Transcript for Vandal Hearts part 22

[ladyabaxa]

Video source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4vT76Rntbg
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Transcript

Narrator: After the disappearance of Ash and the others, it is announced that
General Magnus has been assassinated by an extremist faction within the Security Forces.
News that a national hero has fallen at the hands of terrorists hands of terrorists
sends shockwaves through the country and most blame the Domestic Security Agency which
controls the Security Forces.
This results in the ouster of Renaldo Castille, Hel Spites' political arch rival.
Defense Minister Hel Spites, highly praised for his quick handling of the terrorist
threat, is elected Prime Minister the following month.
In the name of nation security, Hel requests emergency powers from the Council,
but as soon as he is granted those powers, his tyrannical nature emerges.
He abolishes the council, creates a secret police and establishes a privileged class.
Finally, he revives imperialism and claims that he will place himself on the sacred
and inviolable Ishtarian imperial throne.
Realizing the danger, some citizens join anti-imperial movements, but these are
easily crushed by the Crimson Guard.
It was the second coming of the Dark Ages and terror reigned over all...

[in a mysterious place]

Grog: Where in the heck are we?!

Ash: I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...

Sara: Ash! Something's wrong with the general!

Magnus: Oooohh...

Ash: General, hang in there!

Magnus: Ash... it's no good... It's the end for me...

Ash: General... no...

Magnus: I've stared death in the face all my life...
I know what she looks like and I do not fear her cold embrace...

Ash: ...

Magnus: I was raised in a poor farming village...
I was going to lead the simple life, following in my father's footsteps...
But then the revolution came and our lives were thrown in turmoil.
For country!... For ideals!... For liberty!...
But however pretty the slogan, there's no such thing as a good war...
They call me a hero, but I'm just a murderer with blood on his hands...

Ash: But think of the people you saved, like Eleni!

Magnus: Eleni...
15 years ago, I found her wandering around the ruins of her town.
Adopting her was my attempt to make restitution for my sins...
Ash, don't make the same mistakes I made...
You must stop Hel and Dolf! Return this land to its former greatness!
...I beg you, Ash... retrieve the Magic Stone...

Ash: General! General Magnus!!

[later]

Grog: Too bad we had to bury him in this weird place.

Sara: Hmmm... Something feels very wrong.

Grog: What are these things?!

Ash: I don't know, but they're attacking!

[following the skirmish]

Mystery Man: Aha. So this is why the spirits were so noisy...

Ash: Huh?...

Mystery Man: You've destroyed the spirits? That was cruel.
Those are the spirits of people who died young. They are harmless...

Grog: Harmless?! Are you crazy?
Those things tried to bite our heads off!

Mystery Man: They were drawn by the smell of blood.
You people have the blood of many on your hands.

Ash: Who are you?

Mystery Man: My name is Zohar and I am just as you see me.
I have been exploring this strange land for some time.
Just south of here is this land's only town. You should visit it.
Good luck, strangers...

Grog: What a strange guy...

Sara: Zohar?... Where have I heard that name before?

Ash: In any case, let's go pay this town a visit.

[upon entering the remote city]

Grog: These houses are really old looking.

Sara: Not true! That house is ultra-modern!

Ash: You're both right. It's both old and new...

[in the tavern]

Bartender: Welcome!... Huh? Never seen you before!
Ha. You must have some bad luck to materialize in this dimension!

Ash: ???... What are you talking about?

Bartender: This is a loophole in time.
This is the town at the end of the world.

Old Man: The flow of time is not an absolute.
It's more like the weather. Sometimes there are disturbances.
I've seen birds and small dogs come through rips in time-space.

Man: Most of the people who enter a warp just get
spit out elsewhere, but some people wind up in this damned town!
Like me...

Woman: You want to leave this town? Simple.
Exit this town and keep walking. The winds of time will take you
somewhere, but you can't predict when and where you will appear.

[leaving the bar, back in the pavilion]

Grog: It looks like we might be stuck here...

Sara: A loophole in time... I've heard legends.
The ship that was lost at sea and found 10 years later in the desert...
or the ancient princess who vanished while strolling in the garden.

Ash: But we've got to get back!
We promised the general that we would stop Hel and get the stone back!

Zohar: Are you referring to the Magic Stone?!

Ash: You're the guy from before!

Zohar: Yes... I am Zohar.
If you don't mind, please tell me about this magic stone.
Let's go to my home outside of town and talk of this...

Zohar: I see...
You and your companions are trying to stop this man named Hel...
But are you absolutely sure that's the right thing to do?
Think about it. The generation before you gave up their lives to
build an ideal society and what was the end result?
We've let the council turn into a den of thieves and liars!
There will always be war, but by stopping Hel now, who is to say you
won't be paving the way for someone even worse than him?!

Ash: Maybe you're right.
But a brief peace is better than war!
I can't sit and do nothing when I know that people are going to die!

Zohar: Hmmmm...
I suppose it is the struggle that lends dignity to our lives...
...It's decided. I will help you in your brave mission.

Zohar joined your pary.

Ash: So how can we...?

Zohar: There's only one way to get back to your time.
First we have to go back to the exact spot where you first arrived.