Oiu yna Al Bhed

I forgot to mention Clasko last night. He's just outside the travel agency, taking care of the Chocobo. We can help him with his future career aspirations when he asks if he should remain a knight or become a chocobo breeder.

But, for us, we should leave the agency and head towards Macalania Temple. As we go down the slope, Tromell comes to meet us. He's excited and takes Yuna to see Seymour. For reasons I didn't understand, Yuna has to go without us. She doesn't get far as the Al Bhed I expected to see show up. They encircle Yuna and Tromell with snowmobiles until we step in. Someone who knows Rikku starts to yell at her, and she yells back. All in Al Bhed, Wakka becomes confused, but we'll have to face that later on. The Al Bhed attack us with their machina.

The Crawler has a tough gimmick but isn't too hard. Starting on turn one, and (seemingly) randomly after it's been destroyed, it will summon a Negator to hang in the air around it. The Negator, as its' name implies, negates all magic and summoning spells. It has 1000 HP, but only Wakka can physically attack it. Rikku can make bombs (2 Power Spheres), and Kimahri can use Lancet if you're desperate. Once it's down, have Lulu cast Thundara. But you'll need Yuna because it counters everything with Assault, which does a massive chunk of damage, even to well armored characters. It's susceptible to Slow, so use it to make sure it doesn't get normal attacks in. It builds up to a move called Mana Cannon. I don't know what this does, as Ixion's Overdrive did 9999 damage before it was used, so I got the overkill bonus.

After the fight, Wakka is furious that he's been traveling with an Al Bhed. He and Rikku fight, and she tries to show him that his religion is fake and can't prove anything. It's Atheist sayings to a Christian in our world. This ends when Auron starts talking. We need to get to Yuna, who's disappeared, probably with Tromell. He wants to use the snowmobiles, which annoys Wakka again, but they all pile on the three machina we scavenged. En route, we can have a conversation with a party member. I usually get Lulu, but I got Rikku this time. She reveals that she's Yuna's cousin. She also mentions that she doesn't like the pilgrimage because summoners sacrifice themselves for it. ...It's a long road, ya know? I don't remember what Lulu's conversation was about, and I've never seen Auron or Kimahri's.

We reach the temple, but the guard won't allow Rikku in. She's Al Bhed, and they're not allowed entry to Yevon's halls. Auron says she's a guardian, which means she's obligated to enter. The guard acquiesces, and we all rush in. Wakka prays to the guard before going in, though. Inside, we see Shelinda, always a step ahead of us, and Tromell. He thanks us for helping protect Yuna and gives us something I forgot. Yuna, though, isn't here. Nor is Seymour. They've already gone inside to the fayth. Suddenly, a woman screams. Giving chase, she reveals that she searched through Yuna's stuff and found the Jyscal Sphere. We watch it, and it's a projection of the late Lord Jyscal telling us about Seymour. It's mostly about how he didn't treat him well, and he expects his son to kill him. Knowing Yuna is in danger, we run to the cloister.

It's already done, so we come face-to-face with Seymour. After a short conversation, where Tidus is as disrespectful as can be, Yuna comes out of her room. She teleports (I have no idea how she got to the otherside of Seymour), and we all prepare to fight the Maester. Seymour is unrepentant that he killed his dad, and he asks why Yuna came. She replies that she here to stop him. Seymour tries to invite her back to him, but she retreats to the waiting armaments of her guardians to join them in battle - as friends. Wakka is very torn, and a fight breaks out.

Seymour is joined by two guards who take damage for him. They also use auto-potion to heal 1000 HP has a counter. They also also cast Protect on them. In hindsight, I should have tried using magic. Instead, I had Ixion use Aerospark on them, removing the buffs, allowing Tidus to kill them in two turns. For some reason, he's become my strongest attacker. Seymour has Shell on him, but that's not important. Once his guards are dead, he'll summon Anima, the aeon he used in Luca. Tidus will ask Yuna about her new aeon at this point, so we might as well summon her. Shiva is my favorite summon. I don't know why, but it's definitely not because I have a thing for scantly clad blue chicks with ice powers. No, sir! Anima will boost every other turn, so don't attack her during that phase. Either heal up with Blizzard or guard. When you can, use Heavenly Strike to build up your Overdrive. I had Diamond Dust do 9999 damage, overkilling Anima. I did the same thing for Seymour, but he's a bit tougher. He uses the four elementals in repeating order: Blizzara, Thundara, Watera, and Fira, so prepare accordingly. Auron can use Magic Break on him. During the fight, Tidus, Yuna, and Wakka can talk to him via Trigger Commands. Their stats raise slightly, but nothing major is revealed.

After the fight, a worried, scared, and upset Tromell enters. Wakka wonders what he did, Tidus defends the team, and Auron tells Yuna to send the Maester. Before she can, Tromell calls us traitors, and two guards carry the body of Seymour off. And we just let them go? Tidus thinks he can talk their way out, but Auron is less sure. As we leave, the completed effect of the Cloister of Trials ends, so we have to do it ourselves this time. Why do we have to do the cloister AFTER the summoner gets the aeon? What an odd design choice.

Back in the lobby, Tidus tries to defend the group again, and Rikku mentions the Jyskal Sphere. Tromell breaks it and says that the guado will take care of their own problems. Kimahri and Auron push them out of the way, and we make our escape. We're chased by a few of the guards along the path. When they catch us, they summon random mobs who aren't an issue. The guards have to auto-potion effect on them still, so that's annoying. Apparently, Rikku can steal them. They chase us out of the temple, but we don't get pursued on the snowmobile scene location. They catch up to us back on the lake, though, and have a Wendigo alongside them. The two handlers case Berserk on it and proceed to do their usual actions.

The Wendigo is the target here. Firstly, remove Berserk! It probably only doubles its' attack, but it feels a lot stronger. Then take out the guards. The Wendigo can also be slowed and blinded if you want to make use of those spells. Once the buffs are gone, this guy is pretty simple. Towards the end, it'll "put up its ducks" and counter all physical attacks. Use Lulu's magic or an aeon's Overdrive for the overkill. But it doesn't die there, no. It gets mad and hits the ice, breaking it open, and we fall through.

We're fine, but we're on the lake bed. What was that ice formed from? Down here, we can connect with the team. Auron gets "a lecture" from Tidus, who mockingly says Auron should be less reckless. Lulu points out where we're at. Wakka is coming to terms with his heresy. At first, he blames himself, but Tidus says it's not his fault. Then he gives Rikku the side eye, and Tidus says the same about her. Rikku talks about how mature Lulu is. The camera zooms in on her body, indicating that the two aren't talking about the same kind of maturity. Kimahri continues the topic...I think. He says, "...Rikku should stay Rikku." Wakka runs in and yells at us for being happy. This causes Yuna to wake up, who finally tells us her plan. She wanted Seymour to turn himself in, even it meant marriage. He didn't care, and she has doubts. Auron tells us not to dwell in the past and asks if she'll continue the pilgrimage. Yuna wonders if Yevon will allow it, and Auron says it's the fayth that gives powers, not Yevon. We'll fight our way through the temples if we need to, which causes a mild ruckus. Wakka wants to repent. Yuna makes the plan to head to Bevelle to talk to Maester Mika. The group talks about friends for a moment before splitting up, and we can talk to everyone again.
Yuna and Lulu talk about the hymn that coming from the temple. Rikku ponders friendship, and everyone else talks about how the feeling has changed - for the worst. Auron tells us that Jecht used to sing the hymn, and we flashback to Auron and Tidus in Zanarkand. The elder hears the younger humming the song, and the two talk about how Auron isn't from Zanarkand. Back to the present, Tidus aks how Auron got to Zanarkand and mentins Sin. Auron is silent. Suddenly, the singing stops, and the ground starts shaking.

Sin.

Lulu mentions the toxin, and the screen begins to wobble. During this, Tidus talks to Jecht. Jecht was listening to the song before this, and he starts to show his son scenes of stuff. The first is of Zanarkand because Jecht is homesick. Tidus reminds his dad he can't go back. "It's not your world anymore." Next are Blitzballs and a younger Tidus. Lastly is Jecht, alone. Tidus thinks he wants this to end, so he promises he'll find a way.

Tidus then wakes up, face down, in a pool of water. Or maybe an Oasis is the better word. We're alone in a desert, so we'll find our friends...

...tomorrow!

So, we're traitors now. That's always fun. I was a heretic in college, so I can relate. Good times, good times. Ultimately, boring, though. Lots of edge but no one to care. Anyway, some of the scenes were a bit rushed tonight, but, man, there was there a lot to say! I've never found Valefor, Ifrit to be good. Ixion has his moments, I guess. Shiva, though, Shiva is great!. Her appearance signifies that our aeons are getting strong. Business is picking up!