Beyond the Beyond: Update 98: Tourism is Dead Here (Road to the Gate)

[ladyabaxa]

Beyond the Beyond: Update 98: Tourism is Dead Here (Road to the Gate)

When last we saw our heroes (?) they had begun working through a list of last-minute preparations for the endgame. Today there's more work to be done on that front and a new party member to drag around while doing it!

First upon the agenda is heading back into the Sand Cave - as if I want to set foot in that miserable dungeon. Alas, duty calls.

Why are we going back in?
Because some of us haven't seen the place yet?
Something been bugging me.
This had better not be one of those 'treasure sense' things, Finn.
Don't worry, sis. I just think we missed some passages and I'm curious what's down them.
So it is one of your 'treasure sense' things. Lovely.
We'll be fine. No monster can compare to our training.

The very first random encounter rolls up a pair of Red Dragons alongside a pair of Undead Knights. Quite the welcome wagon!

You've been fighting dragons? Aww, I've been missing all the fun.

Anni uses a Resist Jewel on Percy first thing. Since he's currently the team's wimpiest member he gets priority.

She was just in time too! Not that it's hard when you're as fast as Annie. Both Red Dragons breath fire over the party inflicting full damage to Lorele and Edward. I only have one more Resist Jewel in stock which Lorele will use on her turn. Edward will just have to tough it out for this trip. I would express concern but, meh, it's not a full dungeon crawl. He's got LP. He can walk it off.

OW! Lorele can we talk about your definition of fun when they're dead?
Ugh, tch, okay I wasn't expecting that to happen!

Thankfully Lorele's around to pick up some of the healing load. This team isn't exactly able to roll over truly dangerous opponents but as long as things balance out in the end the team will be fine.

Let's all agree to never do that again!
Sis, if we run across more dragons I don't think we'll have a choice.
Just say it Finn and make me feel better.
Um, okay. I agree to never to do that again. Whatever "that" is.

Aww, what cute bats!
Bats are NEVER cute!
I don't think she's listening, Finn.

Minutes later the team squares off against a multiplying horde of bats. The multiplying part definitely had nothing to do with the fact that I ordered the team to defend itself for several rounds. The team, uh, just stood around admiring the bats and listening to Finn's ravings. Yeah! That's it!

Suddenly all the bats flash and the screen dims.

What are they doing?
I have no idea. Edward?
I'm afraid I don't know.

Then the bats gather together into a huge cloud of dust.

Whatever they're doing I don't like it!
You don't like anything about bats.
For good reason!

With your bats combined is a huge Demon Bat! Alas though it doesn't look all that bat-like to me. At least it isn't a vampire. Finn would be even more scarred for life if that were the case.

Finn are you all right? You're turning blue.
Damnit you weren't eating during battle again, were you?

KILL IT WITH FIRE!!
AYE, AYE CAPTAIN!!

In an amazing show of (non) restraint Finn screams for Steiner.

Remarkably dousing the Demon Bat in dragon fire actually works. Disregard the fact that it had already been wounded. Finn definitely saved the day on this one!

You've been able to do that this whole time?
Since Steiner grew up, yes. I keep forgetting though.
Well then stop forgetting! I've been so bored, Finn.
Wait, you can still hear us?
Of course I can, Finn. I hear every... Ahh, I mean to say I've got to get going.
And I thought the bats were bad.
Finn when this is all over I'm getting you some help for that phobia of yours.

 

You're right. This IS fun!
Told ya.

Down a tunnel on the northwestern side of the sixth floor is this treasure chest. Alas as might be inferred from the name the Demon's Axe is cursed. I suppose if the chest just handed out 10,000 gold it would seem a bit half-hearted but since I'm just going to sell this weapon as soon as possible it pretty much did exactly that because this axe sells for 9,600 gold.

How many bats have attacked us, sis?
How should I know? It's not like we've kept count!
But you do admit it's a number way higher then zero.
*sighs* Finn...
If I may interject you should be careful how you hold that axe, Finn.
Am I about to get magic all over me?
No it just seems easy to drop on your foot.
I'd never.... OW! OW! OW!
*breaks out laughing*
I guess this proves the bats aren't what he should be worried about.

As the team walks back to the exit (I'd warp but honestly they need the experience) it becomes clear that without using magic keeping bats under control is a hassle. For instance here's Edward attacking a pair.

Mere moments later their numbers shoot up from two to five! The first two each called for reinforcements then in the same round one of the new bats got a turn and called for help again. Although the team killed one early the next round they still had enough to transform into a Demon Bat.

Actually I don't mind that at all. Demon Bats are rather weak relative to their tier. It also means being attacked by only one monster per round rather then three or more - assuming the Demon Bat even gets a turn which usually doesn't happen. Honestly it's a bit disappointing. All that work in custom-scripting a random encounter in one dungeon and all it does is summon a critter any team able to survive the Sand Cave can easily kill.

Near the exit the team is assailed by five Undead Knights spread across three groups. Early in the game formation spreads like this would be a head-ache but that is no longer the case.

Why it's an undead band of brothers!

Whatever. I'm sick of this place and they need to hurry up and get out of our way.

Annie has Holy Light level 4 but it is single target only. Thus against this horde of skeletons she uses Holy Light level 3. The damage dealt isn't bad. It just isn't worth the MP cost to a healer. That's why I have mages!

With their errand to the Sand Cave complete the team warps to Barbaros Castle for some shopping. At a bare minimum Edward needs a Resist Jewel. Again, this isn't strictly necessary but it does make the endgame less of a hassle. It also probably means less level grinding for the end since damage intake is more manageable.

At the same time I opt to buy a pair of Angel's Ocarinas as a bit of insurance. This particular team configuration is a bit slow on damage output, making me miss Samson, and they end up taking more damage. Since they only cost 2,000 gold each I'm not exactly heartbroken if I break an ocarina.

So you're okay with this guy just... hanging out in your castle?
Oh we've spoken several times. He knew my father years ago.
Really? You don't seem like a guy who'd know a king.
He wasn't a king back then - just a prince often out of his league.
You were born here?
Yes.
You could have mentioned that the first time we saw you.
Oh? When you accused me of looting? Well to be perfectly frank I thought you kids were doing the same thing.
Where pray tell did you, uh, acquire your wares?
I've been travelin' the world for close to twenty years, kid. This stuff just sort of built up over time.
And you figured you'd profit from your collection.
Magic isn't welcome in Barbaros but the people around here have always been a bit... flexible when warranted.
Magic not welcome? Lorele knows healing spells.
Like I said, flexible.

The team returns to Quamdar and, after a night at the inn to recharge mana, heads out into the desert that covers the eastern side of the valley.

. I don't recall anyone saying where the shrine is, Finn.
Of course not. That would be too easy.
I vaguely remember seeing it. Out in the wilderness... somewhere.
Well that narrows it down...
To remain safe the gateway to the Abyss must be somewhere remote and hard to reach.
The entire valley's super remote. Anyone determined enough to get this far is gonna keep going.
Isn't that what we're doing?
Well... yeah, but I'm still gonna complain about the lack of signposts!
We still haven't seen Ramue. You think she's waiting for us at the gate?
I don't know.
What do you recall concerning Shutat?
He was hurt. Ramue took him below deck. I didn't see him after that.
Hurt, hurt... Ahh, yes. The king of Barbaros threw Spirit Water at him.
Where you there, Percy?
I have no memory of it. I don't think I left the battleship until, uh, until Ramue teleported a group of us to this valley. I actually didn't see her much. She was always off doing whatever it was she did.
Did you see Dagoot shoot Steiner?
No. We must have left before then. She only left him a few monsters to sail the battleship.
I suppose we should be thankful for that. Steiner might have suffered worse if Ramue joined in against him.
Not likely. Ramue turns up her nose at him and Dagoot loves to annoy her back.
So our enemy is divided? We can use that.
Fine by me!

As the team sets out to cross the desert it runs into a new enemy: the Devil Insect.

Devil Insects are able to to use the "enveloping fog" ability but its success rate is low. On a side note what looks like compression artifacting in the screenshot above is actually the end of the fog effect. As for the insects they aren't dangerous opponents but they do paralyze team members with their critical hits. Compared to what could show up that's something of a relief.

I'd like to say Percy adds much to the group but... no. In this battle he gets hit by both row modifiers which is why he deals a mere 6 damage with this attack despite having a good weapon. Until he gains some defense and health I'm going to be hesitant to put him in the front row. For these fights he'd probably be fine. We can just Light Orb back to a town if anyone's LP gets low.

Don't worry though. The team still gets their daily dose of nukes courtesy of wandering Necromancers. On a side note the dead trees in this battlefield are occasionally destroyed when spells like Titan are cast. It took me by surprise since it hasn't happened since the water shrine.

Despite the nukes and my less than stellar party make-up critical hits like this one from Finn balances things out. Dealing 110 damage will kill just about any non-boss foe. Now if only he'd done that before the Necromancer got their turn and cast that Titan spell!

Oh and Percy learns Fire 3.

*recites an incantation*
Yes. That's it.
I think I've got it now.
But you had it before. You were raining fire on us as the black knight.
And if you do it again you're going to suffer!
I don't know what to tell you. I can't cast a spell I don't know.

The valley's core is a mini-maze of rough hills walled off into a linear path by a twisty (but still grid-conforming!) river and its branches. Geography like this isn't uncommon in JRPGs but it is unusual to see in this particular game. While the overland trip to Bandore had a mild pseudo-version this is the real pain in the butt. As a linear path this only serves to force the player into more random battles.

When said random battles include large dragons and malevolent mages capable of death magic (on top of the damaging summon spells in their arsenals) this becomes a problem.

Do the dragons choose to work for Shutat?
I... have no idea. There were none on the battleship.
Maybe they've always been here, around Quamdar?
And were released to aimlessly wander the cavern to Zeal? It seems to me Shutat could have done better by taking them to Bandore.
That certainly would have made liberating Marion more difficult.
But wouldn't that make people in Bandore ask questions?
Nobody seemed to be bothered by the giant green guy, or Dagoot flying, or Shutat's horns.
I doubt any of that bothered the emperor because he liked what Shutat was saying.
But anyone it did bother was killed!
I don't think the emperor considered that a problem.

Oddly enough the biggest issue on this trip isn't dragons or Necromancers. Nope, it the Demon's Pets. They're fast so they get licks in and with a frustratingly-high block rate they tend to stick around two or three rounds just to make sure they deal damage.

It's the little things that'll drive a player up the wall!

Red Dragons in the hills, Red Dragons in the forest. It's only a matter of time before an idea pops into Finn's head - an idea that asks the question "which dragon is deadlier?". Sadly he does not stop to consider the fact that red, fire-breathing dragons are not particularly flammable. Or that a forest is perhaps a poor location to dial up some dragon fire of his own.

Why is my other brother suddenly mumbling to himself?
You're standing next to him. Why don't you ask him?
Because I fear I know what the answer is.

Oh and Edward leveled up and learned Ice 3 from the same battle. Red Dragons are weak to ice but I still won't bother to use it because of the high MP cost. Even this team has no trouble spamming physical attacks and winning.

At the end of the proverbial rainbow is a small desert surrounded by lush forest. Bordered as it is on all sides by tall peaks I suppose the entire valley is a rain shadow and it would be wholly desert without the river. Anyway, in the center of this small patch of dessication stands a shrine.

That's it!
You've seen it before?
Yes. I'm sure of it.
So this is it - the entrance to the Abyss.
And still no sign of the Vicious Ones.
If we can just seal them in the Underworld that'd be great. Never gonna happen but still, a guy can dream.
Technically speaking they were sealed in the Underworld... or something or other... and still got loose.
I'm just sort of hoping out loud. Shutat won't go down without a fight. That I'm sure of.

Inside is a rather dark and dreary interior adorned by large statues and two priests. For some reason said priests are dressed like the crew in the Shrine of Discipline.

Uh, hi there.
They seem kind of... out of it.
(E) The guard of the Common World was chosen from Arawn's four followers. Marion's blood line, which had the greatest potential, was assigned to this task.
The greatest potential? How does anyone measure THAT?
I'm not sure I want to know, sis.
I still don't understand why no one was sent.
Maybe the priests here can tell us.
(E) The guard of the Common World...
You already said that.
(W) In Quamdar, there is a path linking the Common World and the Underworld. The path is known as the Abyss. To prevent the two worlds from interacting, the agreement provides for two guards to protect the path. One guard is selected from each world.
And this is that path?
(W) In Quamdar, there is a path...
They're under an enchantment.
Can you fix them?
It doesn't seem to be hurting them. Not right now, at least. After we've dealt with Shutat I can look into this.
Forced to stand in one place repeating the same thing over and over again. Creepy!

If there is supposed to be one guard from each side and Marion's blood line is it for the Common World then Shutat, not being of that blood line, must therefor be from the Underworld. There's simply no other way to read this. This is why I say that fellow in the village of Quamdar must be wrong. It's a shame that such a confusion-causing error happened but it's not exactly uncommon in translations.

In other news hidden in a skeleton statue is a Poisoned Fang - a cursed knife for Domino. Yay money?

A depression on the floor has a message implying something is missing. The team lacks that something at the moment.

Oh and there are Greater Demons roaming around with Undead Lectors. Something about this combination just seems off.

There is but one door in the shrine and it won't open.

If this is sealed how did the Vicious Ones get through?
Locked it behind themselves?
A cauldron of magic churns beneath us. It's so chaotic I wouldn't be surprised if someone could use it to create temporary gateways.
That doesn't help us. We need a key.

Just then another random encounter pops up. Why yes the shrine's top level is packed full of monsters. It's the only dungeon in the game with NPCs the player can interact with. Don't ask why the monsters don't kill the two priests at the entrance. The game doesn't see fit to explain.

Don't they have anything better to do than hang around here?
They're probably guards.

GAH! Can they guard a little less enthusiastically?

Royal Guards are stronger golems and thus have higher attack power but aside from that there's nothing particularly remarkable about them.

Especially not when Finn launches critical counterattacks like this blow for 87 damage.

GO AWAY!
I think it got the message.
Good!

There's no sense in walking back to the village (aside from grinding out some experience) when the team can just Light Orb themselves across the world. Edward's low on MP anyway so it seems prudent not to tempt the game at this point.

 

Next time on Beyond the Beyond - the team is in search of a key.

Update Ninety-seven | Index | Update Ninety-nine