LET'S PLAY SUIKODEN; FUCK YEAH GS4

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

LAST TIME: Camiklotov get!

Whee, I'm at my castle! ... Hm, size two still.

I head down to the war room. Apple, Shu, Fitcher, and Teresa are there.

: [looks around slowly] "Whew. I feel sort of relieved to be back here. I guess it's because this is where I want to live..."

: [steps up] "Lord Odessa. We weren't able to form an alliance with the Matilda Knights, but we've got many new recruits. However the Highland Army isn't just sitting idly by either. They're going to come at us again sooner or later. This is just a brief rest.... Starting tomorrow, we'll have to fight again."
Fade out.

Still in the war room, but now it's just me and Nanami.

: "Tomorrow.... fight again.... Well, let's follow Shu's advice and get some rest. I think Pilika missed you a lot when you were gone, Odessa."
Fade out.

IT IS NIGHTTIME. Crickets are chirping. I'm outside the war room for some reason.
man guarding war room: "Lord Odessa... Now that your inspection is over, you should get some rest and leave the rest to me!!!"
A lot of doors are blocked, really. I can go to the main room of each floor, though!

: [ Zzzzzz ] "Zzzzzzzzz....... Sorry, I messed up again..... Zzzzzz............."

man in tavern blocking exit: "Hiccup!!! Don't worry. I can keep guard... hiccup.... and drink at the same time. Hiccup!!!" You fill me with confidence.
man blocking exit near Barbara's storehouse: "Even if you are Lord Odessa, no one enters or leaves here after nightfall." Excuse me, this is my army.
man on first floor blocking restaurant and bathhouse: "Hmm, let's see here...." [ beat ] "Aha!!! There's absolutely nothing wrong!"

: [at his desk, right hand hidden from view as always] "Lord Odessa, what can I help you with?"
guard near my room: "Lord Odessa, it's late, sir, you should get some rest."

FINE. I WILL GO TO MY ROOM AND CHECK ON PILIKA.
I step in and Pilika goes ! and jumps a little.

: "I'm back, Pilika. Were you a good girl?"

: [hop, slow spin, hop] "......!"

: "Whew, Hey.... Odessa..... Pilika just wants.... One more time...." [glances at her] "......... Huh? Ummm.... No, Goodnight, Odessa!!"
What?
Nanami leaves the room, fade out.

[BGM: The King's March]

Luca is at the pointy end of a red carpet! Jowy's standing in front of him, still in his white Highland outfit. They're in L'Renouille palace somewhere, I believe. It's been ages since I played through enough to be positive, but I'm pretty sure they're in L'Renouille. (It's the capital of Highland, and also probably meant to be named after R'lyeh for $reasons. Irrelevantly, Soul Eater is a thinly-veiled Elric of Melniboné reference, and Maximillian and Sancho are obviously Don Quixote and Sancho. :D)

: "An interesting idea, but what about the expeditionary force? It's not as if the entire army is loyal to me. Particularly Kiba and his son are more loyal to the King than me. It could even mean the entire State strategy is in danger."

: "I've got a plan to handle that."

: "Hmm. You've really planned it all out. How did you get so wise?"
Jowy steps aside. A man in a brown coat with a grey scarf walks in.

: "That's nothing. If I couldn't figure that much out, I'd be an embarrassment to the Silverburg family." Eh, I think being unable to spell 'Silverberg' makes you an embarrassment to the Silverberg family.

: "So you really were a strategist for the Scarlet Moon Empire along with Mathiu Silverburg.... Why are you here?" Luca, please learn how to spell Silverberg.

: "We're forgotten in times of peace. It's only when war looms that people remember we exist." Later: 'And that, my shiny Apple, is why I don't have to wear pants if I don't want to.' 'Nice try, Caesar.' 'YOU CAN'T SEE ME.'

: "Hmm, as you wish, Well I leave the rest to you, my younger brother-in-law. Hoo hoo hoo ha ha ha ha ha."
Luca walks off.

: "............................."
Fade out.

I'm in my room!

Nanami stops me by the war room when I'm walking downstairs.

: "Terrible news! Terrible news! Everyone's gathering in the square." Did someone conquer Radat?

... and by the square she meant the war room.
[BGM: Sedition] Okay, it looks like 90% of the time when I put 'Suspicion' it's not. Sigh. I just don't recognise Sedition when they skip the opening bars, which they do a lot.

: "Lord Odessa, We've got a report that the Highland Army seems to have appeared in Radat Town." I WAS RIGHT. ... Shit.

: "'Seems to'? Has it been occupied?"

: "I know not, but if they can occupy it before we receive our next report, they are a formidable enemy indeed."

: "So it's not Solon Jhee after all. It's the Third Company, General Kiba and his son." HI KLAUS \o/

: [steps up] "You can't open a lock unless you know the combination. Hey Odessa, Shall we go check things out?" Am I going to wear a disguise?

: ! "What are you saying, Viktor! You can't have Lord Odessa do such a dangerous thing....." Ummm I could wear a bag over my head so no one recognises me. ... Also it's not like I regularly get in fights with everything between upset houseplants to grumpy generals to giant demons or anything. Those are definitely safer than going to Radat wearing a paper bag.

: "C'mon, it's okay I tell you. I'll be with him. It'll be like a stroll in the park. Besides, Odessa needs a break." I hope I'm going to actually wear a disguise for this because this whole thing of everyone in the world recognising me is rather unfortunate.
[ Viktor joins party ]

: "Radat is east of South Window. Be very careful." Yeah, that's why I'm wearing a disguise. ... Wait. No I'm not.

: "Wow, you're something else. What should I do."

: "Don't get caught, Odessa." Damn right.

: "Looks like war....." Wow, you're one smart fucker.

...
I wonder if II has a medicine cat somewhere.

man in Kuskus (I wanted to sharpen Viktor): "Sowston Army's strategist, Lord Shu is clever, I admit it. But General Kiba's strategist, Klaus, is brilliant...." You just think he's prettier. COMPARE Klaus and Shu

I step into Radat and there are Highland soldiers wandering around. :B

: "They're here. It's full of Highland soldiers. They sure took over quick. There was almost no rioting." It's Radat. They're not really that concerned with things like whose army is currently occupying them.http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g48/surskitty/gensui/suiko2/08defense/20120206_184219.png

: "Let's go inside."

: "Okay, that's the spirit. If it gets dangerous, leave it to me. So, which way should we go?"

Highland soldier: "Huh? If we don't hurry, we're going to miss Lord Kiba's speech."
Highland soldier: "We're guarding this area. Huh, are you.....? .... Oh, just my imagination." I told you I should've worn a disguise.
man in inn: "Whew............ I wonder if we'll suffer the same fate as Muse...."
man: "A gaudily dressed man just came up to me. I think he's looking for something....."

There is a ton of people in the middle of town.

: "Huh? What the hell is that?"
[ BGM: The King's March ]

Pan down to most of the townsfolk standing around and watching Kiba and Klaus, who have a lot of Highland troops behind them.

: [steps up] "Listen. From today on, this town is under Highland rule. Anyone who steps out of line will be punished by Highland law."
man in yellow in the middle: "B... but that means... ... our lives are...."
man in white in the middle: "The people of Muse were all devoured by a monster......."
The crowd all looks around at each other uncomfortably and there is the sound of yelling. Kiba steps up and they stop.

: "Nothing but silly rumors! I, Kiba, promise in the name of King Agares that no such thing has happened." Suuuuuuuure.
More spinning and chatter.
someone: "I.... I'm grateful...."
someone else: "If the war would only end, neither the State Army nor the Highland Army would make a difference."
Pan back up to us.
The talking stops.

: "Bah. What law! They got some nerve. Well we know we're facing Kiba and his son. That's enough. Let's go home, Odessa."
We turn up, presumably about to leave.

: "Lord Odessa."
I go ! and look at Viktor.

: "Uh oh. Did they spot you?"

→

: "Let's run away."
AND THEY DO.

: "That was close.... Let's get back to Sewer Castle. If our enemy is Kiba, we've got lots of work to do if we wanna win this thing."
→ wait or go

: "Wait."
Nanami spins; Viktor panics. Klaus walks up.

: "So we meet again, Lord Odessa. It's too bad, but Lord Jowy isn't here. He's at our capital, L'Renouille. The wedding between him and Jillia Blight should be taking place right about now......."

: [steps forward] "Lord Odessa, You defeated me at Two River, but next time I'll be ready. Well, excuse me for now. We're also busy preparing for battle you know."
And he walks away. Music goes back to whatever's usual for Radat.

: "So it's Kiba and Klaus, eh. But about Jowy...... Well, anyway, let's head back. Those guys mean business. We've got to be ready for them."
And off we go!

...
I step back into Radat and one of the guards spots me, goes !, and comes back with a ton of soldiers. Sometimes I think they don't like me, even with my charming Highland accent. :'(

...
Wait, the calico near the entrance to my castle goes, "Ho humm....." ?!

Eilie and Pilika are waiting for me between Luc and Viki.

: "So you made it back, eh? Well that's good at least. Everyone's gathered in the great hall." Fascinating.
Pilika bounces.

[BGM: Sedition]

I go check on Hai Yo and Barbara is unconscious. Bolgan and a kid are freaking out.

: "Hey what did you do? What did you do to Barbara?"
RYUKI: "Ha ha ha. That was a poison extracted from 10 species of spiders found only in the nameless countries north of Zexen. If she doesn't get an antidote within 30 minutes, she will die!!! Now Hai Yo, return the 'thing' that you stole!"

: [panic] "Ohhh....... I..... I won't give it to you!!!"

: "What are you saying, Hai Yo!! Barbara's life is in danger!!!"

: "Ohhh... but, but.... I just can't!!!!!!"
RYUKI: [pause.] "So you won't return it, eh. Here's what we'll do. You and I will have a contest!!! If you win, I'll give you the antidote. I'll aso give you a recipe according to 'Group' rules. But if I win, you must give me that 'thing'. Do you accept the challenge!!!!"

: "Ohhhh.... what should I do? Lord Odessa......."

: "Help Barbara, Hai Yo!" Or kill my star of destiny and vault keeper, that's good too.

: "Okay, I'll do it. I accept your challenge, Ryuki!!!"
RYUKI: "Well said, Hai Yo!!! By the rules of the Black Dragon Group, let's cook!!!!"

"In the woods where he grew up, he used to love to eat fish straight from the river. It's Kinnison!!!"
"We can expect some harsh and accurate criticism from him. It's Clive!!!"
"Put some food in his belly and he'll be happy, I guarantee it. It's Rikimaru!!!"
"My sources say that Fitcher has a major weakness for sweets!!!"
I'm making Sweet Salad (2, 1, 4, 2), Simmered Carp (5, 1, 5, 4), and Cheesecake (4, 1, 5, 1).
He made Sole (3, 1, 3, 1), Tempura (4, 2, 5, 3), and Creamy Gratin (2, 1, 3, 2).
WHAT IN THE FUCKS
FITCHER, HOW DO YOU NOT LIKE CHEESECAKE
also I guess that's conclusive proof that just because two characters are in the same general category doesn't mean they like the same food: Georg also loves sweets and he fucking loves cheesecake. He really fucking loves cheesecake. Do not get between him and his cheesecake.

RYUKI: "You are a true chef, Hai Yo! That's why you were one of the 4 Lords of the Black Dragon Group." I wonder if that was 四天王 in Japanese.

: ". . . . . . . . . . . ."
RYUKI: "Urgh.... as I promised....."
[ You got the poison antidote ]
[ You got 'Pasta Recipe'. ]
RYUKI: "You beat me, but I won't forget!! Until you return that 'thing', the Black Dragon Group will be hunting for you!!!!!!" Pleasant.
someone: "Ah!!!!!!!!!"
Fade out.
There is the sound of a stab.
Fade in.
someone: "He.... he took his own life... But what did he mean 'hunt'..."

: "I knew this would happen.... I was prepared....."
Fade out.

To the war room!
[BGM: Tactics] Flik, Teresa, Shu, Apple, Ridley, and Fitcher are there.

: "Lord Odessa, we're pleased that you returned safely."

: "Of course, he had me to protect him. But anyway, we learned who the enemy general is.... It's Kiba and his son, Klaus."

: "It's the 3rd Company of the Highland Army. But from their numbers, it looks like part of the 4th Company is with them too." Well, it's hardly as Jowy needs it at the moment.

: "They can do whatever they like. If they attack from the front, we'll meet them at the front. We'll show them that the number of generals as well as the quality of the soldiers has changed from before." I kinda doubt more generals would necessarily help :B

: "Now we can finally fight a decent battle."

: [steps up] "So you've got no strategy this time?" ... he's an honorary Silverberg, Viktor. Even Apple at her worst has a strategy.

: "Are you worried, Viktor? We don't need a strategy for this battle. Lord Odessa, please give the signal for our forces to deploy."

: "Troops! Deploy!" 'Hey, Shu, am I doing it right?'

: "Give the orders for the troops." 'I already said to deploy!'
Fade out!
We're near Radat! The kobolds are up front.

: "Hmm. I thought you'd be hiding in your castle, but you were brave to show your face. Good man!"

: "Father, don't understimate him. He came out because he too has confidence in his strength." But can his hair go all flippy like Klaus's? I THINK NOT.

: "I wouldn't have it any other way. I love a good challenge. It's what keeps me going." And that's why I don't need to run like hell from you.

Rowd teleports in with some of the fourth company. They're the group at the bottom.

: "Listen. Just cause I'm a substitute, don't think you can mess around. Understand? If you understand, stay in your positions. The 3rd Company will take the lead."

: "He he he. Finally a good fight!"

: "Don't underestimate them."

: "I know. I know."
[ Start Battle ]
Oh, huh, took me a bit to notice that Kiba has a mage with him. Round one passes without anything interesting happening.

: "Lord Shu, I have a question regarding our troop deployment. May I speak freely?"

: "Go right ahead, General Ridley."

: "Why is it that only the Kobold Unit is being placed in the front lines?" ... ridley

: "Decisions about troop deployment are mine to make and I expect you to follow them, General."

: ". . . . . . . . . ."
Luc inflicts magical death upon some Highlanders! A kobold unit gets beaten up :'(
Highland unit gets revenge killed by the kobolds ...
My turn!
Ridley kicks some ass, as his unit is wont to do... Teresa finishes off the archers Ridley beat up. Flik beats up some of Rowd's troops. Viktor gets some shit beaten out of him.
End my turn!

: "I knew we shouldn't have joined forces with the humans. We don't need to waste our precious few lives in this meaningless war. Order all forces to retreat!"
KOBOLD ARMY: "Huh? Y... yes, lord. Arf." Even the kobolds are going 'what in the fucks'.
The kobolds retreat!

: "What's this!!!"

: "What? What? A rift among friends? Ha ha Ha! Good. Now it's our turn!!! All forces, advance!!!!!"
Shit, Rowd just beat up Flik.
Tsai just finished off a Highland cavalry unit ... and Flik counter beat up Rowd. Sadly Teresa failed to kick his ass. Viktor beat up some Highlanders; Jeane zapped Kiba; Luc failed to zap Kiba.
Teresa had the crap beaten out of her!

: "It's no good!!! Without Ridley's help, we don't have a chance!!!" Ummmm.

: "At this rate........"

: "We've got no choice.... Lord Odessa, order our troops to withdraw."

: "What happened!!!! Damn it!!!! We could have won this battle!!!!" Yeah actually we were kicking their ass.
We retreat!

: "You won't get away!!!"

: "Father, it's too dangerous to pursue them now. Let's regroup our forces."
[ Withdrawal ]

We're in the great hall! Fitcher, Teresa, Fliktor, Apple, Shu, Camiklotov, Chaco, and Tsai are there!
[BGM: Sedition, skipping the intro as usual]

: "So what about Lord Ridley!!"

: "The State Army's bad habit has shown itself."

: [jump] "Ha! You were so arrogant! You don't want to lose your life?"

: [steps up] "Without help from Two River, we can't match Kiba's strength..."

: "............... This is no time to attack Ridley. We need a strategy to weaken Kiba. Everyone get some rest. The rest is my job. Lord Odessa, you should get some rest too."

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 64 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: YOU RECRUITED THAT ASSHOLE WHO LEAD TO GREMIO REMAINING DEAD IN LIKE SEVEN FILES I CAN THINK OF OFFHAND five of them mine
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly twice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: 0

NEXT TIME: ... And that's the good news.

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

... Content note for self-harm and more importantly Luca backstory.

LAST TIME: ROCKS FALL, RADAT CONQUERED, RIDLEY WANDERS OFF MYSTERIOUSLY

TIME FOR BED. ... Eilie is in my room.

: "Whoah.... are you okay? I heard it was a lost cause. C'mon perk up! In war, it's the last one standing who wins. Well, see ya later." Cheery.
And off she goes.
FADE OUT as Odessa goes to bed.

[BGM: Ceremony]
Fade into that room Luca was in earlier. Agares is standing where Luca was, Luca is to his left, Jillia is in front of him, Jowy is in front of Luca vaguely, and there are two Highland officers with them.

: "Jillia...... you're certain this is what you want?"

: "Yes...... I will have him as my husband." I wonder how much of this she's up to.

: "In that case.... you have my permission." Wow I'm surprised you care.

Jillia steps back to on-level with Jowy, and the caped Highlander walks behind her.
caped guy: "Princess Jillia, this way please..... The 'Knight's Oath' is something between the Knight, his King and a witness only." Cough.

: "Yes.........."
Off they go.

: "Ha............" Sigh louder, Luca!

: "I hereby recognize you, Jowy Atreides, as a Knight in service of the Highland Kingdom." What fun.

: [walks to middle of carpet] "I, Jowy Atreides swear eternal fealty to King Agares Blight of Highland and I seal this oath with my blood." That doesn't sound very sanitary.

Other Highlander gives Luca a glass of wine. Luca sighs a little and closes his eyes.

: "As witness, I recognize the 'Wine of Fealty'."

: [sips some and opens his eyes] "It's taste is good...."
He glances side-eyed at Agares and walks over to Jowy to hand him the cup.

Jowy takes out a knife and cuts his wrist. Two drops of blood hit the floor.

: "Take my blood as proof of my loyalty."
Jowy lifts his wrist over the cup and drips some blood into the cup, then walks over to hand the cup to Agares and walks back to where Luca's standing.

: "Knight Jowy Atreides, just as your blood is added to my own, so too are you added to the lifeblood of the Highland Army."
Agares sips it. The music stops.

: "Now as loyal knight in service of the Highland Kingdom and the Blight Royal Family, I ask you to.... to........."
His eyes widen 8)

He leans forward a bit

... falls forward more, vomitting blood

And then collapses.
[BGM: Sedition 8)]
The Highlander rushes over to Agares and leans over him. "King Agares!!!" goes the nameless dude.

: "Uh... what... the....."
Highlander: "Call the King's physician!!!"
And he bolts to do so!
Agares keeps twitching.

: "He... Hee............ HEE HEE HEE HA HA HA!!!"

: "You..... this is poison............ S... so you were planning..... But.... but how......" Dude, you drank something that Luca was near. What precisely were you expecting?

: "Yes, it was difficult. You're a hard man to reach. You don't even take a sip of water without having it tasted first. But now I've finally managed to rid myself of the last weight around my neck."

: "Y.... you would...... kill your father..... with your.... own hands.........?" Dude, didn't you, like, have his mum shipped off to Kyaro to die? You are not really one to complain about Luca's family values!

: "Ha!!! You old fool!!! How dare you call yourself 'father'?"
Luca walks over to Agares. Bets on if he's going to kick him?

: "You couldn't protect your own wife! You're a coward who made peace with a country of dogs!!!" I thought they were pigs, Luca.

: "Wh.... what are you saying......."

: "Who did nothing when my mother and I were callously dishonored!!! Who was trembling on the throne when we were finally saved by the imperial guards!!!!!!!!"

: [turns away] ".................. This is your punishment, old man. Your sentence is death. All that remains is to wipe the unclean ones off this planet. This world must be cleansed...."

: "S.... Stop it........ What about.... Sara......" ... Agares, why are you bringing up Luca's mum.

: [turns back] "You! You have no right to utter that name!"

: "Well done, Jowy Atreides. So... you were the last knight to swear allegiance to Agares! Hoo hoo hoo ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!"
Jowy collapses.

: "I............"

: "That was a brilliant idea. Drinking antitoxin daily and then poisoning your own blood...." Uhhhhhhhhh

: [ RUNS IN AND KNEELS IN FRONT OF AGARES ] "Father!!!! Open your eyes! Father!!!"
Huh, she turns her whole body to look at Luca.

: "It's useless........ His breathing should have already stopped."

: [stands up, fists raised] "B... brother!!! You... you didn't!!!!!"
She lowers them and leans forward.

: "Why do you cry, Jillia? That person wasn't your father!!! Hoo hoo hoo ha ha ha ha ha!!!" ... luca

: "U, uhhhh..........."
Fade out.

FADE INTO THE CASTLE
Freed is, uh. Freed is in my room.

: "Lord Odessa!!! It's a beautiful morning!!!" ... WHY YES. YES IT IS. SO MAYBE INSTEAD OF YOUR ASS IT COULD BE SOMEONE WHOSE THEME IS NAMED 'BEAUTIFUL MORNING' OR IS THAT TOO FUCKING DIFFICULT FOR YOU
And he walks out.

War room~!

: "Okay, everyone's here. Well, Mr. Strategist, have you come up with a plan?"
[BGM: Tactics]

: "Apple, explain the situation."

: [invades Shu's personal space] "The Highland Army has left South Window and is headed for our castle. It looks like a frontal assault like before."
Apple stops riding Shu's ass.

: "He's a one-trick pony." Some joke about Shu/Klaus goes here. Possibly involving sexy lattes.

: "We'll leave half of our army behind. Lord Odessa will lead this as our main unit. The other half will be divided into 4 units lead by Viktor, Flik, Tsai and Camus.They'll line up on the right and left sides. When Kiba is right between them, they'll fan out and surround him."

: "If Kiba ignores the ambush and thrusts his way in, will we be able to stop him with our smaller numbers?" ... ... ...

: "Kiba and his son won't be able to defeat my plan." So you don't care about their thrusts?

: "You're pretty confident. You've never miscalculated before?" Well, he got expelled.

: "The explanation is finished. Lord Odessa, if all is ready, please give the signal to deploy."

: "Okay, let's go!!!"

: "Let's go!!!!"

: "Lords Viktor, Flik, Tsai, and Camus have finished their preparations."

: "Lord Odessa, try to lure General Kiba in without moving."

: "This Odessa is a brave young man indeed. Twice he has dared to face us. He is truly the son of Genkaku. Without Ridley, it seems they have little chance, but... What do you think, Klaus?" 'Father, I have a strange urge to bring their strategist a latte. May I be excused?'

: "They've probably set an ambush. One unit on the right and one on the left. They'll attack once we're close enough."

: "Should we also split our forces and trap them in a pincer attack?"

: "The enemy strategist, Shu, despises us. He probably thinks we haven't noticed his ambush. That's our best chance. Even when the ambush is sprung, tell our men to pay no attention and continue to drive forward. Defeat Odessa and we win."

: "Hmm. Your strategy is sound. Give the order to strike like the wind!" RIDE LIKE A ZEPHYR

: "Okay, we'll just watch for a bit. Remember if you mess this up, it might hurt my career, too."
[ Start Battle ]
I indeed wait for a bunch of turns.

: "Okay, give the signal."

: "Shu, isn't it still too early?" We're not anywhere near surrounding team Kiba.

: "It's fine. Give the signal!!"
Five units spawn near me!

: "Okay! Everyone Attack!!!"

: "By my sword, Uriah, we'll slice through the enemy!!"

: "So it was an ambush after all. All forces advance!!! Go for their main unit!!!"

Kiba just kicked Luc's ass, :(

: "The enemy isn't panicking. We can't defend against them!!"

: ". . . . . . . . . . ."

: "The enemy is shaken. Now's our chance!! Follow me!!!!!!!!!"

: "Damn!! Just as I thought!!!! At this rate, Odessa will....."

Kiba's been hit twice out of his max of three.
... Flik and Shu just counter-killed somebody thanks to a crit.

: "Okay. Now crush them!!!!"

: "Scatter!!!! Protect Odessa!!!!!" I have such a grin on my face right now.
...
The kobolds appear behind team Kiba.

: "The time is right. All troops advance. Don't let any Highland soldiers escape."
HIGHLAND ARMY: "Lord Klaus, we're being attacked on our flanks!!!!"

: "What did you say!!!!!" Dumbass, you didn't REALLY think Ridley would screw us over, did you?

: "What's this!!!! What's the Two River Army doing!!"

: "The plan worked. The rest is up to you, Apple."

: "Y... yes."

Ha! And the fire spears did ...

: "I...... I'm finished."

: "We're being slaughtered. What the hell is the 4th Company doing!!" Hoping people loyal to Agares kick it?
HIGHLAND ARMY: "Lord Rowd, Lord Kiba is surrounded! He needs assistance immediately...."

: "Uh... yeah. Just a minute. Haste makes waste you know."
A cavalry unit spawns next to Rowd.

: "Here they are."

: "Orders from Lord Luca Blight, King of Highland. You'd be well advised to follow them immediately." 8)

: "Y... yes............... All right. All forces!!! Full retreat!!!!"
HIGHLAND ARMY: "W.... what...... What about Lord Kiba......"

: "What did you say! These orders are from Lord Luca himself!!! Will you disobey him??"
HIGHLAND ARMY: "N.... no..... It's not that......"
Team Rowd all leaves, though Leon doesn't.

: "Mathiu's student, eh..... It seems he has grown much since then..."
And off Leon goes, too.

: "The 4th Company retreating.... How stupid!............ You!!!! To do this now!!!!!!"

: "Father, forgive me... My strategy has brought us to ruin." No, getting backstabbed brought you to ruin.
[ Victory ]

: "They've lost their will to fight. Offer them terms of surrender. Take Kiba and his son, Klaus, into custody. Don't hurt them."

I walk into the castle grounds. Pilika, Nanami, Eilie, Bolgan, Shu, Miklotov, Rina, and Apple are there.

: "You look pleased. You must have won."
Pilika runs over to me, spins, and bounces.

: [bounces] "Pilika is happy. Bolgan also happy."
Nanami runs over to me; Eilie goes !

: "You're okay......"

: "Are you okay? You're not hurt? Your stomach doesn't hurt?"

: "It looks like you're.... okay."

Fliktor walk in, followed by Dunan soldiers bringing Kiba and Klaus.

: "Enemy generals. This is Kiba and this is Klaus." [ glances at Kiba ]

: "You were good. I was worried up to the end."

: "You haven't earned the right to call me by my name, boy. Kill me and be done with it."
Shu walks over to Kiba and Flik moves out of the way.

: [to me] "General Kiba is a great general, and his son, Klaus, is also a military genius. Lord Odessa, I suggest you free them and accept them as our allies."

Shu doesn't care what you say.

: "General Kiba, join forces with us. We need your strength."

: "I refuse. I owe allegiance to Agares Blight, King of Highland. To join forces with the enemy would dirty my good name."

: "General Kiba, join forces with us. We need your strength."

: "I agree with my father. I couldn't think of raising my sword against my homeland of Highland." Me and my charming accent have something to say to that: t(-_-t)

: "General Kiba, join forces with us. We need your strength."
A Dunan soldier runs in. "We reeived a letter from the Highland Army!!!!" I always did want to reeive something.

: "What? Read it."
soldier: "Y, yes. 'King Luca sends you this present in honor of your bravery. We look forward to the next battle. Signed Leon Silverburg' That's all it says." ... Silverburg, huh.

: "............... Klaus, what do you make of that message?"
[BGM: Sedition, sans opening bit]

: "Ugg............... K, King Agares has been...... murdered by......... Prince Luca........."

: ! "W, what!!! Klaus!!! Don't be so careless....."

: "The engagement of Lady Jillia.... the death of Lord Agares....... The changes in the 4th Company.... That's all I can think about."

: "....................."

: "Luca Blight doesn't have a victory for the Kingdom. he wants to take the life of every citizen of the City-State. But it's not just the State that has reason to fear. Luca's ambition could destroy Highland as well!" Caps original.

: "..............."

: "Father."
[BGM: back to castle bgm]

: "....... I understand. Lord Odessa. It is a warrior's shame to change masters, but I'll take that shame. Please let me fight alongside you."

: "Lord Odessa. It seems I was no match for you. My genius alone was not enough to defeat you and your impressive collection of warriors. But from this day forward, I am yours to command. Please use my humble skills as you see best." Go fix the coffee maker.
My soldiers let Klaus and Kiba go.
[ Kiba joined the group! ]
[ Klaus joined the group! ]

: [looks away] "But I wonder..... is it my fault that Leon Silverburg joined forces with them......" Why can't anyone spell Silverberg?

: "Shu............" You're NOWHERE NEAR HIM.
Fade out.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 64 + the Windamiers = 66 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: W O W. Just. WOW. Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly twice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: 0

NEXT TIME: I think it's about time for some fanservice, y'know?

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

LAST TIME: Jowy falls, Agares dies; captured generals get

Odessa wakes up! ... Eilie is in my room.

: "No, I don't have anything in particular to talk about, I was just wondering how you were doing...."

Klaus and Kiba took the room next to Ridley's.

: "Lord Odessa, to lead, you must first die in your mind. Let go of life and embrace it!!"

In the war room are Apple and Nanami!

: "Oh, Odessa. What am I doing here? I uh just wanted to ask Apple some questions. It's a good study for me."

Cooking battle! Against a dude in green.

: "Hey, Bashok, what are you doing here? It's been so long."
BASHOK: "......... Hai Yo..."

: ? "What's wrong!? You seem depressed."
BASHOK: "Hai Yo......... I want to have a cook-off with you..."

: "Bashok...... Why do you....."
BASHOK: "Hai Yo!!!!! I challenge you to a cook-off!!!! I want the recipe you stole... the Moon Bird Recipe!!!!"

: ! "B, but... why!!!? You and I are friends!!! Odessa, what should I go?"

: "Accept the challenge!" Other choice is, as always, 'hold on a minute'.

: "Oh, okay. I'll do it."

"Here's a man of simple pleasures. For breakfast, it's got to be miso soup and rice. Nothing else will do. It's Tai Ho!!!"
"The General of Sowston Army!!!! They say that after a battle, he likes to fill his belly with delicious meat. General Kiba!!!"
"The bright young strategist of Sowston Army is a man who appreciates good Chinese food! It's Lord Shu!!!"
"This well-worn traveller has learned to like all kinds of food. Our favorite swordswoman, Hanna!!"
Bashok went with Mayo Rice Omelet (2 1 1 1) Fried Rice (2 2 3 2) Spinach Juice (1 1 1 1)
I went with Tomato Miso Soup (2 2 2 1) Hot Spareribs (3 3 2 4) Pudding (4 5 4 4).
Wow haha I got twice as many points as him :D And I felt like I sucked! ... Until the pudding.

BASHOK: "I knew it.... I'm no match....."

: [steps up] "Why Bashok? Why are you acting as an agent for the 'Group'."
BASHOL: "I... I'm sorry... Hai Yo... My daughter... Mei Mi.... she's terribly, terribly ill. I need money for the doctors. It's way more money than I could ever earn in my life... That's why.... I had to.... The Black Dragon Group said they'd give me the money if I brought the 'Moon Bird Recipe'..." Maybe Huan could help?

: "Bashok....."
GYOKURAN: "Ha ha ha, what a fool you are. You believe that old sob story?"

Gyokuran walks down!
BASHOK: "Hey! You're the woman from before."

: "Gyokuran!!!! You...!!!!!!"
GYOKURAN: "Ha ha, don't be angry Hai Yo. After all, you were once one of the 4 Lords of the Black Dragon Group too."
Bashok walks over to her.
BASHOK: "Y, you're..... I remember....."
GYOKURAN: "Don't talk to me like you're my friend!!! Whatever happens to your daughter, it's got nothing to do with me!!!"
BASHOK: "Y, you swine!" Do you know Luca?
GYOKURAN: "See you again, Hai Yo! Today was just a greeting. But next time you're mine. Ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!" Gee, our security sucks.
She walks off, and fade out to just Bashok and Hai Yo.

: "Bashok............"
BASHOK: "I'm sorry, Hai Yo. I was a fool. Even to save my daughter, I should never have done such a thing....." I'm pretty sure Huan'd be willing to try to help and if nothing else you could follow us along to our next destination.

: "I forgive you, my friend. But what about your daughter?"
BASHOK: "Don't worry, Hai Yo. I'll figure something out. Mei Mi wouldn't be happy if I used dirty money to help her. Anyway, it's not your problem. Please just watch yourself. That guy is serious."

: "I'm not afraid. I've got lots of powerful friends here!"
BASHOK: "Yeah, I can see that. Anyway, please take this, Hai Yo. I hope it'll help you."
[ You got 'Fried Rice Recipe'. ]
BASHOK: "Well, goodbye Hai Yo!!!"
Fade out.

Resetting the time ...
Oh huh Nanami's running on the loading screen this time. It's usually Riou or Jowy.
I cleverly teleport to Radat to avoid triggering a thing and buy a piglet for 5000 potch and wander over to Toto and Ryube for no reason.
HIGHLAND SOLDIER at North Sparrow Pass: "Hey get out of here! What business do you State people have in our country?"
Wow okay there is absolutely nothing to do in Toto or Ryube. Ryube's been rebuilding but it is so boring, and a certain Radat star of destiny still doesn't like me.

I head to the Radat tavern!

: [walks over to someone] "Hey Master."
man: "Y, yes? What can I do for you?"

: "Do you know a woman named Elza? She's tall with blonde hair."
man: "Umm...... I....... err........ Well ya see......"

: "Do you know her!!!"
man: "Ummm... well it could be....."

: "What?"
man: [looks to the side] "That person over there...."
[BGM: Suspicion]

Oh, hi, Elza.

: [steps up] "So, boy, you finally came. But I was thinking about going to another city soon."

: [steps up] "It's you!..... finally. Now I'll bring this to an end..."

: [glances at sleeping man] "Here? You'll hit the customers. The Guild won't like their reputation being damaged like that, y'know."

Everyone except the sleeping guy panics. The sleeping guy goes ? and wakes up, then is pinged and leaves. ... I can see them running around frantically near the entrance.

: ".................. Listen up, you criminal.... For the murder of my fellow Gunner and Guild member, Kelly.... In the name of my gun, Storm, I sentence you to death."

: "Hey Clive....... We used to be more than friends... Couldn't you just let me go?"

: "Don't say it..... Murdering a Guild Gunner, stealing a gun and fleeing.... According to Harmonia law, both crimes are punishable by death." I like the specification of murdering someone Guild. As opposed to murder in general.

: "Tsk..... laws mean nothing. Do you really believe in anything besides the weight of your guns?"

: "Maybe I can believe again.... Once I kill you, that is......"

: ".................. Fine then. Let's go. A duel between Gunners." Next few lines go by without a pause.

: "Wrong!!!! You're a criminal and I'm an executioner!!!!!!!"

: "Whatever you say!!!!"

They draw!

Elza shoots Clive :')

: "Storm...... why......"

Clive falls.

: [closes her eyes] "See you later........ handsome."
And puts her gun away, fade out.

Fade into Huan's office. Clive is in bed.

: [looks around] "Where am I..... Am I.... alive?"

: "You're a lucky one, Clive. What'd you call e'm, 'bullets'? They only hit you in the shoulder and leg and it nearly killed you." Yes, he goes 'e'm'

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . A knight-class gunner missed?..... That can't be......"
Clive goes back into my party.

: "Just a few inches more and... If she was really aiming, then she's an incredible shot...."

I check on Taki just because.

: "What can I do for you, sonny? Why don't you take a nice stroll around the castle grounds. It'll be good exercise for you." She always knows where the next recruit is :D

Okay, got nothing better to do, to the front of the castle!
A girl in green runs by and stops next to me, looking around.
girl: "Damn it, where did that jerk go? His legs must be as quick as his hands..."
And she runs up north!
Sheena was hiding in a bush. I go ! while he looks around.

: "Yikes, that was close! Until things blow over, I think I'll go hide out with Viktor and the others."
And he runs off! Dumbass, Viktor's in my party.

To the war room! Ridley, Apple, Shu, Viktor, Flik, Chaco, Teresa, Fitcher, and Freed Y are in a loose circle.

: "Lord Odessa, we've been looking for you! Where have you been?" Getting Clive shot.

: [steps up] "Ha ha ha! Even Lord Odessa needs some time for himself now and then. After all, he is still a young man."
Shu gives Viktor a look. Viktor sweatdrops and backs up.

: "Lord Odessa, please do not forget your responsibilities as leader of the Sowston Army. When you leave the castle, you must take every precaution to ensure your safety. The army would collapse without your leadership. That said, let's move on to today's briefing. Please begin, Apple."
[BGM: Tactics]

: [steps up] "The Sowston Army now commands nearly 25,000 soldiers, which is roughly equal to the size of each Highland Army company. The Highland Army has 4 companies, of which the 1st, 3rd, and 4th are deploed against us. Kiba's 3rd company lost 2/3 of its forces in yesterday's battle, but the remaining companies could easily overwhelm this castle."

: "If we are to survive their attack, it is imperative that we bolster our own forces."

: "Tint is fortifying its borders, but won't reveal its intentions. We've sent a number of messengers, but have received no response."

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

: "Greenhill is under Highland control, Matilda hasn't changed its position and Tinto is ignoring us....... There's no other allies to turn to.... This could be the end."

: "We're running out of time. King Luca Blight will order the attack as soon as he gets back to the front line."

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

: "Looks like you need to ask my old man for help."
Apple jumps and goes !

: "Who the hell..!?"
Sheena walks in.

: "Hey Apple, how've you been? Mmm... You look more womanly every time I see you."

: [runs over to Sheena] "Who are you!?"

: "Well, let's just say that I'm an 'old friend' of Apple's."

: ! [bounce] "How... How dare you presume to say such a thing!"

: "Ha ha ha! Still playin' hard to get, eh Apple."

: "We're in the middle of an important meeting. You and she can reminisce when we're finished. Now please leave immediately." I like that he uses 'she' there :3
Ridley walks over to Sheena and starts dragging him off. Sheena is nervous.

: "Hey, hold on a minute! Listen to what I have to say... My father..."

: "Ridley, please wait a moment."

: "This is serious business. We hardly need the help of some trespassing punk's 'old man'."

: "Now wait a minute! Get your hands off me!"
Sheena fidgets and gets free.

: "My dad's the president of the Toran Republic!" MOCK GASP

: "Yeah, right."

: [steps up] "No, please wait. That part is true... He really is President Lepant's son."
Long pause.

: [sweatdrop.] ". . . . . . . . . . . . ."
Sheena whistles, and fade out. We are now in a much better circle, with me and Sheena in the middle.

: "See, I told you! Hey, Flik, Viktor, how's it going?"

: "What's the Toran Republic...?"

: "It's a new country south of the City-State, established after the State's perpetual enemy, the Scarlet Moon empire, was overthrown and Emperor Barbarossa was killed. Their first President is a man named Lepant, although I heard that it was ☆☆☆☆☆☆, the hero who vanquished Barbarossa, who was expected to take the throne." He likes fishing more.

: "Hmmm... Allying with the Toran Republic certainly isn't a bad idea." I for one like ninja.

: [hop, nervous] "It's a terrible idea! The Scarlet Moon Empire may have changed its name, but they're still an enemy of the State! How can you think of cooperating with such a vile nation?" FILTHY TORAN DEVILS

: "That's why the Scarlet Moon Empire was destroyed, and the Toran Republic was created."

: "It's a totally different country now, the same way that our Sowston Army is independent of the City-State's army. There's no reason not to form an alliance. What do you think, Lord Odessa?" DOES ODESSA LIKE THE LIBERATION ARMY

... ... ...

: "Let's consider other options."

: "A wise decision! The City-State should be able to settle this without the meddling of outsiders."

: "But we don't have any other options!"

: "I'm against an alliance with them. Their name may have changed, but they're still the Scarlet Moon Empire."

: "The president of the Toran Republic, Lepant, is a good man."

: "You can trust the Toran Republic. I personally guarantee it."

: "The more allies the better, I always say."

: "The Toran Republic.... I wonder what it's like to live there....."

: "But it might not be so easy....."

: "Lord Odessa, this may be our only hope. Let's form an alliance with the Toran Republic."

: "let's form an alliance."

: "I think it's a great idea. But how are we going to get to Toran? We took a boat to Highland, but there's no way to cross the badlands to the south of here. It just can't be done."

: "Is that right? I crossed them three times..."

: "Of course, I was almost killed in the process."

: "Freed, surely you know a way?"

: "Well, yes... I suppose you can get to the Toran Republic from Radat, the town just east of South Window."

: "It's settled then."

: "Sorry, I can't do it."
Shu starts talking and Freed jumps.

: "Oh, get over it! You can't live in the past forever. Without their help, South Window itself could be destroyed!" ♥ Shu

: "... I understand. Lord Odessa, I will accompany you as a guide. Let's head to Radat."
[ Freed Y joins party ]

: "I'll go too. Things will go smoother that way."
[ Sheena convoy joins party ] TO THE CONVOY WITH YOU

: "Please, Lord Odessa, we're in desperate need of allies. You must forge an alliance with the Toran Republic."

: "I can't believe the State and the Scarlet Moon Empire are working together...."

I step out of the room!

: "I must beg a favor from you, Lord Odessa. Before we go to Radat, can we stop in South Window? I know that it's selfish of me, but I must see it once more before we depart."

Wow, is Nanami not forcing the issue? I'll add her to my party soon enough.

man: "Welcome to South Window, Lord Hero."
man: "Seeing the Sowston Army makes me remember when I was young, when I fought under Lord Genkaku...."
woman: "You beat General Kiba..... You really are a 'superboy'."
man: "The Dunan Monarchy? It was a country long, long ago. Back then, it was the only country in these parts."
Oh wow the Southwind armour shop's upgraded a lot.

Over by the town hall...
[BGM: Reminiscence ~ Strings Version]

: "Lord Odessa... After he agreed to surrender.... That's when they took Lord Graynmeyer's head and mounted it in front of city hall. He was a gentle man. 3 years ago, when he retreated from a border skirmish with the Toran Republic, all of Tinto called him a coward. As it turned out, surrendering to Highland was a bad mistake. If we had lived in a peaceful world, he would have been seen as a wise ruler. But gentleness has becoming a sin in this world." Sigh, bad grammars.
Beat.

: "But despite that, I'm proud of Lord Granmeyer. And I will do everything in my power to save the city of South Window. To get to the Toran Republic, we need to take a boat from Radat, and cross the mountain road from the small town downriver."

I head back to the castle to fiddle with my party ...
Aww, Fliktor and Humphrey are all drinking together.

: "........ huh? What is it?! Oh, sorry, I was just thinking about something else."
man: "This place is more like Sewer City than Sewer Castle."
... omg
little girl: "Me? ... I'm Blue Lightning Flik!!! I'll cut your head off!!!"
little winger boy: "I'm the flying hero, Chaco!!! No one can catch me!!!"
little girl: "I'm Teresa, mayor of Greenhill. Where is Shin?"
little boy: "I'm Viktor the Bear!!! I'll get ya!!!!"
little girl: "I'm the leader of the Sowston Army, Lord Odessa!!!!"
soldier upstairs in dark room: "Whew... just a little break.... This place is bigger than the merc fort, so it's easier to sneak off and... whoops!!!!"
man: "Man... I messed up. I went to take a peek at Ms. Jeane, and THIS happened. Ouch....."

Aww, a little girl talks to Yuzu. "Hurray!!! Yuzu said I could ride on a sheep next time!!!"

To Radat!

: "Welcome. What can I do for you today? Would you like something appraised?"

FUCKING FINALLY

: "Lend us your strength."

: "My strength you say? What does that mean?"
Fade out.

: "My oh my, the leader of the Sowston Army is my customer. I can judge antiques, but I'm not so good at judging people. Isn't that something....."

: "War is a tragic thing. It makes men into beasts. Many irreplaceable antiques have been destroyed in the fire of war. That is no less of a tragedy.... I understand. I'll help you. But I have just one condition. There is a certain antique that I want you to find for me. I want to see whether or not you are really the great hero I think you are, okay? I want you to find me a 'Celadon Urn'. If you bring me one, I'll join your group."

: "Welcome, Lord Odessa. Ah, ah..... that vase!!!!!!"
Fade out.

: "It's a 'Celadon Urn' alright. I knew you would do it, Lord Odessa. Now, I'll lend you my services as I promised."
[ Lebrante joined the group! ]

: "Well, I guess I'll close this shop now and head for Sewer Castle."

Cut to entrance of Radat.

: "I won't be able to travel along with you, so please excuse me."
And he backs up then runs off.

Oh hey the Radat item store has a recipe and a sound set I'm missing.

There is a man by the docks.

[BGM: Theme of Narcissism, Again]

: "Hey, kid. You want something with me? Well, I'm sorry, kid."
He leans forward and shakes his head, arms crossed over his chest.

: "I've had nothing but bad luck in life. Bad luck and more bad luck."
He leans up and gestures to the river.

: "I lost my 'rose brooch' that my dear friend gave me. Can things get any worse?"
Gesture to the right! He's shuddering and has been, by the way.

: "Maybe my friend will forgive me if I tell him how sorry I am."
He leans forward and bows, shrugs, and turns back to the river.

: [shaking his head] "Oh..... my dear friend, I had heard that you were in the area and I had to see you..... If only I had that 'Rose Brooch'....."

To the dock!
man with a hat: "Master Freed! This is a pleasant surprise. Are you a member of the Sowston Army now?"

: "That's right. And in order to win the war, it is crucial that we get to a town downriver. Will you take out your boat for us?"
man: "Of course."

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 66 + Lebrante = 67 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: He's Sir Not Appearing In This Plotline. Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly twice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: 0

NEXT TIME: A small mining and fishing town with pretty much nothing worth noting beyond ... uh ... I've got nothing. It got a mention early in SuikoI? Banner is completely the middle of nowhere. And then, to Gregminster!

Do I recruit Kasumi or Valeria? If no one votes I'm picking Kasumi. I'm asking now because I'm not sure it'll be a full update's worth by the time I get to picking.

 

[Zero Moment]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

I vote for the one with the game-breaking damage instead of the ninja.

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

LAST TIME: トランへの道! \o/

I have always wanted an excuse to post this. Sadly I have neither Nina nor Tuta with me. ... I will when our favourite fisher shows his face, though.

We get to Banner!
[BGM: Distant Skies]

: "Lord Odessa, if we take the mountain path from this town, we'll come out in the Toran Republic."

little girl: "Hey, did you come upriver from Radat? What's it like up there? I've never even been outside of Banner."
One of the barrels near the shore is "An empty barrel. Hmm? There's something shiny..." [ You got Alert ]
ITEM STORE: "Welcome. There's nothing in this town, but please take a look at our wares anyway."
The Rose Brooch for Simone is in rare finds! As are rabbit plans #3.

There is a cute little kid whose outfit is vaguely familiar for some reason.
KO: "Hey, hey, look, look!! Cool, huh!? My Mom made this! I'm General Odessa!! Take that, Highland dogs!! Oh, you... I get it, you like General Odessa too, huh?? Hey, hey, mister, have you ever actually seen General Odessa??"
A woman in a house gave me a seed potato because I came from Southwind.
By the inn there is a woman with a face who is not a star!

: "Good day, sir! Please stay at my family's inn. We don't get many guests here in Banner."
man in the inn: "All Koh can talk about these days is Lord Odessa."

Hello, spot to fish.
Hm, I don't think I usually can get Simone for ages; just going to go get him now.
Back to Radat!

[BGM: Theme of Narcissism Again]

: "Oh..... my dear friend, I had heard that you were in the area and I had to see you..... If only I had that 'Rose Brooch'....."

: [ dots. ]

: "Whew.... life can be so tragic..."

: "You mean this?"
Simone is nervous and moves his arms stupidly!

: "What's that!!! K... kid where'd you get that? Do you... do you think you could give that to me?"
He leans forward, shaking his head.

: "Gold... no, it's not something I can buy with gold." [nods, and straightens] "If there's anything that I can do for you, tell me and I'll do it."

If you pick anything other than the third, he won't join!
→

: "Run around and bark like a dog!"

: [shaking with rage] "Grrr...... I, Simone, will do no such thing... Even for a good friend..... B, but....."

: "Run around and bark like a dog!"

: "Grr.... I can see that you intend to mock me after all..... B, but....."

: "Run around and bark like a dog!"

: "Grrr.... But, it's for my dear friend...."
Simone goes on his hands and knees and spins.

: "Arf!!!!! Arf!!!!! ARF!!!!"

: [glares at me] "Uuh... I'll be shamed for eternity. But......... Kid, is this enough?"

: "No."

: [shaking with rage] "Come on now..... I can't stay here any longer.."
He stands up and runs off. I reload from first dialogue option.

: "Join my group."

: "Join? Join your group? Of course, of course. I'd be happy to call you my friend. Of course I'll do it. I, Simone, will do anything to pay you back." [ bows ] "Take me with you."
[ Simone joined the group! ]
He throws a rose into the air and sashays into me, I don't even know
[ Simone joins party ]
Oh goddammit.
Bye, Viki! Sorry :(

: "Huh? What? You want me to leave?" ; ;

I may or may not have just wandered back to the castle to put Viki back in.

Fuck it, I'm here; let's do a cooking battle. Ryuko is pink! ... Hai Yo's absent.
RYUKO: "Hurry up!!!! Bring that little sneak, Hai Yo, here right now!!!!!" [BOUNCE BOUNCE]

: [walks in] "Who are you!?"
RYUKO: "Are you Hai Yo!!!!! I challenge you!!!!!"

: "Why??? Who are you anyway???"
RYUKO: "Shut your mouth!!! I'm here to take revenge for my big brother, Ryuki!!!!!"

: "Oh no..... What should I do, Odessa???"

: "Fight him, Hai Yo!!!"
RYUKO: "Just what I would expect from Odessa!!! Okay, let's go!!!"
wat
"She likes her food, and her conversations, spicy!!! It's Leona!!!"
"This wandering vagabond loves to eat Japanese food. It's Shilo."
"What do you get when you cross a barrel and a windup doll? Can this thing really judge food? It's Gadget!!!" no seriously wat
"She's head over heels with a certain man named Flik. What about her studies at Greenhill? It's Nina!!!"

: "Why you.... That's none of your business!!!"
what do robots eat
... they're frying something blue
Ryuko made Fried Fish Balls (3 2 2 1) Gratin (2 3 3 3) Sweet & Sour Fish (3 3 3 2)
I made Pickled Cabbage (1 5 5 2) Shrimp Lunch (4 2 1 1) Ice Cream (3 2 3 5)
RYUKO: "Grrr..... I understand now.... You beat my brother.... How could I ever.... ever have a chance...." [back sup]

: "W, wait!!!!! That's stupid!!! You can't take your own life!!!"
RYUKO: "Bah!!! My... my brother and I..... We were both raised among the Black Dragon Group..... That's why there's nowhere for us to return to....."
And he runs into the kitchen and probably escapes.
man: "Lord Odessa...... I'm sorry..... My life is worth nothing..."

: "Ooohh...... But why! Why!??"
man: "And.... I found this."
[ You got 'Gratin Recipe' ]

: "Shun Min, why must I still fight!?"
Fade out.

Suddenly dancing kobolds. ... Clive was watching from the corner.

: ". . . . . . . snicker" CLIVE DON'T MOCK THE DANCING KOBOLDS
woman: "It's the happy, folk dance of Sewer Castle's very own, furry duo... Gengen and Gabocha!"

: "That's strange...... I heard that he was here!!!"

: "How... how is she...."
woman: "YIPP YIPPPPPP!!!!! YIPPPEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!"

Teleporting to Banner and running through the forest~ Haha, accidentally skipping all the treasure. Think I've run through here a few too many times.

Why are there a ton of samurai along the border? The battle music here is all Confrontation with Monsters, Again. :D Remix of SuikoI's battle music.

Well that's not suspicious.

Hey, it's Rokkaku!

: "A SPY!!!"
Fade to white!

I am now in a room.
HANZO: "Do you expect me to believe you just accidentally stumbled across a town as well hidden as Rokkaku?" Well it's not like I ever have reason to walk between Banner and Gregminster. Certainly not about thirty times.
HANZO: [steps forward] "Well, on closer inspection, you're just a harmless kid. Sasuke, Mondo, escort him back to the road."

: "Yes sir."
Mondo runs over to me, white out, back right above Rokkaku.

SUDDENLY GIANT WORM
I killed it in two rounds, but I did get to cast Set! on it. Set! is the greatest goddamn spell. In which viki drops rocks, bricks, potted plants, pans, and other miscellaneous shit on the opponent. -- Oh, hey, that time she dropped gold rings on it.

That guy looks familiar!
VARKAS: "Hey, who are you? Where do you think you're going?"

: "We are on our way to the Toran Republic."
VARKAS: "Then it seems we have a problem. I am Varkas, chief of the Border Patrol. I cannot allow outsiders to pass through here. On what business do you seek to enter Toran?" One, you're a bandit; why are you border patrol? Two, what, did you forget what Fliktor and Viki look like?

: [walks all around to Varkas] "Chill out, Varkas. This is Odessa, the leader of the Sowston Army. He just needs to see my Dad."
VARKAS: [beat] "I understand the situation. But I can't let State citizens to freely enter the Republic. Allow me to escort you to Gregminster, the capital of the Toran Republic." I think Fliktor know where Gregminster is.

: "Really? Well, thanks. How about it, Odessa?"

: "Sounds good to me."
VARKAS: "Then come along. This way."

: "Thanks, Varkas."
VARKAS: "Yes, well I'm sure President Lepant will want to meet you too."
He opens the gate and fade out to Gregminster palace!

[BGM: A Song in Praise of Peace] A remix of Main Theme ~ Guitar Version from SuikoI! :D
woman: "Please wait here." She walks off.

: "To think that we're in the Scarlet Moon Empire... I mean, the Toran Republic. It makes me nervous."

: "Hmmph. I can't believe he's keeping his own son waiting like this."

: [looks around, fidgeting a lot] "I, um... I'm a little nervous. I wonder where the, uh... Where the bathroom is..." SO DO I, FREED. SO DO I.
woman: [walks back in] "Sorry to keep you waiting. Please follow me."

: [boing] "Oh, all right! Let's go! I'll... I'll be okay." but how much longer are you going to hold it?!

We follow her!
woman: "Please come in. The President is waiting."

Notice the different flag :3 Different resources in general, really, but I do like the wheat flag.

I wander around a bit just because. The bookshelf in the room I waited in is the 'Toran Republic Census List'.
one room up, there's a woman in black: "Tee-hee! Isn't Lord Alen, co-commander of the Republic Guard, just so dreamy?"
man: "I've come as a messenger for Lord Kasim Hazil, who is protecting our northern border." I think we're a little busy to invade right now.
Haha, what, I examine this flower pot it goes "Toran Republic Census List".
old man downstairs: "President Lepant's wife, Eileen, is a very kind person. She's even kind to me... I'm grateful."

woman: "This room is devoted to the hero of the Liberation War, Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆. After the war was won, Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆ departed for parts unknown..."
the bust: '☆☆☆☆☆☆ \n Leader of the Liberation Army'
bookshelf: 'Birth of the Toran Republic' also Old Book 7
'The Hero's Clothes (Replica)' And notice Tir's staff and Gremio's axe hung up on the map of Toran. :3

old man: "A guy named Kanaan was arrested for fraud, right here in the capital city." So that's what happened to him! Pity.
man in armory: "All of this belongs to the Republican Army. Sigh... I can never get 'em shiny enough for Kai, our martial arts instructor."
soldier: "President Lepant would like you to have this. Please, take it." [ You got Copper Hammer ]
woman: "Lord Grenseal, co-commander of the Republic Guard, is just so cool... so handsome..."

Oh hey I can go outside.
[BGM: The Even More Glorious, Beautiful Capital] Remix of Beautiful Golden City, of course. [turns up volume]
man: "Have you come from the City-State? How far away that is! Welcome. This is Gregminster, capital of the Toran Republic."
woman: "The Toran Republic was founded three years ago, when we defeated the Scarlet Moon Empire. It was tough, but look at our city now!"
boy: "When I grow up I'm gonna join the Republican Army and work for the Six Generals!! General Kwanda, General Kasim, General Sonya, General Valeria, Master Kai and General Camille... It's hard to remember 'em all!" ... Camille's a general?
girl: "Hee hee, doesn't this stew smell great? A person named Gremio taught me how to make it like this."
man: "President Lepant is a wonderful leader... he has a strong will and actually listens to our problems."
man next to fountain: "This beautiful city, Gregminster, was built by the last emperor, Barbarossa."

man with a moustache in green: "This building used to the mansion of General Teo." No copula.
Aww, someone planted snapdragons in front of Tir's house!

HI TIR'S HOUSE
Pahn's room's unoccupied. He has a painting of food up and a headband on a coatrack sort of thing. Also dumbbells next to his bed! "Pahn's Diary / Today's Menu: Salmon Meuniere, Fresh Salad, Roast Beef, Almond Jelly, Inari Sushi..."
CLEO: "Welcome. Oh, you are...? Are you the Odessa President Lepant mentioned?" She's in her room. She's got a huge still life of flowers over her bed.
"Cleo's Diary / It's locked"
One room has a bowl of petunias and a roll away futon or something in it. There's also stuff on the walls where there used to be things and aren't anymore.
The other room on the first floor's got two bookshelfs. "101 Luscious Stews" and "World Cuisine". Wonder whose that could be.
The kitchen! "Stew is boiling here / It smells delicious" If you killed Gremio, there's a painting of him hung up above the stew. My Gremio's alive, though, so there's no painting.
Now for upstairs! There's an "Expensive-looking vase", more plants, a "Barrel full of whiskey", aaaaand

NOTE THE PAINTING OF TED IN TIR'S ROOM ; ; I can't examine his diary; the drawer is locked.

man: "Hee hee, if I stock up on this wine and take it to the City Republic..." Gregminster does have much cheaper wine than anywhere in Jowston.
woman: "General Teo's son has grown up to be a fine, fine young man." Well, sure, I guess, if you ignore the killing his father and his best friend things and the leading a revolution thing and the sleeping in coffins thing.
The Gregminster rune shop stocks Mother Earth and Flowing crystals in rare finds! Picking up two Mother Earth crystals :3 The item store stocks winged boots sometimes too!
old woman: "I hear there's civil war in the City-State of Jowston. They must have it hard..."
woman in armory: "So there's a war over in the City-State? We had one, too, you know, three years ago. A big one."
To the trading post!

: "Welcome to Gordon's Mercantile, lad! Huh? Did you want to talk to me about something?"

: "Please join us."

: "Join? Join what...? Explain yourself, boy..."
Fade to black.
We're now in the corner.

: "Naturally. I see, lad. ... I mean, Lord Odessa. I've been thinking about leaving this shop to my son and opening a new one. And I heard that Shu, the famous trader, is in Jowston... I'd be happy to set up shop with you, but first, Lord Odessa, I'd like to see what kind of business sense you've got. If you can make 50,000 Potch by trading alone, I'll happily join you."
Beh, after a few resets I could only get him to carry one Celadon Urn as the lowest, which goes for 30662. I'll come back later and stock up on celadon urns when they're cheap and sell them high again.

This house is familiar.
little girl: "This is the house of the Flower General, Lord Milich. He's not in Gregminster right now, but he's such a dreamy person." So is he still a general or not? I wouldn't really be surprised if the little boy was wrong about Kai or Camille.
Outside Milich's house is someone familiar!

: "Good afternoon. Oh, you... You're the boy who came to see President Lepant... Odessa, right?"

: "Umm, I guess so..."

: "Good luck, then. I think it's about time for me to return to my journey, as well."

: "Are you still here? Shouldn't you be going back soon? You've got lots to do, don't you?"

: "Yes... Will you come with us?"

: "Come with you...? Join the Sowston Army...? But are you going to win...?"
She walks around me, looking at me.

: "Fine... Rumors tell of Sindar ruins near the city of Muse... ... and the goddess of victory does indeed seem to be smiling down on you."
[ Lorelai joined the group! ]

: "What do you want to do? Want me to join your party right now?"

: "If you could go to the castle..."

: "Fine then. I know the way."

man: "I made a lot of money on the black market during the war... now I can afford to live in a geand house like this."
little girl: "I think I preferred our quiet house in Seika..."
old woman: "President Lepant is a magnificent person. He's protected us from the City-State ever since the Liberation War ended." Yeah, because we are definitely in good shape to invade right now.

HEE THERE ARE FISH UNDER THE BRIDGE
In the house north of Tir's, there is an old star of destiny with a cat. Also I just misspelled 'Tir's' as 'tits'.
LOTTE: "Mina, Mina....!! Where are you...??? Momo's right here, but..."
She has a bookshelf with "The ABC's of Cat-Rearing" and a "Cabinet full of magic implements".
girl outside: "Ooh, that darn Lotte! She says Mina's lost again... Sigh... Now I've got to find her."

in another house!
woman: "We never know when Lady Sonya might be back, so we always keep her house spic and span."
old woman: "This is the house of Lady Sonya Shulen, admiral of the navy."
woman: "There's nobody who doesn't know the name of Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, leader of the Liberation Army!"

Sonya has a painting of Teo over her bed.
"Sonya's Diary / Returning here from Shasarazade was agonizing. Of course I realize memories weren't put on this earth just to comfort us, but..."

One last place to go before talking to Lepant... the inn!
innkeep: "Welcome to Marie's Inn. Even Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆ has spent the night here... we're quite a historical hotel."
MARIE: "Welcome. Please, take your time."
kobold in tavern: "Are there Kobolds in the City-State, too? Really? Really? Wow, I didn't know that. I'm gonna have to tell the chief."
man: "I came all the way here to see the hero from the Liberation War, but they say he's away on a journey! Too bad..."
winged horde woman upstairs: "There are humans, Kobolds, elves and dwarves here in the Toran Republic... almost like our own Two River..."
SARAH: [in one of the rooms] "What's up? See something strange? ?... You're Odessa, right? I hear you're here to see President Lepant. Huh? Oh, I heard from one of Marie's hostesses. So another child leads an army into battle... It's ironic, isn't it...? Here, take this. It used to belong to a fool..." [ You got Cyclone ]

Welp, back into the castle.

[BGM: A Song in Praise of Peace]

Alen, Grenseal, and Tesla are here.

: [walks down from chair] "Well met, Sowston Army Leader Lord Odessa. As President, I welcome you to the Toran Republic. Now, what would you like to discuss?"

Should be 'alliance'.

: "Um..."

: [hop] "Wha, what's wrong, Lord Odessa? Are you getting nervous?"

: "Um..."

: "Ha ha ha, Odessa. His face may be hideous, but he's not gonna bite you or anything."

: "Um..."

: "P, please, Lord Odessa." And it repeats that one for every further um.

: "Forging a State with you."
Long pause.

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lord Odessa, When this land was ruled by the Scarlet Moon Empire, We fought constantly with the City-State. Even after the Toran Republic was established, we battled the armies of Tinto and South Window, who invaded in an attempt to take advantage of our internal discord. And despite all this, you seek to form a State among such long-standing enemies?" Uh, dude, Mathiu sent them a letter telling them Scarlet Moon was going to invade. You probably know this! That one's not Tinto and Southwind's fault!
19:20:41 <Espeon> Also Riou's not really the country leader
19:20:43 <Espeon> he's like a rebel
19:20:49 <Espeon> if anything they should be happy to sign up
19:20:57 <Espeon> Like "fuck yeah, overthrow the empire!"

: [steps up] "If Luca Blight succeeds in destroying the City-State, the Toran Republic will surely be his next target." Yeah, so he can use Toran to help destroy Harmonia. Though he might just go for Harmonia, depending on how many sacrifices he can get the Beast Rune.

: "This Luca fellow certainly does seem to have an unquenchable thirst for battle." . . .

: "As a citizen of South Window, I fought against you with Lord Granmeyer. Naturally it's hard for me to ask for your help. But Luca Blight seeks nothing less than the destruction of all citizens of the City-State. I will do anything for the people of the South Window. So please, I beg of you, please consider our request." [steps back]

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lord Odessa, Why do you continue to fight?"

: "I don't know..."

: "It's foolish to try to ask the reason for war."
Lepant turns around and thinks.

: "Hmmmmm... You are much like him. I may be the president of the Toran Republic, but there's a young man who should be sitting on this throne. He led tens of thousands of soldiers into battle and finally brought peace to our land. I see the same glimmer in your eyes that I did in his. You too represent the hopes and desires of all those who follow you."

: [turns after a moment] "Tesla, how many men can we deploy immediately?"
TESLA: [ping ping ping ping] "Uh, um... Counting the Capital Guards and the Border Patrol, about 5,000 men, sir."

: "Then there's the matter of who will lead them..."
ALEN: "General Valeria has come to Gregminster to report from Pannu Yakuta Castle."
GRENSEAL: "Kasumi, the Vice-Chancellor of Rokkaku, is also in town for military traning exercises. Either would make a trustworthy leader for our army." I do like traning.

: "Then let's call them in here."
ALEN: "Yes sir."
GRENSEAL: "Yes sir."
Fade out.

: "It's Valeria, reporting as ordered."
Valera walks in to Lepant's right, and Kasumi to his left.

: "You called for me, President Lepant?"

: "Lord Odessa, Allow me to introduce Valeria, one of our Republic's Six Generals. Her skill with a sword is unrivaled." No, seriously.

: [steps up] "I am Valeria. Greetings, Lord Odessa." [and back]

: "This is General Kasumi, Vice-Chancellor of the hidden Ninja town of Rokkaku." As in 'if we get her, I can go to Rokkaku and recruit a handful of stars and get some neat equipment'.

: [steps up] "It's nice to meet you. Please call me Kasumi." Kasumi is not fond of formality. [ and back ]

: "I trust both of these women with all of my heart. Lord Odessa, which would you like to accompany you?"

: "Damn, they're both hot! So what's it gonna be? Which one do you want?"

: "Uh... Give me a minute..."

: [hop] "What, you can't decide? Do you need to see my secret notes?"

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 67 + Simone Verducci + Lorelai = 69 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: He's Sir Not Appearing In This Plotline. Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly twice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: NOT EVEN FREED KNOWS.

NEXT TIME: End of this arc, some recruits, and then the beginning of the end! OR IS IT 8)

PICK BETWEEN VALERIA AND KASUMI
Valeria Pros: can break the damage limit; would actually be a reliable member of my party; is Anita's kismesis so on the rare occasion I can fit two bonus S-range fighters in my party where one's not very good, I get a cool unite attack
Kasumi Pros: can access Rokkaku immediately (otherwise I'd go there in a good long while) and so get some more stars earlier, which also means I'll go up a castle size an arc earlier so I can get even more stars; can be a useful member of my party a lot more often than Valeria even though she's not as good; better in war battles; means Chaco stops being plot-relevant; has a highly-entertaining romantic subplot with ☆☆☆☆☆☆; therefore presumably has goodwill for ☆☆☆☆☆☆ and given that once he goes in my party he's not going to come out, that's handy!
AM I BIASED? DAMN RIGHT
But this is an lp so I'm leaving it up to a vote.

 

[Zero Moment]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Wow, both sound awesome 0_0

How does Valeria break the damage limit?

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Level 99 Valeria with a level 16 weapon equipped with a kindness rune while her kindness value is below zero on the turn a violence rune is triggered (so was hit last turn and is below 50% hp) critting with her falcon rune against a woodpecker does 48k damage, which rolls over to healing for 16k. The only character who gets close to that for max damage dealt in one hit is Killey, who tops out around 46k and I'm not sure how people manage it with him. Probably kindness + violence + double-beat + double-strike at level 99? That sounds about right. And probably Sheena, Hai Yo, and maybe Sid can approach that, too, with the same setup, though Killey is best at that.

I might have forgotten a step, but that looks about right. Of course, I have no intention of using the level-up trick to get her to 99 or to give her my only kindness rune, so I'm definitely not going to break the damage limit with her, but she's still easy to make very, very good. Particularly since I don't have my violence rune on anyone yet.

 

[Zero Moment]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Well, since Valeria probably doesn't get that level of power until far in the postgame (unless I don't understand how Suikoden works and levels are very high in the lategame) then I vote Kasumi
Because Fucking Ninjas

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Hey, page four. Your post probably isn't going to stay page four after my next DW posting spree, but that just means page four for Vikis!

Both of my playthroughs of II, I ended up level 62 at the end. Suikoden pretty consistently ends at level 60~3. Bit lower for I and III and I think V, higher for II and IV. ... Rhapsodia's level cap is 50 and I finished at 42 I think, with Lazlo level 45. So my Valeria wouldn't get that ridiculous, and in fact probably wouldn't break 10k unless I used the kindness trick and I don't like the kindness trick, but she would still be very good. But Kasumi's a much better choice in general.

LAST TIME: Gregminster~!

: "Kasumi, please..."

: "Thank you, Kasumi."

: "Very well, President Lepant. Lord Odessa, I will do my best to assist the Sowston Army."
[ Kasumi joined the group! ]

: "Now, please accept this, Lord Odessa, as a symbol of the friendship between the Sowston Army and the Toran Republic."
He walks over to Tesla and back.

: "This is the 'Blinking Mirror,' one of the treasures of the Toran Republic. It was used in our war for independence, but now I suspect that you have more need of it than we do. If you use this item, you will return instantly to your castle. In the absence of its rightful owner, I respectfully loan it to the Sowston Army, in your care." Um, Viki's standing right behind me. Though I guess it was originally Hellion's. ... Though, in the rest of the series, Viki has it, so it's probably hers.
[ You got Blinking Mirror ]

: "Good for you, Odessa. That should help you out. Well, good luck to you. Huh? Me? I'm going to stay here. I'm out of play money and besides, I just hate fighting...."
Lepant walks over to him.

: "Huh? What's wrong, dad?"
Lepant drags him over to Kasumi.

: "Owww! Hey, let go!"

: "I have a request for you, Lord Odessa. Take my idiot son with you. He's not worth much, but maybe you can make a man out of him."

: [ HOPS, UPSET ] "W... wait a minute!"

: "Fool! I sent you into the world on a training mission, but you just frittered your time and money away! Learn from Lord Odessa's example and end your childish behavior. And don't come back until you do." Haha, fritters.

: "But... But..."

: "I entrust him to you, Lord Odessa."
[ Sheena joined the group! ]

: "Let's go, Lord Odessa. We're running out of time."

: "Sheena! Move!"

: [sweatdrop] "Yeah, yeah."
[ Kasumi convoy joins party ] I can't recruit Sasuke and Mondo if she's in the convoy; she has to be in my party proper. Bye, Viktor!

: "Bah! I'm not finished yet!!!"
Oh wow Kasumi is short ranged now? Fuck. Could've sworn she was long-ranged.
Fade out.

We're now at the border with Varkas.

: "Thank you very much, Chief Varkas. We can handle it by ourselves now."
VARKAS: "I understand. Be careful."

: "Yes, thank you. Well, let's hurry, Lord Odessa."
Haha wow Kasumi hit three times in one round and that's without double-beat. ... Well, that is speed-based and she's the fastest in the game. Maybe I'll use her this time around. I wonder if Tir has goodwill for her! I guess I'll find out.
Gods, someone needs to get poor Kasumi a bra. Also some pants. Jiggle jiggle jiggle. Maybe Nanami can help her with getting her boobs to not bounce. That cannot possibly be comfortable.

Back into Rokkaku!

: "A SPY!!!"
White out, now in Hanzo's room.
HANZO: "Do you expect me to believe you just accidentally stumbled across a town as well hidden as Rokkaku?"

: "I've missed you, Lord Hanzo."

: [hop] "Kasumi!"
HANZO: "Aren't you supposed to be with President Lepant?"

: "I was, Lord Hanzo. President Lepant ordered me to assist Lord Odessa, leader of the Sowston Army."
HANZO: "Hmm... A wise decision, as I'd expect from President Lepant." My mental Hanzo voice is Darth Vader, by the way.

: "I agree. But the Highland Kingdom is a powerful enemy. Please. Could you lend us Rokkaku's assistance as well?"
Long pause.
HANZO: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kasumi, are you here on Lepant's orders?"

: "No, sir... But I firmly believe that helping the Sowston Army will aid Rokkaku as well. This is my decision as Vice-Chancellor of Rokkaku. Please, Lord Hanzo."
HANZO: "Hmmm..............."
HANZO: [steps forward and walks around me, looking at me] "That glitter in his eyes... It brings back memories." Memories ... of a boy like Lassie. Next file, that is what I am naming him.
HANZO: "Mondo, Sasuke, I want you to go with Kasumi, and join Lord Odessa's fight."

: "Yes sir."
[ Mondo joined the group! ]

: "Hey, bet you're happy to be back with Kasumi again, eh, Sasuke?"

: [JUMPS, SO SHOCKED] "What... What's that supposed to mean? I'm not... Shut up!"
And he ninja vanishes off.

: "Heh heh. Did you see him blush?"

: "Um... Did I do something to upset him?"

: "Don't worry about it, Kasumi. He's always like this. I'm sure he's around here somewhere."
HANZO: "I'm counting on you, Mondo."

: "I won't let you down, sir. Shall I accompany you now, Lord Odessa?"

: "No."

: "Then I'll go ahead to Sewer Castle."
And he ninja vanishes off.

Huh, I can't walk up to where Mondo and Sasuke were standing.
Hanzo's dog wears a red bandana.
Outside is a man. "I found this strange crystal in the woods. I have no use for such a thing, so I would like you to have it." [ You got Blinking ] YAY, USELESS \o/
There's a dude meditating where I can't go.
little ninja girl: "Even the path of the Ninja begins with but a single step."

Hi, Sasuke.

: "Wh, what...."

: "What's wrong, Sasuke? If there's something you don't like, tell me and I'll try to be more careful..." Socially awkward ninja :(

: [TURNS AWAY] "It's... umm, I told you! It's got nothing to do with you, Kasumi!!"

: "Then what are you so angry about?"

: [turns back] "Well... that's... y'see.... Okay! Fine! I'll go with you!!" But only 'cause Hanzo ordered it! It's nothin' to do with you, I mean, err..... umm...." Extra " original.

: "Thank you, Sasuke."
[ Sasuke joined the group! ]

: "I'm just gonna go ahead to Sewer Castle, I guess."
And he ninja vanishes.

: "There's no rush..."

Right behind where Sasuke was is a trading post! ... ... ... Wait. If Rokkaku hates visitors, what do they need a trading post for?
man: "Whoa! For an outsider, you're very nimble. You've studied some kind of fighting technique, haven't you?"
Wow, the ninja have very cheap soy sauce. Pity I don't have inventory space.
man: "It's incredibly rare that visitors from outside are allowed in Rokkaku. Lord Hanzo must think very highly of you. Here, I will give this to you. I'm sure you will use it wisely." [ You got Sound Set #6 ]
Hee, there's a man and a cat meditating and sleeping on top of the house next to the trading post.
woman: "This town was reduced to rubble three years ago, but now it's completely rebuilt and better than ever!" So, wait. Do you just hope none of Teo's former soldiers remember where it was?
Hee, there's a man dangling from the ceiling.

La di da, running through the woods back to Banner. So familiar :|

I step into Banner and Apple and Ridley are right there!

: "We're here to meet you, Lord Odessa."

: [hop] "Kasumi! Is that really you?"

: "It's been a long time. I'll do my best to be of service."

: "We'll do our best."

: "Lord Odessa. The Highland Army is approaching. Luca Blight must be back. Let's hurry to Sewer Castle."

: "We don't have a second to spare."
Fade out.
We're now at the castle.

: "We'll be in the great hall. I'm sure you're exhausted, Lord Odessa, but please go to the great hall first." Nope.
Off they go!

man in tavern: "If we lose to Luca Blight, we won't be able to have a good time like this, that's for sure....."
woman: "Ha ha, there's lot of funny characters in this Sowston Army of yours...."

Oh huh my party got emptied. Well, anyway, I grabbed Mikumiku, Luc, Nina, Chaco, and Meg, one of which is for reasons.
if you remove her from your party while Flik's there,

: "But I don't want to leave Flik."

: "Hurray! I get to go with Flik!!!"

that guy who usually says something about how he thinks we'll win: "Lord Odessa! Let's fight!!! We can lose to that Luca Blight!!" We can? I wonder if that's a mistranslation.
little boy staring out the window: "Oh! Sir Odessa! I'm, I'm sorry. I just... I just wanted to see a soldier...."
little boy running next to that little boy: "Hurray!!! A soldier!!! A real soldier!!!!! I wonder if Flik is around?"
Wow, a loooooooot of people have different lines. I'm capping most of them. (You can find a lot of caps I don't include in the lp on my photobucket, actually! They're sorted by arc, roughly.)

: "If only Black were here, he'd be a really big help....." D:

Oh hey castle size three. :D
soldier: "I'd like to be an archer under Lady Teresa... that's my dream anyway."
soldier: "I'll be an infantryman. Viktor's the best soldier out there, you know."
Oh wow I can go on the castle walls.

Up on a tower next to a telescope. If I talk to Mukumuku, he's startled and flies away. If I talk to Sid, he's confused, dots, and eventually laughs maniacally and scares Odessa.

That tower way up high is my and Nanami's room. :3
man: "I heard that wherever Luca Blight goes, he leaves a mountain of corpses in his wake....."

: "Hey, that Eilie is pretty cute. What do you think, Odessa? Do you like her? If not, then maybe I'll...."
girl near the girl who pretends to be Flik: "We're not gonna lose to any stupid ol' Luca Blight!" Damn right, kid!

: "As long as I'm with you, you can't lose Odessa."
Just replaced Luc's wind rune with cyclone :3
soldier near baths: "Okay!!! We'll beat Highland so I can come take another bath!!!"
little girl: "A soldier told me I can't go up here 'cause Lord Odessa's room is there. I wonder what kind of guy he is anyway?"

That's not a good spot, Odessa. Nanami's up by the roof.

There's a dude in the cell! Who won't talk to me.
guard: "What the hell... Soldiers that are supposed to protect do somethin' like that... What can ya do....."

Okay, I've talked to everyone I think. To the Greenhill-Matilda border!

: ". . . . ."
Mikumiku hops!

: "... a voice?"
He walks down to her.

: "Mu..."

: "Hmm..."

: [hop hop] "Mu-mu..."

: "You... seem to have good friends. And..."

: [hop hop hop] "Mu-mu-mu..."

: "I see... You, too, are fighting... Odessa... Do you have such lofty dreams...?"

: [walks over to me] "Lord Odessa... I can hear, shining inside you... the voices of many. They have faith in you..."

: "If so many place their faith in you, I might as well do the same."

: "Thank you."

: "No, the pleasure is mine."
[ Badeaux joined the group! ]

: "Lord Odessa, I have here some 'Hearing-Ear Crystals.' They have the power to reveal the voices of the forest. I sense that they will help you; please, take them."
[ Received two Listening Crystals. ] Actually, in my inventory, they're 'Mindfulness'.

: "Then I shall head for Sewer Castle." He doesn't actually have an appearance spt defined in there.

Bah, fuck walking. I teleport home via blinking mirror and then to Forest Village!
woman in inn: "Where do you come from, sir?" [ beat ] "Hee hee. I like guys with mysterious pasts."

: "Good afternoon. Ah, is that a 'Sound Set?' We phonologists use them to create sounds, you know."
...

: "Take good care of your 'Sound Set'. They're very precious."

: "Please join us."

: "Join you? Hmm..."

: "Okay. I'll join you. The sound of your heart... It is very clear."
[ Connell joined the group! ]

: "With you, I think I'll be able to hear many new sounds... the sounds of people's hearts..."
Still holding onto my sound sets 1, 2, 5, and 6, apparently.
his sister: "It's kinda lonely without my big brother around. Well, I guess he'll be back when the war's over."

I head up and ... woman near injured griffin!
blond man: "Ayda!! Get out of the way!! Why are you trying to save this beast?!"

: ". . . . ."
other man: [walks up] "Move!!"

: [stretches arms out, blocking them] "No..."
other man: [hops] "Your parents were killed by those beasts!! Have you forgotten that!?"

: "No, I haven't..."
man: "Then, why?!"

: "I can't allow a weak, injured creature to be killed..."
blond: [steps up] "If its wound heals, it'll come back to attack us!!"

: "You cannot say that for certain.... And if it does... then I will fight..."
man: [hops] "It's a monster!! Of course it'll attack!!"

: "You cannot separate the world into 'people' and 'monsters.' Taking a life in battle may have meaning, but this is murder."
man: "Nobody listen to her! Kill the beast!!"

They move up and...

: "Wait!!"

: "Stop!!"
Feather loos up and goes scree! The men back up. I run over.
man: "Are you threatening us?!"
man: "H, hey... Look..."
man: "What?! It was just a little peep!! Come on, kill it!!"
I run over and different-looking griffins fly in!
men: "A, Aieeeee!!!"
men: "I, it called its friends!!"
They bolt.

: [steps up] "No... They aren't this one's friends..."
They raise their wings and go squawk.

That should be singular.

: [ Save them. ]

: "No!! You can't have this one!!"
She runs over, gets hit once, flies back, lands on the ground. Pulls herself up, grabbing her arm.

: "Damn..."
And I fight the griffins!
Feather is now standing up.

: "You..."
Feather rears back, flapping his wings.
[ A Listening Crystal is shining ] It makes weird noise, too.

: [ Use a Listening Crystal ]

: "Thank you... Kind boy... Kind girl... My name is Feather... I will lend you my power..."
[ Feather joined the group! ]
Feather rears up and squawks three more times. The glowing's stopped.

: "That... that voice was..."

: [walks over to me] "I am Ayda. You are...?"
Fade out.

: "I see... The Sowston Army... So the war... still... continues..."

: "Odessa, I will join your cause... With you... I will put an end to this fighting..."
[ Ayda joined the group! ]

: "The reason I live as a Guardian... My father's soul still lives within me..."

: "After I treat this one... I will follow you..."

I teleport off to Banner to raise people up to level 36, and then to Kuskus to sharpen up ...
Kuskus item store woman: "W... welcome..... You're not a Highland soldier? Hurry and buy something.... I won't tell anyone."
Haha, wow, I can't go anywhere in Kuskus except the smith and item shop.
soldiers blocking north of town: "Hey! You there! Are you from this town>" "Get out!! You're not allowed inside!!!"
soldiers blocking bridge: "You better behave yourself or you know what's gonna happen?" "If we toss you in jail, you won't be seeing daylight for a long time. Get me?" Really? I'd not be executed? Cool.
soldiers blocking inn: "You!!! I told you!!!! You can't go inside!!!!!" "You don't hear good, huh? Well now you're gonna get a hurtin'." Yeah, I'm sure that'll work.
smith: "Eh? Work? Of course I'll do it!!! I'm getting tired of blunting the Highlander's swords all the time."

trading post woman in Southwind: "I won't let those Highlanders lay one finger on this place! Even if I have to fight that Luca Blight all by myself!"

: "Okay! I'll be at Flik's place!" Gods you're creepy.

I can't get into Radat 8(
Okay, I've gotten everyone I know I want to use up into their thirties.

Saving, and into the war room! Ridley, Apple, Shu, Kasumi, Klaus, Kiba, Fliktor, Teresa, and Freed are there.

: "Lord Odessa, glad to see you're well. It seems you were successful in forming an alliance with the Toran Republic."

: [steps up] "My name is Kasumi, vice-chieftain of Rokkaku Hamlet. President Lepant has ordered me to assist you to the best of my ability. I hope I'll be of use."

: "We're gonna depend on you."

: "I'm grateful. We've got a real chance to win now."

: [steps up] "Don't be so sure. According to my information, most of the Highland Army has already left Muse and is headed this way. Luca Blight's 1st Company and Jowy Atreides' 3rd Company... Plus the 4th Company, made up of General Kiba's former troops and reinforcements from Harmonia. That's a force of 50,000 troops." Did someone say Harmonia?

: "50,000......."

: "Calling for reinforcements from Harmonia... it looks like Luca is planning on finishing this in one decisive stroke."

: "They may be friendly nations, but that help from Harmonia will come at a high price......"

: "And as for our side, even if you add General Kiba's soldiers and the reinforcements from Toran, we've only got 20,000 soldiers."

: "More than twice our numbers....."

: "Lord Odessa, you still look tired. Get some rest. We'll finish this conversation tomorrow."

: "Worrying won't help things anyway."
Everyone scatters and fade out.

It is nighttime!

[BGM: Tactics]

I say hi to Nanami and Pilika!

: "Oh, Odessa. What is it? I thought you had gone to sleep."

: [hop hop, then runs over] "........................."

: "Odessa............... How did all this happen...... When it was just the 3 of us, you, me and Granpa Genkaku, living in Kyaro....... I couldn't have imagined any of this happening....."

: [turns away] "Grandpa Genkaku was the hero of the City-State.... and Odessa is leader of the Sowston Army....... It's like some kind of bad dream..... ..... Now we really have to fight against him....... fight against Jowy....."

: [hop, then runs over] "...............!!!"

: "Ah! Oh.. ah... it's nothing, Pilika. It's okay. It's really okay....... I'm sure it'll be okay......."

: "Odessa.... go to sleep soon. Listen to me..... Everyone is counting on you, Odessa. That's why...... That's why you have to stay warm and get to sleep."

Haha, sleeping guard doesn't want me heading to the roof.
I did anyway, though.
[BGM: Theme of a Moonlit Night]

Fade into the roof, with a full moon in the background. Flik and Nina are up there. The colours on this are off some; I couldn't get a textless cap that was fully faded in.

: "Sir Flik?"

: [long pause, looks at her, looks away] "What?"

: "What are you doing? Everyone is either asleep or passed out. Aren't you going to sleep, Sir Flik?" Is she implying everyone is drunk.

: [long pause] "I guess so. It always happens on the night before.... Memories of past battles come rushing to my mind..."

: [sidles up] "I'm jealous.... I don't have any. I've only lived 16 years and I've been a kid for at least 6 of 'em. Could you.... could you tell me what you were thinking about?"

: [pause.] "Different things." Does Odessa count as different things?

: "Different things? Like your home? Or maybe about the future? Or about the battle tomorrow?"

: [pause.] "None of your business, brat."

: [annoyed] "Th, that's terrible!!! Oh I get it.... Were you... were you thinking about a lost love?"

: [pause, looks away] ". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
Then he walks past her, probably intending on going back inside.

: "Hey, wait a minute."

: [ yet another pause ]"Get to sleep soon. It's not good to stay up all night."
And then he heads downstairs.

: "You're just trying to put on a brave face. But... that's what I admire so much about you."
Fade out. Music stops, too.

Oh hey the sleeping guard's awake now. "We gotta keep our eyes on this roof all the time. This would be a good place for someone to sneak in... or out."

: "Lord Odessa.... You needn't worry. We will win."
Nanami went off to Apple's room to ask her some more questions again.

: "Zzzzzzzz....... Sorry, I messed up again...... Zzzzzz..............."

Oh huh was that the only cutscene on a moonlit night before a decisive battle?
Back to bed, then.

[BGM: The King's March]

Cut to Luca's command tent! He's got two soldiers next to him, then Jowy, Leon, Seed, and Culgan to his sides and a mysterious person with a blue pillow on his head in front of him. There are also more Highland soldiers.

: "We'll be in South Window soon. Our best strategy would be to capture Radat, then South Window and then finally Sewer Castle." Don't you already have Radat?

: "No. First we strike at their heart. Destroy their headquarters and the war will be over." I wonder if they have anyone who could drop it in a giant sinkhole or something.

: "Lord Luca is King of Highland. The King has his own ideas about how best to proceed."

: [steps up] "Let us be the advance guard."

: "Hmmm..... as you like."

: [steps up] "I also will accompany you. We came from the distant land of Harmonia and my soldiers are bored from the long journey." Hi, blue boy! You don't look like anyone I know at all!
Fade out.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 69 + Kasumi + Mondo + Sasuke + Badeaux + Connell + Feather + Ayda = 76 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: He and Mr Pillow Head want to fight me :'( Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: NOT EVEN FREED KNOWS.

NEXT TIME: THE FINAL BATTLE ... or IS IT???

Do I recruit the unicorn or a kraken? I can get the unicorn now; the kraken takes a while longer. I'd say kraken just out of principle -- it gets a unite with Viki! -- but I can't recruit his wife or kid through normal play and get the good ending, and just having him without his family makes me sad. Though I suppose I could cheat to get his family. So that's the condition for getting Abizboah instead of Sigfried: I have to make this file actually cheated for things I frankly cannot do.

 

[Espeon]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Sigfried is kind of irritating. It honestly depends on how you feel about recruiting the kraken and whether you'd want to grab all of the krakens. (That said, doesn't his wife also have a unite with Viki?) I'd vote kraken, either way.

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Yup! Both adult krakens have a unite with Viki.

Yeah, I don't really like Sigfried much; I'm just opposed to having only one kraken so I keep getting the unicorn. But since this is an lp, I'm leaving it up to you guys, with the caveat that if I get the kraken, I'm cheating for Rulodia and Chuchara. Only having one kraken just isn't going to happen.

LAST TIME: We are so fucked.

It is morning! No music, just birds chirping.
I step outside my room and normal castle music.

: "Good morning, Odessa. Sorry about what I said yesterday. I guess...... we have to fight. But....... Be careful, Odessa."
[ Nanami joins convoy ] Idk why convoy ...

To the war room!
[BGM: Tactics]
Klaus, Kiba, Apple, Shu, Freed, Fliktor, and Teresa are there.

: "Lord Odessa, the Highland Army has appeared in Radat. Lord Ridley has deployed to check the enemy's numbers."

: "The odds have been against us in almost every battle, but this one will be the toughest."

: "If we lose here, Two River will also fall to the Highland Army. If that happens, the fate of the City-State is sealed...."

: "I don't want to think about that. That Prince Luca Blight, no, I mean King........"
A messenger runs in! "Report!!! Lord Ridley's forces have been ambushed and surrounded. At this rate, they'll be wiped out. Please send reinforcements!!!"
[BGM: Sedition] Sans opening, of course.

: ! "What!!! A general like Lord Ridley ambushed....."

: "I didn't think the Highland Army had so many good people left."

: [steps back, turning away] "Could it be..... Leon Silverburg......" Why can't you spell Silverberg, dude?

: [walks over to me] "Lord Odessa, Let's send reinforcements right away. We can't let them kill Lord Ridley." Yeah, like that would happen.

: "I understand. Let's hurry."

: "Okay, prepare to deploy!!!"
[BGM: Battlefield without Light] Holy shit! I heard music in a war battle! Battlefield Without Light is the usual war bgm, but thanks to some Konami fuckitry the music doesn't play in the NA release usually and I'm not sure why I keep not hearing it in PAL>

Ridley's just south of Radat and he is so surrounded.

: "Stupid of me.... Caught in an ambush!!"

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

: "Caught in a trap, huh. Well there's not too many. This will just require a little finesse." That's gneiss, kid.

: "Finesse, huh. Sounds like you're talking about cooking." Hopefully he won't take umberage to your remark.

: "Just have to wait for the reinforcements to come...." Just don't calcify before then.
[ Start Battle ]
Wow, what the fuck, Ridley's getting his ass kicked. Bizarre. He has, however, already killed one unit entirely by himself.
My army all pops up in the top left corner!

: "Hey old man Ridley. Looks like you're having a tough time. Need some help?" I'm just thinking about how Sasarai's unit wears the damn hat.

: "Don't be stupid. Just hurry up!!!"

: "Lord Odessa, we can't lose General Ridley. But please retreat as soon as we save the Kobold Unit."

: "What's this.... This is wrong.... Something feels wrong....." Did you feel the earth move?

: "So..... it's him." Don't waste your breath on my account.
Ridley has just destroyed his second Highland unit all by himself.
Make that third. He's also injured two.
Aaaand down he goes, damn.

: "I must not die here. I have so much to do!!!"

: "We're too late...."

: "Ridley..........."

: "We had no chance. I'm withdrawing our troops. Is that all right, Odessa?"

[BGM: Requiem of Grief]
We're back in the war room.

: "Unh.... Ridley is........"

: "All we can do is pray he'll be safe...." Speaking of, I noticed I was missing a few of my units last war battle. Truly, it is a mystery.

: "The Highland Army has already occupied Radat, and now they're approaching South Window. The enemy isn't just the Highland Army, it's also made up of soldiers from another country." Wow, really? How long did it take for you to dig up that nugget?
Odessa goes ! while Luc teleports over in a blue orb.

: "Sasarai of Harmonia..... I know him well. Let me take care of him." How much dirt on him do you have?

: "What do you mean you 'know him'?" He probably kicked him into a ditch once when they were kids.

: "I don't have to tell you that." You're so full of hot air.

: [steps forward, pissed] "What did you say!!!"

: "Hey hey! Don't fight with a kid." And so, Viktor demonstrates better judgement than Ted did.

: "That's right. You should be embarrassed losing your temper like that." Yeah, he should've let that blow right off him.
Flik jumps and Luc teleports out.

: "Damn! That guy!!!"

: "If he's aiming for South Window, he'll probably attack by the book. He's got three times our numbers, so he doesn't need to be tricky. So in that case, our strategy will be........"

: "If it's a strategy you're looking for, I've already got one. I'll explain tomorrow. For now, rest the soldiers."
Fade out.

I fiddle with units a bit -- though I don't remember that I need to make sure Luc has nothing important -- and head upstairs. I also notice that I've lost a lot of caps since erufuun crashed while optipng was running, dammit. Probably already have caps of all of Sasarai's lines, but.

: [walking in] "Odessa, I'd like to talk to you. Is it okay?"

: "Yes."

: "I left some tools at my house. As a craftsman, it hurts me to part with my tools. I know that it's selfish, but would you mind going back to the house with me? That's all I came to say. I'm so embarrassed."
And he walks out. Sure, dude, let's go to your house.
But first I sharpen and level him up just because. Actually, apparently the chance that someone dies in battle's determined by their luck stat, so raising people up even if you're not going to use them doesn't hurt. ... That probably explains why Luc dies every time you pick wrong in I, actually: his luck is worst in the game. (Tied with Milich and some other loser, but.)
...
what the fuck
Tsai just leveled up to 51. I guess if I'd killed Odessa that battle he'd've made it to level 70. WELL. That was interesting and unexpected.

Ladida, teleporting to Ryube...
man in Ryube: "You're Odessa from the Sowston Army!! Good luck to you!!! Get some revenge for all of us!!!"
... I just noticed Tsai doesn't wear pants.
Got to his house~

: "It's been so long since I've been home. I really miss this place. Now where are those tools..."

I walk in and there is a girl! Who wears pants!

: "Hey Dad! Where were you?"

: [nervous] "T... Tomo? What are you doing here?"

: [annoyed] "I never hear from you, so I got worried and decided to come visit."

: "Oh. I'm sorry, Tomo-chan." ... Tomo-chan.

: "When are you and mom going to make up?" That doesn't usually happen, kid.

: [looks away] "I don't really know, princess." :3

: [hops up and down, annoyed] "Daddy. You need to get your life together. What are you doing with yourself now?" I like Tomo.

: [looks at her] "Well Tomo-chan, the truth is I joined up with the Sowston Army. I thought maybe my spear could be useful in the war." So this guy, who is clearly not meant to be Japanese, calls his daughter -chan. In English.

: "Oh daddy..... Well in that case, I'm going to join the Sowston Army, too." I always did want more 14yos in my party! ... Fuck I'm going to use her to kill Luca Blight aren't I.

: [backs up, nervous] "What are you talking about?"

: "What's the problem? I can help the Sowston Army, too. Or maybe I should tell Mom what you're up to.... using your spear again and all." I'd make a dirty joke here but banned banned forever.
She turns towards the door, and he runs in front of her, still nervous.

: "Tomo, wait."

: [walks over to me] "Your name is Odessa, isn't it? I know. You're famous. I've decided that I'm going to fight alongside my father. Please let me join."
And then she walks away.

: "Tomo, why won't you listen to your father?"

: "Well I'll see you at Sewer Castle. See you later."
And out she goes.
[ Tomo joined the group! ]

: "Forgive me, Lord Odessa. I'm embarrassed that you have seen me lose face."

Over to Two River! Answer's probably no, but worth a shot.

: "What's your business with me!!!"

: "Hey, join our group."

: "Hmmm, very well. If you can capture the trust of so many, then you have mine as well. I'll trust you."
[ Bob joined the group! ] Wow, really? I guess the squirrels counted as recruits; normally you can't get him before fighting Luca unless you get Sigfried, and I haven't even gotten Gordon yet.

: "Now should I show you my true form and power?" Nah, you can werewolf later.

: "Your true form?"

: "Well, that's okay. You'll see soon enough. Anyway, I'm off to Sewer Castle." Bye, Bob!

Let's see, getting Gordon now would be a huge pain in the ass, and I'm probably not getting Sigfried, so ... think I'm good. To bed!

[BGM: The King's March]

Cut to Luca's tent. He slowly walks down towards Ridley, who's being held by Highland troops.

: "Ha! It serves you right. Your friends have run away and left you."

: "If you weigh my life against the survival of the Sowston Army, it was the logical choice." Plus, Leon's involvement is confirmed 8)

: [walks back up] "No matter. Sooner or later, I'll see the Sowston Army crushed before my very eyes. Odessa will bow down before me like the lowly mongrel he is."

: "The Sowston Army won't be defeated!!! Lord Odessa will never be beaten by the likes of you!!!!"

: "Bah!!! Take him away! I'll see his head lined up next to the head of Odessa!!!"
And off they go.

: "So we've defeated Radat. Next is South Window, right?"

: [steps up] "With this many tropps, we don't need a strategy. The next battle will be the decisive one. We've a new bright, young general, so there's no need to worry."

: "Who is that man? He's strong, but where did you find him?"

: "I knew him from ago and thought his strength might prove useful to Lord Luca, so I summoned him." Guess the translator thought this was Jowy's line.

: [steps up] "I don't care about breeding. A sword doesn't need a fine lineage, it just needs to be sharp." And that was totally relevant.
Fade out.

Back to my room! Fitcher is there.

: "Oh!!! Still sleeping? The early bird gets the worm."
[ reloads ] Kinnison is there!

: "Sir Odessa..... It's time to get up...."
AND NOW I KNOW WHERE TO FIND THAT BIT WHERE I HAD SIGFRIED WAKE ME UP. ... Or not. Guess that was later.

To the war room! Viktor, Apple, Shu, Teresa, Kasumi, Luc, Klaus, Kiba, and Flik are there!

: "Hey, I was waiting for you, Odessa. We can't start anything without our leader."
[BGM: Tactics] I move to the middle of the room.

: "Lord Odessa, let me explain our strategy."

: "Yeah, I'd like to hear it too. This strategy for success." First, dress well.

: "We can't defeat 50,000 Highland soldiers with just our army of 20,000."

: [nervous hop] "Hey hey! That can't be true....."

: "Take it easy. We can win without defeating them. Our only goal is to take the head of Luca Blight."

: "If we can kill Luca, Princess Jillian will become successor to the throne of Highland. Then we could forge a peace treaty." I wonder if Jillia's name was meant to be Jillian. Jillian is an actual name, and it's not nearly as much of a change from Jill as Jillia is.

: "Here's the plan. Odessa, Teresa, Flik, Viktor, Kasumi and Luc will wait with their troops in their designated ambush positions. Lord Odessa and Lord Kiba will aim for Highland's main unit, free Lord Ridley and then face Luca Blight in personal combat." No way could that end poorly.

: [steps up] "I don't know if I can defeat Lord Luca by myself....."

: "You don't have to. When Luca shows up, I want you to pretend to retreat and draw them into our ambush. We can't defeat 50,000 soldiers, but if we can surround their general with our force of 20,000, victory is ours."

: [steps up] "I get it. You figure Luca Blight will chase after Kiba like a bat out of hell, eh."

: [steps up] "Father, please be careful."

: "Yes."

: [walks up] "Lord Odessa, if you're ready, please give the signal to deploy."

: ".... I'm not quite ready...."

: "As soon as you're prepared, please give the signal to deploy."
New save slot! :3

: "Well, victory is just a matter of lucky timing...."

: "Luca Blight is a frightening enemy. But if we let him scare us, we'll be killed for sure."

: "Well, just leave it to me."

: "Lord Luca's power is incredible. I'm just in awe....."

: "Lord Odessa? Is everything okay?"

: "Okay...... let's deploy."

: "General Kiba, we're counting on you. Also....."
The music stops.

: "Apple, call Sasuke and Mondo." If you don't have them, he calls for Chaco.
Fade out.

We're near Southwind!

: "All units report preparations complete."

: "Lord Odessa, until General Kiba appears, please don't move unnecessarily."
Kiba spawns in the upper right, as does Luca and some of his White Wolves.

: "Traitor!!! You join the enemy and raise your sword against me! You spit on the royal name of the Blight Family!!!!!"

: "How dare you!!!! You murdered your own King and sire and still you dare speak so!!! He was my true lord! You little bastard!"

: "You!!!!!!"
[ Start Battle ] I bet this is supposed to be Battlefield without Light.
Kiba controls his own unit. ... ... ... Kiba, why did you just waste a repair self. ... twice.

: "Okay, give the signal!!! Lord Odessa, your target is Luca Blight."
No, actually, for completion's sake, it isn't. I focus on taking out the other Highland units and leave Luca alone.

: "So this is the Sowston Army.... Hah hah hah hah hah!!!! This is all you've got!!? You think you can take the head of the great Luca Blight with such a puny army!!!!"
We have him nearly entirely surrounded btw.
Aaaand Kiba spends his repair self sensibly and heals damage dealt by Luca.
AHA! There everyone is. Sasarai on his horse with his dorky hat pops up with some Highland troops, and so does ...

: "I'm here, Lord Luca." IT'S BEEN A WHILE, HASN'T IT, YUBER 8D

: "You're late!!! What were you doing!!!!"

: "Forgive me, my lord. There was some trouble at headquarters."

: "I'm here to assist, Lord Luca."
Luca attacks Viktor!

: "Hoo hoo hah hah hah!!!! You can gather together a million maggots, but they'll still just be maggots!!!" Have I mentioned I love Luca recently?
And, of course, he beats the shit out of Viktor.
Sasarai, don't try to hit Kasumi.
And my turn!

: "Perhaps soon I can fulfill my promise."
Luc teleports in next to Sasarai!

: "Ah. We meet again."

: "You again!!!! Who are you!!!!! What's your relationship to me!!!!" Rocky.

: "I can't tell you that now. Perhaps you'll find out some day, although you may not like the answer. But more importantly..." He'll probably try to have you hanged, drawn, and quartzered.

: "Wh... what?"

: "True Rune of the Wind!! Gather the power of the Wind Sylphs!!!..."

: "Wh... what's this!!"

: "Become a blade that can slice the earth!!! Slay all my enemies!!!!!" I bet I could breeze right past you in slam poetry.

: "No.... how could my 'True Rune' fail me..." Should actually be something about him using True Earth to escape in the nick of time.
Sasarai teleports out, and Luc uses a wind attack that damages all enemies within a five-square radius (and crits on half of them) and pretty much blows them away.

: "Whew. I've finally fulfilled my promise, but he ran away. Bah!"
And then Luc teleports out. That was ... that was surprisingly useful of you.
Whoops, had Odessa wait without having Jeane try zapping Luca.

: [upon bombarding Luca] "We won't accept your tyranny any longer."
And it didn't work.
Luca's unit is really fucking strong. So is Yuber's, for that matter.
Aah, putting Shu with Flik is very rewarding.

: "This is the end Luca Blight!!! Prepare yourself!!!" I'm not sure he noticed you tried to hit him, actually.

: "This time I'll have your head!!!" He still didn't care.
Yuber just kicked Gilbert's ass.

: "Blood! Blood!! How I thirst for blood!!! I'll kill every last one of you pigs!!!!"

: "That's it. Fall back."
Oh good, no message of 'Gilbert has died in battle'.
Klaus just saved Viktor's ass...
YAY
Flik damaged Luca! He's not anywhere near DEAD, but he's damaged!

: "Unfff......."

: "Give up, Luca Blight. You can't get away."

: "Ha ha ha..... Hoo hoo hoo ha ha ha..... It doesn't matter how many people you've got against me!!!!!!"
He vanishes!

: "Odessa!!!!!!"

: "Waaah!!!!!"

: "Damn!!!!!!"

: "Eeeeekkk!!!!!"

: "Unf.... I knew it......"
EVERYONE TAKES DAMAGE.

: "I wasn't supposed to die here!!!"
MESSENGER: "I have a report!!! Flik's unit was attacked by the enemy!" OH FUCK.

: "Ouch....... That hurt!!!....."
MESSENGER: "Here's my report. Chaco was wounded." SHIT. ... I think I'm okay. It said wounded, not died in battle.

: "Sorry..... I can't fight anymore..."

: [reappears in the top-right corner] "You fools thought you could take my head? Remember well, Odessa!! You weren't even able to wound Luca Blight!!!!!!"
And he vanishes.

: "Unf.... so even with all our planning, we weren't able to stop Luca Blight!!! I didn't want to believe that brawn count defeat brains...... Lord Odessa, the situation has become too dangerous. I've got to retreat." Should probably be a we, and also Luca has brain and brains, or have you learned nothing?
[ Withdrawal ]

Back in the war room. Apple, Shu, Luc, Odessa, Nanami, Flik, and Kiba are there. Viktor walks in.

: "Whew, we're finally finished treating the wounded. There weren't as many deaths as I thought....." And no important ones.

: "......................"

: "................. it's rough."

: "Luc, your magic inflicted a lot of damage on the Harmonia troops. Why don't you do the same thing in the next battle...."

: "I can't do that. That particular magic really exhausts me, so I can't do it again for a while. Besides, I hate breaking a sweat."

: "C'mon........." Do you really want to breeze past this sequence? ... Yes? I don't blame you.

: "I did my duty. Also, if he weren't here, it would be futile......."
And he vanishes. Not 'teleports out'. Just vanishes. (That's because if you damage Luca before Sasarai pops up, that whole sequence gets skipped. That happened to me in my previous English file. ... I reset five times to try to last long enough for Sasarai to pop up. No go.)

: "But we didn't know Lord Shu's strategy would be..... What should we......."
[ Nanami joins party ]

: "We're in trouble.... Odessa."

I head downstairs to by Luc and go !

: "Lord Odessa!"
He walks in with Sasuke and Mondo.

: "Ridley!!!!!"

: [walks down to meet him] "Ridley! You're not dead!!!!"

: "With his help, we were able to somehow escape." Well, ninja.

: "Shu's orders.... I managed to fulfill them." Mondo, this is English; the use of topic-comment structure is marked. Now, I won't say it's not used in English, because I for one do it all the time, but it's still marked. ... ... ... I wonder if Deaf people tend towards topic-comment structure in English.

: "There's two of us. It was easy."

: "Lord Odessa, forgive me. It was careless of me to fall into the enemy's trap."

→

: "Yeah."

: [pause, because wtf] "....... Someday I will cleanse myself of this shame."
And then Nanami gives us both Looks. There is no way in hell I'm progressing having chosen this option; I already feel bad.
→

: "I'm glad you're okay."

: "Th, thank you, Lord Odessa. I won't forget that I owe you my life."

: [steps up] "I'm so glad you're okay, Ridley."

: "Lord Odessa, Is Lord Shu in the great hall? I have a message for him."
Fade out.
We walk into the great hall! Viktor goes ! when he sees Ridley.
[BGM: Tactics]

: [starts] "Ridley, you're not dead!! How did you get here!!!!"

: "Lord Shu sent help for me. I was able to get away from the bustle of war. I also had the help of another person....."

: "Another person?"

: [walks over to Shu] "Lord Shu, I have a message from Leon Silverburg, strategist of the Highland Army." Should I just assume the Silverbergs changed their name for this game?
He walks over to hand Shu something, then moves over by Kiba. I go over to Shu.

: "....................."

: "Shu............"
[BGM: Sedition, sans opening, and also one of the times it's appropriately named 8)]

: "Tonight.... Luca Blight will lead a night raid. This will probably be our last chance. Deploy all the troops. Lay an ambush for Luca Blight and kill him."
Everyone goes !

: "A night raid!!! But why would the enemy strategist.... Maybe it's a trap....."

: "It could be. This plan is risky, but the rewards could be big.... But on the other hand.... Lord Odessa, please make a decision."

: ".... Let me think about it."

: "If we miss this chance, we'll never win. Please hurry, Lord Odessa."

I fiddle with some equipment :B

: "Odessa....... If anything were to happen to me, you'd take care of Eilie and Bolgan, right?" Oh gods don't say that ; ;

[BGM: Tactics]

: "Lord Odessa?"

: "Okay, let's deploy."

STOPPING HERE.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 76 + Tomo + Bob = 78 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: Whoa, dude, did your strategist just betray Luca? Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted once, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: NOT EVEN FREED KNOWS.

NEXT TIME: THE FINAL BATTLE ... or IS IT???

Put together my parties for fighting Luca! Party assignments I'm sure of:
Flik (S) / ? / ? / ? / ? / ?
Viktor (S) / ? / ? / ? / ? / ?
Odessa / Nanami / ? / ? / ? / ?
Either Flik or Viktor gets the squirrel squad as a party; you guys pick who. So really you pick two of the parties, because squirrels.
OTHER CHARACTERS TO CHOOSE FROM: Viki (L), Clive (L), Tengaar (L), Hix (S), Tomo, Futch, Humphrey (S), Lorelai, Luc (L), Hanna (S), Rina (L), Eilie (L), Camus (S), Miklotov (S), Yoshino, Shiro (S)
S means they go in the front row, L means they go in the backrow (but aren't necessarily long-ranged; Luc and Viki as S-range but only an idiot would put them up front). Camus is a decent spellcaster and comes with high-level fire spells; other than that, (S) people are meatheads. At most three (S) people and three (L) people per party; if I didn't label them either, they can go wherever.
Odessa needs to have an actually good party, but just having Odessa and Nanami there makes it pretty good. Throw in Luc and it's ridiculous, but I don't mind not using Luc if you guys don't really want me to. It's better if Fliktor don't die, but if they get their butts kicked, it's okay: it just means the later parties have to try harder.

Make sure you put Viki somewhere.

 

[Espeon]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

"I can't do that. That particular magic really exhausts me, so I can't do it again for a while. Besides, I hate breaking a sweat." -- I think you've made a typo because the image here is Luca and not Luc.

ANYWAY, PARTY PICKING TIME:

THE BAND: "Flik and the Squirrel Rangers".

Since we all know deep down Flik is actually secretly the leader and face of the famous assembly of musicians "Flik and the Squirrel Rangers", nothing seems more fitting than having Flik... and well, the squirrels. The one rule: Flik should be front and centre. :D I think it comes at no surprise that the typical la-las, na-nas and woah-ohs we hear bands singing have been removed in favour of "mu mu muuuu"! Their first album, "Odessa, Why Did You Die?" sold an astounding 5 copies and their last concert actually had more fans than band members – an achievement in the suikoden world. They've also made many hit singles with titles such as "Manhood (It Just Ain't Happening)", "Five Bowls of Rice is Far Too Much" and "Mu-mu-mu-murdered by Fire Spears (mu mu mu)". They are probably Britpop, which would explain their astounding renown across the Suikoverse.

Group: Flik, Squirrels (x5).

THE FANGROUP: "People who have/would fuck Flik".

Anyone knows that a popular musical group needs loyal, undying fans who obsess over a particular member of the group. Viktor and Nina share a fierce rivallry for being the head of the "Flik Fan Club", also known as "Flik's Manhood (It is very happening)" by Nina and "Flik's Fire Spear" by Viktor. The remaining groupees just stay out of the feud. Depspite the in-fighting, the group remains strong and passionate, united by their love for Flik. They've even got their own theme song! Written by Camus and Miklotov, who call themselves "Red vs Blue", the song is "I Just Want Some Tea With You" (which in turn garnered the response song "Not If It's Bitter"). The fan group's main circle are of course Viktor and Nina but additionally, Rina, Camus, Miklotov and Tengaar. However, it is almost certain that the group is approximately 100 members strong and are currently housed at North Window.

Group: Viktor, Camus, Miklotov, Tengaar, Rina, Nina.

NOT-SO-FRIENDLY FIGURES: "Down with Squirrels!"

Of course, there will always be people who despise anything which achieves some form of popularity. These people, headed by Riou and Nanami, want to see the end of "Flik and the Squirrel Rangers". They feel the sheer popularity is undeserved and the music just simply offends their ears. One of their members, Luc, has even quoted "washing 1000 stairs is more pleasing than listening to their noise". He also feels that Flik himself is a bit of a diva, losing his temper at even the most casual of remarks. Humphrey, who once played with Flik in the band "Liberation Army" felt betrayed when Flik left to start a new career. It must be noted that the group seems only to have a handful of genuine members. Eilie tags along just to be alongside Riou and Viki seems to think they're going for a picnic in the woods on most of their ventures.

When they heard that Flik and the Squirrel Rangers would be performing to their fangroup, fronted by the headlining act "Beast Rune" (with lead guitarist Luca 'the' Blight, who have had hit singles such as "BUTA WA SHINE (FUFUFU)" and "How To Start a War"), they took the opportunity to sneak into the venue to try and put an end to Flik.

...what could possibly go wrong? :D

Group members: Riou, Nanami, Clive, Viki, Eilie, Humphrey.

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

I love you, Espeon.

LAST TIME: The light at the end of the tunnel is the oncoming train.

[BGM: Tactics]

: "Lord Odessa?"

: "Okay, let's deploy."

: "I understand. Very well, we'll place the army in the woods near Sewer Castle. When Luca appears,we'll close off all the exits. Then we'll attack Luca Blight with our strongest unit. Odessa, create the unit that you think can defeat him."

: "Okay, now select Lord Odessa's party members."

: "Next select the party members for Unit 1. They'll be the lead unit."
Flik's the opening band! -- SHIT I forgot to get the squirrels their runes, reloading to fix that.

Even ended up with them sorted by colour.

: "Finally, select the party members for Unit 2. They'll join Lord Odessa and hopefully finish Luca off."

Rina appreciates Camus's butt.

: "Do you want to choose the members of the 1st unit again?" If I have trouble, I'll swap Clive for Luc.

: "It's fine as it is."

: "Prepare to deploy!"

: [steps up] "Yes!!!"

: [steps up] "If Shu says it's true, there's no mistake."

: [steps up] "All we can do is bet on this."

: [steps up] "Okay, let's go, but don't use torches. I want our eyes as adjusted to the dark as possible. But leave the castle's torches lit."

Fade out!
[BGM: The Evil One]

Luca on a horse in the forest with a lot of soldiers.

Cut to Luca in a clearing with eight soldiers.

: "Look, the torches in Sewer Castle are burning. They're probably in there trying to figure out how to run away."
[BGM: Tension]
Highland scout: [runs in from left] "I have a report!!!! The advance forces are under attack by the Sowston Army!!"
Highland scout: [runs in from right] "Lord Luca!!! The Sowston Army has appeared behind us!!!!!"

: "What!!!...... Hiding in the woods!!!! You can't do anything right, you worthless fools!!!!!"
soldier on bottom: [hop] "L,,, Lord Luca!!!!"
A barrage of arrows is fired from below! The bottom row of soldiers is all hit and possibly killed, as is Luca's horse, which makes horse noises and falls. Luca also looks like he may have been shot; he's crouched down.
soldiers: "Protect Lord Luca!!!!!"
More soldiers run in front of Luca and also get shot and fall!
soldiers: "Waaaaah....."

: [yeah, definitely shot; pulling himself up] "You......... How did you.... know about.... the night raid........"

Pan down to Flik, the squirrels, and a bunch of archers.

: "Luca Blight!!!! I want your head!!!!!!"

: [pulls himself up, shaking a bit, and levels his sword at Flik] "Foolish braggart!!!!! You think a weakling like you can stand up against me!!!!!" Let's get ready to rock.
We run up and FIGHT! Luca has five White Wolves assisting him: two have swords, three are spearmen.
[BGM: The Chase] :D
I have the squirrels do as much casting as would be useful -- Mukumuku kills all the white wolves singlepawed -- but they're not very good backup. They try hard, though.
Oooh, that Revenge Earth I had Mukumuku throw was a good idea. ... Ah, fuck, Odessa should be in third position, not first. Not relevant yet, but it will be.
Mukumuku berserked upon Mikumiku's defeat, which now means Mukumuku is the most useful squirrel.
Half of my squirrels are out, but ha! Victory! Pan up to all of Luca's soldiers right there down if not dead (they all have arrows in their chests or at best their breastplates, though, so they're fucked), and Luca lowers his sword.

: "Ufff............... Beaten by the likes of you......"
He starts walking off to the left, but suddenly --

: "This time I'll pay you back for sure, Luca Blight!!!!"

: "You maggots........."
[BGM: The Chase]
Now Luca has only three white wolves with him! Two spearmen, one swordsman. ... Hee, Luca stretches his hands and occasionally bounces as his idle animation.
Diiiid I forget to give Nina magic. And possibly to equip Camus.
Ugh fuck Luca killed Camus round one. Which at least means Miklotov is berserked, but fuck. -- And Miklotov didn't have the chance to use his berserk.
But Viktor and Tengaar got him.

: "..... I won't be defeated here!!!"
And he walks up.

: "He went that way, Odessa!!!"
Here my party is with Shu and Apple!

: "Luca, your luck has run out!!!! You have no soldiers and you're wounded. You can't break out of my trap!!!"

: "Your 'trap'??? Wahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! All I can see is a bunch of squealing pigs!!!!!!! Odessa, right here, right now.. I'll separate your puny little head from your puny little body!!"

: "Lord Odessa!!!! Be careful!!!!!"
[BGM: The Chase] And as Shu said, Luca no longer has soldiers.
Agh fuck I have Nanami and Viki in the dangerous spots.
Gods Luca's stats are so high Odessa's doing about 300 a round rather than eir usual 800. Hahaha, dude can't scratch Humphrey, though.
And down he goes! Well, he kneels; he doesn't vanish. Bunch of level ups!
Luca kneels briefly on the map, then pulls himself up. Huh, did he remove those arrows at some point? -- Nah, probably just the angle.

: "Y, you........ H.... how......... How could I lose......... You little swine.... Who do you think you are!!!!"

I'm Rioudessa fucking Silverberg, asshole, and right there is my boomstick.

: "Why!!!!!! Odessa!!!!!!! Why are you the winner!!!!! Why must I lose!!!!!! Is that my fate!!!!!! I can't die until all of you swine are wiped off the face of this world!!!!!"
He runs off. Flik runs in with some soldiers.

: "Go after him!!! Odessa!!!!! We've come this far!!! We can't let him get away!!!!!" Viki, will you do the honours?
[ Viktor joins party ] Bye, Clive.
[ Flik joins party ] And bye, Eilie.
And we bolt up, without me even being able to check my inventory for healing items.

: "Luca Blight............ Gather our archers. We're heading for the prearranged position."
soldiers: "Y, yes!!!!"
Fade out.
We're a bit farther up.

: "We can't let him escape!!!! Let's go Odessa!!!!"
OH GOOD I can check my inventory. [ uses mega medicine on Odessa ]
And on everyone else, I guess; it can't hurt and I never use them anyway.

Get stopped by five soldiers!
soldiers: "I won't let the State have Lord Luca!!!!!"
Whoa, got ambushed and surrounded by five more soldiers.
soldiers: "I won't let the State have Lord Luca!!!!!"
Six soldiers in battle, that group. Still very, very dead.

[BGM: none; chirping]

Luca slowly walks up to a tree with something glowing on it.

: "Ugh....... y, you......... I..... I can't die.... here......."
He walks a little closer.

: "Have I...... really.... lost? Damn!!!!!! You think I'm afraid?!!! You think I fear death?!!!! Fear is a stupid emotion."
He walks a little closer to the tree.

: "Eh? What?"
He puts his sword away, takes the thing off the tree, and looks at it. After a few seconds, he starts fiddling with it.

: "A wooden amulet......... What's this doing here?......... And what's that light...... Huh? Is this a cover?" ... Did. Did someone put that amulet for Pilika's parents on the tree. Is it that amulet. Oh my god. ;___;
He pulls the lid off and looks up, amazed. He actually stops scowling for a moment.

: "It's...... fireflies? There are fireflies inside? What kind of joke...... Whoever it was, they'll pay for this........" Ohh, to make it look like someone was using a light?

: [shakes his head, then glares south] "How stupid............ It's not even worth taking."
Oh, I guess he hadn't taken the lid off; NOW he takes it off and lets the fireflies out, closing his eyes.

: "Stupid...... this whole world...."
[BGM: Tension]
QUICK PAN OVER TO THE LEFT, WHERE SHU AND APPLE HAVE A LOT OF ARCHERS

: "Light!!! What's that!!!! Shoot!!!!!!!"
They do, and a lot of them hit Luca! He collapses.

: "Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!"
We run in!

: "I've caught you, Luca Blight!!! Now you're finished!!!!!!!!!"

: [stands back up. I can see six arrows stuck in him] "Finished........ you say...... Ha... ha ha...... Wahahahahahahahaha!!!!!! What are you saying, maggot!!! What are you squealing about, pig! I've got the power to take your life, boy!!!!!!!"
someone to the right: "Lord Luca!!!!!"
A lot of soldiers run in, protecting him to the west and south! They draw their swords! "Lord Luca!!!! Hurry!!! Escape!!!!"
soldiers: "Lord Luca....."

: "Arrows away!!!!"
THEY ALL GET SHOT AND FALL. Luca also got shot in the shoulder that time.

: "My holy war...... Don't interfere........ You scum....... Here I come.... Odessa!!!!!!!!"

: "Odessa!!!!!!!"

Luca is a fucking PINCUSHION.
[BGM: Mad Luca] THIS IS IT. Go pull up the music; I'll wait.

Pan down!

Us from above!

CLOSE UP ON LUCA

And now, we fight like men. And ladies. And ladies who dress like men.

Though if we were at all interested in a fair fight, then maybe Luca wouldn't start at 25% hp. (His stats are approximately that of a level 52 Viktor.)

: "You little punk!!!!"
I wild attack for 434 damage! Eat my fury and double-beat 8D

The wind blows through my hair as I pose dramatically.
[BGM: The Evil One]

And Luca's sent flying and lands supine, finally.

: "You're okay!!! Odessa!!!!"

: [pulls himself up to be sitting, then finally to standing] "I don't have the power to swing my sword anymore.... Odessa............ Why do you fight!!!!!! Why do you wish to destroy me!!!"

If I dot, he brings one hand over his heart, then holds his arms out to the side. "How do you like war? How does it make you feel!!! Does your very soul fill with hatred and loathing?!!!!"

: "To end this war."

: [slowly pulls right hand into fist over heart, then arms to side, like 'I wash my hands of this'] "To end this war? That's a fairy tale... It's a foolish child's dream."

: "Even if you kill me and defeat Highland, you won't have peace!!!! You'll have a defeated country screaming for our vengeance!!!"
He backs up to the tree and starts laughing.

: "Hoohahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Hohohohehehehehehehahahaha!!!!!!!" [shakes his head twice] "Excellent!!!!! Excellent!!!!!! The rumbling in my body!!!!! The thirst that scorched my flesh! It is dissappearing!!!!!!!!!"
He leans forward a little, right hand over his chest.

: "Hoohoohahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!! Listen, Odessa!!!!!!!! It took hundreds to kill me, but I killed humans by the thousands!!!!" [\o] "Look at me!!!! I am sublime!!!!!! I am the true face of evil!!!!" And he still manages to stay badass with lines like this *_*
And then he falls down, dead.

: "So..... It's finally finished.... Did we....... Did we finally win......." Well, it only took a couple war sequences, three boss battles, three volleys of archers, and a duel. You might want to stab him through the heart a few times and put lemons under his tongue just to be sure.

: "........................"

: [walks over] "Lord Odessa, let's go back. We won and there are a lot of people who are waiting to hear news of our victory."

Pan down to Jowy and Leon watching from nearby.

: "Is that what you wanted?"

: "Yes........ It's what I always hoped for, and I want to believe I'm brave enough to accept fate."
They walk off, the music stops, and there's a very slow pan up to look at the starry sky for around 10 seconds.

Cut to the castle. I think it's a bit darker than usual, but I dunno. Normal castle music's playing; I don't know what it is offhand. There are a lot of soldiers and girls in green waiting for us, as well as Rina, Eilie, Bolgan, Leona, Tsai, and Pilika. Nanami and I walk in.
crowd: "You did it, you did it! We knew you could do it, Lord Odessa!!!!"

Chaco jumps up and down.

: "You did it, Odessa!!! You're really terrific!!!"
crowd: "You beat those Highland bums!!!!"
Pilika and Bolgan run up to me and start spinning and jumping.

: "!!!!!!!!!!!!"

: "Great job, Odessa! Great job!!!"
They jump really high!

: [steps up] "Pilika, sweetie...... We won. Odessa won for us."

I collapse and the music stops. I keep twitching, too.

: ! "Odessa!!!!! W, w, what happened!!!!!" Don't mind me; I'm just collapsed and twitching.

: [runs over] "Odessa!!! Hey, Odessa!!!!!!"
The other stars step over.

: "Let me take a look."
Eilie moves out of the way.

: "Whew. He's okay. It looks like he just fainted. He must be exhausted. Carry him to his room."

: [hop hop] "I'll take care of him."

And fade out!
[BGM: Ceremony]

Pan up through a hallway ...

... past some Highland soldiers...

... make that a LOT of Highland soldiers...

And up to an official, a blond in a cape who's discovered pomade, and a bluenette in a white dress.
official: "In the name of the ruler who holds the 'Circle Rune' and the guardian who holds the 'Beast Rune', we hereby accept a shining new flame into the Blight family. Jowy Blight, Jillia Blight, we are here to record the vows made between you this day." No left-handed marriages here. For some reason. Also I like that they swear by Hikusaak. I bet Hikusaak takes a shot every time someone swears by him, and that's the real reason no one's seen him in decades: he is too drunk. He is soooooooo drunk. (That's also why he promoted a dude whose face no one had ever seen to bishop. He is that plastered.)

: [steps up] "By my body and by my soul, as the guardian of this place, as a knight and as a subject, I pledge to serve Jillia Blight." [steps back]

: "........................" I think she realises you're full of shit, dude.
official: "What is it?"
Pause.

: [steps up] "............... By my body, and by my soul, as successor of the Blight family lineage, I take you..... Jowy Blight... as my husband. Furthermore, I confer upon him the title of King of Highland and I pledge to serve him the rest of my natural days." Seriously, why isn't this morganatic? I think I'm going to have to headcanon this as Agares and Luca intending for it to have been morganatic and then they changed their minds. Or maybe the whole thing with him having become Jowy Blight a bit ago was also adopting him? And. putting him in the succession. For some reason.
She moves back.
official: "I pray that you two shall find happiness as you walk together on your new path in life." And they do! Assuming you got 108 stars. Otherwise they're a little fucked. Or. Not fucked. As the case may be.
The soldiers all raise their swords to Jowy, and then put them away. Jowy and then Jillia start walking out.

: "Happiness on my path, eh....." Yeah, even Jowy doubts it.
And they walk out, fade out.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 78 / 108 (and the squirrel squad)
- Jowy Points: Well, that's definitely a promotion. Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted twice, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: Zip. Zilch. Freed will hold it forever.

NEXT TIME: The end, the aftermath, and the bocchan. BOCCHAN \o/

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

LAST TIME: THE SKIES ARE BLUE o/~ HIS LIPS ARE TOO o/~ THE MAN IS DEAD.

Odessa is in his bed! Birds are chirping. It is a beautiful day, though not beautiful enough to rate Beautiful Morning.

Once I move towards the couch, Nanami walks in. Music changes to standard castle bgm.

: "Good morning, Odessa. Did you sleep well? I was so scared when you suddenly passed out like that. But you've been resting in bed and drinking my soup for a whole week now. You must be feeling better, right? Apple told us that the Highland Army has wthdrawn. So does that mean that this war is finally over....." Oh, dear, Nanami's soup.
[ Nanami joins party ]

: "You stopped Luca Blight.... All by yourself...."

I check in the war room, just because. No cutscene :3

: "Odessa, you gave us a scare. When you passed out like that, Nanami and Eilie turned absolutely white with fear."

: "Hey, Odessa. Feelin' better? A lot has happened. It's good for you to rest up."

: "Lord Odessa, That last battle was glorious. You impressed me deeply. I would like to raise my son to be as brave as you." :3

: "Good morning, Lord Odessa. Are you feeling better? We've defeated Luca Blight, but we can't relax yet. Don't let your guard down."

: "Good morning, Odessa. It was your power that defeated Luca Blight. I'm afraid I haven't been of any help....."

I step out and Nanami stops me.

: "It looks like there won't be any battles for a while, and if Apple and the others do their part, the war might be over soon. Hey, hey, hey, Odessa. Let's go for a walk, okay? Ever since we escaped from Muse, we haven't had any free time. I want to look around in South Window and Kuskus Town."
Sure, why not. Southwind.

I teleport into Southwind and start walking into town and get stopped.

: "Hey!!! That's it!! That's it!!" HI 8D I don't have any windmills for you, sorry.
A familiar man runs in!!

: "You must be the hero, Odessa, who defeated that evil demon, Luca Blight. I'm sorry to be late, but I am Maximillian, leader of the Maximillian Knights. I'm here to help you. Lord Odessa, I beg of you. Accept my pledge of knightly fealty!" You're a little old.

: "I accept your pledge."

: "Th, Thank you. I, Maximilian, will fight for you while there is still breath in my body!!!" Yeah, please don't keep fighting after you're dead, dude.
[ Max joined the group! ]

: "Well then, I'll depart for the castle at once. We must begin getting ready. After all, it's the duty of a knight to be ready to fight whenever his lord needs him!!!"
AND HE RUNS OFF.

By the trading post is a suspicious man in red.

: "I'm Killey. I'm following the trail of the Sindar...... Have you heard any rumors about them?"

That should probably be 'ruins'.

: "Alex knows a lot about the Sindar runes...."

: "Alex......... Oh yeah, the guy from the inn.... Thanks. I owe you one."
And then he walks off.
I head into the inn. There's a woman talking to the innkeeper.
innkeeper: "No way! Absolutely not! I'm running a business here!!!! It's hard enough with this damn war going on!!!!!"

: "I, I'm sorry......... But I don't have any money..... And I'm not strong enough to do manual labor........ Perhaps... perhaps a song....."
I move a little closer to eavesdrop better :D
innkeeper: "Ever since Muse fell, they're all over the place!!! Those refugees should just be glad we let 'em in here!!! Besides, who wants to hear a song these days!!!!"

: [moves closer to innkeeper] "But.... but... but singing is all I can do....."
innkeeper: [walks away] "Get out of here!!! Nobody needs you! I've got no food for people who can't pay for it!!!"

: "Yes.... yes.......... I'm sorry..............."
She walks out, but I'm in the way. :)

: "Oh.... excuse me..... May I.... get by?"
I move.

: "Thank you........."
Oh, huh, I would've figured Killey'd be in there.

Annallee's over by the town hall.

: "You're the one from the inn...."

→

: "You don't have any gold?"

: "Ummm... I.... you mean before.... I'm... I'm............ Don't worry, I'll be okay....."
→

: "What are you doing?"

: "I was just looking at the sky.... Thinking.... I wonder if Muse is that way over there...." No.
regardless:

: [ STOMACH GROWLS. ] "Yes......... I......... I don't want to talk...."
[pause.]

: "You overheard me, eh.... I was... working as a musician in Muse.... along with Pico and Alberto..... But.... then the war came.... everyone got split up....."

: [walks down] "I.... I.... it's true.... I'm worthless all by myself..... and I don't have any gold left... But after talking to you, I feel just a tiny bit better.... Would you... Would you like to hear my song?"

: "Yeah... let's hear it."

: "Thank you........"
She walks up and I walk down and she bows, then begins to sing. I don't actually hear anything for some reason even though I'm playing a PAL rom; I'm pretty sure she sings La Mia Tristezza.

: [bows] "I haven't sang in a while.... I was worried I wouldn't sound good... Thank you for listening until the end......"

: "I'd like to.... hear you sing some more."

: [looks away] "Eh?...... But, but I........."

: "Thank you..... I.... I........."
[ Annallee joined the group! ]

: "I.... I don't know how to do anything but sing...... But if my singing can bring even a little joy to the people who've suffered during this war.... Then I'll do it."

: "Glad to meet you, Odessa."

I head back to the castle and to the item shop!
KILLEY IS THERE.

: "Who, who are you!!!"

I go ! and pan over

: "You used to run an inn called the 'White Deer Inn'?"

: "Umm.... well, actually it was Hilda that ran the inn....."

: "You opened the gate to the Sindar ruins, right!?"

: "W, why would you do that?" AND KILLEY HITS HIM.

: "A, Alex!!!"
She and Pete run over!
PETE: "What are you doing to my dad!!"

: "What did you find in the ruins!!! Tell me or I'll kill you!!" What the hell is in the water in Falena, anyway.

: "His life?.... I won't let you do that!!! I won't let you hurt Alex!!!"
PETE: [hop] "Dad!!!!!"
I run in with Fliktor and Leona because what the shit.

: "I'll ask you again. What did you find in the Sindar ruins?"

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

: "If you don't tell me...."

: "Let's help him."
We run over because 8(

: "W, wait a minute everybody!"

: "I know what you wanna hear, but the treasure from the Sindar ruins is right in front of your eyes!"

: [steps up, glances at Hilda] "This is the treasure I found!! You got a problem with that!!!!"

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . ." 'Did I just walk into a shounen manga.'
Long pause.

: "Your words... they have the ring of truth in them. I'm sorry I was so rude." Nah, man, it's okay; everyone descends into violence and death threats at the non-drop of a hat.
He starts walking off, then stops near me.

: "Forgive me..... It looks like you've got some good friends....."
And he walks off.

I stick Lorelai in my party just in case they argue (I know they do if you take Killey to Lorelai) and head back to Southwind.

: "............................."

: "Why did you do that....."

: "I can't say much, but the relics that were left by the Sindar should not fall into the hands of normal men....... You can relax. That man wasn't lying.. I won't go anywhere near there anymore."
[ talks again ]

: "You want something?"

: "Ummm..... join us......"

: "Friend? Stop it...... Besides, it's not something I would do....." He's echoing the 'group' bit of 'join our group' there.
[ talks again. ]

: "You want something?"

: "Ummm..... join us......"

: "There's no reason for me to get involved in your war." Just mentally read that as Zweig from V. Wrong Sindar hunter!

: "You want something?"

: "Ummm..... join us......"

: ".............................. While I was here asking for rumors about the Sindar, a lot of people told me about you..... It seems that I was wrong about you....."
Pause.

: "That will be fine...... But if I come across any clues about the Sindar, I want out."
[ Killey joined the group! ]

: "Well until then.... I guess I'll stick with you...."
He starts walking off then stops.

: "Alex.... He's a lucky man.... There aren't many who got involved with the Sindar and found something so valuable...."

I stick Viki, Kasumi, and Luc in my party, leaving an empty slot!
And then I teleport to Banner.

: "Good day, sir! Please stay at my family's inn. We don't get many guests here in Banner."
KO: "Hey, wanna hear somethin' cool?? There's this guy that's been staying at our inn... all he does is fish in the pond back there... I think he's called '☆☆☆☆☆☆,' but I was thinkin'... maybe he's really General Odessa!! It sure looks like him!"
Let's go meet this 'General Odessa.' :)

YOU SURE LOOK FAMILIAR 8D

: "Ah, ah, ah, wait a minute. I beg your pardon, but you can't come through here right now... I hope you don't mind." [ DIGS OUT THE BOCCHAN TALLY ]
And I walk away, because like hell am I going to make Gremio sad. GREMIO \o/

KO: "What's up? Oh! I get it, you want to find some way to move that guy with a scar on his cheek? Hey, hey, mister... Do you want to meet General Odessa?"

: "Huh? Not really..."
KO: "Huh? Don't be a chicken! Lord Odessa doesn't look that much different than you, you know."

: "Sure."
KO: "Okay then, how about this? I'll run up the hill over there and yell, 'HELP!!!' I'm pretty sure that guy with the scar on his cheek will freak out and come running to help. When he's gone, go see Odessa! I'll sneak back into my house, of course. Oh yeah, I live in the inn over there." POOR GREMIO'S NERVES.
And then he runs off. WAIT, KID, YOUR PLAN IS STUPID. IT WOULD MAKE GREMIO SAD.

: "Ah, I'm sorry, but, if you could just wait a little bit longer..." ... then I wouldn't get to harass your bocchan.
KO: "HEEEELLLPP!!! Somebody, anybody!!! Hey, you over there, mister!! HEEEELLLPP!!!"

: [JUMPS, FREAKING OUT] "Wh, what's that? Wait, that voice... is it the boy from the inn?"
And off he goes!
I walk up :3

Our fishing friend blinks twice at us when we walk up. Kasumi steps out. Here's a montage of what everyone says, which cracked me up. It looks kinda like he starts going 'where did they all FIT' after a while.

: "Ah!! Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆... It's been a long time... How... odd... to meet you here..." I wonder if she actually finds it odd or if she's known he stays here. The fourth investigation of her has Richmond commenting that she keeps running off to Banner and he suspects she has a boyfriend there, but I don't know if that investigation's there prior to doing this quest.

: "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I don't think he usually talks back.
Fade out. We're in the inn now.

: [RUNS IN.] "Y, Young Master!! I've been looking everywhere for you!! Something terrible's happened!!"
Fade out, now Ellie, the tenkai, Gremio, and a bunch of the villagers are in the inn.
someone: "I told him... I told him never to go up into the hills..."
man: "With this war raging, the mountain bandits can't do their business... I wonder if they've started kidnapping people...?"

: "N, no... It can't be..."

I'm going to not make Gremio more upset. I don't care if asshole options are often funnier; it's Gremio and only Tir can be a jerk to Gremio.

: "We have to save him..."

: "Young Master!! Let's go!! Kidnapping children for money... That we cannot forgive!! Never!!!!" WOW REALLY
☆☆☆☆☆☆ steps up, half-falls but catches himself, glows like Soul Eater, and falls to his knees. After a few moments he grabs his right hand and shakes his head.

: "Young Master... Ted and his grandfather both gave their lives to protect Soul Eater... I don't think the Rune itself is evil... So please, Young Master, let's go."
He slowly stands up, blinking repeatedly, and straightens. He nods once, then walks over to me, and after a moment, puts a hand on my shoulder.

I sort of picture the awkward response being Riou going like 'omg Tir is right there omg omg omg.'

: "Yes, let's go!"
He blinks and moves his hand.

: "Young Master!! I'm coming with you, you know!! Okay, then, uh..."
Pause.

: "Ah, Odessa, is it? We meet again, a bit more formally." If you named both tenkai the same thing, Gremio comments about that being a strange coincidence.
[ Gremio joins convoy ] I wish he convoy-joined party instead :( His stats are terrible, so it's good he's not required to be a real party member, but it'd be nice if he convoy-joined. It'd give an actual difference between Ellie vs Gremio.
[ ☆☆☆☆☆☆ joins party ]

His stats are REALLY GOOD. For one thing, he's got three rune slots so you remember his very nice magic stat? He can actually use damaging spells for levels 1 and 3. -- wait, what the hell, level 38??? Shouldn't he be level 42 or 46 :|a
I change formation so ☆☆☆☆☆☆ is no longer right behind Kasumi; he's now next to her, with Luc staring at his butt.

: "Ko... I'd come with you if I could, but..." '... you already have Gremio there to speak Protag, so I'm kinda superfluous.'
I love Tir's battle animation. Almost everyone else bounces, but he just stands there and sighs periodically. Gods you're angsty. I bet after you get him, every time Riou suspects a coffin just moved, it's because Tir was sleeping in it. Again. Goddammit, Tir.

Double Leader Attack!

Gotta whack all the enemies ...

... for 500 damage without me even fixing ☆☆☆☆☆☆'s equipment. Okay, that settles it; going for minmax rather than giving him Wizard and Blinking runes.
Oh, by the way, he came with a Silver Hat, Master Garb (Dragon Armor if you hadn't given him one in I), Obento (I bet Gremio made it and so the only thing that bento's getting replaced with is a special or mellow stew. I just. I just can't take away that lunch Gremio packed for him without a really good reason), Guard Ring, and Winged Boots. So pretty good equipment and also the earth boots rumour is demonstrably false.

Help, help. Bandits. Bandits are coming. Help.
head bandit: "Whaa....?! Who the hell're you?! Wait a minute... you're not here to get the kid back, are you?! Ha ha ha ha ha!" I, uh. I don't think taunting a group with three runebearers, one ninja, one badass normal, one Viki, and one chef is the smartest thing you could possibly do.

: "Let Ko go!!"
head bandit: "Didja hear that? A kid's asking us to return a kid! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!"
Long pause.
head bandit: "Huh? Hey, why aren't you guys laughing?" ?
bandits: "B, boss... That guy... he's..."
head bandit: "Huh? You know this guy?"
bandits: "N, no, it's... he's..."
Pause.
other one of the bandits: "N, n, n, now that you mention it... I think I've seen that guy, too, he's..."
head bandit: "What, what?! Am I missing something? Are they famous??? They're just brats, after all! Who are they?"
bandit: "This guy's... he's the leader of the Sowston Army..."
The bottom bandit backs up.
one of the bandits: "Huh? The Sowston Army... Wait, you mean the guys that defeated Luca Blight...!?"
top bandit: "And... and that guy was the leader of the Liberation Army from the Toran Republic..." [backs up]
one of the bandits: "The Liberation Army... You mean the ones who took down the Scarlet Moon Empire...!?"
The head bandit walks over to us and looks the tenkai in the face.
one of the bandits: "It... it can't be..." Wanna see my army.
bottom bandit: [backs up] "Boss..."
The top bandit backs up.
head bandit: "Wh, what are you fools waiting for... G, get 'em!!"
bottom bandit: [backs up] "B, but...."
top bandit: [backs up] "Eeeeyah...!!" [backs up MORE.]
bandits: "We're outta here!!"
And then the bandit minions flee!

: "Well then, you've certainly regretted your words, haven't you? You can return Ko now."
head bandit: "F, forgive me...!! The kid is... the kid is..."

: "What??"
bandit: "There's a monster just ahead... We ran from it and had to desert the kid... Damn it! Why did we have to turn to kidnapping...?"

: "Truly?! Now we've really got to hurry... Let's go, Young Master, Odessa!" By the way, Gremio uses -kun for Riou here. Which is sort of interesting, given that Gremio uses -san for pretty much everything, and in fact he switches over to -san by the time we're in Gregminster. (Duh, of course we're going to go to Gregminster.)

Oh no! Ko!

: "Are you all right, Ko?"
KO: "Ooh... ooooohhh..."

: [walks closer to him] "What happened to him...? It looks like he may be poisoned..."
I go ! as that worm rolls back in!

Whoa, it's molting.

Whoosh goes the poison moth's wings!
Unf eat JUDGEMENT buttmunch! Lulz 2020 in one casting, maybe I SHOULD go for making him an amazing caster and give him Blinking.
Ugh, this thing is doing a bunch of damage to me. I don't think I'm going to lose to it, and Luc's casting of Shining Wind was very, very helpful, and -- yeah there it went. If I had lost to it, this would have happened:

: "Young Master, we're done for if we stay here!! We've got to take Ko and get out of here! Okay, Young Master? Riou?"
The tenkai both step up, raise their right hands, and turn on the glow. Tir glows blackly, by the way, to Riou's light green. Actually I think Tir glows a very dark orange. Cut back to the battle scene, only this time Tir and Riou lead with Judgement and Forgiver Sign (which you don't unlock until Leknaat talks about you having 108 stars) and blow the damn thing away. I think your party's fully healed, too, since ... Forgiver Sign. (Deals about 2000 damage, but before it does damage, it heals your entire party up to that total and then damages a single target with whatever wasn't used for healing. It's a very good endgame trump card, but it's got an underflow bug where if you're missing more than $damage HP among your party members when you cast it, you heal the opponent about 32k. So uh. Don't throw it if you're really, really dead: that's what Shining Wind is for.)

Regardless of if you beat it in an actual fight ...

: "It looks like you did it, Young Master. But Ko..."
KO: "It's hot... I'm so hot..."

: "That monster must have poisoned him. What should we..."
His bocchan walks up to him.

: "Oh, good thinking, Young Master!! Doctor Liukan in Gregminster will be able to help this child. So let's hurry. Odessa, can you accompany us to Gregminster?"

At the border~
VARKAS: "Hey, you there! Past this gate lies the Toran Rep..."
Varkas jumps and is pinged!
VARKAS: "Is it? It is...! Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆!! It's Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆!! You've come back!!"

: "Varkas, this child is poisoned. We have to get to Doctor Liukan..."
VARKAS: "Wh, what?! All right, I understand. I'll take you to Gregminster as fast as I am able!!" Ugh Varkas talking vaguely formally, gj translation team.
Fade out.

[BGM: A Song in Praise of Peace]

Cut to Lepant's audience room. Lepant, Eileen, the tenkai, and Gremio are there. Liukan walks in.
LIUKAN: "The poison has more or less left the boy's system. You may rest easy."

: "Ah, thank goodness... Thank you so much, Dr. Liukan."
LIUKAN: "Come now, this is home I make my living. Well then, if you'll excuse me. A doctor's work is never done..." Home you make your living, eh?
And he walks out.

: [moves closer to the angsty protag] "Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, I am greatly pleased to see that you are safe. And I am also glad you've made your way back to the Toran Republic. The office of President has always been rightfully yours... please, come this way."
Lepant moves to the side to let him through. Angsty bocchan hides behind Gremio 8(

: "Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, why...?"

: "President Lepant..."

: [moves back to where he was] "Why did you leave this land in the first place? The Toran Republic is the country you fought and spilled blood to build, the country you made. It would be inappropriate for me or anyone else to hold this office. It is yours." 'I, uh, I need to see a man about a dog.'
Lepant moves closer. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ backs up closer to the door.
EILEEN: "Dear... Nothing you say will change his mind. ☆☆☆☆☆☆ is a boy... Boys always have their eyes set on the distant horizon... There are things more important than being cooped up in an airless room and being called 'President'. Were you not the same, dear?" This line is stupid. I expect better from you 8(
Long pause.

: ". . . . . I see... I won't try and convince you. But please, promise me that you will one day return to us."
☆☆☆☆☆☆ walks back up to between me and Gremio.

: "Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆... I won't detain you any further. I know there are people waiting for you."
Fade out.

Yay, I can run around the palace now! ... No one notices my party member.

I step outside, and hi guys!
PAHN: "Young Master!!"
We all walk down, and Pahn walks over to him.
PAHN: "Young Master, it's been such a long time!! I'm so glad to see you. I had a feeling you'd be back, so I came home as well..."
CLEO: "Oh, come on, Pahn. You only came back because you ran out of money." Need some ice for that burn?
PAHN: [hop] "Ah, p, please don't mention that in front of the Young Master..."
CLEO: [walks over to him] "Welcome home, Young Master. So, how was your journey? Were the countries you visited interesting?"
MARIE: [walks over too.] "Welcome back, ☆☆☆☆☆☆. You left so suddenly, we were all worried about you..."
SARAH: [walks over to Gremio] "Hmph. I wanted to show everyone how my much better my cooking got these last three years, but with you around, I won't get a chance!" 1. gj with extra my, 2. ARE YOU JUDGING GREMIO FOR BEING PRESENT. It's not like he spent half of last game dead or anything OH WAIT. ASSHOLE.
Fade out.

[BGM: Gremio's Special Stew] :3

Dinner with Team Bocchan! ☆☆☆☆☆☆ lifts his glass for a toast, and so does everyone else \o/
Fade out.
Running around the house~ o/~
I head downstairs and Cleo is there.
CLEO: "My, if it isn't Odessa. You don't want to rest?"

: "I can't stop thinking about you." Is it hot in here or is it just you?
CLEO: "Heh heh, not a bad line. You resemble the Young Master in many ways."
Long pause.
CLEO: "Odessa... Is waging war painful for you? 3 years ago, the Young Master, I mean, Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, fought as our army's leader... He brought many things to many people... But I've been thinking... What did Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, personally, gain from that war...?" Infinite cosmic power.

: "I have a reason to fight..."
Pause.
CLEO: "... Odessa... Such a strong child... You really do resemble the Young Master of three years ago... Thank you for speaking with me... Odessa."
She walks out, and fade out.

Cut to the world's awkwardest romantic subplot. Kasumi in ☆☆☆☆☆☆'s room!

: "Uh, excuse me... ... It's been a long... time..."
Awkward pause.

: "It's... it's been three years... We've rebuilt Rokkaku... it's almost like the war never happened... Everyone is leading new lives... Kirkis has rebuilt the Village of the Elves, and Kuromimi's become the chief of Kobold Village... And I... I've grown a bit, but... Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆, you... you haven't changed at all..."
Long awkward pause.

: ". . . . . It's... really... just as Luc said... You really haven't grown at all... A life without end..."
Another long awkward pause.

: "I... Forgive me... Forgive me... I'm... a fool... Please... Forgive me..."
She backs up.

: "Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆..."
AND SHE BOLTS. Fade out!
Pahn is in bed.
PAHN: "Snnnnnnnnnore... Snnnnnore... Y... Young Master... I'll protect you... Snnnnnnnore..."
He rolls over, and fade out.

Cut to ☆☆☆☆☆☆ watching Gremio cook. Possibly without pulling his ears or tickling him. But you never really know. ;)

: [turns around after a bit] "It's been quite a while since we were last in this house... Young Master... Even though this place may hold painful memories, it's still our home."
It's just them for a bit, and fade out.

Odessa, ☆☆☆☆☆☆, and Gremio are by the front door.

: "Good morning, Odessa. Ko seems to be in great shape. Varkas is waiting for us at the castle, so let's be off. We'll come with you as far as the village." And now Riou rates a -san.

YAY, I CAN BUY SHIT. Like a flowing crystal, recipe #28, and four celadon urns. (If I buy four celadon urns and reset until Gordon only has one in stock next time I'm local, I'll make a metric fuckton of profit, though I only need a quarter of a fuckton more in order to prove to Gordon that I'm a savvy businessman. It's not the most efficient way -- fastest is to just get two celadon urns from squirrels and trade them both to him when he only had one in stock that half hour -- but I kept not getting them as drops, so this is easier.)

I head into the castle! Varkas and Ko are there, as are two guards.

: "Ko, are you all better?"
KO: "Yeah, I'm okay now, mister. They made me drink some awful-tasting medicine though."
Ko walks over to me and jumps.
KO: "Um, um, mister... You're really General Odessa, aren't you!! And you're General ☆☆☆☆☆☆!!! Wow, awesome, I get to meet two heroes at once!!"
VARKAS: [steps up] "Lord Odessa, I'll escort you to the national border. Are you ready?"

: "Yes, thank you."
VARKAS: "Very well."
Fade out.
We're nearly at Banner, actually.
VARKAS: "Lord Odessa, we will part company here. Farewell."
KO: "Thanks, mister."

We stop right inside Banner. [ whistles Distant Skies~ ]

: "Odessa, I'm sure your battle will continue. However, I know you'll succeed. I know because I see the same hope in your eyes as I did the Young Master's. Whether it's a gift from the heavens or simply destiny I don't know, but... Odessa, walk your road, unafraid..."
They start walking off, but Gremio stops.

: "For the time being, the Young Master and I will stay in Gregminster... ... the Young Master wants to spend some some in his true home. If you're ever in Gregminster, please come and see us. I'll make you some of my special stew!" And they leave.
KO: "I'm gonna go too! I can't wait to tell my mom I met TWO heroes!!" I love that kid.
And off he goes.

KO: "Oh!!! Lord Odessa!!! Please tell me of your adventures!"
I run back to Gregminster! I have a weird feeling I'm forgetting something. ... Oh, maybe that I really should've spent all the monies in the world first? -- OH, I WAS GOING TO GO DO SOME COOKING BATTLES FIRST. Eh, I'll do that after I go to Kuskus.

Welp, it's not a full restock yet, so the celadon urns aren't up to their usual 30k, but 23004 is definitely good enough.

: "Welcome, Lord Odessa!! The day has finally come. You have incredible business sense! It's time for me to leave this shop to my son." [looks to the side] "Coates! Coates!!"
COATES: "Yes, father!" [walks over]

: "I'm going with Lord Odessa. I leave Gordon's Mercantile to you, my son! Don't disgrace the family name!!"
COATES: "Of course, father, leave it to me!!"
[ Gordon joined the group! ]

: "Well then, I'll leave right away for Sewer Castle."

Gremio is with ☆☆☆☆☆☆ in ☆☆☆☆☆☆'s room. :3

: "Why, hello, Odessa. Have you come over to play?" ... something ... like ... that ....

: "Hey, howya doin'?"

: "We're great! Just fine, aren't we, Young Master? It's good to be back in the house we lived in for so many years with Master Teo."

: "Make yourself at home."

: "Please, fight with us."

: "Good luck, Young Master! But please, do try to come home before sundown, won't you?"
[ ☆☆☆☆☆☆ joins party! ] Unfortunately I have to repeat this every time he leaves my party. And Viki won't teleport me to Gregminster. On the plus side, that's a lot of flowing and mother earth runes.

KO: "Oh!!! Lord Odessa and Lord ☆☆☆☆☆☆!!! You came to see me!"

Time for a cooking battle, and then some plot to round out this update.
... oh, I guess I lost having fought Ryuko. No cooking battle this update, then!
Got Stallion, Hilda, Gilbert, and Viktor, but behhh typing. Nothing interesting there, excepting that I got some decent scores.

☆☆☆☆☆☆ can now teleport, which'll probably be handy for him when he heads back home.

TO KUSKUS!
In the inn is a woman!

: "What.... what is your... business?"

: "Join our group."

: "You want me to join your group? But.... I couldn't be of any use to you..."

: "That's not true."

: "Really?......... Well.... just one thing......"

: "What?"

: "Ummm.... just one thing. If you can keep up with my dancing, I'll join you...... is that okay?"

: "Okay, I'll do it!"

: "Okay, let me get ready.... I'll be right back......."
She is now in a belly dance outfit.

: "Well, are you ready to start?"

Gonna lose ... repeatedly ...

: [ Dance ]

: "Okay, let's dance. I'll go first. Watch carefully how I do it."
triangle square circle x triangle x circle square

: "Okay, it's your turn next. Relax and go for it."
I flop over the edge when I fail.

: "Hoo hoo hoo, too bad!! Promise me you'll come back and dance with me again."
I get it right on the fourth try! Odessa does the little RECRUIT GET dance when I do it right.

: "Hoo hoo hoo. That was fun. Thank you, Odessa. Well a promise is a promise. I'll join up with you now."
[ Karen joined the group! ]

: "Okay I'll go to Sewer Castle after I finish getting ready."
And she runs off!

There's two men talking by the blacksmith!
man in brown: "Well, Lord Odessa, Good timing. Everyone's all worked up 'cause a Highland ship just arrived. This way."
And they run up!

: "What should we do? Should we take a look?" Nah.

There is a huge group near the docks.
man: "Hey!! It's Lord Odessa!!!!"
woman: "Yeah! You're right! I've never seen him this close!"
man: [runs over] "Lord Odessa, over here. This guy says he's a messenger, but I don't know. Should we rough him up?"
Pan over!
[BGM: The King's March]

It's Culgan! With two Highland soldiers to make sure nobody tries to kill him.

: "Thanks a lot. I thought I'd keep an eye out from here."
They move to let him through. Nanami immediately runs in front of me and adopts a defensive pose, right fist out.

: "W, what?"

: [steps up] "I've seen you on the battlefield, but never face to face like this, Lord Odessa. I'm Culgan, General of the 3rd Royal Highland. I work under Commander Jowy Blight. I'm pleased to meet you."

Nanami stays like this for a few seconds, then relaxes a bit and moves out of the way so I can talk to him.

: "Jowy Blight?...... Could that be our Jowy???"

: "Yes. Lady Jillia, the sole surviving heir to the Blight family, has officially wed Lord Jowy. Jowy has now become King Jowy, successor to the Blight Royal Family and King of Highland." Because they're all too big of idiots to go for a MORGANATIC MARRIAGE.

: ! "Eh? Eh? Eh????? Whaaaaaat!!!!!!! J.... Jowy... is... married!!!!" ... you know what. Nanami's totally right. Jowy being married is definitely more noteworthy than Jowy now having a country.

: "You two are friends are his. He wanted you to attend the ceremony, but unfortunately it was impossible." Yeah that. That could've been a little awkward.

: "Eh? Eh? So what do you want? Some kind of wedding gift......." And then Nanami mails Jillia a dildo.

: "...................... No, the reason I am here today is to make a peace treaty between Highland and the State...... I've brought a letter addressed to Lord Odessa, leader of the Sowston Army."

: "Peace treaty? You mean........ the war is over?????"

: "Yes.... if negotiations go smoothly, that is."

: "Really? Really? You did it, Odessa."

: "I'm embarrassed to ask the Sowston Army leader, but could you take me to Sewer Castle? I could deliver the letter here, but to prove that this is a formal peace offer, I'd prefer to do it there."
Highland soldier: [walks over] "L... Lord Culgan!!! You can't go by yourself...."

: [glances at him] "Don't worry. I want you to wait here. Lord Odessa isn't that kind of person. I'll see you later."

: "But of course. If it means the war will end, no problem at all!!!"
[ Culgan joins convoy ]
Random townsfolk are talking to each other! "Hey! Did you hear? The war is gonna end!" "Finally I can live in peace." "How do you know that! You can't believe a thing those Highlanders say!!!"
Fade out.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 78 + Maximilian + Annallee + Killey + Gordon + Karen = 83 / 108; also four squirrels and an ex-tenkai.
- Jowy Points: Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted twice, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: Zip. Zilch. Freed will hold it forever.
- MCDOHL NO BOCCHAAA~~~N: Gremio: 77.5 + 16 = 93.5, Pahn: 8 + 4 = 12, Cleo: 15 + 4 = 19, other: 4, total: 128.5

NEXT TIME: THE PEACE CONFERENCE 8D

 

[Espeon]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Yay, return of the Bocchan count! :D

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

LAST TIME: This arc would be way more convincing if it weren't for the blank spots on my tablet.

I teleport back to the castle! ... Because it's totally not at all a bad idea to let Culgan know I can teleport to there whenever I want.

: "Whoah, so this is Sewer Castle, eh? Amazing."

: "Odessa, let's go see Shu and the others in the great hall."

To the war room!

Apple, Shu, Ridley, Kiba, Klaus, and Fliktor are there. Kiba goes ! once he notices who's in my convoy.

: "Y.... you're Culgan!!!!"
Fliktor step forward, so unamused.

: "Damn! Get away from Odessa!!!!"

: [steps up] "Please don't misunderstand me. I've come to negotiate a peace agreement."

: "Peace agreement?"

: "Yes, Luca Blight has passed away, and the current King of Highland, Jowy Atreides, wishes only to end this terrible war." ... Atreides, huh.

: "Did you say that Jowy has become King of Highland.....?" Yeah, it's really weird they'd put him in the succession.

: "I'm hoping for a peace treaty between the Highland Kingdom and the City-State. We should be signing the peace treaty with the mayor of the capital city of Muse, but it's not possible now. For that reason, I request that Lord Odessa and Teresa, acting mayor of Greenhill accompany me to Muse."

: [walks over to me] "This is a letter from Lord Jowy Blight. Please accept it."

: [looking more at my group than me] "Lord Odessa, Lord Jowy is hoping for peace. Please go to Muse City. Well, please excuse me. Farewell."
And he walks out.
Fade out.

[BGM: Sedition without the opening] We plus Teresa are all grouped up in the war room.

: "So he wants me to go to Muse to sign a peace treaty? What do you think?" I'm doubting you're going, dude.

: "Well, it could be a trap." Highland? Doing something like that? Impossible.

: [looks at everyone] "C'mon... Jowy isn't that kind of a kid."

: "But Jowy Blight has Leon Silverburg as his strategist. You mustn't underestimate him."

: "It could be a great chance. Highland is weak and we're strong. Perhaps we could sign a peace treaty with very favorable terms."

: [steps up] "But what if this is a trap, and we lose Lord Odessa? What will we do then?!! First of all, I don't believe that the Highlanders can keep their promises!!! Don't forget that this war started when they broke the last peace treaty!!! With Luca Blight gone, we can take Muse and Greenhill back from Highland by force!!!" I like Ridley.

: "Everyone, calm down. Why don't we ask Lord Odessa's opinion?"

: [walks up] "Lord Odessa, If you say you're going to Muse, we're with you. Please decide."

: "I'm going to Muse."
[BGM: normal castle shit, read: A Bustling Town]

: "Lord Odessa, as acting mayor of Greenhill, I'm going with you. Shall we depart for Muse?"
[ Teresa joins convoy ]

: ".................... Please bring Chaco here. He may be of some help."

: "Okay, let's go!!!"
[ Chaco joins party. ] Bye, Luc!

Cut to the docks!

: "Well then, please take good care of yourself."

Pilika runs up to me.

: "..................."

: "Odessa, good luck. Good luck."

: [jumps really high] "Leave it to me. Odessa has got the bravest member of the Winged Horde with him. You can rest easy. Ha ha, right, Odessa?"

: [sweatdrop] "Hmph.... I'm here too, y'know."

: "Lord Odessa. To get to Muse, let's take a boat to Coronet Town to the north."
We walk offscreen.

: "........................"

: "Viktor, Flik.... I have a favor to ask."

: "Whatever it is, I'm sure it's not good."

: "That's my job."

There are three Highland soldiers blocking the docks in Coronet!
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "You are Lord Odessa? I've received word from Lord Jowy. Please go in."

: "Very polite, aren't they?"

HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "We are opposed to this peace treaty!!!!"
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "I want to go back to Highland..." I think Nanami does too.
old man: "Hey!!! You're..... Aren't you Lady Teresa!!? Please! Please! I beg of you! Please help us!!!!"

Oh hey are there still those tigers that drop double-beat runes near here? :O LOOKS LIKE! Don't expect to actually GET any, but worth a shot.

Is that an attempt to block off Matilda? Three guards get in the way of me pushing the gate up, but I can push it to the side and walk around it carefully.
Damn, the Matilda area didn't level up shit. Going to check Rakutei, which requires getting Futch and Humphrey in my party. So back to the castle...!

... and checking on Hai Yo.

Hai Yo is so dejected. His assistants are with him.
MIN MIN: "Hai Yo, get a hold of yourself. You've got to make a new menu or this restaurant will....."
other one: "That's right Hai Yo. I don't know what happened, but we're counting on you."

: "It's no good! I just can't cook after something like that happened!"
MIN MIN: [hop] "D, don't say such things..."

: "I'm giving up cooking!!!"
ANTONIO: [from offscreen] "Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! You give up too easily, Hai Yo!! You need more training!!"

Pan up to Antonio!
ANTONIO: "We finally meet again after all this time and now I hear that you're quitting cooking???"
He walks down.
ANTONIO: "If you give up over something like this, you must not have had enough training!!!"

: "It's no good!!! I don't care about any stupid old 'Moon Bird Recipe'!!"
Fade out and the sound of a smack.
ANTONIO: "What do you mean, Hai Yo!!! You risked your life to steal the 'Moon Bird Recipe'!! And what about Shun Min? Think about her!!!! Think about why she went to the trouble to get you that recipe!!!"

: "Shun Min......"
ANTONIO: "Come Hai Yo!!!! A cook-off between you and I!!! Lord Odessa, please let us use your castle!"

: "Yes, of course." Alternative is 'Ummm.... wait a minute."
Fade out!

FU TAN CHEN: "This cute little ninja has a taste for Japanese food. It's Kasumi!!!!"
FU TAN CHEN: "Our guest from the Dragon Caves. It's Futch! We hope he's hungry!"
FU TAN CHEN: "He's a powerful sorceror with a good face, but a bad personality! It's Leknaat's pupil, Luc!!!!" Aw, fuck.

: ".................."
FU TAN CHEN: "She's 72, but doesn't look a day over 71. All the way from Lakewest, it's Taki!!!"

Antonio cooked Deep-Fried Fish (3 2 0 2) (HAHA LUC HATES YOU), Ramen (3 3 1 3), Ma Bo Bun (1 1 1 1)
I made Island Salad (4 3 1 4), Eilie Croquettes (5 5 4 5) (OH MY GOD. DO YOU SEE THAT THIRD SCORE. THAT IS LUC. LUC ACTUALLY LIKED A FOOD.), and Ice Cream (4 2 2 3).
Haha, I got twice as many points as that star of destiny. Antonio just shrugged; his assistant fell to the floor crying.

ANTONIO: "Well Hai Yo..... Do you still intend to give up on cooking?"

: "Antonio, that was the most fun cook-off I've ever had!!! I was wrong!!! No matter how hard it gets, I'll defend the 'Moon Bird Recipe'!" Dude, you got Luc to eat food.
ANTONIO: "Well said!!! That's the great chef, Hai Yo that I remembered!!!"
Long pause.
GYOKURAN: [from offscreen] "I can't believe it! I was sure that I could beat you!!! I didn't expect you'd regain your old skills so quickly!"
Pan up to her as she walks in. Hai Yo jumps.

: "Wh, what's that supposed to mean!!! Gyokuran!!! Those brothers... It can't be...."
GYOKURAN: "Well, he got pretty serious when I told him he would have nowhere to go home to if he lost to you. Ha ha ha, that was almost enough to get you to return the 'Moon Bird Recipe' to us, eh." I do love how unabashedly evil she is. :3

: "I, I won't forget this, Gyokuran!!! It's between you and me now!!!!"
GYOKURAN: "He he he, as you wish. I accept your challenge. But I'm not quite prepared today, so I'll see you next time. Until then, you had best study your cookbooks carefully."
And she leaves, fade out.
ANTONIO: "That will be a hard battle, Hai Yo."

: "You're right of course. But don't worry! I won't fail!!!"
ANTONIO: "That's the spirit! Hai Yo, I want you to have this."
[ You got the 'Ramen Recipe' ]
ANTONIO: "Good Luck, Hai Yo!!!"

... hm.
Backstage ...

: "Hee hee, what? A bouquet? No? You want to dance with me?"

: "Teach me to dance."

: "Oh... Okay. Well, let's go to the stage."
Onstage!

: "Well, are you ready to start?"

: [ Dance. ]

: "Okay, let's dance. I'll go first. Watch carefully how I do it."
Triangle, square, circle, x, triangle, x, circle, square!

: "Okay, it's your turn next. Relax and go for it."
I did it! o/!

She's laughing at me :(

: "Pretty good. Well, next let's try to dance a little longer."

: "Please take this as a reminder of our dance. Take good care of it."
[ You got Karen Statue A ]

: "Well, see you next time."
And again! This time I did it twice. :D

: "You've really got the hang of it. Next let's try to pay more attention to the rhythm." Yeaaaah I did get the timing a little off.

: "Please take this as a reminder of our dance. Take good care of it."
[ You got Karen Statue B ]

: "Well, see you next time."

Huh, Tai Ho's not near Yam Koo. Wonder where he is.
Massive blowfish get ... Got some things for cooking I hadn't had before! :D

Damn, Rakutei hasn't leveled up, oh well.

Okay, got some double-beat runes :3

Heading into Muse!
[BGM: The King's March]
There's a Highland soldier guarding Muse.

: "It's been a long time since I've been here. Aaaaaaaaah!!!"

: [looks around] "Hey hey hey! This is the place, isn't it? Where you and I waited for Jowy together."
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "What business do you have here, young lady?"

: "Waaaaah!!!! You scared me!!!! Don't talk all of a sudden like that!!!"

: [steps up] ".................. I'm Teresa, mayor of Greenhill. This is Lord Odessa, leader of the Sowston Army. We're here to discuss peace."
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "Forgive me, but Lord Jowy is at the Jowston Hill meeting place. Please pass."

I step into Muse, and it's pretty empty. Kind of like Luca sacrificed everyone there to a giant wolf.

: [looks around] "So this is Muse, huh? Wow... it's huge....... Well I'm gonna go explore for a while!!!"

: [hops as he runs off] "Hey! Where are you going!!!"

: "Don't worry, he's old enough not to get lost. Anyway, let's head for the meeting place."

Yeah, no one is here.

Highland soldiers up on Jowston Hill!
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "Lord Odessa and Lady Teresa. We've been waiting for you. Please go in."

: "Thank you. Let's go, Lord Odessa."
We go in and fade out.

A Highland soldier comes to meet us.
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "Lord Odessa, Lady Teresa, please continue forward. Lord Jowy is towards the back."

If I talk to him again, he says, "The King is waiting in the rear."

We walk in and the music stops. Jowy and Leon are standing at the end of the hall.

: "Long time no see..... Odessa, Nanami."

: "Jowy? Is that really you, Jowy? How have you been??"

: "Yeah, fine. But my name has changed. It's 'Jowy Blight' now.... Odessa, how have you been?"

If I dot, he goes "....... So that's how it is, eh."

: "Oh pretty good." Got an army, killed a mass murderer, passed out for a week, replaced you with a soul-devouring master of destruction. Can't complain.

: "I'm glad........."

: "What's going on? This is supposed to be a peace conference, but it looks like no preparations have been made."
[BGM: Sedition]

: "Well, this place was built to host peace conferences, but in this case, your side is going to surrender unconditionally." UHHHHHHHH

: "Wh... what are you saying? That would mean....."

: "J... Jowy...... Why Jowy? What does this mean? I thought you joined Highland so you could stop Luca Blight... Stop this stupid war!!! I thought that was why you left us!!!"

: "It's true, Nanami...... But the world is a lot more complicated than I thought.... Odessa..... please. Right here, right now... surrender to Highland. If you don't......." THANKS DUDE

: "Why?! Why?! If you defeated Luca Blight, then...."
There are a lot of cocking sounds and I can see the tip of an arrow from offscreen.

: "I guess I can't live up to your high opinion of me. Now..... If you refuse, those bows will all sing in unison." TRANSLATOR THAT WAS TERESA TALKING NOT JOWY WHY ARE YOU SO BAD AT THIS

We all look behind us. Hi, archers! Then we look back at our BEST FRIEND.

: ".................. I'm sorry, Odessa, Nanami." you could try apologising by calling off the snipers

: "I'm commander of the Highland Army now and Odessa is the leader of the Sowston Army. We're not old friends anymore, now we're enemies. I demand that you surrender to the Highland Army, Odessa." We're not friends anymore?! News to me.

: "I can't do that."

: "I can't let you return. Please......"

: "I can't do that."

: "This war..... It's not between me and Luca Blight..... It's larger than that..... That's why....."

: "I can't do that."

: "Please.... Odessa. I can't ask for understanding, but I don't want to lose you." THEN CALL OFF THE SNIPERS. THIS ISN'T DIFFICULT.

: "Odessa!!!"

: "You're so stubborn. I've got no choice, I guess."
[BGM: Rescue] 8D

: "You think it will really go like that?"
VIKTOR RUNS IN, BEATING UP THE SNIPERS! ... So does Pilika, who follows him, then jumps and runs to Jowy.

: "Pilika!!! Why are you here..?" ... that ... is a really good question.

: ".................!!!!!!"

: "Run away, Odessa!!!"
WE DO.

: "You won't get away!! Archers!!!!!"
Music stops.

: "W, wait!!! Don't shoot!!!!!!!!!"

: "But why... Jowy?"

: "Sorry........ sorry......... But I couldn't do it in front of Pilika..............."

: "You're just prolonging this useless war, you know." afdsjk;lasf;jdkl

: "I know.............."

: "............... Jo, Jowy."

: "P, Pilika..........."

: "Your voice....."

: "Jo... Jowy.... Uncle.... Uncle Jowy.... Finally.... Finally.... you're back.... I was..... I was so... lonely.... I was so lonely without you...." ;___;

[BGM: Rescue]
WE ARE FLEEING. WE ARE FLEEING SO HARD.

: "Over here! Hurry!!!"

: "Wait, Pilika is....."

: "No way!!!!! I won't obey that order!!!!!!"
He drags me and Nanami out!

He convoy joins party once we're out of the conference building.

Once we're in Muse proper, we got stopped by a soldier!
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "There!!! Odessa and Teresa!!!! Don't let them escape!!!!"

When we're near the exit, we stop and see Chaco! Chaco bounces.

: "Hey, this way!!!! We're not going to be caught by the likes of you!!!"
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "Wait!!!! Put that lever back!!!!!"
Three soldiers run up to get Chaco!

: "No way!!! If I do that, the gate will close!!!! Shu told me that!!!!"
He runs back to me!

: "Odessa!!! You finally came!!! Let's get out of here!!!! I opened the gate on this street for us!!!!"
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: "Wait you punks!!! ....!!!!! Who, who are you?"

: [steps up] "You wanna try to fight the leader of the Sowston Army?"
HIGHLAND SOLDIER: [they all hop and flee] "Eeeeyaaaaah!" Wow, they're the ones who'll live long enough to breed.

: "Now move it! Move it! You don't have wings, but you've got feet right?"
OUT WE GO.

: "You took so long. I'm tired of waiting."

: "What are you talking about!"

: "But it looks like at least we'll be able to get away." I like how we're just standing here.

: "Viktor, what are you doing here? And Pilika too???"

: "Well ya see...... Shu knew that this was going to happen to them. He told me he didn't want you to have any ill-feeling left. Anyway, let's get out of here. Flik is leading the troops and they should be coming to Toto Village to meet us."

: "So that's why you brought Pilika along too....."

: "....................... If they catch us, we're in trouble." [runs off]

: "Ah! Wait!! Wait!!"
OFF WE GO.

Fliktor and I are now at HQ!

: "Okay, leader, we're here. Just like Shu said, there weren't many soldiers east of Muse, but it was still dangerous. Well I'm back. So I think I'll take a nice, long bath to wash off this sweat."

: "I'm hungry."
Off they go.

Wandering around :3

: "Ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! I can still whip men half my age!"

: "I like this place. I can take my shoes off and just relax." AND his room's right next to Camus's.

: "Oh! Odessa!!!! I'm so glad I found you! Say, have you seen Sir Flik?"

: "Maybe I'll go and have just one drink." Riiiiiiiight.

Oh hey Shu and Apple aren't in the war room: they're next to Luc.

: "Lord Odessa, you're safe. Viktor and Flik have done a good job."

: [runs up to him] "Pilika....... Why did you bring Pilika.....?"

: "Because it was necessary."

: "You used that child like a tool!! I won't ever, ever forgive you!!!"

: "I'm not asking for your forgiveness."

: "Grrr..........."
Nanami storms off. Apple watches her leave.

: "Lord Odessa, you can hate me if you like. But remember you are needed. If it means protecting you, I'll do whatever is necessary."
Fade out.

Haha, I just saw a rat run through the storehouse.
...
HAHAHAHAHA
i went up to the roof
and there was mukumuku
so I went to talk to mukumuku and he /freaked out/
he backed up slowly from me
and then backed up off the roof
went !
and remembered how to glide after a moment

Nanami is in my room, sulking.

: "Oh, Odessa. You.. you worried about me???? I'm okay!! I'll be alright!!! I'm always fine!!!"

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

: "Maybe... Pilika is happier being back in Joei's place. She wanted to see Jowy..." Who's Joei?

[ talks again ]

: "See? It's gotten a lot bigger. Now you won't have to sleep on the floor anymore, eh." NANAMI YOU'RE MEAN.

I remember a star I don't have!
To Radat!

In the bar is a dude.

: "He he he!!!! That's right!!!! I gave him this angry scowl!!!! And then Kiba just kneeled down in front of me and begged me to let him join my army!!!! I have that effect on people!!" YOU ARE VERY CONVINCING
men: "And... and then?"

: "Well you know I've got a big heart, so I took Kiba by the hand and lifted him up. I said: 'Lift up your head, General Kiba. I can't kill such a fine soldier as you'. Kiba was so moved, he said: 'Lord Odessa, from this day onward, my life is yours to do as you wish'." THIS DUDE DOESN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE ME.
I GO ! AND WALK OVER. UP WITH THIS SHIT I SHALL NOT PUT!

: "Hey, you....."

: "So anyway, that's how my Sowston Army beat the Highland Army and got General Kiba to join us. That's why you've got me and only me to thank for saving this town of Radat!!!!"
men: "Of course I know that, Lord Odessa." 8|

: "C'mon now....."

: "Well as long as you know. After all, the leader of the Sowston Army has got a big heart. Oh, no more sake left, eh? Some new fish wouldn't be bad either......" BUT NONE OF THE PEOPLE IN MY OWN CASTLE LET ME DRINK OMG UNFAIR
men: "Oh, yes, please. Order as much as you like, Lord Odessa. Even the fish will be happy to be eaten by such a great hero!!!"

: "Ha, you've got a golden tongue! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! That's right!!!!!! I'm the great hero, Lord Odessa!!!!!"

: "Wait a minute......."
men: "Excuse me, Lord Odessa, can we see the 'Bright Shield Rune' on your hand?"

: "Eh? Oh, um yeah!!! Sure, I'll show you. But first bring that sake over here." 8|
men: "Y, yes I'll bring it right away."

: "Good. Well okay, take a look."
He steps up to show it off!
men: "Huh? That's the 'Bright Shield Rune'? ..... It looks different than I expected...."
men: "Eh? What's that..... It's melting......."
men: "Hey!!!!!! You fake!!!!! It's just drawn on there!!!! You're an imposter!!!!!" FASCINATING DEDUCTION

: "Eh..................."
men: "I thought something was funny!! I knew Lord Odessa couldn't be so small!!!!" ... ... ... When the Highland army comes, I'm leaving you to the wolves.
They descend upon Hoi.

: "W, wait...... Wait a minute........."
They descend further and he runs! BUT THE DOOR IS BLOCKED 8D
people at door: "I finally found you!!! You're the one using Lord Odessa's name and eating and drinking for free!!! You've pulled the same trick in South Window, Two River and Rockaxe!!! Give up you little creep!!!!"
He backs up slowly.

: "Wa, wait a minute..... I've.... I've never even been to Rockaxe......"
men at door: "Don't try to talk your way out of this one!!!"

: [ Let him get what he deserves. ]
HOI RUNS UP TO ME.

: "H, help me please!!!" . . .
Everyone surrounds us!
men: "What! Are you a friend of his too!!!!!" Am I going to get kicked out of the bar.
blue man: [ping] "He's using tonfa too!!! He must be one of 'em!!!! Let's kill 'em all!!!!" I think I'm just going to let Highland take Radat.
Fade out and the sound of violence.
We're now outside.
men: "Well, if you've learned your lesson, don't do it anymore!!!"
They all walk off.

: "He he he....... Big... brother..... you okay?"
Pause as he walks over.

: "Damn..... But hey.... I guess it's fate! Let's join forces, huh. How about it, bro!" Are you going JOIN MY GROUP at me.
[ Hoi joined the group! ]

: "Okay it's decided! Let's make up, brother!!!"
[ Hoi joins party ] He carries a Faux Twin Fang.

Back to the castle~
Hoi looks around.

: "Hey, bro, isn't this Sewer Castle, where the real Odessa is? This is bad....."
Sweatdrop.

: "Eh? Could it be.... Are you the real...."
He backs away slowly, then panics.

: "Ha! Ha ha ha.... Hey, bro, we're friends, right? Ha ha ha ha ha....."
Fade out.

...
Millie is in the graveyard.

: "What is this place???? Bonaparte just sorta dragged me down here....."
Sheena's in Apple's room.

: "There must be a cute girl around here somewhere. Think I'll take a look..."

Hai Yo's cooking, and then suddenly a blue chef runs through! Hai Yo goes ?

Going to check on the people outside first. Lorelai and Killey are there!

: "You're doing a great job and we all believe in you."

: "Pursuing the Sindar all these years didn't leave me much time to relax. Maybe I'll try to ease off a little..."

: "Huh? Huh? Huh?"

And stopping here because long.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 83 + Hoi = 84 / 108; also four squirrels and an ex-tenkai.
- Jowy Points: ... ... ... I was going to call you an asshole, but honestly, I think Leon wins most of the asshole points this time around. At least you're unwilling to kill people around Pilika. Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted twice, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: I'll give you a moment to guess.

NEXT TIME: ZOMBIES

 

[Espeon]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

I've actually never read through/done Hay Yo's cooking competitions thing. It's actually really interesting to see.

 

[surskitty]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

I got up to Ryuki last file I did the cooking contests in, so a lot of this is new to me! I mean, I know the basic plot, but it's interesting to play through and I am still so, so amazed that Luc likes a food. Dude considers a 2 a high score.

LAST TIME: FUCK YOU, JOWY. OR BETTER YET, UNFUCK YOU. YOU GET NO FUCKS.

I go check on the war room, and no one's there. To outside!

: [by the entrance of the castle] "Hey, get out of the way!! I'm in a hurry!!! Damn!! There's no time!!! Hey, anybody know where he is? That guy Odessa is here, isn't he?! I've got to see him!!!"
He looks around frantically, then goes ! when he sees me.

: "You! Is it you? The guy call Odessa? Red clothes, age, height and size are just as I was told. It's you, isn't it?"

: "No, you're wrong."

: "Don't try to hide. You're already famous around here. You really are Odessa, right??"

: "No, you're wrong."

: "Hey, you're not trying to fool me because I'm Yota, are you? You really are Odessa, I mean Lord Odessa, aren't you?"

: "No, you're wrong."

: "Damn, wrong guy. I give up!!!"
He runs off and runs back.

: "I'm still not convinced. Show me your right hand. I heard that Odessa has a shield rune on his right hand."

→

: "Sure."

: "Come on, please." [steps up] "Look, there's the rune. ...... But is it really the Shield Rune? I've never seen it so I don't know... No, you must be Odessa. Right?!"
→

: "No."

: "See what I mean!! You can't show me. You are Odessa, aren't you?!"

: ... ... ... "That's right."

: "See what I mean. I was right. Great, now we can help my brothers. Hey Odessa, I have a favor to ask... oops!"
He backs up.

: "Oh no, this is terrible, you told me and I forgot. Right, manners, I shouldn't forget my manners." Oh, gods, being polite in Japanese. SPARE ME, KOYU.

He kneels down to me.

: "I... no, Me... no, Myself..." [I don't know what this pose is] "What a pain. I am Koyu, youngest of Lampdragon bandits. We're setting up a stronghold north of Tinto. I came to make a request of Lord Odessa who resides here. Please, please help my siblings. That is my request."
He straightens. Fade out.

We're now in the war room! Me, Koyu, Apple, Shu, Teresa, Ridley, Kiba, Fliktor.

: "And what is it you want Lord Odessa to do?"

: "Let me tell you. We are the three Lampdragon bandits. There's my brother Gijimu and sister Lo Wen and me. We were living a carefree life north of Tinto, and the Highland Army occupied Greenhill and started ruining our area. We couldn't just stand and watch, so we tried to drive them out. They were afraid of us, the three Lampdragon bandits, and they ran away once."
He looks around at everyone.

: "Just when we thought everything was alright, these strange guys attacked. What could they be? These pale faced guys that looked like dead people attacked. They die when you cut them, they don't even say 'Ouch!'!!" ZOMBIES~~~

: ! [steps up] "No, not zombies!!!"

: "Yeah, that's what Marlowe was saying, too. Oh no, now we're done for. That's why I've come here. I, Koyu, bow my head and beg you. Ummm... I came here to have Lord Odessa hear our request. Please, please help my siblings. That is my request." Less awkward in Japanese. Well. Just as awkward for Koyu.

: "Zombies... it must be Neclord..."

: "Neclord made zombie soldiers in the 'Gate Rune War' in the Scarlet Moon Empire too, so you're probably right."

: "Mr. Strategist, we need to check on this. I can't believe Neclord would be aiming only for one mountain bandit territory."

: "The goal must be Tinto."

: "But we can't send our troops out recklessly. It's dangerous to send a big troop into a ravine."

: [walks over to me] "Come on, just you and I will be enough. Let's do it, Odessa."

: "What should we do..."

: "Please, I beg of you. Help my brother and sister. With things as they are, the stronghold will fall."

: "What should we do..."

: "I'm asking you, too, Odessa. If Neclord is really trying to pull something, we can't let it go."

: "You're right."

: "That's wonderful, when everyone hears that the great Lord Odessa is coming, they'll be inspired. I'll take you to the stronghold. First let's go southwest of Lake West to the village of Drakemouth."
[ Viktor joins party ]
[ Koyu convoy joins party ]*→ CONVOY FOR YOU

: "Let's go, Odessa. We'll slay the vampire."
We walk out. Apple walks over to Shu.

: "Shu, aren't you going to stop him?"

: "If you think Odessa is someone that you can stop, then there's no reason for me to be here. It's not that I want to put anyone in a dangerous position, though."

We step outside and hi Nanami!

: "Odessa! Odessa! You're not thinking about leaving me behind, are you. You're going to fight that strange guy named Neclord, aren't you. I'm definitely going to go with you."

: "No."

: ! "Why not, why not, that's not fair. You're being mean." You're the one who makes me sleep on the floor!

Wow that dialogue is full of options.

: "I'm not being mean, you can't go because it's dangerous."

: [pissed] "Come on, come on, the martial arts Grandpa Genkaku taught me aren't just for decoration. Besides, you've never beat me in practice, remember Odessa?"

: "It's not that..."

: [ping] "Come on, come on, I'll be a lot more useful than that bear guy over there." oh ow that kept flashing for a while, ugh, my head, ended up capping this and transcribing from there.

: [sweatdrop] "Bear guy... why are you insulting me?"

: "Yes... of course I'll take you."

: [hop] "Alright! Big sister is going with you, so everything will be OK, Odessa."

: "Si... sister???? ... does that mean this is your older sister, Lord Odessa??"

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
[ Nanami joins party ] Could've sworn she convoy-joined.

Stopping by the bath house to drop off some things and to get people toasty.

I head into the kitchen and Gyokuran is there to challenge Hai Yo to a duel!

... That blue assistant is the one I saw run through the kitchen...

: "So this day has finally come. I knew it would happen, but I wasn't really prepared..."
GYOKUYRAN: "Bah!!!! I'm disgusted to think that a rat like you is also one of the 4 Great Lords!"

: "But why Gyokuran??? If you're also one of the 4 Great Lords, you should know what the 'Moon Bird Recipe' is, no?"
GYOKURAN: "Of course, Hai Yo. And Lord Jinkai perhaps knows as well."

: "B, but then why....."
GYOKURAN: [jump] "Silence!!! That's enough!!!! It's time for the cook-off! That's all we have left!!!"

: "Uuuh, err....."

: "Hai Yo.... do your best."

: "Umm, I guess I've got no choice."
MINMIN: [runs in] "Hai Yo!!!! Terrible news!!!! The recipe!!!! It's been stolen!!!" She's Hai Yo's assistant with the hair buns, remember.

: [ping] "What!!! What do you mean!!!"
GYOKURAN: "He he he he....... The Grand Wazoo of the Black Dragon Group has arrived!!! Face me in the kitchen!!!" ... Wazoo.

: "You stole the recipe!!! You sneak!!!!"

"The boy ninja rom the village of Rokkaku. He won't admit it, but his weak spot is chocolate!!!" So Sasuke's a ninja rom who likes chocolate.
"Vault-keeper of Sewer Castle, she likes most kinds of food. It's Barbara!!!!"
"The acting mayor of Greenhill. Raised in a rich household, she probably prefers Western food."
"Commander Ridley of the Kobold Army!!! They say he's a tough judge of people and food!!!!"

"1 of the 4 Lords of the Black Dragon Group, Gyokuran of Suzak!!!!!" SUZAKU HUH subtle as fuck

Oh hell I'm missing most of my recipes.
She spins her staff and sparkles whenever she's got nothing better to do.

Gyokuran made Egg Mayo Roll (2 1 2 2), Tonkatsu (4 3 5 3), Broiled Eel (2 3 1 1).
I made Tomato Soup (3 3 2 2), Eilie Croquettes (5 5 4 3) (I HAD NO BETTER IDEAS MOST OF MY RECIPES WERE MISSING), Ice Cream (5 3 2 4).
Teresa hates ice cream.
Gyokuran falls over and sighs when she loses.
GYOKURAN: "Urgh..... why!!! Lord Jinkai's 'Dragon Plan' has failed....... Why!! Why couldn't I defeat Hai Yo....... He didn't even have the recipe..."

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
GYOKURAN: "Wh, why!!!!!! Our techniques were identical!!! But even so......"

: "You're wrong, Gyokuran! Cooking is about more than just technique!"
GYOKURAN: "Wh, what do you mean?"

: "At first, I came here just so I could hide from you. But after I started cooking for these nice people, I realized something. I realized that I could help these brave folk by serving them good food... that I could ease their burdens just a little bit. Cooking isn't about technique! It's about caring and giving! That's why I don't need a recipe to be a great chef!!!"
GYOKURAN: "Urgh......."
She looks around.
GYOKURAN: "I.... I forgot the first and most important lesson about cooking.... something a chef must always remember....."
She starts to walk off.

: "Where are you going?"
GYOKURAN: "Now that I've lost, I can no longer go back to the group. I'll wander these lands alone and examine my defeat. Perhaps I will once again discover the joy of cooking that I felt when I was young. Here Hai Yo, take back the recipe."
GYOKURAN: "Also this..... Think of me when you use it. Once we were good friends...."
[ You got the 'Tonkatsu Recipe' ]
She leaves.

: "Gyokuran....."
Fade out.

Out of curiosity, I look up where the next Clive Quest stop is: Muse. That'll be a while.

I kick Humphrey out of my party to make room for Wakaba :3

To Drakemouth! It is a boring little town.

: "Heh heh, first, let's get past that guard station. Just leave it to me."

kid: "What's that, boy? What is this place? Let's see, it's the.... village of ummm.... Ryuko."

Buying a calf :3

There's a state soldier blocking the way.
guard: "Past this point is Tinto territory. There's an order out not to let anyone pass. I can't let you through."

: "Come on, give me a break, Kokto. You're not forgetting how I lent you money when your mom was pregnant, are you?"
guard: ! "Oh, Koyu! It's been a long time! It's true, you really saved me back then."

: "Hey, I need your help. This is my guest. Listen, I'm not saying to overlook things. It's just I know it's tough to be here all day, isn't it? How about taking a little break?"
guard: [thinks about it] "Well, I'm off to the men's room for a minute..." ... ... ... DOES THAT MEAN THE BATHROOM COUNT WENT UP.
He walks off.

: "Lord Odessa, let's hurry. My brothers are worried."

No bgm around here! Just the sound of birds.

Koyu stops us at this fork.

: "The right side path will take you to our territory. If you go straight, you'll get to Tinto, but I don't have time to go now."
Oooh, master robe! [ gives to Viki ]

WE STOP.

: [ping] "Ah!! Ahhh! It's a lie... No way!!"
Gijimu walks in with two more bandits.

: "Well if it isn't Koyu?"

: "Brother Gijimu... it can't be..."

: "What a disgrace. We didn't think they'd come for a while, and all of a sudden a big force showed up. Then, when we looked closely, we saw our own followers mixed in. We couldn't put an axe to them... We burned the barricade, and destroyed roads and bridges as we escaped so they couldn't follow."

: "That makes me think, what happened to my sister, Lo Wen?"

: "Sorry, but everyone was scattered as we escaped, so I don't know what happened. She's not the type to be done in easily, though."

: "And where are the brothers?"

: "We can't take things lying down, and it looks like the zombies are heading toward Tinto. I don't like the idea, but I think we'll fight together with Gustav in Tinto." Assuming he lets you.

: "Sorry, Lord Odessa. After you came here to help..."

: ! [hop] "What, is this Lord Odessa?"
He slowly walks over to me.

: "Glad to meet you. I am Gijimu, a mountain bandit boss. Sorry this is what happened after you came to help. We're planning to go to Tinto, but why don't you come with us? They probably won't listen to us bandits, but if you who defeated Luca say something, that Gustav will listen."

: "We're already started. This is a good chance, Lord Odessa. Let's go to Tinto. If they feel it relates to them, the people of Tinto can't turn away from the issue. If things go well, you can get them to fight on our side."

: "It would be appreciated. Koyu, you take Lord Odessa to Tinto. I'll gather the rest and bring them in after."

: "I understand. Let's head right out for Tinto, Lord Odessa."

Well, that's interesting.

[BGM: The Outskirts of Tinto] 8D Not QUITE as good as Withered Earth, but still one of my favourite bgms. (Withered Earth and The Outskirts of Tinto are roughly the same thing.)

Tigermouth is nearly a nothing town, but it's got a hell of a lot more than Drakemouth. Also it's clear Tinto's in the rain shadow.

: "Feels like something's going to happen. There's no soldier in the guard station. Let's just move to Tinto, it's just north of here."

In one of the beds in the inn is a sleeping woman.

: "Su..., su..." Little bit of breathing trouble there, eh, Sierra?
little girl: "The girl that's here is always sleeping. It's strange..."
man: "That pale woman staying at the inn... She's pretty..." ... but her personality could drive anyone bats.
man: "They say South Window was defeated. Well, those cowards would be no match for the Highland Army anyway."

Just found a bird that went "Pipi..." [ You got Chick ]
man: "I'm against the way Mayor Gustav is doing things. I don't think Toran or the Grasslands are worth the fuss." I think Toran and the Karaya would be much happier if they stopped being at war with Tinto, too.
Got a tomato seedling :3
"Deep well / Gengen would like it..."

Tinto is dry as fuck. Dryer than fuck. From what I've heard fucks aren't particularly dry. So basically the opposite of dry as fuck. If your fuck is as dry as Tinto, you are DOING IT WRONG.
There's a Tinto Mine, which I stepped into.

[BGM: The Outskirts of Tinto] Now at Crom!
I walk over by the inn and SUDDENLY A MAN RUNS BY.

: "Ahh!!! Master!!! Master!!!"

: "Hm? Wakaba? You're not neglecting your training, are you?"

: "No, SIR!!!" And then he runs off. "... Uh... Um... M... Master..."
She looks around.
The innkeeper runs out, fuming.
innkeeper: "Hey, where did that jerk go!!? He can't eat that much and then just run away claiming he doesn't have any money!!!"
HE RUNS OFF.
We look at each other.

: ". . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."

Long Chan Chan is cleverly hidden behind this building.

: "Oh! Master!!! Master!!!"
SHE RUNS OVER TO HIM. I follow.

: "Wakaba, I see your training has progressed."

: [hop] "Yes sir! As you said, master, I learn something new every day. By the way, Master, just before you were..."

: [turns away] "Well, the legs are the base of the body and the basis of unarmed combat. Strengthen them and you strengthen your base." ... So that's why you eat and run, huh.

: [hophophop] "Wow!! That's great!!! Amazing!!!"

: "Of course....."
He moves up to her.

: "Huh?"

: "Be silent, Wakaba!"
We are cleverly hiding from the innkeeper. Wakaba sweatdrops.

: "Master....."

: "Quiet your mind and body while you train, Wakaba. Who is that with you?"

: [spins] "Huh? Oh, that's right."

: [walks up to me] "I'll introduce you. The leader of the Sowston Army! He uses Tonfar and his name is Odessa!!!! He's really strong!!!" ... Did the translator not know what tonfa are.

: [walks up to me] "Hmmm....."
He adopts a fighting stance! So do I!

: "No! M, Master!!! O, Odessa!!!!!"
We blink at each other and relax.

: "Whew......... Even I, the great Long Chan-Chan, could not get past your guard... You have found a worthy teacher, Wakaba!!!!! Who is this man!!!!"

: [fume] "I told you before!!! The leader of the Sowston Army, Lord Odessa!!!!"

: ! [JUMP] "What!!!! Did you say the Sowston Army!!!"

: [fume] "I just said it about a hundred times already!"

: "Oh, I see. Lord Odessa, Long Chan-Chan will lend you his strength until this is all over."
[ L. C. Chan joined the group! ]

: "Wakaba!!! Where is the Sowston Army's castle!?"

: "It's Sewer Castle. You've already been there once!"

: "Oh, that's right. Well, Wakaba, you would do well to learn from Lord Odessa. Perhaps he can teach some of Genkaku's way of fighting. I'm off to the castle. Okay?!!" Nanami's probably better at it...

: [hop] "Yes, sir!"
He starts walking off.

: "But Master... Shouldn't you pay for your meal?"

: [sweatdrop] "Hmm, well.... Yes, of course. I was just testing your memory..."
The innkeeper runs by and chases him off.

Ooh, magic ring at item shop. [ gives it to Viki ]
No one else in Crom? Huh.

[BGM: Withered Earth] TINTO, FUCK YEAH (That's a remix, but it's a fucking awesome remix, so DEAL W/ IT)
I might have just stopped for a while just to listen to badass versions of Withered Earth.

Oooh, skill ring! Handy!
Tinto smith sharpens to 13.

In the armor shop is a man!

: "Good day. My name is Alberto. I used to live in Muse City, but we were all driven out by the Highland Army. All my friends are spread out all over."

: "Now I have a part time job at this Armorer's shop. Physical labor is okay, but I don't want to lose the feeling in my fingers."

: "When I was in Muse, I was in a musical band. We were all great friends, but everyone's spread all over the place now."

man: "Looks like Alberto is looking for a person named Annallee. I hear she's lost.." Ugh, need Pico first, seems like.
Got dragon plans #3 from someone. Also unicorn plans #3.

Aha! There is a confused woman next to the guild hall.

: "Oh, is that you? I'm Raura. I visited my friend Jeane's house but couldn't find her... This is Two River City, isn't it?"

: "If it's Jeane you want, our..."

: "Oh, you know Jeane? I'm Raura, Jeane's friend. I came here because Jeane asked me about the secret of making scrolls..."
Fade out.

: "Well... is it you? The Sowston Army leader??? Then Jeane is at that Sewer Castle. Can you tell me where it is?"

: "I see... thank you. I've marked the map, so I should be okay. Hee hee, I'll be troubling you for a bit, sorry."
[ Raura joined the group! ]

: "Hmm... in this map..."
She heads entirely the wrong direction. I sweatdrop.

Hi, dude at town hall!
man: "Hey, who are you?"

: "We came from Sowston Army. We want to see Mayor Gustav, please."
man: "What? Wait here."
He walks in.

: "Seems like everything is all in quite a flurry."

: "Until now these guys never thought they'd be attacked. It's true they're surrounded by mountains, making a natural fortress, but a corpse doesn't care if the road is flat or not."

: [hop] "Heh, all they've cared about up to this point is saving their own necks, so they deserve it."
man: "It looks like Master Gustav will see you. Go in and wait in the room at the end of the hall. Hurry up."

: "Hey there."

We go in!
man in kitchen: "Miss Lilly has strong likes and dislikes..." I BET SHE DOES.
There's a toy bunny in one of the bedrooms.

[BGM: Tactics]

THE LAST MAYOR

: "Ah, so you're the Sowston Army leader, Lord Odessa. It's just as the rumors say, you're still a boy."

: [steps up] "You have such thin arms. In Tinto there are boys your age with arms twice as big. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha." Gee, I wonder if this douchebag is a star of destiny. QUICK, GUESS.

: "But, Lord Odessa, I have never seen a youth with eyes like yours. You have seen many things, I can tell." I like how he says that and Mr Angstbutt With a Green Bandana is right behind me. Well, okay, standing next to Nanami. But nearly right behind me.

: [backs up] "Well, Lord Odessa, about the reason you came here..."

: "I'll be straight with you. Let's join forces. Up until now you've ignored our Sowston Army, but I won't dwell on that. I know the zombies are coming this way. What do you think? We can lend a hand."

: [walks up] "Well, you certainly were 'straight'. It is true that we did not lend a hand to your Sowston Army. We never thought that you would defeat Luca Blight, you see. But we recognize your strength now. We want reinforcements to face this enemy."

: "Lord Odessa, won't you lend your strength to Tinto?"

Let me think.

: "I won't do it..."

: [NERVOUS JUMP] "!!! Hey, wait a minute, Odessa. Talks are going well, you can't mean that?"

: "I won't do it..."

: "Ha ha!! You're mad about what I said about thin arms? You're a strong willed youth. OK, I'll apologize. Please, lend us your strength."

: "We'll fight together."

: "If your Sowston Army and Tinto join forces, we can drive the Highland Army out tomorrow. Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha."

: "Tell Shu right away and have him send troops. First, let's crush the zombie forces between our fingers." Gross, zombie goop.

: "Okay, we'll head there now. We know these mountains like our own back yard."
Koyu nervously walks off.

: "We'll prepare a room for you, Lord Odessa. You must be tired after coming through the mountains. Hey, Marlowe."

: [walks in, carrying a book as always] "Yes, Master Gustav."

: "Take Lord Odessa and his friends to a guest room."

: "Yes sir."
He walks up to us.

: "Please go upstairs, Lord Odessa."

Fade out.
[BGM: Heart-Softening Music 2, the one on disc 3 that's not castle bgm]

: "This is the guest room. Please relax."

: "That... Lord Odessa... You're the Lord Odessa who's the leader of the Sowston Army, right? Wow, you're the strong warrior who defeated that Luca Blight... You're about the same age as me, too. How did you get so strong? I'm always reading books, and I'm not strong at all, so everyone makes fun of me."

: "I'm not strong at all."

: "That's a lie. After all... you're not like me. A leader who can lead everyone, and strong enough to defeat enemies like monsters... Lord Odessa, you're like a hero in a book."

: "Oh, sorry, talking like that. Well, I'll be going."
HE BOLTS OFF.

STATS:
- Stars of Destiny: 84 + Long Chan Chan + Raura = 86 / 108; also four squirrels and an ex-tenkai.
- Jowy Points: Hi, Sir Not Relevant This Arc! Passed out once!
- Times Fainted Riou's Weird Sleeping Habits: fainted twice, woke up randomly thrice
- Game Overs: 2 total
- Bathrooms: KOYU'S FRIEND CLAIMS ONE EXISTS, SO ONE

NEXT TIME: Further adventures with this arc!

Not going to be relevant for a bit, but! I plan on going through both pathways for how this arc goes. Which one do I count as canon for this lp? Does our hero stand and fight to protect Tinto, or do we run like hell and get a star of destiny offed? (Don't worry: said star gets replaced, so I can still end up with 108.)

I'd feel bad if we made the latter canon, but, you know, maybe you guys want to make me cry. I NEVER KNOW WITH YOU GUYS.

 

[Zero Moment]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

Viki you must destroy the zombies with a legion of sexy bees and quadcopters

Also Withered Earth is indeed an awesome bgm

 

[Espeon]

Re: LET'S PLAY GENSUI I + II

man: "That pale woman staying at the inn... She's pretty..." ... but her personality could drive anyone bats.

...hehe, I see what you did there.

SAVE RIDLEY. ;;