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Beyond the Beyond: Update 23: Hollow Land (Passageway)
Welcome back to Beyond the Beyond. Last time I had a bit of a rant about magic and Shining Force. Today we have to leave Luna and move on. Samson's still cursed and it's not going to kindly pack up and leave all on its own. Nope, we're going to have to do something about it ourselves. This update is image heavy so buckle up!
An overland trip calls for the overland map for this part of the world. Today we start at Luna and we're heading north almost all the way back to Zalagoon. Although it is hard to see with the scanned map (darn book spine) and I didn't screenshot it in game that mountain range in the center of the continent does cut us off from Zalagoon. The mountains descend from the center and go west all the way to the sea so the only way back to Zalagoon over land at the moment is through that desert.
Well here we go. It's going to be night soon. Are you sure you don't want to stick around, Sir Samson?
Absolutely. The farther we are by nightfall the better I'll feel.
*shrugs* Alright. Whatever. We have to head north anyway.
Just how far north are we talking about?
Pretty far, I think. Two weeks of travel, perhaps if the weather is good?
I'm glad I can just ride on Finn's shoulder when my wings get tired.
You know you could just use those little legs of yours and walk when that happens.
Yeah but there's no way I can keep up with you humans like that. I know! You and your infernal dragon logic, making perfect sense. *smiles*
Dear Journal, I am disappointed we didn't get to spend more then a few hours in Luna but I can't argue with Sir Samson's reasoning. We do need to keep moving and the sooner we reach the village where the elders live the sooner we can break his curse. As such night will find us once more on the western plains not far from where we started the day.
I was alarmed when another old man, this time with a huge scorpion at his side, ambushed us soon after we left Luna. The old man was dressed much the same as the fellow Sir Samson killed. I can't help but think the ambush was a deliberate act of retaliation but that seems so improbable as to be nonsense. Am I jumping at shadows now?
The critter with the warlock this time is a Devil Scorpion. What's devilish about them? *shrugs* I don't let enemies live long and this was no exception.
So what do you all think this village will be like?
What do you mean?
Like, do you think there will be a bunch of libraries or something? I'll be amazed if the village actually exists.
Having some second thoughts, sis?
I'm just trying to stay realistic. That way if it turns out we've wasted our time I won't be too disappointed.
I have confidence in Sir Bison's information. The village will be there.
Ahem, yes, of course it will be.
Prraaa. I'll say. If Sir Samson collapses again...
I'm fine! Really, don't worry about me.
Soooo, about those libraries.
Oh look, more skeletons. They're just not as threatening once you know when and where they might pop out of the ground, are they? No they're not.
Dear Journal, today we stand at the mouth of a great valley stretching for miles to the northeast. The valley is ringed on three sides by mountains and filled with lush vegetation. Aside from a few hunters and trappers we haven't seen anyone else living out here despite the bounty this land offers. Standing on this side of the continent's spine I can understand why the desert to the east is so dry. Here on the valley's edge more rain has fallen on us in one day than most of the continent probably sees in a whole year.
I wish we had time to stop and see more of what Greenheim offers but, alas, we must keep up a brisk pace. There are too many people counting on us to dally.
What's this screenshot about? Well, take a look at our region map. If you look closely you'll see what appears to be a cave tucked on the northern slopes of this valley. I tried to get a screenshot matching the map as closely as I could but the world isn't built quite like the map suggests. There is no cave and no plateau high above the valley. Instead we have an area that doesn't have much function unless you want to grind. There are stronger monsters in the enclosed valley to our north and the encounter zone extends down around here.
I can't think of any practical reason to use this but it is what it is.
More forest!
We should be close.
Close to what? All I see are trees.
Close to some inkling of progress?
What about giant, fanged worms? Do those count?
Don't these things live in the desert? What are they doing all the way out here?
Well it's obvious, sis. They're monstrosities that gleefully live wherever possible just to annoy us.
Then I'll feel no regret in exterminating some of them.
Eventually the journey north yields a cave entrance.
There's a path here. We can climb up.
Steiner can you see what's up ahead?
Prrr. I sure can. There's dirt, and trees, and flowers, and rocks, and...
I get it.
This is what we're looking for.
If I squint I can just barely see what looks like a cave. *pause* Well, I was looking for progress. This is supposed to lead to the village?
How else do you think an isolated village stays isolated? Uh, er, well now that you mention it...
It was a rhetorical question.
After climbing up a dirt trail the team finds themselves high above the forest floor with cliffs soaring above them.
The air is so fresh up here. *takes a deep breath* Kinda stings the throat though.
I don't think we want to hang around any longer then we have to. It's... we're really high up.
Afraid of heights? Why didn't anyone in Luna mention this place?
This land has a bad reputation and it's far from any town, that's why.
A bad reputation? Where did you hear that?
I've been around. I've heard things over the years.
Care to...? Wait, I hear footsteps!
Just like that, before they could even enter the cave, the team is approached by two priests clad in dark purple and a translucent ghost. Huh, ya know I could have sworn I've seen that monster design somewhere before...
A ghost and two priests? What in the world is going on up here?
Honestly, I don't want to know.
This is the first fight of our new dungeon and it sets off an odd reaction in the team.
Namely a reaction of EXTREME VIOLENCE towards enemy priests. Considering their penchant for beating up Annie it is probably for the better. (The AI will start focusing more heavily on Samson soon, I promise.)
Ghosts can cast Ice 1 which Samson tanks for us in this encounter because BRRR. Because he was defending, the spell is even less effective then its lackluster damage rating would make it otherwise.
The penchant for violence almost causes Annie to miss out on the experience for this encounter but before Edward could unleash another round of pretend monk the Dark Cleric tossed the ghost a Healing Herb and kept it alive for another round.
*coughs* Ok, I've just about had it with people clubbing me over the head!
Well you're no worse for wear at least. My headache says otherwise.
Then the team walks into the cave and finds the place filled with smoke or gas or something that makes it hard for me to see what I'm doing.
AUGH! MY NOSE! IT'S BURNING!
*coughs* What is this? My eyes are watering.
I don't know. Come on let's keep moving.
Sure, just as soon as I figure out which way is forward.
Stumbling about in the hazy darkness the team runs smack into two more priests with a bow-carrying Elf. That bow isn't just for show, either. It gives the Elf a long-range attack that will hit Edward for full damage.
*inserts noseplugs* Ah! Oh, I'm glad I kept these. Relief!
Finn, could you not navigate us into more packs of locals?
That's a promise I can't make.
More priests? This mountain must be overrun with them.
Our violence-streak against the priests continues full-throttle.
STOP HITTING ME YOU JACKASSES!
Then the team stumbles up the stairs to the second floor.
I can smell fresh air!
Where? Oh, I see a light.
Never have I been so glad to see a cliff.
*vomits* This is going to be a long climb, isn't it?
Sorry. The smell and the burning in my throat are just too much. I'll be fine in a moment.
I'm not much better. By Arawn what is in the air in there?
Treasure!
What? Oh, there is. *opens chest* Hell yeah A NEW SWORD!
Just don't hurt yourself with that, Finn.
Don't be silly. I never hurt myself with any blade.
In the chest is a nice new toy: +6 attack for Finn. When I first saw this I scratched my head a bit because I'm used to Broad Swords being post-promotion swords. Obviously in Beyond the Beyond that's not the case. Considering the attack boost he got from the Long Sword I bought back in Luna (I regret nothing!) this alone is a very good reason to skip the pyramid and come here first.
I will be so glad when this cave is behind us. We'll probably have to come through here again to get back to Zalagoon. I'm choosing not to think that far ahead.
Well there are hobgoblins approaching if you'd rather think about them.
So, hobgoblins... they're melee monsters resistant to fire unless you're casting Blaze 2 in which case the spell does full damage. No, I do not understand how that works.
A few minutes later we find out Elves can cast Wind level 1. In Shining Force Wind (known as Blast) is a healer spell and does less damage then other direct damage spells. Beyond the Beyond retains the lower damage values for Wind but healers instead get Holy Light which does more damage. Wind thus gets relegated to the generic nuke pile. Even though it does less damage per target Wind starts out hitting whole groups and when you have 22 hitpoints max being hit for 8 hurts. Needless to say Elves are a big threat right now and I am glad I didn't run into a group with more then one of them on this trip. (Technically Holy Light also starts out hitting entire groups of targets but it still doesn't get used much because Annie needs her MP for healing.)
Also featured: barely-visible tunnels to reach otherwise cut off sections of the map, because what a map with poor visibility to begin with needs are semi-secret passages (seriously, I could barely see anything while playing this so it's not just Finn).
Watch your step.
This cave is riddled with tunnels isn't it?
I guess all the monsters have to get around somehow.
I wish they had put up some signs at least. What floor are we even on anyway?
There are stairs here going up.
3rd floor
Well there goes my hopes the air quality would be better.
Climbing the vine and heading north the team quickly arrives on the 4th floor.
Is that... ...sunlight? Damn right it is!
Prrr. It's a dead end.
I see the worms aren't the only things from the desert around here. Look at those vines!
Maybe this is where that vine in the pyramid came from?
Uh, what? Carried by creatures or people.
That's the short answer but yes.
Oh. Well, back into the cave everyone.
Wait. I think I can reach that vine from here.
Oh no. I know how this will end. Come on, Finn. But, but...!
No buts. Into the cave with you.
Kryaa. Are you sure about this, Annie? This place is pretty crowded already.
Surely not everyone in here is going to atttack us.
Ok, I stand corrected.
The Amazon Priestess is an odd choice of name because she doesn't use any magic and carries a generic herb. She can confuse characters on critical hits, though, and that is dangerous.
Left or right?
*shrugs* I choose... right!
In choosing his right Finn falls out the west hole and plummets to the rock and grass below. The rest of the group, following close on Finn's heels, manages to blunder out and do the same.
Oh, craaaaap! I didn't realize this was a drop!
The group unceremoniously hits the ground. Well, the members of the group who were born without wings hit the ground.
Well there goes not falling today.
Prince Edward?! I'm fine.
Steiner can you warn me next time I'm about to fall like that?
Prr. Of course I can, Finn. I didn't think it was sheer drop either. If the monsters use the caves to go up and down the cliffs how do they manage that? Painfully I bet.
Someone should get them to install more vines. Hey there's something shiny up here.
Up on the lonely cliff is a green gem the game helpfully informs us is special. Key Item Magic Emerald got!
SHINIES! It's some sort of crystallized magic.
You sure? Yes. It has a sort of earth magic within.
In that case I'll be holding it.
Aww.
*chuckles*
Because of that drop we can't go directly back the way we came. Instead we have to go in this cave.
It takes us to a small section of the 5th floor with a staircase down.
That loops us back to the fork in the path on the floor below.
Whelp, here we are again. Is everyone ready? I'll go down first.
Prrr. This is a longer drop than last time.
Don't jump down until I call for you, all right?
No problem!
Aargh. *breathing heavily*
Are you all right, Sir Samson? ...yes.
With a bit of planning and no strolling off ledges willy-nilly the team is caught one by one by Sir Samson and continues their climb. At this point they could drop down the half vine to the open chest below but that's just a shortcut for getting down the mountain.
The entrance takes the team back to the fifth floor they saw earlier. The chest disappoints Finn as it only contains a Flame Card Annie quickly stuffs into her pack of "Stuff We Really Need to Find a Use For." I feel like we're a walking accident waiting to happen with all this junk in our packs.
A new monster appears! Harpies are the first permanent back row enemies we've encountered. Also pictured: I mentioned long ago that AI targetting isn't remotely fair and the team's VP and LP in this screenshot demonstrates that better then words. Finn, Samson, and Edward are relatively fine but Annie's taken quite a beating. I'm not terribly worried since she's pretty tanky right now and she usually gets to act in the first turn before anything can groggy her so her damage output doesn't suffer much. As long as we don't end a fight with her dizzied (and we don't) she doesn't miss out.
Since they always spawn in the back row killing harpies with melee takes longer. They aren't dangerous so I didn't bother using magic on them. If Samson gets to act his attack power is high enough that the row modifier doesn't mean much, relative to their maximum health.
Another set of stairs up puts the team on the 6th floor.
How high are we now?
I have no idea. I'm not sure I want to know.
Prrr. That chest looks familiar.
What? When did you see it before?
Look down, Finn.
*squints* Oh, there's a set of stairs down there. Wait, why didn't you mention treasure earlier?
I didn't want to get your hopes up.
I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed, Finn. These are obviously way too big for you.
Awww. Well, treasure's treasure.
The Power Gauntlet only increases Samson's defense by 1 point but it's free and we'll take what we can get. Seriously, I'm not saying 'no' to more defense, unless it's cursed equipment...which I'd still stick on Samson right now because he's cursed anyway. Hey, might as well go for broke if that's the case, right? Anyway as the name suggests the Power Gauntlet also increases attack power when equipped, by 2 points.
We're still not at the top?
It's your favorite thing in the world, Finn, climbing! I'm going to need new gloves when this is all said and done.
A long vine connects the 6th floor with a cliff high above. Believe it or not while climbing this an Elf managed to attack my party, cast Wind 1 on the lot of them, and forced me to stop and heal everyone. Yes, while on the vine. Here I thought fighting on vines in SFCD was silly.
Such strange flowers.
Have you ever read about these before? No. I don't believe I have.
There's another cave. It doesn't look like we can go much higher.
As long as it's not falling I'm perfectly fine with heading down.
Past the weird flowers the team heads back into the misty mountain and blunders along the righthand path of the 7th floor. Just north of here is a staircase down to the 6th floor.
The 2nd half (well, part, really since the two sections aren't of equal size) of the dungeon has a different encounter table and we almost immediately run into new enemies: Lizard Men. They're generic melee who carry War Amulets and are thus more or less a direct upgrade from the skeletons we have been fighting. They're nothing special.
Summoners, however, are quite dangerous. Remember the Elves and how they can cast Wind 1 on the group? They share an important trait with Summoners: both are speedy and if you've had bad luck with +Speed on level ups and/or missed the speed boosters available then you have no choice but to hope they don't nuke the hell out of your team before you ever get a turn.
Finn and Annie are faster then Summoners or Elves but they don't quite kill one before enemy turns start up. Thankfully the Summoners decide to beat up Annie with plain old brute force. While painful for her it makes the battle easy overall. Annie does get groggied again which is as good a point as any to mention that the LP for VP swap improves as a character levels up so the mechanic at least scales fairly well.
WILL THIS DAY NEVER END?!
Are you ok, sis?
I am going to need a long nap when we get out of here.
Kryaa. Finn, this is a dead end. Is it? I still can't see much of anything.
Yes, it's a dead end.
Whoops!
Why yes I did indeed get turned around and almost walked into a wall. The team turns around and instead heads north.
A staircase down! Please let this mean we've crossed the mountain.
Down the stairs the path forks north and south.
Uh, which way now?
*shrugs* North?
The decision of which way to go is abruptly halted by a pair of ghosts and a harpy jumping out of the shadows.
Ghosts and bird women, what did we ever do to deserve this?
I thought everything was trying to kill you, Finn. Why does this surprise you?
I don't know why it does but it does, ok? It's not fair!
Almost as soon as I enter commands for the first round a change comes over the group - a change signaled by a tiny dragon roar...
Nobody messes with Finn but me! RAWR!
Yeah that's right! Wait a minute... There's no time for that right now, Finn. It's still moving.
You think you can stop me, Mr. Ghost? Well you've got another thing coming!
Oh HELL NO! I am NOT being outdone, not today. Go back to wherever you came from and stay there!
I'm sick of you monsters beating up my sister. DIE!
Should... should we be worried, Sir Samson?
Nah. They're just venting some steam. That's all.
While Samson is talking with Edward, mere seconds before he cuts the suddenly-lonely harpy in half, she realizes she's in deep trouble and calls for backup. That brings a second harpy into the fight.
That harpy uses the one turn she gets to toss out some Illusion Powder. Illusion Powder has the same effect as the Illusion spell so it is no threat since illusion does nothing.
The team otherwise quickly reaches a staircase down to the 4th floor.
From there it is a quick jaunt to the next staircase which should put us on the 3rd floor.
That in turn leads to the ground floor on this side of the mountain. *shrugs* Whatever, as long as we make it out safe I don't care about how this doesn't make much geographic sense.
Fresh air has never smelled so good!
It really did lead to a valley. Will wonders never cease?
The village should be nearby.
I don't see anything. I think it will have to wait until tomorrow.
Dear Journal, when we first set out from Zalagoon I had no idea we would walk the length and breadth of Greenheim or that we would do so in so little time. With good weather and an abundance of food available from the land we have traveled from the port of Luna north to what might be a settlement founded by ancient magicians nestled deep in the mountains in only eleven days. Although he didn't say anything I saw Sir Samson's eyes light up when mid-morning we crested a hill and saw buildings in the distance. Oh great Arawn let this be the end of this nightmare.
Sir Samson was right and the village was nearby - for a certain definition of nearby. Resting after their long climb the team found it early the next day.
Next time on Beyond the Beyond - civilization! Could this be the place we've been looking for? I hope so, as long as those ruins up on the plateau don't include a huge robot guardian with an annoying invulnerability schtick.
