Beyond the Beyond: Update 83: Old Times Gone By (Loose Ends)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 83: Old Times Gone By (Loose Ends)

Where were we, Mistrall? That sounds about right. It's been some time since we stopped to evaluate the team so first off let's do that.

No one has gained any post-promotion level ups yet but Finn's slightly more than halfway there. He's starting to look like an actual knight. Also, he's up to 46 max VP! It's a bit sad that I find that almost extraordinary but such is Beyond the Beyond. His gear isn't likely to change much in the near future but what he's got is already pretty good. Having +69 attack power is rather respectable even if moving down to his defense power and realizing that he only gets 26 points from his equipment is a little depressing. Beyond the Beyond is a tad lopsided like that!

Aww, come on, Finn! I haven't gotten to see this new sword of yours yet.
Fine. *sheaths the Mystic Blade*
So that's it. I wonder what the inscription means.
I have no idea. It started glowing when I picked it up.
What happened?
My arm started hurting then my clothes changed and I teleported out of the Labyrinth.
Does that mean everyone sent in there was looking for that sword?
I hope not.

Annie manages to be second highest in defense despite the fact that her base defense feels a bit pathetic. She's crushing the rest of the team in speed and her max MP allows for eight Healing Rains and some change. Her max VP is a little worrisome but that's what the defense and max LP is for.

It's a little disconcerting to think that the Labyrinth hinged entirely on who was sent in.
Kryaa. But isn't that what its supposed to do?
What I mean is that if the goal was to find that sword and if it only worked its magic for Finn the rest of us would have always failed.
The game is rigged so to speak.
But... other people have completed the Labyrinth. Right? I'm not just making that up am I?
Just think, Finn, Arawn could have put the whole shebang together.
And play on Finn's love of swords? Sounds about right.
What are you doing? Do you want to get Arawn's attention again?
Surely he's got better things to do than watch us all the time.
*looks up at the sky cautiously*
Aww, come on Annie. I think he's doing a fine job in keeping Finn paranoid. We should at least make sure to shout into the Light Orb about that every so often.
CAN WE NOT?!
That's the spirit, Finn. Lead the way! Shout proudly to the heavens!
Didn't you gain Enlightenment or something? Why are you so eager for Arawn to show up?
That's a very good question, Finn.
Aaaahhhhhh!

Samson's holding onto the top spot in defense and is second highest in VP. With that +5 Speed bonus he's even managed to knock Finn back to third in the team's turn order. His Luck is rather terrible but that doesn't seem to bother him in any way.

You're your usual quiet self, Sir Samson.
He seems content to let others say everything.
Unless I'm the one talking.
Hrmph! As if I should indulge you any further.
You mean like how you just did?
Consider it a freebie. Just this once, for you.
Aww, Samson you flatter me.
Ugh!

Lorele's stats haven't changed since she joined the team. She will start working towards level 20 in this update though so that's something!

Sir Samson are you ever going to say why you dislike Domino so much? He's been nothing but polite.
Something personal, perhaps?
Sorry to disappoint you but no. It's not a personal vendetta.
Duty and honor and all that. That's what it is.
Why does it sound like you don't believe those are good things?
I just have issues with certain definitions of those words.
Not the only thing you have issues with.

Domino's still trying to catch up to the kids in pretty much everything. I doubt he'll succeed though given the head start they've got. His stats haven't changed all that much since he joined as a level 15 Pirate (the fact that I promoted him at level 20 while other members of the team were level 23 just puts him further behind). Despite all that he's doing okay. My main worry is that pretty much any two nukes are going to groggy him.

Maybe we should ask what your vendetta is.
But we already know that. REVENGE!
Then why is he going after me so much?
Can you blame me? It brings a smile to my face.
Yes I can blame you!
Haven't you been doing that since you first met Domino?
Yes he has. Why is that, Sir Samson?
I've been suspicious of you. Because you're a pirate. There's nothing irrational about that.
I could say the same thing for knights.

Samson doesn't have a ring equipped. The Fire Ring offers a +2 Defense bonus so I go ahead and give it to him.

So what's going on? Where are you going?
I don't know yet. We need to find all four tablets now. Annie said she wanted to come here first though.
I just... feel we need to go east. Across the ocean.
There's a lot of world to the east. Can you narrow that feeling down a little?
Some lonely place where you can smell the ocean breeze.
O-kay...
Is Miss Annie cursed or something? She's never gotten like this before.
I don't think she's cursed.
I'm not crazy either. It's just that while we were going through those shrines I started getting these impressions of someplace else.
Eh, good enough for me. If it's a trap by Shutat then at least we might find him.
Sir Samson's not the only cynical one. Finn I think you're going to fit in with the Marion Knights.
Uh, thanks?
No problem!

The team takes to the skies but Domino's ship isn't waiting for them on the eastern shores of Gebergheim.

In trying to turn around and head west Steiner flies right into another line of mountains he can't cross. Thanks to the game camera we can see a cave entrance on the other side. It cannot be reached right now. We'll have to remember to come back here later.

The ship is parked over on the far western shore just beyond the shoal line. Steiner's way too big for the boat and has to land. Alas this whole "growing up" thing has really sidelined our scaly friend.

You stay safe out here, Steiner.
I think I can manage that. You try not to crash the ship.
And have you miss all the excitement? Not a chance.

The first random encounter comes less than ten seconds after I start sailing. It's as if the game is fully aware of how much I've been avoiding encounters by teleporting and flying around and is determined to rectify that ASAP.

Now there's a familiar sight!
You mean the hydras?
Oh yes. Always fun to spar with them. All those heads keeps it interesting.

In addition to the team's new clothes we can watch a hydra deflect Domino's thrown knife with its tail. Fortunately ricochets are not something to worry about in this game. At least, not something the team has to worry about. The info window at the top of the screen though has plenty to worry about what with Domino's knife sailing through it. Just don't ask why Domino swapped to an underhanded throw with his Captain class. That I don't know.

Eventually the team once again reaches this point on the edge of Marion.

Here? Are you sure, sis? This was just an empty cave.
I'm sure. This is the place.
*shrugs* Let's do this.

The team last saw this cave back in update 74. At that time the pot was a free full-team restore. Now searching it prompts a voice to call out from nowhere.

<Ominous Voice> There's nothing in that pot!

Eek!
Who said that?

Finn and company look around for the owner of the <Ominous Voice> while someone teleports in behind them. Or drops their cloaking field. Either way someone's in for a surprise.

There's no one here.
We definitely heard a voice though.
Some strange kind of trap.

What appears to be an old bald man materializes in front of the pot.

Woo hoo hoo! Over here! Here!
What?
Behind you, Finn.
Woo hoo hoo! Were you surprised? I can't believe that I have a visitor!

Warning! Animated GIF ahead!

The old fellow teleports around Finn inspecting him and the team while doing a whole lot of nodding.

Who are you? What are you doing?
Yeah, seriously. Stop that!
Sorry if I scared you, but in times like these, one can't be too cautious.
Most people don't hide themselves with magic.
Every time we've seen that it's been bad. Like, Vicious Ones bad.
Is this your home? We did not mean to trespass.
My home? No, no. It is... well, it is hard to explain such things. I wasn't sure anyone would come. But, yes... yes, you are the one!

Well, let me introduce myself. I am the master magician, Merlin. I have been waiting for this day for over 300 years.
Three hundred years, eh? And here I thought I was getting old.
Nobody can live that long.
Don't be frightened. I've mastered so many spells, that living a long time is a simple task for me... But, all my magic is peaceful.
What do you want?
Arawn asked me to go into exile and to wait for the Great Light. He told me that my magic could one day help save the world from a great darkness. And so I left the world and waited for three long centuries. Waited for you. Welcome, Great Light.
My name's Finn. *awkward pause* Hrm, this is my sister, Annie.
Hello.
These are some of our friends. Lorele.
You should not sneak up on people like that! I could have killed you.
Sir Samson.
*bows slightly*
And Domino.
Running into all sorts of legends these days.
It is an honor to meet all of you.
Wait, did you call us here?
I did.
Why?
So that I can complete my assigned task. I am able to grant one of you the power of resurrection. Do you want me to teach you the spell now?
I... guess we should. If Arawn thinks we'll need that kind of magic who am I to argue?
At last! After 300 years, my task will be complete. So, who shall I teach?

Saying YES brings up a list of everyone in the current party so that a choice may be made. Given that this is a high-level clerical ability the choice for this bunch is pretty obvious.

Miss Annie I do believe this decision is yours.
What? I... I don't know if such power belongs in human hands.
But priests of Arawn do it all the time. What's so different with this?
That is a good point. What use does Arawn have with your resurrection spell, Merlin?
My magic cares not what the cause of death was or the state of the physical body. It gives form to the eager soul and restores its place among the living. It is resurrection in the truest sense.
I guess if you're all fine with this... Okay. I'll learn your spell.
Excellent. Just close your eyes and relax. Soon you will understand.

And just like that Annie can raise the dead. No fuss, no fetch quest. It's as simple as saying yes.

There we go. Do you understand now?
Yes. Thank you.
You have ended my long wait. I should be thanking you.

At 12 MP per cast Resurrect is the most expensive spell Annie has. Fortunately death doesn't strike the team often so this will hopefully go unused for the rest of the game.

Come back anytime.
You're kind of out of the way up here.
*laughs* Yes. I had to be.
What's with the pot? Why didn't you want us to touch it?
There is powerful magic in these waters. It could be dangerous.
Whoops!
Huh?
We sampled the water while you were gone a couple weeks ago.
Oh? Is that all? Don't worry about it. Hrm... What should I do now? This world is so different from the one I used to know.
That eye there. We've seen it all over Simone. What is it?
The watchful eye? It is a symbol of wisdom and a ward against evil. So Simone still stands?
Yup. Was it full of mages three hundred years ago?
That it was. A refuge from the harsh world where magic could be studied in peace. Perhaps I should see what they're up to these days.
Well you certainly couldn't make them any weirder.

-- BONUS CONTENT --

Since there's a Yes/No prompt with Merlin here's what happens with the No branch.

What?! Are you saying that you don't need this powerful magic? I guess you don't know how valuable this spell is. I've waited 300 years to teach this to you! Well, Come [sic] back if you change your mind.

He then nods just like if the player had said Yes and the conversation ends. He doesn't go anywhere though so the player can interact with him again - a good option in case there's no one in the team who's a good candidate for the spell. He starts with his closing "What should I do now line?" but it's a different dialogue branch.

By the way, do you wish to learn the spell of Resurrection?

That brings up the Yes/No prompt. From there it either goes to Yes or No as already seen.

Samson has no MP so teaching him Resurrection would just be sticking it on someone who can't cast it. The game however is aware of that. Trying to pick Samson just prompts Merlin to reject the idea.

Hmm... Sir Samson is not capable of wielding magic. Shall I teach someone else?

"Not capable of wielding magic." That's a bit harsh. Merlin doesn't say that Samson's untrained or lacks the mental fortitude or mana reserves or what have you. He is actually incapable of using magic.

Next time on Beyond the Beyond - grinding!

Update Eighty-two | Index | Update Eighty-four