LogFAQs > #961565967

Okay, after a mostly-unnecessary detour that only served to extend the game's length, I can *finally* see Grimoirh. This arc was mostly filler and the scene at Lothringen could've happened anywhere, especially since I have a feeling I'll be returning to that tower eventually... possibly in Zestiria if I play it. We'll see. I'd like more than three votes >_>

On the way to Yseult, Laphicet is learning more about women that he probably doesn't have the foggiest about. And THEN I get an Eleanor monologue... where she's starting to see the Abbey for the evil it truly is. And hearing Artorius that the knowledge isn't for her... would a peace-loving religious order really obfuscate such things? Rokurou interrupts and Eleanor says her mother and friends were all killed by daemonblight ten years prior, and all she has left is her mother's hand mirror. This is why she's so xenophobic... not realizing she's being used by the guy who caused daemonblight in the first place.

There is no further bullshit and I finally arrive in Yseult. Let's see what kind of company Miss Magilou keeps! I see a pengyon... aka dinner to Eleanor. Magilou does an impression of Grim that doesn't help. And Laphicet is still... confused about women. I love this. A "grown noblewoman" is as vague as "ugly flowers" and he eats it up. Will this be a trend? He asks Magilou about her expression of feelings and this is too deep for her, so she just says they broke.

I like this place. It's very... tropical and relaxing, with no single-digit temperatures like here. The history is troublesome, given how Midgand invaded Southgand using the lumber they'd traded for. Seems like they like fun - "Shenanigand" as a nickname sounds like my kind of place. The biggest flaw is they're up Artorius's butt because, well, they don't know about certain goings-on. Yet. I talk to the priest at the cathedral as Laphicet and instead get Magilou's menagerie of inanity... and she starts flirting with him. He has NO IDEA what to say. Turns out she was fucking with him. Magilou style. I am IN STITCHES. What a prank! He so wanted her, XD! I change to Eleanor... and get Rokurou. Okay, on-screen does not matter. Rokurou can't think of anything. This judgmental priest tries to get him to repent for using his swords. And Rokurou accuses him of being too vague for people to understand, and gets HIM to confess that sin instead. I am AGAIN laughing. This is awesome.

I ask around and nobody knows Grim. She probably keeps to herself in a little hut by the sea. From what is said about young people leaving, something tells me this place isn't around in Zestiria... or is markedly different. A shame. Also shameful: Magilou being serious about goofing around... and then we see Villain Teresa and her baby brother Oscar. We eavesdrop about Oscar's deployment to Palamedes. We'll have to kill him there, probably. He's not very useful to the plot despite his generic JRPG protagonist design (again, I like that he's a villain despite his clear archetype). Teresa unwittingly gives us info about a daemon in Haria and the need to boil the water. But Big Sis just keeps acting like Big Sis. Velvet relates pretty well, having had a little brother and experiencing the same overprotective emotions. And... Eleanor is suspicious as fuck. Nobody trusts her. Laphicet kind of does despite dwelling inside Eleanor - when he can see and hear what she does, but not sense emotions (and he doesn't sleep next to her). He notes how she's different when she sleeps and likes her with her hair down. She also says she's changing her opinion about malakhim... Velvet doesn't believe her. Again.

I find a guy cowering under the rafters about FRUIT WARS. He, uh, likes watermelon, and not in the usual way. He's avoiding this rite of passage to adulthood because he doesn't want to be pelted by melons and coconuts, fearing for his life. Maybe this place isn't so great. The adults call the kids "weak" but they had softer fruit back then. And Velvet convinces him to stand up for himself and tell them to stuff tradition... or go back to poranges. The only other interesting sidequest is the Amenoch bit - the Abbey is "converting" people. Reminds me of a church I know. People can believe whatever works best for them, so dictating them otherwise is barbaric. Yes, I just said that the Catholic Church was the barbaric institution, not who they'd labeled as barbarians. Haria doesn't seem attached to the Abbey at all, so perhaps Grim is there...

A souvenir vendor says he saw Grim, who... is actually a Normin. I knew that since I'd seen her picture on the VA list (Elizabeth Maxwell), but still. When Velvet grills her like it matters (how does it, anyway?), Magilou says that spies are everywhere. Bienfu says Normin essentially power up the abilities of others as opposed to manipulating natural forces. He also dislikes the "common spirits" name because, well, that makes them sound too banal and everyday. Makes sense. So does him crying when Rokurou needles him about it. This party's so fun in even the most random of things.

I up the difficulty to Intense and... I see no difference, even against the Dire Foe. I'm still beating the crap out of everything. Also, EIZEN learns Resurrection... here I thought that'd be Laphicet! I keep back-and-forth between the armor shop and battles because I want that +1 to BG for +5 equipment. The Dire Foe drop here is useless - a 1% increase in drop rates if you have under 100? Come on. I almost never have under 100 equipments even though I purge it constantly. That's how rapidly they already drop. I also use this opportunity to replenish my Katz Souls, seeing as recent chests - including the Class 4 islet - sapped my stockpile. There's this amusing scene where Laphicet asks where babies come from and I can't help but giggle when the girls try to divert the subject... and Eleanor undermines our talk about how much pengyons care for their eggs by saying she enjoys eating them. So you kill the parents and eat them and eat the eggs too? Yikes. I prefer NOT to think my bacon once had a face, thankyouverymuch. A rappig's a rappig and that's all I need to know.

Grim sics a giant lizard on us, which we promptly whomp. No comments thereafter - we cut right to the chase. Grim was an upperclasswoman at witch school, which is where Mags knew her. And the party handles this interaction very badly. Very, VERY badly. Velvet threatens her with the sword and Grim says "Do it." Velvet has a lot of anger in her eyes but she's smart, so she knows she can't lose her only lead on... whatever the hell it was we needed translated. It's been too long since I got it because of the filler arc. Velvet should've offered a deal: "Tell you what. If you have a job for us, we'll do it, and in exchange, the only price we ask is translation. Sound fair?" Grim would be more agreeable to that. What she does agree to is Laphicet's enthusiasm: He wants to learn the tongue for himself because he loves learning... and wants to be useful to Velvet, because she's given him autonomy. Grim will read it for him.

There's a fantastic skit where 1) Bienfu suggests Grim lawyer up to sue the shopkeeper, 2) Grim threatens to mount and stuff Bienfu to sell at a high price, scaring him away, and 3) Eleanor slips up and gets grilled by Grim, too. I am already VERY afraid of crossing Grim. She's one tough customer and nothing gets by her. I like her.

I clear the area and fight against a Code Red Harpy and - guess what? - IT'S AN ACTUAL FUCKING CHALLENGE! I beat her my first go, but it's a struggle, and Eizen having Resurrection certainly helped a lot. That's what I'm talking about! I wish more fights were slugfests like this, I really do, because nothing else on Intense is giving me that. In fact I took out 3-4 enemies at once.... which says something.

That's more than enough for now. Tomorrow, to Haria!