LogFAQs > #962551048

Still don't get why the party let Melchior live but killed Aifread. It makes zero sense and doesn't feel like natural writing.

I enter Loegres and everything is automated. We have transported to the worst kind of dystopia, the type where the government (Abbey) controls everything and people are executed if they diverge. This is painful. People can't enjoy themselves. People aren't allowed to be happy. It's horrifyingly depressing. A woman moans that she should never have had fantasies about Prince Percival - but where's the fun in not having lofty dreams? If we don't have dreams, we're not alive. These zombies are DYING because of these fiends. And yet apparently we're the bad guys... well, not for long. Once we stop the evil plot and proclaim to the world who the real villains were, things are gonna change. (That said, why does my Zestiria box art say Sorey is going to become Shepherd? That concerns me.)

The insanity also includes purging things like flowers and fountains, because apparently creating a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere serves no good to anyone. "Comfort is another word for vanity" INCENSES ME. SO I'M NOT ALLOWED TO BE FUCKING COMFORTABLE? IF THAT WAS THE CASE, I'D HAVE BEEN DEAD LONG AGO.

SERIOUSLY, WHERE'S ARTORIUS? I WANT TO KILL IT NOW!

Sorry. This is REALLY infuriating. These villains are some of the most vile, diabolical fiends I have ever encountered. To WANT people to suffer like this is insane, and that's putting it mildly. Tabatha's Tavern is being closed because it's too recreational. And food doesn't need flavor since it's only needed to fill the stomach. Trust me, if my food had zero taste, I'd be dead. I wish I could just kill these monsters, but instead I'm thinking about death. So is Phi. I'm with him: If food doesn't have taste, why eat?

We find Tabatha and Percival helping a crying little girl while surrounded by flying succubi. Or are they harpies? IDK. We kill one but the other two kidnap Percy and the girl. Tabatha says the bad guys are gathering people with free will at the villa, so we have to go free them and blow the place to smithereens. See how the Abbey likes that!

I stop talking to people since it makes me want to kill myself. I hope we get to kill some satanic excrement soon. The monsters in the catacombs are the weaksauce from last time, so I take the warp pad. No monsters in the villa until the room where Griffin was. The harpies are suppressing Percy and the girl in a channeling circle - it is eating their will. Velvet devours the harpies and the arte - we're heroes for saving the Prince! The girl, however... is a zombie, and says her mom was murdered by exorcists for stealing food for her hungry daughter. This totally contradicts the "EQUAL FOOD FOR ALL" earlier. What in the flying fuck is this dystopia? A feast of contradictions? What's next, a man killing himself for fucking his wife and failing to reproduce? It makes no sense to our Prince either, as he does not consent to this. We receive an official order from Percy to stop Artorius. Good. Hopefully he can publicize his condemnation of the Abbey to turn the populace against them. Hopefully.

Both Percy and Tabatha note Velvet's become more confident instead of blinded by her hatred. She wants to restore joy to the world. Eleanor does, too. Next up: Mount Killaraus. We need to awaken the Empyreans before Innominat's suppression goes global, destroy the Empyrean's Throne, kill Artorius and Melchior, and seal Innominat away. Eleanor says the exorcists she knew would hate this, because they wanted a peaceful, happy world, not this literary dystopia. And now Innominat has their will suppressed, and they accept it as tools of their demonic deity. Eleanor thanks Phi and Velvet for granting her free will and strength. This heartwarming stuff is nice since I'm not enjoying this dark and depressing stretch. Phi is depressed, too. There's no point in living if all you are is a cog. This is why I've attempted suicide before. I refuse to be a cog, so my heart is with the party. Phi's heart is strong and Magilou says no magic can amplify that strength... and there's no arte for awakening malakhim.

On the way to Hellawes, inside of Velvet... Thug Oscar and Villain Teresa are NOT happy. They says Velvet is being selfish, but I disagree. I mean... she's saving the world. They talk about being reborn and shit and all I can think of is that Oscar is reborn as Sorey. Eleanor wants to talk about what'd happen to the therions and Phi if we killed Innominat. Velvet doesn't care and just wants to take the blame for whatever happens. Would someone selfish shoulder all the blame for the evil others projected onto her? Doubtful. Eleanor thinks like I do and calls her pity party out. Nice! Velvet can only mope. Sure, she can sacrifice herself for the good of many, but she needs to think about the ones closest to her.

The devil's reach doesn't extend to Hellawes quite yet. It's TRYING but it's weak. Some are losing their memory... since memory helps people in life, they can't have it. Just how fucking demented can these villains be? Our next stop is Meirchio, the town on the other side of Faldies. It's getting colder here, so Bienfu advocates for shared bodily warmth. Sorry, not happening. Everybody is sneezing, including the daemons. I'm baffled by this. I live in Wisconsin for fuck's sake. We have our own frozen tundra, and I don't associate cold weather with sneezing. That would be cold viruses.

Yadda yadda yadda Faldies Ruins... hmmm, waking the Empyreans may solve global cooling... oh hey here's another fishing thing... time to do a good job... as if this stupid thing wasn't a sham enough, I get "the big one" on my first cast and then don't get anything else worth over 28 coins... yes I did a good job (I'm in a better place now)... a goon outside town apparently has been the lone watchman for three days for being ten minutes late to work. How's he still alive? Hypothermia is real.

This is a lovely town. The flamestone mine is the only reason it exists - and if we fling souls into the volcano, it could very well destroy it, either physically or economically. Eleanor won't blame Velvet since she isn't as heartless as the Abbey - her insanity isn't worldwide. I like Magilou's "box of stupid" remark. Might have to use that! We're gonna need more than two souls... and we waited THIS long to come to that conclusion WHY? And we didn't devour that vile vermin Melchior earlier... WHY!? Will they really anticipate this gambit? If so, then Melchior is a psychic (in addition to being a heartless bastard).

The guard was a thief, so his post is meant for him to either build character or GTFO. Instead he turns into a daemon and barrels into town. EVERYBODY PANIC! Well, the party doesn't, and since he's just a generic monster, we dispatch him swiftly. The townspeople are thankful... until Velvet reveals her identity, says she's gonna sacrifice souls into the volcano, and dares the Abbey's legates to stop us. This is quite brilliant, and Magilou is RELISHING in it. I mean, seriously, this:
1. Scares everybody out of town to mitigate casualties if the volcano goes kablooie.
2. Advertises the plan to the Abbey, so they can hand us the souls we need to sacrifice.
3. Shows people that Velvet is not going after anyone while the Abbey is zombifying everyone. Proof enough for anyone thinking rationally about who the good guys are.

Velvet smacks Magilou for talking about slurping bone marrow... and a WILD BENWICK APPEARS!? The whole crew is here to take the place over!? Kamoana thought Eleanor had died and Kurogane has a blade for Rokurou. This will be our last respite before the Scarlet Night, when we get to kill two fuckers, shove the Empyreans' into Innominat, and forever cleanse the land of this villainy. It's gonna be sweet!

...but that will have to wait until another time. This is a good place to stop for tonight.