Octopath Traveler takes place on the continent of Orsterra, where the Arc Number is eight: the continent is divided into eight regions, each named after a salient geographical feature (the Frostlands, the Flatlands, the Cliftlands, etc). Additionally, there are eight Player Characters each hailing from one of these eight regions. The continent, apparently, was created many thousands of years ago by 13 gods; but at some point, Galdera, the God of Evil, turned on the others. Galdera was sealed away by means unknown, while the other 12 still preside over Orsterra, each embodying a character class. The game itself is a Wide-Open Sandbox: after you are asked to choose which of the eight PCs you would like to be The Protagonist for your playthrough, you're cut loose on the continent, allowed to recruit the other seven characters (or not) in any order you please, pursue Side Quests, and even just wander the map; every region has secrets to find.
open/close all folders
The Eight Travelers and their Stories
Ophilia's Story
Ophilia Clement is an acolyte of the Church of the Sacred Flame, the dominant religion of Orsterra. She lives in Flamesgrace, where the church has its main cathedral. An orphan, she was adopted by Archbishop Josef, and is considered family by both him and his daughter Lianna. Her character class is Cleric (White Mage), under the patronage of Aelfric, the leader of the 12 gods in their fight against Galdera.
- Chapter 1: It is time for the "Kindling," a holy pilgrimage in which an emissary from the cathedral uses an Ember to re-ignite the Sacred Flames of various churches across the land. Archbishop Josef, who performed the most recent Kindling 20 years ago, comes down with a mysterious, life-threatening illness. Lianna was meant to follow in his footsteps, but Ophilia takes on the task so Lianna can stay with her father. She is aided by Mattias, a merchant who had planned to sell traveling supplies to Lianna. Leaving Flamesgrace and the Frostlands behind, she sets out on her pilgrimage.
- Boss: Guardian of the First Flame
- Chapter 2: Ophilia reaches Saintsbridge in the Riverlands, her first destination on her Kindling. While in town, she witnesses young children arguing because one of them lost a brooch, which had belonged to another's now-deceased mom. In trying to help them reconcile, Ophilia must rescue them from a forest beast.
- Boss: Hróðvitnir
- Chapter 3: Ophilia reaches Goldshore in the Coastlands, the second destination on her Kindling, where she encounters a young boy that's worried he angered the local Bishop. It transpires that the boy had delivered a ransom note, as someone had kidnapped the Bishop's daughter, and will only give her back in exchange for the Ember. Ophilia deals with the matter herself and successfully rescues the girl. However, soon after her return, Lianna shows up and informs Ophilia that their father has passed away. Ophilia passes out as a result of a sleeping draught Lianna slipped into her drink, enabling Lianna to steal the Ember in cooperation with a hooded figure.
- Boss: Mystery Man & Shady Figure
- Chapter 4: Ophilia, having heard where Lianna plans to take the Ember before falling asleep, chases her to Wispermill in the Flatlands. Ophilia is captured by the villagers, who swear allegiance not to Aelfric and his Church of the Sacred Flame, but to a "Savior" who plans to help them. Lianna, visiting Ophilia in gaol, says that the Savior is planning to resurrect Josef, and frees Ophilia on the condition that she leave town and not interfere. The Savior is revealed to be Mattias; he has plans to resurrect Galdera, and he needs the willing cooperation (and lives) of the citizens of Wispermill to do it. Ophilia convinces Lianna not to help him by reminding her of a lesson their father taught them when they were children, and Mattias reveals he was the one who poisoned Josef. Ophilia defeats Mattias and finishes her pilgrimage, but the last and most important step in her journey is to cheer up Lianna, as her sister did when Ophilia was first been adopted by Josef.
- Boss: Mattias
Cyrus's Story
Cyrus Albright is a professor of history at a school in the city of Atlasdam, a royal city in the Flatlands. He is apparently a teacher of some repute, as his students include Princess Mary. His class is Scholar (Black Mage), under the patronage of Alephan.
- Chapter 1: When some tomes from the Atlasdam library go missing, Cyrus investigates and pins the crime on fellow scholar Russell, who has been selling rare books to cover gambling debts. However, one tome in particular, From The Far Reaches Of Hell, has been missing for 15 years. Meanwhile, a rumor circulates within the academy that one of Cyrus's students, Princess Mary, is Hot for Teacher — a rumor which Cyrus, himself Oblivious to Love, accidentally reinforces. Headmaster Yvon, with his assistant Lucia, forces Cyrus to take a sabbatical, and Cyrus uses this opportunity to search for the missing tome.
- Boss: Russell
- Chapter 2: Cyrus' search for the tome leads him to Quarrycrest in the Cliftlands, and to his former associate Odette. Cyrus learns that people have gone missing in broad daylight, and decides to investigate. Cyrus discovers that a mysterious man named Gideon has been kidnapping people to use their blood to make blood crystals, used for an ancient ritual. Cyrus stops his schemes and saves the remaining victims. He finds that Gideon has a partial, translated copy of From The Far Reaches Of Hell, whence he got the instructions for making blood crystals. He and Odette manage to determine where the copy was made, and Cyrus sets out for...
- Boss: Gideon
- Chapter 3: Stonegard, in the Highlands. Cyrus heads to the home of the man that had originally translated From The Far Reaches Of Hell, and learns that the work was commissioned by none other than Headmaster Yvon. Lucia seeks out Cyrus and leads him to Yvon's home, but there Cyrus is trapped. Therese, Cyrus' student that had started the "Hot For Teacher" rumor, comes to his rescue, but is subsequently captured. Cyrus goes to rescue her, fighting Yvon after he uses a blood crystal to enhance himself. Therese tells Cyrus where Yvon had intended to go next.
- Boss: Yvon
- Chapter 4: Cyrus arrives at Duskbarrow in the Woodlands, where he discovers an entire secret library contained within ancient ruins. At last, he finds From The Far Reaches Of Hell, in the possession of the library's owner: Lucia, The Man Behind the Man. Lucia's main motivation has been to use the blood crystal research to attain Immortality and forever gain knowledge, which Cyrus disagrees with, believing that knowledge should be shared with future generations instead of hoarded. After a battle, Cyrus takes the tome, realizing that the information in it pertains to opening a certain gate which seals away a great evil. He returns to Atlasdam, believing that humanity can learn from the mistakes of the past and better itself with proper education, and dedicates himself to researching the topic further so that humanity might be ready should someone use the knowledge for ill.
- Boss: Lucia
Tressa's Story
Tressa Colzione is an 18-year-old merchant in training, learning from her parents. She is young and cheerful, and the only character in the Player Party with confirmed living biological parents. Her class, Merchant, is a Jack of All Stats under the patronage of Bifelgan.
- Chapter 1: Tressa's hometown of Rippletide (in the Coastlands) is invaded by pirates. Tressa decides to scare them off, slipping a sleeping potion into their drinks before battling them, but must still combat their two leaders Mikk and Makk in combat. When things look grim, Tressa is rescued by a merchant she had befriended earlier, who turns out to be the legendary pirate Leon Bastralle after turning over a new leaf. To reward Tressa for her bravery, Leon lets her take any piece of treasure that is on his ship; though enamored by the many one-of-a-kind possessions there, Tressa eventually chooses an unfinished journal left by a former passenger, and decides to follow the journal's itinerary to explore the world and become an acclaimed traveling merchant.
- Boss: Mikk and Makk
- Chapter 2: The journal takes Tressa to Quarrycrest in the Cliftlands, which groans under the lash of a tyrannical landowner named Morlock. Tressa buys some stones from a poor miner that turn out to be of great value. She quickly gains a rival, a fellow traveling merchant named Ali, who has come across similar stones and sets up shop nearby. (His salesmanship proves superior, to Tressa's professional ire.) While Tressa loves her parents dearly, Ali has a love-hate relationship with his father, who taught Ali everything but was also a swindler and con man who racked up enormous debts, which Ali is now trying to pay off. When Morlock tries to claim their profits, Ali argues and is thrown in gaol for his sass, causing Tressa to come to his rescue. After Morlock is run out of town, Ali promises to meet Tressa again at the upcoming Merchant's Fair at Grandport in the Coastlands.
- Boss: Omar
- Chapter 3: In search for a treasure for the Merchant's Fair, Tressa continues following the journal, which takes her to Victor's Hollow in the Woodlands. She runs into Leon Bastralle, who has just pulled into port with his new friends Mikk and Makk; she also encounters a map owned by the legendary pirate Baltazar, who happens to have been Leon's friend and greatest competitor. She obtains the map to give to Leon, who reveals to her that he gave up piracy after Baltazar led him to question what he truly wanted in life. Leon lets her keep the map, which leads to a valuable gem guarded by a beast, alongside Baltazar's last letter to Leon.
- Boss: Venomtooth Tiger
- Chapter 4: Tressa arrives at the Merchant's Fair, where she re-unites with Ali. She plans to enter the valuable gem into the Fair, but changes her mind after she meets a girl named Noa. She is the sickly daughter of Aston Wyndham, a billionaire who hosts the Fair every year in the hopes of finding something Noa will like. Tressa realizes the diary will appeal to Noa more, and decides to submit it as her treasure. However, her diary is stolen. While Ali runs interference for her, Tressa chases down the thief and retrieves the diary. Thereafter all goes according to plan; Noa, like Tressa before her, decides to use the diary to guide her own travels, becoming the third member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Diary. Tressa also learns the identity of the first member when a Grandport artisan approaches her after the Fair: he recognized the diary as his own handiwork, and identifies the original owner as a fellow named Graham Crossford. Tressa returns home while Ali heads back to Marsalim to support his father, with the two promising to meet again as both friends and competitors. (Tressa, 18, fails to notice the Ship Tease.)
- Boss: Esmerelda
Olberic's Story
Olberic Eisenberg is a Rōnin who lives in a little town called Cobbleston in the Highlands, going under the name Berg, defending the place from bandits and training the town guardsmen. He is actually Famed In-Story as a knight, called "The Unbending Blade," but fell into disgrace eight years ago when he failed to defend King Alfred of Hornburg from a Double Agent, a fellow knight, named Erhardt. He has since been struggling with an existential crisis, trying to decide what cause he fights for. His character class is Warrior (Stone Wall), under the patronage of the god Brand.
- Chapter 1: Cobbleston is attacked by bandits led by a man called Gaston. The bandits kidnap a child whom Olberic was mentoring, so he pursues them, cutting a swath through their numbers before defeating Gaston, who recognizes Olberic for who he really is. Gaston reveals he was trained by Erhardt, and reveals that while he doesn't know where Erhardt is, a man named Gustav in Victor's Hollow does. With a need for justice guiding him, Olberic sets out to confront his former friend on his treason. Meanwhile, Olberic's charisma causes Gaston to turn over a new leaf, taking over Olberic's position as Cobbleston's protector.
- Boss: Gaston
- Chapter 2: Olberic heads to Victor's Hollow in the Woodlands to find Gustav, a man that had worked alongside both Gaston and Erhardt as a mercenary, who is his only lead at tracking down Erhardt's current location. Gustav is competing in the local Tournament Arc, but all the entrants have already been decided. A promoter named Cecily helps Olberic get in anyways, through defeating one of the quarter-finalists, in exchange for him fighting in her name. Before the tournament, Olberic meets Gustav, who recognizes him and guesses why he came. Olberic wins the tournament, and Gustav, a Worthy Opponent, tells him where to find Erhardt. He also explains Erhardt's Roaring Rampage of Revenge: he is the Sole Survivor of a little town that was savaged by raiders, whom the King of Hornburg did nothing to stop.
- Boss: Gustav
- Chapter 3: Olberic tracks Erhardt down to Wellspring in the Sunlands, but learns that the former traitor has, like Olberic had himself, become the official knight-in-residence for the town. After helping the town watch take down some invading lizardmen, he learns Erhardt has gone ahead to intercept the bulk of the attacking forces. Olberic comes to his assistance, and the two knights of Hornburg easily dispatch the lizardmen leaders. Following the battle, Olberic and Erhardt duel, a fight which Olberic wins. Erhardt admits great guilt over his actions, and Olberic spares his life. Erhardt admits that he was not the leader of the conspiracy: this was actually a man named Werner, whom (in Erhardt's opinion) Olberic should treat with caution.
- Boss: Lizardman Chieftain
- Chapter 4: Werner can be found at Riverford in the Riverlands. He learns that Werner, once a Private Military Contractor, has become the lord of the town, and rules with an iron fist. Olberic befriends La Résistance, which is led by the son of its previous lord. They fight against the tyrant's men, but are overwhelmed... only to be saved by The Cavalry in the form of Erhardt. The Back-to-Back Badasses turn the tide, and Erhardt stays behind to Hold the Line while Olberic chases Werner. Werner explains that he toppled the Kingdom of Hornburg solely to get access to the "Gate of Finis," whatever that is, as it is within the kingdom's territory. Olberic puts an end to the treacherous man, and chooses to live the remainder of his days using his blade to protect the weak and uphold justice.
- Boss: Werner
Primrose's Story
Primrose Azelhart is the fallen scion of a noble house. As a young girl, she witnessed the murder of her father as a child at the hands of three men, each tattooed with a crow. Since then, she has lived for revenge, making her living as a belly dancer, handing out Status Buffs under the patronage of the goddess Sealticge (pronounced "See-ell-teej").
- Chapter 1: Primrose lives in Sunshade in the Sunlands, where she dances for the men of the town and her boss, Helgenish. One night, Primrose sees a man with a crow tattoo, and attempts to pursue, but is stopped by Helgenish. Her friend, Yusufa, offers to distract him, to which Primrose continues her chase. Outside of Sunshade, Helgenish corners Primrose, kills Yusufa, and engages her in battle. Afterwards, Primrose finally kills Helgenish and continues on her quest for vengeance.
- Boss: Helgenish
- Chapter 2: Using the paperwork left behind as a guide, Primrose heads to Stillsnow in the Frostlands. There, she finds a friend and former servant of House Azelhart, now forced to work at a brothel run by one of the crow-tattoo men. Using her wiles to get a lift to the brothel, she proceeds through a secret cavern that's connected to her target's room. They battle, and with the man's final breaths, he taunts Primrose, saying that a dire truth will await her back at her old home of Noblecourt.
- Boss: Rufus
- Chapter 3: Primrose returns to Noblecourt in the Flatlands, and reunites with several of her father's allies, including Simeon, who served as the House Azelhart gardener and whom Primrose had something of a crush on. She learns that the next crow fellow is the (former) captain of the guard; she infiltrates his home and slays him. However, she is betrayed by Simeon, who reveals himself to be the leader of the crow-mark conspirators; her father, Simeon explains, somehow learned about the Gate of Finis, and had to be stopped. Simeon stabs Primrose and leaves her behind. After spending days recovering from the injury, she sets out after him.
- Boss: Albus
- Chapter 4: Primrose tracks down her final target to the ancient castle of Everhold in the Highlands, that has been converted into a theater. There, Simeon has set up an elaborate play based on her life, including a Happily Ever After ending between "Primose" and "Simeon". After slaying him, Primrose no longer has a passion for revenge that drives her, but decides to continue dancing until finding a new purpose.
- Boss: Simeon
Alfyn's Story
Alfyn Greengrass is an apothecary living in Clearbrook in the Riverlands. As a youth, he was healed by a nameless traveling apothecary, and has gone into the profession in honor of the man who saved him. The Apothecary is a Combat Medic class; where Ophilia heals the entire party for small amounts, Alfyn heals a single target for large amounts; he can also "Concoct" reagents to create a Combinatorial Explosion of either defense or offense. The Apothecary's god is Dohter, old English for "Doctor," and appropriately Alfyn is a Determined Doctor.
- Chapter 1: Alfyn discovers a crisis: his best friend Zeph's sister has been bitten by a poisonous snake. Alfyn must track it down and derive an antidote to its venom. Afterwards, Alfyn decides to travel the world and help others in need, just like a man that had saved his life many years ago. He trades satchels with Zeph, so they'll always be close to each other, and leaves home.
- Boss: Blotted Viper
- Chapter 2: Alfyn comes to Goldshore in the Coastlands, a town besieged by bad fevers. He is asked by a young girl to help her sister, only to be shooed away by their mother because a more experienced apothecary, Vanessa, is in town. However, Vanessa's patients come down with severe coughs that are expensive to cure. Alfyn deduces that Vanessa's first cure is the source of the cough, and tracks down Vanessa to stop her scheming.
- Boss: Vanessa
- Chapter 3: In Saintsbridge in the Riverlands, Alfyn comes across a wounded man, Miguel, who is begging for aid. A fellow apothecary named Ogen declines to help him, claiming he will only heal those he deems worthy. Alfyn, holding to Chronic Hero Syndrome, helps Miguel anyway, pitying the fellow who claims to have several mouths to feed at home. But once he is recovered, Miguel kidnaps a child for ransom, even stabbing the boy to get him to keep his mouth shut. Alfyn, appalled, takes matters into his own hands. Ogen explains his own Dark and Troubled Past: he too once saved indiscriminately, only to find the criminal he healed murdering his beloved wife. Alfyn begins to doubt his calling, wondering at the Disaster Dominoes that can be wrought by Healing Hands.
- Boss: Miguel
- Chapter 4: At Orewell in the Cliftlands, Alfyn and Ogen cross paths again while battling a sickness. Ogen falls ill, but refuses treatment; he admits that he murdered his wife's murderer, and feels he deserves death. Alfyn has a brief emotional crisis, but a motivational letter Zeph had snuck into his satchel reaffirms his Heroic Resolve, and he sets out to heal Ogen. Alfyn recognizes Ogen's sickness as the same one the Nameless Apothecary healed him of in his youth; by great good fortune, the 20 Bear Asses he needs can be found in a nearby forest. After battling a boss to get aforementioned bear asses, Alfyn cures Ogen. Ogen reveals that he had also been inspired to heal others by the same Nameless Apothecary that cured young Alfyn; the only difference is, Ogen knows the man's name: Graham Crossford. The two part ways, wishing each other the best. (Ogen can thereafter be found in Northreach in the Frostlands.)
- Boss: Ogre Eagle
Therion's Story
Therion is a Phantom Thief who has been active for years; so elusive is he that no one has ever seen his face. He used to have a partner, Darius, but was betrayed by the latter and left for dead. (He was stabbed and thrown off a cliff. Since No One Could Survive That!, Therion naturally survived it.) As a Thief (a Fragile Speedster with Video Game Stealing), he operates under the god Aeber.
- Chapter 1: Therion has heard tales of a valuable treasure called a Dragonstone being held by House Ravus, a noble family that lives in Bolderfall in the Cliftlands. After passing himself off as a merchant, he sneaks into their manor, and fights against the house's butler Heathcote. However, Therion is caught in a ruse; the Dragonstones have already been stolen, with only one remaining, and Cordelia Ravus spread the word in hopes of Recruiting the Criminal she needs to track down the other three. Therion is forced into the task by Heathcote locking a band around his arm.
- Boss: Heathcote
- Chapter 2: Heathcote's information leads Therion to Noblecourt in the Flatlands. There, he hears rumors of a powerful man named Orlick researching the stone, and tracks down the man's old partner, Barham. With his knowledge, Therion is able to sneak into Orlick's home, but must fight in order to claim the treasure. Therion returns the stone to Cordelia, who offers to remove Therion's band, but Heathcote and Therion insist he'll get all the stones first.
- Boss: Orlick
- Chapter 3: Therion heads to Wellspring in the Sunlands to track down the third Dragonstone, being sold at a Black Market. However, once he gets there, the Dragonstone is stolen by a group of bandits that are being led by his former partner Darius. Unfortunately, Darius gets away, as his second-in-command holds the line to delay Therion. Therion returns to Lady Ravus and Heathcote, who reveals he's located Darius' base of operation, and that Darius also holds the last Dragonstone, on top of the one he stole. Cordelia reveals that her family also was betrayed, and is speaking from experience when she begs Therion to not give up on trusting people in general merely because of the actions of one person in specific.
- Boss: Gareth
- Chapter 4: Therion arrive in Northreach in the Frostlands, where it is revealed the entire town lives in terror of Darius and his gang. Darius has put a price on Therion's head, and Therion is nearly mobbed by Darius' gang, until Heathcote arrives and saves him. Heathcote relates his own Dark and Troubled Past: like Therion himself, he is a master thief who was lured into working for House Ravus. Therion infiltrates Darius' hideout and faces his former partner, where the two argue over the value of trust; Darius claims that it's for suckers, but Therion believes it worth fighting for. Afterwards, a defeated Darius slinks away to his treasure... where he's betrayed by his own underlings. Therion returns the final two Dragonstones to Cordelia, and is freed from his deal with her... Though the band around his arm had secretly been unlocked when Cordelia had suggested it, and Therion had pretended not to notice and continued the job out of appreciation for the kindness shown to him between tasks. When asked about the Dragonstones, Therion is told that they're the only things that can unlock the Gate of Finis.
- Boss: Darius
H'aanit's Story
H'aanit is hunter living in S'warkii in the Woodlands, apprenticed to a master hunter named Z'aanta. Her master was tasked by the Knights Ardante with hunting a dangerous monster called Redeye. He has been gone for over a year, sending only one letter about the subject and leaving H'aanit at loose ends. H'aanit's class, Hunter, has the patronage of the god Draefendi.
- Chapter 1: H'aanit is tasked with defeating a wild beast that has been devastating the countryside. On her return, she finds Hägen, Z'aanta's animal partner, looking for help. H'aanit decides to leave her village and follow Hagen in order to learn what happened to her master.
- Boss: Ghisarma
- Chapter 2: Hägen leads H'aanit is to Stonegard in the Cliftlands, where H'aanit meets Natalia, an old friend of Z'aanta's. She learns where Z'aanta was last seen, and explores the forest. Within, she learns what happened to her master: He has been completely turned to stone by Redeye. Using the last of his strength, Z'aanta left a message warning whoever would find him of Redeye's danger, and to find the seer Susanna who might know how to cure his petrification. On her way out of town, H'aanit meets Eliza, who pledges to find Redeye's location.
- Boss: Lord of the Forest
- Chapter 3: H'aanit seeks the advice of Susanna the Seer, who lives in Stillsnow in the Frostlands, to help her save her master. Susanna reveals that, much like how Z'aanta raised H'aanit, she raised Z'aanta, and sees him as a son (and thus H'aanit as a granddaughter). She directs H'aanit to a plant that can negate Redeye's petrification. Susanna also tells H'aanit that the only way to cure Z'aanta's petrification is to kill what caused it — Redeye.
- Boss: White Dragon
- Chapter 4: With curative plants in hands, and information on Redeye's location from Eliza, H'aanit is prepared to face the beast. Unfortunately Redeye has caused the monsters in the ruins it has entered to flood the surface and threaten nearby Marsalim in the Sunlands. The Marsalim city guard, along with the Knights Ardante, fight the monsters while H'aanit infiltrates the ruin and kills Redeye, lifting its curse and freeing all those who have been petrified. H'aanit reunites with Z'aanta, telling him about her adventures.
- Boss: Redeye
The World of Orsterra
As mentioned, there are a lot of other things to do in this though the credits roll after you complete the 4th chapter of your Protagonist's arc, you're still allowed to play, and once you complete all eight arcs you're still cut loose on the world. Why? There are more secrets out there.
Orsterra is, almost egregiously, an Adventure-Friendly World. As noted above, it is divided into eight regions named after a salient geographical feature; each
region has its own specific musical theme. Each region is further subdivided into three segments, each consisting of one town location and two field locations linking towns and regions together. (There is no Overworld.) Segments differ by the difficulty of their Random Encounters: the inner segments have the easiest monsters, the outer segments the hardest ones. As such, each group of eight segments is also organized into "rings", and each ring has its own random encounter music. Every town is attached to at least one dungeon location in which one of the Player Characters conducts one of their chapters. Every field location has a hidden Secret Level dungeon attached to it. Fundamentally, Orsterra is as organized as a spreadsheet, which simultaneously kills some of the glamor and makes it much easier to keep track of where you are.
Subjobs
As early as the intermission between Chapters 1 and 2, players can begin finding various Shrines in the second ring of the map. These Shrines are devoted to the eight Gods that patronize the primary jobs. Here, the player may unlock "Subjobs": each time you (find and) visit a Shrine, the God there allows you assign their job to one other character at a time. This allows the player to start customizing their party; Tressa's Merchant class, for instance, comes with the ability to regenerate Spell Points, where Therion's Thief class has the "Donate SP" ability, allowing one or more of them to take the other's class and keep mana-hungry spellcasters at work. Subjobs may be re-assigned at any time at no cost, and (despite its name) a "Subjob" grants access to the entire skillset of that job.
Additionally, the third ring has four more Shrines devoted to the Gods Steorra, Balogar, Winnehild and Dreisang. Where the first eight Shrines are just a room with no random encounters, these are actual dungeons, with an Optional Boss at the end. But if you defeat those optional bosses, you unlock the Starseer (The Red Mage), Runelord (Status Buff), Warmaster (Multi-Melee Master) and Sorcerer (Exaggerated Black Mage) subjobs, which can likewise be assigned as a second job.
Additionally, the third ring has four more Shrines devoted to the Gods Steorra, Balogar, Winnehild and Dreisang. Where the first eight Shrines are just a room with no random encounters, these are actual dungeons, with an Optional Boss at the end. But if you defeat those optional bosses, you unlock the Starseer (The Red Mage), Runelord (Status Buff), Warmaster (Multi-Melee Master) and Sorcerer (Exaggerated Black Mage) subjobs, which can likewise be assigned as a second job.
Sidequests
- Ashlan:
- Part 1: Ashlan is first encountered in H'aanit's village, wanting to know more about the local beast tamers. By Inquiring/Scrutinizing the information he seeks, Ashlan reveals he is on a quest to save his father, and departs.
- Part 2: Ashlan has come to Victors Hollow, because of tales of a gladiator with a sword enchanted to kill any snake. By Purchasing/Stealing the Snakesbane and delivering it, Ashlan reveals more about his quest; his father was a peaceful man, but used forbidden magic to save their village, which turned him into a thrall of a snake monster.
- Part 3: Ashlan continues to Duskbarrow, and the heroes Guide/Allure him to the Moldering Ruins where he reunites with his father at last.
- Kaia:
- Part 1: A dragon spoke to Kaia in her dreams, entrusting her with its egg, which Kaia is having trouble locating. When the party retrieves the egg for her, she sets out on a mission to learn how to hatch it.
- Part 2: Kaia has the materials to hatch the dragon's egg, but not the knowledge. Guiding someone experienced with eggs to her helps her make progress.
- Part 3: Kaia's egg has gone missing, stolen by a crazed cleric that believes in the guidance of dragons over the Sacred Flame. By defeating the thief and returning the egg, Kaia decides that the only way she can prevent the egg being endangered again is to raise it in secret, away from society.
- Le Mann:
- Part 1: Le Mann wishes to explore the world, and perhaps find new lands, but is unprepared for the adventure. By Purchasing/Stealing some Adventurer Gear and delivering it, Le Mann declares that he and the party are now lifelong friends, and sets out.
- Part 2: Le Mann has lost confidence in himself. By Guiding/Seducing his friend Harold in Rippletide and reuniting the two, Le Mann gets the encouragement to continue his adventure.
- Part 3: Le Mann arrives in Grandport to seek a ship that will take him to his adventure, but is accosted by bandits. Challenging/Provoking the bandits allows him to finally embark on his adventure.
- Meryl:
- Part 1: Meryl found a message in a bottle addressed to her in the river from someone that claims to be her true mother, which Meryl doesn't understand. By Inquiring/Scrutinizing her parents, it's revealed that Meryl was not their daughter by birth; a lady had given her to them many years ago before disappearing. Though Meryl loves the people that raised her, she wants to know more about her actual mother, and starts heading upstream to find the message's source.
- Part 2: Meryl's journey through the Riverlands is stopped when a strange man harasses her. By Challenging the man, he reveals that he was from a noble family that was entangled in a war Meryl's birth family had arranged. He also notes that the noble family was wiped out in their own struggle, save for rumors of a woman that escaped with her infant daughter. This news does not deter Meryl, who continues upstream.
- Part 3: Meryl arrives at Riverford, where she can be guided to a woman on her deathbed. The woman recognises Meryl as her daughter, apologising for never reuniting with her. She explain she gave Meryl up for her own protection, and is glad to see her having grown up safe and happy. Meryl's mother dies, and Meryl decides to return to her adoptive family, glad she got to meet her birth mother before she passed away.
- Miles:
- Part 1: Miles, an Ardante Knight, wishes to learn more about his father. By Inquiring/Scrutinizing a rumor about a knight that had abandoned his honor, Miles sets out on a quest to find the truth.
- Part 2: Miles has begun to believe the rumors about his father. Challenging him snaps him out of his depression, and he resumes his quest.
- Part 3: Miles has tracked down his father's sword to the Frostlands. By Purchasing/Stealing it from a local and giving it back to Miles, a passing stranger reveals familiarity with the sword; his village was destitute, and Miles's father had given them his sword so that they could sell it, even though abandoning one's blade was considered a dishonorable act by the Ardante Knights. With the truth revealed, Miles' quest is at an end.
- Noelle:
- Part 1: Noelle is in Cobblestone researching King Beowulf, who is claimed to be the founder of the Hornburg Kingdom, but no actual evidence of him still exists. By Guiding her to some ruins, she gets the data she needs to make progress with her research.
- Part 2: Noelle has reached a new town, and is in search of more knowledge about Beowulf. By Inquiring/Scrutinizing the villagers, the party can pass along a tale of how Beowulf defended the land against a dragon at Everhold, and Noelle quickly heads out to see the fort there for herself.
- Part 3: Noelle has reached Everhold, but is disappointed by how the fort has been converted into a theater, and most of the old relics already claimed. The party can Purchase/Steal a tapestry from a stagehand to give her, upon which is embroidered ancient script claiming it to be a gift to Beowulf. Joyous that tangible evidence of Beowulf's existence has been found, Noelle is eager to learn even more, and spread that knowledge to others.
- Ria:
- Part 1: The party encounters a Wayfaring Girl in Sunshade being harassed by an admirer. By Challenging the thug and scaring him off, the girl reveals her name to be Ria, and thanks the party for their help before continuing a trip across the lands.
- Part 2: The party encounters Ria again in Wellspring. A thief stole a certain letter of great importance from her. The party can steal/purchase the letter back, give it to Ria. She will thank them and move on.
- Part 3: The party meets Ria in Marsalim. She's looking for a certain official, but doesn't know where to find him. The party can obtain the official's schedule, at which point Ria bids them to accompany her. The official is the mayor of Sunshade, and Ria is Princess Gloria, the daughter of King Khalim of the Sunlands. The letter contains evidence of the forced prostitution and slave trade the mayor has been involved in. Her entire trip was to both get to know her people, and expose the man. Gloria has the man jailed.
- Theracio:
- Part 1: A moneylender is antagonizing Theracio over his father's debt, or rather, an unfair interest rate. Challenging and defeating the moneylender allows the scholar to leave Atlasdam to spread knowledge to the impoverished.
- Part 2: Theracio reaches Noblecourt and plans to teach the children there, but lacks the proper tools. By Purchasing/Stealing supplies from a junk trader, Theracio can teach his lesson, after which he's confident that their parents will continue their education and that he can leave to teach kids elsewhere.
- Part 3: Theracio has now moved on to Whispermill, but connecting with the children in town is next to impossible for him. By Guiding his old mentor Professor Bastete to him, he realizes he isn't properly guiding his students, and his passion for teaching is reignited.
The Endgame
As mentioned, Orsterra is a Wide-Open Sandbox; it's totally possible to stop playing after completing the PCs' character arcs without finding out that there is an overarching plot at all. That being said, astute readers may have observed that several characters have picked up pieces of a larger puzzle...
The Eight Pieces
- Ophilia learned that people are trying to free Galdera.
- Cyrus learned how to open the Gate of Finis.
- Tressa learned of the existence of a man named Graham Crossford, who is key to the freeing of Galdera somehow.
- Olberic learned that the Gate of Finis exists below Hornburg.
- Primrose learned that her father, and House Azelhart as a whole, were to guard the Gate of Finis ("Faith shall be my shield" and all that).
- Alfyn's life was shaped by that of Graham Crossford.
- Therion learned that the four Dragonstones held by the House of Ravus are the keys that unlock the Gate of Finis.
- H'aanit doesn't know it yet, but her life was also touched by that of Graham Crossford.
Preparatory Side-Quests
- Kit:
- Part 1: Kit is introduced outside of the starting town of the chosen player character. After being granted a Healing Grape, he introduces himself and his motive to find his father, and continues on his path.
- Part 2: Kit's journey has taken him to Noblecourt, but fears that without someone to travel with, his journey could end in disaster. By guiding an Aspiring Actor to him, they can ask a travelling Impresario to take them along with his theater troupe; Kit's not a good performer, but gets accepted as a stagehand.
- Part 3: While the troupe sets up shop on the Moonstruck Coast, Kit finds information about his father. After Purchasing/Stealing him a Lapis Lazuli as a parting gift, he parts ways with the troupe and continues on his quest.
- Alphas:
- Part 1: Alphas, living in Bolderfall, has fallen in love with a very unusual woman named Lyblac, but has failed to attract her attention. By Challenging him, he gets to show off his skill to Lyblac, but she seeks someone else, someone with blond hair and piercing blue eyes.
- Part 2: Alphas has wandered the land and found his way to Saintsbridge. Inquiries or scrutiny yields a poem he wrote about his love, which then finds itself in the hands of a woman who seeks him out as she has fallen in love with him from his poem, allowing Alphas to get over Lyblac and find true love at last. Lyblac, meanwhile, reveals she has found the man she has been looking for all her life. She claims that, "despite his name," this man will never cross her.
- Part 3: On the West S'warkii Trail, Alphas attempts to aid Kit's Impresario in fighting a beast that is blocking the road, but is defeated. The party slays the beast without trouble. Afterwards, they learn from Alphas and the Impresario that both Kit and Lyblac are bound for the Ruins of Hornburg. The ruins become a visitable location at the far end of the Highlands.
Journey's End, and the Complete History of Orsterra (SPOILERS)
The party enters the Ruins of Hornburg and, from there, the Gate of Finis. Lyblac has already escorted Kit in for her own ends. Besides the Checkpoint Starvation — there are no save points — the dungeon is a Boss Rush consisting of various important foes from each character's arc. Each one will leave behind an Info Dump which helps flesh out the Back Story of Orsterra.
- Ophilia's boss is Mattias, who was once a priest of the Sacred Flame. He lost his faith when his church was set aflame by an errant flash of lightning, leading to dozens of innocent deaths despite Mattias' desperate prayers to the contrary. He instead began to worship Galdera. Lyblac, who caught wind of this, used From The Far Reaches of Hell to freeze his aging for 100 years, allowing him to continue as The Savior and sneak back into the church's good graces. However, he refused to co-operate with Lyblac: he wanted Galdera's power for himself, and freeing Galdera would actually deprive him of it.
- Cyrus's boss Headmaster Yvon, under the guidance of both Lucia and Lyblac, hunted down From The Far Reaches of Hell, written by an ancient sage named Salomon, and shared its secrets with both of them. Yvon also got rid of the previous Headmaster to secure his new position. Lucia then led Cyrus to him to dispose of him discreetly.
- Tressa's boss is the Venomtooth Tiger that was guarding the eldrite, but the diary it leaves behind belongs to Graham Crossford. (The game does not discuss whether Tressa has seen this page before.) At time of writing, he was abroad, searching for a cure for an extremely rare disease which currently afflicted his wife. He had just obtained the 20 Bear Asses from the Ogre Eagle, but now needed to get back home quickly. By great good fortune, he found Leon Bastralle, lately given up piracy, preparing to set sail as an honest merchant. Graham offered Leon his most prized possession — the diary, chronicling his adventures as the OG Octopath Traveler — in exchange for passage.
- Olberic confronts Werner, whose entry speaks of how Lyblac promised to him that Hornburg could fall, making it easier to access the Gate of Finis. Werner, funded by Lyblac, founded his own sellsword company, the Black Brotherhood... and then hired thieves and brigands to assail Hornburg, which his Private Military Contractors would repel. They didn't arrive in time to save the tiny town of Grynd, giving Werner a new tool when the town's Sole Survivor — kid named Erhardt — joined the Black Brotherhood for revenge. Recognizing that Hornburg's love for King Alfred was the kingdom's greatest bulwark, Werner got Erhardt appointed to the Praetorian Guard. Thus Hornburg fell, and Werner got to live like a lord for another eight years... before Erhardt, who once carried Werner to victory, brought his friend Olberic to help bring Werner to defeat instead.
- Primrose fights Simeon, who leaves behind the last will and testament of her father Geoffrey Azelhart. Simeon, also working for Lyblac, came to Lord Azelhart and tried to sway him in Lyblac's favor, wanting easy access to the Gate of Finis. When Lord Azelhart refused, Simeon and his co-conspirators murdered Geoffrey, setting off Primrose's Roaring Rampage of Revenge.
- Alfyn has to face down Miguel, who leaves behind another testament of Graham Crossford. Graham is at a low ebb: though he invented the potion that would cure the rare disease, he arrived mere days too late to save his wife. Who else should appear by his side but Lyblac: she lured Graham away with the promises that he could bring his wife Back from the Dead. Leaving behind his son Kit Crossford, he headed for the Ruins of Hornburg, on his way passing through the village of Clearbrook where he found a young boy in the grips of the same disease that took his wife. He still had the potion. "I hope I can do that too, someday," were the first words of the boy — Alfyn Greengrass was the kid's name — upon recovery. Graham left the boy his apothecary's satchel as he headed off to bring back his wife.
- Therion is haunted by, of course, Darius, but the testament left behind belongs to Lord Ravus. House Ravus has always been rich, but their most precious treasures, bestowed upon them by King Beowulf I of Hornburg, founder and first king of that kingdom, were the Dragonstones, which the great sorcerer Odin Crossford used to lock the Gate of Finis. It may be those Dragonstones which led someone to sabotage the carriage in which Lord and Lady Ravus rode, whence this testament comes as the two lay dying.
- H'aanit fights the Dragon from her third chapter. She reads the final testimony of Graham Crossford, whom Lyblac has escorted deep into the Gate of Finis. Lyblac, Galdera's daughter, has been working for centuries to free him; she intended to use Graham, descendent of Odin, as a vessel to host Galdera, and has begun a ritual to that end. Graham managed to lash out at one crucial moment, interrupting the ritual. Graham also recognized that Lyblac would next go after Kit... but became consumed by the monster the ritual had mutated him into, wandering Orsterra as the beast named "Redeye" until a Hunter from S'warkii finally put an end to his travels. (The fact that H'aanit does not fight Redeye as her boss battle is a strange story decision but a merciful gameplay decision; he's on the "
That One Boss" list for a reason.)
- Boss: Galdera
