Summary: Burmecia under attack. Searching for the rat king. Freya backstory. Brahne and Beatrix. A new character: Kuja.
Burmecia - Suburb
-The music is suspenseful. Freya is nervous about being back here. It’s been five years.
FREYA: “I am no longer the selfish child I was five years ago.” Ok, I need to know SO MUCH about this.
-She’s ready to serve as a “Burmecian dragon knight.” So she’s not an anomaly. Dragon knights are a thing in this city.
-Have I said yet how much I love the title screens for each city? Because I love them. So much.
That epithet is evocative af.
-Bodies in the streets.
-The city’s architecture reminds me somewhat of the town of Balamb.
-Combat?! Oh, it’s one of THOSE cities. Makes sense, given the state of this place.
-Found “Cancer,” another zodiac item. “Cancer headed to the cape where Virgo waited. The sun was setting into the ocean. Would he finally see her?” I don’t yet know how these will factor into the game’s story. Perhaps may set up sort of a creation myth.
-Learned Magic Hammer by eating a Vice.
-This city is really wrecked.
-GAH IT’S FUCKING ZORN AND THORN.
-We kill some black mages (“Type A”) he sends our way and he says the General will punish up. That’d be cool if we got to see Beatrix here!
-Is it just me, or is Quina especially evasive? Attacks seem to miss against them more than against other party members.
-Really digging the design of this city. The statues, the tapestries, the architecture.
-It’s a trap chest.
A mimic (same name as the Dark Souls chest mimics). I can tell already that they’re gonna be a pain as the game goes on – not just because they taunt me with treasure, but because their “Call” ability summoning monsters will get gradually more powerful as the zone monsters get more powerful.
Unless mimics are unique to Burmecia. That seems unlikely.
-The basilisks in FFIX use the same model as the FFI basilisks, with the long body and hypno-eyes.
-One of the tapestries has this beautiful script on it around two Burmecians dancing.
-I’m at a dilemma. There’s a door at the top of the building that could be progress and I don’t want to progress yet, but I found a balcony that it’s asking me if I want to go out to, which could also be progress. Hm. I’ll try the balcony first and just cross my fingers that I can still go to the top door after.
-Aha! It let me go onto the balcony and jump to another part of the house.
-A Burmecian soldier is in here, asking me to get a bell, head to the palace, and protect the king.
-Got it! Found the “Protection Bell” under the bed. (Flavor text: “We seek the meaning of life because we are mortal.” Philosopher Minu.)
-Using the ability system in this game is really satisfying. I love assessing that there are petrifying Iguanas in this area, finding the “Jelly” ability on characters that have it, equipping it, and seeing the Gradual Petrify cast by the Iguanas meet “Guard.” REJECTED.
-Ah. The top door needed the bell. The top door was the way to the palace.
-Freya is nervous. She’s worried that the Burmecian palace will be in ruins and she can’t bear to see it.
-What happened to Freya? Why did she call herself a “selfish child?”
-Vivi is nervous, but trying to be brave and comfort Freya. They both share the possibility that the truth awaiting them in the palace will make their lives worse. Vivi, if he finds out he’s a doll or something similar, and Freya if she sees the palace destroyed.
-A trio of Burmecian soldiers charge towards us, seeing Vivi and worried for our intentions.
Burmecian Soldier Dan (a lieutenant, perhaps?) is in charge.
-Freya sticks up for us. They know each other. It’s fairly friendly. Good. I was afraid it’d be like when Barret returned home in FFVII, that Freya would be seen as a betrayer.
-Dan leaves, urging us to go with him. No sighting of the king.
-Freya pushes on, determined to protect the palace and the king at any cost. I get the sense that this is not the choice she made five years ago.
---
Burmecia - Suburb
-The music is suspenseful. Freya is nervous about being back here. It’s been five years.
FREYA: “I am no longer the selfish child I was five years ago.” Ok, I need to know SO MUCH about this.
-She’s ready to serve as a “Burmecian dragon knight.” So she’s not an anomaly. Dragon knights are a thing in this city.
-Have I said yet how much I love the title screens for each city? Because I love them. So much.
That epithet is evocative af.
-Bodies in the streets.
-The city’s architecture reminds me somewhat of the town of Balamb.
-Combat?! Oh, it’s one of THOSE cities. Makes sense, given the state of this place.
-Found “Cancer,” another zodiac item. “Cancer headed to the cape where Virgo waited. The sun was setting into the ocean. Would he finally see her?” I don’t yet know how these will factor into the game’s story. Perhaps may set up sort of a creation myth.
-Learned Magic Hammer by eating a Vice.
-This city is really wrecked.
-GAH IT’S FUCKING ZORN AND THORN.
-We kill some black mages (“Type A”) he sends our way and he says the General will punish up. That’d be cool if we got to see Beatrix here!
-Is it just me, or is Quina especially evasive? Attacks seem to miss against them more than against other party members.
-Really digging the design of this city. The statues, the tapestries, the architecture.
-It’s a trap chest.
A mimic (same name as the Dark Souls chest mimics). I can tell already that they’re gonna be a pain as the game goes on – not just because they taunt me with treasure, but because their “Call” ability summoning monsters will get gradually more powerful as the zone monsters get more powerful.
Unless mimics are unique to Burmecia. That seems unlikely.
-The basilisks in FFIX use the same model as the FFI basilisks, with the long body and hypno-eyes.
-One of the tapestries has this beautiful script on it around two Burmecians dancing.
-I’m at a dilemma. There’s a door at the top of the building that could be progress and I don’t want to progress yet, but I found a balcony that it’s asking me if I want to go out to, which could also be progress. Hm. I’ll try the balcony first and just cross my fingers that I can still go to the top door after.
-Aha! It let me go onto the balcony and jump to another part of the house.
-A Burmecian soldier is in here, asking me to get a bell, head to the palace, and protect the king.
-Got it! Found the “Protection Bell” under the bed. (Flavor text: “We seek the meaning of life because we are mortal.” Philosopher Minu.)
-Using the ability system in this game is really satisfying. I love assessing that there are petrifying Iguanas in this area, finding the “Jelly” ability on characters that have it, equipping it, and seeing the Gradual Petrify cast by the Iguanas meet “Guard.” REJECTED.
-Ah. The top door needed the bell. The top door was the way to the palace.
-Freya is nervous. She’s worried that the Burmecian palace will be in ruins and she can’t bear to see it.
-What happened to Freya? Why did she call herself a “selfish child?”
-Vivi is nervous, but trying to be brave and comfort Freya. They both share the possibility that the truth awaiting them in the palace will make their lives worse. Vivi, if he finds out he’s a doll or something similar, and Freya if she sees the palace destroyed.
-A trio of Burmecian soldiers charge towards us, seeing Vivi and worried for our intentions.
Burmecian Soldier Dan (a lieutenant, perhaps?) is in charge.
-Freya sticks up for us. They know each other. It’s fairly friendly. Good. I was afraid it’d be like when Barret returned home in FFVII, that Freya would be seen as a betrayer.
-Dan leaves, urging us to go with him. No sighting of the king.
-Freya pushes on, determined to protect the palace and the king at any cost. I get the sense that this is not the choice she made five years ago.
---
Burmecia – Uptown Area, Square, Vault
-A family in a house, Kal and Wei. Kal is injured. They appear to be married. (Married in front of Master Gizamaluke, interestingly enough.) Kal urges Wei to leave.
-Zidane saves the group from a collapsing statue, and the family leaves. Wei is pregnant, and they urge us to come see their kids down the line in Lindblum. Count on it.
-Just look at this place!!
-These “Vice” monsters are super annoying. They cast Magic Hammer which obliterates my mana.
-AAARGH my feels. We find an armory of sorts. Freya takes a mythril lance, and Zidane is excited, saying “Yeah! Let’s go beat up some black mages!”
But Vivi overhears. Hdfjklsahfdjklsahfldsahfadkls
-The Mythril Spear grants Freya a new ability, “Reis’s Wind.” Casts regen on all party members. I really like this, that the support spells are not just for one character but are rather spread out. Freay can use Reis’s Wind, Quina can use Mighty Guard, Garnet will probably have support spells of her own too.
-Atla the moogle is here. We give him the letter from Mogki. Again, the letter is about Stiltzkin, and mentions something VERY interesting: that Stiltzkin may carry a map of rare items from all over the world.
Is that what the Mognet quests are leading up to? I WANT TO SEE STILTZKIN NOW VERY MUCH YES PLEASE.
-He hasn’t seen Stiltzkin, but gives us a Kupo Nut. And a letter to deliver to Monev the moogle.
-This is the first moogle with a shop. Some nice armor, weapons, and items.
-Found a Lightning Staff.
-IS THAT STILTZKIN WHO JUST WANDERED IN??
-Offers to sell us a Soft, Hi-Potion, and Ether for 333 gil. Sure. Why not. But what about the map?!?! No mention. Just thanks us for the gil, says it’ll keep him going for a bit longer, another week or so.
-He hates the rain.
---
Burmecia – Palace
-This place is as much a disaster area as the rest of the city.
-Zidane tries comforting the crest-fallen Freya as much as he can, about to back out and give her some space, but she leaps to the top of a giant statue and sees someone in the palace.
-FHJDKLSFHDSLKFDS VIVI TRIED JUMPING UP THE STATUE AND FELL ON HIS FACE FHJKLFHDSFL
-Two parties now. Vivi and Quina at the bottom, and Freya and Zidane at the top.
---
-A family in a house, Kal and Wei. Kal is injured. They appear to be married. (Married in front of Master Gizamaluke, interestingly enough.) Kal urges Wei to leave.
-Zidane saves the group from a collapsing statue, and the family leaves. Wei is pregnant, and they urge us to come see their kids down the line in Lindblum. Count on it.
-Just look at this place!!
-These “Vice” monsters are super annoying. They cast Magic Hammer which obliterates my mana.
-AAARGH my feels. We find an armory of sorts. Freya takes a mythril lance, and Zidane is excited, saying “Yeah! Let’s go beat up some black mages!”
But Vivi overhears. Hdfjklsahfdjklsahfldsahfadkls
-The Mythril Spear grants Freya a new ability, “Reis’s Wind.” Casts regen on all party members. I really like this, that the support spells are not just for one character but are rather spread out. Freay can use Reis’s Wind, Quina can use Mighty Guard, Garnet will probably have support spells of her own too.
-Atla the moogle is here. We give him the letter from Mogki. Again, the letter is about Stiltzkin, and mentions something VERY interesting: that Stiltzkin may carry a map of rare items from all over the world.
Is that what the Mognet quests are leading up to? I WANT TO SEE STILTZKIN NOW VERY MUCH YES PLEASE.
-He hasn’t seen Stiltzkin, but gives us a Kupo Nut. And a letter to deliver to Monev the moogle.
-This is the first moogle with a shop. Some nice armor, weapons, and items.
-Found a Lightning Staff.
-IS THAT STILTZKIN WHO JUST WANDERED IN??
-Offers to sell us a Soft, Hi-Potion, and Ether for 333 gil. Sure. Why not. But what about the map?!?! No mention. Just thanks us for the gil, says it’ll keep him going for a bit longer, another week or so.
-He hates the rain.
---
Burmecia – Palace
-This place is as much a disaster area as the rest of the city.
-Zidane tries comforting the crest-fallen Freya as much as he can, about to back out and give her some space, but she leaps to the top of a giant statue and sees someone in the palace.
-FHJDKLSFHDSLKFDS VIVI TRIED JUMPING UP THE STATUE AND FELL ON HIS FACE FHJKLFHDSFL
-Two parties now. Vivi and Quina at the bottom, and Freya and Zidane at the top.
---
Burmecia Palace – Freya and Zidane
-The two of them spy Queen Brahne (herself??) and General Beatrix.
-Freya describes Beatrix as “the cold-blooded knight who knows no mercy.”
---
FREYA FLASHBACK WTFFFF
-Freya is talking to another Burmecian dragon knight, perhaps her teacher. Saying that Beatrix is reputed to be one of the best swordswomen in the land.
-Ah! This is Sir Fratley. He fears that other nations are growing stronger than Burmecia and wants to go out into the world to see what he can see.
-She doesn’t want to be without him. He promises to return to Burmecia when his world trip is complete.
-The music and rain add so much here.
-Fratley never returned. Rumors of his death. Freya won’t believe those rumors until she sees his body.
---
Burmecia Palace – Freya and Zidane
-A new player. A woman we haven’t yet met walks up to Brahne and Beatrix.
-Oops, nm, he’s a “Mystery Man.” I suck at gender identification in FF.
-Wait, is that the actor from Lindblum?
-No. It’s a guy named Kuja. He’s behind the black mages.
-They haven’t found the Burmecian king yet. Whew.
-No word from Zorn and Thorn, who were sent to search for the king.
-Beatrix moves to join the search, but Kuja stops them. He says they moved to “the sandy treehouse” probably. Cleyra.
-Is Cleyra a city in or above the sandstorm? That’d be badass.
-Still too early in the game to tell who the Big Bad is, but Kuja is looking like the best bet at this point. He wants to mount a full attack on Cleyra – black mages and Alexandrian soldiers combined.
-Zidane and Freya saw all this. They hadn’t seen Kuja before.
-Cleyra is known as the City of Illusion, and has been isolated for a hundred years. Esthar-esque.
-The people of Cleyra were originally from Burmecia.
-OH CRAP A BURMECIAN SOLDIER SWOOPS DOWN ON THE VILLAINS AND ATTACKS! This is scary in a way that I think Erin Lynn Hodges might appreciate.
-He pauses, terrified on hearing who he just attacked.
”I immediately regret this decision.”
-We join, and give the soldier the chance to escape.
-Beatrix is confident as hell, and sounds like she can back it up. I wouldn’t be surprised if this fight is a scripted loss.
-We do well for a while. Mighty Guard, Reis’s Wind, Thundara (courtesy of Vivi’s new weapon) and stole some stuff like Chain Plate, but the fight ends when she basically says “ENOUGH” and casts something called “Stock Break” leaving us all writhing in pain.
-Not gonna finish us off? Seems like a bit of a mistake, but I suppose she sees us as unworthy.
-Beatrix and Brahne leave.
-Kuja stands over us. Gloating? Not sure. He says “the boy” may grow to be a problem. Vivi or Zidane?
-Cinematic with intense music and drums as Kuja stands over us.
He then turns and walks away.
-This shot of Freya on the ground now reminds me of her title shot when we got to name her.
-Kuja hops atop a ginormous dragon-griffon-thing and soars away.
Definite big bad material. Not that he definitely will be the Big Bad, but he’s the first legit possibility. (Brahne feels closer to a Gestahl than a Kefka.)
---
Next time: Steiner and Dagger.
-The two of them spy Queen Brahne (herself??) and General Beatrix.
-Freya describes Beatrix as “the cold-blooded knight who knows no mercy.”
---
FREYA FLASHBACK WTFFFF
-Freya is talking to another Burmecian dragon knight, perhaps her teacher. Saying that Beatrix is reputed to be one of the best swordswomen in the land.
-Ah! This is Sir Fratley. He fears that other nations are growing stronger than Burmecia and wants to go out into the world to see what he can see.
-She doesn’t want to be without him. He promises to return to Burmecia when his world trip is complete.
-The music and rain add so much here.
-Fratley never returned. Rumors of his death. Freya won’t believe those rumors until she sees his body.
---
Burmecia Palace – Freya and Zidane
-A new player. A woman we haven’t yet met walks up to Brahne and Beatrix.
-Oops, nm, he’s a “Mystery Man.” I suck at gender identification in FF.
-Wait, is that the actor from Lindblum?
-No. It’s a guy named Kuja. He’s behind the black mages.
-They haven’t found the Burmecian king yet. Whew.
-No word from Zorn and Thorn, who were sent to search for the king.
-Beatrix moves to join the search, but Kuja stops them. He says they moved to “the sandy treehouse” probably. Cleyra.
-Is Cleyra a city in or above the sandstorm? That’d be badass.
-Still too early in the game to tell who the Big Bad is, but Kuja is looking like the best bet at this point. He wants to mount a full attack on Cleyra – black mages and Alexandrian soldiers combined.
-Zidane and Freya saw all this. They hadn’t seen Kuja before.
-Cleyra is known as the City of Illusion, and has been isolated for a hundred years. Esthar-esque.
-The people of Cleyra were originally from Burmecia.
-OH CRAP A BURMECIAN SOLDIER SWOOPS DOWN ON THE VILLAINS AND ATTACKS! This is scary in a way that I think Erin Lynn Hodges might appreciate.
-He pauses, terrified on hearing who he just attacked.
”I immediately regret this decision.”
-We join, and give the soldier the chance to escape.
-Beatrix is confident as hell, and sounds like she can back it up. I wouldn’t be surprised if this fight is a scripted loss.
-We do well for a while. Mighty Guard, Reis’s Wind, Thundara (courtesy of Vivi’s new weapon) and stole some stuff like Chain Plate, but the fight ends when she basically says “ENOUGH” and casts something called “Stock Break” leaving us all writhing in pain.
-Not gonna finish us off? Seems like a bit of a mistake, but I suppose she sees us as unworthy.
-Beatrix and Brahne leave.
-Kuja stands over us. Gloating? Not sure. He says “the boy” may grow to be a problem. Vivi or Zidane?
-Cinematic with intense music and drums as Kuja stands over us.
He then turns and walks away.
-This shot of Freya on the ground now reminds me of her title shot when we got to name her.
-Kuja hops atop a ginormous dragon-griffon-thing and soars away.
Definite big bad material. Not that he definitely will be the Big Bad, but he’s the first legit possibility. (Brahne feels closer to a Gestahl than a Kefka.)
---
Next time: Steiner and Dagger.
