A siren and her cronies confront Belgger.
◊
"It's been a long time, Belgger... I guess commander Lasanti was right," the siren says.
"Grevis! You're with Rictor?! Tell me, has he gone to meet the Lord of Rananculus?"
"Yes, that's right. The commander said that you'd come after him for sure."
"What's he planning? Has he been in communication with Rananculus all this time...?"
"How am I supposed to know? Listen, Belgger. You're my enemy now. I don't have time to chat. Prepare to die!"
"Don't underestimate me," she says. "I'm not the woman you once knew."
This is a pretty standard. Don't bother killing the two knights; they have lots of health and will just heal themselves if you get it low. Go after the mages and the boss. Grevis has the next in the recent series of large-range spells.
Grevis: You are... too strong... as commander Lasanti... said... why... didn't you... join him? You could have...
Naris and Briffaut seem to be having a talk.
◊
Briffaut looks around and moves out of the way for a guard.
"Rictor Lasanti is here to see you, sir," the guard says. "What would you like me to do?"
"Welcome him as our guest," Naris says. The guard walks away.
"Are you sure?" Briffaut asks. "He's probably here for the spear."
Naris closes his eyes in annoyance. "What choice do I have? He says he is here for a private business. The only soldiers he has with him are a few bodyguards. He's got some nerves... but that's all he has. He has no inkling of the spear's true power. Just let him swim around in the net for a while. In the end, all we need is the spear."
"So you're saying that you'll cooperate with him?"
"Openly... yes. You'd best mind your manners too. He is the son of the duke, after all."
"...I understand. So what have the twins been up to?"
"Lethe is away. She said there was something on her mind. Cirvante's in the castle library doing some research. Why do you ask?"
"...No particular reason. I just don't trust them... it doesn't seem like a good idea to have sorcerers like them wandering around."
Naris stands up. "Silence, Nichart! Mind your meddling! Weren't you the one who lost to that kid, the one who's now helping that woman from Galius? Thanks to you, we have more flies buzzing about. If you have time to talk, then get back to work!" He points at the door.
Nichart bows his head. "Yes, sir." He walks away.
Naris sits back down. A sorceress walks in.
◊ "...Cirvante, have you found anything?" he asks.
She steps closer. 'I was researching the folklore of the island and of the Sacred Spear. Longicolnis means 'long horn.' I can give you more details in the library."
Naris stands up. "Alright." He stands up, and they walk away.
Next story battle is Sotavento.
◊ Let's go.
Well, look who we have here.
◊ "You're that kid from the ruins," Nichart Briffaut says. "So, you were lucky enough to survive, eh? I heard that you're no longer supporting the troops of Felis and are instead helping that woman from Galius."
"I remember you. Let's finish this!" Well put, Belgger.
"Hmmph! I don't know how close you are to discovering the truth, but finding the Sacred Spear is just the beginning. Rictor Lasanti intends to use Naris Batraal and bring the spear back to Felis. But it won't be that easy. This is what you wanted to know, isn't it? Now come on kid, let's see what you're made of!"
"Kid! Don't take me lightly."
This battle is pretty fun, and actually provides something of a challenge. Deal with Nichart's cronies, and then Nichart himself. He'll continually cast Ice Javelin at you. Be sure to kill all his minions (the priest too) before he catches up to you. Once he's alone, go all out.
When Nichart attacks Ivanna: "You must be Naris's niece. You've disgraced yourself by ignoring your sworn duty as a knight."
"I came here to discover the truth about my father's death, and I won't let anyone interfere."
His spear, "Oscric's Spear", is very powerful and can hit two people at once. If his priest is alive, he'll keep casting Heal Plus for hundred HP, so kill him.
Appropriately, Ivanna is the one to finish him.
He kneels. "You're tougher than I expected. I guess I'll save some fun for later."
"Nichart! Are you running away again!?"
"If you want to know the whole story, then come to Ostorea Caste... I won't guarantee that you'll leave in once piece though." He uses an escape crystal, the tried and true plot convenience villain escape route.
We get 1000 Goth, two Stones of Swiftness, an Altar of Resurrection, Earth Garb, and another 1000 Goth.
Belgger and Eleanor walk through the town and into a house.
◊
"This was my home..." Eleanor whispers. " I used to live with my mother and father. They were both kind people. But, the villagers bullied me because I wasn't their real child. My parents tried to protect me by giving small handouts to my antagonizers, but things got worst after they passed away." So what, Eleanor's parents gave bullies pamphlets that said 'stop bullying Eleanor?' "And... one summer night... something that I never expected happened..."
"Dimitri, where are you taking me in the middle of the night?" child Eleanor asks. "It dark outside. I want to go home." Dimitri (really?) ignores her and walks on. She follows him. Two other boys emerge from the shadows. "Allen, Merrick...!?" They approach her. "Stop! Dimitri... why!?"
"Shut up, already!" Allen growls. "Who else would take care of an orphan like you? You should me more grateful."
"What's this?" Merrick asks. "A pearl necklace? Pretty fancy for an orphan!"
"Don't..." she whispers. "Please... it's my only treasure... someone, help!" The necklace starts to glow.
"What's that light?!" Merrick shouts. It flashes, and he falls to the ground, dead.
"Allen, look! He's dead!!!" Dimitri shouts.
"Whoa! She's a monster! She's going to kill us!!!" Allen screams.
Eleanor shakes her head. "But, I didn't do anything...!"
"You... you're not human after all," Dimitri whispers in disbelief. "That rumor about you being the child of a mermaid was true!!!"
"That's not true!" Eleanor shouts. "I'm... I'm...!!!" She goes over to Allen. Dimitri throws a rock at her, which connects.
"Why don't you leave this town, monster!!!" Allen shouts. Dimitri throws another rock at her, and she flees.
Current day.
"I wasn't running away..." she mutters. "I was running for my life. I ran and ran... through the dark forest to the south, until I arrived at a church by the beach. On that dark, rainy day, Father Hamen opened his door and welcomed me... he saved me... but..."
"That's enough..." Belgger mutters. "You don't have to share your painful memories. I'm not saying to forget them, but there's no sense in putting yourself through this, either. I'll be right by your side."
"Can I... stay with you?" Eleanor asks softly.
"Of course. I promised, didn't I?"
She grabs her necklace. "This is a necklace Berevra gave me... Belgger, I want you to have this. You're here for me now... so please accept it." Fade out.
"How is she?" Cybil asks.
"Sleeping. It must have been very difficult for Eleanor to come here. She has only memories of this place, memories best left forgotten..."
"You're a good man." She pauses. "Let's get going. It's going to be cold tonight. They walks away as it starts to snow.
"Berevra said it should be somewhere around here..." Belgger muses.
"If she hid the spear in this shrine a few hundred years ago, some one may have already found it."
Belgger steps forward. "...?"
"What's wrong?"
He kneels down, runs his hands through the dirt, and finds a dagger.
"What is that... a dagger?" Cybil asks.
"Cybil... I have a favor to ask. I want you to spread a rumor that I have obtained the Sacred Spear. Word should quickly reach Naris Batraal and Rictor."
"I can do that."
"I have an idea. I'll tell you the details later. I'm going to Ostorea Castle... to see Rictor."
Fade out. A new area, Haena, appears on the map. I train everyone to level 18.
The next update, which I hope will come soon, will be pretty short as it will also cover what I'll be including in the ending of this LP. That's right- we're nearing the end of Tactics Ogre: The Knight of Lodis!
See you next time.
