Ophilia and Lianna's sisterhood. When Ophilia was adopted by the archbishop after her parents died, Lianna spared no time in befriending her and breaking her out of her depressed state. It's no wonder that Ophilia absolutely adores her adoptive father and sister.
Ophilia's entire journey was because of her love for her sister. Lianna was supposed to be the one to do the Kindling across the continent, but after their father got sick, Ophilia undertook the trial for Lianna's sake because Lianna was too worried for their father to leave.
Despite being Ophilia's adoptive father, one Flamesgrace native reveals that the archbishop would always boast about his two daughters. It shows that Ophilia's adoptive family loved her sincerely.
Ophilia always refers to her adoptive father Josef as "Your Excellency", so it's heartwarming when Ophilia finally calls him "Father" when he's sick in bed. It's the first and only time she does it in his presence, which can lead to the conclusion she's wanted to call him her father for years, but just never felt worthy enough to do so.
To make it even better, Josef's response of "Thank you" upon Ophilia promising to take up the Kindling in Lianna's stead seems to be just as much about Josef thanking Ophilia for taking up Lianna's duty as it is about a father finally hearing his child call him "Father."
When the Savior manipulates Lianna under the false promise he'll bring her father back to life, Ophilia is determined to do everything she can to save Lianna, just as Lianna once saved her. Ophilia even refers to Josef as "our father" to hammer the point home.
After Ophilia's final boss is defeated, Lianna enters a state of depression due to the loss of her father and guilt over almost unleashing Galdera upon the world. Ophilia helps Lianna recover by taking her to their favorite spot on the hill and assuring her they will always be together, helping Lianna smile again.
To cap it all off, Ophilia's route ends with her and Lianna giving each other a hug. Awww!
And the artwork◊ displayed after completing her route, with the two sisters up on the hill next to some flowers. Double "Awww!".
After completing Ophilia and H'aanit's routes, you find that Lianna still feels guilty about what she did to the people of Wispermill and wants to find some way to atone for her sins, leading to a sidequest in which you deal with the remnants of a cult. After the quest is done, Eliza from H'aanit's route tells Lianna that while she understands how Lianna feels, she hopes Lianna can forgive herself and smile again. It seems Ophilia isn't the only true friend Lianna has.
In a nice bit of Developer's Foresight, if you have Ophilia Guide Lianna after the aforementioned ending, Lianna, accepting the Guide, will address Ophilia by name and say she's glad to go with her.
From Ophilia's Chapter 2, there's Derryl and Emil mending their friendship. Emil cares for Derryl enough that he not only doesn't hold Derryl's blaming him for losing his mother's keepsake against him, but even goes to the forest and risks his life to try to get it back. As for Derryl, after talking to Ophilia, his first reaction to finding Emil in the forest is anger over him putting himself in danger, and he insists that Emil go home immediately.
Cyrus's philosophy regarding knowledge. Despite spending his entire life in pursuit of knowledge, he does not do it for his own personal gain; rather, he takes great pride in sharing education with others. He delivers a passionate "The Reason You Suck" Speech to his Final Boss where he reveals that he gleefully looks forward to the day his students surpass him and he can learn from them.
Tressa's Story
Tressa's entire reason for traveling the world. Amongst a party of experienced and jaded adventurers, Tressa is traveling to find her life's purpose, but also for the fun of it. Tressa's route is appropriately the most light-hearted of the eight.
Olberic's Story
The end of Olberic's Chapter 1, where several Cobbleston residents see Olberic off as he leaves in search of his erstwhile comrade-in-arms, Erhardt, and thank him for all he's done for them. The Village Headman even tells Olberic that Cobbleston will always be a home for him.
From Olberic's Chapter 3, there's his emotional reunion with Erhardt, who had betrayed and murdered their king in revenge for doing nothing to save his home-village as a young boy. Erhardt tells Olberic that he had thought avenging the people of his village would free him from his own pain and anger, only to feel nothing. A "Challenge this person" prompt pops up that you are unable to refuse. Olberic tells Erhardt to draw his weapon and duel him, but not for the sake of avenging his king — it's to end Erhardt's feelings of pain, anger and regret. The impending Mercy Kill is averted by their duel reminding Erhardt of a warrior's purpose: to protect those who are still alive and suffering. With this, Olberic forgives Erhardt and sets out to deliver justice to the man who took advantage of Erhardt's hatred for King Alfred to convince Erhardt to help him fall Hornburg: Werner.
Olberic: He brought down an entire kingdom. Our kingdom. Who knows what such a man is plotting now? Nay, such a fiend is too dangerous for this world.
Primrose's Story
Primrose and Yusufa's friendship. Primrose would stand up for Yusufa when she was being bullied by the other dancers, which in turn inspires Yusufa to return the favor when they bully Primrose because they believe her distant behavior is that of a snob, while Yusufa figured out that Primrose doesn't want to burden others with her feelings and has a kind heart underneath. No doubt their friendship helped keep each other sane while working under their brutal master, Helgenish, and it's what makes Yusufa's death at the end of Primrose's Chapter 1 such a Tear Jerker.
While not officially a part of Primrose's story, if you return to Sunshade Tavern after completing her Chapter 1, you find that one of the Tavern Patrons has become the Tavern Proprietor. If you Inquire/Scrutinize him, you'll learn that he took over after Helgenish's defeat and death, and has made changes that have significantly improved working conditions for the dancers.
Arianna, a servant of House Azelhart, still treats Primrose with care and respect despite Primrose losing her nobility with the death of her father. This extends to Revello and even the nameless NPC who initially reacted with excitement upon seeing Primrose, showing that even years after the fall of House Azelhart, her family is remembered fondly.
Though it later becomes Harsher in Hindsight, Primrose's first encounter with Simeon is a sweet moment. After chapters of Primrose stewing in her rage and focusing on revenge, she briefly slips into genuine joy and loses her composure when reunited with her first love.
The ending to Primrose's story is a rather bittersweet one, with Primrose avenging her father's murder and dealing a major blow to a criminal organization that has made her and many others' lives miserable, but realizing that Simeon was right about her quest for revenge giving her no happiness and resolving to find a new cause to keep living for. She and Revello's now-adult son Jan then meet each others' gaze and both stop in their tracks. The player can later Inquire/Scrutinize Jan, which reveals that he and Primrose were childhood friends and that "he wishes for her happiness from the bottom of his heart", which heavily implies that he is in love with her. It's left ambiguous if the two become a couple, but it adds a ray of hope to the saddest ending among the Travelers.
Alfyn's Story
Alfyn and Zeph's friendship. They treat each other like brothers and support each other in their problems. When Zeph's sister is poisoned by a blotted viper, Alfyn volunteers to get the venom to make a cure despite Zeph's protests. It goes even further when Zeph supported Alfyn's decision to leave the village without Alfyn even admitting to Zeph. Before Alfyn's departure, the two swapped their satchels, symbolizing that they would always support each other despite their distance.
During Alfyn's banter with Tressa, he admits that his most important treasure is Zeph's satchel.
Late in Alfyn's story, this friendship saves Alfyn from a Despair Event Horizon no thanks to Miguel, when he finds an encouraging note that Zeph had hidden in his pack.
Alfyn's entire reason for traveling the world with the rest of the party. Everyone else barring Tressa has complex motivations or missions to achieve, but Alfyn's entire motivation to travel is to just... help people.
The end of Alfyn's Chapter 2. After helping the two girls, they give Alfyn seashells because they thought he was poorer than them, and that he'd need it more. It's justified why Alfyn teared up right after.
Before then, when Vanessa turns her back on her in the name of her insane medicine scam despite her begging and offering all the money she has, Marlene breaks down in tears in front of a torch of the Sacred Flame and begs the gods to do something, anything to save her daughter. Then she turns around...and who else should she see but Alfyn, who's eager to help despite how dismissive of him she was when they first met.
Alfyn: One scraggly, scruffy-looking apothecary at your service.
Therion's Story
Therion's Chapter 2 story involves him needing to enter Orlick's manor. To do this, he has to help Orlick's former partner Barham, who agrees to help him if Therion procures three necessary items. When Therion gives him what he needs, it is revealed that Barham used the items to make a key for Therion to enter the room in the manor. When Orlick acquired the ruby dragonstone, they began to argue, leading to their falling out which evidently hurt Barham. Despite this, he still considers Orlick his brother.
After this, Therion is reminded of his own former partner Darius, who he also considered as a brother, once.
H'aanit's Story
During H'aanit's Chapter 2, a travel banter between her and Cyrus has the latter get rather carried away with delivering exposition on the sense of smell of direwolves. H'aanit cuts Cyrus off with "Hast thou a point?", but at the end tells him not to lose heart and that she will listen to one of his lectures after fulfilling her mission.
Susanna the Seer referring to H'aanit as "my favorite granddaughter" by the end of their time together, despite their only relation being that Susanna saw H'aanit's master like a son she never had.
H'aanit looks up to her master as a father figure, but refuses to tell him so out of embarrassment.
Sidequests and Character Banter
Primrose in general shows a much kinder, gentler, and more supportive side to her inside her banter conversations with the other Travelers, compared to her near-constant Tranquil Fury during her Chapters where she pursues her vendetta. She shows signs of being a protective big sister to Tressa, discreetly supports Therion and reminds him to keep a calm head when under pressure, has some rather friendly teasing of Cyrus and Alfyn, and even finds some common ground with Ophilia and Olberic. If you listen closely to her voice acting, there is a warmer undercurrent to her voice in most of these conversations.
In "The Prodigious Painting" sidequest, the painter was on the verge of quitting to support his family. While you can take his final masterpiece and give it to the Noble client, introducing the painter to the client results in the client not only giving the painter sincere praise, but also an offer to become their patron so they can keep painting.
Fortunately, if you bring his final masterpiece to the client, you can later find the artist in Saintsbridge where he finds success as a baker who makes artistic loaves, and even claims he's found his true calling. So either way there's a happy ending.
If you Inquire/Scrutinize the couple from the "Daughter Of The Dark God (II)" after completing their quest, the summary simply reads that they've found true love.
A surprising number of the game's less evil antagonists have made a Heel–Face Turn after being defeated and their respective playable characters' arcs are completed.
Gaston went from being the leader of a gang of bandits, to a protector of Cobbleston like Olberic.
Russell decided to redeem himself by working as Dominic's apprentice.
Orlick and Barham have made up with each other, becoming friends again.
Makk and Mikk stopped robbing people and joined Captain Leon's crew, as Tressa finds when she visits Victors Hollow in her Chapter 3. The "Mikk and Makk Make Good" sidequest not only shows how genuine their Heel–Face Turn is, it also shows just how loyal they are to Captain Leon. The quest involves a conflict between them and Barham and Orlick over Leon supposedly returning to his criminal ways. Mikk and Makk are both fiercely protective of Leon, declaring that he gave up his life as a criminal, to the point where they decide to stop doing business with Barham and Orlick. After the player beats "Leon Bastralle?", Mikk and Makk quickly realize that he's actually an impostor based purely on his behavior, despite the man's impressive disguise, which shows just how well they know Leon. Barham and Orlick apologize for accusing Leon, while Mikk and Makk assure them it's water under the bridge, and the four of them resume their business with each other.
Using Inquire/Scrutinize on Makk reveals that not only did he help his old shipmates find honest work when their group disbanded, he's the one who convinced Leon (who they look up to, even after his pirating days ended) to let him and Mikk join Leon's crew.
As revealed when using Inquire/Scrutinize on her in the Undertow Cove, Vanessa Hysel left her criminal life behind and now sells genuine medicines by the time Alfyn's story ends (probably after serving her prison sentence). She still sells her medicines at high prices, though.
Arianna's post-game sidequest. Free from Rufus' control, you can find both her and Oren new employment with Natalia. Despite Oren once being the coachman for the brothel, Arianna regards him kindly and reassures him that Natalia's home is a place of warmth where she finally feels she can settle down.
A lot of Therion's party dialogue shows him quietly displaying concern for the other members of his traveling party. The others seem surprised that the unscrupulous thief is actually looking out for their wellbeing.
On that note, the party dialogues occasionally show party members looking past their disapproval of some of their teammates' methods (most frequently directed at Therion's status as a thief). Just how close-knit this Ragtag Band of Misfits is shown to be through these conversations, despite their varying, and sometimes conflicting, backgrounds is a heartwarming thing to behold.
Susanna and Alaic. The man once was a heartless assassin for the Obsidians, the same group who killed Primrose's father, and their best at it. He was tasked to kill Susanna but Z'aanta stopped him. For his failure, he tries to commit suicide by poison, but Susanna saves him, telling him that he is still a person. So moved by this, realizing how much less of a human he had been, he stays with her now to protect herand atone for his sins.
In the lead up to the post-game final boss in the Gate of Finis you find Graham Crossford's account of his meeting with Alfyn. Though he was too late to save his wife he was able to cure Alfyn. In doing so he felt as though his journey hadn't been a waste and that hearing Alfyn's wish to help people like him was a reward he never expected.
Geoffrey Azelhart's diary entry, found in the Gate of Finis. It contains his thoughts post-death like the other diary entries, reveals the details behind his murder, and is a powerful combination of Heartwarming and Tear Jerker.
"I kept my faith. I stayed true to my convictions until the end. Several years before my death, a shadow fell upon my dear Noblecourt—a shadow known as the Obsidians. They brought with them sweet words and false promises, but I would not lend them my ear. Once they came to understand that I would not be swayed to their way of thinking, they came after my life time and again. I would not allow myself to be daunted. I dug deeper into the truth to uncover their intentions, their ties, and the mastermind behind their villainy... And my search eventually led me to learn of the Gate of Finis. In the end, I was murdered by the men who caught wind of my discoveries. Yet I do not regret my actions. I lived true to the words of my house and did all that I could for the sake of my people. My sole regret is that I have left Primrose alone to pick up the pieces of this broken life I left behind. My precious daughter should not have to bear such a burden on her shoulders... Primrose. You stood before my grave and told me, did you not? That you had lived true to what I had taught you. You are strong, my daughter. You found your own cause and purpose, and the purpose you found was the continuation of my very own. You carried on in my footsteps and finished what I started. My dear Primrose... When I think of how much you must have suffered all alone, all I can do is beg you to forgive me. Now the time has come for you to lay down your burden and rest. It is time you forget about me and find happiness, a happiness of your own this time. For I will always be with you. Geoffrey Azelhart"
The ending of the game, after Galdera is defeated by the eight Travelers and sealed away for all eternity. While Kit's quest had seemed hopeless, and in the end, furthered Lyblac's scheme to resurrect Galdera, he is able to see the spirit of his father one last time. Graham also congratulates the party for saving Orsterra, and after fading away, has some advice that is seemingly for the player.
"Live on, and live strong... For life is a journey... The places you go... The deeds you do... The tales whose hero you become... Every road is yours to take. So journey forth, friend... into this great world we live in... and find an adventure all your own..."
◊ displayed after completing her route, with the two sisters up on the hill next to some flowers. Double "Awww!".
