Ys Origin/s is a weird but fun gaiden story that takes place 700 years before the main continuity of the Ys saga. It's the only game that doesn't star Adol the Red, for obvious reasons, and it's the first with multiple characters. I don't know what fun little quip to add or further information, and I'm kinda burnt out, so let's skip it.
Plot: trifecta! Origin has three different, conflicting stories. They can't work at the same time, but important character elements seem to carry over across all three. Roy and Miuscha love their MCs no matter the arc, so there's always going to be a love triangle when Hugo is important... Regardless, though, all three of them are very fun and emotional. They're all about overcoming personal adversity through excessive trials and tribulations (if you play on normal difficulty). There's heartache and sorrow, climatic battles, and fitting endings. But those endings aren't simple "everyone is perfectly happy" nonsense. A few of the bosses are kinda just evil for the sake of evil, though. 9/10
Gameplay: could use variety. No matter who you play as, the world is exactly the same. Same enemies, bosses, and even plot points. Toal has differences, but the formula doesn't stray too far. It's all very fun, don't get me wrong. Yunica and Hugo are vastly different, and Toal's magic makes him stick out, but these twenty five floors get kinda boring after a while. 9/10
Sound: JDK Sound Team. Falcon doesn't mess around with its Ys soundtrack, and Origin fits in with the rest of the franchise. I love how the Wailing Blue is the Darm Tower theme from Ys I! It's a weirdly short OST, but everything fits, and there's enough to go around. 10/10
Art: perfect. I'm pretty sure every mob is unique, or at least there's nothing I could callback to. They're kinda small, though, but it works. It has the same "problems" as the other games in the engine in that aspect. All the magic spells are different, as are every sub level of the tower. 10/10
Charm: where it unravels. The entire game is in one location. It tries to vary it up, but it's still just a biome in a tower. It's gonna limit you. That also makes it feel like it's on rails, limiting exploration. There's nothing really hidden, even though there are several items that should make that a big thing. And because there's just so much repetition, it kinda kills any potential It Factor despite being such an amazing experience. 6/10
I called the game repetitive, but it's not tedious. It's fast paced to prevent that, unless you choose the harder difficulties or are achievement hunting. So there are no negatives, meaning Ys Origin gets a more than solid 44/50.
When I ranked Origin from memory, I tabbed it at about a 38, which is the Metacritic rating. I don't know if Origin as an introduction to Ys is good, but it's such a fun prequel to something I enjoyed. If you're a fan of the franchise, it's a must play. And it's got plenty of standards for the action-adventure, hack-and-slash genre. It seriously makes me want to play the first two games, but I can't. Summer is over, I'm kinda burnt out, and I need something different. I think my next game fulfills that...
Monday, October 30, 2023
Sunday, October 29, 2023
How six books were writ.
At the top of the tower was a trapped and sleeping Reah. Beside her was the Darkling leader, Dalles, and a stolen Black Pearl.
[The player character sucks, they fail to break the barrier, and Dalles shoots them.]
Reah awakens at this point and points out something Toal forgot. Hugo gave him the Goddess' Ring before taking Epona to safety. Toal uses it and shoots a beam of divine every at Dalles, shattering the barrier. Undaunted, Dalles decides to absorb all the power the Black Pearl has and become the perfect demon.
[It's the same fight.]
Dalles can't believe he could lose, but it's about to get worse for him. As though from the heavens above, a deep and frightening voice booms through the area. It's a voice everyone knows well. One of the six priests and the father of two search party members has made his appearance. Cain Fact is here. He calls Dalles a puppet that needs to stop, but he is thankful the puppet followed orders well. Cain promises to revive Dalles as a slave, but he kills him now by pulling a staff out of his back. Dalles' last words are him begging for help...
As the twins expected, Cain Fact is the traitor they feared existed. Cain wants power, all of the power. Demon, divine, human; it doesn't matter because he wants it. This fact puts him at odds with his son, whom Cain himself spared from dying. Toal survived the demons as a test to see what would happen if a Fact absorbed demon essence. The same test was run on Hugo. Toal doesn't care for power and sees his father's quest as a stain upon their name. He lunges at him, but a shield stronger than Dalles' blocks it.
A woman's voice is heard saying that she got here just in time. Feena has been freed from her prison and has a gift for Toal. It's the sword the twins found at the base of Darm. It is the same sword he once used as a member of the holy knights. It was damaged in the war, but Feena had Rico fix it with all the love and admiration the search party had for him. Toal is able to power up and cast a holy beam filled with all of his power, his friends', and the family's he's regained during the night. It pierces the shield! Cain is equally unphased. He follows Dalles' plan but with an added twist. Rather than absorb the energy within, Cain fuses with the Black Pearl wholesale. This turns him into a beast of pure darkness.
Toal's attacks change for this fight. He wields his clera/silver sword that shoots projectiles at his target. To win, Toal needed to find the Black Pearl that Cain hid within him. He moved it as he changed forms, though. Darm, the fusion between Cain and the Pearl, shot many projectiles out. Most felt impossible to dodge. He could also summon aids to complicate the battlefield even more. Besides the flood of magic, Cain can also break the floor, sinking Toal and taking him to a new dimension.
But Toal won. He was exhausted and collapsed to the floor. Quickly acting before Toal could do anything, Reah takes back the harmonica Toal gave her way back when. Toal knew what was to come, and he pleaded with them to stop. His plan was to avoid this. But there is no other way... Feena and Reah have to sacrifice their wings and lives to seal away the Black Pearl. Reah played her harmonica while Feena prayed. They turned themselves into a statue before Toal's eyes while he could do nothing. Their last words were an apology and a blessing of hope for Ys. Toal's appearance returned to his pre-demonification look. The demon essence was sealed.
Yunica's voice was the first to break the silence. The entire search party had arrived, and it was Yunica who ran up to the statue. She begged Toal to tell her what happened, and she couldn't hold back her tears. But they did as instructed and sealed them far beneath the earth.
Before the Elder Roda, Yunica, Roy, Hugo, Miuscha, and Rico informed the group that they would be remaining on the planet to watch over the goddesses. So, as an odd twist of fate, Toal would have to become the new Priest of Ys. Hugo told him that Zava and Kishgal faded away just as Toal's appearance changed. Epona was fine, and she told everyone she had to report in with her home. But she might return one day, a possibility Miuscha dreaded. The group teased Hugo over his apparent womanizing... Cadena promised to inform everyone's families, and Toal stated his desire to write all of this into a book in hopes of preventing it from happening again. The twins implied it would, but there's no reason to try to stop it. And with that, the two groups separated one final time.
Scenes of Toal becoming a priest and the writing of six books play out. He drops them onto the surface, and the final thing that's seen is an ominous door. Toal's sword is placed before the Younger Roda...
700 years later, a storm rages around Esteria. A young man with burning red hair is washed ashore, but that, as they say, is future.
The credits roll, and we finally reach the true ending of Ys Origin. Fin...
---
Despite my foreshadowing, I'm not playing Ys I or II. I'm all Ysed out! If I ever figure out how to fix my life, though, I'll restart a new season of Ys with I, II, and VIII through X. I'd say get excited, but you shouldn't get your hopes up. Ys Origin was great, and it's getting a better score than the 38 I first gave it.
[The player character sucks, they fail to break the barrier, and Dalles shoots them.]
Reah awakens at this point and points out something Toal forgot. Hugo gave him the Goddess' Ring before taking Epona to safety. Toal uses it and shoots a beam of divine every at Dalles, shattering the barrier. Undaunted, Dalles decides to absorb all the power the Black Pearl has and become the perfect demon.
[It's the same fight.]
Dalles can't believe he could lose, but it's about to get worse for him. As though from the heavens above, a deep and frightening voice booms through the area. It's a voice everyone knows well. One of the six priests and the father of two search party members has made his appearance. Cain Fact is here. He calls Dalles a puppet that needs to stop, but he is thankful the puppet followed orders well. Cain promises to revive Dalles as a slave, but he kills him now by pulling a staff out of his back. Dalles' last words are him begging for help...
As the twins expected, Cain Fact is the traitor they feared existed. Cain wants power, all of the power. Demon, divine, human; it doesn't matter because he wants it. This fact puts him at odds with his son, whom Cain himself spared from dying. Toal survived the demons as a test to see what would happen if a Fact absorbed demon essence. The same test was run on Hugo. Toal doesn't care for power and sees his father's quest as a stain upon their name. He lunges at him, but a shield stronger than Dalles' blocks it.
A woman's voice is heard saying that she got here just in time. Feena has been freed from her prison and has a gift for Toal. It's the sword the twins found at the base of Darm. It is the same sword he once used as a member of the holy knights. It was damaged in the war, but Feena had Rico fix it with all the love and admiration the search party had for him. Toal is able to power up and cast a holy beam filled with all of his power, his friends', and the family's he's regained during the night. It pierces the shield! Cain is equally unphased. He follows Dalles' plan but with an added twist. Rather than absorb the energy within, Cain fuses with the Black Pearl wholesale. This turns him into a beast of pure darkness.
Toal's attacks change for this fight. He wields his clera/silver sword that shoots projectiles at his target. To win, Toal needed to find the Black Pearl that Cain hid within him. He moved it as he changed forms, though. Darm, the fusion between Cain and the Pearl, shot many projectiles out. Most felt impossible to dodge. He could also summon aids to complicate the battlefield even more. Besides the flood of magic, Cain can also break the floor, sinking Toal and taking him to a new dimension.
But Toal won. He was exhausted and collapsed to the floor. Quickly acting before Toal could do anything, Reah takes back the harmonica Toal gave her way back when. Toal knew what was to come, and he pleaded with them to stop. His plan was to avoid this. But there is no other way... Feena and Reah have to sacrifice their wings and lives to seal away the Black Pearl. Reah played her harmonica while Feena prayed. They turned themselves into a statue before Toal's eyes while he could do nothing. Their last words were an apology and a blessing of hope for Ys. Toal's appearance returned to his pre-demonification look. The demon essence was sealed.
Yunica's voice was the first to break the silence. The entire search party had arrived, and it was Yunica who ran up to the statue. She begged Toal to tell her what happened, and she couldn't hold back her tears. But they did as instructed and sealed them far beneath the earth.
Before the Elder Roda, Yunica, Roy, Hugo, Miuscha, and Rico informed the group that they would be remaining on the planet to watch over the goddesses. So, as an odd twist of fate, Toal would have to become the new Priest of Ys. Hugo told him that Zava and Kishgal faded away just as Toal's appearance changed. Epona was fine, and she told everyone she had to report in with her home. But she might return one day, a possibility Miuscha dreaded. The group teased Hugo over his apparent womanizing... Cadena promised to inform everyone's families, and Toal stated his desire to write all of this into a book in hopes of preventing it from happening again. The twins implied it would, but there's no reason to try to stop it. And with that, the two groups separated one final time.
Scenes of Toal becoming a priest and the writing of six books play out. He drops them onto the surface, and the final thing that's seen is an ominous door. Toal's sword is placed before the Younger Roda...
700 years later, a storm rages around Esteria. A young man with burning red hair is washed ashore, but that, as they say, is future.
The credits roll, and we finally reach the true ending of Ys Origin. Fin...
---
Despite my foreshadowing, I'm not playing Ys I or II. I'm all Ysed out! If I ever figure out how to fix my life, though, I'll restart a new season of Ys with I, II, and VIII through X. I'd say get excited, but you shouldn't get your hopes up. Ys Origin was great, and it's getting a better score than the 38 I first gave it.
Saturday, October 28, 2023
The final floors.
I somehow skipped Reah getting kidnapped yesterday. How? Prob burnout...
Toal Fact began his assault, now as a member of the Ys search party, on the top floors of Darm Tower.
...
The Maddened Kishgal was waiting for Toal. Kishgal had been waiting, hoping all night for a chance to fight the famed commander of the Ys Holy Knights. He tried to get under Toal's skin by reminding him who killed Saul. The battle between the two of them left the demon feeling empty. It didn't work, but Kishgal instantly transformed into a demon and demanded Toal do the same.
But he did not. Toal has thrown aside his demon essence, and he didn't even need it. Toal weathered the ice spikes of his enemy and won the battle, but Kishgal was not done. Finally finding a worthy opponent, he wanted more, and he was going to get it. Repowering his demon form, Kishgal forsook all his humanity and let him be enveloped in darkness. He lunged at Toal, but a firebird burst across the room. Yunica Tovah had led the holy knights into battle! Finally getting a chance at revenge for the murder of her father, she was ready to fight. Roy, Cecilia, and Ramona were also prepared for this. While they kept Kishgal busy, they told Toal to continue his climb. Their fate is in their hands.
...
Toal had killed and absorbed so many summons from Zava. She's been upset about it for months, and now was time for her vengeance. After a battle where Toal won, she threw away her humanity as well and called forth a new type of monster. Four firebombs raced through the area, which heralded in the acting commander of the knights: Galleon. He quickly dispatches the demon knights with ease, but Toal asks where the fire came from. Cadena struts into battle. Zava summons more demons, and the leaders of the Ys military promise to take care of them. Zava tries to electrocute Toal as he runs across the battle, leaving his long term allies to deal with her.
...
Toal enters a room to see a ghastly sight. Hugo is choking the life out of Epona, who isn't fighting back. She's trying to talk some sense into her crush, but it's not getting through Zava's mind control. Toal knows what buttons to press, though. He feeds into Hugo's hatred for him, and the climax of a sibling rivalry commences. Hugo still lacks close range combat prowess, so Toal defeats him with ease.
Hugo regains his senses, and the brothers have some quick and needed therapy. Toal reiterates all his compliments towards his brother and reminds him he doesn't need the demon essence. Hugo is a masterful mage on his own, and the demon nonsense made him worse. Not even Cain Tact, the patriarch of the Tact family and one of the Six Priests, can't hold a candle to him if he can keep his mind stable. It's why Toal forfeited his right to the priesthood and became a knight. And that decision let him overcome his feelings of inferiority. Hugo takes Epona somewhere to treat her wounds, and Toal climbs one final square spiral staircase to reach the top of Darm.
---
Final confrontation tomorrow!
Toal Fact began his assault, now as a member of the Ys search party, on the top floors of Darm Tower.
...
The Maddened Kishgal was waiting for Toal. Kishgal had been waiting, hoping all night for a chance to fight the famed commander of the Ys Holy Knights. He tried to get under Toal's skin by reminding him who killed Saul. The battle between the two of them left the demon feeling empty. It didn't work, but Kishgal instantly transformed into a demon and demanded Toal do the same.
But he did not. Toal has thrown aside his demon essence, and he didn't even need it. Toal weathered the ice spikes of his enemy and won the battle, but Kishgal was not done. Finally finding a worthy opponent, he wanted more, and he was going to get it. Repowering his demon form, Kishgal forsook all his humanity and let him be enveloped in darkness. He lunged at Toal, but a firebird burst across the room. Yunica Tovah had led the holy knights into battle! Finally getting a chance at revenge for the murder of her father, she was ready to fight. Roy, Cecilia, and Ramona were also prepared for this. While they kept Kishgal busy, they told Toal to continue his climb. Their fate is in their hands.
...
Toal had killed and absorbed so many summons from Zava. She's been upset about it for months, and now was time for her vengeance. After a battle where Toal won, she threw away her humanity as well and called forth a new type of monster. Four firebombs raced through the area, which heralded in the acting commander of the knights: Galleon. He quickly dispatches the demon knights with ease, but Toal asks where the fire came from. Cadena struts into battle. Zava summons more demons, and the leaders of the Ys military promise to take care of them. Zava tries to electrocute Toal as he runs across the battle, leaving his long term allies to deal with her.
...
Toal enters a room to see a ghastly sight. Hugo is choking the life out of Epona, who isn't fighting back. She's trying to talk some sense into her crush, but it's not getting through Zava's mind control. Toal knows what buttons to press, though. He feeds into Hugo's hatred for him, and the climax of a sibling rivalry commences. Hugo still lacks close range combat prowess, so Toal defeats him with ease.
Hugo regains his senses, and the brothers have some quick and needed therapy. Toal reiterates all his compliments towards his brother and reminds him he doesn't need the demon essence. Hugo is a masterful mage on his own, and the demon nonsense made him worse. Not even Cain Tact, the patriarch of the Tact family and one of the Six Priests, can't hold a candle to him if he can keep his mind stable. It's why Toal forfeited his right to the priesthood and became a knight. And that decision let him overcome his feelings of inferiority. Hugo takes Epona somewhere to treat her wounds, and Toal climbs one final square spiral staircase to reach the top of Darm.
---
Final confrontation tomorrow!
Friday, October 27, 2023
A turning point.
Toal walked into a room surrounded by sand and was promptly ambushed. He took care of the demons in the blink of an eye, but it was all for naught. They got back up and prepared a counter. An immortal being will always counter. The sound of a bell rings out through the room, and the monsters disappear. A voice calls out to Toal, and the goddess Reah teleports in.
She's glad to see him, but she's also mad. Reah can't believe Toal would run off and die without even saying goodbye! She's upset about his actions when Ys took to the skies. Just as Feena, Reah didn't care that Toal joined the Darklings. Reah's also not even mad that he's the reason her sister is in magic jail. Reah states that it made the twins wonder if their friendship was a lie. Toal became furious at this and said how wrong she was. He was shocked at his outburst and admittance that he still cares for them. Reah laughed at the fact Toal Fact believed her acting and his gullibility. Toal tries to flip it back by reminding her he's a traitor, promising more evil deeds. He offers Reah a chance to join Feena peacefully, but she can't. Reah knows following Toal's plan will lead to his death, and she won't allow that. Regardless of what happens, Toal will not survive. Even IF his plan could work. Reah read Toal's face and knew he wanted to destroy the Black Pearl. But doing that will require Toal to go mad to even accomplish that, and the fallout of such an act will destroy all demons, including the hypothetical mad Toal. Toal keeps trying to tell Reah she's wrong and transforms. Reah begs him to stop, knowing that form is hard to maintain. She reminds him of their last conversation when he told her she's not perfect, but that's alright. He obliged but demanded to know their plan to end this. He knows the demonic essence can't be controlled. Unfortunately, Reah doesn't answer. She just tells him to trust the twins and flies off. She gives him the Silver Chines as a gift. Toal thinks he has an idea of what's going on, but he needs to talk to Feena. Rado's Annex is just above him.
It's mostly empty, with only Epona standing guard. Toal asks her to stay here, which the girl thinks is scandalous, but she'll remain on the bottom floor.
Toal transforms to open the door and tells Feena what happened with Reah. The two discuss how the Black Pearl affects cleria ore and that the Darklings didn't summon the demons. But Dalles' crew had to come from somewhere. The twins believe there is a traitor among the ranks of Ys, which is why they didn't tell anyone they were coming to Darm. As for how to stop this... The angel wings Feena and Reah have are how they control the Black Pearl. They're willing to sacrifice those wings to seal it, even though it will cost them and cause them to fall into a deep sleep. Toal bursts into a laugh. His entire mission changes with this information. He tells Feena that he knows what to do to save everything, and Feena sees it in his eyes....
After defeating the Demon General, Hugo finds his brother about to ascend the stairs. Toal doesn't sense any hostility, which would be correct. Hugo just wants to know how Toal became so powerful, even without the demon form. Toal answers and even praises his brother in the process while explaining his actions of giving up his inheritance. He says some vague stuff about trusting in your own abilities and forgetting whatever their dad said. Hugo understands, and Toal offers a rematch whenever his brother wants it. Toal heads into the Blighted Blood, but Hugo is greeted by Dalles...
[The Blighted Blood is empty and straightforward for Toal. He doesn't interact with the petrified knights, and the only scene is Epona giving him the boss key after she lets on she's into Hugo. But...]
With the sixth Demon General dead, Toal steels himself to climb to the tops of Darm, where things are going to get hard. But there's a surprise roadblock. Dalles, Zava, and a dead faced Hugo teleport in front of him. Dalles is aware of Toal's actions and knows he's gone rogue. He'll kill him now. And by "he," Dallas means Hugo. Hugo calls forth four Eyes of Fact and shoots four fire beams at Toal. This is too much for the double agent. Out of pride, Dalles allows Toal to live. He wants to see the lowly retch climb the rest of the tower... If he can.
Toal tries to get to his feet, willing himself through the pain. A white light glows from beneath him, and his wounds are cured. Father Shion is behind him. He's heard the whole story from Feena and is here to help Toal. Further abandoning his Darkling alliance, Toal accepts the Lila Shell, rejoining Ys. With a new outlook, Toal enters the Demonic Core...
---
I had a feeling this was coming, but I'm not sure how good a reveal it was. Seemed kinda rushed, but there are only twenty five floors to explore this change, and they did a good enough job of it. We're almost at the end!
She's glad to see him, but she's also mad. Reah can't believe Toal would run off and die without even saying goodbye! She's upset about his actions when Ys took to the skies. Just as Feena, Reah didn't care that Toal joined the Darklings. Reah's also not even mad that he's the reason her sister is in magic jail. Reah states that it made the twins wonder if their friendship was a lie. Toal became furious at this and said how wrong she was. He was shocked at his outburst and admittance that he still cares for them. Reah laughed at the fact Toal Fact believed her acting and his gullibility. Toal tries to flip it back by reminding her he's a traitor, promising more evil deeds. He offers Reah a chance to join Feena peacefully, but she can't. Reah knows following Toal's plan will lead to his death, and she won't allow that. Regardless of what happens, Toal will not survive. Even IF his plan could work. Reah read Toal's face and knew he wanted to destroy the Black Pearl. But doing that will require Toal to go mad to even accomplish that, and the fallout of such an act will destroy all demons, including the hypothetical mad Toal. Toal keeps trying to tell Reah she's wrong and transforms. Reah begs him to stop, knowing that form is hard to maintain. She reminds him of their last conversation when he told her she's not perfect, but that's alright. He obliged but demanded to know their plan to end this. He knows the demonic essence can't be controlled. Unfortunately, Reah doesn't answer. She just tells him to trust the twins and flies off. She gives him the Silver Chines as a gift. Toal thinks he has an idea of what's going on, but he needs to talk to Feena. Rado's Annex is just above him.
It's mostly empty, with only Epona standing guard. Toal asks her to stay here, which the girl thinks is scandalous, but she'll remain on the bottom floor.
Toal transforms to open the door and tells Feena what happened with Reah. The two discuss how the Black Pearl affects cleria ore and that the Darklings didn't summon the demons. But Dalles' crew had to come from somewhere. The twins believe there is a traitor among the ranks of Ys, which is why they didn't tell anyone they were coming to Darm. As for how to stop this... The angel wings Feena and Reah have are how they control the Black Pearl. They're willing to sacrifice those wings to seal it, even though it will cost them and cause them to fall into a deep sleep. Toal bursts into a laugh. His entire mission changes with this information. He tells Feena that he knows what to do to save everything, and Feena sees it in his eyes....
After defeating the Demon General, Hugo finds his brother about to ascend the stairs. Toal doesn't sense any hostility, which would be correct. Hugo just wants to know how Toal became so powerful, even without the demon form. Toal answers and even praises his brother in the process while explaining his actions of giving up his inheritance. He says some vague stuff about trusting in your own abilities and forgetting whatever their dad said. Hugo understands, and Toal offers a rematch whenever his brother wants it. Toal heads into the Blighted Blood, but Hugo is greeted by Dalles...
[The Blighted Blood is empty and straightforward for Toal. He doesn't interact with the petrified knights, and the only scene is Epona giving him the boss key after she lets on she's into Hugo. But...]
With the sixth Demon General dead, Toal steels himself to climb to the tops of Darm, where things are going to get hard. But there's a surprise roadblock. Dalles, Zava, and a dead faced Hugo teleport in front of him. Dalles is aware of Toal's actions and knows he's gone rogue. He'll kill him now. And by "he," Dallas means Hugo. Hugo calls forth four Eyes of Fact and shoots four fire beams at Toal. This is too much for the double agent. Out of pride, Dalles allows Toal to live. He wants to see the lowly retch climb the rest of the tower... If he can.
Toal tries to get to his feet, willing himself through the pain. A white light glows from beneath him, and his wounds are cured. Father Shion is behind him. He's heard the whole story from Feena and is here to help Toal. Further abandoning his Darkling alliance, Toal accepts the Lila Shell, rejoining Ys. With a new outlook, Toal enters the Demonic Core...
---
I had a feeling this was coming, but I'm not sure how good a reveal it was. Seemed kinda rushed, but there are only twenty five floors to explore this change, and they did a good enough job of it. We're almost at the end!
Thursday, October 26, 2023
Enigma wrapped in a riddle.
[Toal's Guilty Fire involves a lack of saving white mages, so nothing changes until he meets Feena.]
Toal walked into what he thought was an empty room. But a woman he knew well saw him first and called out to him. The Goddess Feena was thrilled to see him still alive. She was more focused on that than her friend's change of appearance. Feena didn't even seem to care that Toal joined the Darklings. She had total trust and faith in him. It confused him, even after he tried to break her heart. Despite her kind words, he told her he's here to kidnap the goddesses and the Black Pearl. Before Feena can say anything, Zava teleported in. She was hoping to get Feena first but was late getting in, much to her chagrin. Regardless, she told Toal to take the girl, but he was stopped.
Making his first appearance off the first floor, Father Shion came to help out Feena. The words of the sorcerers from the Prison spurred him to action. Sadly, his pathetic shield and magic Missile spam were ineffective.
Zava reminded Toal that he's supposed to kill all interlopers. Toal brought his Wolverine claws to the priest's throat to slay him, but several orbs of magic came flying through. The knights and mages came to save Shion. Rather than fight all of them, Zava decided that taking the goddess was good enough for now and teleported the three of them out.
They brought her to Rado's Annex, and the entire Darklings were three. Dalles led the interrogation and wanted the location of Reah and the Black Pearl. Feena told them the twins split up when they entered the tower and planned to cut contact with each other in case this happened. Dalles didn't believe her, but Toal vouched for her. Reah was always willing to take on the burdens of others. Rather than dispose of her, Zava trapped her in an anti magic bubble. Toal was shocked they knew such a spell, seeing as that's a Ysian spell. But Dalles told them they found their codex...
The group left Feena alone, but Toal hesitated to exit at first. Feena took the time to give some insight into her past. She let on that the trouble with the Darklings happened a long time ago. It dated back to when the twins were young, "even by human standards." She also made a request for him. He wanted Toal to return Reah's harmonica to her. Kishgal was waiting outside and asked Toal how he felt about stealing his god? Toal's response made Kishgal excited to fight him.
Toal returned to the room he fought Shion in and continued down the path. At the end of that road was another alter that was sapping a Ys artifact. This one was a sword Toal knew well. It was the Crimson Lotusblade that belonged to his commander, Saul Tovah. He felt a tinge of guilt and weakness in him, knowing he's unworthy of holding such a weapon. But then the spirit of Commander Saul appeared. Toal instantly reverted to a lowly knight again and knelt before his CO. Saul was confused as to why Toal would do a thing, but then Toal told him what he'd done. Toal recognizes that his actions are wrong, but they're still his actions, and he has no regrets about making them. Similar to Feena, Saul didn't care about Toal's change. He was sure he had his reasons and only saw who Toal was. In fact, Tovah wanted Toal to take the sword. He reluctantly did before Saul faded away.
...
Toal entered the Devil's Corridor. Despite being part demon, he was still greatly affected by the music. But there was someone else in here. Dying near the entrance was Yunica Tovah. Toal instinctively ran up to her and dragged her out of the room. Continuing his guilt trip, he left the Lotusblade with the unconscious Yunica. To advance through the room, Toal unleashed his demon form because he knew he lacked the skill to play Reah's harmonica.
...
Celady was more a distraction than a threat, but he let Yunica catch up to Toal. Ever the courteous girl, she thanked Toal for the rescue and the return of her father's sword. He tried to blow it off, but he soon realized that Yunica shouldn't be here. He asked how she got through the Devil's Corridor? Another mage joined the room, and Cadena told them Hugo figured out how to break a pipe that carried the sound. She then noticed Toal's face light up, as it always did when his brother was praised. As before, Toal tried to play it off. Fortunately for him, Yunica and Cadena decided now was a good time to leave.
Toal climbed up to the Silent Sands, but he recalled more of his humanity. He had a long conversation with Commander Saul. Both men were prepared to die to buy time for Ys to ascend. But they made jokes about the emotions of their friends if they survived.
He also remembered the last time he saw Reah. He stumbled onto her playing her harmonica. They two would end up discussing the imperfections of the supposed goddesses.
---
A scene last night made me feel like the Ysians revere the goddesses, but they also treat them like children. It's an interesting dichotomy. Stuff tonight, though, made me wish they kept Toal more mysterious in Hugo's plot. Kinda spoils some things. Or maybe I'm wrong, and it'll be a red herring?!
Toal walked into what he thought was an empty room. But a woman he knew well saw him first and called out to him. The Goddess Feena was thrilled to see him still alive. She was more focused on that than her friend's change of appearance. Feena didn't even seem to care that Toal joined the Darklings. She had total trust and faith in him. It confused him, even after he tried to break her heart. Despite her kind words, he told her he's here to kidnap the goddesses and the Black Pearl. Before Feena can say anything, Zava teleported in. She was hoping to get Feena first but was late getting in, much to her chagrin. Regardless, she told Toal to take the girl, but he was stopped.
Making his first appearance off the first floor, Father Shion came to help out Feena. The words of the sorcerers from the Prison spurred him to action. Sadly, his pathetic shield and magic Missile spam were ineffective.
Zava reminded Toal that he's supposed to kill all interlopers. Toal brought his Wolverine claws to the priest's throat to slay him, but several orbs of magic came flying through. The knights and mages came to save Shion. Rather than fight all of them, Zava decided that taking the goddess was good enough for now and teleported the three of them out.
They brought her to Rado's Annex, and the entire Darklings were three. Dalles led the interrogation and wanted the location of Reah and the Black Pearl. Feena told them the twins split up when they entered the tower and planned to cut contact with each other in case this happened. Dalles didn't believe her, but Toal vouched for her. Reah was always willing to take on the burdens of others. Rather than dispose of her, Zava trapped her in an anti magic bubble. Toal was shocked they knew such a spell, seeing as that's a Ysian spell. But Dalles told them they found their codex...
The group left Feena alone, but Toal hesitated to exit at first. Feena took the time to give some insight into her past. She let on that the trouble with the Darklings happened a long time ago. It dated back to when the twins were young, "even by human standards." She also made a request for him. He wanted Toal to return Reah's harmonica to her. Kishgal was waiting outside and asked Toal how he felt about stealing his god? Toal's response made Kishgal excited to fight him.
Toal returned to the room he fought Shion in and continued down the path. At the end of that road was another alter that was sapping a Ys artifact. This one was a sword Toal knew well. It was the Crimson Lotusblade that belonged to his commander, Saul Tovah. He felt a tinge of guilt and weakness in him, knowing he's unworthy of holding such a weapon. But then the spirit of Commander Saul appeared. Toal instantly reverted to a lowly knight again and knelt before his CO. Saul was confused as to why Toal would do a thing, but then Toal told him what he'd done. Toal recognizes that his actions are wrong, but they're still his actions, and he has no regrets about making them. Similar to Feena, Saul didn't care about Toal's change. He was sure he had his reasons and only saw who Toal was. In fact, Tovah wanted Toal to take the sword. He reluctantly did before Saul faded away.
...
Toal entered the Devil's Corridor. Despite being part demon, he was still greatly affected by the music. But there was someone else in here. Dying near the entrance was Yunica Tovah. Toal instinctively ran up to her and dragged her out of the room. Continuing his guilt trip, he left the Lotusblade with the unconscious Yunica. To advance through the room, Toal unleashed his demon form because he knew he lacked the skill to play Reah's harmonica.
...
Celady was more a distraction than a threat, but he let Yunica catch up to Toal. Ever the courteous girl, she thanked Toal for the rescue and the return of her father's sword. He tried to blow it off, but he soon realized that Yunica shouldn't be here. He asked how she got through the Devil's Corridor? Another mage joined the room, and Cadena told them Hugo figured out how to break a pipe that carried the sound. She then noticed Toal's face light up, as it always did when his brother was praised. As before, Toal tried to play it off. Fortunately for him, Yunica and Cadena decided now was a good time to leave.
Toal climbed up to the Silent Sands, but he recalled more of his humanity. He had a long conversation with Commander Saul. Both men were prepared to die to buy time for Ys to ascend. But they made jokes about the emotions of their friends if they survived.
He also remembered the last time he saw Reah. He stumbled onto her playing her harmonica. They two would end up discussing the imperfections of the supposed goddesses.
---
A scene last night made me feel like the Ysians revere the goddesses, but they also treat them like children. It's an interesting dichotomy. Stuff tonight, though, made me wish they kept Toal more mysterious in Hugo's plot. Kinda spoils some things. Or maybe I'm wrong, and it'll be a red herring?!
Wednesday, October 25, 2023
A (not) new journey!
It's the third, final, and canon character: Toal Fact!
His opening sequence is a lot different. It starts out with Feena and Reah overlooking the destruction on Terra Firma Ys. They consider what they need to do. Suddenly, one senses tempered cleria. They find a sword, and both girls know who it belongs to, but they only call him "him." One of them can speak with metal, and the blade tells her that its owner is still alive.
[The second animation plays, and it's exactly the same.]
Five people are atop a large tower. Their leader, Dalles, laughs at the damage he caused when he attacked the transport spell of the Ysians, his enemies. Zava asks one of them, Toal, how he feels about declaring war on his former friends and allies. He says that he's joined the demons now and doesn't care. Dalles informs the four of them; Toal, Zava, Kishgal, and Epona, that their goal is to find and subdue the goddesses Feena and Reah and steal the Black Pearl.
Zava teleports Toal to the base of Darm Tower. He is to start here and climb up to find the targets. Kishgal and Epona will do the same for the top and middle down. She tells him about the dark crystal and its effects on the corrupted Goddess Statues and the art of teleportation. Before leaving, a group of rogue demons enter the room. Zava can't control them, so Toal kills and absorbs their energy. Zava is upset he'd destroy her summons so quickly, but he reminds her what his role is and that Dalles has given him free will so long as he finds the divine ones. And with that, she leaves, and Toal starts his search.
[Toal explores the Wailing Blue, and it is much of the same as the others. He even gets caught in the trap. There is a difference in who he meets in the next room...]
Galleon is standing in the room, unsure of who the stranger before him is. Toal knows who he is. He gives Galleon a hint of his identity, and the commander of the holy knights realizes it! He's thrilled that his friend and comrade is still alive, but he's confused about a few things. Toal, though, doesn't mince words. He quickly tells his former second-in-command that he's joined the demons. Galleon doesn't believe it, but he eventually accepts that his enemy is in his sights. A battle between Ys and a traitor happens, and Galleon's slick sword magic can't handle Toal's berserker barrages. Galleon manages to escape, and he informs his former friend that he'll remind him who he truly is soon.
After killing a few bats, Toal finally awakens something in himself. He's slaughtered enough demons now that he's officially one. He transforms into his demon form, and he almost loses control. Almost... This new power will trick the trap into letting him pass.
Upon the defeat of the horcruxes, a young girl climbs after him. She demands to know who the stranger is, but Toal says it's rude to ask before introducing yourself first. She quickly apologizes and says her name is Yunica Tovah. Toal automatically asks if she's related to Saul Tovah. "He was my father." She wants to know if he knows her dad, and Toal says he does. He also knows Saul is dead. In fact, he takes credit for it. Yunica gets furious and tries to kill Toal, but he adeptly dodges the oversized axe. Despite being enemies, Toal only knocks her out and leaves.
...
After defeating the boss, Epona descends the stairs ahead of him. She warns him about killing Zava's pets, but he doesn't care. The rest of the conversation is quick, and she asks if Toal has a brother. She met someone who reminded her of Toal, but the Claw Man states he doesn't have one. As she leaves, he thinks to himself that "he" must be here.
This made Toal think of his life in Ys. He was great friends with Galleon and the mages. They even teased him about missing his brother. But Toal had a feeling seeing Hugo would just make things worse. He then thought about a time he met with the twins. They offered him tea, but he felt uncomfortable accepting. He should be serving them. Eventually, they convinced him to lighten up and become friends like Yunica had.
In the Sunken Prison, Toal learned he was being followed. Hugo finally reached him. His little brother has been furious at him for so long. Hugo even screams that he's going to follow his father's orders and kill him. Toal assumed Hugo was here to find the goddesses, but he was given a secret mission by Priest Fact to kill the traitor. But then he asks why Hugo is hesitating. Some theories are said, but the battle eventually begins. Hugo is only effective at range and can't handle Toal's speed.
As Hugo lies on the ground, two other mages enter the room. Miuscha and Cadena. Cadena had hoped Galleon was wrong, but this is clearly her old friend. Toal offers them a free escape, and Cadena warps the three Ysians to base. Kishgal was watching the entire thing and asked why the demon let the three go. Toal just didn't want to fight. Must have been feeling lazy. Kishgal thinks that's dumb, so he better find the twins to make up for it.
...
Climbing into the Guilty Fire made Toal think about his past again. He was close friends with Feena and Reah and finally stopped with the prim and properness of their meetings. Sadly, his family life was still nonexistent.
---
Toal plays similarly to Yunica but is much faster and seems to have AoE on his swings. His wind magic is terrible, so I'm gonna be relearning how to play Origins! His yellow magic seems powerful, so that's nice. I've forgotten all about Toal's story, so I'm hoping it'll compare with the other two!
His opening sequence is a lot different. It starts out with Feena and Reah overlooking the destruction on Terra Firma Ys. They consider what they need to do. Suddenly, one senses tempered cleria. They find a sword, and both girls know who it belongs to, but they only call him "him." One of them can speak with metal, and the blade tells her that its owner is still alive.
[The second animation plays, and it's exactly the same.]
Five people are atop a large tower. Their leader, Dalles, laughs at the damage he caused when he attacked the transport spell of the Ysians, his enemies. Zava asks one of them, Toal, how he feels about declaring war on his former friends and allies. He says that he's joined the demons now and doesn't care. Dalles informs the four of them; Toal, Zava, Kishgal, and Epona, that their goal is to find and subdue the goddesses Feena and Reah and steal the Black Pearl.
Zava teleports Toal to the base of Darm Tower. He is to start here and climb up to find the targets. Kishgal and Epona will do the same for the top and middle down. She tells him about the dark crystal and its effects on the corrupted Goddess Statues and the art of teleportation. Before leaving, a group of rogue demons enter the room. Zava can't control them, so Toal kills and absorbs their energy. Zava is upset he'd destroy her summons so quickly, but he reminds her what his role is and that Dalles has given him free will so long as he finds the divine ones. And with that, she leaves, and Toal starts his search.
[Toal explores the Wailing Blue, and it is much of the same as the others. He even gets caught in the trap. There is a difference in who he meets in the next room...]
Galleon is standing in the room, unsure of who the stranger before him is. Toal knows who he is. He gives Galleon a hint of his identity, and the commander of the holy knights realizes it! He's thrilled that his friend and comrade is still alive, but he's confused about a few things. Toal, though, doesn't mince words. He quickly tells his former second-in-command that he's joined the demons. Galleon doesn't believe it, but he eventually accepts that his enemy is in his sights. A battle between Ys and a traitor happens, and Galleon's slick sword magic can't handle Toal's berserker barrages. Galleon manages to escape, and he informs his former friend that he'll remind him who he truly is soon.
After killing a few bats, Toal finally awakens something in himself. He's slaughtered enough demons now that he's officially one. He transforms into his demon form, and he almost loses control. Almost... This new power will trick the trap into letting him pass.
Upon the defeat of the horcruxes, a young girl climbs after him. She demands to know who the stranger is, but Toal says it's rude to ask before introducing yourself first. She quickly apologizes and says her name is Yunica Tovah. Toal automatically asks if she's related to Saul Tovah. "He was my father." She wants to know if he knows her dad, and Toal says he does. He also knows Saul is dead. In fact, he takes credit for it. Yunica gets furious and tries to kill Toal, but he adeptly dodges the oversized axe. Despite being enemies, Toal only knocks her out and leaves.
...
After defeating the boss, Epona descends the stairs ahead of him. She warns him about killing Zava's pets, but he doesn't care. The rest of the conversation is quick, and she asks if Toal has a brother. She met someone who reminded her of Toal, but the Claw Man states he doesn't have one. As she leaves, he thinks to himself that "he" must be here.
This made Toal think of his life in Ys. He was great friends with Galleon and the mages. They even teased him about missing his brother. But Toal had a feeling seeing Hugo would just make things worse. He then thought about a time he met with the twins. They offered him tea, but he felt uncomfortable accepting. He should be serving them. Eventually, they convinced him to lighten up and become friends like Yunica had.
In the Sunken Prison, Toal learned he was being followed. Hugo finally reached him. His little brother has been furious at him for so long. Hugo even screams that he's going to follow his father's orders and kill him. Toal assumed Hugo was here to find the goddesses, but he was given a secret mission by Priest Fact to kill the traitor. But then he asks why Hugo is hesitating. Some theories are said, but the battle eventually begins. Hugo is only effective at range and can't handle Toal's speed.
As Hugo lies on the ground, two other mages enter the room. Miuscha and Cadena. Cadena had hoped Galleon was wrong, but this is clearly her old friend. Toal offers them a free escape, and Cadena warps the three Ysians to base. Kishgal was watching the entire thing and asked why the demon let the three go. Toal just didn't want to fight. Must have been feeling lazy. Kishgal thinks that's dumb, so he better find the twins to make up for it.
...
Climbing into the Guilty Fire made Toal think about his past again. He was close friends with Feena and Reah and finally stopped with the prim and properness of their meetings. Sadly, his family life was still nonexistent.
---
Toal plays similarly to Yunica but is much faster and seems to have AoE on his swings. His wind magic is terrible, so I'm gonna be relearning how to play Origins! His yellow magic seems powerful, so that's nice. I've forgotten all about Toal's story, so I'm hoping it'll compare with the other two!
Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Broken family curse.
At the top of Darm Tower was a trapped Reah next to Dalles and his stolen Black Pearl. He was glad to see Hugo but disappointed as well. Dalles gave that power to Hugo, and he just threw it away. Hugo told him that he had no need of such abilities. His own power is more than enough to take down the Darkling leader. He proves this by charging up the Lotusblade. ... It does nothing. Dalles has a shield in front of him that deflects all forms of damage. As a final show of strength, Dalles charges his own magical blast that strikes Hugo. Hugo manages to form his own shield to deflect most of it, but this wave of pure evil is relentless. Dalles suggests Hugo unleash the demon energy, but he refuses. He will not descend to that mockery of power and promises to do it on his own. Tired of this, Dalles decides to kill his annoying interloper. A black death ball forms over his head, which the Darkling drops onto Hugo. His final thoughts are about death, and he apologizes to Epona...
[The Search Party and Feena appear to save him. The battle plays out just as before.]
Dalles is on his last legs. Hugo may have beaten him physically, but his mouth still moves. He tells Hugo that the curse of his Fact lineage will chase him. Later on, Hugo asks the goddesses what he could have meant by that. They respond that it's just a loser trying to get one last mental jab in. He also tried to downplay the twins' powers, so he was simply running his mouth.
Fenna and Reah seal the Black Pearl and are placed beneath the earth. The only difference between his and Yunica's is he decides to stay on land before the transport spell's preparation. The same three people decide to join him then as well, and Roy, who didn't die, also stays back. I don't see a need to write about it, so there's the final summary.
The same final scenes play, and the credits roll.
And that was Hugo's story. I enjoyed it, and I can't believe I forgot all about it. It's a story about overcoming your past, questionable family life, and making something out of yourself with your own power. It resonates with me, but I like Yunica's more. She's a better character and more fun to play as. I think Hugo is an interesting idea, and it's not bad, but I didn't find it too exciting. I did play it in very easy, so maybe that was dumb? Either way...
Beating the game with Yunica and Hugo unlocks a not-so-secret third character. You get to experience the game from the eyes of Toal Fact. His story is the canon one! So here's hoping we get to see more about the Fact history...
[The Search Party and Feena appear to save him. The battle plays out just as before.]
Dalles is on his last legs. Hugo may have beaten him physically, but his mouth still moves. He tells Hugo that the curse of his Fact lineage will chase him. Later on, Hugo asks the goddesses what he could have meant by that. They respond that it's just a loser trying to get one last mental jab in. He also tried to downplay the twins' powers, so he was simply running his mouth.
Fenna and Reah seal the Black Pearl and are placed beneath the earth. The only difference between his and Yunica's is he decides to stay on land before the transport spell's preparation. The same three people decide to join him then as well, and Roy, who didn't die, also stays back. I don't see a need to write about it, so there's the final summary.
The same final scenes play, and the credits roll.
And that was Hugo's story. I enjoyed it, and I can't believe I forgot all about it. It's a story about overcoming your past, questionable family life, and making something out of yourself with your own power. It resonates with me, but I like Yunica's more. She's a better character and more fun to play as. I think Hugo is an interesting idea, and it's not bad, but I didn't find it too exciting. I did play it in very easy, so maybe that was dumb? Either way...
Beating the game with Yunica and Hugo unlocks a not-so-secret third character. You get to experience the game from the eyes of Toal Fact. His story is the canon one! So here's hoping we get to see more about the Fact history...
Monday, October 23, 2023
Resolutions
While walking the Blighted Blood, Hugo walks upon Epona, casually hanging out on a balcony. The two think about finally settling their battle, but both decide this narrow ledge isn't a great place for it. Instead, the two go their separate ways, but Epona gives a warning to her arch nemesis. Dalles, the Darklings' leader, has joined the hunt for Reah. Not only that but he's taken an interest in the Eyes of Fact. Epona casually walks by Hugo, and they continue their journeys.
[Hugo explores the Blighted Blood.]
After several jumps, Hugo walked into a terrible sight. Yunica Tovah was surrounded by several statues, all of whom were petrified holy knights. The panicking survivor managed to explain that Dalles had appeared before them, and he cursed everyone but her with petrification. She pleads with Hugo to do something, but he has little knowledge of curses. He told her to speak to Miuscha or Cadenza, and that he was going to continue exploring. This enraged the timid girl, who thought he was blowing off this tragedy. Hugo tries to remind her they're looking for Reah before she gets captured, so it's better to divest recourses. This did not appease Yunica, who stormed off.
...
While searching for the boss door key, Hugo came to a dead end on one of the balconies. But he wasn't alone. Toal was behind him. Hugo prepared for a fight, but Toal didn't care. He was disappointed his brother hadn't learned anything about having power. Rather than hark on it, Toal threw a replica version of the Black Pearl to his brother and left. Hugo warped to Feena, where Yunica was discussing the situation with her. He gave her the replica, and Feena combined it with "the idol" she had. After they fused, Yunica ran off to free her friends. Hugo, still focused on the task, left the sorceresses he insulted earlier without much fanfare. He, too, warped to where the petrified knights were and saw they were good to go. Mostly, at least. Yunica said Hugo was a big help in saving them, but he claimed he did nothing. Regardless, Galleon found the boss door key and gave it to Hugo as thanks.
Waiting outside the door was a strange man, but Hugo knew who it was: Dalles. The Darkling leader came with a proposition. He knows how Hugo acts and why he thinks what he does. Hugo wants power. It's a core tenant of the Fact dynasty. And Hudo, especially, wants to kill his brother. Dalles is willing to give him the power of the demons, but Hugo refuses to accept it. But then Dalles offers a taste. One of the Six Demon Lords is behind the door. Hugo can rent the power. He's unlikely to go mad, seeing as Toal didn't, and Hugo can experience more if he wants to. Hugo is enticed. Dalles casts a spell, and Hugo doesn't feel different. But maybe the boss will change that.
...
Pictolos gets up after Hugo knocks him down without using the power. And this annoys the mage. He activates the demon power, and everything goes mad. The Eyes of Fact turn into eight spheres, and they make short work of Pictolos. Hugo begins to laugh manically, giving in to the darkness. Cadena and Miuscha enter the room because Feena sensed something wrong. They notice Hugo losing his mind and try to save him, but he's not having it. His insults are as painful as they've ever been, and he charges the Lotusblade magic. The mages try to warp out, but it's too late. The girls go flying.
Suddenly, several knives strike Hugo in the back. Epona has shown up to knock some sense into Hugo as well. The two dance around, trying to hit one another, while Epona compares Hugo to Toal. He's become his brother. Something about this triggers the normalcy in Hugo's psyche, and he slowly starts to return to normal. After he checks on Cadena and Miuscha, a voice calls out to the room. Dalles is furious. How dare Epona foil his leader's plan! He curses Epona, and she starts to turn to stone. Hugo runs up to her and holds her in his arms, asking why she bothered with him. She just thought it was the correct thing to do. Unlike the curse to the holy knights, this is to send a message. It's slow acting, let's them say a final farewell, and it turns Epona to dust when it takes hold. Despite being enemies all night, the two developed a strange friendship, maybe even a love. Epona's death greatly affects Hugo, and his mind is set. He's not his brother but his own man. He has enough power from himself and not his name or from demons. He vows to right these wrongs! Cadena and Miuscha wake up and bear witness to the change. Epona slipped a strange amulet into Hugo's jacket as she passed...
And thus, Hugo fights through the Demonic Core.
...
The man Hugo saw long ago next to Epona is waiting for him. This is Kishgal, Epona's older brother. He knows Hugo had a part in his sister's death and wants revenge. But there's something about him. After round one, Kishgal bursts his demon power. As he does, the tower starts to glow and attacks Ys...
Kishgal almost surrenders. He knows Epona took a liking to Hugo, so he doesn't care. As Kishgal leaves, he asks if Epona smiled as she died. "Yes." Hugo tried to hand over the amulet, but Kishgal told him to keep it.
...
Zava is in her mirror world, and she's still interested in Hugo. She tries to get his demon power to activate, but Hugo manages to overpower her. He further upsets the temptress with the ultimate insult. He called Zava old. She and her familiars stood no chance against Hugo.
...
At long last, the two Fact brothers stand before each other. Toal says a lot of interesting things. Namely that he's sorry. He stepped aside from the priests because Hugo was always the better mage, a trait Toal was jealous of. The disinheritance freed Toal, but it enslaved his brother. But this journey has changed Hugo's mind. He's realized the curse of being a Fact and throws it aside here and now. And he proves it against his brother. Toal is glad. He did the right thing, after all. He falls to the floor as Hugo climbs the steps to the final confrontation.
---
I find the romance to be hella forced, but I'll let it slide. I feel bad for Miuscha, though...
[Hugo explores the Blighted Blood.]
After several jumps, Hugo walked into a terrible sight. Yunica Tovah was surrounded by several statues, all of whom were petrified holy knights. The panicking survivor managed to explain that Dalles had appeared before them, and he cursed everyone but her with petrification. She pleads with Hugo to do something, but he has little knowledge of curses. He told her to speak to Miuscha or Cadenza, and that he was going to continue exploring. This enraged the timid girl, who thought he was blowing off this tragedy. Hugo tries to remind her they're looking for Reah before she gets captured, so it's better to divest recourses. This did not appease Yunica, who stormed off.
...
While searching for the boss door key, Hugo came to a dead end on one of the balconies. But he wasn't alone. Toal was behind him. Hugo prepared for a fight, but Toal didn't care. He was disappointed his brother hadn't learned anything about having power. Rather than hark on it, Toal threw a replica version of the Black Pearl to his brother and left. Hugo warped to Feena, where Yunica was discussing the situation with her. He gave her the replica, and Feena combined it with "the idol" she had. After they fused, Yunica ran off to free her friends. Hugo, still focused on the task, left the sorceresses he insulted earlier without much fanfare. He, too, warped to where the petrified knights were and saw they were good to go. Mostly, at least. Yunica said Hugo was a big help in saving them, but he claimed he did nothing. Regardless, Galleon found the boss door key and gave it to Hugo as thanks.
Waiting outside the door was a strange man, but Hugo knew who it was: Dalles. The Darkling leader came with a proposition. He knows how Hugo acts and why he thinks what he does. Hugo wants power. It's a core tenant of the Fact dynasty. And Hudo, especially, wants to kill his brother. Dalles is willing to give him the power of the demons, but Hugo refuses to accept it. But then Dalles offers a taste. One of the Six Demon Lords is behind the door. Hugo can rent the power. He's unlikely to go mad, seeing as Toal didn't, and Hugo can experience more if he wants to. Hugo is enticed. Dalles casts a spell, and Hugo doesn't feel different. But maybe the boss will change that.
...
Pictolos gets up after Hugo knocks him down without using the power. And this annoys the mage. He activates the demon power, and everything goes mad. The Eyes of Fact turn into eight spheres, and they make short work of Pictolos. Hugo begins to laugh manically, giving in to the darkness. Cadena and Miuscha enter the room because Feena sensed something wrong. They notice Hugo losing his mind and try to save him, but he's not having it. His insults are as painful as they've ever been, and he charges the Lotusblade magic. The mages try to warp out, but it's too late. The girls go flying.
Suddenly, several knives strike Hugo in the back. Epona has shown up to knock some sense into Hugo as well. The two dance around, trying to hit one another, while Epona compares Hugo to Toal. He's become his brother. Something about this triggers the normalcy in Hugo's psyche, and he slowly starts to return to normal. After he checks on Cadena and Miuscha, a voice calls out to the room. Dalles is furious. How dare Epona foil his leader's plan! He curses Epona, and she starts to turn to stone. Hugo runs up to her and holds her in his arms, asking why she bothered with him. She just thought it was the correct thing to do. Unlike the curse to the holy knights, this is to send a message. It's slow acting, let's them say a final farewell, and it turns Epona to dust when it takes hold. Despite being enemies all night, the two developed a strange friendship, maybe even a love. Epona's death greatly affects Hugo, and his mind is set. He's not his brother but his own man. He has enough power from himself and not his name or from demons. He vows to right these wrongs! Cadena and Miuscha wake up and bear witness to the change. Epona slipped a strange amulet into Hugo's jacket as she passed...
And thus, Hugo fights through the Demonic Core.
...
The man Hugo saw long ago next to Epona is waiting for him. This is Kishgal, Epona's older brother. He knows Hugo had a part in his sister's death and wants revenge. But there's something about him. After round one, Kishgal bursts his demon power. As he does, the tower starts to glow and attacks Ys...
Kishgal almost surrenders. He knows Epona took a liking to Hugo, so he doesn't care. As Kishgal leaves, he asks if Epona smiled as she died. "Yes." Hugo tried to hand over the amulet, but Kishgal told him to keep it.
...
Zava is in her mirror world, and she's still interested in Hugo. She tries to get his demon power to activate, but Hugo manages to overpower her. He further upsets the temptress with the ultimate insult. He called Zava old. She and her familiars stood no chance against Hugo.
...
At long last, the two Fact brothers stand before each other. Toal says a lot of interesting things. Namely that he's sorry. He stepped aside from the priests because Hugo was always the better mage, a trait Toal was jealous of. The disinheritance freed Toal, but it enslaved his brother. But this journey has changed Hugo's mind. He's realized the curse of being a Fact and throws it aside here and now. And he proves it against his brother. Toal is glad. He did the right thing, after all. He falls to the floor as Hugo climbs the steps to the final confrontation.
---
I find the romance to be hella forced, but I'll let it slide. I feel bad for Miuscha, though...
Sunday, October 22, 2023
Self realization
Hugo explores the Silent Sands...
As Hugo enters an empty room, the voice of a woman calls out to him. The figure before him was the second twin, Lady Reah. Reah, mirroring her sister, quickly asked Hugo to leave the tower. There was little time to discuss the whys of that request, or the floating black orb beside her, as several immortal demons rose from the sands. Hugo defeated them, but they quickly got back up. Reah didn't panic and pulled out some chimes, and the monsters broke apart. Despite the new peace, no further discussion was made about the Darklings, the demons, or leaving the goddesses alone. They did discuss Toal... He was close to the twins, so they got to know him well. She was cagey about everything and didn't speak her theory, but she suggested Toal had a good reason to do what he did. She gave Hugo the Silver Chimes as an apology and flew off.
...
Hugo received a shell call from Eolia to tell him they knew where Feena was. She's imprisoned in Rado's Annex, and the knights are making their way there now. Toal told them about it...
Hugo entered Rado's Annex before anyone else. It was empty, but only for a moment. Zava decided to join him, curious about the cute younger brother of a man she hated. She said how similar the two are. They're both powerful mages, hate Toal, and are confident in themselves. It seemed like she was inviting Hugo into the Darklings. Hugo got angry about such a request, which Zava expected. She summoned her familiar, Jenocres.
...
Zava was interested in the Eyes of Fact, and that battle was more of a test than anything. She reiterated the two similarities, which Hugo dismissed as Zava teleported away. Despite not believing her, the thoughts of his enemy lingered in his head as he climbed the stairs.
A demonic door that gave off a terrifying sense of unease. It was sealed with a curse, and Hugo doesn't know much about them. But they couldn't be stronger than his father's shield magic. He charged up the Eyes of Fact "to the point of almost breaking" with the Lotusblade magic. He shot two full powered blasts at the door. It did nothing to the door, but the door bit back. It reflected both fire blasts back at Hugo, which knocked him out...
He woke up with Epona standing beside him. She found him in an embarrassing state and brought him down to where he fought Jenocres. The feelings between them were different than before, but there was still some playful arguing between them. Epona eventually asked why Hugo hated his brother so much. He recalled all the times he was compared to Toal and the weird heartbreak and indignation he brought upon the Fact line when he turned down the role of priest. Toal joined the holy knights instead and got himself disinherited. This caused the current Fact patriarch to force Hugo into the role set for Toal. He fulfilled that role, but it took away his freedom. The comparisons stopped for a time, but then he had to be the hero who sacrificed himself for Ys. His name became glorious again, which meant Hugo was the second favorite again. And since he up and joined the demons now, Hugo wanted revenge. Epona realized how similar Hugo and Zava are, but she had to return to her allies. Her words made some cogs in Hugo's head start to turn...
[Hugo meets with Miuscha and Cadena, opens the door with the Evil Ring, and everyone speaks with the trapped Feena, who tells everyone how the Black Pearl interacts with cleria ore.]
In the middle of all this, Hugo asks the goddess why they didn't tell anyone they were leaving. Just as Reah, Feena was cagey and gave no answer. Hugo got mad, which caused Romona to take up the defense of her goddesses. Everyone else, including Feena, calmed them down. She recognized Huho had a point, and she promised to answer everything when the time for it came. And with that, Galleon gave everyone updated orders. Cadena and Miuscha would stay to dispel the enchantment around Feena while everyone else did what they were already doing.
As Hugo left the room, Miuscha came to speak with him. She said she understood why Hugo questioned Feena, even if it upset everyone. She knows his family life isn't great, and she tried to talk to him about something else... Hugo got furious. He claimed she knew nothing. Hugo isn't comparing himself to Toal! Miuscha ran back inside, scared and forlorn. Cadena then replaced her, partly to scold the narcissistic mage and partly to agree with Miuscha. Hugo wouldn't have raged if the white mage was wrong... Cadena didn't lecture him because she knew it would be a waste of time, but she did demand an apology for her friend when he realized he was an idiot. "Don't let those be your last words to Miuscha."
Hugo realized Epona said something similar, and he listened to her. But why did his longtime friend cause him to scream so loud, "they could hear him in Solomon Shrine." Out of shame, Hugo finished his business in the Silent Sands and entered the Blighted Blood on floor twenty of Darm Tower.
---
Hugo's got some whiplash in his thoughts and actions, and I kinda dig it. They're trying to jam a lot of plot into a few in game hours and only twenty five floors, but it's mostly making sense.
As Hugo enters an empty room, the voice of a woman calls out to him. The figure before him was the second twin, Lady Reah. Reah, mirroring her sister, quickly asked Hugo to leave the tower. There was little time to discuss the whys of that request, or the floating black orb beside her, as several immortal demons rose from the sands. Hugo defeated them, but they quickly got back up. Reah didn't panic and pulled out some chimes, and the monsters broke apart. Despite the new peace, no further discussion was made about the Darklings, the demons, or leaving the goddesses alone. They did discuss Toal... He was close to the twins, so they got to know him well. She was cagey about everything and didn't speak her theory, but she suggested Toal had a good reason to do what he did. She gave Hugo the Silver Chimes as an apology and flew off.
...
Hugo received a shell call from Eolia to tell him they knew where Feena was. She's imprisoned in Rado's Annex, and the knights are making their way there now. Toal told them about it...
Hugo entered Rado's Annex before anyone else. It was empty, but only for a moment. Zava decided to join him, curious about the cute younger brother of a man she hated. She said how similar the two are. They're both powerful mages, hate Toal, and are confident in themselves. It seemed like she was inviting Hugo into the Darklings. Hugo got angry about such a request, which Zava expected. She summoned her familiar, Jenocres.
...
Zava was interested in the Eyes of Fact, and that battle was more of a test than anything. She reiterated the two similarities, which Hugo dismissed as Zava teleported away. Despite not believing her, the thoughts of his enemy lingered in his head as he climbed the stairs.
A demonic door that gave off a terrifying sense of unease. It was sealed with a curse, and Hugo doesn't know much about them. But they couldn't be stronger than his father's shield magic. He charged up the Eyes of Fact "to the point of almost breaking" with the Lotusblade magic. He shot two full powered blasts at the door. It did nothing to the door, but the door bit back. It reflected both fire blasts back at Hugo, which knocked him out...
He woke up with Epona standing beside him. She found him in an embarrassing state and brought him down to where he fought Jenocres. The feelings between them were different than before, but there was still some playful arguing between them. Epona eventually asked why Hugo hated his brother so much. He recalled all the times he was compared to Toal and the weird heartbreak and indignation he brought upon the Fact line when he turned down the role of priest. Toal joined the holy knights instead and got himself disinherited. This caused the current Fact patriarch to force Hugo into the role set for Toal. He fulfilled that role, but it took away his freedom. The comparisons stopped for a time, but then he had to be the hero who sacrificed himself for Ys. His name became glorious again, which meant Hugo was the second favorite again. And since he up and joined the demons now, Hugo wanted revenge. Epona realized how similar Hugo and Zava are, but she had to return to her allies. Her words made some cogs in Hugo's head start to turn...
[Hugo meets with Miuscha and Cadena, opens the door with the Evil Ring, and everyone speaks with the trapped Feena, who tells everyone how the Black Pearl interacts with cleria ore.]
In the middle of all this, Hugo asks the goddess why they didn't tell anyone they were leaving. Just as Reah, Feena was cagey and gave no answer. Hugo got mad, which caused Romona to take up the defense of her goddesses. Everyone else, including Feena, calmed them down. She recognized Huho had a point, and she promised to answer everything when the time for it came. And with that, Galleon gave everyone updated orders. Cadena and Miuscha would stay to dispel the enchantment around Feena while everyone else did what they were already doing.
As Hugo left the room, Miuscha came to speak with him. She said she understood why Hugo questioned Feena, even if it upset everyone. She knows his family life isn't great, and she tried to talk to him about something else... Hugo got furious. He claimed she knew nothing. Hugo isn't comparing himself to Toal! Miuscha ran back inside, scared and forlorn. Cadena then replaced her, partly to scold the narcissistic mage and partly to agree with Miuscha. Hugo wouldn't have raged if the white mage was wrong... Cadena didn't lecture him because she knew it would be a waste of time, but she did demand an apology for her friend when he realized he was an idiot. "Don't let those be your last words to Miuscha."
Hugo realized Epona said something similar, and he listened to her. But why did his longtime friend cause him to scream so loud, "they could hear him in Solomon Shrine." Out of shame, Hugo finished his business in the Silent Sands and entered the Blighted Blood on floor twenty of Darm Tower.
---
Hugo's got some whiplash in his thoughts and actions, and I kinda dig it. They're trying to jam a lot of plot into a few in game hours and only twenty five floors, but it's mostly making sense.
Saturday, October 21, 2023
Ungrowth
Hugo Fact entered the Guilty Fire...
Miuscha was surrounded by demons. She called out for Hugo, who quickly and easily dispatched the squad of enemies. Before asking why Miuscha was here, he instantly insulted the poor girl. Those were low leveled demons. Even though Miuscha is a white mage, she should have enough skill to have killed them on her own, or at least without panicking. The timid mage was remorseful, and her heartbroken state continued. She'd tell him that the crystal malfunctioned, and Hugo told her to regroup at base. Before leaving, Miuscha gave him the key to lowering the raised path.
...
Goddess Feena stood before Hugo. They have spent very little time together, but the angel woman knew his lineage perfectly. Hugo told Feena why he, and everyone else, were here, but Feena wasn't happy. This task was one for her and Reah. She told Hugo to return to Solomon Shrine along with the rest of the search party. Before Hugo could say anything important, the two Ysians were joined by the Darklings. Epona entered alongside the man she thinks resembles Hugo. Hugo has to agree. Hugo skips ahead of all pageantry and answers all questions before they're asked. The Claw is actually the "disinherited son," Toal Fact. Toal admits that he became a Darkling for the sake of power and is now obeying orders. Those orders were to abduct the goddesses and kill everyone who opposed them. And that includes his brother... Toal blinks in between Feena and Hugo, ready to strike. Hugo has always hated his big brother and is ready to follow his father's orders: kill the traitor.
Toal lunged around the battlefield, charging many bursts of flame behind him. After a miss, he'd just stand there. It wasn't as though he was recharging, but rather planning. Hugo shot at and blew him up, but Toal appeared unphased. Even when Hugo's unrelenting magic knocked him down, Toal could only laugh. He was toying with his baby brother. Toal showed off more of his demonic possession and changed into one. He lunged at his brother, several times, all too fast for Hugo to see. After all that, Hugo lost.
Curious about the proceedings, the witch Zava teleported in. She reminded Toal of his mission, and Toal prepared to kill his brother. Feena pleaded with the former commander to stay his hand, and even Epona felt it was too much. But Toal prepared to do his job. Suddenly, several balls of magic shot at him from down the hall. The sorcerers and holy knights arrived! Galleon and his knights were shocked and upset to see their former commander join the demons. Before anything further happened, Zava teleported the Darklings -and Feena- out of there. Miuscha asked Hugo if he was alright. He was shaking and told himself that he would kill Toal. Everyone returned to base to regroup.
All twelve members of the search party were at base. Dino had finally found the last knight, Yunica Tovah. After discussing everything they knew, Father Shion informed them the Black Pearl was missing from Ys. Everyone wondered why Toal would join the demons. They even thought he might be playing a double agent. Hugo shot that theory down immediately. Toal is evil and always has been! He was their enemy and should be treated as such. Not only that, but he even questioned the goddessess. Why would they bring the Black Pearl closer to their enemy! How stupid could they be? And this triggered Ramona, a holy knight. She was willing to overlook insulting her former CO, but Feena and Reah are too much. A fight was about to break out that Hugo thought he could easily win, but Galleon and Cadena broke it up. Galleon gave everyone their orders, and they went about their way. Hugo is still a member of the group, but their trust is shaken.
Hugo returned to the Guilty Fire and stumbled upon another artifact of Ys: the Crimson Lotusblade. He knew the power imbued within this blade could give him the edge he needed against Toal and prepared to absorb it. The blade's former owner, Saul Tovah, appeared before the boy. He warned him about unbound power for the sake of power, but Hugo completely ignored it. He forcibly took the energy inside it, giving off a dark aura in the process. Saul couldn't finish his thoughts... Epona was standing behind him, but she denied seeing anything. She warped out after more minor insults.
...
A roo gave Hugo a hammer, which he used to break a pipe that produced the music in the Devil'e Corridor.
---
As Hugo ascended the stairs after defeating Galady, he saw Toal waiting for him. Hugo challenged him to a rematch, but Toal told him it was a bad idea. The power he absconded with wasn't complete. Welding that which he took by force would make him weaker than before. Toal calmly walked past his brother, down to Gelaldy's room, and an enraged Hugo screamed that he'd get his revenge. But he listened to his brother and traveled to the Silent Sands...
---
Hugo is kinda hard to play. He only damages things in front of him and at range. So you have to stay away and aim your three projectiles. I'm glad I'm in very easy mode, and I got the achievement!
Miuscha was surrounded by demons. She called out for Hugo, who quickly and easily dispatched the squad of enemies. Before asking why Miuscha was here, he instantly insulted the poor girl. Those were low leveled demons. Even though Miuscha is a white mage, she should have enough skill to have killed them on her own, or at least without panicking. The timid mage was remorseful, and her heartbroken state continued. She'd tell him that the crystal malfunctioned, and Hugo told her to regroup at base. Before leaving, Miuscha gave him the key to lowering the raised path.
...
Goddess Feena stood before Hugo. They have spent very little time together, but the angel woman knew his lineage perfectly. Hugo told Feena why he, and everyone else, were here, but Feena wasn't happy. This task was one for her and Reah. She told Hugo to return to Solomon Shrine along with the rest of the search party. Before Hugo could say anything important, the two Ysians were joined by the Darklings. Epona entered alongside the man she thinks resembles Hugo. Hugo has to agree. Hugo skips ahead of all pageantry and answers all questions before they're asked. The Claw is actually the "disinherited son," Toal Fact. Toal admits that he became a Darkling for the sake of power and is now obeying orders. Those orders were to abduct the goddesses and kill everyone who opposed them. And that includes his brother... Toal blinks in between Feena and Hugo, ready to strike. Hugo has always hated his big brother and is ready to follow his father's orders: kill the traitor.
Toal lunged around the battlefield, charging many bursts of flame behind him. After a miss, he'd just stand there. It wasn't as though he was recharging, but rather planning. Hugo shot at and blew him up, but Toal appeared unphased. Even when Hugo's unrelenting magic knocked him down, Toal could only laugh. He was toying with his baby brother. Toal showed off more of his demonic possession and changed into one. He lunged at his brother, several times, all too fast for Hugo to see. After all that, Hugo lost.
Curious about the proceedings, the witch Zava teleported in. She reminded Toal of his mission, and Toal prepared to kill his brother. Feena pleaded with the former commander to stay his hand, and even Epona felt it was too much. But Toal prepared to do his job. Suddenly, several balls of magic shot at him from down the hall. The sorcerers and holy knights arrived! Galleon and his knights were shocked and upset to see their former commander join the demons. Before anything further happened, Zava teleported the Darklings -and Feena- out of there. Miuscha asked Hugo if he was alright. He was shaking and told himself that he would kill Toal. Everyone returned to base to regroup.
All twelve members of the search party were at base. Dino had finally found the last knight, Yunica Tovah. After discussing everything they knew, Father Shion informed them the Black Pearl was missing from Ys. Everyone wondered why Toal would join the demons. They even thought he might be playing a double agent. Hugo shot that theory down immediately. Toal is evil and always has been! He was their enemy and should be treated as such. Not only that, but he even questioned the goddessess. Why would they bring the Black Pearl closer to their enemy! How stupid could they be? And this triggered Ramona, a holy knight. She was willing to overlook insulting her former CO, but Feena and Reah are too much. A fight was about to break out that Hugo thought he could easily win, but Galleon and Cadena broke it up. Galleon gave everyone their orders, and they went about their way. Hugo is still a member of the group, but their trust is shaken.
Hugo returned to the Guilty Fire and stumbled upon another artifact of Ys: the Crimson Lotusblade. He knew the power imbued within this blade could give him the edge he needed against Toal and prepared to absorb it. The blade's former owner, Saul Tovah, appeared before the boy. He warned him about unbound power for the sake of power, but Hugo completely ignored it. He forcibly took the energy inside it, giving off a dark aura in the process. Saul couldn't finish his thoughts... Epona was standing behind him, but she denied seeing anything. She warped out after more minor insults.
...
A roo gave Hugo a hammer, which he used to break a pipe that produced the music in the Devil'e Corridor.
---
As Hugo ascended the stairs after defeating Galady, he saw Toal waiting for him. Hugo challenged him to a rematch, but Toal told him it was a bad idea. The power he absconded with wasn't complete. Welding that which he took by force would make him weaker than before. Toal calmly walked past his brother, down to Gelaldy's room, and an enraged Hugo screamed that he'd get his revenge. But he listened to his brother and traveled to the Silent Sands...
---
Hugo is kinda hard to play. He only damages things in front of him and at range. So you have to stay away and aim your three projectiles. I'm glad I'm in very easy mode, and I got the achievement!
Friday, October 20, 2023
Become the bullet hell!
As I said before, Ys Origin has two (and only two) playable characters. We beat the game with the axe slinging slasher, Yunica Tovah, last night. Which means it's time to play as a sorcerer we met during her story, Hugo Fact, today. He's a vastly different character in every way, so let's see how different his story is!
The opening animations are the same. It's not until the reason why Hugo joined the group is revealed. Text over a black screen says that Hugo must join the expedition. There's someone else he needs to find...
---
A man in black is lying on the ground. He wakes up and talks to himself about the transport spell being struck by a magic spell before realizing where he is. There's a large tree next to him that Hugo knows as the Roda Tree. It's the younger tree, and he's aware of who the person before him is. Not personally, though, as it's been fifty years since the tree last spoke to a Fact. Ever the focused and to-the-point, Hugo Fact asks if the Roda knows about Feena and Reah, the goddesses that watch over Ys. The Roda points out the giant tower to the west, and Hugo thanks the tree and begins walking there.
Hugo enters and sees three other people in the search party surrounded by demons. He jumps into the fray and summons his weapon, The Eyes of Fact, two floating orbs that shoot magic. Those two magical items and Hugo's own magic rod make quick work of the mobs. Father Shion, Eolia, and Dino rejoin him, and the four discuss what happened before planning on what to do next. Dino will seek out the missing members of the search party while Shion and Eolia make base. Hugo, wanting to find the goddesses, will scout out ahead. No one objects to him going forward, but Shion and Eolia teach him about navigating and communicating in the tower of Darm.
[Hugo navigates the Wailing Blue, the lower floors of the tower.]
After falling through the hole, Hugo sees two people standing on a platform. They're discussing a missing sorcerer. Hugo walks up to them, knowing they're not from Ys, and asks them who they are. This is a conversation between three people who are overly confident in their abilities. They yell and insult each other until the man leaves because a fight is about to break out, and he doesn't like fighting sorcerers. He allows the woman to do the work, and the insults between her and Hugo increase. It gets under her skin, and she declares that the Darklings will fulfill their plan. She realizes she shouldn't have said that but also states her name is Epona, and her skill with the trident is unmatched.
Hugo doesn't care and makes quick work of her. Epona thinks about fighting another round after her defeat, but Hugo says the same thing will happen again. He has total control of this situation, and both of them know it. She states that Hugo looks just like the newcomer to their team, and you can tell by their brooding look. This raises Hugo's interest, but Epona runs off. She's faster than him and gets away. Hugo deems her a mild threat and is more interested in if that new guy is "him."
[Hugo keeps scouting and finds Rico.]
As Hugo defeats the gravity trap, two voices catch up to him. The white mage, Miuscha, the fragile girl Hugo worried couldn't defend herself when talking to Rico, runs up to him and wraps her arms around him. He does not reciprocate. Miuscha asks how Hugo is before another sorcerer joins them. Cadenza wonders how the scouting is going, and the response is fine. Miuscha is worried about Hugo and asks to come along, but Hugo quickly shuts that down. He suggests helping Rico, and both women before him get annoyed. Miuscha wants to aid Hugo, and Cadenza doesn't understand how someone so smart can be so dense. It's a feeling Rico had earlier. Ultimately, both sorceresses agree and head to help Rico. He's mildly annoyed that the search party is forming as it will impact his mission...
[Hugo beats the boss and begins to explore the Sunken Prison.]
Standing in the middle of a pathway is Epona. She's ready for round two. As before, Hugo remarks how easily he beat her in their last fight, but Epona has a backup plan. Using magic from someone named Zava, she summons two gargoyles! Even Hugo ponders if he can win here. One would be fine, but two is unlikely. And that's not accounting for if Epona joins them. As he thinks, both of the summons turn around. Epona is now their target. She gets mad at them and Zava and pleads with Hugo for help. "Why? We're enemies." Epona noticed that bringing up the new guy piqued his interest, so she did it again. If Hugo helps, she'll spill all the beans. Hugo agrees and takes out one Vagullion.
Epona managed to kill the one who chased her, and she returned to fulfill her end of the bargain. Six months ago, the new guy, who said his name is The Claw after the claws on his arms that he fights with, joined the group. He used to be human but allied them and now absorbs all the demons that Zava summons, much to her chagrin. She continues to describe Zava, and it's clear the two women don't like each other. Hugo's high class kindness irks Epona after he starts to shut down the discussion. After more arguing, she teleports away. Hugo, to himself, says that the timeline works out, but everything else appears to be a different person.
Epona was guarding the Dragon God Scales, which Hugo knew was an artifact of Ys and what they did. Before testing them out, though, Eolia shelled him with the news the search party was regrouping. Not wanting to be suspicious, he returned to base.
When he introduced himself to Galleon and the rest of the Holy Knights, they all acted slightly surprised. Hugo, and his last name, carry a lot of weight in Ys. But that's for another day. All but two people in the group were here. Dino was still looking for a girl named Yunica, which caused Roy, one of the knights, to worry.
[The planning.]
Miuacha wanted to travel with Hugo still, but he turned her down. The Eyes of Fact don't play well with others, so he convinced her that it's best if he goes solo. Miuscha was broken hearted, and Cadenza was annoyed.
[The rest of the Sunken Prison takes place, and he makes his first steps into the Guilty Fire.]
---
Hugo plays as the bullet hell most Ys bosses are. He shoots out three magic pellets from his shoulder mounted floating spheres and his personal wand. This gives him plenty of range and damage, but the attack window isn't good. He can't hit things up or down stairs. He's also a lot slower than Yunica. I just realized he turns the game into Gauntlet! He is a very confident person, and he easily gets on others' nerves. Generally, though, he's well spoken and kind. But he always has this air of superiority about him that I'm willing to bet he doesn't even realize. That's probably his growth side quest! I'm playing on very easy because I'm in a hurry to reach my 100th game. And they weren't joking when they said it's "very easy."
The opening animations are the same. It's not until the reason why Hugo joined the group is revealed. Text over a black screen says that Hugo must join the expedition. There's someone else he needs to find...
---
A man in black is lying on the ground. He wakes up and talks to himself about the transport spell being struck by a magic spell before realizing where he is. There's a large tree next to him that Hugo knows as the Roda Tree. It's the younger tree, and he's aware of who the person before him is. Not personally, though, as it's been fifty years since the tree last spoke to a Fact. Ever the focused and to-the-point, Hugo Fact asks if the Roda knows about Feena and Reah, the goddesses that watch over Ys. The Roda points out the giant tower to the west, and Hugo thanks the tree and begins walking there.
Hugo enters and sees three other people in the search party surrounded by demons. He jumps into the fray and summons his weapon, The Eyes of Fact, two floating orbs that shoot magic. Those two magical items and Hugo's own magic rod make quick work of the mobs. Father Shion, Eolia, and Dino rejoin him, and the four discuss what happened before planning on what to do next. Dino will seek out the missing members of the search party while Shion and Eolia make base. Hugo, wanting to find the goddesses, will scout out ahead. No one objects to him going forward, but Shion and Eolia teach him about navigating and communicating in the tower of Darm.
[Hugo navigates the Wailing Blue, the lower floors of the tower.]
After falling through the hole, Hugo sees two people standing on a platform. They're discussing a missing sorcerer. Hugo walks up to them, knowing they're not from Ys, and asks them who they are. This is a conversation between three people who are overly confident in their abilities. They yell and insult each other until the man leaves because a fight is about to break out, and he doesn't like fighting sorcerers. He allows the woman to do the work, and the insults between her and Hugo increase. It gets under her skin, and she declares that the Darklings will fulfill their plan. She realizes she shouldn't have said that but also states her name is Epona, and her skill with the trident is unmatched.
Hugo doesn't care and makes quick work of her. Epona thinks about fighting another round after her defeat, but Hugo says the same thing will happen again. He has total control of this situation, and both of them know it. She states that Hugo looks just like the newcomer to their team, and you can tell by their brooding look. This raises Hugo's interest, but Epona runs off. She's faster than him and gets away. Hugo deems her a mild threat and is more interested in if that new guy is "him."
[Hugo keeps scouting and finds Rico.]
As Hugo defeats the gravity trap, two voices catch up to him. The white mage, Miuscha, the fragile girl Hugo worried couldn't defend herself when talking to Rico, runs up to him and wraps her arms around him. He does not reciprocate. Miuscha asks how Hugo is before another sorcerer joins them. Cadenza wonders how the scouting is going, and the response is fine. Miuscha is worried about Hugo and asks to come along, but Hugo quickly shuts that down. He suggests helping Rico, and both women before him get annoyed. Miuscha wants to aid Hugo, and Cadenza doesn't understand how someone so smart can be so dense. It's a feeling Rico had earlier. Ultimately, both sorceresses agree and head to help Rico. He's mildly annoyed that the search party is forming as it will impact his mission...
[Hugo beats the boss and begins to explore the Sunken Prison.]
Standing in the middle of a pathway is Epona. She's ready for round two. As before, Hugo remarks how easily he beat her in their last fight, but Epona has a backup plan. Using magic from someone named Zava, she summons two gargoyles! Even Hugo ponders if he can win here. One would be fine, but two is unlikely. And that's not accounting for if Epona joins them. As he thinks, both of the summons turn around. Epona is now their target. She gets mad at them and Zava and pleads with Hugo for help. "Why? We're enemies." Epona noticed that bringing up the new guy piqued his interest, so she did it again. If Hugo helps, she'll spill all the beans. Hugo agrees and takes out one Vagullion.
Epona managed to kill the one who chased her, and she returned to fulfill her end of the bargain. Six months ago, the new guy, who said his name is The Claw after the claws on his arms that he fights with, joined the group. He used to be human but allied them and now absorbs all the demons that Zava summons, much to her chagrin. She continues to describe Zava, and it's clear the two women don't like each other. Hugo's high class kindness irks Epona after he starts to shut down the discussion. After more arguing, she teleports away. Hugo, to himself, says that the timeline works out, but everything else appears to be a different person.
Epona was guarding the Dragon God Scales, which Hugo knew was an artifact of Ys and what they did. Before testing them out, though, Eolia shelled him with the news the search party was regrouping. Not wanting to be suspicious, he returned to base.
When he introduced himself to Galleon and the rest of the Holy Knights, they all acted slightly surprised. Hugo, and his last name, carry a lot of weight in Ys. But that's for another day. All but two people in the group were here. Dino was still looking for a girl named Yunica, which caused Roy, one of the knights, to worry.
[The planning.]
Miuacha wanted to travel with Hugo still, but he turned her down. The Eyes of Fact don't play well with others, so he convinced her that it's best if he goes solo. Miuscha was broken hearted, and Cadenza was annoyed.
[The rest of the Sunken Prison takes place, and he makes his first steps into the Guilty Fire.]
---
Hugo plays as the bullet hell most Ys bosses are. He shoots out three magic pellets from his shoulder mounted floating spheres and his personal wand. This gives him plenty of range and damage, but the attack window isn't good. He can't hit things up or down stairs. He's also a lot slower than Yunica. I just realized he turns the game into Gauntlet! He is a very confident person, and he easily gets on others' nerves. Generally, though, he's well spoken and kind. But he always has this air of superiority about him that I'm willing to bet he doesn't even realize. That's probably his growth side quest! I'm playing on very easy because I'm in a hurry to reach my 100th game. And they weren't joking when they said it's "very easy."
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Dalles, The Deranged
Chapter the Final: Tower Summit
Yunica climbed one final set of stairs to reach the very top of the tower. As Epona said, Lady Reah was locked in a purple bubble, and the Black Pearl was floating beside her jailer. Dalles' plan had worked. Yunica called out to Reah, and both Reah and Dalles were shocked to see her. Yunica doesn't care and demands he hands over the goddess and the pearl. Dalles says both are vital to his plan, which isn't just to bring down Ys, as Yunica assumed. Returning the floating lands to the planet is just a means. Dalles needs all of the power, and too much if it is being used to hoist Ys. Yunica calls him a monster and swings the sword at him. It bounces off a shield. Reah warns her friend that Dalles has absorbed the demon energy. To further prove how much of a power disparity there is between Yunica and himself, Dalles tries to kill her. He shoots a beam of magic at her, which she barely blocks with the Lotusblade. She's less capable against a wall of fire. Dalles then calls forth a death ball overhead and drops it on the girl. Yunica knows her time is up...
She's fine!? A sanctuary was cast around her, and reinforcements had arrived. All the Holy Knights, the sorcerers, and the freed Feena - who conjured the sanctuary- are here! There's no time to talk, and Feena tells her sister it's time. Despite being in an antimagic prison, the goddesses give their energy to Yunica. Her sword turns blue, and it allows her to shoot her own magic beam at Dalles, shattering his barrier. But he is undaunted. He brings forth his demon energy and seems to warp himself and Yunica to another dimension. The golden glyph around the tower is grey, and everyone is gone. Only Yunica and "the perfect fusion of man and demon," Dalles are prepared for a final climax.
The demon lord floated around the battlefield, spitting bubbles, homing bubbles, and fire meteors at Yunica. She targeted the flowing jewel on what she believed to be Dalles' chest. Her onslaught was largely continuous, only retreating to see how Dalles tried to counter.
But he was not done. The deranged summoned two guns that shot purple orbs through the battle, but Yunica tried her best to focus the Darkling lord. The demon's attacks didn't change much. A part of Dalles' barrier remained, but Yunica could remove it with an appropriately colored magic attack and a lot of patience. Dalles' incredible power in this form seemed limitless, but he could only last for three rounds here.
But still, he fought. Dalles made his guns stronger and used them to create a glyph between the three of them. It sucked Yunica in and would bring her to another new dimension to get free damage from the demon. Yunica thought this was cheap, buggy, and bullcrap! The guns also shot dragons while their master used arena sized fire and ice spells. A few quick wind spins took out the guns and stunned Dalles, sending him back to his first form for a moment. Roy's final wish came true, and he had help with it. Yunica fell during phase three, but the remains of her love's spirit gave her a second wind!
Dalles accepted defeat. He didn't understand how weaklings did it, but they did. Yunica explained to him that it's through those weaknesses that humans form friendships and make each other stronger, overcoming these supposed weaknesses. The loser doesn't understand and warns the humans that he'll be back. Demons and humans are two sides of the same coin. As long as humans desire power, evil will always remain. He laughed as he fell to the floor, and his evil spirit rose out of his body.
Reah and Feena knew what to do. They stood beside the demon energy in an attempt to seal it. Feena played her harmonica, and Reah prayed.
The Tower of Darm stopped glowing, and the spiked tendrils released Ys, falling to the earth but evaporating before they reached it. The cage around Ys dissipated, and the floating lands began to rise once more.
And Yunica was furious! Feena and Reah, how wingless from sealing the Black Pearl, could not return to Ys. It took their divine power to shut the demons away, and they'd soon have to sleep as well. Yunica lost her father, crush, and now her best friends. They promised to see Yunica the moment they woke up, but the girl had a feeling she'd be gone when that happened. The twins asked everyone to move them and the pearl to a remote location beneath the earth. This should remove any effects the pearl has on Ys, but it's not perfect. One day, the seal will break. The Ysians asked if they should prepare for that, but the goddesses said everything would be fine. They asked Yunica to see them off with a smile, which she happily but painfully obliged. Feena and Reah wrapped their arms around the Black Pearl, gleamed blue, and turned into statues.
They were moved beneath the earth as they requested, and the Ysians returned to the Elder Roda to prepare to return home. Just as the twins did, the Roda, too, would sleep. And with that, the teleportation spell was prepared. Shion, Dino, and Eolia asked everyone to stand between them, but only four of them did so. Rico, Miuscha, and Hugo chose to remain on the planet. A few short months ago, this area was their home, and they wanted to restore it. Yunica also wanted to protect the goddesses' statue. Galleon, Cadena, Ramona, and Cecilia were originally shocked, but their reasoning was sound and correct. They promised to inform the Six Priests of the news, and Galleon gave them one final order: protect their home!
We see the floating Ys reascend to the skies, but the ordeal this night damaged it. Several parts of the land couldn't rise with it and fell back to earth. And with that, the credits rolled, and we see a long look at the crater where Solomon Shrine was.
"To be continued..."
We're a third of the way through Ys Origins. I actually played on normal, so I got an achievement! I will revert to being a baby man and playing on easy mode for Hugo and Toal because I want to hurry through this before summer ends. I've got plenty of time!!!
Yunica climbed one final set of stairs to reach the very top of the tower. As Epona said, Lady Reah was locked in a purple bubble, and the Black Pearl was floating beside her jailer. Dalles' plan had worked. Yunica called out to Reah, and both Reah and Dalles were shocked to see her. Yunica doesn't care and demands he hands over the goddess and the pearl. Dalles says both are vital to his plan, which isn't just to bring down Ys, as Yunica assumed. Returning the floating lands to the planet is just a means. Dalles needs all of the power, and too much if it is being used to hoist Ys. Yunica calls him a monster and swings the sword at him. It bounces off a shield. Reah warns her friend that Dalles has absorbed the demon energy. To further prove how much of a power disparity there is between Yunica and himself, Dalles tries to kill her. He shoots a beam of magic at her, which she barely blocks with the Lotusblade. She's less capable against a wall of fire. Dalles then calls forth a death ball overhead and drops it on the girl. Yunica knows her time is up...
She's fine!? A sanctuary was cast around her, and reinforcements had arrived. All the Holy Knights, the sorcerers, and the freed Feena - who conjured the sanctuary- are here! There's no time to talk, and Feena tells her sister it's time. Despite being in an antimagic prison, the goddesses give their energy to Yunica. Her sword turns blue, and it allows her to shoot her own magic beam at Dalles, shattering his barrier. But he is undaunted. He brings forth his demon energy and seems to warp himself and Yunica to another dimension. The golden glyph around the tower is grey, and everyone is gone. Only Yunica and "the perfect fusion of man and demon," Dalles are prepared for a final climax.
The demon lord floated around the battlefield, spitting bubbles, homing bubbles, and fire meteors at Yunica. She targeted the flowing jewel on what she believed to be Dalles' chest. Her onslaught was largely continuous, only retreating to see how Dalles tried to counter.
But he was not done. The deranged summoned two guns that shot purple orbs through the battle, but Yunica tried her best to focus the Darkling lord. The demon's attacks didn't change much. A part of Dalles' barrier remained, but Yunica could remove it with an appropriately colored magic attack and a lot of patience. Dalles' incredible power in this form seemed limitless, but he could only last for three rounds here.
But still, he fought. Dalles made his guns stronger and used them to create a glyph between the three of them. It sucked Yunica in and would bring her to another new dimension to get free damage from the demon. Yunica thought this was cheap, buggy, and bullcrap! The guns also shot dragons while their master used arena sized fire and ice spells. A few quick wind spins took out the guns and stunned Dalles, sending him back to his first form for a moment. Roy's final wish came true, and he had help with it. Yunica fell during phase three, but the remains of her love's spirit gave her a second wind!
Dalles accepted defeat. He didn't understand how weaklings did it, but they did. Yunica explained to him that it's through those weaknesses that humans form friendships and make each other stronger, overcoming these supposed weaknesses. The loser doesn't understand and warns the humans that he'll be back. Demons and humans are two sides of the same coin. As long as humans desire power, evil will always remain. He laughed as he fell to the floor, and his evil spirit rose out of his body.
Reah and Feena knew what to do. They stood beside the demon energy in an attempt to seal it. Feena played her harmonica, and Reah prayed.
The Tower of Darm stopped glowing, and the spiked tendrils released Ys, falling to the earth but evaporating before they reached it. The cage around Ys dissipated, and the floating lands began to rise once more.
And Yunica was furious! Feena and Reah, how wingless from sealing the Black Pearl, could not return to Ys. It took their divine power to shut the demons away, and they'd soon have to sleep as well. Yunica lost her father, crush, and now her best friends. They promised to see Yunica the moment they woke up, but the girl had a feeling she'd be gone when that happened. The twins asked everyone to move them and the pearl to a remote location beneath the earth. This should remove any effects the pearl has on Ys, but it's not perfect. One day, the seal will break. The Ysians asked if they should prepare for that, but the goddesses said everything would be fine. They asked Yunica to see them off with a smile, which she happily but painfully obliged. Feena and Reah wrapped their arms around the Black Pearl, gleamed blue, and turned into statues.
They were moved beneath the earth as they requested, and the Ysians returned to the Elder Roda to prepare to return home. Just as the twins did, the Roda, too, would sleep. And with that, the teleportation spell was prepared. Shion, Dino, and Eolia asked everyone to stand between them, but only four of them did so. Rico, Miuscha, and Hugo chose to remain on the planet. A few short months ago, this area was their home, and they wanted to restore it. Yunica also wanted to protect the goddesses' statue. Galleon, Cadena, Ramona, and Cecilia were originally shocked, but their reasoning was sound and correct. They promised to inform the Six Priests of the news, and Galleon gave them one final order: protect their home!
We see the floating Ys reascend to the skies, but the ordeal this night damaged it. Several parts of the land couldn't rise with it and fell back to earth. And with that, the credits rolled, and we see a long look at the crater where Solomon Shrine was.
"To be continued..."
We're a third of the way through Ys Origins. I actually played on normal, so I got an achievement! I will revert to being a baby man and playing on easy mode for Hugo and Toal because I want to hurry through this before summer ends. I've got plenty of time!!!
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Demonic Core
Chapter 6: Demonic Core
The top floors of the Darm Tower fit right in in a demon mansion. Pristine black floors and ceilings, imposing pillars, and an endless void beneath it all. The beginning of the end often spiraled into dead ends. One such led to another hungry roo. Yunica still hasn't learned rooian, but she has an innate sense of hunger. Unlike the others, this roo unlocked something inside of Yunica. When Yunica goes into boost mode, she could now cause an explosion around her. It is a devastating attack. Yunica made use of the double jump against the abundance of demons that resided at the top. Several types of plants that can poison and confuse their opponents and explosion mages are violent barriers to reaching the top. Yunica eventually walked by a mirror, but it didn't reflect her. She assumed it was magic and continued on. This path led to Epona.
Epona was surprised that Yunica made it here by herself. Yunica tried to stay silent to keep her emotions in check. Epona got her to speak when she mentioned they have Reah and the Black Pearl. Epona didn't really understand what Dalles told her, but she understood taking over Ys. Yunica promised to stop their plot, and a final battle began.
Yunica had learned a lot these past few hours, and she vividly remembered her first battle against the Darkling. Epona, though, did not. Her actions hardly changed and were easily countered, especially with the Crimson Lotusblade and its firebird. When Epona realized how easily Yunica would defeat her, she used her final trump card and shadow cloned herself. There are now three of them, but Yunica made good use of the new roo's powers and wiped them out in one burst.
As Epona fell to the ground, the tower started to shake. The whole thing began to glow, and a burst of magic shot out the top. It formed a cage around the floating land of Ys! Spiked barbs chased the cage and wrapped themselves around it. The plan of the Darklings was to drag the land back to the ground. Eolia shelled Yunica with this information and also gave the warning she'd lost contact with the Six Priests. The eleventh hour is upon them.
Epona had a rod on her, and it was the magical tool needed to walk through the mirror that reflected not. Inside the mirror are more mirrors that teleport users around the room to unconnected platforms. More mages, one of whom can heal, and laser nodules inhabit this dimension. Yunica got lost for what felt like hours as the teleporters made no sense. But she eventually found the exit mirror...
The Hall of Reflections led to True Reflection, and a trap was waiting for Yunica. A purple cage formed around her, and she couldn't move. She wasn't there long before the voice of Roy appeared behind her. He mocked his "little sister" for lacking magic again because the cage is easily nullified with it, and he began to do just that. But Zava objected... She wanted to stop Yunica now and wouldn't watch Roy free her prey. To stop him, she shot bolts of electricity at him. But Roy didn't stop. Zava questioned Roy if a useless girl like Yunica is worth dying over. She is. Zava was relentless, and the attacks grew stronger and stronger. She offered one final chance to flee, and Yunica even pleaded with Roy to do so. But Roy remained. With one final blast, Roy was sent flying down the stairs. A pool of blood remained, but Yunica was free. As was her rage. Yunica swore for the first time all night and promised to kill Zava. Zava called forth two floating head familiars to give her the numbers advantage.
Zava floated overhead, summoning lightning, while her minions breathed fire and ice at Yunica. Yunica had to jump and knock down the mage, giving her an opportunity to get multiple hits in. It was slow sledding. Zava eventually began to possess her heads, increasing their damage output and giving them an opportunity to feast. Literally... But even changing the battlefield didn't deter Yunica. With a final boost burst, Zava faded away.
Yunica ran to the body of Roy, who was barely breathing. He tried to tell Yunica how proud he was of her. He also handed a present he was hoping to give when this was over. Yunica attempted to stop him, but he put his last bit of life force into it. His necklace allows the wearer to revive if she should fall. Yunica has two chances to save the goddesses and Ys. His final words were to carry on and an attempt to confess something... Ramona caught up to them, and Yunica asked if she could take care of him. Yunica picked up her axe and continued up, wanting to fulfill Roy's last wish.
The Devil's Throne is the final section of Darm. It houses gravity plants and armored knights that aren't worth a fight. There are also oozing demons and the most annoying mage in the tower. And at the end...
Kishgal was waiting. The man who killed Saul Tovah was expecting his daughter. Before the end, he asked if Yunica felt stronger after seeing a loved one die. Death is what makes him more powerful, but Yunica became enraged. Her power comes from inside her. She's finally figured out what her father told her about overcoming her weaknesses. That is how she's made it here. Kishgal wanted to show his true strength and changed forms. For this battle, he was a grey werewolf.
Just as before, Kishgal launched ice at Yunica. But her father's sword melted them and Kishgal. Playing this defensively and waiting for the madman to make a mistake was how Yunica got her familial revenge. Kishgal congratulated his opponent on a good fight. Her demeanor changed, for a moment, at the strange comment, back to the cute little girl from a few hours ago, and Kishgal was glad to die. Yunica was a worthy opponent. He happily faded away...
Yunica tried to call Eolia, but she didn't pick up. She guessed all the knights and sorcerers were making their way to the top of Darm. There is no time to rest. All hands are on deck now! But Yunica would lead alone. She climbed a square spiral staircase and came to a final exit at the top of the Darm Tower. Dawn had broken. But would it be a day for Darklings or Ysians?
---
Do I want to grind 700000 sp for the final battle?
The top floors of the Darm Tower fit right in in a demon mansion. Pristine black floors and ceilings, imposing pillars, and an endless void beneath it all. The beginning of the end often spiraled into dead ends. One such led to another hungry roo. Yunica still hasn't learned rooian, but she has an innate sense of hunger. Unlike the others, this roo unlocked something inside of Yunica. When Yunica goes into boost mode, she could now cause an explosion around her. It is a devastating attack. Yunica made use of the double jump against the abundance of demons that resided at the top. Several types of plants that can poison and confuse their opponents and explosion mages are violent barriers to reaching the top. Yunica eventually walked by a mirror, but it didn't reflect her. She assumed it was magic and continued on. This path led to Epona.
Epona was surprised that Yunica made it here by herself. Yunica tried to stay silent to keep her emotions in check. Epona got her to speak when she mentioned they have Reah and the Black Pearl. Epona didn't really understand what Dalles told her, but she understood taking over Ys. Yunica promised to stop their plot, and a final battle began.
Yunica had learned a lot these past few hours, and she vividly remembered her first battle against the Darkling. Epona, though, did not. Her actions hardly changed and were easily countered, especially with the Crimson Lotusblade and its firebird. When Epona realized how easily Yunica would defeat her, she used her final trump card and shadow cloned herself. There are now three of them, but Yunica made good use of the new roo's powers and wiped them out in one burst.
As Epona fell to the ground, the tower started to shake. The whole thing began to glow, and a burst of magic shot out the top. It formed a cage around the floating land of Ys! Spiked barbs chased the cage and wrapped themselves around it. The plan of the Darklings was to drag the land back to the ground. Eolia shelled Yunica with this information and also gave the warning she'd lost contact with the Six Priests. The eleventh hour is upon them.
Epona had a rod on her, and it was the magical tool needed to walk through the mirror that reflected not. Inside the mirror are more mirrors that teleport users around the room to unconnected platforms. More mages, one of whom can heal, and laser nodules inhabit this dimension. Yunica got lost for what felt like hours as the teleporters made no sense. But she eventually found the exit mirror...
The Hall of Reflections led to True Reflection, and a trap was waiting for Yunica. A purple cage formed around her, and she couldn't move. She wasn't there long before the voice of Roy appeared behind her. He mocked his "little sister" for lacking magic again because the cage is easily nullified with it, and he began to do just that. But Zava objected... She wanted to stop Yunica now and wouldn't watch Roy free her prey. To stop him, she shot bolts of electricity at him. But Roy didn't stop. Zava questioned Roy if a useless girl like Yunica is worth dying over. She is. Zava was relentless, and the attacks grew stronger and stronger. She offered one final chance to flee, and Yunica even pleaded with Roy to do so. But Roy remained. With one final blast, Roy was sent flying down the stairs. A pool of blood remained, but Yunica was free. As was her rage. Yunica swore for the first time all night and promised to kill Zava. Zava called forth two floating head familiars to give her the numbers advantage.
Zava floated overhead, summoning lightning, while her minions breathed fire and ice at Yunica. Yunica had to jump and knock down the mage, giving her an opportunity to get multiple hits in. It was slow sledding. Zava eventually began to possess her heads, increasing their damage output and giving them an opportunity to feast. Literally... But even changing the battlefield didn't deter Yunica. With a final boost burst, Zava faded away.
Yunica ran to the body of Roy, who was barely breathing. He tried to tell Yunica how proud he was of her. He also handed a present he was hoping to give when this was over. Yunica attempted to stop him, but he put his last bit of life force into it. His necklace allows the wearer to revive if she should fall. Yunica has two chances to save the goddesses and Ys. His final words were to carry on and an attempt to confess something... Ramona caught up to them, and Yunica asked if she could take care of him. Yunica picked up her axe and continued up, wanting to fulfill Roy's last wish.
The Devil's Throne is the final section of Darm. It houses gravity plants and armored knights that aren't worth a fight. There are also oozing demons and the most annoying mage in the tower. And at the end...
Kishgal was waiting. The man who killed Saul Tovah was expecting his daughter. Before the end, he asked if Yunica felt stronger after seeing a loved one die. Death is what makes him more powerful, but Yunica became enraged. Her power comes from inside her. She's finally figured out what her father told her about overcoming her weaknesses. That is how she's made it here. Kishgal wanted to show his true strength and changed forms. For this battle, he was a grey werewolf.
Just as before, Kishgal launched ice at Yunica. But her father's sword melted them and Kishgal. Playing this defensively and waiting for the madman to make a mistake was how Yunica got her familial revenge. Kishgal congratulated his opponent on a good fight. Her demeanor changed, for a moment, at the strange comment, back to the cute little girl from a few hours ago, and Kishgal was glad to die. Yunica was a worthy opponent. He happily faded away...
Yunica tried to call Eolia, but she didn't pick up. She guessed all the knights and sorcerers were making their way to the top of Darm. There is no time to rest. All hands are on deck now! But Yunica would lead alone. She climbed a square spiral staircase and came to a final exit at the top of the Darm Tower. Dawn had broken. But would it be a day for Darklings or Ysians?
---
Do I want to grind 700000 sp for the final battle?
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Blighted Blood
Chapter 5: Blighted Blood
The dark swamps of Darm Tower begin on floor eighteen. It starts as a catacomb area, and Yunica needed to navigate a rising spike mass that acted as walls before she activated them. She did...enough. En route, she had to fight off assassins and poisonous slimes. Those eventually led to charging knights until she fell down a hole. This hole took her to a pool of blood, a common feature in the Blighted Blood. This area is infested with strange crabs that shoot water, an annoying mollusk with homing electrical attacks, and a fungus that breathed dirt on her. After more catacomb jumping, Yunica had to contend with more mages, an explosive expert and an earth bender. The hungry roo tribe traded Yunica a fruit for some new armor.
After fighting off some glowing mages to free a goddess statue, an ominous voice called out to Yunica. She knew it instantly as the man Zava spoke to: Dalles. He's a regal looking man with long hair in a black coat. He was surprised that a girl so young could climb so far. He may have tried to entice Yunica to join the group he called the Darklings. So now they have a name. Yunica would never join them, but backup arrived to guarantee it. Led by Galleon, Roy and Ramona jumped into the room, surrounding the mage with holy knights. Dalles insulted them by questioning how good they really are, seeing as a girl just out of training beat them here. The knights promised to end whatever plans Dalles had, and the three burst into action! All three of them missed, but Dalles teleported to the side. Suddenly, the knights' secret weapon appeared! Cecilia tried to strike him with a powerful magical blast, but a shield stopped it in its tracks.
"Magic from the Black Pearl can never harm its own." Dalles has absorbed demon energy and is now s product of the Ysian artifact. The attack ended in failure, and it gave Dalles a chance to counter. Without even charging an incantation, he cast a spell that affected all the senior holy knights. Everyone but Yunica became petrified. Yunica's anger began to rise, and she thought about rushing in again. Dalles taunted her, reminding her of her battle against Kishgal, and Yunica kept her senses. Dalles spared her because he wanted to send a message. He asked Yunica to tell Feena that he'll take the Black Pearl. It's an obvious message, but he returned to the top of the tower.
Yunica instantly wondered how to break this curse. She returned to the annex to ask Cadena, Feena, and Hugo. They knew the curse was too strong for them to cure, as all petrification spells are. The amount of magic they'd need is impossible with Feena trapped. Dino may have brought something, though.
Dino was at base camp and brought the Dream Idol from the floating Ys. He had a feeling he'd need it. He handed it to us, but it was still low on power. With no further leads, Yunica hoped she'd find something as she kept climbing.
On a balcony near the end of the Blighted Blood, Yunica overheard a conversation between Hugo and the man with claws. The stranger sensed that Hugo had lost respect for the goddesses and tried to get him to cease his plans. Hugo told him off and said it was none of his business. In the end, the stranger walked away, showing a crack in the unity of Ys? Yunica pulled her sword out, but all three people thought that would be unwise. The man walked away, and Yunica spoke to Hugo. He had no idea who that was, but he did have something for us. A mini Black Pearl? Hugo didn't say how he obtained this powerful mimic but said he got it from the Darklings. If we combine that with the Idol, Yunica could free her friends. She returned to Feena, who, despite being in an anti magic field, fused the fake pearl with the idol. As Yunica ran out, she screamed how much she loved Lady Feena. The three remaining people in the room said how infectious her enthusiasm was. Despite lacking magic, she's the one to save them. Feena figured that meant her heart was pure, reminding everyone the Black Pearl creates demons.
Yunica warped back to the statues and rose the Dreaming Idol overhead. The magic was undone!
The knights were still suffering from symptoms, so they had to leave everything to Yunica. They each took turns telling her how powerful she'd become, and it's only been a few hours. Roy, especially. One handed Yunica the key to the boss door, and the trek continued.
Pictimos was an armored mantis. It attacked by throwing saw blades, vertical and horizontal, at Yunica. It also used several types of earth attacks, which it performed by jumping. It could also armor up and slowly charge. At half health, it summoned flies. Yunica tried to stay close, but the bug was too agile and moved around a lot. Ultimately, throwing Fire Phoenixes at it from afar was the best bet. Even on its second wind, she kept the same strategy.
Yunica climbed another set of stairs and came to the Demonic Core. A balcony on the twenty first floor allowed her to see the sun starting to rise over the planet.
---
Only four more floors. Two more days? I'm probably gonna abridge Hugo's story, by the way.
The dark swamps of Darm Tower begin on floor eighteen. It starts as a catacomb area, and Yunica needed to navigate a rising spike mass that acted as walls before she activated them. She did...enough. En route, she had to fight off assassins and poisonous slimes. Those eventually led to charging knights until she fell down a hole. This hole took her to a pool of blood, a common feature in the Blighted Blood. This area is infested with strange crabs that shoot water, an annoying mollusk with homing electrical attacks, and a fungus that breathed dirt on her. After more catacomb jumping, Yunica had to contend with more mages, an explosive expert and an earth bender. The hungry roo tribe traded Yunica a fruit for some new armor.
After fighting off some glowing mages to free a goddess statue, an ominous voice called out to Yunica. She knew it instantly as the man Zava spoke to: Dalles. He's a regal looking man with long hair in a black coat. He was surprised that a girl so young could climb so far. He may have tried to entice Yunica to join the group he called the Darklings. So now they have a name. Yunica would never join them, but backup arrived to guarantee it. Led by Galleon, Roy and Ramona jumped into the room, surrounding the mage with holy knights. Dalles insulted them by questioning how good they really are, seeing as a girl just out of training beat them here. The knights promised to end whatever plans Dalles had, and the three burst into action! All three of them missed, but Dalles teleported to the side. Suddenly, the knights' secret weapon appeared! Cecilia tried to strike him with a powerful magical blast, but a shield stopped it in its tracks.
"Magic from the Black Pearl can never harm its own." Dalles has absorbed demon energy and is now s product of the Ysian artifact. The attack ended in failure, and it gave Dalles a chance to counter. Without even charging an incantation, he cast a spell that affected all the senior holy knights. Everyone but Yunica became petrified. Yunica's anger began to rise, and she thought about rushing in again. Dalles taunted her, reminding her of her battle against Kishgal, and Yunica kept her senses. Dalles spared her because he wanted to send a message. He asked Yunica to tell Feena that he'll take the Black Pearl. It's an obvious message, but he returned to the top of the tower.
Yunica instantly wondered how to break this curse. She returned to the annex to ask Cadena, Feena, and Hugo. They knew the curse was too strong for them to cure, as all petrification spells are. The amount of magic they'd need is impossible with Feena trapped. Dino may have brought something, though.
Dino was at base camp and brought the Dream Idol from the floating Ys. He had a feeling he'd need it. He handed it to us, but it was still low on power. With no further leads, Yunica hoped she'd find something as she kept climbing.
On a balcony near the end of the Blighted Blood, Yunica overheard a conversation between Hugo and the man with claws. The stranger sensed that Hugo had lost respect for the goddesses and tried to get him to cease his plans. Hugo told him off and said it was none of his business. In the end, the stranger walked away, showing a crack in the unity of Ys? Yunica pulled her sword out, but all three people thought that would be unwise. The man walked away, and Yunica spoke to Hugo. He had no idea who that was, but he did have something for us. A mini Black Pearl? Hugo didn't say how he obtained this powerful mimic but said he got it from the Darklings. If we combine that with the Idol, Yunica could free her friends. She returned to Feena, who, despite being in an anti magic field, fused the fake pearl with the idol. As Yunica ran out, she screamed how much she loved Lady Feena. The three remaining people in the room said how infectious her enthusiasm was. Despite lacking magic, she's the one to save them. Feena figured that meant her heart was pure, reminding everyone the Black Pearl creates demons.
Yunica warped back to the statues and rose the Dreaming Idol overhead. The magic was undone!
The knights were still suffering from symptoms, so they had to leave everything to Yunica. They each took turns telling her how powerful she'd become, and it's only been a few hours. Roy, especially. One handed Yunica the key to the boss door, and the trek continued.
Pictimos was an armored mantis. It attacked by throwing saw blades, vertical and horizontal, at Yunica. It also used several types of earth attacks, which it performed by jumping. It could also armor up and slowly charge. At half health, it summoned flies. Yunica tried to stay close, but the bug was too agile and moved around a lot. Ultimately, throwing Fire Phoenixes at it from afar was the best bet. Even on its second wind, she kept the same strategy.
Yunica climbed another set of stairs and came to the Demonic Core. A balcony on the twenty first floor allowed her to see the sun starting to rise over the planet.
---
Only four more floors. Two more days? I'm probably gonna abridge Hugo's story, by the way.
Monday, October 16, 2023
Silent Sands
Chapter 4: Silent Sands
Floor fourteen is where the sinking sands reside. Getting stuck in them caused Yunica to sink, and she had no desire to see what was beneath them. The first room was a three way fork, and Yunica went right. That would end up being an exit for later. The top had a Roda's Fruit as a reward. Right led to immortal beings that would get back up no matter how many times they died. But there were a few worms that glowed red. Their death led up to stairs being opened up. Jumping up the massive staircase took Yunica to a cliff she had to fall to reach. It was guarded by powerful wind mages. Inside was a Golden Bracelet that changed the game. Yunica could now double jump! A slide was to her left that was the exit, but a hidden platform at the end had a gem on it. That brought her to the west room she'd already been in. There was a secret chest to her left that could only be reached with the double jump and wind magic. It contained a magic ring that lacked magic power. Yunica returned east and jumped up the second set of stairs. She found another hungry roo that gave her some shiny new boots for her fruit. In the next room...
Reah was standing there. A strange black orb was floating beside her, but Yunica was more concerned with a hug and the wellbeing of Lady Reah. Yunica told her hero what happened and why the search party is here before apologizing for getting Feena kidnapped. Reah actually took the blame for that. Feena was acting as a distraction at that time, and Yunica got caught up in everything. But it was all to prevent the Black Pearl, the orb beside Reah, from being taken. Feena was now jailed in Rado's Annex. As her sister before her, she asked the humans to leave everything to the twins. Before Reah left, Yunica returned the Silver Harmonica. As she did, the immortal monsters rose from the sands around them. Yunica took them out, but they continued to get back up. Rather than panic, Reah rang some bells, and the demons died. She'd give her friend the chimes as a trade and went to fulfill her mission.
A few floors later was another strange sight. A smaller building with no proper suspension was hanging off the side of the tower. Cadena and Miuscha had beat Yunica here, and they were joined by a new sorcerer. Hugo Fact, the missing mage and grandson of high priest Fact, has finally made his presence known. He and Yunica shared their greetings before discussing Rado's Annex. The mages sensed an overwhelming evil energy in the annex and were afraid of it. Yunica, though, had no such qualms. Lacking magical aptitude, she didn't feel anything and walked in. Waiting for her there was a trap and the evil witch Zava.
Zava tried to insult Yunica, but the desire to free her heros let them slip away. Zava would test the axe wielder by summoning another demonized mage.
Jenocres brought six turrets to aim their sights on Yunica. Depending on what their master told them, they would breathe fire in a straight line, sometimes forming patterns, or shoot several types of lasers. While they did that, Jrnocres would try to fry Yunica with electricity. Yunica never had to stand still. Moving around and avoiding the multiple hazards kept her on her toes, and she had to rely on hit-and-run tactics.
Sava was frustrated one of her familiars failed and planned to kill Yunica herself. Suddenly, a terrifying voice rang through the room. Dalles... He instructed Zava to stay her hand and return to the top of the tower. His plan was advancing on time, and he needed Sava to do something. As much as she wanted to fight, Zava left, promising to kill Yunica later.
Rado's Annex kept going up to a door with a demon face on it. The mages from earlier caught up to Yunica and told her how great the fight was. They then moved on to the door, which was the source of the evil energy. The magic around it was a curse, and only demons could enter the room. Cadena believed it was possible to fool the door, and the empty ring Yunica had was the key. If only they could refill it. Hugo mentioned a new type of immortal demon had appeared outside the annex, and Yunica took care of them. Before donning the cursed ring, which Cadena thought could kill the wearer, she spoke to Rico. Rico wished he had brought his grandfather's Blue Amulet, which would remove the need for the ring. But perhaps the necklace from earlier would suffice?
It did!
Inside the room was Lady Feena, trapped in one of the strongest forcefields Hugo had ever seen. Feena was safe, though, as the forcefield existed only to negate her powers and keep her in the bubble. The Holy Knights joined us now, and Feena felt it was time to tell everyone why the twins came here. To keep it short, the Black Pearl is cursed. For many years now, demons have ravaged Ys, so they're not connected to the outlanders in the tower. The demons spawned because of how the Black Pearl interacts with cleria ore. This shook everyone to their core. A sacred artifact is actually the ruin of Ys?
Floor fourteen is where the sinking sands reside. Getting stuck in them caused Yunica to sink, and she had no desire to see what was beneath them. The first room was a three way fork, and Yunica went right. That would end up being an exit for later. The top had a Roda's Fruit as a reward. Right led to immortal beings that would get back up no matter how many times they died. But there were a few worms that glowed red. Their death led up to stairs being opened up. Jumping up the massive staircase took Yunica to a cliff she had to fall to reach. It was guarded by powerful wind mages. Inside was a Golden Bracelet that changed the game. Yunica could now double jump! A slide was to her left that was the exit, but a hidden platform at the end had a gem on it. That brought her to the west room she'd already been in. There was a secret chest to her left that could only be reached with the double jump and wind magic. It contained a magic ring that lacked magic power. Yunica returned east and jumped up the second set of stairs. She found another hungry roo that gave her some shiny new boots for her fruit. In the next room...
Reah was standing there. A strange black orb was floating beside her, but Yunica was more concerned with a hug and the wellbeing of Lady Reah. Yunica told her hero what happened and why the search party is here before apologizing for getting Feena kidnapped. Reah actually took the blame for that. Feena was acting as a distraction at that time, and Yunica got caught up in everything. But it was all to prevent the Black Pearl, the orb beside Reah, from being taken. Feena was now jailed in Rado's Annex. As her sister before her, she asked the humans to leave everything to the twins. Before Reah left, Yunica returned the Silver Harmonica. As she did, the immortal monsters rose from the sands around them. Yunica took them out, but they continued to get back up. Rather than panic, Reah rang some bells, and the demons died. She'd give her friend the chimes as a trade and went to fulfill her mission.
A few floors later was another strange sight. A smaller building with no proper suspension was hanging off the side of the tower. Cadena and Miuscha had beat Yunica here, and they were joined by a new sorcerer. Hugo Fact, the missing mage and grandson of high priest Fact, has finally made his presence known. He and Yunica shared their greetings before discussing Rado's Annex. The mages sensed an overwhelming evil energy in the annex and were afraid of it. Yunica, though, had no such qualms. Lacking magical aptitude, she didn't feel anything and walked in. Waiting for her there was a trap and the evil witch Zava.
Zava tried to insult Yunica, but the desire to free her heros let them slip away. Zava would test the axe wielder by summoning another demonized mage.
Jenocres brought six turrets to aim their sights on Yunica. Depending on what their master told them, they would breathe fire in a straight line, sometimes forming patterns, or shoot several types of lasers. While they did that, Jrnocres would try to fry Yunica with electricity. Yunica never had to stand still. Moving around and avoiding the multiple hazards kept her on her toes, and she had to rely on hit-and-run tactics.
Sava was frustrated one of her familiars failed and planned to kill Yunica herself. Suddenly, a terrifying voice rang through the room. Dalles... He instructed Zava to stay her hand and return to the top of the tower. His plan was advancing on time, and he needed Sava to do something. As much as she wanted to fight, Zava left, promising to kill Yunica later.
Rado's Annex kept going up to a door with a demon face on it. The mages from earlier caught up to Yunica and told her how great the fight was. They then moved on to the door, which was the source of the evil energy. The magic around it was a curse, and only demons could enter the room. Cadena believed it was possible to fool the door, and the empty ring Yunica had was the key. If only they could refill it. Hugo mentioned a new type of immortal demon had appeared outside the annex, and Yunica took care of them. Before donning the cursed ring, which Cadena thought could kill the wearer, she spoke to Rico. Rico wished he had brought his grandfather's Blue Amulet, which would remove the need for the ring. But perhaps the necklace from earlier would suffice?
It did!
Inside the room was Lady Feena, trapped in one of the strongest forcefields Hugo had ever seen. Feena was safe, though, as the forcefield existed only to negate her powers and keep her in the bubble. The Holy Knights joined us now, and Feena felt it was time to tell everyone why the twins came here. To keep it short, the Black Pearl is cursed. For many years now, demons have ravaged Ys, so they're not connected to the outlanders in the tower. The demons spawned because of how the Black Pearl interacts with cleria ore. This shook everyone to their core. A sacred artifact is actually the ruin of Ys?
But then Yunica raised a very important question. Why did the twins bring the Black Pearl closer to people who want to steal it? She actually questioned the goddess! The knights tried to scold her, but Feena defended her. But, to answer the question, they brought it here to seal it away.
That explains the demons, but what of the humans controlling them? More importantly, how do we free Feena!? Galleon gave everyone their new orders, but there was something else to do first.
Galleon told Yunica to kneel before him and asked Feena if he could abridge the ceremony. He pulled out a sword and officially declared Yunica a holy knight. She's fought harder than anyone else and proven herself against the outlanders, thus earning the title. And with that, everyone went about their missions, and Sir Yunica Tovah continued the climb.
After dealing with wyverns, terrible spike traps, mosquitoes, and slippery floors (which required the Dragon's Claws to navigate), Yunica climbed to floor seventeen and met another demon general.
The Maneating Creeper, Khonsclard, rose from the sands. It brought forth bulbs that required Yunica to burn them. While doing so, though, the creeper kept trying to suck in its attacker. It also used several types of projectiles and earthquakes to impede her. Yunica eventually realized the plant could be stunned, letting her get safer attacks on the bulbs until she could target the demon's weak point.
Yunica started to ascend to floor eighteen, but the Holy Knights caught up to her. They said they were surprised at the lack of difficulty climbing, which probably means something... But they sensed this peace would be short lived. Roy hung back to tease his childhood acquaintance. Even though they are equals now, they'll always be friends.
And with that, all the knights went up to Blighted Blood.
---
A lot happened, and I hella skimmed it all. Writing these are taking longer than I expected, and the plot is about to speed up. Oh, boy! Also, why is she a sir?
Galleon told Yunica to kneel before him and asked Feena if he could abridge the ceremony. He pulled out a sword and officially declared Yunica a holy knight. She's fought harder than anyone else and proven herself against the outlanders, thus earning the title. And with that, everyone went about their missions, and Sir Yunica Tovah continued the climb.
After dealing with wyverns, terrible spike traps, mosquitoes, and slippery floors (which required the Dragon's Claws to navigate), Yunica climbed to floor seventeen and met another demon general.
The Maneating Creeper, Khonsclard, rose from the sands. It brought forth bulbs that required Yunica to burn them. While doing so, though, the creeper kept trying to suck in its attacker. It also used several types of projectiles and earthquakes to impede her. Yunica eventually realized the plant could be stunned, letting her get safer attacks on the bulbs until she could target the demon's weak point.
Yunica started to ascend to floor eighteen, but the Holy Knights caught up to her. They said they were surprised at the lack of difficulty climbing, which probably means something... But they sensed this peace would be short lived. Roy hung back to tease his childhood acquaintance. Even though they are equals now, they'll always be friends.
And with that, all the knights went up to Blighted Blood.
---
A lot happened, and I hella skimmed it all. Writing these are taking longer than I expected, and the plot is about to speed up. Oh, boy! Also, why is she a sir?
Sunday, October 15, 2023
The Guilty Fire
Chapter 3: The Guilty Fire
Floor ten was where Yunica met the lava fields in Darm Tower. The Guilty Fire is predominantly inhabited by sentient fire that seemed to make copies of themselves as they traveled. The path right was blocked by a raised platform, so Yunica went left. After slaying termites and a mother flame that spawned babies, she found one of the sorcerers in a spot of trouble.
Miuscha was surrounded by a group of demons and cried out for a man named Hugo. Hugo was nowhere to be found, but Yunica took them out with ease. Miuscha and the other sorcerers were trapped by more demons and had to teleport out. Something happened with hers, and she wound up here. The crystal was fine, but our young mage just had bad luck. Before returning to base to recover, Miuschs told Yunica that she saw Lady Feena nearby. She tried to call out to her, but the goddess teleported away. As further thanks for saving her life, Miuscha gave her savior a blue crest that fit nicely on a nearby pedestal. It was the key to lowering the raised gate.
The lava was more of a backdrop in the first few floors of the Guilty Fire. Most of Yunica's issues were the long jumps between the many gaps. Many were blocked by agile pugilists and fire breathers. There was a surprise en route in the form of a man who looked familiar. Yunica accidentally spilled the news that the goddesses are in the tower, which may have been a mistake. The man with claws was seeking confirmation that his prey was in here, and he got it. As a token of appreciation, he let her live. He would not be the only member of the demons she would meet in the Guilty Fire.
A winged woman was on the path Yunica was on. The Goddess Feena! Yunica was excited that one of her heroes was here, and she asked about what was going on. Yunica seemed angry, but the goddess knew her outburst came from a point of concern. Sadly, Feena did not respond with good answers. Instead, she told her young friend to leave the tower and let Feena and Reah handle this. In fact, the entirety of the search party should return home. The things happening now were beyond human control and maybe understanding. And then demons teleported in. Epona and two others, who Yunica would soon learn were named Kishgal and Zava, had found their target. It seems the man with claws was supposed to be here, but he left to do his own thing. They mocked Feena and Yunica for standing in the middle of an open area, making this a perfect ambush point. With the fear of her deity being kidnapped, Yunica rushed into the group. The man named Kishgal met her axe with a perfectly placed spear, easily thwarting her attack.
Kishgal then asked Yunica if she knew a man named Saul. Saul was Yunica's father. Kishgsl then proceeded to tell her that he killed Saul. Saul won the first battle, the second was a draw, and the third was a murder. Yunica regained her strength and tried to gain a sense of vengeance, but the frozen ice spikes stopped her in her tracks.
In an attempt to save Yunica, Feena offered herself as a kidnap victim. The demons accepted, and Feena handed Yunica her prized Silver Harmonica. The Holy Knights were finally able to join the group, but it was too late, and the demons teleported away with Feena in the middle. The Ysians returned to base.
Yunica told them all they knew, and it furthered everyone's resolve, even if it came with such terrible news. The goddesses are here, and now the situation is even worse. There are five enemies, a kidnapped Feena, and a missing Reah. While grouped up, Shion chose now to inform the group of classified information. When the goddesses left, the Black Pearl went missing as well. The Black Pearl is the source of all magic in the kingdom, so it's something that would be highly valued by enemies. Ultimately, the plan remained unchanged. The sorcerers would seek from the top down while the knights fought up.
But Yunica chose to remain at base camp.
Learning her father died and being unable to do anything against his killer broke the girl's confidence. She felt like she was holding everyone back. Could any of them have saved Feena? She started to reminisce about some of her meetings with the goddesses. The first time involved the holy knights being called. An intruder was detected in the temple, but it was called off when the goddesses found them. It was a young Yunica. They had a cup of tea. The next memory was when Yunica told them she was joining the holy knights. Since she lacked any magical ability, she'd use the strength she inherited from her father to serve her friends. Finally, she persuaded Galleon into letting her join the search party.
Roy saw his childhood friend moping and tried to pip her up. He spoke about her good qualities that she has, but it didn't work. He then came in and agreed that Yunica would be a detriment to the team now. But it's a shame. Roy saw Saul's sword somewhere in the Guilty Fire. But he'll have to bring it back to Ys now... Yunica's sense of family and patriotism woke up. If anyone was going to wield the Crinson Lotusblade, it would be her!
The burning blade practically called her name and led her right to it. Before picking it up, the spirit of Saul Tovah spoke to his daughter. He said that Kishgal was a worthy adversary and urged Yunica to follow in his footsteps and defend Ys. To honor her family lineage, Yunica took up the square sword. She'll put aside her axe to swing the blade in a long but surprisingly graceful arc to deal heavy damage to all unlucky enough to be hit by it. And with that, she restarted her climb up the Darm Tower.
Using the sword to light several torches on fire, she opened the path to a demonic aura. After jumping across spinning scythes and avoiding the lava that is no longer set pieces, she stumbled into the Devil's Corridor. It was a room haunted by ill wind and an ominous sound. Neither she nor Eolia knew how to stop it, so the new swordswoman decided to tank the damage. She found a balcony that contained a stuck and hungry roo. As before, she gave the cursed beast a Roda Fruit, and it triggered a memory for Yunica. The room hummed a song that its creator, Feena, taught it. And it made Yunica realize that song is said to stop negative magic if played on a sacred instrument, such as the Silver Harmonica. Yunica played the song, and the air became purified! She continued up and found new boots after beating a horde of large demons. After a jumping glyph maze, she had to light more torches before finding the source of the lava. And it housed a demon!
Gelaldy, the Murderous Construct, used the lava pool it lived in as a forge. A ring for people to pass through was around it, and Yunica had to remain on that or get burned. She had to avoid the hands of the golem and strike at the cogs that kept the arms attached to the body. Gelaldy would then try a headbutt, and it gave Yunica a few shots at the diamond on its head.
Yunica was halfway through the Tower of Darm and ascended to floor fourteen.
---
It's possible to "defeat" Kishgal, and you only need to take out half his HP. I almost did it, but he pulled out a new spin spamming move, so I missed out on a Steam achievement...
Floor ten was where Yunica met the lava fields in Darm Tower. The Guilty Fire is predominantly inhabited by sentient fire that seemed to make copies of themselves as they traveled. The path right was blocked by a raised platform, so Yunica went left. After slaying termites and a mother flame that spawned babies, she found one of the sorcerers in a spot of trouble.
Miuscha was surrounded by a group of demons and cried out for a man named Hugo. Hugo was nowhere to be found, but Yunica took them out with ease. Miuscha and the other sorcerers were trapped by more demons and had to teleport out. Something happened with hers, and she wound up here. The crystal was fine, but our young mage just had bad luck. Before returning to base to recover, Miuschs told Yunica that she saw Lady Feena nearby. She tried to call out to her, but the goddess teleported away. As further thanks for saving her life, Miuscha gave her savior a blue crest that fit nicely on a nearby pedestal. It was the key to lowering the raised gate.
The lava was more of a backdrop in the first few floors of the Guilty Fire. Most of Yunica's issues were the long jumps between the many gaps. Many were blocked by agile pugilists and fire breathers. There was a surprise en route in the form of a man who looked familiar. Yunica accidentally spilled the news that the goddesses are in the tower, which may have been a mistake. The man with claws was seeking confirmation that his prey was in here, and he got it. As a token of appreciation, he let her live. He would not be the only member of the demons she would meet in the Guilty Fire.
A winged woman was on the path Yunica was on. The Goddess Feena! Yunica was excited that one of her heroes was here, and she asked about what was going on. Yunica seemed angry, but the goddess knew her outburst came from a point of concern. Sadly, Feena did not respond with good answers. Instead, she told her young friend to leave the tower and let Feena and Reah handle this. In fact, the entirety of the search party should return home. The things happening now were beyond human control and maybe understanding. And then demons teleported in. Epona and two others, who Yunica would soon learn were named Kishgal and Zava, had found their target. It seems the man with claws was supposed to be here, but he left to do his own thing. They mocked Feena and Yunica for standing in the middle of an open area, making this a perfect ambush point. With the fear of her deity being kidnapped, Yunica rushed into the group. The man named Kishgal met her axe with a perfectly placed spear, easily thwarting her attack.
Kishgal then asked Yunica if she knew a man named Saul. Saul was Yunica's father. Kishgsl then proceeded to tell her that he killed Saul. Saul won the first battle, the second was a draw, and the third was a murder. Yunica regained her strength and tried to gain a sense of vengeance, but the frozen ice spikes stopped her in her tracks.
In an attempt to save Yunica, Feena offered herself as a kidnap victim. The demons accepted, and Feena handed Yunica her prized Silver Harmonica. The Holy Knights were finally able to join the group, but it was too late, and the demons teleported away with Feena in the middle. The Ysians returned to base.
Yunica told them all they knew, and it furthered everyone's resolve, even if it came with such terrible news. The goddesses are here, and now the situation is even worse. There are five enemies, a kidnapped Feena, and a missing Reah. While grouped up, Shion chose now to inform the group of classified information. When the goddesses left, the Black Pearl went missing as well. The Black Pearl is the source of all magic in the kingdom, so it's something that would be highly valued by enemies. Ultimately, the plan remained unchanged. The sorcerers would seek from the top down while the knights fought up.
But Yunica chose to remain at base camp.
Learning her father died and being unable to do anything against his killer broke the girl's confidence. She felt like she was holding everyone back. Could any of them have saved Feena? She started to reminisce about some of her meetings with the goddesses. The first time involved the holy knights being called. An intruder was detected in the temple, but it was called off when the goddesses found them. It was a young Yunica. They had a cup of tea. The next memory was when Yunica told them she was joining the holy knights. Since she lacked any magical ability, she'd use the strength she inherited from her father to serve her friends. Finally, she persuaded Galleon into letting her join the search party.
Roy saw his childhood friend moping and tried to pip her up. He spoke about her good qualities that she has, but it didn't work. He then came in and agreed that Yunica would be a detriment to the team now. But it's a shame. Roy saw Saul's sword somewhere in the Guilty Fire. But he'll have to bring it back to Ys now... Yunica's sense of family and patriotism woke up. If anyone was going to wield the Crinson Lotusblade, it would be her!
The burning blade practically called her name and led her right to it. Before picking it up, the spirit of Saul Tovah spoke to his daughter. He said that Kishgal was a worthy adversary and urged Yunica to follow in his footsteps and defend Ys. To honor her family lineage, Yunica took up the square sword. She'll put aside her axe to swing the blade in a long but surprisingly graceful arc to deal heavy damage to all unlucky enough to be hit by it. And with that, she restarted her climb up the Darm Tower.
Using the sword to light several torches on fire, she opened the path to a demonic aura. After jumping across spinning scythes and avoiding the lava that is no longer set pieces, she stumbled into the Devil's Corridor. It was a room haunted by ill wind and an ominous sound. Neither she nor Eolia knew how to stop it, so the new swordswoman decided to tank the damage. She found a balcony that contained a stuck and hungry roo. As before, she gave the cursed beast a Roda Fruit, and it triggered a memory for Yunica. The room hummed a song that its creator, Feena, taught it. And it made Yunica realize that song is said to stop negative magic if played on a sacred instrument, such as the Silver Harmonica. Yunica played the song, and the air became purified! She continued up and found new boots after beating a horde of large demons. After a jumping glyph maze, she had to light more torches before finding the source of the lava. And it housed a demon!
Gelaldy, the Murderous Construct, used the lava pool it lived in as a forge. A ring for people to pass through was around it, and Yunica had to remain on that or get burned. She had to avoid the hands of the golem and strike at the cogs that kept the arms attached to the body. Gelaldy would then try a headbutt, and it gave Yunica a few shots at the diamond on its head.
Yunica was halfway through the Tower of Darm and ascended to floor fourteen.
---
It's possible to "defeat" Kishgal, and you only need to take out half his HP. I almost did it, but he pulled out a new spin spamming move, so I missed out on a Steam achievement...
Saturday, October 14, 2023
The Flooded Prison
Chapter 2: The Flooded Prison
With only a tad bit of disobedience, Yunica Tovah ascended to the second set of the demon tower Darm. She was only on the sixth floor. Unlike the surprisingly pristine hallways of the Wailing Blue, the Flooded Prison had its share of troublesome terrain. Most notably, deep pools of water.
The first room brought Yunica to a fork. She took the left path and defeated a glowing red worm that erupts from the floor. It broke down the red demon gate that led to a nice treasure.
Usually, when warriors fight, they pace themselves in battle. Their actions are well rehearsed to remain at top condition for as long as possible. Their stamina and run speed are well trained for a long battle. The Silver Bracelet, however, removes that restriction. Yunica gained a full breath of air no matter how fast and far she ran.
It allowed her to fight through the monsters in the Flooded Prison with greater grace. The most common demons were the elegant swordswomen and a creature that spits poison on Yunica. She quickly learned to use her axe smash to stun the creature as eating the guaranteed poison wasn't wise. There was also a giant lizard creature, a scorpion, and more slimes. After a while, she found someone she was looking for.
The girl who summoned the bat demon was waiting for Yunica. As before, she insulted the axe wielder, but Yunica tried to defend herself. Sadly, the stranger didn't change. She's a proud person and "doesn't leave room for small things in her memory." If Yunica wanted to learn anything about this person, she'd have to accept her fight.
Fast and from range was how the Enraged battled. She'd throw her knives when at a distance and thrust her spear when nearby. It could be one stab or a series of attempted impailments. Yunica tried to jump on her, but she was always ready with a slice upwards. Yunica, struggling to find an opening, eventually saw that the girl let her defenses drop when she charged up a powerful attack. She seemed to set herself on fire and cooldowned on the otherside of the arena. When she was finished, she appeared tired. And that was Yunica's opening. She swung her axe until the enemy regained her senses and brought forth an orange shield, warding off further damage.
Proofing herself a worthy opponent, Yunics learns the girl's name is Epona. She and the guy next to her are not from Ys. Before getting any more information, Epona had to leave and meet up with her ally. Yunica continued down the hallway she was in and found another chest. It contained fish scales. She didn't know what they did, but her Lila Shell started to vibrate. Eolia was on the other end with good news. The scorchers were found, and everyone was convening at base camp. Knowing further exploration now was a bad idea, Yunica teleported back.
Roy and Ramona scolded her for not returning immediately. In her defense, she did, but where were they? Before anything further happened, Shion led the missing search party members into the tower. General Galleon and his second in command, Cecilia, were with them. Cecilia and Yunica are old friends, and Galleon worked under her father, but there was little time to talk about the past. Cadena and Miuscha were ready to begin this search in earnest. They were still missing another mage, but everyone expected him to already be in the tower, and the two women told us to continue. He's even more forward than Yunica.
Galleon led the discussion and requested advanced information from Rico and Yunica. Rico didn't learn much, so it was up to Yunica to tell them about Epona, their foreign status, and a potential third entity. Her information about the demon behind the beast mural led everyone to think the Six Demon Leaders who led the first siege on Ys reside in the tower. With this knowledge, Galleon gave everyone their orders. The sorcerers would learn how to deactivate the traps while the knights fought off the demons. Rico would remain at the base because he has the power to enchant weapons. Shion and Eolia would also stay here to keep the barrier and act as a liaison, respectively. Yunica would join the knights but was never given orders. But she's made the most progress, so no one complained.
Before setting off, Yunica made use of Rico's magic specialty. He used a piece of clera ore to make her axe stronger, but he got annoyed when he learned a simple "plushie demon" had the same power as him. A rivalry formed!
Yunica returned to the tower and made her way to a room filled with water, as the name of this section should lead us to think. It was a maze with only one path, but it would make for a fine barrier had Yunica not found the fish scales. The Sea Dragon's Scales let the user breathe underwater. It made the winding hallway child's play. The second room, though, was filled with crabs she couldn't harm. She had to swim through the waters, avoiding the crabs and spitting jellyfish as well as spikes on the ground and ceiling. The next room had a water flow that pushed everything into a wall of more spikes. While getting lost, she found new armor and another Roda Fruit. After several minutes of frantic fleeing, Yunica found another chest that contained the Levinatrike Warhammer. It's a thunder elemental smasher that made quick work of those immortal monster crabs. It could also break down cracked walls, which was an accidental discovery. An Arthropod Medallion was behind the rubble she made.
Yunica continued to dry land and more poison spitters. She found another hungry roo, and Yunica has a need to feed adorable creatures. It rewarded her with a topaz, which made the hammer stronger. She had already found two emeralds to empower her wind magic. Climbing more stairs, killing three red deathclaws, and purifying another demon statue brought her to the ninth floor and another mural. Behind that...
A statue of a horrendous millipede was wrapped around a pillar. Yunica remarked that it was ugly, but the execution was well done. And then it started to move!
Nygtilger clung to the pillar and tried to electrocute Yunica. She had to stay on the move until the worm finally came down to her level. From there, Yunica jumped onto the demon's back and tried to break the beast, one armor segment at a time. Nygtilger tried to double back on itself, which let it getting triple hit by wind magic. After being assaulted for so long, it went back to the pillar. Adding gravity bombs to its arsenal, Yunica had to now avoid the lightning and push the bombs away from the battlefield. While this happened, she saw the demon curl up into a hamster wheel and bumrush around the pillar. But after tearing apart the exoskeleton and avoiding the multitude of attacks, Yunica finally broke through Nygtilger's head. A gate opened, and Yunica took the stairs that led to another section of Darm Tower.
---
Origina is based on the Napishtim/Three Swords engine. Yunica plays very similarly to Adol in Felghana. So far, it's very good. I don't need every game to reinvent the wheel. If something works, don't break it! Napishtim was wonky, but Felghana cleaned up the jank, and it shows!
With only a tad bit of disobedience, Yunica Tovah ascended to the second set of the demon tower Darm. She was only on the sixth floor. Unlike the surprisingly pristine hallways of the Wailing Blue, the Flooded Prison had its share of troublesome terrain. Most notably, deep pools of water.
The first room brought Yunica to a fork. She took the left path and defeated a glowing red worm that erupts from the floor. It broke down the red demon gate that led to a nice treasure.
Usually, when warriors fight, they pace themselves in battle. Their actions are well rehearsed to remain at top condition for as long as possible. Their stamina and run speed are well trained for a long battle. The Silver Bracelet, however, removes that restriction. Yunica gained a full breath of air no matter how fast and far she ran.
It allowed her to fight through the monsters in the Flooded Prison with greater grace. The most common demons were the elegant swordswomen and a creature that spits poison on Yunica. She quickly learned to use her axe smash to stun the creature as eating the guaranteed poison wasn't wise. There was also a giant lizard creature, a scorpion, and more slimes. After a while, she found someone she was looking for.
The girl who summoned the bat demon was waiting for Yunica. As before, she insulted the axe wielder, but Yunica tried to defend herself. Sadly, the stranger didn't change. She's a proud person and "doesn't leave room for small things in her memory." If Yunica wanted to learn anything about this person, she'd have to accept her fight.
Fast and from range was how the Enraged battled. She'd throw her knives when at a distance and thrust her spear when nearby. It could be one stab or a series of attempted impailments. Yunica tried to jump on her, but she was always ready with a slice upwards. Yunica, struggling to find an opening, eventually saw that the girl let her defenses drop when she charged up a powerful attack. She seemed to set herself on fire and cooldowned on the otherside of the arena. When she was finished, she appeared tired. And that was Yunica's opening. She swung her axe until the enemy regained her senses and brought forth an orange shield, warding off further damage.
Proofing herself a worthy opponent, Yunics learns the girl's name is Epona. She and the guy next to her are not from Ys. Before getting any more information, Epona had to leave and meet up with her ally. Yunica continued down the hallway she was in and found another chest. It contained fish scales. She didn't know what they did, but her Lila Shell started to vibrate. Eolia was on the other end with good news. The scorchers were found, and everyone was convening at base camp. Knowing further exploration now was a bad idea, Yunica teleported back.
Roy and Ramona scolded her for not returning immediately. In her defense, she did, but where were they? Before anything further happened, Shion led the missing search party members into the tower. General Galleon and his second in command, Cecilia, were with them. Cecilia and Yunica are old friends, and Galleon worked under her father, but there was little time to talk about the past. Cadena and Miuscha were ready to begin this search in earnest. They were still missing another mage, but everyone expected him to already be in the tower, and the two women told us to continue. He's even more forward than Yunica.
Galleon led the discussion and requested advanced information from Rico and Yunica. Rico didn't learn much, so it was up to Yunica to tell them about Epona, their foreign status, and a potential third entity. Her information about the demon behind the beast mural led everyone to think the Six Demon Leaders who led the first siege on Ys reside in the tower. With this knowledge, Galleon gave everyone their orders. The sorcerers would learn how to deactivate the traps while the knights fought off the demons. Rico would remain at the base because he has the power to enchant weapons. Shion and Eolia would also stay here to keep the barrier and act as a liaison, respectively. Yunica would join the knights but was never given orders. But she's made the most progress, so no one complained.
Before setting off, Yunica made use of Rico's magic specialty. He used a piece of clera ore to make her axe stronger, but he got annoyed when he learned a simple "plushie demon" had the same power as him. A rivalry formed!
Yunica returned to the tower and made her way to a room filled with water, as the name of this section should lead us to think. It was a maze with only one path, but it would make for a fine barrier had Yunica not found the fish scales. The Sea Dragon's Scales let the user breathe underwater. It made the winding hallway child's play. The second room, though, was filled with crabs she couldn't harm. She had to swim through the waters, avoiding the crabs and spitting jellyfish as well as spikes on the ground and ceiling. The next room had a water flow that pushed everything into a wall of more spikes. While getting lost, she found new armor and another Roda Fruit. After several minutes of frantic fleeing, Yunica found another chest that contained the Levinatrike Warhammer. It's a thunder elemental smasher that made quick work of those immortal monster crabs. It could also break down cracked walls, which was an accidental discovery. An Arthropod Medallion was behind the rubble she made.
Yunica continued to dry land and more poison spitters. She found another hungry roo, and Yunica has a need to feed adorable creatures. It rewarded her with a topaz, which made the hammer stronger. She had already found two emeralds to empower her wind magic. Climbing more stairs, killing three red deathclaws, and purifying another demon statue brought her to the ninth floor and another mural. Behind that...
A statue of a horrendous millipede was wrapped around a pillar. Yunica remarked that it was ugly, but the execution was well done. And then it started to move!
Nygtilger clung to the pillar and tried to electrocute Yunica. She had to stay on the move until the worm finally came down to her level. From there, Yunica jumped onto the demon's back and tried to break the beast, one armor segment at a time. Nygtilger tried to double back on itself, which let it getting triple hit by wind magic. After being assaulted for so long, it went back to the pillar. Adding gravity bombs to its arsenal, Yunica had to now avoid the lightning and push the bombs away from the battlefield. While this happened, she saw the demon curl up into a hamster wheel and bumrush around the pillar. But after tearing apart the exoskeleton and avoiding the multitude of attacks, Yunica finally broke through Nygtilger's head. A gate opened, and Yunica took the stairs that led to another section of Darm Tower.
---
Origina is based on the Napishtim/Three Swords engine. Yunica plays very similarly to Adol in Felghana. So far, it's very good. I don't need every game to reinvent the wheel. If something works, don't break it! Napishtim was wonky, but Felghana cleaned up the jank, and it shows!
Friday, October 13, 2023
How the Ys was lost...
I've played Ys Origins once, which means I've played it thrice! Origins is the only side story in the Ys franchise because it doesn't star our best friend forever, Adol. In fact, he's not even mentioned because he's not alive. It takes place 700 years before he steps foot on Erestia, where Ys I is established. It tells the story of how all that double feature came to be. It stars two (and only two) people, and both are vastly different in personality and play style. But I'll get to that in a moment. For now, though, I boot up a new game, select Yunica, and we see an anime cutscene giving us the backstory on the backstory.
A French lady tells us that the land of Ys (pronounced Yees) was besieged by demons. They came in search of the Black Pearl, a magical artifact held by the twin goddesses of Ys that does something with cleria ore. The goddesses, Reah and Feena, rose the last sanctuary of the Yesians, Solomon Sanctuary, to the sky, along with the six priests of Ys. It was the last hope of humanity. In response, the demons constructed a tower to reach the floating landscape. This war was far from over. And then goddesses went missing. A search party involving a representative from all six families was sent to the earth below to find the sisters. As the teleportation bubble began its descent, a beam of pure energy shot out from a top the tower, and several smaller white bubbles exploded across the land. Our story begins here.
But how do I want to write this? I can't write a diary because there's no Adol, and a simple "walkthrough" is boring. I'm ninety six games into this blog, and I've never done a narrative story. Let's write a book or two!
---
A young girl with braids lies in the mud of Esteria. She is a member of the search party seeking the missing twin goddesses, Leah and Feena. She finally wakes up and examines her surroundings. After noticing her butt hurts, she realizes she's reached her destination, albeit the landing wasn't precise, and she's in a slightly wrong location. But the Tower of Darm, a massive spire constructed by demons to reach the holy land of Ys, is in the distance. Closer, still, is an old friend.
The Rods Tree, a sacred being on Ys, is nearby. The young girl has met the Roda before but reintroduces herself as Yunics Tovah, the granddaughter of one of the six priests of Ys. Yunica knows this is the older Roda, and he remembers the young girl. The two converse for a time, and the Roda tells us Yunica's father was swallowed up by the demonic miasma. He remained on the surface to buy time for the ascent of Ys. But this does not mean he is dead. As for the matter at hand, Roda senses lingering energy of the goddesses in Darm Tower as well as several members of the broken up search party. Roda's speech suddenly becomes fragmented to Yunica. She lacks any magical aptitude, and the miasma is rising again. She says her farewells to the tree and advances to the tower.
She's not alone on the first floor. Three of her allies, Dino, Eolia, and Father Superior Shion, are beset by demons, but none of them are attack mages. Yunica jumps into the fray, and her large axe makes surprisingly quick work of the squad before her. The three return to the entrance, and the four discuss their next moves.
Shion, the de jure leader of the group, tells Dino, a teleport mage, to find the other members of the search party. Eolia will stay with Shion to purify the area and prepare for the search party. Yunica was also a part of this group, but she's an overly curious girl. She asks Shion if she can scout out the nearby floors to gain some combat experience. While her father is a famed Holy Knight of Ys, she's just a novice. She promises to remain nearby, and Shion grants the wish. Eolia hands Yunica a crystal, and Father Superior informs her that the "horrific and ugly" demon statue before them is actually a statue of the goddesses. He proves this by touching the rock with the crystal, transforming it into a symbol of radiance. The crystal also allows for transportation, and the images are the anchors for destination. Yunica apologizes to the beautiful statue, but there's another gift. Eolia hands her a shell... She describes it as a way to communicate long distances. If either party needs to speak to each other, it can be done via this Lila Shell.
Chapter One: The Wailing Blue
And with the equipment in her hand and her fierce determination in her heart, she began to "scout" the Darn Tower before her. Demons, corrupt statues, and mages stood before her, but her great axe laid waste to them all. Along the way, she encountered stronger, red versions of these creatures. Defeating them brought down evil forcefields that blocked the path to much needed treasure. In one room, a floor switch brought up several stones Yunica tried to jump across. The final leap was too long, so she had to find a new way.
After finding a way to a balcony, which allowed Yunica to see the devastation of her homeland, Yunica found a Cerulean Flabellum in a chest. Before figuring out what it did, she was joined by a strange creature. This was her first interaction with the roos, a sacred beast of Ys. They were once innocent, but the demon miasma changed them. Despite that, they're still docile creatures. Yunica tried to have a conversation with the roo, but she doesn't speak the language. Fortunately for her, the language of hunger is universal. After hearing the beast's stomach rumble, she gave the poor creature a Roda Fruit. As thanks, the roo empowered Yunica's axe!
The Cerulean Flabellum allows the wielder to access wind magic. In Yunica's case, she spins around, harming everything in a wide arc around her. But it also allows her to float across long gaps, such as the one at the end of the first jumping puzzle.
As we traversed this new section, she came to a magic trap. The middle of the room held a teleporter that sucked all creatures into it. Rather than slay the intruder, it brought them backwards in the tower. Yunica thought the trap was too complex for the average demon and explored the new area. This new path brought the girl to fork. One path was locked, and the otherside unlocked it. After doing so, she found two strangers.
Yunica is a naive girl. She saw two people, a man and a woman, speaking about chasing a sorcerer through the halls. Yunica thought these were people left behind when Ys rose and asked them to return to the entrance. They laughed at her and called her a hick. Tired of this diversion, they called forth a strong demon and fled.
Yunica faced off against Vagullion. Vagullion attacks by breathing a poisonous mist or with one ferocious lunge. After doing so, it splits into several dozen bats and roams the room. Yunica had to time her attacks before the attack, which is dangerous, or in the short window after, which is tedious. As it reaches low health, the bats can fork two Vagullions, each performing a different attack.
With the creature dead, Yunica gave chase to the strangers but found nothing but a Blue Moon Crest. There was a relief for it in the teleportation trap destination. Placing it there brought the young girl to a key and a mask. The key unlocked a room in the Wailing Blue, and the mask let her see secret passages but hid living creatures. Behind the locked door were bats and a room that was only visible with the mask on. Se heard a voice but could not see the source. The voice instructed her to take the mask off... And inside the room was a member of the search party.
Rico Gemma was wounded, but it was nothing the white mage couldn't heal. He said he was hurt when the two strangers tried to kill him. Yunica called Eolia. As thanks for the aid, Rico gave Yunica a necklace that weakened the effects of magic on the user. This allowed her to overcome the gravity field of the teleportation trap and kill the four horcruxes. And then someone worse than the strangers appeared.
Roy was Yunica's commanding officer. Her and his second in command, Romona, came looking for our trainee holy knight, but it was Roy who scolded her. He called her a novice and told her off for rushing headlong into danger. And she wasn't even supposed to be in the group. She forced herself in and barely even made it into the training. When asked why she wanted to join the holy knights, Yunica's response was, "I love Feena and Reah." This is, apparently, silly. Yunica told them about Rico, and the two COs went to get him to safety. They also demanded Yunica meet them at base and left. Yunica agreed, but she's a rather stubborn girl. There's nothing wrong with a little more scouting. One more statue couldn't harm anything...
Battling through armored knight demons and slimes, Yunica found new boots. She also stumbled upon a broken piece of a relief painting, and it was a trap. Her well sharpened axe made quick work of the three knights.
The Beast Emblem unlocked a door at the end of the Waiting Blue. She entered and noticed that it could make a new base camp. She thought about taking a rest, but a different nightmare fell from heaven than the type one wouldn't expect. It scared her at first, and she thought about fleeing. But she had enough courage to fight. She offered a prayer to the goddesses and asked her father to watch over her before heading into battle.
Velagunder was a two part monstrosity. Yunica had to wail on the lower part while avoiding the poison spit, fire beam, and the rare fire spin. It also spits up green slimes. After enough damage, the demon would get dizzy. This allowed Yunica to (poorly) climb the Velagunder and attack the weak part. She had to do this a few times.
Yunica didn't know how she survived, but she did. The stairs behind the battlefield rose, and they led to a new section of Darm Tower, the Sunken Prison.
---
I'm gonna hate writing all of this...Ys
A French lady tells us that the land of Ys (pronounced Yees) was besieged by demons. They came in search of the Black Pearl, a magical artifact held by the twin goddesses of Ys that does something with cleria ore. The goddesses, Reah and Feena, rose the last sanctuary of the Yesians, Solomon Sanctuary, to the sky, along with the six priests of Ys. It was the last hope of humanity. In response, the demons constructed a tower to reach the floating landscape. This war was far from over. And then goddesses went missing. A search party involving a representative from all six families was sent to the earth below to find the sisters. As the teleportation bubble began its descent, a beam of pure energy shot out from a top the tower, and several smaller white bubbles exploded across the land. Our story begins here.
But how do I want to write this? I can't write a diary because there's no Adol, and a simple "walkthrough" is boring. I'm ninety six games into this blog, and I've never done a narrative story. Let's write a book or two!
---
A young girl with braids lies in the mud of Esteria. She is a member of the search party seeking the missing twin goddesses, Leah and Feena. She finally wakes up and examines her surroundings. After noticing her butt hurts, she realizes she's reached her destination, albeit the landing wasn't precise, and she's in a slightly wrong location. But the Tower of Darm, a massive spire constructed by demons to reach the holy land of Ys, is in the distance. Closer, still, is an old friend.
The Rods Tree, a sacred being on Ys, is nearby. The young girl has met the Roda before but reintroduces herself as Yunics Tovah, the granddaughter of one of the six priests of Ys. Yunica knows this is the older Roda, and he remembers the young girl. The two converse for a time, and the Roda tells us Yunica's father was swallowed up by the demonic miasma. He remained on the surface to buy time for the ascent of Ys. But this does not mean he is dead. As for the matter at hand, Roda senses lingering energy of the goddesses in Darm Tower as well as several members of the broken up search party. Roda's speech suddenly becomes fragmented to Yunica. She lacks any magical aptitude, and the miasma is rising again. She says her farewells to the tree and advances to the tower.
She's not alone on the first floor. Three of her allies, Dino, Eolia, and Father Superior Shion, are beset by demons, but none of them are attack mages. Yunica jumps into the fray, and her large axe makes surprisingly quick work of the squad before her. The three return to the entrance, and the four discuss their next moves.
Shion, the de jure leader of the group, tells Dino, a teleport mage, to find the other members of the search party. Eolia will stay with Shion to purify the area and prepare for the search party. Yunica was also a part of this group, but she's an overly curious girl. She asks Shion if she can scout out the nearby floors to gain some combat experience. While her father is a famed Holy Knight of Ys, she's just a novice. She promises to remain nearby, and Shion grants the wish. Eolia hands Yunica a crystal, and Father Superior informs her that the "horrific and ugly" demon statue before them is actually a statue of the goddesses. He proves this by touching the rock with the crystal, transforming it into a symbol of radiance. The crystal also allows for transportation, and the images are the anchors for destination. Yunica apologizes to the beautiful statue, but there's another gift. Eolia hands her a shell... She describes it as a way to communicate long distances. If either party needs to speak to each other, it can be done via this Lila Shell.
Chapter One: The Wailing Blue
And with the equipment in her hand and her fierce determination in her heart, she began to "scout" the Darn Tower before her. Demons, corrupt statues, and mages stood before her, but her great axe laid waste to them all. Along the way, she encountered stronger, red versions of these creatures. Defeating them brought down evil forcefields that blocked the path to much needed treasure. In one room, a floor switch brought up several stones Yunica tried to jump across. The final leap was too long, so she had to find a new way.
After finding a way to a balcony, which allowed Yunica to see the devastation of her homeland, Yunica found a Cerulean Flabellum in a chest. Before figuring out what it did, she was joined by a strange creature. This was her first interaction with the roos, a sacred beast of Ys. They were once innocent, but the demon miasma changed them. Despite that, they're still docile creatures. Yunica tried to have a conversation with the roo, but she doesn't speak the language. Fortunately for her, the language of hunger is universal. After hearing the beast's stomach rumble, she gave the poor creature a Roda Fruit. As thanks, the roo empowered Yunica's axe!
The Cerulean Flabellum allows the wielder to access wind magic. In Yunica's case, she spins around, harming everything in a wide arc around her. But it also allows her to float across long gaps, such as the one at the end of the first jumping puzzle.
As we traversed this new section, she came to a magic trap. The middle of the room held a teleporter that sucked all creatures into it. Rather than slay the intruder, it brought them backwards in the tower. Yunica thought the trap was too complex for the average demon and explored the new area. This new path brought the girl to fork. One path was locked, and the otherside unlocked it. After doing so, she found two strangers.
Yunica is a naive girl. She saw two people, a man and a woman, speaking about chasing a sorcerer through the halls. Yunica thought these were people left behind when Ys rose and asked them to return to the entrance. They laughed at her and called her a hick. Tired of this diversion, they called forth a strong demon and fled.
Yunica faced off against Vagullion. Vagullion attacks by breathing a poisonous mist or with one ferocious lunge. After doing so, it splits into several dozen bats and roams the room. Yunica had to time her attacks before the attack, which is dangerous, or in the short window after, which is tedious. As it reaches low health, the bats can fork two Vagullions, each performing a different attack.
With the creature dead, Yunica gave chase to the strangers but found nothing but a Blue Moon Crest. There was a relief for it in the teleportation trap destination. Placing it there brought the young girl to a key and a mask. The key unlocked a room in the Wailing Blue, and the mask let her see secret passages but hid living creatures. Behind the locked door were bats and a room that was only visible with the mask on. Se heard a voice but could not see the source. The voice instructed her to take the mask off... And inside the room was a member of the search party.
Rico Gemma was wounded, but it was nothing the white mage couldn't heal. He said he was hurt when the two strangers tried to kill him. Yunica called Eolia. As thanks for the aid, Rico gave Yunica a necklace that weakened the effects of magic on the user. This allowed her to overcome the gravity field of the teleportation trap and kill the four horcruxes. And then someone worse than the strangers appeared.
Roy was Yunica's commanding officer. Her and his second in command, Romona, came looking for our trainee holy knight, but it was Roy who scolded her. He called her a novice and told her off for rushing headlong into danger. And she wasn't even supposed to be in the group. She forced herself in and barely even made it into the training. When asked why she wanted to join the holy knights, Yunica's response was, "I love Feena and Reah." This is, apparently, silly. Yunica told them about Rico, and the two COs went to get him to safety. They also demanded Yunica meet them at base and left. Yunica agreed, but she's a rather stubborn girl. There's nothing wrong with a little more scouting. One more statue couldn't harm anything...
Battling through armored knight demons and slimes, Yunica found new boots. She also stumbled upon a broken piece of a relief painting, and it was a trap. Her well sharpened axe made quick work of the three knights.
The Beast Emblem unlocked a door at the end of the Waiting Blue. She entered and noticed that it could make a new base camp. She thought about taking a rest, but a different nightmare fell from heaven than the type one wouldn't expect. It scared her at first, and she thought about fleeing. But she had enough courage to fight. She offered a prayer to the goddesses and asked her father to watch over her before heading into battle.
Velagunder was a two part monstrosity. Yunica had to wail on the lower part while avoiding the poison spit, fire beam, and the rare fire spin. It also spits up green slimes. After enough damage, the demon would get dizzy. This allowed Yunica to (poorly) climb the Velagunder and attack the weak part. She had to do this a few times.
Yunica didn't know how she survived, but she did. The stairs behind the battlefield rose, and they led to a new section of Darm Tower, the Sunken Prison.
---
I'm gonna hate writing all of this...Ys
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