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Beyond the Beyond: Update 15: Wherein We Get Very Dirty (Zalagoon Kingdom, Sewers)
Following a less then stellar first meeting with those in authority in Zalagoon the party spent a night outside the city walls amongst the citizenry who aren't so fortunate to live behind fortifications. The next morning Edward prepares for travel.
Won't leaving town on such short notice make Advisor Glade even more suspicious?
Glade did say we should see more of Zalagoon. I'm merely taking him up on his generous offer. If it makes him waste time then all the better.
But we're going to be gone for days, maybe even a couple weeks. Are you sure this is in Marion's best interest? I... I've made up my mind.
*pause* O-kay then. If Sir Samson has no objections then I guess I'll just get ready to go.
You and Finn don't have to go with us. It's not like you're my bodyguards or anything.
And miss seeing the sights? Not a chance!
I may not be an actual knight of Marion yet but it is still my duty to protect you.
Yeah what he said.
Here's our map of Zalagoon again. Since the team is striking out into the wilderness to see what the kingdom has to offer we'll be visiting that cave to the south and of course stopping by the bridge to say hello the whoever is on garrison duty for Zalagoon's side. As I've mentioned before Beyond the Beyond is very barebones about populating its kingdoms.
Of course we're not going to get far without running into random encounters.
Orks and kobolds working together? Zalagoon has problems.
What is happening to force such usually hostile races to work together?
Whatever the reason we don't have time to stand around wondering. They are about to attack.
After several encounters that eat up some game clock time but aren't at all threatening to us we arrive at this cave.
(both soldiers) In the name of the Emperor of Bandore and Lord Shutat, I must stop you here.
But this is Zalagoon's territory. How can either of you claim any sort of authority here? *brandishes crossbow* By the authority of we'll kick your asses if you mess with us.
Steiner! Uh, don't mind him. We were just leaving.
Discovering Bandore soldiers in the cave the team makes a hasty retreat and counts their good blessings that they weren't recognized.
Also, there are Flying Mice roaming the forests of Zalagoon, because... uh, Flying Mice. Seriously. They don't do anything other then be ridiculously cute and get mowed down by our party for trying to attack us.
Eventually the team makes it to the bridge connecting Zalagoon to Marion. (Seriously, Flying Mice. They're like bats but actually cute and cuddly and they don't punch anybody. They just try to gnaw their heads off.)
Well there went four days of my life I'll never get back. The roads in this kingdom could use some maintenance.
You're telling me! Ouch, my legs are so sore.
Prrr. Finn's going to need a long hot bath when we get back to Zalagoon just to get the kinks out.
A hot bath sounds heavenly right now.
There's the bridge. Once we've checked it out we can head back to town.
You know it's been a long trip when Sir Samson of all people is eager for rest and relaxation.
I don't want to be on the road any longer then necessary. It'll be nice to get you kids back to Zalagoon. Then maybe I'll have a day to just ignore everything going on in the world. Vacation!
One day, Finn, that's all I ask for.
You'll get no argument from me about that.
Edward, are you ok? You've been very quiet today. What? Oh, don't mind me. I've just been thinking.
What's eatin' ya, kid? Sir Samson I don't understand how you can be so calm knowing there are Bandore troops in Zalagoon.
I'm trying to reserve judgment until I know more.
The guardhouse is a mirror image of what we saw on the Marion side.
Where are all the guards?
Yeah. I thought Advisor Glade was pushing conscription to beef up the army and stuff 'cause he was all concerned about being invaded.
Prraa. Is this some sort of clever ruse you humans use that I've never heard about?
If it is it's not one I've ever heard about.
Could Bandore have already pushed into Zalagoon? No, that doesn't make sense. How could no one in the capital know about it?
*growls*
W- we really need to speak to someone in authority in Zalagoon and preferably not Glade.
We do get a very nice backdrop as we cross the bridge. That's a pretty big river. No wonder it functions as the border between kingdoms.
On the other side are the guards we met back in part 6. Since their job is apparently just to stop anyone in Marion from crossing into Zalagoon they apparently don't care that a group from Zalagoon just suddenly appeared behind them. Attacking them isn't an option, though, even if we wanted to which we don't.
In the name of the Emperor of Bandore and Lord Shutat, no one is allowed to cross.
With little choice but to return to Zalagoon the team trudges back to what is quickly turning into a city of intrigue. Well, technically they could run off the rails at this point and go exploring farther south but we need something from Zalagoon and it doesn't make much sense to go banging our heads against increased random encounter difficulty just to turn around and backtrack.
This ring sure is shiny isn't it? I rather like it. Edward says it's magical but I don't feel any different when I take it off.
It must be very subtle magic then.
Why are all the cloaks only available in red? Maybe I don't want to stand out like a sore thumb in the forest! Surely someone in this damn city can sell me some dye so we get attacked less often by wildlife.
Annie's strength growth has been abysmal +1s and +2s for several levels. Hmm, I might have to do something about that.
Steel is a great material for arms and armor but this mail still itches and chafes. I don't get how you can wear that stuff. Isn't it like, super heavy? Eh, it's not that bad when it's tailored to a good fit.
That mix of stat boosters Samson got in our last update has put him squarely ahead in attack and defense. Now when he does get to hit something he either kills it outright or leaves it with a couple hit points that Edward can easily mop up right afterwards. This also means he takes more retaliatory damage from his curse and his VP growth continues to be awful but when he shifts to defense he's better then anyone else right now in damage negation.
I still don't understand the appeal of hitting things but when violence is necessary I still have my magic.
Giving Edward the +5 speed bonus would have put him at 14 speed and is a good move... provided you make sure he gets +speed on level ups from then on so that he stays near the top of the party's turn order. I decided against it because I didn't want the hassle of micromanaging another character's level ups if I don't need to and the benefits of him being faster then most of the party don't show up until he learns some specific spells. Even then it is situational and not something he'd be able to take advantage of in most random encounters because of MP limits.
Armed and a little more experienced then the last time they visited Zalagoon the team finds Finn staring down into one of the town's wells.
Well it's been a week since we left to go sightseeing and there's still no word from the castle. What should we do now?
There's also still no sign of that mysterious hint dropping blonde kid is there?
Nope.
I guess there's nothing to do but see what all the fuss is about with the sewers.
Ew, do we - do we REALLY want to go stomping around in such filth?
*jumps in* I regret nothing about this haphazard plan! I think Finn has already made up our minds.
Oh hey we're still alive and there's a dungeon under the town.
Finn you just jumped into a well. What in the world possessed you to do that?
The same thing that possessed you to jump after me?
There is a ladder here so I suggest we go about our business quickly and if you have any further ideas about jumping into the sewers, Finn, spare your knees and just climb down.
But I like jumping down!
Ahem! Remember the little incident in the tree I had to help you with? *grumbles* It's not as far this time though! *pause* Ok, ok, I won't jump down anything further then this, ok?
Thank you.
And here I thought Resident Evil protagonists jumping down easily climbed down ladders were silly. Finn beat Leon S. Kennedy to that schtick by almost a decade.
This particular drop leads nowhere as far as progress in the dungeon is concerned but it is an easy way to get this Source of Magic.
If I were pumping up Edward's speed giving this to him would be a good move so he has more emergency nuking power. Instead though I'm giving it to Annie because we'll need every drop of MP on her for healing later in the game. What can I say? I like surviving.
The enemies down here are the same as those wandering around the overworld at this point and we have little trouble with them. We are a bit over leveled right now. (Which means less grinding for me later, yay!)
Huh? We've run out of walkway. Maybe we can jump across the water and reach that island there?
That water looks awfully deep. I - I'm not so sure that's a good idea. Well I'll try!
Finn, wait! Ah, there he goes. Aaaaand there he fails.
*shakes head*
*gurgling and thrashing* Help! HELP! I've got you, Finn. Just relax and I'll pull you out.
So here's the sewer's main gimmick. Stepping in the water means the party is flushed along the current, in water that appears to be up to Finn's neck mind you, to a set point that is usually a set of stairs so you can climb out. This is what makes it impossible to go anywhere from this drop point. Instead we need to head back up to town.
By great Arawn the stench! AAAGGHH!
Your highness, stop!
*panting* You're not going to make things better by setting your own clothes on fire.
*vomits* Is this how you envisioned your day going, Finn?
Not really but hey at least we're somewhat used to this kind of stink, eh sis?
There are perks to growing up in a small village and having to help with the livestock year round.
This is the real drop point we want. Note that there actually isn't any option to climb down. You search the well and Finn automatically jumps down because, uh, he really likes the thrill of it and has knees and ankles made of adamantium? Anyway when Samson gets Edward calmed down Finn jumps down, Steiner flies down, and the rest of the group takes the reasonable approach of climbing the ladder.
This is the real beginning of the maze under Zalagoon. I've been trying not to draw parallels with Summoner but Beyond the Beyond is making it really hard right now. We will have to traverse this sewer several times throughout the game and each time I am thankful it is not as large or as a disgusting as the Lenele Sewers. Zalagoon's sewer's get generic dungeon music though. Bleh.
east, south, west, north and around to this point
Yay Smoke Bomb! We'll need these later.
Then we follow the walkways north and around to reach this point and find the way is barred by a locked gate. We can't swim up stream because of the strong current so this means there is backtracking in our future. Note that it isn't necessary to check this before you find the key. I just did this for narrative flow.
Who puts a locked door, gate, thing in a sewer?
For that matter who is responsible for maintenance down here? We haven't seen any other humans. I think the monster infestation probably has something to do with that.
We must backtrack to the hole in the wall right here.
Ugh just when I thought it couldn't get any more disgusting you want me to jump into the water and walk through it?
Yup.
When this is over I'm buying a new set of clothes and consigning these to a funeral pyre.
I'm infinitely grateful right now that I can fly. The smell is bad enough.
From the hole we continue north and around, stepping through water behind where the current would catch and sweep us away then climbing up the stairs onto a walkway that can take us new places.
Continuing south we find the path to a ladder up blocked by a barrel. No we cannot just hurl the barrel into the water. That wouldn't be sporting, apparently.
Instead we have to realize the water at the juncture sweeps the party south where they can then climb out and follow the walkway. How are we supposed to know where these points to step into the water are? By trial and error of course!
Then we climb up into this room. Key item Bronze Key got!
What? Where are we?
I can hear talking through the wall. It sounds like the tavern.
This town is weird. Well thanks whoever stuffed this key into this box. We're gonna go bust into the castle now.
Now that you mention it, that sounds like really appalling security for a castle.
On the way back to the gate we get a group big enough that some monsters start in the back row. The same row mechanic we get for player characters take effect when monsters are in their back row but that makes no difference right now as an ork and the back row bunny run away.
Are we all ready to see what's beyond the mystery door?
Sure. Whatever.
With the proper key the locked gate can no longer bar our way.
So, uh, is that it for preventing us from waltzing into the castle?
As bad as it might sound coming from me, I hope so.
Hey the key's stuck!
Forget it. It's not worth our time to bother with right now.
It's that cloaked figure again! Well, it WAS that cloaked figure for all of five seconds. How did they get down here anyway?
Somehow I'm not eager to find out.
North past the gate is where the sewers/waterway proper ends. Despite what it might look like with two pipes draining into a narrow bottleneck and the current just down south we can actually jump down about level with the cave opening without being swept away. I only scrolled up to show the tunnel's end.
More trudging through water?
There's no other way.
Let's get this over with already.
Samson crits hard and thankfully his curse doesn't kick his ass in retaliation on this strike. Thirty damage is about where he was critting just before he got cursed so having his stats reset hasn't been a total loss.
Wait, the path leads to a storage room?
I can see a door over there, Finn. We must be under the castle now.
Okay I've been going along nodding my head thus far but this takes the cake. What the hell, Bison? You know better then to store anything in a humid, watery tunnel prone to flooding. Look at this! It's all ruined!
Are you okay, Sir Samson?
I take it this has something to do with how you know the knights of Zalagoon?
It's a long story and one that can wait until later.
Well here's a ladder going up.
Sweet, merciful sunlight!
Kyraa! There's that kid again!
A Ha! [sic] I knew you would come.
Turning towards the door the kids jumps up and down a few times while shouting.
Sir Bison!
So much for subtlety.
Pay no attention to the fact the screen doesn't quite scroll far enough to completely hide Finn and Steiner like whoever programmed this wanted it to and that as a result the team very obviously teleports into place for the next shot. Yup, nothing going on behind the curtains here! Eyes on the door! (It would probably help if this little courtyard were widened a bit.)
A man who looks rather important strolls out of the castle.
I've brought you some visitors from Marion. I told you I could get them here, Dad.
Thank you Jean. I'll take it from here.
The kid steps aside allowing Bison to walk forward.
Prince Edward and friends, greetings. I am Sir Bison.
It has been many years, Sir Bison.
Indeed it has, Sir Samson. Perhaps too many as few in Zalagoon still remember you.
I am afraid this is the first time I've gotten to meet you, Sir Bison, despite what you have done for Marion.
Don't worry about it. You've come a long way from Marion looking for your aunt. Please forgive our rudeness.
Yeah what's up with that?
As you might have figured, all of Zalagoon's power is currently held by Advisor Glade, and he is not too pleased with your visit.
Saying he's not pleased is an understatement, Dad. Jean, please.
I know, I know.
That's why I sent my son to find you. I brought you here to make you aware of this.
Bison turns his back to the group as a vague knocking sound plays.
I think the messengers are looking for Prince Edward. You should hurry back to town.
See, I told you all they wouldn't send for us for awhile.
Uh, wait, we still have questions.
I'm afraid I don't have time right now. With the messengers heading out I'm sure the king will send for me soon and I cannot raise any suspicion by being late or hard to find.
We understand the risk you are taking, Sir Bison.
One more thing. If Advisor Glade tries to make you leave Zalagoon, we'll meet back here.
With that Bison returns to the castle.
Well it was nice seeing you all again. Take care!
Then the kid follows Bison, shutting the door behind them.
Well that was abrupt.
The door's locked tight. This means we have to wade through that nasty water again, doesn't it?
Yup.
Great and the inn only has one bath.
Whelp it's time to traverse the sewers again to make it back to town so the messengers can find us. No we cannot just climb over the bushes. As has been established before bushes are actually insurmountable walls in this game. Since neither us nor monsters can seem to cross them I'm starting to suspect they're actually the most lethal form of life on this planet and will probably morph into giant laser-shooting, head-chomping monstrosities if we tried.
Next time on Beyond the Beyond - we have an audience with the king of Zalagoon. Our chances of being thrown out on our asses afterwards are hovering around 50/50.
