the right conversation or anything, it's generated by...cooking meals. But it's quite a bit more complicated than that. Here's how it goes.
First up, you can only progress it once you get Velvet's cooking level high enough. Remember back at one of those big skit dumps in Titania I mentioned a skit about Velvet talking about her cooking and how it wasn't as good as Celica's cooking yet? It was a while ago, but yeah, that's the first step. Next, get her to level 20 (max cooking level is 25) and have her cook Crowe's Special Quiche. While we first heard about the quiches way back in Part I, we were unable to actually make them until we spent that evening in Velvet's home in Fake!Aball and she got the recipe there. You'll first get a skit about Eleanor giving Magilou, Eizen, and Rokurou shit for their absolutely dreadful characters.
And boy, does she let them have it. This is the only spinach that matters, and these scalliwags are gonna hear about it. Now, after this skit, we're supposed to be getting a second one with Velvet and Laphicet, but it...wasn't triggering. I was a little confused, so I decided to leave town and see if that shook the cobwebs from the game's ears.
That did it. I guess since this skit directs you back to Mierchio's inn, the game saw fit to not have it trigger in Meirchio? I dunno. Who cares, it works. Velvet mentions she has business with Orthie and Russ now that she's finally lived up to her sister's cooking talent.
So we haven't finished the Centurion Islands, but we did unlock its neighbor, the bizarrely shaped Teepo Island, but we'll worry about that later. I only screenshot this to mention that "Eau de Seduction" is another reference to Dawn of the New World, it is a perfume, and believe it or not, was a major plot point. It was a whole thing.
Upon heading back to the inn... Finishing the promise
Be careful! Orthie and Russ are usually nice, but, well...
I know. I killed their master. I'm not expecting them to be friendly. *kneels down*
There's no poison in this. I promise. I just want you guys to listen to something I have to say. This quiche was known as my sister's culinary specialty. Everyone in my family always looked forward to it. You have to knead the dough in a special way and use two types of cheese for it to turn out right. The trick to making sure that it's perfect is carefully balancing the eggs and cream, and making sure to remove any moisture from the fillings.
Why are you telling them all this?
I...I promised Niko that I would teach her the recipe one day. *sigh* You two have to make sure to pass it on to her now, okay? I won't be going to where Niko is.
Velvet...
Please, don't say anything. Niko won't be able to rest in peace if people try to console me.
...
Jeez...didn't expect that gut punch from that sidequest. But that's really, really all the business we have in Meirchio. Can't promise we won't come back here, but I certainly do not remember why we would need to, if we do.
Sure, this skit starts out very nice, with Kamoana teaching the dogs all kinds of tricks, but it soon turns into an epic deathmatch when Magilou simply cannot let Kamoana's training prowess upstage her.
Next stop is the heart of the empire, Loegres. As one of the few remaining bastions of imperial power, a number of refugees from our previous exploits have found their way here. But not the first conversation, though, in the plaza to the left. A Loegres Promoter informs us that Majelu and her teacher had a big scrum and she ran off to the Zamahl Grotto, which is the second of those bonus dungeons near Stonebury, so that's also on the agenda next time. Despite Magilou's "winning my default" instincts here. Good thing she's not the moral conscience of the party.
In the alleyway on the other side of this section of town, there's a couple from Meirchio who fled here. They're uh...definitely not fans of us.
I guess the Loegres Inn just puts Velvet in a very domestic mood, but it's good Laphicet is getting these lessons at a young age. In other news, Eizen's tongue will be the death of him yet.
Much life has returned to Loegres' streets, including the previously vehemently anti-fountain guy here. The conversation at the other end of the square is with a previous boss fight. Can you guess who? The bandit we fought at Brigid Ravine at the start of the second act. Glad to hear the good news from this fellow.
For such an upstanding woman, these suggestions are...a bit eyebrow-raising. And she's also getting tired of all these proposals, apparently.
But the guys near the Bloodwings tavern, well...these two have a long journey ahead of them. Good luck with all that.
And speaking of the Bloodwings, they're back in business, too. Guess Tabatha found a good place to hide and everyone, once freed from Innominat's control, forgot what they were doing there. Maybe a few mabo curries on the side to make the city watch look the other way. Regardless of how it happened, they're back.
For our final conversation this update, talk to Tabatha again. After reminiscing about Shigure a bit, Tabatha mentions a daemon not even he could surpass. Well, it stands to reason the one who surpassed Shigure has a shot, right? I sure hope. As for where it is, it's a dragon swordsman hanging out near the Empyrean's Throne. Sounds interesting.