Time to get started on another Tale, this one starring Palom. We start on a boat in the middle of the ocean.
Sailor: They just ain't biting, Captain.
Captain: Shhh! Stop whining! He'll hear you!
Sailor: Look, Captain, how much longer do we have to keep putting up with that brat?
???: Which brat would that be?
In comes a guy with... a bowl cut and a ponytail? Huh. Well, not the strangest hairdo we've seen.
Captain: I-I apologize for my crew's insolence, Lord Palom!
Oh, so this one's Palom. Figures. He's the only one on board that doesn't look like an NPC.
Palom: "Lord"? You know, you're at least several decades older than me. Did you forget?
Captain: In... in that case, what would you like me to call you?
Palom: Figure it out for yourself, why don't you? You're a grown man, right?
Captain: Er... yes...
Palom: So quit bowing and scraping. You're too old for that act.
Sailor: H-how dare you speak to the captain like that!
Palom: The fish...
Sailor: Unh!?
Palom: You guys catch any yet?
Sailor: I... uh... No. Not yet. We...
Palom: Are you guys even trying? Is it really that hard?
Captain: These waters hold a bounty of fish. Coming up empty like this is unheard of.
Palom: Excuses, excuses. Just get me something fresh, okay? We've got a long voyage ahead. (Ugh... I knew I shouldn't have taken this job.)
And we're already in flashback territory. Some time ago at Mysidia's Prayer Dias...
Porom: You called for me, Elder?
Elder: Where is Palom?
Porom: I apologize, Elder. I'll go fetch him immediately...
Palom: I'm right here.
He walks in.
Porom: Palom! Where have you been?
Palom: What? Am I supposed to report every little detail of my life to you?
Porom: ...
Palom: so what did you need, Elder?
Elder: I have received a request from a certain foreign nation.
Porom: A request?
Palom: Another prayer job from some country trying to palm its problems off on others, no doubt.
Porom: Palom!
Palom: I'll let you handle this one, Porom. By the way, Elder, have you made your decision yet?
Elder: About the sage training you brought up?
Palom: That's the one.
Elder: You are still not ready yet, Palom.
Palom: Still? When will you actually think I'm ready, Elder?
Porom: Palom!
Palom: All right, all right...
Porom: So what's this request about?
Elder: This nation wishes us to send a mage in order to train their Epopts.
Porom: I would be happy to handle this request, Elder.
Elder: Thank you, but I have decided to send Palom this time.
Porom: What!?
Palom: Isn't it normally Porom's job to train Epopts, Elder?
Elder: It will be your task this time, Palom.
Palom: But what use would it be to send me? I don't know a thing about white magic.
Elder: What use you would be depends entirely on you, Palom.
Palom: ...
End flashback. Palom's managed to flashback so long the sun has set.
Palom: Guess it's nighttime already. And just look at that moon... It's getting closer and closer...
Another look at the moons. Which I think we've seen enough of already. Then we get taken back to the Prayer Dias.
Porom: Elder, why did you send Palom instead of me?
Elder: Hmmm... there are some things that only he is capable of, I believe. And what's more... ...Ugh!!
That doesn't really answer the question.
Porom: Elder!
Elder: ...I am fine.
The next morning on the ship, Palom emerges from under the deck.
Sailor: Good morning. Did you sleep well?
Palom: ... Are we there yet?
Sailor: I-I'm afraid not... Why don't you take a walk around the deck? Though I'm sure you're sick of it by now...
Well, let's introduce our new playable character now.
Palom
Class: Black Mage
Palom is the only character in the game who is purely a Black Mage. The others have other options, but Palom's main skill is to cast Black Magic and cast it well. He'll learn the spells before other characters do, he'll hit with them harder than other characters can, and he still has Bluff to boost his Intellect. His main downside is, well, being a Squishy Wizard, but that's what the back row is for.
The crewmen talk about the meteor that crashed near Damcyan, the attack on Baron, and about how nice Troia is. Eh. Boring NPC stuff. Let's talk to the captain.
Palom: Captain...
Captain: Yes?
Palom: I seem to remember you convincing me that this trip would take no more than a week.
Captain: Yes...
Palom: And how long has it been since we departed from Mysidia?
Captain: About... a month now, I suppose.
Wow, you guys really suck at this.
Palom: I guess there's nothing much I can say, given that our compass is broken.
There's something I can say: You should have had a backup compass. How hard is it to find the biggest continent on the planet and follow the coastline, anyway?
Captain: That it is, sir...
Palom: But you're all supposed to be sailors, aren't you?
Captain: More or less...
Palom: Then shouldn't you be able to do something to navigate us through this? I mean, come on!
Captain: I-I'm sorry about this, my lord! Wait! Up ahead! Look!
Palom: I'm not falling for that again, Captain.
Captain: There it is! The cape of Troia!
Well, what do you know, they found the south point of Troia. Don't remember a huge tower being there, though.
Captain: I am so sorry that it took this long, my lord!
Palom: Aren't we still quite a ways away from Troia?
Sailor: If you cross the western bridge and go north from there, you'll find a forest with chocobos. You can then cross the river on a chocobo, and you'll arrive it Troia in no time.
Palom: Fair enough.
Captain: Please be careful, my lord.
Palom: Is that all?
Captain: I... I am truly regretful for the delay...
Palom: You don't have to kiss up to me like that. How old are you again?
Captain: S-sorry...
Palom: Well, see ya later!
He gets off.
Crew: Farewell, my lord!
I assume by this point, they're just sick of Palom, because that's thee happiest they've looked this entire opening.
And then when the cutscene finishes, I've spent enough time that the moon phase changes to Black Magic weakened. Grrr... Waxing Moon will be downright reviled by the time this tale is over. Next time, we make it to Troia.
Stats:
Palom: Lv 13 HP:300 MP:170 Strength:10 Speed:9 Stamina:7 Intellect:26 Spirit:13 Attack:10 (2x48% Accuracy) Defence:13 (1x27% Evasion) Magic Defence:12 (1x16% Evasion)
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