To heal the world

Is Riza the actual main character?

We start in a new location, which I've already forgotten the name of, speaking to our grandfather, Zeku. He tells us how we were born with a Jade in our forehead, and we're destined for great things. He continues by suggesting we seek our mother. Long ago, she left this village to find a way to purify the world. That's supposed to be my role, but doting mothers and whatnot. The only clue to her whereabouts is she started her journey in the town of Babel.

To get there, we need to cross a forest. Most of the mobs die in one or two hits and aren't strong. As we cross a bridge, a young man runs towards us, huffing and puffing. He doesn't speak to us and runs off to the left. Just afterwards, two guards ask if we've seen him. I say I have but give them the wrong directions. Chase after the dude, and he'll thank us. This is Garlyle, a revolutionary from Babel. The mayor of Bebel has an air purifier, but he levies massive taxes on the locals to keep it running. It's making everyone poor, hence the revolution in the only pure city on the planet. The guards catch up to us and attack, but they're only slightly tougher than the average rabble. Garlyle has a gun to shoot both of them. He's also slightly rude, so Riza has to introduce herself before agreeing to make the purifier free for everyone.

We fight more guards as we enter Babel. We then make a run for the inn. There was also an earthquake before we entered, but I'm sure that's nothing. The merchant there is a friend of Garlyle, so we can sleep here if we need to. He goes off to his resistance group, and we can look around. The mayor is even worse than just high taxes. He's shut off the port and is keeping the people in starvation mode. But it is the most industrialized town in the game. Everything is really dirty, and the kids need a bath. To progress, find the alleyway and figure out the kids' riddles. They're linked to the Danem Prophecy about Riza's arrival. They'll let us through, and we see a bunch of kids planning their coup. They're excited to see us because they notice the Jade in our head. They call us "the Chosen One," but the celebration ends abruptly as a second earthquake shakes Babel. Afterwards, we'll learn that Gar is waiting for us at the inn. He tells us our plan of attack for tomorrow, and we go to bed.

We have a dream that night about our birth. Everyone's excited, and a strange statue is out the window that no one notices. Just as Riza breaches, the statute disappears, and our mom sees our forehead gem. We wake up late for the attack, but we're vital to it, so they wait.

Gar is behind the Mayor's Tower on the upper ramparts. As we approach, Gar comes to us, and we begin our assault. We have to sneak in, which is a simple task, and beat up the one guard in front of the door. Doing so lets the kids in to press a switch. This toggle lets Riza and Gar go deeper down. The kids are supposed to return to the slums now, but they don't. The dungeon has no random encounters, or any whatsoever, so enjoy the peace. We'll reach a room filled with blue butterflies. Riza can speak to animals, so she hears their cries to be set free. Deeper in is the mayor. He sicks two guards on us and takes the elevator up. We have to climb the ladder...

Shivathan, the mayor's power armor, is strong. He attacks with wind moves (I think), and they're deadly. Riza was using Lefna most of the time, so this battle will take forever and a day. We've saved the town, but what about the butterflies? Shiva was a load bearing boss, so the tower shakes. The two of us leave and see the kids still here. They press another switch, and the purifier engine starts to malfunction. All the blue butterflies escape, spreading their purifying radbess through the world. We've seen this effect in Sion and Surlent's scenario, and this is the impetus of those events.

With Babel free, Garlyle goes to get a boat to the south continent. Orieb is our destination. We can speak to our grandpa if you want to go through the forest again. It's probably worth doing, if not mandatory. He does give us our next clue to our mom. She studied under Dr. Muench at Horn Cave. Could have told us sooner... When you try to board the ship, all the kids show up. They think of you as a hero, but they're here because of Garlyle. He's fallen in love with Riza but doesn't know how to show it. More importantly, the kids (and a bunny barmaid) want him to join us on our world saving mission.

The first thing we see in Orieb is Dr. Muench, and we tell him our story. He's sent Surlent to Horn Cave, and he returns at this moment. More importantly, he thinks our mom went to Cryunne, Sion's home. Muench also regals us of all the times he thought about sexually assaulting her but never did. What!? Before going there, though, I might as well check out the cave. We head to the cave through the Great Forest.

Across the bridge is a lizardman being eaten by a giant plant! Bring water defense, or you will die all the time. I didn't enjoy this fight... Use electric spells, and Riza's gonna be healing every two turns anyway. The reptile kid runs off mid fight, so thanks. We'll see him just after, and Gar thinks he's a goblin. He informs us he's Pipin, and his goal is to revive his race's Rudra at the Dragon God Ruins. We can go there now, but let's check out Horn Cave. The only thing there, though, is a Book of Mantras. It teaches us four new spells of varying disappointment. A lady who teaches spells at the bar enters and tells us of their college.

The Dragon God Ruins is where Surlent started. Pipin runs ahead, and we hear him beg for help again. Inside is a Rudra (?), trying to kill him. Firelizard is more annoying than anything. He's weak to water, but has high magic defense, so just attack. Riza can heal every few turns, but keep your HP over fifty. Phoenix Wave hits the whole party for forty HP. It takes time but wasn't hard. I'm pretty sure I killed this guy with Srlent a few days ago... Riza and Gar ask Pipin if he still wants to revive such a creature. It's clearly not on his side. Pipin agrees that was the wrong move, and we get some of his past. But Riza's future is more important, and we need to find her mom to save the world. We'll head to Cryunne...

... tomorrow!

We didn't see Surlent on his boat beneath us as we crossed through the Great Forest.